This Week in Local Government

On Tuesday, the Sarasota School Board will discuss pre-emptive screening of ‘inappropriate’ books. The same day, the Sarasota County Commission will decide whether to settle Live Local developer lawsuits against the county; on Wednesday, the commission will vote on whether to build and operate a 100-acre sports complex at the Hi Hat Ranch development. Also on Wednesday, the Manatee County Commission will discuss how much it should set aside for emergencies.

Monday (10/05)

City of Sarasota Commission (agenda)

Highlights: Rezone of Marian Anderson brownfield land in Newtown; school zone safety program; intersection safety program.

9:00 AM

City Hall chambers, 1565 First Street, Sarasota

Tuesday (10/06)

Sarasota County Commission (agenda)

Highlights: County Administrator and County Attorney performance evaluation; guidance for use of county land to build affordable housing; master plan for Wellfield Park Regional Sports Complex; proposed settlements in Live Local developer lawsuits against county; raising fees for emergency services; funding for prisoner reintegration program.

9:00 AM

Robert L. Anderson County Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Tr., Venice

Manatee County Commission (agenda)

Highlights: Data center moratorium; County Administrator contract.

9:00 AM

Manatee County Administration Building chambers, 1112 Manatee Avenue W, Bradenton

Sarasota School Board monthly work session (agenda)

Highlights: Innovation SRQ improvement plan; legislative priorities; safety and security; policy revisions; collective bargaining agreement; Florida Education Commissioner’s order to begin pre-emptive book screening at school libraries.

10:00 AM

Landings Administrative Complex, 1980 Landings Boulevard, Sarasota

City of North Port Commission (agenda)

Highlights: Raising the transportation impact fee; comprehensive plan changes for the Winchester Ranch development.

10:00 AM

City Hall chamber, 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port

Manatee County School Board meeting (agenda)

Highlights: Math instructional materials; progress monitoring; changes to school board policies; teacher pay; legislative priorities.

10:00 AM

Walter Miller School Support Center, board room, 215 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton

Wednesday (10/07)

Sarasota County Commission (agenda)

Highlights: 2026 Sarasota County Annual Citizen Opinion Survey; MoU with Hi Hat Ranch developer to build and operate a taxpayer-funded regional sports complex; interlocal agreement with North Port to allow expansion of Wellen Park; rezone for Hi Hat Ranch development; telecom tower in Old Miakka.

9:00 AM

County Administration Center, 1 Apex Road, Sarasota

City of Sarasota Development Review Committee (agenda)

Highlights: Sixth submittal of Lumora (FKA Adagio), the twin tower luxury condo project in downtown; Gillespie Live-Work, Sarasota Motor Club, and Shore Restaurant St. Armands Key; rezone for The Breakfast House on Briggs; McCown Towers public housing expansion; 10th Street Restaurant at The Bay park.

9:00 AM

City Hall chambers, 1565 First Street, Sarasota

Manatee County Commission special meeting (agenda)

Highlights: Discussion on how much money the county should set aside for its emergency response fund.

9:00 AM

Manatee County Administration Building chambers, 1112 Manatee Avenue W, Bradenton

City of Sarasota Commission and Town of Longboat Key Commission joint meeting (agenda)

Highlights: Amendment 3 impacts; future city projects; water taxi; subaqueous issues.

1:00 PM

Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key

Thursday (10/08)

Manatee County Commission land-use meeting (agenda)

Highlights: Increasing density of an affordable housing project at 1st Street and US 301 from 90 to 108 apartments; ending minimum lot sizes to promote affordable housing construction; changes to a 35-acre development project at US 301/US 41 and 13th Avenue E.; rezone of 8 acres of agricultural land in Parrish for a storage facility; rezone of an acre of agricultural land near Lakewood Ranch for an auto dealership; allow a school and remove affordable housing stipulations at the Parrish Lakes development; changing design standards for parking spaces.

9:00 AM

Manatee County Administration Building chambers, 1112 Manatee Avenue W, Bradenton

Friday (10/09)

None