Stakeholders: Lottery will pull from brackets determined by residency length

lived) in the city,” Ilczyszyn said

Members will range from 60-year residents to under 10-year residents by 10- year increments

The discussion came after some council members said they would like to be part of the stakeholders group or wanted to appoint members to the group

Florida’s Sunshine, or open meeting, laws put a damper on multiple Council members directly taking part

“If only one of you do that, that is OK,” Ilczyszyn said “But if more than one of you want to do that and the Council wants to allow that, now you have a public meeting It turns the whole thought process of this upside down It's a reasonable request to be on the stakeholders group (There are) ramifications if you want to do that ”

Councilmember Bill Steinke asked to be included, saying his main reason was that the Yacht Club is in his district He said he would like to be involved in hearing what the stakeholder group has to say, as in listening only and not providing feedback

As far as the Council appointing members it would have added eight appointees, taking the group to 18

“In that case, obviously, it is not 100 percent stakeholder lottery Now you have political appointees,” Ilczyszyn said

Councilmember Robert Welsh thought Council should add four appointed members to the stakeholders group, as a lottery group of that many people might render some who do not have anything to do, or know about the Yacht Club.

Councilmember Tom Hayden said it is great that many members of the community wanted to participate, but the panel would not

The Cape Coral Yacht & Racquet Club, constructed by the Cape’s founding developers, was dedicated on June 10, 1962 The state-recognized historic structure is headed for demolition with the city forming a citizen stakeholder group to determine whether there are elements that should be preserved or incorporated into a new building include members who have invested the most time in the Yacht Club where the legacy of the place is embedded into their character By adding Council-nominated individuals, it would give those people an opportunity to be involved.

“I really don’t want to exclude the people who have really spent the most time in that building for the past 60 years There are some residents (that were) there for the dedication of the Yacht Club,” Hayden said

He said to give those individuals the ability to walk through the building, having one last embrace with it, would mean a lot to them and provide a little bit of closure of a historical place coming down

“Six people will be chosen that have spent hardly any time in the Yacht Club No history to fall back on, or nothing to remember of what the building meant to many others,” Hayden said “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to send in a stakeholder group that doesn’t understand the meaning of what it was and how it can be included in any new design in the future This particular group may not have a stake in this place at all Keep that in mind when we run through a lottery Pay attention to the past, as we look ahead to the future as well ”

Ilczyszyn said a stakeholder group is not a Council-appointed board, or committee that has a required amount of seats and is not intended to be a long-lasting group beyond a very specific purpose

“It is not intended to encompass the entire Yacht Club The stakeholder group I pushed out is to specifically deal with the ballroom aspect itself,” he said

The intent is for the stakeholder group to provide input to the architect Kimley Horn on elements the group thinks would be worthwhile to incorporate into the next building as current plans call for the ballroom to be demolished

“It’s purely a list of recommendations,” Ilczyszyn said, adding that it will not get ahead of Council and Council’s decision making “It’s a point of information and consideration based on people that have been here for various times in the community ”

The stakeholders group would go through the ballroom one morning, followed by the group sitting in a meeting room to have a larger discussion of what they saw to keep and what reasons it is of value

“It’s not intended to add any time to the schedule It will merely fit into the schedule,” he said, adding it can be accomplished in a day

Ilczyszyn said the people in his stakeholder group will have to sign a waiver in case something happens, as the building is closed to the public

He said it is important to that the others who signed up to be considered can still come to Council and share their thoughts, as well as send emails