from the desk of:
Tom Barwin
Sarasota City Manager
May 29, 2020
|
|
Thank you for reading this week's updates. If you have questions, comments or suggestions for topics, please contact us directly: 941-263-6402 or
CityNews@SarasotaFL.Gov
|
|
City Commission
Mon., June 1 - 1:30 p.m.
Video Teleconference
Downtown Improvement District
Tues., June 2 - 9 a.m.
Audio via Teleconference
Employee Retirement Account Committee
Thurs., June 4 - 10 a.m.
Audio via Teleconference
|
|
Downtown Street Closures
- Despite the rainy weather, the rollout of experimental expanded outdoor dining into partially closed streets was well received last weekend.
Portions of State State and lower Main Street were blocked off allowing restaurants to enlarge their dining footprint and place tables and chairs in the street. We've heard from business owners and patrons who would like the initiative to continue into the near future while restaurants remain under state-ordered restrictions for indoor occupancy. We also have heard from some businesses who believe long-term street closures and reduced storefront parking access would harm them as they are trying to recover.
We're considering all ideas that embrace the economic recovery along with community health. Currently, we're working with Ron Soto and the Downtown SRQ Enrichment, Inc. to help determine interest to continue and possibly expand the pilot program to other downtown streets and business districts where desired.
Tonight (Friday, May 29) and Saturday, the same areas along Main and State streets will be closed from 3:30 p.m. to midnight to allow for restaurant expansion. In addition, Lemon Avenue from Main Street to just north of State Street will be closed.
The efficacy of this experimental endeavor is being evaluated weekly by business owners and City staff is ready to facilitate requested changes, where possible. We anticipate temporary street closures will continue through June, although the blocks may vary week to week based on interest and input from merchants.
Also, approved street vendors selling protective face masks will be back this weekend at locations in downtown, Lido Beach and near O'Leary's in Bayfront Park.
Those interested and willing to be involved with the ongoing street closure experiment are encouraged to email their thoughts to
CityNews@SarasotaFL.Gov
Stay tuned!
Return to Work
- City employees who had been working remotely for the past 10 weeks returned to their office space this week with extra health safety precautions in place, including wearing protective masks when in common areas, physical distancing and daily sanitizing of work spaces.
We're monitoring this first phase before reopening buildings to the public by-appointment only on a temporary basis. The
City Commission meeting
next week will be held via video conference again with the ability for limited in-person public input in Room 112 at City Hall or by
submitting comments in advance
.
State Testing Site
- With the exception of the rainy holiday weekend, the state-run walk-up testing site at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex continues to attract a steady number of people for testing. With such a strong interest, the testing capacity was recently increased up to 300 daily.
Last Friday, the site closed two hours early because the maximum number of 200 administered tests was reached. Since then, the daily testing capacity has been bumped up another 100 for a maximum 300 tests per day. So far, more than 1,700 individuals have been tested at the site.
Free testing is available daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. rain or shine at RLTCC. You don't need an appointment, prescription or symptoms. The site will remain operational as long as necessary.
Thanks again to NAACP Sarasota County Branch President Trevor Harvey and State Rep. Wengay Newton for working with us in partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida Department of Health, Florida National Guard and Sarasota County to bring this unique walk-up testing site to North Sarasota.
|
|
Bobby Jones Golf Club - Nature Trails Remain Open
|
|
We’re pleased to announce the initial opening of the Bobby Jones Golf Club Nature Trails to the public last weekend went so well, the trails will remain open daily 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. for the foreseeable future!
As I bicycled a portion of the tree-lined trails, around creeks and ponds, and watched all kinds of birds flit about, it was inspiring to know this peaceful, beautiful green space is located right in the city limits. What a treasure!
Interested in exploring this park-like setting? Bobby Jones is located at 1000 Circus Blvd. and admission to the nature trails is free. The parking lot gate opens daily at 6 a.m. and closes promptly at 6 p.m. Although the clubhouse is closed to the public,
G’s Southern Kitchen
is offering food and beverage service via the walk-up window starting at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
A few reminders: Walkers, bikers, runners and nature enthusiasts are welcome. (Fido is too as long as he/she is well behaved, leashed and you pick up after him/her.) Golf is unavailable at this time as we work toward finalizing the plans to renovate 27 holes and preserve 100+ acres as park land for all to enjoy. Fishing is not permitted. Last but not least, Bobby Jones is a quiet, natural environment teeming with wildlife, which you should enjoy from a distance.
|
|
Walkers and bikers enjoying the open green space on the Bobby Jones Nature Trails last weekend.
|
|
Good news: The Community Compost sites at three City parks re-opened earlier this week with some modifications and are again accepting deposits of your food scraps.
