1

The City needs to provide a Coastal Management Chapter or “Barrier Island Chapter” in its comprehensive plan as required by the state. 

Ken Shelin,
March 2004 letter to DCA.

Environmental Planning and Management

2

The City should adopt the map presented by the Nature Conservancy listing several sites within the City Limits worthy of protection in the County ESLPP program. (In the Environmental Protection Chapter)

Public Comment, 10/25/04

Environmental Planning and Management

3

In particular, the Old Oak Site off south Siesta drive should be preserved for its location and its archaeological resources. 

Public Comment, 10/25/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

4

The City should help dredge Whitaker Bayou. 

Joe Gruters,
10/14/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

5

Get a GRANT person for the City;  Prepare a grant to remove exotics in South Lido Park. 

Lucille Klein, 10/20/04

Environmental Planning and Management

6

Question whether barrier island parks should “give priority” to water dependant uses.  EP 3.1

Public Comment, 10/20/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

7

The management plan being prepared for Whitaker Bayous should include an impetus or commitment for restoration projects.

Public comment 10/14/04

8

The dredging references to Whitaker Bayous should be more specific with respect to citing study data collected for the NEP.

Public comment 10/14/04

9

Dredging references that infer beach renourishment should rather be directly titled. 

Public comment 10/14/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

10

Seagrasses, aka submerged aquatic vegetation should be afforded specific natural resource protection. 

Public comment 10/14/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

11

Greater emphasis on wetlands preservation, especially mangroves.

Public Comment
10/20/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

12

The trash on North and South Lido Parks is a disgrace.  I walk this whole area a lot. 

Ellen Kay Nelson,
10/20/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

13

Preserve shoreline access via the public right of way.  Do not vacate public property for the benefit only of adjacent property owners.

Public comment, 10/25/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

14

Re: Action Strategy 4.8 in the Environmental Protection Chapter, use the area of the Cultural District Master Plan for a waterfront park, and locate the buildings to an upland site. (SEe also FLU Comments #109-117.)

Public comment, 10/25/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

15

Public comment, 10/25/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

16

Public comment, 10/25/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

17

Sandra Bower via e-mail 10/25/04

Environmental Planning and Management

18

Identify environmentally valuable parcels and adopt policies for their protection and preservation.

Dan Lobeck, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

19

Designate grant live oak on corner of Miramar & Main St as a “historic Resource.”  Afford this tree favored tree status and protect from harm, damage to its roots and canopy by human and mechanical devices.  These historic resources can be adopted by private individuals or groups who agree to pay cost of maintenance of the tree for a period of time to be determined.  Maintenance shall be performed according to the International Society of Arboriculture. 

Ellen Maloff, 11/05/04 via fax

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

20

All residents should have access to the bay at frequent intervals along the waterfront. 

Sandra Danu, SOS, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

21

The City should make a commitment to acquire the 11 sites recommended by the Nature Conservancy.

Matthew Reynolds, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

22

We need more trees.  This city is full of beautiful shade trees.  Don’t take them away.  We want a charming city not another Houston or New York.  The new buildings are planting palms, which does not come near to equaling an oak or other shade trees.  Pedestrian friendly does not mean hot cement walls next to the sidewalks.  Trees keep this tropical city cooler.  Don’t forget how hot it gets 9 months out of the year. 

Alvin & Geraldine Holmes, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

23

We should have an Environmental Department, equal with other departments.

Don Chaney, 11/04/04

24

The City should have a full time arborist on staff

Public Comment 11/04/04

25

Create a program that identifies open space and environmentally significant areas within the City and then prioritize these areas.  Establish a process to acquire such properties and turn them into public spaces (proactive conservation.)

Public Comment, 11-04-04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

26

The County Stormwater plan should include a more modern natural filtration system that will increase the quality of the water processed.

Neal Henegar, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

27

Consider language used in the City of Gainesville comp plan to create a TREE BOARD.

Ellen Maloff, 11/04/04

28

Create a CONSERVATION CHAPTER in the Sarasota City Plan – submitted language used in the City of Gainesville Comprehensive Plan. 

Ellen Maloff, 11/04/04

29

The NEW Environmental Protection Chapter should define meaningful priorities currently missing.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

30

Establish a priority for budgeting environmental protection, education and outreach and eco-tourism partnerships with Sarasota County and surrounding Counties. Protect economic interests through comprehensive natural resource management plan.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

31

Create City of Sarasota Natural Resource Education and Conservation Department.  Hire minimum 3 full time staff members: Director, Coordinator and Outreach coordinator.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

32

Create Comprehensive natural resource management plan.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

33

Establish an Environmental Advisory Council, citizens and experts to review, resolve neighborhood problems and concerns relative to natural resources.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

34

Establish dedicated meetings and information exchange between city commissioners, staff, the public and County department heads for natural resource protection and management. Expand intergovernmental, non-profit and community groups communications.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

35

Establish Restricted Conservation Development Zones: See Gainesville, Florida natural resource plan, based on land use designations that determines extend of protection trees are given. An example would be Indian Beach, because it’s character, identity and unique features are based on the historic tree canopy that is being destroyed with each new home built.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

36

Create enforceable Historic and Grand Tree Protection: Mandatory Build Around Policy. Tree protection ordinance enforced by ISA certified arborist with experience in urban forestry and arboriculture. Preserve existing, historic and or grand trees, which define the character of neighborhoods. Create Build Around, No Compromise Policy for rare, unusual, historic, trees. Implement stewardship education program for landowner compensation and/or incentives for loss of income. (See Winter Park & Gainesville, FL. environmental protection achievements and policies.)

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

37

Prioritize preservation of remaining 15% tree canopy, as identified in Sarasota County UFA.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Environmental Planning and Management

38

Create Tree Permit Tracking, public access violations, stronger penalties.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

39

Establish Proof of Performance for natural resource protection. Air, water, tree canopy improvements tracked from Urban Ecological Analysis, Sarasota County, 2004.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

40

Establish ongoing growth, impact, and capacity analysis on natural resource degradation.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Environmental Planning and Management

41

Purchase Nature Conservancy environmental lands sites recommended for protection.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

42

Prioritize a fair and balanced budget for natural resource conservation land acquisition, community education and environmental stewardship events, Includes a percentage of pocket park, open space and natural lands for public use and wildlife habitat conservation.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

43

Require new development to adopt a green landscaping plan, which prohibits the use of aesthetic pesticides and utilizes least toxic and best manage practice in application of fertilizer, herbicides and fungicides. Deed restriction mandated with new development.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Protect, Acquire, Maintain Sensitive Lands

Create countywide schools for conservation planning program.  Establish internship program for local high schools and university students. Create annual green neighborhoods for conservation festival.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04

Create more user friendly website for environmental education/natural resource protection information. Links to alternatives in toxin free landscaping, butterfly gardens, ecology grants and resources.

Lisa Wilson, 11/04/04