Weekly Briefs
starfish_sun.jpg

from the desk of:

Tom Barwin
Sarasota City Manager

February 14, 2020



We at City Hall wish you a special Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy the weekend in our special city and remember: administrative offices will be closed Monday for the federal holiday, Presidents Day. Details on garbage collection and other hours of operation are below in Weekly Briefs.

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 
More opportunities: www.SarasotaFL.Gov
City Commission
Tuesday, Feb. 18 - 1:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers

Development Review Committee
Wednesday, Feb. 19 - 9 a.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers

Community Workshop
Wednesday, Feb. 19 - 5:30 p.m.
City Hall - Room 112

Employee Retirement Account Committee
Thursday, Feb. 20 - 10 a.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers

Parks, Rec & Environmental Protection Board
Thursday, Feb. 20 - 5 p.m.
City Hall - Commission Chambers
Presidents Day - Monday, Feb. 17
Heads up - City Hall and most administrative offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 17, as we observe the federal holiday, Presidents Day. 

Garbage, solid waste and recycling will be picked up as usual, so please place it curbside in time for collection.

A few notes with facility hours :

  • Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex as well as Lido Pool will be closed.

  • Payne Park Tennis Center will be open for play with limited hours, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • Robert L. Taylor Community Complex will have regular hours, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

  • The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Box Office will be open for ticket sales 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Bobby Jones Golf Club is open every day of the year and will offer a Presidents Day Weekend Special: $40 for all tee times (18 holes riding, including tax).
 
With the Monday holiday, the regular City Commission meeting will be deferred to Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the usual time and place: 1:30 p.m. & 6 p.m. at City Hall.
US 41-Fruitville Rd. Roundabout - Updated Schedule
Since last week’s update, we learned a custom-made box culvert designed to improve stormwater flow beneath US 41 to Sarasota Bay has been manufactured and soon will be delivered on site. To install this critical infrastructure, the contractor, Wright Construction, will have to dig approximately 5-6 feet beneath US 41 between Fruitville Rd. and Second St. To minimize impacts, this work will be done overnight during the next few weeks, with at least one lane remaining open in each direction. By morning rush hour, all traffic lanes will reopen. Improving the stormwater conveyance system is very important in that area, which is low lying and prone to flooding while becoming more susceptible as sea levels rise.
 
The US 41-Fruitville Rd. roundabout project remains on schedule to be completed in Fall 2020, and we anticipate by early March the new traffic patterns for the project will be in place, including the return of the third left turn lane from Gulfstream Ave. to northbound US 41, the westbound closure of Fruitville Road from Cocoanut Ave. to US 41, and new bypass lanes west of the US 41-Fruitville Rd. intersection. Regularly updated information is available at www.US41FruitvilleRoundabout.com

The roundabouts at US 41-Fruitville Rd. and US 41-Gulfstream Ave. have been part of the community’s vision to improve Bayfront connectivity and traffic flow for over two decades, dating back to 1999 when roundabouts along US 41 were identified in the Downtown Master Plan. An engineering report from Kimley-Horn to the Florida Department of Transportation just last March states that a roundabout at Fruitville Rd., when compared to a traditional signalized intersection, would reduce delay during peak hours in February by 51 percent and in March by 53 percent. The report also shows a roundabout at Gulfstream Ave. will have a positive impact on traffic congestion, with a 29 percent reduction in delay during peak hours in February and a 41 percent drop in March. These are significant reductions in wait time, especially for those going to/from the barrier islands.

Moreover, it’s FDOT’s policy to consider roundabouts for intersection improvements because of the significant benefits of improved traffic flow and enhanced safety for motorists and pedestrians. The Federal Highway Administration notes 35 percent fewer crashes occur in a roundabout than a signalized intersection. In addition, the slower speeds greatly increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.  

Over the past 10 years, crashes at the US 41-Gulfstream Ave. area have been increasing. There have been 353 crashes, including two fatalities, one due to speed, the other a head-on collision. Our professional transportation and engineering staff can say with confidence that those fatalities would not occur when the roundabout is constructed due to the decreased speed and configuration of the intersection.

The US 41-Fruitville Rd. and Gulfstream Ave. roundabouts also will enhance stormwater flow. The Gulfstream Ave. roundabout construction project will provide greater, much-needed relief to that area of the city that is flood prone with heavy rains. As part of the Gulfstream Ave. construction project, more drainage inlets will be added, the capacity of FDOT’s stormwater retention ponds will increase significantly, and water treatment within the retention ponds also will go up.  

In recent years, more than $2.5 million in City funds have gone toward studies, design and construction documents for the Gulfstream Ave. roundabout.  Over the course of the past 20 years, community leaders and engineering and transportation professionals have reaffirmed roundabouts at Gulfstream Ave. and Fruitville Rd. is the most effective way to reduce traffic congestion while connecting downtown to the Bayfront and boosting pedestrian safety. 

In the meantime, we continue to encourage everyone to consider traveling during off-peak hours if you can, monitor traffic apps and websites ( https://www.smarttrafficinfo.org/ provides real-time traffic camera views) and consider walking, biking and taking transit if possible.  
Whitaker Gateway Park – New Fishing Pier Open
The Parks and Recreation Department unveiled a new fishing pier this week at Whitaker Gateway Park, just off US 41 at 14 th St. Built in 1996, the aging pier met its match with the intensity of Hurricane Irma. The old pier was removed from Sarasota Bay and the new one installed, with FEMA funding almost 65 percent of the $49,500 project.

