Regular Sarasota City Commission Meeting – April 21, 2025

The Sarasota City Commission held a regular meeting on April 21, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 11:04 AM. The meeting included a scheduled presentation on Sarasota Bay health, public comments on various topics, approval of financial reports, a legislative public hearing on utility fees, a request to fly the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, and commissioner discussions on parking and the City Manager search. Key actions included continuation of the Obsidian appeal, unanimous passage of Ordinance No. 25-5564 on first reading, authorization to fly the Pride flag, and direction to staff to study parking plans for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center (SPAC), The Bay Park, and the Rosemary District.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of March 17, 2025: Approved unanimously (5–0) with a substantive correction. (9:43 AM)
• Community Redevelopment Agency Minutes (Dec. 2, 2024): Approved unanimously. (CRA session)
• CRA Financial Statements (FYE Sept. 30, 2024): Accepted and approved; presentation by Kelly Strickland and Jeff Wolf (Forvis Mazars) confirmed a clean audit with no findings. (CRA session)
• Consent Agenda No. 1 – Items Remaining (VI.2 and VI.3): Approved unanimously. Item VI.1 was pulled for presentation. (9:51 AM)
  • VI.2: Agreement with W.W. Grainger Inc. for facilities supplies (est. $250,000/yr).
  • VI.3: Change Order No. 1 for Downtown Wells Rehabilitations ($106,895.50).
• Consent Agenda No. 2 – Item VII.1 (Resolution 25R-3326): Pulled for presentation, then approved unanimously (5–0) by roll call. Establishes $17,160,907 in hurricane-related appropriations (Helene and Milton) with expected FEMA reimbursement of 75–85%. (10:08 AM)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizens' Input (9:33 AM): Three speakers addressed topics not on the consent agenda or public hearings:
  • Nancy Parrish (former Ringling Museum board chair): Opposed a proposed state budget transfer of the Ringling Museum and USF Sarasota Manatee campus to New College, citing financial risks and lack of transparency. Urged commission to engage state leaders.
  • Laurel Korberg (Central Coconut Neighborhood Association president, speaking personally): Expressed caution on the SPAC budget, noting hurricane recovery costs and federal uncertainty. Suggested the timing may not be appropriate.
  • Jose Fernandez (Sarasota resident): Spoke on the continued Obsidian project (1260 North Palm), opposing it as a non-conforming project that manipulates code and staff approvals. Urged the commission to reject it at the May 13 hearing.
• Legislative Public Hearing (Ordinance 25-5564): Three speakers opposed the ordinance:
  • Martin Hyde: Argued it is a regressive tax on low-income residents, noting the city already has the highest water rates in the region and has imposed cumulative rate increases.
  • Kevin Burke: Questioned the "convenience fee" label, stating credit card processing is a normal cost of business and should not be passed to customers. Warned of future fee escalation.
  • John Lancaster (via Zoom): Opposed privatization and loss of accountability, criticized hearing timing (day after Easter), and urged further public engagement.
• New Business – Pride Flag Request: One public comment in support: Catherine Norman (city resident) praised the flag display as representing the city's culture, arts, and diversity.

Discussion Items

• Scheduled Presentation – Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (9:05 AM): David Tomasko, Executive Director, presented on water quality improvements, seagrass recovery (nearly 2,000 acres gained), and nitrogen load reductions (22% decrease, exceeding the 12-ton/year target). He highlighted $300 million in wastewater/stormwater upgrades, the city's high-quality effluent, and the importance of continuing projects (e.g., MLK Park living shoreline, downtown boardwalk). Commissioners discussed the role of climate change, stormwater retrofits, and the need to eliminate wastewater discharges into the bay.
• Item VI.1 – Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (9:54 AM): Kelly Strickland and Jeff Wolf presented the FY2024 audit, noting an unmodified opinion, clean reports on internal controls and compliance, and a favorable $13 million budget variance. The city's current ratio (governmental activities: 9.6) and unassigned fund balance (18.4% of expenditures after hurricane adjustments) were discussed. Commissioner Ahearn-Koch stressed the need to rebuild reserves before hurricane season.
• Item VII.1 – Hurricane Budget Amendment (10:03 AM): Kelly Strickland presented the resolution to appropriate $17.2 million (expended/encumbered to date) for Hurricanes Helene and Milton, with $7.7 million FEMA advance received. The amendment reduces the fund balance from 28.7% to 18.4% of budgeted expenditures. Commissioner Ahearn-Koch noted the importance of healthy reserves and the flexibility provided by previous reserves.
• Legislative Public Hearing – Ordinance 25-5564 (10:08 AM): Mark Nicholas (Utilities) explained the ordinance moves and clarifies existing language on authority to collect third-party fees (e.g., credit card transaction costs). It does not change current rates; a separate future item will address shifting from an "absorbed model" to a "convenience fee model" for credit card payments. Commissioners discussed transparency and the option to avoid fees (e.g., ACH, check, in-person payment). The public hearing was closed, and the ordinance passed 5–0 on first reading.
• New Business – LGBTQ+ Pride Flag (10:33 AM): Shannon Fortner (Fabulous Arts Foundation) requested the flag be flown May 5–12, 2025. Commissioner Trice expressed concern about future flag requests during Pride Month but received assurance from the city attorney that the 30-day annual limit allows additional displays. Motion passed unanimously.
• Commissioner Remarks – Parking Study (10:42 AM): Commissioner Ohlrich requested staff to determine three alternative parking plans for SPAC, The Bay Park, and the Rosemary District, including locations, funding sources, designs, costs (acquisition, construction, maintenance), and mobility options (circulator/trolley). Interim City Manager Jeffcoat asked for direction on timeline and budget. The commission reached consensus to direct staff to return with a proposed cost and timeline for such a study.
• Commissioner Remarks – City Manager Search (10:48 AM): Commissioner Ahearn-Koch advocated reopening the applicant pool for two weeks, noting qualified local candidates may not have applied due to strict criteria. Other commissioners disagreed, citing the advanced stage of the process and differing criteria. The city auditor and clerk cautioned that reopening would restart the process, which was not noticed for action. No consensus was reached; Commissioner Ahearn-Koch indicated she would place the matter on a future agenda.

Key Outcomes

• Continuance of Obsidian Appeal (XI.1): Continued to May 13, 2025 at 9:00 AM due to a notice issue. (5–0 vote)
• Approval of Minutes (March 17, 2025) : Approved with one substantive correction. (5–0)
• CRA Financial Statements: Accepted and approved as presented. (5–0)
• Consent Agenda No. 1 (Items VI.2, VI.3) : Approved without discussion. (5–0)
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (VI.1) : Approved following presentation. (5–0)
• Resolution 25R-3326 (Hurricane Budget Amendment) : Approved by roll call. (5–0)
• Ordinance 25-5564 (Utility Fee Authority) : Passed on first reading. (5–0)
• LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Display: Authorized for May 5–12, 2025. (5–0)
• Parking Study Direction: Interim City Manager directed to return with cost and timeline proposal for a study of three parking plans for SPAC, The Bay Park, and Rosemary District. (Commission consensus)
• City Manager Search: No action taken; topic to be placed on a future agenda for discussion.