Sarasota City Commission Regular Meeting – September 21, 2026

The City Commission met in regular session on September 21, 2026, at 9:00 AM in the Commission Chambers at City Hall (1565 First Street, Sarasota, Florida), recessed for lunch, and reconvened at 2:15 PM. The agenda included two scheduled presentations (the ALICE Report and the new attainable housing dashboard), two consent agendas, the PREP Advisory Board's park-zoning recommendation, a detailed Phase 1 Sound Study presentation with public comment, three legislative public hearings, and citizen input. All votes were unanimous except the Vice Mayor's sound-enforcement motion, which passed 3–2.

Scheduled Presentations

• ALICE Report: Doug Griesenauer (listed in the agenda as "Grizdenauer"), Vice President of Community Impact for United Way Sun Coast, presented ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data. He said Florida ranks 47th among the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., with 4.3 million of the state's 9.1 million households below the ALICE threshold. In United Way Sun Coast's five-county region, 44% of households (655,000) are struggling; in Sarasota County the figure is 42% (just under 100,000 households); and in the City of Sarasota it is 49% of households. He reported a city poverty rate of 14% and noted that Newtown has an 18% poverty rate with 57% of households below ALICE. He estimated that a family of four with two children in childcare needs about $108,000 per year to get by in Sarasota (vs. a $91,000 Florida average), and that the number of struggling individuals in the area has risen from roughly 50,000 in 2014–2018 to about 75,000 now. He recommended connecting people to 211, family-friendly workplaces, policies that reduce the cost of living, and leading "with dignity." In response to questions, he discussed the "fiscal cliff" (loss of benefits from small wage increases) and United Way's free financial coaching programs. Vice Mayor Ohlrich asked that 211 be promoted in the city's weekly newsletter and on its website.
• Attainable Housing Dashboard: Chief Planner Brianna Dobbs and Planner Philochamy Gangbo demonstrated a new interactive ArcGIS-based dashboard showing the city's attainable/affordable housing developments, with filters for status, income level, developer type, occupancy, and Live Local program participation. They reported that 2026 area median income (AMI) for a family of four in the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton MSA is approximately $114,100; dashboard units break down as 72.53% at 80% AMI, 5.86% at 81–99% AMI, and 21.61% at 100–120% AMI. Commissioner Battie asked about the three Live Local projects (identified as Sarasota Station, Temple Beth, and a third downtown project). The Vice Mayor proposed a letter from the Mayor thanking planner Rebecca Webster for creating the dashboard as a graduate project. The Mayor asked about adding links to waiting lists or contact information, which staff said could be explored.

Consent Calendar

• Consent Agenda No. 1: Approved unanimously. Items included the opiate-litigation Resolution and Release Agreement with Publix Super Markets, Inc. (City of Sarasota v. Walgreen Co., et al.); a Municipal Services and Pre-Annexation Agreement with Clayton and Jennifer Owens for 4323 Central Avenue; the FY 2026–27 liability insurance renewal brokered by Brown & Brown at a total cost of $595,652.00 (a 3.96% year-over-year decrease); and a City-Wide Janitorial Services agreement with Clean Space Inc. (RFP #26-28SH) at approximately $475,700 annually. Commissioner Ahern-Koch pulled items 6.5 and 6.6 for presentations on police fleet maintenance (Sunset Chevrolet, piggyback of Sourcewell Master Agreement #080124) and city-wide vehicle purchases (Alan Jay Fleet Sales, piggyback of Sourcewell Master Agreement #081325, not to exceed $2,000,000); both were approved unanimously after staff explained that funding was already budgeted and that the cooperative procurement mechanism saves money.
• Consent Agenda No. 2: Approved unanimously. Items included two Special Law Enforcement Trust Fund supplemental budgets ($100,000 and $15,000 for donations to qualified organizations under F.S. 932.7055); the SHIP Local Housing Assistance Plan for fiscal years 2026–2028; a $1,400,000 HUD grant budget with a partial CRA match; and, pulled for a separate express vote by Commissioner Ahern-Koch, Ordinance No. 26-5607 (second reading), updating level-of-service projects in the Capital Improvements Chapter of the Sarasota City Plan.

