WHAT'S HAPPENING | Week of July 9, 2015

What't the buzz?

Sarasota County is slated to net about $11.4 million frok the recent $18.7 billion settlement from BP related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

County staff expect the new funding, which can be used however the local government pleases, to arrive within the next three months. Officials have recommended using the influx of cash to shore up reserves within the general fund, but we asked readers on Facebook how they think the county should spend the money.

"The oil spill killed sea life, and is still out there ... How about spending the money repairing the damage?" — Georgann Nugent

"Please spend some of that money creating homes for the homeless!" — Charise Leon

"Roads." — Nicole Hancock

"Water park." — Amanda Swatek

BRIEFS

City considers moving municipal elections to fall

On Monday, the City Commission voted 3-2 to ask staff to prepare an ordinance that, if approved, would ask voters to decide whether to move municipal elections from spring to fall.

The move came after Vice Mayor Suzanne Atwell expressed a displeasure with the voter turnout in spring elections. Although Atwell said many residents are calling for such a move, Mayor Willie Shaw and Commissioner Susan Chapman both argued such a significant charter amendment should be driven by a citizen initiative, not by the directive of the commission.

The city is set to hold a public hearing considering the potential ballot question sometime after Oct. 1. Here's a look at the voter turnout in contested races in the most recent municipal and statewide elections:

County settles suit related to death of Donna Chen

It has been more than three and a half years since 53-year-old Siesta Key resident Donna Chen was struck and killed by a drunk driver on Midnight Pass Road.

The incident sparked pleas to ban alcohol on Siesta Beach and improve conditions for pedestrians on the island’s main road. The driver, Blake Talman, will spend 15 years in prison. It also led to a lawsuit alleging negligence on the part of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, which county commissioners settled for $200,000 Tuesday morning.

“Based on all the circumstances surrounding the case, including the tragic and substantial loss suffered by the Chen family, the costs and expenses required to take this case to trial, the potential for a large verdict and the possibility of having to deal with a claims bill, ” said County Attorney Stephen DeMarsh in a memo to commissioners. “We are recommending the board approve the settlement in the amount of $200,000."

MEETINGS

• City Commission transportation workshop: 3 p.m. Monday, July 13, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota.