Residential right of way mowing changes to be focus of public hearing

Commission votes 4-1 in favor of reducing county maintenance work, with expected savings of about $560,000

These types of areas will continued to be maintained by the county, staff says. Images courtesy Sarasota County
These types of areas will continued to be maintained by the county, staff says. Images courtesy Sarasota County

It took only about nine-and-a-half minutes for the Sarasota County Commission this week to approve staff recommendations that are estimated to save about $560,000 in residential right of way mowing expenses.

The board voted 4-1 during its April 27 mid-year budget discussion to authorize a public hearing in August, so new county mowing contracts can be negotiated before the start of the next fiscal year, on Oct. 1.

Commissioner Christine Robinson cast the “No” vote. In an interview with The Sarasota News Leader after the meeting, Robinson said, “I’m not confident that our county is ready for this change. I’m concerned about the aesthetics of our county.” She pointed to the problems that arose in 2012 and 2013, after firms walked away from county mowing contracts, leading to widespread complaints about the look of medians and rights of way.

If changes are to occur in the mowing program, she added, she believes they need to be more gradual.

Spencer Anderson. File photo
Spencer Anderson. File photo

Spencer Anderson, a senior manager in the county’s Public Works Department, explained during his April 27 presentation that — in response to comments commissioners made during a March 30 discussion of the matter — staff has put together a community outreach plan to prepare the public for the changes. Next month, he said, an information page will be added to the county’s website, and in June and July, staff will hold public information meetings — in both North and South county — to explain the new level of maintenance. Those latter sessions would not necessarily be workshops, he added, but they would serve as opportunities for members of the public to offer their views of the proposal.

The advertisement for the public hearing would be posted in July, he continued, and the public hearing would be held in August. Finally, in September, after the public hearing — presuming the board approved the changes — staff would send notices to the news media.

Other possible means of notifying the public, he continued, would be to send out mailers. However, Anderson explained, given that “roughly 28,000 individual parcels” would be affected, he was not certain a mailer would be cost-effective. Therefore, he noted, putting the information on utility bills the county sends to customers or on the annual TRIM notices that contain ad valorem tax details would be potential means of communication.

A chart shows expected savings as a result of changes in the residential right of way mowing program. Image courtesy Sarasota County
A chart shows expected savings as a result of changes in the residential right of way mowing program. Image courtesy Sarasota County

As for concerns voiced in March about the possibility that more Code Enforcement resources would have to be devoted to mowing issues, Anderson told the board, “There would certainly be a period of adjustment for the residents.” After that, he continued, staff expects Code Enforcement calls about mowing to be “few and far between.”

Anderson explained that county staff would continue to mow what he termed “special exception areas,” examples of which he provided the commissioners in slides. “It has to be something severe,” he pointed out, such as a ditch that might be 15 feet deep next to residential property. “We’re not talking 2 or 3 feet.”

County residents would be expected to mow rights of ways such as these, staff says. Image courtesy Sarasota County
County residents would be expected to mow rights of ways such as these, staff says. Image courtesy Sarasota County

County staff also would continue to maintain areas with large drainage pipes — structures in excess of 30 inches — he said, along with property near crosswalks and bus stops, where public safety concerns would be a factor.

Additionally, staff members would keep mowing the county’s residential stormwater assets, such as ponds and easements, Anderson explained, and they would maintain undeveloped properties in a natural state. The latter areas would be mowed quarterly instead of eight times a year, Anderson noted.

Moreover, staff does not anticipate any additional Code Enforcement efforts will be needed, Anderson told the commissioners. “We have inspectors doing 100 percent inspection on mowing services,” he said. “They would no longer be doing that for residential areas” after the reduction in county mowing, he pointed out.

Areas like these would continue to be maintained by the county, staff says. Image courtesy Sarasota County
Areas like these would continue to be maintained by the county, staff says. Image courtesy Sarasota County

Commissioner Charles Hines made the motion to approve the staff recommendations, including authorization of the public hearing on the proposed changes. Commissioner Carolyn Mason seconded the motion.

“The pictures really helped,” Hines said of the examples Anderson had shown the board. “When you can afford it, it’s one thing,” Hines continued. “But this helps make the decision a little easier.”

The county has been drawing down its “rainy day” reserve over the past several years to fill in budget gaps resulting from a 42-percent reduction in ad valorem tax revenue at the height of the Great Recession.

Then, with Robinson in the minority, the motion passed 4-1.