20171103-3 Nov 2017


Steube bill would prevent City of Sarasota and other local government entities from prohibiting back-in parking in any of their garages

Mayor of Sarasota and Parking Division manager cite safety concerns if bill is approved

The mayor of Sarasota plans to address with state Sen. Greg Steube of Sarasota a bill Steube has filed that would prohibit a local government from citing a driver who has backed into a parking space in a public garage. (Read more »)


Siesta Key business owners fretful about potential disruptions at busy time of year, as result of fiber optic cable project expected to start this month

Verizon project could begin as early as next week, with Crystal Classic set for Nov. 10-13 and Thanksgiving looming

Siesta Key business owners expressed worry this week that the installation of Verizon fiber optic cable through Siesta Village could disrupt the busiest time of the year for restaurants and bars. After being surprised by the abundance of “locate paint” in the Village — which marks existing utility lines — Lisa Cece, Sarasota County’s special district coordinator, began trying to track down the source, The Sarasota News Leader learned from interviews this week. (Read more »)


Trane wins Sarasota County contract for energy audit and initial design work for new Central Energy Plant

Timeline calls for late 2019 completion of facility to supply air conditioning to county buildings in downtown Sarasota, including the jail

Although Sarasota County Commissioner Alan Maio raised a number of questions about the process during a late June discussion, he made the motion on Oct. 31 to approve a $412,500 contract with Trane U.S. for an investment-grade energy audit that will mark the first step in the process of replacing the county’s aging Central Energy Plant. (Read more »)


Infill development on Palmer Ranch wins County Commission approval after modifications

Only Commissioner Detert voices objections to 34 homes adjacent to the Stonebridge community

Although residents of the adjoining Stonebridge community argued that the new homes would be incompatible with theirs, the Sarasota County Commission voted 4-1 this week to approve the rezoning of 8.94 acres to allow an infill development within Palmer Ranch. (Read more »)


Longboat leaders make first formal pitch in potential bid for all of island to be in one county

Property tax inequity a major concern, town manager tells the Sarasota County Commission

When somebody drew an arbitrary line in 1921 to carve off Sarasota County from Manatee County, not much was at stake, given the fact that the newly divided Longboat Key was mostly unpopulated, Longboat Town Manager Dave Bullock told the Sarasota County Commission on Nov. 1. (Read more »)


19 billion gallons of water produced by Hurricane Irma’s effects emphasize potential of Peace River Authority’s expansion plans, county commissioner says

Authority also working with SWFWMD on management agreement for part of Orange Hammock Ranch, if that property can be acquired

On Sept. 13, as a result of Hurricane Irma’s passage through Florida, 19 billion gallons of water flowed past the reservoirs and wells of the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority on the RV Griffin Reserve, Sarasota County Commissioner Alan Maio told his colleagues on the county board this week. (Read more »)


Pace picking up for county storm debris collections

First pass likely to be completed before mid-January

As an average of 60 trucks are in the field on a daily basis, an assistant Sarasota County administrator expressed hope this week that the county can beat the timeline it had set for the first “sweep” of debris from Hurricane Irma. During an Oct. 31 briefing, Jonathan Lewis reminded the county commissioners that in early October, staff was anticipating the first pass would be concluded within 90 days. (Read more »)


EMS calls for homeless individuals fall 20% in city of Sarasota year-over-year for September

Northern part of city remains predominant ‘hot spot’ for calls so far this calendar year

The number of requests for emergency medical service (EMS) transports for homeless individuals in the city of Sarasota fell more than 20% in September, compared to the same month in 2016, the latest Sarasota County Fire Department statistics show. (Read more »)


Siesta Seen

Shay finally gets FPL help for power outages; county staff details expenses associated with South Midnight Pass parking lot; Condo Council announces first meeting of the season; Canal Road dock license agreement follows a bit of a different path; man arrested for SKOB burglary; and St. Michael’s announces plans for January festival

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, regular readers may recall, Siesta resident Michael Shay’s frustrations about lack of power were exacerbated by a problem he and 52 of his neighboring residences had been contending with for months. (Read more »)


Voter registration deadline nearing for House District 72 Special Democratic Primary, set for Dec. 5

Nov. 6 the final day

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner is reminding citizens who reside within Florida House District 72 that Monday, Nov. 6, will be the last day to register to vote in the district’s Special Democratic Primary. (Read more »)


Nov. 7 ribbon-cutting set for Suncoast Technical College in North Port and Shannon Staub Library

Local leaders welcome the public to join in the celebration of the $27.7-million facilities

At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, elected officials and administrators from the Sarasota County School District, Sarasota County Government and the City of North Port City will cut the ribbon to dedicate Suncoast Technical College-North Port and the Shannon Staub Library, the Sarasota County School District has announced. (Read more »)


Next public meeting on update of county land regulations and zoning code to be held Nov. 7

Session set for 6 p.m. at Nokomis Community Center

A third Sarasota County workshop involving the creation of a Unified Development Code (UDC) has been scheduled for Nov. 7 in the Main Hall of the Nokomis Community Center, which is located at 234 Nippino Trail in Nokomis, the county has announced(Read more »)


Redesigned drivers’ licenses and ID cards being issued in Sarasota County as of this month

More security features provided

As of this month, all offices of the Sarasota County Tax Collector will be issuing the new, more secure Florida driver’s license and ID card, Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates has announced. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) has redesigned the cards to include almost double the number of fraud protection measures, compared to the previous design. (Read more »)


Proposed Siesta Promenade project to be focus of CONA’s regular meeting on Nov. 13

Pine Shores Neighborhood Alliance representative to provide comprehensive overview of the plans

On Monday, Nov. 13, the Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations (CONA) will feature a presentation by Sura Kochman, an organizer of the Pine Shores Neighborhood Alliance, regarding the latest plans for the proposed Siesta Promenade project. (Read more »)


Sarasota County and Town of Longboat Key to host Bayfront Park grand opening celebration

Public welcome to tour new amenities during event to be held at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8

Sarasota County and the Town of Longboat Key will host a grand opening celebration at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8, for the Bayfront Park improvement project. New amenities and enhancements at the nearly 9-acre park, located at 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key, include a dog park; kayak launch; pickleball, shuffleboard and basketball courts; children’s area/playground; picnic area; covered pavilion; fishing pier; bicycle facilities; multipurpose pathway for biking and jogging; exercise and fitness classes; and a technology hub featuring Wi-Fi throughout the park. (Read more »)


Children’s Fountain in Bayfront Park closes Nov. 1

Reopening set for April 1, after the winter season

The Children’s Fountain at Bayfront Park on the Sarasota waterfront closed for the winter season on Wednesday, Nov. 1, the City of Sarasota has announced. The last day of summer operations was Tuesday, Oct. 31, a city news release says. The facility will reopen on Sunday, April 1. (Read more »)