The biggest day-to-day change for many residents is parking. The Sarasota City Commission voted 4-1 to rewrite the city’s parking rules so Sunday parking will stay free from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a change pushed by speakers concerned about church access downtown. Outside that window, the city is still extending paid parking hours and raising parking fines. Kyle Battie cast the lone no vote.
Commissioners also hit pause on the downtown master plan process. After hearing concerns from business, neighborhood, and architecture groups about the consultant selection process, the commission unanimously voted to suspend all activity on the ad hoc committee, including procurement, until either the new city manager or the commission brings it back for discussion. That means no consultant contract will move forward for now.
Another vote that will show up in residents’ bills: the commission approved a new $3.63 solid-waste surcharge per account to build a reserve for storm debris collection after hurricanes and other disasters. Staff said the goal is a $5 million reserve over seven years, enough to cover about 90 days of operations. The measure passed 4-1, with Debbie Trice voting no.
The commission also unanimously approved a new 25-year lease for the Sarasota Outboard Club at Ken Thompson Park. Club representatives said the longer term will support about $450,000 in upgrades, including docks, utilities, and building repairs.
Other business included a clean outside audit of city and CRA finances, approval of housing plans tied to federal and state funds, and an update showing Bay Park has drawn more than 1.15 million visitors. Next, public comments on the city’s repetitive loss flood analysis are open through June 12, with a final report expected in July or August.
Key takeaways: - The Sarasota City Commission changed the city parking ordinance on second reading to keep Sunday parking free from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., while otherwise extending paid parking hours and increasing parking fines. The amended ordinance passed 4-1. (3:59:48)
The commission voted to suspend activity, including procurement, for the downtown master plan ad hoc committee until the new city manager or the City Commission places it back on an agenda. The vote was unanimous. (7:50:00)
The commission approved a solid-waste ordinance adding a uniform surcharge of $3.63 per account to fund a natural disaster collection reserve account intended to build to $5 million in seven years. The vote was 4-1. (8:22:58)
The commission approved a restated 25-year lease with the Sarasota Outboard Club, whose representatives said they plan about $450,000 in facility improvements. The vote was unanimous. (8:34:35)
Agenda approval and proclamations
The commission approved the proposed agenda schedule after discussion about whether later downtown master plan items might be discussed together while voted on separately. The agenda approval passed unanimously. (0:30:05)
The commission then issued proclamations recognizing National Safe Boating Week, National Public Works Week, and Truly Valued Inc.’s 10th anniversary day. Representatives from the Sarasota Police Marine Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, public works staff, and Truly Valued spoke briefly. (0:30:15)
The commission also recognized Jamees Johnson of the city auditor and clerk’s office as Employee of the Month for May 2026. (0:53:23)
Student artwork presentation
The commission received a presentation on the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences America 250 student artwork quilt. Principal Tara Tatmash, teachers Brian Hubbard and Samantha Williams, Public Art Committee Vice Chair Maria Shadler-Luera, and a student presented the project. Commissioners commented on the artwork, and staff said a copy would be installed in City Hall and that a list of student contributors would be added to the city’s records. (0:58:05)
Public comment on city topics
During general public comment, speakers raised issues including a damaged sidewalk and reported water leak near 7th Street and Bailey, city meeting times, Ted Sperling Park, a backyard setback issue at 1627 Waldemere, a proposed mural at the Gillespie Park police substation, and relocation of bungalow buildings from the Fruitville/Tuttle area. (1:06:02)
Minutes and CRA audit
The commission approved the April 20 regular meeting minutes unanimously after one non-substantive change was noted. (1:24:09)
The commission then recessed as the Community Redevelopment Agency, approved CRA meeting minutes unanimously, and received a presentation from Finance Director Kelly Strickland and auditor Jeff Wolf of Forvis-Mazars on the CRA financial statements and compliance audit. Wolf reported an unmodified opinion and no findings or compliance issues. The CRA accepted the report unanimously. (1:25:08)
Annual comprehensive financial report
Pulled from consent, the city’s annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 was presented by Kelly Strickland and auditor Jeff Wolf. Wolf reported an unmodified opinion, no internal-control findings, clean single-audit reports, no investment-compliance findings, and a clean Auditor General management letter. He also noted a negative $12.5 million change in general fund balance and a drop in unassigned fund balance from $28.7 million to $10.8 million, which he attributed to hurricane impacts and FEMA reimbursement uncertainty. The commission approved acceptance unanimously. (1:35:21)
