Sarasota residents push to end homeless feedings

A petition to tighten restrictions against feeding homeless people in Selby Five Points Park is one of several items up for discussion at today's Sarasota City Commission meeting.

Also on the agenda for today’s City Commission meeting:

• Robert Tuttle, president of the Teamsters Local 173, which represents many city employees, will tell commissioners that the union can provide cost savings on their pensions. The city is looking to cut pension costs with the teamsters and the police union, because it is facing $16 million in retirement benefit obligations next fiscal year, which is more that it will collect in total property-tax revenue.

• The police department, which oversees the city’s parking operations, is recommending an ordinance that would prohibit panhandling within 20 feet of a downtown parking meter.

• The commission is expected to choose between two plans for a circus-themed playground at Payne Park.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].