from the desk of:
Tom Barwin
Sarasota City Manager
May 15, 2020
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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
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City Commission
Mon., May 18 - 1:30 p.m.
City Hall - Video Teleconference
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Local Public Health Emergency - Latest
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As we continue to closely monitor and study data to guide us with policies for the community, the local public health emergency order has been renewed through Friday, May 22.
The Florida Department of Health tracks and provides data based on emergency department visits, case counts, and lab test data. While some hot spots remain in the area, at this writing there is a downward trajectory of new cases in the daily updates. The countywide positive test return rate stands at approximately 6% and county area hospitals are reporting 52% of intensive care unit beds are occupied and 64% of all available beds occupied --- all of which are good indicators for the slowing of the spread of the virus.
Prior to Monday's City Commission meeting, we hope to receive a report from FDOH in Sarasota County regarding the latest data from the ongoing mass tests at the Mall at UTC and what those results may mean for the spread within the city limits.
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Parks & Recreation - Facilities Starting to Reopen
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Tennis enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that courts are now open, including those at our very popular Payne Park Tennis Center. The center will have reduced hours
with social distancing rules
in place as recommended by the United States Tennis Association and that means, for the time being, singles play only. For questions and to reserve a court, call 941-263-6640.
All other courts at Arlington, Gillespie and Pioneer Park will be open to the public during regular park hours for singles play only with social distancing in effect.
While Bobby Jones Golf Club has been closed during the health emergency, the cart path will be open Memorial Day weekend only for walkers, runners, bicyclists and birders. The path will be available 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25. This will be an opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy 280+ acres of green space and experience the possibilities of a future designated park on the site. Restrooms along the cart path will be open but drinking water will not be available, so please plan to bring your own. Hope to see you out there enjoying the fresh air with plenty of social distancing.
And good news for swimmers who have been patiently waiting to dive back into their sport -- the
Arlington Park Aquatic Complex
is scheduled to reopen Friday, May 29.
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Small Business Grant Program - Applications Open May 19 at 9 a.m.
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The Economic Development Office is ready to open the
new grant program
for applications at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19.
Small businesses in the city limits with 25 or less full-time equivalent employees in a physical building for retail, restaurant, personal services including hair salons and more, are eligible to apply for a $5,000 grant.
COVID-19 recovery grants will be distributed first-come, first-served, based upon the time and date of the electronic or physical submittal of the completed application and related documents. Those interested are urged to apply as soon as possible as we expect the $2.2 million in economic development funds to be exhausted very quickly.
Big thanks to our Economic Development team led by General Manager Steve Stancel for pulling this initiative together so quickly with help from the IT Department, Human Resources, City Attorney and others.
Much more work lies ahead when the applications arrive, then checks are dispersed. We anticipate over 300 small businesses will receive a grant with funds going out possibly before the end of this month.
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A special message: Key to Restoring Health and the Economy
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Earlier this week, we learned that in 2019 the City of Sarasota was the number one generator of Tourist Tax Dollars in Sarasota County. Residing on only 3% of the land and making up 13% of the County population, the City generated a whopping 30.2%, or nearly one-third of visitor tax dollars collected in Sarasota County last year.
Those dollars are used to promote our region and fund not only our marketing, but portions of our sports, cultural arts, museum and entertainment economy as well. Although we got off to a very strong start this year, those revenues will be way down. How fast the tourist segment of our Gulf Coast economy can bounce back is the $20 million per year question and impacts a lot of jobs. Moving forward, let's assume we have some control over our fate.
Some good news is, multiple credible polls confirm that Americans of all persuasions believe we should move forward keeping public health and the threat of the return of COVID-19 foremost in mind, so that the economic recovery will be sustained and further loss of life minimized. Most Sarasota residents appear to feel the same way.
If we do this right, we can bring our Gulf Coast economy back sooner versus later, but we really must commit to it. We are not going to see our airports get back to normal or our hotels occupied, and golf courses, theaters, ballparks or even our fisheries thrive and all jobs return, if we backslide. We must rebuild, day by day with some patience. Tourist economies will have some of the biggest challenges getting back to full operations after this pandemic, so we can't let our guard down before a vaccine.
Training and practice begins this week. Retail and restaurants and some personal services have reopened, offices are getting ready, and the Governor will likely expand the reopening next week, but again, we really have to believe the doctors, and be smart and careful and do what we've learned to do and stick with it.
To restore our economy we would be wise to lead our lives as if we're all striving to receive an A on our personal pandemic response report card, and conduct ourselves as if we are competing for the Good Housekeeping seal of approval at our workplaces and the places we patronize.
The even better news is we now have the tools to proceed. Masks are becoming available and free COVID-19 testing continues to be ramped up. So, if you feel like you’re coming down with COVID symptoms or have been around someone who has shown symptoms, self-isolate and get tested. If we use testing as the “Sherlock Holmes or Dirty Harry” of virus detection, we will get back to business sooner versus later, and be safe for visitors and safe from visitors as they return. For health, jobs and our quality of life to return as soon as reasonably possible, let’s not just get through this, lets grow through this, and all that’s required is
giving it your best shot.
