Bond Refunding - Golden Gate Point   Good news for those in the Golden Gate Point special taxing district:  The City recently refinanced the remaining $2.7 million of the $5.8 million General Obligation Bonds Series 2008 for the streetscape at Golden Gate Point.  When issued eight years ago, the interest rate was 3.93%.  With the new bank loan, the rate has dropped down to 1.74%.

That translates into savings for the Golden Gate Point taxing district.  Through the maturity of the bonds in 2018, it's a total savings of almost $300,000. That's a Net Present Value Savings of $272,000 -- or an impressive 10.32%.

We appreciate Finance Director John Lege and his team continuing to monitor interest rates looking for opportunities for savings throughout the City.

Van Wezel - New Video Wall   Next time you're at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, look for the newly installed high tech video wall on the outside of the building near the Box Office.  The wall is comprised of six individual all-weather, high definition television monitors.  Up to six different videos can be shown at once.

Not only is this an engaging marketing tool, highlighting upcoming performances and other relevant information, it's also a revenue source for the Hall through advertising.  This is a remarkable step up in technology from the static posters and shadow boxes that had been used until recently.

Thanks to Van Wezel Executive Director Mary Bensel for her continued forward thinking with the Hall and to the Van Wezel's Digital Media Manager Jason Fedele for executing the entertaining project.

To see how the video wall looks check out the video below.

YouTube:  Van Wezel Video Wall

        

CO2 Inventory - Emissions Down 22%   We have some good news to share regarding the community's sustainability efforts. Greenhouse gas emissions within the Sarasota city limits are down 22% since 2003. That's equivalent to taking 40,000 cars off the road for one year, according to the EPA. 

This encouraging information is based on a recent CO2 inventory conducted by the City of Sarasota.

Emissions in the community decreased in several categories including electrical use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors; water and wastewater processes; and solid waste.  The only category with an increase was vehicle emissions:  up 2.5% over the past 12 years.  This is a bit concerning, since most vehicles are more energy efficient nowadays.  The bottom line is that 10% more miles were driven in 2015 than 2003. 

We need to continue to do what we can to be good stewards of the planet and seek alternative methods to move people (not just cars).  City staff is working together to explore all viable options including more bicycle paths, wider sidewalks to encourage walking, solar powered shuttle services, and bus rapid transit.  

Thanks to Sustainability Manager Stevie Freeman-Montes for ensuring a current inventory was conducted.  It's important to track progress and understand where we, as a community, are doing well and where improvement is needed.  And, thanks to Jeff Vrendenburg, a former intern with a graduate degree in sustainability science, who devoted his time with the City to completing the inventory with a national standardized methodology.

If you'd like to read an executive summary or the technical report, please visit the City's sustainability webpage:  www.SarasotaGreenCity.com       

New Bradenton-Sarasota Golf Tournament   Next weekend (July 16 & 17), golfers will have the opportunity to experience a unique new tournament --- on two municipal courses in two cities over two days.

The inaugural Bradenton-Sarasota 2-Man North-South Championship will be played at River Run Golf Links in Bradenton on July 16th and Bobby Jones Golf Club on July 17th.

This is a fun way to encourage camaraderie between the municipal courses during a traditionally slow time of year.  And, it's a chance for golfers to explore a course they may not have considered visiting.

The entry fee is $115 per player and includes greens fees for 36 holes, riding cart, shirt, continental breakfast on both days and dinner following play on Sunday at Bobby Jones.  To download a registration form click here.

Thanks to our dedicated team at Bobby Jones for coordinating this tournament and continuing to seek new ways to attract new guests.    

    

The following is the current show schedule through 2016. For more information visit www.VanWezel.org