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Community News Update
July 2026
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This is an important summer for downtown Sarasota. Over the next several weeks, the City Commission will consider issues that directly affect downtown residents, including special events, sound, the City budget, construction impacts, and the long-term direction of our growing community. The August 18 election will also determine which three candidates advance to the November election, when voters will fill two at-large City Commission seats. Some of the issues covered in this newsletter - particularly sound, construction impacts, development procedures, and long-range planning - have been under consideration for several years. Progress has at times been slower than residents hoped. This summer provides an important opportunity to move beyond repeated discussion and toward clearer decisions, effective enforcement, and measurable results. DSCA is actively engaged in these discussions. We were pleased to welcome new City Manager Karie Friling to our July 1 Board meeting. At the end of her first month in office, she spoke candidly with the Board about the City's financial outlook, downtown growth, major community projects, City-County cooperation, and the challenges Sarasota will face over the next several years. This issue also reports on several matters where DSCA members are directly involved: - Our construction-staging working group is preparing to meet with City staff about enforcement, communication, pedestrian safety, and neighborhood impacts.
- The Special Events Ordinance returns to the City Commission for a second reading on July 20.
- The City's sound study has entered its data-collection phase, with DSCA members assisting directly.
- City budget workshops begin July 27, followed by a public Budget Town Hall on August 5.
The August 18 election is particularly important for city residents. It will narrow the field for the two at-large City Commission seats to three candidates. Those three candidates will advance to the November 3 general election, when voters will select two commissioners. The deadline to register for the August election is July 20, vote-by-mail requests are due August 6, and early voting will take place August 8-16. This is a consequential period for downtown Sarasota. We encourage you to stay informed, participate where you can, and help ensure that downtown residents continue to have a strong voice in the decisions ahead. Thank you for your continued involvement and support of DSCA.
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A Productive First Conversation with Sarasota's New City Manager
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At the end of her first month in office, City Manager Karie Friling joined the DSCA Board on July 1 for a candid and wide-ranging discussion about downtown Sarasota and the City's future.
She began with an overview of her first weeks and several major matters facing the City. She also confirmed that she has placed a hold in anticipation of a very tight budget - an early indication of the financial discipline that will shape the upcoming budget process.
The discussion included:
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The potential effects of proposed Florida property-tax changes on City revenues, staffing, services, and capital projects
The meeting gave DSCA an important early opportunity to hear directly from the City's new chief executive and to ensure that downtown residents are represented in the conversations ahead.
Full Video: Click Here
Speaker Video: Click Here |
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City Commission Election: Important Dates
The August 18 election is an important first step in deciding who will fill two at-large seats on the Sarasota City Commission.
The August results will narrow the field to three candidates. Those three candidates will advance to the November 3 general election, when city voters will select two commissioners. |
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The five-member City Commission makes decisions affecting the City budget, development, transportation, public safety, parks, infrastructure, cultural facilities, and many other matters discussed regularly in this newsletter.
For residents who vote by mail, the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections confirmed ballots have been mailed
Election Dates to Remember
July 20
Registration deadline for the August election
August 6 | 5:00 p.m.
Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline
August 8-16
Early voting
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
August 18
Election to determine the three candidates advancing to November
November 3
General election to fill the two at-large City Commission seats
Residents are encouraged to confirm their voter registration, precinct number, vote-by-mail status, and polling location in advance through the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections. |
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Downtown Quality of Life: From Policy to Enforcement
Construction, sound, and special events directly affect the daily lives of downtown residents.
These are not new concerns. Residents, businesses, City staff, and elected officials have discussed many of them for years. The current work should therefore be judged not only by the quality of the discussion, but by whether it produces clearer rules, stronger communication, effective enforcement, and lasting improvement.
DSCA supports a downtown that is active, economically healthy, and welcoming - while also protecting the safety, accessibility, and reasonable quality of life of the people who live here. Achieving that balance requires clear rules, effective enforcement, and continuing communication among residents, businesses, event organizers, contractors, and City government.
This month brings meaningful activity in all three areas. |
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Special Events Ordinance Returns for Second Reading July 20
After three first readings, the proposed Special Events Ordinance will return to the City Commission for second reading on July 20. The draft is available here. |
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The key positives of the changes for residents:
- Ending time changed from midnight to 11 p.m., except for New Year's Eve
- No street closures on Main Street, Monday through Friday at 5 p.m., except for legal holidays or with City Manager approval
- High-impact events can last only one day, except at J.D. Hamel Park and on Gulfstream Avenue. (High-impact events are essentially special events that use a right-of-way, include the sale of alcohol, and have a waiver from the city's sound ordinance via a special sound permit.)
