Citizens Academy enrollment open for Longboat Key's 2026 season

Longboat Key’s popular Citizens Academy is accepting sign-ups for the eight-session program on consecutive Wednesday mornings, beginning in mid-January.

The sessions, each of which focus on a specific topic, are designed to demonstrate how local government operates, delve into present and future town projects and explain town services.

Most sessions and a graduation event take place at 11 a.m. at Town Hall.

The schedule and topics are:

Jan. 14: Town Manager: Welcome, History & Overview of Longboat Key Government

Jan.  21: Town Clerk: Town Elections, Official Records & Meetings

Finance: Your Tax Dollars at Work

Information Technology: Behind the Scenes, Making “IT” Happen

Jan. 28: Planning, Zoning & Building: Building a Premier Community

Code Enforcement: Maintaining Neighborhood Standards

Feb. 4: Human Resources, Purchasing, Tennis & Public Works Utilities: Wellness Programs, Doing Business with the Town, Public Works Utilities, and Public Tennis on Longboat Key

Feb. 11: (Public Works, 600 General Harris St.): Parks & Recreation: Beaches & Parks, Equipment Tour

Feb. 18: (Police Department, 5460 Gulf of Mexico Drive):  Police: Serving & Protecting One of Florida’s Safest Cities

Feb. 25: (North Fire-Rescue Station, 5490 Gulf of Mexico Drive): Fire-Rescue: Public Safety & Emergency Services

March 2: Town Attorney: Charter, State & Sunshine Laws;  Town Commission (1 p.m.): Regular Meeting & Graduation

To sign up, contact Savannah Cobb at [email protected] or call 941-316-1955.