The move comes after 27 years and catastrophic flooding along Phillippi Creek.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: March 26, 2025
Host: Residents along Phillippi Creek suffered major flooding during Hurricane Debby last summer. Most of the creek flows through City of Sarasota territory. Now, after 27 years, Sarasota County would like to return stormwater management to the City of Sarasota. Ramon Lopez has the details.
Ramon Lopez: The Board of Sarasota County Commissioners and the City of Sarasota Commission will hold a joint meeting this coming Friday to discuss the area’s severe stormwater problem.
As seen last year, when it rains it pours, the stormwater system jams up, and Sarasota floods.
Phillippi Creek stormwater infrastructure map.
First, Hurricane Debby dumped 18 inches of rainwater on county residents. Then Hurricane Helene produced historic storm surge that devastated the barrier islands. Finally, Hurricane Milton’s category 3 wind provided even more damage county-wide. The predominantly Amish and Mennonite community of Pinecraft was just one area drowned by the Debby deluge.
Especially hard hit were those who live along Phillippi Creek, the 7.2 mile long waterway, which starts at Roberts Bay, then cuts through neighborhoods and commercial centers upstream to Celery Fields at the headwaters of the creek east of Interstate 75.
County stormwater officials are now taking a fresh look at what happened in 2024, but that is of little consolation to those homeowners victimized by last year’s torrential floods.
An interlocal agreement currently provides for consolidated stormwater management between the city and county. The pact lays out responsibility for capital improvements to the stormwater system such as repairs.
Phillippi Creek. Photo by C. Todd Sherman via Suncoast Searchlight.
But due to limited resources, the county stormwater brass is recommending termination of the interlocal agreement. They want to turn over responsibility of stormwater management within the city of Sarasota back to the city.
They will provide options for the county and city commissioners to mull over at the joint meeting. Setting a hard termination date for the stormwater agreement will be discussed, as will a three-year phased transition of stormwater responsibility. It will be interesting to see what comes out of the special joint meeting regarding the severe stormwater situation.
The public can attend the Sarasota County Commission and City of Sarasota Commission joint meeting. It starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, March 28. It takes place at the so-called Think Tank on the third floor of the Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd.
The commissioners will discuss a total of five subjects at the event, including stormwater, affordable housing and local bus matters.
The meeting will be broadcast live on the county and city government websites, and recordings of the joint session will be available to watch afterwards.
This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
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