Weekly Briefs from City Manager Tom Barwin

BRIEFS from BARWIN From the Desk of Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin May 27, 2016 Photo of the Week History was made at City Hall today (May 27, 2016) as the City Commission selected District 1 City Commissioner Willie Shaw to serve a third consecutive term as mayor and District 3 Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie to serve as Vice Mayor  --- opening the door for more diversity in Commission leadership roles.  This is the first time in Sarasota's 100+ year history that two minorities will represent the City in these positions at the same time.   Since 1945, this is just the fourth time a Commissioner has been selected to serve as mayor three consecutive years.  We look forward to working with the entire City Commission over the next year as we continue to make Sarasota a special community to live and play.   MEETINGS Development Review Cmte Wed., June 1 - 9 a.m. City Hall - Room 112 Agenda City Career Opportunities   City Records Manager Electronic Traffic Signal Tech Facility Maintenance Tech Golf Course Attendant Landscape Maintenance Tech I Lifeguard I Maintenance Mechanic II Manager, Maintenance Services     Police Officer, 2nd Class Rec Attendant Spray Tech Utilities Capital Projects Manager                                             Click here for all job descriptions  This Week's Items to Know: 1. Memorial Day - May 30: Administrative Offices Closed  Next Monday, May 30 is Memorial Day and City of Sarasota administrative offices will be closed.  Robert L. Taylor Community Complex also will be closed.  There will be NO change to solid waste, recycling and yard waste collection. Bobby Jones Golf Club and the Children's Fountain will be open with regular hours. Many of us will participate in the annual Memorial Day parade supported by the City and hosted by the Sarasota Patriotic Observance Committee.  The parade is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. at Main Street and Osprey Avenue.  This year, due to construction in the area, the parade will end two blocks earlier -- at Selby Five Points.  A stage will be set up adjacent to the park and a short ceremony will begin when the parade concludes, at approximately 11 a.m.  The keynote speaker will be Todd Hughes who currently serves as the Vice President of the Sarasota County Veterans Commission and the Veterans Services Administrator for the USF Sarasota-Manatee region.  While serving with the Oklahoma National Guard on active duty in Iraq, he was wounded by an IED toward the end of his deployment.     Street closures for the parade will begin at 8 a.m. and will continue until 1 p.m.  For a list of scheduled temporary closures click here. Sarasota has a long standing history of honoring military veterans.  We hope on Memorial Day you pause to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Hope to see you at the parade! 2. Employee Appreciation - Solid Waste Division    Not all City of Sarasota employees will have Memorial Day off.  The men and women in our Sarasota Police Department will continue to ensure the community is safe.  Team members with the water and wastewater divisions will monitor our critical infrastructure systems.  And, crews in the Solid Waste Division will collect trash as usual. Earlier this week, Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown and I sat down with the Solid Waste Division for lunch to share City updates with the crew and learn more about their daily work.  We remain very impressed and grateful for this dedicated, hard working team. Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown and I enjoyed a sit-down lunch with the Solid Waste Division. Each collection day, they pick up trash from over 16,400 residential and commercial locations along all 650 named streets in the city.  All total it's an average of 188 tons of trash each day. The 13 drivers are allowed to go home when they complete their assigned route.  But, this team never leaves until the last driver returns to the Public Works Department on 12th Street.  Sometimes, drivers who are done with their route voluntarily will head back out on street to help their co-workers finish.  That's teamwork! There are many internal and external issues to juggle -- and, getting input from staff members about their jobs is important.  It's especially nice to be able to break bread and learn about each other.  Thanks, Solid Waste Division, for hosting us and for your continued hard work!       3. FDEP Brownfield Symposium - June 8 & 9   Based on successes the City of Sarasota has experienced in cleaning up contaminated soil, known as a brownfield, the City of Sarasota was invited to host the 4th annual Southwest Florida Brownfields Symposium next month. The two day event will be held at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on beautiful Sarasota Bay on June 8 & 9.  Mayor Willie Shaw is scheduled to be a presenter discussing the impact of the Marian Anderson brownfield site in the Newtown community near U.S. 301 and the successful process the City pursued to clean it.  Utilities General Manager Gerald Boyce, who was instrumental in working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to remediate the site, will provide technical background on the issue.  And, our Sustainability Manager Stevie Freeman-Montes will discuss best practices for community engagement with a brownfield. The Marian Anderson site is no longer designated as a brownfield.    While the Marian Anderson site is now officially clean and no longer designated as a brownfield, we're referring to it as a 'success in the making', because there's more work to do.  We're in the process of considering how the 13 acre parcel should be redeveloped. A community meeting to gather input is being planned in the near future.    The brownfield symposium in June is free and open to the public.  To learn more click here. 4. Children's Fountain - Summer Hours   Extended summer hours at the Children's Fountain in our beautiful Bayfront Park start Saturday, May 28.  The fountain will be open an additional two hours in the evening:  10 a.m. - 7 p.m.  (Weather permitting, of course.)  These hours will run through Labor Day (Mon., September 5).  So, you'll have plenty of opportunity to take the kids or grandkids to the park and cool off in a fun, beautiful location during the hot days of summer.  The Children's Fountain is free and open to the public.  Enjoy!   Upcoming Events  Free Kids Fishing Derby  Sat., May 28 Ken Thompson Park 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Blue  + You Free Movie Night   'Norm of the North'  Sun., May 29 SPD Headquarters - 2099 Adams Lane 8 p.m. Details  Memorial Day Parade  Mon., May 30 Main Street Start:  Main St. & Osprey Ave. Finish:  Selby Five Points 10 a.m. Details Memorial Day Ceremony  Mon., May 30 Selby Five Points Park Approx. 11 a.m. Details Van Wezel:  Shows on Sale Now!  The following is a current list of shows. For more information visit www.VanWezel.org  Friday Fest:  Koko Ray & The Keepers  Fri., June 10 - 5 p.m. Information    MAKS & VAL - Our Way Thurs., June 16 - 8 p.m. Rebelheart will perform at Friday Fest on August 26.  Tickets Friday Fest:  Jah Movement Fri., July 29 - 5 p.m. Information Friday Fest:  Rebelheart Fri., August 26 - 5 p.m. Information Brian Wilson Sun., Sept. 11 - 7 p.m. Tickets Friday Fest:  Dr. Dave Band Fri., September 23 - 5 p.m. Information Celtic Thunder will be at the Van Wezel on Oct. 15. Celtic Thunder Sat., Oct. 15 - 8 p.m. Tickets Doo Wop Spectacular Sat., October 22 - 7:30 p.m. Tickets ZZ Top Mon., October 31 - 8 p.m. Tickets Mannheim Steamroller Fri., November 18 - 8 p.m. Tickets To purchase tickets over the phone call 941-953-3368 or stop by the Box Office at 777 N.Tamiami Trail.  For a complete schedule of events, visit www.VanWezel.org. Thanks for reading this week's edition.  If you'd like to receive Weekly Briefs directly to your inbox click 'Join Our Mailing List' below or send us an email at CityNews@SarasotaGov.com.  Tom Barwin City Manager 941-954-4102 Forward this email

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