The City of Sarasota has ushered in a new era of leadership, with newly-selected Mayor Debbie Trice and Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich poised to address several pressing issues facing the city, most notably the urgent need for affordable and attainable housing and the future of key cultural infrastructure.
The City Commission unanimously selected At-Large Commissioner Trice and District 3 Commissioner Ohlrich to lead the body for the next year during a special statutory meeting on Friday afternoon.
Mayor Trice: Focusing on Housing and Community
Mayor Trice, who previously served as Vice Mayor, brings a professional background that includes marketing and management at IBM and launching entrepreneurial ventures, which she states prompts a fiscally-responsible approach to government. She has been a strong community advocate, including serving as President of the Rosemary District Association (RDA).
A central theme of her time in office has been the necessity of providing housing for the city’s low- and moderate-income residents and longtime retirees. She has consistently emphasized this as a critical issue affecting everyone—from working families needing homes to business owners needing to fill job openings.
Mayor Trice has also stressed the importance of strengthening neighborhood-level “community” and ensuring the city government listens to “the people,” not “special interests,” with goals to implement a successful housing program and establish working partnerships with not-for-profit groups. She has also indicated a desire to improve communication and get more information out to the public.
Vice Mayor Ohlrich: Addressing Cultural and Financial Planning
Vice Mayor Ohlrich, representing District 3, is a retired speech-language pathologist, staff development trainer, and assessment coordinator. She has a deep history of community involvement, including service as an Ohio council person where she chaired the committee that wrote that community’s comprehensive plan, and six years on the Sarasota Planning Board.
A major, ongoing financial issue Vice Mayor Ohlrich has been involved with is the Sarasota Performing Arts Center (SPAC) project and its proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district. She has emphasized the need for comprehensive data and reports, such as the one from the Purple Ribbon Committee, before making final decisions, stressing the project’s financial burden on the community.
Her statements indicate caution regarding the TIF district, specifically questioning how funds would be shared between the SPAC and The Bay park, and how the loss of ad valorem taxes for other city services like infrastructure and roads will be addressed. She has stated she would not expect taxpayers to be burdened with additional taxes to fund capital expenses within the TIF. She is also seeking information on the future use and funding of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, which is linked to the SPAC’s development.
Current Key Commission Actions
The new leadership will immediately be dealing with issues such as the Marian Anderson brownfield site redevelopment in Newtown. The Commission recently granted unanimous future land use approval for an investor group to transform the nearly 14-acre city-owned parcel into a job-creating commercial site, potentially including a health care clinic, medical offices, and light industrial uses. This project requires significant environmental remediation before development can proceed.
The City Commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, at City Hall.
