News Briefs

+ Economic development coordinator resigns
City of Sarasota downtown economic development coordinator Randy Welker resigned Friday, June 8, one day after he voted for Floridays Development Company as the top choice for a downtown hotel on Palm Avenue next to the Palm Avenue parking garage. Welker cited personal reasons for resigning; he never relocated from Martin County, where his wife still lives. Welker’s main goals were selecting a hotel company for downtown and bringing a drug store to the State Street parking garage. Negotiations are ongoing for a drug store at that future site.

+ New Sarasota library foundation forms
Sarasota County’s library system has a new champion.

The Library Foundation for Sarasota County has been established to ensure the county’s library system remains an indispensible community resource, according to a news release issued Wednesday, June 13.
The foundation, which operates as a non-profit corporation, will raise private funds to complement public tax support and increase public awareness of the importance of libraries.

Although the foundation is not a part of the Sarasota County government, it will work closely with the library system, the county’s Library Advisory Board and existing friends groups at all nine county libraries.
The foundation is made up of residents throughout the county, and Shannon Staub, former Sarasota County commissioner, was named as the foundation’s president.

For information, visit sarasotalibraryfoundation.org.

+ Tree removed from North Sarasota park
A laurel oak tree in Fredd “Glossie” Atkins Park in North Sarasota was removed Wednesday, June 13 due to decay. A sky climber oak, similar to the tree in the new roundabout at Ringling Boulevard and Pineapple Avenue, will be planted in its place. The park will remain open during the work. 

A tree-risk assessment was conducted by a certified master arborist who considered the tree to be high risk and a public hazard.

Meetings & Agendas
• Community Workshop for Street Vacation — 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14, City Hall, Room 112, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• District 1 Community Forum — 6 p.m. Thursday, June 14, Robert L. Taylor Community Center, 1845 34th St., Sarasota.
• Sarasota County Commission Budget Workshop — 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 15, Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Third Floor Think Tank, Sarasota.
• Sarasota City Commission Regular Meeting — 2:30 and 6 p.m. Monday, June 18, City Hall, Commission Chamber, 1565 First St., Sarasota.
• Sarasota City Commission Workshop — 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, City Hall, Commission Chamber, 1565 First St., Sarasota.