Special City Commission Meeting - September 8, 2026: Budget and Capital Improvements Approvals
Special City Commission Meeting - September 8, 2026
At a special meeting on September 8, 2026, the Sarasota City Commission held the first public hearing on the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget, unanimously approving six resolutions setting millage rates and budgets for the City, the Golden Gate Point Streetscape Special District, and the Downtown Improvement District. The Commission also unanimously adopted an ordinance updating the Capital Improvements Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, including level-of-service projects and the school board's five-year capital schedule.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Citizen's Input – Dan Lobeck (City resident, business owner, homeowner): Expressed strong opposition to proposed amendments to the Transportation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, arguing they would eliminate current developer requirements to fund road improvements and would embrace bumper-to-bumper congestion. He claimed public input opportunities were scant and that staff had engaged in improper one-on-one lobbying of commissioners. He submitted a legal letter purporting to show that the city can still require developer contributions even with a multimodal fee.
- Public Hearing – Martin Hyde (speaker): Stated the budget increase of 6.1% ($18 million) is double the rate of inflation. Criticized past city management missteps (referencing "Yuppie Tower" losses, parking revenue shortfalls of $80,000/month due to not raising rates 50 cents/hour, performing arts center design costs, Bobby Jones clubhouse design costs, and unbudgeted staff raises). Cited potential liabilities including an eight-figure lawsuit payout (Ziegler), FLOCK camera misuse litigation, and stormwater interlocal agreement termination. Opposed the budget as fiscally unsustainable.
- Public Hearing – Dan Lobeck: Criticized the budget for not funding $1.5 million in parking garage elevator repairs, forcing the city to raise Sunday and night parking fees. Proposed cutting $3 million for the 10th Street road diet (calling it illogical given nearby 500-unit development), $1.39 million for removing 100 parking spaces on Main Street, and $6 million for the Sarasota Performing Arts Center from the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) – arguing the center was not approved by voters. He suggested redirecting funds to the garage repairs.
Discussion Items
- Budget Presentation (Kelly Strickland, Director of Financial Administration): Reported the total proposed FY2027 budget is $322.363 million, an increase of $18.8 million (6.19%) over the prior year. The proposed General Fund millage is unchanged at 3.2730 mills; the aggregate millage rate (including special districts) is 3.3430 mills, 1.92% above the rolled-back rate. Citywide debt service millage decreased to 0.1305 mills. Golden Gate operating millage unchanged at 0.6148 mills; debt service decreased slightly to 0.4977 mills. Downtown Improvement District millage unchanged at 2.0000 mills. The final public hearing is September 21, 2026.
- Questions on Aggregate Millage: Vice Mayor Ohlrich and Mayor Trice asked how the aggregate millage rate is calculated. Ms. Strickland explained it is a composite derived from assessed values and revenues across all three taxing districts, as required by the Truth in Millage (TRIM) state law.
- Discussion on Ordinance 26-5607 (David Smith, Manager of Long-Range Planning): The ordinance updates the comprehensive plan's Capital Improvements Chapter (CIP) by incorporating projects from the five-year CIP adopted with the budget and the school board's capital schedule. Commissioner Ahearn-Koch asked why the Whitaker Bayou Bridge was not listed; staff clarified it is a Florida DOT bridge, not in the city's CIP. The John Ringling Causeway is also DOT-maintained, but appears tied to Bird Key Bridge work; staff will investigate. She also asked that the MLK/Myrtle roundabouts be split into two separate projects in city documents to align with the MPO's approach; staff committed to making the adjustment next fiscal year.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 26R-3417 (City Millage): Approved unanimously (5-0). Sets General Fund operating millage at 3.2730 and debt service millage at 0.1305.
- Resolution 26R-3418 (City Budget): Approved unanimously (5-0). Adopts the total city budget of $322,363,000 for FY2027.
- Resolution 26R-3419 (Golden Gate Point Streetscape Millage): Approved unanimously (5-0). Sets operating millage at 0.6148 and debt service millage at 0.4977.
- Resolution 26R-3420 (Golden Gate Point Streetscape Budget): Approved unanimously (5-0). Adopts the district's budget.
- Resolution 26R-3421 (Downtown Improvement District Millage): Approved unanimously (5-0). Sets operating millage at 2.0000 mills.
- Resolution 26R-3422 (Downtown Improvement District Budget): Approved unanimously (5-0). Adopts the district's budget.
- Ordinance 26-5607 (Capital Improvements Chapter Update): Approved unanimously (5-0). Updates level-of-service projects and incorporates the school board's five-year capital schedule.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone. Welcome to this special uh September eighth City Commission meeting. Um calling it to order. Oh, and please silence your cell phones, and we will have the invocation by city auditor and clerk Griggs followed by the pledge led by the Vice Mayor. Those who can stand, please stand. No mayor, thank you. Um, so before we do the citizens input concerning city topics, Ms. Griggs, would you recite the Pledge of C public conduct for us, please? Thank you. We may disagree, but we will be respectful to one another. We will direct all comments to issues. I'm hoping that the workshop for which a topic has not been announced coming up in just a few days will do this. Because frankly, it's contrary to law for staff to be lining up policy behind the scenes in one-on-one conversations with commissioners. It's happened over the years, but this shall not pass if that's the way this comes down. There are inaccurate statements being made about this transportation chapter. One of which is that it's tougher on developers. Number one, you can't do that under SP 180. Number one, you can't require developers to do things once a road is overcrowded beyond your 100 percent congestion standard, which these amendments would establish. Because that's against chapter 163. Um I have here the text of the current transportation chapter and the future transportation chapter. It's very clear today if a developer is going to exceed the adopted level of service, and that's D outside downtown, E within a downtown, that certain improvements need to be funded by the developer to try to maintain level of service. And we don't have time to get into that. And of the new one, it's a hundred percent congestion. You had your consultant the other day actually say that. With that, I don't know if we can zoom in on it. That's what he likes to see in a city. Bumper to bumper. Thank you. He pointed to that graphic. That's what's appropriate in an urban context. And I have other detail on that. I want to leave with you something that rebuts the other misstatement that's going around that you heard at the transmital hearing that you can't require a developer to pay for anything. Because you've got a multimodal fee. I will leave a copy of a letter I don't think you've ever seen. I think one of you did. I I got this in a public records request from the respected attorney outside firm that tells you, in fact, you can. Thank you, Mr. Lowe. Okay. So the next items on this evening's agenda are all public hearings. So I will call upon City Auditor and Clerk Griggs to administer the oath. Those who may participate or possibly speak at any public hearing held today, please stand and take an oath. Just everybody, just in case just in case you get called down. All right. Do you swear or affirm at evidence of factual representation which you are about to give or present to this commission during any public hearing held this eighth day of September 2026 are truthful? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. So the next item is a public hearing on budget resolutions number 26R-3417 through 26R-342.
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