City districts will be redrawn

The city must redraw its three commission districts.

At the Sarasota City Commission regular meeting Monday, commissioners heard from city attorney Robert Fournier, who explained the districts need to be reshaped by next April because of recent U.S. Census figures.

Because of a population gap of more than 10% that now exists between districts, Fournier said the districts must be reshaped because they now violate the “one person, one vote” standard.

Also at its regular meeting, the commission will:

Heard:
• A presentation on North Sarasota redevelopment
• A presentation on 2012 Legislature initiatives from state Reps. Darryl Rouson, D-Sarasota, and Ray Pilon, R-Sarasota.

Approved:
• An ordinance that changes compensation formula for average annual earnings in regard to city pension plans.
• An ordinance that eliminates the Youth Advisory Board as an advisory board to the commission.
• An ordinance that cancels a previously scheduled referendum regarding the increase in annual pay for city commissioners.
• A public hearing to discuss rezoning property along DeSoto Way to make way for a development of 280 residential units and a community building.
• A surveillance camera system for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way corridor.

For more information, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Nov. 24 Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].