52 Years of Community Involvement

Our guest speaker, Jennifer Rominiecki, President and CEO of Selby Gardens presented a current look at their master plan. What is now finished with Phase 1, a look at Phase 2 and how that will continue to enhance the Downtown campus and Spanish Point.  She also presented a look at the current exhibits at both locations.

• Presentation Slides
• George Harrison: A Gardener's Life video 
• Selby Gardens Website
• Minutes

Congressman Steube highlighted the Disaster Tax Relief Bill he introduced and helped to pass that provides tax deductions for individuals who recently incurred casualty losses due to “qualified disasters.” This bill is back dated to 2022 and will provide assistance to many individuals in states where there have been disasters. It allows individuals in Florida to claim a deduction for unreimbursed losses from a federally declared disaster such as Helene in Milton.  He has also met with Shop owners at St. Armond’s Circle about Business (SBA) loans.  Congressman Steube’s staff is attempting to schedule a meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers to assist in getting our beach re-nourishment project done. Your congressman can be contacted at Stuebe.house.gov.  

• Minutes

Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation CEO, Tania Castroverde Moskalenko and Bill Waddell, Kimley-Horn updated the membership and quests on the current status and design of the new performing arts center.  This very well attended meeting was the first of the season, having had to cancel both our October and November meetings due to the hurricanes and subsequent cleanup.

• Presentation Slides
• Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation website
• Initial Concept Designs for new Performing Arts Center
• $150,000,000 Annual Economic Impact
• Minutes

Ted Sperling Park Update:  Officials from both the County and the SPD including the Marnie Unit discussed the issues that continue at Ted Sperling Park. Noise disturbing the peace. Lack of respect for the existing rules is destroying the environment and endangering wildlife. Seeming lack of enforcement.  All entities vowed working on a short term and long term solution.

Sarasota County Fire Department offered an informative presentation to assist members in understanding their services and how to avoid disasters. They encouraged members to file a “File for Life” document. This form with all of your information can be obtained by the fire department if they are called to your home/condo. Copies can be obtained by calling 941-861-2290 or by going to the office at 5875 Hummingbird Avenue in Sarasota. They also recommend that once you complete and mail in the form you keep a photocopy in your glove box, wallet or purse.

                        Meeting Minutes 

John McCarthy, Vice President for Regional History for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens presented a passionate and entertaining account of the ancient history of the Sarasota region beginning 12,000 years ago. John also presented a brief update on the activities and construction at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.   Member, Dave Rayner updated everyone on health & safety issues at Ted Sperling Park, with comments provided by County Commissioner Mark Smith and the Sarasota PD. 

                        Meeting Minutes (tba)

Mote Marine's Aly Busse, Associate VP for Education presented Mote's vision for improving communities’ access to marine science and technology while enabling Mote’s scientific progress on City Island. We got a preview at their Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) going in at Benderson Park with emphasis on education of students around the world.  Following the presentation was a short business meeting and the election of Board Members for 2024-25.

                        Meeting Minutes

Deputy City Manager Pat Robinson presented an update on many of the projects the City of Sarasota is undertaking.  Biggest applause was the announcement that the Lido Beach Dune Project and the next renourishment of Lido Beach will start late 2024.

                         Pat's Power Point Slides             

Jim O’Donnell, V.P. of Condominium Development, The Ronto Group updated us on the progress of the Rosewood.  Questions about timeframe, trucks driving through the neighborhood and workers parking on Ben Franklin were discussed.  Jim can be reached at   

odonnellj@ronto.com   Their website is https://www.ronto.com/

                         Meeting Minutes

St. Armands Residents Association and Lido Shores Neighborhood Association members joined us for our November Membership meeting featuring an update by Code Compliance Specialist Hannah Chabica on the City's Vacation Rental (Hotel Houses) Ordinance passed in May 2021,

     Hannah's Power Point Slides               Meeting Minutes 

Hannah's Contact Information:

Phone: 941-263-6000 ext: 36624     E-mail: hannah.chabica@sarasotafl.gov

Our October Membership meeting featured great presentations from a trio of guest speakers, including Holley Short, Shorebird Program Manager, Audubon Florida; Sarah Rubin, Outreach & Volunteers Manager, Save Our Seabirds; and Dr. Jake Lasala, Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program Manager. With a storm surge hurricane causing island flooding and other severe storms, we learned how our local birds and turtles faired.  The speakers Power Point slides (available soon).   Meeting Minutes

LKRA's April Membership Meeting featured a presentation from the All Star Children's Foundation.  The All Star Children's Foundation is drawing national attention by introducing a new concept in foster care, designed to help children heal from trauma experienced by abuse and neglect, at their campus 17th Street in Sarasota.  Kylie Wilson updated us on the return of our nesting birds on Lido Beach and how we can help protect them.   All Star's Power Point slides and Member Meeting Minutes  (available soon)

LKRA's March Membership Meeting was a special joint meeting with the St. Armands Residents Association and the Lido Shores Neighborhood Association. We are honored to host Mote's Dr. Jake Lasala and Dr. Michael P. Crosby as our guests.  Dr. Crosby captivated the audience with Mote's vision of "Improving communities’ access to marine science and technology while enabling Mote’s scientific progress on City Island, Sarasota.  He previewed Oceans For All and the future development of the research facilities on City Island, as well as updates on coral restoration and red tide mitigation. Dr. Lasala, Manager of Mote's Sea Turtle Conservation and Research briefed us on local sea turtle nesting and projects involving turtles he and his team are researching. Both took Q&A's.     

Here are some links and information:

• Virtual Tour of New Aquarium
• Volunteer at Mote
• Become a Mote Donor

If you want to learn more about how you can help today: Contact Michael Moore, Special Advisor for Mote’s Office of the President, at (941) 388-4441 ext. 309 or mmoore@mote.org 

March 18, 2023, Member Meeting Minutes (available soon)

Our February meeting immediately followed our Annual Member Breakfast. Our guest speaker, John McCarthy, Vice President for Regional History (Marie Selby Botanical Gardens) captivated the members with a wonderful slide presentation of the history of Lido.   

Our annual business meeting followed. Secretary Kathy Kussy announced all existing Board members agreed to serve another term and that the Board voted unanimously to keep all officers the same as the prior year.

February 18, 2023, Member Meeting Minutes (available soon)

Marlon Brown, City Manager, City of Sarasota presented an update on the projects both on the keys and within the City.  View Slides Below

Nik Patel - City Engineering introduced a new program the City of Sarasota is partnering with Mote Marine to use volunteer residents to monitor Red Tide.   More Information

Richard Harris – CCNA Chairman gave an update on a pilot program aimed at reducing speeding in our neighborhoods.

Chris Goglia – President, St. Armands Residents Association updated us on the St. Armands' BID request to have "Winter on the Circle" again this coming year.

January 28, 2023, Member Meeting Minutes (available soon)