PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
2012 Annual Report
!
PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
Home Rule Charter
How Your County Government Works Sarasota County Sarasota County incorporated in 1921 and adopted a Home Rule Charter in 1971. The charter establishes a commission form of government with county commissioners as the county’s governing body. Five commissioners are elected to four-year terms countywide, but each commissioner must live in a specific district. The County Commission appoints only two employees – the County Administrator and the County Attorney. The County Administrator is the chief administrative officer for the county and serves at the pleasure of the County Commission. All employees under the County Commission, with the exception of the Office of the County Attorney, report to the County Administrator, who is solely responsible for hiring and dismissing employees. Sarasota County provides fire protection and EMS service to unincorporated areas and some municipalities. There are three utility service operations – water/ sewer, stormwater and solid waste. The county also operates typical infrastructure programs such as transportation and facilities, and a countywide transit operation. The county provides a full range of community and human services, in the form of parks, recreation, healthrelated services, planning, zoning, permitting and environmental resource management. The primary 941.861.5000
support services include financial planning, information technology, communications and human resources. A Charter Review Board is responsible for review and changes to the County Charter. That board is comprised of 10 members — two from each commission district — who serve fouryear terms without compensation. They are elected countywide by voters during each general election. How the Charter can be Changed There are four ways to propose a change to the County Charter: a petition, signed by at least 5% of registered county voters; a special law enacted by the state legislature; an ordinance; or a recommendation by the Charter Review Board. Charter amendment proposals must be approved by voters. When the Commission Meets Unless otherwise advertised, all regular meetings of the Sarasota County Commission are held at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday and Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held at the Sarasota County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, and the Robert L. Anderson Administration Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice.
Law of the Land With the exception of emergency ordinances, commissioners adopt new ordinances by affirmative vote of three members. In the event of a conflict between a municipal (city) ordinance and a county ordinance, the municipal ordinance prevails within the limits of the municipality. Land use is governed by the Sarasota County Comprehensive Plan. Because Sarasota County values the participation and input of its residents in the decision-making process, the county also has more than 30 citizen advisory boards, councils and committees, whose members are appointed by the County Commission. Each board focuses on a specific issue or topic in areas such as economic development, the environment, libraries, and health and human services. Membership requirements, meeting frequency and length of terms vary. To learn more, see page 40. Who Else Helps Run the County? Sarasota County has five Constitutional Officers, each elected for terms of four years: a Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections and Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller.
In 2013, Sarasota County updated its structure to more efficiently meet the demands of citizens. Some department titles were also changed to more effectively communicate their functions. For example, in 2013 Neighborhood Services moved to Planning and Development Services, but for the purposes of the 2012 Annual Report, is shown under its previous alignment to Community Services. In late 2012, Public Works was designated Capital Assets. The term Public Works is used in this report to reflect the department’s alignment to the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. Going forward, Sarasota County is structured into three functional groups. Community Services • Health and Human Services • Libraries and Historical Resources • Natural Resources • Parks and Recreation • Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension Community Planning • Planning and Development Services • Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) • Environmental Utilities • Economic Development • Neighborhood Services • Community Redevelopment Agency • Economic Development Management Systems • Financial Planning • Human Resources • Enterprise Information Technology • Fire and Emergency Services • General Services • Field Services • Capital Assets (Public Works) • Capital Projects • Traffic Engineering In addition to the three functional groups listed above, four departments report directly to the County Administrator: Communications; Ethics and Compliance; Community and Intergovernmental Relations; and Sustainability. Sarasota County is funded through: Taxes 1. Ad Valorem (property taxes) 2. Infrastructure Surtax 3. Tourist Development Tax 4. Communications Services Tax 5. Various fuel taxes Permits, fees and special assessments 1. Fire and Rescue Assessments 2. Solid Waste Assessments 3. Stormwater Assessments 4. Electric Franchise Fees Intergovernmental 1. Federal Transit Administration Grants 2. Court-related Functions 3. State Revenue Sharing 4. Community Development Block Grants Charges for services 1. Utility System Charges 2. Solid Waste System Charges 3. Ambulance Charges 4. SCAT Charges
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
2
Board of County Commissioners
3
Mission, Vision, Values
4
A Letter from the County Administrator
6
How Your Property Taxes are Allocated
8
Sarasota County Financial Information
10
Public Works
14
Community Services
20
Health and Human Services
22
Environmental Utilities
26
Emergency Services
28
Planning and Development Services
30
Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT)
32
Economic Development
34
Operations and Maintenance
36
Support Services
40
Citizen Advisory Boards
Back inside cover The Path Ahead
The Sarasota County Courthouse
1 www.scgov.net
PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
Dedicated to Quality Service
The 2012 Board of County Commissioners Christine Robinson District 3 Commissioner Chair crobinson@scgov.net Carolyn Mason District 1 Commissioner Vice Chair cmason@scgov.net Joe Barbetta District 2 Commissioner jbarbett@scgov.net Nora Patterson District 4 Commissioner npatters@scgov.net Jon Thaxton District 5 Commissioner
Charles D. Hines Newly elected, 2013 District 5 Commissioner chines@scgov.net
Every year, Sarasota County commissions a Citizen Survey. This video gives an overview of the 2012 survey.
2 941.861.5000
Your Sarasota County Commission Sarasota County incorporated in 1921 and adopted a Home Rule Charter in 1971 in accordance with the state constitution and Florida law. The charter established a commission form of government with county commissioners representing five districts as the county’s governing body.
Commissioners are elected at-large for four-year terms They appoint a Chair and Vice Chair, who serve one calendar year. The Chair presides at all meetings of the commission and is recognized as the head of the county for all ceremonial purposes.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
Sarasota County’s
Mission, Vision and Values Values As Sarasota County employees, WE are committed to demonstrating each one of these values at all times. RESPECT WE demonstrate mutual respect through our professionalism, courtesy and appreciation for diversity. ACCOUNTABILITY WE are individually and collectively responsible for our actions as stewards of the public’s trust.
Vision To be the premier community where people choose to live, work and play. Mission The Mission of Sarasota County Government is to be the most livable and best managed community in the country, providing quality services, programs, and facilities that reflect the goals of the community.
INTEGRITY WE adhere to ethical principles, demonstrating mutual respect and conducting ourselves with honesty and sincerity. QUALITY WE take pride in providing quality public service with passion, innovation and excellence. TEAMWORK WE foster a collaborative environment that values creativity, sharing information and ideas, and working together to solve problems and accomplish goals. TRUST WE seek mutual purpose, honor commitments, and use our skills, knowledge and abilities in a way that builds confidence and loyalty.
3 www.scgov.net
PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
A Letter from the County Administrator
PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
2012 We consider this the beginning of a new era, in which Sarasota County and its citizens can create a community that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. This is your government, and our commitment to you, the citizens of Sarasota County, is to ensure that you have access to your government, that we are transparent in all our dealings, and that we create meaningful dialogues throughout the county, about our shared future.
! 4 941.861.5000
Dear Citizen I am pleased to present to you the 2012 Annual Report, my first as Sarasota County’s Administrator. Over the past year I have been honored to use my leadership experience, as well as the talents and skills that I developed over a number of years, to help benefit an organization for which I’ve held a great deal of respect. Sarasota County has always been one of the premier counties in Florida. In 2012, we spent considerable time developing a common set of goals — and values — that mold this organization and empower us to perform for the public the way the public expects. We worked hard to assure our reputation as a place that can compete nationally and internationally as a fine place to live, work and play. I value public service, as do our employees. Because we deeply believe in it, the theme of this report is, “Public Service Matters.” Citizens’ first association with that phrase is generally public safety, but public service means immeasurably more. It encompasses transparency, accountability, respectability and integrity in our actions. It is clean air and water, protection and preservation of natural lands, community health and human services. It means safe roads and transportation planning. And yes, it means keeping property and individuals safe from damage and harm, and restoring both after emergencies and natural disasters.
Public service matters, because if you live in Sarasota County, you probably know at least one county employee personally. Their children attend school with yours. They attend the same places of worship. They fight the fires, keep our community safe, build our roads, clear our storm drains, protect our water and preserve our lands. County employees are a vital component of the local economy, and county government direction is integral to ensuring an exceptional quality of life and growing the local economy. This report documents what we have accomplished with our programs and services. It provides accountability and demonstrates the value that citizens are receiving for their taxpayer dollars. More than 100 programs exist to protect public health, encourage economic development and support numerous community organizations. As the county’s economy maintains an encouraging but gradual recovery from the recession, we have carried out a conservative financial strategy based on community funding priorities for capital projects and essential programs and services. We have maintained adequate reserves to keep the county on firm financial ground and achieved an AAA bond rating by Fitch Ratings based on conservative budgeting practices, aggressive budget management, economic recovery initiatives, strong reserves and a low debt burden.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT County Administrator Randall H. Reid
All of these actions will prepare us for an expected influx of new citizens — by one estimate, Florida will welcome 170,000 new residents in 2013 and 200,000 the year after. This report is More people will come to Florida available online at in 2013 than in 2008, 2009 and www.scgov.net 2010 combined. As an outstanding and contains links to place to live, work and play, we will videos. You’ll recognize undoubtedly get our share of these them by this graphic. new residents, and must focus on planning wisely for this growth.
Telling the story of Sarasota County This report begins with an overall look at the Sarasota County budget and how your property tax dollars are spent. We follow that with overviews of how each department has brought value to our community and performed financially over the past year. Together, they provide a snapshot of who we are as a local government, and how we serve this community.
We consider this the beginning We encourage you of a new era, in which Sarasota to take a moment County and its citizens can create a to see in real time community that is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. how the community This is your government, and benefits from county our commitment to you, the government initiatives. citizens of Sarasota County, is to ensure that you have access to your government, that we are transparent in all our dealings, and that we create meaningful dialogues throughout the county, about our shared future.
In Public Service,
Randall H. Reid Sarasota County Administrator
5
www.scgov.net
PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
Sarasota County (Unincorporated)
How Your Property Taxes are Allocated
Sarasota County School Board $0.344 School (State) $0.247 School (Local)
Sarasota County $0.234 Sarasota County
General operating revenue for the Sheriff’s Office, Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, Tax Collector, SCAT, Health and Human Services, Parks, Libraries and other services.
$0.018 Sarasota County Debt $0.002 Mosquito Control $0.050 Sarasota County EMS
$0.58
6
School Total
58¢
941.861.5000
$0.30
County Total
30¢
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
Property Tax Allocations Let’s see how our demographics may shape our economic future.
This illustration represents the allocation of property tax that is collected from properties located in unincorporated Sarasota County.
Fiscal Year 12 Sarasota County
58¢
The largest portion of property taxes (58 cents of every dollar collected) goes to the Sarasota County School Board.
30¢
County government, highlighted in blue, receives 30 cents of each tax dollar collected. Most goes to support the Sheriff’s Office, Health and Human Services, parks, libraries, public transportation (SCAT) and other elected officials. The remaining amount supports Mosquito Control, Emergency Services and debt related to the voter-approved Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program.
12¢
The smallest portion supports various districts, including those for Southwest Florida Water Management, West Coast Inland Navigation and Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
(Unincorporated)
For illustrative purposes only. Does not include Non-Ad Valorem Assessments. Totals include rounding.
Districts $0.030 $0.003 $0.083
Southwest Florida Water Management West Coast Inland Navigation Sarasota Memorial Hospital
$0.12
District Total
12¢
7
www.scgov.net
PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
Operating Expenditures • Capital Expenditures • Millage Rate
Sarasota County Financial Information Financial Information Charts The charts on this page represent actual operating and capital expenditures by business center for Fiscal Year 2012. Capital expenditures include purchase of land, construction of buildings, major improvements and construction of basic infrastructure. Operating expenditures are the ongoing costs of providing services and the maintenance and operations of facilities and infrastructure.
Operating Expenditures by Business Center Elected Officials, Appointed Officials and Boards 20%
Support Services 18% Emergency Services 11% Operations and Maintenance 9%
Environmental Utilities 25%
Public Works 3% Health and Human Services 3%
The Operating Expenditures graphic includes some areas that are not included in the body of this report, such as the Elected and Appointed Officials (Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections and Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller).
8
941.861.5000
Planning and Development Services 6% Community Services 5%
FY12 Actual Operating Expenditures $679,488,926 Environmental Utilities $170,067,829 Elected Officials and Appointed Officials and Boards $134,323,177 Support Services $123,103,821 Emergency Services $77,425,040
Operations and Maintenance $58,594,579 Planning and Development Services $39,589,231 Community Services $37,072,678 Health and Human Services $20,608,956 Public Works $18,703,616
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
Capital Expenditures by Business Center Environmental Utilities 30%
Public Works 41%
Community Services 27%
Emergency Services 1%
FY12 Actual Capital Expenditures $95,208,306 Public Works $38,497,274 Environmental Utilities $28,920,505 Community Services $25,483,410 Enterprise Information Technology $1,294,350 Emergency Services $1,007,625 Health and Human Services $5,142
Enterprise Information Technology 1%
FY12 County Operating Millage Rate 6.8065
7.00
6.3668
6.2993
5.7771
6.00 4.9063
Sarasota County has one of the lowest millage rates in the state.
4.8751
5.00 3.8400
4.00 3.0744 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 Sarasota
Brevard
Manatee
Marion
Pasco
Polk
Seminole
Volusia
9
www.scgov.net
PUBLIC WORKS
Capital Projects Construction • Traffic Engineering
Public Works
In late 2012, Public Works was designated Capital Assets. The term Public Works is used in this report to reflect the department’s alignment to the Fiscal Year 2012 budget. The new SCAT Cattlemen Transfer Station will complement a future 911/Emergency Operations Center. The most satisfying part of the job is to see children playing in the parks we provide, or walking on the roads that we’ve built. We’re doing something that was largely unheard of, and many people thought couldn’t be done.
ACCO M PL I S H M ENT S
Traffic Engineering • Managed 137 bridges, 2,328 lane miles of roads, more than 38,000 road signs, 237 signalized intersections and 5,050 street lights. • Documented detour routes for all the county’s bridges to aid navigation if unforeseen circumstances close a structure for an extended period of time.
10
941.861.5000
• Conducted 11 fixed span
bridge inspections. • Designed and engineered a five-year pavement management program that considers current and future pavement conditions, cost-effective maintenance and rehabilitation strategies. • Conducted bicycle safety education for approximately 600 children. • Implemented Phase 1 of the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS), which upgraded 150 signal cabinets and installed 120 new traffic signals, more than 90 traffic monitoring TV cameras, Bluetooth travel time sensors (for incident detection) and redundant fiber on The Legacy Trail to support emergency communications and reduce recurring communications costs.
The Honore Avenue extension created a new north/south corridor for Sarasota County.
Capital Projects • Oversaw an estimated 140 projects, from design through construction. • Managed 85% of projects on schedule. • Met 88% of project milestones (design, advertise/bid/award, and substantial completion) on schedule. • Averaged a customer satisfaction rating of 3.13 (out of 4) from citizens with recently completed capital projects in their neighborhoods. • Held 14 public meetings, six ribbon-cutting ceremonies, one groundbreaking ceremony and 32 mailings or automated calls to provide project information and status updates to citizens in impacted neighborhoods. Major Projects Honore Avenue This $35 million project constructed 2.65 miles of two-lane road (.85 miles of new roadway). Key features include roundabouts, sidewalks, bike lanes, LED lighting and new drainage and stormwater improvements utilizing low impact development (LID) components. Ed Smith Stadium Clubhouse In partnership with the Baltimore Orioles, the spring training facilities at the Ed Smith Sports Complex were renovated and enhanced to create a 35,000 square-foot state-of-the-art clubhouse including batting cages, pitching mounds, player development areas and parking.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures
Traffic Engineering 65%
One of 2012’s most impressive capital construction improvements was the renovation of Selby Library.
