[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6485632,"mediaKeyId","5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c","parentId",5602735,"title","Commission hears overview of proposed 2026–2030 capital improvement program as staff flags near-term storm repair needs","audioSeconds",2787,"startMs",15363000,"endMs",18150000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c&start=15363&end=18150","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c/thumbnail_15363000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485632/Florida/Commission-hears-overview-of-proposed-20262030-capital-improvement-program-as-staff-flags-near-term-storm-repair-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485632-a1266ca3699be44bc77aa930c9e1c3f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102037&Signature=g0pVaW3h4nqjZ4~6uDc1DjPlYRrcG-0rbkuRXzt9rI9z3KB-tmDI4PS6O7xnW2Xz7tdyzOm10b8YK4rPe7y65JvpKx2JCH4Qgv3u0BdO4YtFXIv-r8vAi4-54Pwm~cGV2s6RMdxlPodRbXtdXNOtzWPlWjkeBh8UdLRsAz0rOFi-p7LAWnkX5sUmsO6ski42gIjV2c-fwHjNEcgUYqfsa7AApY-mMB7s4xUNRspCPDp~jP2FSojEAGEnSQyCwp0v0ishDf2CxGHBy0tGZbdS2HHO8oAHwUvcw7j74SSe6MRdt2d~pDKIn4kIHcTyNSL9oJ~xEDDJVgl0Nc-O-7x~YQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sarasota","date","2025-08-18T08:45:00Z","article","City public works staff presented an overview of the proposed 2026–2030 capital improvement program (CIP) during the Aug. 18 Sarasota City Commission meeting, summarizing proposed projects and funding in advance of the upcoming budget hearings.

Public works director Doug Jefcoat told the commission the CIP total for 2026 through 2030 — excluding utilities — is $207 million and that the staff-requested funding for fiscal 2025–26 is approximately $42 million. Jefcoat said the document presented at the meeting is the same CIP that was included in recent budget workshops and that a newly created project for storm repairs (Helene/Milton related work) had been funded by reappropriating dollars approved previously for other capital projects.

Commissioners probed funding flexibility and prioritization. Staff explained that many line items rely on restricted funding sources, or on grant matches that must be shown in advance to secure external funding (for example FEMA or certain state grants), and that reallocating restricted funds can require public hearings or meet statutory limits. Staff also said the CIP is a “living document” that can be amended as grants, damage claims or priorities change.

Commission discussion highlighted specific topics: undergrounding electric lines (projects tied to Florida Power & Light coordination), Fruitville Road corridor upgrades (seeking Metropolitan Planning Organization funding and likely to require a new visioning process), affordable housing allocations from the penny sales tax and the city’s use of building services funds to support parking related to the recently opened One-Stop Shop building. Commissioners asked staff to return with clarifications where items were listed as “undetermined” or “potential” and for breakdowns of projected expenditures in neighborhoods (for example, how much is planned in Newtown). Public comment urged equitable distribution of CIP funds and suggested a formal scoring or priority-setting process for capital projects.

Staff indicated that the CIP and proposed funding allocations will be before the commission as part of the fiscal-2025–26 budget public hearing and asked commissioners who want changes to notify staff in advance so staff can prepare details and alternatives for the hearing. No formal CIP vote was taken during the Aug. 18 meeting; commissioners were briefed and asked staff to return as part of the budget process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Sarasota - Regular City Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City public works staff presented an overview of the proposed 2026–2030 capital improvement program (CIP), which totals roughly $207 million excluding utilities, and described near-term storm repair funding moved into the 2025–26 plan.","taxTitle","Sarasota City, Sarasota County, Florida","taxId",58306,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6485630,"Commission allows staff to discuss county’s Justice Center proposal for Ringling surface lot",636,19037000,19673000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c&start=19037&end=19673","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c/thumbnail_19037000.jpg","/articles/6485630/Florida/Commission-allows-staff-to-discuss-countys-Justice-Center-proposal-for-Ringling-surface-lot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485630-a13a625536e965fe6f9ae724241104b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102037&Signature=Dyskx5nbIvD916N2GhVQ3bfNRyzpoUuQAHVKtd12jAPVNtcusIy78~1VgF2WSpRob1Ll0DzNK~OMq5OggcKuGXIrgAvv9AI2KnmjjFuWbHTIAhz8iYuqSXF-jrFwUcMSFf5QffSUk5NqbdvNI5JQsJFWPOvVipeCpwlVkORmLKOlqWxyOvhpBjc7kIcGLUWXwNVlziucyoPriS9CtME-N9mie-dhWMYTK0sfzvgMIQ6qz8zHHtPX3cle8yIgvNarmXwYnf2rABdGpfKssV3~zCKKqbJWeugud4LP~pDEMkGUtq8lY6dqXMJV6TNKu3xmLPSLKQYDyDshU3WSDYJYXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarasota City commissioners on Aug. 18 authorized staff to enter discussions with Sarasota County regarding county interest in using the surface parking lot on Ringling Boulevard (site of the former police department) as a possible location for a criminal justice center or related county office space.

