October 30, 2024
HONORING OUR VETERANS
and
LET'S TALK WHAT'S NEXT
HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
I want to start with a shout-out to our friends and LTV community members Jeff Palleschi (21st Amendment Distillery) Bethany Fortunato and Barbara Ruddy.
From the day I attended the 21 Salute to "The Greatest Generation" Limited Edition Bourbon fundraiser at Bethany and Michael Fortunato's home in May of 2023 to this morning's moving and heartfelt dedication, I have watched a team of people work tirelessly to raise nearly $600,000 to build this tribute on Veterans Island Memorial Sanctuary. Talk about engagement and a community in action -- this monument rivals those found in our nation’s capital!
At today’s dedication, seven local WWII veterans, aged 96 to 100, were honored, and this structure will now serve as a permanent parade stand for all future military ceremonies and memorials.
The park, open from sunrise to sunset, is a must-visit if you want a scenic, peaceful and awe-inspiring experience. A big thank you is in order to all who made this gift to our veterans and our community possible.
LET'S TALK WHAT'S NEXT
Join us for Let's Talk What's Next at Riverside Theatre, which will take place on Monday, November 25. As usual, doors will open at 5 for complimentary gourmet sandwiches and cash bar, and the program will begin at 5:30.
On everyone's mind is what's next for the Downtown Master Plan and Three Corners. As John Carroll summed it up to me this morning with regard to the referendum not passing, "we're still on the freeway -- we just got off at the wrong exit -- and we'll get back on."
RFP replies for Three Corners are due in December. I'll be sharing more details soon. In the meantime, click here to RSVP for Monday, November 25.
NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
The next council meeting will take place on Monday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m. Agenda items include: certification of election results, oath of office for new council members (Carroll, Moore and Vos), election of mayor and election of vice mayor.
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
October 30, 2024
LET'S TALK DOWNTOWN REFERENDUM
Replay
It was great to see everyone Monday at Riverside Theatre in conversation about the last two items on the November 5 ballot to increase density downtown and allow for transfer of development rights.
As promised, we are sharing the entire replay here for those who want more information before casting their vote.
The program begins with opening remarks by Baerbel O'Haire, with key highlights at the timestamps below:
3:35 -- Baerbel introduces City Manager Monte Falls and Mayor John Cotugno
5:53 -- Mayor Cotugno addresses Hurricane Milton
9:00 -- City Manager Monte Falls gives an update on recovery efforts
13:40 -- Monte Falls opens up to questions on recovery efforts
16:25 -- Baerbel O'Haire introduces panelists -- Bethany Fortunato, Keith Kite and Dori Stone
25:25 -- TP Kennedy announces formation of Citizens for Graceful Growth and challenges in attracting young professionals to Vero Beach
31:20 -- Bethany Fortunato reads the referendum language
32:07 -- Dori Stone explains TDR and density as it relates to the downtown walkable core
38:34 -- Keith Kite puts it in perspective -- "it looks like Ocean Drive in livability and walkability," talks about housing needs for hospital workers, and a vision for the community using the best designers in the world and what the blueprint will be. He delves into workforce housing for younger people who don't have the resources to purchase a home and the needs for retirees before opening up to questions.
52:07 -- Dori Stone explains that the infrastructure is in place to support more development in a way that makes sense for this community -- fitting together in a workable master plan to start looking beyond what we have today. She explains how, historically, a good community always had a vibrant downtown -- it needs a "kick in the butt" to make it work today, not how it needed to work 30 years ago.
57:45 -- Keith Kite and Dori Stone talk about innovative parking and solutions.
1:04:03 -- Keith Kite addresses a question about height and the new development at the mall.
1:07:37 -- Keith Kite explains the entire referendum is based on concept, not what the result will be.
1:12:03 -- Keith Kite clarifies the difference between affordable and workforce housing in relation to the housing crisis around the nation.
1:15:30 -- Bethany Fortunato explains current obstacles to workforce housing in IRC -- land costs chief among them.
1:17:15 -- Dori Stone talks about property values downtown. The city, she says, should see this as an opportunity to collect increased ad valorem tax revenue. She states that change takes time, but this increased revenue will help.
1:18:55 -- Bethany Fortunato: "The people working at Piper and the hospital are taking their money elsewhere, not spending it here -- we want to keep it in Vero."
1:19:30 -- Dori Stone answers the question about timeframes -- optimistically 24 to 36 months that will include more community engagement, permitting etc. to be more intentional about what we put in place. Expect 11 -13 more public hearings, resulting in many more years.
1:21:35 -- Keith Kite talks about opportunities to redevelop the many abandoned buildings downtown for teacher housing.
1:25:40 -- Keith Kite addresses questions about downtown zoning and how it relates to parking, saying "we can fix the parking problem right now" by passing the referendums.
1:26:05 -- Dori Stone explains when you are looking at a downtown it is not always about parking right in front of the business; one should walk and enjoy a walk. If one wants parking in front of a business, go to the mall. If you want to see your downtown vibrant, anticipate a block to two blocks walk. If parking is a challenge, it means people are there, and that's what you want.
Bethany Fortunato
Real Estate Investor
+
Developer of Affordable Senior Housing
Dori Stone
Former Planning Director,
City of Winter Park
+
Former President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce
Keith Kite
Kite Properties
+
Chair, Indian River Chamber of Commerce Government Committee focused on Workforce Housing
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
October 28, 2024
If you are one of the roughly 7,000 City of Vero Beach voters who have not yet cast their vote and want a better understanding of the last two items on the ballot to amend Section 5.06 of the charter to support downtown revitalization, join us this evening in conversation with Bethany Fortunato, Keith Kite and Dori Stone -- three of our most respected local planning and development experts -- who will answer all your questions.
We are capping attendance at 125, so RSVP is important.
If you have RSVPd and your plans have changed, please let us know so we can accommodate others.
You can RSVP here
or use the button at the end of this email
Doors open at 5 pm for complimentary gourmet sandwiches and cash bar. Presentation begins at 5:30. Come learn about the referendum or just gather to catch up with friends.
We are excited to have special guest City Manager Monte Falls as well as and Mayor John Cotugno, who will open the evening by sharing post-Milton and general "state of the city" updates before we open up to a wide-ranging conversation about the referendums.
We look forward to seeing you all this evening!
LET'S TALK DOWNTOWN REFERENDUM
Featured Speakers
Bethany Fortunato
Real Estate Investor
+
Developer of Affordable Senior Housing
Dori Stone
Former Planning Director,
City of Winter Park
+
Former President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce
Keith Kite
Kite Properties
+
Chair, Indian River Chamber of Commerce Government Committee focused on Workforce Housing
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
October 25, 2024
Season Dates for Let's Talk Vero
at Riverside Theatre
+
City voter turn-out as of October 25
A number of you have asked to be reminded of the 24-25 season dates for Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre. They are below - all take place from 5 - 7 p.m. (no admission fee, complimentary gourmet sandwiches and cash bar). Please share this email with anyone you think would be interested in attending and ask them to sign up for our newsletter at www.LetsTalkVero.com.
Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre
2024-25 Season Dates
Monday, October 28
Monday, November 25
Monday, December 9
Wednesday, January 8
Wednesday, February 26
Monday, March 10
Wednesday, April 16
Monday's event -- Let's Talk Downtown Referendum -- is perfect for those of you who haven't yet voted and want to get a better understanding of the last two referendums on the ballot (for city voters) seeking to amend Section 5.06 of the City Charter to revitalize Downtown Vero Beach. The evening will feature local planning and development experts Bethany Fortunato, Dori Stone and Keith Kite.
This is obviously a very big election year with tons on the ballot. So come out to learn more or just reconnect with friends for cocktails and complimentary gourmet sandwiches. Click here to RSVP, or reply YES to this email.
Speaking of the ballot, we are 11 days from election day. You can wait until November 5 or avoid lines and take advantage of early voting every weekday from 8 am to 4 pm at the library (1600 21st Street).
City Voter Turn-out To Date:
To date, of the roughly 11,258 registered city voters, 3,417 (30%) have cast their votes!
We look forward to seeing you on Monday. Don't forget to RSVP! And if you want more information on the referendums, click here.
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
October 23, 2024
IMPORTANT DATES + REMINDERS
Tomorrow (10/24) deadline to request mail-in ballots
Saturday (10/26) Pioneer Family Living Museum - Heritage Center
Monday (10/28) Let's Talk Downtown Referendum at Riverside Theatre
MAIL-IN BALLOTS
As you may recall, this year voters who wish to vote by mail must request a new mail-in ballot -- it is not automatically being sent as in years past. Tomorrow (Thursday, October 24) is the last day to request a mail-in ballot. You can request one online here. Requests for mail-in ballots must be received no later than 5 pm tomorrow. If you miss the deadline, you can vote early or on November 5 in person. Important, mail-in ballots require two U.S. postage stamps.
PIONEER FAMILY LIVING MUSEUM
Featuring engaging exhibits and displays showcasing the lives and contributions of the pioneering families of Vero Beach and Indian River County, Robyn Berry and April Bekech of the Heritage Center invite you to meet, greet and celebrate descendants of our pioneer families.
Sexton | Schumann | Michael | MacWilliam | Graves | Helseth | Vocelle
| Zeuch | Cox | Gifford | Holman Carter | Schlitt | Loy | Guy | Kennedy | Wodtke | Knight |Howard | Idlette | DuBose | Hamilton-Mathis
The evening benefits the Vero Heritage Center and takes place on Saturday, October 26 beginning at 6:00 p.m. There is a $20 entry fee which includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres and a drink.
Vero Heritage Center and Citrus Museum
2140 14th Avenue
For more information, visit www.VeroHeritage.org or call 772-770-2263.
LET'S TALK DOWNTOWN REFERENDUM
Featured Speakers
Bethany Fortunato
Real Estate Investor
+
Developer of Affordable Senior Housing
Dori Stone
Former Planning Director,
City of Winter Park
+
Former President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce
Keith Kite
Kite Properties
+
Chair, Indian River Chamber of Commerce Government Committee focused on Workforce Housing
Monday, October 28
Riverside Theatre
5 pm -- Doors open
Cash Bar and Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches
5:30 pm Program Begins
Mayor John Cotugno will be on hand to give a post-Milton update before we turn the program over to Bethany Fortunato, Keith Kite and Dori Stone, who will engage in conversation with the audience and field questions about the Downtown Referendum. RSVP requested (for catering) -- please use the button above or reply YES to this email.
Prior to voting, please take a moment to look at the City of Vero Beach informational page here and the Downtown Referendum FAQs here. The two Downtown Referendums (both labeled Amend Section 5.06) appear as the last two items on the ballot (for city voters).
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
October 20, 2024
Announcement:
Early Voting begins tomorrow 10/21
and
Let's Talk Downtown Referendum
+
Post-Milton Update
at
Riverside Theatre
Monday, October 28
5:00 p.m. -- cash bar and complimentary sandwiches
5:30 p.m. -- Presentation begins
Calling all City Voters!
Join us for our next Let's Talk Vero event at Riverside Theatre on Monday, October 28 at 5:00 pm where Mayor John Cotugno will be on hand to give a post-Milton update before we turn the program over to Bethany Fortunato, Keith Kite and Dori Stone, who will field questions about the downtown referendum.
The downtown referendum represents a pivotal moment for our community, and making an informed decision is crucial. That's why Bethany, Keith and Dori, all Vero Beach residents and experts in urban planning and development, have agreed to dispel common misconceptions and help the community better understand:
-
exactly what this referendum is about
-
why it's on the ballot now
-
projected outcomes and long-term effects for downtown
-
remaining questions before casting your vote
Whether you're a business owner, homeowner or simply a resident who enjoys all that Vero Beach has to offer, this referendum will have some impact on your day-to-day life, so join us at Riverside Theatre before you head to the polls. If you are unable to attend, we will be sharing a reply of the event.
If you are planning to vote early:
Take a look at the City of Vero Beach informational page here and the Downtown Referendum FAQs here. The two referendums (Amend Section 5.06) appear as the last two items on the ballot.
Early voting in Vero Beach begins tomorrow from 8 am - 4 pm at the Indian River County Main Library (1600 21st St) and at Supervisor of Elections Office (4375 43rd Avenue).
Also, it's not too late to request a Vote-By-Mail ballot. You have until Thursday, October 24; ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 pm on November 5.
Whether you vote early or not, we hope to see you on Thursday the 28th at Riverside Theatre for an update from Mayor Cotugno.
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
October 20, 2024
Announcement:
Early Voting begins tomorrow 10/21
and
Let's Talk Downtown Referendum
+
Post-Milton Update
at
Riverside Theatre
Monday, October 28
5:00 p.m. -- cash bar and complimentary sandwiches
5:30 p.m. -- Presentation begins
Calling all City Voters!
Join us for our next Let's Talk Vero event at Riverside Theatre on Monday, October 28 at 5:00 pm where Mayor John Cotugno will be on hand to give a post-Milton update before we turn the program over to Bethany Fortunato, Keith Kite and Dori Stone, who will field questions about the downtown referendum.
The downtown referendum represents a pivotal moment for our community, and making an informed decision is crucial. That's why Bethany, Keith and Dori, all Vero Beach residents and experts in urban planning and development, have agreed to dispel common misconceptions and help the community better understand:
-
exactly what this referendum is about
-
why it's on the ballot now
-
projected outcomes and long-term effects for downtown
-
remaining questions before casting your vote
Whether you're a business owner, homeowner or simply a resident who enjoys all that Vero Beach has to offer, this referendum will have some impact on your day-to-day life, so join us at Riverside Theatre before you head to the polls. If you are unable to attend, we will be sharing a reply of the event.
If you are planning to vote early:
Take a look at the City of Vero Beach informational page here and the Downtown Referendum FAQs here. The two referendums (Amend Section 5.06) appear as the last two items on the ballot.
Early voting in Vero Beach begins tomorrow from 8 am - 4 pm at the Indian River County Main Library (1600 21st St) and at Supervisor of Elections Office (4375 43rd Avenue).
Also, it's not too late to request a Vote-By-Mail ballot. You have until Thursday, October 24; ballots must be received by the Supervisor of Elections no later than 7 pm on November 5.
Whether you vote early or not, we hope to see you on Thursday the 28th at Riverside Theatre for an update from Mayor Cotugno.
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
October 12, 2024
Good morning, and happy Saturday everyone.
Sharing the Let's Talk City Council Candidates replay below.
But first, sharing some inspiring community recovery efforts under way -- one beginning today at 11:00 a.m.
CENTRAL BEACH CLEANUP
Angela Waldrop and Elizabeth Sorenson, lifelong friends who share the same birthday (yesterday) have launched a debris-cleanup initiative in Central Beach to celebrate their birthday with a day of service. Hundreds turned out (see photos below) but there is so much still to do. Angela and Elizabeth have extended the cleanup through today and they welcome everyone to join them at 536 Gardenia Lane anytime from 11 am to 5 pm today -- Saturday, October 12.
Bring your tools: If you have chainsaws, shovels, gloves, or any other equipment, bring them along.
No tools? No problem. All helping hands welcome.
BAND FOR A CAUSE
2055 13th Avenue
Donation Drive & Music Mashup
Jeff Palleschi, owner of the downtown 21st Amendment Distillery (2055 13th Avenue) is banding together with another initiative to help those affected by the storm. This Monday, October 14th, from 4 pm to 8 pm. community members are encouraged to bring donations (electrolyte packs, canned goods with pop tops, beef jerky, energy bars, etc.) and listen to performances by local bands Kenny Clarke Outside, Bobby & The Blisters, Frank Centrone, Brenna Bavis Duo, Kate Maingot & Muffy Charles. There will be donation bins available for those who cannot attend but still wish to contribute. A portion of the proceeds from the evening’s sales will go toward assisting those who were severely impacted by the storm.
SPANISH LAKES AND LAKEWOOD PARK
Sydney O’Haire, recently returned from cleanup and recovery efforts in Asheville, is turning her attention to some of the hardest hit areas -- Spanish Lakes, Vista Royale, and Lakewood Park areas. Reach out directly to Sydney via text at 772-321-3789. She and her team are organizing deliveries of homemade meals, ice, first aid supplies, toiletries, water, pet food, and more.
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FORUM REPLAY
And finally, the here is the replay of the Let's Talk Vero City Council Candidate discussion. And below are clickable links to local news articles.
32963 -- Ray McNulty's feature on newcomer Aaron Vos
IRNA -- IRNA's round-up
TC Palm coverage of Taxpayer's Association -- Nick Slater's coverage
TC Palm Candidate Interviews (Carroll and Heady)
October 1, 2024
LET'S TALK VERO 2024-25 SEASON
AT RIVERSIDE THEATRE
Mark Your Calendars -- from 5 - 7 p.m.
Monday, October 28
Monday, November 25
Monday, December 9
Wednesday, January 8
Wednesday, February 26
Monday, March 10
Wednesday, April 16
This Thursday at 6 pm!
Via ZOOM
Let's Talk City Council Candidates
Whether you are voting by mail or in-person, this is an opportunity to get to know your candidates on a deeper level, where you can interact and ask questions -- all from the comfort of your own home.
From downtown referendums to Three Corners, your candidates will address the most important issues and take your questions.
Register now
(click here)
this Thursday, October 3
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
via ZOOM
Let's Talk City Council Candidates
This discussion will be moderated by Baerbel O'Haire. Confirmed are incumbents John Carroll and Linda Moore, along with returning candidate Brian Heady, and newcomer Aaron Vos.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday -- register here to receive the ZOOM link and calendar invite.
If you have any questions you'd like to ask in advance, simply reply to this email with your questions and we will get them to the candidates.
If you are unable to join but would like a replay, also reply here with the word "replay."
2024 City Council Candidates
Ken Daige
Brian Heady
Aaron Vos
John Carroll
Linda Moore
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by Baerbel O'Haire
September 23, 2024
Let's Talk Housing Replay | Two Important Questions | Sample Ballot | Save the Date -- October 28
Let's Talk Housing
As promised, here is the link to the replay of the Let's Talk Housing conversation last week moderated by Baerbel O'Haire. What a riveting evening -- an eye opener for sure. You can watch it straight through (you will be an expert by the end) or slide forward to timestamps of the different panelists. You will enjoy getting to know all the panelists and the initiatives underway to alleviate this problem in Vero Beach. You will especially appreciate Keith Kite's insights on how we got here and what can be done about it.
Habitat for Humanity Opening Remarks: Trevor Loomis: 00:11:37
Moderator Baerbel O'Haire remarks: 00:27:00
Panel begins: 00:28:00
Commissioner Susan Adams: 00:30:10
Mayor John Cotugno: 00:36:35
IRC Chamber Government Committee, Keith Kite: 00:43:17
Habitat for Humanity CEO, Trevor Loomis
Two Important Questions -- Click the button below to register interest
-
Do you want us to host our usual ZOOM panel discussion with City Council candidates?
We were going to forego it given all the other organizations who have interviewed the candidates, but because we have a new entrant in Aaron Vos, a number of people have asked us to host. Also in the running are incumbents Vice Mayor Linda Moore, Councilman John Carroll, as well as candidates Ken Daige and Brian Heady. If we can get 50 - 75 people interested, we will endeavor to pull something together by next week to coincide with the ballots being mailed so all of you have an opportunity to interact with and get to know your candidates from the comfort of your own home.
-
Do you want us to host a ZOOM discussion about the downtown referendums?
Click the button below to let us know:
Sample Ballot
Below is a copy of the ballot for those who would like to familiarize themselves prior to voting.
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
Save the Date
The next Let's Talk Vero event will take place on Monday, October 28 from 5 - 7 pm at Riverside Theatre. Stay tuned for more details.
Let's Talk Vero is Powered by:
September 15, 2024
Don't forget to RSVP for YES for Downtown Vero "55 Minus" party to support a more walkable, livable and prosperous downtown Vero Beach -- this Saturday
DJ | Dancing | Light Dinner | Beer
free if you are a City of Vero Beach resident/voter under 55 or if you bring one or more as a guest; only City of Vero Beach residents can vote on the referendums in November, so let's get the word out
RSVP BELOW
and forward this invitation to a friend who is a city resident and voter under 55
55 Minus Party
Saturday
the 21st of September
6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.
The Heritage Center
2140 14th Ave
This isn't just about having a good time (though we promise you will).
It's about bringing all of you who are so busy with parenting and work together as a community in one fun place to learn about the revitalization efforts under way for downtown Vero which, if you want to realize, will require your YES vote on referendums #26 and #27 at the polls on November 5.
We'll give you a brief update on proposed changes to make downtown more walkable, livable and prosperous overall and how the change in density proposed can create housing options at more attainable price points for young professionals, first responders and service workers.
See more at www.YESforDowntownVero.com.
Come for the food and fun and stay for the chance to make a difference and make new friends. Whether you're new to town or a Vero native, this is your moment to connect with fellow under-55ers.
VOTE YES ON REFERENDUMS #26 AND #27
FOR A VIBRANT, WALKABLE AND PROSPEROUS DOWNTOWN VERO BEACH
September 14, 2024
Looking forward to seeing you all this Monday the 16th for the Let's Talk Housing panel discussion at Riverside Theatre.
We are at capacity in the theatre, so if your plans have changed and you won't be able to join us, please let us know so we can offer your space to someone on the wait list.
The program ends promptly at 7 pm, at which time everyone is invited to continue the dialogue on the veranda of Polo Grill on Ocean Drive (now called Polo Steak and Sea) -- 2855 Ocean Drive.
Mayor Cotugno looks forward to getting to know you all better one-on-one there for drinks on the veranda. In case you want to stay for dinner, here is the menu.
Thank you to Polo proprietor Bill Brown for making the veranda available to us and thanks to all of you for joining us and making these events such an important part of our community -- great communities begin with great dialogue!
LET'S TALK HOUSING IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Moderated by
Baerbel O'Haire
with
County Commissioner Susan Adams
Mayor John Cotugno
Keith Kite
Trevor Loomis
Riverside Theatre
Monday, September 16
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Cash Bar and Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
September 12, 2024
Keith Kite
Founder & Managing Partner of Kite Properties, LLC
&
Chair, IRC Chamber of Commerce
Government Committee focused on Workforce Housing.
joins Monday's
LET'S TALK HOUSING PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderated by Baerbel O'Haire
Meet your panelists
Susan Adams -- County Commissioner, District 1
Susan grew up on a farm north of Fellsmere in Indian River County. She graduated President of the Inaugural Class at Sebastian River High School. Earning a Bachelor Degree in Marketing and a Juris Doctorate from Florida State University, Susan is the driving force managing her well-known family restaurant, Marsh Landing.
Susan was elected to the Fellsmere City Council in 2007 and served as Mayor until November 2015, promoting the goals and vision of Fellsmere. She took that vision and goal setting ability to the Indian River County Commission in 2016 and continues serving strongly and proudly as the Indian River County Commissioner, District 1.
John Cotugno -- Mayor, City of Vero Beach
John hails from Rhode Island but landed in Vero Beach after retiring from over 40 years of leadership in the electronics Industry primarily in the Semiconductor market. He immediately began serving our community as a Volunteer Public Policy Advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association on both the State and Federal level. In 2019: Governor DeSantis appointed him to the State Health Improvement Plan Committee, he was appointed both to the Vero Beach Utilities Commission, where he served as Vice-Chairman, and the Three Corners Steering Committee.
He was elected to the Vero Beach City Council in 2021 and began serving as Mayor in 2022.
He resides in Central Beach with his wife, Jan Williams, and rescue dog Roxie.
Keith Kite -- Founder & Managing Partner, Kite Properties, LLC
Keith and The Kite Team provide investment, development, and management services for commercial property in Indian River County. Our notable developments in the county include the SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Hampton Inn & Suites—Miracle Mile, and the Star Suites Hotel by Riverside Theatre. In addition to sales and leasing, Keith and his team manage over 500,000 square feet of commercial property in Indian River County.
Born in Gainesville, Florida, Keith is a fourth-generation Floridian. He moved to Vero Beach in 1995 with his wife Kay and their sons Kyle and Kollin.
Keith holds a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management from Eastern Michigan University. He is a Voting Member of the Tourism Development Council of Indian River County. Keith is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Indian River Chamber of Commerce and Chairs the Government Committee focused on Workforce Housing.
Trevor Loomis -- President and CEO, Indian River Habitat for Humanity
Trevor Loomis has been President and CEO of Indian River Habitat for Humanity since December 2021. Prior to IRHFH, he was Director of Homebuyer Services at Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville in Louisville, KY. He has more than a decade of experience developing workforce and attainable housing. Trevor is a retired veteran of the US Army and holds a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Louisville, and an MBA from Bellarmine University. In addition to his work with Indian River Habitat for Humanity, he serves on the Board of Directors for Treasure Coast Community Health and Habitat for Humanity of Florida. He lives in Vero Beach with his wife, Martha, and three sons.
LET'S TALK HOUSING IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
Moderated by
Baerbel O'Haire
with
County Commissioner Susan Adams
Mayor John Cotugno
Keith Kite
Trevor Loomis
Riverside Theatre
Monday, September 16
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Cash Bar and Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches
RSVP Required!
(Maximum 150 guests)
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
September 9, 2024
Thrilled to Announce
Trevor Loomis
President and CEO of Indian River Habitat for Humanity
will join the
LET'S TALK HOUSING IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderated by
Baerbel O'Haire
with
County Commissioner Susan Adams
and
Mayor John Cotugno
Riverside Theatre
Monday, September 16
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Cash Bar and Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches
RSVP Required!
