Jen Ahearn-Koch

Transportation Chapter rewrite of the Sarasota City Plan (26-PA-02)

Delaying the update would force the city to redo 14 months of travel demand modeling work at additional cost; collector designations may also open new grant and impact-fee funding.

1260 N. Palm Residences Land-Use Dispute

Litigation risk and continued dispute over a project valued in the tens of millions downtown.

Citywide Zoning Code Text Amendment (Ordinance 26-5611)

No direct cost to residents; changes affect how development and businesses operate in the city.

Home Elevation and Zoning Barriers

None to the city.

Citywide code enforcement docket of 36 cases

Nine-figure-adjacent tallies across cases — running fines up to $250/day accumulate on dormant properties.

Vacation rental registration enforcement

Estimated up to $30,000 in initial registration revenue, with the broader program overhaul costing about $555,000 a year against $541,000 in projected fee revenue.

Affordable Housing Production Funding

The trust fund currently receives only modest penny-surtax money that sunsets in ten years; commissioners were urged to dedicate general funds.

Amendment 3 fiscal impact on Sarasota

Potentially significant — the commission signaled the city will need creative funding and community philanthropic support to cover needs and wants.

SARAC and the MLK Way cultural corridor

No new city funding commitment; SAACC bears the $201,000 purchase price and grant compliance costs.

Downtown Parking Services and Business Outreach

Unquantified; the mayor argues taxpayers currently subsidize parking for profit-making property owners.

Beneva Road rezone for 36 apartments

No direct city cost; the developer pays for engineering, stormwater compliance and site plan work.

FY 2026-2027 Budget and Paid Invoices

Budget is up $18.8 million (6.19%) and the aggregate tax rate of 3.3430 mills is 1.92% above rolled-back, meaning slightly higher tax bills.

Sidewalk safety and right-of-way encroachment

Value of roughly 100 square feet of public right-of-way plus potential public-benefit compensation to be negotiated.

Ongoing Public Art Projects Citywide

$100,000 all-inclusive artist budget funded through the public art program.

St. Armand's chronic flooding

Not yet costed — the study informs future mitigation and capital spending and grant applications.

Recreation and Open Space Chapter update

Funding would come from the existing millage rather than a new tax, per Commissioner Ahearn-Koch.

Historic designation without owner consent

Rehab was estimated at over $826,000 against a roughly $173,000 appraised building value.

Pineapple Avenue Roadway Improvements

Construction is expected to bring temporary closures and detours on a downtown corridor next summer.

Orange and Seventh eight-lot subdivision

Adds one more housing unit to the neighborhood; board members called it a modest affordable-housing win.

Ben Franklin Drive lights still dark until 2027

Total project cost $718,463, with the city's $118,426 share coming from city hurricane reserves rather than FEMA funds.

Variance Petition No. 26-VAN-07 — 2069 Cornell Street rear setback

Variance Petition No. 26-VAR-07 — 232 North Conrad Avenue lot split

Variance Petition No. 26-VAR-08 — 2499 Bay Street second-story addition

Approval of September 30, 2026 minutes

Approval of Minutes September 30, 2026

Queen Major consolidated cases — fines and costs imposed

Queen Major companion cases — prior orders vacated, no fine

Maximus Holdings LLC — fine and running fine imposed

Annie P. McRae — daily fine increased to $250

James Ian Murray — daily fine increased to $250

Two 101 Five Bay Street LLC — $100 fine and $540 costs

119 McKinley LLC / Magnolia Cottages LLC — $100 fine and $615 costs

Wiggum/Farlin — costs of $690 and $4,415 imposed

JVCC Development LLC — $500 repeat-violator fine

UPS retention pond — violations continuing, 90-day continuation

Ludwigsky tree-removal case — continued 30 days

Fritz — 60-day cure period granted

Fahel — costs reduced to $150

Kadakia/Patel — $540 costs assessed, no fine

Kopel/Elevate 1400 North — 21-day cure period

Adoption of Resolution No. 27R-3436 declaring General Election results

Adoption of Ordinance No. 26-5611 (Zoning Text Amendment 26-ZTA-02) on second reading

Consent Agenda No. 2 — budget amendment resolutions

Ordinance 26-5610 — transportation chapter, first reading

Concerned the public lacked access to the revised track-changes document before the vote.

