Longboat Key News and Sarasota City News encourages Letters to the Editor on timely issues. Please email to: letters@lbknews.com or mail to PO Box 8001, Longboat Key, FL 34228. We also print letters sent to Town Hall that address Longboat Key issues. We reserve the right to edit.
FPL
To: Longboat Key Commission, Sarasota City Commission
The MSLC Board requested a representative of FPL be asked to attend a future meeting to discuss various issues of concern.
I spoke today to Devaney Iglesias of FPL and she will be attending the Board’s Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 meeting at 9:30 a.m.
She did ask that, in order to bring in the appropriate FPL staff, if you will please provide what items the Board wishes to discuss in advance. This will allow the persons involved in specific issues to answer questions and provide information. As you know, there may be questions about rates, customer service, storm issues, etc. She would like to have persons there who would be able to answer your questions and concerns. Please mark your calendar for our January 9, 2025, to participate in conversation with FPL. Any questions, please let us know.
Gail Loeffler
Administrative Coordinator
ManaSota League of Cities, Inc.
FDOT
To: Longboat Key Vice Mayor Mike Haycock
Thank you Vice Mayor Haycock, here is a plan sheet of the Hornblower Lane location (bottom frame). The FDOT required these medians as part of our project design. The bids have been received, and we anticipate starting construction in the near future. As you may recall, the project has been under design and FDOT permitting for some time, and this is the configuration the FDOT approved for permitting purposes. Because a car exiting Hornblower will be exiting from the right side of the road, it looks like there may be enough room to position oneself in the median before merging into traffic (this would be for one car; two cars could not do that and stage at the same time). Included Tip for FYI as well:
Isaac Brownman
Public Works Director
Town of Longboat Key
Country Club Shores Turn Lane
To: Jeff McKee
I will follow-up and get back to you. This project will be covered in the 1 p.m. Commission meeting at Town Hall on Monday. I suggest you or Chris attend and share your concerns. I will be out of town.
Mike Haycock
Vice Mayor
Town of Longboat Key
Country Club Shores Turn Lane
To: Longboat Key Public Works Director Issac Brownman
Passing on for input and follow-up. Can you forward the most recent drawing of this area.
Mike Haycock
Vice Mayor
Town of Longboat Key
Country Club Shores Turn Lane
To: Longboat Key Vice Mayor Mike Haycock
Chris and I read the article in the Observer and are concerned about the proposed curbbed median south of Hornblower Ln. We have lived on Hornblower for 25 years. While we welcome a turn lane on GOM we feel the curbbed median will create more problems for us when turning south from Hornblower Ln. One of the purposes of such a lane should also be the merging of traffic onto GOM. The curbed median would prohibit this function for residents on our street. I understand the aesthetics of a median but it shouldn’t impede flow. We ask that the town/commissioners reconsider the placement of the median as shown in the Observer article.
Jeff McKee
Longboat Key
So sorry about cats and dogs being eaton stories…
To: Springfield Mayor Rob Rue
Dear Mayor Rue- as an elected commissioner in Longboat Key FL I cannot fathom the horror inflected on your community with the fake stories about dogs and cats being eaten. Please know you, your City Council and your community are in my prayers. I hope these politicians will stop this nonsense so you can return to a place of peace.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
So sorry
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
I am unsure of the appropriateness of this discussion in this venue, but since you have brought it up here as a Town Commissioner and LBK Official, I believe it merits a response.
You write compassionately about restoring the Town of Springfield, Ohio, to a “place of peace.” Perhaps you could let their Mayor know how this could be accomplished in view of our compassionate Federal Government transporting twenty-five thousand people into their moderate sized town. With your wisdom and long experience as a Town Official and Mayor, I would hope you might have some ideas about this.
To help with this, you might wish to consider how the Town of LBK might respond to 1,000 people exiting buses in the middle of the night at, say, Bayfront Park, with no food, no shelter, no money, no English language skills, and no advance notice.
