All entries tagged with “City of Sarasota”

Doug Logan, city homelessness director, submits resignation amid transparency concerns

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Friday Feb 12, 2016 7:04 pm

Amid controversy about the handling of a Housing First effort, the City of Sarasota’s top official tasked with finding solutions to homelessness has submitted his resignation. Doug Logan, director of Special Initiatives on Chronic Homelessness, will leave his post in the next two weeks. “Given the current set of circumstances, my ability to do what I felt needed to be done was compromised,” Logan told SRQ. “It was time for me to return to the private sector.”

City Manager Tom Barwin said the decision for Logan and the city to part company was mutual. Logan has come under intense scrutiny following the public release of a report marked “confidential” and other communications with administration that discussed the formation of a private organization that could rally funds and support for a housing effort. If an entity is determined to be created to serve in an advisory capacity on public policy, Florida’s Sunshine Law could force many communications into a public domain.

“We came to the conclusion that, based on some of the things that were happening, someone in the community was most likely going to insist that any private not-for-profit that emerged to take on Housing First and do some of the heavy lifting that needs to be done would be challenged as a public agency if there was a hand by any governmental employee involved with catalyzing such an effort,” Barwin said.

While Barwin said he did not want to identify any individual, the personnel decision and the release of Logan’s communications comes following a public records request by Michael Barfield, a paralegal for the Law Office of Andrea Flynn Mogenson. Following news of the resignation, Barfield said Logan’s departure would have no impact on whether a nonprofit formed based on city direction will ultimately have to operate in a public domain. “If Doug Logan left the city a week ago or two weeks ago, it doesn’t make an entity not subject to the Sunshine Law when the idea and purpose for the creation originated from none other than Tom Barwin and Doug Logan,” Barfield said.

Logan, though, said many nonprofits operate in cooperation with government without being bound by the Sunshine Law, “and with good reason.” “The county has a public facility in [Nathan] Benderson Park, and they have a Benderson Park foundation,” he said, referring to the Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates. He said if such organizations had to deal with the same level of scrutiny and transparency as Florida government, it could complicate a number of matters, particularly private fundraising. And he said recent heated discussions of his communications with Barwin verify that. “Nobody wants to get involved in the circus of having to deal with these laws.”

Both Barwin and Logan suggested attempts to force a Housing First outside entity to operate within the Sunshine Law were intended to undercut such efforts entirely. “I’ve served in three states. I’ve helped to incorporate 501c3 private organizations because of a need to do it,” Barwin said. “Everywhere else, this is considered a good, healthy thing and smart collaboration.”

Barfield, though, said he has no problem with Housing First or the creation of a nonprofit. “What I do oppose is not having transparency for the solution, or any component of the solution, for addressing the homeless problem, which is the No. 1 problem facing the city. There is simply no excuse and reason why we shouldn’t be transparent,” he said.

Logan said he still had a passion for solving the homeless crisis. As he pursues solutions as a private sector person, he hopes nobody challenges his participation. Any organization created does not exist, and efforts discussed while Logan was a city employee won’t be the genesis of a group, he said. Anything created from this point on should not be bound by discussions that occurred before. But he acknowledged legal dispute over certain matters. “I may have to go back to teaching,” said the former adjunct professor and sports commissioner. “It may be, for some godforsaken reason, that I can’t invest in my energies and passion. But think of the motivation of people who want to keep me from doing that. Why is someone motivated to stop me from trying to stop homelessness?”

Barfield for now hopes city commissioners still question whether Barwin has been operating transparently enough within a government organization. “Why are city commissioners not asking Mr. Barwin the question of how this could happen yet again?,” he said.

BREAKING: Two dead following weather in Manatee. Law Enforcement updates on severe weather overnight in Southwest Florida

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Sunday Jan 17, 2016 8:28 am

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office has reported that two people died from tornado damage in Manatee County overnight, news confirmed by Florida Cabinet member Jeff Atwater.

The National Weather Service has lifted severe weather warnings and tornado warnings throughout the region. Updates from officials with law enforcement, government and utility providers will be posted here periodically through the day. Tornado warnings still stand in parts of Southeast Florida but the severe weather appears to have moved past this region, according to NWS.

The Sarasota Police Department reports minor flooding, downed power lines, downed trees and signs were reported throughout the city. Large trees were down at 3200 block and 3900 block of Central Ave. Public works is on scene at 32nd. A stop sign is down at 1st Street and Lemon (officer standing by until repaired). 

