Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/289950
It seems safe to say the No. 1 topic in the news this week is the joint meeting of the City and County commissions to discuss plans for a homeless shelter. As made plain in Staff Photographer Norman Schimmel's audience photos, many area residents took the opportunity to tell their elected officials just what they think about the project. And while you may have read about the meeting in another publi- cation, I highly recommend County Editor Roger Drouin's recap. As usual, Roger has been very thorough in his reporting, and he is a master at serving up the "flavor" of a discussion. Of course, the shelter was not the only item on that agenda, as City Editor Stan Zimmerman points out in his article about the community redevelopment agency discussion that was shortened by the length of time the boards spent listening to residents' concerns about homeless people. As for other news: County Administrator Tom Harmer has taken his first big steps in planning for the county's future; a rooftop dining pro- posal drew quite a crowd to the city's Devel- opment Review Committee session this week; the Fruitville Initiative is moving forward — with renderings; and trolley service finally will be coming to Siesta Key after what has seemed an interminable wait. With reports from the County Commission budget workshop last week, more topics of note on Siesta Key and a look at the annual Embracing Our Differences exhibit on the bayfront, you will see quite a lot has been taking place beyond the "shelter front." Editor and Publisher WELCOME