Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/94842
Sarasota News Leader November 23, 2012 After St. Armands merchants and property owners trooped to City Hall on Nov. 5, the commissioners ordered staffers to consult on the matter and find an agreeable solution. When the staffers returned on Nov. 19, the solution was to throw in the towel and return to the status quo ante. City Parking Manager Mark Lyons started the conversation by telling the commission- ers that city staffers were already removing stripes from 375 newly established parking spaces. "That started last night," he said. Also scrapped were time restrictions on 200 on-street spots, mostly along the Bou- levard of the Presi- dents. When Lyons tried to preserve some restric- tion on parking along the circle until 8 p.m., that did not stick, either. The old limit was 6 p.m., and the commissioners reset the time to the earlier hour. The new Saturday limits? Gone, too. Someone you know needs Planned Parenthood • Lifesaving cancer screenings • Parent & teen education • Annual GYN exams • Birth control Planned Parenthood Of Southwest And Central Florida • Sarasota 941-953-4060 • MyPlannedParenthood.org Page 23 "I came before you with deep frustration two weeks ago," said Dianne Corrigan with the St. Armands Circle Association. "We were totally surprised the new policies were not shared with the [business improvement district] or the association, or all of this could have been avoided." Nor apparently were the new policies shared with Lyons' own Parking Advisory Committee. Marty Rappaport sits on that committee and is chairman of the St. Armands Business Im- provement District. "There was total shock when the new parking regulations were im- posed," he told the commissioners. I don't think we should compromise with them. I think we should give them what they want. City Commissioner Terry Turner "Who compromised with whom?" asked Commissioner Ter- ry Turner rhetorical- ly. "I don't think we should compromise with them. I think we should give them what they want." After the commissioners voted unanimously to uproot the old policies and return to his- torical parking norms — and fatally wound- ed their uniform policy — Turner said, "I'm surprised our downtown merchants haven't shown up." %