Suit could shape new parking ordinance

The ordinance governing tax assessments based on Siesta Key Village business’ parking allotments could face a major overhaul after Sarasota County Commissioners this morning voted 3 to 2 to reject a $277,219.27 settlement offer for a lawsuit filed by Village property owner Chris Brown.

Sarasota County commissioners, following objections to how assessments were conducted on Brown’s properties, voted unanimously for Sarasota County Administrator Randall Reid to produce options for changing the ordinance within 30 days. The settlement will again be evaluated when Sarasota County Attorney Stephen Demarsh receives documents with a justification for the amount.

Brown filed the suit citing a civil rights violation stemming from his 2011 parking tax assessments, which doubled for some of his properties over the previous year, yet shrunk for every other property in the Siesta Key Village Public Improvement District.

“It’s pretty clear the assessments aren’t supposed to change,” Barbetta said. Sarasota County Public Works Director Jim Harriott had previously asserted that Assistant County Attorney David Pearce, who had interpreted the ordinance similarly to Barbetta, was incorrect.