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HELP: We need member or guest volunteers to help set up chairs for the Forum. If you can be available at 8:15 am to help, please email Kelly Brown or Ron Kashden.
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CCNA
The Coalition of City Neighborhood Associations, of Sarasota, Inc.
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* NEW: Agenda June 6th Member Meeting
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* NEW: CCNA Member Meeting Minutes: May 2nd
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* NEW: Your Calendar - Upcoming CCNA Membership Meetings and Events
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* NEW: Karie Officially Takes the Reins
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* NEW: Community Building Grant Update
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* NEW: City Releases Details for Neighborhood Partnership Grant (NPG) – Cycle A
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* NEW: CCNA Traffic Safety Initiative Update
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* NEW: Sarasota Prepares to Celebrate America’s Semi-Quincentennial
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* NEW: Recently added to the CCNA Website:
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- Water Transit Meeting June 10th – 5:30 pm – Bayfront Community Center
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- New Pass Dredging Project – Lido Beach Ribbon Cutting Officially Opens the Renourished Lido Beach
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- Coming This Fall: A Community Neighborhood Calendar
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- Get Involved - Advisory Boards and Committees - Current Openings
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- City Website Adds New Features for Easier Information Access
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- Stricter Watering Hours Began April 3rd
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- FDOT’s John Ringling Causeway (Bird Key to Sunset Drive) Project Update May 31st
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- UPDATED! Utilities Projects Update – June 2026
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- City to Replace All Residential Water Meters Started March 2026
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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
June 6, 2026
Bayfront Community Center
803 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236
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City Commissioner Candidate Forum
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Upcoming CCNA Member Meetings
- July and August - No Meetings
- September 12 - Membership Meeting (Karie Friling, Sarasota City Manager, Budget Recap, Kelly Strickland, Director, Financial Administration) Note: Meeting Moved to second Saturday (Labor Day).
- October 3 - Membership Meeting (Code Compliance, Sound Ordinance status)
- November 7 - Membership Meeting (Parks District Presentation, Committee Reports)
- December 5 - Membership Meeting (Neighborhood Award Announcement, Board Election, and Annual Holiday Party)
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Karie Officially Takes the Reins
CCNA extends a warm welcome to Karie Friling, Sarasota's City Manager to our community. Our neighborhoods and their leaders are looking forward to working together. The CCNA Board will soon sit down with Karie and acclimate her to our neighborhoods and initiatives.
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We also want to extend a congratulations to Jennifer Jorgensen, who moves from Interim City Manager to Interim Deputy City Manager, stepping into the role of retiring Pat Robinson. We are excited to continue working with Jennifer.
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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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City Releases Details for Neighborhood Partnership Grant (NPG) – Cycle A
We are pleased to announce the release of the revised Neighborhood Partnership Grant (NPG) – Cycle A for Fiscal Year October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. The most significant update to the grant application is the change in the funding caps. This change was made in response to the growing number of associations applying and the City’s goal of supporting as many eligible projects as possible.
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Neighborhood Partnership Grant Updates
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Funding Caps by Neighborhood Size
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- Neighborhoods with 299 or fewer parcels/units: up to $1,000
- Neighborhoods with 300 – 999 parcels/units: up to $2,000
- Neighborhoods with 1,000 or more parcels/units: up to $3,000
- Required only for items over $500 (previously $250).
- Signatures are no longer required; volunteer email addresses are sufficient
Click here for the updated NPG Guidelines and Application in a fillable PDF format that can be completed and saved electronically. Each neighborhood association may submit one NPG application per fiscal year.
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The application deadline is Monday, August 31, 2026, by 4:00 PM. Applications will go before the City Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 19, 2026.
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Please note that grant-funded projects may not begin until after this date. 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 recently completed 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. The Speed Guns will be used in a designated neighborhood for a week and then passed on to the next assigned neighborhood. Early indications are that the project is going very smoothly.
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May 17 - May 23: South Poinsettia
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May 24 - May 30: Laurel Park
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May 31 - June 6: Bird Key
June 7 - June 13: McClellan Park
June 14 - June 20: Central Coconut
June 21 - June 27: Gillespie Park
July 12 - July 18: Bayou Oaks
July 19 - July 25: (currently vcacant)
July 26 - August 1: (currently vacant)
August 2 - August 8: Avondale
August 9 - August 15: (currently vcacant)
August 16 - August 22: (currently vcacant)
August 23 - August 28: (currently vcacant)
October 4 - October 10: (currently vcacant)
October 11 - October 17 Lido Key
October 18 - October 24 Indian Beach/SS
October 25 - October 31 Arlington Park
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Sarasota Prepares to Celebrate America’s Semi-Quincentennial
The City has launched a new webpage dedicated to America’s 250th Anniversary. You’ll find the link below. The website features a section highlighting Sarasota’s local events and provides an option to submit an event for inclusion on the community calendar. Neighborhood Associations are encouraged to share any public events they are organizing in celebration of the 250th Anniversary.
