News Briefs

+ Michael Bloomberg to speak in Sarasota
The Ringling College Library Association and Gulf Coast Community Foundation have teamed up to bring Michael Bloomberg to Sarasota this March.

Bloomberg, who concluded his third term as mayor of New York earlier this month, will give an evening lecture at an event March 28 at the Sarasota Opera House. Ringling College Library Association Town Hall Chairman Jay Logan said proceeds from the event would go toward funding construction of a new library at the Ringling College of Art and Design.

The event is not a part of the Ringling College Library Association’s Town Hall series, but Logan helped book the event. The Ringling College Library Association has been working to bring Bloomberg to Sarasota for more than a year, Logan said, but it was only recently able to secure his presence as he was leaving office.

“Given where we are in the campaign for the library, we thought this would be a good opportunity to help that project along in terms of the construction fund,” Logan said. “We hope the community will rally around that.”

Logan said tickets for the event should be available some time in late February.

+ Princeton Review calls New College a ‘Best Value’
For the sixth straight year, New College of Florida received praise from the Princeton Review, as the school came in at No. 2 in the group’s 2014 rankings of the “Best Value” public colleges in the country.

New College moved up one spot from last year’s rankings, which list the top 75 public and private American colleges based on their academics and affordability. New College has placed in the top three each of the past six years, one of only three public schools to make the top 10 every year throughout that period.

“We’re pleased that Princeton Review recognizes that year after year, New College has provided an education of the highest quality, at a cost that is significantly lower than that of almost all of the country’s leading colleges and universities,” New College President Donal O’Shea said in a release.

+ Harmer drops ‘interim’ from his county job title
The Sarasota County Commission moved Tuesday to offer Interim County Administrator Thomas Harmer a permanent job, praising the 55-year-old former fire chief’s job performance during his first three months in the county’s top administrative position, as well as his positive effect on county staff morale.

The Hollywood native stepped in to lead Sarasota County as interim county administrator in October following the County Commission’s decision to remove former County Administrator Randall Reid from the post after less than two years on the job. Harmer’s interim title was supposed to last six months while county commissioners searched for Reid’s permanent replacement.

Commissioner Joe Barbetta made Tuesday’s motion to strip “interim” from Harmer’s job title and offer him the job permanently.

Harmer thanked the county commissioners for offering him the permanent role, adding that despite not having sought out the job of permanent county administrator, his “interest in the position has grown.”

“I’m excited about the opportunity, and I’m looking forward to coming back to you with a proposed contract,” Harmer said.

Harmer’s permanent role will become official after county commissioners approve Harmer’s contract proposal.

+ Siesta residents question proposed Key roundabout
Following mounting pushback from Siesta residents, the Sarasota County Commission announced Tuesday that it would take a look at a Florida Department of Transportation proposal to turn the intersection of Midnight Pass Road and Beach Road into a roundabout.

County Commissioners Christine Robinson and Nora Patterson acknowledged that many Siesta residents were concerned that the proposed roundabout would add to traffic congestion on the Key and would do nothing to improve pedestrian safety at the site, which is a heavily trafficked thoroughfare for beachgoers using off-site parking for Siesta Beach.

“It will be horrible during season, in my opinion,” Robinson said, referring to potential traffic back-ups at the intersection. “I’m hoping I’m wrong.”

“I think this is really important; we are owed an explanation,” Patterson said, questioning FDOT’s rationale for converting the intersection. “I think it deserves a public discussion.”

Meetings & agendas
Regular City Commission Meeting — 2:30 and 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 3, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota.

Sarasota County School Board Meeting — 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4, Landings Administrative Complex, 1980 Landings Blvd., Sarasota.

Siesta Key Village Association Meeting — 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 4, Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar, 5250 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key.