Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/121369
Sarasota News Leader April 12, 2013 These ZTAs govern the rules and the procedures needed to operate the city's zoning codes, future land-use map and other planning tools. What is the difference between "provisional use" and "conditional use?" Consult the ZTAs. In other words, these provisions set the stage for "What goes where?" and "What does it take?" The amendments to the zoning text will add some permitted activities to the land-use categories, for example, allowing daycares in the "institutional use" category. Another change would allow bed-and-breakfast establishments in the downtown zoning district. Page 36 The switch would require approval of the Sarasota County Commission as well. City staff is asking permission to ask the county for the flexibility to make the change. 'CHALKFEST' SEEKS WAIVERS Denise Kowal is on the agenda, too, coming forward to ask the city to be a sponsor of the annual Chalk Festival in Burns Square. She will be asking the city to waive between $7,000 and $13,000 in fees and services, including police and parking charges. The festival is set for Nov. 13-18 this year. It has been growing in attendance as it enters its fifth year. It does not charge admission, and it The Planning Board last month approved the attracts thousands of people and artists from changes unanimously. all over the world. MOVING TOWARDS TRUE MOBILITY Each year Kowal seeks funding from the city The city engineer Monday will ask the commission to change the concept of "road impact fee" to "multi-modal fee" within the city limits. The road impact fee funds can be spent only on roads, intersections and other vehicular needs. and from the county's Tourist Development Council. CITY AUDIT IS CLEAN For most people there is no better way to get to sleep than to read the audit of a city's finances — the jargon, the endless columns of numbers and then dreamland. However, finance makes the world go 'round, and auditing is one way to detect inefficiencies — and sometimes even waste or fraud. The multi-modal fee would broaden the application to sidewalks, bicycle paths and mass transit. Alexandrea DavisShaw, the city engineer, led several public meetings to discuss the idea. The City Commission Monday will receive the "Frequently the community does not want the audit for the 2011-12 fiscal year ending Sept. road to be extended or widened, but does want 30, 2012. Audits can follow "fashionable isimprovements to sidewalks, bike lanes or tran- sues," and this one is no exception, paying particular attention to the city's pension liasit stops," she wrote in the backup memo for bilities. the agenda item. "One tool that would allow the city to better accommodate multi-modal The 200-page report ranges widely over all improvements would be to have a multi-modal city departments and services, including some semi-autonomous bodies such as the St. Arfee instead of roadway impact fees."