News Briefs

+ Voter registration deadline Feb. 21
The deadline to register to vote in the town’s General Municipal Election March 20 is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21. The only contested race on the ballot is for the District 3 Longboat Key Town Commission seat. For registration and absentee ballot information, contact the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections at 741-3823; Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections at 861-8600; or the Longboat Key Town Clerk Office at 316-1999.

+ Town offices to close for Presidents Day
Longboat Key town offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of Presidents Day. The alternate trash pickup date will be Tuesday, Feb. 21. Town offices will re-open at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21.

+ Code discussions to continue at workshop
The Longboat Key Town Commission will discuss options for reviewing the town’s Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan at its regular workshop scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, including methods taken by other Florida local governments in reviewing their own Comprehensive Plans. The commission discussed the possibility of a review that would begin with issues surrounding planned-use developments and continue with a holistic review of the Zoning Code and Comprehensive Plan.

+ Mote, USF announce new partnership
Leaders of Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee signed an agreement Feb. 10 that will allow Mote scientists and USF faculty to work together at Mote in research and undergraduate education. The agreement will complete the build-out of classrooms and teaching laboratories at Mote and will create new joint appointments for Mote researchers who will serve as faculty.

Meetings & agendas
• Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials Meeting — 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 (Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach)
• Neighborhood meeting to discuss plans for Arts Center — 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16 (Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, 6860 Longboat Drive S.)
• Town Commission regular workshop — 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16
• Planning & Zoning Board meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21
• Police Officers’ Pension meeting — 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22
General Employees’ Pension meeting — 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22
• Firefighters’ Pension meeting — 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22
All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.