PENSACOLA BEACH CITIZENS FORUM

A meeting for Pensacola Beach leaseholders was held on May 12, 2008. The Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce helped to facilitate this meeting. The Residential Liaison Committee, that is involved with the law suit being handled by Shell, Fleming, Davis & Menge, assisted in getting the word out about this meeting. A notice was posted to our web site and various condo and homeowners association representatives were asked to forward notice of this citizens forum to their members. The Beach newspaper, Island Times, also provided a lot of coverage prior to the meeting.

The turnout was remarkable. There were at least 330 people who came to Hunt Hall on Pensacola Beach to get an update on the property tax litigation and to learn more about some critical issues facing the Beach. Information is being posted here from the three presentations that were made at the Citizens Forum. While it is not the same as being there, it should prove interesting to all the plaintiffs in the residential lawsuit. Presenters were asked to provide an overview to the issues we were there to discuss. Leaseholders were invited to take part in a Speaker’s Forum after the presentations. A number of speakers added additional information and viewpoints that generated interest in getting better organized to represent Beach interests.

There is also a survey form posted here that was available at the meeting. With such a huge turnout, it didn’t take long to run out of handouts and surveys. Please feel free to print and complete a survey, if you would like to voice your opinion. Surveys should be returned to the Pensacola Beach Visitors Center at 735 Pensacola Beach Blvd as soon as possible, but no later than May 31^st. Surveys can also be faxed to 932-1551. Individual responses will not be shared, so please provide contact information.

For those of you simply interested in an update on the status of our lawsuit, the judges ruling will be posted as soon as possible after it is made. Here is that portion of the update specific to our case.

A hearing was held on May 2, 2008 in front of Circuit Court Judge Michael Jones. Both sides presented their arguments for Summary Judgment and provided the court with volumes of paperwork. Judge Jones seemed very knowledgeable of the issues and law relevant to this case. He asked a lot of questions during the 3 hour hearing. The attorneys were instructed to work out which facts in the case both sides agree to and to submit their recommended conclusions to Judge Jones by May 16^th.. The judge indicated that he would review all the materials submitted before making his ruling. His order is of course subject to appeal by either side.

Information on Judge Jones’ order will be posted as soon as possible after it is issued.