Commission will discuss beach project today

The Longboat Key Town Commission will review an update on the town’s 2011-12 island-wide beach project that could cost taxpayers as much as $40 million.

Town Manager Bruce St. Denis and Finance Director Tom Kelley will review the current status, outline funding options and discuss the timeline for placing a referendum on the town’s March 2011 election ballot.

Also at its 1 p.m. workshop today at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, the commission will consider:

Forwarding to its Monday, Nov. 1, regular meeting for first reading:
• An ordinance that will place a referendum question on the March 2011 election ballot addressing term limits as applied to partial terms.

• An ordinance to place a charter referendum on the town’s March 2011 election ballot pertaining to the requirement for a preliminary election.

• An ordinance that will allow the fire chief to participate in a defined contribution plan, which reduces the chief’s pension cost from 46% to 16% of salary.

• An ordinance that amends portions of the town’s tree code.

Forwarding to its Monday, Nov. 1, regular meeting for first reading and public hearing:
• An ordinance that revises the infrastructure element of the town’s Comprehensive Plan to support the town’s 10-year potable water supply plan.

Forwarding to its Monday, Nov. 1, regular meeting for formal action:
• A proposed Town Commission meeting calendar for 2011.

• Proposed resolutions that allow for reimbursable government costs for the town’s 2011-12 island-wide beach project.

Forwarding to its Monday, Nov. 1, regular meeting for formal action and public hearing:
• A resolution that allows for changes to the future land use map for parcels in the Bayfront Park Recreation Center for future redevelopment.

Forwarding to a special workshop meeting scheduled for 6:45 p.m., Nov. 1:
• An ordinance that adopts an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan to update its capital improvements element.

Confirming:
• The town’s intent to retain control for permitting potential film projects with the two counties the town lies in.

Requests:
• By the Longboat Key Garden Club to replace existing bricks in the Butterfly Garden with engraved bricks.

Refunding:
• General obligation bonds that funded the construction of the Town Hall, Police Department and Public Works buildings, which could generate savings of $256,000 over nine years.

Establishing:
• Legislative priorities for submittal to Sarasota County, Manatee County, and the ManaSota League of Cities.

Holding:
• A discussion on the Longboat Key trolley route if there is any new information to report.

To see what the commission decided, check www.YourObserver.com later today for a workshop wrap-up update.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].