During September and October, three joint meetings involving the Sarasota City Commission, Sarasota County Commission, and Longboat Key Town Commission have underscored the growing importance of regional cooperation.
September 18 — Sarasota City and Sarasota County Commissions
October 7 — Sarasota City and Longboat Key Town Commissions
October 14 — Longboat Key Town and Sarasota County Commissions
For downtown Sarasota, these discussions are increasingly important. Transportation, stormwater, infrastructure, economic vitality, arts and culture, and many other quality-of-life issues do not stop at municipal boundaries.
Whatever happens with Amendment 3, the City, County and neighboring communities will continue to share many of the same challenges and opportunities. In many respects, we are in this together.
There are also new opportunities for cooperation. Both Sarasota and Longboat Key have new city managers, bringing fresh perspectives to longstanding regional issues. At the same time, there is increasing interest in expanded public transportation options, including microtransit and, over the longer term, the possibility of a water taxi connecting key destinations.
These discussions come on top of the continuing regional conversation about the quality-of-life and economic benefits of a new performing arts center and a new home for the Sarasota Orchestra (see related article). While these major cultural investments would be centered in Sarasota, their audiences, economic impact and importance to the region would extend well beyond the city limits.
As downtown continues to grow, stronger cooperation among the City, County and neighboring communities will become increasingly important. These recent joint meetings are useful steps toward recognizing that many of the issues shaping downtown Sarasota are, in fact, regional issues.
The City Commission held a special meeting on September 21 to consider revisions to Sarasota's sound ordinance, following extensive work by the City's acoustical consultants and considerable public input.
A citywide survey attracted approximately 1,500 responses, demonstrating the importance of this issue to residents and businesses.
The Commission addressed several important matters, including sound measurement procedures, enforcement provisions, and excessive vehicle noise. Among the issues discussed were allowing enforcement without requiring an individual citizen complaint and addressing excessively loud vehicle exhaust and engine revving.
As downtown continues to grow, achieving a reasonable balance between an active downtown environment and residents' quality of life remains an important consideration.
Further action on the ordinance and its enforcement provisions will be important to residents and businesses throughout the city.
Downtown Sarasota has a strong tradition of civic participation, and voting is an important part of it.
In the 2024 General Election, Precincts 203, 205 and 209, covering much of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, recorded combined voter turnout of approximately 86.6%, compared with 84.25% countywide.
That pattern continued in the August 2026 primary, when the same three precincts recorded turnout of approximately 40.4%, compared with 33.28% countywide. Precinct 209 ranked third among Sarasota County's 98 precincts, with Precincts 203 and 205 also well above the county average.
Our elected officials know that downtown residents participate, whether by voting, responding to City surveys, attending public meetings or becoming involved in neighborhood issues.
With the November 3 general election approaching, DSCA encourages residents to become informed about the candidates and ballot measures, consider the issues most important to them, and vote.
On September 16, the DSCA Board unanimously adopted a resolution recommending a NO vote on Florida Amendment 3, citing concerns about the potential long-term effects on funding for essential municipal services, particularly those affecting public health and safety. The Board also unanimously supported two Sarasota County conservation ballot questions.
Read the DSCA Board's September Resolution
Whatever your views on the candidates and ballot measures, downtown's tradition of civic participation is worth continuing.
Sarasota City Manager Karie Friling has released her first 100-Day Report, offering a comprehensive look at what she has learned since taking office, actions already underway, and her priorities for the months and years ahead.
During her first 100 days, Friling participated in more than 350 meetings and conversations with City employees, Commissioners, neighborhood associations, business leaders, and community organizations.
The 23-page report, titled From Listening to Action, addresses a broad range of issues important to Sarasota residents, including financial management, stormwater and infrastructure, parks and open space, public safety, economic development, and community engagement.
Of particular interest to downtown residents are her recommendations for a more proactive economic development program, improved coordination of City planning functions, stronger neighborhood engagement, and a new City Strategic Plan built around a 25-year vision and five-year implementation program.
Friling also addresses the financial uncertainty surrounding Amendment 3, the demands placed on City employees following the 2024 hurricanes, and recommendations for improving City Commission procedures and governance.
With downtown Sarasota continuing to experience significant population growth and increasing residential density, the City’s strategic planning process will be particularly important. The DSCA expects to be actively engaged in that process, helping ensure that downtown residents’ perspectives are considered as the City establishes its long-term priorities.
We encourage residents to review the report for a better understanding of the direction of City government and the opportunities ahead.
Read City Manager Friling’s Full 100-Day Report — October 2026
Sarasota City Manager Issues First 100 Days Report
On September 16, the DSCA Board of Directors unanimously adopted a resolution recommending a NO vote on Florida Amendment 3. DSCA doesn’t usually take positions on ballot measures; however, the potential impact of these matters, especially state Amendment 3, on downtown residents is consequential.
Amendment 3 would significantly increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes, reduce the annual assessment-increase cap on non-homesteaded property from 10 percent to 5 percent, and make other changes affecting local property-tax revenues and their use.
