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The City Commission has dithered for years over the design of the building, which, under the terms of the Pineapple Square contract, must be open for use in 2015. The commis- sion selected a so-called "Pad Lite" design late last year. Monday is the first time the board members together will see an architectural rendering of what the actual design may look like. The proposal calls for a private developer to build a minimum of four and a maximum of five stories above the ground-level retail space on Lemon Avenue. The space could be used for condominiums or rental property. By city standards, the project is on the fastest track possible. Engineering plans will be pre- sented next month, and final plans are to come to the commission in April, with construction to begin in May. "Substantial completion" is slated to occur in February 2015, with final inspections and a certificate of occupancy "by the end of May 2015," the memo says. Funding will come from the sale of the first- floor retail space, and the "Pad Lite" site, plus "inter-fund transfers" and "additional Community Redevelopment Agency funding." BARWIN'S EVALUATION The City Commission's evaluation of char- ter officials is an annual event. But when Tom Barwin was hired in September 2012, he placed in his contract several unusual terms. Knowing the city periodically held a referen- dum to abolish his office, he presciently added language in case that happened before Sept. 1, 2015. And he added a clause that changed the annual review procedure. Now it is time for the evaluation, and the city is putting the final touches on the new way the commissioners will rate their profes- sional manager. It calls for hiring a facilitator to lead a "constructive, team building exer- cise per the city manager's contract," notes a memo from Director of Human Resources Stacie Mason. She proposes hiring Larry Ross, a business professor at Florida Southern University who has facilitated the evaluation of the Lakeland A drawing shows the ground level plans for the State Street parking garage structure. Image courtesy City of Sarasota Sarasota News Leader January 31, 2014 Page 27