from the desk of:
Tom Barwin
Sarasota City Manager
April 24, 2020
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In this edition, we provide an update on Lido Beach and why the continued presence of positive COVID-19 cases in our community will keep the beach safely closed for a while longer. Also, we're rolling out a
short survey
to gauge the community about reopening businesses and what that may look like. Details 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
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City Commission
Mon., May 4 - 1:30 p.m.
City Hall - Teleconference
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The highest concentrations of positive COVID-19 cases are located in Sarasota’s urban core and the number of positive results continues to climb, which is why
Lido Beach will remain temporarily closed
while other public beaches throughout the county will open with limited access next week.
We are being guided by science and sound data in consultation with local public health experts, and we’re being advised it is too early for our city to begin reopening.
North Sarasota Testing Site Scheduled - April 28
As we continue to see positive cases in the northern part of the county, the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County will offer a third round of COVID-19 testing in North Sarasota next Tues., April 28 for residents with symptoms or those working in the health care field.
As with the previous testing opportunities at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, you must have an appointment. To be evaluated for an appointment, please call 941-861-2883 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The CDC and trusted national authorities on COVID-19 advise that there should be two weeks of sustained reductions in the number of daily cases before considering lessening social restrictions. It’s important to note that Governor DeSantis’ “Safer at Home” executive order, directing Floridians to stay home as much as possible, remains in effect. A recent Quinnipac University poll, as reported in the
Herald-Tribune
this week, showed that 72 percent of Floridians do not want the social distancing rules to be loosened prematurely.
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Business Recovery Survey
As we continue to respond to the public health emergency, our Economic Development team has ramped up and is assessing viable ways to support the reopening of restaurants, retail stores, personal services and recreation in a logical, safe manner.
We'd like your thoughts regarding restoring the public and economic health of our local community. You can help by completing this brief four-question survey:
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Building Permit Fees - Special COVID-19 Waiver
A new emergency order issued today will allow building permit fees to be waived for established businesses that make building improvements to adapt to the COVID-19 health concerns during the recovery period. For example, there would be no fees for a business owner who wants to modify their building for enhanced social distancing by moving a wall or perhaps improving an air filtration system. Similar waivers have been implemented during a hurricane or tropical storm recovery period.
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While there’s light pedestrian traffic in downtown, it’s a good time for crews to deep clean the heavily used sidewalks to remove built up dirt and grime. Along Main Street from US 301 to Gulfstream Ave. and Lemon Ave. between First and State Streets, crews pressure washed the pedestrian walkways this week as we prepare to cautiously reopen when the health experts tell us it's safe to shop, dine and resume our normal business activities.
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EDC – Small Business Resiliency Loan Program
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After finalizing the eligibility requirements to apply for a Small Business Resiliency Loan, the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County plans to open the application process on Mon., April 27. You're encouraged to submit just as soon as the process opens.
Eligible businesses must have under 50 full time employees and be registered with the Sarasota County Tax Collector for at least three years as of Feb. 15, 2020.
Under the loan program, businesses may be eligible for up $25,000 which must be used for operating costs including payroll, materials/supplies, utilities, rent/mortgage, insurance and marketing.
With limited funds of $4.3 million for the program, interested business owners are urged to apply as soon as possible beginning Monday morning.
More information about the program is available on the
EDC website
.
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US 41-Fruitville Rd. - Upcoming Lane and Road Closures
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Crews working on the US 41-Fruitville Rd. roundabout have rearranged their work schedule to complete some aspects of the construction while traffic is lighter during the pandemic. The work will require Fruitville Rd. to be closed and nighttime lane closures on US 41.
Here's the planned schedule:
- Fruitville Rd. Closure: The eastbound lanes will be closed from Cocoanut Ave. to US 41 from April 26 at 6 p.m. to the morning of May 1.
- US 41 Nighttime Lane Closures:
- April 26-27: One traffic lane only with a flag person directing movement
- April 27 - May 1: Reduced to single lanes in either direction
The nighttime lane closures will be in effect on US 41 between N. Palm Ave. and Boulevard of the Arts.
We appreciate the construction crew modifying their schedule to make the best use of the current situation. And thanks to all involved for working diligently to communicate with residents in the vicinity about these temporary traffic impacts.
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Earth Day - 50th Anniversary Virtual Celebration
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While we couldn’t celebrate Earth Day in person as we have in years past with a festive lunchtime event downtown, we commemorated this significant day in a manner reflective of the time – a virtual get together.
With our lives suddenly upended, our Sustainability Manager asked the community to consider how these changes have impacted our thoughts about sustainability -- whether it's the food supply chain, recycling, composting or simply enjoying being outdoors for some much needed light exercise. What’s on your mind about Mother Earth?
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Earth Day - Parks & Recreation Contests
The kids and grandkids were asked to participate in the Earth Day fun with four virtual contests hosted by our Parks and Recreation District. The contests encouraged families to create r
ecycled sculptures
,
Earth Day posters
, and get involved with questions and answers about r
ecycling
and
sustainability.
The City's Sustainability team was honored to serve as special guest judges for the contests, which had many thoughtful and creative entries. Selected winners received a fun basket filled with prizes. Congratulations to all the participants!
And the winners are....
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Earth Day Poster Winners:
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Recycle Sculpture Winners:
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14 & Under Category
Kayden - Age 7
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Family Category
Cooper - Age 5 & Alexis - Age 11
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Q&A Recycling Contest Winner
Q - What is one way you can recycle?
A - "I will put old drawings in the recycling bin, but no pizza box or plants!" - Jasper, age 4
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Q&A Sustainability Contest Winner
Q - What is one way you can give back to the Earth?
A - "Some ways to give back to the earth are ride a bike or walk to work, recycle, reuse old things in your home instead of throwing them away, compost, reduce how much you buy and consume, and use natural power from things like the sun, windmills or rivers." - Mason, age 12
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Sustainability - WaterGoat
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As part of our ongoing commitment to improving water quality and the health of our local environment, the City of Sarasota recently installed a device called a WaterGoat to help prevent floatable trash from entering Sarasota Bay.
WaterGoats – cleverly named after goats and their propensity for eating trash – trap floatable pollution in a net that is strung across a body of water. As the trash accumulates, it is easily removed with a dip net and disposed of.
Our Sustainability team worked with Florida-based company
WaterGoat, LLC
, to design the device specific to the site on the west side of Sarasota High School, where it is expected to divert thousands of pounds of trash from entering Sarasota Bay over its lifetime. It was installed in coordination with the Stormwater staff from Sarasota County, which has
also purchased WaterGoats for other locations in the region
.
The City’s WaterGoat was purchased with funds received from The Recycling Partnership as part of their Coastal Recycling Grant, the same one that funded the new residential recycling bins and a few public space recycling bins downtown.
What’s also exciting about this project is our partnership with Sarasota High School students, who will be working with staff to maintain the device, remove trash and record how many pounds are collected, with that data to be posted on our
Sustainability website
. Students will also use the data to study pollution in our local waterways.
Kudos to our staff for their work on this collaborative partnership that will keep the bay clean and healthy.
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"Sarasota Scene"
Norm Schimmel
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