On Wednesday, following revelations by an investigative news report, Sarasota County commissioners will discuss the sale of access through public land to the Hi Hat Ranch mega-development. On Thursday, the Manatee County Planning Commission will discuss an ordinance to rein in suburban sprawl. On Friday, the Sarasota City Commission will advance the city manager hiring process.
Monday (04/07)
City of Sarasota Commission regular meeting (agenda)
Highlight: Exemption to build a seawall at 1215 Westway Drive.
9:00 AM
City Hall, commission chambers, 1565 1st Street, Sarasota
Tuesday (04/08)
Sarasota County Commission regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: Changing the sale agreement of county-owned land on MLK Way to a developer who promises affordable housing; expedited review and Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for affordable housing projects; private sewer franchisee for commercial property at Bee Ridge and Sawyer went out of business, producing spills; $46m loan for North Chamberlain Apartments public housing project in North Port; creating a Community Development District at Lakewood Ranch; upzoning of Palmer Ranch property from office to commercial; $1.1 m Phillippi Creek dam removal and construction.
9:00 AM
Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice
City of North Port Commission regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: ICE agreement with city police; $1m for bridge rehabilitation on Pan American Boulevard; letter of support to Suncoast Technical College’s application for federal disaster recovery funds.
10:00 AM
City hall chambers, 4970 City Hall Blvd., North Port
Manatee County School Board regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: 2025 summer programs; financial reports; safety reports. Followed by workshop at noon on IT update.
10:00 AM
Walter E. Miller School Support Center, 215 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton
Wednesday (04/09)
City of Bradenton Council regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: Declaring a 1-acre property on US 41 as brownfield for redevelopment; lift station relocation; contract with Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation.
8:30 AM
City Hall Council Chambers, 101 Old Main St., Bradenton
Sarasota County Commission workshop (agenda)
Highlight: Workshop to provide staff guidance on selling access to the Hi Hat Ranch mega-development through publicly owned land. This came in response to an investigative report by The Florida Trident revealing apparently inappropriate communications between developer and county staffers, blindsiding commissioners.
9:00 AM
County Administration Building, chambers, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
City of Sarasota Planning Board meeting (agenda)
Highlights: Mira Mar twin towers project, continued; rezone for Royal Palm hotel project near airport.
9:00 AM
City Hall, commission chambers, 1565 1st Street, Sarasota
New College board of trustees regular meeting (agenda)
Highlights: 2024 state financial audit; 2025 accountability plan; approval of new degree program on “International Commerce & Society”; naming opportunities for donors.
3:00 PM
Sudakoff Conference Center 5845 General Dougher Pl., Sarasota
Thursday (04/10)
Manatee County Planning Commission meeting (agenda)
Highlights: Presentation of an ordinance “to preserve land east of the Future Development Area Boundary for primarily agricultural uses and to contain urban sprawl”; rezone for 35 new homes at Lakewood Ranch; Pope Ranch: Rezone of 216 acres of agricultural land in Parrish to build 440 homes.
9:00 AM
Manatee County Administration Building, Chambers, 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton
Friday (04/11)
City of Sarasota Commission workshop (agenda)
Highlight: Discussion about list of finalist candidates for city manager hiring.
9:00 AM
City Hall, commission chambers, 1565 1st Street, Sarasota
City of Sarasota Commission special meeting (agenda)
Highlights: City manager finalist list and next steps.
1:00 PM
City Hall, commission chambers, 1565 1st Street, Sarasota