Community center plans move forward

Longboat Key voters will most likely have the final say via a referendum vote about whether they want a community center at Bayfront Park. But whether that vote happens sooner — as early as March — or later has yet to be determined.

The Longboat Key Town Commission reached a compromise at its May 13 meeting that would potentially extend community-center discussions. They also voted to hire a design professional to combine a 2003 recreational facility design, done by architect Lisa Wannemacher, of Wannemacher Jensen Architects, with a 2009 Sarasota County park plan into a single project.

The commission voted to follow Town Manager Bruce St. Denis’ recommendation to begin the process of hiring a design professional in accordance with the state-required consultant selection process known as the Consultant’s Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA), which will take at least five months — which could affect the possibility of a March referendum.

The decision came after three hours of discussion, during which commissioners debated whether to follow the process needed to hold a referendum next spring or to focus on the idea of a community center, even if the focus would result in additional delays. At the May 26 Town Commission regular workshop, commissioners will discuss possible candidates for a citizens committee that will explore features that the community wants in a recreational facility.

Throughout the meeting, Mayor Jim Brown urged commissioners to focus on moving forward with the project rather than focus on a March vote.

Commissioner Pat Zunz echoed Brown’s sentiments.

“Part of what I see is revitalization,” she said. “I don’t think we should get hung up on the referenda for March.”

The discussion also focused on a range of topics about the proposed recreation center. Some commissioners questioned the price tag of just under $7 million in addition to $200,000 to $300,000 in annual maintenance costs.

Commissioner Phil Younger suggested that the project could be done at a lower cost, pointing to Christ Church of Longboat Key, Presbyterian, which is in the process of completing a new 17,000-square-foot building at an approximate cost of $3 million.

“I would say the proposal before us is a little ambitious,” Younger said.

“I’m afraid that the project will be killed by referendum because of financials,” Commissioner Jack Duncan said.

After Brown asked commissioners to focus on the project, Commissioner Lynn Larson said that residents need to know the scope of the project.

But Commissioner Hal Lenobel insisted that voters had already spoken about the community center when they voted against a 2003 proposal.

“In 2003, when voters soundly defeated the amendment, times were good,” Lenobel said. “Now, the economy is terrible, and I find that the citizens would react exactly the same or maybe even worse.”
Lenobel cast the sole vote against the directive to hire a design professional for the project plan and to move forward with community center talks.

Vice Mayor David Brenner said after the meeting that he was pleased with the compromise.

“It doesn’t do us any good if we’re just talking about what commissioners are interested in,” he said.
At the end of the meeting, Brown also expressed optimism.

“I think we’re moving in the right direction,” he said.

OPEN FOR DISCUSSION

Was it a meeting or a workshop?

That was the question at least one commissioner asked before voting at Friday’s Longboat Key Town Commission meeting.

According to Town Manager Bruce St. Denis, the Friday, May 13, community center discussion was advertised as a workshop — typically a meeting reserved for a discussion in which votes do not occur — but it was listed on the town’s website, longboatkey.org, and in commission packets as a meeting.

St. Denis said that the discrepancy should have been caught, but that the version posted at Town Hall and in commissioners’ packets takes precedence. He also stressed that Friday’s vote did not involve the allocation of funds and gave staff general direction.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].