- July 5, 2024
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Longboat Key town commissioners recently reaffirmed their support for the town’s Information Technology department to pursue digital display boards for the town to enhance messaging.
At the June 17 budget workshop, IT Director Jason Keen presented initial cost estimates while commissioners furthered discussions about design options and the use of digital display boards.
Out of the $9,164,258 budgeted for Streets capital projects in fiscal year 2025, the town set aside $150,000 for the digital display board projects.
Town Manager Howard Tipton explained to commissioners that current town ordinances generally prohibit electronic signs.
“There is generally a prohibition against digital signage on the island, except for government,” Tipton said. “Which is nice, it allows you to have that uncluttered look as you go up and down GMD.”
However, as long as the town is clear in its messaging, the display boards would be permitted.
“It would be government-related news … we just want to make sure that we’re clear with that,” Tipton said. “This is not as much a community signboard as it is a government signboard.”
That said, the boards would not be used to promote community events for Longboat Key organizations. Rather, the boards could be used to inform residents about ordinances like the lighting restrictions for sea turtle nesting season, or in emergency situations like flooding or gas leaks.
There are two main options for digital display boards from the estimates Keen received from Robson Sign. Robson Sign has completed digital display signage projects for Manatee County and other municipalities.
The town could opt for single- or double-sided digital signs. With double-sided signs, the messaging would appear on both sides, whereas for single-sided signs the messaging would only appear on the side facing traffic coming onto the island.
“The only caution to a dual-side is traffic coming from the other direction could be distracted,” Keen said.
Keen added that, since Longboat Key has an active pedestrian community, distracted drivers may cause traffic issues that could affect pedestrians.
Additionally, there was a discussion about what the signs should look like. Commissioners and Keen agreed that the new digital signs should reflect the community feel of Longboat Key.
“My recommendation is we would do a design that would fit the look and feel of Longboat,” Keen said.
Commissioners agreed that the digital display boards should look similar to the town’s new signs, like the ones at Bayfront Park or the Town Center Green.
The base of the sign could be anything from aluminum to faux stone.
Single-sided aluminum base signs could range in price from $30,000 to $50,000 per sign. For single-sided faux stone, the price would be around $35,000 to $76,000 per sign.
Double-sided signs with an aluminum base were estimated to cost around $6,000 to $10,000 per sign, whereas the double-sided faux stone signs would cost about $15,000 to $50,000 per sign.
As for the digital display board itself, the board would come in full color with video and text, as well as a five-year warranty and all necessary software included.
Keen said the signs would be around the same size as the town’s current signs, or about 80-100 inches wide.
District 4 Commissioner Debra Williams was in favor of the double-sided board, and asked if it would be possible to program them in a way that only one side would be used on a daily basis but both sides could be used in emergency situations to blast out messaging.
Debra and Vice Mayor Mike Haycock advocated for a third sign located mid-Key. Both said the location would be crucial for getting messages out to residents who may not leave the island frequently, if at all.
“It’s really critical that people get information, who are maybe not leaving the island,” Williams said.
For example, in the case of flooding from storm events, residents going to Publix would be able to see the digital signs and be alerted to roads that may be flooded.
Tipton said staff would look into the option and whether the current location in front of Bicentennial Park would be the best place for a mid-Key sign.
Keen said he would take the information from the discussion and go forward with a plan for digital display boards that fit the look and feel of the community.
