 The Marathon Florida Keys Journal
City of Marathon, Florida Keys, Paradise
Volume 11 † Issue 7 † July 2005
[In The Keys] [Kitty Talk] [Guest Articles] [Internet Stuff]
[Poetry Corner] [Hockey Puck] [Twins of the Dark Star] [The Dull Stuff]
The Marathon Florida Keys Journal contains all the old articles, but adds a new focus locally in the Florida Keys. The most popular part of the magazine is Kitty Talk. The lead article is the In The Keys section that offers opinions and even some editorializing. Additionally, there are articles concerning the local political beat. At times these articles were provided to other media for publication, which edit them to suit their needs. The Marathon Free Press/Citizen has used some of these articles. We are always looking for interesting guest articles. We sincerely appreciate your visit and patronage. Please enjoy and come back soon! In The Keys
~some articles have photos, go to http://MarathonJournal.US/press/index.htm~
Marathon's workforce affordable housing Land Development Regulations work session
was held at the Sheriff's Aviation Hangar meeting room May 31st at 6:30 PM.
City council members, city staff, public representatives from hotel/motels,
developers, and mobile home/RV park residents attended.
Ideas for workforce affordable housing regulations were all over the map.
Some ideas were widely accepted, while other ideas generated a bit of
resistance from various groups. Essentially, city staff wanted ideas for
writing the regulations from the council and the public. A healthy
discussion lasted for several hours.
The Comprehensive Plan outlines the city's goals for workforce affordable
housing. This includes a no-net loss of existing affordable housing. Council
member Jeff Pinkus suggested that working towards a gain of affordable
housing overall was a better goal.
The first suggestion was to round up affordable housing units required of
developers. For example, if a developer is required to provide 9.5 units or
equivalent workforce affordable housing, then that figure would round up to
10. In other words, affordable housing would always win out.
Another idea was to provide incentives for developers to create mixed-income
housing developments that include workforce housing. Other incentives to
entice developers to build such housing were discussed as well.
Discussion ensued identifying how some developers destroy existing workforce
housing without being required to replace it.
Several possible solutions were talked about with general agreement that
some or all would be helpful. There was talk about allowing developers to
build workforce housing on a lot, and then transferring the market rate to
another lot. This would allow market rate housing on waterfront property and
affordable housing in the interior, which many agreed was preferable.
Another possible way to increase workforce housing is changing the ratio
between market rate allocations and affordable housing allocations. In other
words, increase affordable housing allocations while decreasing the market
rate ones. Getting more allocations from the state across the board would be
better according to some.
Rick Casey, Middle Keys Community Land Trust Administrator, suggested
putting money aside from developments and other suitable methods into an
affordable housing trust fund. Such a fund exists elsewhere in the state and
can be used to solve workforce-housing issues. The fund called for by the
Comprehensive Plan and would be controlled by the city.
Exclusionary zoning was discussed as well. This idea would keep identified
workforce housing areas affordable. This would slow the conversion of
affordable housing to high-end units, resulting in a loss of workforce
housing.
Also discussed was trying to take the hotel/motel redevelopment density
reduction and converting it to workforce housing allocations. This led to a
discussion on maintaining a balance between property rights and keeping
valuable workforce in the city.
For those developments that provide workforce housing for their workers, a
suggestion was made to allow them to use fractional Rate of Growth Ordinance
allocations. For example, two workforce units of a certain square footage
would equal one allocation. Allowing workforce housing on the top of
commercial buildings would also fit into this suggestion as well.
One very interesting idea was to allow developers to build workforce
housing, rent it out to recoup the cost of building, and then as some point
in the future to transfer the unit to an agency, such as the Land Trust.
This would be an incentive for developers to build workforce housing and
keep it affordable in perpetuity.
Near the end of the work session, Steve Williams suggested that the city
build affordable workforce housing. That idea didn't gain much support from
the city council, because tax increases also affect existing workforce
rental amounts.
