Jim Boldt

This document provides an overview of Sarasota County's sustainability program, detailing its historical context, established policies, and significant accomplishments. The program's strategic focus areas include enhancing energy and water efficiency, promoting green building practices, developing renewable energy infrastructure, advancing sea level rise resiliency planning, encouraging sustainable transportation, and implementing waste reduction initiatives. Through these efforts, the program aims to foster a sustainable economy, society, and environment within the community by reducing resource consumption, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and improving air quality.

This document details Sarasota County's Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan, initiated under the Resilient Florida grant program. The plan aims to identify and evaluate potential flood impacts from tidal flooding, storm surge, and rainfall on critical assets, including community facilities, infrastructure, natural/cultural resources, and transportation. It uses sea level rise projections for 2040 and 2070 to inform its analysis and develops adaptation strategies, categorized into avoidance, accommodation, protection, retreat, and procedural measures. Key focus areas for intervention include Philippi Creek, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Nokomis Beach, South Myakka River area, and Manasota Beach, with the overarching goal of enhancing community resilience against future flood risks.

This document details the City of Sarasota's climate adaptation planning process, initiated in September 2016. The plan aims to integrate climate projections into capital investments and policy decisions, enhance staff understanding of climate science, and prioritize projects for funding. Key components include establishing local climate projections (e.g., sea-level rise, storm surge, extreme rainfall, extreme heat), conducting a vulnerability assessment of government infrastructure (transportation, stormwater, wastewater, public lands, critical buildings), prioritizing identified vulnerabilities, and developing specific adaptation strategies. The process culminates in recommendations for funding, capital improvement integration, and regional collaboration.

The master plan for Marie Selby Botanical Gardens outlines a comprehensive strategy to secure its future by integrating sustainable building practices, enhancing visitor experience, and preserving historical assets. Key pillars include developing net-positive energy and water-efficient structures, protecting valuable plant collections from environmental risks, expanding visitor capacity, and increasing green space. The plan aims to establish the gardens as an international leader in sustainability and ensure its long-term viability.

The meeting proclaimed April 2019 as Earth Month in Sarasota County, highlighting the county's commitment to environmental conservation through various programs and actions supporting sustainable living, alternative transportation, environmental lands preservation, green building practices, and energy and water efficiency strategies. The meeting included discussion of educational programs and activities to raise environmental awareness and involvement opportunities for residents, visitors, and businesses. Celebrations included Earth Day events, participation in Drive Electric Week, community cleanups, and the giveaway of native trees.