Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/264109
DID Chairman Ernie Ritz reported that he tes- tified before the Sarasota County Commission last week to support moving the downtown Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) transfer station. He was joined by fellow DID board member Ron Soto and Downtown Sarasota Alliance President Michael Beaumier. "We had four votes to study moving the bus trans- fer station to Ringling and School Avenue," Ritz said. SCAT staffers are not enthusiastic about the move, saying the cost to reschedule all the bus routes will be substantial. Gollub said he would "add my support to relocation of the bus transfer station." But instead of moving it a mile away, adjacent to the county Health Department, he rec- ommended another site that is available, adjacent to the downtown post office. "A bus system that carries potentially half a million customers should be located near down- town," he pointed out. During discussion of downtown security, Gollum said he had tried to generate interest in expanding the patrol of a private security guard downtown. "For more than a year, the security officer has provided a presence and monitors situations until police arrive. Sarasota Security is the agent," he noted. "I asked merchants in the 1300 block of Main if they would be willing to pay $100 per month, but most said they couldn't afford it." Wendy Getchell, a boutique owner on Main, was in the audience. She asked, "Why is there no action on vagrants in the park, Pineapple Park? It's disgusting." The area on Lemon Avenue south of State Street is also called Mermaid Park for the sculpture in a fountain there. "I see people Downtown Sarasota merchants are complaining about homeless people gathering routinely in Pineapple Park. Photo by Roger Drouin Sarasota News Leader February 21, 2014 Page 48