Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Commissioners Direct Staff to Seek New Policy Solutions for Dust from Development

For full article:

https://www.thebradentontimes.com/st...elopment,62092

During a regular meeting on Tuesday, Manatee County Commissioners voted unanimously to direct development services staff to research options regarding the negative effects of development site “clear-cutting.”

The proposed action was brought forward by Commissioner George Kruse, though several of the commissioners agreed that action was needed given the immense amount of communication from the public about dust, smoke, and other negative impacts from large-scale development projects across the county.

“With clear-cutting, developers are just scraping land, sometimes tens, if not hundreds, of acres at a time,” Kruse explained as he opened the meeting item. “It’s a cheap and lazy way of developing.”

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Local Shelters Try Education Tactics to Keep Pet Intakes Down

Economic factors and other issues are prompting a reversal of the pandemic adoption craze.

For full article:

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/new...rs-at-capacity

“Rehome requests have taken an uptick here in the Sarasota area,” says Jamie Limoges, director of marketing and engagement at the Humane Society of Sarasota County. “The number of people needing to rehome their pet due to their living situation is on the rise, and that can be from high pet deposits, high pet rent, breed restrictions, weight restrictions and the number of animals that you can have.”

Lt. Paul Cernansky of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, which operates the county’s animal shelter, says the vet shortage results in fewer animals being spayed or neutered, leaving room for an increasing animal population. Manatee County animal welfare chief Sarah Brown says the vet shortage, combined with the adoption of “Covid pets” and increasing costs, has resulted in overcrowding at shelters.

“As we see those numbers creep up, we’re seeing a bottleneck with getting animals in and out of the facility,” says Brown. “It’s becoming an overcrowding issue on a daily basis.”

Manatee County Animal Welfare waiving adoption fees

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/11/1...outputType=amp

With kennels that are already full of adoptable pups, and more dogs arriving daily, Manatee County Animal Welfare is asking for your help. Beginning Tuesday, adoption fees are being waived.

There are currently over 100 dogs at the Palmetto Adoption Center and more than 40 adoptable dogs at the Bishop Animal Shelter.

“We are working hard to create more space to help these animals,” said Manatee County Animal Welfare Chief Sarah Brown. “We are asking for folks to help in any way they can.”

ADOPT: Discover all adoptable dogs at: mymanatee.org/pets
FOSTER: Get started by emailing: Lauren.Tryon@mymanatee.org
PARTNER: Contact: Lauren.Tryon@mymanatee.org
SHARE: If you’re unable to foster or adopt, sharing this information will help MCAW—and the pups—by spreading the word to family and friends that they need help from our community now.

[wondermint2]

Water shortage declared in Sarasota, Manatee counties. What does this mean for lawns?

For full article:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/water-sho...195901275.html

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has declared a water shortage in Sarasota and Manatee counties, along with nine other counties.

The governing board for the district has voted to declare a Modified Phase 1 Water Shortage Order because of dry conditions and water supply concerns. The order will prohibit wasteful or unnecessary water use.

The restrictions will apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumer counties. Portions of Charlotte, Highlands, Marion, Lee, and Lake counties will also be included.

Sarasota County has a once-per-week watering restriction and Manatee County has a twice-per-week watering restriction due to the shortage.

Here are things to know before using water on your lawn:

[wondermint2]

'Unconditional Surrender': Could Sarasota's iconic kissing statue be moved again?

The statue shows a sailor planting a kiss on a nurse to mark the end of World War II.

For full article:

https://www.wtsp.com/amp/article/new...b-5b26a2d0d4bd

A landmark statue in Sarasota that recaptures an iconic time in history could be moved again.

The statue titled "Unconditional Surrender," which many often call the kissing statue, is currently located at the Bayfront Park in downtown Sarasota.

The 26-foot-tall statue is part of a series of computer-generated statues created by sculptor Seward Johnson. In total, there are five such statues located in Normandy, France; San Diego, California; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Hamilton, New Jersey.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Public input sought on making downtown streets more bike friendly

Residents can share their thoughts via surveys for 10th Street and Boulevard of the Arts conversions as design work moves to the second phase.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...bike-friendly/

Now that the design phase on “complete street” projects for 10th Street and Boulevard of the Arts is moving from 30% to 60%, city traffic planners are reaching out to businesses and the general public for additional input.

Decisions have already been made regarding the big picture. Now staff is seeking input on some of the finer points residents want to see as the roads are converted into multi-modal corridors that are more more pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

More details here:

Changes Are Headed to Two Downtown Sarasota Streets

Both 10th Street and Boulevard of the Arts are slated to be transformed to allow for safer walking and biking.

For full article:

https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/new...mplete-streets

As downtown Sarasota expands with more demolition, more buildings and more roundabouts, the streets themselves are also changing.

In Gillespie Park and the Rosemary District, the City of Sarasota is poised to transform 10th Street and Boulevard of the Arts (BoTA) into complete streets to allow safer ways to walk and cycle.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota, Manatee experts highlight efforts to curb red tide by bolstering water quality

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...ty/ar-AA1jUuvd

Efforts to bolster the health of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico against the effects of red tide came to the forefront on Monday at a forum comprised of local experts hosted by the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus.

Sandy Gilbert, chairman and CEO of Solutions to Avoid Red Tide, highlighted local efforts that help address red tide, such as initiatives to seed clams and oysters to help filter local waters and enhance retention ponds to prevent nutrients that feed red tide from flowing into the environment from them, and wastewater treatment plant improvements planned in Sarasota County.