(Maximum 150 guests)
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
September 9, 2024
Thrilled to Announce
Trevor Loomis
President and CEO of Indian River Habitat for Humanity
will join the
LET'S TALK HOUSING IN INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
PANEL DISCUSSION
Moderated by
Baerbel O'Haire
with
County Commissioner Susan Adams
and
Mayor John Cotugno
Riverside Theatre
Monday, September 16
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Cash Bar and Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches
RSVP Required!
(Maximum 150 guests)
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
September 3, 2024
Driving community engagement since 2019
Mark Your Calendars
This Friday, September 6
City Council Candidate Forum (TPAIRC)
and
Monday, September 16
Let's Talk Housing
Riverside Theatre
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Susan Adams
County
Commissioner
District 1
Dori Stone
President and CEO
Indian River County
Chamber of Commerce
Former Planning Director
City of Winter Park, FL
John Cotugno
Mayor
City of Vero Beach
Good afternoon, Vero Beach!
Hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. First and foremost, mark your calendar for the monthly Let's Talk Vero event at Riverside Theatre. Right up there with the health of the lagoon, this is a hot topic you've been asking us to bring to the stage.
Moderated by Baerbel O'Haire, our panel lineup so far features Commissioner Susan Adams, Mayor John Cotugno and IRC Chamber of Commerce CEO Dori Stone. Stay tuned for more details.
Monday, September 16
Let's Talk Housing
Riverside Theatre
5:00 p.m. - Doors Open
5:00 - 5:30 p.m. - Cash Bar and Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. - Panel Discussion and Q&A
All are welcome continue the conversation after in the courtyard plaza
at
Polo Grill on Ocean Drive
Please be sure to RSVP below.
Meantime, City Council elections are around the corner and alongside John Carroll, Ken Daige, Brian Heady and Linda Moore, there is a new entrant -- Aaron Vos. More about Aaron from 32963 pasted below. You can also get to know him better this Friday by attending the Taxpayers Association luncheon at the Vero Beach Yacht Club (or watching their replay) at noon.
More about Aaron Vos (excerpted from Vero News August 29 edition)
Aaron Vos, a retired-but-still-working management and technical consultant for the RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon.
Vos, 63, grew up in the Los Angeles area and, after a spending four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and then graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in electrical engineering, he worked for Raytheon – a major defense contractor – for three decades.
He retired in 2017, but he continues to work for the company, which merged with the United Technologies in 2020 and was rebranded as RTX last year, as an independent contractor.
For the past six years, he has been traveling around the country as a troubleshooter.
However, Vos said he has already notified the company of his plans to reduce his workload to a few hours per week. If elected, he said he plans to “dedicate my full attention to helping the city.”
Vos, who moved to Vero Beach in March 2019 and lives in the barrier island’s Castaway Cove community, said he never considered entering politics, but his neighbors urged him to run.
“I’m very interested in what’s going on in the city,” he said, “and with my background and skill set, I believe I can make a noticeable and positive difference.”
More information can be found at www.VosforVero.com
If you haven't already, take a look at the community-led YES for Downtown Vero website here. Check out the resources section to learn more about the referendums on the November 5 ballot. Take the survey and share with friends and neighbors.
Watch for more details from YES for Downtown announcing special events in the coming weeks, such as the Taste of Downtown Vero walking and historical tour set for October 12 and 13 and the 55 Minus party at the Heritage Center on September 21.
August 22, 2024
Let's Talk Vero
Introduces
Thank you -- all hundreds of you! -- who attended Monday's Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre evening where we soft-launched the Yes for Downtown Vero engagement platform to educate the community about the two referendums on the November 5 ballot.
With back-to-school schedules, August vacations and a deluge of rain, we were thrilled to see such a turnout! It's a testament to the commitment, excitement and momentum building surrounding possibilities for the future of downtown Vero Beach.
Dori Stone, President and CEO of the Indian River Chamber of Commerce and former planning director of the much-admired City of Winter Park, did a masterful job inspiring and helping guests understand what is being proposed. Take a moment to watch Dori's presentation here laying the groundwork for this citizen-led community education and outreach initiative.
Then visit www.YesforDowntownVero.com to read a letter to the community from T. P. Kennedy, sign up here for updates, check out the resources and news sections, take the survey here, and share with your friends, family and colleagues. We want to hear from all Vero Beach residents but are particularly committed to engaging registered voters. When you take the survey, please ask any questions you may have in the open-ended section -- we will use these questions to build out the FAQ section of the site.
Special thanks to T.P. Kennedy, Tom Corr III, Mike Johannsen, Chris Flaig, Dr. Michael Fortunato, and Keith Drewett for powering this initiative. And the dozens of community leaders (listed below and pictured on the site) who have shared their enthusiasm to date. We hope you will do the same by uploading a quote and photo.
August 16, 2024
This Monday, August 19
join special guest
Dori Stone
IRC Chamber of Commerce
&
Former Planning Director, City of Winter Park
We are excited for you to join us this Monday, August 19 where Dori Stone, President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and former Planning Director of the City of Winter Park, will introduce the citizen-led Downtown Vero education and outreach initiative surrounding the two referendums on the November ballot.
Monday, August 19
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Riverside Theatre
Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches and Cash Bar
Laura Moss
County Commissioner -- District 5
John Cotugno
Mayor -- City of Vero Beach
We will also be joined by County Commissioner Laura Moss, who will share highlights of the exciting plans underway for Indian River County's Centennial Celebration in 2025. Learn more about this exciting milestone here.
Mayor John Cotugno will give us a general update on city business prior to outlining the process for the new RFP for Three Corners, which was issued today.
Please use the RSVP button above to let us know if you will be joining us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Irina
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
This Monday, August 19
join special guest
Dori Stone
IRC Chamber of Commerce
&
Former Planning Director, City of Winter Park
We are excited for you to join us this Monday, August 19 where Dori Stone, President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and former Planning Director of the City of Winter Park, will introduce the citizen-led Downtown Vero education and outreach initiative surrounding the two referendums on the November ballot.
Monday, August 19
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Riverside Theatre
Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches and Cash Bar
Laura Moss
County Commissioner -- District 5
John Cotugno
Mayor -- City of Vero Beach
We will also be joined by County Commissioner Laura Moss, who will share highlights of the exciting plans underway for Indian River County's Centennial Celebration in 2025. Learn more about this exciting milestone here.
Mayor John Cotugno will give us a general update on city business prior to outlining the process for the new RFP for Three Corners, which was issued today.
Please use the RSVP button above to let us know if you will be joining us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Irina
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
August 16, 2024
This Monday, August 19
join special guest
Dori Stone
IRC Chamber of Commerce
&
Former Planning Director, City of Winter Park
We are excited for you to join us this Monday, August 19 where Dori Stone, President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and former Planning Director of the City of Winter Park, will introduce the citizen-led Downtown Vero education and outreach initiative surrounding the two referendums on the November ballot.
Monday, August 19
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Riverside Theatre
Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches and Cash Bar
Laura Moss
County Commissioner -- District 5
John Cotugno
Mayor -- City of Vero Beach
We will also be joined by County Commissioner Laura Moss, who will share highlights of the exciting plans underway for Indian River County's Centennial Celebration in 2025. Learn more about this exciting milestone here.
Mayor John Cotugno will give us a general update on city business prior to outlining the process for the new RFP for Three Corners, which was issued today.
Please use the RSVP button above to let us know if you will be joining us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Irina
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
This Monday, August 19
join special guest
Dori Stone
IRC Chamber of Commerce
&
Former Planning Director, City of Winter Park
We are excited for you to join us this Monday, August 19 where Dori Stone, President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and former Planning Director of the City of Winter Park, will introduce the citizen-led Downtown Vero education and outreach initiative surrounding the two referendums on the November ballot.
Monday, August 19
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Riverside Theatre
Complimentary Gourmet Sandwiches and Cash Bar
Laura Moss
County Commissioner -- District 5
John Cotugno
Mayor -- City of Vero Beach
We will also be joined by County Commissioner Laura Moss, who will share highlights of the exciting plans underway for Indian River County's Centennial Celebration in 2025. Learn more about this exciting milestone here.
Mayor John Cotugno will give us a general update on city business prior to outlining the process for the new RFP for Three Corners, which was issued today.
Please use the RSVP button above to let us know if you will be joining us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Irina
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
August 12, 2024
Hello everyone,
Hope your August is off to a great start!
This is going to be a big month! Some key dates:
Tomorrow (Tuesday) August 13 at 9:30 a.m. is the regularly scheduled City Council meeting. The agenda is here. Attend in person at City Hall chambers or watch via Channel 13 here.
Monday, August 19, join us for our monthly Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre event, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. where Dori Stone, President and CEO of the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce and former Planning Director of Winter Park, will be on hand to introduce T.P. Kennedy and the citizen-led education and outreach initiative for the revitalization of downtown.
You won't want to miss this one! Remember -- complimentary gourmet sandwiches and cash bar from 5:00 - 5:30. Program begins at 5:30 in the Waxlax Theatre and ends at 6:50. Mayor John Cotugno will also be on hand to give an update. Click here to RSVP.
Tuesday, August 20 -- VOTE. If you haven't already, vote in person on the 20th. The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce recognizes the importance of an informed electorate and, while they do not endorse any candidates running for office, they are committed to providing information and have made candidate interview videos available here for your ease of reference. These videos include candidates for County Commission Districts 1, 3, and 5, the Sheriff’s race, and the School Board races for Districts 3 and 5.
Stay tuned!
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
July 28, 2024
Reminder:
Last Chance to Register to Vote
and
if you are registered
Democrat or Independent
Last Chance to Change Your Party Affiliation is
Monday, July 22
Thank you to all of you who attended Monday's Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre event with special guest Leslie Swan.
We had a packed house and were thrilled by the level of enthusiasm shown by our audience for the most essential component of our lives as civically engaged citizens. If you weren't able to join, you won't want to miss the replay (here).
There was much discussion and concern about the issue of "ghost candidates" who have no interest in getting elected -- rather, they are last minute write-ins who essentially act as spoilers to prevent Democrats and Independents from having a say in who represents them.
While I am not suggesting or recommending anyone change their party affiliation, I am writing to remind you that if you are a registered Democrat or Independent and do want a voice in these two upcoming important elections -- Indian River County Sherriff and County Commissioner District 5 -- you may only do so if you are a registered Republican.
The deadline to change your party affiliation (you may revert back after the election if you wish) is Monday.
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
July 21, 2024
Reminder:
Last Chance to Register to Vote
and
if you are registered
Democrat or Independent
Last Chance to Change Your Party Affiliation is
Monday, July 22
Thank you to all of you who attended Monday's Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre event with special guest Leslie Swan.
We had a packed house and were thrilled by the level of enthusiasm shown by our audience for the most essential component of our lives as civically engaged citizens. If you weren't able to join, you won't want to miss the replay (here).
There was much discussion and concern about the issue of "ghost candidates" who have no interest in getting elected -- rather, they are last minute write-ins who essentially act as spoilers to prevent Democrats and Independents from having a say in who represents them.
While I am not suggesting or recommending anyone change their party affiliation, I am writing to remind you that if you are a registered Democrat or Independent and do want a voice in these two upcoming important elections -- Indian River County Sherriff and County Commissioner District 5 -- you may only do so if you are a registered Republican.
The deadline to change your party affiliation (you may revert back after the election if you wish) is Monday.
Let's Talk Vero is powered by Baerbel O'Haire
and
Riverside Theatre
June 28, 2024
-
Leslie Swan to Open July 15 Riverside Theatre event
-
Important August Primary Election Details and Deadlines
-
Monday, July 1 -- Little Jim Bait & Tackle Needs Your Help
A couple of things as we head into the weekend:
-
There seems to be quite a lot of confusion surrounding the process for voting on August 20, particularly where Sherriff and County Commissioner for District 5 are concerned. If you want to have a voice in which candidates for those two races will appear on the November ballot and if you are registered as Independent or Democrat, you will need to change your party affiliation to Republican prior to July 22 in order to vote on August 20.
We are thrilled Leslie Swan, Indian River County Supervisor of Elections, has graciously accepted our invitation to host a Q&A for the entire community at our next Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre event on July 15. Leslie will take the first 30 or so minutes before we move on to sharing images and findings from the DPZ CoDESIGN Ideas for Downtown Master Plan report, expected to be delivered on July 8.
In the meantime, below is a primer shared with us by Leslie, to help clear up some questions.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
VOTING IN THE AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION
If you are new to the state of Florida, you may not be aware that Florida is a closed primary state. Florida is one of 12 states that conducts closed Primary Elections and Florida has done so since 1913. What does closed primaries mean?
Closed Primary Elections are elections in which only voters affiliated with the political party holding the primary are eligible to participate.
Typically, that would be either one of the two major political parties (Republicans and Democrats) if they have candidates for a partisan office on the Primary Election ballot.
Primary Elections have other types of races on the ballot besides partisan races. All registered voters can vote for Universal Primary Contests, nonpartisan races, and referendum questions regardless of which major or minor political party they are registered or even if they are registered without a specific party affiliation.
A Universal Primary Contest is a race where all the candidates for an office have the same party affiliation and the winner of the Primary Election will not face any opposition in the General Election. For the August 20 Primary Election, the following races are Universal Primary Contests: the Tax Collector and County Commissioner District 1 and District 3.
All voters have the opportunity to vote for school board candidates in a Primary Election since school board is a non-partisan race. Non-partisan candidates are prohibited from qualifying or campaigning based on party affiliation. If there are more than two candidates in a school board race and no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast in the Primary Election, the names of the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for such office shall be placed on the General Election ballot.
The School Board of Indian River County has two districts up for election, District 3 & District 5. These races will appear on the Primary Election ballot. Since only two candidates have qualified for each district, the Primary Election will determine the winner.
Any person who is seeking election as a write-in candidate shall not be required to pay a filing fee or collect candidate petitions. A write-in candidate is not entitled to have his or her name printed on any ballot; however, a space for the write-in candidate’s name to be written in shall be provided on the General Election ballot. Whenever a write-in candidate qualifies for a contest, the write-in candidate closes the Primary Election.
In Indian River County, the following two races have write-in candidates: the Sheriff’s race, and County Commissioner District 5 race.
Only registered Republicans will be eligible to vote in these races in the August Primary Election.
The winners of these races will go up against the write-in candidates in the General Election in November.
All voters have the option to change their party affiliation in order to be eligible to vote for a particular candidate. The deadline to register to vote or change your party affiliation is July 22 for the upcoming Primary Election. Visit VoteIndianRiver.gov for comprehensive election information.
Save Little Jim Bait & Tackle
While not in Vero Beach, Little Jim's is just down the street and has been a cherished destination by Vero Beach and surrounding residents for 80 years!
Show up on Monday, July 1, at 5:05 p.m. at Ft. Pierce Commissioner chambers, when commissioners will vote on whether to designate "Little Jim's" a historic and culturally significant location.
Proprietor Donna Qvarnstrom invites you to show your support by picking up a free T-shirt at Little Jim's between now and Monday (while supplies last) and wearing it to the meeting for a 20% discount at Cobb's Landing afterward.
For more information, see the Little Jim's Facebook page here, or visit their website at www.littlejimbaitandtackle.com.
Monday, July 1
5:05 p.m
City of Fort Pierce, 100 N U.S. Highway 1
Little Jim's is being considered due to its history training UDT Frogmen for the Normandy and Pacific invasions during World War II and for the "Florida Cracker" style of architecture.
You may view the agenda item here. And the Historic Designation report here.
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June 23, 2024
Save the Date -- Monday, July 15
Let's Talk Downtown at Riverside Theatre
Hello everyone,
Big thanks to all who came out for last Monday's conversation with Planning Director Jason Jeffries and Mayor John Cotugno to talk about the Ideas for Downtown Master Plan. If you were not able to make it in person, you may watch the replay here.
Next steps for Downtown:
This Tuesday, June 25 at 9:30 a.m. the Ideas for Downtown Master Plan referendum language will be on the agenda. The full agenda can be found here -- See Item #4, Ordinances -- 7A and 7B.
The tentative referendum language at present reads:
Shall Section 5.06 of the City Charter be amended to allow an increase in 22 residential density from the present level of 17 units per acre to a density level of 23 36 units per acre to allow residential development not to exceed 1,800 total 24 residential units in the entire Downtown Commercial District consistent with the 25 Ideas for Downtown master plan as adopted by City Council on July 23, 2024? 26 27 Shall the above Charter Amendment be adopted.
On or around July 9, DPZ CoDESIGN will deliver the final Ideas for Downtown Master Plan report.
On Monday, July 15, (based on that final report) we will host Let's Talk Downtown at Riverside Theatre from 5-7 p.m.
We will go over the key highlights from the report, and since so much time has elapsed since the ideas for Downtown Charrette, and so many of you have requested it, we will project all of the images from the final DPZ CoDESIGN report onto the screen so the community can visually contextualize what is being proposed.
At the Tuesday, July 23 City Council meeting, the final language for the referendum question to increase residential density in the Downtown Commercial District (walkable core) will be presented for public hearing.
More as we know it,
Jonathan
Let's Talk Vero is powered by:
June 17, 2024
Downtown Master Plan Next Steps
Let's Talk Vero
at
Riverside Theatre
Tonight
Monday, June 17
5-7 p.m.
Hello all,
A reminder to join us this evening (Monday, June 17) for Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre, where Jason Jeffries will be on hand to give an update and answer questions about opportunities for Downtown.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for complimentary gourmet sandwiches and a cash bar. Presentation begins at 5:30 p.m.
We look forward to seeing all of you there. Please RSVP below.
Note: While we were hoping to engage in dialogue on Three Corners next steps, that won't be possible during this event as the City has not yet finalized the details of the new RFP and solicitation process. Just as soon as there is something to report, we'll be in touch.
In the meantime, here are the results reflecting what the community is thinking about the decision to re-issue the RFP. As of this writing, 61 percent of the community thinks it was wise to start over.
The bar charts are very interesting, but the more thoughtful and interesting sentiment can be seen when you click on the word "Responses" in blue under in the "Answer Choices" section just under the bar charts.
If you haven't yet and would like to weigh in on where we are with Three Corners, you can share your thoughts here. We make these results available to the public and to our elected officials.
Let's Talk Vero is powered by:
June 14, 2024
Reminder:
Downtown Master Plan Next Steps
Let's Talk Vero
at
Riverside Theatre
Monday, June 17
5-7 p.m.
Hello all,
A reminder to join us this coming Monday (June 17) for Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre, where Jason Jeffries will be on hand to give an update and answer questions about opportunities for Downtown.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for complimentary gourmet sandwiches and a cash bar. Presentation begins at 5:30 p.m.
City Council met yesterday for a special call meeting to determine next steps on the master plan and referendum on November's ballot to increase density in line with Andres Duany's Ideas for Downtown initiative. You can see the replay of the meeting here.
We look forward to seeing all of you there. Please RSVP below.
Note: While we were hoping to engage in dialogue on Three Corners next steps, that won't be possible during this event as the City has not yet finalized the details of the new RFP and solicitation process. Just as soon as there is something to report, we'll be in touch.
In the meantime, here are the results reflecting what the community is thinking about the decision to re-issue the RFP. As of this writing, 61 percent of the community thinks it was wise to start over.
The bar charts are very interesting, but the more thoughtful and interesting sentiment can be seen when you click on the word "Responses" in blue under in the "Answer Choices" section just under the bar charts.
If you haven't yet and would like to weigh in on where we are with Three Corners, you can share your thoughts here. We make these results available to the public and to our elected officials.
Let's Talk Vero is powered by:
June 10, 2024
Three Corners and Downtown Master Plan Next Steps
Let's Talk Vero
at
Riverside Theatre
Monday, June 17
5-7 p.m.
Hello all,
Join us this Monday, June 17 for complimentary gourmet sandwiches and cash bar for this month's Let's Talk Vero in the Waxlax at Riverside Theatre, where we will be joined by Jason Jeffries (Planning Director), Peter Polk, (Three Corners) and Mayor John Cotugno. We hope to see you there.
Peter will shed some light on where we are with the Three Corners project in the wake of Friday's decision to start the RFP process over and Jason will bring us up to speed on the "Ideas for Downtown" master plan and next steps.
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for gourmet sandwiches and cash bar; presentations and Q&A begin at 5:30.
SURVEY AND RESULTS
If you haven't already, please take this survey to share your thoughts on the City's decision to move forward with a new RFP process for Three Corners. You can click here to see survey results and glean what other community members are thinking.
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
Tomorrow (June 11) there will be a regular City Council meeting at 9:30 a.m. in City Hall, where a number of land use amendments will be discussed. Taylor Dingle will also be introducing a plan to develop an official flag for the City of Vero Beach to celebrate its heritage and identity. You may view the full agenda here.
On Thursday, June 13, there will be a special call meeting where the City will vote to finalize the referendum language for a November ballot measure to increase density in the Downtown commercial district in line with Andres Duany's suggestions in the master plan. You may view the agenda here.Add your text here. Edit to add dynamic values like name, email and more.
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June 7, 2024
RFP PROCESS WILL BEGIN ANEW
I am thrilled to report Council voted 4-1 to reissue the RFP for the developer for Three Corners.
Today's meeting was long, contentious and in so many ways shocking. I will share the replay when it is available, as I do not wish to editorialize.
From our vantage point, this reissuance is a path not only to the best outcome for Vero Beach, but the only possible way to maintain the public's trust, which, as of yesterday given the replies we received, was barely hanging by a thread. I hope this decision restores your faith that your input is being considered and taken seriously into account. And that political nonsense will not be tolerated by this Council.
Bottom line, the process was tainted to the point where expensive legal action was very likely, regardless of which developer was chosen. Fortunately for city residents and taxpayers, this was averted.
Jeb Bittner, a city resident and member of the developer selection committee said it best -- none of the developers would have wanted to win under these circumstances.
This is where we are today. More as we know it. We will still host State of the City on June 17 from 5 - 7 p.m. at Riverside theatre, but we will not be introducing any developers. Stay tuned.
As City Attorney John Turner remarked, "measure twice, cut once." In the end, a great outcome.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
Irina
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June 6, 2024
Notice
Special Call Meeting Tomorrow
Friday, June 7
9:30 a.m.
City Council Chambers
1053 20th Place
Hello all,
Following up our earlier email (below) bringing your attention to tomorrow's special call meeting with three news stories which have been published since.
Correction: Our earlier email erroneously stated (in the body) that tomorrow's meeting takes place Friday, June 6 at 9:30 a.m. The correct date is Friday, June 7
Hello all,
Please be advised a Special Call meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow (Friday, June 7) at 9:30 a.m. in City Council chambers to discuss the potential disqualification of SuDa, the developer chosen to begin contract negotiations to develop Three Corners.
For context, click here and scroll to the 47:32-minute mark to hear from City Attorney John Turner, followed by deliberations by Council members at the 54:58-minute mark and public comment at the 1:08-hour/minute mark. For the full agenda, click here.
The meeting is open to the public and attendees are afforded three minutes for public comment. If you wish to weigh in, but are unable to attend in person, you may send your comments to City Clerk Tammy Bursick at tbursick@covb.org. If you wish to watch the meeting from your computer in real time, you may click here to watch on Channel 13.
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May 29, 2024
SuDa, Crec Capital, Madison Marquette (SuDa)
Tapped as Three Corners Developer
Hello everyone!
As many of you now know, SuDa was voted (3-2) last night as the developer to move forward with negotiations for the Three Corners site. Tracey Zudans, Taylor Dingle, and Linda Moore were the deciding votes. CBS News coverage can be found here. WPTV News coverage here, TC Palm/Nick Slater's piece here and Vero News here.
Contract negotiations with the City are expected to last approximately five months, and assuming all goes well, a contract will be drawn up for the development of Three Corners. Should they not reach an agreement, the City will begin negotiations with Clearpath. We will keep you apprised throughout the process.
Please mark your calendar for Monday, June 17 at Riverside Theatre (5-7 p.m.) when Let's Talk Vero will host the SuDa team for a panel discussion moderated by Baerbel O'Haire. We look forward to seeing you there.
In the meantime, a message to the Vero Beach community from the SuDa team.
"We, the SuDa Crec Madison group, along with our team of architects and consultants, are humbled and grateful to the Vero Beach Community, the City Council, the City Staff and all those who have tirelessly worked on the Three Corners Project, for giving us this enormous opportunity. This is a special project to say the least and comes with a serious composite of responsibilities to the community and its future generations. In the years ahead, the future will value those perennial things of our human existence and the human element, places of beautiful delicate architecture mixed with nature, a place of harmony that will nourish ourselves, our communities and our environment. A place that is loved and drives loyalty and passionate attachment for generations to come. "A sense sublime".
It's time to roll up our sleeves as we look forward to working with the City and the Vero Beach Community. We will do so with vigor and ardent faith, as what we are about to embark on is very meaningful indeed."
SuDa
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May 28, 2024
Tonight at 6 pm:
Three Corners Developer Selection/Vote
City Council Chambers -- 1053 20th Place
***
Let's Talk Lagoon Part 2 replay + A message from Heather Stapleton
***
Live Survey Results
Much to note about tonight's highly anticipated developer selection/vote.
But first, a shout out and many thanks to Heather Stapleton who spoke to a packed house at last week's Let's Talk Lagoon Part 2 at Riverside Theatre, which you may view here.
A message from Heather Stapleton:
There is no one source of pollution affecting the lagoon so there is no single solution. Our cumulative efforts to reduce negative impacts will improve the health of the lagoon.
Top things you can do today for the health of the Indian River Lagoon:
-
Learn about and properly maintain your septic tank. And eventually, when it becomes available, switch from septic to sewer.
