Briefs

+ Red-light cameras to soon appear
Red-light cameras will soon be installed at up to 11 of the city’s most dangerous intersections.

City commissioners approved a contract with a company to place the cameras at those intersections for the payment of $4,750 per month, per camera approach, which is one direction of travel at an intersection.

Police say cameras will make roads safer, and the city is counting on about $400,000 in revenue the first year to help balance the budget.

Offenders will receive $158 tickets.

The following intersections are being recommended.
• Fruitville Road and Beneva Road
• Fruitville Road and U.S. 301
• Fruitville Road and Tuttle Avenue
• Fruitville Road and Lockwood Ridge Road
• South Tamiami Trail and Bee Ridge Road
• South Tamiami Trail and Siesta Drive
• South Tamiami Trail and Waldemere Street
• South Tamiami Trail and Bahia Vista Street
• Tuttle Avenue and Bahia Vista Street
• U.S. 301 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way
• North Tamiami Trail and University Parkway

+ Union teamsters plead to keep pensions
Union members packed the City Commission chambers June 6 to protest the overhaul of their pension program.

Nearly three-dozen members of the Teamsters Local 173, which represents many of the city’s employees, held signs that read: “We’re Teamsters and we vote” and “Stop the war on workers.”

Last month, the city declared an impasse in its negotiations with union representatives.

For the first time in Sarasota’s history, City Hall’s pension obligations will cost more than the total tax revenue the city collects.

City leaders have been warning for more than a year that something has to give.

+ Hoffman declines county administrator job
Maj. Kurt Hoffman, of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, is turning down the job that he accepted two weeks ago.

Hoffman was asked to replace, on an interim basis, County Administrator Jim Ley, who resigned amid a scandal.

He has since learned accepting the job would likely reduce his retirement benefits.

Awaiting a final ruling on that would take more time, so realizing the county’s urgency in filling that position, Hoffman turned down the job.

The County Commission has not named a replacement candidate.

MEETINGS & AGENDAS
County Commission budget workshop — 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
Downtown Improvement District — 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota
Rosemary District Association — 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, Fifth Street Fire Station, Sarasota
County Commission budget workshop — 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
City Commission workshop — 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota