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Following Tuesday's extensive traffic delays, we communicated with our Florida Department of Transportation partners and have been assured the City of Sarasota will receive specific advance notification for unscheduled daytime closures related to the US 41-Gulfstream Avenue roundabout.
An eastbound traffic lane was closed Tuesday by FDOT to accommodate the unscheduled arrival of concrete for the installation of a median adjacent to the roundabout. With concrete being scarce, when it unexpectedly becomes available it needs to be received and poured quickly. Unfortunately, the unannounced lane closure created traffic backups across the John Ringling Bridge onto Longboat Key.
FDOT is now committed to giving the City and public as much advance notice as possible for future unplanned lane closures. Once alerted, we will share that information. Please note: Temporary lane closures with short notice may occur for the next couple of months near the new roundabout as FDOT contractors install concrete medians and curbing.
We understand the inconvenience and encourage you to check traffic conditions before traveling to/from the barrier islands. For updates, please follow the City of Sarasota and the Sarasota Police Department on social media. A live webcam feed also provides a real time look at traffic conditions at the roundabout.
City administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 16 as we remember the life, contributions and lasting impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the national holiday. The regular City Commission meeting will be deferred to Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Residential trash, recycling and yard waste will be collected as usual.
Some hours of operation at recreational facilities will be modified:
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Lido Pool, 400 Benjamin Franklin Drive, will be closed.
The Box Office at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall will be open regular hours 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Sarasota MLK Celebration Committee will host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast and Community Awards at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 16 at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex. Among the 2023 trailblazer honorees who will be recognized is Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche, the department’s first Hispanic Chief of Police.
Following the breakfast, a Unity and Historical Walk will commence from RLTCC at 11 a.m. and conclude at MLK Memorial Park, 2523 Cocoanut Ave., where a music fest will take place from noon to 4 p.m. with live performances, local food and merchandise vendors.
Ridership with the Bay Runner and Veo e-scooters continues to amaze as residents and visitors opt to live more, drive less and take our free trolley between downtown and Lido Beach and/or rent an e-scooter or bicycle.
The numbers are staggering! This month, combined Bay Runner and Veo ridership is expected to surpass one quarter of a million riders since the programs launched ten months ago!
This mobility program, honored by the International Parking & Mobility Institute with an Award of Excellence for innovation, certainly has boosted transportation options in the community by offering quick, easy and cost-effective ways to travel around the city. And those options are making a difference. Individuals taking the trolley or a scooter/bike are doing their part to reduce the number of vehicles on our roadways and cut down emissions. Thank you!
The Bay Runner is an open-air trolley and operates daily from 8 a.m. to midnight on a fixed out-and-back route along Main Street starting at School Avenue going through downtown, over the Ringling Bridge, around St. Armands Circle to Ted Sperling Park on Lido Key. For a route map visit www.SarasotaBayRunner.com
Information about Veo rental sharing is available at www.VeoRide.com
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We’re seeking qualified candidates to join our Public Works team! Positions include: Maintenance Mechanic I, Traffic Signal II, Solid Waste Helper, Capital Projects Engineer and more.
Apply online or stop by the upcoming Public Works Job Fair with two convenient dates and times:
- Friday, Jan. 20: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, Jan. 21: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Both events will be held at the Public Works meeting room, 1761 12th Street. Public Works and Human Resources team members will be on hand to discuss positions and answer questions.
Please share this information with family, friends and neighbors who may be interested.
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We’re committed to fostering an open dialogue as we move forward with implementing the new Comprehensive Plan Amendment adopted by the City Commission recently to help boost the attainable housing inventory.
On Wednesday, Jan. 19 our Planning Department staff will provide an overview of the new Comp Plan Amendment and how attainable housing could be included in future developments in four downtown zone districts:
- Downtown Bayfront (DTB)
- Downtown Core (DTC)
- Downtown Edge (DTE)
- Downtown Neighborhood Edge (DTNE)
The Comp Plan Amendment offers an opportunity for a density bonus up to four times the base density, provided there is attainable housing on-site. How could this be implemented? We’ll discuss possible Zoning Text Amendments and you’ll have a chance to provide feedback during the meeting.
A second town hall will be held March 1. At that time, an overview of the proposal will be presented with an opportunity for public input.
We understand this is an important community discussion for attainable housing and quality of life in our special city. We hope to see you at the town halls.
If you can’t attend in person, both meetings will be livestreamed and available on demand through www.SarasotaFL.gov
In the meantime, we encourage you to learn about the City’s ongoing attainable housing initiatives and strategies, available on the Planning Department webpage.
During its last regular meeting, the City Commission addressed two significant issues related to the new Sarasota Performing Arts Center in partnership with the Sarasota Performing Arts Center Foundation.
The Commission unanimously approved an agreement between the City and Professional Facilities Management, Inc. to provide expert consultation services as an owner’s representative on an as-needed basis during the early planning stages, including architect selection. PFM operates many theaters across the country, and it will provide professional recommendations, options and guidance regarding the size of a new facility, functionality, profitability and other specialized theatrical issues that may arise. PFM manages two theaters in Rhode Island listed on the National Historic Registry and the PFM team will be included in any discussions about the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and renovation feasibility.
The Commission also began discussing the creation of an ad hoc Blue Ribbon Committee to make recommendations about the future repurposing and fiscal sustainability of the Van Wezel. There are many decisions the Commission must make, such as specific committee tasks, number of committee members, selection criteria, and a timeline when recommendations will be presented to the City Commission.
The Commission may consider modeling the Blue Ribbon Committee after the Sarasota School District’s ad hoc committee, formed years ago to determine the viability of preserving and sustaining the beautiful old Sarasota High School, which now is home to the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College. Well-known and respected attorney Dan Bailey was a member of the SHS committee and he provided the Commission with helpful information about the inner workings of that process.
Commissioners plan to start delving into the details of the Van Wezel Blue Ribbon Committee during an upcoming workshop.
Discover a whole new world at Disney's Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, coming to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Jan. 24-29! Whether you’re five or 95, this Broadway spectacular is sure to delight.
From the producer of The Lion King comes the timeless story of Aladdin, a thrilling new production filled with unforgettable beauty, magic, comedy and breathtaking spectacle. It’s an extraordinary theatrical event where one lamp and three wishes make the possibilities infinite.
Hailed by USA Today as “Pure Genie-Us,” Aladdin features all your favorite songs from the film as well as new music written by Tony® and Academy Award® winner Alan Menken (Newsies) with lyrics penned by the legendary Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast), Tony Award winner Tim Rice (The Lion King, Aida), and book writer Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer).
Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten!), this incredible musical boasts an incomparable design team, with sets, costumes and lighting. See why audiences and critics agree, Aladdin is “Exactly What You Wish For!" (NBC-TV).
Great seats are still available for the Sarasota premiere of Aladdin! Tickets can be purchased at www.VanWezel.org by visiting the box office or calling 941-263-6799.
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Find out which member of the City of Sarasota team -- believe it or not -- was the Human Cannonball wowing circus crowds in the 1980s!
An image of the Human Cannonball soaring through the air highlights Sarasota's indelible connection to the circus and is one of 40+ pieces included in our cultural arts exhibit at City Hall.
You can learn about the many captivating photographs and paintings on display during an open house Thursday, Jan. 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. A guided tour will be offered plus two brief lectures will explore the community’s extensive cultural heritage.
The event is free and all are welcome to this uniquely Sarasota event.
Thanks again to the Arts Advocates, Circus Arts Conservatory and the Sarasota County History Center, which collaborated with our Historic Preservation Division and Office of Public Art to present the exhibit.
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Classes start in February for American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification at Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex. This course teaches lifeguard principles and how to help others stay safe in, on and around the water. The latest safety and rescue techniques will also be taught, including delivering critical care such as CPR, first aid, and AED (automated external defibrillator) administration.
For those who successfully complete the course, lifeguard employment opportunities are available with our Parks and Recreation Department.
Interested? Register at www.LetsPlaySarasota.com or call 941-263-6732 for more information.
Current lifeguard job postings can be found online at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sarasotagov.
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