Sarasota City-County Joint Meeting on Transit, Parks, Trails, Amendment 3, and Stormwater – September 18, 2026

On September 18, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., the Sarasota City Commission and the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners held a special joint meeting in the Commission Chambers at the Sarasota County Administration Center, 1 Apex Road, Sarasota. The agenda covered six joint discussion items followed by open public comment. No formal motions or votes were taken during the meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Christine Nordstrom, a 25-year resident and Ringling Boulevard business owner, described a high-intensity homeless outreach operation drawing more than 100 people per day into her single-family Ashton neighborhood. She said code enforcement issued a notice of violation and asked the boards to reconcile land-use enforcement with service delivery.
• John Thaxton urged extension of the Legacy Trail through North Sarasota, calling it the county's largest transportation disadvantaged community, and asked the board to consider alternative and equitable funding options for the Gulf Gate golf course.
• Kelly Brown, speaking for the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations representing over 22,000 households, thanked officials for nearly $40 million in stormwater funding but urged faster delivery than 2031 and asked for maintenance backlogs to be cleared.
• Charles Hines, Trust for Public Land, urged continued progress on the Legacy Trail-to-Nathan Benderson connection and said the North Sarasota/Newtown trail extension is doable with community support.
• Laura Korberg, Central Coconut Neighborhood Association, asked both jurisdictions to closely monitor the new recycling operation at the former U.S. Recycle site to protect air and water quality.
• David Lowe, Downtown Sarasota Condo Association, said his board unanimously adopted a resolution opposing Amendment 3, calling it too risky and a self-inflicted source of uncertainty.
• Chuck Half, vice president of the St. Armands Residents Association, described post-hurricane storm debris clogging baffle boxes, including an 80-pound carpet pad and patio cushion found two years after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and asked for inspections and restored stormwater capacity.
• Bob Kelly, a St. Armands resident, said streets flooded four times in July, called the stormwater system old and poorly maintained, and urged quick use of the $13.5 million St. Armands award before funding lapses.
• Sigurd Hermanson, a former resident of the Circle, recalled approximately 12.5 feet of storm surge at the Circle during Helene versus about 13.5 feet at Fort Myers Beach, and asked for passive barriers, hydrology studies, temporary barriers, and a stronger sense of urgency.
• Tammy Garner said Ted Sperling Park presentations do not reflect weekend conditions, describing noise, open fires, litter, and capacity undercounting, and asked county officials to get the park under control.

Discussion Items

Breeze Transit Updates (Sarasota County)

• Jane Grog, Director of Breeze Transit, reported annual system ridership of approximately 2.2 million in FY23, 2.3 million in FY24, 2.2 million in FY25, and 2.2 million in the first 10 months of FY26. Fare collections were $2,777,623 in FY24, $2,641,440 in FY25, and $1,931,643 in FY26 year-to-date.
• 13 of 16 routes touch city boundaries; 41% of boardings occur within the city; the Downtown Transfer Station averages over 1,238 boardings per day.
• Bay Runner ridership was 123,748 in FY25 and 147,743 in FY26 (10 months). FY27 projected cost is $935,835, with an FDOT grant of $259,740 and a city share of $719,133. Contract extension terms and FDOT grant burn rate could affect the city invoice.
• Breeze OnDemand has served 1.5 million-plus rides since 2021 with 86,000-plus riders, 94% of trips booked in the app, 65% shared rides, a 26-minute average ETA, and a 4.9/5 average rating. More than 80% of Lido-Longboat zone trips cross the Ringling Bridge, prompting study of Bay Runner intermodal connections.
• Discussion addressed automatic passenger counters, possible revenue effects of fare-free Route 99 service, pedestrian crossings on Ringling Causeway, future FDOT funding competitiveness, trolley advertising revenue, and marketing to riders with disabilities.

Long-Term Plan for a Potential City Park District (City of Sarasota)

• City Manager Karie Friling presented a preliminary concept to create a park district to protect, maintain, improve, and expand parks, recreation assets, beaches, and open space while establishing sustainable funding. Background cited growth pressure, financial uncertainty, and Amendment 3.
• The current Parks and Recreation FY27 budget is $12,544,604; the city has 64 recreation facilities and 747 total acres. Next steps include defining the city's strategic mission, evaluating legal structure, determining governance and required approvals, establishing funding mechanisms, and engaging residents. No decisions were requested.

