Regular City Commission Meeting of September 15, 2025

The Sarasota City Commission met on September 15, 2025, at 9:00 AM. The meeting included approval of routine consent items, legislative public hearings, a quasi-judicial hearing for a Habitat for Humanity townhome development, an appeal of the Planning Board's Selby Botanical Gardens decision, presentation of annual intersection and school zone safety reports, and discussions on state legislative priorities and the strategic planning process.

Consent Calendar

• Items on Consent Agenda No. 1 (Items VI.3–VI.6) were approved 5-0: First Amendment to Hostetler Lawncare agreement, Level 3 Communications/TelCove renewal, Ajax Paving contract, and utilities easement with BPOZ 1991 Main.
• Items on Consent Agenda No. 2 (Resolutions 25R-3352, 25R-3353, 25R-3354) were approved 5-0: budget amendments for law enforcement trust fund ($135,000), donations fund ($6,250), and drone replacement program ($50,000).
• Two items were pulled from Consent Agenda No. 1: Item VI.1 (opioid settlement) and Item VI.2 (Sarasota Bay Estuary Program lease extension); both were approved 5-0 after presentations.
• Item VII.4 (Smart City Initiative Resolution 25R-3355) was pulled and approved 5-0 after clarification of $1 million grant with city match.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Citizens' Input (Morning): Kelly Brown, representing the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations (CCNA), spoke in support of the pending sound ordinance update and urged the Commission to expedite the process.
• Selby Garden Appeal: Appellant Kelly Franklin testified for 15 minutes arguing that the site plan violates the city's grand tree ordinance and that she would suffer greater harm than the general public due to her daily kayaking and bird photography adjacent to the site. Catherine Antunes supported the appeal, stating that Selby must comply with the grand tree ordinance and that the planning board lacked the former arborist's report. Morgan Bentley, a Selby trustee, argued that the standing test is strict and that Franklin did not meet it.

Discussion Items

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the August 11, 2025 Special Meeting and August 18, 2025 Regular Meeting were approved 5-0. Commissioner Ahearn-Koch noted a discrepancy in the wording of a motion from the August 18 meeting regarding the Purple Ribbon Committee, emphasizing the need for clear motions.
• Legislative Public Hearings:
  • Resolution 25R-3346 (Sarasota County Agricultural Fairgrounds public purpose) was adopted 5-0 without debate.
  • Ordinance 25-5578 (Table of Organization for FY 2025-2026) was adopted 5-0 after a citizen comment objected to the removal of "Neighborhood" from department names. Commissioner Ahearn-Koch expressed concern that the chart does not clearly show Charter Officials report to the Commission and that Sustainability, Historic Preservation, and the City Arborist should not be under Planning.
• Quasi-Judicial Public Hearing (Habitat for Humanity): Ordinance 25-5580 to rezone 1.35 acres at 351 N. Rhodes Ave. from Office Regional District to Urban Mixed-Use #1, and site plan for 17 single-family attached townhomes, was approved 5-0. Final Subdivision Plat was also approved 5-0. The project will provide affordable housing with deed restrictions for owner occupancy. Commissioners discussed drainage, tree preservation (removing 150 trees with mitigation), and design.
• New Business – State Legislative Report: Todd Jasko (Ballard Partners) and Jennifer Jorgensen presented the 2025 end-of-session report and draft 2026 priorities. Highlights included $7 million in state appropriations (citywide coastal resilience and Van Wezel), concerns over SB 180's broad interpretation impacting local land-use, and property tax reform. The Commission discussed sovereign immunity caps, local business tax, and affordable housing. No action taken; priorities will be finalized at a future meeting.
• New Business – Selby Gardens Appeal: The Commission held a hearing to determine if appellant Kelly Franklin qualified as an aggrieved person (as defined in Section 2-201 of the city code) to appeal the Planning Board's approval of Site Plan 25-SP-09. After arguments, a motion to deny aggrieved person status passed 4-1 (Commissioner Ahearn-Koch voting no). The Commission majority found that Franklin did not demonstrate she would suffer an adverse effect to a legally protected interest to a greater degree than the general public. The appeal was dismissed.
• New Business – Strategic Planning Process: Vice Mayor Trice led a discussion on the need for a formal strategic plan with SMART goals, possibly facilitated by an expert. The consensus was to schedule a workshop with the current facilitator to refine the project list and re-engage the process. Interim City Manager Bullock noted the timing is ideal with a new city manager arriving.
• New Business – Intersection Safety Program 2024 Annual Report: Presented by SPD Crime Analyst Monica Galeano-Bush and Commander John Lake. Statistics: 25,861 violations issued, 67 contested (60 upheld), $1.73 million to state, $1.56 million to city. Report accepted 5-0.
• New Business – School Zone Safety Program 2024 Annual Report: Presented by SPD. Program started January 6, 2025; 23,459 violations issued, 52 contested (22 upheld). Red light camera violations down 34%; school zone speed violations down 60%. Report accepted 5-0.
• Remarks of Commissioners: Topics included: (Ohlrich) Update on sound ordinance – City Attorney Polzak will bring an acoustic expert for evidence-based revision; concern about "neighborhood" being removed from city documents; discussion on Alderman Oaks rezone pull due to traffic study ambiguity. (Ahearn-Koch) Update on Tourist Development Council (25% of county bed tax from city); Sarasota Bay Estuary Program – new executive director selected, seagrass up 19% (80 million new fish); Newtown CRA events; Park East neighborhood meeting low attendance; suggestion to encourage construction notices. (Vice Mayor Trice) Noted difficulties with Sunshine Law when multiple commissioners attend neighborhood meetings and urged clarity. (Battie) Update on Newtown corridor revitalization – stakeholder meetings underway, 3D renderings being developed, potential for mixed-use development with attainable housing. (Mayor Alpert) Raised safety concerns on US 41 (Boulevard of the Arts to 10th Street) and suggested FDOT coordination; announced passing of Booker High School Coach Fred Gilmore.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved (Special 8/11/25 and Regular 8/18/25) – 5-0 each.
• Consent Agenda items (except those pulled) approved 5-0.
• Item VI.1 (Opioid settlements) approved 5-0.
• Item VI.2 (Sarasota Bay Estuary Program lease) approved 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-3352, 3353, 3354 approved 5-0 (budget amendments).
• Resolution 25R-3355 (Smart City Initiative) approved 5-0.
• Resolution 25R-3346 (Fairgrounds public purpose) adopted 5-0 on first reading.
• Ordinance 25-5578 (Table of Organization) adopted 5-0 on first reading.
• Ordinance 25-5580 (Rezone and site plan for Habitat townhomes) adopted 5-0; Final Subdivision Plat approved 5-0.
• Appeal (Selby Gardens): Motion to deny aggrieved person status passed 4-1 (Ahearn-Koch opposed); appeal dismissed.
• Intersection Safety Program report accepted 5-0.
• School Zone Safety Program report accepted 5-0.
• Strategic Planning: Staff directed to schedule a workshop with facilitator to refine project list.
• City Attorney will bring forward: Procurement Code revision, Lido Beach ordinance report, sound ordinance with expert analysis, and development application code revisions.
• City Auditor and Clerk reminded Commission of upcoming meetings: Special Meeting at 5:30 PM today, Robert's Rules workshop on October 14, and Special Meeting on September 16 at 1:00 PM.