On the heels of Escambia County commissioners voting to slash the Santa Rosa Island Authority budget in half and hand control of its Public Works Department and Public Safety Department to the County, SRIA Executive Director Buck Lee submitted his letter of resignation, effective Jan. 15.

Tammy Bohannon, the Santa Rosa Island Authority board chairwoman, announced his resignation Wednesday at the board meeting. The 68-year-old Lee left the meeting about an hour earlier, complaining of flu-like symptoms.

Board member Thomas Campanella said Lee intends to meet one-on-one with each of the board members and explain his decision. Lee called Campanella on Wednesday to break the news. Campanella said Lee spoke in a matter-of-fact tone without the slightest hint of a quiver in his voice.

Lee submitted his resignation on the same day that Public Safety Director Bob West filed his retirement papers after 12 years at SRIA. His retirement will be in effect Sept. 30, the day before the County assumes control of the department.

“If I was still working under Buck it might be different,” the 59-year-old West said. “If the board hadn’t thrown us away, I’d feel a lot differently about that.”

West described Lee as a phenomenal boss, who supported his employees and let them take risks.

SRIA hired Lee, a Pensacola native, as its executive director in April of 2005 after Hurricane Ivan depleted its budget.

“He came in after Ivan in ’05 when we were at a zero-base budget because nothing was open, everything was closed,” Campanella said. “He’s been here to build the beach back and go through the oil spill and all of that good stuff.

“He doesn’t mind going out there wearing his Ole Miss hat and talking to everybody and just getting in the midst of everything.”

Before his tenure as executive director, Lee served as county commissioner in both Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He formerly owned Jack Lee Buick and Buck Lee Governmental Consulting Inc.

Board member Dave Pavlock said Lee treats everyone on the island like they just bought a Buick off of him.

“I’m sorry to see him go because he’s given 100 percent of his efforts and he’s had 100 percent respect and admiration by this board, and I think by the people on the beach and the businesses out here that are flourishing on the beach,” Pavlock said.

Fellow board member Jerry Watson said Lee excelled as an executive director for a myriad of reasons, starting first and foremost with his communication skills.

Lee tried unsuccessfully last week to persuade the county commissioners to leave SRIA alone.

The commissioners cut the $8 million SRIA budget and took control of two of its departments as the first steps in stopping beach leaseholders from paying lease fees on top of property taxes. Lease fees will be reduced by a minimum of 50 percent.

The SRIA budget is based solely on lease fees and covers expenses for lifeguards, services, salaries for 45 full-time staffers and 60 part-time staffers, and hosting events such as Bands on the Beach.

Pavlock said replacing Lee will be a gargantuan task considering the uncertain future for SRIA.

“We’re in a situation where we don’t know where we’re going to go with that,” Pavlock said. “To find someone that’s outside the organization is going to be very difficult to do because nobody’s going to want to take a job that they don’t know if it’s going to only last six months or a year or a year-and-a-half. With the staff that we have now here, I think we have talent that can continue to steer the ship in the direction we want to go.”

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(by Thomas St. Myer, pnj.com) The Board of County Commissioners passed two ordinances at its meeting Thursday night that will significantly impact Pensacola Beach, its inhabitants and the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

The commissioners voted unanimously for Escambia County to take over Public Works Department and Public Safety Department duties from the SRIA effective Oct. 1, and they unanimously approved an ordinance leave no trace (trash, chairs and the sort) on the beach.

The SRIA budget ordinance is the first step in stopping Pensacola Beach residents from continuing to pay both property tax and lease fees. Lease fees by SRIA will be reduced by a minimum of 50 percent.

“It ultimately benefits the County from the sense of trying to create parity and fairness in the way taxes and leases are administered on the island,” said Commissioner Grover Robinson IV (District-4). “… I think all of us agree that they shouldn’t be paying taxes on the land and leases at the same time.”

The SRIA budget of about $8 million will be slashed in half. An escrow currently set aside for land taxes that holds about $7,600,000 will fund the operational budgets for the Public Works and Public Safety Department.

Commissioner Wilson Robertson (District-1) questioned if the SRIA budget should be cut further. Commissioner Chairman Steve Barry (District-5) said that is worth discussing and recommended they discuss that possibility at a later date.

The $8 million annual budget is based solely on lease fees and covers expenses for lifeguards, services, salaries for 45 full-time staffers and 60 seasonal staffers, and hosting events such as Blue Angels Pensacola Beach air show and Bands on the Beach. Robinson said SRIA will still be in charge of those events next year, but the commissioners will potentially search for ways such as a resort tax to fund them in the future.

All SRIA Public Works and Public Safety Department employees will be transferred to the County with no loss of pay following an extension and acceptance of an offer of employment.

The commissioners said the plan is for all current employees to be retained.

