The time is almost here. Sarasota’s incoming City Manager, Karie Friling, is scheduled to begin on May 29.

Ms. Friling is already getting familiar with the community and the issues facing the city. She attended the May 4 CCNA meeting, offered remarks to those in attendance, and has also been present at a recent City Commission meeting.

In a Your Observer interview published this month, Ms. Friling said she has been reviewing documents and meeting with selected city staff before her official start date. DSCA welcomes Ms. Friling to Sarasota and looks forward to working with her. DSCA also plans to invite her to an upcoming board meeting as a guest speaker.

DSCA encourages members to read the Your Observer interview, particularly her comments about community engagement as she settles into the role.

New City Manager Calls Career in Public Service 'Most Noble of Professions'

As we welcome Ms. Friling as Sarasota’s new City Manager, we would be remiss if we did not also recognize the contributions of Pat Robinson, who is retiring from the City of Sarasota after many years of public service.

DSCA and many of our members have enjoyed working with Pat in his city roles, including as Deputy City Manager and Public Safety Director. We have appreciated his accessibility, practical approach, and deep knowledge of city operations. 

We also want to recognize Pat’s able leadership during and after the 2024 storms, when steady coordination and clear decision-making mattered greatly to downtown residents and businesses.

While Pat is leaving city government, he is not stepping away from public safety work. He will become Director of SafeSRQ, the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee’s community security initiative. DSCA thanks Pat for his service to the city and wish him continued success in this next role.