Going Green-ish: Ditching the Blue Sheets for Granicus
To: Sarasota City Clerk Shayla Griggs
Thanks. Shayla, I have been using the notes section of Granicus more. I will no longer need a paper copy of the agenda request sheets, the blue sheets, but I do want a paper copy of the agenda.
Kathy Kelley Ohlrich
Vice Mayor
City of Sarasota
The Great Certificate Hunt: Development Services is on the Case
To: Greg Cestlavie
The Development Services Department would be where this information is filed if we have it. I have asked Director Panica to ask her staff to investigate.
Karie Friling
City Manager
City of Sarasota
Congratulations (But Also, I Have No Idea What You Need)
To: Greg Cestlavie
Thanks for reaching out. I am not crystal clear on what you are looking for but I have copied the City Manager on this email and she will be able to direct you to sources to help (and copy me as well please). Thanks and good luck with the new place!
Jen Ahearn-Koch
City Commissioner
City of Sarasota
Let Them Eat Kouign-Amann (If We Can Find the Occupancy Paperwork)
To: Sarasota Cituy Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
Hi Jen, we are preparing to open a small cafe on N Trail, across from Ringling College, with Cemantha, and I’m running into a challenge I’m hoping you can help me with.
We are operating with the same footprint and zoning as the previous tenant (Shelf Indulgence – cafe and bookshop). After going to City Hall and trying to locate the Certificate of Occupancy / Certificate of Use, and then doing a public records request, the only result I’m getting is for Indian Beach Plaza. It’s weird that I can’t find documentation for the business on its own besides their Certificate of Registration number.
I’d like to apply for renewed certification based on the existing documents. They must have some records, but I can’t find them!
Can you please recommend someone who can help us locate the documents we need? Hoping for a soft opening the first weekend in October, and we’ll be just a few minutes from you. Please come try our Petit Vendôme sandwich! Or the Kouign-Amann Cake – I think we’ll be the first in Sarasota to offer it.
Greg Cestlavie
Sarasota
Flashback to February: The Ted Sperling Park Files
To: Sarasota City Commission
Please find attached and below information that was shared with the City Commission back in February 2026 about the Ted Sperling Park. This came up during the joint City/County Meeting last Friday.
Karie Friling
City Manager
City of Sarasota
Why We’re Passing the Ted Sperling Buck
To: Sarasota City Commission
I hope your day is going well. There have been conversations between the City and County regarding the potential for the City to operate and maintain Ted Sperling Park at South Lido & Ted Sperling Nature Park.
Per Mr. Bullock’s direction, staff put together estimated costs for the City to operate and maintain these locations. The attached memo and documents include estimated costs that were put together by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department, Public Works Department, and Sarasota Police Department regarding the operations and maintenance of Ted Sperling Park at South Lido and Ted Sperling Nature Park. The properties are currently owned and operated by Sarasota County.
During our discussion about Ted Sperling Park at South Lido and Ted Sperling Nature Park, Nicole Rissler, Assistant County Administrator (Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Director at the time), indicated that the County may propose transitioning Lido Beach and North Lido Beach Park back to the City. The decision is contingent upon whether the City assumes responsibility for the operations and maintenance of both locations, which is still to be determined. Per the Interlocal Agreement, Sarasota County is currently responsible for the operations and maintenance of Lido Beach (from dune to water) and North Lido Beach Park, which are owned by the City. The Interlocal Agreement between Sarasota County and the City became effective October 1, 2018. This agreement is set to expire on September 30, 2028, and may be extended if both parties are mutually agreeable. Either party may terminate this agreement by notifying the other party of its desire no later than December 1 of any given year for an effective termination date of the following October 1.
Per the Interlocal Agreement, the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources provide Annual Reports to the City of Sarasota pertaining to the estimated net cost for the County to operate and maintain Lido Beach and North Lido Beach Park. Please see the below estimated net cost for the County to operate and maintain Lido Beach and North Lido Beach Park, per the Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Estimated Expenditures:
· FY23 Total Expenditures: $ 992,473
· FY23 Total Park Fees Collected: $ 22,234
Estimated Net Cost to County: $ 970,239
Estimated Expenditures:
* FY24 Total Expenditures: $1,126,490 – FY24 Total Park Fees Collected:$ 24,850
Estimated Net Cost to County: $ 1,101,640
Estimated Expenditures:
* FY25 Total Expenditures: $ 1,148,762
* FY25 Total Park Fees Collected: $16,565
Estimated Net Cost to County: $1,132,197
Over the past three fiscal years, the average estimated annual net cost for the County to operate and maintain Lido Beach and North Lido Beach Park has been approximately $1,068,025.
The estimated cost for the City to operate and maintain Ted Sperling at South Lido and Ted Sperling Nature Park are:
Estimated Expenditures:
* Year 1- $2,264,781 (includes $663,921 start-up costs: Jet Skis/Jet Ski Dock/Police Patrol Vehicles/Trucks/John Deere Gator/Toro Utility Vehicle/Tools/Equipment/Miscellaneous Items)
Estimated Expenditures:
* Year 2- $1,677,089
Estimated Expenditures:
* Year 3- $1,719,021
Over the past five years, Sarasota County has reported annual revenues of approximately $330,000 generated through its Commercial Recreation & Tour Operator (CRTO) Program at Ted Sperling Nature Park. These are agreements with vendors to operate and collect revenue at the Ted Sperling Nature Park from which the County receives payment.
Staff reviewed key considerations, including operational scope, anticipated transition, start-up and ongoing costs, availability of City resources, potentially losing property tax funds, potentially funding stormwater operations, timing, and alignment with current City priorities.
Based on the review, and in light of current budget constraints, staff are unable to recommend moving forward with assuming the operations of Ted Sperling Park at South Lido and Ted Sperling Nature Park at this time. While the concept may have merit, advancing it now will require significant financial and staffing resources that will put additional strain on the City’s budget that continues to recover from the financial impacts of recent storms. Thanks, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Jerry Fogle
Parks and Recreation Director
City of Sarasota
Sorry About the Accidental Mime Show
To: Larry Silverman
My apologies that you were not able to hear at the DRC meeting. I have forwarded your email to my staff to see where the issue was and how we can fix it. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Shayla Griggs
City Clerk
City of Sarasota
Lip-Reading 101: A Day at the Development Review Committee
To: Sarasota City Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich
Hello, I attended this morning’s Development Review Committee meeting, despite there being no input from public allowed. I was reminded that there is also barely any input to the public. Neither from nor to. I can understand the from part but what about the “to”!
To explain: I could barely hear the proceedings, so moved to the front row. No improvement, the loudspeaker was on for less than 5 seconds the whole time. And the participants were talking very quietly. Like a private conversation in a library. Not that amplification would improve things; I have been to Commission meetings where the way the loudspeaker is used is inadequate to pick up what participants are saying.
I have normal hearing and am actually bothered when it is too loud, but inaudible is certainly not acceptable. So I mentioned to a colleague that maybe I can just stay home and listen online? Her reply—the online broadcasts is often no better.
Larry Silverman
Sarasota
Great Ideas We Can’t Afford: Passing the Baton on Homelessness Solutions
To: Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling
I came away from last year’s National League of Cities Summit excited by The Other Side Village and its approach to ending homelessness. I know that sending someone from the City to attend this conference is impossible with the looming shadow of Amendment 3. Rather than miss the opportunity to bring more valuable knowledge and ideas to Sarasota, I passed the conference information along to Erin Minor of Gulf Coast Community Foundation (and member of the Harvest House family). Harvest House is one of the most successful programs in our area ending chronic homelessness.
Debbie Trice
Mayor
City of Sarasota
YScouting Attendees for the Solutions Summit
To: Gulf Coast Community Foundation Erin Minor
This is the organization that I brought to your attention last year. I wasn’t sure if you were now on their distribution list and received a notice about this conference. Just passing the information along in case you know of someone in Sarasota who would likely be interested in attending.