Our partners at the local nonprofit Sunshine Community Compost have come up with new guidelines and two options that help support public health during the COVID-19 outbreak:
Option 1 - Residents can bring their food scraps to one of the three sites (Arlington, Gillespie or North Water Tower park) and drop them off anytime during park hours. You’re asked to wear a mask and gloves throughout your visit and maintain physical distance if others are present. If you have a scale at home, consider weighing your scraps in advance.
Option 2 - Registered participants concerned about cross-contamination can visit the sites during scheduled times when staff from Sunshine Community Compost will be present to help guide you through the drop-off process and do all the weighing, handling and any necessary wiping down of bins or buckets. These scheduled times are as follows:
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays at North Water Tower Park, 4700 Rilma Ave.
- 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursdays at Arlington Park, 2650 Waldemere St.
- 7-8 p.m. Thursdays at Gillespie Park, 710 N. Osprey Ave.
We appreciate the efforts of Sunshine Community Compost executive director Tracie Troxler and her team to prioritize public health while restoring this popular and vital service, which diverts thousands of pounds of material from our landfill each year.
|
|
Van Wezel – Graduation Celebrations
|
|
The pandemic has had a significant social impact on high school seniors with traditional rites of passage, like prom and graduation, being cancelled for the greater community good to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
While the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is closed to the public and unavailable for indoor graduation ceremonies which are held there most years, the exterior property offers plenty of space for social distancing on beautiful Sarasota Bay. So, when the Van Wezel staff was asked to host two outdoor graduation celebrations in two days, they were thrilled and honored to help give the Class of 2020 a memorable sendoff!
The Booker High Visual and Performing Arts program celebrated last Friday with grads receiving a silver cord that typically is part of the VPA graduation ceremony. The following day, the spotlight was on Pine View High seniors who lined the Van Wezel parking lot as friends and family recognized their achievements during a one of kind celebratory parade.
Congratulations to all! We wish you a bright future filled with endless opportunities.
|
|
A unique graduation celebration for Pine View High seniors held at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
|
|
Hurricane Season – Starts June 1
|
As we begin to regain our footing from the pandemic and reopen the city in a safe, pragmatic manner, we can’t forget that the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season officially starts Monday, June 1. Already, two named tropical storms have formed within the past two weeks serving as a reminder that now is the time to get storm-ready.
Your supply kit should contain the following items as recommended by FEMA:
- Water (one gallon per person per day for at least three days)
- Food (at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food items)
- Prescription medications
- Battery-powered radio
- Flashlight
- First aid kit
- Cloth face coverings (for those 2 years old and up)
- Soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes
Protective face masks and some type of hand sanitizer are additional items recommended by the CDC this year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
More information about what to include in your family’s basic emergency kit can be found at
www.Ready.gov/kit
Sarasota County Emergency Management has released its 2020
all-hazards planning guide
and
evacuation map
showing evacuation levels and the closest evacuation center to your home. These are very helpful resources and we encourage everyone to know their evacuation level (A,B,C,D, E) as we enter the tropical weather season. You can determine your evacuation level quickly and easily with
this interactive online map
.
In addition, the 2020 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins today (Friday, May 29) and runs through Thursday, June 4. During this time, qualifying items are exempt from sales tax including flashlights, batteries, radios, plastic sheeting and portable generators. Specific details and qualifying items are available online through the
Florida Department of Revenue
.
|
City Commission - Candidate Qualifying
|
The candidate qualifying period for the 2020 City Commission municipal election for the three City Commission district seats opens at noon Monday, June 8, and ends at noon, Friday, June 12.
Candidates must qualify during this timeframe in order to have their name placed on the ballot for the first election on Aug. 18. The two candidates who receive the most votes in each district in that election will have their names placed on the ballot for the general election, to be held Nov. 3.
Qualifying packets are available for pickup by appointment only at the Office of the City Auditor and Clerk at City Hall, 1565 First St. Call 941-263-6222 or email
clerk@sarasotaFL.gov
to arrange a pickup.
To qualify, each person must have resided in and been a qualified elector of the respective district for which they are qualifying for a minimum of one year immediately preceding the commencement of the term of office (Nov. 6, 2020) and submit several documents, listed
here
.
For questions or more info, contact City Auditor and Clerk
Shayla Griggs
at 941-263-6222.
|
Fruitville Rd. Corridor – FDOT Survey
|
The Florida Department of Transportation is contemplating the future of Fruitville Road, the main east-west artery into the heart of downtown Sarasota, and is seeking your thoughtful input on priorities for its Fruitville Road Corridor Vision Plan.
You’re asked to consider the importance of bicycle access, economic development, landscaping, maintenance, pedestrian access, safety, transit and vehicle speed and how those priorities should be implemented. The survey can be taken online at
https://fruitvillecorridorvision.metroquest.com/
|
"Sarasota Scene"
Norm Schimmel
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
