WHAT'S HAPPENING: Craft Brews, Homeless rift

“I see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm about 95% sure it's not a train,” County Commissioner Carolyn Mason said, in a moment of optimism about homelessness talks between the county and city. Three days later, The commission reconsidered a resolution made at that joint meeting to work cooperatively with the city, and voted unanimously against it. Mason was not present at that meeting.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ

Siesta Key resident Jeanne Dooley will open her craft beer venue, Craft Growlers to Go & Tasting Room, in Lakewood Ranch by the end of the year. The growler shop will go into Suite 103 on Lakewood Ranch Main Street, next to the future location of Nancy’s Bar-B-Q. 
Here's what readers on our Facebook had to say about prospect.

"How many taps? Can I get Craft Growlers to Go and Nancy's Bar-B-Q to go? This is great. My nephews are so disappointed that there are no Growler pubs here but soon there will be one." Marjorie Floyd

"No thanks." Joan McKniff

"Went by to see the locale. It's a very nice area in Lakewood Ranch, near Sarasota." Laura Caragol

"Great addition to Main Street!" Jessi McComas

County pulls from joint homelessness report agreement with city

Just a few days after county and city boards directed their respective staffs to continue working with one another — and with independent community organizations involved with homelessness issues – county commissioners negated their decision.

City and county staff were to have, within 30 to 45 days of a joint commission meeting Nov. 6, prepared a report with a series of joint recommendations and additional data supporting any conclusions. But when the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, citing divergent philosophies of the city and county on homelessness, removed itself from a mediating-type role in the effort, county commissioners reconsidered. 

In a letter to county commissioners, Jon Thaxton, GCCF senior vice president for community investment, said that imposing a 45-day deadline could exacerbate the divide between the city and county. 

County commissioners reconsidered Friday's motion and unanimously voted it down, though they said cooperation between the county and city could still happen. 

BY THE NUMBERS

$173.3 million, give or take
preliminary cost estimates of several public safety projects that will go to a referendum next November for tax funding

$21.1 million 
projected final cost of Siesta Key Beach park construction

$273,182, and $239,542
the amount raised raised by 13 local political candidates for 2016 elections, and how much of that was raised by the top four candidates

$27,500 
city money held in escrow since 2005 for improvements and maintenance to the fountain at Pineapple Park

MEETINGS

Sarasota County Commission – 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17, Commission Chamber, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota

Regular City Commission meeting – 2:30 and 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1565 First St. Sarasota