Debbie Trice
Mayor
City of Sarasota
Let’s Agree to Disagree in Utah
To: Sarasota City Mayor Debbie Trice
Approaches to homelessness vary radically across the country. We’re exploring bringing leaders from those different models together at The Other Side Village in Salt Lake City, Utah.
This would be a symposium of ideas: a safe space for people to analyze different approaches honestly, think critically, challenge assumptions, and disagree.
The goal is to improve how we approach chronic homelessness nationwide
We’re currently gauging interest for a Spring 2027 gathering in Salt Lake City. I’ve attached a one-pager with more info. Would you or someone from your organization be interested in participating?
Hyrum Grenny
Director The Other Side Leadership Institute
Salt Lake City, UT
Oops, I Forgot Your Grievances (But the City Manager is On It)
To: Steve Martinucci
I hope all is well with your family emergency. I neglected to raise your issues yesterday, I apologize. However I did talk to the City Manager about the issues with Bahia Vista and she is looking into it. She may also be able to help respond to some of the other issues. I have copied Mark Smith on this email to respond to the county issues as well.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
City Commissioner
City of Sarasota
The City vs. County Blame Game on Bahia Vista
To: Sarasota County Commissioners
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the Joint Meeting on September 18th, 2026, due to a family emergency. I would like to provide you all with a concern that I would like to make public record, and maybe can be brought up and addressed at the joint meeting:
Bahia Vista Street is a County Road that is maintained by the County. Several months ago, demolition was performed in order to dig up the street to access utility lines by the City. After completion, the road was filled, but there are depressions in the repaired area that still exist, that cause vehicles to hit the road and repaired area, and create large amounts of noise that can be heard for several streets.
I reported the issue to the County via 311Connect (please see below). After waiting for some time and following up a few times, I was informed by the County that the ticket was closed out. After several hours of phone calls and speaking to supervisors, I was informed that the County claims that the initial work was performed by the City, and therefore, it was the responsibility of fixing that section of the street is that of the City. I then contacted the City, and they denied the responsibility of addressed of the situation. Still, ’till today, the reported street area and damage has not yet been addressed and fixed. There exists such a communication disconnect between the County and the City when it comes to this County Road.
Secondly, Bahia Vista Street, from Tuttle Ave to US-41 is in very poor condition. There are many depressions in the road, exposed man-hole covers, and uneven terrain. The road is very dangerous for the safety of the vehicles and creates detrimental vehicle suspension hazards. Ambulances drive in the center turning lanes to avoid the bumps and depressions on that road.
Would it be possible to repair and resurface Bahia Vista Street for safety and vehicular noise reduction?
Lastly, I have contacted the County several times concerning the possible addition of a ‘time controlled” traffic light at the intersection of School Ave and Bahia Vista St, just as the traffic light at Euclid Ave and Bahia Vista St, in order to allow Sarasota High School traffic to safely make turns onto Bahia Vista St onto the Easterly direction. During the school arrival and departure times, the side streets become gridlocked because left hand turns onto Bahia Vista St are very dangerous, a traffic light can be timed so that the during the morning arrivals and afternoon departures of the school traffic, the traffic flow can be accommodated without having to gridlock Tami Sola St and other streets, on the approach to the traffic light at South Shade Ave and Bahia Vista St. This proposal of an additional traffic light has been rejected several times by the County. I can’t understand why the County and the City would not want to provide additional safety and better traffic control, access, and flow for the students and staff of the Sarasota High School. I would like to thank you all for your time, assistance, and consideration!
Steve Martinucci
Sarasota
The Bahia Vista 311 Saga
To: Sarasota City Commission
Demolition and repair was performed to cut up and dig on Bahia Vista St, between addresses 2301 and 2303. Upon completion, the road section has dips and bumps which cause excessive vehicular noise. Could you please resurface to make flat, and fill in the dip? Thank you! Created over one month ago: Demolition and repair was performed to cut up and dig on Bahia Vista St, between addresses 2301 and 2303. Upon completion, the road section has dips and bumps which cause excessive vehicular noise. Could you please resurface to make flat, and fill in the dip? Thank you!
Activity entered one month ago: Thank you for contacting Sarasota County Government. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention and we’ve transferred your request to the Public Utilities Department for investigation. If you have further questions or concerns, please call 941-861-5000. Activity entered one month ago: Thank you for contacting Sarasota County Government and bringing this matter to our attention. We’ve forwarded your report to the City of Sarasota for their team to review it and respond as needed. If you have further questions or concerns, please call them directly at 941-365-2200
or visit their website at [http://www.sarasotagov.org](http://www.sarasotagov.org?utm_source=gemini). Even though that Bahia Vista Street is a County Road, because the City dug up the road to address some utilities, the County Claims that the City is responsible. The City claims that the County is responsible. Nothing has been done, and no work order has been created to fix the road.
Steve Martinucci
Sarasota
Fences, Foibles, and Furious Neighbors
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
Thank you for forwarding the updated briefing sheet regarding Jungle Gardens. After a detailed review of the document, I believe Code Enforcement is relying on several mistaken premises in its decision not to pursue the Bayshore Road modification beyond the barbed wire fence.
Specifically, the permit was granted based on Jungle Gardens’ misrepresentation that an eight-foot fence was required. That requirement was unnecessary as long as the chain link fence with the barbed wire top remained in place, refuting any claim that the City is estopped from pursuing the removal of the yellow fence. The estopple argument will defeat jungle Gardens claim that the responsibility lies with the city, thus the city would not be liable for any removal cost.
Code Compliance’s plan to pursue the removal of the chain link and barbed wire fence is detrimental to the neighborhood as it leaves exposed the newly installed eyesore. Landscaping the chain link is a far better outcome. The particular internal property line landscape requirements do not apply but the other provisions or 1618 and the language of the special exception, as well as the historical designation prohibit the new fence installation. Additionally, Ordinance 1618 requires exterior property line changes to respect neighboring property values—which a local realtor estimates have decreased by 7% to 10% due to the new fence—and demand that Jungle Gardens remain respectful of the surrounding residential community. I have repeatedly asked the city via the legal department, The Code Compliance Department and at the meeting that was held with the city manager present to seek an expert appraisal to support that conclusion so that the removal of the new fence can be pursued. I believe the city has been unwilling to do this and continues to be unwilling to do this based on a mistaken understanding that the city may be held liable for issuing the permit. The estoppel argument mentioned above will protect the city from liability.
I have previously shared these findings with the Legal Department, Code Compliance, and other City staff. You may recall when you and Mr. Polzak met via telephone conference Mr Polzak offered to review this research and discuss the legal basis for requiring Jungle Gardens to remove the new fence and landscape the original one, my follow-up requests have gone unanswered.
Code Enforcement’s dismissal of the complaint regarding the new fence and their decision to pursue the removal of the existing chain link fence directly undermines the goal of maintaining an appearance consistent with the residential neighborhood. Their current direction is inconsistent with the original grant of special exception, the governing ordinance, and the needs of the community. You may recall in our discussions with Mr. Polzak I offered to assist him with the legal research necessary to make the argument before the magistrate. Again, no response in spite of his promise to meet with me.
While I have additional legal points to present, a commitment from the Legal Department to address these issues before code compliance moves forward is necessary. Please let me know what next steps the City is willing to take to preserve Bayshore Road as a beautiful path through IBSS.
I will leave it to your discretion whether to forward this information to the City Manager and other relevant parties, but I strongly urge a comprehensive review before any final action is taken. Thank you very much for your efforts in assisting with keeping Bayshore Road beautiful.
Jerry Kamensky
Sarasota