City staff will consider the ideas with the most appeal to the council and
the public and come up with some draft regulations. A lot of work still
needs to be done, but a start was made for the young City of Marathon. Marathon’s Parks and Recreation Committee met at the public library at 6:30 PM on June 9th. Bill Sympson was welcomed to the committee. He is a Council Member Mearns recent appointee.
Parks and Recreation Supervisor Jimmy Schmidt gave an update on Community Park Phase II. Now that all the underground work has been completed, surface work has started.
The committee discussed possible ways to improve Coco Plum Beach. Eight environmentally sensitive lots separate the beach. The committee talked about possibly purchasing those properties to unite the separate parts of the beach. Suggestions were made to put in nature trails, install compost toilets, and construct a boardwalk. The parking lot recently saw some minor improvements.
The committee went on to talk about possible grant money. They discussed some of the positive things at Anne’s Beach in Islamorada, which they thought Coco Plum Beach might try.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) on the proposed swimming pool was published. When the RFP comes back, then the committee, the public, and the council can make informed decisions.
The committee identified several future projects that might fill the city’s needs. A men’s softball field that could be converted to other types of baseball fields was one need. Currently, only little-league sized ball fields exist. The problem is location.
Another need is a small parcel for a dog park. Again the main problem would be location. Existing facilities are not feasible.
The committee decided to skip the July meeting. The next meeting agenda will address updates on current projects. Also, possible future projects will be considered. The meeting adjourned at 7:17 PM. Marathon's Planning Commission held their monthly meeting at the Sheriff's
Aviation Hangar, the second floor classroom. The June meeting started on
time at 6:30 PM.
The Commission reelected Bill Smith as Chairman and Mike Cinque as Vice
Chairman.
The Planning Commission recommended approval of a setback variance request
from Howard Glass. The rental property at 900 66th Street Ocean has
unpermitted structures encroaching on the minimum setbacks. Staff reported
an outstanding Code Compliance case pending on this property as well.
Planning staff recommended denial of the variance request. The City Council
will make final determination.
A proposed new fire station at Marathon's airport had the support of Fire
Chief Hans Wagner and City Manager Mike Puto. The city's agent, Debbie Love
from Keith and Schnars, made the presentation. The proposed complex first
floor would have 7,128 square foot administrative offices, 1,100 square foot
for vehicle bays, and 6,300 square foot second floor containing personnel
quarters. The building would be able to withstand winds of 200 MPH, allowing
it to be the city's Emergency Operations Center. The conditions for approval
are allowing the Planning Director Gail Kenson to waive setback and
bufferyard requirements. The Commission recommended approval.
Donald Craig, the owner's agent, presented a proposed redevelopment at Hog
Key, mile marker 47. The owner is Grand Keys LLC. The proposed redevelopment
would have a drinking establishment, marina, and an office. The conditions
for approval are relocation of the handicap space out of the front setback,
meeting US1 bufferyard requirements, installing a fire hydrant, and putting
in a sprinkler system. The Commission recommended approval.
The ordinance extending the moratorium on the acceptance of ROGO
applications that seek development permits to develop properties containing
high quality natural areas was sent to the City Council for renewal upon the
Commission's 3-2 vote. The ordinance is needed until the Comprehensive Plan
is actually in effect, which is supposed to be on or about July 5th,
according to Planning Director Gail Kenson.
The reinvented Pescayo Village project was presented to the Planning
Commission. The Coco Plum Beach properties were originally slated to be 10
market-rate and 32 affordable units. Due to a number of problems, the
project morphed into 8 single-family homes. The 2 lots need to be subdivided
into 8 lots. The developer requested a preliminary plat approval. Planning
staff recommended approval provided Avenue A is installed per FDOT
requirements and 2 fire hydrants are installed as well. Other minor
requirements were detailed. The Commission recommended approval.
While the Planning Commission is primarily advisory to take public input,
Chairman Bill Smith has consistently shut down such public input during
recent meetings. All other entities of the city government take great pains
to hear public input no matter how painful. The Planning Commission should
follow suit.
