Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/100825
Sarasota News Leader December 28, 2012 Page 46 JULY 11 The return per dollar invested in Sarasota County tourism advertising rose from $18.16 in 2009 to $34.40 in 2011, about 47%, Virginia Haley, president of Visit Sarasota County, tells the County Commission during a July 11 report. Television and online advertising have proven most effective, Haley adds during her presentation of the agency���s business plan for the 2013 fiscal year. (Visit Sarasota County formerly was the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau.) JULY 16 When Sarasota City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo says he wants to introduce a strong-mayor proposal, nobody quite expects how strong the proposal will be. Basically, it calls for a rewrite of the entire city charter to incorporate all of the changes Caragiulo would like to see. The City Commission ends up tabling discussion of the amendment until Aug. 20. The delay will keep the proposal off the November ballot, but it could allow it to appear on the March 2013 ballot, when two city commissioners will be up for election. Right now the city enjoys what some call a ���ceremonial��� mayor, a commissioner elected by their fellow commissioners to preside over meetings and represent the city. Actual running of the city is done by an appointed city manager. Three commissioners represent districts, while two are elected citywide. Caragiulo would change all that, and more. All commissioners would be elected from districts, under his plan. Only the mayor would run at-large. The mayor would no longer be a commissioner and would not be able to vote on issues. Howev- Visit Sarasota County has focused more over the past year on marketing the county to potential visitors according to their interests, such as ecotourism. The move is part of the Colors campaign. Image courtesy Sarasota County er, the elected mayor would have veto power over City Commission actions. The veto could be overridden with a four-vote supermajority. ��������� As a result of a professional citizen petition drive, Sarasota city voters in November will consider changing their charter to strengthen the city manager at the expense of the auditor and clerk. ���It took five weeks to gather 3,297 signatures,��� Donnie McDonouth tells