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Outdoor Dining - Expedited Permits
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Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the City has been planning for the economic recovery and how we can assist our local businesses in safely reopening their doors to the public.
One of those ways is by streamlining our permitting process to help restaurants comply with the state’s reduced indoor seating capacity and the move toward outdoor dining. Our staff have worked hard to create a new temporary outdoor café permit that allows restaurants to expand or add new seating arrangements to accommodate social distancing standards.
This no-fee permit also eases some of the requirements under the traditional sidewalk café permit, including allowing for temporary seating in designated parking spaces. We’ve designed a simple, expedited process that is easy for business owners but still ensures safety and accessibility for the public. Our goal is to have completed applications reviewed and processed in as quickly as 24 hours.
Our staff will continue to seek other ways we can help our community get back to business swiftly and safely.
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O & A Coffee on lower Main St. recently received an expedited temporary outdoor cafe permit.
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Protective Face Masks - Distribution
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Earlier today, the Sarasota Police Department hosted the third successful giveaway of protective face masks outside SPD headquarters. Our officers handed out hundreds of masks, packaged in bags of five each, to residents and families in need.
City staff members have also delivered thousands more masks to various neighborhood leaders, who are distributing them in their communities.
Business employees and City residents are strongly urged to acquire and wear protective masks whenever they are in public as part of our ongoing local health emergency declaration, following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Everyone should wear one in public in order to protect others in case you are infected and don’t even know it.
For helpful tips on how to properly wear a cloth face covering or make your own, visit
this informational page from the CDC’s website.
And please, do your part to protect your neighbors and fellow citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable. It’s a small act of kindness and a simple step to help stop the transmission of this highly contagious virus in our community.
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City Reopening - Phase I Starts May 26
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City operations have continued 24/7 throughout the public health emergency through a combination of employees working at a safe distance in the field, in the office when necessary and remotely. To our knowledge,
no employees have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Now, we’re starting a phased approach to re-opening City Hall. In Phase I, designated employees, including managers, supervisors and those serving in critical roles, will return on May 26 after completing a self-health checklist and seeking medical follow-up if necessary. For everyone’s health, the number of employees allowed in conference rooms will be reduced to maintain a minimum 6-foot distance and face masks will be worn in all common areas such as lobbies, hallways, break rooms, and restrooms. When employees return, they will come back to work areas that have undergone deep cleaning and sanitizing over the past two months. All facilities will remain closed to the general public in Phase I.
In Phase II, more employees will return and City buildings will gradually open to the public on an appointment-only basis with social distancing measures in place. By Phase III, most if not all employees will be back and buildings will be open to the public. We will monitor the implementation of Phase I and make necessary adjustments before cautiously moving into the next phase.
Special thanks to Human Resources Director Stacie Mason and her team who worked closely with Emergency Manager Todd Kerkering drafting new return to work protocols to help us reopen in a thoughtful, safe manner.
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Generous Donation – 1K Face Shields for First Responders
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During this health emergency, we’ve heard heartwarming stories about extraordinary acts of kindness around the country and Sarasota can be added to the good news list. We have a special story to share and the beneficiaries are first responders throughout Sarasota.
Longtime city resident Carolyn Michel, an accomplished actor well known in the performing arts community in Sarasota, donated 1,000 protective face shields to the City to be distributed to first responders and those on the frontlines to help protect them from COVID-19.
She contacted Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and the city administration after learning about a company in Colorado that recently switched from manufacturing sleep apnea devices to protective face shields. Carolyn’s question was straight forward: If she placed a large order, would the City put the shields to good use? The answer was a resounding yes!
Within days, 1,000 protective face shields arrived in eight boxes at Carolyn’s home via UPS and arrangements were made to pick them up by our Emergency Manager.
The face shields are now being distributed to personnel with the Sarasota Police Department, Sarasota County Emergency Services including EMTs and firefighters, Sheriff’s Office, agencies working with the unsheltered and an elder care facility. The shields will provide an extra layer of protection against this very contagious coronavirus when needed.
Carolyn jokes that since she can’t sew, she can’t make face masks – but she could do this! By the way, the idea for the donation came to Carolyn after talking with her cousin in Colorado who did something similar for first responders there.
On behalf of the City and recipients of the face shields, a heartfelt thank you!
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During a virtual news conference, resident Carolyn Michel demonstrates
how a face shield can be worn by first responders.
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Work restarted last month and is steadily progressing on the City’s Coon Key Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT) project along John Ringling Boulevard. The statewide stay-at-home order, along with the general slowness of the season, has allowed crews to work on replacing an aging water main below the road with little impact to traffic.
That work is expected to wrap up by June, to be followed by the planting of hundreds of new trees and landscaping later this summer. After that, a new 10-foot-wide path will be constructed on the north side of the road, matching the new one already being enjoyed by pedestrians and cyclists on the south side. The project should be wrapped up by October, providing a safer connection from downtown to St. Armands Circle and the barrier islands, a better option for exercise, recreation and mobility and hopefully a small reduction in vehicular traffic.
Also, once all that is done, Florida Power & Light plans to bury the overhead power lines along the road, reducing the risk of power outages during major storms while also improving the aesthetics of the area.
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"Sarasota Scene"
Norm Schimmel
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