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PLATINUM ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
We encourage you to support these area businesses who help support the DSCA through workshops, professional services and discounts. |
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Several issues of particular interest to downtown residents have been before the City Commission recently. Here is a quick update.
As you will know from prior DSCA news updates, we have been very involved in both the Special Events and Sound Ordinance issues. Both are important quality-of-life matters for downtown residents, while also recognizing the significant economic benefits that events and entertainment bring to Sarasota.
While the new Special Events Ordinance is not perfect, we believe it represents an improvement. Combined with the new policy that most special events must conclude by 11 p.m., it provides a stronger framework for balancing these sometimes competing interests. Work now continues on the separate, but closely related, Sound Ordinance. |
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Your Vote Matters: Sarasota’s 2026 Elections
Your voice matters, and your vote is one of the most important ways to participate in our community.
Sarasota is experiencing tremendous growth and change. Decisions made by elected officials affect everything from growth and development and transportation to public safety, neighborhoods, parks, and our overall quality of life.
The August and November 2026 elections give Sarasota residents an opportunity to make their voices heard.
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Mark Your Calendar
August 18, 2026 — Primary Election
Early Voting: August 8–16, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Election Day: August 18, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
November 3, 2026 — General Election
Early Voting: October 19–November 1, 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.
Election Day: November 3, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
Whether you vote early, by mail, or on Election Day, take the time to learn about the candidates and issues and cast your ballot.
Every election matters. Every vote counts.
For official election information, registration, sample ballots, voting locations, and vote-by-mail information, visit the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections.
And on Election Night…
Beginning shortly after the polls close at 7:00 p.m., you can follow unofficial Sarasota County election results as they are updated during the evening on the Supervisor of Elections website. |
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Special Events Ordinance
The City Commission approved the new Special Events Ordinance on second reading. The Commission also directed staff to return in April 2027 with information and data on how the ordinance is working.
The ordinance includes changes affecting how special events are permitted and managed, including events in and around downtown. |
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Sound Ordinance
As previously reported, the City has engaged an independent sound consultant as part of its ongoing review of Sarasota’s sound regulations and enforcement practices. That work has now moved into an important public-input phase.
The City is conducting a citywide soundscape survey to better understand how people experience sound in different parts of Sarasota and at different times of day. Importantly, the survey is not limited to people who have complaints. The City is seeking input from residents, business owners, employees and visitors—including those who have positive, negative, mixed or no significant concerns about sound.
The survey results will become part of the consultant’s assessment of existing sound conditions and community experiences. They will help inform future City Commission discussions regarding sound regulations, enforcement and event policies, but will not by themselves determine those decisions so there is a objective basis on which to set future sound/noise policies.
Downtown residents are encouraged to participate. A broad response will help provide a more complete picture of how sound is experienced in our part of the city as well as Sarasota as a whole.
The survey is open through August 31: City of Sarasota Sound Survey |
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DSCA Work Group & City Staff: Working Together to Improve Downtown Construction Coordination
The DSCA Working Group greatly appreciates the time and thoughtful participation of City Staff in meeting with us to discuss opportunities to improve the construction and staging process in downtown Sarasota.
The meeting on July 29th was a productive step toward strengthening communication between the City, downtown residents and condominium associations. We appreciated the City’s willingness to listen to residents’ experiences and work collaboratively toward practical improvements. |
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During the discussion, we identified four key areas where we believe improvements can be made:
1. Review & Comments on Staging Plan Guidelines
Reviewing the existing guidelines and identifying opportunities to make them clearer, more effective, and responsive to the unique challenges of construction in a dense downtown environment.
2. Residential Review & Feedback on New Staging Plans
Developing a process that allows downtown residents and condominium associations to provide timely feedback when new staging plans are submitted for projects in the downtown districts.
3. Incorporating Improvements into the DRC Process Update
Exploring how these improvements can be incorporated into the City's ongoing Development Review Committee (DRC) process update.
4. Public Workshops & Resident Education
Creating opportunities for public workshops to educate downtown residents about the updated construction and staging processes, including how residents can stay informed and provide meaningful feedback.
We appreciate the City Staff’s willingness to continue this conversation and work with the DSCA Working Group to develop practical solutions.
Our shared goal is to create a clearer, more transparent, and more collaborative process that benefits residents, developers, businesses, and the City as downtown Sarasota continues to grow.
The DSCA Working Group will continue working with City Staff on these initiatives and looks forward to providing additional updates as this important work moves forward. |
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Condo Hotel / Apartment Hotel Developments
The City Commission has directed staff to conduct additional research and evaluation of condo-hotel and apartment-hotel developments and whether changes to the City’s Zoning Code should be considered.
These newer development models can combine residential ownership, short-term occupancy and hotel-like operations, raising questions about how they fit within existing zoning regulations.
As this newsletter is being finalized, there is potentially important new information from Miami. Recent reporting indicates that the City of Miami has ordered unauthorized vacation rentals at The Club at Brickell Bay, a 643-unit residential condominium, to cease immediately.
The Miami situation does not determine what is permissible in Sarasota, but it raises a very similar question: At what point does extensive short-term rental activity in a residential condominium become a hotel or lodging use requiring different governmental approvals?
DSCA and CCNA will be following the City of Miami’s enforcement matter and will and will report further on this as city staff further investigates this topic.
City Staff Instructed To Develop Condo-Hotel Policy |
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Larry Debb of GSP Development with a scale model of Saravela at the development's sales center.
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Transportation Plan Amendments
The City Commission approved transmittal of proposed amendments to the Transportation Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan to the State for review.
The amendments cover a range of transportation policies involving streets, sidewalks, parking, transit, bicycles and pedestrian mobility. The City will also review whether a parking impact fee should be considered for developments receiving reductions from normal parking requirements.
A Town Hall to discuss the Transportation Chapter is scheduled for September 1. This will be another opportunity for residents to learn more about the proposed changes and provide input.
More information – Transportation Chapter Update Legislative Public Hearing |
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Paid Parking
The Commission revisited the extended paid-parking hours and higher parking citation fees that took effect June 29.
The Commission voted to suspend the extended hours while leaving the increased citation fees in place. Paid parking and the City’s broader downtown parking strategy remain works in progress. Extended Paid Parking Hours Rescinded in Downtown Sarasota |
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Upcoming Parking Open House
With the City continuing to evaluate its downtown parking program, residents and local businesses will have an opportunity to learn more and provide input at an upcoming parking open house. The event will focus on the City’s parking program, recent changes to parking enforcement and future plans for downtown parking, with community feedback helping inform the City Commission’s August 31 parking workshop.
The open house will be held Monday, August 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Community Invited to Attend Aug 24 Parking Open House
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Bicycle, E-Bike and Micro-Mobility SafetyOn June 25, Governor DeSantis vetoed SB 382, which would have regulated e-bikes and certain other micro-mobility device provisions, including scooters. This action caused a minor stir among downtown community residents who have observed and encountered dangerous behaviors by persons using these devices. However, the Governor’s veto has no impact on the fairly comprehensive provisions for bicycles, including, by definition, e-bike use, in our local Code of Ordinances, Article V, Section 33.
In my quest to be vindicated as being right, I found this Article and Section one afternoon after stepping out of a doorway of a business on Main Street and being “brushed,” or maybe nearly brushed, by a bicyclist traveling, in my opinion, at a speed that was not “reasonable and prudent.” My vindication was needed because the bicyclist had time, as he sped by, to notice my age and lack of intelligence, allowing him to vociferously comment, with action and voice, on both in a most negative way. |
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Other interesting guidance provided in the bicycle provisions includes:
Section 33-19 – Right-of-Way of Pedestrians: Bicyclists using a sidewalk or crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and give an audible signal when overtaking or passing a pedestrian. The signal device should be clearly audible for a distance of 100 feet.
Section 33-195 – Rider Has Rights and Duties of a Pedestrian: Have you ever had to get off your bike and walk with it? You are now a pedestrian. You can expect traffic to stop for you when you are about to enter a crosswalk while walking your bike. Conversely, if you approach a crosswalk while riding your bike, you must stop to allow pedestrians entering or in a crosswalk to cross. This means you should not speed around them while they are in the crosswalk.
Section 33-202 – Acrobatic Riding: No rider of a bicycle shall remove both hands from the handlebars or feet from the pedals, or practice any acrobatic or fancy riding on any street. From my reading, this would include “wheelies,” the action of lifting the front wheel of a bicycle off the pavement and traveling any distance as a one-wheel bicycle. Unicycles might be addressed under the provision for maximum seat height allowed, 25 inches from the ground at its maximum adjustable height.
It is not guaranteed that a similar bill to SB 382 will be filed in the next legislative session, but there is a need for the universality of a state provision so that bicyclists traveling across several jurisdictions do not run afoul of common-sense, conflicting ordinances involving speed, right-of-way, audible signals and safe distances to warn pedestrians of a bicyclist’s approach.
The Health and Safety Committee of DSCA will continue to be on the lookout for additional sensible and prudent provisions as they pertain to bicycles, e-bikes and micro-mobility devices, especially provisions for enforcement.
Sarasota Code of Ordinances - Aricle V. -Bicycles |
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Downtown Master Plan / Strategic Plan
The City has paused the Downtown Master Plan update and is now budgeting for a broader citywide strategic plan.
