Sarasota & Manatee Counties news thread

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Gulf Islands Ferry inaugural ride date set

For full article including schedule & prices:

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/11/0...outputType=amp

The official launch of the Gulf Islands Ferry service begins Nov. 20.

Event location: Bradenton Riverwalk-Bradenton Tower (452 3rd Ave West).

10:00 a.m.: Anthem and prayer (Manatee County Commission Chairman, Kevin Van Ostenbridge speech)

10:15 a.m.: Blessing of the fleet

10:30 a.m.: Board ferry and depart for inaugural round-trip ride to Anna Maria Pier

More details about the ferry service here:

Gulf Islands Ferry launches Nov. 20, with potential for Longboat stop

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...longboat-stop/

Riding the waves and enjoying the ocean breeze will soon be a new method of transportation around the Manatee County Gulf islands. And Longboat Key may be a future destination.

According to Falcione, the ferries will be tracked by users via GPS and a smartphone app. People can then see how far away the ferry is and plan their activities accordingly.

[wondermint2]

DOT recaps timetables for new bridges, AMI, Cortez, LB Pass

For full article:

https://www.islander.org/2023/11/dot...ortez-lb-pass/

The Florida Department of Transportation won’t rebuild more than one structure at a time but the agency is juggling multiple plans for the trio of drawbridges to AMI.

DOT staff and consultants reviewed the status of projects Nov. 6, during a meeting of the Island Transportation Planning Organization at Anna Maria City Hall.

The ITPO meets a couple of weeks ahead of Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization board meetings, and the regional transportation group’s next meeting is Monday, Nov. 20, in Sarasota.

[wondermint2]

Originally Posted by wondermint2

Sarasota pauses controversial restaurant-bar-nightclub zoning change amid public pushback

For full article:

https://www.newsbreak.com/sarasota-f...ublic-pushback

A controversial change to the city zoning code is headed back to the drawing board following a decision from the Sarasota City Commission.

The commission voted unanimously to take a step back on the zoning text amendment that would change the definitions of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs at its meeting Monday, citing lingering questions and concerns to address. The decision came after more than an hour of public comment mostly protesting the amendment, which some fear would clear the way for more bars downtown.

City staff proposed the amendment to clarify the definitions of certain establishments, citing confusion among local business owners regarding the labels they fall under. While current definitions of local businesses are tied to state guidelines and largely relate to the kind of food and liquor licenses they possess, the amendment would instead classify them by day-to-day criteria like hours of operation, outdoor use, and sale of food.

More details about this here:

What makes a bar a nightclub? The City Commission seeks answers.

Restaurant and bar zoning changes need more digestion, Sarasota city commissioners tell staff.

For full article:

https://www.yourobserver.com/news/20...r-a-nightclub/

Six months spent crafting what was presented as a clarification of definitions and regulations of bars and restaurants in the downtown area, plus multiple rounds of public engagement, weren't enough for city commissioners.

So they unanimously tabled consideration of a zoning text amendment intended to clarify definitions and regulate operations of bars and nightclubs in downtown.

During their Nov. 6 meeting city commissioners agreed to instruct staff to schedule a City Commission workshop in an effort to clarify the proposed changes.

[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.”

[wondermint2]

Private club for fine cars and wine proposed for Sarasota's Rosemary District

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/private-club-...090417187.html

A local property owner has requested a meeting with city officials in a first step toward development of an "exclusive venue" in downtown Sarasota where "enthusiasts can enjoy their passion for fine cars and wine" in the Rosemary District.

Timothy Ng, who owns the property at 1374 5th Way, said he sees a need for the private club centered on cars, calling his vision a "functionally beautiful space that will bring value to the city."

Joel Freedman, a consultant for Ng Development, described the private club as a five-story commercial building that will include a variety of spaces designed for the members' car collections.

[wondermint2]

Sarasota Memorial Hospital prepares to open a new mental health facility

For full article:

https://www.wusf.org/health-news-flo...ealth-facility

Knowing that an involuntary commitment can be “traumatic for individuals who have preconceived notions,’’ Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s new behavioral health unit, opening on Dec. 1 on Osprey Avenue in Sarasota, was designed to offer a different approach.

“Many of our patient rooms have three beds,” said Terry Cassidy, executive director of Behavioral Health Services for Sarasota Memorial Hospital. “On my worst day, I would not want to be put into a room with two strangers I don’t know, especially two strangers who are also in their own mental health crisis.”

So, the new building will feature single beds in each room. Also, lots of natural light, screened porches, a garden and a sensory room on each floor, which will allow individuals to put on specific music or calming colored lights.

The ribbon-cutting will be held from 9 to noon at 1625 S. Osprey Ave.

[wondermint2]

New Mayor and Vice Mayor selected

https://www.sarasotafl.gov/Home/Comp...ews/News/3460/

Nov. 13, 2023 - Each November, as required by the City of Sarasota Charter, the City Commission meets to elect one of its members as Mayor and also elect a Vice Mayor.

District 2 City Commissioner Liz Alpert was unanimously selected to serve as Mayor.

At-Large Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch was unanimously selected to serve as Vice Mayor.

They will serve in their respective roles until November 2024.

[wondermint2]

Several nursing homes from Sarasota made the list:

50 FL Nursing Homes Make 2023 U.S. News ‘Best’ List

U.S. News & World Report rated more than 15,000 nursing homes in its annual report. Here’s how it rated Florida’s nursing homes.

For full article & full list:

https://patch.com/florida/sarasota/a...news-best-list

50 Florida nursing homes received a 5 — the highest possible rating — this year in U.S. News & World Report’s annual rating.

The rankings service rated more than 15,000 nursing homes in the country based on patient and resident outcomes, such as infection rates; staffing levels; reliance on antipsychotic drugs; health inspection results, and other quality indicators.

Here are the nursing homes that received an overall rating of five for 2024 in Florida:

[wondermint2]

What to know in Manatee: A challenge to wetlands policy, waste hauler contract in review

For full article:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/wh...886a2593&ei=34

A former commissioner is challenging policy changes by Manatee County approved earlier this year that cut protections for wetlands.

Manatee County commissioners met Tuesday for a public meeting, where they decided to hire an outside counsel to represent them in the matter.

Commissioners also discussed a possible contract extension to the waste hauling contract and approved a gap funding loan for a new affordable multifamily housing project.

[wondermint2]

Manatee County cuts roundabout after Lakewood Ranch developer and residents speak out

For full article:

https://news.yahoo.com/manatee-count...205142921.html

Manatee County reversed course on plans to build a roundabout after several neighbors — and a local developer — spoke out against the decision.

A sea of residents in red shirts voiced opposition to the roundabout during Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting. Lakewood Ranch developer Rex Jensen also penned an opinion article in the East County Observer criticizing the idea.

“A signal is more favorable at this location due to unique community/intersection dynamics,” wrote Jensen, president and CEO of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, the development company behind the master-planned Lakewood Ranch community.

The roundabout at the intersection of Lorraine Road and Players Drive would sit between two gated communities — Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Country Club East. Opponents argued that the proposed intersection improvement would create more traffic congestion, not less.