-
Reduce turf grass and replace with sections of beautiful FL native plants.
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When maintain your lawn, do not blow leaves or grass clippings into streets, ditches or storm drains.
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Abide by your local fertilizer ordinance (Stormwater Division - Fertilizer Ordinance (indianriver.gov))
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Pick up after pets – even in your own yard. Too much dog feces gets left on the ground every day and when it rains, stormwater carries it in to the lagoon.
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Use a carwash rather than washing your car in your driveway or yard. Commercial car washes drain used water into the sanitary system instead of storm drains. This water is then treated.
THREE CORNERS VOTE -- 6 PM TONIGHT
Thank you all for participating in our developer ranking survey, which is still live on the homepage at www.LetsTalkVero.com if you wish to share your thoughts with City staff and Council members. Also, as promised, a link there to the survey results which update in real time so you may see what other community members are thinking.
Bear in mind, this survey is a simple temperature check, given the evolution of the plans presented by the developers at the May 21 Council meeting.
While we regularly engage you all and share your comments with Staff and Council members, it is important to note we have not been retained or asked by the City to conduct this survey as part of a new public outreach campaign.
Since 2019, the Three Corners project has had an unprecedented amount of outreach and input, all of which has informed the process every step of the way. From putting the plan to referendum, issuance of the RFP, appointment of Three Corners project manager, marketing and financial firms, Selection Committee, etc. and now vote.
That said, Staff and Council members are always eager to hear from you, whether you are showing up in person in council chambers, participating in our events and surveys, or writing to them directly (tbursick@covb.org).
We look forward to seeing you all this evening! Council members will make their vote after a discussion and evaluation of all four developer proposals, not just the top two ranked by the Selection Committee. The full agenda is here.
Reminder: All meeting attendees will be granted three minutes for public comment...expect a long meeting.
As always, we will share the replay as soon as it is available.
Clearpath
SuDa
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May 22, 2024
Refreshed Developer Proposals, New Survey
and
Message from the City
Bringing to your attention to important new developments since our last outreach.
Prospective Three Corners developers have all come forth with updated information during their presentations yesterday with City Council members. Given the evolution and significance of this project, we wanted you to see first-hand (prior to Tuesday's upcoming vote) the refreshed designs, photos, and presentations, which may be viewed here.
The Three Corners Selection Committee ranked Clearpath at #1 and Suda Cred at #2, but it should be noted the Council members' vote will take into consideration all four RFP responses.
This is the moment we've all been waiting for! So, after viewing the video above, please do one of the following:
-
Attend the meeting in person on Tuesday, May 28 at 6:00 pm. in Council Chambers (1053 20th Place). Council has changed the time to accommodate public comment from those who work and/or are unable to attend morning meetings. All City residents are allotted three minutes to make public comment.
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Share your opinion via e-mail with City Clerk, Tammy Bursick at tbursick@covb.org.
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Take the survey prepared by Let's Talk Vero to share with Council members -- we will make results available to the community as well.
Below please find a Statement from the City.
Also below, photos Let's Talk Vero has compiled to give you a side-by-side view of the top two contenders as ranked by the Three Corners Selection Committee-- Clearpath which was ranked #1 and Suda Cred, which was ranked #2.
STATEMENT FROM THE CITY REGARDING MAY 28 SELECTION OF MASTER DEVELOPER FOR THREE CORNERS
On Tuesday, May 28, after public comment, the Vero Beach City Council will make the final ranking of the proposals for the Master Developer for Three Corners site.
At the May 21 meeting, concerns were raised regarding the disqualification of the SUDA proposal based on the relationship between Colliers International and CREC Capital. Mr. Urgo previously raised these concerns to the City. The City addressed these concerns with Mr. Urgo by email on May 20 (see here).
The City of Vero Beach has followed its standard operating procedures for evaluating RFP proposals and has been transparent by providing all relevant documents and videos of evaluation meetings to the public. All Three Corners RFP documents are posted to the Three Corners page on the City website.
Any inquiries for records should be directed to Tammy K. Bursick, City Clerk at 772-978-4700.
Correction: In our previous email, we erroneously stated the Three Corners developer vote will take place on Monday, May 28. The correct day is Tuesday, May 28 (not Monday).
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May 19, 2024
Countdown to May 28 Vote
Last chance to share your thoughts with council members before they vote
Take this final Survey
We are one week away from City Council making the final vote on which developer to partner with for the future development of Big Blue and Three Corners.
This will be the community's final opportunity to weigh in.
The two finalists are: 1st place, Clearpath and 2nd place, Suda Cred. The vote will take place on Tuesday, May 28 in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. (1053 20th Place). The meeting was changed to the evening specifically to accommodate those who work and might not be able to attend morning meetings.
Attend the Meeting in Person
or
Take the Survey
In advance of taking the survey, we ask that you:
1) Read the media's reporting of this past Friday's selection committee meeting (click links):
We have not heard yet from our opinion writers -- 32963's Ray McNulty and TCPalm's Larry Reisman -- we encourage you to read their stories when they publish this week.
2) Get to know the developers by watching their videos.
Here is Clearpath's presentation
Here is Suda Cred's presentation
Here is the replay of the Selection Committe Meeting
Think about each proposal in terms of the financial feasibility and implications to the city, architecture, design, amenities and aesthetics, and the community's aspirations now and for the future.
3) Bear in mind the selection committee has worked tirelessly to make its recommendation to Council based on all the above criteria (and so much more). If you wish to weigh in, take the survey below:
As a reminder, Let's Talk Vero is not affiliated or aligned in any way with the City of Vero Beach. Let's Talk Vero is an independent entity whose mission is to foster an engaged community, one where our elected officials are taking their cues from an educated and informed citizenry. We do that by alerting the community to important upcoming meetings, pointing to official City of Vero Beach links, agendas and replays, hosting monthly events, and generally gathering all the news reporting and information in one place, to make it easy for community members to knowledgeably weigh in, either in person or from the comfort of their own homes. We make our results public, and we share your input with Council members. We want to hear from all Vero Beach residents, but especially those who are city voters.
On Tuesday, May 21, each council member will speak one-on-one with the developers at a special call meeting (also in chambers). That meeting will be closed to the public, but discussion will be open to the public beginning at 12:30. There will be no public comment at this special call meeting -- it is strictly an opportunity for council members to ask questions of staff and PFM, the city's financial consultant on the project. Your opportunity for public comment will be on May 28 at the 6:00 p.m. Council meeting.
For more information, visit www.LetsTalkVero.com.
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May 15, 2024
Andres Duany's Presentation to Council Yesterday
Hello all,
Yesterday, Andres Duany presented a condensed version of the whopping 90-page Downtown Master Plan to the City Council. You may view the replay here (skip to 29:35).
Reminder: Friday, May 17 at 2:30 p.m. -- the Selection Committee will recommend their preferred Three Corners developer to City Council (OPEN to the public).
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May 14, 2024
Let's Talk Lagoon Part II
and
Three Corners Recommended Developer
Join us for Part II of Let's Talk Lagoon this Monday, May 20 at Riverside Theatre where we are delighted to once again be joined by Heather Stapleton of One Lagoon, so come ready with questions! We will answer questions submitted on cards from the last event as well.
Doors will open at 5:00 p.m. for mingling, complimentary sandwiches and cash bar. The actual program will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7:00 p.m. sharp.
Mayor Cotugno will close the program with a quick "State of the City" and announce which Three Corners developer was chosen by the selection committee to go before Council for vote.
Monday, May 20
5:00 p.m. -- Doors Open
5:30 p.m. -- Program Begins
7:00 p.m. -- Program Ends
Complimentary Sandwiches and Cash Bar
Heather Stapleton
One Lagoon
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May 9, 2024
Mark Your Calendars!
Andres Duany Returning to Town May 14
Andres Duany of DPZ CoDESIGN will return to Vero Beach on Tuesday, May 14, to present the final Downtown Master Plan, based on your input, to City Council. You may read the full DPZ report here. The meeting will take place at 9:30 a.m. in Council chambers (1053 20th Place).
Three Corners Selection Committe Makes Recommendation May 17
On May 13 and 17 (closed to the public), the Three Corners Selection Committee will be interviewing the developers. Then, on Friday, May 17, beginning at 2:30 p.m. they will make their final recommendation to Council as to the preferred developer. This meeting is open to the public. There has been much in the news on the four developers vying for the opportunity; it's all gathered here in one place for your convenience. If you haven't already, please take a moment to share your thoughts in the survey here. We will share the results with staff, council, community and selection committee members.
Let's Talk Lagoon -- Part 2 at Riverside Theatre May 20
Our next Let's Talk Vero at Riverside event with Mayor John Cotugno will take place on Monday, May 20. We had 250 guests in attendance at the last event, and given time constraints, were not able to get to the questions. So due to overwhelming demand, we are thrilled Heather Stapleton of One Lagoon will join us again to give a brief presentation to bring everyone up to date and then invite the audience to participate in a free-flowing Q&A. If you haven't had a chance to view the Let's Talk Lagoon Part 1 video, you may do so here. We hope to see you there. Please Note: Riverside Theatre will open its doors at 5:00 p.m. where guests will gather for 30 minutes to enjoy complimentary gourmet sandwiches and cash bar. The actual program will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 6:55 p.m. sharp. Mayor Cotugno will be on hand for questions and will close the program with an update on Three Corners and other key projects in the City. RSVP is required.
Urban Service Boundary -- ongoing
Indian River County has launched a series of workshops soliciting input on whether to expand the urban service boundary (USB). This would bring more areas of Vero Beach, Sebastian and Fellsmere into the utilities grid, but raises concerns over the intrusion of urban development into ecologically sensitive and rural areas. Both Larry Reisman and guest columnist Tom Cowan expressed skepticism toward the idea, noting an abundance of undeveloped land within the existing USB. Additionally, some have raised concerns that expansion of the USB could place unnecessary strain on a utilities department already grappling with a cumbersome septic-to-sewer program and potential infrastructure shortfalls.
More information about the County's public input process and workshops can be found here. The upcoming workshop dates are:
Wednesday, May 22
Intergenerational Recreation Center
1590 9th St. SW
11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 29
IRC Administration Building A BOCC Chambers
1801 27th St.
11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Future State of the City Events - Mark Your Calendar
June 17 -- Three Corners developer (tentative)
July 15 -- Meet the Candidates for Sheriff (tentative)
Reminder: Renew Your Mail-In Ballot!
If you don't know already, your request for a mail-in ballot expired on December 31, 2022 due to changes in state law, meaning you must request a new one for the 2024 elections. You may do so online or call the Indian River County Supervisor of Elections at 772-226-4700.
Future Events
We asked and you told us the topics you'd like to bring to the stage. We will do what we can to accommodate all these requests; below is a tentative line-up. Dates may change.
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Three Corners Developer (June 17 at Riverside)
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Affordable Housing Workshop (date TBD)
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State of the Hospital (date TBD)
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Meet the Candidates - City Council (date TBD--October)
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Meet the Candidates - IRC Sheriff (date TBD - likely July 15 at Riverside)
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Meet the Candidates - County Commissioners (date TBD -- possibly ZOOM)
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Meet the Candidates - School Board (date TBD)
If there are other topics you'd like us to add, or topics you think we should prioritize, please reply to this email with your suggestions, and we'll do our best to accommodate.
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April 30, 2024
Replay of Let's Talk Lagoon
Carve out 30 mins to watch this -- you won't be sorry!
If you're like most of our attendees, you will be in awe of the things you didn't even know and jazzed by the simple things you can readily do to contribute to a thriving lagoon.
Then forward this email to a friend.
Nearly 250 guests -- an unprecedented turnout -- sat in rapt attention as our seven panelists demystified the complexities surrounding what's ailing the Indian River Lagoon and what we can do as community members to take action. Covering complex and simple issues ranging from stormwater systems, macro lagoon challenges, funding and grants, septic-to-sewer conversion, lawn clippings, special interest groups, legislation, County and City action plans right on down to dog poop!
Watch the replay here.
Thank you to Jon Moses, Laurie Collings and the entire team at Riverside Theatre for graciously hosting last night's Let's Talk Lagoon. Fortunately for all of us, one of the theatre's core values is a commitment to community engagement -- we nearly filled the space and for once -- the sound was perfect! We had some really rough patches with earlier events.
And to our panelists (Sam Atwell, Joe Earman, Mike Johannsen, Judy Orcutt, Dale Sorensen, Heather Stapleton, Dr. Edie Widder, and our moderator extraordinaire, Baerbel O'Haire along with our Mayor John Cotugno.
Due to time constraints, we were unable to field questions. But we saved all your question cards and will organize a follow-up ZOOM or alternate event soon. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, don't forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming Let's Talk Vero/State of the City events at Riverside Theatre:
Monday, May 20 (time tba)
Monday, June 17 (time tba)
Monday, July 15 (time tba)
We will extend an invitation to the selected developer of Three Corners to present at the June 17 or July 15 event.