What's Happening! The property between 42nd Street and 43rd Street has a long strip of land with the canal on the east and 42nd Street on the west. It is littered with garbage, trash, and old tires put there by many of the residents living on 42nd Street. The owner cleaned the property once, but the trash persists. I have seen people just tossing their refuse onto private property. It isn't right. I just can't figure out why some people do that.
Miscellany: I sat at the June 14th Marathon City Council, watching Sandler at Greater Marathon Bay presenting themselves as the second coming for the city. The only problem is that everyone saw through their lies. Sandler displaced an entire community, and, frankly, doesn't give a damn about anyone except themselves. At the June 28th Marathon City Council meeting, former Gulfstream residents told their stories one more time. Kelli and Lenny Polk spoke about their lost homes and still owing on a trailer loan. While Jay Pulis, nominally the property manager, harassed them, Eugene Spano, the owner's agent never made an offer to Kelli and Lenny. Doris Carden explained that she had finally retired, when she lost her home to Sandler at Greater Marathon Bay. She had to go back to work to pay on a FEMA loan for Hurricane Georges damage to a home no longer existing. While lawyer William DeVane defended Sandler, Bobbi and son, Richard, Silva lost their homes. All they want is one of the 18 affordable homes being built by Sandler in a deal with the city. Karen Melnick talked about the community that was like family that has been displaced. She also asked for consideration from Sandler, when new affordable units are built. City Council members sympathized, but couldn't go against state law. It was pointed out that a court recorder sat in the front row, and the City of Marathon could not afford a lawsuit that it would surely lose. Sandra Walters, Eugene Spano, William DeVane, and others from Sandler at Greater Marathon Bay sat with heads bowed; some writing furiously. There was nothing anyone could do. Gulfstream Trailer Park is no more. On another note, the Middle Keys Social Membership group finally changed their name to something more meaningful, Middle Keys Arts Alliance, which is still part of the Florida Keys Council of the Arts.  To the left is a cell-phone picture of my grandson, Michael, who is on a trek with his father, Jeff, across the United States in a tractor-trailer rig. You can barely see Jeff as a reflection in the window just to the left of Michael. It is actually a pretty good picture from a cell phone. Lastly, go to http://MarathonJournal.US/press/index.htm for pictures of our recent visit to the specially protected reef called the Coffin's Patch. The photo collection is at the bottom of the web page. Finally: Did you know that Wisconsin's state bird is the Robin? The flower is the Wood Violet. The tree is the Sugar Maple. The capital is Madison. Statehood was granted May 29, 1848. Lastly, the Kent Gallery features modern art. This Key West gallery is located at 821 Duval Street. They are open daily 10-6. Their telephone number is 305-292-5646. Call for more details. Their web address is as follows: http://www.kentgalleryart.com.
Kitty Talk
These journals are dedicated to Kitty GreyCat's spirit. She is at RainBow Bridge now along with her human friends, Leo and Doris. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997. Please use our email form linked below to make suggestions or offer praise. Now, really, the cats have thoughts and meows that are badly interpreted by a human for publication here. So believe what you will, but enjoy nonetheless. All complaints, flames, and such like will end up in the litter box! >^..^<  Ebony: I like it very much, when I got to spend all Memorial Day outside with two human beans who were playing music and having great fun. I caught several juicy, hot lizards too. When I finally got back inside, I saw something very funny. Abby was sneaking up on a new flagpole, not knowing what it was. She paw tapped it and then slapped at it. Funny. >^..^<
Abby: I got funny right here in my paw up side you head, Ebony. What is not funny is flea stuff applied by human beans what not nose what it feel like. I nose that we go crazy with even one flea on us, but flea stuff is really very yucky. Ebony is funny what she does at the front door though. >^..^<
Ebony: Yes, I like to squeeze in between the blinds and the window. Human beans are on the porch and must be doing so many interesting things that I just have to know about. Finally, one of them pesky human beans let me out on their lap. I got tired on being on a lap and wanted down. I was then summarily put back inside. >^..^<
Abby: Now that is something, Ebony. I aggravate them pesky human beans by meowing about stuff all the time. They don't know what I am meowing about though. I nose that you aggravate them by trying to escape out that front door all the time. What is really aggravating is guest human beans that I have to hide from. I don't like guests at all. I am just now getting used to the Ohio human beans that live with us now. I like to aggravate Ebony by fighting with her all the time. I bite her too. I paw tap her some. She growl and hiss too. I like it. >^..^<