- Limits on special events in the greater downtown area: a maximum of two per month, and none on consecutive days, weeks, or weekends. City co-sponsored events such as Fresh Fridays are excluded.
- The same limits at J.D. Hamel Park and on Gulfstream Avenue: two per month, none on consecutive days, weeks, or weekends, excluding city co-sponsored events
- At Bayfront Park, a maximum of four events per year, none on consecutive days, weeks, or weekends, excluding city co-sponsored events
- On Boulevard of the Arts from Lemon Avenue to Cocoanut Avenue, a maximum of one per month, excluding city co-sponsored events
Areas of concern that still trouble downtown residents: - The possibility of three special events on the same block in a given month — the two permitted events plus a Fresh Fridays, which are not restricted in frequency
- There are no enforcement rules or procedures, and no fines are outlined — no way to separate the bad actors from the reasonable event organizers
- The lack of maximum sound levels within the special events ordinance itself. Maximum levels are handled in a separate special sound permit and can be changed administratively.
- The special sound ordinance, which went into effect on May 1, 2026, is poorly written, may not be entirely enforceable, and is inconsistent with the writing and intent of the city's sound ordinance
- No restrictions on the times of setup and removal activities in the downtown area, although such restrictions are proposed for St. Armands Circle
DSCA will continue to press these concerns as the ordinance moves toward adoption. In the meantime, residents who believe an event is exceeding its permitted sound levels may file a complaint with the Sarasota Police Department. Officers can take readings with calibrated equipment and may issue citations when permitted levels are exceeded. Government Coordination Comprehensive Plan
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Citywide Sound Study Enters Data-Collection Phase
The proposed Special Events Ordinance is one part of a broader City review of sound.
The City's consultant, Siebein Acoustics, has begun examining sound conditions, regulations, enforcement practices, complaint procedures, and practical challenges experienced by residents, businesses, event organizers, and police officers.
The study is expected to proceed in three phases:
The consultants also intend to collect information during Sarasota's peak season so the review reflects changing conditions throughout the year.
Sound-monitoring devices have been installed at locations across the city, including two downtown locations. One DSCA Board member and one DSCA member representative made their balconies available for a one-week monitoring period.
The consultants also collected information during the July 3 and 4 holiday period at downtown locations and special events where sound concerns have been reported.
Vehicular sound will also be reviewed. Sarasota currently has limited regulations specifically addressing excessive engine revving, modified exhaust systems, muffler popping, and backfiring. Proposed language addressing some of these issues was prepared last year by then-City Attorney Bob Fournier but has not advanced.
At DSCA's encouragement, members of the Siebein team also joined Sarasota Police Department officers for a ride-along. The purpose was to better understand common complaints, available enforcement tools, limitations in existing ordinances, and the practical challenges officers face when responding to sound calls. City Attorney Joe Polzak has indicated that Siebein is expected to present initial findings and recommendations to the City Commission in September.
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Construction Staging: Reducing the Impact on
Downtown NeighborhoodsA DSCA working group is developing a more organized approach to concerns involving construction staging and its effects on nearby residents, businesses and streets. Thank you to those who responded to our request for feedback. We heard you. Our working group needs to maintain a clear focus on the enforcement of construction-staging plans, and there is broad agreement about the larger challenges we need to address as a community. A preliminary document has been prepared identifying recurring concerns, including: - Construction debris
- Sidewalk and street closures
- Worker and contractor parking
- Pedestrian safety
- Communication with surrounding buildings
- Limited public access to construction-staging plans
- Questions about whether existing requirements are being consistently enforced
The draft will be shared with DSCA Board members and member representatives for comments. The working group then plans to meet with appropriate City staff during July to better understand current staging-plan requirements, enforcement responsibilities and opportunities for improvement. An active downtown construction project is expected to be used as a case study to determine how staging plans are obtained, reviewed and enforced in practice. The group expects to report back to the DSCA Board in August. Depending on the results of the staff discussions, DSCA may propose a broader workshop in September involving residents, condominium representatives, contractors and City staff. The objective is to develop clearer expectations, better communication and more effective ways of addressing construction impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. |
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City Budget Review Begins July 27
The City Commission will hold budget workshops on July 27 and 28 to review the proposed City budget.
This is expected to be a particularly difficult budget year. At the July DSCA Board meeting, City Manager Friling said she had already imposed a hiring freeze in anticipation of a very tight financial environment.
The workshops will help establish the direction for:
Public comment will not be taken during the Commission workshops.
The principal opportunity for residents to learn about the proposed budget, ask questions, and offer comments will be the City's Budget Town Hall:
Wednesday, August 5
5:30 p.m.