That’s about 25 buses. It indeed sounds like their community needs our prayers, as ours would under similar circumstances.
James R. Whitman
Longboat Key
So sorry
To: James Whitman
The Haitians in Springfield came legally as started by the Republican Governor and their Mayor. They are gainfully employed and are not eating dogs and cats. Do you really think death threats and schools forced to close with bomb threats does not deserve sympathy?
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
So sorry
To: James Whitman
Ps: anytime I identify myself as a town commissioner I must have the public disclosure – not for a discussion. So sad you believe death threats and school closures are not worthy of sympathy.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
So sorry
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
I am replying to you only to set the record straight. I never suggested that the current predicament of the people of Springfield is “not worthy of sympathy.”
To the contrary, I did state that I felt that “their community needs our prayers.”
I will further state that as we do not agree on facts, events, and sources, this “discussion” can serve no useful purpose, and I am choosing to disengage from it.
James R. Whitman
Longboat Key
Transfer funds
To: Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko
I agree with transferring $20,000 from the unused funds from the artificial reef project to the GT Bray project.
Mike Haycock
Vice Mayor
Town of Longboat Key
Amendment to Interlocal Agreement
To: Longboat Key Town Clerk Trish Shinkle
Who needs to sign this? Does it require Commission action?
Mike Haycock
Vice Mayor
Town of Longboat Key
Special magistrate hearing September 11th regarding sea turtle light violations
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
I will give an update but it will only for purposes of information the Commission that the quasi-judicial hearing is still active and pending (since the enforcement case is still active and been resolved) due to the Special Magistrate’s continuance. I will continue to strongly discourage the Town Commissioners from a public discussion about an active code enforcement case.
Maggie D. Mooney
Town Attorney, Town of Longboat Key
Special magistrate hearing September 11th regarding sea turtle light violations
To: Longboat Key Town Attorney Maggie Mooney
Maggie, I attended the above referenced meeting and inquiring if this is a meeting I will report on at our September 23rd regular workshop meeting?
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
US Recycling update
To: Sarasota City Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch
From Patrick Seidensticker the lawyer representing US Recycling in the sale on Thursday last week.
“Pat,
Environmental testing continues as does the Contract for sale of the property. There was a brief extension just executed under the contract.
Other than that – no news.”
Pat Robinson
Deputy City Manager, City of Sarasota
US Recycling update
To: Sarasota Deputy City Manager Pat Robinson
Thank you for the update from Mr Seidensticker, I appreciate it.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
Vice Mayor
City of Sarasota
Idea for roundabout
To: Sarasota City Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch
With the recent passing of Ernie Kretzmer, I would like to propose to the city of Sarasota that we recognize his contributions to the community. Ernie was a huge supporter of the arts community in Sarasota and his passing leaves a huge void in that community. He spent the majority of his life as an engineer and was instrumental in supporting one of the roundabouts that we have in the city. It’s my understanding that the intersection of Orange and Ringling was completed due to a contribution that Ernie made to Sarasota. I don’t have the particulars but it’s likely the city has records that show Ernie had a hand in seeing to the finalized construction of that roundabout. I’d like to propose that the intersection be named in his memory and honor. The recognition of Ernie Kretzmer would be forever etched in the fabric of our city and his family, friends and recipients of his generosity would be forever grateful.
Joseph Holt
Sarasota
Idea for roundabout
To: Joseph Holt
Thanks so much for reaching out per your request to acknowledge and honor Mr. Ernie Kretzmer and the long-lasting impact his generosity has had on our community and City.
I was unaware that he contributed to the roundabout at Ringling and Orange so, “thank you” for bringing that to my attention. There is a plaque for that intersection already but I can not recall if there is an acknowledgement of his donation currently but we can certainly look into that.
I have copied the City Manager Mr. Brown and Deputy City Manager Mr. Robinson on this email so we can look into the protocol and process for such a request. I am confident they will be in touch (and copy me as well please).
