20181130-30 Nov 2018


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County commissioners voice vexation that measures they have approved to facilitate affordable housing projects still are not in county regulations

Board members accept recommendations of local committee charged with proposing affordable housing incentive strategies

Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis cautioned the county commissioners in late May that extra public outreach they requested that day would delay implementation of new measures to spur the development of affordable housing. (Read more »)


Prospect raised for settlement of North Beach Road issues, with first step to be discussions between county staff and Siesta resident who sued county

Proposal for talks comes after 15 speakers address the commission during Open to Public session of Nov. 27 meeting

Fifteen people appeared before the Sarasota County Commission on Nov. 27, at times scolding the board members as they urged them to begin the process of rescinding the May 11, 2016 vote that vacated a 373-foot-long section of North Beach Road on Siesta Key. (Read more »)


Detert’s proposed anti-lobbying ordinance for senior county employees fails to win the support of her fellow county commissioners

Ordinance characterized as response to top staff leaving county government to work for Town of Longboat Key

The Sarasota County Commission agenda item had fewer than a dozen words: “(Public hearing) To consider Ordinance No. 2018-060, relating to post-employment lobbying restrictions.” It proved to be an initiative proposed by Chair Nancy Detert, primarily to keep more senior employees from leaving county employment to take positions with neighboring local governments. (Read more »)


County Commission to consider changes to Open to the Public sessions in effort to keep agenda items on schedule and facilitate fairness to petitioners

County administrator suggests in-depth discussion in early January 2019

Prompted by a situation that occurred that morning (see the related story in this issue), the Sarasota County commissioners agreed on Nov. 27 to hold a future, in-depth discussion regarding potential changes in how they conduct the Open to the Public portions of their meetings. (Read more »)


Formal process begun to rename North Sarasota Library in memory of Ed James

County Commission votes unanimously to ask Library Advisory Board to consider recommendation

On Oct. 23, during the Reports section of the regular Sarasota County Commission meeting, Chair Nancy Detert told her colleagues about a visit she recently had received from representatives of Newtown. (Read more »)


County staff continuing review of property for potential sale, with six more parcels ready to be designated surplus in early December

Review cycles established, new Property Management Division chief reports, to ensure unneeded land is not retained

Since May 18, Sarasota County staff has whittled down the number of county-owned parcels from 1,126 to 1,120, with 193 ready to be sold because they are not needed in any capacity, as verified through a months-long, intensive review involving each department. (Read more »)


Manasota Key residents renew pleas to County Commission to partner with Charlotte County on beach renourishment project

Storms over the past months have exacerbated erosion, property owners say

Although the Sarasota County Commission approved changes earlier this year to facilitate protection of waterfront property threatened by severe erosion, Manasota Key residents are pleading for more measures, citing unprecedented storm damage wreaked over past months. (Read more »)


Coyote sightings spur Sarasota city manager to offer advice to residents about co-existence

Speculation offered that animals may have been living at Colony on Longboat before it was razed

After receiving a video clip and emails from residents on Nov. 19 about a coyote seen in the Avondale area of Sarasota — which includes Lincoln Drive and Brewer Place — City Manager Tom Barwin sent his own email to a representative of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. (Read more »)


Lawn and garden center approved on residential parcels on Fruitville Road, just west of intersection leading to International Trade Center

Project will encompass outdoor display space and plant nursery, with landscape supply sales

No members of the public had signed up to address the proposal. The Sarasota County commissioners had no questions or comments themselves. As a result it took only about 12 minutes of public hearing time before the board this week unanimously approved a special exception to allow a lawn and garden center on Fruitville Road property just west of the Sarasota Center Boulevard intersection. (Read more »)


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OTHER NEWS (free):

 

Siesta Key glows with holiday spirit


Dec. 8 open house planned at Sheriff’s Office headquarters on Cattleridge Boulevard


Street closures announced in preparation for Downtown Sarasota Holiday Parade on Dec. 1


FDOT to hold Dec. 11 informational meeting on planned improvements to two U.S. 41 intersections


Sarasota County Area Transit to host public workshops starting Dec. 4


Goodwin elected Sarasota County School Board chair