Tues Nov 3 Election Day. If you haven't already voted by mail-in or early voting. You can ONLY vote at YOUR precinct on Nov 3. For most of the neighborhood, that's at St.Paul Lutheran Church on Bahia Vista. Except "the Villagers" (Payne Park Village residents) are in precinct 129 and vote at Ken Clark Auditorium at the Fairgrounds down on Ringling Blvd. See sarasotavotes.gov
Nov 17, FDOT meeting on Repaving Project for Tamiami Trail from Mound St south to Bee Ridge. 5-6.30pm, at Selby Library. Repaving project for Trail from Mound St north to 10th St is now underway; this is a different section. See FDOT project page for details.
Resurfacing Project, Washington Blvd (US301) from Mound St to 10th St. Currently under construction, Oct 2026 thru Spring 2027 Up to 7 months: expect traffic backups. They're adding a Walk Light near the Friendship Center. See Washington Blvd Repave page. or go directly to FDOT project website.
Innovation Academy (SSIS) updates. IA is the very small charter school VPK & K-5 at School Ave & Bay Street.
Principal Fayth Jenkins recently resigned as Head of School.
The School recently put out a call for fundraising to keep their finances sustainable. The School is also raising funds for planning and construction of its Legacy Field on the school grounds.
All details on IA/SSIS website: Innovation Academy SRQ
Mar 2027: Watering Restrictions EXTENDED to March 1, 2027. See SWFWMD website for full details.
Saba Plaza (NE corner Bahia Vista & Tamiami Trail) is still being offered for sale. Per zoning, there is potential for 18-story, 500+unit residential, &/or retail. Offered thru Loyd Robbins & Co. Meanwhile, take a look at this amazing aerial video (with "envisioned" residential towers included) https://views.buildout.media/v/EB15Ywl21gV
SHORT TERM RENTALS From the City's home page GIS/Maps button, neighbors can now easily look up local registered short-term rentals. The City's Vacation Rental Property Search Website shows Contact & phone number, in case your next-door home's AIRBNB/VRBO/etc. guests are behaving very badly, plus which Inspector to call if homeowner isn't helpful.
A few common nuisances in our locale: who ya gonna call?!!
Is a next-door home construction site becoming a serious quality-of-life issue (unreasonable noise, dirt/trash, street/sidewalk blockages, worker parking problems, etc.)? Contact City Engineer Sage Kamiya Sage.Kamiya@SarasotaFL.gov.
Is a parked car blocking a sidewalk? They should know that's not okay. The City says: to report it, don't call Code Compliance; instead call the City's parking division at 941-263-6475 or email parkinginfo@sarasotafl.gov. *NOTE 10/14/26: Parking enforcement is in transition into the Police Dept.
Search City Online Records Portal. a central search page to look things up online, many, many things, including development applications, meetings and agendas, ordinances and codes, ...
GET YOURSELF IN THE CITY NEWS PIPELINE!
In case you ever wondered how to keep up with City news, a few good sources for City news are:
- City webpage news tab: features the list of recent news item announcements.
- City list of upcoming public meetings. Includes agenda items and links to backup documents. Scroll down for archives of past public meetings, including always-essential detailed backup documents.
- City News: comprehensive weekly email from mayor's office, which also includes upcoming City meetings with links to agendas. Sign up to receive this and/or other communications from City. at https://www.sarasotafl.gov/services/email-subscriptions
- City Public Access Emails is at www.sarasotafl.gov/City-Services/Public-Access-Email