Neighborhood News:  New Water Line   A small Utilities improvement project is underway in the Arlington Park neighborhood that will have a positive impact on water distribution in the area.  A 3-inch AC water line is being replaced on Hibiscus Street, near Shade Avenue, with a 6-inch PVC pipe.  The old line was installed 60 years ago and has become increasingly unreliable, breaking six times in the past 3.5 years.  The new pipe will provide better water flow, performance, and reliability.  Safety also will be increased with the addition of a new fire hydrant.  Because of the location of the pipe, crews are crossing a handful of residential driveway aprons, which will be replaced as part of the project. We expect the project to wrap up in the next several weeks, and we appreciate residents' patience as they endure some inconveniences during this improvement project. 

A Utilities crew installing a new water line along Hibiscus St.

Vandal Proof Lights  Next time you're at City Hall, you may notice 13 new pedestrian lights along the walkways around the building.  Over the past year or so, the lights on the low wall near the City Hall parking lots have been broken or ripped from the wall enough times that it was decided an effective solution would be the installation of vandal proof lights.  The new lights are LED, very sturdy and firmly mounted.  We're optimistic these rugged lights will brighten the pathway for pedestrians while deterring vandalism.     

Finance Award - 33 Years & Counting   For the 33rd straight year, the Finance Department has been honored by the Government Finance Officers Association with the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the last fiscal year, ending September 30, 2013.  When it comes to governmental accounting and financial reporting, this is the highest form of recognition and represents a significant achievement by our Finance staff.  Consider it the equivalent of the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval. To earn this award is noteworthy.  But, to do so 33 years in a row is a remarkable achievement.  It's uplifting news like this that highlights Sarasota's legacy of quality fiscal management.  It also helps this City Manager sleep at night.  Congratulations, once again, to Finance Director John Lege and his very capable staff.  

The Finance Team.  Back - L to R:  Finance Director John Lege, David Flatt, Lou Ciferno, Dolly Gamble, Susan Dodd and Barney Kavanagh.  Front - L to R:  Margie Holman, Rob Schanley, Jr., Mary Tucker, Kelly Strickland, Denise Donohue, Michele Keeler, Michelle Valentich and Lisa Shay.

Homeless Resource Guide   The Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness has created an extremely helpful pamphlet with detailed information about social services available in the Sarasota area for homeless and at-risk   individuals.  The Sarasota Resource Guide for Homeless and At-Risk provides contact numbers, street addresses, maps and websites for a wide range of social services including emergency shelter, meals, employment, legal assistance, health services, behavioral health, housing, children services and transportation.  Comprehensive and packed with valuable resource information, the pamphlet folds into a small pocket size guide which can be easily carried.  To download the resource guide click here.

Twitter - 10K Followers Strong    We reached a significant milestone this week with the popular social media platform Twitter.  We now have 10,000 followers all over the globe!  Although individual messages are limited to 140 characters, Twitter is an effective way to communicate directly with the public without a filter. Other communities have discovered it is an especially powerful and helpful tool during emergency situations, such as a tropical storm.  If you're not already following us on Twitter, check us out at www.Twitter.com/CityofSarasota

The City's tweet announcing 10K followers.

September 11th Ceremony    We'd like to thank everyone who took the time yesterday morning to attend our September 11th remembrance ceremony at the Sarasota Police Headquarters.  The event was held in conjunction with the Sarasota County Sheriff's

President George W. Bush, while visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary on September 11, 2001, being informed of the first hijacked airplane hitting the World Trade Center.

Office and Fire Department to remember the many brave souls who lost their lives that day, our nation's resiliency -- and Sarasota's indelible connection with September 11th, with President George W. Bush visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary at the time the terrorist hijacked jets hit the World Trade Center.  It's an emotional day for many of us as we reflect on how these events forever changed our lives.

At the end of the ceremony, Norm Schimmel, who contributes the final photo in each Weekly Briefs, presented a framed photograph of the new 1 World Trade Center tower.  The piece is entitled, "America Has Risen" and will be on display in the SPD lobby, 2099 Adams Lane, along with two framed photos of ground zero, also captured through Norm's lens.  Thank you, Norm, for these impressive images which will help us to never forget September 11, 2001.  I'd also like to thank SPD for coordinating this poignant event and our local agencies who participated.

To see a photo album of the ceremony click here.

Resident Norm Schimmel unveils 'America Has Risen', a canvas photograph of 1 World Trade Center.

 

City Commission Vacancies - Application Deadline  The deadline for applications for the District 2 and District 3 City Commission seat vacancies was today (Sept. 12) at noon.   All completed candidate applications will be posted on the City of Sarasota website.  To review those materials click here. 

On November 19 at 3 p.m., the City Commission will hold a special meeting to make the two appointments.