By the numbers: 85 hopefuls, one trolley ride, one Karie
To: Sarasota City Mayor Debbie Trice
For the City Manager search we had:
85 applicants
42 semi-finalists selected
36 video interviews reviewed (6 withdrew during this process)
6 finalists selected
5 visited on-site (one withdrew before the visit)
My staff is working on finding some images. Miles has some for the RLT interviews, but we are trying to see if anyone has anything for the trolley tour.
Shayla Griggs
City Clerk
City of Sarasota
Mayor tossed the binders, now wants the numbers back for her speech
To: Sarasota City Clerk Shayla Griggs
I definitely want to include info about the City Manager search, but I apparently dumped the contents of all the binders as soon as Karie signed her contract.
Would you please provide number of applicants, number of semi-finalists whose video interviews we watched, and number of finalists who visited Sarasota. I suspect that Miles has video (or can locate stills) of the trolley tour we took the finalists on and the “meet the people” event at RL Taylor. Please add any other info and images you consider worth including.
Debbie Trice
Mayor
City of Sarasota
A compliment reaches City Hall, so naturally it gets cc’d up the chain
To: Brogan Wachob
I am copying the city manager and the deputy city manager with this response so the appropriate staff can be notified of your compliments. Glad it worked so well for you!
Liz Alpert
Commissioner
City of Sarasota
A resident clicks, and the city fixes it
To: Sarasota City Commission
I wanted to share my appreciation for the City’s new Click-2-Fix app. A streetlight in my neighborhood had been out for quite some time, and after I noticed the new app, I used it to report the issue. Within just a few days, the light was repaired.
The app made the reporting process incredibly simple, and the City’s quick response was genuinely impressive. Great example of technology making it easier for residents to communicate with the City and see tangible results.
Please make sure my compliments are shared with the appropriate City teams and staff—both those responsible for developing and launching the app and those who responded to the service request. Their work is noticed and appreciated!
Brogan Wachob
Sarasota
New city manager is learning the fee schedule
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Liz Alpert
I have requested this additional information and who the fee is applicable to, per our code. I apologize I don’t have this information, but I am learning.
Karie Friling
City Manager
City of Sarasota
Commissioner asks the $47,000 question
To: Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling
Please have staff provide the information on how the multi-modal fee is calculated.
Liz Alpert
Commissioner
City of Sarasota
The answer is Chapter 25, Article II
To: Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling
Hi Karie, this charge is for the Multimodal Transportation Impact fee that is required pursuant to Chapter 25 Article II of the City Code. Attached is the impact fee worksheet for this development.
Lucia Panica
Development Services Director
City of Sarasota
Caragiulo’s landlord gets a $47,000 road bill
To: Sarasota City Development Services Director Lucia Panica
I received a call today from Commissioner Alpert about this project. She received a call from the property owner – Mark Kaufman – and he said that he received a road assessment bill for $47,000. He did not know what this was for. Can you please provide me with some additional information that I can share with the Commissioner?
Karie Friling
City Manager
City of Sarasota
The city was “monitoring” the rain
To: Scott Macdonald
I want to acknowledge receipt of your email. The City was monitoring the rain event last night and was in regular contact with the County during it. I have reached out to Jonathan Lewis and asked for a post-incident report to be shared.
Karie Friling
City Manager
City of Sarasota
Circle says the pumps took the night off
To: City of Sarasota and Sarasota County Officials and Staff
I am writing to request immediate attention and action regarding the worsening stormwater and flooding problems on St. Armands Circle. Businesses are experiencing flooding during rainstorms that, historically, have not caused water intrusion. This is an unacceptable situation that threatens the investments and livelihoods of our business community.
Crab & Fin has operated on St. Armands for nearly 50 years. Before the two hurricanes of 2024, we had never experienced flooding inside our restaurant. Yet during last night’s heavy rain, water entered through our back door. Columbia Restaurant had to sandbag its front and back doors, and other businesses experienced flooding as well.
More than two years after the devastating hurricanes, the stormwater system appears to be performing worse, rather than better. In all our years on the Circle, we have never seen flooding from non-hurricane rain events become this severe. Last night, the pump station in the Fillmore parking lot did not appear to activate during the storm, nor did other pumps in the area. We need an explanation of whether these systems were operating properly and, if not, why.
Following the hurricanes, St. Armands businesses made the difficult decision to rebuild, reinvest, and remain committed to the Circle. We need the City and County to demonstrate that same commitment by addressing the infrastructure necessary to protect this community.
I am requesting:
· An immediate inspection of the stormwater system and pump stations serving St. Armands Circle.
