Ad misstates boat slip funding
By MIKE DONILA
Published February 22, 2007
CLEARWATER - Hoping to persuade voters to approve a downtown boat slip project next month, Mayor Frank Hibbard claimed in a recent mailed political advertisement that "no local tax funds" would be used to build it.
That's not true.
While rental fees are expected to largely finance the project, the city would contribute $1-million in property tax money earmarked for downtown improvements. The money, from the Downtown Development Board and the Community Redevelopment Agency, is generated within the city's redevelopment district, which includes the area where the 129 boat slips are proposed.
But in the letter, Hibbard said the project would be paid "entirely with grants and user fees." The letter was mailed this week to about 500 residents in the wealthy, waterfront Harbor Oaks neighborhood just south of where the boat slips would be built. It is also where the mayor lives.
The letter also asked readers to consider contributing to a recently created political action committee, Citizens for a Beautiful, Active Waterfront, that is supporting the March 13 ballot measure.
Hibbard on Wednesday contended the wording wasn't misleading since the $1-million is tax money unavailable for general city operating needs.
"Yeah, in a way you can look at it as tax funds, but I don't consider it (taxes) the way you'd consider other tax money," Hibbard said. "I don't look at it as general fund tax money. But technically you're right; it's not perfect, no, but I don't think it's misleading."
Opponents, however, were critically sarcastic when they heard the explanation.
"If you believe that the CRA funds are not tax money and the $62,000 the city has spent trying to promote this dog-and-pony show is not tax money ... then I guess he is right," quipped Anne Garris, chairwoman of Save the Bayfront, which defeated a similar proposal in 2004.
The letter was written by Jack Latvala, a prominent former state senator who's working as a political consultant for the pro-boat slip PAC. Hibbard said he read the letter, approved it and signed it.
Both Latvala and Hibbard said they didn't try to mislead voters.
Latvala, who served on the Florida Senate's tax committee in 1997, said he made the mistake because he "didn't understand the intricacies" of how the tax district works. He noted that the letter references the city's Web site, which details the project's funding.
"There was a misunderstanding, but what we're trying to convey to the taxpayers is that in the future, there won't be any taxpayer money used," Latvala said. "In retrospect, we could have been more clear and from here on out we'll make that distinction."
The overall project, which also includes a boardwalk and a fishing pier, is expected to cost almost $11-million. It will be paid for by 20-year bonds. To pay off the bonds, the city will then use rental fees, the CRA money and a possible $1.2-million state grant.
The docks and slips are expected to have a 40-year life span and net the city $9.6-million overall.
Citizens for a Beautiful, Active Waterfront so far has raised $21,500. But the group has spent $10,500, most of that in early February on a survey.
Their opponents, Save the Bayfront, have raised more than $124,000 in the organization's history, but currently have only about $1,300 in cash on hand, according to campaign reports.
A recent city-funded survey showed that a majority of Clearwater voters would support the project. But Hibbard said he won't underestimate Save the Bayfront.
In a touch of irony, Hibbard and other city leaders have long said that Save the Bayfront sent residents slick, colorful fliers with misleading information just days before the 2004 election.
Hibbard and Garris met at a boat slip forum hosted Wednesday afternoon by the Rotary Club of Clearwater. The two took questions for about 20 minutes from the roughly 80 people who attended.
Hibbard continued to argue that the project is "the next thread in the fabric of downtown" revitalization.
But Garris said visitors to the city's waterfront Coachman Park would lose one of the few unobstructed views in Clearwater.
Fast Facts:
On the Web
- myclearwater.com
- savethebayfront.com