Public Comments & Testimony

Morning Citizens' Input:

• Christine Robinson, CEO of the Argus Foundation, expressed support for the sound-study process as "inclusive and data-driven" and asked the Commission to let Siebein Acoustic finish the recommended additional testing before changing the noise ordinance, noting that the July measurements do not reflect in-season downtown conditions.
• Catherine Hermes, a resident and business owner, questioned whether the parking division exists to serve the public or to generate revenue, citing a roughly $1 million year-over-year cost increase, with one-third of the budget from garages and 40% from meters, and argued that poor signage (especially between public and private lots) drives ticketing and confusion.

Sound Study Public Comment (Agenda Item IX.1):

• Steve Martinucci asked the Commission to add oversight criteria to the school noise exemption. He said a school-board-commissioned sound study showed Sarasota High School stadium sound at 100 dBA at the source and 74 dBA at the property line, batting cages at 95 dBA 80 feet away, and the new HVAC system at 80 dBA at the source and 55 dBA at the property line; he played a recording of nighttime noise.
• John Bordeaux, a full-time downtown resident, opposed proposed daytime limits of 75–80 dBA, arguing that 75 dBA is about twice as loud as 65 dBA and that 65 dBA matches most peer Florida cities.
• David Lowe, a DISCO board member, urged incremental action now, citing roughly 1,000 new residential units under construction downtown, and said enforcement cannot rest solely on the police department.
• Linda Kitch, a Bay Street resident, described years of amplified PA noise from Sarasota High School and invited in-home measurements; she supported physical mitigation rather than relying on "likely exempt" determinations.
• Chris Fulker, a resident and business owner, commended the process and supported completing the study before adopting new rules to avoid the uncertainty experienced with parking policy.
• Flo Entler, a 37-year resident, said she has sought a sound ordinance fix since 2019, opposed requiring a formal complaint before enforcement, questioned the proposed 90-day trial and warning periods, and asked for a simple enforceable citywide standard.
• Linda Haller-Sloan, a downtown resident, urged a fair balance, citing health effects of loud sound, First Amendment law on sound regulation, and the value of downtown residents to safety and the tax base.
• Kelly Brown, a Gillespie Park resident, described Thursday–Sunday late-night engine and motorcycle noise and asked the city to consider limiting construction hours so residents can enjoy Sunday afternoons.

Afternoon Citizens' Input:

• Henry Kawadi, a St. Armand's resident, reported that his home was the first in Sarasota to receive variances for a home elevation project (five variances in March), and that two other flooded properties have since received all requested variances. He asked the Commission to establish reasonable zoning parameters for elevation-project variations to reduce cost and speed storm recovery and resiliency.

Discussion Items

Parks Space Zoning (Agenda Item V.1): PREP Advisory Board Chair Carl Schelfstall presented the board's unanimous July 16, 2026 motion (6–0) recommending that the City Commission "prioritize a common zoning category for all current and future parks, recreation, and open spaces located within the city limits." The City Manager recommended a deliberate, comprehensive process rather than a hasty rezone, noting the city has roughly 63 parks with varied uses, and tied the discussion to the proposed parks district and strategic planning. The Commission received the report unanimously.

Phase 1 Sound Study and Phase 2 Planning (Agenda Item IX.1): The City Attorney introduced Siebein Acoustic (Gary Siebein, Keely Siebein, and University of Florida professor Martin Gold) and described the legal and governance framework. The team reported deploying eight long-term sound meters over seven days, conducting sound walks and overnight ride-alongs with SPD, holding stakeholder meetings, and collecting 1,456 survey responses (about 2.5% of residents). Key findings: downtown ambient levels of roughly 58–65 dBA; special-event measurements reaching 70–95 dBA at a residential receiver; low-frequency bass traveling much farther than A-weighted sound would suggest; vehicle revving and car stereos identified as top concerns (in Newtown, 68% of 71 survey respondents cited loud music from cars and 26% cited amplified music reaching their homes); and more than 80% of survey respondents had never filed a formal complaint. The team recommended Phase 2 testing of current limits (day 75 dBA/80 dBC; night 65 dBA/70 dBC) against in-season data, possible source-level measurement 5–10 feet from venue doors, a "plainly audible" provision, motor-vehicle enforcement under Florida Statutes (316.272, 316.293, 316.3045), formation of an interdisciplinary "sound team" (SPD, code enforcement, special events), and acoustical planning and zoning controls (e.g., OITC ratings) for new development. Commissioners probed A- vs. C-weighting, indoor sound reduction (30–35 dB for insulated glass), federal day-night average sound levels (measured LDNs of 66–80 exceeded the 65 LDN residential guidance), school noise, and spot-enforcement feasibility. Public comment urged both completing the data collection and taking immediate enforcement steps.

