Longboat Key News and Sarasota City News encourages Letters to the Editor on timely issues. Please email to: letters@lbknews.com or mail to PO Box 8001, Longboat Key, FL 34228. We also print letters sent to Town Hall that address Longboat Key issues. We reserve the right to edit.
Lighting
To: Longboat Key Human Resources Assistant Lori Gubernat
Thank you for the invite to take more pictures, but Mr. Drake was gracious enough to let us take photos from inside and outside his home. Based on the site inspection, which included multiple vantage points and locations, the investigation is being closed with a finding of no violation due to the very limited location in which the commercial property’s lighting is visible. The commercial property has complied with the Special Magistrate’s Correction Order with the installation of shields and upon inspection they all appear level and in proper working order.
Bryan Wisnom
Code Enforcement Officer Planning, Zoning & Building Dept.
Town of Longboat Key
Lighting
To: Longboat Key Commission
These photos were taken just this morning around 6:45 a.m. from our kitchen and dining room…I am asking you to please have the lights covered better than they currently are.
Michael and Amy Drake
Longboat Key
Infrastructure
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
I just left you a voicemail. When you have a moment today, please call me to discuss your email. The outage was not related to the underground infrastructure, and I’m happy to discuss it further with you in more depth so you feel prepared to answer any questions or concerns you receive from your constituents.
Devaney Iglesias
Longboat Key
Infrastructure
To: Devaney Iglesias
Not sure you received my email from Tuesday. I am continuing to receive phone calls and comments at Pilates and Tennis about the massive power outage on August 20. I am being questioned on the $28 million expense of undergrounding and this failure on a sunny afternoon — I need a why to provide to our residents.
The other issue that came up is more information being provided by FPL about the outage would have eliminated the hundreds of calls that were received at Town Hall.
Look forward to hearing from you.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Longboat Key
Greenfields Outdoor Fitness
To: Longboat Key Commissioner B.J. Bishop
Thanks for stopping by the Greenfields booth at the FLC conference last week, it was a pleasure meeting you. I’d be glad to assist with adding fitness equipment to the City of Longboat key. Did you have a specific park in mind?
As you may know, we offer custom gym design as a free service – this is a great way to help others catch your vision for an outdoor fitness area! Please take a look at the example I’ve attached.
Here is a link to our Florida project portfolio that I’d like to share with you: Florida Project Portfolio – Greenfields Outdoor Fitness
Here is a quick recap about Greenfields Outdoor Fitness:
We offer various equipment options to create inclusive, multigenerational, and multifunctional fitness opportunities for all communities.
Our complete product line can be found on our website at greenfieldsfitness.com.
We have several cooperative purchasing contracts to help make the purchasing process easier.
I am excited to hear from you. Thank you!
Edward Escamilla
Project Manager
Greenfields Outdoor Fitness
Greenfields Outdoor Fitness
To: Longboat Key Public Works Director Isaac Brownman
Not that we are doing anything more at Bayfront but this equipment was impressive.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
‘
Sarasota Bay update
To: Longboat Key Commission
Over the past two weeks, we’ve been giving you regular updates on the health of the lower portion of Sarasota Bay, to document its response to the passage of Tropical Storm Debby. We’ve focused our efforts on the lower bay, because it is viewed as being more susceptible to impacts from such storms. For example, the lower bay has a much higher watershed-to-open water ratio than the upper bay, which means more stormwater runoff drains into each acre of the lower bay. In fact, the watershed-to-open water ratio of those portions of Sarasota Bay south of Siesta Drive is about ten times higher than the ratio for the upper bay. Also, the lower bay, particularly Little Sarasota Bay, has much longer residence times, than the upper bay. For example, about 60 to 80% of the water in the upper bay is exchanged with the Gulf of Mexico over 10 days, while in Litle Sarasota Bay, there is only about a 27% water exchange over the same 10-day period. Assuming the lower rate in the upper bay (60% over 10 days) that would mean that after 20 days, we’d expect 76% of the water to be exchanged with the Gulf of Mexico, while in Little Sarasota Bay, it would take more than a month to have a similar amount of water exchange (see Table 3 of Chapter 5 in SBEP’s “Framework for Action” – Sarasota Bay FFA).
