News Briefs

+ Parking garage art debate continues
At the city of Sarasota Downtown Improvement District’s Sept. 6 regular board meeting, board member Mark Kaufmann continued to question a $25,000 public art mural proposal for the interior walls of the Palm Avenue parking garage.

“It’s my impression public art should be visible from the outside,” Kaufmann said.

But Kaufmann said he would support that over the alternative.

“At the end of the day, I’m for interior art over no public art at all,” Kaufmann said.
DID Chairman Ernie Ritz, meanwhile, voiced his support for the project and said the DID has no say over the project.

The Public Art Committee will decide whether to approve the project at a special meeting planned for Sept. 27.

Meetings & agendas
• City Commission Regular Meeting — 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota
• Board of Adjustment — 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota