Longboat Key at 60: Get ready to party

How much is the town’s 60th birthday worth to the town?

Five out of seven members of the Longboat Key Town Commission agree it’s worth spending up to $13,765 in taxpayer dollars for an anniversary party that’s free to the public Nov. 14, at Bayfront Park.

Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce President Gail Loefgren presented both a revised funding plan and a revamped birthday party for the commission’s review at its regular meeting Monday night.

An event that was initially pitched as a private party requiring a $20 ticket to enter just two weeks ago is now a free party along Sarasota Bay that the chamber hopes will attract up to 200 residents with the promise of fireworks and a three-hour jazz band concert.

“Based on your request, we will allow everyone to attend with no charge,” Loefgren said. “It’s a simple, community picnic with a great 16-piece jazz band, your own food and coming together as a community to celebrate the birthday of the town.”

The chamber, which previously asked the town for $20,000 at the commission’s Sept. 21 regular workshop, requested $13,765 from the town to pay for a $3,000 jazz band concert and $6,900 for print and digital advertising costs.

Loefgren says sponsors will pay for fireworks, beer and wine that will cost $10,700.

Despite reduced costs and modifications to the event, Vice Mayor Terry Gans said he couldn’t support using taxpayer dollars to help pay for party costs.

Gans noted that three years ago during the recession, the commission said no to every nonprofit organization that it historically gave money to and has not reinstated those annual contributions.

“We came to the conclusion ... it wasn’t our money to give away and pick or choose who’s deserving and not deserving,” Gans said. “I certainly think this is nice and would be happy to contribute my own money and come together.”

Commissioner Phill Younger agreed.

“I’m really struggling with this,” Younger said. “I’m afraid of the precedent it sets.”

The consensus shifted, though, when Commissioner Pat Zunz disagreed with Gans and Younger.

“This is not something that will be asked for by the chamber over and over,” Zunz said. “It’s important because of the fractures and disagreements in the community that we come together for this. It would be a mistake to pass it up.”

Mayor Jack Duncan, a retired marketing executive, called the event “pure marketing.”

“To me, with this event, we’re saying to the world, ‘We’re Longboat Key, and we want to celebrate that and want the community to be a part of that celebration,’” Duncan said. “It’s important.”

Duncan, Daly, Zunz and commissioners Lynn Larson and Irwin Pastor approved funding the party. Gans and Younger opposed the motion.

Loefgren thanked the commission for supporting the party.

“I won’t come back to you again with another request until the 70th birthday,” Loefgren said.