Bayfront mooring field budget
Pulled from consent, the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 annual budget for the city’s Bayfront mooring field was discussed. A staff representative said the field has capacity for 109 moorings, with about 75 operational, and said storm-damaged moorings were expected to be restored in about four to six weeks. The commission approved the budget unanimously. (1:43:33)
Housing and community development plans
Pulled from consent, the commission reviewed the draft consolidated plan for federal fiscal years 2026-2030 and the annual action plan for federal fiscal year 2026-27. Housing and Community Development General Manager Cindy Emshoff said the city expects $389,190 in Community Development Block Grant funding and an estimated $405,000 in SHIP funding, and said the proposed use was to increase housing units for low-income first-time homebuyers and affordable rentals. The commission approved the plans unanimously. (1:46:37)
Affordable housing purchase and sale agreement
Pulled from consent, the commission discussed a purchase and sale agreement related to affordable housing. Cindy Emshoff said the funding source was Home Investment Partnerships Program American Rescue Plan money and said the agreement included 20 years of affordability at or below 50% of area median income, plus an additional 30 years at or below 80% of area median income. The commission approved authorizing the mayor or city manager to execute related documents unanimously. (2:06:10)
Consent agenda second readings and parking ordinance
On consent agenda two, the commission approved the balance of the agenda unanimously after hearing one public comment on a sound-ordinance consulting item. (2:37:51)
The commission then suspended its rules to allow public comment on second reading of the parking ordinance. Speakers, including downtown church representatives, asked the city not to charge for parking during Sunday worship hours and suggested alternatives such as starting Sunday paid parking after church services. Other speakers argued for raising rates instead of expanding hours. (2:39:41)
After discussion with Parking General Manager Broxton Harvey, the commission amended the ordinance so Sunday parking would remain free from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The motion to adopt the amended ordinance on second reading passed 4-1. Commissioner Battea voted no. (3:59:48)
The commission also approved another second-reading ordinance, Ordinance 26-5595, unanimously. The title read earlier in the meeting described it as a rezoning of 2283 Ringling Boulevard from Commercial General to Downtown Edge. (4:02:09)
Bay Park update
The commission received an update from Bay Park Conservancy CEO A.G. Lafley and COO Diana Chene on Bay Park phases 3A and 3B, funding, and parking garage planning. They said the park has had more than 1.15 million visitors since opening and outlined a plan to complete phase two by fall 2027, complete Centennial Park by summer 2027 if funding proceeds, and coordinate a parking garage with Van Wezel work. They described a proposed garage of 700 to 750 spaces replacing about 8.4 acres of surface parking with about 1 to 1.5 acres of structured parking. The commission unanimously received the presentation. (5:49:14)
Downtown master plan ad hoc committee and procurement
The commission combined discussion of the downtown master plan ad hoc committee update and the consultant procurement item, while keeping votes separate. (5:49:54)
Planning Director Steve Covert reviewed the committee’s formation and meetings from 2024 through 2026, including distribution of the current downtown master plan and other city plans, presentations to the committee, and the consultant selection process. He said the evaluation committee recommended three firms for final interviews, but two later withdrew, leaving MKSK. He said the evaluation committee unanimously recommended moving MKSK forward after interviews. (5:51:20)
Procurement Official Renee Hayes reviewed the procurement process, said the invitation to negotiate was chosen as the method, and said the process had been highly transparent. She said the first solicitation was canceled because local preference was included but not reflected in the point structure. After the commission waived local preference, a second ITN was issued. Hayes said the second solicitation was sent to 27,669 vendors through the platform, with 117 following the project and 155 downloading the solicitation. She said three proposals were received, and after two firms withdrew, MKSK remained. She said MKSK’s original proposal was $700,000 total, consisting of $500,000 for the initial three years and $100,000 for each of two one-year renewals, and that negotiations brought the contract to the $500,000 budgeted amount. (6:08:26)
Public speakers, including representatives of Architecture Sarasota, the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, the Argus Foundation, and ad hoc committee members, asked the commission to pause or reset the process. Speakers cited concerns about the procurement process, transparency, and the fact that only one consultant remained. (6:26:15)
