DSCA helped to promote two meetings that were held by the Save Our Sarasota Trees (SOS-Trees) organization.  The first public meeting was held on June 17 at the Art Center Sarasota.  This meeting was initiated in response to reports of trees being removed from Links Park and other downtown locations.  This was an informative meeting open to all the public to educate us regarding our City’s Greenspace Policy, our City’s tree protection ordinances and our sustainability efforts, especially those relating to our parks and streetscapes.  A second meeting was held on July 22 at Selby Library.  This was a discussion between residents and City of Sarasota staff to continue addressing the Greenspace Policy and sustainability related to tree removal and landscaping in the City of Sarasota.  City of Sarasota staff presented and answered questions:

• Todd Kucharski, General Manager, Department of Public Works
• Tim Litchet, Director, Neighborhood & Development Services
• Karin Murphy, Director, Urban Design Studio

On Aug. 5^th, the DSCA Board, after lengthy discussion, passed the following resolution:

DSCA recommends that the Sarasota City Commission restore benches at Five Points Park and pursue security and support arrangements to encourage active use of the park by the community.

DSCA will work with other downtown associations and with City staff on a coordinated approach toward implementation.

August 17th, 2015

Treat yourself to a walking tour at your on leisure. Click on the full size map link, print, go to Selby Five Points Park or any other location on the map and begin walking.  Also, if you haven’t seen Selby Five Points Park all lit up, you might want to time your walk to finish at the park at dusk. The lights come on at 6:00 P.M.

 

Click here to link to full-size map on City of Sarasota website.

 

January 2nd, 2014

After the City Parks, Recreation and Environmental Protection Board asked the City Commission to consider creating tobacco-free zones in children’s areas of city parks, DSCA asked the question why limit it to just the children’s areas. Residents and merchants downtown have been complaining for sometime about the litter being created downtown by people who inappropriately dispose of their cigarette butts and tobacco products when they are done. Additionally, many people have had to move away from benches, sidewalk tables and their pedestrian routes to avoid the hazards of second-hand smoke.

What do you think about creating a tobacco-free zone for all of downtown or within 100 feet of any park or bench? The DSCA will be commenting at public meetings concerning this discussion, and we’d like to know how you our Association members and your residents feel about smoke free zones.

Contact Peter Fanning, President of the DSCA, to let him know what you think about expanding the push for smoke-free by going to this Website’s Contact Page and sending him an e-mail.

DSCA Director Art Levin is Appointed to City of Sarasota Charter Review Committee (9/10/2010)

DSCA Director Art Levin has been appointed to the City of Sarasota Charter Review Committee for a term expected to last approximately 9 months. The Charter defines the structure of our city government and its powers. The City Commission may appoint a 10 member Charter Review Committee from time to time to review specifically designated provisions of the Charter. It must appoint a Charter Review Committee with unlimited review authority at least once every 10 years. Art is a member of an “unlimited authority” committee. It will be meeting the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of every month at 6 p.m. in the City Hall Commissioners’ Meeting Room. All meetings are open to the public and some or maybe all of the meetings will be televised on Comcast’s and FIOS’s public service channel.

In addition to being a Director of the DSCA, Art has been a Director of the One Watergate Association for the past 5 years and is their Treasurer. Before retiring to Sarasota, he was a Town Councilman in New York State for 12 years, and, though not a lawyer, for 4 years he was a consultant to the Legal Dept of IBM Europe in their Paris HQ.

Art Levin wants to hear all your great suggestions to make our city a better place through improving the way our government functions.  You can reach Art at Arthur.Levin@sarasotagov.com.

October 11th, 2010

You probably noticed the blue safety fence that has gone up around the Five Points Park.  According to the City Public Works Department the schedule calls for
•    Removing existing wall surrounding the park
•    Grading of the Park
•    Installation of a new irrigation system
•    Brick walkway installation
•    Landscaping
Hopefully, we will have a fully completed and useable park by early December.  For more information about Selby Five Points Park construction, please call Neil Gaines, Project Manager, at 941-365-2200 ext. 6309 or visit the Downtown Projects Website.

October 11th, 2010

The Beautification and Redesign of Five Points Park is Underway with The City Commission’s Acceptance of the Plans Brought Forth By the Downtown Improvement District (DID). The improvements to beautify Five Points Park and make it functionally a much more useable and comfortable resource for residents and visitors will be taking place at the same time the Five Points Roundabout is under construction this summer and fall. The Park will provide a venue that will enhance activity and serve as a cornerstone to our downtown community. The removal of the wall that now is a barrier and an attractive nuisance to encourage loitering rather than visiting will be removed, new grading with sidewalks, paths and performance pad made of brick paver material will allow for better open access and resident/visitor use. We all have the DID to thank for this as these property and business persons taxed themselves an extra amount dedicating the funds to projects that improve our quality of life downtown. They also have done this while encouraging and seeking the input of the DSCA, residents, DSA, merchants and many others.

Peter Fanning, DSCA President, appeared before the City Commission on August 16 to again push for completion of the Bayfront Mooring Field. This much discussed, off again-on again effort, has been going on for nearly a decade, and was identified by the Board of Directors with member support as a priority for this year. Peter spoke in support of the City Staff’s recommendations for completing the Mooring Field within the next year. The Commissioners approved continuation and further expenditures to move forward with the staff’s recommendation to complete the Mooring field. Use the following links for more detailed information.

The DSCA leading the way in collaborating with other stakeholders with an interest in improving the vibrancy and quality of life downtown appeared several times before the City Commission to encourage a compromise that works for everyone.

The DSCA, based on the advice from many of our association members, has appeared many times before the City Commission to speak for:

• an improved and workable noise ordinance that allows for increased activity and responsible entertainment downtown;
• a greenspace policy along with Master Plan amendments that increases the awareness and actual amount of greenspace downtown while lessening the inappropriate use of hardscape;
• encouraging the completion of the Bayfront Mooring Field so that there is a safe and secure anchorage for boat owners that is maintained as environmentally safe as well; and,
• improvements to the zoning codes governing commerce and utilization of downtown space that will more equally represent the concerns of residents while maintaining the necessary growth of commercial interests.

August 23rd, 2010