Editor's Note: This is the fourth installment in a six-part series. Each candidate for Sarasota City Commission was asked to answer identical questions on city issues in advance of the March 10 city election. Shelli Freeland Eddie is running in District 3.

What would be the first priority at the start of your new term when you get elected?  My first priority would be to inquire about how to efficiently implement a ‘public input’ portion during the workshop presentation process to the city commission. This would allow citizens to voice support, concern or ask questions about projects, budget proposals and other initiatives presented by city staff. It would give staff notice of areas of citizen concern, and allow commissioners to better assess the impact of proposals received from city staff.

What past or present Sarasota City Commissioner do you believe you would be most like in terms of how you govern?  I appreciate the governing style of Vice Mayor Susan Chapman.  She is methodical in her approach, prepared for commission meetings and has a working command of the materials presented to the commission. She asks appropriate questions with a mind toward long-term solutions (rather than a Band-Aid approach), and appears to be available and accessible to her constituents.

What do you believe should be the city’s next step in terms of handling the homeless issue in Sarasota? The next step is for the city to attempt to restore communication and partnership with the Sarasota County Commission to achieve consensus on areas of agreement, and mediate areas of concern, in order to establish a joint response to this crisis. This conversation includes obtaining permanent buy-in by local wrap-around service providers, such as the Sarasota County Health Department, Sarasota County Area Transit, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, local mental health providers, local Veterans’ support services, law enforcement and affordable housing public/private partnerships.

What is the greatest financial challenge for the city right now and what is the most prudent way to handle it? The greatest financial challenge is the funding of the pension plan and health insurance for retired firefighters and police officers. The commission must take steps to honor the commitment it made to its pre-1993 retirees. I believe the current pension plan must be modified to give relief to the retirees, and the commission should research whether other areas of the budget may be allocated to decrease the shortfall (e.g., impact fees, penny sales tax; public/private partnerships (where authorized by state statute) and state funding sources. 

What is one change you would like to see in the way city business is conducted today? I would like to see regular joint city-county commission meetings (at the commission and staff level) to address areas of regional or mutual concern, such as the homeless crisis, transportation issues and joint fiscal responsibility for regional parks. The City Mayor and County Chair can work together in between meetings to prepare agendas for these conversations, to ensure that meetings are productive and in step with long term goals.