City News: Storm Debris Pickup, Fall Festivities, Engineering Design Criteria

City of Sarasota, Florida sent this bulletin at 10/14/2022 03:00 PM EDT

Oct. 14, 2022

Hello Friends,

Normal operations resumed the Monday after Hurricane Ian made landfall and we have been laser focused on picking up storm debris and returning Sarasota to the beautiful community we know and love.

Due to the storm, some City services were suspended. Here is the current state of services:

Garbage: Regular collection has resumed.

Recycling: Regular collection has resumed.

Yard waste: Regular collection is suspended. If you have already placed bagged yard waste curbside, our Public Works crews will collect it. Please do not place additional bags at the curb.

Storm debris: The City’s debris hauler has 20 crews actively picking up debris as quickly as possible. Please see the information below on Dos and Don’ts to help the cleanup go smoothly.

We're pleased to announce a hotline has been established to answer residents' questions. Call 941-584-9533 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday to speak with a contractor representative about residential debris pickup.

Please be patient. Those who lived through Hurricane Irma in Sarasota may recall it took months to collect all the storm debris from the neighborhoods. It's estimated Hurricane Ian produced twice as much debris and it will take time to collect.

Parks: The parks throughout the city were hit hard with many trees damaged or toppled. Our incredible Parks and Recreation team is making good progress cutting, clearing and moving the debris to the right-of-way where it will be collected. FEMA contractors arrived Thursday morning and began removing some of the larger fallen trees and we expect that work to continue for several weeks. In addition to trees, irrigation and lighting systems and other infrastructure was damaged in the parks. Assessments and restoration efforts are underway.

Lido Beach: We have an excellent report with Lido Beach! The recent Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction project, in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, lived up to its name. The newly installed groins performed well and storm impacts were minimal to our beautiful beach.

Sarasota is a resilient community. The beach is open. Businesses are open. Let's enjoy the fall season in our special city with family and friends while continuing to provide support and assistance to our neighbors to the south.

We have a lot to be grateful for as our community was spared the direct trajectory of such a large natural disaster.

Wishing you Safety & Joy,

Erik Arroyo
Mayor

News and Updates

Recovery Resources

As communities recover from Hurricane Ian, many resources are available including transitional sheltering assistance, critical needs assistance (food, water, prescriptions, infant formula, diapers, medical equipment and fuel for transportation), disaster unemployment assistance, disaster legal services, crisis cleanup, disability assistance, temporary roof repairs, flood insurance, and disaster loans. Individuals are encouraged to apply for FEMA individual disaster assistance or call 800-621-3362 daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Storm Debris Pickup: Dos & Don'ts

When Hurricane Ian was days from making landfall, City staff was ensuring our storm debris contractor, Ceres Environmental Services, was in position and would be ready to begin the cleanup process as soon as possible. Following an initial storm debris assessment, it was determined Ian created twice as much debris as Hurricane Irma five years ago.

Within the week after the storm, a debris management area was secured, and multiple debris trucks were certified for collection. Crews began picking up debris Oct. 5 concentrating on areas near schools in anticipation of students returning to class Oct. 10. Since then, 20 crews have been deployed throughout the city to remove residential storm debris. Just eight days into the operation, over 12,000 cubic yards of storm debris was collected – that's 2,000 cubic yards more than was collected at the same time after Irma.

We need the community’s help for cleanup efforts to go as smoothly as possible. Please follow these rules for curbside pickup:

Create separate storm debris piles:
- Vegetative
- Fencing/construction materials
- Appliances

Fencing is considered construction materials and should not be placed with vegetation, which will be repurposed as mulch. Comingling the debris will cause collection delays.

Leave 5 feet between debris piles and mailboxes, utility poles, water meters, fire hydrants etc. Crews need room to maneuver the large equipment being used to grab and lift the debris.

A hotline has been established to answer residents’ debris questions. Call 941-584-9533 Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to talk with a contractor representative. After hours the line will go to voicemail.

An interactive map is also available for City of Sarasota residents. Click this link and enter your address to find your collection zone and status.

Van Wezel: Hurricane Ian Relief Concert

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the Sarasota Orchestra held a special concert last week to benefit Hurricane Ian recovery efforts. Through ticket purchases, additional onsite donations and online fundraising, $56,226.78 was raised for the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. With the dollar-for-dollar match from The Patterson Foundation, the total amount raised was more than $112,000.

The local community came out for an evening of music and charity. The concert program showcased a broad range of inspiring music, including Aaron Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, John Williams’ Summon the Heroes – originally composed for the 1996 Olympics – and the theme from The Incredibles. Crafted by Conductor Christopher Confessore, a Sarasota native and Principal Pops conductor of the Alabama Symphony, the concert served as a salute to extraordinary first responders.

Now, the 2022-2023 Van Wezel season is about to begin! Great seats are still available for Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story on Saturday, Oct. 22. To see the full list of shows coming to the Van Wezel, visit VanWezel.org

Fall Festivities: Volunteers Needed

The Parks and Recreation Department is planning lots of festive fall fun with something for everyone!

At Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex, join us for the Haunted Trail Carnival (Friday, Oct. 21, from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.), Bark-O-Ween at the Paw Park (Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 pm - 6:30 p.m.), and the Pumpkin SPLASH in the pool (Saturday, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.).

We’re still seeking booth sponsors/volunteers for our Haunted Trail Carnival. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Emily Morris or Mark Underwood at ArlingtonPark@SarasotaFL.gov or (941) 263-6732.

In partnership with the Sarasota Police Department and the Amaryllis Park Neighborhood Association, we’re hosting our popular annual Trunk or Treat event at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.. Kids of all ages will enjoy a safe and spooky evening filled with fun, games, and candy! Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes and trunk decorations.

Want to join in the fun? RLTCC is seeking volunteers to decorate vehicles and pass out candy to the little ones. Open to individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Call (941) 263-6562 for more information or register online at https://rltcctrunkortreat.eventbrite.com.

Right-of-Way Standards: Public Meeting Nov. 3

The public is invited to learn about proposed updates to the City of Sarasota Engineering Design Criteria Manual (EDCM) during a meeting Thursday, Nov. 3 from 5 p.m. to 6 :30 p.m. at SRQ Media Studio in the City Hall Annex, 1565 First Street.

The EDCM is a guide for staff, developers and engineers with established design standards for roads, trails, and sidewalks within the right-of-way. The revised EDCM will include three new chapters for solid waste, public art and landscaping.

During the meeting, the EDCM and its purpose will be explained plus best practices and existing infrastructure challenges that may be resolved through EDCM updates. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions and suggest locations that could be used as a standard throughout the city.

For more information visit www.SarasotaFL.gov/government/EDCM