from the desk of:
Tom Barwin
Sarasota City Manager
March 6, 2020
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We hope you can join us tonight (Friday, March 6) for the
grand re-opening of Lemon Avenue and Paul Thorpe Jr. Park!
Festivities start at 5 p.m. at the park, 135 S. Pineapple Ave., with live music and refreshments, including complimentary snacks from Brick's Smoked Meats. These street and park improvements are already creating a fresh, inviting atmosphere in downtown -- and you won't want to miss the grand re-opening celebration!
Please note
: Lemon Ave. from State St. to Pineapple Ave. will be temporarily closed just for this celebratory block party and will reopen at 8 p.m.
Friendly reminder: Don't forget to move your clocks one hour ahead Sunday morning as we spring forward into Daylight Saving Time.
Thank you for reading this week's edition! If you have questions, comments or suggestions for topics, please contact us directly: 941-263-6402 or
CityNews@SarasotaFL.Gov
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Citizens with Disabilities Advisory Board
Monday, March 9 - 10 a.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers
Historic Preservation Board
Tuesday, March 10 - 3 p.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers
St. Armands BID
Wednesday, March 11 - 8:30 a.m.
City Hall Annex
Planning Board
Wednesday, March 11 - 6 p.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers
Complete Count Committee
Wednesday, March 11 - 4 p.m.
City Hall - Room 112
Nuisance Abatement Board
Thursday, March 12 - 6 p.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers
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COVID-19 - Coronavirus Update
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We remain vigilant with the coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on the Sarasota community. We're talking daily with local partner agencies and receiving regular updates and briefings.
Since our initial proactive meetings on Monday with the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, New College of Florida and Ringling College, the situation remains unchanged as of this writing, although there is much more testing now underway. We are watching closely and encouraging the public to be mindful of their hygiene.
While the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is the lead federal agency with COVID-19, the Florida Department of Health is the lead state agency.
With the public understandably having many questions about coronavirus, the DOH has established some helpful resources:
- COVID-19 FL Call Center: 1-866-779-6121 - Hours have been extended to Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A knowledgeable representative is on the other end of the phone to help answer questions
- Email questions: COVID-19@FLHealth.Gov
- Website: Florida Department of Health
There are many simple actions we can all take to help slow down or stop the transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and do so frequently
- Avoid those who are coughing and/or sneezing
- Cover your mouth and/or nose with a disposable tissue when coughing and/or sneezing
- Disinfect hard surfaces where germs may live for hours or days
- Avoid shaking hands -- opt for a friendly fist bump
We encourage everyone to continue their regular activities. Get out and enjoy our wonderful, unique shops and restaurants in downtown, St. Armands Circle, Burns Court, Rosemary District and Hillview shopping district --- while stepping up your hand washing game.
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2020 Census - Letters Set to Arrive Week of March 9
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When was the last time you waited for something to arrive via the good 'ol United States Postal Service -- known nowadays as snail mail?
You can start looking again beginning next week (March 9), when residents should receive a letter from the U.S. Census Bureau inviting them to participate in the 2020 Census, a milestone for this important, Constitutionally required endeavor. The letter will announce how data collected from the census will be used and how the Census Bureau will collect the information.
This will be the first time the primary collection method will be the internet, which will conserve natural resources, tax dollars and provide efficiencies with data processing. Traditional paper questionnaires will be provided as well as a call center, for those who prefer to complete the census that way. A trained Census Bureau field interviewer will be sent to homes that are non-responsive in order to collect answers in person. Copies of the informational
letter
and
questionnaire
are available for review in advance.
The City Commission-appointed Complete Count Committee is working diligently to spread the word about the 2020 census and the importance of getting every person counted and getting our fair share of federal, state and regional funding. The data collected translates into dollars for federally funded local programs in our community, in addition to being used in other state and local funding formulas. Over 130 programs are impacted, including budgets for road construction, affordable housing, job training, health, environment, and assistance to the low income, elderly and disabled.
Next week, members of the Complete Count Committee, including Chairperson and Vice Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie, will make guest appearances on ABC 7's Suncoast View and 7 at 7 to heighten awareness about the census. We hope you can tune in for these informative conversations.
Look for your invitation to participate in the census this week -- and plan to respond by April 1. Please remember and share with friends and family: all census responses are confidential. Let's make Sarasota count!
