- May 1, 2024
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Some of Longboat Key’s town commissioners have some extra homework ahead of them this upcoming year.
District 1 Commissioner Gary Coffin, District 2 Commissioner Penny Gold and Commissioner-At- Large BJ Bishop have all chosen to take on the extra responsibility to collaborate with the Florida League of Cities on various committees.
Members of the committees were appointed by FLC President Greg Ross, mayor of Cooper City.
The FLC is a "united voice for Florida's municipalities," according to its website. Through committees and advocacy campaigns, the organization aims to promote local government voices.
The committees meet a few times a year and bring together local officials from all over the state. Each committee discusses relevant issues and allows officials to exchange ideas related to their topic.
Coffin, Gold and Bishop all served on the town’s Planning and Zoning Board for numerous years prior to becoming an elected commissioner. All three Longboat Key commissioners shared their excitement about embarking on the process and getting to meet other elected officials.
Time on commission: Six months; was on P&Z Board for three years
FLC Committee: Land Use and Economic Development
What are you most excited about through working with the committee?
Coffin recently completed the FLC’s Institute for Elected Municipal Officials, and said the sessions were very informative.
Now, Coffin is looking forward to meeting with elected officials from all over the state to look into issues that may arise due to Florida’s growing population.
“It’s going to be a delicate situation to figure it all out,” Coffin said. “It’s going to take lots of heads from different parts of the state to do it.”
With the committee, Coffin said approaching this issue will be interesting while collaborating with officials from all types of cities, both smaller and larger.
How do you feel your skills and experience can contribute to the committee?
This is Coffin’s first appointment to an FLC committee
After about three years on the Planning and Zoning Board, Coffin said it felt like a natural progression to take on a role with the Land Use & Economic Development committee.
Time on commission: Two years; was on P&Z board for two years
FLC Committee: Transportation and Intergovernmental Relations
What are you most excited about through working with the committee?
Gold said an initial point of interest was the intersectionality of transportation issues with many other issues, like air quality and the workforce.
“I think advances in transportation, in clean, efficient, accessible transportation is an important element in addressing a lot of society’s issues,” Gold said.
Traffic congestion, Gold said, is an issue for people of Longboat Key, and she hopes working with a committee like this will allow her to stay on top of the relevant issues
Additionally, Gold is interested in staying on top of issues related to “home rule,” and being able to bring insight to conversations surrounding Longboat Key’s future projects such as the complete streets and Broadway Roundabout.
How do you feel your skills and experience can contribute to the committee?
Gold said she is still on the learning curve with the FLC.
But, her background working on infrastructure projects and past experience in local government will be a benefit.
“It was always of interest to me, and I think this is a really good match for my interest and experience,” Gold said.
Time on commission: Four years; was on P&Z board for 15 years
FLC Committees: Utilities, Natural Resources and Public Works; Public Policy Administration; and Federal Action Strike Team
What are you most excited about through working with the committee?
Bishop has been working with these FLC committees for about three or four years. Working with colleagues on policies that are mutually important is something that piques her interest most.
She said many delegations that represent county government have never served in local office, so it’s important to her to bring awareness to local issues.
“A lot of what we do is education, and trying to get people to understand (local government), those things that impact people’s day to day life in a town in Florida,” Bishop said.
How do you feel your skills and experience can contribute to the committee?
Having served on committees like this for a couple years now, this work isn’t new to Bishop. She’s also served on the Land Use and Economic Development council that Coffin now sits on.
She also previously served as mayor and a commissioner of Leesburg, Virginia.
