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Board hears EcoRover breakdown, discusses storage, transfers and outreach
Summary
City board members were briefed on a recent EcoRover motor failure, repair and options for storing and deploying beach-access wheelchairs; staff said they will pursue storage alternatives with Parks & Recreation and report back at the November meeting.
The board heard an update on the city’s EcoRover beach-access vehicle after one motor failed and the device went out of service temporarily.
Jake, a staff member, told the board, “The EcoRover did experience a breakdown taking it out of commission. One of the motors on the right side ceased functioning.” He said the failure occurred before the user got into the device and that the motor has been repaired.
The update matters because the EcoRover is one of the city’s primary mobility aids on the beach and the board discussed where the device should be stored to avoid heat-related damage and weather exposure. Jake said a local repairer, Cordell, has repaired the device for free and previously replaced rust-prone wheels with stainless steel. Jake said Cordell suggested the current storage box may expose the EcoRover to excessive heat and that Parks & Recreation might offer climate-controlled storage near lifeguard break rooms.
Board members pressed staff for practical details about transfers and emergency procedures. Jake said the EcoRover’s lifting arm can assist a chair-to-chair transfer and that rentals require a person with the user who can perform transfers. He added that, “If that were to happen, we would use one of the manual beach chairs, and they would be transferred into the manual beach chair,” and said staff would enlist lifeguards for assistance when needed.
Board members discussed whether the EcoRover could be displayed or used at community events such as farmers markets or street fairs; Jake said that is possible if a trailer is supplied and if interdepartmental support is arranged. He also said Cordell is exploring forming a nonprofit to trailer EcoRovers to community events, although that plan is not finalized.
On locations and infrastructure, Jake said building a new storage structure at the beach may be difficult because of sustainability and permitting regulations and that the most promising route is an interlocal agreement with Parks & Recreation to use existing space — possibly a roughly 5-foot-by-5-foot air‑conditioned break room near an outlet. He said Parks & Recreation currently removes and stores the city’s Connex containers at Public Works to protect them from wind and flooding.
The board also raised related recreational ideas — including outreach to the Sarasota Lawn Bowling Association about adaptive lawn bowling and questions about whether EcoRover treads would damage grass at bowling greens — and asked staff to pursue those leads and bring options to the November meeting.
Staff distinguished discussion from direction: no ordinance or policy changed at the meeting. Jake said staff will pursue storage options with Parks & Recreation, review interlocal agreement options, and report back to the board in November.
Ending: The board moved this topic to the November agenda for follow-up and asked staff to provide any feasible storage alternatives, cost estimates and regulatory constraints when they return with an update.
