The Marathon City Election 2010: election, vote, voting, municipal, city, journalism, columnist, magazine, diary, cat, ezine, dragon, writing, webzine, newsletter, newspaper

Political Advertisement Paid For & Approved by Joan Nelson for Marathon City Council

Larry Shaffer in his own words.
Are you tired of the same thing day after day? Former Mayor Randy Mearns used to say that government moves at the pace of a dead snake. I would like to breathe a little life into the snake to pursue and bite the old bubba system. With 8 years in local politics, I can work on your issues. Jobs, economic recovery, save mom-and-pop businesses, and attract new suitable businesses into Marathon. I can work on the annual budget to ensure that safety, health, and environmental items continue to provide high-quality service to Marathon's residents. Vote for me; I will show you what I can do.

Larry will:

Work with the entire community to improve the local economy
Bring common sense and sanity back to the city council
Do more than just listen, he will act on your concerns
Make decisions that are transparent; he has no hidden agenda
Support initiatives that benefit all the residents of Marathon

www.MarathonJournal.US

1. How does the City of Marathon live with less tax revenue due to property devaluation and still provide high quality services?

We make sure the ad valorem [property tax] taxes stay neutral and stimulate the economy through attracting new businesses, helping the mom-and-pop businesses survive, and budgeting responsibly. We cannot short change safety concerns. Austerity measures are a start outside of that. We have to keep that balance of providing services for the least amount of ad valorem taxes without raising taxes. What would really make a difference is for Marathon residents to go to the school board, the mosquito control board, county commission, and the water district budget hearings and demand they cut their bloated and wasteful budgets. Then you will see the bottom line of property taxes go way down. Marathon's share of the total property taxes is about 18%, and the change up or down is quite small.

2. What actions would you undertake to continue the improvement of Fire/EMS services?

We still have long-term infrastructure needs. One or more satellite facilities should be in Marathon's ten-year plan. Finding ways for our personnel to reside in Marathon would improve matters a lot. We have to keep our dollars in the city to sustain some kind of future economy.

3. How will the City of Marathon improve the local economy?

I don't have all the answers, but I have been brainstorming and talking with local leaders. Some topics of discussion have been about possible job exchanges. Locals helping locals. Put together a shop locally and hire locally campaign with small local discounts. We have to get dollars circulating in our economy again. We have to concentrate on hiring locals so that they spend money in the local economy. More coming.

4. If elected or re-elected for 2 years, what will you do to mitigate the workforce housing crisis during these questionable economic times?

We must never let up, and keep plugging away, one workforce home at a time. The crisis is still there hidden under the property devaluation, loss of workforce, and a crummy local economy. We will always need workforce housing. Such is the nature of our islands. Specifically, I would like to get the Middle Keys Habitat for Humanity together with the Middle Keys Community Land Trust. Habitat can build but does not always have the land required. The Land Trust have five lots ready for workforce housing. A partnership here could get five more homes on the ground helping five workforce families.

5. What is the next important city project after the wastewater / stormwater project is completed?

Build small satellite fire stations to hurricane strength. Within the next decade build a hurricane-proof city hall. Long-term plans need to start now to achieve these goals.

6. How does the City of Marathon attract tourists during the two seasons? Especially, the summer months.

Beautify US1. Make the city anniversary celebration an annual event, thus pumping dollars into the local economy. Build out the city marina and Boot Key harbor. As a community, we need to brainstorm more ideas.

7. What actions must the city take to relieve the insurance and tax burden for residents?

Support FIRM. Lobby the county, school board, water district, and mosquito board to cut their budgets so that the bottom line property taxes will be reduced more than any cut in the city's budget. As a councilman, I will commit to leading the way on this.

8. What are the city's various funding sources and which one is the direct burden of the city�s residents?

Property taxes [ad valorem], sales taxes, gas taxes, city marina enterprise fund, license and permit fees, fines, forfeitures, grants, bond proceeds, and services income. You total that up, and that is all of us in the country. The direct tax that affects all of us locals is property taxes. Yes, that hand you feel lifting your wallet is the county tax collector.

9. How big is the city�s slice of the overall ad valorem taxes collected countywide?

18.3% 2009 budget. Percentage of 2010 budget has not been determined yet. I would expect that number to be about the same this year. The point though is that Marathon's piece of the tax pie is small compared to the big spenders like the school board, water district, mosquito board, and the county itself. We need to form up and go to those tax meetings and demand budget cuts.

10. What steps must the city take to address historical preservation within Marathon?

The comprehensive Plan specifies the need to manage this area. While there is likely very little left, we still should form a historical preservation committee to perform advisory functions to the city council. What we do not need is a heavy hand and a narrow view. Preservation should be agreeable to all concerned.

11. Do you take all campaign contributions from anyone or are you selective? Why?

Provided the contributor is aware that money does not buy my vote, I would take any reasonable contributions.

12. Should Marathon annex Duck Key? Why or why not?

If Duck Key residents are agreeable and the county paves the way through referendum. Whomever Duck Key prefers, the tax base would easily cover services a government entity would have to provide. Even then, there would be more tax revenue than needed. That is probably why this question is so interesting.

