NOTICE: Road Closure: Blvd of the Arts at Van Wezel Way is closed for storm water improvements. Please use 10th street round about and follow the prompts to enter the Bay for our September 12th CCNA member meeting.
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CCNA
The Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, of Sarasota, Inc.
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* NEW: Agenda September 12th Member Meeting
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* NEW: CCNA Member Meeting Minutes: June 6th
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* NEW: Your Calendar - Upcoming CCNA Membership Meetings and Events
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* NEW: Neighborhood Traffic Calming Open Houses – September 15 and 16
* UPDATE: Community Building Grant Update
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* UPDATE: CCNA Traffic Safety Initiative
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* NEW: Participate in the Regional Transit Feasibility Study Survey
* NEW: 2026 CCNA Neighborhood Award
* NEW: 2027 CCNA Board of Directors Election
* UPDATE: Lido Beach Dunes Project Starting September 14th
* UPDATE: Utilities Projects Update – August 2026
* UPDATE: FDOT’s John Ringling Causeway (Bird Key to Sunset Drive) Project Update Week of September 8th
* UPDATE: Strict Watering Still in Effect
* Coming Soon: A Community Neighborhood Calendar
Get Involved – Advisory Boards and Committees – Current Openings
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* Updated Guidelines for Effective Development Review by Neighborhoods
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* A Neighborhood Meeting Tip
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9:00 am Saturday
September 12, 2026
Bayfront Community Center
803 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
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Karie Friling, Sarasota City Manager
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Kelly Strickland, Director, Financial Administration
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Nik Patel, Director, Public Works
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"Capital Improvements Plan"
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Upcoming CCNA Member Meetings
- October 3 - Membership Meeting (Code Compliance, Sound Ordinance status)
- November 7 - Membership Meeting (E-Bike Safety, Park District Presentation)
- December 5 - Membership Meeting (Neighborhood Award Announcement, Board Election, and Annual Holiday Party)
- January 9 - Membership Meeting (Committee Reports - Deep Dive) NOTE: Date Change to Second Saturday.
- February 6 - Membership Meeting
- March 6 - Membership Meeting
- April 10 - Membership Meeting NOTE: Date Change to Second Saturday.
- May 1 - Membership Meeting
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ON TO NOVEMBER
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Neighborhood Traffic Calming Open Houses – September 15 and 16 Remain
The City of Sarasota is inviting residents to attend one of three upcoming Traffic Calming Plan Open Houses to see how the citywide plan is taking shape and learn what may be proposed for streets in their neighborhood. Following community feedback received during the Spring 2026 Neighborhood Area Meetings, the project team has continued evaluating streets, refining proposed traffic calming solutions, and developing strategies for implementation. These meetings will be held in an open house format with no formal presentation, so you can stop by anytime during the meeting. Not sure which meeting you should attend? Contact Corinne.Arriaga@sarasotafl.gov for assistance.
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COMMISSION DISTRICT 3 OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Ken Clark Auditorium
2998 Ringling Boulevard
Sarasota, FL 34237
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COMMISSION DISTRICT 1 OPEN HOUSE
Wednesday, September 16, 2026 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Robert L. Taylor Community Complex
1845 John Rivers St.
Sarasota, FL 34234.
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COMMISSION DISTRICT 2 OPEN HOUSE
Was Held on Wednesday, September 2, 2026
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Community Building Grant Update
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This grant supports neighborhood gatherings, celebrations, and special events that foster community pride and strengthen neighborhood connections. Eligible expenses may include event supplies, entertainment, printing, food, beverages, and permitting fees associated with neighborhood events.
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Neighborhood associations may apply for one Community Building Grant per fiscal year. Please note – applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to available funding beginning October 1, 2026.
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If your association is new to the grant process or if you have any questions, reach out to Nancy Kelly.
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CCNA Traffic Safety Initiative
CCNA Traffic Safety Initiative – Community Partnership with SPD
CCNA in partnership with Sarasota Police Department held training sessions with over 15 neighborhoods throughout the city. Officer Bruno, Sarasota Police Department instructed neighborhood representatives on the operation of speed guns so they can gather data on speed within their neighborhoods.
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South Poinsettia was the first neighborhood to gather speed data the week of May 17th. Laurel Park, Bird Key, McClellan Park, Central Coconut, Gillespie Park, Bayou Oaks and Avondale have now completed their sessions. The Speed Guns are being used in a designated neighborhood for a week and then passed on to the next assigned neighborhood. Feedback continues to support the project is going very smoothly.
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Remaining Schedule:
October 11 - October 17 Lido Key
October 18 - October 24 Indian Beach/SS
October 25 - October 31 Arlington Park
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Participate in the Regional Transit Feasibility Study Survey
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The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is developing a Regional Transit Feasibility Study to ensure a connected, efficient, and accessible transportation system across Sarasota and Manatee counties.
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This effort is part of the region’s Long Range Transportation Plan and focuses on understanding how transit can better serve evolving travel patterns, support economic growth, and meet the needs of residents, workers, and visitors. As we evaluate current services and explore future options, community input is essential.
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Your feedback will help us:
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- Identify gaps in current transit service
- Understand barriers to using transit
- Explore opportunities to improve mobility for everyone including those who do not currently use transit
We want to hear from all perspectives, whether you regularly ride transit, rarely use it, or rely on travel by car, bicycle, walking, or other means.
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The survey is anonymous and takes about 3–5 minutes to complete. Responses will be reported in summary form.
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Thank you for helping guide the future of transportation in our community.
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2026 CCNA Neighborhood Award
Established in 2021, CNNA’s Neighborhood Award honors individuals, businesses, community groups and Sarasota city staff that have made an outstanding contribution to preserving and enhancing our city neighborhoods. Award recipients are dedicated to enhancing the residents’ pride in “living in paradise”. They demonstrate a passion and commitment to creating a healthy and vibrant community and serve as an inspiration to others.
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Nomination Forms will be available at the September 12th Meeting and the October 3rd meeting and on our website. Nomination forms must be submitted by October 5th. The 2026 Award will be presented at our December 5th Membership Meeting.
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- 2025 - Ron Kashden
- 2024 – Lou Costa, Mollie Cardamone, Linda Holland
- 2023 – Jen Ahearn-Koch
- 2022 – Nancy Kelly
- 2021 – Marlon Brown
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2026 Awards Committee: Ron Kashden, Beth Nothstine, Will Luera, Laurel Quarberg, and Dean Anderson
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CCNA Board of Directors Election
At our December 5, 2026, meeting CCNA membership will be electing those Board of Directors positions for Officers and Directors whose term expire in even years, specifically the President, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer and District-2 (Area B) Director.
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As a bridge between the residents and the city, CCNA’s board plays an important role in advocating for neighborhoods. The board shepherds' priorities important to residents, and meets regularly with commissioners, city staff and neighborhood leaders. It also plays a crucial role in guiding and educating neighborhoods on the most effective methods to solve issues as they arise.
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This is a great opportunity for you to consider helping your community and joining the CCNA board.
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Any person residing in a city neighborhood, yearly or seasonal, who is a member of CCNA is eligible for the Board. If you can devote time and experience to help improve residential quality of life in the City of Sarasota, we hope you will consider applying for a position.
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2026 Nomination Committee: Jim Ludwig, Leslie Spangler, Daniel Frank, Jody Geiger and Jerry Fagan. Click on The Board Interest Form below. Forms will be available at the September 12th, and October 3rd Meetings as well.
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Lido Beach Dunes Project Starting September 14th
Staging for the City of Sarasota Dune project will start on September 14th, with the project starting September 21st. This project is to add a 2.5 ‘ dune feature atop the existing 4.0 Lido beach berm to an elevation of +6.6 feetNAVD88, which corresponds with the 25-year storm water elevation. The dune restoration encompasses approximately 1.2 miles of dune along the southern portion of Lido Key between Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Reference Monuments R-37 and R-44.
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As part of the recent New Pass Maintenance Dredging Project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) dredged and stockpiled approximately 3,000 cubic yards of beach compatible material in an on-beach stockpile near R-41. The Lido Beach Dune Restoration Project includes placement and grading of the stockpiled beach compatible sand to construct the permitted dune template, followed by vegetative planting along the entire length of the restored dune. Additionally, the contractor will install post, rope, and signage at designated beach access locations to help protect the restored dune.
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The sand placement will take about 3-4 weeks. The entire project with the planting, post, cable and signage will take approximately 60 days. Parts of the beach will not be usable during the construction but there will be locations for access during the project.
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The contractor plans to start placing sand to the north as there are turtle nests to the south. The project does include turtle monitoring.
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Utilities Projects Update – August 2026
- North Tamiami Trail AC Water Main Replacement:
- Phase 1, 2, and 3 (N. Trail from 14th St to Dr. MLK Jr. and 16th St from N. Trail to Cocoanut Ave.) – Completed.
- Phase 4 (N. Trail from North of Dr. MLK Jr. to South of Myrtle St. Intersection) – Lane Paving scheduled for Monday and Tuesday August 3rd & 4th 2026 – final restoration to follow.
- Phase 5 & 7 (N. Trail from Myrtle St to 47th St and 47th St from N. Trail to Rilma Ave) – Certification of New Water Main on-going.
- Phase 6 (N. Trail from 47th St to Beverly Dr) – North and Southbound inside lanes closed, temporary paving and lanes to be reopened on Friday, August 8th, 2026. We intend to continue Phase 6 of the project on Wednesday September 16, 2026. We will have the approved MOT in place for the Phase 6 outside lane closure, from Beverly Boulevard to just north of University Drive. We plan to begin work on Wednesday, September 16, working during the day and continuing through the weekend. We anticipate completing the work on the north west side of the intersection by Sunday. On Monday, September 21, we will proceed with asphalt installation within the intersection and plan to reopen the intersection shortly thereafter.
2. North Lodge Dr Watermain Replacement and Lift Station No. 90 Construction
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- North Lodge Dr Paving – completed.
- New Lift Station construction work on-going.
- Coordination with FP&L for new service and connection.
3. Citywide Small Potable Water Meter Replacement
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4. Sanitary Sewer Lateral Service Lining
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5. Dixie Ave 8-inch Sanitary Sewer Replacement
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- Dixie Avenue road closure from 23rd to 24th Street – replacement on-going for the next 30 days.
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FDOT’s John Ringling Causeway (Bird Key to Sunset Drive) Project Update Week of September 8th
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Sunset Temporary 60 Day Road Closure
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Sunset Drive will be temporarily closed at the Ritz Entrance off Gulfstream Avenue (S.R. 789) to accommodate driveway reconstruction and related roadway improvements. The closure is anticipated to remain in place for approximately 60 days.
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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) began construction on S.R. 789 from Bird Key Drive to Sunset Drive in Sarasota in late December 2025. The project includes the addition of dedicated bicycle and transit lanes on the bridge, drainage upgrades, and raising the seawall cap near Sunset Drive. Other project activities include resurfacing the roadway throughout the project corridor and the installation of new traffic signals at the intersections of Sunset Drive, Golden Gate Drive, and Bird Key Drive.
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RoadWatch Update for the Week of September 8th
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This week’s work will consist of:
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Delivery of machinery and materials
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Concrete curb and sidewalk installation
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- Drainage placement
- Median barrier wall installation
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- Extension of bus-only lanes
- Sidewalk-level bicycle lanes at Bird Key Drive and Sunset Drive intersections
- Dedicated bicycle signals
- Drainage upgrades at Sunset Drive and Bird Key Drive intersections
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- Sunset Drive area: raising roadway approximately 1 foot on average
- Bird Key Drive area: raising roadway approximately 8 inches on average
- Raising the seawall cap near Sunset Drive by 2 feet to match the adjacent seawall near 660 Golden Gate Point
- Shorter pedestrian crossing distances at intersections
- Tighter turning radii to slow right-turning vehicles
Lane Closures: Lane closures are anticipated during construction. The current restrictions are as follows:
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- Weekend lane closures: 9:00 PM – 7:00 AM
- Weekday lane closures within 600 ft of intersections: 7:00 PM – 9:00 AM
- Weekday open-road lane closures (not near intersections): 9:00 PM – 7:00 AM
- Speed limits during construction: remain 35 MPH on both Gulfstream Ave. and John Ringling Causeway (SR 789).
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The $12.3 million project is expected to be completed in early 2027.
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Strict Watering Still in Effect
Even though we have had some recent rains, the area is still in a severe drought. Please conserve your water usage.
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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has declared a Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage due to ongoing drought conditions throughout the region, which requires all residents, including those on private wells, to follow one-day-per-week watering restrictions with stricter watering hours.
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Watering hours are reduced to 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows.
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Coming Soon: A Community Neighborhood Calendar
Ron Kashden and Jim Ludwig are working this summer on a Calendar that will be available to all neighborhood leaders to post their meetings and events, particularly those that the general public may attend.
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The Board's goal is developing a centralized platform that displays upcoming neighborhood meetings, activities and events and also community activities and events aimed at resident attendance. It will be a comprehensive resource where neighborhood associations and other community groups can share details about their meetings, local festivals, community workshops, and other community-related initiatives. Providing a one-stop hub for community residents to access and stay informed about various events promotes community engagement and neighborhood involvement.