But thanks to our friends at the Gulf Shellfish Institute, specifically Dr. Stephen Hesterberg, we have data on the amount of phytoplankton (expressed in units of chlorophyll-a) from a regularly sampled location around Longbar Point, in the upper bay. The data, provided earlier today – portray a different pattern than what some might have anticipated –
On this graph, the dots represent the average value for two depths at each of three locations in the upper bay, inside of Longboat Pass. The red line represents the chlorophyll-a value in the Numeric Nutrient Concentration (NNC) criteria that were developed by the SBEP in 2013, and then reviewed and adopted by FDEP and approved by EPA.
Two events are included along the timeline. The first is the huge rain event of June 11th, when we had the most intense hour of rainfall recorded in over 50 years – Director’s Note: And, a setback… (sarasotabay.org). The data show a fairly substantial and immediate increase in the amount of phytoplankton in the bay after that event, The data also show that phytoplankton levels increased to peak values 10 days after the rain event, followed by a decline in values in the following weeks. This generally was what we expected, and is in line with our summary of the bay’s condition in the weeks after that intense rain event – Director’s Note: Two weeks later….how’s the bay? (sarasotabay.org).
What’s interesting here is that the data collected by GSI, at that location, does not show a similar increase in phytoplankton levels in response to the passage of Tropical Storm Debby – as chlorophyll levels continued to decline after Debby passed through, albeit from an elevated prior level.
What was interesting, after Debby came through, was how low the water clarity was in the upper bay, but for different reasons. The photo from below was taken on Monday, August 5th, along the Cortez Road Bridge, looking southwest towards Longboat Pass. It shows two distinct water masses –dark, lower salinity and tannin-stained stormwater runoff, and turbid, salty water that came into the bay on an incoming tide, bringing with it suspended sand from the beaches and nearshore areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Between the two water masses, water clarity was reduced quite substantially in the days following Debby’s passing.
It could be, although we don’t know for sure, that the bay was so turbid after Debby came through that there wasn’t enough water clarity for phytoplankton to respond that strongly to the influx of nutrients from Debby’s rainfall.
Regardless of the reason, it does appear that the upper bay’s water quality was more adversely impacted by the high rainfall event of June 11th, than after the passage of Tropical Storm Debby. However, this shouldn’t give us a false sense of comfort, as June 11th’s record hourly rainfall and Tropical Storm Debby’s intense rainfall amount were two sides of the same coin – our rainfall appears to be getting more intense the last few decades than was the situation for most of the 20th century.
When you hear “once-in-a-century” rainfall event, remember that we appear to have good rainfall data – on a daily basis – for about 100 years. And it appears we only have good hourly rainfall data for about 50 years. Most of our stormwater infrastructure is based on a “design storm” of 10 inches of rain over 24 hours. That amount was so high that it was expected to happen only about once in a century. Instead, we’ve had two events over the past two years (Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Tropical Storm Debby in 2024) that appear to have produced rainfall amounts greater than that threshold. And we’ve also had the most intense hour of rainfall – on June 11th of this year – recorded over the past 50 years.
These events are capable of flooding our neighborhoods, overwhelming our stormwater and wastewater infrastructure, and adversely impacting our bay’s water quality and ecosystem health. But, hopefully, getting our more chronic stressors under control – which we’ve done over the past few years – will allow us to better handle the impacts of these episodic events. Because it looks like what were thought to be fairly rare extreme rainfall events – they just might be happening a bit more frequently than we were expecting.
Dave Tomasko
Executive Director
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Local funding levels
To: Longboat Key Vice Mayor Mike Haycock
I hope all is well with you. We are putting our budget together for the upcoming SBEP Policy Board meeting, and we were wondering if the Town has decided to increase its contribution to the SBEP from its current $15,000. We had discussed how we would use additional funds if the funding level was to increase to $25,000 – which would allow us to do more applied research and more habitat restoration efforts. Could you give us an update on the funding levels we’re likely to receive from the City?
