In July, all the necessary documents were filed with the FL Supreme Court regarding the Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach ad-valorem tax cases. Our attorneys requested an opportunity to make oral arguments, but the Court turned down that request. Now we sit and wait. The Supreme Court is under no obligation to rule within any specific time, but our attorneys are hopeful for a ruling before the end of the year.

Pensacola Beach Advocates conducted an online survey to get input from the community on the Pensacola Beach Master Plan. A total of 631 people completed the survey, giving their priorities on 26 different topics.

The top ten items that received the most support (high or mid priority) include:

• Expanded trolley service (75%)
• Improve pedestrian crosswalks (73%)
• Left turn lane eastbound into Via DeLuna shopping ctr (71%)
• Improving signalled intersection (65%)
• Moving SRIA offices (65%)
• Put Via DeLuna utilities underground (65%)
• Roundabout at Ft. Pickens Entrance (54%)
• Add landscaping to core area ony if it does not reduce parking (53%)
• Add a parking garage (51%)
• Electric smart signage on parking availability (51%)

View detailed summary of survey results at our website.

For 2013, the County will no longer be sending our separate billings for MSBU fees. They will be included in your Ad Valorem tax bill you receive in November. The Ad Valorem taxes, together with the MSBU fees, will be due March 31st, 2013, as they have been in the past.

The Ad valorem taxes billed are for calendar 2012. The MSBU taxes (on the same billing statement) will be for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2012, as they have been in the past. If a leaseholder were to sell their leasehold in 2013, the closing agent should treat these two portions of the tax bill separately for the purposes of pro-rating taxes in the closing statement.

There is a public hearing scheduled for September 11, 2012 at 5:00pm at the Commissioners Chambers on the first floor of the County Government Complex at 221 Palafox Place, Pensacola FL.

Thank goodness Tropical Storm Isaac spared Pensacola Beach. We can handle a tropical storm. The ECUA had issued an order on Monday to shut down the water and sewer service on Pensacola Beach on Monday night. The PBA and several beach businesses aggressively contacted ECUA officials and County Commissioners and were able to get ECUA to reverse that order. We felt it made no sense for the County to issue a voluntary evacuation order and for the ECUA to discontinue service to those residents and businesses that decided to stay. We will work with County and ECUA officials to clarify the decision making process for future storms.

You can sign up for email alerts from the Santa Rosa Island Authority for announcements regarding emergency information, tropical weather updates, evaluation inormation, damage assessments and return information after an evacuation. Visit http://sria-fla.com/e-alert-signup.php to sign up.

Make plans to participate in RECYCLEMANIA on October 13t (where you can sell or donate your treasures, shred sensitive documents, and donate non working electronics).

The day includes:

• Flea Market/Island-style Yard Sale where individuals may bring household items to sell from 8-12noon. Yard sale “space” is FREE to PBA members, and only $20 for non members. To reserve your space and register, go to www.pbadvocates.org, stop by the Pensacola Beach Visitors Information Center, or pick up an Island Times for a registration form.
• Goodwill Easter Seals will have a truck to accept your donated items. You can donate what you don’t
  sell at the end of the sale, or if you don’t want to participate in the yard sale, just bring your items to donate! They will take household items including small appliances (irons, toaster ovens, microwaves, TVs, etc.), clothing, toys, and also computers and related electronicsundefined working or not.
• Free shredding by Gilmore Services

Thanks to our sponsors of this event. Premier Island Management Group, Santa Rosa Island Authority, Holiday Inn Express Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach Women's Club and the Island Times.

Beachkeepers is still accepting sponsors ($100) and volunteers for this event.

For more information

The SRIA Board adopted next's years budget on June 27th. Once again there will be no increase in the residential lease fees that are tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The efforts of PBA to have this increase overturned during the budget process 3 years ago has saved over $750,000 in additional residential lease fees. Given the present climate of double taxation, can you imagine how bitter the pill of higher lease fees would have been?

An informational meeting was held on May 19th to provide information on the proposed BP Oil Spill Settlement and how it could benefit you. The proposed BP settlement has a provision whereby EVERY Pensacola Beach leaseholder (except those who have already settled with BP) can file a claim for “Loss of use and enjoyment” of their property.  You don’t need an attorney to file for this benefit – just a claim form and a copy of your 2010 Assessed Value statement from Chris Jones. The payment is a formula based on your 2010 assessed value.  The formula is different for properties south of Via De Luna and Ft. Pickens and those north of the road. The minimum payment is $2,800.

A concerned beach resident has compiled a document explaining step by step how to find and fill out the claim forms. Read this document to help you through the process.

The official website for filing claims is http://www.deepwaterhorizonsettlements.com  

The SRIA has engaged an engineer to examine the feasibility and cost of putting in a crushed stone parking lot on the SRIA property between Avenida 13 and Avenida 14.  This would be the area south of Via De Luna where the gazebo is. Neighbors and others interested parties need to follow this issue and make sure their opinion is heard. The engineering report is scheduled to be discussed at the June 27^th SRIA Committee meetings.

The SRIA Board is reviewing its organization chart and mission. Board member Vernon Prather made several recommendations at the SRIA meeting last week, and the SRIA is looking for more input from interested citizens on this subject. What does the SRIA do well? What can it do better? Where should our lease fees be best spent? The SRIA is just starting its budget process for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. If you have recommendations, please e-mail them to PBA at info@pbaadvocates.org.

In April, the Escambia County Board of Commissioners voted down the Core Area plan which included an elevated roadway. Where do we go from here? PBA is designing a survey to get input from the public to help set priorities for the many ideas that have been presented during the three years of the planning process. The survey will be web-based, and will allow you to rate the various ideas.

Take the Survey