The Stuart City Commission has become a re-active body instead of pro-active one. What I mean by that statement is that the Commission is not looking to shape the City’s future. By simply waiting for something to happen, the City stagnates instead of progressing. Any growth becomes an amalgam of disparate projects without any theme. Without planning for the future, a cohesive vision is not accomplished. So, the Commission does nothing and waits. But what are they waiting for?
This is the 65th anniversary of Samuel Beckett’s play, Waiting for Godot. The two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot to make an appearance. They inhabit a nihilistic world of gloom. Both Estragon and Vladimir keep saying that they will leave but then they wait because they believe Godot will come — but always tomorrow.
The City of Stuart is more than a decade older than Martin County. When the County was formed, Stuart was where the overwhelming majority of the people lived, worked and shopped. Nearly a century later the County has grown exponentially but not the City. The City’s population is a little over 10% of Martin County’s total population today. The amount of sales tax revenue, gas tax revenue and other appropriations the City receives are based on that proportionately diminished base. Yet, like Vladimir, the City Commission waits.
Pineland Prairie will probably be approved by the County to develop in Palm City. It is a good project. Once fully built out it will have more residents than the City of Stuart. It comprises thousands of acres, yet the plan calls for cluster development. In effect, it will create a city surrounded by open land. Pineland Prairie is innovative. Yet, like Estragon, the City Commision waits.
Our City Commission is averse to workshops on planning for the City’s future. For the last year that I was on the Commission, I worked with staff to have neighborhood meetings to find out what residents thought was important. Unfortunately, the City Manager decided that he didn’t want to know what was on the minds of the people of Stuart. So now Stuart waits.
Stuart’s Godot may come and give the Commission guidance. The present City Commission won’t find a plan on its own. So, the Commission waits. While Vladimir and Estragon waited, they spoke to each other. The City Commission doesn’t do even that. The play’s characters cared about what Godot would say when he appeared. I don’t believe this current City Commission cares at all.