Commission reviews strong city mayor proposal today

The Sarasota City Commission will review a strong city mayor proposal submitted by Commissioner Paul Caragiulo at its regular meeting today at City Hall. Caragiulo hopes to put the amendment on the March ballot to be considered by city voters.

Commissioners are also set to review two purchase proposals for a strip of land on the corner of Fruitville and Beneva roads. Although the city has tentatively agreed to sell the land to Benderson Development for use as a shopping center, Lakewood Ranch-based Commodore Retail Properties LLC has made a push for commissioners to consider its proposal for a multi-use project that includes both commercial and residential components.

During the evening session of the meeting, commissioners are poised to discuss a concern with a rising homeless population near Selby Five Points Park.

Commissioners are also scheduled to review a proposed lawsuit settlement between the city and Public Art Committee Chairman George Haborak and Citizens for Sunshine. Citizens for Sunshine and Haborak have agreed to drop their lawsuit, which contends a steering committee held meetings out of the sunshine, if the city agrees to a variety of conditions. Those conditions include the commission agreeing not to approve a public-art project of nine bronze sculptures and a theme for that project, with which Public Art Committee members have issues.

For more information about the meeting, check www.yourobserver.com and pick up a copy of Thursday’s Sarasota Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].