Town embarks on planning phase with community organization input

Plans for the upcoming budget cycle are off to a solid start. 

Longboat Key town commissioners and staff began the planning process for the upcoming cycle with a special workshop on April 1. Large community groups were invited to present key goals and objectives before the commission. 

“This is the first community that I’ve been a part of where you actually have this opportunity,” Town Manager Howard Tipton said. “It is one of the great things of Longboat Key, the connectedness between the residents and the commission.” 

After this workshop, commissioners have a strategic planning retreat on April 15, which will further fuel the path to the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget. 

“It's the beginning of a three-month intensive period here in the town where we listen to members of the public,” Mayor Ken Schneier said. “This is the first instance of that — hearing your ideas, the major groups in town, about what you’d like to see on our agenda for key items to address.” 

Commissioners heard each community group’s concerns and comments and discussed what could be done to address some key issues. Among common concerns were traffic, flooding, infrastructure and community center space. 

Co-Chair of Longboat Key North Paul Hylbert told commissioners that the group sees infrastructure, street flooding, canal dredging and Gulfside Road beach solutions as key issues to address in both the short term and long term. 

Hylbert also said the group is engaged in being active community voices in projects like the Broadway Street Roundabout and the Whitney Plaza Community Center. 

President of The Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums Margie Clarke also emphasized the importance of beach preservation and canal maintenance programs. 

Terri Driver presented on behalf of the Longboat Key Green Team and said she feels Longboat Key could be a leader in environmental initiatives. Among those, she suggested the town should further explore battery-powered landscaping equipment and mangrove enforcement. 

Susan Phillips said that the Longboat Key Garden Club is focused on continuing partnerships and that the club is interested in a master plan for landscaping at the Town Center Green. 

Longboat Key Turtle Watch President Tim Thurman told commissioners that Longboat Key remains among the top three highest areas for hatchling disorientation in the state and that the organization is working with code enforcement on earlier preventative patrols for lighting infractions. 

Commissioners wanted to see more data on the disorientations to explore potential solutions. 

Suzy Brenner, executive director of The Paradise Center, emphasized that the center should be involved in conversations about the Whitney Plaza Community Center and the Sarasota County Longboat Key Library projects.