Jen Ahearn-Koch
Vice Mayor
City of Sarasota
Retirement
To: Dale Adcock
I do remember you. Thank you so much for the message, the recognition, and the compliment. I centered my entire career and leadership on being a “public servant”, that is, being responsive to citizens. Hope all is well with you and thank you again.
Marlon Brown
City Manager
City of Sarasota
Retirement
To: Sarasota City Commission
A really nice and simple message that I thought I would share.
Marlon Brown
City Manager
City of Sarasota
Retirement
To: Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown
You might not remember me, as you are always in touch with so many residents of Sarasota: let alone the duties you have had as our City Manager. We last corresponded on some questions I had during the Bobby Jones Golf Complex renovation. That being said, I wanted to wish you the very best in your upcoming retirement. It’s a big move to a new stage of life that offers many opportunities. Grab on to them all. Especially those which you may not have had time for in your career.
In my opinion, you have been an outstanding City Manager and perhaps our best. Your ability to respond to citizen’s needs and concerns was the best. And I thank you so very much for the time you spent both as an Assistant City Manager and as our City Manager. All the very best to you.
R. Dale Adcock
Sarasota
Sarasota Open
To: Sarasota City Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle
Thank you for the email Jerry. Without proper access to the bathrooms for the players based on the Baldwin’s new layout / rules (security issues with the players), and the fact that they would not allow us to get a temporary permit for alcohol, or work under theirs, which is very common with a proper agreement, and the fact that the rents from last year were based on fictitious number provided by the Baldwins (Sherman stated in the City meeting that you were at with us, where he first said that they was losing out on $30,000 in profits for the days of the tournament, then he re-stated and said he was actually losing $45,000 in profits as a result of the tournament). This is also based on his prior statements that they were doing $70,000 per week in sales at Court 13. In reality, they are doing $6,500 to $8,500 per month in gross sales, which is about 1/40th of the actual numbers. There was an extra $16k plus in the April revenues from us, which more than tripled any other month thus far.
In the same meeting, Marlon erroneously stated that he met with the City Commissioners regarding the Baldwins agreement with the City, and Sherman immediately stated that he was in the meeting and that he was there when all the City commissioners had unanimously approved the agreement and thought it was great. In fact, Marlon sent an email the next day apologizing to us for miss-stating that he had brought the agreement to the City commissioners. Since the total value of the contract was less than $200,000, it only needed his approval. Elizabeth and I also spoke to Commissioners Kyle Batte and Erik Orroyo and they both said they never saw the Tevatan Agreement with the city.
Lastly, we were notified that Sarah Baldwin contacted Priscilla Gratton at the foundation questioning our donation. Ms. Gratton verified the donation, but this type of behavior does not sit well with any of our team. We spoke to many folks who are members at Payne Park, and most said that they loved having the tournament there. But Sarah’s survey is now saying that most members don’t want the tournament there. With all these issues stated above, we can no longer have the tournament at Payne Park and will have to move on to another venue going forward. The primary reason we were doing the tournament at Payne Park was based on Elizabeth Moore’s love and support of the downtown community. She wanted to drive business and revenues to the downtown area where she lives.
We appreciated You, Marlon, Mark, Carly, Bjorn and Sue, and thank you for your help and kindness in prior years. It is unfortunate that we have to say good-bye. We do hope that the Baldwins find success at Court 13 and do right by the City.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I hope your day is going well. Please understand that if you are unable to provide the requested information to Ms. Baldwin/Mr. Baldwin by Monday, September 16, the City will be unable to host the EMSO event next year. Per Ms. Baldwin’s email, there will be no extensions on the deadline. Thanks, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Jerry Fogle
Parks and Recreation Director
City of Sarasota
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
Not how it works, Steve.
Sara Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sara Baldwin
I’m gathering info. We did not agree with your deadline. Thanks.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
Should I assume you’ve decided to move your event to a new location since we have not heard back from you on the last two emails, and the deadline is now a week away?
Sara Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I’m aware of a records request for our company. Was that from you?