After discussion, the commission unanimously approved a motion by Kathy Kelley Ohlrich to suspend activity, including procurement, for the downtown master plan ad hoc committee until the new city manager or the City Commission places the item back on an agenda. The commission then took no action on the consultant contract, and the related budget item was declared moot. (7:50:00)
Bay Park day docks ordinance
The commission considered second reading of Ordinance 26-5591 on Bay Park day docks. Broxton Harvey said the city had learned that federal funding for the docks came with an application representation that the city would not charge fees, so the ordinance was revised to remove the proposed $2 per hour fee while keeping a five-hour maximum docking limit. The revised ordinance set the time-limit applicability from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., seven days a week, and still allows citations for overstays. The commission adopted the revised ordinance unanimously. (8:03:03)
Natural disaster collection reserve surcharge
At a legislative public hearing, Public Works Director Nick Patel and Public Services General Manager Todd Kucharski presented Ordinance 26-5596. They said it would codify a natural disaster collection reserve account and add a uniform surcharge of $3.63 per account, with a goal of building $5 million in seven years for a 90-day operational reserve. They said the city has 15,841 residential customers and 2,071 commercial customers, for a total of 17,912 customers. The commission approved the ordinance 4-1. Mayor Trice voted no. (8:22:58)
Sarasota Outboard Club lease
Economic Development and Real Estate staff and Sarasota Outboard Club Commodore Nate Yoder presented a restated lease agreement for the Sarasota Outboard Club property in Ken Thompson Park. Staff said the club has leased city property since 1990, the current lease expires September 7, 2026, and the club requested a 25-year term to support about $450,000 in improvements including water and sewer upgrades, dock improvements, roof repairs, and exterior work. Staff said an appraisal suggested annual rent of $34,000, and that non-city members pay 50% more in dues than city residents, with that additional amount becoming city revenue, along with 20% of event revenue. Yoder said city-resident dues are $298.33 and non-city dues are $447.50. The commission approved the lease unanimously. (8:34:35)
Repetitive loss area analysis
Flood Zone Specialist Nick Baltimore and consultant Denise Boning presented the draft repetitive loss area analysis. Baltimore said the number of repetitive loss properties in the city increased from 48 to 166 after the 2024 hurricane season, making Sarasota a Class C repetitive loss community under FEMA rules. He said the draft identifies 27 repetitive loss areas and found that storm-surge coastal flooding is the primary issue in 16 areas and more than 80% of repetitive loss properties, rainfall and drainage flooding affects 10 areas, and Phillippi Creek flooding affects one area with about 13% of repetitive loss properties. He said public comments would be accepted through June 12 and incorporated into a final report expected in July or August. The commission unanimously received the presentation and directed staff to incorporate commission and public feedback into the final analysis. (8:44:38)
Public comment at end of meeting
At final public comment, speakers discussed the proposed mural at the Gillespie Park police substation. One speaker said the neighborhood association had communicated about the mural through meetings, newsletters, social media, and signs, and supported public art in the neighborhood. Another speaker asked the commission and staff to pause the mural project and consider broader building and landscape improvements instead. (8:45:00)
Commission remarks and follow-up items
During commissioner remarks, Kathy Kelley Ohlrich asked about a possible parks district. City Attorney Joe Polzak said he could bring back an enacting ordinance in July and said funding could later be addressed either through the general fund or a special millage process. A majority of commissioners indicated support for bringing back an ordinance. (8:52:45)
Polzak also said staff had initiated a code-enforcement process related to U.S. Recycling and was reviewing Chapter 27 of the city code. On the sound-ordinance consulting item, he said experts would begin work over the summer and that staff expected to bring an update in July and work product in September. On Ted Sperling Park, he said he could continue discussions with the county and coordinate with the incoming city manager. (8:52:45)
Interim City Manager Jennifer Jorgensen gave an update on a public comment issue raised earlier in the day. She said staff had looked into the sidewalk concern near 7th Street and found vegetation overgrowth on FDOT property and sidewalk repairs the city would address in the next few weeks. She also said a reported water leak was on county land and staff would follow up with the county. (9:22:58)
The meeting adjourned at 5:58 p.m. (9:24:04)
Watch the full meeting recording
Vote tallies in this recap were transcribed from the meeting recording and reviewed by a human editor; this body doesn’t publish a structured roll-call record, so they were not independently verified against an official vote log.
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