Town to ask for telecommunications proposals

The Longboat Key Town Commission directed Planning, Zoning & Building Director Monica Simpson to seek proposals for addressing telecommunications issues on the island at its Sept. 22 regular workshop.

The week prior, the Planning & Zoning Board unanimously voted to seek commission approval to hold public hearings on possible telecommunications-related amendments to the town’s zoning code.
But Commissioner Jack Duncan asked if the town had conducted an independent study of the issues related to island-wide cell-phone service.

“I’m not excited about taking expert opinion from people who are selling me a service,” he said.

Simpson said that the town contacted numerous contractors about the possibility of commissioning an independent study, but those contractors declined upon learning that their work could create a conflict of interest for future contracts. Simpson suggested that the commission direct staff to put out a request for proposals to determine the town’s needs.

Also at the Sept. 22 regular workshop, the commission:

Directed staff:
• To proceed with the development of a lease agreement with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) to excavate an offshore area located in federal waters.

Forwarded to its Oct. 3 regular meeting:
• A fiscal year 2011-12 schedule for town employees.
• A modified building-fee structure that allows the town to assess charges based on square footage rather than the value for new construction, additions and alterations and establishes flat fees for certain types of work such as swimming pools and decks.

Agreed to discuss at a future workshop:
• The possible adoption of the International Property Code, which would allow the town to enforce enhanced property-maintenance standards.

Discussed:
• A Sarasota-Manatee Area Regional Transit (SMART) Connect presentation about its current feasibility study that focuses on regional transit improvements in Sarasota and Manatee counties and future plans for the region.
• A seawall at 6633 Gulf of Mexico Drive that, according to a report by the firm of Coastal Planning & Engineering Inc. was once exposed by erosion and now “restricts access along the beach” and “transfers erosion stresses on the properties to either side of the seawall once it is exposed.
• CP&E’s response to the peer review of the town’s Comprehensive Beach Management Plan.
• Options for financing beach improvements that would allow the town to fund beach improvement projects without having to go through a referendum for approval.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].