Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/83745
CITY BRIEFS New parking fines and penalities loom for drivers in the city of Sarasota. Photo by Norman Schimmel FINANCE CHIEF RETIRING; SCOPE CONTINUES URBAN INSTITUTE TEAMWORK; PARKING FINES MODIFIED By Stan Zimmerman City Editor CITY FINANCE GURU RETIRES For a quarter of a centu- ry, Chris Lyons has been up to his elbows in city money. He announced his retirement Sept. 19 for health reasons. Chris Lyons after the city commissioners approved the hard choices and validated the spending Lyons crossed the annu- al budget finish line for the 23rd time Monday plan. The budget still must pass two public hearings, but the hard work is over. Lyons will serve an additional 60 days while a national search is conducted for his successor. He was promoted internally to his position five years ago, after the retirement of long- time City Finance Director Gib Mitchell. Lyons started with the city in 1987 as an accounts and payroll manager after work- ing as a Certified Public Accountant in the private sector. His departure will make him the third se- nior city staffer to leave office in 2012. In