Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/247585
Sarasota News Leader January 24, 2014 operate the equipment. "We can run a scrubbing machine; cover the cost of water and detergent," noted Campion. "Your part would be to fund the machine.' Page 46 of anything to make the sidewalks clean." She regularly spruces up the sidewalk in front of her business on Palm Avenue. "I think the merchants can organize and pay for it," she added. However, the machine would not remove chewing gum. That requires a different Board member Dr. Mark Kauffman suggested machine, which costs $4,000. "Is this worth another solution. "Maybe the city could offer something. The primary reason for dirty sidepursuing?" asked Campion. walks is the restaurants. Either they wash Sidewalk cleaning was put forward as a every two weeks, or pay the city to do it. This high-priority task when promoters sought the is labor-intensive," he said. approval of downtown property owners to create the district and tax themselves 2 mills The city has tried on two previous occasions annually to fund it. "It's the first thing we're to solicit a sidewalk-cleaning company, but in supposed to be doing," said the DID's newest both cases, the responses were not deemed sufficient. Now a third Request for Proposals board member, Ron Soto. is to be released at the end of the month. "Our sidewalks are a disgrace," said DID board Michael del Rossi with the city's Public Works member Eileen Hampshire. "I'm supporting Department said, "Twice before, it didn't work Main Street underwent a beautification project last year at Downtown Improvement District expense. Photo by Norman Schimmel