Meeting/Event Information

Topic:

This presentation will outline the City of Sarasota’s coordinated approach to hurricane recovery and long-term coastal resiliency planning. Following recent storm events, the City advanced more than $21 million in recovery projects tied to FEMA-funded repairs while leveraging those efforts to strengthen shoreline protection, stormwater performance, and coastal infrastructure adaptation. Using Ken Thompson Park as a case study, the session will highlight integration of FEMA repairs with a living shoreline system to improve ecological performance and wave attenuation. Additional discussion will include the Bayfront Park seawall reconstruction—elevated to address projected sea level rise—and a citywide stormwater mapping initiative designed to enhance hydraulic modeling, capital planning, and risk reduction. The presentation will emphasize funding coordination, regulatory compliance, and implementation sequencing within an active municipal environment.

About the Speakers:

Nikesh (“Nik”) Patel, PE, CPM, PTOE, CGC, AICP Director of Public Works, City of Sarasota

Nikesh Patel serves as Director of Public Works for the City of Sarasota, providing executive leadership over critical infrastructure systems supporting mobility, resiliency, and community vitality. He brings more than 22 years of experience delivering complex public-sector infrastructure programs at the local and state levels.

He holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management and dual bachelor’s degrees in Civil and Mechanical Engineering. His professional credentials include Professional Engineer, Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, Certified Planner, Certified Public Manager, and Certified General Contractor. Prior to joining the City of Sarasota, Nikesh spent 17 years with the Florida Department of Transportation leading major transportation programs. He currently serves on a Leadership Florida Region Council and is an incoming 2026 Board Member of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association.

Sage Kamiya, PE, PTOE City Engineer, City of Sarasota

Sage Kamiya serves as the City Engineer for the City of Sarasota and brings 30 years of professional engineering experience in both the public and private sectors. A fourth-generation Floridian, he is a descendant of the founders of Florida’s first Japanese settlement (1905).

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of South Florida. Sage is a licensed Professional Engineer and certified Professional Traffic Operations Engineer. He leads Engineering Services and Permitting, Capital Projects and CIP Management, Transportation Planning, Streets and Highway Maintenance, Environmental Engineering, and Surveying. He has received ASCE SunCoast Branch Government Engineer of the Year, ASCE Project of the Year, and Florida Section ITE Transportation Engineer of the Year honors.