St. Armands BID board will remain property owners only

On Aug. 17, the Sarasota City Commission rejected a request to allow merchants to serve on the St. Armands Business Improvement District board.

Since its inception in 2001, the board has comprised of only Circle property owners, because a state statute read that members had to be “subject to property taxes.” Assistant City Attorney Michael Connolly interpreted this to mean only property owners.

In July, Jack Peffley, owner of Taffy’s menswear, and Scott MacDonald, owner of Crab and Fin, asked Connolly to reconsider that interpretation, because many merchants pay property taxes through their leases.

In a 4-1 vote, the commission decided the statute should mean property owners only.