The Phillippi Creek Coalition (PCC) is an alliance of neighborhood associations and residents advocating for effective stormwater management across Sarasota County. Phillippi Creek is our case study, but the issue — deferred maintenance, misallocated fees, and ignored ordinances — is systemic.
Our Mission
We advocate for residents' rights under Sarasota County's own laws. Section 110-311 (Article IX) requires the county to maintain stormwater conveyance systems. We're here to make sure that happens — not just on Phillippi Creek, but county-wide.
The Coalition
The PCC brings together four neighborhood organizations:
- Pinecraft
- Forest Lakes Country Club Estates (FLCCE)
- South Gate Community Association (SGCA)
- SAND (Supporters of Action Now on Dredging) — representing River Forest, Admiral Place, Phillippi Cove, Phillippi Gardens/Terra Bea/Monticello
Key People
- Dave Ochs — coalition organizer and advocate
- Kristy Molyneaux — community engagement and documentation
- Nadia Bowen — research and public records
- Connie Neeley — neighborhood liaison
- Laura Odley — community outreach
- Jake Crabtree — technical analysis
- Seth Johnson — data and technology
Our Approach
We work through advocacy and enablement — not confrontation. The PCC holds regular meetings with county leadership, including Steve Botelho (Deputy County Administrator) and Ben Quartermaine (Stormwater Director). We believe in working with government while holding it accountable to its own commitments.
We document everything. We cite public records. We show up consistently. And we share what we learn so any resident in any watershed can do the same.
The Watershed
The Phillippi Creek watershed is one of the most populated in Sarasota County. It includes:
- Phillippi Creek — the main waterway draining into Sarasota Bay
- Cow Pen Slough — a critical tributary that flooded catastrophically during Tropical Storm Debby
- Celery Fields — a regional stormwater facility and nature preserve
- Numerous canals, oxbows, and drainage features
What We Want
- Maintain the waterways — as required by Section 110-311
- Transparency — show residents where their stormwater fees actually go
- Accountability — honor commitments made at public meetings
- Sustained maintenance — a funded, scheduled program so this doesn't repeat
- Enable other communities — share tools and knowledge county-wide
Join Us
Whether you live along Phillippi Creek or on any waterway in Sarasota County, the same ordinances protect you. We welcome anyone who wants to be part of the solution.