January 2, 2026 Edition ANNUAL YEAR IN REVIEW – Pt. 2 July: Sheriff Hoffman to add 28 employees in 2026 fiscal year, with total proposed budget of nearly $225.5 million Public Works director appears to blame county residents for lack of maintenance in Phillippi Creek over past two decades Knight wins fellow commissioners’ agreement for county administrator to try to persuade constitutional officers to lower budget requests for 2026 fiscal year Hi Hat Ranch road access agreement wins full County Commission support New city, county regulations planned for Lido beaches and Ted Sperling Park to try to protect public from reckless jet ski users Violent crime down nearly 63% in Sarasota County from 2009 to 2024, sheriff reports to County Commission August: D.R. Horton and Smith family challenging County Commission’s denial of rezoning petition for 126-home development next to Celery Fields County advertises for bids for dredging of upper portion of Phillippi Creek, with Corps of Engineers citing potential that permit could be issued sooner than originally anticipated New county Stormwater Department director puts emphasis on transparency and data sharing County budget process for FY 2027 to begin in February 2026, with constitutional officers invited to meet with commissioners to discuss limiting spending increases Proposed new jail option to be researched, with potential of millions of dollars in savings to county September: With no parking revenue generated on St. Armands for months after 2024 storms, City Commission agrees to $400,000 inter-fund loan to cover debt service on parking garage bonds Consultant provides scenarios in which County Commission could issue emergency order, if needed to keep Midnight Pass open City Commission approves slightly higher operating millage rate of 3.273 for 2026 fiscal year For third time, County Commission denies application for commercial development in northwest quadrant of Proctor and Clark roads Just past midpoint of 2025 hurricane season, county Emergency Management leaders mark first anniversary of Helene’s 2024 strike and discuss damage, recovery and lessons learned With Knight in dissent, County Commission formally approves 2026 fiscal year county budget of more than $2 billion October: Developer’s representative disgruntled by further delay in city staff sign-off on Adagio project slated for downtown Sarasota Interactive Sarasota County stormwater map has gone live, Stormwater Department director tells County Commission this week No jail referendum in November 2026, County Commission decides County commissioners unanimously reject proposed settlement agreement regarding D.R. Horton development on Smith Properties site close to Celery Fields For 6th year in a row, population growth/development cited in Sarasota County Citizen Opinion Survey as most important issue Oct. 21 marks final County Commission meeting at decades-old structure standing at 1660 Ringling Blvd. in downtown Sarasota November: No county money to be dedicated to proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center, county commissioners agree Zieglers file federal civil rights complaint against City of Sarasota and 2 Police Department detectives in aftermath of 2023 sexual assault case On 4-1 vote, Holderness wins County Commission OK to construct two-story house on 162 Beach Road parcel on Siesta Key, to settle federal lawsuit With FWC indicating unwillingness to provide necessary permit, County Commission majority backs away from plan for motorboat exclusion zone around Ted Sperling Park Voluntary condo demolition and reconstruction proposal for Siesta Key dies close to 4 years after it was suggested County Commission unanimously approves 3 requests for dredging projects to be paid for by federal grant through Resilient SRQ Program, but expresses concern about congressional appropriation for 1 December: City Commission approves use of ‘plainly audible’ standard for enforcement of maximum nighttime sound level in Sarasota On Dec. 18, Fruitville Library to close for major renovation, with construction of new History Center also underway Protect Siesta Key files legal challenge of County Commission’s approval of Coastal Setback Variance to settle Holderness’ federal lawsuit regarding private Siesta beach property Staging underway for dredging of Phillippi Creek St. Armands infrastructure project wins partial funding from County Commission, with county Stormwater Department to manage design and construction Idle Speed, No Wake zone offshore of Ted Sperling Park on South Lido wins full County Commission approval
