Former banker wants to see more long-range planning

MARK SCHUMANN

Vero Beach City Councilman Randy Old recently explained his priorities for the coming year. Top of the mind, if not top of the list for Old is encouraging his fellow council members to take a serious look at hiring a company specializing in electric utility management to run Vero Electric.

Old said he believes the growing complexity of the utility business, coupled with the regular and predictable turnover of City Council membership, argues for finding a better way to manage the nearly $100 million enterprise that is Vero Electric.

With the decommissioning of the power plant, Old said Vero Beach leaders –elected, business and civic — now have an opportunity to shift their focus from debating ownership of Vero Electric to envisioning a future for Vero Beach – a future that includes a “remarkably” different look for the waterfront.

Old said that at this point he has no specific visions for how to redevelop the riverfront. He expects, though, that the final plan will include mixed uses. Earlier this month, the Parks and Recreation and Marine Commissions began receiving public input on how to redevelop the city’s central riverfront. Options include moving the waste water treatment plant to clear the way for integrated development of city-owned land north and south of the Alma Lee Loy Bridge and the postal annex site on the southwest corner of Indian River Blvd. and 17th Street.

If voters are willing to approve a change to the City Charter, the power plant and water treatment plant sites could be leased or sold for residential and commercial development. The land along the river could also be used for parks and recreation, providing more public access to the waterfront. Old seems to think the tension between preserving the land solely for public use or turning it all over for commercial development will be worked through over time, ultimately leaving voters to decide on some options for mixed uses.

The Vero Beach City Council, Old said, needs to re-focus on running the city and addressing pressing issues including the Lagoon, pension and post-retirement benefit funding and mitigating the impact of the fast train known as All Aboard Florida.