Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 The money can be used for almost anything, the committee has been told. The group has met since January; it began by taking evidence and testimony about Sarasota's CRA and CRAs in other areas, and it heard from CRA experts. Now it is trying to formulate recommendations. Page 58 current "plan" is actually the city's downtown master plan, adopted in 2001. In 2004, the City Commission modified it to allow spending on police and public works. At one point in the Tuesday discussion, Merrill suggested, "Let's declare success. The Downtown CRA did its job. The new tool is The first and most critical decision was made the Downtown Improvement District. This is Tuesday, with the committee proposing the not slum and blight anymore. Just put the adCRA continue into the future. That recommen- ditional taxes in the general fund." dation will be presented to both the Sarasota But in the end, nobody else was willing to supCity and County commissions, which must port the idea of termination. both agree to the terms for a new interlocal agreement concerning any CRA in the future. "My fear is if we don't put a tool in place that will give us a clear vision of where we're going County commissioners suspect their nearly $4 and provide a means, downtown will become million annual share of the tax revenue could an area you pass when you go from Lakewood be better spent elsewhere. They shot off a Ranch to Siesta Key," said member Ernie Durather testy letter to the committee — dated Bose. Sept. 6 — after it asked for input from other areas in the county that might want a CRA The committee is not afraid of big thinking. of their own. "Soliciting input regarding es- "We do need to extend the CRA as long as tablishment of future CRAs is within the pur- possible, with different boundaries for sure," view of the Board of County Commissioners," said member Joel Freedman. "Carve out some of the downtown areas that are done. But east wrote Chairwoman Carolyn Mason. and north really need more work." The city is in a bind as well. It uses much of its $3 million annual contribution to pay for "The significance of downtown as an econompolice and landscaping, not to invest in the ic engine should be important to our deliberdowntown's improvement. The use of CRA ations," said member Mark Huey. "The future money for regular operations has drawn the development of Sarasota County will go as concern of the committee, and that could re- downtown goes." sult in a recommendation to both commis- His is more than a lay viewpoint as he is the sions as well. president and CEO of the county's Economic Development Corp. Several committee members suggested the city should produce another plan to show The committee resumes its decision-making the county commissioners where the mon- on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 5:30 p.m. in Saraey would go if the CRA were extended. The sota City Hall. %