Funding streams for addressing homelessness to be on City Commission agenda this afternoon

During the session — which starts at 2:30 p.m. — the board will hear a presentation from representatives of the Downtown Improvement District about their Feb. 2 meeting, which County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo attended

(From left in the foreground at the table) Doug Logan, director of special Iiitiatives on chronic homelessness, City Manager Tom Barwin, County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo and Capt. Kevin Stiff of the Sarasota Police Department answer questions during the Feb. 2 DID meeting. File photo
(From left in the foreground at the table) Doug Logan, city director of special Iiitiatives on chronic homelessness, City Manager Tom Barwin, County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo and Capt. Kevin Stiff of the Sarasota Police Department answer questions during the Feb. 2 DID meeting. File photo

Means of addressing homelessness will once again be a Sarasota City Commission agenda.

During the afternoon session of the Tuesday, Feb. 16, meeting, the board will hear a presentation from representatives of the Downtown Improvement District (DID) regarding their Feb. 2 session.

Chair Eileen Hampshire and Steven Seidensticker of the DID board will provide a regular update about their work to the city commissioners. During the DID’s Feb. 2 meeting, the board voted to support funding streams to pay for homelessness initiatives.

City staff recommends the City Commission vote to accept the board report, according to backup materials for the Feb. 16 agenda.

In a related matter, on Friday, the city announced that less than a year after he was hired, Doug Logan is leaving his post as the city’s director of special initiatives on chronic homelessness. His departure comes amid concerns about compliance with the state’s open government laws.

“The City of Sarasota and Mr. Logan agreed to a mutual separation after it was determined his endeavors to help create a private nonprofit Housing First organization would be legally challenged under current interpretations of the Florida law,” said a press release city staff sent out on Friday, Feb. 12.

The City Commission meeting will be held at City Hall in downtown Sarasota.

Follow the News Leader for more coverage of Tuesday’s City Commission meeting.