OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Sarasota City Commission Regular Meeting – April 6, 2026

City Commission — Monday, April 6, 2026
BodySarasota, Florida
SessionCity Commission
DateMonday, April 6, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:43:31

Transcript — Verbatim
27:30

Good morning.

27:32

Welcome to the first regular city commission meeting of April of twenty twenty-six.

27:39

Um and we will start off with um the invocation by Ms.

27:45

Greeks.

27:46

Thank you.

27:47

Those who can stand, please stand.

27:54

Heavenly Father, we affirm our faith in thee, we seek your device from wisdom and guidance in the deliberations that affect the lives of each of the citizens of our community.

28:02

In that name we pray, Amen.

28:04

And Vice Mayor, will you lead us in the pledge?

28:27

Are there any changes to the order of the day?

28:31

Ms.

28:32

Griggs, any changes to the order of the day?

28:34

No, mayor, sorry, thank you.

28:37

May I then have a motion to accept the um today's agenda?

28:43

Second.

28:44

Okay, moved by Commissioner Batti, seconded by Commissioner Ahern Kutch.

28:56

Passed unanimously, thank you very much.

29:03

So if you will join me out front, our first presentation is uh has to do with the Child Protection Center.

29:34

So if there are representatives from that organization, please join me.

29:40

Thank you.

29:42

Um so this is the proclamation, whereas child abuse and neglect are complex and continuing problems in our society, affecting over three million children annually nationwide, and whereas there is no test of the society more important than the status and treatment of its children.

30:05

Whereas the Child Protection Center works to prevent child abuse and to protect and treat children affected by child abuse with the hope of creating a community in which every child is free and safe from child abuse and urges all citizens to be aware of and involved with the local and national programs which provide ongoing protection of our children.

30:33

Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community, takes great pride in recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, a month of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the residents of the City of Sarasota.

30:56

Congratulations and thank you for the work that your organization does.

31:01

And would you like to say a few words?

31:03

Sure.

31:04

On behalf of the staff at the Child Protection Center, the clients we serve, and our board of directors, I want to thank you for proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

31:13

We couldn't do what we do without the support of our entire community.

31:17

So thank you.

31:18

If you want to learn more about what we do at the Child Protection Center, you can always visit our website at WWW.cpc Sarasota.org.

31:26

But thank you.

31:26

Wonderful.

31:27

And we have some photo up.

31:31

And first let me thank you.

31:33

And let the commissioners come.

31:39

Thank you.

32:03

Thank you.

32:04

Thank you.

32:04

Thank you.

32:13

And the next one is National Crime Victims Rights Week.

32:19

Is there someone representing SPD?

32:28

Wonderful.

32:30

Whereas there are more than twelve thousand system and community-based victim services programs across the nation that help crime survivors and promote community safety and over thirty-two thousand laws that define and protect victims' rights.

32:50

And whereas 2026 is the forty-fifth anniversary of National Crime Victims Rights Week, first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981.

33:02

And whereas this time-honored tradition unites all who care about crime victimization and survivors to acknowledge and honor survivors, their challenges, and their strengths.

33:16

And whereas during the 2026 National Crime Victims Rights Week, we recommit to promoting and strengthening the extensive community that supports and serves victims and survivors of crime.

33:32

Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community takes great pride in recognizing the week of April 19th through 25th as National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a week of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the residents of the City of Sarasota.

33:58

And thank you very much.

34:01

And would you like to say a few words?

34:03

Sure.

34:04

Thank you.

34:04

Good morning.

34:05

On behalf of Sarasota County Victim Advisory Council, I'd like to thank the Commission, City of Sarasota for proclaiming this month.

34:13

This week, April 19th through 25th, as National Crime Victims Rights Week.

34:18

We also have a 5K one run slash walk.

34:22

I could put a couple flyers in the back for anybody interested.

34:25

It will be held on April 24th, 8 a.m.

34:27

at Roth and Bach Park, and we'd love to see anybody who's interested in coming out and supporting crime victims in the movement on that date.

34:35

Thank you so much.

