City to mull food trucks in downtown zone district

For the first time in the 21 months since the retirement of Marlon Brown, the chair of the city manager at the dais of the meeting chamber at Sarasota City Hall will be occupied by an official city manager during a City Commission meeting.

Coincidentally, the agenda of the Monday, July 6 commission meeting includes a recognition of the city by the International City/County Management Association for 80 years under the council-manager form of government.

When the meeting is gaveled in at 9 a.m., Karie Friling will begin her first meeting after just more than a month on the job, her position filled in the interim first by now-retired Public Works Director Doug Jeffcoat followed by the retired Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock and, most recently, by now-Interim City Manger Jennifer Jorgensen, previously the director of governmental affairs.

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The commission returns from its month-long summer sabbatical to a relatively light agenda. Perhaps the most vexing item is to provide direction to staff regarding a request to permit food trucks to operate in the Downtown Bayfront zone district.

An ordinance adopted in 2021 first permitted food trucks in the North Trail, Central Business Newtown, Downtown Edge and Governmental districts. In 2022, it was amended to include Downtown Core and, in 2024, another to allow in Urban Mixed-Use.

In other business, the commission will consider appointments to four city boards.

On the Planning Board, the terms of Shane Lamay and Dan Deleo expire in July. Lamay has applied for re-appointment. In addition to Lamay, the commission will consider applicants Rebecca Owens, Norman Schimmel, Tiffany Nisbet and Justin Bloom for the two seats.

On the Sarasota Housing Authority Board, the terms of Carolyn Mason and David Morgan also expire this month, both seeking re-appointment. No other candidates have applied for those two seats.

On the Board of Adjustment, Matthew Ruch has termed out and two former Planning Board members, Terrill Salem and Damien Blumetti, have applied for that seat.

And finally, per Florida statue, an auditor selection committee is required to conduct a request for proposals for external audit services. Vice Mayor Kathy Kelley Ohlrich has been appointed to chair the committee and applications to be considered were received from Hugh Fiore and Kelly Brown.

City Commission meetings are held in the meeting chamber at City Hall at 1565 First St. Live broadcasts and archived meetings may be viewed on the city's Facebook page and at the city's website at SarasotaFL.gov under the meetings, agendas and videos tab.