The Board recognizes the legitimate concern about Florida’s property-tax burden and the importance of meaningful relief for homeowners. Its concern is not with that goal, but with the mechanism proposed and its potential longer-term effect on the financial capacity and flexibility of local governments.
For DSCA, the central concern is the City’s ability to continue providing essential services affecting the health and safety of residents, along with the basic municipal services that support the quality of life downtown.
The potential financial effect is significant. City officials have estimated that Amendment 3 could reduce Sarasota property-tax revenue by approximately $5.5 million annually by fiscal year 2029.
The Board was also concerned about provisions governing how counties and municipalities may use property-tax revenues and about making these changes through the Florida Constitution.
At the same meeting, the Board unanimously supported the two Sarasota County conservation questions on the November ballot. One would continue the existing Environmentally Sensitive Lands and Parkland Program tax through 2049; the second would authorize bonding to support future conservation-land acquisitions.
More information about Sarasota County’s Land Acquisition and Management Program is available here.
The Board viewed continued protection of environmentally sensitive lands and parkland as consistent with DSCA’s longstanding interest in responsible growth, the environment and the quality of life of Sarasota residents.
After considering these issues, the Board concluded that they were sufficiently important and directly related to DSCA’s purpose to warrant taking a position.
We recognize that DSCA members will have differing views and encourage everyone to review the ballot questions and make their own decisions when voting.
Read the full DSCA resolution, including the Board’s rationale and supporting information, here.
The City has paused the Downtown Master Plan update and is now budgeting for a broader citywide strategic plan.
Some may say, in hindsight, the cart came before the horse. The new direction is to first answer the bigger question: What do we want Sarasota to become? A future Downtown Master Plan would then follow from that broader vision.
City Manager Karie Friling will set the stage for the strategic planning effort, with more discussion expected soon on goals, staff responsibilities, process and timing.
Paused 'Generational' City Projects Subject To Commission Review
When a development project complies with Sarasota’s zoning and building codes, it can either be approved administratively (“by right”) — signed off by staff without a public vote — or go through public hearings before the Planning Board and/or City Commission, where residents can comment and the body votes. Many cities reserve hearings for selected, typically larger projects while approving smaller compliant ones administratively. (Mandatory community workshops, where the applicant presents to neighbors, are a separate earlier step that can accompany either path.)
With that in mind: Do you support allowing significant downtown development projects that meet Sarasota’s zoning and building codes to be approved administratively (approval by right), or should they be required to go through public hearings before the Planning Board and/or City Commission?
Take The Poll
On May 29, DSCA accepted a Grassroots/Non-profit Initiative Award from the Florida Planning and Zoning Association for the Overtown Square Pocket Park project in the Rosemary District.
The award recognizes a long-running community effort that began with DSCA’s early work in 2015 to identify the need for more public green space in the rapidly growing Rosemary District. DSCA members walked the neighborhood, reviewed city planning documents, photographed possible sites, and developed an initial citizen-led Pocket Parks in Rosemary District proposal. That proposal was presented to the City’s Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Board in 2015 and later submitted to the City Commission in 2016.
As the effort moved forward, the Rosemary District Association took a major leadership role in expanding neighborhood participation, supporting fundraising, and working with the City and other partners to help move the project from concept to reality. The City of Sarasota, RDA, Friends of Rosemary Park, DreamLarge, Kimley-Horn, RADD, residents, donors, and volunteers all contributed to the final result.
Completed in 2024, Overtown Square now provides seating, landscaping, pedestrian connections, and a welcoming public gathering space in one of downtown’s fastest-growing neighborhoods.
The project is a reminder that neighborhood organizations can help create real and lasting public improvements. It also shows the value of persistence, private support, and constructive cooperation with City government.
With recent changes in City staff leadership, including the arrival of new City Manager Karie Friling, DSCA prepared a knowledge book on Downtown Sarasota. The purpose was to provide City leadership with a clear resident and neighborhood perspective on Downtown Sarasota: where we are, how quickly downtown is changing, and the issues that will require continued City attention. This 2026 Downtown Briefing was also shared with DSCA members as a member benefit. The package included:
DSCA is pleased to welcome new City Manager Karie Friling as guest speaker at the July 1 DSCA Board meeting.
Her visit comes at an important time for Downtown Sarasota. The city is dealing with continued downtown growth, major capital decisions, infrastructure needs, mobility and parking issues, sound and quality-of-life concerns, Bay Park implementation, possible property tax reform, and the future direction of downtown planning.
DSCA looks forward to a constructive conversation with Ms. Friling and the opportunity to share a downtown resident and neighborhood perspective.
The Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association (DSCA) is the designated neighborhood organization to represent the interests of the condominium associations, townhomes, apartments and their residents, that are within the greater Downtown Sarasota.
EMAIL: downtownsarasotacondoassoc@gmail.com PHONE: 941-404-8005