34:37

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████30%
Affordable Housing████████████████████20%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Procurement Process█████████9%
Public Safety████████8%
Economic Development████████8%
Community Engagement███3%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Procurement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Sarasota City Commission Regular Meeting – April 6, 2026

The Sarasota City Commission held a regular meeting on April 6, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:16 PM. All five commissioners were present: Mayor Debbie Trice, Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich, Commissioners Jen Ahearn-Koch, Liz Alpert, and Kyle Scott Battie. The meeting opened with proclamations recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and April 19–25, 2026 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approved (5-0): Special meeting of February 27, 2026; Regular meeting of March 2, 2026 (with non-substantive changes); Special meeting of March 5, 2026.
  • Consent Agenda No. 1 (Items 1, 2, 4, 5) approved (5-0): Pre-annexation agreement (3029 Hawthorne Street); Emergency purchase order for Jay's Fencing; Agreements with County Property Appraiser/Tax Collector for St. Armands/Lido Key assessment district and South Poinsettia Park lighting district.
  • Consent Agenda No. 2 (Items 1–4) approved (5-0): Budget amendments: $1,265,000 for Van Wezel improvements; $175,000 each for New Pass/Big Sarasota Pass Project; $38,105 for mooring field hurricane repairs; $38,000 for police department donations.
  • Item 7.5 (Scrivener's Error) approved with additional correction (5-0): Resolution 26R-3388 corrected a legal description error plus an additional comma placement error.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Martin Hyde (non-city resident) provided white flags to commissioners, criticizing recent approval of a $300,000+ city manager contract and warning that the city risks layoffs similar to the School Board's announced 250 job cuts. He also questioned the vehicle replacement policy and suggested using credit lines instead of cash.
  • Flo Entler (city resident) displayed a decibel-limit comparison chart, urging a simple, enforce-a-sound threshold (e.g., 65 dB or plainly audible standard) at all times and places, stating the police cannot protect without the right tools.
  • Jim Lampl (city resident) stated the noise ordinance has been delayed for three or four years and that the pledge of public conduct is being used to suppress First Amendment rights, calling for immediate changes.
  • John Simon (city resident) described “sound chaos downtown” from loud vehicles and DJs, urging a plainly audible standard without waiting for a study.
  • John Bordeaux (downtown resident) recommended a 65 dB daytime sound limit, noting most Florida cities use that or lower.
  • Celine O'Connor (Lido Key resident) urged the city to acquire Ted Sperling Park from the county to eliminate jurisdictional headaches.
  • Scott Eller and Marcus Davis (both with Blue Sky Communities) thanked the commission for its vision in pursuing affordable housing downtown.
  • Mark Ven Groff (One Stop Housing) described an unsolicited bid for the 1st Street project with 150 units at 60–80% AMI, asking for an opportunity to present.
  • John Harshman (commercial real estate broker, 45 years) cautioned that the 1st Street site was selected emotionally, that development costs escalate above five stories, and that two years without progress indicates problems.

