DSCA News Archives
(Posted 1/11/11)
New Decorative Lighting Comes to Downtown
The Downtown Improvement District (DID) and the Downtown Sarasota Alliance (DSA) have moved forward with the plan to have lights installed on the electric poles along Main Street from 301/Washington Blvd. to the Bayfront and along several adjoining streets. All 280 poles in the area are wound with new LED lights. In completing the work, a glitch was found that some of the Downtown Residents have mentioned – lights are on some poles, but they are not lit up. The contractor responsible for installation has found that a number of poles do not have the junction box and receptacle necessary to provide power. This will be taken care of soon. We should thank the members of DID and especially Chair of the DSA, Eileen Hampshire and John Moran, member of the Advisory Board to DSA, for getting the lights on the poles and the lights in Selby Five Points Park.
DSCA Holds All Members Meeting
Sixty-six residents attended the DSCA all members meeting on December 6 to hear a series of speakers give an update on several very “hot” topics.
• Former City Commissioner Ken Shelin gave a presentation on the idea of realigning the management of Selby Five Points Park by having the City of Sarasota contract with a private not for profit organization to manage and maintain the park. This idea has been successfully implemented in many other parks in other cities and Ken wants the City of Sarasota to consider doing the same. Ken is continuing to pursue this idea by engaging downtown residents in a survey to determine their thoughts about this idea.
• Harry Chororos, President of the Sarabande Condominium Association and Subcommittee Chair for a joint committee of the DSCA and DSA on Homeless issues, updated the attendees on his and Peter Fanning’s (President, DSCA) efforts toward achieving a Work Alternative Program for repeat offenders. This program will address the small percentage of Sarasota’s homeless population, who are socially irresponsible and continually in trouble with the law.
Tony Sousa and John Moran walked the attendees through the fruits of the SemCon II conference. There were nine “Big Ideas” generated at the conference by the conference participants, and these will be put into a report to be distributed to the Board of the Downtown Improvement District, the Downtown Sarasota Alliance and DSCA. Look for future updates on these items on the DSCA website.
Paid Parking Coming to a Street Near You, if you Live Downtown
The City Commission at its January 3rd meeting agreed to authorize the Mayor (Kelly Kirschner), City Auditor and Clerk to enter into an agreement with Duncan Technologies to implement an on street paid parking plan. This plan anticipates that approximately 620 on street spaces will become "pay-to-use" parking spaces. It continues to be the intent of the staff and Vendor to have installation, including parking areas adjacent to the Palm Avenue, 2nd Street and Ringling Blvd garages completed by May of this year. Staff will bring additional information to the Commissioners in February including the intended rate schedule for the proposed paid parking.
If you have any thoughts concerning this proposal that you would like the DSCA Board to consider in formulating comments regarding this action, please click on the “CONTACT Button and send an e-mail with your comments.
Three District Commission Seats Will Be Contested in March Elections
The seats for City Commissioners for Districts 1, 2, and 3 will be up for election on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. The incumbents in District 1, Fredd Atkins and in District 3, Kelly Kirschner have announced their retirement from the Commission. Richard Clapp, District 2, has announced his intention to seek a second four-year term this March. Here is the complete list of candidates who have qualified to be on the ballot. If you put your cursor on the candidate’s name, you will bring up facts about the candidate. Your vote is very important to the future of Downtown Sarasota, so remember get out to vote and take a voting eligible friend along.
District 1
District 2
District 3
Scope’s Suzanne Gregory Invites DSCA members to Contribute Information
SCOPE (see Info Links Page on the DSCA Website’s Home Page for information about SCOPE) is planning an Aging with Dignity Initiative. This initiative is a partnership of SCOPE, USF Sarasota-Manatee and The Patterson Foundation. The broad goal of this multi-year effort is to develop innovative and technological ways for older adults to age with dignity and independence. If you wish to participate online, simply go towww.scopexcel.org and click on the red bar on SCOPE’s home page. There are two options for participation – residents age 65+ may take a survey about dignity and independence. People of all ages may write briefly about a positive experience they had with an older adult.
Data collection will go on through January 23.
New Decorative Lighting Coming to Downtown (11-24-10)
In its continuing efforts to make the downtown area more attractive and vibrant, the Downtown Improvement District (DID) and the Downtown Sarasota Alliance (DSA) have moved forward with a plan to have lights installed on the electric poles along Main Street from 301/Washington Blvd. to the Bayfront and along several adjoining streets. There are 280 poles in the area to be lighted with new LED lights, but so far only enough funds have been raised for about 220 of those poles. Several downtown condos have asked their residents to make donations to support this effort, and many of those residents have stepped forward. The DSCA Board approved, President Fanning asking other condominium association members to each contribute $100.00 toward this effort. The Board also authorized the DSCA to expend up to $500.00 in matching funds from its budget to help assure all the poles will be decorated in time for this Holiday Season.
