Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/127088
Sarasota News Leader May 3, 2013 The following three-day weekend, April 26-29, city police issued warnings to the Gator Club, Smokin' Joe's, the Ivory Lounge and the Tequila Cantina. That time the effort took 34 manhours. The report notes police officers were diverted from their regular duties to downtown more than 60 nights in an unspecified time period. DiPino's report also notes the sound ordinance specifications for St. Petersburg, Boca Raton; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; New York City; and Daytona Beach for comparison. The city attorney is sure to weigh in on any proposed changes to the sound ordinance because of First Amendment conflicts. And the public — especially downtown residents — are expected to vent their concerns over noise they consider too loud and occurring too late at night. CRA FUTURE Another piece of unfinished business will make an afternoon appearance — establishment of an 11-member ad hoc committee to examine the feasibility of extending the tax-increment financing district that funds the downtown Page 43 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The effort expires in 2016. The financing scheme generates about $6 million per year in city and county property taxes. The money must be spent within the geographic boundaries of the district. Recent City Commission discussion resulted in an directive for the yet-to-be-established ad hoc committee that the city will no longer consider the district's funds to be encumbered. If the county wants to continue the effort, the city would be happy to get the money, but the city's share could be spent anywhere in the city, not just in the downtown area. The ad hoc committee would report to both the city manager and the county administrator, and it would have seven months to finish its job. Proposed members are Michael Beaumier, Frank Carol, Craig Colburn, Andrew Dorr, Ernest DuBose, Joel Freedman, Chris Gallagher, Katie Leonard, David Merrill, William Russell and Mark Huey. City Commissioner Shannon Snyder. Photo by Norman Schimmel Its recommendations could range from shutting down the CRA in 2016 to extending it another 30 years with the same guidelines under which it has existed. However,