Charlie Hunsicker, Director of the Manatee County Department of Natural Resources, said the county also participates as part of the bivalve seeding effort.

"It's using nature to help solve a continuous problem," Hunsicker said. "Clams and oysters work every day, all night long, they don't require overtime or have to go home and do homework. They're still there every day to clean water."

He also highlighted a Manatee County fertilizer ordinance created in 2010. The ordinance prohibits the use of fertilizer during a restriction season, which runs from June 1 through Sept. 30. However agricultural properties, properties used for grazing livestock, golf courses, athletic fields and vegetable gardens.

The county is also working to purchase about 98 acres of land near Emerson Point for conservation and is considering the purchase of other environmentally valuable lands for protection.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Sarasota County asked to end ties to library associations over 'ideology, explicit' books

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...43867e81&ei=37

The culture war against the American Library Association landed in Sarasota Tuesday, as several speakers urged the County Commission to end its affiliation with and financial support for the American Library Association and Florida Library Association because of concerns raised over reading materials available to youth in libraries.

The speakers who addressed the board during the board's public comment period asked that the issue be brought up for a vote at its Nov. 14 meeting.

A Sarasota County spokeswoman said via email Tuesday that Sarasota County pays annual dues of $1,300 to the American Library Association and $2,673 to the Florida Library Association.

Neither association dictates media stocking decisions in libraries for Sarasota County; all of those decisions made by local librarians.

Severing those ties would mean the loss of “discounts on job posting services, publications, and professional training opportunities,” the spokeswoman said.

The American Library Association is the largest professional organization in the world focused on libraries.

It advocates against the banning of books and promotes the "Freedom to Read." as well as "Banned Books Week," which this year was Oct. 1-7.

Sarasota County Commission votes to end memberships in state, national library groups

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/sa...ps/ar-AA1jVjSn

The Sarasota County Commission voted to stop funding the county public library system’s membership in the American Library Association and Florida Library Association Tuesday, despite the urging of almost 60 speakers who spoke for roughly two hours Tuesday morning.

In doing so, board members decried public comments that linked the prospect of book banning to the decision and side-stepped social justice issues related to ALA President Emily Drabinski while keying in on her self-professed Marxist leanings.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Major Announcement

https://www.srqmagazine.com/srq-dail...r-Announcement

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens announced that Phase One of its three-phase Master Plan for its downtown Sarasota campus will open to the public on January 11, 2024.

The project adds 188,030 square feet of new facilities and amenities, including: A 150-seat ground-level garden-to-plate restaurant, called The Green Orchid, featuring a rooftop edible garden that provides fresh produce and is planned and maintained by Operation EcoVets, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for veterans.

A research center that will offer a window into Selby Gardens’ world-class research, with more than 150,000 plant specimens and a library with volumes dating to the 1700s.

A solar array that makes Selby Gardens the world’s first botanical garden complex to be net-positive in its energy consumption.

More details here:

Selby Gardens plans January opening for remodeled campus

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...us/ar-AA1jXwHW

Though it has taken a few months longer than expected because of storms, supply chain delays and other issues, Selby Botanical Gardens will unveil the first phase of its new look on Jan. 11 to the general public.

That day will mark the opening of several major new features to the campus that visitors have been watching take shape for more than two years. The work has sometimes made it a challenge for guests to find their way to Selby, but CEO and President Jennifer Rominiecki said attendance has been strong throughout the construction project. Selby members will be invited to a special preview on Jan. 10.

“It’s been miraculous how close to schedule we’ve stayed on with the supply chain issues,” she said.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Residents wanting out of North Port appeal judge's ruling in de-annexation case

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...se/ar-AA1jHekA

Residents seeking to separate from the city of North Port have appealed a circuit court decision concluding the City Commission correctly interpreted state law in denying their petition for de-annexation on Oct. 22, 2022.

The appeal, filed Wednesday evening by West Villagers for Responsible Government attorney Luke Lirot, contends that 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Danielle Brewer incorrectly applied case law when she determined the City Commission afforded the residents' group due process, followed the the law and based its decision on competent substantial evidence, as required under state law.

North Port given 30 days to respond to citizens' appeal challenging contraction ruling

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime...ng/ar-AA1jUW2S

The Second District Court of Appeal ordered North Port to respond to the a citizens' group's request asking the judges to overturn a recent circuit court decision concluding the City Commission correctly interpreted state law in rejecting their effort to de-annex from the city on Oct. 22, 2022.

A city spokeswoman said by email that the order for the city to respond was anticipated and had no additional comment.

The city has 30 days from Nov. 13 to file its response.

[wondermint2]

Restaurants, apartments and more planned for State Road 64 East

Publix, Seasons 52 and Wendy's are among the retailers planning to open in the once-barren S.R. 64 corridor east of I-75.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...state-road-64/

With a dozen projects and proposals in the works from Interstate 75 east to Bourneside Boulevard, the landscape on State Road 64 East is changing quickly.

Included are two popular restaurant chains that are moving into the Market Place at Heritage Harbour.

Two fast food restaurants are setting up shop on S.R. 64, too.

Three residential projects are on the books, but only two are approved — Palm Grove and Alton Lakewood. A third project is still in the application process.

That proposal is for up to 300 luxury apartments and 50,000-square-feet of commercial space facing S.R. 64 between 117th Street and Pope Road. Commissioners will have to approve rezoning the 20-acre site before the project can move forward.