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TC Palm, June 19, 2008

Ward Friszolowski: City voters reject Hometown Democracy-style rule

In 2006, my hometown of St. Pete Beach became the first community in Florida to adopt a true Hometown Democracy-style amendment requiring a vote on every
proposed change to the town�s comprehensive land use plan, no matter how small or technical.

Since the measure was passed, the residents of St. Pete Beach have endured
endless lawsuits and seen little progress. Even die-hard disciples of the Hometown Democracy religion have since converted back to common sense.

In St. Pete Beach, any proposed change to our town�s comprehensive land use plan is thrust onto the ballot. Public planning has been replaced with political infighting and a parade of unintended consequences has ensued. I can only begin to imagine the kind of chaos Hometown Democracy would cause if it were ever forced onto every community in Florida.

After adopting Hometown Democracy, it wasn�t long before we realized that 300-page comprehensive plans couldn�t possibly be condensed into 75-word ballot summaries. The elections are chaotic, expensive and infrequent.

Unable to update its comprehensive plan, the town soon fell out of compliance with state mandates. Many local businesses, too, became victims of the impossible process. Any significant property renovations prompted lower density requirements, which forced a regrettable choice: Remain non-compliant with state rules or go out of business.

Not surprisingly, our tourism-based economy began to wither and too many families felt the effects. Once a beacon of prosperity, St. Pete Beach now has a reputation for unpredictable and chaotic investment conditions.

The economic situation worsened and, hamstrung by Hometown Democracy, the City
Council was powerless to do anything about it. Many voters were understandably
frustrated and disillusioned by the ineffective process.

However, playing by the new rules, a citizens group campaigned to reinvigorate our town�s ailing economy. Fed up with Hometown Democracy�s rather nasty side-effects, residents seemed eager for a change.

On June 3, the voters of St. Pete Beach approved a new economic plan, despite the Hometown Democracy roadblocks.

On the heels of this major victory, residents soon learned that the same interest group that originally proposed our local �Hometown Democracy� amendment was filing a lawsuit to invalidate the entire election.

Ironically, this same group had campaigned on �empowering voters� just two years before. This latest lawsuit is just one in a string of costly misadventures at taxpayer expense.

Ultimately, Hometown Democracy keeps everyone away from the bargaining table and instead pushes them into the boxing arena. There seems to be no end in sight.

We do not need to look to California or anywhere else for a Hometown Democracy
example. We have our very own disaster right here in Florida: It�s called the cautionary tale of St. Pete Beach.

-Friszolowski was mayor of St. Pete Beach for the past eight years, retiring in March. He is past president of the American Institute of Architects and is
executive vice president at Harvard Jolly, an architectural and planning firm.