Special City Commission Meeting of February 10, 2026: City Manager Semi-Finalist Selection
Special City Commission Meeting of February 10, 2026
Summary
The Sarasota City Commission held a special meeting on February 10, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 3:19 PM to discuss and select six finalists for the city manager position from a pool of 38 semi-finalists. After extensive deliberation, including a straw poll, discussion of candidates, and ranked-choice voting, the commission narrowed the list to six finalists. They also approved funding for travel for finalists and a plus-one, and appointed an interim city manager.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Martin Hyde (non-city resident): Spoke twice. First, he criticized the city's $7.1 million land purchase made 20 months ago, stating it has cost the city $500,000 in lost interest income and is costing $25,000 per month. He displayed a stuffed camel as a "proverbial horse designed by committee" and urged the city to exit the development business. Second, he questioned why the commission would hire a new city manager when the former permanent city manager is still acting as an unofficial city manager, presenting text messages between commissioners and staff as evidence. He argued the former manager is still influencing decisions.
Discussion Items
- City Manager Semi-Finalist Candidates (Agenda Item II.1):
- Warren Hutmacher of Sumter Local Government Consulting (the search firm) presented the process. He noted that 38 candidates were interviewed (4 withdrew from the original 42). The firm recommended six finalists but emphasized the commission's choice. Commissioners discussed the difficulty of narrowing from 38 to 6.
- Commissioners shared their individual ranking processes. Some used tiers (e.g., group one/two/three), while others ranked by stars or gut instinct. Many expressed a desire for more direct interaction (phone/Zoom interviews) before finalizing the list.
- Commissioner Ahearn-Koch proposed postponing the finalist selection to allow commissioners to arrange Zoom/telephone interviews with the 10 candidates remaining after an initial straw poll. This motion failed 2-3 (Mayor Trice, Vice Mayor Ohlrich, Commissioner Alpert voting no).
- A motion to use a simple vote for six candidates (without ranking) died for lack of a second. Subsequently, a motion to use ranked-choice voting passed 4-1 (Commissioner Ahearn-Koch voting no).
- Each commissioner verbally ranked their top six candidates. The tallies were compiled and announced.
- Phase 4 and 5 Planning: Hutmacher outlined the schedule for in-person finalist interviews on February 23-24, 2026, including one-on-one commissioner interviews (up to 1 hour each), a leadership team session, a public open house (5:30-8:00 PM on Feb. 23), a city tour on Feb. 24, and a special commission meeting for finalist group interviews (starting at 11:00 AM on Feb. 24). The commission discussed allowing candidates to bring a spouse/partner.
- Commissioner Ahearn-Koch expressed reluctance about paying for a plus-one but ultimately the motion to fund travel for finalists plus one passed 4-1 (Commissioner Ahearn-Koch voting no).
- The commission unanimously approved Phase 4 and Phase 5 (selection, conditional offer, contract negotiation) with the discussed changes.
- Other Matters (Agenda Item III):
- Interim City Manager Appointment: Interim City Manager Dave Bullock recommended appointing Governmental Affairs Director Jennifer Jorgensen as Interim City Manager upon his departure on March 6, 2026. The commission unanimously approved the appointment and directed the City Attorney's office to draft a contract.
- Condolences: Commissioner Battie acknowledged the passing of Cindy Shoffstall, wife of Carl Shoffstall, and extended condolences.
Key Outcomes
- Finalist Selection: The commission selected the following six candidates as finalists for the city manager position (approved 5-0):
- Harry Black
- Chris Rodriguez
- Kemarr Brown
- Troy Anderson
- Tim Gleason
- Kari Friling
- Travel Funding: Approved funding for travel arrangements (airfare, hotel, meals) for the six finalists and a plus-one (spouse or partner) to visit Sarasota on February 23-24, 2026. (Motion passed 4-1)
- Interview Schedule: Approved Phase 4 (In-Person Finalist Interviews) and Phase 5 (Selection, Conditional Offer, Contract Negotiation) as discussed, including a special meeting on February 27, 2026 to select the preferred candidate. (Motion passed 5-0)
- Interim City Manager: Appointed Jennifer Jorgensen as Interim City Manager effective March 6, 2026, with a contract to be drafted by the City Attorney. (Motion passed 5-0)
- Straw Poll Results (Pre-Ranked Choice): Initial straw poll tallies (before final ranked-choice) included: Harry Black (5 votes), Chris Rodriguez (5 after addition), Kamar Brown (4), Troy Anderson (4), Randy Robertson (4), Tim Gleason (3), Peter Scalera (3), Karie Friling (3), Emilie LaGrow (3), Tony Palermo (3). These were later narrowed via ranked-choice voting.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. I'd like to call this special meeting of the February tenth city commission to order. And first we will have the invocation by the city auditor and clerk Bruce. I think it's a flag of the United States of America. Thank you. Are there any changes to the order of the day? No, Mayor. Okay, may I have approval of the agenda? Move to approve. Second. Moved by the Vice Mayor, seconded by Commissioner Batte. We're gonna do this vote. Yes, this is working today. Commissioner Alper, could you hit your button for me one more time? Hitch a button for me again. I don't know if you hit it or not. Thank you. Thank you. The vote is unanimous. Thank you very much. And the uh agenda is accepted. Um at this point, I'm going to ask the clerk to recite the pledge of public conduct. Thank you, Mayor. We may disagree, but we will be respectful to one another. We will direct all comments to issues. We will not engage in personal attacks. Okay, thank you. And now we will uh have uh comments by the public and the per uh we only have one person at this point who's requested to speak. Martin Hyde, would you join us? Um, Martin, do you need to overhead? Not for this one. Okay. Uh that'll be fun, but no, you uh you stay there. This is my better slide anyway. So that is my better side. So uh I uh remain Martin Hyde. I uh still don't live in the city looking after my mother there. Um I'm here with uh my friend here uh to talk briefly about the 7.1 million dollar land purchase you made 20 months ago, which has cost this city five hundred thousand dollars in lost interest income, which is building at twenty-five thousand dollars per month. You purchased uh this uh land with a uh business plan, which you may recall I described at the time as a financial suicide note. Here we are today with a uh financial chalk line around the remains of 7.1 million dollars in taxpayers' money. The uh foundation money that was earnestly guaranteed and promised, hasn't materialized, neither has a plan or a design. Panic stations, thrashing around in the uh financial quicksand, hastening the uh demise instead of cutting your losses. We are now told that the city is reviewing an unsolicited bid from a company who's never built a high rise, who want a further seven million dollars from the city, and to keep all the rental income for 30 years to save those of you that aren't financially literate. That's effectively 72 million dollars out of taxpayers' pockets over 30 years. Their resume includes conversion of a motel on 41 into so-called efficiencies with no kitchens. And uh I thought therefore I I I'd bring this as a reminder, please accept it uh as camel mascot uh with my compliments to represent the proverbial horse designed by committee, uh, which deal clearly is simply put. It's time to get out of the development business and to get back into the business of city governance. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Hyde.
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