By a vote of 4-1, the Vero Beach City Council Tuesday followed the lead of the Indian River County Commission, which decided by the same margin last month to end its participation in a regional, long-term planning effort known as Seven50.
Headed by the Southeast Florida Regional Planning Partnership, Seven50 ‘s consortium of 200 participants, including city and county governments, colleges and universities, school boards, and businesses, are now 18 months into the three-year project.
The regional dialogue will lead to a long-term investment plan for services and infrastructure such as fiber optics, gas transmission, transportation and education.
Proponents of Seven50 say the seven-county region, now the fifth most populous metropolitan “mega” region in the country, needs to think collaboratively about how to maximize public investment in order to be more competitive in the global economy, while also preserving and protecting natural resources that are vital to sustaining the quality of life for Southeast Florida residents.
Marcela Camblor, director of the Seven50 project, told the Council its participation was voluntary and that the results of the project, funded by a $4.25 million grant from the Federal Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Transportation and by the Environmental Protection Agency, will not be binding on any of the participants.
“The region needs a business plan for coordinated investment, Camblor said. She assured the Council Seven50 is not controlled by the Federal government, but by local leaders such as County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan, Chairman of the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, and Dr. Edwin Massey, president of Indian River State College. “Seven50 is not an effort to create another level of government,” she said.
Camblor urged the Council to consider the value of remaining a partner in the regional dialogue, “so that you can imbed your own vision in the plan.”
Following Camblor’s presentation, opponents of Seven50, who had begun filling the Council chambers 30 minutes before the meeting started, came before the Council one after another equating Seven50 with big government, regional planning with loss of local control, and sustainability initiatives with an assault on private property rights.
“I just fear it,” said resident Dorothy Frances. “The camel has parking meters in its shoulder bags, and it now has its nose in our tent,” she said, urging the Council to “kick the camel out before it is too late.”
The city’s commitment to Seven50 had been to participate in on-going discussions and to contribute up to $25,000 in in-kind contributions, mostly by providing information and staff assistance. City Manager Jim O’Connor told the Council that to date he had not be asked by representatives of Seven50 for any assistance.
Councilman Jay Kramer made the motion for the city to withdraw from Seven50. Kramer’s motion was supported by Council members Craig Fletcher, Pilar Turner and Richard Winger.
Councilwoman Tracy Carroll, raising many of the same points County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan made last month when the issue came before the County Commission, said she thought it was important for the city to continue to be a part of the regional dialogue.
Indian River Guardian 
In 1996 when mu husband and I moved to Indian River County we laughed at our new neighbors who had it on “absolute authority” that O. J. Simpson was moving to Vero Beach. Thus, reading about the City Council voting against the common sense future planning initiative has a degree of deja vu aspect to it.
Residents Rosemarie Wilson and Dorothy Frances are entitled to their fact-free opinions. However, true leadership requires making informed decisions based on expert analysis. Who, what, where, and when has anyone in the Federal government ever advocated for control of our local government? Who, what, where and when did a few members of our community been able to dictate the future of our area been allowed?. Since the impact of the foolish decision to not be a part of the Seven50 process has potential for denying the majority obtaining a robut economy, the decision should be left to the voters rather than a handful of people who have no basis for their fears. Why should a robust economy for all Indian River County residents be able to be denied by a small minority?
The challenges of the 21st century mandate 21st century solutions. Thus, we need to learn the lessons of history. It was a Republican as President who ensured the quality of life that the people of Indian River County enjoy today. He did it with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).. These agencies were created because it is obvious that local
governments are not equpped to address environmental problems that have no respect for artifical boundaries like county lines.
The four members of the Council who cast their negative votes should hold their heads in shame. These “leaders” have now ensured that high paying jobs with benefits will not be available for the children who are now a part of the Indian River County school system. The children now in school will see their peers who live in counties to our north and south will have more opportunities because their governmental officials recognized that a strong econonmy depends on more than minimum wage jobs. Good leaders also recognize that it is foolish to have a strong economy and also perserve those thing that make Indian River County so unique.
Indian River County is making a big mistake in allowing a handful of alarmists to rob this community of a strong economy. These fear mongers are only going to make it far more difficult to address issues that impact more than just Indian River County. The most obvious threat is to the Indian River lagoon.
There is never a reason to be fearful in discussing the future. The is absolutely no negative impact in learning the good ideas of those in our region. Being a participant in discussing issues affecting a small portion of Florida is a win-win situation for everyone. Participating in discussions does NOT mandate that the local government implement any chance — positive or negative.
The City Council and County Comissio should rectfy these mistake ASAP.
Patricia,
Do not fear about Vero Beach and Indian River County being isolated from coordinated planning with its neighbors. Take and hour or so to visit a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting at the county administration building sometime. All of the cities are present with the county staff. You will be impressed. The IRC MPO meets regularly with several neighboring counties to discuss many of the items on the Seven50 list and many more. They have been doing this for decades.