Also, is there any chance you told the alcohol department that we serve alcohol to the general public?
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I set the deadline in our meeting with Jerry, and he agreed it was fair and reasonable. As I have repeated multiple times, I am not willing to extend it. Labor Day is one day, and we don’t think it’s reasonable to request an extension of a “couple extra weeks” because of a one-day holiday. I was able to speak with people in the alcohol department last Thursday and today.
I just got off the phone with the alcohol department, and they emailed me this:
You(r) license type is limited to: Drink for consumption on premises only. Sales to members and nonresident guests only. By F.S. 561.20(7)(a)2, 561.20(7)(a)(c), 565.02(4)
You cannot have 2 alcoholic beverage licenses on the same location. If the ODP temporary permit is being requested for an event to be held on your licensed premises. During the permitted dates and times of the event, no sales or service of alcoholic beverages may be made under your permanent alcoholic beverage license in the area identified for use by the temporary permit applicant in Section 5 of the ODP application. Failure to comply may result in administrative charges being filed against your license.
This has been going on all summer. Here is the timeline for your reference:
• May 31, 2024: Steve emailed saying, “Since Tommy’s Express Car Wash wants to start a marketing campaign in July / August time frame with the tournament as mentioned, we would need to see if there is a mutually beneficial way to do this as soon as possible”
• June/July: many back and forth emails and an in person meeting with Steve, Sarah, Mark Hamilton. Sarah’s communication about alcohol remains consistent, and Sarah is prompting Steve to get in touch with the alcohol department to clarify.
• August 1, 2024: Sarah reminds Steve alcohol can’t be sold to the public under their license and directs him again to contact the Florida Alcohol Department.
• August 15, 2024: Sarah sets the September 16th contract deadline with clear non-negotiables. Steve is given an entire month more to address logistics.
• August 23, 2024: Steve repeatedly questions the September 16th deadline despite it being clearly communicated. He also requests Sarah handle contacting the alcohol department which is his responsibility.
• August 29, 2024: Sarah reaffirms no extensions will be granted.
• September 3, 2024: Steve requests an extension, citing delays due to Labor Day Weekend.
• September 4, 2024: Jerry Fogle confirms the City is not involved and has had been consistent that this is between Tevatan and the EMSO.
At this point, we consider spending any time on this topic past 9/16 to be damaging to our business.
Furthermore, we ran a customer survey, asking their opinions on various topics, including staff, products, and programming. One of the questions was whether our customers would like to see the EMSO return to PPTC, and out of 300+ respondents, nearly two-thirds responded that they would not like to see your return.
We’re trying to act in good faith here, but we’re reaching the end of our limit to collaborate on this. As you said in May, we’re looking to see if there is a “mutually beneficial way to work together.” That answer seems to be “no,” but we’re willing to remain available to you until 9/16 to see if there is a path forward.
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarasota City Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Fogle
Thanks Jerry. Sarah said that the deadline was something you worked out with her. Let’s extend a couple weeks. Thanks.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I hope your day is going well. As you are aware, the agreement will be between your team and Ms. Baldwin/Mr. Baldwin. This is not a City of Sarasota agreement. The City will work with your team, after you have a fully executed agreement with Ms. Baldwin/Mr. Baldwin.
Any deadlines and discussions will be with Ms. Baldwin/Mr. Baldwin. Thanks, and enjoy the rest of your week.
Jerry Fogle
Parks and Recreation Director
City of Sarasota
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Since the information I received was very different than the information you provided to us, I put a call into licensing to get something in writing. I’m guessing since it was a holiday weekend that they may be delayed, but I am waiting for a call back.
As the Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open is a party with tennis, alcohol and food are critical components. You had said that as of now, you would not allow us to serve alcohol, unless we get approval in writing from the alcohol licensing, that would be a non-starter. Let’s extent this a couple extra weeks just in case. I’m sure Jerry should be fine with that. Jerry, could you let me know.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
9/16/24 = deadline to have any necessary contracts signed between EMSO and Tevatan. No exceptions or extensions will be provided.
