Sarasota County to buy Stickney Point parcel, approves $20.77M short‑term financing

Sarasota County commissioners voted 4–1 on May 5 to move forward with the county’s acquisition of the Stickney Point Road waterfront property and to authorize a not‑to‑exceed $20,770,000 commercial‑paper borrow to fund the purchase, closing costs and initial site work.

The vote follows months of staff review and a negotiated purchase price backed by two appraisals; staff reported an appraisal range and said the parcel includes about 700 feet of bay frontage, a 390‑foot boat basin, more than 5,000 square feet of docks and roughly 72 parking spaces. Parks staff presented concept options that emphasize public water access — kayak/soft launches, a fishing pier, picnic shelters and about 30–40 boat slips — while also noting the site could host a hub for charter‑boat and small concession operations once a long‑term plan is approved by the board.

The county’s parks director and Office of Financial Management outlined five short‑term vendor options to allow an existing commercial operator to remain in a limited, revocable role during the transition. Those options ranged from obtaining a seller‑negotiated revocable license at closing to conducting a post‑closing public competitive process for concession rights. Kim Radke, director of financial management, warned that some short‑term choices create title exceptions and procurement risk; staff said they would bring back the precise short‑term approach the board prefers.

Commissioners debating the decision acknowledged the tradeoffs: several said protecting and expanding public water access is a generational investment, while others pressed for protections for the neighborhood’s private wastewater lift station and asked that start‑up infrastructure funds be prioritized to avoid service interruptions for 21 nearby households. Commissioner Smith stressed the acquisition could advance a medallion/permit program for small commercial charter operators; Commissioner Knight expressed concern about price and about displacing existing businesses during substantial site work. Chair (the board chair) said the board must look beyond the immediate costs to the long‑term public benefit.

Following the acquisition vote, the board separately approved the commercial‑paper resolution, also 4–1, to provide the funding mechanism. Radke confirmed the funding will come from the county’s neighborhood parkland / environmentally‑sensitive lands capital program already included in the FY26 budget. Staff said the earliest potential closing date is July 10 if due‑diligence items and title defects are addressed by the seller; post‑closing work will include additional evaluation of buildings and docks, public meetings and development of a formal park concept plan.

Next steps: staff will continue due diligence, clear outstanding title items if possible, finalize financing documents and return with a park concept and recommended short‑term vendor approach for board approval. The county also committed to coordinate on water, utilities and any required transitions with neighboring condo associations.

(Authorities: contract number 2026245 referenced in staff presentation; commercial‑paper authorization referenced on the record.)