The request came after county staff asked whether the city would be willing to have a conversation about use of the downtown Lot No. 2 (the former police department surface parking area). Deputy City Manager Polczak told commissioners the county’s outreach is exploratory; staff’s motion would authorize conversation and information exchange but not an agreement or sale.

Commissioners asked staff to gather additional information, including the lot’s revenue history and possible long-term city uses, and emphasized that any sale, lease or major partnership would return to the commission for approval. Commissioners expressed differing initial views: some supported staff exploring options because the location is adjacent to the existing courthouse and could reduce daily commutes for court personnel; others cautioned against selling scarce downtown land and asked staff to prioritize retaining city assets.

Action: Commissioner Ulrich moved and the commission approved the request 4–0 to allow staff to enter discussions with Sarasota County about use of the Ringling surface parking lot as a potential site for county criminal justice center functions. The motion authorized conversations; it did not approve any sale, lease or final agreement.

Next steps: Staff will report back with revenue and asset data and with proposed terms or concepts if negotiations advance. Any concrete proposal would be presented to the commission for decision and would require public notice and review.","Sarasota City Commissioners authorized staff to discuss Sarasota County’s interest in using the surface parking lot on Ringling Boulevard (former police department site) for county criminal justice center functions, while reserving final approval for the commission.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6485635,"Purple Ribbon Committee recommends storm hardening, new performing arts center; City Commission accepts report",430,1588000,2018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c&start=1588&end=2018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c/thumbnail_1588000.jpg","/articles/6485635/Florida/Purple-Ribbon-Committee-recommends-storm-hardening-new-performing-arts-center-City-Commission-accepts-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485635-5a178a650b851e9b92aa912db6789ea7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102037&Signature=kERGWOq9lXDBz2wCB5B00ZkkxQoL167J1D8mQw0gwLj-BzqSHUg7JeRpnMmHxZWvqYLgG3loUwu0rX5nMqk65DyPxkT3cQViXv7m1BGbCUu1u6hm8arHQMBKjA7L0cXRDdg1GHjtxtSkgGGMq96-JKXBVTeJXpqmsnFE-h~1BTUI-2N3RveoUlUIIttHaV2PtNs1TzszhoAZBAMGH9ATw73oXPxfu0ODEcTyfgg3Dc6vlkvHHYJC8lhzKe-Qi-dcerV-2ELrwM9kfkSMpam3b9AtvmgRMl520rNnRDrm5eDomyhUmWsZ5LdM0mhpBFLqg74sfelq8GRVyD8tABjN-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sarasota City Commission on Aug. 18 unanimously accepted the final report of the ad hoc Van Weisel Purple Ribbon Committee, which recommended storm-resilience repairs to the Van Weisel Performing Arts Hall and acceleration of planning for a new performing arts center.

The committee, chaired by Charles Kossler, concluded after two years of study and public input that reuse of the hall for contemporary, first-run Broadway-level productions is constrained by its location, deferred maintenance and vulnerability to storm surge. The Purple Ribbon Committee “unanimously recommends that flood proofing and repairs outlined in the Karens 2021 and ’25 building assessment be made to sustain the Van Weisel and a new sustainable performing arts center project should be accelerated,” Kossler told the commission.

Why it matters: The Van Weisel is a longtime cultural anchor for Sarasota. Committee members and public commenters argued that keeping the hall operational while planning and building a modern performing arts center is vital to sustaining the city’s arts ecosystem and related tourism economy.

The committee’s top recommendations include: implementing Karen’s Engineering floodproofing and storm-surge protections, pursuing a determination of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places to support funding opportunities and documentation, creating a contingency plan for local arts groups to use should the hall be taken offline, and accelerating a new performing arts center project. The committee also said no local group proposed a sustainable new operating model that met the panel’s conditions for reuse.

Several speakers from arts organizations and preservation groups urged the commission to treat the Van Weisel as a cultural asset. Erin DeFazio, managing director of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, told commissioners the hall is “actively in use for the foreseeable future” and urged the city to both harden the building and pursue National Register listing to unlock funding and preservation options.

Selma Goker Wilson, a committee member and architect, told commissioners she believed the report’s process lacked a clearly defined framework early on and asked that 1 short prologue section not be included; commissioners debated procedural questions about whether every line of the final report had been read and voted on by all committee members. The committee chair and facilitator said the findings and recommendations were reviewed and approved by committee vote; the committee and many public speakers emphasized that the findings were distilled from multiple expert assessments and chapter narratives by committee members.

