Implementation Item of Green Team Analysis of Building Permitting Process
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Steve Branham
Just to follow up on your question regarding the results from Lean Six Sigma efforts, Allen has provided a brief summary below of the permitting team project and how they’re getting ready to roll it out.
We’ll be measuring the impacts of these changes with the goal of reducing the time to get a permit issued and share these results with the Commission at the appropriate time.
Again, I want to recognize Lisa for working to roll this training out and Allen for utilizing the Green Belt team project to streamline services. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Implementation Item of Green Team Analysis of Building Permitting Process
To: Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton
I wanted to share an example of one of the implementation efforts going into effect next Monday (4/27) related to the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt review of how the processing of building permits can be improved.
As you know, the Green Belt team dug into permitting data from last year to tease out where there’s room for improvement in processing timelines & what the likely causes are of those areas for improvement. The multi-step data analysis they went through identified some great ideas for bolstering the submission of complete applications, which will lead to faster building permit review times.
Staff from the Building Division worked incredibly diligently over the past several months to update application checklists. The intent behind the checklists is to provide building permit applicants with the resources they need to submit complete applications & to submit those application materials with file naming conventions that will make the reviewers’ jobs more efficient. Both of these issues (accepting incomplete applications & allowing non-standardized file naming conventions), have resulted in slower processing times (due to unnecessary rounds of reviews to gather missing information) & unnecessary burdens on staff (quickly identifying applicable files for review). The end result will be better utilization of staff time & faster overall reviews for applicants (win & win). I’ll report back on efficiencies after assessing the processing time related data.
Allen Parsons
Director Planning, Zoning & Building Department
Town of Longboat Key
Town sends compliance agreement to Half Moon house owner
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
As a follow up to the Town Manager’s email below, the newspaper article is summarizing an agreement that was forwarded to the Property Owner’s counsel pursuant to Section 150.21 (G) of the Code. This section of Code authorizes the Town Manager, Building Official and Town Attorney to utilize a “Compliance Agreement” to obtain a written commitment from a Property Owner to perform certain abatement, repair, rehabilitation or demolition activities relating to an unsafe/unfit structure by agreed upon milestones/deadlines. Relevant sections off this Town Code are attached and highlighted. This “Compliance Agreement” process in the Code essentially serves as another opportunity for a property owner to address the structures condition(s) identified by the Building Official before the matter escalates further. This stage of the process is solely administrative.
I apologize if the Observer’s coverage of the transmitted (unsigned agreement) led to questions or concerns about the status of this matter. I wouldn’t normally share an unsigned, administrative agreement with the Town Commission because an unsigned agreement is meaningless until it is fully executed by all parties. The Compliance Agreement was fully executed and entered into today. Accordingly, there is now a written commitment from the Property Owner to act by stated deadlines.
If there is further escalation of this matter under the Code due to breach of the deadlines within the Compliance Agreement (which could lead to actions appearing before the Town Commission or the Circuit Court), we will certainly notify the Town Commission of those proceedings.
Please let me know if you have any further questions or would like to discuss this matter further.
Maggie Mooney
Town Attorney
Town of Longboat Key
Town sends compliance agreement to Half Moon house owner
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
I don’t believe so Commissioner. We brought the matter to the Board to pursue approval for compliance and/or demolition, and the property owner agreement was just finalized (after a lot of back and forth with legal representatives). Knowing that we were going to do one (compliance) or the other (demolition), I just thought of this as an operational matter. My apologies if I didn’t close the loop with you.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Town sends compliance agreement to Half Moon house owner
To: Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton
Did the Commission receive this info? I believe this is the first time I am reading the owner’s comments.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
2027 CPF Requests
To: Potomac Partners Adam Cross
Thanks Adam – good info. I am wearing multiple hats in DC in June – one being the Chair of the FL League of Cities Federal Task Force so there may be some opportunities to see some of our other FL representatives.
BJ Bishop
Commissiioner
Town of Longboat Key
2027 CPF Requests
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
The CPF process is uniquely Member-driven and district-focused, but I have had conversations with a few friends on staff at the THUD Subcommittee to highlight the Buchanan projects. Rep. Steube’s request is with the Interior-Environment subcommittee, so we mentioned Longboat’s request to Subcommittee Chairman Simpson at lunch last month. Rep. Mario-Diaz-Balart is the Committee’s Vice Chair. Rep. Scott Franklin is the only other Florida Republican on the Committee. Democrats from Florida will likely be thinking about prioritizing competing water projects in South Florida (they have a few), but they include Rep. Wasserman-Schultz and Rep. Frankel.
Last year and the year before, nearly all requests were funded at a lower amount than the original request. The only exceptions to this were projects that were essentially State requests being routed through a single Member, but with the support of a larger group. This is due to overall spending cuts and the self-imposed rule that only 0.5% of all discretionary funding can be used for CPFs. However, Democratic requests saw the biggest cuts, while Republican requests were mostly preserved.
Because this process is so Member-driven, many Committee Members are reluctant to promote one over the other unless the pressure comes from the Requesting Member’s office (i.e. Sami). So staying in contact with Sami is the right way to go.
Adam Cross
Potomac Partners DC
2027 CPF Requests
To: Potomac Partners Adam Cross
Any House Appropriations members I can reach out to? I have not pulled up the committee yet. Sami is in regular contact with me so I will let you know if there is any other news.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Green Team Longboat Key
To: Terri Driver
Terri. Thanks for the update. I was not aware of the replantings
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Green Team Longboat Key
To: Blythe Jeffers
To the best of knowledge, Jackson Way was repopulated with native species as a living shoreline via a grant from SBEP.
As for the area between Emerald Harbour and Spanish Main, it there was a wonderful effort by (our own Green Team member) Jeanne Leszczynski at Emerald Harbour, in cooperation with Damon Moore (ORE), grant from SBEP, and a lot of volunteer hours, money, working with the Association to get this area where it is now. Exotics were removed and natives are being planted.
I do not feel either of these areas are correct for micro-forests, but I could be wrong. We can have a walk-about with Charles Reith (fellow Rotary member) who knows more about micro-forests than anyone I know. Let me know if you all think that would be a good field trip, and I can call Charles.
Terri Driver
Longboat Key
Green Team Longboat Key
To: Terri Driver
I wonder if the two locations on LBK that were cleared of invasive would be opportunities for micro forests.
I was wondering how to avoid invasives repopulating those spots, and this may be the answer.
I think the two locations were Jackson way and between emerald harbor and Spanish Main. What do you think?
Blythe Jeffers
Longboat Key
Resources from CAC members
To: Longboat Key Commission
Regarding the canal “Kick Start” grant, we’ve been working with Congressman Steube’s Office and he’s officially included the $3 million ask in his appropriation request. As Adam notes, the House Appropriations Committee may reduce the amount of an award based on a formula, but whatever we receive ultimately will only help.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
CPF Requests
To: Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton
That’s great, Sami is a true professional! Rep. Steube’s office has officially posted his requests, including the $3M Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project.
Longboat Key Aquatic Habitat Restoration Project:
Proposed Recipient: Town of Longboat Key
Recipient Address: 501 Bay Isles Road, Longboat Key, FL 34228
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Explanation: The funding would be used for required maintenance dredging of residential canals and to restore several acres of seagrass habitat.
Timing: In the next few weeks, the House Appropriations Committee will begin posting the bill text of the individual bills. I’ll keep monitoring, but we should be prepared for the Committee to potentially reduce the amount they are willing to appropriate for each request. These committee-level reductions are often done by formula and are tied to the overall spending allocated for each individual bill. I’ll keep you updated!
Adam Cross
Potomac Partners DC
CPF Requests
To: Potomac Partners Adam Cross
Thank you Adam. Commissioner Bishop, Charlie Mopps (Public Works Director) and myself had a very positive and productive meeting this morning with Sami Araboghli on the $3 million ask.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
CPF Requests
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman and Kalee Zavela
I wanted to let you know that both Rep. Buchanan and Rep. Steube will be submitting our requests to the House Appropriations Committee. Here is the posting from Rep. Buchanan:
1) Town of Longboat Key
$3 million request
The funding would be used to complete the Major Feasibility Analysis for the full 10-mile Gulf of Mexico Drive corridor, a planning and feasibility component of the Gulf of Mexico Drive Corridor Improvement Project. Funds will support technical analysis, engineering evaluation, environmental screening, traffic and safety modeling, drainage and resiliency assessment, right-of-way review, public engagement, and development of phased implementation recommendations.
2) Town of Longboat Key
$1 million request
The funding would be used to advance the planning and feasibility phase for a 12-foot-wide multi-use trail along State Road 789 (Gulf of Mexico Drive) within the Town, addressing pedestrian and cyclist safety, drainage, and resiliency needs, a transportation and active mobility component of the Gulf of Mexico Drive Multi-Use Trail Project.
Rep. Steube has not yet posted all of his requests online, but his staff have informed me that they will be submitting the Aquatic Habitat Restoration project.
Rep. Buchanan’s requests can be viewed here: https://buchanan.house.gov/funding-requests
Rep. Steube’s requests can be viewed here: https://steube.house.gov/appropriations-requests-fl-17/
The House Appropriations Subcommittees will announce which projects are selected, and at what amount, sometime later this month, or in early May.
Adam Cross
Potomac Partners DC
Annex neighborhood
To: Bona President Jody
I am adding Alison Christie to this email. Ms. Christie is the General Manager of Development Services and can answer any questions you have on the annexation process.
Below is a link to the City Ordinance that explains the process. https://library.municode.com/FL/Sarasota/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIITHCO_CH2AD_ARTVIIIAN
Additionally, I have attached a development application form – Form A that would need to be completed and submitted the City Auditor and Clerk’s office as stated on the bottom of the form, along with a checklist and fee list for the process. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Alison and she will direct you to the right individual.
Jennifer Jorgensen
Interim City Manager
City of Sarasota
Annex neighborhood
To: Bona President Jody
Thanks Jody! I met with the Interim City Manager, Ms. Jorgensen, last week about this and have copied her on this email so when she has information for me she can copy you as well. I suspect this will also involve input from the City Attorney as well, I copied him on this email.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
City Commissioner
City of Sarasota
Annex neighborhood
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
I am reminding you and hoping you get a chance to send me information about annexing a part of our neighborhood.
Jody
Bona President
Annex neighborhood
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
Hi Jen, it was such a pleasure to talk with you last night. Thank you for spending a moment with me. A great number of us are looking forward to your being elected.
Just a reminder that you were going to send me some info on annex in our neighborhood (Central, North of Myrtle). Thanks ever so much.
Jody
Bona President
To: Kelly Brown
My understanding of Eminent Domaine is that the situation with US Recycling does not qualify. I have the regulation language in my office at City Hall on the bulletin board next to my chair and I thought this situation was explicitly excluded, but I could be mistaken. I’ll let the attorney weigh in on this.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
City Commissioner
City of Sarasota
US Recycling
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
Act now before it’s too late! The city should claim imminent domain due to public health nuisance. Sell the property on 1st Street to buy this property and build out real affordable housing at 30-70% AMI with a partner that knows how to do this.
Kelly Brown
Sarasota
US Recycling
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
Jen and Ron, it looks like there is a new operator coming. I received a copy of a Warning Letter from this month for non-filing violations, sent to Freedom Estates. The representative on site refers to a new owner. I don’t know whether Freedom Estates sold or will be leasing to a new operator. Activities continue on-site without a permit. DEP has received no response.
Justin Bloom
Sarasota
Request for Records
To: Justin Bloom
I sent you multiple emails on March 12 with 2026 documents and communications. The search results produced yesterday contained 2025 communications. There was a warning letter sent by certified mail last week that is relevant to your concerns. I’ve attached that. We have not received a response from the facility yet.
Rick Gillis
Office of General Counsel
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Honoring Dr. Shelley
To: Kennedy Cole
It is a wonderful idea to honor Dr Shelly! I have known, and admired her during her entire tenure at Booker HS. She was the principal for both of my boys who attended Booker HS, and for my husband is a teacher there for over 20 years. She has been invaluable as a resource in City Business and on the CRA advisory board. We have built a special friendship and working relationship. She has been a partner for me in City business, a steady hand in leadership, and I admire respect, and value our friendship.
I would like to schedule a meeting with you, our Interim City Manager, and City Staff and have copied the ICM on this email along with Brianna who can arrange the meeting.
I am sure there are so many who will want to participate in this effort, including Commissioner Battie. This might be challenging to include two Commissioners because of sunshine laws, so we must be careful. And, I also want to be respectful of Commissioner Battie’s position in the Community, and as an elected D1 representative, along with acknowledging his friendship with Dr. Shelky as well. She might have two, or likely more, Commissioners clamoring to honor her!
Let’s meet with the ICM and figure this out!
Jen Ahearn-Koch
City Commissioner
City of Sarasota
Honoring Dr. Shelley
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
As you know, I am a student at Booker High School, and the incoming Student Body President at that. You may have heard that our principal, Dr. Shelley, is retiring later this year, and I would love to discuss a very special way to honor her.
For a few years now, we have had the idea to rename the part of Orange Avenue around Booker in her honor. With her retirement impending, I can’t think of a better time to do it.
The section we would like to discuss renaming, either officially or honorarily, curves around Booker, from 32nd Street to Myrtle Avenue.
An honorarium on a street is commonplace in Sarasota Schools, with Riverview, Venice, and Pine View all having the stretch of road right outside their school named after the school’s mascot. If this is at all possible, please let me know. Booker staff and students would be ready to help however we can!
Kennedy Cole
Sarasota