· A written explanation of pump operations during last night’s storm, including any failures or outages.
· Immediate measures to reduce flooding while permanent improvements are developed.
· A clear corrective action plan, with a timeline and an identified point of contact responsible for coordinating the response.
Please acknowledge this letter and provide an initial written response within five business days. We also request a meeting with the appropriate City and County officials and staff to discuss these concerns and the steps needed to resolve them.
Continued inaction in the face of recurring flooding is unacceptable. Our businesses cannot be expected to repeatedly absorb preventable damage while waiting for a meaningful response. This issue requires urgency, accountability, and measurable action.
Thank you for your prompt attention. I look forward to your response and a concrete plan to protect St. Armands Circle.
Scott Macdonald
President
St. Armands Circle Association
The surprisingly expensive math of “free” parking
To: Sarasota City Commission
At the request of Commissioner Ahearn-Koch, staff has provided the attached financial projections that show what would happen to revenues and expenditures for the parking fund, if the City removed timed meter parking on the street. As reflected, the deficit increases because we would still need enforcement on the free 2-hour timed street spaces. However, it does decrease the expenses one-time in FY2028 by $650,000 due to the removal of the pay station replacements. The attached spreadsheet shows the current projected fund (as shared with the Commission on August 31, 2026) versus the revised projected fund.
Karie Friling
City Manager
City of Sarasota
Commissioner gets the Siegfried’s house rules
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
Reservations are only valid with a confirmation, and most likely your reserved table will not be available prior to your reservation time.
René Zimmermann
Owner and Executive Chef
Siegfried’s Restaurant and Biergarten
Sarasota
Landlords say the 1800 block of Fruitville is not for sale
To: Tenants
Alex and I want to provide you with an update regarding the property and clarify what has taken place over the past few days.
As you know, the property had been under contract for sale. We want to emphasize that we did not list the property, solicit offers, or approach buyers looking to sell the property. The buyer approached us directly and presented an offer, to which we agreed.
Because we entered into the contract, we were required to sign a nondisclosure agreement. We were not permitted to discuss the potential transaction with our tenants or with the general public. This confidentiality requirement is also why you did not see us quoted in the newspaper or making public statements regarding the potential sale. Our lack of communication was not intended to create uncertainty or concern; rather, we were contractually required to maintain confidentiality.
We wanted to let you know that the contract is no longer in effect, and the property is no longer under contract. Most importantly, we are not listing the property, marketing the property, or seeking a buyer. The property is not being offered for sale.
Our intention is to continue owning and managing the property and providing the stability and continuity you have come to expect prior to the offer we received.
We want you to hear this directly from us and to have a clear understanding of what occurred. We appreciate your patience and, most importantly, your continued tenancy.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss anything regarding the property.
Alex and Marlene Lancaster
Sarasota
Mayor road-tests her State of the City
To: Sarasota City Clerk Shayla Griggs
Please see themes (below) that I expect to focus on during my State of the City. I’d welcome your input.
Debbie Trice
Mayor
City of Sarasota
State of the City
To: Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling
Please thank everyone who got info about key accomplishments to you by the end of last week. It was very useful in enabling me to develop some themes for next month’s presentation. Note that I’m focusing on themes, rather than accomplishments attributed to specific departments.
I did come up with questions as I went through the inputs — in some cases, needing clarification, in others, more detail. How would you like me to get answers? Should I email my questions to the directors and copy you? Or go through you to get answers?
Here’s my rough list of themes, not in any particular order at this time.
(This material gets incorporated into the middle of the Rough Outline I gave you last week. And the presentation is pushing past the time limit. When we talk, feel free to suggest items to cut. Some items won’t need to be mentioned if we have images to display, e.g., public art.)
Recognition/Awards Received by City
Storm Recovery and Readiness for Future Emergencies
Affordable Housing
– Units completed, units rehabilitated
– Readily accessible information (dashboard)
– Transitional housing
Quality of Life
– Parks
– Public Art
– Programs for Seniors
– Programs for Youth (SPD)
– ADA Improvements
Fiscal Responsibility
– Grants and Reimbursement from Federal, State, County & Philanthropists
– Improved Procurement System
– Solid Waste Natural Disaster Reserve
– Budget Accomplishments
Public Safety
– State-of-the-Art Policing improves outcomes
Capital Projects
– Lido Beach Renourishment
– Utilities?
– Improvements Underway, but not yet completed?
City Government Process Improvements
– Leadership Training
– “Meet the Makers”
– Other? (CM, City Auditor & Clerk, City Attorney)
Future?
Debbie Trice
Mayor
City of Sarasota