City Hall Annex |
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Transportation and Governance Reviews Continue
The City is continuing its review of proposed Comprehensive Plan recommendations, including the Transportation and Governance chapters.
The Comprehensive Plan provides the broad policy framework used to guide growth, transportation, public services, development decisions, and long-term investment. Recommendations adopted through this process may shape later changes to the City's zoning regulations and development-review procedures.
Issues of particular importance to downtown residents may include:
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Sarasota Named America’s No. 1 Town to Visit
CNN Travel has named Sarasota the No. 1 Best Town to Visit in America for 2026. |
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The annual ranking was developed from nominations submitted by CNN Travel readers and staff. Hundreds of destinations were considered based on their attractions, food and beverage offerings, arts and culture, nightlife, diversity, local identity, accessibility, lodging and overall “wow” factor.
The top five destinations were - Sarasota, Florida
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Greenville, South Carolina
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Fort Collins, Colorado
CNN gave Sarasota particularly high marks for its arts and cultural offerings, beaches and gardens, and distinctive history.
Read CNN Travel’s feature on Sarasota. |
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Arts Grant Funding The Arts and Cultural Alliance is scheduled to make a presentation to the Sarasota County Commission that may provide additional information about County support for local arts and cultural organizations. This comes at an important time, as many cultural organizations are facing increasing costs and uncertainty surrounding public grant support. |
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The Players Announces New Season at Payne Park
The Players Centre for Performing Arts has announced its upcoming season at Payne Park Auditorium and its adjacent black-box performance space.
The move expands the use of Payne Park as a downtown cultural destination and provides audiences with both traditional auditorium productions and smaller performances in a more intimate setting. |
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DSCA March Board Meeting Wrap-Up |
As has been the recent practice, the July 1st DSCA Board meeting was held in hybrid fashion, both in person at the Broadway Promenade Club Room and via Zoom.
Guest Speaker: Karie Friling, ICMA-CM, City Manager Full Video: Click Here Speaker Video: Click Here |
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DSCA Board Meeting - Wednesday, August 5, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | @ Zoom & Broadway Promenade, 1064 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
Guest Speaker: To be announced
The DSCA meeting ends at 5:30 p.m., the same time the City's Budget Town Hall is scheduled to begin at the City Hall Annex. Residents interested in attending both should plan accordingly.
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Associate Members - Post your event on our DSCA Calendar to share with the community!
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Upcoming Community Events
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Watch It! At The Bay: FIFA World Cup 2026™ Matches | June 11 - July 19, 2026 | The Bay |
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Experience the excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ at The Bay from June 11 through July 19! Catch matches from around the world on stadium-size screens under a shaded tent at the downtown waterfront, creating the perfect setting to enjoy the action with friends, family, and fellow soccer fans.
This free, come-and-go event requires no registration. Stop by The Bay throughout the tournament to watch the games, grab a refreshing drink from The Nest Café, and enjoy the energy of the world’s biggest soccer celebration right here in Sarasota.
Location: The Bay, 1055 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236
Click here for more information. |
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Summer Circus Spectacular | June 27 to August 8, 2026 | Multiple Show Times | The Ringling |
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Experience world-class circus entertainment all summer long at The Ringling! The Summer Circus Spectacular features an exciting lineup of internationally acclaimed circus artists performing breathtaking acts in the Historic Asolo Theater. This family-friendly show is perfect for audiences of all ages.
Performances are held Tuesday through Friday at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, and Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Tickets start at $20 for adults and $15 for children (12 and under), with the option to add admission to the Circus Museum for just $5. Click here for more information. |
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Free Outdoor Yoga – 2026 Community Series | Tuesdays at
5:30 PM & Saturdays at 9:00 AM | The Bay
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Take time to move, breathe, and connect with the community during Free Outdoor Yoga By The Bay with Erin. Led by certified instructor Erin Collins, these weekly classes welcome all experience levels and offer a chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy the beautiful waterfront setting at The Bay.
Classes are held Tuesdays at 5:30 PM and Saturdays at 9:00 AM. Bring your mat, water, and join neighbors for a refreshing hour of mindful movement, gratitude, and connection in downtown Sarasota.
Location: The Bay, 5 Bayfront Drive, Sarasota, FL 34236
Click here for more information. |
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Sarasota Farmers Market | Every Saturday | 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
One of the traditional weekly, year round events in Sarasota, you'll find everything from fresh produce, food, flowers and plants to arts and crafts, friends and fun, it’s a community happening! Gathering among friends and even bring your dogs to check out the fresh produce and other unique things to browse upon. Main Street and Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Click here for more information.
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