Community members and local businesses are invited to join us from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24 at City Hall to discuss the City’s parking program, recent changes to parking enforcement, and future plans for parking at an open house event.
Attendees will hear a presentation from staff and have the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with written questions accepted during the meeting.
This dialogue will provide valuable input ahead of the City Commission’s parking workshop tentatively scheduled for Aug. 31.
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Beginning Saturday, August 1, a fee of $3.63 will be added to monthly solid waste bills for commercial and residential customers, for a new Natural Disaster Collection Reserve. The fund will help ensure we’re prepared to respond quickly and efficiently after an emergency event.
The user fee will support rapid debris removal following a hurricane or other natural disaster. The 2024 hurricane season, with back-to-back major storms that affected communities throughout Florida and the southeast, underscored the importance of having funds available to provide timely contractor payments for storm debris pickup.
The reserve is planned to raise $5 million over the next seven years. If disaster cleanup is needed, the funds would be available immediately.
Questions about the new Natural Disaster Reserve should be directed to the Solid Waste Division: 941-263-6170.
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The City of Sarasota recently was notified of the approval of $4 million in State funding to advance three major infrastructure improvements to enhance safety, accessibility, and resilience.
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Whitaker Bayou Dredging: The State has allocated $2,499,750 to help restore the original depth of the Whitaker Bayou channel. This project will reduce repetitive loss flooding and improve overall water quality in the area.
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Armands Key Corridor Improvements: With $1,250,000 in State funding, upgrades will be made to primary evacuation routes on St. Armands Key. These enhancements are designed to strengthen evacuation readiness, lessen flooding impacts, and support faster recovery following tropical weather events.
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Citywide ADA Barrier Removal: $250,000 in State funding will support accessibility upgrades at City facilities. This work advances the City’s ADA goals and improves pedestrian safety throughout municipal buildings, parks, and public rights‑of‑way.
Thank you to Rep. Fiona McFarland, Rep. James Buchanan, and Sen. Joe Gruters for supporting these appropriations, and to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approving the funding in the State budget.
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With affordable housing a top priority in the community, data about attainable and affordable housing units within the city limits is now available through a dashboard on the City's website.
You can easily explore these housing options from completed sites to proposed developments and more.
 The dashboard displays a variety of metrics including the total number of attainable units, occupancy type, developer incentives and more.
Check it out at Sarasotafl.gov/housingdashboard
The dashboard will be updated as new information emerges.
Don’t miss notices about Special Events in the City of Sarasota!
From holiday celebrations to festivals, recreational events and more--there’s an easy way to stay informed about upcoming Special Events and plan ahead for traffic impacts.
You can sign up for email and text notifications including the event name, time, date and place as well as any associated street closures. To sign up visit www.Sarasotafl.gov/Subscribe and check “Events and Street Closures”.
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Registration for the Neighborhood Canopy Program is open until Aug. 17!
Through this program, City of Sarasota residents can receive a professionally planted, 2‑inch caliper tree installed between the front of their home and the street.
The cost to participants is just $100, with the City covering up to $500 of the remaining expense through the Tree Mitigation Fund, which reinvests a portion of tree removal permit fees into growing Sarasota’s urban canopy.
Neighborhood Canopy Program participants can choose from 10 species:
- green buttonwood
- gumbo-limbo
- live oak
- D. Blanchard magnolia
- redbay
- royal poinciana
- shady lady black olive
- southern red cedar
- sycamore
- winged elm
Beyond beautifying the community, planting trees helps cool neighborhoods, reduce energy use, clean the air, filter stormwater, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Registration closes Monday, August 17, and plantings will take place between August 31 and September 21. City of Sarasota residents can register to participate at: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/97739db4a79e43bba894cc7e31c22a62
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It’s hard to believe summer is nearly over, and the first day of school is quickly approaching!
Many students in Sarasota will head back to class on Monday, Aug. 10 and the Sarasota Police Department would like to share a few safety reminders as everyone gets back into the school routine.
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Drivers:
- Slow down! Put your phone away and stay focused on the road.
- Watch for children walking, biking or crossing the street.
- Leave early. Traffic is often heaviest during the first few weeks of school.
- Slow down in school zones and neighborhoods. Watch your speed and obey posted speed limits.
- Stop for school buses. Failing to stop for a stopped school bus can result in penalties, including a moving violation, points on your driver's license and fines of up to $465.
Parents:
- Talk with your children about walking and biking safely.
- Make sure bike helmets fit properly and are worn every ride.
- Remind children to use crosswalks and look both ways before crossing the street.
- Encourage children to keep their heads up and avoid distractions like phones and headphones.
Students:
- Stay alert when walking or biking to and from school.
- Never run into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Cross at designated crosswalks whenever possible and follow crossing guard instructions.
- Be aware of your surroundings and never assume drivers can see you.
If you're driving, walking, biking or riding the bus, we all play an important role in keeping Sarasota safe. A little patience, extra attention and kindness can help ensure every student arrives at school and back home safely.
A City of Sarasota executive staff member is helping shape the future of her profession statewide.
Our Financial Administration Director Kelly Strickland is now leading the Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA) as its 2026-27 president!
Education and empowerment are central to Kelly’s vision as she leads the association’s 2,800+ members—representing sectors from state and local government to higher education and private firms—in their shared responsibility as stewards of public funds.
An FGFOA member since 1994, Kelly has worked for the City since 2009 and in her current role since 2016. Over the years, she says, her strong professional community helped shape her as a leader, and she looks forward to supporting Florida’s public finance professionals. More than half of the City’s Financial Administration employees are FGFOA members as well, and many have earned certifications through the organization.
Recently, Kelly was sworn in as president at the FGFOA annual conference. As she steps into this prestigious role, Kelly and her team earlier this week delivered seven months of work as the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget was presented to the City Commission during two comprehensive days of workshops.
Congratulations, Kelly!
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Celebrate Christmas in July at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall!
We have added 10 exciting new shows to our upcoming season, bringing even more holiday magic, festive entertainment, and unforgettable performances to our lineup. From cherished holiday traditions to fun for the whole family, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
All newly added shows are on sale now, so visit VanWezel.org to explore the full lineup and reserve your seats today.
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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