Dave Tomasko
Executive Director
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Local funding levels
To: Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton
Can you confirm that this increase is in the budget?
Mike Haycock
Vice Mayor
Town of Longboat Key
Local funding levels
To: Longboat Key Vice Mayor Mike Haycock
Confirming that the $25,000 amount for the SBEP is in the proposed budget.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Shoreline construction
To: Longboat Key Commission
Yesterday, the Town’s Planning and Zoning Director received an appeal of a shoreline construction departure for properties located at 582 and 592 Ranger Lane, a copy of which is attached. Consideration of the property owners’ application is quasi-judicial. The Town Commission will hear the departure at a future meeting date that is still being determined. Based upon communications that have already been received by the Town from interested parties, we expect there may be public interest and attendance at the scheduled hearing. As with every quasi-judicial hearing, please be mindful that any ex parte communications or experiences (i.e., site visits) associated with this particular application will need to be disclosed at the commencement of the hearing. It is with this disclosure requirement in mind, that I generally recommend that board members avoid and minimize situations that create a need for ex parte disclosures in quasi-judicial hearings. If you do not, then there is a risk that certain interested party participants (in the quasi-judicial hearing) may attempt to cross-examine individual board members about their ex parte disclosure(s) to ensure that all information, evidence and potential bias is fully disclosed on the record. When board members have nothing to disclose, there is nothing to be cross examined on and potential due process challenges are minimized.
I am re-circulating a Memorandum to the Town Commission dated March 1, 2021 relating to quasi-judicial best practices. While it was prepared in anticipation of a different quasi-judicial application and hearing, the advice in navigating unsolicited communications about a pending application remains applicable. As always, if there are any questions about this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Maggie D. Mooney
Town Attorney
Town of Longboat Key
Appeal of Departure Request Denial – 582 & 592 Ranger Lane Seawall construction
To: Longboat Key Planning and Zoning Director Allen Parsons
Please see the attached notice of appeal filed on behalf of Mr. Halliday and Florida Shoreline and Foundation regarding the seawall construction at 582 & 592 Ranger Lane.
Please let me know if you have any questions or require any additional information.
Cori Coser
Bently, Goodrich, Kison, P.A.
ManaSota League Meeting
To: ManaSota League of Cities Admin Coordinator Gail Loeffler
I am out of town on September 12 and will miss the Manasota League of Cities Meeting.
There are several things I was going to bring forward – the breakfast at the FLC Annual Meeting. For the cost I am not sure we received much benefit. I would be interested in hearing from the rest of our Board on how they feel about this event.
An idea which was discussed with other Commissioners was a mentoring program between experienced commission members and new members from other cities. Due to the restrictions of our Sunshine Laws this may be a way to provide a sounding board for new members of elected bodies.
If I can help you reach out to candidates after the election tomorrow please let me know. We have to get alot of pr out in a very short period of time. I have not seen where we are hosting this event. I want this to be the best State Legislature Candidate Forum in the State.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
ManaSota League Meeting
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Thank you for letting us know you are unable to attend.
Will place on the September agenda discussion about whether the breakfast meeting is beneficial enough to continue participating. Likely there will be other Board members who will like to speak about that also.
Mentoring of newly elected commission members sounds interesting. We do send out a letter to each when they are elected to provide information about MSLC, its background, and learning opportunities provided by FLC on many topics and encourage them to participate.
It is likely others are not receiving information about some of the offers by FLC or ManaSota League unless it is being forwarded by City Clerks. Will address that also and request learning opportunities be provided to their respective Commission/Council members.
I will be following election results tonight and tomorrow morning for our Manatee/Sarasota areas. Sending you a copy of the invitation which will again be sent to those running for legislature in our areas once primary results are confirmed. We sent by email and postal service information to candidates running for office about the Candidate Forum. It does specify it is for those who move on after the Primary Election.
Candidate Forum will be held on Friday, September 13, 2024, beginning at 1 p.m. at Doubletree by Hilton, 8009 15th St. E., Sarasota. It is located near Bradenton/Sarasota airport. We have reserved the meeting room at the venue. Hope this information helps and if you have other questions, please let me know.