Some may say, in hindsight, the cart came before the horse. The new direction is to first answer the bigger question: What do we want Sarasota to become? A future Downtown Master Plan would then follow from that broader vision.
City Manager Karie Friling will set the stage for the strategic planning effort, with more discussion expected soon on goals, staff responsibilities, process and timing. Paused 'Generational' City Projects Subject To Commission Review
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DSCA March Board Meeting Wrap-Up |
As has been the recent practice, the August 5h DSCA Board meeting was held in hybrid fashion, both in person at the 1350 Main Condominium and via Zoom.
Guest Speaker: Ron Turner, Supervisor of Elections Full Video: Click Here Speaker Video: Click Here |
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DSCA Board Meeting - Wednesday, September 2, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | @ Zoom & 1350 Main Condominium - 1350 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236
Guest Speaker: Jon Thaxton, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Gulf Coast Community Foundation |
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Jon Thaxton is a fifth-generation Sarasotan, former Sarasota County Commissioner, and Director of Policy and Advocacy at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. He joined Gulf Coast in 2012 after serving 12 years as a Sarasota County Commissioner. Throughout his career, Jon has been a strong advocate for the Sarasota region, with extensive experience in environmental protection, land conservation, water quality, public policy, affordable housing, and community development. |
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He has helped lead initiatives addressing homelessness and nutritious food access, advocated for improved affordable housing policies, and led a multidisciplinary team in developing the Water Quality Playbook.
Jon has also been involved in transformative regional projects, including efforts supporting extensions of the Legacy Trail and the creation of The Bay in downtown Sarasota. A lifelong environmental advocate, he began his work protecting Sarasota’s natural resources as a high school student and has continued that commitment throughout his career.
Raised on a family farm near Osprey, Jon brings a deep personal connection to the region along with decades of experience in public service, community leadership, and environmental advocacy. |
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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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The Kings of Queen | August 15, 2026 | 7:00pm | Sarasota Opera House
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Get ready for an unforgettable night of Queen’s greatest hits on Saturday, August 15 at 7:00pm, as The Kings of Queen take the stage at the Sarasota Opera House! Led by frontman Emo Alaeddin, the band delivers a powerful tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen, featuring iconic vocals, musicianship, costumes, and stage presence. With a two-hour repertoire performed 100% live with no backing tracks, this is a must-see for Queen fans and classic rock lovers alike. 📍 Sarasota Opera House
🎟️ Tickets starting at $30 Head downtown for an evening of legendary music, big vocals, and the unmistakable sound of Queen! Click here for more information. |
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Summer Art Mart | August 23, 2026 | 10:00am - 3:00pm | Art Ovation Hotel
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Spend Sunday, August 23 from 10:00am to 3:00pm exploring the Summer Art Mart at Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota. Browse an exciting collection of artwork, jewelry, crafts, glass art, ceramics, and more while meeting more than 30 talented local artists and makers. With unique, giftable finds and beverages available on-site, it’s a great way to spend a summer afternoon surrounded by creativity and local art. 📍 Art Ovation Hotel, Sarasota
🎟️ Free admission with RSVP Come discover one-of-a-kind treasures and support local artists at this vibrant downtown Sarasota art market! Click here for more information. |
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Summon the Heroes | September 10, 2026 | 7:00pm | Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
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Join Sarasota Orchestra and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Thursday, September 10 at 7:00pm for Summon the Heroes, a powerful evening of music commemorating the 25th anniversary of September 11. The program features moving works including Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Barber’s Adagio for Strings, John Williams’ Summon the Heroes, and Liberty for All, narrated by Nate Jacobs of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. Soprano Amy Owens will also join the orchestra for performances of Amazing Grace and America the Beautiful. 🎟️ Tickets starting at $25 Proceeds will benefit four local charities supporting first responders, community resilience, and those who serve Sarasota. Come together for an inspiring evening celebrating music, community, and the enduring strength of the American spirit. Click here for more information. |
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SRQ Women’s Expo | September 20, 2026 | 12:00pm - 4:00pm | Art Ovation Hotel
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Celebrate local women, businesses, and community at the SRQ Women’s Expo on Sunday, September 20 from 12:00pm to 4:00pm at Art Ovation Hotel in downtown Sarasota. Enjoy an afternoon filled with local shopping, networking, beauty and wellness experiences, complimentary spa services, Mommy & Me photo sessions, childcare and activities, giveaways, and more. Whether you're looking to discover new local businesses, connect with other women, enjoy some well-deserved self-care, or simply spend a fun afternoon downtown, this event offers something for everyone. 📍 Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota
🎟️ Admission: $10 Come shop, connect, relax, and celebrate the women who make our community thrive! 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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If you missed any of our newsletters Click here to view past issues to share with your condo community |
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