27 Dec 2019 ANNUAL YEAR IN REVIEW – Pt. 1 January: On 3-2 vote, City Commission approves $352,000 expense for new downtown parking meters Circuit Court judge rules that County Commission did not violate county regulations in approving Grand Lakes development planned near Clark Road Lawsuit filed to try to halt construction of Siesta Promenade at U.S. 41/Stickney Point Road intersection Save Our Siesta Sand 2 files complaint in federal court to try to prevent dredging of Big Sarasota Pass Nadalini formally fired by City Commission February: Approval of array of county agreements clears way for Mote Marine Aquarium project at Benderson Park City Commission approves applicant’s withdrawal of proposal for Lido Pavilion and Pool improvements and agrees to $206,000 reimbursement Acting chair of Republican Party of Sarasota awarded Sarasota County contract for feeding of personnel at Emergency Operations Center in event of a disaster Public comment changes made official in County Commission’s Rules of Procedure March: Detert proposes redrawing of County Commission districts before 2020 Census results available Illegal short-term rental fine up to $5,000 wins County Commission’s unanimous approval Sarasota County finance staff finally works out agreement for Manatee to repay sales tax revenue it mistakenly received 750-square-foot homes to be allowed in multi-family zoning districts, with doubled density called an incentive to developers to create affordable housing projects CRA settlement with County Commission wins unanimous City Commission approval April: Petland to cease operations in Sarasota by July 1 Sarasota County Commission agrees to join Charlotte County in Manasota Key Beach renourishment project Audit by county’s Office of Inspector General identifies multiple problems with economic incentives program The Bay agreement with nonprofit conservancy wins unanimous City Commission approval City Commission majority shoots down staff proposals for major traffic changes on Fruitville Road May: Director of county’s Public Utilities Department leaves position in early April In four years, homeless population down 52% in city of Sarasota, annual survey shows City Commission votes 4-1 to vacate section of School Avenue that splits Sarasota High campus On unanimous vote, County Commission agrees it should redraw district maps this year Payne Park will not be new home for the Sarasota Orchestra, City Commission decides in 4-1 vote June: At long last, county staff wins railroad company agreement so improvements can be made to Myrtle Street crossing University of Miami scientist links increase in incidence of algal blooms to development in Florida Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility to be upgraded to advanced wastewater treatment status to significantly reduce amount of nitrogen going into waterways Part of Big Pass sand borrow area between northernmost Siesta Key and Lido Key eliminated from proposed dredging plans for Lido project County garbage and recycling assessments to rise over three years to cover increasing expenses, with 17% jump planned in 2020 fiscal year
