Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/281176
The March 17 afternoon session of the Sarasota City Commission was finished in less than 30 minutes. The major and minor consent agenda items were left untouched, passed without comment. Commissioners and staff had very little to say during the "Reports" sec- tion of the agenda, and the meeting recessed to the evening session. It was an eerily calm half-hour. The evening began with a proclamation to declare National Crime Victims' Rights Week. By the end of the meeting, more than four hours later, it is safe to say nearly every- body left the chambers feeling as if he or she had survived a gale. The build-up started slowly with consideration of a lease exten- sion for the Mattison's City Grill on Lemon Avenue in downtown Sarasota. Hardly anyone remem- bers the awful hot dogs from the stand at the city-owned Lemon Avenue mall property a decade ago. Even the proprietor finally The City Commission sits in session in January. Photo by Norman Schimmel CHAPMAN IS LEFT TO PAY HER OWN LEGAL FEES; MATTISON'S LEASE EXTENSION TABLED FOR NOW; AND ONE ST. ARMANDS SEASONAL EVENT WILL GO ON CHOPPY WATERS BEFORE THE STORM This is about people trying to shut down public debate on important issues. Susan Chapman Commissioner City of Sarasota By Stan Zimmerman City Editor