1979-1983

In 1979 the Local Government presented a series of items to the Charter Review Board, suggesting revisions in:

1. The number of Commissioners and how they should be elected.

2. Reapportionment and redistricting.

3. Centralization of the County Personnel Department.

4. Reorganization of the Charter Review Board into an appointed, non-partisan board.

Based on prior positions on Land Use, in 1979 the League spoke against the City of North Port annexation of large adjacent areas. What the League feared was that the annexed areas would not be subject to the zoning and land use laws of the County, but instead would be subject to the less stringent, more development-oriented laws of the City of North Port. The County Commission proposed an amendment to the County Charter making County ordinances prevail, when in conflict with the North Port ordinances. The League supported the amendment in the 1979 referendum, and it passed.

The Local Government Committee, having recommended a "Master Plan" in 1970, welcomed the State-ordered County Comprehensive Plan, begun in 1980. They joined with the Natural Resources Committee and studied the new plan, labeled Apoxsee. in great detail. In 1981 the League  recommended its adoption with the following changes:

• more built-in encouragement of low- and middle income housing

• more control of private water companies

• specification of a yearly review of its functioning, rather than the State-required five-year review.

 Also in 1981, the League supported a moratorium on rezoning and exceptions.

 The Education Committee supported a School Board request for a mileage increase in the May 1980 referendum. The Committee studied "school-based management," the Middle School concept and the school system's Comprehensive Plan. In 1981 they presented their support of Middle Schools and their recommendations for redistricting.

In 1982-1983, the League again pushed for the non-partisan election of School Board members.

The League's interest in Day Care was evidenced in their spearheading a coalition to change County Ordinances in1981, their support of a City of Sarasota Day Care ordinance in 1981, and joining with the Junior League to form the Family Day Care Homes Task Force in 1982.

A committee was formed in 1980 to study the problem of "latchkey" children − the children who are without adult supervision before or after school. The committee conducted a community survey to establish the need for a program for this group, and in 1982 formed a coalition of relevant organizations to find ways to meet the needs of these children. Several after-school programs were started, mainly in the southern part of Sarasota County.

In1980, Health Care was introduced as a National Study item. The Sarasota League decided to investigate local health care problems while waiting for directions from National. A committee was formed in 1981. Their study led to the 1981 consensus that there was a perceived need for a broader range of outpatient care than was presently being provided. The League organized a "Blue Ribbon Committee" of community leaders, and in 1982 they conducted a survey to assess this need. The results were provided to the administration of Sarasota Memorial Hospital.

Members of the Land Use Committee studied the problem of septic tanks and a County septic tank ordinance was passed in March 1983.

In August 1981, the League published a report entitled "Safe Drinking Water in Sarasota County." The booklet brought together the relevant facts for citizens, and was widely distributed and well received. The County paid for the publication of the booklet's revision in 1983.

 In October 1981, the committee presented to League members the background and arguments for and against the County purchase of a large tract of undeveloped land, the MacArthur tract, for future development of a County water supply. The consensus favored the purchase of the tract and the League actively lobbied for its purchase. The referendum passed by a two to one margin in 1982.

On the committee's recommendation, the League also supported the amendments to Apoxsee to accommodate the Charlotte Harbor Management Plan.