And last but not least, 32963's Mario Corbiciero gives us an advance look at this week's issue here so you can catch up on Three Corners, Police Chief Currey and other news.
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April 27, 2024
This Just in: Rankings for Three Corners Proposals
The Three Corners Selection Committee met yesterday to discuss and rank the four proposals for Three Corners.
CBS 12's Dylan Huberman covered the meeting, which you may view here. And TC Palm coverage is here.
Selection Committee Rankings:
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Clearpath
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Vista Blue
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Edgewater
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Suda Cred
Let's Talk Vero Survey Rankings:
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Clearpath
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Suda Cred
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Vista Blue
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Edgewater
Members spent hours deliberating each proposal in great detail, from financials and zoning laws to how they reflect Vero Beach's character, and more. Upon completion, each member individually ranked and scored the proposals, which were then aggregated and ranked overall based on the average. We will share the replay of that meeting next week.
Clearpath was lauded as aspirational and members took kindly to the hefty sum the firm is willing to invest in the property to propel Vero Beach forward, although several members suggested scaling it back a bit. Vista Blue was criticized for being too "members only" and narrow in scope, but was given the benefit of the doubt as there is strong potential to modify the proposal to align more with the master concept. Suda Cred came in last mostly due to the limited information available in the proposal given their late entrance into the process.
But this is far from over -- each developer will have a chance to address concerns raised and revise their proposals accordingly for the one-on-one meetings they will have with the committee on May 13 and 17. There is only one more session open to the public before Council votes on May 28.
If you want to attend that final meeting open to the public prior to official vote, which is where the selection committee will make their final recommendation to council, mark your calendar for Friday, May 17 at 2:30 p.m.
Last but not least, due to popular demand for Monday's Let's Talk Lagoon event, Riverside Theatre has moved us from the Waxlax to the mainstage so we can take people off the wait list.
If you are free on Monday, come by to sip, savor and celebrate the community coming together in support of our lagoon! Free and open to the public -- Riverside Theatre on Monday at 5 p.m.; program begins promptly at 5:30 p.m. with a hard stop at 7:00 p.m. We encourage your questions in advance.
Click here to RSVP
Let's Talk Vero is not officially aligned with the City of Vero Beach. We do, however, share survey results and community input gathered with Vero Beach City staff and Council members.
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April 25, 2024
Some important changes, updates and notifications:
Let's Talk Lagoon Event on Monday (4/29)
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We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to the Let's Talk Lagoon panel discussion at Riverside Theatre on Monday. Alas, we are at capacity for the Waxlax Theatre so arrangements have been made for guests who RSVP after today to be able to view from the Orchid Lobby. If you wish to attend, RSVP here. You will either receive a notification that you are on the waitlist, which means you will view from the Orchid Lobby, or you will be alerted event registration is closed.
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Additionally, we are delighted to announce Dr. Edie Widder of Team ORCA has joined our esteemed group of panelists.
Three Corners Developer Selection
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Thank you all for taking the survey to rank your favorite plans based on the RFP responses. We had over 200 survey takers and over 100 write-in comments from respondents sharing both what they loved and what they were concerned about.
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Mayor Cotugno was very impressed by both the quantity and quality of those write-in comments.
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The survey results are below. If you want to get a copy of the 100+ write-in comments from respondents (without names), reply to this email and we will send them in a PDF to you. Your insights are invaluable as the committee and council members prepare to interview the developers.
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There are at least four more meetings before council votes on final selection, so if you haven't taken the survey and would like to, click here.
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Tomorrow -- (4/25) from 9 am - 5 pm, the Selection Committee will be meeting to rank the proposals. The meeting is open to the public.
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The May 28 meeting where Council members will vote on the chosen developer will take place at 6:00 p.m. to accommodate those who work and would not normally be able to attend.
April 22, 2024
Announcing panelist line-up for our most anticipated event yet!
Let's Talk Lagoon
a panel discussion
at our monthly
Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre Series
an update on Three Corners developer selection will also be provided
Monday, April 29 from 5 - 7 p.m.
complimentary small plates and cash bar
You may recall, the health of the lagoon was raised at last month's event when Dale Sorensen congratulated Mayor Cotugno on the progress the City is making with the Downtown Master Plan and Three Corners project, while simultaneously cautioning all of us the success of these projects is reliant on a healthy lagoon.
Judy Orcutt of Clean Water Coalition asked us almost a year ago to focus more attention on it as well; she took us to tour Osprey Acres Stormwater Park and Nature Preserve, originally slated for more than 400 home parcels and now a nature lover's paradise dedicated to stormwater treatment and passive nutrient scrubbing. Duane De Freese of the Indian River Lagoon Council, Janie Gould of Environmental Learning Center, Bob Jones, Barbara Ruddy, and too many more to mention have been instrumental in helping us understand more as we assembled our panel. This is the first of what will hopefully be more programming on the subject for our Let's Talk Vero community.
But what exactly is a healthy lagoon, and how do we get there? What is the impact of a healthy lagoon on our quality of life, tourism, fishing, water sports and our home and property values? How will the Three Corners development impact lagoon health? Where have we been, where are we now, where are we headed, and what are our elected officials doing about it? And last but not least, what are some simple things we can all do to make a real difference?
Those questions and more -- along with actionable solutions -- will be explored by our dedicated group of panelists. Mayor John Cotugno will also be on hand to help us understand the City's commitment.
Free and open to the public -- RSVP Required
Complimentary Small Plates and Cash Bar
Baerbel O'Haire
Moderator
The O'Haire Group, Merrill Lynch
Sam Atwell
Down Sea Charters
Judy Orcutt
Clean Water Coalition
Dale Sorensen
Dale Sorensen Real Estate
Joe Earman
County Commissioner
District 3
Heather Stapleton
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
Mike Johannsen
Indian River Neighborhood Association
Panelist Bios
Baerbel O’Haire:
A regular on the Forbes annual “Best-In-State Wealth Advisors” list, Baerbel O’Haire has served Vero Beach as a Merrill Wealth Management Advisor for 38 years and counting. A fourth generation Vero Beach family, the O’Haires reside on one of the first island home properties developed on the Indian River Lagoon, where they raised their three children. An avid water skier, Baerbel wants the Lagoon to be the best it can be as a public good for the community. Baerbel currently serves as the treasurer on the board of trustees for Riverside Theatre and has also served on the boards of Childcare Resources, Impact 100, and United Against Poverty. Daughter Sydney and son Conor have recently returned to Vero Beach to join The O’Haire Group, Merrill Lynch.
Sam Atwell:
Sam Atwell, recognized as a Yamaha “Best America Captain,” adeptly showcases the marvels of the Indian River Lagoon through his venture, Down Sea Charters. Beyond leading charters, he passionately advocates for conservation in Florida on a national scale. Notably, Atwell served as the host of Florida Sportsman Watermen, broadcasted on World Fishing Network and Sportsman Channel, utilizing this platform to ignite awareness and drive action on the critical challenges facing Florida’s prized waterways.
Judy Orcutt:
The President of the Clean Water Coalition and a vocal advocate for clean water in Indian River County, Judy Orcutt’s record includes serving on the Management Board of the IRL National Estuary Program, chairing the IRNA Lagoon Committee, and serving on the City of Vero Beach Utilities Advisory Board. As a Lagoon front resident since 1996, she has witnessed the Lagoon decline that she believes we can improve by all working together.
Dale Sorensen:
Dale Sorensen needs no introduction in Vero Beach. Since 1978, he and his wife, Matilde, have built their eponymous real estate firm from a local boutique shop to the nationally recognized luxury powerhouse brand it is today. The former headmaster of St. Edward’s School, Sorensen’s commitment to Vero Beach arts, culture and philanthropic initiatives is unparalleled in our community. Dale and Matilde, along with their children Elizabeth, Leslie and Dale Jr., care deeply about preserving the Indian River Lagoon as a source of enjoyment for future homebuyers, as well as generations past, present and future.
Joe Earman:
A lifelong resident, Joe Earman represents District 3 on the Indian River Board of County Commissioners. He began his career in various family businesses before going on to spend 35 years as a firefighter and paramedic, retiring as a captain in 2015. He serves as Vice-Chairman for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) locally referred to as the “Lagoon Council” which is part of a network of 28 estuaries nationally administered by the EPA with a commitment to clean water and healthy marine ecosystems.
Heather Stapleton:
A graduate of Indiana University with triple majors in Environmental Studies, Political Science and French, Heather Stapleton began her career with a three-year stint in the Peace Corps. She has lived in Vero Beach for nearly two decades and has held executive positions at Vero Heritage, Inc. and the Environmental Learning Center. Currently a community engagement coordinator for One Lagoon (the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program), she channels her passion for the environment into fostering community connections and helping people live and be more lagoon friendly.
Mike Johannsen:
Mike Johannsen graduated from the U.S. Naval academy in the top 10% of his class before going on to serve his country for 26 years as a combat aircraft carrier pilot, followed by a 15-year career in national security. These days, rather than fighting foreign adversaries, Mike fights for clean water in Indian River County through leadership in various nonprofits as Chairman of the Indian River Neighborhood Association and a member of the Clean Water Coalition.
April 17, 2024
Extra! Extra! -- Read all About it!
IMPORTANT: Does anyone know Ray Grochowski? And if you do, can you please forward this email to him? It's a response to his letter (pasted below) to the editor which appeared in TC Palm today.
Imagine giving residents freedom to pick Three Corners plan
John Lennon well said it: “Imagine." Maybe that is just what we should do. Imagine, if the ultimate fate of the Three Corners site was not determined by several profit-seeking outside developers. Imagine, if several verbose, non-city resident columnists fostered ultimate determination directly by city residents. Imagine. In this era of electronic data-gathering capability, a determination of direction can be made in an ultimate and direct survey that gets to the core of what matters, by true residents of our city. A survey that results in direct input by the people that will be directly affected by the ultimate decision and not those outsiders/columnists with their own financial/personal agendas.
Further, the input of those organizations servicing critical community and social needs should be solicited. Yes, those organizations that struggle to service and support the not-so-financially endowed, the aged, the disabled, the homeless, those families struggling to find affordable housing, etc.
Do we really need more commercialization? Why? To clog our roads more? To get further outcry from the “we need more parking” crowd? To further overwhelm our medical facilities? To further drive up our living costs? Just what is the underlying driving force for more commercialization? Am I the only one missing something here? Bottom line: Imagine if our leadership directed its search for our future direction, based on input from all of our city residents. Mr. Lennon was not only speaking to a past generation, his words are even more important in today's times. For us. Now.
Ray Grochowski, Vero Beach
As we lead up to Council voting on which developer to proceed with for Three Corners, we are seeing an increased incidence of "keyboard warriors" on Vero Beach Facebook groups -- people who are not engaged, informed, or open minded -- intent on spreading fear, misinformation and disinformation. We call it the tyranny of the few.
They advocate swarming Council meetings to shut the Three Corners project down. A reminder -- the referendum for Three Corners development passed overwhelmingly in favor of adopting the plan -- the vote was 80% for and 20% against. The community overwhelmingly wants it, and we urge Council not to be intimidated by a small, angry mob.
We addressed this in an earlier email, and I am thrilled to see Mayor Cotugno addressed it at the last Council meeting, Larry Reisman wrote about it here, and Ray McNulty has a piece about it coming out any moment in Vero News and 32963.
As all of you know, Let's Talk Vero (www.letstalkvero.com) has been engaging the community about growth and development issues in Vero Beach since beginning of the Three Corners project in 2019 with important updates, key dates, surveys and events. As a service to our community and free of charge to our readers, we circulate every single news story and keep people apprised of important meetings and dates. A full archive of every Three Corners news story (65+ stories) can be found here. Adn if you're feeling out of the loop, a ful larchive of our regular communications can be found here.
As a reminder, Let's Talk Vero is not officially aligned with or on retainer with the City of Vero Beach -- all our work is supported through the generosity of one patron, Baerbel O'Haire.
Given the City does not have a public relations department, we do share all results and input received with our elected officials so they may consider data-driven community input from an educated and informed citizenry. The Three Corners initiative received more engagement than any other project in the history of Vero Beach. The master plan adopted was authored by the community, for the community. Here is the archive of every story ever written about Three Corners. And here is the official COVB Three Corners project page. If you know people who would like to receive our regular updates and attend our State of the City events with Mayor Cotugno at Riverside Theatre, please forward this email and have them sign up here.
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES
Tonight:
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Downtown Farmers Market at 14th Street.
Tomorrow -- Thursday, April 18:
1:30 p.m. in Council Chambers or watch online. Xavier Iglesias of DPZ CoDESIGN will present the Downtown Master Plan to the Planning & Zoning board. If you wish to comment, you must attend in person. If you would like to watch from your computer, click here.
