Sarasota County and Longboat Key commissioners set to meet

The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners will hold a joint meeting with the Longboat Key Town Commission Tuesday to discuss a range of topics affecting Longboat residents.

Topping the list will be beach-renourishment plans and a proposed consolidation of SCAT services with Manatee County that could affect service on Longboat Key.

According to a county memo, the federal funding cap for dredging New Pass has been reached, and additional dredging of New Pass cannot proceed unless additional federal funding is secured. In addition, the memo states that the amount of sand available at New Pass is not sufficient to match the volume eroded from Lido Beach. Up for discussion Tuesday will be a controversial plan to dredge Big Pass for Lido Beach sand — a proposal that has Siesta Key residents concerned about potential impacts on the health of Siesta Beach.

Also up for discussion will be a proposed agreement between SCAT and MCAT to offer coordinated service on Longboat Key. The proposal comes after an April joint meeting between the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners and the Sarasota County Commission in which both boards instructed their staffs to come up with an agreement to share public-transportation responsibilities on Longboat Key. The final draft of the proposal will be presented to the boards at another joint meeting next month.

Also on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting will be Tourist Development Tax allocation and an update on the Bayfront Park Recreation Center.

Tuesday’s joint meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Sarasota County Administration Building, Think Tank, Third Floor, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.

Residents can call 861-5000 for more information.

Contact Nolan Peterson at [email protected]