The Sarasota League began in 1963. This is the third installment of our story.
1971-1975
The Airport Study authorized by the membership in March 1971 called for a "joint study by the Manatee and Sarasota Counties League of Women Voters to investigate the problems in providing adequate airport facilities for both counties along with related transportation where does this go? facilities." The committee made up of members of both Leagues, studied intensely. They held a large public meeting (400 attended) with a panel of experts: an airport planner, an airport manager, an ecologist, and the two Counties' representatives on the Airport Authority. When the information was presented to the units, the consensus of the Sarasota League said, in essence, that the "first priority of the County should be the quality of the environment."
The Community Planning Committee continued studying Home Rule Charter, and consensus was reached in 1971 in favor of the Charter. The consensus stated that the League was in favor of:
1. A County Commission elected by a combination of within district and at-large voting.
2. An appointed professional County Administrator responsible to the County Commission would appoint, with Commission approval the department heads working under him.
3. Strong Home Rule with resulting abolition of the constitutional offices of the Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections, Sheriff, and including functions of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, in order that their budgets and functions come under the supervision of the County Commission.
4. An appointed Sheriff as there is no acceptable reason to single out this one department head as an elected official.
5. Non-partisan election of County officials.
The Charter was approved, after intensive activity by the League.
The League's interest in Local Government was strong throughout this period. It continued to push for consolidation of City and County services, with no success.
In 1973, the County Commission designated all its Federal Revenue Sharing money for capital improvements (remodeling of the Motor Hotel and jail facilities) without holding a public hearing. The League felt strongly that the purpose of Federal Revenue Sharing was to bolster the social areas where Federal funding had been cut. Whatever the purpose, the League felt that the public should have been heard on the use of the money. They expressed their displeasure vigorously at the County Commission and in the media.
The first Voters Guide was published in 1973. This pamphlet gave directions for registration and voting, listed all elected officials, and gave times and places of meetings of all governmental bodies in the County. It was brought up to date and republished in 1975 and biennially to date.
During this period two National study items had an impact on the League's local activities: In addition to its work on Welfare in Sarasota, it undertook the study of low-cost housing and continued the study of Child Day Care.
A community coalition on ERA campaigned actively for its passage in the Florida Legislature. The amendment was not approved.
The committee's efforts on behalf of Child Day Care Centers were rewarded by the passage, in 1974, of a State licensing bill. They urged the County Commission to set up a local advisory committee to oversee the progress of the licensing agency in fulfilling the provisions of the County Ordinance and the StateAct. They helped the Community Planning Council with application for Federal funding of local Day Care Centers.
1975-1979
Work on Child Care continued and the League actively supported establishment of a County agency responsible for total care of the child, and asked for County Day Care standards higher than those of the State.
The League supported an in-house legal staff for the County in 1975.
The League again pressed for an appointed sheriff in 1976.
The energy crisis in 1975 prompted the League to form an ad hoc committee on Mass Transit. The National League had a position which it revised in1976, and it was that position which led the League to work actively for a transportation system for Sarasota County. They urged the County Commission to proceed without delay to apply for State and Federal grants so that a system could be operational by September 1977. A transit manager was hired in 1978, and finally, in March 1979, the SCAT buses started to roll.
Environmental concerns were quite strong during this time. In 1976, phosphate mining was the subject of a study. A statement urged an immediate moratorium on any new permitting for the phosphate mining until adequate regulations had been enacted to protect natural resources and public welfare. The League urged regulation of water quantity and quality, air quality, conservation of natural ecosystems and conservation of our phosphate reserve.
Under our longstanding position on water, the League urged the purchase of North Lido Beach by the City of Sarasota. It was passed by referendum in March 1977. The League joined with ECOSWF in endorsing the Kissimmee River Restoration.
(to be continued next week)
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