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is advising individuals to stay away from downed and sparking power lines. The agency has 50 to 100 emergency responders in the field. Earlier today, residents were advised to "stay home and stay safe," but officials now say they have largely cleared roads, moving debris to roadsides, and are simply asking citizens use caution while traveling and clearing their own properties of debris.

Florida Power & Light estimated early this morning that some 17,000 people are without power, and officials are working to restore service as quickly as possible. Access remains restricted to an area around Stickney Point Road with downed power lines, though service has been largerly restored. FPL estimates all customers will have power restored by 6pm.

Sarasota County has set up an emergency contact number at 861-5000. Sarasota County will open a multi-agency resource center on Monday to assist residents whose properties have been impacted by Sunday's storms. Citizens can come to Edson Keith Mansion at Phillippi Estate Park, 5500 S. Tamiami Trail, between 11am and 2pm Monday to meet with county building officials, utilities staff and representatives of the American Red Cross, FPL and Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Citizens should bring proof of residency. Right now, county officials say they have verified significant damage to 45 structures, with an estimated dollar damage amount greater than $3 million. Additionally, residents who experienced property damage are advised to contact their insurance agents regarding claims.

Atwater, Florida chief financial officer, said any citizens with questions about insurance claims can call a state hotline at 877-693-5236 to explain coverage and help file a claim.

Sarasota Hires Soccer Executive to Handle Homeless Efforts

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Monday Jun 8, 2015 12:14 pm

Doug Logan, a sports executive who served as CEO for Major League Soccer and USA Track and Field, has been hired by the City of Sarasota as director of Special Initiatives on Chronic Homelessness.

"I'm not a social worker and I'm not looking for a career," said Logan.  "I care about the Sarasota community and the state of the chronic homeless.  Homelessness is a mean, ugly and complex problem. I look forward to working with the City Manager and community - faith based organizations, nonprofits, and philanthropists - to implement the City's 8-point action plan.  I have a record of positive achievement under difficult and controversial conditions.  And, I look forward to using my talents and energies to achieve measurable results with the homeless.  Quite honestly, I hope I work myself out of a job."

The hire comes as the city continues to grapple with homelessness and at a time when the City Commission saw major turnover in an election dominated by the same issue. City Manager Tom Barwin proposed an eight-point plan to tackle homelessness presented as an alternative to a plan proposed by consultant Dr. Robert Marbut that is still being pursued by Sarasota County. But weeks after the City Commission approved the Barwin plan, two members of the board were defeated in a city election and replaced with two new commissioners committed to improving relations with county leadership.

The city has continued with its plan so far, and hiring a manager dedicated to coordinating homeless efforts was the biggest financial portion of the plan.

Logan served as Major League Soccer's first commissioner, holding that post from 1995 through 1999, at which point he launched the sports consulting firm Empresario. He later served as CEO of USA Track and Field from 2008 until 2010, when The Washington Post reports he was terminated amid tension with volunteers in the organization. At MLS, he oversaw a $90 million annual budget and managed more than 120 employees, and he also ran a live entertianment company in Mexico that had a $55  million annual operating budget, according to city officials. The Sarasota resident has been classes at New York University and is now taking a leave of absense from that job.

The city also stressed Logan served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict, where he earned two Bronze Stars for combat.

"What stands out with Doug Logan is his respected leadership and experience," Barwin said. "He is a strategic thinker, capable of organizing major initiatives. Doug has successfully organized six major start-up initiatives in his career, and he will bring a broad range of start-up experience to this new initiative. Doug also is a successful national and international business leader with wide-ranging experiences in the private and public sectors that are relevant to the chronic homeless issue.  He's also a veteran who was awarded two Bronze stars during Vietnam.  Doug is a compassionate person with a desire to help, and I believe he will approach this challenging homeless issue with a fresh perspective."

Longtime Sarasota Finance Director Dies

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Monday Jun 1, 2015 2:37 pm

Mayor Willie Shaw today announced that former Sarasota Finance Director Christopher Lyons had passed away. Lyons, a 25-year employee of the city, retired in 2012 for health reasons. During his time at... More »

Bayfront 20:20 Implementing Principles Discussed

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Tuesday Jan 13, 2015 10:47 pm

Cultural institutions on the Sarasota Bayfront are making plans for future growth and Sarasota city officials may be have started moving forward with ways to chart the waterfront’s future. There... More »

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