News Briefs

+ State Street parking garage costs surprise commissioners
During Monday’s Sarasota City Commission meeting, city staff told commissioners the anticipated cost of the State Street garage construction is more than 50% higher than the original budget.

The budget, approved in 2009, allocated about $7.2 million for the completion of the garage. Today, the estimated costs have risen to around $11.3 million, leaving the city potentially responsible for finding an additional $4.1 million to cover the increased expense and finish the project.

Chief Planner Steve Stancel said the project site reduced efficiency; the shallow depth of the lot required fewer parking spaces on more floors than industry standards. As a result, the projected cost per parking space is more than $10 higher than the national average.

In April, staff will return to the commission with the winning bids for the engineering and construction of the garage. If the commission is unhappy with the costs at that time, it can reject the winning contractor. If the bid is approved, construction at the garage is expected to begin in May, with final completion in March 2015.

+ SKVA takes official stance on Big Pass Dredge project
The Siesta Key Village Association has joined a growing chorus of Siesta Key groups stating its formal opposition to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project to mine the Big Pass shoal to replenish Lido Beach sand.

SKVA unanimously passed a motion Tuesday authorizing the group, which represents more than 50 Village businesses, to draft an official statement outlining its official opposition.

“The Siesta Key Village Association would like to notify the County Commission that, based on the evidence available to us today, that we are against dredging the shoal and Big Pass,” said Siesta Key architect Mark Smith, who initiated the motion at Tuesday’s meeting.

SKVA’s move comes two weeks after the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce passed a similar statement, and one month after the Siesta Key Association led the way by being the first Siesta Key group to formally oppose the Army Corps project.

+ Arlington Park Pool set to close for major renovations
The Arlington Park Aquatic Center, located at 2650 Waldemere St., will undergo renovations and close for

six months beginning Monday, Feb. 10 according to a Sarasota County press release.

The renovations are focused on the pool’s pump room. The pumps, heaters and filters will be replaced with new equipment. The city of Sarasota, which owns the park, is funding the project at a cost of $1,156,500.

The gymnasium, workout room, basketball courts, tennis courts and racquetball courts at Arlington Park will remain open as renovations are ongoing.

Meetings & agendas
Siesta Key Association — 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, St. Boniface Church, 5615 Midnight Pass Road, Siesta Key.

Sarasota County Council of Neighborhood Associations — 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, Sarasota Garden Club, 1131 Blvd. of the Arts, Sarasota.