Sarasota County  Fast Facts

Emergency Services has received a 97.7
percent satisfaction score for services
provided so far in Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14).

Sarasota County incentive agreements have
produced 2,167 new jobs for the
community.
I-Brief SEPT 2014 Edition
Improvement Projects
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EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER
Primary Design Contract Cost: $1,263,727.90
Guaranteed Maximum Price: $15,324,000.00
 More than 93 percent of all capital projects
The purpose of the Emergency Operations Center (911 EOC) is to
managed by Public Works are on schedule
improve outdated facilities to provide for increased safety and
to meet their next milestone as of the close
continuity of operations during storm events.
of the third quarter.
Project scope includes construction of a 2-story facility for EOC, a 911
call center, and the Enterprise non-emergency call center located on
 There has been a 12 percent increase in the
the county-owned parcel on Porter Way. Facility is designed to
total number of permits issued through the
withstand Category 5 hurricane winds and to remain fully-operational
end of the third quarter.
for 72 hours post event.
Site work is about 80 percent complete. Wall panels and structural
steel are fully installed. The roof and second floor have been poured. Drill pier foundations are underway for the 250-foot
communications tower that is scheduled to be complete in September. The construction is scheduled to be complete in
spring 2015.
BEE RIDGE ROAD EAST
Primary Design Contract Cost: $2,137,681.32
Primary Construction Contract Cost: $22,019,093.83
The purpose of the Bee Ridge Road East Project is to reconstruct the segment from Mauna Loa Boulevard to Bent Tree
Boulevard, a distance of 1.68 miles. Improvements include going from two lanes to four lanes with bike lanes, sidewalks,
lighting, bus turn-outs, new water and sewer lines and LID stormwater areas.
The construction contract was awarded in May, construction began July 7 and a groundbreaking ceremony was held July 11.
Clearing is taking place, starting on the north side of Bee Ridge Road and working from west to east. Right-of-way is being
staked and silt fence is being installed. Construction is scheduled to be complete summer 2016.
GULF GATE LIBRARY
Primary Design Contract Cost: $769,410.00
Guaranteed Maximum Price: $7,694,022.00
Replacement of the Gulf Gate Library at 711 Curtis Ave., with a new two-story, 25,800 square-feet building on the same
site. Key features of the project include: meeting spaces, study rooms, adult reading garden, children’s reading activity
garden, computer/tech lab, drive-through book and media drop-off area, expanded parking and enhanced landscaping.
Construction has progressed smoothly to date.
The project is about 80 percent complete, and substantial completion is currently scheduled for late October. Installation of
metal roof and metal wall panels are near completion. Exterior windows and store front glazing is complete. Installation of
the covered walkways from parking areas to main entrance is complete. Installation of elevators is 95 percent complete.
Construction of sidewalks from parking areas and Curtis Avenue to main entrance is 90 percent complete.
SIESTA BEACH PARK IMPROVEMENTS
$21.5 million total cost
Guaranteed Maximum Price: $17,459,051.00
The purpose of the Siesta Beach Park Improvements Project is to improve facilities and expand recreational opportunities at
the park. Improvements include expanded parking, renovated and expanded restrooms, relocated tennis courts, gazebos,
new maintenance complex for storage, dumpsters, trash compactor, covered vehicle storage, improved and expanded
concessions, updated playground and family picnic facilities, a pedestrian esplanade, enhanced native landscaping and
enhanced parking lot lighting.
The project is being constructed in consecutive phases. Phase 1 was completed before the July 4 th holiday weekend. The
tennis courts are completely operational. However, the lights will not be turned on at night until after sea turtle nesting
season is over.
Phase 2 is underway. The main “in” drive for the beach near the historic pavilion is now a two way “in and out” drive. The
old restrooms near the tennis courts are being replaced during Phase 2, so there are temporary restrooms located nearby
on the beach side of the construction boundary.