Your DSCA Board of Directors Met on Thursday, November 18 (11-24-10)
The Board of Directors of the DSCA met on November 18, 2010 and took the following action:
- The Board received another update on the recently initiated website for DSCA and its evolution toward being a major vehicle of communication for DSCA members. Once again, the Board expressed its gratitude for all the effort and time Don Fitts and Alderman Oaks has put into getting the website off the ground.
- Merle Chorba, Vice Chair and Membership Chair reported that of the 36 Associations in DSCA, 24 have answered the request to bring their dues and membership up-to-date. The Board also acted to make the membership year effective on a calendar basis. Merle will work with Associations that have most recently paid their dues.
- Upon the suggestion of Barbara Campo, an active resident of downtown and chair of DSCA’s Subcommittee on Greenspace, the Board took action to initiate an all residents meeting to be held every other month. Barbara will be getting information out to all Members and residents.
- In the meantime, the Board approved, at Peter Fanning’s request, that DSCA seek a co-sponsored meeting with the Downtown Sarasota Alliance (DSA) for all residents of downtown to explain the proposals being set forth for Selby Five Points Park. The DSA at its recent Board meeting agreed to co-sponsor a presentation by former City Commissioner Ken Shelin on December 6. More information as to time and place will soon follow.
- The Board also received a report on the efforts of the DID and DSA to decorate the electric poles downtown with new LED lights. (See News Story that follows re: DID/DSA Wants New Lights Downtown).
- The Board received an update on the efforts of a number of Associations along Palm Avenue and their efforts to initiate an Overlay District from Ringling to Mound along both sides of S. Palm Ave with certain exclusions. The City Commission approved the request by these associations known as the Coalition of Bayfront Citizens at its November 15 meeting.
Downtown Farmers Market Changing Date for One Day Only (11-24-10)
The City of Sarasota has informed Phil Pagano, Operations Manager of the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market, that his request to move the date of the Farmers Market for one day only from Saturday, December 25 to Thursday, December 23 has been approved. In addition, Mr. Pagano announced that the Farmers Market will not be open on the following Saturday, January1, so as not to interfere with any downtown celebrations.
Bicycles for the Homeless (11-24-10)
If one of your New Year’s resolutions includes reducing the clutter by cleaning out the garage or storage area and you come across bicycles that are no longer used, consider a donation to Bicycles for the Homeless Inc. This organization seeks bicycles in any condition to be reconditioned and upgraded for safety, if necessary. The bicycles are then provided to homeless adults and children as transportation to jobs, interviews, school and the like. Check them out at www.BicyclesForTheHomeless.org.
Fences Up -- Five Points Park Under Construction (10-11-10)
You probably noticed the blue safety fence that has gone up around the Five Points Park. According to the City Public Works Department the schedule calls for
• Removing existing wall surrounding the park
• Grading of the Park
• Installation of a new irrigation system
• Brick walkway installation
• Landscaping
Hopefully, we will have a fully completed and useable park by early December. For more information about Selby Five Points Park construction, please call Neil Gaines, Project Manager, at 941-365-2200 ext. 6309 or visit the Downtown Projects Website.
SemCon II 2010-2011 -- Residents Turn Out to Give Advice (10-11-10)
How about brick streets, arcades mid-block along Main Street, wider sidewalks, refurbished store fronts that follow the historic underlay, a pedestrian friendly connecting portal from Main Street to the Bayfront, a circulating “people mover” to not only get people connected throughout the downtown and adjacent areas, but also to other public transportation including maybe a water taxi to the keys, and many other creative ideas?
The DSCA along with 5 other organizations (Downtown Improvement District, City of Sarasota, Sarasota County, Downtown Sarasota Alliance, and the Chamber of Commerce) sponsored one of the most important civic workshops of the year AND of the 181 registrants, 93 identified themselves as Residents for a weekend of work and creativity. Thanks to all who turned out and for all your great and valuable ideas to improve the downtown and its historic district.
The next step, according to the SemCon Planning Committee is to gather the many ideas, sketches, drawings, and notes from the conference into a coherent document to present to the Downtown Improvement District for their consideration at a public meeting to be announced in the near future. Stay tuned to the DSCA Website for more information.
Parking Meters? -- "No"
Paid Parking on the Street -- "Very Likely" (10-11-10)
It’s highly unlikely that we as downtown residents, our visiting friends and tourists will have to put up with unsightly parking meters. However, based on discussions by the City Commission and City Staff, it is highly likely that we will be paying for parking in some of the prime areas that are free today. With the Palm Avenue Parking Garage moving along and an opening date of early December, the City is anxious to encourage people to think about parking in the garage as a first option rather than on the street.
At the City Commission meeting of October 4, a Request For Proposal (RFP) process was discussed that might obligate up to $500,000 for a system of paid parking using Multi-Station Meters located to exact payment from the use of approximately 620 downtown spaces.
In the past the DSCA, at the request of its association members, has expressed grave concern for moving forward with paid parking in downtown at the same time that the DSCA is enthusiastically trying to support increased vibrancy and intensifying the attractiveness of the commercial district downtown during a very weak and struggling economy. Let Peter Fanning, President of the DSCA, know how you feel about this effort by going to this Website’s Contact Page and sending him an e-mail.
Tobacco-Free Zones in the City? (10-11-10)
After the City Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Board asked the City Commission to consider creating tobacco-free zones in children’s areas of city parks, DSCA asked the question why limit it to just the children’s areas. Residents and merchants downtown have been complaining for sometime about the litter being created downtown by people who inappropriately dispose of their cigarette butts and tobacco products when they are done. Additionally, many people have had to move away from benches, sidewalk tables and their pedestrian routes to avoid the hazards of second-hand smoke.
What do you think about creating a tobacco-free zone for all of downtown or within 100 feet of any park or bench? The DSCA will be commenting at public meetings concerning this discussion, and we’d like to know how you our Association members and your residents feel about smoke free zones.
Contact Peter Fanning, President of the DSCA, to let him know what you think about expanding the push for smoke-free by going to this Website’s Contact Page and sending him an e-mail.
|
|
|
DSCA Director Art Levin has been appointed to the City of Sarasota Charter Review Committee for a term expected to last approximately 9 months. The Charter defines the structure of our city government and its powers. The City Commission may appoint a 10 member Charter Review Committee from time to time to review specifically designated provisions of the Charter. It must appoint a Charter Review Committee with unlimited review authority at least once every 10 years. Art is a member of an "unlimited authority" committee. It will be meeting the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Commissioners’ Meeting Room. All meetings are open to the public and some or maybe all of the meetings will be televised on Comcast’s and FIOS's public service channel.
In addition to being a Director of the DSCA, Art has been a Director of the One Watergate Association for the past 5 years and is their Treasurer. Before retiring to Sarasota, he was a Town Councilman in New York State for 12 years, and, though not a lawyer, for 4 years he was a consultant to the Legal Dept of IBM Europe in their Paris HQ.
Art Levin wants to hear all your great suggestions to make our city a better place through improving the way our government functions. You can reach Art at Arthur.Levin@sarasotagov.com.
City Commission Moves Forward with Mooring Field Project (8/23/10)
Peter Fanning, DSCA President, appeared before the City Commission on August 16 to again push for completion of the Bayfront Mooring Field. This much discussed, off again-on again effort, has been going on for nearly a decade, and was identified by the Board of Directors with member support as a priority for this year. Peter spoke in support of the City Staff’s recommendations for completing the Mooring Field within the next year. The Commissioners approved continuation and further expenditures to move forward with the staff’s recommendation to complete the Mooring field. Use the following links for more detailed information.
Peter Fanning Presentation-Mooring Field-City Commission (8-16-10).pdf
Alexandrea Davis Shaw-Mooring Field Memo-to Mayor & City Commission (8-9-10).pdf
Downtown Sarasota Projects (8/23/10)
It seems as though when the traffic around town lessens, the activities of our City Commission and of the various City Departments increases.
Watching Downtown Improve right before our eyes! So much of downtown is undergoing renovation and upgrades that if you blink you might just miss something.
Of course, as all of you know by now, improvements to our Downtown area are proceeding and will continue in an active phase right up to mid-December. Construction of the Palm Avenue Garage is under way after many false starts, and I must tell you, we were all extremely pleased to see the coming together of so many of the residents of our Downtown Associations in promoting ideas and concepts that will improve the downtown experience for you and our visitors.
New water, sewer, electrical and other infrastructure upgrades, new sidewalks that in some places are being expanded and landscaped to improve pedestrian accessibility and accommodate the needs of the merchants without whom we wouldn’t have a chance to have a vibrant downtown; and a general cleanup and refurbishing of sidewalks, irrigation systems and the like will make you proud.