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Is this deadline something from the city based on your 8/15 meeting with them? I was not in that meeting and was not aware of it.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
Oh I didn’t understand your question. The genesis of that date was a meeting we had with the city on 8/15. And I explained it in two of my emails on that day. Thanks!
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Can you please let us know. Thanks.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Who came up with the Septembet 16th deadline? Was that from the City? The information was given to me by the person in charge. I will email her and get her to send an email regarding alcohol.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
Respectfully, I don’t have time to track this down for you again, as I’ve spent hours with that department learning the rules. I have also spoken to the person in Sarasota who is in charge of enforcement, and she has confirmed what I have been told and told you multiple times. As a reminder, last year, you told me I was wrong about the alcohol permit myriad times, and the information I provided the entire time turned out to be accurate. Because of that, I had to drop what I was doing to meet someone to sign the alcohol paperwork on the day before the event. We will not doing that again.
If you think that something is now different, please have Karina email me and everyone on this email chain the answer to this question:
Can an 11C licensee allow another company to sell or give away alcohol to the general public at their location while still operating their business as normal? If so, how?
If we get that, I will bring it to the area’s enforcement person to confirm. At this point, the onus is on you to provide the necessary information so that everyone on this email chain is comfortable with the alcohol plan. Further resources can be found in these statutes specifically: 561.20(7)(a)2 561.20(7)(a)(c) 565.02(4).
If you can solve this issue, we must also ensure that all necessary terms are agreed upon and all contracts between Tevatan and the EMSO are signed before September 16th. I don’t want to tell you how to operate your business, but I believe parallel processing contracts, tent rentals, and the alcohol plan will be required to meet the deadline.
I want to reiterate expectations clearly because we have had our fair share of communication issues… as I said in my email last week unless we can have all of this agreed to and contracts signed between Tevatan and the EMSO by September 16th, this will not work for us. Last Friday, that was four weeks away. Today is three weeks away. This date came specifically from a meeting we had with the city last week, and they agreed that this was a reasonable timeframe.
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
I spoke with Karina Riviera who is in the Division of Alcoholic Beverages, whose direct extension is 41682, or press 1 and you will get her when you dial the phone number you provided. She is with division of licensing, and she said that she is the appropriate department to discuss the licensing, not with Meloney Osbourne, who is in Administration. She said it is no problem to do a temporary permit event called an “ODP” underneath or concurrent with your existing license and it is a separate event license. The cost is $25 up to 3 days so we would need three of them consecutively. It can only be applied for 30 days prior to the event, so you can have “both”, but they different. I explained that you would be keeping your license active, and she said that was fine. Please call her to discuss, as the answer you gave us was very different than the information we were provided. The event for alcohol would be outside of court 13. Thank you.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I heard from Meloney earlier in the week and she said she hadn’t heard from you yet. Have you made any progress on this front?
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I don’t believe I ever said I would send you the contact info, but I’m more than happy to share. I normally speak to Meloney Osbourne.
Please keep us updated as soon as possible on your progress. We’re committed to making a “go” or “no go” decision by September 16th for our business. Thanks!
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, Bureau of Law Enforcement
Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Phone: 239-344-0885
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Hi Sarah. You had said you were going to let me know who you spoke with and send the contact info. If you could please send that information, it would be appreciated.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
Have you been able to speak with the Florida alcohol department on my previous email?
As we’ve said before, our non-negotiables are that we need to remain open with our space unobstructed and our licenses intact. If there are workarounds within those parameters, we’re certainly open to further conversations about the EMSO at PPTC.
That said, we’re planning our 2025 events and marketing calendar, and so we’re setting September 16th as the deadline by which we will decide whether working with the EMSO is viable. If you are still interested in having the open at PPTC this year, that gives you a full month more to work out the logistics and we can get contracts signed so that the process can move to the city.
