Building Permits - Another Record Year    The Building Division reached a significant milestone last week when it processed 8,000 building permits for the first time ever in a single fiscal year --- and  the fiscal year doesn't end until September 30th.  This is impressive and meaningful on many fronts.

It's a strong indicator that our local economy is continuing to grow and people want to invest and live in our special community. Building permits are necessary for new residential and commercial

The Building Division marking their milestone with a celebratory cake and congratulations from Director Tim Litchet.

construction as well as home improvements.  Permits run the gamut from a yard fence to roofing to air conditioning.   (So far, the most common permit pulled this year is a tie:  AC and plumbing followed closely by re-roofing residential homes.)  94 permits also were issued for new single family residential homes, which, when considering Sarasota is a built-out city, is a large number.  The total construction value for the 8,000+ permits is over $299 million.

This is good news for those interested in doing business in Sarasota.  We're seeing a mix of large scale projects (including hotels and condos) as well as a variety of residential developments (with particular interest in building more affordable multi-family units in the Rosemary District close to the colleges and downtown dining) -- and that is a plus for businesses looking to grow or relocate to Sarasota.

Back Row - L to R:  Brieana Duckett Graves, MaryBeth Gripshover, Joyce Williams, Shelley Moore, Paula Mello;  Front Row - L to R:  Robin Opalinsky, Debbie Lapenkas, Kathleen Kelley

Throughout this unprecedented year, customer satisfaction with the Building Division has remained high.  Customers are asked to voluntarily complete a customer response card after their transaction, and staff continues to receive positive comments about their friendliness, knowledge, efficiency and professionalism.  The most recent customer responses from July-August show that 96% of respondents had an excellent experience.  To read these recent customer response cards click here.

Processing over 8,000 permits in one year is indeed an impressive accomplishment and to do so in a courteous and knowledgeable manner speaks volumes about the professionalism in the Building Division within the Neighborhood and Development Services Department led by Tim Litchet.  Congratulations --- and, well done!     

Bobby Jones - Summer Sale Ends 9/30   As departments throughout the City prepare to close out for this fiscal year, Bobby Jones Golf Shop is offering a close-out sale!

The Summer Sale runs through next Wed., Sept. 30 (the end of the fiscal year).  That means you can save on those Bobby Jones logo items you've wanted -- like shirts, hats, golf balls etc.  Regular priced merchandise with the coveted Bobby Jones logo is 20% off through Sept. 30.  If you're in the market for bargains on Bobby Jones items, stop by the Golf Shop at 1000 Circus Blvd.

Selby Five Points Park - Snowballs for Sale 9/26     The City Commission recently endorsed the idea of activating Selby Five Points Park with a vendor on a trial basis, with the possibility of that

The Baltimore Snowball Factory plans to be on the road at Selby Five Points Park on Sept. 26.

vendor being a business directly impacted by the temporary closure of the Orange Ave./Main  St. intersection.

The owner of the Baltimore Snowball Factory took us up on the offer of a special permit and plans to sell his icy cold treats at the park Sat., September 26 from 11 a.m.- 4 or 5 p.m.  The Public Works Department will set up tables and chairs, so you can enjoy a respite at the park.

Trees - Information Available     We love the tree canopy in Sarasota and the City Commission wants to ensure reasonable steps are being taken to protect it.  While the City does have a tree ordinance, after talking with residents, we realized there were some noticeable gaps that could be remedied fairly easily.

First, the City now has a separate webpage dedicated solely to tree protection.  When you're on www.SarasotaGov.com, it's located on the Neighborhood and Development Services page (under 'Departments') -- or just click here.  On the page, you can search for a tree permit by street address or permit number.  Tree permit posting requirements also are listed, plus a link to the City's tree ordinance.
With suspected illegal tree removals occurring on the weekend, an after-hours telephone number was established so the public can speak to a City employee and report the activity.  The after-hours contact number is:  941-894-2931 or 941-894-2967.

Understanding the concerns with trees being cut down during non-business hours, the City Commission approved the necessary funding to hire a code compliance officer to handle tree issues, including on the weekend. The new fiscal year begins next week and we hope to have that needed position filled soon.

And, lastly, the City Commission gave staff approval to begin working on a proposed zoning text amendment to update the tree ordinance.  While there are many good aspects to the current ordinance, it has not been updated since it was approved 10 years ago and some modernization would be beneficial.  We look forward to working with residents devising the appropriate language to provide continued protection to our precious tree canopy.

Sarasota = Storm ReadyŽ City     Our efforts to be better prepared for a potentially dangerous storm, through increased awareness and education, have been recognized by the National Weather Service Storm ReadyŽ program.   The City's Emergency Manager, Todd Kerkering, coordinated with the local National Weather Service to meet many criteria to obtain this certification.  Some of the requirements included:  having an established emergency operations center, various methods to receive and disseminate weather warnings to the community, multiple ways to monitor local weather conditions, having a hazardous weather action plan with weather spotter training and drills, and promoting the importance of being storm ready to the public.

A formal presentation was made to the City Commission Monday night and by the next day the City of Sarasota was featured on the National Weather Service Storm ReadyŽ website.  Being Storm ReadyŽ is voluntary and Sarasota is just the 23rd city in Florida to achieve this certification.