Oh yeah, by the way: Marty Black's airport development memo
The Marriott is coming to the island? Maybe. City Manager Marty Black sets up the hoops that the hotel chain will have to go through
-- John Patten, 03/17/07
-- jpatten@veniceflorida.com
Got a comment? Make it here.
Nature study: Bag with exterior cat
On the morning of March 16, the Venice Gondolier Sun published an article stating that the Venice Golf Association was in negotiations with a major hotel chain and that the Gondo had been finally able to confirm the story through anonymous sources. The Gondo did not name the hotel chain.
This is not necessarily big news, but the Gondo is playing catch up. Several months back, this web site reported that the VGA was in preliminary negotiations with Marriott for the back nine holes along Harbor Drive across the street from the Gulf of Mexico, this on the south end of the island.
Nevertheless, the rumor mill exploded through city hall and the city as a result of the Gondo article. Black, for the second time in two weeks, found himself desperately trying to play catch up with out-of-control rumors that could have been prevented with prior communications.
After the news story appeared in the Gondolier, Black sent out the below email, along with an attached memo, all of which basically gave no new information but specified the process that the city was looking at to get this show on the road.
Of special note is the information that is not contained in the memos below -- who has been making the proposals and where, exactly, they would like to build whatever it is that they want to build. While Venice Florida! dot com has been told by Black himself that Black has had prior specific knowledge of the proposals, Black is still not giving out any specifics.
The email
From: Marty Black
To: Fred Hammett, John Simmonds, John Moore, Jim Woods, Bill Willson
CC: Stacy McKenzie, Colleen Winkler, John Reed, Alan Bullock, Brenda Digges, Bobby Hirter, Steve Kona, Dave Adinolfi, Scott O'Donnell, Tammy Short, Catherine Schnitzer, Dorothy Korwek, Daniel Weigner, Ed Hoefert, Carolyn Hart, Chris Sharek, Gayland Drake, Hans Behrens, Jeanette Bartek, Judy Difabbio, JoAnne Lounsbury, Debra Gardow, Daniel Hoffman, Jeffery Snyder, Frederick Watts, Kellie Bricker, Kathy Millspaugh, Kathie Smith, Ken Taylor, Kathleen Weeden, Kimberly Yonker, Linda Depew, Larry Heath, Lance Heiss
Date: Friday - March 16, 2007 2:21 PM
Subject: Airport Proposals Update
The attached information provides an update on activities relative to the future use of airport lands.
Please note that, while there have been media reports relative to the sale of the Venice Golf Association, the city has not received a request to consider approval of an assignment of the lease or to commence negotiations of a new lease for the golf course properties. Several of the proposals do include references to an anticipation of use or acquisition of rights to the existing golf course lease area (more specifically, those by Amalthea Properties Investment LLC; CAVU Cay Corporation LLC; and Legacy Sky, Marina and Golf Resort).
Please do not hesitate to call or see me with any questions.
Thanks!
Marty Black
City Manager
The attached memo:
MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Martin P. Black, AICP, ICMA-CM, City Manager
DATE: March 16, 2007
RE: Air Port Development Proposals Update
The following update is provided for your general information outlining the most recent information available regarding proposals under review for development of aviation and aviation-compatible uses at the airport. Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.
We have received responses from each interested group outlining the general terms and scope of their interest in making improvements to the Venice Airport. Airport Manager Fred Watts is completing a summary matrix outlining the basics of each proposal and has provided copies of the information as submitted for your review at your information table in council offices. I have asked Mr. Watts to create separate comparisons for the pure aviation interests and the aviation-compatible uses (i.e., marina, hotel, etc.).
City Council had previously approved the initial review of proposals to be conducted by the City Attorney, Airport Manager, me and Councilmember Moore. We will be meeting to review these proposals within the next few weeks. In order to avoid some of the pitfalls and concerns learned from the previous developer proposal process, I am recommending that city administration present a recommended ranking of corporations based upon scope of proposal, consistency with City Council strategic objectives and comprehensive and master plan policies, financial and management capability, and compatibility of concept with the community. This recommended ranking would be presented to the Airport Advisory Board for their consideration at a public meeting with an opportunity for each group to present their qualifications prior to a final consideration by the City Council. In order to provide a more meaningful level of participation for the community in the actual design process, I would also recommend that the top-ranked corporation be required to undergo a public charette process to allow the community to provide early input into the development of the project. In the event that the top-ranked firm is unwilling or unable to undergo the charette process, we then retain the option of moving forward with the second ranked firm. This approach has the advantage of providing a higher level of design control for the ultimate project by the city and community.
I will ask for your confirmation of this approach as part of my administrative report on March 27, 2007.
cc: Charter Officers, CMO Staff, Department Directors
John Patten is the editor and publisher of Venice Florida! dot com and had previously worked in broadcasting for over 12 years. He can also be incredibly rude at times.
