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Sarasota News Leader December 20, 2013 Page 56 Staff members from county departments provide presentations, conduct tours of facilities and answer questions from the participants, the release adds. Among new activities in the program this spring will be a guided tour of Phillippi Estate Park as well as the Sarasota County jail. Civics 101 has been offered by Sarasota County government since 2000; it holds sessions twice each year. The most recent graduating class was the largest in the program's history, with 28 people, the release says. For more information, contact the County's Call Center at 861-5000 or e-mail kjohnsto@ scgov.net. Photo by Norman Schimmel DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEE PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM BEGINS JAN. 6 The Sarasota City Commission has approved moving forward with an affordable employee parking permit program in January, while deferring paid parking in the Palm Avenue Garage, the city has announced. Permits are $10 per month and are available for purchase at the Parking Operations Division (POD) located at City Hall, 1565 First St. in Sarasota. POD hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking in the Palm Avenue Garage will remain free and open to the public, including downtown employees, a news release points out. "The permits are very affordable at just $10," says Parking Manager Mark Lyons in the release. "We want to encourage employees to use the permit program and park without worrying about time restrictions and hunting for open spaces on the street." Beginning Monday, Jan. 6, an employee of a business in the downtown area will be required to display a parking permit on his or her vehicle in the following surface parking lots: State Street, First Street, Burns Square, Orange Avenue, Cocoanut Avenue and Gulfstream Avenue. Permits will be issued in the form of rearview mirror hang tags, the release adds. To receive permits, employees must provide employer authorization on company letterhead, including a signature, stating the employee's work status. Employers may purchase permits for current employees up to three months in The third level of the Second Street Garage advance, the release points out. near Whole Foods also will be included in this The permits are not valid on weekends or parking permit program, the release notes. after 6 p.m.