And if you’ve already made other plans, please let us know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly. Thank you for understanding where we’re coming from.
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I spoke to the Florida alcohol department, and they said it is not allowed to split up our space and that we cannot allow you to sell (or give away) alcohol to the public under our club license. They are adamant that we would have to waive our liquor license like last time, which, as we’ve said, is not something we are willing to do again. At this point, my best suggestion would be to call them directly to see if they have any other ideas or workarounds.
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I can be available next Wednesday August 7 before 2 p.m. or after 4 p.m.
Please let me know; I can go over to PP.
Elizabeth Moore
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
It probably makes sense to keep it simple. You would be getting a substantial boost in beverage sales at your bar, as you would have your normal patrons plus the folks from Grandstand getting into the air conditioned space and buying there as well. I would think you would do the same pricing as us which would be a bit higher, so the pricing is the same (event pricing is usually higher). We would have a small kiosk outside and we would sell some food items and beverages similar to last year. Let me know if that would work.
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I realized after we met, we never discussed “the economics of food and beverage sales” in person today but that was a point you had in your previous emails on this email chain. Is your plan that we would participate in the sales as part of the tournament? What did you have in mind there?
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Hi Sarah. Would you be able to meet in person at the club next Wednesday afternoon and do a walkthrough and go over the points in my last email. Because you are looking to do a walkthrough outside of the facility for players on the sidewalk, it would be good if Jerry or Mark could facilitate that as additional permits / approvals may be needed. Please let me know. Thanks
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I responded to this email on 6/14. When I hadn’t heard back, I assumed you had decided to proceed with other options.
As I said in that email, my dad is out of the country so a call of any kind is not possible until after 8/8. That is beyond the date that we committed to having this locked in or not by so email is best.
1. Player’s tent on the property but not in our space is between you and the city. Players would need to access locker rooms through the side entrance so the footprint of our space doesn’t change – including the side gate remaining open to our customers the entire time. This is a non-negotiable for us and would also require staging and storage places coordinated with the city so our patio remains as is.
2. Our liquor license if for the entire property.
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Hi Sarah. Could you please comment / respond on the below? It covers several areas that we would need to understand where you are on this. I thought it would have been easier to get on a video or voice call instead of going back and forth. Over communication is key on this. Please let us know. Thanks.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Hi Sarah. Would you have time for video call with Elizabeth and myself next week? After getting quotes from US Tent for a player lounge that we would put on court #1 most likely (I sent rough numbers, but around $22k to $24k to build it out depending on how we lay it out), there would be a way to do the tournament at Payne Park while you keep Court Thirteen open. We would just have to figure out the best secure way to set it up so players can access the locker-rooms securely. There are a couple ways to do this, either going through the second glass door and build out a secure way to get to the bathrooms by making a small walkway next to the Payne Park offices, or go through the fence and do a secure way on the outside of the building and then go through the door through the storage area hallway that goes to where the bathrooms are located.
The main things for discussions would be the economics of food and beverage sales. We need to discuss the options of doing the temporary liquor license or going under yours. In the past when we did the tournament at country clubs, the clubs had the ability to do liquor sales anywhere on the club property and we could do our sales under their license. The cost of the actual temporary license is only $75, so that was a non-issue. It just takes time to get it processed. Since we did it last year, and we know the best way to do it now. With your license, would the only place you could do liquor sales be from the physical area called Court Thirteen? Or could we have a bar near the grandstand court as well? Last year it was discussed that there were differences between your license and the temporary license, but I’m not sure what they were. We usually have two to three locations that we sell from. I’m looking to understand what the options are and how it could work on this.