Ted Sperling/Nora Patterson Park Update (Sarasota County)

• County Parks Director Sean Yeager said the 2026 County Strategic Plan had listed transferring Ted Sperling Park and Nora Patterson Bay Island Park to the city, but a March 2026 city staff memo recommended against proceeding at that time. The current Lido and North Lido Beaches interlocal agreement remains active until September 30, 2028.
• Ted Sperling Park at South Lido is approximately 152 acres; Nora Patterson's county-owned portion is approximately 1.5 acres, with city parcels totaling over 0.8 acres. Yeager reported operating costs, CRTO and mobile vending revenues, a planned charter and tour operator pilot, and 22 bids received for the new program.
• City Attorney Joe Polzak said the prior city manager generated the March 2026 memo, but the city commission later directed staff to reopen discussions. County staff said timing is tied to Amendment 3 and the 2028 agreement. Commissioner Mark Smith asked about a slow-speed zone; Yeager said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission did not support the no-speed item and options will be brought to the county board.

Legacy Trail North Extension (City and County)

• County Transportation Director Spencer Anderson and City Public Works Director Nick Patel reviewed connections from the Legacy Trail to Nathan Benderson Park: Beneva MURT (0.5 mile) complete in 2026; Circus Trail (0.8 mile) existing; Bobby Jones connection (0.5 mile) planned for construction in 2028; 17th Street Park (0.8 mile) planned completion in 2027; and 17th Street/Honore Avenue (1.6 miles) construction planned for 2027.
• The Circus Trail Extension is in planning, environmental review, and 30% design. $1.1 million in MPO and FDOT funding was secured, but federal requirements push final design to 2027 and construction to 2028.
• The North Sarasota Trail, extending the Legacy Trail north through Newtown, remains in draft concept. Route, funding, design, delivery, and maintenance require coordination with the Trust for Public Land and Seminole Gulf Railway. Cost was identified as the largest challenge.

Amendment 3 (City and County)

• City Manager Friling said the city collects about $59 million per year in property tax revenue and projects a $5.6 million annual revenue loss by FY29. She said that is equivalent to 37 police officers, about 47 FTE positions, the entire Streets and Highway budget, or 1.75 times the non-park maintenance budget. She listed efficiency, revenue, and service-reduction strategies, including a general fund hiring freeze.
• County Director of Financial Management Kevin Radkey estimated first-year county-wide revenue loss of $46,851,464, approximately 11%, under a $150,000 homestead exemption, and $87,088,073, approximately 20%, in FY29 under a $250,000 exemption. Example tax bills for a $350,000 home would drop from $3,594.49 to $3,056.62 with the $150,000 exemption and to $2,518.75 with the $250,000 exemption, excluding non-ad valorem assessments.
• Commissioners discussed the amendment's legislative schedule, public education, state backfill uncertainty, hospital district impacts, and home rule. Commissioner Smith reported that 15 states were looking at eliminating property taxes, contrary to rumors that some states had already done so. No board position was taken.

Stormwater Update (City and County)

• Approximately $38.4 million in Resilient SRQ CDBG-DR funding supports four priorities: Hudson Bayou ($13.711 million, approximately 2.9 miles, about 80,500 cubic yards of sediment removal, and roughly 150 homes), Whitaker Bayou ($10.012 million, about 118,000 cubic yards, and roughly 210 homes, within a broader $20 million package), St. Armands ($13.5 million plus a $479,000 city contribution), and MLK + Orange ($1.2 million grant plus $400,000 city match, totaling $1.6 million). The shared delivery target is 2031.
• County Stormwater Director Ben Quartermaine described the current 1998 interlocal agreement, under which the county leads basin planning, operations, maintenance, capital projects, and NPDES compliance while the city leads development review, right-of-way coordination, and local priorities. A proposed joint study would use a $500,000 city FDEP planning grant and a proposed $1 million county contribution, with a final report deadline of July 2028. No service option, including city management, is predetermined.
• Quartermaine said maintenance is held to a 100-year/24-hour storm standard. Roadside ditch inspection frequency was increased from once every 10 years to once every 3 years. He also highlighted a public maintenance activity map, St. Armands pump station electrical repairs, and Resilient SRQ project status. Philippi Creek Phase I removed 60,000 cubic yards; Phase II plans approximately 80,000 cubic yards with construction in the first quarter of 2027.

Key Outcomes

• No formal motions, votes, or ordinances were adopted; the meeting was a joint discussion and information-sharing session.
• County and city staff were expected to continue coordination on park transfer discussions, stormwater study scope and funding, trail connections, and Breeze Transit intermodal planning.
• On stormwater, the proposed $1 million county contribution was not decided; staff are to continue discussions and return recommendations to both commissions.
• The boards acknowledged further work on the Legacy Trail extension, the North Sarasota trail concept, and the potential city park district, with public engagement planned for the park district concept.