Session to begin at 6 p.m. at Gulf Gate Library
From 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, the leaders of the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) will hold their next meeting, with a focus on bills filed in the current session of the Florida Legislature “that could significantly reduce local control over land-use decisions that directly affect our neighborhoods, cities, and counties,” a CONA news release says.
“These proposals weaken ‘home rule,’ shift power away from local government leaders, and may include the elimination of local property taxes — limiting our community’s ability to fund essential services and respond to local needs,” the release points out.
“At this meeting, we’ll break down what these bills mean in plain language, why they matter, and how state overreach could have real, negative impacts right here at home,” the release adds.
The guest speakers will be Sarasota attorney Susan Schoettle, a former assistant Sarasota County attorney who has expertise on land use issues, environmental law and growth management; and BJ Bishop, a Longboat Key town commissioner and president of the Manasota League of Cities, who is “[a] strong advocate for home rule and local decision-making,” as the release notes.
The Gulf Gate Library is located at 7112 Curtiss Ave. in Sarasota. The meeting will take place in Room A.