“At this particular time, I don’t think that’s what envisioned from the County standpoint,” Robinson said of job losses. “Clearly all of the other individuals in those two departments are going to roll over to us.”

The County will assume responsibility of some governmental functions from SRIA.

The $200,000 paid by SRIA for fire services will be eliminated and absorbed by the Fire Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) fund. There will reportedly be no change in the Fire MSBU rate paid on Santa Rosa Island.

The $75,774 paid by SRIA for ambulance services will be eliminated, too. An EMS fund will reportedly absorb that charge.

SRIA Executive Director Buck Lee opposed the ordinance, but he spoke in favor of cutting lease fees for residents. Lee attended the commissioners meeting, but he left before the SRIA budget came up for discussion. He spoke with the commissioners about the ordinance Thursday morning at a SRIA budget meeting.

“My main concern is keeping it the same level of service that we had,” Lee said. “I think the commissioners want to see the same level with the lifeguards and cleanup. We start at 4:30 in the morning and don’t stop until 12:30 next morning.”

Only one resident spoke in the public forum about the SRIA budget, but the leave no trace ordinance attracted five public speakers to the microphone. All five residents voiced their support for the ordinance.

“Having been here for almost 15 years now, I’ve watched it gradually get worse and worse,” Gulf Breeze resident Jim Cox said. “… It’s exasperated in recent years. The more people see other people leaving on the beach then they’ll leave on the beach. It’s one of these things where my neighbor does it, I’ll do it.”

The leave no trace ordinance calls for personal property left on the beach after 7 p.m. to be removed and disposed of properly. The commissioners amended the ordinance to include that a deposit may be set as determined by the county administrator. The ordinance will take effect at the first of the year.

Santa Rosa Island budget ordinance

•Any new hires by SRIA for the Public Works or Public Safety Department prior to Oct. 1 will require approval of the county administrator or his designee.

•All county roads on Santa Rosa Island will be included in the County’s existing resurfacing program.

•The county administrator and county attorney are authorized to begin discussions with SRIA to jointly request a change to the Special Act in time for the next legislative session.

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On August 6, 2015, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved the transfer of two SRIA departments to the county.  All expenses associated with the Departments of Public Works and Public Safety, including employees, equipment, and operating costs will now be funded without the use of our lease fees. 

As a result, the SRIA will reduce both residential and business lease fees by 50% effective October 1, 2015.  

SRIA and County staff will begin meeting immediately to ensure a smooth transition.  During the budget workshop there was much discussion about maintaining the current level of services on Pensacola Beach.  Jack Brown, County Administrator, assured the Board that County officials plan to create two new divisions under the County's Public Works and Public Safety departments.  All current SRIA staff positions would be transitioned into these two divisions, and it is expected that they will continue to function much as they do right now. 

During the budget workshop they also discussed the fact that they need to start looking into what the SRIA should look like when all governmental services are eventually picked up by the County.  Do we want a SRIA Board?  If so, what do we envision as their role in managing Pensacola Beach?  Now is the time to voice your concerns and suggestions.

This reduction in lease fees is a result of a coalition of PBA, the lodging representatives, and the Pensacola Beach Chamber, who educated, informed and encouraged the BoCC to take action after over 11 years of collecting taxes on the island while allowing us to pay for governmental services with lease fees that other county residents enjoy at no charge beyond their ad valorem taxes. We consider this to be the first step towards the elimination of lease fees, and we fully intend to continue our work towards this end.

On Aug. 6, 2015, Escambia Board of County Commission (BoCC) enacted the "Leave no Trace" Ordinance.  The ordinance helps ensure the beaches on Pensacola Beach are clutter free and retuned to its natural state after sunset.  It prohibits persons from leaving tents, chairs, coolers, umbrellas, and other personal items on the beach overnight.  Penalties may include a $500 fine or 60 days in jail. 

The ordinance is now in effect.  Please keep our beaches clean and remove your belongs at the end of the day.

The Santa Rosa Island Authority's 2016 proposed budget reflects a nearly 50% reduction and transfer of expenditures to the County.  If the budget and transfers are approved, then SRIA has agreed to reduce lease fees accordingly.  On July 13, 2015, the PBA sent a proposal to the Santa Rosa Island Authority encouraging SRIA to implement the proposed lease fee reduction across all classes of leaseholders by reducing each payers’ rate equally.  Details are available here.

The SRIA’s proposed 2016 Budget reflects a nearly 50% reduction in expenses with the expectation that the Public Works (maintenance) and Public Safety (lifeguards) will be transferred to Escambia County as of October 1, 2015.  The SRIA will correspondingly reduce lease fees.

However, arriving at a lease fee reduction that is fair to all is not straightforward.  The various interests of Direct Residential Leaseholders, Master Leaseholders and Commercial Leaseholders need to be balanced.  It is also essential that the lease fee reduction be passed on to sub-lessees wherever possible.

