Nick Patel, Sarasota’s new public works director, joined the Downtown Improvement District meeting and outlined ongoing and planned public-works projects affecting downtown.

Patel said monthly sidewalk cleanings continue across the district and that the city schedules five sidewalk-café cleanings in addition to routine sidewalk work. Tentative café-cleaning months are November 2025, January 2026, March 2026, May 2026 and August 2026; staff will provide specific dates to DID staff when confirmed.

On street repairs, Patel said the block of Pineapple Street between Oak and Ringling requires full reconstruction because “the road is failing on the base side of it, so we have to reconstruct the entire road.” He said design is underway as part of the city’s capital improvement program and that staff aim to complete design next year with construction scheduled off-season to minimize visitor disruption.

Patel and new city engineer Saji Kamia also said the city has a design set for Main Street lighting infrastructure that should improve capacity for seasonal lighting and public-event decoration. The lighting project will coordinate with streetscape planning so work is not duplicated. Board members asked staff to evaluate smaller electric, self-propelled curb-cleaning/vacuum machines that can pick up litter and cigarette butts quickly; Patel said the city will evaluate procurement for future budgets.

What happens next: staff will provide confirmed cleaning dates when available, continue design work on Pineapple between Oak and Ringling with target design completion next year, and evaluate equipment and budget needs for curb- and sidewalk-cleaning machines and Main Street lighting improvements.