News Briefs

+ City Commission selects police panels chairmen
The City Commission selected the chairmen to lead two permanent police panels.

Former Mayor Elmer Berkel is now chairman of the Independent Police Advisory Panel, and Ronald Riffel is chairman of the Police Complaints Committee.

Berkel, a 45-year Sarasota resident, spent 34 years as psychologist in the Sarasota County school system and 10 years as a court mediator with the 12th Judicial Circuit.

Riffel, an 11-year Sarasota resident, is a retired social worker. For 13 years, he was the director of counseling at the University of Denver, and he had a private practice in psychiatric social work for 20 years.

Riffel also worked with the military police, providing consultation and expert testimony.

The permanent Police Advisory Panel was created to ensure police accountability and foster public confidence in the department.

The Police Complaints Committee will advice the police chief on the policies concerning the processing of citizen complaints against Sarasota police officers.

+ Overheard
During the discussion about the police panels chairmen, Vice Mayor Fredd Atkins was clearly irritated with Commissioner Terry Turner.

When Turner requested that the commission choose the chairman of the Police Complaints Committee first, because half of its applicants had also applied for the Independent Police Advisory Panel, Atkins appeared angry and said he didn’t know why, but he’d go along with it.

“I have no hidden agenda,” laughed Turner.

Atkins replied: “You always have a hidden agenda.”

Later, when three commissioners were trying to persuade either Atkins or Commissioner Suzanne Atwell to join their vote for Ronald Riffel, Turner said he felt Riffel would be a good choice and that he even met privately with him.

Atkins said with a smile, “I was getting ready to change my mind until you said you met privately with him.”
Initially, Atkins didn’t change his mind, but after a few minutes he did after asking for more information about Riffel “except what Turner says.”

+ Construction on next phase of MURT to begin
The city is set to begin construction on the next phase of the Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT).
Work is scheduled to begin March 17 to extend a 10-foot-wide concrete trail from John Ringling Boulevard and Benjamin Franklin Drive to just south of the Lido Beach Pavilion.

Trail amenities will include benches, bike racks and crosswalk improvements.

The project will cost an estimated $656,000 and will take about six months to complete.

Meetings & agendas
Palmer Ranch Communities Coalition — 3 p.m. Thursday, March 10, Village Walk Community, 8109 Camminare Drive, Sarasota

County Commission Budget Workshop — 9 a.m. Monday, March 14, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota

Board of Zoning Appeals — 6 p.m. Monday, March 14, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota

County Commission — 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice

Arlington Park Neighborhood Association — 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, Waldemere Fire Station, 2070 Waldemere St., Sarasota

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected]