Weekly Briefs: Public Health Emergency, 2020 Census, Sarasota in Motion

Weekly Briefs

from the desk of:

Tom Barwin

Sarasota City Manager

March 13, 2020

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We started the workweek with a full moon and we're concluding with Friday the 13th and a public health emergency for COVID-19. Much more on this evolving and rapidly changing issue below.

Thank you for reading this week's edition! If you have questions, comments or suggestions for topics, please contact us directly: 941-263-6402 or CityNews@SarasotaFL.Gov

Job of the Week

More opportunities: www.SarasotaFL.Gov

Upcoming Meetings

City Commission

Monday, March 16 - 1:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.

City Hall - Commission Chambers

Agenda

Development Review Committee

Wednesday, March 18 - 9 a.m.

City Hall - Commission Chambers

Agenda

News and Updates

COVID-19 - Public health emergency declared

At this writing (3/13/20 approximately 3 p.m.), there are two confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sarasota.

Earlier today (3/13), in consultation with Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch, the City of Sarasota declared a local public health emergency at least for the next seven days through March 20.

To help slow the spread of COVID-19, we’re following Gov. DeSantis’ recommendation and we’re strongly advising that you avoid gatherings of 250 people or more. The declaration helps limit possible exposure while placing the City and City based organizations in the best position possible to qualify for state or federal funds for losses associated with the virus, should they become eligible.

During a conference call today with the major cultural arts venues which are at the height of season with many already sold out performances, most are in agreement that reducing risks and possible exposure is the best practice, even if it means canceling shows.

The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, owned and operated by the City of Sarasota, will suspend performances through March 31. Please note the Box Office will remain open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Online ticket sales will be available as well.

It is a fluid situation that seems to be changing almost hourly. After talking it over with Phil Pagano, executive director of the downtown Farmers Market, it was decided the Market will be closed tomorrow, Saturday, March 14.

By Charter, we’re required to review a state of emergency every seven days. We plan to discuss the matter with the City Commission during its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, March 16. If the community health situation remains precarious, the state of emergency most likely will be continued. We will follow guidance and protocols as established by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County and adjust accordingly.

To ensure you have access to the most current official information available, we’re now sharing the flash reports produced by the Sarasota County Emergency Management team on the City’s website www.SarasotaFL.Gov .

As event cancellations started to be announced earlier this week, we invited the director of the Sarasota’s DOH, Chuck Henry, to talk with representatives from some of the most popular venues in town about proper protocols. The question and answer session was helpful and informative and we greatly appreciate Chuck sitting with us and addressing our concerns during this rapidly changing and uncertain time. I continue to advocate that the DOH allow a local representative to serve as an official spokesperson providing up-to-date briefings, similar to what happens county-by-county during a hurricane emergency. It would be in the public’s best interest. Until that happens, for those who seek the most current, accurate information, please review the County’s flash reports we’re sharing online.

For healthy, young individuals, COVID-19 tends to present as a mild illness. 60-80 percent of those contracting it experience flu-like symptoms for a few days and recover quickly. The most vulnerable, though, are individuals 60+ years old with underlying health issues. Anyone who believes they may have COVID-19 should first call their primary care physician. They will want to know if you have traveled internationally in the past 14 days, making you more at risk for the virus.

City buildings and operations remain open for business. We launched a temporary remote work policy for those with duties that will allow it. In addition, to encourage sick employees to stay home, we’re providing appropriate additional paid sick leave for eligible staff members who provide information that they or a dependent have been diagnosed with influenza or COVID-19.

Our City facilities/maintenance team has beefed up sanitizing door handles, countertops and other common touch points at City properties and we will continue to do so.

The Sarasota County Health Department now has a call center available for those with in our community who have questions and concerns specific to Sarasota: 941-861-2873. Subject matter experts are available Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We understand these are trying times. We want to thank you for continuing to support our local restaurants, stores and venues, if you’re able to do so.

Our intent is to remain transparent and provide the most up-to-date official information available.

Meeting earlier this week with major venue operators and Chuck Henry, Director of the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County.

2020 Census - Community Outreach

If you haven’t received your invitation to participate in the 2020 Census yet, you should very soon. The Complete Count Committee, created and appointed by the City Commission has been working diligently to get the word out – in English and Spanish -- about the census and potential ramifications for our community if we don’t have a complete and accurate population count. (Check out the video below.)

This week Vice Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie, who serves as the Complete Count Committee Chair, was a guest on ABC7’s Suncoast View and 7 at 7 along with former City Commissioner and Committee Member Ken Shelin, and League of United Latin American Citizens representative Cramer Verde. With a wide viewing audience, it was an excellent chance to explain that federal funds are dispersed to local agencies based on the response to the census not the need in a community.

Everyone living in the city limits needs to be counted, including undocumented residents. The law is clear that data collected from the census cannot be shared with another agency, including immigration, and all responses are confidential for at least 72 years. The City’s Complete Count Committee has developed partnerships with organizations which assist the underserved and minority populations and it is hoped their established lines of trust will help boost census participation.

For the first time, the primary response method for the census is online. For those who may not have access to a computer, the City will be setting up computer labs at Robert L. Taylor Community Complex and Arlington Park specifically for residents who need to respond to the census. Other partnering agencies, including the Sarasota County Libraries, will provide computers as well.

Responses to the 2020 Census will be used to allocate federal funds for the next 10 years. So, it’s important everyone participates. We’re counting on you, Sarasota!

Transportation - Sarasota in Motion

For the past year, our transportation planning staff has been busy developing Sarasota in Motion, the first citywide transportation master plan. The effort has included capturing a snapshot of the current conditions of our transportation network, then taking a long-term look at how we will invest in mobility to become the kind of community we aspire to be.

Throughout this process – which has included multiple public workshops and pop-up events throughout the community and interactions with more than 2,500 participants, both in person and online – one consistent theme we’ve heard is that citizens either don’t feel safe when walking or biking on Sarasota’s streets or would like to walk, bike or take mass transit more but don’t have the opportunity to do so safely and reliably. Based on this community feedback, the following vision was developed and then adopted by our City Commission: “Sarasota is a safe and active community with diverse transportation choices.”

Now, in the third phase of Sarasota in Motion, the team has developed a list of potential transportation projects that would meet the needs and desires of the community and help make that vision a reality. Various projects arose from specific suggestions we heard from Sarasota residents and visitors, then scored based on how well those projects represented the values the public has identified as being most important to them. (For instance, are they resilient to the impacts of climate change? Do they offer diverse mobility options?) We’ve ranked those projects and have come up with draft “top 10” list that was shared with the dozens of attendees at two open houses the City hosted earlier this week.

We’re excited to hear more feedback from people as they get a look at the draft project list. It includes several exciting projects covering all parts of our special city that would make it even more active, vibrant, beautiful and safe. From the expansion of the city’s trail network and transit improvements to an extension of the Legacy Trail northward into Manatee County, there are ideas both big and small that have the potential to shape how we’ll get around Sarasota for the next 20 years.

The draft project list and more information can be found on SarasotaInMotion.com . Citizens can also submit their comments via an online feedback form on the site, or send them directly to the project team by email to SarasotaInMotion@sarasotaFL.gov before the master plan is presented to the Planning Board in May, and then the City Commission this summer.

"Sarasota Scene"

Norm Schimmel