! PUBLIC WORKS plans, maintains and operates the county’s multi-modal transportation system for vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians. It also manages the county’s $1 billion capital projects program.
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures. PUBLIC WORKS $18,703,616
OVERVIEW
SCAT Cattlemen Transfer Station This $2.6 million intermodal transfer facility is located at the site of the future 911/Emergency Operations Facility at 1301 Cattlemen Road. It accommodates multiple buses and features a covered platform for patrons, restroom facilities, ticket vending and an interior facility for operators. Each bus parking bay has electrical and data connections for emergency command trailers and/ or mobile offices in the event of a disaster for overflow from the new 911/Emergency Operations Center facility to be constructed nearby.
Capital Projects Construction 35%
Traffic Engineering $12,165,095 Capital Projects Construction $6,538,521
11
www.scgov.net
PUBLIC WORKS Selby Library Remodel Key features of the remodel to this 14-year-old facility include a new HVAC system, a new Teen Center, state-of-the-art automated materials handling systems, and new carpets, furniture and interior paint. Phillippi Creek Septic Sewer Replacement Program Areas D1 through D3 Completed a major phase of the program to replace septic with central sewer in the Phillippi Creek Area, resulting in approximately 1,450 new connections to the central sewer system. Park and Beach Amenity Improvements Caspersen Beach Constructed American Institute of Architecture Award-winning restrooms to replace failing facilities and increase capacity. Manasota Beach Constructed a new restroom with improved ADA access, emergency treatment room for lifeguards, beach showers and outdoor seating. Celery Fields Boardwalk Completed one of two boardwalk and nature observation areas at the site of the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility. Beach Access 12 Boardwalk Improved shoreline to enhance boat and pedestrian access to water on Siesta Key. Nokomis Beach Renovated restrooms and boardwalks. Red Bug Slough Nature Preserve Constructed a new restroom. South Lido Beach Rebuilt the existing nature trail and boardwalks using environmentally friendly materials. Longwood Park Miracle League ball field In partnership with the Miracle League of Manasota, constructed a ball field for children and adults with special needs and abilities.
12
941.861.5000
One of Sarasota County’s most utilized public libraries is growing up. Gulf Gate Library (artist rendering above) is expanding to two stories with automated book check-in and sorting, improved parking, larger meeting rooms and enhanced technology.
Gulf Gate Library Finalized design and permitting to replace the outdated, single-story, 17,200 square-foot library to an expanded two-story facility with automated book check-in and sorting, improved parking and landscaping, larger meeting rooms, enhanced technology and stormwater management facilities. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2013. Siesta Public Beach Completed 60% design review with final design completion expected in mid-2013. Planned improvements include expanded concessions and parking, renovated restrooms, gazebos, updated playground and picnic areas and a pedestrian esplanade. Construction is expected to take 27 months. New 911/Emergency Operations Center Schematic design is under way for the new facility, which will include a new communications tower and be able to withstand a Category 5 hurricane (200 mph winds) and remain operational for 72 hours post event. Construction is expected to be complete by 2014.
Bee Ridge Road East Design to reconstruct and widen this east county corridor to four lanes (for 1.7 miles) and enhance a twolane portion for .9 miles should be complete in early 2013. Improvements will include landscaping, bike lanes, sidewalks, LED lighting, LID stormwater features, signalization, roundabouts, and milling and resurfacing. This $31.2 million project should begin construction in 2014. North Cattlemen Road and the Aquatic Nature Center at Benderson Park The project to extend North Cattlemen Road from Fruitville Road to University Parkway is expected to be complete by February 2013. Parallel to the road is the ongoing construction site for the Aquatic Nature Center at Benderson Park — a project to construct a world class, 2,000-meter rowing facility and park amenities. Opposite page, top left: The sleek, ultramodern restrooms at Caspersen Beach. Top right: a Menzi Muck at work dredging fresh routes for the Benderson Park rowing facility. Bottom right: A boardwalk will guide visitors through the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
13 www.scgov.net
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Parks and Recreation • Libraries Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension • Historical Resources Neighborhood Services • Natural Resources
Community Services
AC C OMP L I S HME NT S
! 14
941.861.5000
OVERVIEW
COMMUNITY SERVICES is comprised of six business centers. Parks and Recreation, along with Natural Resources, provides educational and recreational opportunities while preserving the county’s natural and cultural resources. Libraries provides equal access to information and resources to support community discussion and lifelong learning. Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension provides information and hands-on learning opportunities about agriculture, natural resources, sustainability, nutrition, youth development and other topics. Historical Resources maintains the tools to help people understand and preserve the heritage of Sarasota County.
Parks and Recreation • Held a large variety of special events for seniors, adults and children.
• Served more than 3,700
children through school break recreation programs. • Increased attendance at all county beaches, including Siesta Beach, Dr. Beach’s No. 1 beach in America. • Hosted a full range of regattas at Benderson Park that attracted thousands to Sarasota County. • Enhanced parks marketing through website improvements and interpretive signage. • Acquired additions to Merkle Park and Lemon Bay Park. • Continued work on the bid to host the 2017 World Rowing Championships. • Opened Tuscano Park in Venice.
It’s amazing. Anyone may enter the public library. Anyone with access to a computer may enjoy the resources of our virtual library– and once a person gets connected, the possibilities are endless.
• Installed a new canopy at
Englewood Sports Complex baseball field. • Installed six new playgrounds at Pinecraft Park, Newtown Estates Park, Englewood Recreation Center, Laurel Park, Shamrock Park and Tuscano Park. • Renovated five soccer fields at 17th Street Soccer, Narramore Soccer Field, Venice Wellfield Soccer and Glebe Park Soccer. • Installed new bleachers at the Miss Sarasota Softball field. • Installed new shade structures at Babe Ruth and Englewood Sports Complex. • Converted a little league field to a girls softball field. • Hired new staff at Payne Park Tennis Center and began working on programming improvements. • Coordinated more than 50 user groups on 100 athletic fields throughout the county.
Kick start your heart at one of Sarasota County’s pristine beach parks.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures These lands are your lands, from bustling Pinecraft Park to the boardwalk overlooking a tranquil Sarasota Bay.
Parks and Recreation 50%
Historical Resources 1%
Libraries 26%
Cooperative Extension 3%
Natural Resources 14%
Neighborhoods 6%
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures. Community Services $36,526,594 Parks and Recreation $18,224,541 Libraries $9,604,249 Natural Resources $5,121,228 Neighborhoods $2,232,422 Cooperative Extension $913,913 Historical Resources $430,241
• Approximately 4,500 acres of parkland • 150 parks with 113 athletic fields • 14 public beaches, including one public beach campground, 35 miles of beach shoreline and 6.5 million visitors to our beaches
• 25 miles of paved trails and approximately 75 miles of unpaved trails
• More than 2,500 volunteers with over 100,000 hours worked
15
www.scgov.net photo courtesy visitsarasota.org
COMMUNITY SERVICES Libraries
• 2,756,237 visitors
(9,000-plus per day)
• 19,792 library cards issued (380 per week)
• 3,098,483 items borrowed • 870,972 website visits • 164,357 attendance at
4,222 library programs
• 90,656 attendance at
4,973 community group meetings
• 85,750 volunteer hours • Received the 2012 Florida Library
Association’s Library of the Year award. The award recognized our ability to deliver a diverse range of services to customers while adapting to challenging budget scenarios. • Completed the Selby Library renovation, which included a new Teen Center, installation of an Automated Materials Handling System, and reconfiguration of service delivery points to adapt to the reduction in library staff. • Opened the Osprey Library at Historic Spanish Point, modeled after “connections” style libraries. The service offers access to the library system’s entire collection while honoring the rich character of the historic setting. • eBook circulations increased 44% over 2011. • Celebrated the 10th anniversary of Fruitville Library and the 50th anniversary of Elsie Quirk Library.
