For her first, and final, State of the City address, Sarasota Mayor Debbie Trice skipped the typical speech to play a short film at City Hall.
With voice-over from Trice, the clip played like a tourism commercial for the city. She highlighted Sarasota’s recovery from the trio of Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton that slammed the area in 2024 and pointed to a spike in tourism over the past year. Trice also outlined major infrastructure projects, such as the Lido Beach renourishment and the replacement of a critical water main underneath U.S. 41.
It was a celebration of municipal work. In a commission chamber accustomed to contentious public comment over development and parking, the jovial atmosphere saw Trice retire from public office and swear in newly minted Commissioner Flo Entler, who cruised to victory early this week alongside Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch, who has begun her third term…