Sarasota City Commission Resumes In-Person Meetings

SARASOTA, FL — The Sarasota City Commission will resume in-person meetings Nov. 2. Meetings scheduled that day will take place at City Hall, located at 1565 1st Street in Sarasota, at 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The commission has held meetings virtually throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent executive order by Gov. Ron DeSantis removed the ability of local governments to conduct virtual meetings, said the city of Sarasota in a news release.

Capacity will be limited at City Hall. Other procedural changes are also in place to protect public health.

High-quality air filters have been installed in the commission chambers to prevent transmission of airborne diseases such as COVID-19. Commissioners and other city staff who must be present will be rapid-tested for coronavirus before meetings begin, and there will be frequent meeting breaks to allow for cleaning of the dais, presenter’s table and speaker’s podium by facilities staff.

Members of the public will still have the ability to be physically present in the SRQ Media Studio or Room 112 at City Hall to provide citizens’ input, just as they have during meetings held via video conferencing technology since the start of the health emergency. City staff will be stationed in these rooms to provide further direction and assistance in addressing the commission in the chambers.

Those who prefer to participate remotely in the meeting may obtain instructions to participate via Zoom by emailing clerk@sarasotaFL.gov with their request no later than Thursday at 5 p.m. Individuals may provide written comments to the commission on any city topic at any time by emailing CityCommissioners@sarasotaFL.gov.

View agendas and details for upcoming meetings of the commission or other city boards or committees at www.SarasotaFL.gov and click “Meetings/Agendas/Video.” Commission meetings can also be viewed there via live stream or on Access Sarasota television (Comcast channel 19, Frontier channel 32).