News Briefs

+ Trolley group moves forward
Longboat Key, Lido Key, St. Armands Key Chamber of Commerce President Tom Aposporos has asked Town Manager Bruce St. Denis for a town contact so that he and his group can learn more about the Longboat Key trolley system.

Aposporos, who is overseeing a trolley working group that hopes to generate revenue for the route through advertising and decrease wait times for the service next year, said the group needs to know as much about the trolley as possible.

Wrote Aposporos in an e-mail dated Dec. 14 to St. Denis: “One of our efforts is to learn as much about the Manatee and Sarasota systems so that we can focus our energies accordingly.”

St. Denis informed Aposporos that Public Works Director Juan Florensa will work with the committee as a town representative.

+ Webb seeks change for special events
Planning and Zoning Board Chairwoman B.J. Webb hopes the Town Commission will consider making a change to the special-events section of the town code.In particular, Webb wants the commission or the Planning and Zoning Board to discuss simplifying the process an organization must follow to apply for multiple special events during a calendar year.

Webb, a member of Friends of Tennis, has urged the town in the past to make it easier for non-profit entities to hold special events and place temporary signs onsite, such as those for tennis sponsors. Webb brought up the issue again after the Public Tennis Center was forced to pull a permit for an event that was just a few hours long.

Planning, Zoning and Building Director Monica Simpson is verifying whether the Town Commission or the planning board should discuss the matter.

+ Hazardous waste pickup scheduled
A household/hazardous-waste collection for barrier-island residents will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at the Coquina Beach bayside parking access area, on Anna Maria Island.

Residents can take advantage of the collection to dispose of solvents and chemicals, batteries and technology equipment such as televisions and computers.

For information, call the Manatee County Utilities Operation Department at 798-6761.

+ Holiday garbage schedule unchanged
The town of Longboat Key’s garbage, yard waste and recycling schedule is not affected as a result of the Christmas Day and New Year’s Day holidays.

+ Christmas tree disposal offered
After the holidays, town residents may place Christmas trees curbside by 7 a.m. Wednesdays as part of normal yard-waste collection. Please remove all ornaments, icicles, lights and stands first.
Contact the Public Works Department at 316-1988 if you have any questions regarding this service.

Meetings & agendas
Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3.
FDOT Signage Committee Meeting — 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4.
Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 10.
Zoning Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting — 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 13.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road.