• Motions: The Commission voted unanimously to receive the Phase 1 report and to proceed with Phases 2 and 3 in accordance with the scope, objectives, and policy direction established by the Commission (including stakeholder engagement and development of regulatory standards, measurement protocols, enforcement procedures, and implementation measures) and to return with a proposed ordinance. The Vice Mayor's third motion — to establish a sound enforcement team, begin enforcement of engine-revving and vehicle music consistent with the existing ordinance and Florida law, and begin discussions with the Sarasota School District — passed 3–2, after Commissioner Alpert opposed it as premature without staff analysis of capacity, training, and legal constraints. The City Attorney said staff would explore the team's formation and report back. The Commission also unanimously approved amendments to the special-event sound permit: measurement at 100 feet from the main loudspeakers and replacing "and" with "or" between the dBA and dBC limits.

Legislative Public Hearing – Resolution 26R-3410 (Affordable Housing Property Inventory): The Office of Housing and Community Development presented the annual inventory of city-owned fee-simple properties appropriate for affordable housing, as required by Section 166.0451, Florida Statutes. Staff noted prior successes (Heroes Village and nine Habitat for Humanity sites under construction) and said the listed sites are carried over from previous inventories. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Legislative Public Hearing – Ordinance 26-5598 (Certified Recovery Residences), First Reading: City attorney Bach, appearing by Zoom, explained that state law requires a local process for certified recovery residences to apply for approval or reasonable accommodations (e.g., exceeding the limit on unrelated adults in a single-family home), with applications reviewed within 60 days. The ordinance was approved unanimously on first reading.

Public Hearing – Mutual Termination of the 2017 Development Agreement (Quincy Real Estate Holdings, LLC / Weekley Homes, LLC – Payne Park Villages): Deputy City Attorney Shamsy and attorney Dan Bailey presented a proposed mutual termination of the 2017 Amended and Restated Development Agreement covering the 9.55-acre Payne Park Villages site. The 0.87-acre Quincy parcel (295 South School Avenue) currently holds unused entitlements for either a 100-room hotel with a 4,000 sq ft restaurant or 62,000 sq ft of office space. The termination would extinguish those entitlements and take effect only after final city approval of a new "On the Park" site plan, described as a five-story building with 48 multifamily rental apartments, 25 of them affordable (52%) at or below 80% of Sarasota County AMI for 41 years, a roughly 1,300 sq ft ground-floor retail component, financing tied to the Live Local Act and a $4.2 million county Title I grant, and a future transfer to One Stop Housing of Sarasota LLC. Quincy representatives said the new project would not use extra height or density. The Vice Mayor requested written concurrence from Weekley Homes before the second hearing; Commissioner Alpert asked the developer to consider affordability for the life of the building. The Commission unanimously set the final termination agreement for a required second public hearing on October 19, 2026.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the agenda, the August 17, 2026 minutes, and both consent agendas (with pulled items 6.5, 6.6, and 7.5 approved separately) — all unanimously.
• Received the PREP Advisory Board's park-zoning recommendation (unanimous).
• Received the Phase 1 Sound Study report and authorized Phase 2/3 work returning with a proposed ordinance (unanimous).
• Established a sound enforcement team and directed school-district discussions (3–2); approved special-event sound permit changes (unanimous).
• Adopted Resolution 26R-3410 (affordable housing inventory) and approved Ordinance 26-5598 on first reading (both unanimous).
• Set the Quincy/Weekley development-agreement termination for a second public hearing on October 19, 2026 (unanimous).
• The Commission adjourned, with a separate evening session scheduled for 5:30 PM.