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Sarasota News Leader May 17, 2013 Page 27 The orange construction fencing at Five Points Park will be coming down Saturday, May 18, to make way for a special weekend event. (See the story in this issue on the Harvey Milk Festival.) He noted the area had been re-sodded recently, "but it was getting tamped down with sleeping bags and blankets," he added. The fencing was temporary, to allow the grass to recover. Barwin said the City Commission will be asked during a special meeting on May 29 to allow staff to proceed with an update to zoning codes for the entire city except for downtown. "Over the next 24 to 30 months, we hope to have as much community response as possible," said Barwin. "We will be planning for the next 25 years." City Manager Tom Barwin. Photo by Norman "We need more density," responded DID Schimmel Chairman Ernie Ritz. "We need more income Barwin then turned to what has become his to solve the budget problems." thorniest problem, what he called "the chal"Land use is what planning is all about," said lenge of the street people." Barwin. "What is the value that we add to keep He said, "The most difficult issue — stating our residents here and attract new ones? How the obvious — appears to be the folks having can we continue to polish the gem?" serious substance [abuse] and mental health He added that he expects "a lot of conversa- issues. And it seems to go on and on for years. Some [people] I've observed as delusional … tion about form-based codes." but with no way to get them help. There's a Of great interest to the DID is the fate of the huge gap in the system. Community Redevelopment Agency. Although the district has no direct influence on the ex- "Ultimately, mental health responsibilities fall penditure of CRA monies, the members are to the [county] Health Department. We're trybeneficiaries of the tax-increment-financing ing to focus with them to get this to become a projects. Barwin said the members of the priority," Barwin added. "I think we can make committee that will study the future of the great progress. I'm setting up meetings with CRA after its statutory retirement in 2016 have judges and mental health practitioners. There been appointed, but no date has been set yet is some talk about a strategic plan. Work should begin this summer." % for their first meeting.