Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Instead of new homes, Sarasota golf course land could become key to bay water quality

Developer is working on a plan with Florida DEP to clean arsenic contamination to build homes but is willing to sell parcels to Sarasota County as site for stormwater improvement

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/instead-homes...090012794.html

The former 49-acre Gulf Gate Executive Golf Course could be one of several keys to foster the continued improvement of water quality in Sarasota Bay, or a 106-home subdivision retrofitted inside one of Sarasota County’s first master-planned communities.

Environmentalists, water quality proponents and area residents — including members of the Gulf Gate Community Association — can envision the course, laid out on three sections already interspaced between existing homes, as the site of a county project that could both provide additional stormwater cleansing and help alleviate potential flooding.

The golf course is the largest available parcel west of Beneva Road and is less than one mile from Sarasota Bay and less than two miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

More details here:

‘Wait and see’ stance adopted by County Commission in regard to potential purchase of former Gulf Gate Golf Course property

Public Works director talks of owner’s demand for higher price than appraisals, as well as soil contamination concerns

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/wait-...urse-property/

While recently acknowledging “a lot of merit” to a potential water quality initiative involving the approximately 49-acre site of the former Gulf Gate Executive Golf Course property, the director of Sarasota County’s Public Works Department also stressed to the county commissioners: “The one thing we don’t have is control over the property.”

Having worked for months with Gulf Gate residents about the possibility of the county’s buying the land, Commissioner Joe Neunder had asked for a formal discussion about the site’s future. That occurred on Oct. 24, during the regular commission meeting.

The residents have cited the need for — and the benefits of — a major stormwater initiative on the property, instead of construction of a new residential development.

[wondermint2]

‘Contractors working diligently’ to complete major sewer line project on Bahia Vista Street, county staff reports

For full article:

https://sarasotanewsleader.com/contr...staff-reports/

Over the past few weeks, drivers — including members of the News Leader’s staff — have made the observation that long back-ups on Bahia Vista Street have prompted more drivers to use Webber Street as an alternative east-west route.

Early some mornings, this reporter has noted vehicles heading west backed up as far east on Bahia Vista as the eye can see from the end of The Legacy Trail segment between Webber and Bahia Vista. With lanes closed, plus construction equipment in place on the south side of Bahia Vista, drivers often have to wait through multiple cycles of the traffic signal at the Bahia Vista/Beneva Road intersection.

[wondermint2]

Report: Late mortgage payments spiking in some areas, but not Sarasota-Manatee, or Florida

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...dea88314&ei=29

The Sarasota-Manatee metro area had the lowest mortgage delinquency rate in Florida and the 13th lowest in the country, according to a new report using data from the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Construction Coverage analyzed data from the bureau's mortgage performance trends and said just 0.8% of mortgaged properties in Sarasota were late on a payment with seriously delinquent — 90 days or more — mortgages accounting for just 0.2% of properties in the two-county area.

[wondermint2]

Lakewood Ranch Library aims for January opening

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...nuary-opening/

It takes a lot of books to open a new library.

Four trucks recently delivered 42 pallets worth to the Lakewood Ranch Library, which is tentatively set to open during the first week of January. Branch Manager Tiffany Mautino said the staff unpacked 4,700 boxes of books over five days.

[wondermint2]

2023-24 North Port road resurfacing projects to begin this month

For full article & list of road resurfacing projects in North Port:

https://www.northportfl.gov/News-art...gin-this-month

The City of North Port is one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. To accommodate the growth and maintain infrastructure, the Department of Public Works budgets annually for road resurfacing projects throughout the City. Starting later this month, the Department’s vendor is anticipated to start work on several road rehabilitation projects that were prioritized for this fiscal year due to their heavy use. The project is expected to be completed in the following order: (click the link above for the full list).

The project will be completed in phases and the preparation for repaving is set to begin around Thanksgiving week. Work on Toledo Blade Boulevard is anticipated to start in December and will take several phases to complete. To mitigate traffic disruption, most of the construction work for the Toledo Blade portion of the project will take place overnight from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please note, the stamped concrete turn lanes along Toledo Blade will require multiple stages of work due to their unique features and is an expected part of the process.

Scheduled work dates are weather sensitive and subject to change. For the latest, visit NorthPortFL.gov/RoadRehab, call the Department of Public Works customer service at 941-240-8050 or follow the City’s social media channels.

[wondermint2]

SMH's Venice hospital recognized as 'Age-Friendly'

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...ly/ar-AA1jQNbB

Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Venice Campus has joined the ranks of “Age-Friendly" health systems.

The Venice hospital received the national recognition in early November, joining approximately 1,900 hospitals, medical practices, clinics and nursing homes committing significant training and resources to enhance care for older adults.

The SMH-Sarasota Campus achieved this designation in 2019, and its Rehabilitation Pavilion has also been recognized as an age-friendly site.