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Until we introduce the full version the "preview" version is live and accurate. If anyone wants to add a meeting or event, send copy to either Ron or Jim.
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Get Involved – Advisory Boards and Committees – Current Openings
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Current members whose term is expiring and are still eligible for re-appointment and all new applicants need to submit an Advisory Board Application to the City Auditor and Clerk’s Office using this link:
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Appointments and re-appointments will be addressed at the July 6, 2026, City Commission meeting.
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We encourage our members to seek out residents in their neighborhoods that are qualified and willing to invest the time and effort required to serve in these advisory positions.
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City Website Adds New Features for Easier Information Access
The city has been hard at work making its website a source of information that residents can access quickly. There are a number of new features, a few of them include:
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Sarasota City Chatbot: Navigating the City’s site is now easier and more user-friendly! Look for the Sunshine icon in the bottom right corner of any page to get started. This bright new addition is your gateway to initiating a chat and quick access to everything you need to know about the City of Sarasota.
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Quick Links (on home page, scroll down): Included here are Meetings, Agendas & Video, GIS /Maps, Pay Online, Permits and Licenses, Trash Recycling & Yard Waste, Report an Issue of Code Violation, Parking, and Search Public Records.
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Search for Services (on home page, scroll down): Included here Find a City Park, Purchase Van Wezel Tickets, Public Parking, Subscribe to Email Updates and Parking Citations Process.
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Continue Scrolling (on home page): There is a section on Latest News and a section of Upcoming Events.
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Updated Guidelines for Effective Development Review by Neighborhoods
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Development Services and CCNA’s Meaningful Neighborhood Input team have updated the review process to include neighborhood input on applications. The association reviews applications, engages residents, gathers feedback, and communicates with city staff, serving as a hub for public comments. Residents’ feedback becomes part of the public record and is considered in reviews. Originally presented to the CCNA membership in 2024, the Guidelines are now updated and included on the CCNA Website.
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A Neighborhood Meeting Tip
We live in an amazing community of neighborhoods that are active and engaged in our city at large. We simply have to ask, and our city commissioners are willing and committed to attending our neighborhood events and meetings. Please remember that our city commissioners and advisory boards are required to follow the sunshine laws in the state of Florida.
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What does that mean to us? When inviting more than 1 commissioner or member of an advisory board to a meeting please note they will not be able to speak to the audience. If you want a commissioner or advisory board member to speak at your meeting only invite 1 member to the meeting. This keeps everyone involved to participate in a much more open and amicable way of communication.
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“Sarasota Public”
Now Featuring CCNA Endorsed Surveys
Sarasota Public is a convenient tool available to CCNA Neighborhoods to enhance and simplify gathering information from their residents.
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- empowering neighborhoods to write their own topics,
- surveying residents and allow them to weigh in on their thoughts,
- giving neighborhoods a chance to support topics raised by other neighborhoods,
- providing neighborhood leaders with a single document for all the feedback, eliminating the need for a separate petition.
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Thanks to All Neighborhoods Submitting Their 2026 CCNA Membership Forms
If you have a change in your neighborhood representatives, please download and complete the 2026 Membership Form (click on link below) indicating the changes. If you have any questions on membership, contact Melinda Delpech (treasurer@sarasotaccna.org.)
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Please Update Your Association Information with the City
In order to remain active on the list of Associations on record with the City’s Planning Department – Neighborhood Services, please complete the attached form and email me the following:
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- Association Information Sheet
- Copy of your Association’s last meeting Agenda and Minutes
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Nancy Kelly
Neighborhood Planner
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Phone : (941) 263-6378
Mobile : (941) 894-2600
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1565 1st St. Sarasota, FL 34236
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Our website is designed to be the go-to place for the latest news about CCNA and our neighborhoods. We keep the information timely and add new features as appropriate and time permits. If there are specific things you would like to see added or have other suggestions for the site, just email Jim Ludwig.
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This is YOUR CCNA Website and YOUR CCNA Newsletter!
If you have information to share - community events, best practices, questions, issues, positions, new business openings, etc. or anything your association wants to share with CCNA members just send your message to SarasotaCCNA@gmail.com and we will include it on our website and depending on time sensitivity of the item, in the next newsletter or meeting follow-up.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE OR IN OUR NEWSLETTER WITH YOUR RESIDENTS!
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You may copy and use articles in your publications.
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WARNING: This newsletter is specific to your email address. If you Forward it, you can be Unsubscribed using these links. We strongly suggest you highlight and delete the link text (Unsubscribe | Manage your subscription) before you Forward it to others.
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