If you can think of any other open type issues besides these, please let us know. Let me know a good time for a video conference call with me and Elizabeth. All key decisions with the tournament are done by the both of us.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Thanks for the reply Sarah. Last year you or Sherm had mentioned a way to still get players into the back bathrooms with some sort of separate access. Was this through the storage hallway through the back or was there another way to do this? It comes down to player security and what that would look like. The ATP would only approve showers and locker-rooms in the building, and to rent something like that with the requirements from the ATP would put the costs way out of any reasonable budget. But maybe we could put the player lounge on court 1 and create a hallway next to the wall with the offices, and have the park employees and players access the offices an bathrooms from a 3 or so foot walkway on that side, as it could also include a small area for the stringer, or put the stringer in the player lounge tent. There would most likely be quite a few general ticket holders purchasing drinks etc all day, so that the area inside court thirteen would need to be as big as possible. But I think most people would purchase their drinks and go back to the matches, but not 100% sure. That’s what they did when the purchased drinks at the stands when we sold them last year.
When the tournament was at Lakewood Ranch or United in past years, we would go underneath the liquor license of the club. Payne Park is the first venue where we actually got our own liquor license since they did not have one prior.
If that could be figured out, then I think there’s a way to make it work. Do you remember what that was? We could put the player lounge tent on either court 1, 2 or court 3, as the City said that was fine. It’s how to manage the player access to locker rooms while the Court Thirteen remained open for the general ticket holders. That and the structure of the liquor license are really the only issues we would have to figure out. Currently, can you sell alcohol outside of Court Thirteen at Payne Park or does your license only cover members and patrons purchase alcoholic beverages inside Court Thirteen? Does your liquor license cover all of Payne Park or only the room called “Court Thirteen” relating to liquor sales? The temporary license we pulled allows alcohol sales anywhere in the entire Payne Park Tennis Center. These are really important logistics and we have to make sure we get them right.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Steve Gareleck
I’m traveling and won’t be around this week, but please collaborate with the PPTC employees to see where on the property all of this could occur. Since it’s outside the footprint of our space, I don’t think we need to be part of this preliminary meeting since they would know far more about the property than I would.
Sarah Baldwin
Tevatancorp
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Hope your weekend is going well. I sent this email out on Friday but did not hear back. It effects my travel plans for tomorrow. Please let me know if received and if timing works. Thanks
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
Sarasota Open
To: Sarah Baldwin
Good morning Sarah and Sherman. Thanks for your time in the meeting with the City. I would like to see if we can do a complete reset and start from scratch to see if there is a mutually beneficial way to do the tournament downtown at Payne Park with you guys in a mutually beneficial way. This means we would not look back and only look forward to see how we could both mutually benefit.
I have checked with both the ATP and Sarasota Tent. As long as we build out a setup similar to that of an indoor facility, we would be able to do the players lounge on a court. From the rough numbers provided by US Tent (A/C, generator for A/C, fuel, tent, flooring, doors, windows, waterproofing etc., it would be feasible to do the build-out for less than $23,000 for the lounge along with space for officials (divided). We could sell extra tickets or increase pricing to cover this delta.
With a mutually beneficial marketing plan, based on what you had mentioned in the meeting (we have not done a great job on the marketing ourselves), we would like to explore keeping the tournament downtown.
I am thinking about coming into Sarasota this coming Monday early evening / Tuesday morning, and would like to know if you could meet at sight to do a walk-through so we could share ideas of what it could look like having you keep Court Thirteen open and still seeing if we could come up with a plan for the bathrooms. You had mentioned a way to do it last year, but I was not sure how it could be done.
Since Tommy’s Express Car Wash wants to start a marketing campaign in July / August time frame with the tournament as mentioned, we would need to see if there is a mutually beneficial way to do this as soon as possible. Time is on our side, as there is no immediate rush. With Tommy’s and possibly your marketing expertise, we would have the opportunity to make the tournament a little larger in the number of ticket holders (we don’t want to get too big). But the larger numbers would probably better for Court Thirteen and for the tournament. We sold out the final weekend (Saturday and Sunday) with very little marketing. We have the ability to increase seat numbers as well for the general ticket holders, so we can grow from there. VIP will be more limited. Please let me know your thoughts on this. Thanks.
Steve Gareleck
Elizabeth Moore Sarasota Open
