NEWS BRIEFS

+ ULI prepares for October visit to Longboat Key Save the date.
The Washington, D.C.-based Urban Land Institute (ULI) is coming to town Oct. 20 through Oct. 25, to meet with 100 residents to discuss Key issues and get answers to a list of questions that will be used to find out what the town wants and where it’s headed.

In June, the Longboat Key Town Commission approved the use of the consultant for a price tag of $125,000.

A working subcommittee that prepared the questions in June is still preparing documents and the history of the town for ULI consultants to peruse. A draft schedule for the meetings with residents is also being formed.

Per ULI recommendations, interviewees should include residents, members of the business and development community, representatives of key public agencies and community groups, political leaders and others who can provide information and insight to the panel.

The meetings and interviews will be held at the Longboat Key Hilton Beachfront Resort.

Suggestions for those to be interviewed can be forwarded to town planner Alaina Ray at [email protected].

+ Firefighter/paramedic receives promotion
Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi promoted Lt. Rocky Parker to the rank of deputy fire chief at a ceremony at the north fire station July 26.

Parker is a 15-year member of the department.

+ Gold Coast Eagle Distributing works to clean up the Key
The Anheuser-Busch World Environment Beach Clean Up 2013 Day held July 27, at Quick Point Nature Preserve on Longboat Key, yielded 34 bags of debris that volunteers collected in recyclable bags and disposed of in the proper receptacles at the park.

John Saputo, Longboat Key resident and the owner and president of Gold Coast Eagle Distributing L.P., and several employees, including family members, searched in weeds, water, under walkways and any other place they could for litter.

“Our beaches, parks and nature preserves are some of the most beautiful, not only in Florida, but also in the United States,” Saputo said in a prepared statement. “Gold Coast Eagle Distributing is proud to be a part of keeping these natural places of beauty looking clean for generations to enjoy.”