In Brief - 3.11.10

+ One-day-per week trash pickup coming
At the start of the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, the city of Sarasota will eliminate one of its weekly garage collections, leaving residents with just one pickup per week.

The savings will be $300,000 to $400,000 per year.

A study showed that only 64% of city residents put their trash carts out two times a week. And of those customers, only 2% had a full cart both days.

The reason the city is waiting until the fiscal year begins is because that’s when the current solid-waste contract ends. Bill Hallisey, public works director, said about a half-dozen companies are competing for the new city contract.

Hallisey said he wants to make garbage and recycling collection on the same day.

The switch to once-per-week trash collection will result in about five fewer employees, but the reduction will be taken care of through retirements and attrition.

+ Groups won’t fully endorse roundabouts
The city continued this week asking downtown groups for support of the bayfront connectivity plan and the building of two test roundabouts on U.S. 41.

Steve Stancel, the city’s connectivity project manager, presented the plan March 10 to the Downtown Sarasota Alliance. He asked the group to officially support the overall plan that calls for six roundabouts on U.S. 41 and to support the construction of two test roundabouts at 14th Street and 10th Street, so drivers can get a feel for roundabouts and how they work, before the city begins constructing the rest of the project.
But the DSA board said it would only support the connectivity plan if the city made sure that other projects it supports, such as bus rapid transit and a downtown circulator system, be integrated into the plan.

+ Meetings & Agendas
• City Commission — 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 15, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota
• County Commission — 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 16, Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
• Arlington Park Neighborhood Association — 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, Waldemere Fire Station, 2070 Waldemere St., Sarasota
• County Commission — 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 17, Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.