With the only two hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facility on the region designated as “Age-Friendly,” SMH said it continues to set the benchmark for care for older adults. Among other initiatives, SMH is implementing evidence-based interventions known as the “4Ms,” which have proven essential in providing better care to older patients: What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

70 FL Hospitals Earn 'A' Grades, 12 Get 'D' In Latest Leapfrog Ratings

Florida is among the states with the highest number of hospitals earning 'A' grades in new Leapfrog patient safety ratings.

For full article and hospital listings:

https://patch.com/florida/sarasota/7...apfrog-ratings

Hospitals in Florida and nationwide made significant improvements in preventing a “disturbing” increase in hospital infections during the coronavirus pandemic, The Leapfrog Group said with the release Monday of its Fall 2023 Hospital Safety Grades Report.

The Leapfrog Group, an independent nonprofit health care watchdog group, used an academic grading scale with five letter grades to score nearly 3,000 hospitals nationwide on how well they prevent medical errors, accidents and infections. Overall, the report shows hospitals significantly reduced infections after the pandemic spike, but patient-reported experiences declined for the second year in a row.

SMH Continues Straight A Safety Streak

For full article:

https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-dail...-Safety-Streak

Sarasota Memorial Hospital received top marks in the fall 2023 Hospital Safety Report Cards released today by the Leapfrog Group. Leapfrog assigned letter grades to nearly 3,000 general hospitals on how well they prevent medical errors, accidents and infections.

SMH-Sarasota continued a straight “A” streak it has held since 2016 and has been among a select group of hospitals that maintained its strong safety record during the pandemic years and its challenging aftermath. The new grades are the first to reflect hospital performance post-pandemic.

Sarasota Memorial’s ranking comes on top of a growing list of national accolades, including multiple “Best Hospital” rankings and ratings for 2023-2024 from U.S. News & World Report, Magnet designation for 20 consecutive years, and repeated recognition on Newsweek’s list of the “World’s Best Hospitals.”

SMH-Sarasota also is the only hospital in Florida to consistently earn the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ highest 5-star quality award since the federal government launched the rating system in 2016. SMH-Venice has not been open long enough to be graded in this cycle of report cards.

[wondermint2]

HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital Earns an A Hospital Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group

https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-dail...Leapfrog-Group

HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital earned an “A” safety grade from The Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog group that assigns letter grades to hospitals across the country. This is the 18th “A” grade the hospital has earned. The grades are based on more than 30 national performance measures including errors, accidents, injuries and infections, and what hospitals have in place to prevent harm. Grades are updated twice a year in the fall and spring.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

State initiates AMI government study

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/11/sta...mi-govt-study/

A state study that could steer the fate of Anna Maria Island’s governance is underway.

P.K. Jameson of the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability wrote Oct. 31 to the three island mayors announcing that OPPAGA is studying the potential consolidation of the three municipalities.

“As directed by the Legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is reviewing the potential benefits of consolidating municipal services and government structures for Anna Maria Island,” Jameson wrote. “OPPAGA expects to begin this review immediately.”

Annexation into Bradenton a consolidation option

For full article:

https://www.amisun.com/2023/11/13/an...dation-option/

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she was told the city of Bradenton will be included in the Anna Maria Island consolidation study being conducted by the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA).

On Nov. 8, Titsworth had her first study-related virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. Later that day, she contacted The Sun and said OPPAGA Staff Director of Government Operations Emily Leventhal told her the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and will be considered as one of several potential annexation options if the three Island cities and city governments are to be eliminated by the state.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Public checks in en masse for 1st Bradenton Beach resort hearing

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/11/pub...esort-hearing/

The gallery at a Nov. 1 hearing on a future development on Bradenton Beach’s Bridge Street overflowed city chambers into the parking lot.

The city planning and zoning board convened the hearing on a rezone of 1.61 acres on Bridge Street for a 106-room resort proposed by Shawn Kaleta, City Commissioner Jake Spooner and partners. Kaleta is a developer with multiple holdings and Spooner is a city commissioner and business owner.

The proposed project promises to transform the city’s commercial district and attendance at the first public hearing on the resort demonstrated civic interest and exposed opposition.

BB pushes for vote on Bridge St. resort

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/11/bb-...dge-st-resort/

Bradenton Beach is pressing forward on a resort proposal for Bridge Street.

A hearing for a 103-room Bridge St. Resort with restaurant and retail space in the commercial district was continued by the Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board from Nov. 1 to Nov. 13 — after press time for The Islander. The P&Z was expected to finalize its recommendation to the commission at the Nov. 13 meeting.

The city commission scheduled its hearing for the resort Nov. 16, during a regular meeting.

But the commission might lack enough members present to vote on an ordinance related to the resort proposal.

One member of the commission with interests in the project can’t vote and another hasn’t attended meetings since January.