Friday, April 26:
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. -- The Three Corners Selection Committee will meet to rank the Three Corners proposals. This meeting is open to the public.
Monday, April 29:
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. -- Monthly State of the City with Mayor John Cotugno at Riverside Theatre. Cash bar and complimentary apps.
We will host a panel discussion called Let's Talk Lagoon, with an illustrious group of community leaders -- Dale Sorenson, Sam Atwell, Joe Earman, Mike Johannsen, Heather Stapleton and Judy Orcutt. Moderated by Baerbel O'Haire. More details to come -- you definitely don't want to miss this one!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, if you haven't yet taken the Three Corners survey, please click below and we will share with Council members and the selection committee.
Three Corners Survey
Once you click on the survey (click the button below), you will see we've attempted to share highlights and opinions from LTV readers and local media to help contextualize each response. Bear in mind, these are just snippets of opinions from the media and general feedback we are hearing. Each proposal has its merits, and we urge you to take a deeper dive to formulate your own opinions/questions you wish to share with Council members. Barring unforeseen circumstances, one of the four proposals will be chosen on May 28.
If you want to do more research prior to taking the survey, you may click on the links in blue below to 1) the actual RFP if you wish to read it in its entirety, 2) each of the four developer responses to the RFP and 3) a matrix Colliers put together for an "at a glance" look at each of the proposals.
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April 8, 2024
Hello all,
Quick update and a correction.
First, the correction.
We erroneously noted the May 21 developer interviews with Council members and RFP respondents would be open to the public. The meeting is, in fact, closed.
Tomorrow -- Tuesday, April 9
Regular council meeting in chambers. The agenda can be found here. Some key items -- Appointment of interim city clerk, FY 2024-25 budget priorities, wastewater reclamation facility update, future public notices, etc.
Later this week
Keep an eye out for a survey from Jonathan Buckley with a deeper dive into the four RFP responses. We were not intending to prepare a survey because the time for community input was back in 2019/20 but many of you have asked if we could break them down a bit more, and so we will attempt to do that with photos, opinions reported in the media to date, and a survey -- all in one place to make it easier. The results will be shared with council members.
We've seen quite a bit of Facebook and Next-door chatter about shutting this project down and a recent TC Palm letter to the editor about turning it into a park. To clear up any confusion, this referendum passed 80/20 in favor (11/8/22) and laid out the following elements for the Three Corners plan -- 1) public use and access; 2) recreation; 3) retail; 4) restaurant and 5) hotel.
If there is one particular plan you want your elected officials to embrace, we urge you to take the survey and share with friends, neighbors and colleagues. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, one of the four developers will be chosen by Council on May 28.
Monday, April 29 -- 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Complimentary sandwiches and cash bar
DON'T MISS --
State of the City with Mayor John Cotugno at Riverside Theatre. We will be hosting a panel discussion moderated by Baerbel O'Haire about the health of the lagoon and its impact on our property values, tourism and recreation. You'll recall Dale Sorensen raised the issue of a healthy lagoon at the last meeting.
You'll also get an update on Three Corners and Downtown. By that time the ranking of the proposals by the evaluation committee will have taken place.
We will announce the panel participants later this week.
Last but not least, I would like to thank Laurie Collings, John Moses, and the entire team at Riverside Theatre for generously hosting this monthly community engagement event.
Important Dates:
Upcoming City Council Meetings
April:
4/9/24: 9:30 a.m. -- in Chambers
4/23/24: 9:30 a.m. -- in Chambers
May:
5/14/24: 9:30 a.m. -- in Chambers
5/28/24: 9:30 a.m.-- in Chambers
Downtown Master Plan Events Open to the Public
April:
4/18/24: 1:30 p.m. - DPZ presentation to Planning & Zoning Board
May:
5/14/24: 9:30 a.m. - Presentation and Council Vote
Three Corners Meetings Open to the Public
April:
4/26/24: 9:00 am –5:00 pm --- Ranking of Proposals
May:
5/17/24 2:30 pm -- 5:00 pm --- Recommendations to Council
5/28/24 9:30 am -- City Council Votes on selected developer
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March 20, 2024
Don't miss the chance to witness first-hand the most thrilling -- and final -- performance of the CMS inaugural season in Vero Beach. This evening at 6:45 for pre-concert talk. Concert begins at 7:30.
You will recall it all started with re-imagining Three Corners with state-of-the-art cultural facilities and an amphitheater. And here we are today!
In no time at all, CMS has become part of the fabric of our community, and we are so fortunate they have taken up residency in Vero Beach. If you are not already, you will become a devoted a chamber music fan after just one performance.
Join us as we say farewell to our CMS friends and artists:
Wu Han, David Finckel, Arnaud Sussmann, Suzanne Davidson and Rebecca Bogers -- until next season!
Wednesday, March 20
Trios Transformed
Trinity Episcopal Church
2365 Pine Avenue
Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Pre-concert talk begins at 6:45 p.m.
Works by Haydn and Beethoven
The electrifying concluding concert by CMS Co-Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han and violinist Arnaud Sussmann features a musical conversation between two titans of the chamber music genre, Haydn and Beethoven. This is a rare opportunity to witness the evolution of each composer’s piano trios, at the time when Haydn was at the height of his fame and influence and Beethoven was first establishing himself as a formidable composer and pianist.
View a personalized message from David Finckel here. Secure tickets here.
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March 18, 2024
Hello all,
Hope you had a wonderful St. Patrick's Day weekend. Some exciting new developments.
First -- don't miss out on the thrilling final performance of Lincoln Center's Chamber Music Society!
Wednesday, March 20
Trios Transformed
Trinity Episcopal Church
2365 Pine Avenue
Concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Pre-concert talk begins at 6:45 p.m.
Works by Haydn and Beethoven
To hear lectures about the works being performed and to buy tickets, click here.
Thanks again to Riverside Theatre for hosting us for State of the City last week -- mark your calendar for the next one on April 29, where we will discuss the health of the lagoon, especially as it relates to tourism and property values.
Kinky Boots has officially wrapped up, but do come out for Yankee Tavern beginning tomorrow, March 19 (details below).
The Bobbie Olsen Series on the Waxlax Stage presents:
Yankee Tavern
By Steven Dietz
Yankee Tavern is a crumbling New York City bar. It is the place where people come to drink, connect and share stories that are only told in those places. One day, Adam, the young owner, and Janet, his fiancé, become embroiled in a conspiracy theory of personal and national significance when a stranger enters the bar and seems to know more than he should about the September 11th terrorist attacks. Yankee Tavern is a thriller laced with introspection and comedy.
After Yankee Tavern, check out "On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan" from April 9 to May 5.
Three Corners
The race is on for the four developer proposals submitted. 32963 columnists Ray McNulty and Steve Thomas offer two compelling, competing opinions on who should carry the torch (read here and here respectively). We will keep you posted as new developments arise.
Downtown Farmers Market
Come downtown this Wednesday, March 20, for the next Downtown Farmers Market, hosted by Main Street Vero Beach at the intersection of 14th Ave. and 21st St. The time change and warmer weather combined with more growers -- Zesty Farms, 5-Acre Farms, Top Notch Microgreens, Tall Pines and more -- should bring us from "testing the concept" to bona fide market. Come out and support this market if you want to see it continue year-round.
Next City Council Meeting
The next City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. in city chambers.
In the meantime, you may review the previous City Council meeting discussing stormwater treatment and lagoon health. View the recording here and read minutes here.
More soon!
Irina
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March 12, 2024
Hello all,
Thank you for coming out last night for Let's Talk Vero's State of the City at Riverside Theatre.
We had over 100 guests to celebrate forward movement on Three Corners and the downtown master plan. Many of you who were unable to attend asked for a replay -- it is here.
At our next Let's Talk Vero State of the City at Riverside Theatre event, in addition to Three Corners and downtown updates, we hope to bring in community experts for a deep dive into the effects of stormwater runoff on the health of the lagoon and its impact on our economy, tourism, and quality of life. This introduction to a new topic was inspired by many of you who have commented you'd like to see updates extend beyond growth and development -- the most requested topic being the lagoon. That was underscored last night when long-time resident and realtor Dale Sorensen congratulated the city on the magnificent progress with Three Corners and Downtown, but noted if we don't have the lagoon in tip-top shape, we're going to lose it all.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Let's Talk Vero at Riverside Theatre
State of the City
Update on Three Corners and Downtown Master Plan
with focus on
Health of the Indian River Lagoon
Monday, April 29
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
The next City of Vero Beach council meeting about the Downtown Master Plan will take place on Thursday, April 18 in chambers at 1:30 p.m., where Andres Duany will make a presentation. The next Three Corners meeting open to the public will take place on Friday, April 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. See the full schedule below (dates subject to change):
Downtown Master Plan Timeline (as of 3/11/24)
3/14/24: DPZ provides initial report to staff
4/1/24: DPZ provides revised draft to staff
4/3/24: Staff comments back to DPZ
4/5/24: Plan is posted for public review & comments
4/18/24: 1:30 p.m. - DPZ presentation to Planning & Zoning Board (OPEN TO PULIC)
4/30/24: Draft report of Ideas for Downtown survey results complete
5/14/24: 9:30 a.m. - Presentation and Council Vote (OPEN TO PUBLIC)
Three Corners Meetings Timeline (as of 3/11/24)
4/26/24: 9:00 am –5:00 pm --- Ranking of Proposals (OPEN TO PUBLIC)
5/13/24:12:30 pm –5:00 pm --- Interviews with Developers (CLOSED TO PUBLIC)
5/17/24: 8:30 am – 2:45 pm --- Interviews with Developers (CLOSED TO PUBLIC)
5/17/24 2:30 pm -- 5:00 pm --- Recommendations to Council (OPEN TO PUBLIC)
5/28/24 9:30 am -- City Council Votes on selected developer (OPEN TO PUBLIC)
Lastly, on the naming of Three Corners, 83% of people who took our survey say they want to change the name. The top five suggested names are as follows: #1 Vero Landing, #2 Riverwalk, #3 Vero Walk, #4 The Landing at Three Corners, and #5 Water's Edge. Names that were not included in the survey but suggested by survey takers include: South Bridge District, Power Plant District, The Stacks, Gateway Plaza, Lagoon Landing, Big Blue District, Riverside Power, City Corner, and Vero Cove. We will be sharing a link with full results to everyone soon, including Council and the selected developer. We had about 300 survey takers and would like to see more. Please share this email and encourage people to take the survey here.
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March 4, 2024
DETAILS RELEASED FOR THREE CORNERS POTENTIAL DEVELOPERS
Here is the link to the COVB website where you can review the responses in their entirety.
Here is WPTV news coverage with John Shainman from this evening.
Here is TCPalm's Wicker Perlis' coverage.
Next State of the City
Monday, March 11 at Riverside Theatre
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. -- Cash Bar
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. -- Presentation
Note in your calendars the next five State of the City events. All take place at:
Riverside Theatre from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
March 11th
April 29th
May 20th
June 17th
July 15th
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March 4, 2024
Hello all,
As promised, here is the survey about potentially renaming Three Corners.
We will announce the results at the next State of the City -- at Riverside Theatre on March 11. RSVP below.
Next State of the City
Monday, March 11 at Riverside Theatre
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. -- Cash Bar
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. -- Presentation
Note in your calendars the next five State of the City events. All take place at:
Riverside Theatre from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
March 11th
April 29th
May 20th
June 17th
July 15th
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February 29, 2024
If you're like most Let's Talk Vero readers, you are dying to know what's in those highly CONFIDENTIAL Three Corners developer RFP proposals! Well, thanks to Ray Mcnulty, we are bringing you the "insider" scoop here.
For the official deep dive and Q&A with Mayor John Cotugno and Planning Director Jason Jeffries, join us on March 11 at Riverside Theatre (see below for details)
In the meantime, be on the lookout for a survey coming soon seeking your ideas for a new name for Three Corners. For the longest time, people have wanted an alternative name. Now seems like an appropriate time to query Vero Beach residents. Do you have a suggested name? Reply to this email with your suggestion, and we will include in the new survey -- results will be revealed at the March 11 State of the City at Riverside Theatre.
Last but not least, if you want to get the best seats for tonight's Lincoln Center CMS Instrumental Inspirations, get there early for the pre-concert talk, which begins at 6:45.
Concert begins at 7:30. More details here.
Next State of the City
Monday, March 11 at Riverside Theatre
5:30 - 7:00 p.m. -- Cash Bar
6:00 - 6:30 p.m. -- Presentation
Join for Q&A and official deep dive into the
Three Corners Developer Proposals
with
Mayor John Cotugno and Planning Director Jason Jeffries
and
Brief County Update
with
Commissioner Laura Moss
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February 23, 2024
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR:
Tuesday, February 27 -- City Council Meeting (9:30 a.m., Chambers)
Wednesday, February 28 -- Three Corners Evaluation Committe (9:30 a.m., Chambers)
Thursday, February 29 -- CMS of Lincoln Center (7:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal)
Hello everyone,
Great weather today for Downtown Friday! Check out the car show and featured band (Perfect Tuesday) This evening -- 6 - 9 pm; 14th Avenue & 21st Street.
