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City reaches new leisure agreement
By DAVE SHELTON
| Article published on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 |
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LARGO - The city commission on May 20 adopted an ordinance setting terms for the city to produce monthly programs in the new Towne Center Mall that is scheduled to open in 2010.
Mayor Patricia Gerard said the entertainment programs, similar to those held in Central Park, will bring recreation and arts programs closer to residents of the east end of the city.
One resident spoke out in opposition to the plan. Geoff Moakley said the city shouldn't be adding a new job to the payroll when it faces layoffs in its efforts to comply with state-mandated budget cuts. He added that the city appeared to be sponsoring events for the future merchants to gain customers.
The plan calls for developers to build a central gathering place in the proposed $160-million renovation of the former Crossroads Mall at U.S. 19 and East Bay Drive. Under the agreement, the city would be allowed to hold monthly events there, but must provide $15,000 toward hiring of a part-time event manager.
Joan Byrne, director of parks, recreation and the arts, said this may be provided “in-kind” through an existing staff member.
The city must also pay $25,000 annually toward a fund to pay for the special events, according to the contract.
Commissioner Mary Gray Black argued over some of the legal wording before joining the unanimous vote adopting the ordinance. She questioned whether the city was being as protected against liability claims as the mall developers were and challenged the city attorney Alan Zimmet's claim that the city can get out of the contract by just not funding it.
Black said she believed an “escape clause” should be spelled out in the contract for the city's protection. Zimmet last week said the clause wasn't necessary because if the city didn't fund the program in any year, the developers could seek a court order declaring the city in default of the contract.
The commissioner pointed out that she has been overruled in the past when she insisted any action obligating future commissions to spend money had to be adopted by ordinance. In most cases, Zimmet has pointed to an “escape clause” in those resolutions that allowed the city to get out of the agreement by not funding it.
Now, Black said, the city was making an agreement obligating future expenses by ordinance, as she has demanded, but didn't include an escape clause in its wording.
In other action, the commission approved Gerard's appointment of Harriet Crozier to act as vice mayor until November. The vacancy was created with the May 1 resignation of Deputy Mayor Andy Guyette who left the city commission to accept a new job in Alabama.
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Article published on Wednesday, May 21, 2008
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