To guide the SRIA and our beach community’s discussion of how to equitably and legally reduce lease fees, PBA engaged the law firm of Clark Partington Hart Larry Bond & Stackhouse to give an opinion on several issues.  Their opinion and the cover letter from PBA President, Benjamin Stevenson, to the SRIA are attached.

The PBA’s Government Affairs Committee will continue to work with the SRIA staff and attorney over the next weeks to help structure a fair implementation program for the lease fee reduction. 

On Monday, June 22, 2015, the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) Board adopted its budget for fiscal 2016.  The budget reflects the transfer of the Public Works (maintenance) and Public Safety (lifeguards) to Escambia County effective October 1, 2015. This will reduce the SRIA’s operating budget by about 50%.  The SRIA Board directed a corresponding 50% reduction in residential and commercial lease fees.

The SRIA budget is subject to review and approval by the Escambia County Board of Commissioners.  The County Administrator, Jack Brown, was at the SRIA meeting, and he indicated that the budget was in line with County expectations, although the County Board may require some undefined “tweaks” in the budget.

This lease fee reduction is the direct result of coordinated work by the PBA, the Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce and representatives from the major Beach hotels.

Some implementation issues, such as how to get master leaseholders to pass on the lease fee reduction to its sub-lessees, need to be worked out. Also, we need to make sure the County lives up to its promise of maintaining the current level of service for the maintenance and lifeguard services.

PBA will continue to work on obtaining additional lease fee reductions, with the ultimate goal of eliminating lease fees altogether.  We will also continue to work on getting fee-simple title for all Beach leaseholders. 

Meet Mia the Mermaid or take the Sea Turtle Oath at the Sea Turtle Baby Shower, Saturday, August 15 from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Pensacola Beach’s Park West. It’s a celebration of our sea turtles. Learn about the mama turtle who returns to her birth place, Pensacola Beach, to lay her nest and the tiny hatchlings who emerge and head for the Gulf of Mexico. Make your own sea turtle ornament and touch a real turtle shell. There will be contests, games, performances, educational kiosks, give-aways, art vendors and a prize basket drawing. The event will take place at Park West, which is located at the end of Fort Pickens Road just prior to the National Park entrance. 

If all the fun makes you thirsty, stop by the water booth to purchase a Turtles Dig the Dark souvenir, reusable cup filled with ice cold water. Proceeds benefit the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Marine Conservation Center.

The event is sponsored by the Pensacola Beach Advocates, Holiday Inn Express, Margaritaville Beach Hotel and Emerald Coast Utilities Authority.

On May 28, 2015, the Florida Circuit Court in Escambia County granted summary judgment to the tax authorities in a case challenging the taxation of 12 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to Portofino condominiums. Island Resort Investments, Inc., v. Jones et al., No. 2011-ca-002367 (Fla. 1st Cir. Escambia Cnty.).  

The ruling states that leasees have an “equitable ownership” in the leased land--and not just the improvements--and therefore the land is subject to ad-valorem taxes. This is similar to the Florida Supreme Court rulings last year on the taxability of leasehold improvements on Pensacola Beach (1108 Ariola) and leasehold land and improvements on Navarre Beach (Accardo).

The Escambia Courts have not yet ruled on two additional cases challenging the taxation of the leased land of the Portofino and Beach Club condominiums.  Once these rulings are issued, assuming the conclusions are the same, Pensacola Beach Advocates will press the County to eliminate lease fees altogether.

In the meantime, PBA is continuing to work with the SRIA and Escambia County Board of Commissioners to effect a substantial lease fee reduction effective October 1, 2015.

Last night, our PBA, together with the PB Chamber, representatives from the PB hotels, and other concerned citizens pressed the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) last night to reduce its budget.  As a result, the SRIA Board asked its staff to reduce the 2016 budget and transfer about $4.6 million in costs to Escambia County.

Cost transfers would include the cost of maintenance and lifeguards, as well as road maintenance and other costs normally borne by Escambia County in all other areas of the County.

The effect would be to reduce the SRIA 2016 budget by about 50%, with a similar 50% reduction in lease fees for all residential and commercial lease fees.

This is great news and welcome relief.  Special thanks to Jim Cox and Terry Preston, PBA Government Affairs Committee, for the hard work and dedication they invested over the last year into achieving the goal of reducing lease fees.  Thank you also for all those who turned out last night to show support.

If Escambia County Commissioners accept the SRIA budget and assume those costs, the lease fee reductions would go into effect October 1, 2015. The Board of County Commissioners have promised to maintain the current level of services on Pensacola Beach.  We need to be sure they live up to that promise.

PBA members are encouraged to attend the next SRIA Budget Workshop on June 10^th and express their support for reduced SRIA budget and lease fees.