March 28, 2020
5:15 p.m.
Boat ramps to close March 29
City-by-city testing reports urged
Regional cooperation encouraged for safer at home order
City Manager Tom Barwin, in consultation with Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and City Attorney Robert Fournier, issued additional emergency directives today to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19:

  • 10th Street Boat Ramps and City Island Boat Ramps will close to the public at 6 a.m. Sunday, March 29.

  • Bird Key Park parking lot will close to the public at 6 a.m. Sunday, March 29.

In addition, the City believes it is essential for the Florida Department of Health to be transparent and report COVID-19 testing on a city-by-city basis, not just aggregated countywide data. The City strongly urges the state to immediately begin to report on a city-by-city basis with the aggregated data converted into a per capita analysis. Aggregated data on a countywide basis can be misleading for smaller counties under 500,000 in population.

The City also is encouraging county health departments along the Suncoast to work in unison to implement a safer at home order.

The local public health emergency will be evaluated weekly and extended as warranted.


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Closed:
Boat ramps (effective 6 a.m. March 29), parks facilities and amenities, including playgrounds, basketball courts and tennis courts are closed.

All City of Sarasota buildings are closed to the public. Most operations and services are continuing with staff working remotely and a limited number of employees on-site.

To conduct business with the City, please send inquiries via email . Contacts and email addresses are available on www.SarasotaFL.Gov . Or call: 941-263-6000 .

Open:

Fishing piers and outdoor spaces remain open to the public. Proper social distancing, as directed by the CDC, must be followed with no gatherings of 10 people or more.

The Sarasota Police Department is providing public safety services around the clock and will respond to emergency calls as usual. For other non-emergency calls, Chief DiPino has instituted a temporary Telephone Reporting Unit that will be operated by a sworn officer daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Van Wezel Schedule:

Staff are working diligently to reschedule performances at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Here's the most up-to-date information:

  • An American in Paris (March 16, 2020) – Canceled

  • The Choir of Man (March 17, 2020) – New date is January 28, 2021

  • John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russell: A Tribute to Nat King Cole and the Ladies of Song (March 18, 2020) – Canceled; The theater hopes to reschedule their performance when possible.

  • America (March 19, 2020) – New date to be announced

  • Harry Connick, Jr. True Love: An Intimate Performance (March 20, 2020) – Canceled

  • Itzhak Perlman in Recital (March 21, 2020) – New date is March 8, 2021

  • An Intimate Evening with David Foster: HITMAN Tour Featuring Special Guest Katharine McPhee (March 22, 2020) – New date is January 31, 2021

  • Up, Up and Away starring Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (March 24, 2020) – Canceled; The theater hopes to reschedule their performance when possible.

  • An Evening with Bruce Hornsby (March 29, 2020) – New date is November 17, 2020

  • The Pointer Sisters (April 2, 2020) – Canceled; The theater hopes to reschedule their performance when possible.

  • Jackie Evancho (April 3, 2020) – Canceled; The theater hopes to reschedule her performance when possible.

  • Terry Fator: It Starts Tonight (April 10, 2020) – New date is January 16, 2021

  • Reza: Edge of Illusion (April 11, 2020) – New date is January 25, 2021

  • Johnny Mathis – The Voice of Romance Tour (April 16, 2020) – New date is April 14, 2021

  • An Evening with Chris Botti (April 19, 2020) – New date is March 14, 2021

  • A Bronx Tale (April 21-22, 2020) – Canceled

  • Brian Culbertson (April 23, 2020) – Canceled

  • Come From Away (April 28-May 3, 2020) – Still as scheduled

  • One Night of Queen (May 6, 2020) – New date is May 15, 2021

  • The Bachelor Live On Stage (May 7, 2020) – Canceled


For updates and more information, visit www.VanWezel.org
City buildings are now closed to the public. Please request services online at www.SarasotaFL.Gov or via the following phone numbers:
Building Permits
941-263-6455

City Commission Office
941-263-6412

City Manager Office
941-263-6402

Code Compliance
941-954-4125

Development Services
 941-263-6449

Economic Development
941-263-6280
Parking Division
941-263-6475

Parks & Recreation
941-263-6758

Sarasota Police - Front Desk
941-263-6025

Solid Waste/Garbage Collection
941-263-6170

Van Wezel - Box Office
941-263-6799

Water Billing
941-263-6260; 941-263-6261
For questions regarding Sarasota County services including SCAT, please contact the Sarasota County Contact Center: 941-861-5000.

With so many businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19, resources for small business owners and employees are becoming available:
Sarasota County Health Dept. : 941-861-2883 (M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)

Florida Dept. of Health: 1-866-779-6121 (24 hours/7 days a week)