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HOME Of PEUCAN ISLAND
OMOE Of THE CITY OTTORAEY
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To: Terrence Moore, City Manager
From: Rich Stringer, City Attorney
Date: December 301 2002
Re: Riverview Piers; permits & lease
I just wanted to convey the rather uneasy feeling I am getting in the pit of my stomach as
to the interplay of the submerged land lease renewal and the approaching permit/grant
deadline on the Riverview Park piers.
Maybe I am too suspicious when it comes to Tallahassee, but I am concerned that we are
getting played by the State environmental guys. These piers would never be allowed
under current guidelines, and I don't want them to string us along with discussions of
modifications until the deadlines pass, at which point they could very well just say
"Sorry, but based upon court settlements with Save the Manatees, etc., we can't take any
action to salvage your rights."
It is my strong recommendation that we either get the extension promptly or else we take
some construction activities to vest these permits, even if it is under the pre-existing
design. Also, while I had earlier recommended getting the submerged land lease modified
to match our current plans, I think it is wiser to go ahead and execute the lease as is. If we
do get the extensions and permit modifications, we can then work on changing the lease.
Although it will be burdensome to get these changes through their bureaucracy, at least at
that point we will know we have more time. From this point on, we should make sure to
always hold onto what we have in hand until something better from the state is actually
finalized and in our possession.
While I am not always this cautious, there is something causing my internal warning
sirens to go off on this thing — and that warning system usually turns out to be correct.
cc: Mayor and Council