Key leaders share wish lists

Build a community center and fix the pension plans.

Those were two of the goals that community members suggested to the Longboat Key Town Commission at its Wednesday, April 11 goals-and- objectives workshop.

Rest assured, the commission is determining the solutions related to both issues: The commission will discuss a two-phase plan for Bayfront Park Recreation Center at its Thursday, April 19 regular workshop. And the commission is currently holding executive sessions in which they’re addressing pension solutions.

But community leaders shared other goals with the commission that don’t involve building a $7 million facility or funding a $26 million unfunded liability.

Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums Secretary Roger Goldstein presented 10 recommendations to the commission that included pressing the U.S. Coast Guard to limit Longboat Pass and New Pass bridge openings to every 30 minutes and encouraging neighboring communities to remove hazards along evacuation routes off Longboat Key.

On behalf of The Friends of Tennis Inc., Dick Schlorf asked the commission to maintain affordable tennis. Longboat Key Garden Club President Madelyn Spoll encouraged the commission to work toward the construction of a community center, citing the example of Old Forge, N.Y., where a new arts center was constructed that brought together members of its community.

Longboat Key Public Interest Committee Co-President Gaele Barthold presented the same six goals as last year with the added suggestions of reporting back to PIC and the community about the status of those six goals and encouraging residents to take on volunteer roles within the town.

Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START) President Sandy Gilbert asked the commission to approve a working partnership between the group and the town’s Public Works Department that would involve development of a low-impact design plan for construction on the Key similar to that of Sarasota County. This would limit storm-water runoff and possibly allow storm water to be stored for later irrigation use.

Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key President John Wild made a pitch for the group to work with the town to revive youth baseball at the Bayfront Park field.

Longboat Key Education Center Executive Director Susan Goldfarb, who in the past has expressed concerns about the impact a community center could have on the Education Center, asked the commission to consider forming a committee that would include representatives from nonprofits, community organizations and churches to discuss how to move forward with developing the proposed facility.

“That way we don’t put anyone at risk or over book,” she said.

Longboat Library incoming President Patrice Greene and board member Eileen Hassel asked the commission to consider a line item in the town’s budget for the library. The town owns the land and building where the library is located, and the library, a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers, pays other costs.

“Look at the budget for the tennis courts,” Hassel said, referring to the Longboat Key Public Tennis Center. “You have the asset; we have the maintenance.”

But commissioners cautioned against comparing the two facilities.

“Let’s not get started on apples to oranges,” Commissioner Jack Duncan said. “I think we need to look at each of these enterprises separately.”