The Governmental Affairs Office is located within the City Manager's Department and promotes the City of Sarasota's interests with state and federal legislators and oversees interlocal agreements. It is responsible for developing the City’s Commission's legislative goals, coordinating approaches for advocacy, identifying appropriation requests, building relationships at the local, state, and federal levels, reviewing legislation that impacts Sarasota, and ensuring seamless communication between our elected officials and the City. The Director of Governmental Affairs represents the City to various community groups, including the Bay Park Conservancy and Sarasota Performing Arts Center. Additionally, the Director of Governmental Affairs’ role also leads the Office of Special Events, Grants, Marketing and Purchasing. 

The Sarasota City Commission adopted their 2024 State Legislative Priorities and Appropriations on October 16, 2023. Download a PDF of our State Legislative Priorities or view the full text below:

 City of Sarasota 2024 State Appropriation & Grant Priorities

1. Sarasota Bay Watershed Project: 

   Allocate $1,000,000 to implement measures to reduce water quality pollutants and achieve flood protection in alignment with the Sarasota Bay Watershed Management Plan. 

2. Ocean Technology and Physical Ecology Program Implementation: 

   Allocate $1,000,000 to implement ocean technology that will monitor sea level wave height, currents, nutrient concentrations, and general water quality parameters throughout the Sarasota Bay. 

3. Workforce Attainable Housing: 

   Allocate $2,000,000 for design and engineering of a workforce attainable 

HOME RULE 

• Advocate against preemptions of local governments and unfunded mandates. 
• Support legislation that restores local government’s authority to regulate vacation rentals. 
• Support legislation that restricts sovereign immunity limit increases to an economic formula (such as CPI) and does not apply increases retroactively. 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

• Support full preservation of the Sadowski Housing Trust Funds to be used solely for affordable housing programs. 
• Work with municipalities to clarify the implementation of the “Live Local Act”, support legislation to remove mandatory administrative approval and maintain local zoning laws. 

WATER QUALITY, ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY 

• Support state funding that will protect and restore water resources and water quality, including drinking/wastewater infrastructure upgrades, stormwater pollutant load reduction, and the State Revolving Loan fund. 
• Support legislation and state funding that assists municipalities to prepare for and mitigate sea level rise, coastal erosion control, and other resiliency issues. 
• Support legislation that authorizes an integrated watershed management program to manage all water sources within a watershed and support full funding of the state Water Protection and Sustainability Trust Fund which includes funding for integrated watershed management projects. 
• Support efforts to reduce and mitigate impacts from harmful algae blooms in the Gulf of Mexico & Sarasota Bay. 
• Support legislation that holds manufacturers financially responsible for cleanup and mitigation for environmental impacts related to PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS. 
• Support State efforts to accept federal funding for energy efficiency rebate programs. 

 SOLID WASTE 

• Support legislation that protects a city or county’s right to provide and manage recycling and solid waste services. 

 PLANNING / DEVELOPMENT 

• Support legislation that maintains and advances municipalities’ control for land development, local zoning codes, historical preservation and planning. 
• Support policies that allow local governments to sustain healthy economies, such as economic development initiatives, infrastructure investment, job creation, business development and relocation. 

 TRANSPORTATION 

• Support state funding to enhance multimodal connectivity, including community trails, sidewalk improvement, ADA accessibility, and initiatives to increase the number of residents and children who walk or bicycle. 
• Support state funding initiatives that target safety issues within the city’s transportation network, including implementation of variable messaging, and intersection enhancements aimed at reducing crashes. 

TECHNOLOGY 

• Support legislation and state funding to increase broadband accessibility, ensuring all residents, businesses, and institutions can access high-speed internet, bridging the digital divide. 
• Support policies and state funding that drives the development of an innovative smart city, including electric vehicle (EV) charging, traffic data programs and Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Initiatives.