One Sarasota legislator says she will neither sponsor nor vote for it.
Johannes Werner
Original Air Date: Feb. 12, 2025
Host: A bill filed in the Florida Senate could be spelling the end of development-funded city and county public arts programs, including the City of Sarasota’s. We have the details.
[Vehicle back-up warning beeps, construction sounds]
Poly, a sculpture by Hou de Sousa, is located at the North Tamiami Trail and 14th Street roundabout. Photo courtesy City of Sarasota
Johannes Werner: This is the sound last month of a crane hoisting a two-story tall blue metal sculpture called Poly into the center of a roundabout on the North Tamiami Trail. The City of Sarasota has one the most active public arts programs in the state, and the roundabout program is a big part of that, but a bill filed by a St. Petersburg Republican would end the way Sarasota funds its program.
The bill was filed by Senator Nick DeCeglie, who represents most of Pinellas County. The Republican senator’s district includes the City of St. Petersburg, which has also a strong public arts program that is mostly fueled by developer money.
But that kind of funding seems to be impossible if the bill passes.
DeCeglie’s bill says, “A municipality may not as a condition of processing or issuing a development permit … require an applicant to install a work of art, pay a fee for a work of art, or reimburse the municipality for any costs.”
Dedication ceremony for Poly. Photo courtesy City of Sarasota
The City of Sarasota currently requires developers investing more than $1 million in a non-residential commercial project in and around downtown to make a public art contribution worth one-half of one percent. Sarasota gives developers the option to either pay into its public art fund, buy an existing artwork, or have a specific piece of art commissioned. The maximum is $250,000 per project.
Asked by WSLR at a public event Tuesday, Sarasota City Commissioner Kathy Kelley Ohlrich said she was not familiar with the bill. She did say she was “shocked” but added she was not too surprised given the state legislature’s recent history of bills preempting local decision making.
A City of Sarasota spokesperson provided a statement saying that the companion bill in the House has not been introduced and that the city staff will continue to monitor the legislative process closely.
Sen. Nick DeCeglie.
This morning, we asked Sen. DeCeglie, the sponsor of the bill, for an interview, but we did not hear from him in time. The same was the case with Sarasota Sen. Joe Gruters.
Another member of Sarasota’s all-Republican legislative delegation did have a response. Rep. Fiona McFarland told WSLR she would probably not support DeCeglie’s bill. Her district includes the City of Sarasota.
Rep. Fiona McFarland.
Fiona McFarland: I think it’s a great program that the City of Sarasota has. Part of what makes Sarasota so special is all the public art installations we have. I can understand how a developer or a property owner in the city might not love that, and I’m sensitive to that, but to me that seems like a policy best addressed at the local level. If it came before me for a vote, I would vote against it unless someone can make a very compelling reason otherwise, but that’s my initial reaction, is I would probably vote against this bill.
I mean, I wouldn’t be interested in sponsoring it. I haven’t heard of anyone on the House side that’s considering sponsoring something like that. Sarasota’s arts and culture is so rich, and it’s a real point of pride for the city of Sarasota, and I’m proud to represent Sarasota for that very reason. If someone wants to get rid of our public art installations, they’re certainly welcome to do so. I think I would just not join them in that effort.
JW: The city’s high-profile “Art in the Roundabout” program is funded by the developer fee. The best-known example is probably the red, blue, yellow and green “Embracing Our Differences” sculpture at Main and Orange by Blessing Hancock. The latest addition to the roundabout program is the “Poly” mentioned before. On Tuesday, city officials—including at least three city commissioners—gathered for a dedication ceremony of Poly at North Tamiami Trail and 14th Street. One more addition to the roundabout program is planned for this year on the North Trail and 10th Street. Two more additions are under discussion for US 41 and Fruitville Road and US 41 and Gulfstream Avenue.
The Florida legislature’s session begins March 7. DeCeglie’s bill, if it passes, would be effective July 1.
Reporting for WSLR News, Johannes Werner.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.