Commission approves art project

Sarasota city commissioners approved a $25,000 public art project for the Palm Avenue parking garage after Commissioner Paul Caragiulo changed his mind and voted for the project after initially voting against it.

Caragiulo requested a motion to reconsider and voted for the project along with Mayor Suzanne Atwell and Commissioner Willie Shaw.

Vice Mayor Terry Turner and Commissioner Shannon Snyder voted against the project.

Five artists will paint murals of different themes on the floors of the parking garage, beginning at the end of the month, to coincide with the beginning of The Chalk Festival.

The commission also approved a contract with Seabreeze Concessions LLC, the current concession operators at the Lido Beach Pool. The contract city staff has negotiated with the company calls for Seabreeze to pay a base concession fee of $3,500 per month, plus 15% of gross monthly sales and 80% of the Lido Pool fees the operator collects.

Also at its city commission meeting, the commission:

Gave direction:
• To city staff to draft an ordinance that amends certain portions of the city’s backflow prevention control program and calls for the city to spend approximately $1.2 million to pay for the devices for the roughly 4,000 customers that still require one as mandated by state law.

Amended:
• Ordinances that no longer allow the executive director of the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall and the manager of the Bobby Jones Golf Course to be appointed by the commission and no longer label the boards of both entities as city-appointed boards.

Gave preliminary approval:
• On downtown greenspace master plan enhancement projects for Orange Avenue and First Street, which are estimated to cost $34,500 for both projects. The city wants to make sure the projects don’t interfere with a future roundabout before proceeding.

Reviewed:
• An update on the planning and zoning regulations concerning casino gaming possibilities within city limits and gave city staff direction to move forward with zoning code and Comprehensive Plan amendments that would make it difficult for casino gaming companies to propose such businesses in the city of Sarasota.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].