Excellent progress has been made on the multi-phase, multi-year infrastructure improvement project replacing aging water main segments under N. Tamiami Trail.
While all travel lanes were reopened prior to the holidays as initial project phases concluded, work will resume over the next week, with construction between Dr. MLK Jr. Way and Myrtle Street.
As with prior phases, temporary lane closures will be required. One lane of the North Trail will be closed in each direction within the project area as work on this significant infrastructure improvement continues. Two-way traffic will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.
We appreciate everyone’s patience as we replace 60-year-old pipes and enhance resiliency within the drinking water distribution system.
For more information about the N. Tamiami Trail water main replacement project, click here.
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Heads up! The Florida Department of Transportation has announced it soon will begin construction on two significant roadway improvement projects in the Sarasota city limits: |
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Jan. 5 – State Road 789 from Bird Key Dr. to Sunset Dr.
- FDOT will begin construction from Bird Key Drive to Sunset Drive on State Road 789 (Gulfstream Avenue/John Ringling Causeway). Improvements will range from adding dedicated bike lanes on the Ringling Bridge to seawall upgrades and drainage improvements. New traffic signals will be installed at the intersections of Sunset Drive, Golden Gate Drive and Bird Key Drive. Construction will take place during daytime hours with occasional nighttime work. Expect noise from backup alarms, construction equipment, pumps and power tools during daytime and nighttime operations. FDOT expects to complete the project in early 2027.
Jan. 13 – St. Armands Circle safety upgrades
- FDOT crews will replace the existing modular speed humps in the St. Armands Circle area with new asphalt speed tables designed for long-term resiliency and enhanced neighborhood safety. To limit traffic disruptions, construction work is scheduled to take place during nighttime hours. The project is expected to take no more than two weeks to finish.
Before the holidays, the City received some much-anticipated good news with the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners approving $13.5 million in Resilient SRQ funding for resiliency projects on St. Armands Key. The allocated dollars will fund improvements to Sarasota County’s stormwater infrastructure on St. Armands Key including dissipating floodwaters faster after a storm, safeguarding evacuation routes from extended periods of flooding, and improving the area’s resiliency against severe weather. While specific details are not yet available, projects are expected to include improvements to generators, pump systems, and tidal check valves.
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In November, the County Commission approved approximately $23.7 million for the dredging of both Whitaker Bayou and Hudson Bayou to address sediment buildup and bank erosion in two of Sarasota’s oldest waterways. This dredging effort is expected to remove nearly 200,000 cubic yards of sediment to restore the stormwater capacities of both waterways and reduce neighborhood flooding.
Each of the three funded projects will be managed by Sarasota County.
We appreciate the County’s support! Thank you also to the many City residents and City staff who attended County Commission meetings and shared their experiences as to why the dredging and enhanced resiliency is critical to Sarasota.
Click here to learn more information on approved Resilient SRQ projects.
A new online records portal is now available to provide faster, easier and more efficient access to City of Sarasota records.
Launched at the end of December, the modernized platform offers enhanced search capabilities, streamlined document categories and an expanding library of public records as additional documents are added. The new records management system contains ordinances, resolutions, contracts/agreements, development applications, election records and other City records that were available through the City’s previous portal, eDocs.
The new portal can be accessed through the City’s website www.Sarasotafl.gov or click here.
Congratulations to the Records and Information Management team in the Office of the City Auditor and Clerk on this new user-friendly portal which highlights the City’s continued commitment to transparency and improved efficiencies.
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You’re invited to participate in a new series of informal gatherings to discuss a future Sarasota Performing Arts Center.
Hosted by the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation in partnership with the City, these small-group conversations are designed to ignite dialogue while having the chance to meet Foundation leadership and City staff, share ideas and learn more about the vision taking shape for this civic project. Each meeting will take place at a local neighborhood favorite across Sarasota and will include light bites and a complimentary drink courtesy of the Foundation.
One gathering a month is scheduled from January through April at varying times and locations. With limited space, registration is required.
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Renée Fleming, one of the most celebrated singers of our time, comes to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Jan. 9. A five-time Grammy® Award winner and 2023 Kennedy Center Honoree, Fleming has appeared at the world’s leading opera houses and landmark events, including the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. She also made history as the first classical artist to perform the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Her recent work includes the Grammy-winning Voice of Nature: the Anthropocene and her 2024 book, Music and Mind: Harnessing the Arts for Health and Wellness. Tickets are available now at VanWezel.org
The experience continues on Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. with a free community panel discussion presented by the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation. Inspired by Music and Mind, the conversation explores how music supports brain health and overall well-being, featuring Fleming alongside leading experts. The panel begins at 10 a.m. and is followed by a book signing with Fleming. Reserve your spot here.
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You’re invited to a free reception celebrating the refreshed Petticoat Painters exhibit on Thursday, Jan. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m. at City Hall, 1565 First Street.
Come explore the updated exhibit, chat with the talented artists behind the work, and enjoy light refreshments. At 4:30 p.m., hear remarks from Mayor Debbie Trice and Petticoat Painters President Jana Millstone in the sculpture garden on the east side of City Hall followed by a performance from Sarasota Contemporary Dance.
The exhibit, Now You See Us, was refreshed in November 2025 with 46 new pieces and will be on display in the City Hall lobby through Spring 2026. This showcase is part of the City Hall Cultural Heritage Exhibit, launched in 2022 to celebrate Sarasota’s rich cultural legacy with museum-quality art on a rotating basis.
You can view the Cultural Heritage Exhibit for free during regular business hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. in the City Hall lobby.
Want to learn more about the Public Art Program? Visit Sarasotafl.gov/PublicArt.
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Keeping our roads safe starts with something simple: making sure every license plate can be clearly seen.
A new Florida law, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, now makes it a criminal violation to block or cover your license plate. Whether it’s a tinted shield, a clear plastic cover or any material that affects how your tag can be viewed, is illegal.
Effective Oct. 1, 2025 it is illegal to block or cover your license plate.
Under this new law, anything that interferes with the legibility, visibility or detectability of a license plate is prohibited. That includes substances applied to the plate, plastic or glass covers, tinted or clear, and frames that obscure even a portion of the numbers, letters or registration decals. If an officer or camera system can’t read your tag clearly, it could result in a violation. The Florida State Statue regarding this law can be read here.
Blocking or covering a license plate is now classified as a second-degree misdemeanor. That means a fine of up to $500, the possibility of up to 60 days in jail and a mandatory court appearance before a judge. That means this is not a ticket you can pay by mail.
Visible and unobstructed license plates help ensure drivers can be identified in emergencies, crash investigations and hit-and-run cases. Tags clear of any blockage also supports automated systems that alert law enforcement to stolen vehicles, endangered missing people and other urgent situations.
The Sarasota Police Department is asking all drivers to take a moment to check their vehicles. Make sure your license plate is clean, uncovered and free of any material that could be considered an obstruction. A quick change today can help keep our community safer tomorrow.
Visit the Sarasota Police Department YouTube channel here to watch a public service announcement about this new law.
We’re seeking qualified candidates for a Fleet Services Tech III position. Are you or someone you know interested?
Visit Sarasotafl.gov to apply online and see other employment opportunities with the City of Sarasota.
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