13. Should Marathon build and operate some kind of municipal swimming pool and/or splash pools and other water park amenities? Why or why not?

The very expensive but accurate visioning plan took input from all the neighborhoods around the city. The most asked for item was a municipal swimming pool. Obviously, that is not going to happen this year or the next. Within the second decade of our fine city, we should build a public pool that pays for itself. More important is the dire need to build a city hall to reduce the risk of catastrophe. Temporary trailers are a disaster waiting to happen. The timeframe for this is in the next ten years. We need to commit to long-term planning.

14. How much more development can the City of Marathon withstand?

At one time that was an issue that stirred up emotions all over the city. Actually, it is not that complicated. We are slowly developing suitable parcels to build out. The static amount of developable land will mean that eventually all buildable lots will be developed. So this is restricted all by itself because there is only so much buildable land available.

15. What are the limits of property rights?

Provided that a property owner obeys the laws and does not affect neighbors, property rights are okay. Now if an owner encroaches on the city or state right of way, that owner still cannot keep the city or state from using it even after a very long time. And what if your roof water spouts pour rain runoff on the land across the property line next to you doing damage to the yard and the house? Yes, your property rights do not extend beyond your property line. Sounds like common sense to me.

16. How would you increase the efforts to beautify the US1 corridor and pay for same?

I would aggressively find ways to improve the look of the US 1 corridor through private public partnerships, grants, and other funding opportunities. Our local economy depends on traffic slowing down a bit to increase the likelihood of people stopping, shopping, and spending the night and their money in Marathon.

17. What use should Boot Key [the island] play in Marathon�s future?

Boot Key, if purchased with grant or Florida Forever funds, would be a very important tourist attraction. The island could be converted to an environmental showcase as a passive park. Boardwalks, raised pavilions with picnic tables, bird watcher areas, and a facility for research could all compose the passive park. This should not be funded by the city, since there are funds available in a number of ways.

18. How can we increase the number of workforce families in the City of Marathon?

Support the Middle Keys Community Land Trust and Habitat for Humanity. Help small mom-and-pop businesses to flourish. That would create jobs. The economy would get a boost. Workforce families will settle down in Marathon. The city still has to be vigilant. We are always going to have problems attracting workforce families here. This is a continuing long-term project. Money is not necessarily needed to make all this happen. We need to work on stopping the workforce families moving out of the keys. In recent years, we have lost over three thousand residents. That is not good for the economy. We need to be proactive not reactive.

19. How can the City of Marathon retain valuable employees and increase their value in training?

Establish a retention program to educate, assist, and encourage a career in municipal services. Budget for training to enhance skills to better serve Marathon residents.

20. Should there be a decrease or increase in city employees? Why or why not?

These are hard times. Everyone has to scale back to survive. The city has that responsibility as well. I advocate a hiring freeze except for a critical need. Do it for six-month segments to reevaluate each period.

21. How do you resolve the calls for lower taxes and increased calls for more high-quality city services?

This is the quandary the council faces annually. Having an election coming up so soon after budget season does not help. There are residents who want the budget cut to the bone come hell or high water. There are residents who want to be reassured that needed services will not be endangered by budget cuts. What is funny though is how there are some people who want budget cuts and come back asking for more funding for their concerns. Community, city staff, and councilmembers must work together to get the right balance. During these times though cutting the budget as much as is possible is very important. We got to get the dollars flowing around the city.

22. Considering the recent movement in the Lower Keys to designate a naturist beach, should the city designate the western portion of Coco Plum Beach as a nude beach following the Haulover Beach model? Why or why not?

Yes, naturist beaches stimulate the local economy. The hard part is where to locate a nudist beach. What do nearby neighbors think? What group would step up to patrol and manage the beach? How much will it cost to update the beach so that it is not viewable from the roadway? After you get through all those hoops, then it is only fair and proper to put it to a vote of Marathon residents.

23. Should building permits be tied to the evacuation time model? Why or why not?

No. Building permits are self regulated because there is only so much building land available. Even population can grow only so much. Evacuation is so variable depending on storm surge, winds, and what South Florida is doing. Having hurricane proof public infrastructure helps with the aftermath. Having a cash reserve will help the city to recover quickly. We all know how quickly FEMA pays out, and the insurance is not coming to you quickly as well. Having trained and experienced people who stay behind to start recovery efforts after the hurricane passes is the most important thing to Marathon's survival.

24. Should council members raise or lower their pay? Why?

Years ago, I was critical of councilmembers being paid anything. Now after having observed city council for over eight years, councilmembers need that pay to survive. Not only does a councilmember work at a regular job but puts in over 40 hours a week to do the council job. The mayor works over 60 hours, thank you very much.

25. What must the city do to get minorities involved at all levels of the city?

Slowly, I have seen minorities get more involved, vote more, and participate in their city and community. Still, encouragement, education, and understanding applies to us all.

Political Advertisement Paid For & Approved by Larry Shaffer for Marathon City Council