New stormwater department to separate from Public Works

The Sarasota County Commission held a budget workshop on Tuesday and a discussion over stormwater mitigation broke out.

Occupying the first 75 minutes of the workshop was a presentation by Public Works Director Spencer Anderson in an attempt to address growing public unrest over the county’s response to 2024 hurricane season flooding, particularly caused by Tropical Storm Debby. 

Several members of the public spoke followed, many of them directly indicting the flood mitigation leadership, primarily as it relates to dredging and other cleaning out of Phillippi Creek, which overflowed and flooded neighborhoods in Pinecraft and nearby communities.

In his remarks, Anderson touted the experience and expertise of the staff working to secure permitting and executing operations along all the problematic waterways throughout the county. They included:

• Eighty-seven staff supporting the stormwater mission with a combined nearly 1,500 years of professional experience. 
• Almost 900 of those years in public service to Sarasota County. 
• Forty-three staff with graduate or postgraduate college degrees. 
• Five licensed professional engineers and six licensed engineer interns.
• Two project management professionals.
• One freshwater master naturalist.
• One licensed U.S. Coast Guard captain.
• One senior professional wetland scientist.

In addition, the group has 49 stormwater operator certifications, one licensed underground utility and excavation contractor, 11 staff certified through the National Association of Sewer Service Companies pipeline assessment program, and 12 current or former professional organization board members. The entire team, Anderson added, is accredited by the American Public Works Association for more than 5 years.

“I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a public organization with a team that has credentials and experience and professionalism that exceed what we have here at Sarasota County,” Anderson said. “This isn't a staff of time card-punching, eight-to-five employees, but a fully engaged, accredited team of first responders who are the first ones in after a major natural disaster to provide relief and recovery for our residents.”

Residents who spoke, mostly residents along Phillippi Creek, had no issues with the staff and its expertise. They were faulting leadership for what they said is an inadequate response to last year’s flooding as the 2025 hurricane season sets in. With a budget item on the agenda regarding a separation of storm water management from the Public Works Department, they asked commissioners for some fresh perspective.

“Please hire new blood. Do not hire from within,” said David Oaks. “Hiring from within means hiring someone who is accustomed to a reactive, inefficient, ineffective and even neglectful culture. … You very well have the expertise.You just need different leaders.”

Added Kristy Molyneaux, “Now that the board is considering a separate stormwater department, it would be sensible if the person selected to head the new stormwater department was well versed in local policy, regulatory and hydrologic conditions." 

The commission quickly acted on the residents’ pleas, unanimously approving a motion to separate stormwater management from Public Works as its own department; and another motion to direct staff to utilize the report from independent consultant Stephen Suau dated Nov. 14, 2024, and provide the status of compliance for his recommendations for the commission at its July 8 meeting.

In making those motions, Commissioner Tom Knight said, “We work for the citizens, and I think it's been very loud and clear that we need to start regaining some public trust with our stormwater.”

Commissioner Mark Smith suggested bringing in a supervisor, even if only interim, as quickly as possible.

Commissioners also unanimously voted to table eliminating the stormwater management interlocal agreement with the city of Sarasota for one year, that motion also made by Knight.

County Administrator Jonathan Lewis then presented commissioners with the proposed staffing of the new Stormwater Department. It includes a department director, senior manager of field services and administrative specialist. With Public Works rebranded the Transportation Department, there is a proposal for a manager of field services controls. 

A separated stormwater department would have a fiscal year 2026 budget of $37 million, $35.9 million funded from the Stormwater Environmental Utility Fund and, with another $1.1 million funded by Navigable Waterways Maintenance and Assessment Fees and stormwater operating grants, the total increase to the budget is $273,519.

At the commission's behest, by the start of Wednesday morning’s budget session, Lewis had already posted the stormwater management position, reporting several inquiries received so far. 

Commissioner Smith augmented Lewis’ report by adding he contacted Suau just prior to the meeting, who expressed interest in the interim role.

“I said this may be the most highly anticipated savior since Jesus Christ — and with a bit of Moses in there — and that we don't need you to part the water. You need to part the sand,” Smith said. “He's willing to come in and help on a temporary basis.”