Initiatives
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HOMELESSNESS
The county is working with numerous community partners and Dr. Robert Marbut on a plan to provide assistance to the
homeless population
Families and Children (South County)  On Aug. 1, Catholic Charities lease for space within the North Port Family Services
Center began to serve as a Family Intake Portal, to be named Family Haven, for homeless families and children in South
County. The City of North Port has agreed to solicit the procurement and enter into an agreement with the selected
contractor and oversee the renovations. Pending Board approval, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Sarasota County
have agreed to share equally in the renovation costs, estimated at $120,000. The City of North Port is expected to begin
work on the renovations by October 1, with construction finalized in December. The Human Services Advisory Council
(HSAC) approved Catholic Charities’ request of $56,896 to fund a portion of the Family Haven’s operational costs for the
first year. Target opening is anticipated in December 2014.
Families and Children (North County)  Harvest House has been identified as the master case managers to operate the
Family Intake Portal, to be named Family Haven, for homeless families and children in North County. Harvest House has
identified four single-family houses that they currently own to use as the Family Haven and long-term supportive housing.
The Human Services Advisory Council (HSAC) approved Catholic Charities’ request of $98,330 to fund a portion of the longterm supportive housing program’s operational costs for the first year. House Harvest will fund the Family Haven (intake
portal) through private donations. Target opening is scheduled for Oct. 1.
ADULTS – The City of Sarasota Commission, during a regular city commission meeting on July 21, voted unanimously ”to no
longer participate in the proposed Come-As-You-Are (CAYA) shelter for the chronic homeless, delete the line item for funding
from the budget, cancel the tentatively scheduled September 2014 Joint Special Meeting of the City Commission of the City
of Sarasota and the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, and direct City Staff to no longer meet with County Staff
concerning the issue, for the H.O.T. Teams to remain in effect and City Staff to continue working with the 11 principles
presented by homeless consultant Dr. Robert Marbut as outlined in the Marbut Report.” The BCC discussed the next steps
as a result of the city vote at its Aug. 26 regular commission meeting. The county continues to support the
recommendations of Dr. Marbut and is proceeding with Quality of Life ordinances for unincorporated Sarasota County.
BUDGET
The proposed budget for Sarasota County Government FY15 is $1.1 billion. Sarasota County has flat millage rate and the
second lowest in the state of Florida, the county has strong bond ratings and reserve policies.
County Administrator Tom Harmer instituted a new, more transparent budget process, and the administrator is presenting
the budget for each department with support from department directors and staff from OFM.
Budget workshop was held Aug. 20. Two public hearings are scheduled to gather public comment: Sept. 8, at 5:30 p.m. in
the R.L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice; and Sept. 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the Administration
Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.
Awards/Recognition
ORGANIZATION: Fitch Ratings
RECOGNITION: Fitch Ratings upgraded Sarasota County’s utility system revenue bond rating in August to “AA+” from “AA” based on an
improving local economy. The rating upgrade is accompanied by a “stable outlook” by Fitch Ratings, a global leader in credit
ratings and research.
RECIPIENT:
Sarasota County Office of Financial Management
ORGANIZATION: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
RECOGNITION: Don Hadsell, director of Sarasota Office of Housing and Community Development, was invited by the National Community
Development Association to provide a firsthand account about how Sarasota was so successful in addressing an audit tied
to a $23-million grant. Nationally, 85 percent of communities audited by the HUD inspector general were found to be in
noncompliance with all federal rules and asked to repay some portion of funding. Sarasota was in the top 15 percent of
communities audited and was not asked to make any repayment.
RECIPIENT:
Sarasota Office of Housing and Community Development
ORGANIZATION: Island Pride Magazine (July Issue)
RECOGNITION: Featured multi-paged article on Sarasota County Planning and Development’s Elma Felix and her new book, Ti Kay Nou. The
book features St. Lucia and its architecture.
RECIPIENT:
Elma Felix