Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/203490
Sarasota News Leader November 1, 2013 The current ordinance applies citywide, including on St. Armands and Hillview Avenue, where many Southside Village restaurants are located. Should the revisions apply only downtown? Fred Soto, head of a downtown business group, said the two issues — cocktails and checkmates — should be considered separately. Page 20 When you look at $1,000 per light, you have to scratch your head." In the end, the DID board asked the bid-winning vendor — Canella Controls of Winter Park — to set up a demonstration in the park. "I wouldn't buy a $150,000 item without seeing it first," said Kauffman. The DID board members then turned their attention to attempts by the City Commission to shift expenses into their accounts. In particular, they were upset with an $8,437.50 legal bill for defense of a Sunshine Laws suit. Kauffman said he heard the city attorney on Friday, Oct. 25, say it was the city's responsiKauffman elicited a chuckle when he made bility to defend its advisory boards. a motion that the DID recommend to the "They were wrong to pass that on to us," noted City Commission that Parker Books be Kauffman. "The Public Art Committee didn't allowed tables for outdoor table gaming. DID pay," referring to another recent Sunshine board member William Pettey asked, "Texas lawsuit. Hold-Em on Main Street?" The motion passed In a similar vein, DID members challenged a unanimously. bill for the organization's annual membership Kauffman then made a second motion asking in the Florida Redevelopment Association. that the city consider eliminating the need for While the DID meeting was under way, two "food produced on the premises as a mandate city employees were at the association's to getting the approval for a sidewalk café annual meeting in Tampa. permit." It, too, passed unanimously. Mannausa said, "This should be prorated FANCY LIGHTS AND OVERCHARGES among various city agencies." He noted the Do not look for creative lighting in Five Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency and the Newtown Community Points Park over the holidays. Squirrels, rats Redevelopment Agency, along with the office and tree limb growth reduced the last set of of the city's economic development advisor lights to an $80,000 shambles. The DID board (who was at the Tampa meeting), should recently received responses to a Request for share some of the cost. Proposals for a second try at park illumination. The price was almost double what it "Put it on the next agenda," said Mannausa. found through its first attempt. "Find out why we are paying for the Florida Redevelopment Agency." "I like lights," said Ritz. "But I don't want to spend $150,000." Mannausa did some men- Added Kauffman, "This should be a city tal math and added, "This is a lot of money. expense." % Mannausa urged a bit of caution. "Once you start, you can have the expectation every retail merchant will have something on the sidewalk." Moran replied, "The more stuff on the sidewalk, the more interesting downtown becomes."