This week, the City of Sarasota Commission will pick the next city manager. Your chance to meet the five finalists is Monday, 5:30, at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center. On Thursday, the Sarasota County Commission will meet at a budget workshop that could identify coming cuts.
Monday (02/23)
City of Sarasota Commission (summary of selection process)
Highlight: In-person, individual interviews of each commissioner with the five finalists for the city manager job. 9:00 AM-4:00 PM at city hall.
Followed by public meet-and-greet with the candidates.
5:30-8:00 PM
Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, 1845 John Rivers St., Sarasota
Manatee County Commission hearing officer (agenda)
Highlight: Granting a special permit to allow construction of a middle and high school in Parrish on 60 acres of agricultural land.
3:00 PM
Manatee County Administration Building, Manatee Room, 5th floor, 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton
Tuesday (02/24)
City of Venice Council regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: 2026 priorities for the Historic and Architectural Preservation Board; land annexations; increasing density for 5 acres at 2805 Curry Lane; changing land at Auburn and Border Rd. near I-75 from rural to residential; floodplain management plan; annual update by the mayor’s brother about Sharky’s on the Pier; update on Humphris Park.
9:00 AM
City Hall chambers, 401 West Venice Avenue, Venice
City of Sarasota Commission (agenda)
Highlights: Commission interviews with each finalist for the city manager job, up to one hour per candidate.
11:00 AM
City Hall chambers, 1565 First Street, Sarasota
Manatee County School Board regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: Report of the World Languages Adoption Committee; change to school board policies; 2025 financials; charter school financials; instruction, operations and legal updates.
5:30 PM
Walter Miller School Support Center board room, Manatee Avenue, Bradenton
North Port City Commission regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: Special assessment for costs related to tall grass and weeds, hazardous trees and clearing debris; raising commissioners’ base salary; changes to meeting schedules and rules; underused space at Heron Creek Middle School; safeguards for interactions between construction permitting staff and elected officials; continued funding for Teen Court program.
6:00 PM
North Port City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port
Wednesday (02/25)
City of Bradenton Council regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: Sale of 2.1 acres of city-owned land on the Tamiami Trail for $555,000 to a developer to build a 114-unit workforce housing complex. The land is currently leased by the Bradenton Shuffleboard Club.
8:30 AM
City Hall council chambers, 101 Old Main St., Bradenton
City of Sarasota community workshop (agenda)
Highlight: Developer wants the city to vacate a downtown alley at Ringling Blvd. and S. Links Ave.
5:30 PM
Senior Friendship Center cafeteria, 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota
Thursday (02/26)
Sarasota County Commission budget workshop (agenda)
Highlights: Budget update; where the money goes; general fund historical trends; general fund model; constitutional officer budgets; updated model assumptions; impacts of pausing various capital projects; board requested budget reductions; comparative counties.
9:00 AM
Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Tr., Venice
Friday (02/27)
City of Sarasota Commission special meeting (no agenda)
Highlight: Picking the next city manager and authorizing the city attorney to negotiate a contract.
1:00 PM
City Hall chambers, 1565 First St., Sarasota