VIDEO: Venice residents, city council speak out on airport development The complete session on airport development from the city council meeting of May 8, 2007 -- compiled by John Patten, 05/09/07 --jpatten@veniceflorida.com
Watch and learn Below is the entire portion of the May 8, 2007, city council meeting that dealt with airport development. Included are all clips of city residents speaking out on the issue, council's deliberations and the final vote in which council decided 6-0 to continue with the charrette process.
"The very powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common: They don't alter their views to fit the facts, they alter the facts to fit their views, which can be very uncomfortable if you happen to be one of the facts that needs altering." -- Tom Baker, from Face of Evil
PART 1: Venice residents speak out
HIGHLIGHTED VIDEO
Venice residents Gary DeLay and Don Nixon on airport development. DeLay asks council if they aware that the airport has been used as atoxic dumping ground while Nixon wonders if any council members would have been elected if this issue had surfaced prior to elections -- a scathing video clip (3:02)
HIGHLIGHTED VIDEO Taxpayers League president Herb Levine gets a standing ovation for asking council why they are trying to build West Orlando in Venice -- if there was a Best Of compilation for Levine, this would be on it (5:40)
PART 2: City Council discusses and decides on "Item 4" of the City Manager's Report
Item 4: "City Manager Martin P. Black requests City Council authorization to: 1) Engage an independent urban design consultant to develop and lead the implementation of the public design charrette previously recommended by city staff and encumber funds necessary for this work from the Airport Fund balance, 2) Confirm staff recommendation regarding areas inappropriate for development based upon review of the airport master plan, adopted comprehensive plan, city council strategic plan, and community values, and 3) Set a workshop with the Airport Advisory Board, prior to their final consideration of the airport master plan, in order to jointly review airport operational needs and community priorities."
City Councilman Bill Willson responds to resident fears by stating that airport revenues are needed for runway repairs, airport maintenance, etc., and the funds have to come from somewhere (8:56)
City Manager Marty Black and Councilman John Simmonds on the need for additional funding for the airport and why development is a needed avenue for gaining revenue (8:25)
Conclusion of City Manager Marty Black's presentation in favor of continuing the charrette process; final discussion before vote; council votes 6-0 to continue the process with Vice-Mayor Vicki Taylor abstaining; all of council agree not to talk individually with any developer from here on out; all of council (except the mayor) deny having talked individually with any developer so far (9:21)
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.
