Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Siesta Key Association Holiday Meeting

When: Thursday Dec. 1, 2016 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Community Center of St. Boniface Episcopal Church, located at 5615 Midnight Pass Rd. 34242

Details: Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at Florida International University, Stephen Leatherman, also known as "Dr. Beach", will offer comments regarding the proposed Big Sarasota Pass dredging and the loss of seagrass to the Pass.  He will also discuss what it would take to rename Siesta Beach #1 again.

For more information on Dr. Beach and this week's meeting, please CLICK HERE.

Save Our Siesta Sand Lido Key Nourishment Public Meeting

Save Our Siesta Sand 
Lido Key Nourishment Public Meeting

When: Wednesday Nov. 30, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fire Station No. 2 - located at 2070 Waldemere St., Sarasota, FL 34239

Details: The Lido Beach Nourishment meeting is a public meeting open to all interested parties.  The meeting will provide an overview of the proposed project and an opportunity for the public to learn more information about specific components of the project, including engineering analysis, resource impacts and mitigation, fish and wildlife analysis and permitting and proprietary criteria.  (Note:each project component will be housed at individual stations to allow for discussions with the experts.)

For more information on the meeting and SOSS, CLICK HERE.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Save our Siesta Sand

On November 2nd, 2015 Save our Siesta Sand requested that the State of Florida hold a public hearing on the request for easements for the Lido Key project. This public hearing has never been held. Instead a year later the State has scheduled a meeting which does not satisfy our request for a public hearing. Here is their description:
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Event Title: Lido Key Nourishment Public Meeting
Location: Fire Station No. 2, 2070 Waldemere Street, Sarasota, FL 34239
Date: Nov 30 2016
Time: 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Event Details: The Lido Key Nourishment meeting is a public meeting open to all interested parties. The meeting will provide an overview of the proposed project and an opportunity for the public to learn more information about specific components of the project, including engineering analysis, resource impacts and mitigation, fish and wildlife analysis, and permitting and proprietary criteria. Each project component will be housed at individual stations to allow for discussions with the experts.
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Aside from the fact this is not a public hearing, there are several concerns with this format vs. a panel. First, there may not be sufficient time for questions and answers after the presentation. Secondly, the questions and answers cannot be heard by all those at the meeting. Nonetheless, I urge you to attend if you are in town as we all may learn something new. Parking is limited so be there early.

Here is the permit status.  The DEP has until December 27th to issue their ruling which will be either to issue an intent to deny or an intent to permit. Given all the signs it does not take a rocket scientist to determine their choice. SOSS2 then has 14 days to file our suit and we need your help now to do that. Please go to www.soss2.com to show your support with your generous tax free donation.