Commission action: Vice Mayor Trice moved a resolution thanking the Purple Ribbon Committee and accepting the final report; the motion passed unanimously. The commission then approved a separate motion asking the interim city manager to develop an action plan to carry out the committee’s immediate and ongoing recommendations (including items the committee listed as priorities for near-term repair and monitoring); that motion also passed unanimously.

Commissioners and committee members emphasized contingency planning and ongoing monitoring. The report recommends that Van Weisel staff “monitor and assess how well the hall withstands the environmental challenges it faces and report their findings” to the commission; it also recommends that, should the building sustain “unrecoverable storm damage,” its site be considered for incorporation into Bay Park rather than immediate reconstruction.

What’s next: The commission asked the interim city manager to prepare an action plan for the report’s immediate and ongoing recommendations and present it back to the commission for review, editing and possible adoption. That plan will specify funding strategies, timelines and contingency steps should further storm damage occur.

Commissioners and many public speakers framed the question as balancing investment in resiliency for a historic, in-use hall with planning and funding for a modern performing arts center to secure Sarasota’s cultural infrastructure for the coming decades.","The Sarasota City Commission on Aug. 18 unanimously accepted the final report of the ad hoc Van Weisel Purple Ribbon Committee, which recommended storm-resilience repairs to the Van Weisel Performing Arts Hall and acceleration of planning for a new performing arts center.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6485627,"Votes at a glance: Sarasota City Commission, Aug. 18, 2025",903,6434000,7337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c&start=6434&end=7337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c/thumbnail_6434000.jpg","/articles/6485627/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-Sarasota-City-Commission-Aug-18-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485627-c1c7c473286e5a65f50f325d68279c7a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102037&Signature=ewPbF~RgL-X6jEB73ERPCPaAJEkN5BNA5kUy0bBwXr6-Vk5HHc~xfNJMbKQKNV2aYF6mghp1FyA~RJoMhQ4x-w2mGDAhUi9BaruGokN3HH6XZ16rp9DdNFoOPjN5RDkZQF4wb8l87AaYY84EQNO5y30vVSYajZKJcMLQJKDWN3VfhFYGnb5EMNW0j-TDkMQtU8lEJImIxizQ5q5BrUZssWVDCdlXwOEmFcB7Z2iZmyM-7xHKVHEYecUMPidjJXw2m6D4XIN2FR8ffonAZuatwivNWWAVw7zpolRLRpRs-zoYNVHWGRGO4kfrBT3c9wAGSeRU-oWtFbPVmeNlct8xFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sarasota City Commission took the following recorded actions during its Aug. 18, 2025 regular meeting. This roundup lists motions, movers, seconds, vote tallies and short notes on outcomes. For full discussion and transcript excerpts see the meeting record.

1) Change to order of the day — Passed 4–0
Motion: Approve changes to the order of the day (remove agenda item 10.1). Outcome: Approved. (Recorded earlier in meeting.)

2) Approval of proposed agenda schedule — Passed 4–0
Motion: Approve the proposed agenda schedule. Outcome: Approved.

3) Approval of minutes (07/21/2025 regular meeting) — Passed unanimously
Motion: Approve minutes with submitted changes. Outcome: Approved.

4) Acceptance — Van Weisel Purple Ribbon Committee final report — Passed unanimously
Motion: Thank the Purple Ribbon Committee and accept the final report. Outcome: Accepted; commission also directed staff to prepare an action plan (separate motion below).

5) Direction to staff — Van Weisel action plan — Passed unanimously
Motion: Ask the interim city manager to take the immediate and ongoing recommendations from the Purple Ribbon Committee final report and develop an action plan for review and consideration by the commission. Outcome: Staff directed to draft an action plan.

6) Sarasota Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) minutes & report — Passed unanimously
Motion: Approve CRA special meeting minutes (04/21/2025) and accept the CRA advisory board report; commission accepted the Newtown CRA advisory board report and its support of the Newtown Thriving action plan. Outcome: Accepted.

7) Consent agenda and ordinance votes — Passed (see itemized below)
- Consent item approvals: Multiple consent items approved as read; individual items pulled and discussed as noted in transcript.

8) Ordinance (rezoning) 25-5566 — Passed 5–0
Motion: Approve rezoning application (northeast corner of South Palm Avenue and McNish Square) subject to proffered conditions. Outcome: Adopted on second reading (vote 5–0).

9) Ordinance (Sarasota Yacht Club site) 25-5570 — Passed unanimously
Motion: Approve rezone/plan amendment and site plan to allow expansion and new three-story building at 1100 John Ringling Boulevard. Outcome: Adopted.

