City of Sarasota Commissioner District 1
The City of Sarasota is governed by a Commission - Manager form of government. There are five City Commissioners, two are elected at-large (city wide) and one is elected from each of the 3 single-member districts. All elections are nonpartisan. Commissioners serve a 4 year term. In April of each year the Commissioners select a Mayor and Vice Mayor from among their members. The City Commission appoints a City Manager, a City Auditor, Clerk, and a City Attorney, who are known as Charter Officials . The City Commission meets at least twice a month. Salary is $50,309.
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Kyle Scott Battie
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Sequoia Felton
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Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? (750 character limit)
To help mitigate the affordable housing crisis, the City of Sarasota comprehensive plan amendment provides a density incentive to developers in exchange for 10% attainable housing in their projects. Is this an effective incentive or too beneficial for developers? Explain your answer. (750 character limit)
Newtown is the site of most new public housing construction. Is this a good decision or should more public housing be developed in other areas? (750 character limit)
Growth management is a critical issue for Sarasota. Discuss the effectiveness of the current City's Comprehensive plan (aka Sarasota City Plan) and the development review process to manage our growth. Do you support or oppose the use of impact fees and other methods of paying for new growth and infrastructure? (750 character limit)
Cite an example of how you worked effectively on an issue involving state/county/city government as an involved citizen or elected official. (750 character limit)
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I'm running because I care about the people the community and the next generation. I'm most concerned with the over development that is taking away our green spaces and causing more flooding.
I feel that developers have too much influence. When money talks, the current commission listens. I'm running to make sure everyone in the city of Sarasota has a voice in how the city grows. We need to make sure to grow in ways that make sense for our economy, geography, and the needs of our workforce. The city of Sarasota has "addressed" the affordable housing problem by trying to change what the word "affordable" means. That doesn't actually fix anything - it just hides the issues under misleading labels. I believe in learning from mistakes and successes. Density bonuses and extra height produced NO housing workers could afford in the Rosemary District. So no, I don't think using that formula alongside major roads makes sense.
I say a little bit of both. But the best way of producing the affordable housing we need quickly is to invest in fixing up existing affordable homes and in returning rental stock that has been converted to short-term vacation rentals operating in residential areas back to the residential purpose the city's zoning rules require.
Infrastructure (roads, sewage, shade) has lagged population growth. Development that adds density in terms of people also adds additional strain to sanitation, transportation, and other shared infrastructure. Developers should pay the full freight for the required infrastructure. The residents of the city of Sarasota should not be subsidizing developers building luxury units.
One example traffic congestion and safety – particularly when pedestrians, bicycles, and motor vehicles converge. The world is complicated, and although the city can't fix every problem - particularly when jurisdiction crosses layers of government - but the city CAN do a better job of REALLY listening to problems, analyzing data, identifying root causes, and fixing what can be fixed. If an issue is outside the city's jurisdiction, I'd like to see the approach switch from "don't blame us" / "not our problem" to, "we are going to take the lead in advocating with other agencies to solve this complicated issue".
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