STEVE REID
Editor & Publisher
sreid@lbknews.com
The Sarasota City Manager position is a never-ending crucible where budgeting, development, traffic and the threat of hurricanes vie for attention, resources and decisions.
Nobody knows the complicated dance between residents, developer interests and the political proclivities of City Commissioners better than freshly minted Sarasota City Manager Dave Bullock.
And although Bullock has been named “Interim City Manager,” in an interview with Longboat Key News, it became quickly apparent that Bullock is all-in on the job and is excited to help lead the City he has lived in for 31 years.
Bullock is a realist, especially when it comes to growth and traffic.
“Life is not static; it is always changing and you cannot hole-up in one place, create a neighborhood that is positive and not adapt and adjust to an ever-changing world,” said Bullock.
For Bullock, the question of whether Sarasota is growing too fast is less a question of volume versus value.
“It is not growth or no growth, but how do you want to grow?” Bullock said rhetorically.
And Bullock has no illusion on reaching a happy consensus on every issue. He points out that public policy is not a unanimous game. Bullock says that often “consensus is a grudging willingness to go along.”
Blowing in the wind…
Bullock started last month and immediately spent long hours thrust into the City budgeting process. Simultaneously, he has had to stay completely focused on storm resiliency as the region careens into another hurricane season.
Bullock says Florida has done an admirable job when it comes to wind.
“Give Florida credit. For all of its Carl Hiaasin wildness, the Florida building code is pretty good when it comes to wind. It works and protects property. The challenge is around stormwater. We are working through it really hard, but when the Bay rises and is above the roadways, it is extremely trying. Gravity is not your friend,” says Bullock.
Bullock specifically is referring to St. Armands Circle, which saw several feet of water invade every ground floor business and structure.
“This is not the first nor last time St. Armands will flood. There is an elevation issue. If the scientists are right, we will spend a lot more of our future trying to find methods to keep water out,” said Bullock.
Bullock spoke of Tampa General Hospital which has a flood dam that it can employ around its facility but it is extremely expensive and hard to manage.
When asked if he felt increasing development in historically flood-prone areas makes sense, he said that it is up to the community to find a balance that makes sense for itself.
“There has always been a desire for property owners to maximize value from their investment. That is why you have zoning and a comprehensive plan to create and maintain what the leaders feel makes sense,” said Bullock.
Budgeting reserves
Bullock said the recent storms spent a good portion of the City’s financial reserves. He cited the special stormwater projects, the Van Wezel, and the more than $30 million in park damage from storms as all challenges to the budget. Bullock said he expects the growth and property values to continue slowing and there are less gas taxes and sales tax revenue that manifest during an economic slowdown.
“All pressures are up on the expense side,” says Bullock.
For Bullock, the budgetary formula is to reduce costs and increase revenue and build the reserves back up.
Bullock’s last position managing a municipality was on Longboat Key where he was Town Manager from 2011 until 2018. In his stint on Longboat, he initially agreed to a three-year term, but he ended up staying twice as long. Bullock said he will not be applying for the permanent position when and if the City of Sarasota determines its process, which broke down prior to hiring Bullock.
Bullock says he is 100% focused on every aspect of the job and couldn’t be more thrilled to help tackle the issues in the community that he says, “I love so much, I plan to die here.”
