MLK Day - City Hall Closed    City administrative offices will be closed next Monday, January 19 in observation of MLK Day.  Garbage, recycling and yard waste will be collected as usual.  Bobby Jones Golf Club and the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex will have regular operating hours.

Also, please note:  The regular City Commission meeting which normally would be held on Monday will be held the following day, Tuesday, January 20 at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Click here to see a schedule of the many events planned in Sarasota to remember Martin Luther King, Jr. and the indelible impact he made on our nation with the civil rights movement.  I hope to see you!

Lido Beach Restoration Begins    We are pleased to report that the stabilization and restoration of Lido Beach is underway!  Since Tropical Storm Debby in 2012, Lido Beach has experienced significant erosion to the point where there is little or no beachfront in places, and property and infrastructure is threatened.  The good news is that after extensive coordination with federal, state and local government agencies, we

A barge mobilizes in the Gulf of Mexico to begin the restoration and stabilization of Lido Beach.

are now in position to restore approximately 1.8 miles of shoreline to its stable condition before the tropical storm hit.  (Note: This is not the long range beach stabilization project planned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.)

It's essential that our infrastructure is protected and we maintain stable, healthy, visually pleasing beaches for our residents, business owners and the thousands of visitors who enjoy Lido Beach.

For the next two months, expect to see crews working along the beach with the restoration occurring 24/7.  The project started this week near Lido Pool and crews will work south to Ted Sperling Park using recycled sand from the New Pass shoal to restore the beach.  As an area of beach is restored, it will be reopened to the public. 

The project is expected to be finished by the end of March.  Throughout the restoration, ample space for sunbathing and sunset watching will remain unimpeded.

Thank you to City Engineer Alex Davis Shaw for shepherding this complex endeavor through the permitting process and working to secure  $3.6 million in funding from FEMA, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Tourist Development Tax.

Taken this week, this photo shows the beach erosion at south Lido Beach near the Sarasota Sands.

Osprey Ave. Bridge - Temporary Closure Postponed    The temporary closure of the Osprey Avenue Bridge at Hudson Bayou scheduled for next week on Jan. 19 & 20 has been postponed.  When new dates are scheduled, we will let you know.

The temporary closure will be necessary while crews continue an extensive inspection of the bridge in order to gather as much information as possible before putting out bids for a new contractor for the Lift Station 87 project.  Earlier this week, crews conducted geotechnical tests under the bridge. 

We appreciate everyone's patience as staff moves forward with performing its due diligence before taking the next step with a significant utilities infrastructure project.   

Old Bradenton Rd./Myrtle St. - Temporary Closure     The intersection of Old Bradenton Road and Myrtle Street is temporarily closed for approximately the next month while a new roundabout is constructed and new curbs and irrigation are installed.  Progress is being made on the project...and the good news is:  the bulk of the work on Old Bradenton Road is complete with 1.5 miles of new water mains installed and operational.

We understand this ongoing construction has been an inconvenience to residents in the Bayou Oaks neighborhood as complicated underground utility relocations were completed.  We very much appreciate residents' patience as we make the final push to wrap up the project and have an aesthetically pleasing roadway with reliable infrastructure. 

As you make your way around the intersection closure, please follow the detour signs and be on the lookout for children playing in the area who may not be accustomed to cars driving through their neighborhood.   

Upcoming Events

Ringling Bridge Run