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SRQ DAILY Sep 6, 2016

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"The North Sarasota and Newtown area is really making great progress and we want to see that momentum continue."

- Tom Barwin, Sarasota City Manager
 

[Government]  One More Year Of CRA Revenue?
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

A 30-year-old redevelopment agreement between the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County will sunset this year, but not before one more disagreement between the governments gets settled. City officials believe the county must make one 30th and final payment to the Community Redevelopment Agency. But county officials say they have made their final payment.

The CRA district was created by city and county officials in 1986, but according to the city finance department, the first payment into the related redevelopment trust funding to finance projects in the district was not made until the following budget year. “It is the city's understanding that, in furtherance of this accord and in the absence of an extension of the downtown community redevelopment area beyond the year 2016, the county's annual contributions would cease after thirty annual payments had been made,” writes Mayor Willie Shaw in a letter to the county this spring.

But county officials say it has long been understood that the $4.3-million payment for Fiscal Year 2016, made last November, would be the last contribution to the district. It’s that date that has loomed over discussions in joint meetings and other interactions about the CRA for years, according to County Commission Chairman Alan Maio. The termination date was memorialized in the Fiscal Year 2016 budget resolution, an action treated by city and county officials alike as the end of discussions on continuing the CRA past its expiration. “The county is proud to have been a part of the very successful Downtown CRA,” Maio writes in a letter to the city.

“We believe it has exceedingly accomplished the goals and objectives envisioned by both commissions at the time of its inception, and that it is a testament to what can be accomplished via a mutual accord.” Maio notes that over the 30 years after the creation of CRA, some $65.7 million was paid by the county into the CRA redevelopment trust. How that money has been used has always been at the discretion of Sarasota City Commissioners, who act as the governing board for the CRA.

City Manager Tom Barwin, however, says the work of the CRA is far from done. The city still has projects that need funding for easing downtown traffic congestion, funding economic redevelopment in Newtown and launching the Bayfront 20:20 initiative. “The North Sarasota and Newtown area is really making great progress and we want to see that momentum continue,” Barwin says. “It’s a great time to continue economic progress.” Barwin also notes that the county has stopped funding a number of efforts in the city, including contributing to costs at the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, and declined to participate in grant funding requested by the city. “Sarasota is what I call a major donor city in what it contributes in tourist and sales tax to the county and state,” Barwin says. “For the visionaries who created the CRA, when it was conceived of and implemented, it was a way to bring some equity back to the scene.”

City Commissioners are expected to discuss the issue at a regular meeting today. The meeting starts at 2:30pm. 

Picture: Map of Sarasota CRA.

[Daily Shop]  Tropical Tote
Aviel Kanter, aviel.kanter@srqme.com

An effortless combination of casual and cool, this California dreamy tote carries you from beach bum carryall to work-ready computer bag. Made from thick and durable canvas dyed with a blown-out silhouette of classic palms, the bag from SoCal brand Sol Angeles is the ideal size for throwing over your shoulder full of farmers market loot, complete with leather handles that add a hint of luxury. Like local coastal-centric cool Shore Brand that stocks the tote, Sol Angeles represents low-maintenance, refined seaside living, tailored for hip men and women with sublime salty style. Pick up our September issue and flip to the TRENDSPORT section, where we dive into the in vogue swank of the palm print.  

Shore, 465 John Ringling Blvd., #100, Sarasota, 941-388-3535.

[Convention ]  RE/MAX Alliance Group Attends Convention

Representatives from RE/MAX Alliance Group recently attended the 100th annual Florida Realtors Convention and Trade Expo held in Orlando, FL. A centennial in the making, this year's Celebration100 brought realtors from around the state together to discuss key issues that shape their profession and the state association. Members attended more than 35 education sessions on topics such as new trends in real estate, building successful teams and converting leads into business.  

RE/MAX Alliance Group

[Exec Moves ]  Williams Parker Attorneys Attend Compliance Seminar

Williams Parker labor and employment attorneys, Gail E. Farb, Jennifer Fowler-Hermes and John M. Hament will join The Employee Management Team’s Susan T. Howard in presenting Unraveling the Complexities of Wage and Hour Compliance seminar on September 13 from 7:30am–11:30am at The Francis in Sarasota. Williams Parker Attorneys provide counsel to C-level executives and boards of directors on high-stakes employment litigation and on traditional labor law issues. The seminar will include discussion of several important issues regarding labor laws.  

Williams Parker Attorney

[Commemoration ]  Jewish Federation Celebrates Anniversary

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee's (JFSM) 2016-2017 season includes an appearance by Paula Abdul commemorating the organization's 10th anniversary of Women's Day. The celebration will also include Violins of Hope, a three-week event featuring Israeli master violinmaker Amnon Weinstein who restored dozens of violins played by Jewish prisoners in Nazi concentration camps, an Anne Frank exhibit and the 2017 Jewish Film Festival.  

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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