Petition puts support for Roberto in writing

More than 80 people, including the managers of three beach hotels, signed the petition, which was delivered to City Hall.

By ANITA KUMAR

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 26, 1999

CLEARWATER -- Beach business owners and residents have signed a petition in support of City Manager Mike Roberto, who has been criticized in recent months about perks given to top administrators and what some consider excessive spending.

The petition, a total of 12 pages signed by 82 people, includes names of several prominent beach business people, including the managers of the Sheraton Sand Key, the Clearwater Beach Hotel and Hilton Resort Clearwater Beach.

"I think the general consensus is that he does a great job," said David O'Bannon, the Hilton's general manager. "He is certainly going to make a difference in the long run."

The petitions read: "We, the undersigned, respect Roberto's vision, his tireless work ethic and interest to make Clearwater a better place to live, work and visit." They were hand-delivered to City Hall in the last two weeks.

"I signed because I am a big fan of our city manager," said Wallace Lee, manager of Clearwater Beach Hotel. "He has been a wonderful addition to the city."

Roberto said he does not know who circulated the petition but that he is flattered people would take the time to support him.

"I was quite surprised when I heard about them," he said. "It's always nice to know you enjoy that kind of support."

Chuck Pollick, the owner of a weekly beach newspaper, delivered some petitions but said he only did so after they were dropped off at his office. Some who signed the petition circulated it, said Bill Sykes, who owns the Beachhouse motel on Hamden Drive.

In recent weeks, many letters and e-mails also have been sent to City Hall in support of Roberto, most from individual members of the Church of Scientology.

Roberto said he has tried to be accessible to residents and businesses in the beach area by meeting with them at least 12 times since he was hired in June 1997.

In the past two years, the city has committed more than $85-million to redevelop a beach that is showing its age.

That includes $13.5-million on a new entrance, $26-million on two parking garages and $45-million to replace the Memorial Causeway bridge. It also could include another $3.6-million to fix Mandalay Avenue, the beach's main drag, and even more to deal with the traffic flow on the island.

Roberto "has been good to us," said Joe Calio, president of the Sand Key Civic Association, who said Pollick asked him to collect signatures. "We're getting things done that we couldn't get done before."

The petitions encourage the City Commission to state its "full support for the city manager."

But commissioners, who have become increasingly frustrated in recent weeks, took the unusual step of publicly scolding Roberto earlier this month. Two of them even said that if Roberto does not improve by his annual evaluation in October, the city might have to search for a new city manager.

-- Staff writer Thomas C. Tobin contributed to this report.

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