News Briefs: Longboat Key 7.23.15

Mayers works to protect manatees

Lands End resident Tom Mayers informed Town Manager Dave Bullock in a July 9 email that manatees need more protection than ever around Longboat Key.

A photo he received from kayakers in Longboat Pass that he sent to Bullock and the Longboat Key Town Commission shows some of the 14 manatees were seen in the area over the July 4 holiday weekend at a time when an estimated 250 boats were in the water.

“We should do everything that we can to protect the wildlife here on Longboat Key so that residents and visitors can enjoy views like this in the future,” Mayers wrote to Bullock.

Mayers has acquired manatee signs from Save the Manatees last month, after learning from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that the signs are allowed off the shores of the Key and fall under town jurisdiction. He will now post them on and near docks on the north end.

Commissioner Pat Zunz responded to the email, saying there’s “a record number of manatees in the bay, the inlets and the canals this year.”

Last month, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Agency told Mayers that signs warning boaters about manatees in the water are allowed off the shores of Longboat Key and are controlled by the town’s jurisdiction

“Thanks to Tom Mayers bringing much needed attention to this,” wrote Zunz in her email.

Bullock provides transportation update

Town Manager Dave Bullock provided the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials with a city of Sarasota transportation update that affects Longboat Key motorists at a meeting July 15, at Longboat Key Town Hall.

Bullock and some town staffers attended a July 13 city transportation workshop that highlighted upcoming changes near Gulfstream and U.S. 41.

The temporary improvements at Fruitville Road and U.S. 41 that went into effect in March with the right turn lane on north bound U.S. 41 will be made permanent with changes to the median and a longer turn lane. A roundabout is planned for that location by 2020-21.

Gulfstream Avenue and U.S. 41 should have a roundabout under construction by 2018-19. And roundabouts on U.S. 41 at 10th and 14th streets are scheduled to begin in 2016-17.   

Bullock said he will also hold discussions with city staff this summer about traffic suggestions for St. Armands Circle.

City staff also plans to conduct a feasibility study of a water taxi serving City Island.  

A comprehensive traffic analysis that the Florida Department of Transportation is conducting will be ready this fall.

Meetings & Agendas

• Code Enforcement Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3

• Zoning Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting — 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13

Consolidated Pension Board Meeting — 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28