APRIL 2
An independent inquiry has cleared Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Lori White of racial discrimination charges filed against her last year by Hal Nelson, assistant superintendent for NeXt Generation Learning. However, the report notes a clear lack of structure regarding who is second in command to White among district staff.
In spite of some criticism from neighbors, the school board is proceeding with plans to increase parking at Bay Haven Elementary School.
Sarasota city staff has added yet a sixth roundabout to plans for U.S. 41 along the bayfront in an effort to slow travel along the Tamiami Trail and improve the connectivity of that area to the downtown.
APRIL 9
Sarasota County has organized a group of about 60 stakeholders to work over the next six weeks to craft a post-hurricane plan. The effort is being undertaken as a pilot program involving six Florida counties.
With a lawsuit already having been filed over the issue, the Sarasota City Commission has suspended the impounding of vehicles of people charged with violating a noise ordinance the commission approved in May.
APRIL 16
The Sarasota County commissioners unanimously rejected the primary recommendations of their solar hot water task force, refusing to consider creating a new public utility. The task force’s main objective was the creation of a publicly funded utility to install and maintain solar water heaters. Commissioners agreed that the timing was not right.
Carolyn Mason, the newest Sarasota County commissioner, has received a cool reception from her fellow commissioners to her request that the county use Tax Increment Financing funds for improvements to Newtown. In a TIF district, as property values increase, tax revenue resulting from the difference between the starting appraisals and the higher ones goes to a Community Redevelopment Agency for use in a special area.
Mayor Lou Anne Palmer has stepped down from the Sarasota City Commission after holding office for 17 years. She is the longest-serving elected official in the city’s history.
APRIL23
Without objection, the Sarasota County commissioners authorized staff to use one-third of the commission’s "rainy day fund" to help balance next year’s budget.
Two programs managed by Coastal Behavioral Healthcare have come under the scrutiny of Sarasota County’s Criminal Justice Commission because of discrepancies.
Billy Robinson, who has spent 30 years in Sarasota City Hall as deputy or clerk and auditor, plans to retire July 31.
APRIL 30
County Administrator Jim Ley has announced a review of employees with both a cell phone and desk phone. They would be allowed to keep only one, to save expenses.
Neighbors tried to stop Sarasota County from replacing sand at Beach Access 3 on Siesta Key, where workers had removed old concrete rubble from bygone groins and seawalls. The protesters said the new sand was not of the same quality as the original sand. Despite the protests, the county said the sand was compatible and it was spread at the site.
Vacant city property at 1289 N. Palm Ave. is to be transformed into a parking garage and rental space. The goal is to create approximately 700 parking spaces on about five levels with 14,000 square feet of retail shops on the first floor.
MAY 7
After seriously considering a 26 percent reduction in road impact fees, the Sarasota County Commission has decided to keep the present rate intact and instructed staff to produce new statistics for a complete review of the impact fee system.
Sarasota County has received proposals for 10 separate sites to build a new jail. All 10 sites are privately owned by companies, such as Michael Saunders & Co.
The Sarasota city commissioners again rejected an offer to purchase three lots in Burns Square to create a parking lot. The vote was unanimous.
MAY 14
A 78-page, five-year economic development plan presented to the Sarasota County commissioners focuses on six goals: strengthening existing businesses; developing a climate of innovation; building on a reputation for design excellence; expanding opportunities for applied environmental and sustainable systems; optimizing how people, policies and investments work together; and creating leadership for services and products for the aging population.
Seagrass, a critical element of the marine food chain is one form of vegetation that has flourished during the drought. Scientists report that the most intense increase (32 percent) in seagrass bed coverage has occurred in northern Sarasota Bay, from Siesta Key north to Anna Maria Sound.
The Sarasota County Charter Review Board met May 6 and withdrew all three proposals for charter amendments from the agenda. At the end of the meeting, it agreed by a 6-4 vote to postpone the next meeting (scheduled Oct. 6) until Jan. 13, 2010.
MAY 21
The Criminal Justice Committee has rated the former site of the HealthSouth facility on Proctor Road significantly higher than the other four proposed sites for a community corrections center, drawing vehement opposition from the congregation of Temple Sinai, which is adjacent to the site.
March, traditionally the top month for visitors, saw tourism tax revenue go down by 19 percent compared to March 2008.
MAY 28
Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) revenue is down, prompting the county commission to scrutinize a long list of projects that the LOST was supposed to fund. The current estimate shows the LOST will produce $520.3 million by 2024 – a shortage of $168.2 million.
A mid-street entrance for a new parking structure with about 673 parking spaces on six levels and about 14,000 square feet of street-level retail space is apparently in the works for public property on Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota.
JUNE 4
The Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Task Force, charged to provide suggestions/recommendations to the county commission, has been "looking over the shoulders" of the commissioners as they prepare the new budget.
The city commission again discussed the possibility of paid parking on Main Street but made no decision.
JUNE 11
The chairman of the Sarasota County Tree Advisory Council, Jack Gurney, offered a solution to county transportation’s decreased ridership: chickee huts to help shelter county bus stops from the Florida sun and rain. The chickees would cost about $2,800 apiece and the roofs would need to be replaced every seven years for about $400. The basic structure is rated to resist 140-mph winds.
Sarasota County held its first "live budget telethon" on June 8 to take questions about the upcoming budget deliberations.
JUNE 18
For the first time in four years, Sarasota County’s budget dropped below $1 billion. County Administrator Jim Ley unveiled the Fiscal Year 2010 spending plan on June 16, saying the $991 million budget would require no increase in the tax rate despite a double-digit drop in property values. No layoffs are planned.
Roundabouts are being considered at U.S. 41’s intersections with Orange Avenue, Main Street, Gulfstream Avenue, Fruitville Road, 10th Street and perhaps 14th Street.
JUNE 25
During the June 16 Sarasota County School Board meeting, Superintendent Lori White said she plans to refuse the 3 percent raise that her contract provides her this coming school year and, instead, plans to take a 3.25 percent cut in her base salary.
Sarasota County cut a check this week to cover the application fee for a permit to discharge stormwater into the Gulf of Mexico at Siesta Beach. The project manager expects the permit by the end of the summer, barring any objections from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The county commission ultimately will decide whether to discharge the stormwater into the gulf or into the Grand Canal.