1260 North Palm — rejection of special magistrate recommendation

Cited compatibility standards and evidence that the project configuration could be changed to mitigate impacts.

adopt amended ordinance 26-5610 adopting comp plan amendment application 26-PA-02

adopt Consent Agenda Number 2

Adoption of Ordinance No. 26-5611 (ZTA 26-ZTA-02) on second reading

Resolution No. 27R-3437 — $31,075 Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Grant

Resolution No. 27R-3438 — $9.27 Million SHIP Housing Appropriation

Ordinance 26-5610 — Transportation Chapter Update, First Reading

Concerned the public did not have access to the latest revisions before the vote.

Consent Agenda No. 2 (balance, incl. Res. 26R-3434 and 26R-3435)

Ordinance 26-5598 — Certified Recovery Residences (VII.3)

Ordinance 26-5609 — FY 2026-27 Table of Organization (VII.4)

Ordinance 26-5602 — DTN Vacation Rental Expansion (X.2)

Ordinance 26-5613 — Vacation Rental Program Improvements (X.3)

Ordinance 26-5612 — Rezone 1551 N. Beneva Road (XI.1)

Cited unresolved compatibility, drainage, light and air, traffic and utility concerns from the standards for review.

Ordinance 26-5602 — vacation rentals in DTN, first reading (X.2)

Consent Agenda No. 2 — Resolutions 26R-3430 through 26R-3433

First reading — Ordinance 26-5611, zoning text amendment batch (26-ZTA-02)

Appeal 2026-APP-04 — demolition of 1891 Wisteria Street (Historic Preservation Board reversed)

She recused herself citing a voting conflict that prevented her from being impartial in the quasi-judicial proceeding.

MOVE APPROVAL OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION 26R-3422

APPROVAL OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION 26R-3422

APPROVE PROPOSED ORDINANCE NUMBER 26-5607

APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 26R-3417

APPROVAL OF PROPOSED RESOLUTION, 26R-3240

Adopt Resolution No. 26R-3417 — City millage certification (first of two hearings)

Adopt Resolution No. 26R-3418 — City budget appropriations (first of two hearings)

Adopt Resolution No. 26R-3419 — Golden Gate Point Streetscape millage

Adopt Resolution No. 26R-3420 — Golden Gate Point Streetscape budget

Adopt Resolution No. 26R-3421 — Downtown Improvement District millage

Adopt Resolution No. 26R-3422 — Downtown Improvement District budget

Adopt Ordinance No. 26-5607 — Capital Improvements Chapter update

Motion to Suspend Rules of Procedure to Allow Public Comment

Ordinance 26-5600 — Concurrency Methodology Zoning Text Amendment (Second Reading)

Ordinance 26-5599 — Osprey Court Alley Vacation (Second Reading)

Resolution 26R-3403 — Transmittal of Transportation Chapter Comprehensive Plan Amendment (26-PA-02)

Opposed the process — treated as an 'update' when it is a major rewrite; not comfortable transmitting without further deliberation

Ordinance 26-5603 — Aspinwall Street Vacation (First Reading)

Ordinance 26-5604 — Rezone 401 Mango Avenue to Downtown Edge (First Reading)

Pause on major generational projects pending November referendum

Accept all proposed budget issues for FY2026-27

Adopt preliminary FY2026-27 millage rates

Osprey Court right-of-way vacation (Ordinance 26-5599)

Second Reading — Ordinance 26-5590, Paid Parking Hours and Fines

Ordinance 26-5596 — $3.63 Solid Waste Surcharge for Disaster Reserve

1260 N. Palm Residences FLUEDRA settlement — denied (XI.1)

Cited compatibility failures under the standards for review, particularly criterion four on mass, bulk and height

adopt proposed Ordinance No. 25-5579 on second reading

Consent Agenda No. 2 (items VII.2-5)

Resolution 26R-3390 — $250,000 SPAC budget transfer (VII.1)

Ordinance 25-5579 — Alderman Street rezone, second reading (IX.1)

Objected that the rezone moves approvals from public process to administrative review and enables Live Local density.