Gator policy still floats

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey and other officials believe Ranch residents and gators co-exist peacefully as neighbors.

In November, Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club resident Ron Jarvis pointed out to Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 2, 5 and 6 supervisors that the community doesn’t have a clear policy in place to prevent gators from being unnecessarily trapped and killed.

The supervisors agreed to investigate but hit a snag last week when District 2, 5 and 6 attorney Andy Cohen submitted an opinion for agenda review meetings that warned the boards against creating a policy.

Cohen cited a liability problem as an issue in his recommendation, noting that if residents don’t report a gator and it ends up hurting a resident, the district could be liable for its role in the policy.

“My job is to protect the district I represent,” Cohen said. “If the alligator in question stays put and then God forbid someone is hurt or something worse happens, we have a problem. I recognize the issue that no one wants to see a harmless animal removed, and we all know they don’t go to a farm when a trapper is called. It’s a delicate balance.”

Currently, if a Ranch resident calls Florida Fish & Wildlife, wildlife officials send a trapper to remove a gator from the area’s habitat, regardless if it’s a threat to the area or not.

Supervisors, though, urged staff to continue discussions with FWC to come up with an educational balance.

Rey is hopeful her staff can present a viable gator policy option next month to board supervisors that will appease everyone.

“I think everyone will be happy with the communications we’re having with FWC,” Rey said. “I think we will have a nice balance for your review next month.”

Rey said staff is working to craft an educational presentation that helps residents decide when gators are a nuisance. It explains that they aren’t threatening anyone if they are in a pond or even crossing a road or sidewalk.

Jarvis told supervisors Dec. 18 at Town Hall he was happy the boards were continuing to come up with a solution that educates residents about their reptile neighbors.

“The problem is I believe you have certain people in the community that find alligators offensive and want them destroyed no matter what,” Jarvis said. “We need a policy that says you just can’t call up and say the alligator is a problem because you saw him in a pond or crossing a road. Alligators aren’t the problem, it’s the people. An education program would be great.”

The conversation emerged after Jarvis received an email about six weeks ago about a big gator in his Portmarnock community. Through a thread of emails, discussions of calling a trapper emerged.

But, Jarvis contends, the gator he named Big Al was simply changing venues and resting along the way.

Although the gator did not behave aggressively, trappers now seek to take his life.

Ryan Heise, Lakewood Ranch’s director of operations, said Lakewood Ranch Town Hall grants blanket approval to requests by FWC to allow trappers on the property, per prior legal opinions.

Tracie Hunt, the Lakewood Ranch field office manager, said she receives at least one call about a nuisance gator per week — more in March, the start of mating season.

Heise said there’s a divide between residents — those who worry for the safety of pets and family members and others who recognize alligators are native and docile.

He noted there has never been a gator attack on humans in Lakewood Ranch and there’s only two rumored instances in which alligators attacked dogs that were swimming off leash.

Tara CDD considers storage options 
Supervisors on the Tara Community Development District Board are making adjustments to accommodate increased usage of the Tara Preserve Community Center. 

During a Dec. 16 meeting, supervisors narrowed options for creating storage space for chairs and tables purchased to accommodate meetings and other events at the facility.

Chairman John Schmidt said the board is considering using a portion of the interior of the building and converting it into a storage room.

The board also used some of the interior of the building to create an office for the community’s field manager.

The item will be on the board’s Jan. 27 meeting agenda.

In other business, the board:

• Will hold a workshop to discuss the district’s common area property Jan. 20 at the community center. 

• Approved modifications to rules for the community center. Highlights include that the pool now will be open from one-half hour before dawn to one-half hour before dusk. Additionally, use of the hot tub will be limited to individuals ages 14 and up.

• Approved security cameras for the community center at a cost of $900.