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The website features links allowing individuals to share their stories about America, family recipes, traditions, and related topics. Additional information and activities will be provided as July 4th approaches and will continue throughout the entire 250th year.
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For any inquiries, please feel free to contact Lex Dunsmore.
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Recently Posted on the CCNA Website:
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Water Transit Meeting June 10th – 5:30 pm – Bayfront Community Center
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The City of Sarasota is exploring a potential water‑based transit system in partnership with Sarasota County Breeze Transit.
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Join us on June 10 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the Bayfront Community Center to learn about proposed docking locations at Bayfront Park and Ken Thompson Park. Review site concepts, ask questions, and share feedback that will help inform future planning and design.
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The effort is intended to link key waterfront destinations while supporting expanded mobility options, recreation and more.
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We hope you’ll join us as we explore the potential of this transit system!
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New Pass Dredging Project – Lido Beach Ribbon Cutting Officially Opens the Renourished Lido Beach
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Lido Beach is officially “renourished” from sand taken from the dredging of new pass. The Ribbon Cutting ceremony included comments from U.S. Congressman Greg Steube, City of Sarasota Mayor Debbie Trice, Major Corey Bell, Deputy Commander for South Florida, USACE Jacksonville District, Nik Patel, Director Public Works, and Carl Shoffstall, Lido Key Residents Association President. Additional attendees included Vice Mayor Kathy Kelly Ohlrich, Commissioners, Jen Ahearn-Koch, Liz Alpert, and Kyle Battie, County Commissioner Mark Smith and a number of community residents.
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Coming This Fall: 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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Strict Watering Hours Began April 3rd
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) Governing Board voted Tuesday March 24th to declare 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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FDOT’s John Ringling Causeway (Bird Key to Sunset Drive) Project Update Week of May 31st
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will begin construction on S.R. 789 from Bird Key Drive to Sunset Drive in Sarasota the week beginning December 28, 2025. The project will include 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 May 31st
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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 installation
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Drilled shaft installation
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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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Utilities Projects Update – June 2026
June 2026 CCNA Utilities Projects Update
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N. Tamiami Trail AC WM Replacement
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- Phase1 & 3 (N. Trail from 14th St to Dr. MLK Jr Way) – punch list for final site restoration is ongoing. Concrete repair, sodding, and cleaning.
- Phase 2 (16th St from N. Tamiami Trl. to Cocoanut Ave – FDOH certification approved. Final connection and roadway restoration to start 5/29 through 6/05.
- Construction staging Northwest corner of Dr. MLK Jr Way & N. Tamiami Trl. has been moved
- Phase-4 (Dr. MLK Jr Way to Myrtle Ave) – grouting-in-place of the old AC Pipe has been completed. Asphalt and Concrete restoration work to start 6/01.
- Phase-5 (N. Trail from Myrtle Ave to 47th St) – starting Monday 6/01 both inside lanes NB and SB traffic will be closed. Work will be on-going until 8/17, tentatively.
North Lodge Dr Watermain Replacement and Lift Station No. 90 Construction
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- Small WM replacement has been completed
- Work has resumed for the new LS#90 construction.
- Project is scheduled to be substantially completed on 7/11/2026.
Citywide Small Potable Water Meter Replacement
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Sanitary Sewer Lateral Service Lining
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- New clean-out installation within the public right-of-way is ongoing.
- Lining of the Sewer Main will start 6/01.
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City to replace all residential water meters Beginning March 2026
The City of Sarasota will soon begin replacing all 17,000 residential water meters citywide to improve resiliency and metering accuracy. The project will begin in March 2026 and is expected to take two years to complete.
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Installation will be conducted by National Metering Services between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., with limited interruptions to water service. Advance notice of installation will be given via U.S. mail. When a customer receives their new meter, they will have the ability to view their water usage online via the City’s utility billing portal.
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Increased accuracy of the new water meters may result in a slight increase or decrease in some customers’ water bills.
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This $3.86 million project is included in the City’s $300 million long-term Utilities improvement master plan with the purpose of replacing aging utilities to improve resiliency and redundancy.
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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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