16 941.861.5000
• Partnered with the Baltimore
Orioles for a second year to offer the Big League Reader Program, which gives children ages 6–18 the opportunity to attend a major league baseball Spring Training game at Ed Smith Stadium. As a result, 165 children read 495 books, an increase of 160% over 2011. • Established the Library Foundation for Sarasota County. • Hosted the first Band Bash at the new Selby Teen Center, an event “by teens, for teens” that featured local rock bands. • Continued “One Book/One Community,” an initiative to encourage everyone in the community to read the same book. Activities included book discussions, author programs, community forums, arts events, and a partnership project with All Faith’s Food Bank that resulted in the contribution of hundreds of pounds of food items. Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension • Supported the local food system movement with classes including Chickens 101, canning and food preservation, and contemplative food gardening. • Began the Sustainable Floridians Ambassador Program to engage citizens in becoming champions for sustainability.
• Offered free irrigation system
evaluations to help households save money and water. • Launched Master Money Mentors training in financial mentoring and basic money management, in partnership with United Way. • Created a new 4-H County Association and Master Gardener Chapter of Friends of Sarasota County Parks for enhanced volunteer services.
• Continued to bring University of
Florida research and services to the community, including a grant from National Sea Grant to support coastal planning initiatives. • Hosted the Post-9J5 Planning Conference with nationally recognized speakers. • Acquired visualization software through a grant to better facilitate public workshops/ meetings involving contentious community issues. Neighborhood Services • Organized National Night Out Against Crime for more than 2,000 attendees. • Completed community projects in North Sarasota, including sidewalks, traffic calming and street improvements. • Completed drainage improvements and a Legacy Trail connection in Laurel Park. • Granted $120,850 to county neighborhoods. • Graduated the 600th citizen in Civics 101. • Finalized financial plans and broke ground on construction of an $8 million CRA Low-Impact Design (LID) and redevelopment project. • Facilitated public meetings for controversial public projects such as utility line extension, road construction and land use planning. Historical Resources
• Coordinated a conservation and
inventory project spanning six decades of Sarasota film records. • Catalogued the Jack West architectural archive. The project was recognized with a Florida Trust for Historic Preservation grant. • Dedicated three new historical markers in the community. • Nominated the first archaeological site to the Sarasota County Local Register of Historic Places.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
From the ground up: Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension encourages locally grown and sustainably managed produce, while Libraries bring the wonder of learning to all ages, and Historical Resources celebrates the roots of our community.
17
www.scgov.net
COMMUNITY SERVICES Natural Resources • Identified 5,377 sea turtle nests on county beaches, exceeding the previous high recorded in 1998 by nearly 30%. • Enhanced tree canopy by requiring the planting of 7,025 trees, and protected 6,878 others through development review. Protected 14 grand trees. • The Environmental Policy Task Force, a multi-disciplinary group of stakeholders, reported final recommendations relating to the conservation of native habitats and wildlife to the Sarasota County Commission.
• Managed the cleanup of 85
petroleum contaminated sites. Fully restored 14 sites to conditions considered safe for the public and environment, bringing these properties back to their full economic potential. • Installed state-of-the-art air monitoring equipment for accurate reporting of air quality. • Distributed more than 300 rain barrels, bringing the total to more than 1,600 since the program’s inception in 2009. Partnered with Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension to develop a rain barrel program that trains users to harvest rainwater, diverting potentially polluting stormwater runoff from entering local water bodies. • Managed 50,000 acres of countyowned environmental lands, and protected 17,000 acres through conservation easements. • Provided more than 180 free nature walks, 60% of which were led by volunteers. Saving for a rainy day: In 2012, Natural Resources continued its successful partnership with Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension to bring rain barrels to the community, and to train users how to harvest their own rainwater.
18 941.861.5000
• Implemented a cattle grazing
plan on county-owned land in collaboration with the USDA and a local rancher. Expanded partnerships on additional county lands are under development. • Partnered with the Florida Forest Service to restore pine flatwoods on two sites as part of the state’s wildfire mitigation program. Reducing the overgrown vegetation allowed prescribed fire to be applied on one site that hadn’t been safely treated in more than 25 years. Sustainability • Implemented the Get Energy Smart Retrofit Program that has reached 2,239 county households through rebates and loans for home energy improvements. The grant-funded program provided more than $1.3 million in rebates and resulted in $5.5 million in business for local contractors. The
program injected $8.9 million into the local economy and created an estimated 92 jobs through direct and indirect economic impact. • An Energy Upgrade education campaign reached more than 4,500 residents, providing clear steps to achieving home energy savings. • Launched the Energy Economic Zone in partnership with the Office of Economic Development, providing new incentives for clean technology and green businesses to create jobs in Sarasota County. • Received a grant to install nine electric vehicle charging stations at county facilities to facilitate local residents’ transition to electric transportation. • Completed a grant-funded 54-kilowatt solar photovoltaic demonstration project at the Sarasota County Operations Center that is estimated to save $7,900 annually in taxpayer dollars for building electricity. • Facilitated a series of energy saving measures in facilities throughout the county, including lighting retrofits, windows, heating and cooling improvements, plug load reductions and comprehensive energy audits that will result in significant energy and cost savings into the future.
• Certified a total of 118
Sarasota County employees as Green Champions of sustainability practices.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
Sarasota County is leading the way in policies and public outreach programs that preserve the future of precious energy sources, as well as native wildlife — like the majestic loggerhead sea turtle and Florida scrub-jay — and the habitats that support them.
19 www.scgov.net
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health • Mosquito Management • Human Services
Health and Human Services ACCO M PL I S H M E NT S
• Funded more than 100 programs serving 125,000 county residents. • Reduced the county’s Medicaid and nursing home billings from $6.4 million to $3 million. • Assisted military veterans and their families in obtaining $20 million in new benefits. • Helped Sarasota County physicians lead the way in the number of registrants in the statewide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program through the “SafeRX Campaign for Responsible Prescriptions.” • Facilitated the collaborative development of a regional health improvement plan involving CEOs from 12 hospitals and administrators from four county health departments.
20 941.861.5000
• Received grant funding for the
Ringling Health Center and the Child Health Center from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Service Administration. This funding went toward medical care providers and support staff, along with mental health and substance abuse services. • Provided more than $4.3 million of healthy foods to low- and moderate-income women, infants and children through the WIC program. • Expanded Mosquito Management’s partnership with Cooperative Extension Services to promote the use of environmentally friendly pest management policies and educational opportunities.
In 2012, we brought in over $20 million in [Veterans Assistance] claims. We came up with a number of ways to battle prescription drug misuse in this community…and drastically reduced the number of pain clinics. We’ve had a lot of calls from other states and counties to see what we did here.
• Launched the Healthy Sarasota
County initiative to prevent and treat obesity. • Received a score of 102.69% for quality efforts and effective oversight from the annual public drinking water program audit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. • Partnered with the School District and Florida Blue Cross and Blue Shield to provide North Port Elementary School second graders free dental care. • Hosted “Addictions 101” forums in north and south county. • Centralized all vaccine purchasing and distribution, significantly increasing vaccine accountability and decreasing vaccine waste and monetary loss.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures
Human Services 73%
Mosquito Management 11%
Health Department 16% (county-funded)
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures. It only illustrates the county’s contribution. Health and Human Services is also funded by the State of Florida. Starting young, with initiatives like “Healthy Sarasota.” Sarasota County’s sentinel chicken program comes out fighting against mosquitoborne disease.
Health and Human Services $20,608,955 Human Services $14,983,219 Health Department (county contribution to Health Department) $3,266,953 Mosquito Management $2,358,783
Free and low-cost medical services provide the vital care that every citizen deserves.
! OVERVIEW
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES protects and promotes the health of all Sarasota County residents through clinical services, disease control, environmental health, human services, veterans’ services, mosquito management services and disaster preparedness.
21 www.scgov.net
ENVIRONMENTAL UTILITIES
Utilities • Stormwater • Solid Waste • Water Resources
Environmental Utilities AC C OM P L I S HME NT S
OVERVIEW
ENVIRONMENTAL UTILITIES uses innovative approaches to provide water, wastewater, stormwater and solid waste services to areas of Sarasota County, while ensuring a high level of environmental protection and, in some areas, environmental restoration. Services are available 24/7, 365 days a year. This program has reduced pollution loading to our bays and estuaries, so that there is now the same level of sea grass coverage in our bays as was here in the 1950s — improving the quality of our waterways that we depend on for economic growth.
! Water works — making sure your water supply is safe and reliable.
22
941.861.5000
Utilities • Provided water service to more than 80,000 customer accounts. • Provided sewer service to more than 50,000 customer accounts. • Maintained a plan to supply water to customers through 2050. • Produced the annual Drinking Water Quality Report for Sarasota County Utilities customers. • Installed two new production wells at the Carlton Water Treatment Facility wellfield with the aid and participation of SWFWMD. • Upgraded the Venice Gardens Water Treatment Facility generator to improve standby power availability. • Upgraded computerized control systems at the Carlton Water Treatment Facility and University Wellfield.
• Expanded capacity at the Central
County Wastewater Reclamation Facility to 4.8 MGD (millions of gallons per day). • Improved odor control for the wastewater collection system to reduce corrosive gas emissions. • Replaced the Bee Ridge force main. • Completed plans to decommission the Oak Ford Treatment Plant. • Began a manual meter reading program to ensure the accuracy of radio-read meters. • Completed mandatory sewer connection notifications in the Philippi Creek Septic System Replacement Program for areas D1, D2 and N1, of approximately 1,700 properties. • Increased enrollment in the CodeRED early alert program by more than 4,000 citizens.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures [In 2012] our programs diverted almost 1.9 million pounds of material from landfill disposal. We’ve saved over $20,000 through our reuse program, and we’ve continued to service over 10,000 customers…and another 20,000 through curbside collection of electronics and oil.
Utilities 65%
Solid Waste 25% Stormwater 10%
Stormwater • Maintained a high level of residential flood protection, with no structure flooding and minimal street flooding.
Water Resources 0.3%
• Made it possible for flood insurance policy holders to enjoy a 25% premium discount, by maintaining a FEMA Community Service Class 5 Rating. • Closed funding assessments for eight drainage basins, resulting in tax credits to some property owners. • Created a draft low-impact Innovations development manual to enhance in stormwater existing stormwater management management measures and reduce the adverse prevent structure impacts of land development flooding while projects on the county’s increasing wetlands natural resources.
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures. Environmental Utilities $168,391,667 Utilities $108,545,660 Solid Waste $41,830,452 Stormwater $17,463,663 Water Resources $551,892
for local birds and wildlife.
23
www.scgov.net
ENVIRONMENTAL UTILITIES
Solid Waste • Collected household garbage from 145,940 residential units and 6,496 commercial units in unincorporated Sarasota County. The cities of North Port, Venice and Sarasota also transport municipal garbage to the landfill for burial. The landfill is in a property that is surrounded by 7,150 acres of pinelands preserve. • Helped extend the expected lifespan of Phase I of the landfill from eight to 13 years through improved compaction methods and an aggressive recycling program that has diverted more than 40% of residential waste annually for the last four years.
24
941.861.5000
• Helped transform the county’s
previous landfill to a recreational area for radio controlled airplanes and abundant wildlife, including many species of birds, deer, hogs and the Florida alligator. • Provided limited hazardous waste collection for qualifying businesses, and collected hazardous residential waste, successfully recycling some materials back to the public through the Re-Uz-It Shop. Nearly 1.9 million pounds of special wastes (including household hazardous materials, used oil, computers and televisions) were recycled or processed into alternative fuels. Also, through safe collection methods focused at the waste hauler and the resident, diverted 5,000 pounds of lancets and needles from the landfill.
• Expanded the Keep Sarasota
County Beautiful program to the adoption of roadways, parks and ponds. In 2012, the annual International Coastal Cleanup attracted a record number of more than 2,000 volunteers. • Began development of a Landfill Gas to Energy project that will convert landfill gas (more commonly known as methane) to electricity. The project has the potential to produce enough electricity to power approximately 2,000 homes and should be in full operation by 2014. Water Resources • Collaborated with Florida Fish and Wildlife researchers to install continuous monitoring meters in New Pass and Venice Inlet. • Completed the design of the first phase of the Dona Bay restoration.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
Waste not: Sarasota County’s older landfill has been converted into a popular family park, complete with its own remote control airplane field, while the new landfill is surrounded by more than 7,000 acres of pinelands preserve.
25
www.scgov.net
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Emergency Management • Fire/EMS • Lifeguard Operations • Public Safety Communications
Emergency Services
AC C OMP L I S HME NT S
Emergency Management • Implemented ARC360, a web-enabled damage assessment tool to coordinate preliminary storm damage assessments for the county and surrounding municipalities.
• Renewed the National Weather
Service’s “Storm Ready” designation for Sarasota County until 2015. • Conducted a countywide functional tornado exercise.
Red E. Fox and friends — emergency officials understand that youth outreach is one of our most valuable tools to building strong communities.
26
941.861.5000
Fire/EMS • Recognized the following exceptional service: • 36 Unit Citations • 4 Medals of Honor • 5 EMT, Paramedic, Firefighter, and Officer of Quarter awards • 76 Phoenix Awards for 15 cardiac arrest survivors • Received a $55,000 state grant to upgrade EMS operations throughout Sarasota County. • Completed a biannual medical protocol update to reflect the most current treatment methods. • Replaced mobile data terminal software with an enhanced version to improve response abilities. • Implemented GPS-based traffic signal preemption for reduced response times and increased safety.
We save lives, we protect property, but we’ve also had people who vacuumed the carpets after a spill, who have taken care of pets. We get cards and letters all the time telling us what a big difference we made in their lives.
• Enhanced radio communications
by installing a “mobile” repeating system in command units. • Increased the water carrying capacity for the Sheriff helicopter for more effective brush fire control. • All line Battalion Chiefs became Incident Safety Officers to enhance the safety of firefighters. Lifeguard Operations • Entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Town of Longboat Key for water emergency response in the waters in and around New Pass. Public Safety Communications • Completed Phase II of the 800-MHz radio system frequency reconfiguration. • Completed an upgrade to the 911 dispatch center’s computeraided dispatch software, network, desktop computers and mobile data system. • Upgraded 911 call taking technology to a multimode network that increases reliability and decreases potential downtime.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures
Fire/EMS 90%
!
Emergency Management 1%
Public Safety Communications 6%
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures.
OVERVIEW
EMERGENCY SERVICES provides four key areas of public safety: Emergency Management, Fire/EMS, Lifeguard Operations and Public Safety Communications. Emergency Services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Public Safety Communications operates the 911/Dispatch Communications Center, the 800-MHz Public Safety Radio System and the Citizen’s Call Center (861-5000). Fire and EMS services are provided directly to our citizens from fire stations strategically located throughout the unincorporated county and surrounding municipalities. Lifeguards supervise six public beaches and one public pool. In a declared emergency, the Emergency Management staff coordinates planning, response, recovery and mitigation operations.
Lifeguards 3%
Emergency Services $77,425,040 Fire/EMS $69,992,193 Public Safety Communications $4,393,454 Lifeguards $2,053,737 Emergency Management $985,656
27 www.scgov.net
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Planning Services • Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) • Zoning Land Development and Survey and Mapping • Permitting and Building Inspections Office of Housing and Community Development • Code Enforcement
Planning and Development Services • Processed nine amendments to the OVERVIEW
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES provides unincorporated Sarasota County with land planning, zoning, land development, survey/ mapping, permitting and building inspections, code enforcement, Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) service, and administration of the Office of Housing and Community Development.
