Sarasota Police survey downtown business owners on parking

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - The Sarasota Police Department has sent a survey to business owners about parking in downtown Sarasota, where parking has been a long-running problem for drivers and business owners.Business owners said the parking issue has cost them money and customers. They said the survey, which arrived in their email inboxes the previous day, gives them hope that solutions are on the way.The formal survey asks business owners about peak hours, employee parking challenges and suggestions for new parking regulations.Many merchants welcomed the survey. After months of voicing concerns, they said they feel they are being listened to.“We want to create a friendly, fun shopping environment, not a hostile shopping environment,” a business owner said. “And I’m super excited that the chief of police is reaching out to us right off the bat and saying, what’s going on downtown, and how can we help?”