Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District Board Meeting on January 4, 2024: Important Information for Local Residents

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...ocal-residents

The Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its regular board meeting on January 4, 2024. The meeting is at the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County, 6700 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL, starting at 9:00 a.m. For more information, contact Vanessa Taylor at 941-861-9824 or vtaylor@scgov.net.

The meetings are open to the public. To receive notifications, register your email address and select your preferred notifications. Choose the 'Public Notices' category under the 'News' menu to get all public notices.

Public notice categories include Procurement, Board of Zoning Appeals Public Hearings, Planning Commission Public Hearings, Budget, and Land Use. These categories cover a range of information about the Sarasota Soil and Water Conservation District's operations.

The public notice also has an Active Petition Map. This map shows land use petitions like rezones and special exceptions. You can find more details about these petitions at scgov.net/petitions.

To use the Active Petition Map, click on the magnifying glass icon in the top right corner. Then, enter the rezone or special exception number. This tool helps the public stay updated on land use changes and proposals in Sarasota.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota County Planning Commission to Hold Public Hearing on Proposed Rezone Petition

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/32802...ezone-petition

The Sarasota County Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing on January 18, 2024. The hearing will discuss a proposed rezone petition, RZ 23-17, at the Sarasota County Administration Center. The petition suggests changing the zoning of the property at 5058 Sacramento Street, Sarasota from OUE-2 to RSF-3/PUD. The final decision will be made by the Sarasota County Commission.

Interested parties can attend the hearing, share their views, and provide relevant evidence. The petition and related documents can be viewed at the Planning and Development Services Department during business hours. They can also be found online at www.scgov.net a week before the hearing. Written comments can be mailed or emailed to the Planning and Development Services Department.

The hearing may be rescheduled as announced by the Board. For more information, contact the Planning Commission at 941-861-5000. The Sarasota County Charter requires rezoning applicants to disclose the property's true ownership interests.

The county does not provide a record of the meeting. Anyone wishing to appeal a decision made at the hearing must make their own record of the testimony and evidence. Sarasota County does not discriminate in its services, programs, or activities and provides assistance for persons with disabilities.

The public can access an Active Petition Map on the county's website. This map includes land use petitions. Instructions for using the map are available on the website.

Visit here for more details:

https://www.scgov.net/Home/Component...News/5899/6288

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

This is from the 'Letters to the Editor' column in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Appraiser threatens Save Our Homes tax cap

For the full column:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/real...0f924d46&ei=43

I can fully understand Joseph McCarthy’s frustration about his fully homesteaded property losing the Save Our Homes protection simply because he replaced his aging roof (“Sarasota retiree hits the roof over appraisal,” Dec. 26).

Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst’s office stringently applies provisions from legislation that can change a longtime homeowner’s status under Save Our Homes, which caps increases in assessed value at 3%.

Last year, I also had a spot of bother with Mr. Furst: I received a bill for $15,321.05, payable within 30 days or a lien would be placed against the property.

The amount was for estimated unpaid taxes, going back 10 years, with a huge penalty (50%) and interest (15%).

The problem was a small cottage on my property; it had been my mother’s home but I now use the cottage for rentals.

This changed the status of that portion to “commercial use,” making it no longer eligible for the Save Our Homes protection – and so, forever forward, the increase in the appraisal on that portion is no longer limited to 3% per year.

The Property Tax Dilemma: Balancing Public Funding and Senior Homeowners' Burdens

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/news/32781...owners-burdens

In Sarasota County, a local retiree named Joseph McCarthy has become the face of a growing concern among fixed-income homeowners. After replacing the roof on his home, McCarthy was met with a property tax increase of 12%, later adjusted to 7% following his appeal.

This increase is more than double the 3% cap stated in Florida's 'Save Our Homes' amendment. McCarthy, who has been on a fixed pension since 1994, insists that his roof repair was maintenance rather than an improvement justifying such a hike.

The Sarasota County Property Appraiser's Office, however, classifies roof replacements as capital improvements, leading to the increased assessment.

This interpretation is contested, as policies differ in neighboring counties, prompting statewide discussions and legislative proposals for clarity in tax assessments.

The situation with McCarthy is not an isolated incident. Across the country, fixed-income homeowners are grappling with the complexity and inconsistencies of property tax assessments.

[wondermint2]

Florida community built to weather hurricanes


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRu4V34-5YM

As Hurricane Ian slammed into Southwest Florida last year, Syd Kitson took some amazing video from his back porch of white caps rolling across the lake behind his house.

Ian was a Category 4 storm at the time and had sustained winds of 100 mph.

"I remember sitting in my house, thinking ‘this is the biggest test we could ever imagine,’" Kitson recalled.

It was a test for Babcock Ranch, a massive, planned community just 20 miles inland from the devastated Fort Myers Beach. Kitson was the developer.

"Resiliency was something we really spent a lot of time on from day one," he said.

After Hurricane Ian passed, he could see just how much that planning paid off.

"All around us was devastation, loss of life, and it was just awful to see. But here, life was back to normal in one day," Kitson said.

[wondermint2]

Top 5 fun things to do in Sarasota, Bradenton this New Year’s Eve weekend: Dec. 29-31

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tri...31/ar-AA1m8SM9

For our final Top 5 of the year, we focus on the best New Year's Eve events happening in Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte counties. All of these are free and highly recommended for an evening of family-friendly or adults-only fun.