The DSCA, through its greenspace subcommittee (Carol Reynolds and Barbara Campo) and its Board, maintained an active dialogue with other organizations such as the Downtown Improvement District (DID), the Downtown Sarasota Alliance (DSA), Chamber of Commerce and others to present the Sarasota City Commission with recommendations and advice that went through a thorough public vetting process representing our member associations and their residents’ best common interests. The DSCA volunteers spent hundreds of hours over the past year making sure our members’ points of view were taken seriously. What a bargain for dues that total only $100 a year for full membership!
Beautification and Redesign of Five Points (8/23/10)
The Beautification and Redesign of Five Points Park is Underway with The City Commission’s Acceptance of the Plans Brought Forth By the Downtown Improvement District (DID). The improvements to beautify Five Points Park and make it functionally a much more useable and comfortable resource for residents and visitors will be taking place at the same time the Five Points Roundabout is under construction this summer and fall. The Park will provide a venue that will enhance activity and serve as a cornerstone to our downtown community. The removal of the wall that now is a barrier and an attractive nuisance to encourage loitering rather than visiting will be removed, new grading with sidewalks, paths and performance pad made of brick paver material will allow for better open access and resident/visitor use. We all have the DID to thank for this as these property and business persons taxed themselves an extra amount dedicating the funds to projects that improve our quality of life downtown. They also have done this while encouraging and seeking the input of the DSCA, residents, DSA, merchants and many others.
Input with City Commission Regarding Vibrancy and Quality of Life Issues (8/23/10)
The DSCA leading the way in collaborating with other stakeholders with an interest in improving the vibrancy and quality of life downtown appeared several times before the City Commission to encourage a compromise that works for everyone.
The DSCA, based on the advice from many of our association members, has appeared many times before the City Commission to speak for:
- an improved and workable noise ordinance that allows for increased activity and responsible entertainment downtown;
- a greenspace policy along with Master Plan amendments that increases the awareness and actual amount of greenspace downtown while lessening the inappropriate use of hardscape;
- encouraging the completion of the Bayfront Mooring Field so that there is a safe and secure anchorage for boat owners that is maintained as environmentally safe as well; and,
- improvements to the zoning codes governing commerce and utilization of downtown space that will more equally represent the concerns of residents while maintaining the necessary growth of commercial interests.
Involvement with Homeless Issues in Downtown Sarasota (8/23/10)
The DSCA has heard you, its members, and has taken the initiative to address the accommodation of those persons who are homeless in the downtown area.
Harry Chororos, President of the Sarabande Condominium Association, has agreed to Chair the DSCA’s Sub-Committee on Persons Who Are Homeless. Soon after, realizing how pervasive and complex this issue is, it was agreed that Harry would Chair a joint committee of the DSCA and DSA (Downtown Sarasota Alliance) so that we can all use our resources more effectively. Harry, Peter Fanning and Mary Anne Servian have been active in meeting with the many stakeholders who have knowledge and expertise in trying to improve the quality of life of the homeless population and the residents/visitors of Downtown Sarasota. This activity is a priority for many of the DSCA’s members and we will be putting considerable effort in trying to come up with a workable plan.
Improved Member Communication through New DSCA Website (8/23/10)
The DSCA Board of Directors establishes communication with its members and improving member input to other associations as the number one priority for the upcoming year.
If you have already visited the About Us Page you know that the DSCA is very much interested in improving communication among its members and the Board of Directors. This new website is one of our efforts as is the increased use of blast e-mail to individual residents and member associations concerning activities and information that we believe will help you enjoy downtown. Also, in an attempt to increase our effectiveness, the DSCA is committed to building alliances with other organizations that are working to improve the Sarasota experience for everyone. The DSCA now occupies a seat on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Sarasota Alliance. This group wants to unify the many voices of persons who live, work and own property downtown in order “… to promote and enrich Historic Downtown Sarasota, our bay-front community.” The DSCA is also the only member of the Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations that represents the many sub-neighborhoods and jurisdictions downtown. Additionally, the DSCA is a participating member of The City Alliance of Sarasota, an arm of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce.
|
Dolphin Tower Condos in
|
Support to Dolphin Tower Evacuees (8/23/10) Reality struck home when residents like Carol Reynolds (also an active
For more info and to review key news stories concerning what has been
|
Home |
About Us |
Membership |
News |
Events |
Info Links |
Contact Us
©2010 Downtown Sarasota Condo Association
Website Sponsored By Alderman Oaks Retirement Community
Sarasota Web Design: Sitespring