Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/96141
Sarasota News Leader November 30, 2012 Under unfinished business in the afternoon, the commissioners will consider extending, modifying or relaxing a hiring freeze. While the city staff is down 24 percent from five years ago, most of the reduction is due to "self-imposed staffing delays and outsourced functions," according to a city memo. In the meantime, some staff members have been promoted, while others have left, leaving vacancies. How to deal with the consequences of the hiring freeze is the question. Page 30 portion of the City Commission session, when a public hearing has been scheduled about a host of parking issues. Prices are proposed to go up for delinquency fees, and the fine for parking a gas-powered car in an electric-car recharge spot; the amount of fine will be considered for removing an immobilizing wheel boot or tampering with it. And three parking violations will mean you cannot renew your tags or driver's license without paying up. While they are in revenue-boosting mode, the commissioners will hold the evening's next public hearing — about raising fees for enforcement of the Florida Building Code. And the following public hearing — among other things — will focus on requiring anybody who tears up the right of way to put in a patch better than the original surface. We can only hope this applies to city repairs as well. The second piece of unfinished afternoon business holds huge consequences for Laurel Park, a time-warp neighborhood from the 1920s faced with concerns about mega-development along its borders. The south-of-downtown neighborhood is seeking an "overlay district" with stipulations requiring neighborhood meetings with prospective developers of properties adjacent to the residents' bungaNew business always comes at the end of a lows; the homeowners want the requirement meeting. St. Armands merchants and landin the city's comprehensive plan. owners will present a petition asking the city Third on that part of the agenda is a $750,000 to extend the life of their business improveexpense regarding the giant holes in the ment district for another decade. They are ground blocking Osprey Avenue. The money fresh from a victory two weeks ago, during would be used to put Osprey back into two- which they saw the commission overturn a lane order while the city struggles to find an one-size-fits-all parking policy. engineer to complete its sewage lift station Then City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo will No. 87. The former engineering company was lead a discussion about downtown parking dismissed for incompetence. and how it fits in the new and unregulated enIf you have a host of unpaid parking tickets, vironment the commission created two weeks you might want to testify during the evening ago. % Take Your Time You Have All Week Enjoy The News Leader Anytime - Day or Night