10) Ringling surface lot discussion — Authorization to discuss with county — Passed 4–0
Motion: Authorize staff to enter discussions with Sarasota County regarding use of the Ringling surface parking lot for the county criminal justice center. Outcome: Staff authorized to engage; no sale/lease approved.

Notes: Several items on the capital improvement program were discussed but not adopted; the CIP will be considered as part of the upcoming FY2025–26 budget public hearing. Several consent items and resolutions were approved; if needed, refer to the full transcript/meeting packet for roll-call details for each consent and resolution item.

For verifiable excerpts, see the official meeting transcript and minutes posted by the City Clerk.","Summary of formal motions, votes and outcomes recorded during the Aug. 18 Sarasota City Commission meeting, including advisory board approvals, ordinance votes and directives to staff.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6485634,"Newtown CRA unveils brand, website and community-led 'Newtown Thriving' action plan; City Commission accepts report",52,787000,839000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c&start=787&end=839","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602735-c5e56d413e5a971199ff4badffaab06c/thumbnail_787000.jpg","/articles/6485634/Florida/Newtown-CRA-unveils-brand-website-and-community-led-Newtown-Thriving-action-plan-City-Commission-accepts-report","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485634-8df2ee7d580d9555b4724d2b70bcb05f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102038&Signature=FblU-jgzcQvGk8dTA0cuR9FEU3JP1TjZcoWw2mYng8oKc~Qq5yI54XsRzHPQUlG~curr6fkaWt~VzI7ayQVXTza83I2N15~wM96HlaUHrV~5Y23S5dNte0jqmNfdgaQeln7wv-1CqDMZSvwbd8L2uVGLE7gGqrfghuMrn~1W~ZCgRSqIU0blKbkSZt2xno2KrOyFBgfszoySssH8qESOzjLtOTVr-081pNr5vzfD4kpTYSjKDUuV59EzBaWAomjKeOpXHMCXh0Qf463AEUmPzKzo73IKf8zt7qY7xv9hOKGRoCZ29-PmgvGfoeVhAPq5Aspa2xGcXs4qkJcs6PN2hA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sarasota City Commission on Aug. 18 accepted a report from the Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) advisory board detailing a new branding and communications plan and its partnership with the community-led Newtown Business Council’s Newtown Thriving community action plan.

The CRA advisory board described a new, community-tested visual identity and a dedicated website, newtowncra.org, intended to centralize information on grants, projects and events. Alex Chou (Chow) and CRA business relations staff said the goal is greater transparency, stronger resident engagement and a sharper case for local investment.

“The goal was to build a consistent brand, stronger engagement, and greater visibility for the Newtown CRA,” advisory board chair Alex Chow told the commission. The board said branding and website mock-ups include community elements — such as symbols chosen to reflect Newtown’s heritage — and mock ups for social media and printed materials to boost outreach.

The Newtown Business Council, a recently formed nonprofit economic organization, summarized its Newtown Thriving community action plan, a two-year process of workshops, community surveys and strategy sessions supported by a federal economic development program. Mary Butler, chair of the Newtown Business Council, outlined five community priorities in the plan: health and wellness; arts and culture; business and finance; youth education and mentorship; and community safety and security. The council plans targeted projects, including cultural events, business training and neighborhood infrastructure improvements.

The CRA advisory board voted to formally support the Newtown Thriving plan and recommended partnership between the CRA and the Newtown Business Council to align redevelopment activity with priorities identified by residents. City staff said the CRA will consider funding and technical support where projects align with the CRA’s adopted redevelopment plan and available budgets.

Commission action: Vice Mayor Trice moved and the commission unanimously accepted the CRA advisory board report and the advisory board’s recommendations. Commissioners also praised the volunteers and the business council for community engagement efforts and encouraged outreach to additional partners, including Sarasota County, to expand resources. The Newtown Business Council announced it has obtained 501(c)(3) status and expects to expand partnerships and funding requests.

What’s next: The CRA and the Newtown Business Council will continue workshops and seek partnerships to move priority projects from the action plan into funded initiatives. The CRA and city staff said they will coordinate with partners and present funding requests or project proposals to the commission as those opportunities arise.","The Newtown Community Redevelopment Agency advisory board presented a new brand, website and outreach plan and the Newtown Business Council presented a community-driven Newtown Thriving action plan. The City Commission accepted the CRA advisory board report and the board endorsed the action plan.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission hears overview of proposed 2026–2030 capital improvement program as staff flags near-term storm repair needs

Commission allows staff to discuss county’s Justice Center proposal for Ringling surface lot

Purple Ribbon Committee recommends storm hardening, new performing arts center; City Commission accepts report

Votes at a glance: Sarasota City Commission, Aug. 18, 2025

Newtown CRA unveils brand, website and community-led 'Newtown Thriving' action plan; City Commission accepts report