ACCO M PL I S H M E N T S
Planning Services • Developed and distributed a series of Demographic Profile Reports highlighting recent demographic changes in aging, employment, education, income and growth. • Partnered with Sarasota County Openly Plans for Excellence (SCOPE) to develop an online Community Data Collaborative demographic/statistical research tool for residents. • Processed the approval of the Grand Palm Development of Critical Concern, a 1,999 residential unit mixed-use development. • Reviewed 18 rezone and special exception applications with an average processing length of four months (including public hearings).
28
941.861.5000
Comprehensive Plan. • Coordinated the development of a proposed Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Pilot Program to inventory county-owned property that may be available for sale. • Continued processing the “Fruitville Initiative,” a planned mixed-use infill zone district. Zoning • Established unified enforcement methods, goals, paperwork, procedures and objectives with other jurisdictions within Sarasota and Manatee counties. • Provided 12,184 members of the community with zoning and land use information. • Reviewed and approved 6,933 construction/building permits. • Maintained an average turnaround time of five working days or less for permit reviews.
• Processed 13 zoning code revisions and text amendment revisions.
Code Enforcement ·• Provided weekend, early morning and after-hours field inspections throughout the county. R • emoved 312 tons of debris from neighborhoods through 10 community cleanups. • Removed more than 12,600 illegal signs from county rights of way.
• Investigated more than 6,600 cases that resulted in a 91% voluntary compliance rate. B • oarded up or demolished 29 unfit or unsafe structures; saw an additional 41 properties brought into compliance by property owners.
Land Development Services and Survey and Mapping • Increased electronic submittals by external consultants. • Mapped all the county’s stormwater assets. Permitting and Building Inspections • Created an online permitting application process. • 65% of all over-the-counter permits previously issued in person are now issued online. • Completed 99% of all inspections on time.
• Streamlined and consolidated
application packages, reducing the number of pages for single-family homes from 52 to 21. • Streamlined signage permitting process, eliminating unnecessary requirements and reducing sign permit fees by $67.50. • Implemented an extensive public education campaign to alert property owners about the dangers of using unlicensed contractors.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT Office Of Housing And Community Development (OHCD) • Acquired 21 foreclosed properties through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Fully renovated nine, and sold or rented those to income-eligible citizens. Renovations have begun on 12 of those. • Provided rental assistance to 22 households. • Completed 14 home rehabilitation projects. • Provided financial assistance to 140 households through a Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Recovery Act grant. • Administered a Utility Connection Assistance program that enabled 71 households to connect to the In 2012, Sarasota county’s sewer system. County launched a • Created 68 new housing units and major initiative to 10,500 square feet of retail space alert property owners at Phase 2 of Janie’s Gardens, to the dangers in conjunction with the City of Sarasota and the Sarasota of unlicensed Housing Authority. contractors and • The 2011 Consolidated Plan with the unpermitted repairs. City of Sarasota was approved by the Sarasota County Commission.
!
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures
SCAT 61%
Zoning 2%
Permitting and Building Inspections 9% Code Enforcement Planning Services 4% 4% Land Development 4% Office of Housing and Community Development 16%
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures. Planning and Development Services $38,682,291 SCAT $23,398,710 Office of Housing and Community Development $6,106,130 Permitting and Building Inspections $3,585,731 Planning Services $1,725,246 Land Development $1,577,140 Code Enforcement $1,536,717 Zoning $752,617
We’ve made great inroads in the use of technology. Online permitting now accounts for over 60% of all the permits that customers used to have to go to the counter to receive.
29
www.scgov.net
SARASOTA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT
Sarasota County Area Transit AC C OM P L I S HME NT S
FLEET INVENTORY Fixed Route
• 42 standard diesel buses • 20 hybrid buses
OVERVIEW
SARASOTA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT
Express Route
• 8 commuter diesel buses Paratransit
• 48 diesel buses TRANSFER STATIONS
• Gulf Gate Pavilion
6505 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
• Cattlemen Intermodal
Transfer Station 5951 Porter Way, Sarasota
• Downtown Sarasota
Transfer Station 1545 First St., Sarasota
• Historic Venice Train Depot
30
303 E. Venice Ave., Venice
!
941.861.5000
Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) Sarasota County’s transit service is a bargain. Just ask the nearly 10,000 passengers who use more than 2,000 bus stops every day. SCAT operates 26 routes, 17 hourly and five every 30 minutes. In 2012, SCAT implemented SCAT TRAC, an online, real-time bus schedule and delay tracking system to its Google Transit Trip Planner for easy, online bus schedule planning. It also completed construction of Phase I of the North Port Park and Ride lot, constructed 13 bus stop shelters and one pad in North Port
(bringing the total shelter number to 131), and obtained funding to purchase five vehicles to be used on existing routes on Siesta Key, Longboat Key and Lido Key. SCAT participates in regional and state organizations that promote public transit and transportation master planning. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA) has prepared a Master Plan showing public transportation linking the Sarasota-Manatee area with the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. TBARTA has endorsed the North South Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project.
We’ve got your ticket to ride. Just hitch up your bike and hop on the bus. We make a difference in this society… we are not only contributing to the economic development of Sarasota County, but by encouraging people to utilize public transportation, we are encouraging healthy habits.
Veterans Transit Services SCAT offers veterans daily transportation (Monday-Friday) to two out-of-county medical facilities: Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in Bay Pines; and James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa. This service is provided from six pick-up and drop-off points in Sarasota County. Security All SCAT vehicles are equipped with video surveillance cameras, and security cameras are being installed at all transfer stations. Operators are trained annually regarding safety and CPR.
• Express Route: Limited stop
• Paratransit: Providing external door-to-door transportation services to the transportationdisadvantaged and Americans with disabilities. • Regional: Joint operation of two routes, Route 99 (Palmetto) and Route 18 (Longboat Key) with neighboring Manatee County Area Transit. Route 99 provides 30-minute service from downtown Sarasota, north to the City of Palmetto in Manatee County. Route 18 (Newtown-U.S. 301) serves southern Manatee County, connecting to MCAT on Old U.S. 301 (15th St. E).
Special Features Pedal and Ride SCAT buses are equipped with bike racks to transport two riders’ standard sized bikes.
Services • Fixed Route: Operated 42 fixed route buses; three Commuter Express buses; 23 paratransit vehicles; and 26 contract-operated paratransit vehicles. Provided nearly 2.9 million fixed-route trips and 173,058 paratransit trips. service from the City of North Port to downtown Sarasota via Interstate 75. The specially designed suburban buses are equipped with streaming video and electric outlets. The route is designed to meet commuting needs of several large employers, including Doctor’s Hospital and Sarasota Memorial Hospital, as well as downtown Sarasota businesses and offices. To accommodate more riders, the Florida Department of Transportation is funding a future Park and Ride lot adjacent to the City of North Port’s City Hall.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
Find schedules and route information fast from your phone.
Community Disasters SCAT is considered a second-tier First Responder Agency, supporting Emergency Management by evacuating the general public and those with special needs to shelters when necessary, and providing emergency transportation to victims during weather events or other emergency conditions. Google Transit Google Maps, a popular online mapping website, now seamlessly introduces SCAT transit information to riders. Bus stop/station icons appear on the Google map, and a “Public Transit” link appears as an alternative if the search is for driving directions. Shelters 13 bus stop shelters and one pad installed in North Port using FDOT ARRA funds. Park and Ride Lot In connection with the Express Route service, the Florida Department of Transportation is funding a Park and Ride lot adjacent to the City of North Port’s City Hall. Construction is scheduled to be completed by early 2013.
31
www.scgov.net
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Economic Development AC C OMP L I S HME NT S
! Our temperate climate is making Sarasota County a hotbed of clean and green energy technologies.
32 941.861.5000
OVERVIEW
SARASOTA COUNTY’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM was created to enhance and maintain relationships and opportunities so that our community and business partners can thrive. In 2012, Sarasota County was selected by the state of Florida as one of two locations for the Energy Economic Zone Pilot Program. This designation will allow the county to incentivize clean technology and green businesses and cultivate green economic development. It will also encourage renewable electric energy generation and promote the manufacturing of products that contribute to energy conservation and green jobs.
