KEN DAIGE

As Vero Beach was being established residents have quietly felt comfortable believing most of their public lands and buildings are protected from an unexpected sale, lease or abandonment.

The discussion of selling or leasing perceived city surplus lands has caused concern. Why have certain city council members expressed their need to sell-off what they consider city surplus lands?

Vero Beach is feeling pressure from elected officials to accept that certain lands and parks have to be sold or leased to improve the city budget. City land belongs to the residents who have the right to decide the status and future of that land. What makes the situation even more unpredictable is that anything not specifically named in the charter is not protected.

In fact respected properties such as Crestlawn Cemetery are not covered by any mandate to keep them in perpetuity for the people. At any city council meeting the council can vote to lease, sell or even abandon Crestlawn Cemetery. The same is true for other properties many residents believed were protected.

For many years frequent users of the dog park have enjoyed the freedom to enjoy time with their pets while thinking those days would last forever. Unfortunately Vero does not have a designated dog park and the property the dog owners use is not protected in the city charter and can be sold, leased or abandoned at any moment. Changing the zoning designation to P2 may be a start but it is not a protection.

Neighborhood parks – commonly called pocket parks are vulnerable to sale, lease or abandonment. One in particular is Poinsettia Park on Atlantic and 20^th Avenue. A current council member wants to keep this unprotected park available for unexplained neighborhood road widening.

Neighbors meet regularly at local beachside and mainland pocket and linear park areas to talk, pass the time of day, drink coffee or tea, eat lunch, play games, walk their pets, meet old and new friends and socialize.

Resale value was probably not the number one thought the Vero Beach pioneers and families had as they donated land for future generations to enjoy. I doubt neighborhood parks were donated with the sidebar that they be sold for future road widening or to fund the city budget. The value those philanthropist had in mind dealt more with enjoyment and preservation of outdoor activities as the city became more urbanized.

For over four years the residents of Vero Beach have repeatedly heard from their elected representatives and members of various county associations that Vero’s budget is bloated and needs reduced. The reality is that Vero has been reducing it’s budget and costs since 2008.

As a matter of legal housekeeping there are those of us who are recommending adding public lands and properties that are at risk to the city charter section 5.05. While it is not necessary to open a charter review to protect these properties and lands within the charter, a park and public land referendum listing these properties will be necessary on the next city election ballot for the electorate to decide.

At the suggestion of Mayor Winger and a consensus of city council, Councilwoman Graves and I will be addressing this issue of legal housekeeping with the city attorney, city surveyor and others to present our discoveries and recommendations to city council.

Editor’s Note:  The following is the text of Ken Daige’s comments to the Vero Beach City Council Dec. 3.

As a friendly reminder, city land belongs to the residents who have the right to decide the status and future of that land. The discussion of selling or leasing perceived city surplus lands has caused concern. Anything not specifically named in the charter is not protected. While it is not necessary to open a charter review to protect these properties and lands within the charter, a park and public land referendum listing these properties will need to be included the next city election cycle.

As a matter of legal housekeeping I recommend adding the following public lands and properties be added to the charter section 5.05 and while city council discusses Bob Summers Park:

(A complete list will be provided to city council after further meetings with city attorney; this list is in the discovery stage)

The following parks and public lands may not be sold, leased, traded, given away or abandoned by the city unless such sale, lease, trade or gift is approved by a vote of the electors of the City of Vero Beach:

#1) All of Bob Summers Park –

including MacWilliam Boat Basin Park and the Off Leash Dog Area

#2) Van Busch Park

#3) Various Beach Accesses

*4) Crestlawn Cemetery

*5) Block Manor Park

*6) A portion of Charles Park

*7) Edgewood 2^nd Addition Park

*8) A portion of Jacoby Park

*9) Lake Rose

*10) Michael Field

*11) Piece of Pie Park

*12) Pine Terrace Park

*13) Poinsettia Park

*14) Royal Palm Pointe Park including the Fountain

*15) Royal Park

#16) Bethel Creek House

#17) Power Squadron #18) Riverhouse

*19) Leisure Square *20) Community Center *21) Heritage Center

#22) Volunteer Ambulance Squad Headquarters

(* Mainland – # Beachside)