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Sarasota News Leader November 15, 2013 Page 45 The group has a checkered history of success with Five Points lighting. It previously spent $80,000 for computer-controlled, color-changing lights in the park, but virtually all of those lights failed as animals nibbled the wires and tree growth broke the circuitry. The money came from a combination of sources. The new Five Points plan also calls for the DID to seek money elsewhere. "We should try to get the two condos [facing the park], [Sarasota] opera and the city to participate," said Kauffman. FACING THE FUTURE The retired professor who acted as a "midwife" for the birth of the DID came before the board Tuesday to ask if the members would like to reconsider their strategic plan. Much of what the DID was empowered to do has been accomplished. With its current state of finances, the board will go forward with very little discretionary money, Roger Barry said. He is professor emeritus of urban planning with the University of Cincinnati and a Sarasota resident. Barry parsed the DID's funding. After paying for the bonds used to finance a variety of projects — minus maintenance expenses and the part-time operations manager's salary — he calculated the group would have about $80,000 per year for new projects or emergencies. He noted the Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is due to expire in 2016. "If there is no CRA, then the DID and the city must pick up the slack for infrastructure improvements," said Barry. While a committee continues to examine how A future discussion is proposed on extending the Downtown Improvement District into Burns Square. Photo by Norman Schimmel to extend the CRA's term, there is no guarantee the political will exists on the Sarasota County Commission to move the sunset date another 10, 20 or 30 years into the future. The DID board decided to split its crystal ball gazing into two parts. At the next meeting, the group will ponder the near future with $80,000 in discretionary money. For the larger picture, the group talked about a larger meeting, similar to the past Semcon gatherings of downtown stakeholders and residents. The last one resulted in the DID's formation three years ago. Among the options that could be on the table during the expanded meeting is an expansion of the district east along Main Street to Washington Boulevard, or south into Burns Square. %