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US 41-Fruitville Rd. Roundabout - Traffic Update
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What a difference a week makes! You may recall it was only last Friday when we experienced traffic disruptions during peak drive time in peak season as the vice president traveled along US 41. Traffic was expected to be so clogged, the final performance of "Les Miserables" at our Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall was delayed one hour to give patrons enough time to arrive at the Hall and settle into their seats. While the traffic jam was inconvenient, we appreciate the advance notice from the Sarasota Police Department in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service, which helped the entire community endure the disruption.
Then, two nights later, the much-anticipated traffic pattern shifts associated with the construction of the US 41-Fruitville Rd. roundabout were successfully choreographed over the course of two nights, as planned. City and FDOT traffic engineers and the project team are watching the new traffic patterns closely, and early indications show two salient points: (1) motorists are heeding the advance notice about the westbound closure of Fruitville Rd. at Cocoanut Ave. and are following the detour signage; (2) the return of the third left lane from Gulfstream Ave. to northbound US 41 combined with the new diversion road and no traffic signal at Fruitville Rd. has
dramatically improved traffic flow
off the islands. Several road warriors who travel the Ringling Bridge daily shared with us almost immediately that this is the best eastbound traffic flow they've experienced for this time of year. With FDOT, we'll continue to monitor traffic movements and will attempt to adjust where possible as drivers adapt to the new detours over the next couple of weeks.
In addition, all lanes on John Ringling Boulevard are now open. Earthwork associated with the Coon Key Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT) project and the replacement of a 70-year-old water main, requiring a morning-only outside lane closure, is now completed. This will provide additional relief for the many cars and delivery/service vehicles heading to the barrier islands in the morning. Future work to replace the aging water main serving Lido Key, as part of the MURT project, will be done after season.
The new 10-foot-wide MURT constructed on the south side of the road already is being used by pedestrians and cyclists, and we anticipate when the trail is completed on the north side even more people will opt to leave their vehicle behind since they will have a safe, healthy alternative to get to St. Armands Key. Speaking of pedestrian access, a temporary sidewalk is now open adjacent to the diversion road near the roundabout construction site, offering residents and hotel guests a safe way to traverse along US 41 to the Bayfront and downtown. Fewer cars on the road, even if it's just a small percentage, is less traffic congestion!
Thanks to everyone -- residents, business owners, visitors - for your patience as we make our way through these changes to create a welcoming community with safe multi-modal options -- from the multi-use recreational trail to the new roundabouts at US 41 and Fruitville Road, 10th Street and 14th Street.
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The new, temporary diversion road takes north and southbound US 41 traffic to the west of the Fruitville Road intersection.
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As if we needed any further evidence that Sarasota is at the forefront of thinking about climate change and resiliency, we received some additional proof last week in the form of a significant grant announcement.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the LEED green building rating system, has announced our City is among 20 new cities and counties selected to participate in the 2020 LEED for Cities and Communities Grant Program. The program helps local governments committed to accelerating progress on climate change, resilience and social equity planning, measure and track performance using LEED.
Cities and counties participating in the 2020 program receive access to education resources and technical support as they pursue a LEED for Cities and Communities certification. Our City has a long history of ambitious sustainability efforts, such as our Ready for 100 effort, a commitment to 100 percent renewable energy community-wide by 2045 and for City operations by 2030. This LEED certification will improve our staff’s ability to understand Sarasota’s sustainability performance and use data-driven metrics to strategically invest in improvements.
We’re excited to join the select group of cities and communities participating in the program, which will help provide us with a framework to continue implementing strategies that address energy, water, waste, pollution and carbon. Through LEED, we’ll have better data and metrics to understand our Citywide performance and be smarter about how we invest in improving our quality of life.
Kudos to our Sustainability office for its efforts in securing this grant, which will provide us with another important tool we can use to build a sustainable future for our community.
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Georgia On My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles
Sunday, March 8
Josh Groban
Monday, March 9
The Color Purple
Tuesday, March 10
Paul Anka Sings Sinatra
Wednesday, March 11
An American in Paris
Monday, March 16
The Choir of Man
Tuesday, March 17
John Pizzarelli and Catherine Russell
Wednesday, March 18
America
Thursday, March 19
Harry Connick Jr. - True Love: An Intimate Performance
Friday, March 20
Itzhak Perlman in Recital
Saturday, March 21
Up, Up, and Away starring Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.
Tuesday, March 24
An Evening with Bruce Hornsby
Sunday, March 29
To purchase tickets over the phone call 941-953-3368 or stop by the Box Office at 777 N.Tamiami Trail.
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"Sarasota Scene"
Norm Schimmel
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