For today's post, I am mostly going to refer you to Mario Garcia's blog at NBVMARIO. I didn't attend the special commission meeting because of a conflict with another event.
Mario brings out three major points - the village is bound by state legislation on red light camera revenues, party house and sober houses. I don't have much to add on the last two but I think it might be useful if I cover a bit on the Red Light Camera Programs.
When the Red Light Camera Program was first instituted, the revenue was shared between the village and the company operating the cameras. The Florida Legislature upended that and in effect confiscated the revenue from the munipalities, leaving us with the burden of paying for them while taking the money. That's why we are now stuck with the bill.
The program has been effective. People's driving habits have changed and crossing an intersection is now noticeably easier. In my observation, this program has been a public safety success for pedestrians and bicyclists.
From a revenue standpoint, it was never going to be as good as speculated. Windfalls never are.
But let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater. Let's keep the redlight program but make it cost neutral. We are better off with a pedestrian safe community.
Kevin Vericker
March 2, 2013
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