Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/218481
Sarasota News Leader November 29, 2013 Page 20 Michael Barfield, vice president of the American Civil Liberties Union in Florida — and a critic of the city's handling of homelessness — also spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting, adding his support for Marbut's 12 strategic steps. When Vice Mayor Shaw suggested postponement of action until a public hearing could be held in north Sarasota "to allow the most affected to have a hearing," Barbetta responded that the commissioners were only directing county staff to conduct due diligence on three of the sites, not choosing a "It's time to get together and solve something location. that everyone agrees has been a problem," Barfield said. "I'm glad we've made progress." "There will be plenty of time for public input," Barbetta said. "Right now we are just trying THE BIG PUSH to keep the train moving." Marbut's top four shelter sites were 1003 N. Washington Blvd., north of Gillespie Park; 1121 Lewis Ave., near 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue, close to Ed Smith Stadium; 1330 N. Osprey Ave. (and/or 1530 N. Osprey Ave), near the Sarasota Police Department; and 1800 East Ave., near Osprey Avenue and Webber Street, as well as Southside Elementary School. City Commissioner Paul Caragiulo added that "Yes" votes were an important step for the elected officials to take. "This is an endorsement of the concept, which is to say we haven't been doing this right and there is a better way." Sarasota Mayor Shannon Snyder is a proponent of Marbut's plan for a shelter. "This was a big win for Sarasota taxpayers," Snyder said after the votes, noting that shelters cost a fifth of the expense of a night in jail for a homeless person. Statistics have shown that, on average, about 20 percent of the county's jail population is homeless individuals. Shelters also promote movement from a life on the street to a job and a home, Snyder added. "To me it's most logical to start with that," Patterson said. County Commissioner Nora Patterson suggested starting with due diligence on the 1330 The city and county commissioners directed N. Osprey Ave. site, which is owned by the city. staff to look into three of the sites, excluding It was also the location Marbut indicated as the vacant North Washington Boulevard par- most viable for a shelter because of its proxcel because of its steep price of $750,000. imity to other resources for the homeless. At some point, she added, it might be good for the boards to see aerial maps showing how close businesses and residences are to each of the three sites. City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell pointed to the value of the overall plan as a comprehensive approach that includes master case "It's a big win all the way around," Snyder told management and a treatment team. "I'm the News Leader. excited," Atwell said. %