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Sarasota County voters will decide on Nov. 6 whether commission-proposed changes to citizen-initiated petition drives for Charter amendments become law
Number of required voter signatures on petitions would double and all organizers would have to submit all petitions at one time within three-month window
All eight speakers during an Aug. 29 public hearing argued against changes the Sarasota County Commission has proposed for the section of the county Charter that governs citizen-initiated petition drives. Nonetheless — with the addition of a tweak first suggested by Commissioner Paul Caragiulo — the board members voted unanimously to put the proposed changes before the voters on the Nov. 6 General Election ballot. (Read more »)
Traffic remains primary focal point for public anger directed at Siesta Promenade proposal
Attendees at Neighborhood Workshop ask how they can stop the project
The potential for exacerbated traffic congestion proved the primary focus of public consternation during an Aug. 23 Neighborhood Workshop, as the director of development for Benderson Development discussed plans for Siesta Promenade. The proposed mixed-use project would be located at the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road. (Read more »)
County commissioners hoping for more ‘robust discussion’ on Oct. 10 when they hold second public hearing on ordinance that would ban sale and processing of recreational marijuana
Speakers lambaste board for proposing the regulations
With only six members of the public having addressed them during the first public hearing this week, the Sarasota County commissioners said they hope for a much larger turnout on the morning of Oct. 10, when they will vote on whether to outlaw the cultivation, processing and sale of non-medical marijuana in the unincorporated parts of the county. (Read more »)
Sept. 11 public hearing planned on proposed increases in county residential and commercial recycling fees
Plan also calls for switch to single-stream recycling system, with all residential materials to go into 64-gallon carts
Starting in 2019 — if the Sarasota County Commission approves a proposed ordinance — residential customers in the unincorporated parts of the county will be asked to switch from separating their recyclables to putting them all in one cart, the county’s Public Utilities director explained to the commission this week. (Read more »)
A daily Violation of Probation Court among three new measures County Commission agrees to fund for the 2019 fiscal year to try to keep more people out of jail
Chief judge of 12th Judicial Circuit explains jail population continuing to rise because more people serving their sentences in the jail
The Sarasota County Commission has given unanimous support to three more programs proposed as a means of reducing the number of people in the Sarasota County Jail. Among these new initiatives will be a daily Violation of Probation Court (VOP), as recommended by Chief Judge Charles E. Williams, State Attorney Ed Brodsky and Public Defender Larry Eger of the 12th Judicial Circuit. (Read more »)
Beggs, Maio, Ziegler win primaries for the two seats on the Sarasota County Commission
School Board incumbents re-elected; Bradenton attorney upsets 12th Circuit Court judge
Almost 32% of Sarasota County’s voters cast ballots in the Aug. 28 Primary elections, the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections has reported. Supervisor of Elections Ron Turner announced a record on his office’s Facebook page shortly after 3 p.m. on Aug. 28, after the total hit the 27.11% mark. That beat the number of voters who participated in both the 2014 and 2016 primaries, the post pointed out. (Read more »)
City of Sarasota Human Resources director to settle on firm to investigate allegations made over the years against city auditor and clerk
Commissioners will have to approve contract as an upcoming agenda item, with public comments to be allowed
Almost at the very end of the Sarasota city commissioners’ regular meeting on July 16, they discussed ongoing concerns about complaints that have been lodged against City Auditor and Clerk Pamela Nadalini’s management style. (Read more »)
Design of Sheriff’s Support Services Facility planned for county land at Laurel Road and Interstate 75 at 60% mark, staff reports
Construction contract expected to be ready for board approval early in 2019
It took less than 7 minutes on Aug. 28 for the Sarasota County Commission to listen to and comment on an update regarding the design of the Sheriff’s Support Services Facility, which is planned on Laurel Road at the intersection of Interstate 75 in Nokomis. (Read more »)
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