Downtown Sarasota and downtown Bradenton each host the rowdiest parties on the list, especially as the night progresses, with University Town Center's family-friendly bash ending at 9 p.m. with fireworks.

Looking for something other than New Year's Eve options this weekend? Consider the Free Fallin' concert tribute to Tom Petty at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Big Top Brewing Company. Another option is Sailor Circus' annual holiday show, "Candyland," taking place today through Sunday at the Sailor Circus Arena.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota Memorial and UnitedHealthcare finalize new Medicare Advantage coverage agreement

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/oth...nt/ar-AA1md13q

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and UnitedHealthcare finalized a new agreement Friday afternoon that will allow Sarasota Memorial Hospital, its urgent care and outpatient facilities, and First Physicians Group healthcare providers to remain in-network for UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plan.

Hospital spokeswoman Kim Savage said via email that SMH and UnitedHealthcare were in the process of finalizing the paperwork and confirmed via text message Friday afternoon that the documents were signed.

Additional updates will be shared at smh.com/unitedhealthcare.

UnitedHealthcare shares its updates at uhc.com/sarasota.

The two sides agreed to terms on a one-year contract for UHC’s Medicare Advantage plan and a three-year contract for coverage under United’s employer-sponsored commercial plans.

The contracts will take effect Jan. 1, 2024. Terms of those contracts are considered proprietary information and not disclosed.

The Medicare Advantage negotiations became noteworthy because the deadline occurred after the Dec. 7 Medicare Open Enrollment period, which meant retirees were faced with a choice of remaining with UnitedHealthcare in hopes of a new contract or jumping to another provider.

[wondermint2]

Publix, Walmart, Target: Which FL Grocery Stores Open On New Year’s?

Publix, Costco, BJ’s, Sam’s Club, Aldi — check out which retail stores are open and closed on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day in FL.

For full article:

https://patch.com/florida/sarasota/a...-on-new-year-s

If you need snack or refreshments — both for the kids and something bubbly for adults — on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, it’s a good idea to plan ahead, as grocery stores in Florida adjust their hours for the holidays.

Some major retail stores are closed on New Year’s Day and operate on reduced hours on New Year’s Eve. Walmart and Target will be open on New Year’s Day and hours may vary at Publix by location.

But it’s always a good idea to call ahead. Some grocery stores and food retailers observe reduced hours during the holidays. Stores on this list either confirmed their hours in an email to Patch or listed them on their websites.

[wondermint2]

FL’s Best Hospitals For 2023: See Full List

Check out how Florida’s hospitals, nursing homes and other medical facilities ranked in 2023.

For full article:

https://patch.com/florida/sarasota/a...-see-full-list

Throughout 2023, several data-based national rankings and safety grades helped Florida residents navigate the labyrinth of health care, and make decisions about the best places to have a baby, surgery or take care of other medical issues.

Here’s a review of how Florida stacked up in analyses and rankings from various publications, government agencies and a health care watchdog group:

[wondermint2]

Suncoast New Year’s Eve Celebrations

For full article:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/12/2...outputType=amp

There are plenty of ways to ring in the New Year’s on the Suncoast. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate, there is something for everyone.

Here are some of the parties happening in the Suncoast.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Bradenton-Anna Maria Island ferry start date delayed

https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-ba...t-date-delayed

The start date for a ferry service linking Bradenton with Anna Maria Island has been delayed.

What's happening: The service was projected to open to the public on Saturday, but officials are still waiting on regulatory approvals, Bradenton Gulf Islands spokesperson Kolby Gayson told Axios.

A new projected start date was not available Thursday. "Once we receive final approvals from the outside agencies we'll be able to set a new start date," Gayson said.

Catch up fast: The Gulf Islands Ferry service has been a long time coming for Manatee County. Officials touted the service as another option to get to the beach rather than waiting in traffic on bridges.

The two roughly 50-passenger catamarans will make stops at three locations: the dry docks along the Bradenton Riverwalk, the Anna Maria Island City Pier and the Bridge Street Pier.

One-way tickets were slated to cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for children aged 3-11 and free for children under 3.

Yes, but: During the delay, officials will rework ticket options to include a round-trip ticket and lower pricing based on "consumer research and interest," Gayson said.

The bottom line: Stay tuned for a new start date.

New Ferry Service From AMI To Bradenton Has Start Date: Manatee County

Gulf Islands Ferry, which will bring passengers to and from Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, finally has a start date, Manatee County said.

https://patch.com/florida/bradenton/...manatee-county

Service for the Gulf Islands Ferry, which will shuttle passengers between Anna Maria Island and downtown Bradenton, will launch Jan. 12, according to a Manatee County news release.

Visitors and residents can catch a ride on the water Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ride times between stops will range from 25 to 40 minutes.

Tickets can be purchased here:

https://www.gulfcoastwatertaxi.com/

The two catamarans hold 49 passengers and will have two crew aboard to ensure smooth transport to and from each port.

The initial route of the two 50-foot open-air catamarans, Miss Anna Maria and Downtown Duchess, will take riders from the day dock in downtown Bradenton located just east of the Green Bridge and directly off Bradenton Riverwalk, to the Anna Maria City pier.

The Historic City Pier at Bradenton Beach will be added to the route system as soon as some minor enhancements are completed, the county said.