Guest Column: Neighborhood Bill of Rights' rejection wrong

Guest Column: Neighborhood Bill of Rights' rejection wrong PETER ROMANOSt. Augustine Publication Date: 06/10/07
Without much fanfare, but with diligent effort, the Neighborhood Council in March proposed an ordinance called the "Neighborhood Bill of Rights." All that we had asked was that the St. Augustine City Commission discuss the measure which is almost identical to the St. Johns County ordinance passed in 2006, and similar to an existing Jacksonville ordinance.
What became of this measure to extend a basic list of rights to the everyday citizen who is taking responsibility for their community? First, it was referred to the city staff for comments. Then it received an all-out attack by the city attorney, who inferred that the "everyday" citizen could exercise these at any time.
And of course the commissioners and the mayor voted it down, saying in effect, let's not accept accountability or responsibility to our citizens.
Here's what we asked for (abridged version):
A. Prompt . responses to all reasonable city business questions, document requests, and meeting requests submitted to the city manager or his/her staff
B. A timely personal response of its commissioner or designee questions directed to the City Commission office.
C. Advance notification and a reasonable opportunity to provide input to the city of any substantial city initiated or permitted public works or utility projects.
D. Notification of the submission of any application or pre-application for city approval of a special use, temporary use, variance, vesting, rezoning, Development of Regional Impact, PUD, PRD, Comprehensive Plan change, other significant land use change application, or change or amendment thereof.
E. To allow members of one or more neighborhood associations to ask questions ., concerns, or suggestions regarding said application. .
F. Final version(s) of all land use change application documents must be provided to the city no later than 15 days prior to any public hearing on the matter . notifying affected parties (including neighborhood associations) in writing.
G. Representatives of each neighborhood association representing property within 300 feet of the subject property shall be accorded an opportunity to share. ... time to address and present evidence to any city board, ... so be accorded the right to reasonably cross-examine the applicant's witnesses on the issues which such witness testifies.
H. Misrepresentation, as reasonably determined by the city, provided by an association in materials or testimony provided cause such association to lose its registration status for one year from the hearing date.
I. Opportunity for formal input into the annual budget process, including the opportunity to express preferred city government priorities, suggested capital improvement projects.
J. The opportunity to provide input into the design of publicly-funded projects within or adjacent to the neighborhood ...
So how does this affect us? One of the founding members of the Neighborhood Council, the governing body of St. Augustine's Neighborhood Associations, finds one of its members floundering.
Up until the last meeting in May, and a threat to dissolve, the Lincolnville Neighborhood Association hadn't had a quorum in six months. As a result, we haven't had elections for 2007, too few people have shown up to kick me out.
Meanwhile, the neighborhood's troubles mount; trash, littering, deteriorated streets, graffiti, wandering homeless, hookers on parade, continuing drug deals and murder. I receive complaints about these conditions, from people who mostly won't participate in the association to try to make a change.
The city, while ignoring these problems (with the exception of some much-needed police attention to the corner of Bridge Street and M.L. King Avenue) instead imposes its own will on the neighborhood. Through the Planning and Zoning Board, it strong-arms rezoning by exception, "taking away residentially/historically zoned property to make it a parking lot for the National Guard. It sets an ordinance on density without considering how it affects an already "urban" neighborhood.
One of my colleagues in the Neighborhood Council put it succinctly. "Since the associations (neighborhoods) do not have any authority or power there can not be any liability to the city for their actions"
Or, inactions, I would add.
On Thursday, we will try for a Lincolnville resurrection. On June 24, all neighborhood associations are invited to "pot luck" at the annual Neighborhood Council Picnic. For the sake of Lincolnville be there Thursday. For the sake of all neighborhoods come June 24.
Peter Romano is president of the Lincolnville Neighborhood Association.Click here to return to story:http://staugustine.com/stories/061007/opinions_4643639.shtml © The St. Augustine Record