• Our newest community e-newsletter is dedicated to economic development. • To date, the Economic Development Incentive Program has allocated nearly $5.9 million to 30 businesses that have created 1,389 jobs paying an average wage of $31,715. The companies have committed to creating a total of 2,420 jobs. • More than $20,000 has been used to support sports tourism events like the Offshore Grand Prix Boat Races and the Rev 3 Triathlon.
Our purpose this year was to look at creating more jobs and diversifying our economy. We’ve done a lot of good things, but we’re looking to do more. Next year promises to be even bigger and better.
• In 2012, Sarasota County
committed more than $428,000 to help increase film and entertainment-related production in Sarasota County, resulting in a nearly $3 million return on investment in sales related to those projects. • Worked with CareerEdge, a workforce development agency, to develop a skills gap survey that identified anticipated workforce needs of area manufacturers. Then convened a working group of community stakeholders, including the Sarasota County School Board and SCTI, the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, Sarasota Area Manufacturers Association, local Chambers of Commerce, Suncoast Workforce Board, area institutions of higher learning, employers and local municipalities, to develop and implement the model.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT Sarasota County’s cash rebate incentive program reimburses projects for a percentage of their qualified spending here. “The great thing about Sarasota County [is their] incentive for rebates... so that’s a wonderful incentive for any filmmaker to come here for.” -Stratton Leopold, Producer, Parker, Mission Impossible 3, Wolfman
Start your economic engines! In 2012, Sarasota County fueled events like the Offshore Grand Prix and Rev 3 Triathlon with more than $20,000. Local manufacturers and outside film companies benefited from other incentives as well.
What success looks like Millennium Coating, LLC, a subsidiary of ASO, LLC, received a 10-year Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption of 70% on qualifying real property and tangible personal property. In return, Millennium will construct a new $7 million facility in Sarasota County, creating 14 new jobs with an average wage of $40,581. The new facility will allow parent company ASO to expand, creating a commitment for 35 new jobs.
33 www.scgov.net
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Horticulture • Facilities • Fleet • Field Services
Operations and Maintenance OVERVIEW
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE consists of Field Services, Horticulture, Facilities and Fleet. It is responsible for providing quality and timely maintenance, expanding the life cycle performance of infrastructure, using energy resources responsibly, and optimizing the use of space and the size and use of the county’s vehicle fleet.
ACCO M PL I S H M ENT S
Horticulture • Planted 27 trees in Englewood along Dearborn Street and 13 Bald Cypress as part of the North Sarasota Enhancement Project. • Planted new retention pond at 24th Street and Booker Street as mitigation for removal of a Grand live oak at another new pond site. • Installed native Florida plantings along Stickney Point Road, Boyd Park, Siesta Key, Lakeview Park, the Osprey Junction Trailhead and Siesta Drive Circle. • Completed five soccer field renovations at Narramore Sports Complex, 17th Street Park, Wellfield Park and Glebe Park. • Removed nearly 600 tons of seaweed off county beaches.
34 941.861.5000
Facilities Facilities Maintenance implemented a variety of cost-cutting, energy-saving measures in 2012: • Replaced 17 air conditioning systems with equipment having a higher SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) of 19. • Installed variable frequency drives at four locations to allow powering down of operating systems during off-peak hours. • Replaced traditional bulbs with more energy-efficient LED and induction lighting at nine parking lots, one warehouse, three gymnasiums, two fleet location bays, one fire station bay and four interior offices. • Installed a fan-powered air curtain to reduce the loss of cool air at one facility’s main entrance. • Modified or upgraded building automation systems at four locations to monitor and control ventilation, lighting and security. Fleet • Reduced costs by 3% by implementing an in-house contract-operated parts store. • By changing oil change intervals from 5,000 to 6,500 miles, saved 5,200 quarts of new and used motor oil, reducing the costs of fuel filters and the disposal of materials into the hazardous waste stream. • Continued installing oil/water separators at the two county car wash areas, reducing waste and ensuring EPA compliance.
!
Field Services Much of this division’s work goes unnoticed, but it is invaluable to maintaining our superior quality of life in Sarasota County.
• Replaced seven gasoline-fueled
vehicles with electric vehicles and a third hybrid bucket truck. • Completed fiber optic networking of the county’s four fuel sites. • Significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions by replacing two large 2-1/2 ton military brush trucks with Ford F550- vehicles. • Continued the practice of replacing gasoline-fueled vehicles with hybrids when practical. • Moved Emergency Services vehicles to 98% LED lighting, and continued to replace traditional vehicle light bulbs with LED lighting when available. • Replaced two EMS military vehicles with smaller fuel-efficient brush trucks. • Minimized the contamination, recovery and environmental impact of spills by converting all existing assets used around waterways to environmentally friendly mineral oil hydraulic systems. • Purchased all F250 and F550 vehicles with gasoline engines, saving up to $12,000 in replacement costs over diesel engine vehicles. • Purchased only diesel engine vehicles with new diesel particulate filters and urea exhaust injection systems that minimize nitrous oxide and greenhouse gas emissions and diesel particulate emissions to almost 0%.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT Sidewalks • Repaired/patched 1,058 square feet • New installation 1,724 square feet • Removed or replaced 25,500 square feet • Rehabilitated 3,755 square feet Road Right of Way Repair • Potholes filled 3,034 • Road cuts repaired 20,434 square feet • Asphalt overlayed 10,433 square feet • Roadside cut repaired 8,661 Iane feet • Road radius repaired 3,284 Iane feet • Curb and gutter repaired 575 Iane feet • Handrail repair/installed 365 Iane feet • Handrail replaced 200 Iane feet • Guardrail repaired 186 Iane feet • Roads graded 72,770 Iane feet
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures
Horticulture 15% Field Services 33%
Fleet 31%
Facilities 21%
Debris Removal Right of Way • Dead animal under 60 Ibs. 104 • Dead animal over 60 Ibs. 29 • Debris removed 2,183 tons • Debris removal (outside right of way) 55 tons
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures.
Vegetation Control • Sidewalk vegetation removed 138,500 Iane feet • Manual tree trimming 143,000 Iane feet • Machine tree trimming 81,363 cubic feet
Fleet $17,076,554 Facilities $11,446,441 Field Services $18,638,429 Horiculture $8,617,760
Stormwater (open and closed systems) • New pipe installed 262 Iane feet • Pipe joints repaired 80 • Pipe replaced 3,609 Iane feet • Pipe cleaned 19.18 miles • Structures cleaned 1,747 • Pipes televised 7 miles • Canals excavated 293,367 Iane feet • Canals mowed 57,574,943 square feet • Canal travel way moved 36,309 acres • Canal erosion repaired 70,631 square feet • Debris removed from canals 5,589 tons • Canals treated with herbicide 426 acres • Ditches treated with herbicide 3,860,414 Iane feet • Erosion travel way repaired 81,060 Iane feet • Ditches excavated 113,296 Iane feet • Debris removed from ditches 15,590 tons
Operations and Maintenance $55,779,184
A long arm excavator clears a local ditch, freeing the flow of stormwater and creating greater flood control.
Utilities • Mainline repairs 105 • Sewer service laterals repaired 107 • Water service repairs 938 • Sanitary sewer pipe cleaned 31.26 miles • Sanitary sewer pipe televised 3.32 miles • Fire hydrants repaired or replaced 394 • Automatic read meters installed 3,748 • Fire hydrants flushed 4,562 • Air release valves repaired or replaced 194
35 39
www.scgov.net
SUPPORT SERVICES
Human Resources • Office of Financial Planning Enterprise Information Technology • Communications
Support Services
Human Resources OVERVIEW
HUMAN RESOURCES is responsible for managing recruitment, compensation and job classification, employee and labor relations, employee training and development, and employee benefits and wellness.