Ebony: I get really mad at you, when you fight with me. Even if you are playing, I don't like it. I do like pulling the catnip key from the catnip box. I play with it too. Then human bean put fresh catnip in the catnip bowl. >^..^<
Abby: Meow, I really like catnip. I try to paw some catnip out of the plastic catnip bag, but it hard to do that. Catnip is very much like catnapping too, I have found. I like to catnap in closets and with our human bean. >^..^<
  Ebony: Abby and I are sleeping together, as you can see in the photos. We don't do that very often, you can be sure. I have been sleeping with the human bean child. I sleep on her pillow, beside her sometimes, and once with her arms around me. At least I do some serious catnapping. Abby just so silly with the stuff she does, I meow. >^..^<
Abby: Ebony, I was just chasing the string that human bean was playing with. I chased some small rubber balls too. The big balls are good to put paws around also. I brought some of my toys into the living room to play with. They ended up in the boxes. >^..^<
Ebony: The empty boxes were fun, but we had a cat fight in there once. That wasn't so much fun. What wasn't fun either was when our human bean was gone on a trip. We missed him and got all excited when he came back home. While human bean was gone, I stayed with the other human beans. They have the Bird Channel. There are two little birds in a cage. That channel is so very interesting. I get rambunctious and get sprayed with water, which sends me running everytime. Getting wet is not very cat friendly, I meow. The chair is cat friendly. >^..^<
Abby: You and I love to ride that office chair, sitting so high on the chair back. What I don't like is the two small kittens next door. We all four of us hissed at each other throught the window screen. One of the kittens batted at us but pawed the screen instead. Them kittens are just sassy and mean and not nose their place. >^..^<
Ebony: I nose my place. It is on the table pawing the cricket cage around. It had two really real crickets in it. I wonder what they must taste like, but I couldn't get them out of that cricket cage, I couldn't. >^..^<
Abby: What gets me out of the kitchen and under the bed is the thunder boomers. I hate them, I do. Human bean comforts me then. I groom him, purr, and show my affection for him. Ebony shows her affections by bumping her head on human bean. Strange, Ebony is. Well, that all the meowing we have for you this cat month. >^..^<
Internet Stuff
Here are the latest DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com: Meet the Fockers has you laughing from beginning to end. The performances of the actors were priceless. Barbara was especially good along with Dustin Hoffman. Donnie Darko is one of the few five-star movies that I have reviewed this year. The director’s cut takes us through one possible future, but things always must be what they must be. Somehow they always do. Son of the Mask wasn’t nearly as good or funny as the first movie, but it had its moments and was good enough. The mask fit the father, the baby, and the zany dog, all good. Birth is a very strange movie with an ending just as strange. A woman is getting remarried. Her first husband has been dead ten years. A ten-old boy comes along, saying that he is her first husband. The film goes too far sometimes and other times not far enough. Kinsey was an insightful look of the life and times of Alfred Kinsey who told us the truth about sex, at least from the scientific point of view. Primer is a peculiar movie. Two guys inadvertently build a time machine. Instead of getting rich, they just make things so much more complicated. Flight of the Phoenix is an excellent action-adventure movie with sand dunes and plenty of sand and wind. A group of weary survivors of an airplane crash in the hot desert come up with a way to save themselves by working together to rebuild a plan from the crash. The Hurricane is a splendid movie based on a wrongly convicted boxer, and the people who help him prove his innocence. The Phantom of the Opera was an especially good musical with a superb plot. The characters were mesmerizing. Yet musicals aren’t really my cup of tea. Sorry. The Last Shot is about an FBI sting operation built around a movie production. The film is fun, lively, and very entertaining. The acting was quite good. I liked it. National Treasure is an intense treasure hunt, full of action and excitement. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou was unique, quirky, surreal, exploring interrelationships between all kinds of people and events. There were some whimsical moments too. Interesting websites we visited recently: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp is where everyone can get their annual free credit reports. Each of the big three handle any corrections online too. http://www.mkclt.org/ovhao/ is the website for the Overseas Village Home Owners Association. http://tracfone.com helped me transition to a new cell phone and select one for my niece. Various websites make our lives easier by providing information, answers, and numerous services that are quickly become indispensable.