Three important dates next week:
City Council meeting Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.
Full agenda here. A few items up for discussion:
-
Downtown master plan recap and discussion about parking, incentives, etc. (Carroll)
-
Downtown parking and proposed valet parking at Freshman Learning Center (Dingle)
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Three Corners comp plan amendment (ordinance)
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Beachside 3-hour parking (Moore)
Three Corners Evaluation Committee
Meets Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. in Chambers for a general discussion of the proposal process.
CMS of Lincoln Center Concert
At Trinity Episcopal Church on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. -- Sneak Peek here. Pre-Concert Talk at 6:45 pm; works by Schubert, Grieg, Vieuxtemps, and Dohnányi
February 20, 2024
DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR:
Tomorrow -- Wednesday, February 21 -- Downtown Farmers Market (4-7 pm)
Friday, February 23 -- Downtown Friday (6-9 pm)
Tuesday, February 27 -- City Council Meeting (9:30 a.m., Chambers)
Wednesday, February 28 -- Three Corners Evaluation Committee (9:30 a.m., Chambers)
Thursday, February 29 -- CMS of Lincoln Center (7:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal)
Monday, March 4 -- Three Corners RFP Responses will be made public
Wednesday, May 1 -- Three Corners Selection Committe Meets to Score RFP Responses
Tuesday, May 28 -- RFP Selection Committe Recommends Preferred Developer to Council
Hello everyone,
Happy to be checking in again with updates on Three Corners, Downtown Master Plan, and most recent City Council meeting highlights.
Also, see the Chamber Society of Lincoln Center Season opening photos and lovely thank you video from Suzanne Davidson, CMS executive director, below. The arrival in Vero Beach and welcoming of CMS Lincoln Center to our community has been nothing short of spectacular!
Three Corners
As you all may recall, we received four responses to the Three Corners RFP. The names of the developers have been published but the content is confidential until March 4, when the evaluation committee will make recommendations to Council members.
February 13 City Council Meeting Highlights:
-
Keith Drewett (Clean Water Coalition) announced they have been approved for a grant of $200,000 to further the STEP System (septic to sewer conversion).
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Gene Waddell commented that unless zoning rules are changed, no private investment will happen downtown and that onerous building department and permitting process delays need to be addressed.
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There was discussion of formation of CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) and other funding mechanisms to finance revitalization of Downtown so as not to put the burden on the community/taxpayers.
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Joe Earman (County Commissioner) presented the plan for wrapping of electrical boxes in art; you've probably seen some already and -- happily -- it looks like we'll be seeing more!
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The Three Corners Selection Committe process was discussed at length. The important key dates are listed above. City Manager, Monte Falls, gives a very detailed overview of the process, and you can understand more about why the council members were not part of the selection committee by watching the replay for four minutes beginning at the minute marker 56:19 in the replay here. For those of you who are keen followers of the project and want up-to-the second, accurate details vs. hearsay, I highly suggest you watch.
Ideas for Downtown
The downtown master plan charrette has concluded, and we want to let you know DPZ CoDESIGN is still accepting ideas. If you want to submit more ideas, you are encouraged to view the video of the final presentation and submit ideas by visiting the Ideas for Downtown section at www.COVB.org. And then take the survey or send your ideas via email to ideasfordowntown@covb.org.
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February 5, 2024
REMINDER
Don't forget this evening's opening presentation with Andres Duany and the DPZ CoDESIGN team takes place at the Heritage Center from 5 - 7, presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. The full schedule of meetings can be found at the official website for the project, www.IdeasforDowntown.com.
Parking can be found behind the Community Center/Pocahantas Park, on 14th Avenue, or in the overflow parking lot north of 23rd Street.
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February 2, 2024
Hello all,
Excited to report that according to Demandstar, the following developers submitted responses to the redevelopment and operations of the Three Corners site:
-
Clearpath, Bloomington, IN
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Edgewater Group, Fort Lauderdale, FL
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Suda, Cred Capital, Madison Marquette, Pompano Beach, FL
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Vista Blue Vero Beach Resort & Spa, Vero Beach, FL
No doubt you'll be hearing more information from Jason Jeffries soon, and we'll be sure to share it. In the meantime, as seen in Ray McNulty's Vero News story yesterday (here), The Three Corners Selection Committee tasked with evaluating the respondents based on the city's criteria has been announced. The selection committee members are:
Jason Jeffries, Planning & Development Director
Steve Dionne, Finance Director
Matt Mitts, Public Works Director
Rob Bolton, Water-and-Sewer Director
Jeb Bittner, Planning & Zoning Board Chairman
Robert Jones, Finance Commission Chairman
Vicky Gould, Chair of the 2019 Three Corners Steering Committee
What an incredibly uplifting way to welcome DPZ back to Vero Beach next week. As always, we will keep you posted with updates.
REMINDERS:
Don't forget Monday's opening presentation with Andres Duany and the DPZ CoDESIGN team will take place at the Heritage Center from 5 - 7, with the presentation beginning at 5:30 p.m. The full schedule of meetings can be found at the official website for the project, www.IdeasforDowntown.com. Please visit the site, take the survey and RSVP for meetings (not required, but helpful). See Larry Reisman's TC Palm piece from this morning (here -- subscription required).
Last but not least, the city has extended the deadline to February 9 for public input in conjunction with the preparation of potential neighborhood protection and preservation policies for island and inland and beachside neighborhoods. Interested parties are invited and encouraged to provide comments here.
Looking forward to seeing you all next week,
Irina
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January 29, 2024
Greetings,
In case you missed it, I am sharing Mayor John E. Cotugno's message circulated Monday about the Ideas for Downtown campaign (pasted below).
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (actually twice if you participated in Three Corners!) to work alongside Andres Duany in shaping a Master Plan for Downtown. The team is eager to hear your ideas. Completed surveys are rolling in and we are sharing your insights and ideas with the team in real time. Let's keep those surveys coming.
Forward this email to your friends, family and colleagues and encourage them to get involved with what promises to be an exciting series of workshops.
Mark your calendars for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (Feb 5, 6 and 7) from 5 - 7 p.m. and then again on Friday, February 9 from 5-7 pm for the closing presentation. You can check out the full schedule here.
For planning purposes, we kindly ask you to RSVP in case we need to shift venues, add more chairs, etc. In fact, the opening presentation has already been moved to the Heritage Center and other presentations may as well. Fortunately, the two venues are close in proximity, and we will have re-direct signs from the Community Center for those who have already signed up.
Bear in mind:
-
If you are new to this initiative, we suggest you start by reading up on Andres Duany's initial observations as presented to the City Council on January 18 in the "In the News" section and then check out the "FAQ/Resources" tab for links to historical studies at the website -- www.ideasfordowntown.com. If you want to drill deeper into the history, visit the Planning Department tab at www.COVB.org.
-
You will notice Andres is eager to hear from younger people...aka 30-year-olds who will be 50-year-olds when Downtown Vero matures. While there is a definite focus on the "under 45's," we want to hear from EVERYONE, so please take the survey and join in person as well.
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When you take the survey, we do ask for your name, email address, and street address. We ask for this information to protect the integrity of the process as well as understand which Vero Beach residents are city residents (voters) and which are county (unable to vote in city elections). As a reminder, just because you have a Vero Beach mailing address does not mean you are actually a resident of the City of Vero Beach. You can check whether you are a city or county resident here.
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Jason Jeffries, COVB Planning Director, is working on a list of frequently asked questions which will be posted to the website shortly. In the meantime, if you have any questions, you may pose them here.
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If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the site or survey, please email jonathan@iwprgroup.com for assistance.
Last but not least, we urge you to take the survey ASAP so that the team has as much advance intelligence as possible.
And now....the Message from Mayor John E. Cotugno
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A MESSAGE FROM
MAYOR JOHN E. COTUGNO
On behalf of my fellow council members and staff of the City of Vero Beach, I am excited to announce the Ideas for Downtown community engagement campaign with DPZ CoDESIGN is officially underway.
Andres Duany and the DPZ CoDESIGN team will arrive one week from today for what promises to be an exceedingly future-forward Downtown Master Plan Charrette, and we are eager to hear your ideas, both in person during the week-long charrette and online at www.ideasfordowntown.com. I encourage everyone in our community to get involved and take part in the process.
The outgrowth of a months-long process, this Charrette serves as the pre-cursor to adopting a new downtown master plan -- a plan very much designed for the future. And a plan that will appeal to the next generation who want to live, work and play in downtown. You'll see a lot of focus on how to make downtown more livable and on how to create more attainable housing in order to receive, attract and retain younger community members. You'll also see a lot of emphasis on shaping a place distinct in character from Ocean Drive or Three Corners.
Start by taking the survey. Then, mark your calendars for daily presentations and Q&A from 5-7 p.m. beginning Monday, February 5 through Friday, February 9 at the Vero Beach Community Center (2266 14th Ave.). Note: there will be no public presentation on Thursday, as the design team will be preparing their drawings for Friday's closing presentation. The full schedule can be found at on the website at www.ideasfordowntown.com
In closing, I want to express my gratitude to the entire Vero Beach community for your ongoing input, support and engagement on important issues facing our city. Your voices and feedback play a crucial role in shaping our priorities and decision-making.
Sincerely,
Mayor John E. Cotugno
City of Vero Beach
January 29, 2024
January 25, 2024
The Ideas for Downtown website and survey have officially launched!
IdeasforDowntown.com
Visit www.ideasfordowntown.com, take the survey, register for regular updates, and then forward this e-mail to your friends, colleagues and neighbors who want to share their ideas with Andres Duany and the DPZ CoDESIGN team as they work alongside the community to shape the future and design of Downtown Vero Beach.
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January 23, 2024
Reminder to attend tomorrow's Neighborhood meeting (not to be confused with ideas for downtown master plan with Andres Duany).
This will be a great opportunity to get to know and ask questions of Jason Jeffries, Planning & Development Director about potential changes to neighborhood protection policies.
These are two meetings set for tomorrow for citywide residents to share their concerns about encroachment -- or any kind of development -- taking place in their immediate neighborhoods.
There is meeting a at 2 pm for island residents and 6 pm for mainland residents.
If you'd like to submit questions in advance, simply reply to this email and I will forward to Jason.
See locations below:
NEIGHBORHOOD PROTECTION
On Wednesday, January 24 join these meetings to share your thoughts about Neighborhood Protection.
Beachside Neighborhood Meeting
2:00 p.m. -- Bethel Creek House, 4405 North A1A
Mainland Neighborhood Meeting
6:00 p.m. -- Vero Beach Community Center, 2266 14th Avenue
Neighborhood and protection policies serve to:
Preserve the character and quality of neighborhoods with an emphasis on maintaining unique character, identity and livability. They may include regulations on building design, density and use (commercial vs. residential, etc.), as well as guidelines for preserving historic buildings and landmarks.
These policies serve to:
Ensure compatibility and harmony. They may include zoning regulations that separate incompatible land uses, such as residential and industrial areas.
Protect natural resources and the environment. Think wetlands and water bodies. They may include restrictions on development in environmentally sensitive areas, requirements for green spaces and open areas, and regulations for sustainable building practices.
Enhance public safety and wellbeing of residents. Including regulations on fire safety, building codes, access to public amenities and provisions for emergency services.
Overall, these policies help to create and maintain a balanced and sustainable land use pattern that meets the needs of the community while protecting the environment and preserving the quality of life in neighborhoods.
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January 22, 2024
Important upcoming dates at a glance
Tonight: January 22 at 7:30 p.m. Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Beethoven, Shostakovich and Dvorak. Trinity Episcopal Church Purchase tickets here.
Tomorrow: January 23 at 9:30 a.m. City Council meeting @ City Hall
January 18 -- 1:30 p.m. -- Andres Duany at Joint Council and Planning Meeting
January 24 -- 2:00 p.m. -- Beachside Neighborhood Protection Input Session
January 24 -- 6:00 p.m. -- Mainland Neighborhood Protection Input Session
February 5 - 9: Ideas for Downtown DPZ CoDESIGN Charrette (More details tk)
Tonight at 7:30 is the opening Concert for The Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society; The church is nearly sold out for this performance, but there are still seats available. Purchase tickets here.
REPLAY AND MEDIA COVERAGE OF PLANNER ANDRES DUANY'S OBSERVATIONS OF DOWNTOWN VERO BEACH.
Check out Andres Duany's observations during kick-off of the Vero Beach Master Plan here.
Looks like we have another standing ovation plan in the works!
Then read the media coverage. Larry Reisman's opinion piece here. Nick Slater's reporting here, and WPTV Television here.
Mark your calendar for February 5 - 9. More details to follow.
Ideas for Downtown website and surveys from the city are set to be launched this Friday.
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