ACCO M PL I S H M ENT S
• Improved performance evaluation through enhanced automation, a streamlined process, a more meaningful evaluation and a less complicated form. • Partnered with Neighborhood Services to improve and deliver an effective Volunteer Program. • Optimally managed demands for organizational service at a rate below industry standards. • Recruited candidates to fill 191 full- and part-time positions. Filled 158 OPS/temporary positions. • Reduced costs by consolidating internal HR resources and streamlining processes.
36
Employee development is crucial to building and retaining a productive workforce.
941.861.5000
• Built strong community
partnerships that resulted in paid work experience for adults re-entering the workforce, and served on the Advisory Board for Sarasota County Technical Institute. • Produced a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) through an ongoing collaborative process with both sides, making concessions that resulted in a more balanced agreement for both county and IAFF. • Reduced temporary staffing services by 40% by planning more effectively. • Kept medical insurance premiums to a slight increase for the 2013 plan year.
• Developed an Employee Benefits &
Wellness Committee that creates a shared understanding of successful employee health improvement initiatives and benefit plan designs. • Refreshed county values through employee input to ensure a unified belief in how employees interact with one another and citizens. • Created a new county Vision Statement to define what the county aspires to accomplish for the community. • Upgraded the county’s Learning Management System to better track employee education and training, which will include mandatory classes. • Expanded online classes so employees could learn remotely.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
FY2012 Actual Operating Expenditures
Human Resources * 53%
Office of Financial Planning
Enterprise Information Technology 20%
ACCO M PL I S H M ENT S
• Received the Government Finance
Communications 3%
Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 22nd consecutive year. • TRIM (Truth in Millage) notices, public hearings, resolutions and more than 150 millage forms have all been certified by the Department of Revenue as being in compliance with no errors for the past 11 years. • Restructured county debt, resulting in $43 million in interest savings. • Achieved a reduction in property insurance premiums in 2011 despite a $22 million increase in total insurable property value. • From FY2010 to FY2011, Capital Assets increased revenue from $734,000 to $5.3 million by increasing the number of sold assets while decreasing the number of donated assets.
Office of Financial Planning 24%
This chart reflects Fiscal Year 2012 actual operating expenditures. Support Services $75,545,587 Human Resources $40,337,426 * (Approximately 88% of this amount is associated with medical and dental insurance costs for employees of the Sarasota County Commission and elected officials.) Office of Financial Planning $18,408,289 Enterprise Information Technology $14,817,460 Communications $1,982,412
• Continued to maintain superior
bond ratings, grants compliance, and the financial management of hundreds of capital projects. THE OFFICE OF provides financial and resource management services in three key areas: Budget and Support
OVERVIEW
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Services; Billing, Collections and Capital Assets; and Safety and Risk
37
www.scgov.net
SUPPORT SERVICES
Enterprise Information Technology • GIS Services managed the technical OVERVIEW
EIT provides the technical infrastructure, expertise and tools to support application and data management, hosting operations, network security, workstation support and telecommunications.
ACCO M PL I S H M E N T S
• Maintained 3,500 computers
and servers and nearly 4,000 desk phones for Sarasota County, the Sarasota County School Board, Sarasota County elected and appointed officials, and the Town of Longboat Key.
• Provided internet security services
to 40,000 computers at the Sarasota County School Board. • Maintained 1,000 cell phones. • Maintained 245 software applications countywide. • Maintained an email archive of more than 90 million emails to satisfy public records requirements.
38
941.861.5000
implementation of ARM360, the county’s new disaster assessment software. ARM360 allows real-time updating in GIS with information collected in the field related to damaged structures, flooded areas, or any other issues associated with man-made or natural disasters.
• Upgraded the Sarasota County
website (scgov.net) to a new design and technology platform.
In 2012, Communications and EIT worked hand in hand to develop a new county website.
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
ACCO M PL I S H M E NT S
• Partnered with EIT and numerous
community focus groups to develop a new Sarasota County government website, www.scgov.net • Developed a Speakers Bureau of county experts on more than 200 topics. • Partnered with the Florida Institute of Government to create an annual Citizens Survey. • Provided regular television coverage of all Sarasota County Commission meetings, Planning Commission meetings and other local municipality meetings. In 2012, Access Sarasota TV televised 97 board and committee meetings, totaling more than 550 hours of live television.
• Received the top award from
the Advertising Federation for designing the popular No. 1 Beach sign for Siesta Key. • Hosted the 2012 Florida Government Communicators Association (FGCA) Conference.
• Expanded community TV
programming to the cities of North Port and Venice. D • eveloped “Community Connections,” a weekly e-newsletter of county programs and services for citizens, and “Business News,” a weekly e-newsletter to promote county economic development initiatives. • Televised “County Talk” and “Sarasota Business Today,” programming examining major county issues and economic development in Sarasota County.
COMMUNICATIONS keeps Sarasota County citizens and employees informed about county programs, services and initiatives.
OVERVIEW
Communications
• Continued to utilize social media
with the development of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr sites.
Communications has expanded its reach to citizens through social media, distributing county news via the internet, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. It also coordinates a Speakers Bureau that connects with residents on more than 200 subjects.
Access Sarasota TV provides gavel-to-gavel live coverage of all Sarasota County Commission meetings. The station also produces original programming that showcases local issues and economic development.
39
www.scgov.net
PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
Citizen Advisory Boards Want to get involved? Sarasota County government values the participation and input of its residents in the decision-making process. To further that goal, the county has more than 30 citizen advisory boards, councils and committees, with members appointed by the County Commission. Each board focuses on a specific issue or topic. For a list of current Advisory Board openings, or to submit an application online, visit www.scgov.net New Advisory Board members must attend an orientation class. For class times, dates and locations, visit www.scgov.net
!
• Bicycle/Pedestrian/Trail
• Human Services
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• I ntegrated Pest Management
Advisory Committee
• Building Code Board of
Adjustments & Appeals
• Citizen Tax
Oversight Committee
• Citizens Advisory Committee for Public Transportation
• Coastal Advisory Committee • Community Action Agency Board
• K eep Sarasota County
Beautiful Advisory Board
• L ibrary Advisory Board • Mechanical Contractors Licensing & Examining Board
• M etropolitan Planning Organization Citizens Advisory Committee
• Neighborhood Initiative
• Englewood Community
• Parks Advisory and
Advisory Committee
Redevelopment Area Advisory Board
• Environmentally Sensitive
Lands Oversight Committee (ESLOC)
• Fire-Rescue and
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board
• General Contractors
• Health Facilities Authority
and Industrial Development Revenue Bond Citizens Advisory Committee
• Health Planning Council of SW Florida
• Historic Preservation Board • Historical Commission
941.861.5000
Advisory Board
• Development Services
Licensing & Examining Board
40
Advisory Council
Grant Advisory Committee Recreation Council
• Planning Commission • Public Facilities Financing Advisory Board
• Sarasota Tree
Advisory Council
• Seniors Advisory Council • Stormwater Environmental
Utility Advisory Committee
• Tourist Development Council • Traffic Advisory Council • Water and Sewer
Advisory Committee
• Waterways Advisory Council • Well Drilling Advisory Board
2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT
The Path Ahead The purpose of our journey is to assure that Sarasota County is a premier place to live, work and play. In 2012, our path was marked by numerous successful partnerships, like the one forged with Ringling College of Art and Design. When the county sought an extensive photography catalog of local water
bodies, the resulting collaboration became “Sarasota Captured Science,� a stunning historical record of the rivers, bays, streams and estuaries that shape our landscape, nurture sea life and create a unique beauty that changes at
the whim of Mother Nature. Thanks to student photographers B. Paul Patterson and Samantha Delia, the community can enjoy hundreds of images that accurately and artistically capture the life blood of our region.
View their work online at http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/new/ and keep your eyes on the horizon for greater successes in the year to come.
2012 Annual Report PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS
Sarasota County 1660 Ringling Blvd. Sarasota, Florida 34236 941-861-5000 Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr or www.scgov.net