Poetry Corner
"Falling Star"
June 3, 2005
On the green plains
So very long ago
We stood and watched
The falling star
Splintering light
As it raced to
Horizon moonlit
A moment frozen
Forever in our minds
Our spirits entwined
As a gentle wind
Shadowed the event
Quietly, gently
We held hands
Waiting for what
May never come
Again the moon
Again the stars
Again the falling
Again this time
But you can
Never go home
Only the remains
Of a memory © 2005 L. E. Shaffer
Guest Articles
Stuff not written by us. As always everything is copyright of the author. Group Novel
As an experiment for fun, we are writing a group novel at the world famous and so very special Area 52B forum. © 2005 L. E. Shaffer, Kim Young, Linda Hall
Hockey Puck
The NHL still hasn't come to an agreement with its players. The lockout continues. The fate of professional hockey hangs in the balance. Jimmy Johnson barely finished first side by side with Bobby Labonte in Charlotte at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in the Coca-Cola 600. The Miami Heat lost to the Detroit Pistons 4 to 3 games in the NBA Eastern Conference Championship. http://www.nba.com/heat/ and http://www.nascar.com are very good in keeping one up to date on current sporting events in their respective sport. The Phoenix Suns were elimination by the San Antonio Spurs in seven games in the NBA Western Conference Championship series. The Spurs went on to win the championship by beating the Pistons in seven games. Tiger Woods is doing well at the Memorial Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. He finished twelve under and will definitely be at the top. Pocono NASCAR race was on Fox. Jeff Gordon finished 9th at the Subway 500 in Pocono. Dale Jr. finished 33rd. The NASCAR Michigan race saw Gordon and Dale Jr. deep in the field. Tiger was on the leader board at Pinehurst, US Open Championship. The next NASCAR race was at Sonoma, California, at the racetrack called Infineon. Jeff Gordon had the pole and led until transmission problems. The Williams sisters are still doing their tennis things. The Marlins are playing some fishy baseball. Ricky Williams could be back with the Dolphins. Go figure! Well, no more sports moments to report. Things won't get exciting again until the puck is dropped on the ice.
Twins of the Dark Star
Book One Tears from Ao and four poetry collections, Pages of Life, Visions of Life, Moments of Life, and The Book of Kalian Mysticism are available electronically at http://RunesofAo.com/aobp/. The Runes of Ao project, Book Two The Mountains of Ao novel is currently in final edit. Book Three Twins of the Dark Star novel in early stages and Falling Star poetry collection are works in progress. A collaboration with K. Young on a novella called Dragon Embers is now published on the fan site known as Runes of Ao.com. Finally, in collaboration with K. Young and Linda Hall, a group novel project is in progress and currently titled Starsongs.
The Dull Stuff
All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of this magazine, company, or its advertisers. Inputs, email, suggestions, and letters to this journal are subject to approval by Ebony and Abby. Submittals may be edited for content and length and become the creative property for the one-time nonexclusive publication of: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company
Merchant Occupational License #48210-0076151
PO Box 501833
Marathon FL 33050-1833
(305) 743-9648 voice/fax Internet URLs: www.RunesofAo.com
www.RunesofAo.com/roa/
www.RunesofAo.com/aobp/
www.RunesofAo.com/ebony/
www.RunesofAo.com/abby/
www.RunesofAo.com/LarryShaffer/ Publication date: June 28, 2005
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
© 1995 - 2008, 2009 L. E. SHAFFER
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FIRST PRINTING; ELECTRONIC & PRINT MEDIA
[Previous Journal] [Journal Index] [Next Journal]
|
