John DePazos, Parks and Recreation General Manager, presented the board with a year‑long recap of landscaping and infrastructure repairs at St. Armands Circle on Oct. 6, saying the department reconstructed irrigation, replaced electrical systems, and completed plantings and hardscape repairs.

DePazos described the scope: “We completely reconstructed the irrigation system, with timers and zones. We installed 30 new trees with species noted here, 4,600 new shrubs and ground covers and annuals, new turf in some areas, mulched the areas, we replaced some broken sidewalks [and] installed some traffic ballers,” he said. DePazos told the board the work was funded through the Parks and Recreation general fund and that staff will seek partial reimbursement from FEMA.

Later in the meeting board members held an extended discussion about establishing a dedicated parks district to secure long‑term funding. A board member said a prior effort had created a park district but that a subsequent commission rescinded it because the county commission would not approve the proposed ad valorem funding. Board members recalled the prior plan would have required a unanimous (5‑0) vote by the county commission and that the proposal had contemplated about a $500,000 annual ad valorem commitment to secure district operations.

Several board members urged the department to invite Brianna Harms (a long‑time parks district practitioner referenced during the meeting) and the city attorney to brief the board on the district’s history and the steps needed to revive or redesign a dedicated funding mechanism. A board member said, “The iron is in the fire, and I think we need to strike,” urging commissioners be invited to listen when the briefing is scheduled.

Board members also reviewed several neighborhood park issues: Patterson Bay Island Park North remains closed from storm damage; members discussed a resident complaint about foul language near Mary Dean Park’s small basketball hoop and declined to remove the hoop, suggesting increased patrols and signage as possible mitigations; and one member reported worsening water quality in Arlington Park’s stormwater pond and said the pond is maintained by Sarasota County, prompting staff to try to convene county and city water‑quality staff.

The board also noted that the Mabel Ringling fountain at Lakewood Park was selected as a Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation “Six to Save” item for 2026 and that a press conference is expected in November. Board members discussed possible coordination with county parks staff and recent signs of improved cooperation at Whitaker Park.

The board set its next regular meeting for Thursday, Nov. 20, and left open the possibility of meeting earlier in the week of Nov. 17 to review clubhouse design plans for Bobby Jones Golf Course. The board approved minutes from the Sept. 18 meeting earlier in the session by voice vote; the transcript records the motion, a second and the chair calling for “Aye” but does not record a roll‑call tally.

Why it matters: board members described persistent maintenance and funding challenges for neighborhood parks and argued a dedicated funding mechanism could secure long‑term maintenance and improvements. Several items the board flagged (storm damage, stormwater pond water quality, local nuisance complaints) call for intergovernmental coordination or operational changes.