Discussion Items

  • Newtown CRA Advisory Board Annual Report: Vice Chair Carlos Yancey and staff presented priorities including sidewalk connectivity, MLK corridor redevelopment, legacy trail extension, home painting program (28 homes completed), business incubator pilot, and the planned annual Taste of Newtown event. The report was accepted (5-0). Charles Walker was appointed to fill a board vacancy (5-0).
  • Vehicle Replacements (Item VI-3): Item was pulled from Consent Agenda. Police staff explained the request for a $2,000,000 purchase order through CIP, noting that vehicles are kept longer (pursuit 8 years, non-pursuit 12–13 years) and that some 29-year-old vehicles must be replaced. The motion was amended to limit the purchase order to $2,000,000 from CIP only, with no general fund use without commission approval. Passed 5-0.
  • 1st Street Workforce Attainable Housing Initiative Update: Economic Development Manager Wayne Applebee reported on progress since 2024: property purchased, foundations not ready to commit, and a non-binding Letter of Intent signed with the First Street Credit Union for exclusive negotiations. Staff recommended hiring a real estate consultant to help define commission objectives before issuing a developer solicitation. The presentation was accepted (5-0). A motion to direct staff to move forward with an Option Agreement for the credit union property passed 4-1 (Commissioner Ahearn-Koch opposed).
  • McCown Tower Affordable Housing Funding Request: Sarasota Housing Authority CEO William Russell requested the city’s help to fill a $4 million gap for the four-story development, which already has $9 million in state competitive funding. The city has previously committed $8 million for public parking. Financial analysis showed the additional $4 million would equate to $75,000 per parking space, above typical $35,000–$55,000. Borrowing cost for $12 million would total $19 million over 20 years. A motion to send a letter to the Sarasota County Commission encouraging financial support passed 5-0.
  • Downtown Improvement District Term Limits (Ordinance 26-5594): Presented by Wayne Applebee; aligns DID board term limits with other city boards. No public speakers. Passed on first reading 5-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Minutes (three sets) and all consent items as noted.
  • Vehicle Purchase Order (not to exceed $2M from CIP, no general fund without future approval) – passed 5-0.
  • Human Relations Board Appointment: Jae Langston Williams – approved 5-0.
  • Newtown CRA Annual Report accepted; Charles Walker appointed to advisory board – both 5-0.
  • 1st Street Housing: Directed staff to negotiate Option Agreement with First Street Credit Union (4-1).
  • McCown Tower: Directed interim city manager to draft a letter to the Sarasota County Commission encouraging financial support – passed 5-0.
  • Ordinance 26-5594 (DID Term Limits) passed first reading 5-0.
  • Commissioner Remarks: Vice Mayor sought quick fixes to sound ordinance; Commissioner Ahearn-Koch requested updates on US Recycling, Ted Sperling Park, and 3D modeling; Mayor Trice directed staff to research parking requirements in the Rosemary District, noting that developers should provide accessible spaces rather than taxpayers subsidizing profit-making property owners.
  • Other Matters: City Attorney announced a settlement proposal of $200,000 in the case Doris Lee Middleton v. City of Sarasota (not recommended). Deputy City Manager promised updates on MLK Park, Newtown sidewalks, and Rails to Trails by week’s end.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. Welcome to the first regular city commission meeting of April of twenty twenty-six. Um and we will start off with um the invocation by Ms. Greeks. Thank you. Those who can stand, please stand. Heavenly Father, we affirm our faith in thee, we seek your device from wisdom and guidance in the deliberations that affect the lives of each of the citizens of our community. In that name we pray, Amen. And Vice Mayor, will you lead us in the pledge? Are there any changes to the order of the day? Ms. Griggs, any changes to the order of the day? No, mayor, sorry, thank you. May I then have a motion to accept the um today's agenda? Second. Okay, moved by Commissioner Batti, seconded by Commissioner Ahern Kutch. Passed unanimously, thank you very much. So if you will join me out front, our first presentation is uh has to do with the Child Protection Center. So if there are representatives from that organization, please join me. Thank you. Um so this is the proclamation, whereas child abuse and neglect are complex and continuing problems in our society, affecting over three million children annually nationwide, and whereas there is no test of the society more important than the status and treatment of its children. Whereas the Child Protection Center works to prevent child abuse and to protect and treat children affected by child abuse with the hope of creating a community in which every child is free and safe from child abuse and urges all citizens to be aware of and involved with the local and national programs which provide ongoing protection of our children. Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community, takes great pride in recognizing April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, a month of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the residents of the City of Sarasota. Congratulations and thank you for the work that your organization does. And would you like to say a few words? Sure. On behalf of the staff at the Child Protection Center, the clients we serve, and our board of directors, I want to thank you for proclaiming April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. We couldn't do what we do without the support of our entire community. So thank you. If you want to learn more about what we do at the Child Protection Center, you can always visit our website at WWW.cpc Sarasota.org. But thank you. Wonderful. And we have some photo up. And first let me thank you. And let the commissioners come. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And the next one is National Crime Victims Rights Week. Is there someone representing SPD? Wonderful. Whereas there are more than twelve thousand system and community-based victim services programs across the nation that help crime survivors and promote community safety and over thirty-two thousand laws that define and protect victims' rights. And whereas 2026 is the forty-fifth anniversary of National Crime Victims Rights Week, first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. And whereas this time-honored tradition unites all who care about crime victimization and survivors to acknowledge and honor survivors, their challenges, and their strengths. And whereas during the 2026 National Crime Victims Rights Week, we recommit to promoting and strengthening the extensive community that supports and serves victims and survivors of crime. Now, therefore, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, and on behalf of the citizens of our community takes great pride in recognizing the week of April 19th through 25th as National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a week of special importance and worthy of the recognition of the residents of the City of Sarasota. And thank you very much. And would you like to say a few words? Sure.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com