News Briefs

+ Commission makes changes to some boards
The Longboat Key Town Commission changed the way some of its boards work at its regular meeting Monday night at Town Hall.

The commission approved on first reading an ordinance that establishes a new five-person board for its Zoning Board of Adjustment. The commission decided reducing the number of members from seven to five will make achieving a quorum easier.

Commissioners also approved on first reading an ordinance that gives site plan authority back to the Planning and Zoning Board for applications that don’t have departures from town code.

+ Police report string of bicycle thefts on the Key
Longboat Key police say that at least 11 bicycles have been reported stolen since March.

Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have also experienced a rash of thefts, according to Capt. Kristina Roberts.

Residents are urged to store bikes in units or their condominium’s storage area.

+ Longboat Key Club begins golf course renovations
Scheduled renovations this summer for the Longboat Key Club’s Islandside golf course have begun.

Golf course renovations include:

• All greens being re-sodded with drought-resistant paspalum grass;

• The redesign of six greens;

• The restoration of 12 greens to their original size;

• An upgraded irrigation system;

• The reconfiguration and/or removal of certain sand traps.

The Islandside golf course will reopen for play June 23.

The Harbourside golf course will then close June 24 so both the Red Hawk and Blue Heron courses can be re-sodded, from tee to green, with paspalum grass. The Harbourside golf course is expected to reopen in early October.

Meetings & agendas
Town Commission Regular Workshop — 1 p.m. Monday, May 19.

Planning and Zoning Board Regular Meeting — 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 27.

Town Commission Regular Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, June 2.

All meetings take place at Town Hall, 501 Bay Isles Road, unless otherwise noted.