20160610-10 Jun 2016

Segment of Orange Avenue to be closed temporarily starting June 13

Section is between Hawthorne and Arlington streets

If you travel Orange Avenue just south of Sarasota Memorial Hospital, expect a slight detour next week that will continue for a few days, the Sarasota city manager has announced. (Read more »)


Age and maintenance issues in section of the jail raise County Commission concerns and questions

Board Chair Maio talks of fear that ‘someone will get hurt’ and embarrassment that county facilities have such situations

Sarasota County Commission concerns earlier this year about the timing of the replacement of the air conditioning system in the West Jail may have prompted the discussion, but the board members this week saw evidence of just how many problems Sheriff Tom Knight’s staff and the inmates are having to contend with in the 41-year-old building in downtown Sarasota. (Read more »)


Cask and Ale permit to be focus of public hearing, tentatively set for July 5

City Commission splits 3-2 against upholding Planning Board decision for the new downtown business

Sarasota Mayor Willie Shaw joined Vice Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie and Commissioner Susan Chapman on June 6 in calling for a public hearing on the request by Cask and Ale for a conditional use permit to allow it to sell alcoholic beverages in its new restaurant planned at 1548 Main St. in downtown Sarasota. (Read more »)


Residents question numerous facets of Benderson plans for U.S. 41/Stickney Point Road property

Company representative plans four more public meetings this month, all at Pine Shores Presbyterian Church, after addressing SKA members on June 2

It could be more than 10 years before Benderson Development Co. completes all the residential construction it plans for Siesta Promenade, its project slated for the northwest corner of Stickney Point Road and U.S. 41, Todd Mathes, director of development for the firm, told about 110 people during the June 2 Siesta Key Association (SKA) meeting. (Read more »)


New Venice library to stand on Cultural Campus, County Commission agrees

Potential co-location of a Venice museum and archives with the facility should not slow down planning and construction, board says

With Sarasota County’s libraries director having asserted that the majority of the people who have attended county workshops want to see a new Venice Public Library erected on the City of Venice’s Cultural Campus, the Sarasota County Commission this week unanimously approved that recommendation. (Read more »)


City and County commissions approve annual housing initiatives plan

Largest portion of the funds from the state — $500,000 — will go toward special needs housing/permanent supportive housing

The Florida Legislature has made an extra $500,000 available for the next year for the State Housing Initiatives Program (SHIP) that the City and County of Sarasota jointly administer, Don Hadsell, director of the Office of Housing and Community Development, told the City Commission on June 6. (Read more »)


Comprehensive Plan’s new environmental section garners majority of questions and criticisms on opening day of board review

County Commission will resume the public hearing at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 10, in Sarasota

Hunting on the natural lands purchased through Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program, public access to the county’s waterways, State Statute citations: Those were among the myriad issues the County Commission dealt with on the afternoon of June 8 as it began its formal review of the revision of the Comprehensive Plan, which staff initiated at board direction more than a year ago. (Read more »)


At least eight homeless people to be housed in City of Sarasota’s pilot Housing First Program

Board unanimously approves $289,054 agreement with Community Assisted Supportive Living Inc.

On a unanimous vote on June 6, the Sarasota City Commission allocated $289,054 out of its pool of federal Community Development Block Grant funds to establish the pilot Housing First Program board members have been discussing for more than a year. (Read more »)


Siesta Seen

FDOT drops plans for roundabout at Midnight Pass Road/Beach Road intersection; new Sheriff’s Office lieutenant to supervise the Key; deputies keeping a check on valet parking at Ophelia’s; ‘chick checkers’ needed; SKA resignations announced; and FDOT signs off on Stickney Point Road drawbridge improvements

Sarasota County Commission Chair Al Maio made about 100 residents very happy during the June 2 Siesta Key Association (SKA) meeting when he announced that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has cancelled its plans for a roundabout at the intersection of Beach Road and Midnight Pass Road, just south of St. Boniface Episcopal Church. (Read more »)


Among county beaches, Casey and Manasota keys see majority of erosion, staff reports

South Siesta Renourishment Project, completed in late April, appears to have fared well, with loss of sand in just one area

Although by most accounts Tropical Storm Colin did not leave as much damage in its wake this week as Tropical Storm Debby did in 2012, Sarasota County Environmental Protection Division staff has detailed some beach erosion, based on assessments it conducted on June 6 and 7, The Sarasota News Leader has learned. (Read more »)


Sarasota County to host open houses on FEMA flood map changes

New maps will take effect on Nov. 4

Sarasota County will host six open houses starting Monday, June 20, to address changes to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) floodplain maps, which will take effect Nov. 4, the county has announced. (Read more »)


Affordable housing to be the topic at June 16 Tiger Bay Club meeting

Event to feature panel of four, with Andy Dorr as moderator

The Affordable Housing Crisis will be the topic of conversation at the June 16 Sarasota Tiger Bay Club luncheon at Michael’s On East, the club has announced. The panel will feature Allen Parsons, long-range planning manager for Sarasota County; Jon Thaxton, senior vice president for community investment at The Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Harvey Vengroff, a local businessman and developer who owns low-rent property in Sarasota; and Rob Young, government relations chair of the Sarasota Young Professionals Group, a news release says. (Read more »)


Florida Healthy Babies community meetings to be held this month

Sessions planned in Sarasota and in North Port to help improve infant health and reduce racial disparities

On June 14 and June 21, staff of the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) will host community meetings with families to discuss the Florida Healthy Babies program, a “statewide initiative designed to positively affect social and economic factors that influence health and reduce racial disparities in infant health,” the department has announced. (Read more »)


Public Safety Communications Center accepting texts to 911

Sheriff’s Office staff explains positive and negative aspects of texting in emergencies

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Bureau has announced that the Public Safety Communications Center (PSC) has begun accepting text messages to 911. (Read more »)


SOSS2 chair to offer comments on Lido project during Florida Wildlife Federation banquet

Sarasota residents encouraged to attend June 25 event, which will be in Bradenton

Peter van Roekens of Siesta Key, chair of Save Our Siesta Sand 2 (SOSS2), will offer a short commentary on the Lido Key Renourishment Project during the Florida Wildlife Federation’s 79th Annual Conservation Awards Banquet, which will be held on Saturday, June 25, at the Courtyard Marriott Riverfront Hotel in Bradenton, SOSS2 has announced. (Read more »)


Sheriff Tom Knight promotes eight

The majority of them are assigned to the Patrol Bureau

Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight has promoted eight employees to new ranks in the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office to fill vacancies created by retirements and organizational changes, the office recently announced. (Read more »)


Sarasota County School District reassigns two principals

Turgeon moving from Venice High to Suncoast Technical College, while Riverview High principal to relocate to Venice High

Sarasota County Superintendent of Schools Lori White has reassigned two principals for the 2016-17 school year, the district has announced. (Read more »)