News Briefs

+ City Commission maintains State Street garage plans
At a special meeting of the City Commission Oct. 25, Commissioner Paul Caragiulo asked commissioners to reconsider the design they selected for the State Street garage, but a majority of the commissioners declined to change course.

Caragiulo voted in favor of the design picked at an Oct. 21 City Commission meeting, which would place a small commercial building next to the garage along Lemon Avenue. Caragiulo said he was in favor of live/work developments — a centerpiece of that design — but questioned whether the city could find a market for them.

“I have absolutely the utmost confidence in our Urban Design Studio folks,” Caragiulo said about the team that developed the selected garage design. “However, I’m not quite as confident in the city’s ability to really function as a developer.”

Caragiulo felt a plan that would place a larger commercial building adjacent to the garage would open up the possibilities for the city and developers interested in the space. Commissioner Suzanne Atwell, the only commissioner who voted against the design selected Oct. 21, voted with him to rescind the selected design. The rest of the commission, however, remained in favor of the original plan.

+ Drug turn-in event sees increased participation
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office collected 123 pounds of unused or expired prescription drugs as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s national turn-in event Saturday, Oct. 26.

Residents dropped off 61 pounds at Sarasota collection locations and 53 pounds in Venice, according to a Sheriff’s Office news release. The total amount collected Saturday was more than 55% greater than the 79 pounds turned in April 27, the last drug turn-in event.

The DEA and Sheriff’s Office aim to reduce drug abuse, theft and even environmental hazards, among other objectives, by collecting the unused pharmaceuticals.

For those who missed the event, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has permanent dropboxes at the Criminal Justice Center, 2071 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, which is open 24 hours, and the south county office, 4531 State Road 776, Venice, where the hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Meetings & agendas
Special City Commission Meeting — 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota

Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations Meeting — 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, Waldemere Fire Station, 2070 Waldemere St., Sarasota

Regular City Commission Meeting — 2:30 and 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota

Sarasota Board of County Commissioners Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. The County Commission will also meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota