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Sarasota News Leader August 9 & 16, 2013 Page 49 Because the plan involves so many complex elements — from infrastructure reconstruction to financing — and different aspects of county government, it is an "ambitious undertaking," Wreford told The Sarasota News Leader. Wreford now hopes to have the final draft of the plan ready to present to the county commissioners for approval in April 2014. Before that happens, however, residents will be able to weigh in on the PDRP at several public workshops. County staff will also work closeCounty officials began drafting the plan sev- ly on the document with officials in Sarasota, eral years ago. Longboat Key, North Port and Venice. "The biggest incentive to move forward with this was the back-to-back storm seasons of "This is a county plan, but we wanted to make sure we get engagement from the municipali2004 and 2005," Wreford said. ties," Wreford noted. "Storms don't know poBut the planning effort was slowed after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. County litical boundaries." staff working on the PDRP was redirected to The county hired a consultant at the cost respond to the Gulf of Mexico environmental disaster, which had the potential to impact of $100,000 to facilitate the creation of the draft plan. Southwest Florida. Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane addresses the County Commission in late August 2012, before an expected strike by Tropical Storm Isaac. Photo by Norman Schimmel