Notice: Change of Venue!!!
October's Meeting is at the Sarasota Garden Club
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CCNA
The Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, of Sarasota, Inc.
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* NEW: Agenda October 3rd Member Meeting
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* NEW: CCNA Member Meeting Minutes: September 12th
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* NEW: Your Calendar - Upcoming CCNA Membership Meetings and Events
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* NEW: November 3rd General Election Has Already Started
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* NEW: Amendment 3 - Know the Facts - Neighborhood Meeting Saturday, October 17th
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* UPDATE: 2026 CCNA Neighborhood Award - Nominations Close Monday, October 5th
* UPDATE 2027 CCNA Board of Directors Election - Interest Forms Due Monday October 5th
* UPDATE: Community Building Grant Update
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* UPDATE: CCNA Traffic Safety Initiative
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* FDEM 2028 State Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Outreach Survey – open until October 15th
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* NEW: Participate in the Regional Transit Feasibility Study Survey
* UPDATE: Lido Beach Dunes Project Underway
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* FDOT Announces Washington Blvd Resurfacing Project Through Downtown – Starting late 2026
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* UPDATE: Utilities Projects Update – August 2026
* UPDATE: FDOT’s John Ringling Causeway (Bird Key to Sunset Drive) Project Update Week of September 27th
* UPDATE: Strict Watering Still in Effect Through March 2027
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* 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
October 3, 2026
Sarasota Garden Club
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Joe Polzak, Sarasota City Attorney
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"Sound Study/Ordinance Update"
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Corinne Arriaga, Sarasota Chief Transportation Planner
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Leslie Spangler, CCNA Director, Area A
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"Code Compliance Initiative"
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Upcoming CCNA Member Meetings
- 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 9 - 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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November 3rd General Election Has Already Started
Sarasota has mailed out "Vote-By-Mail" Ballots to those who are active requesters. Although time is short, you can still:
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- Register to Vote: by Monday, October 5th
- Request to Receive a "Vote-By-Mail" Ballot by Thursday, October 22nd
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Amendment 3 – Know the Facts – Neighborhood Meeting October 17th
Florida’s Ballot Proposal – Amendment 3 has significant implications to the funding source for the services and amenities Sarasota neighborhoods have worked to obtain. There are a number of meetings, information sessions and news articles available to better understand this Florida Constitutional Amendment. Before choosing YES or NO on this proposal, spend the time to “know the facts”. Check our website for additional or updated educational opportunities.
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City of Sarasota Information Meetings
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- Alta Vista – Monday, September 28 at YMCA at 7:00 pm – City Manager, Karie Friling
- Lido Key, St. Armands and Lido Shore Residents – open to all City residents: Saturday, October 17 at 9:00 am at the Lido Beach Resort, 8th Floor – Mayor Debbie Trice
City of Sarasota Information - Quick Links
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2026 CCNA Neighborhood Award - Nominations Close Monday, October 5th
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 were available at the September 12th Meeting and will be available at the October 3rd meeting and on our website. Nomination forms must be submitted by Monday, 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 - Interest Forms Due Monday, October 5th
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. Download the interest form below. Turn it in at the October 3rd Meeting or email to the any committee member by October 5th..
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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, Chair, Leslie Spangler, Daniel Frank, Jody Geiger and Jerry Fagan.
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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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FDEM 2028 State Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Outreach Survey – open until October 15th
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The Florida Division of Emergency Management Bureau of Mitigation Planning Unit is pleased to announce the 2028 State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) Public Outreach Survey.
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As part of the update to the SHMP, the Planning Unit is seeking input from residents and businesses across Florida to better understand the hazards and risks they experience in their communities and the mitigation strategies they believe could be most effective. The survey also includes questions about hazard mitigation knowledge, current mitigation efforts within communities, and opportunities to reduce future risk.
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Local governments and partners are encouraged to share the survey with residents, businesses, and other members of their communities. Broad participation will help ensure the updated SHMP reflects the risks, priorities, and perspectives of communities across Florida.
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Please complete the survey by October 15, 2026.
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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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Lido Beach Dunes Project Underway
The City of Sarasota Dune project is actively underway. This project is adding 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 project started setting up on September 8, 2026, and sand placement started on September 14th. 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 has started placing sand to the north as there are turtle nests to the south. The project does include turtle monitoring.
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FDOT Announces Washington Blvd Resurfacing Project Through Downtown – Starting late 2026
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The purpose of this project is Resurfacing, Restoration, and Rehabilitation (RRR) of approximately one mile of SR 683/ US 301 from US 41 to south of 10th Street. The project will mill and resurface existing roadway, including left and right turn lanes, median openings, and side street connections. The project will include improvements to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The project also includes upgrades to pavement markings and signage, pedestrian signals and detectors at signalized intersections. The City of Sarasota has requested the addition of a new midblock crossing (Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon) to be installed at South Payne Parkway.
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These proposed improvements are intended to enhance roadway quality, condition and safety for multimodal travel along SR 683/US 301.
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Communications Team Contact Information
Nancy Morgan, 941-720-6335, Nancy.morgan@dot.state.fl.us
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Barbara Catlin, 941-302-5048
barbara.catlin@dot.state.fl.us
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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 27th
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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Notice: Sunset Drive is 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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RoadWatch Update for the Week of September 27th
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This week’s work will consist of:
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Delivery of machinery and materials
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- Milling and paving
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Concrete curb and sidewalk installation
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- Drainage placement
- Light pole and traffic signal installation
- 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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SWFWMD Extends Water Shortage Restrictions through March 2027
UPDATE (Sept. 23, 2026): The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Modified Phase III one-day-per-week water shortage restrictions are extended through March 31, 2027. 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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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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We don't want you to go but if you must you can Unsubscribe or Manage your subscription using the links below.
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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