To ensure the new structure is able to withstand the harsh elements, including intense sun, salt and water, the new deck is made of long-lasting composite as well as durable materials, including stainless steel bolts.

Whether you’re an angler, sunset seeker or just wanting to take in a serene moment on our beautiful Sarasota Bay, we hope you enjoy this updated amenity in our Parks and Recreation District.
Utilities – Grant for Lift Station Generators
Great news to report for our Utilities infrastructure and ongoing operations! The City was notified recently by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity that we will receive up to $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recover funds. This federal grant funding, distributed through the state of Florida, is earmarked to help Hurricane Irma-impacted areas with infrastructure restoration and improvements. 

We will use the funds to procure three generators ahead of our master plan schedule for three wastewater lift stations in North Sarasota.  During a power outage, the generators will provide electricity to ensure sanitary sewer operations continue and prevent sewage spills.

Kudos to Cindy Emshoff, Interim General Manager for the Office of Housing and Community Development, who did the heavy lifting and coordinated closely with the Utilities Department to secure this grant. We appreciate the Department of Economic Opportunity for considering Sarasota for these important funds, which will further boost our efforts to provide safe and reliable wastewater service to our customers.
Credit Union Partnership – Open House/Car Sale
In keeping with the City’s strategic goal of expanding financial services within the north Sarasota community, we recently announced a new partnership with Manatee Community Federal Credit Union. The nonprofit financial institution has been certified by the U.S. Treasury to provide specialized credit and financial services to underserved areas, and it recently expanded its charter to serve residents of Sarasota.

Now as part of that forward-thinking collaboration – which has already received national media attention - the City and credit union will host an open house aimed at educating residents about the low-cost financial services available. The public can stop by the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 34 th St., anytime between 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, to meet with the team from the credit union and learn about new banking options open to residents of all credit levels.

The City and credit union will also team up to host an all-day car sale on March 14 at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. There, the public can browse a variety of certified, pre-owned vehicles from reputable area car dealers and work with the credit union’s auto adviser to negotiate a deal with a low-cost warranty and manageable monthly payments.

Residents can visit the Feb. 20 open house or stop by the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex during additional banking hours with the credit union from 3:30-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 or March 5 to learn more or to pre-qualify for a low-interest auto loan. Visit manateecfcu.org or call Rowena Elliott, the City’s Redevelopment Specialist, at 941-263-6284 for more information.

Our aim is to provide more opportunities to the unbanked, underbanked and underserved members of our community, and we hope that assisting them in securing reliable transportation through this initiative can lead to greater financial stability.
Crosswalk Art - Main Street
As we test the idea of displaying artwork on pedestrian crosswalks in downtown, crews with our Public Works Department painted the crosswalk in the 1500 block of Main Street near Smokin’ Joe’s during the wee hours Friday morning. 

The design is a simple display of vertical bars painted in a spectrum of colors symbolizing Sarasota as a welcoming community. Similar designs have been fabricated in crosswalks in cities around the country, and this one in downtown Sarasota is timely, with the thought provoking Embracing Our Differences art exhibit on display at nearby Bayfront Park through April 5.

As our special city on the cultural arts coast becomes more pedestrian-friendly, we’ll continue to explore creative uses of space, such as crosswalks, to engage and stimulate walkers. Let us know your thoughts at CityNews@SarasotaFL.Gov     
New crosswalk painting in the 1500 block of Main St.
Bobby Jones Golf Club - Albino Gator?
The nearly 300 acres that comprise our historic Bobby Jones Golf Club are so much more than a recreational space. It’s an important regional watershed that filters water from miles around, provides flood mitigation and also is a wildlife haven.  45 species of birds have been observed on the property, plus otters, raccoons, a bobcat and, of course, alligators. Now, we may have a unique visitor at Bobby Jones – possibly an albino alligator.

The gator in question was spotted in the pond by the #4 tee on the British Course and photographed by Mike McGorty, a volunteer. Check out the image to the right. What do you think? Perhaps our local wildlife experts have insight. If it’s not a true albino, it certainly is an interesting addition that makes Bobby Jones such a special place.

Earlier this week, the Parks, Recreation and Environmental Board, an advisory board appointed by the City Commission, recommended to move forward to preserve the entirety of Bobby Jones and work with the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast to create a conservation easement in perpetuity for this urban oasis. Board members also support more park space at Bobby Jones and renovating the course with 27 holes of golf, a driving range, practice area and new clubhouse.

The City Commission will continue its discussion about the future of Bobby Jones at its next regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 18, during the afternoon session starting at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Academy of St Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell
Saturday, Feb. 15

Mandy Patinkin in Concert
Sunday, Feb. 16

The Beach Boys
Tuesday, Feb. 18

Neil Berg's 111 Years of Broadway
Wednesday, Feb. 19

An Evening with Michael Feinstein Singing Gershwin
Tuesday, Feb. 20

John Fogerty
Friday, Feb. 21

Les Miserables
Feb. 26 - 28

Russian National Ballet: Cinderella
Tuesday, March 3

Celtic Woman
Wednesday, March 4

ABBA The Concert
Thursday, March 5

Georgia On My Mind: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles
Tuesday, March 8

Josh Groban
Monday, March 9

The Color Purple
Tuesday, March 10

Paul Anka Sings Sinatra
Monday, March 11

An American in Paris
Tuesday, 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

An Intimate Evening with David Foster: Hitman Tour Feat. Katherine McPhee
Sunday, March 22

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.  
 
For all upcoming events visit www.VanWezel.org

"Sarasota Scene"
Norm Schimmel