20161014-14 Oct 2016

Founder of SRQ Food Truck Alliance plans Nov. 6 rally to encourage support for revised ordinance

Chris Jett says he plans to fill the County Commission chambers for the next public hearing

Two days before the Sarasota County Commission once again will consider a revised food truck ordinance, the founder of the SRQ Food Truck Alliance plans a big rally to fire up supporters, he told The Sarasota News Leader. (Read more »)


County staff to deliver a report to commission detailing facets of further studies planned for Siesta Promenade

County Commission will hold a workshop after getting the report; boundary hearing to be continued until board addresses the full Critical Area Plan application and rezoning

It took last-minute assurances from the county staff that further studies that would be expected of Benderson Development — plus agreement that the Sarasota County Commission could hold a workshop on those matters. But approximately five hours and 45 minutes after they began the agenda item, the commissioners voted unanimously on Oct. 11 to continue a public hearing on Benderson’s request for approval of the formal boundary of its proposed Siesta Promenade project. (Read more »)


No later than January, County Commission to address revised plan for South County courthouse space

Board members looking at options to keep that project, plus a new Sheriff’s Office fleet maintenance facility and a new Central Energy Plant under the referendum cap

In two-and-a-half months, Sarasota County staff needs to return to the County Commission with further refinement of a proposal to expand secured South County courthouse and associated space on the R.L. Anderson Administration Center campus in Venice, board Chair Al Maio said this week. (Read more »)


Backyard chicken ordinance wins final County Commission approval

CLUCK founder cites seven-year process to reach this point

Sarasota County Commission Chair Al Maio referred to it this week as the culmination of an almost two-year-long process, but one of the founders of Citizens Lobbying for Urban Chicken Keeping told The Sarasota News Leader the Oct. 10 board approval of a backyard chicken-keeping ordinance actually began in June 2009. That was when the nonprofit organization first broached the issue in the community. (Read more »)


Negotiations authorized for county’s potential purchase of two undeveloped Beach Road parcels

County Commission takes less than 5 minutes to vote unanimously to allow the county administrator to undertake the effort

The director of Sarasota County’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department promised to take no more than 3 minutes on Oct. 11 when she stepped to the podium to discuss two Beach Road parcels on Siesta Key that have been the focal point of county discussions for years. (Read more »)


Traffic access points and potential for more congestion on surrounding roads continue to dominate discussions about Siesta Promenade proposal

Pine Shores residents object to routing any vehicles along their streets, but county staff indicates that will be necessary

Even before Benderson Development announced its latest plans this spring for its approximately 24-acre site at the northwest corner of the U.S. 41/Stickney Point Road intersection, neighbors were voicing worries about the exacerbation of traffic congestion that would come with any development there. (Read more »)


Siesta Key Association seeks comprehensive access management plan on facets of Siesta Promenade

Organization asks that Sarasota County undertake a thorough review of traffic and utility issues

If the Sarasota County Commission allows an increase in density on the site of the proposed Siesta Promenade, that “must be linked to a Comprehensive Access Management Plan,” including provisions to ensure Siesta Key residents and property owners have access to U.S. 41 without having to contend with an overburdened Stickney Point Road, Siesta Key Association (SKA) says in an Oct. 6 letter to the County Commission. (Read more »)


Siesta Seen

CodeRed system may be used for notices about environmental situations in the future; resident seeking support for a dog park; SKA members get an update on the Lido Renourishment Project: Chamber director discusses plans for Sandfest and the Crystal Classic

On the heels of an executive order Gov. Rick Scott issued in late September, Sarasota County staff may use its CodeRed system as one means of notifying residents of any future discharges of partly treated wastewater into bodies of water, David A. Cash, the county’s water/wastewater division manager, told The Sarasota News Leader this week. (Read more »)


Everything a beautiful still life

The changes taking place make it even more critical to treasure and nurture nature

In summer, when I have time to whittle down photos on the Mac, images turn up which I have never or only briefly seen. This year it was springtime in an industrial park. It got me thinking again about beauty. (Read more »)


Howl-O-Ween Movie Night Spooktacular returning to Ed Smith Stadium

Gates will open at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15

Sarasota County residents and visitors may plan on some “major league,” family-friendly fun during the Howl-O-Ween Movie Night Spooktacular at Ed Smith Stadium, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15, Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources staff has announced. (Read more »)


Voter registration deadline extended through Oct. 18 statewide

Public invited to attend logic and accuracy testing for voting equipment on Oct. 19 in downtown Sarasota

The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office will be accepting new voter registration applications for the Nov. 8 General Election until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18. Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent made the announcement following a federal judge’s ruling on the morning of Oct. 12, which extended the book-closing deadline for the second time this week because of the possibility that Hurricane Matthew might have prevented some last-minute registrants from signing up, a news release explains. (Read more »)


Downtown Sarasota a finalist in Great Places in Florida Award

Public encouraged to vote online through Oct. 21

Downtown Sarasota is one of five finalists for the Great Places in Florida People’s Choice Award presented by the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA), the City of Sarasota has announced. (Read more »)


Dent reminds voters about online system to track vote-by-mail ballots

Additional tips offered to ensure voters’ absentee ballots are counted

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent is reminding voters who request vote-by-mail (absentee) ballots for the Nov. 8 General Election “that they may track their ballots online from the time their requests are received and processed until their voted ballots have safely reached the supervisor of elections office,” a news release says. (Read more »)


Children First named a national Program of Excellence by national association

The designation puts the Sarasota program in the top 1% in the U.S.

Children First, Sarasota County’s exclusive provider of Head Start and Early Head Start services, has been recognized as a Program of Excellence by the National Head Start Association (NHSA), Children First has announced. (Read more »)


People encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu

Health Department says everyone over six months of age should pursue the protection

The staff of the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) is encouraging everyone over six months of age, including pregnant women, to get a flu vaccine early in the season “as the best defense against seasonal flu,” a news release says. (Read more »)