Sarasota accessibility board flags parks, public-works for follow-up after quarterly ADA review

The Sarasota City Accessibility Advisory Committee on Feb. 5 reviewed its quarterly ADA transition-plan dashboard and urged faster, clearer remediation timelines from several city departments.

Staff reported a jump in facilities-completion percentage — from 4% to 11% — driven largely by completed City Hall bathroom work. Utilities and parking also showed progress: utilities completed many public-facing items and parking improved after Bay Park Conservancy renovations to the municipal auditorium and Bayfront community center. But board members said Parks & Rec and Public Works require closer oversight.

"We need someone to come explain their issues and how we can help," one board member said, pressing for a short deadline and departmental presentations. Staff told the committee she will ask Parks & Rec and Public Works to appear at upcoming meetings and said the new public-works director and city engineer have submitted a $900,000 state appropriation request to address citywide right-of-way ADA concerns.

Board members asked for clearer projected dates on the transition plan and for a ranking of departments so the committee can bring the most urgent areas in for explanation. Staff said she will ask the new public-works leadership to provide updated timelines and will consider reframing distant target years as "unprojected" until funding and schedules firm up.

The committee also discussed specific accessibility problems raised by members: damaged curb ramps and temporary sidewalk repairs at Lido and near Ringling, raised sidewalk edges on the Sarasota side of the bridge, and multiple A-frame and sidewalk-cafe layouts that constrict walking routes. Staff said she will submit Click2Fix tickets, coordinate with engineering, and continue enforcing scale drawings for sidewalk cafes.

On Van Weisel (Rosenkamp Auditorium), members described circulation and evacuation concerns tied to stair layouts and how walkers and mobility devices are stored during events. Staff plans an on-site review with Van Weisel and to propose interim fixes — such as reconfigured accessible seating, automatic doors and staff training — while hazard-mitigation planning continues.

The committee deferred any formal enforcement actions in the meeting and will track department responses at the March meeting. The group adjourned after approving the meeting minutes earlier and voting to close the session 5-0.