Gail Loeffler
Admin Coordinator
ManaSota League of Cities
ManaSota League Meeting
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Penny Gold
As the alternate on ManaSota League Board would you be able to attend in Commissioner Bishop’s absence?
Trish Shinkle
Town Clerk, Town of Longboat Key
ManaSota League Meeting
To: Longboat Key Town Clerk Trish Shinkle
Unfortunately, I have plans to be out of state on Sept. 12. So sorry; I would have loved to attend the ManaSota League meeting.
By the way, I found the FLC conference breakfast to be a valuable use of my time. In addition to learning more from leaders of other Florida cities, I picked up some important home rule information from my table mates.
Penny Gold
Commissioner, Town of Longboat Key
ManaSota League Meeting
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Penny Gold
Your table was better than mine.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longobat Key
SBEP Follow Up
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby on water quality and local wildlife. I’m glad I could provide some insight into why the manatees may not be behaving as usual. Dave agrees they are likely seeking refuge in areas less impacted by the storm. They are smart animals and seek shelter together by hiding in mangrove channels and coves. Perhaps they got cozy and haven’t made their way back to their usual spot!
We expect most of Sarasota Bay to return to pre-storm conditions in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, we are conducting monitoring in our lower bay segments, and documenting observational data in our northern segments. Here is a link to our recent updates: https://sarasotabay.org/about-sbep/news/
Please keep us posted if you have any other concerns.
Megan Barry
Public Outreach Manager
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Update
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Penny Gold
It has been a very hectic few weeks. In lieu of multiple emails I will try to summarize some of the most important issues that have come up.
Tuesday August 6, our rep with Florida Power & Light invited Ken Schneier and I to the Sarasota Fairgrounds where they had their Mobilization Operation for Tropical Storm Debby. The staff walked us through the operation from A to Z. They also shared drone coverage from the badly flooded areas in Sarasota and east of I-75. Their ability to assess damage with power outages and determine when equipment can be safely brought in was amazing. They also have someone at the County Emergency Center who communicates needs from and to the County. We also had the opportunity to meet the CEO of FL Power & Light, Armando, who is well aware of our undergrounding project and also stated it is a high priority for FPL to have it completed ASAP.
On August 13 Congressman Steube’s staff, Sami Aroghobi and Erica Gregory came to LBK. Sami had asked me to arrange meetings with department heads to discuss how they can help LBK with grants and appropriations, as well as other issues in the federal government. It was a very productive meeting. I did a brief tour of LBK and lunch with them following a group meeting with most department heads and our Grants person, Kaylee.
August 14 was the start of the FLC Annual Conference. Penny and I were included in a dinner with Waste Management. Had the opportunity to spend time with Lisa McNeight the legislative director for FL for Waste Management as well as Tim Bowers, our immediate contact for Waste Management.
Our first session on the 15th was cybersecurity. FL statute states that by 1/2/2025 each town/city must adopt standards consistent with best practices. I am not sure we have done this.
Further FS282.3185 states all government staff with network access must have cybersecurity training and professionals must have annual advanced training that includes role-based training.
Government must protect sensitive info, prevent financial loss and ensure continuity of service. We must understand what we must deliver in the cyber world and what is nice to deliver.
Ransomware legislation FS282.3186 makes it illegal to pay ransomware.
CyberFlorida is funded by state. They have over 50 courses for technical staff to recertification at no cost. They also offer ad- hoc on site training. They also offer general awareness courses. In addition to this is quarterly webinars. only FL and one other state have this program. I do not know how much we are using this program.
CyberFL in conjunction with FIU offers courses for elected officials on general awareness and executive level courses.
Question we were told to ask our police department is: do you know how to conduct a cyber crime activities investigation?
My next session was the Legislative Policy Committee. FLC has revamped most of the policy committees to reflect mutual issues. The former Land Use is now Development, Code Compliance & Redevelopment. Intergovernmental Relations was Mobility. Utilities & Natural Resources remains unchanged. I brought the 2024-2025 list of committees back along with the sign-up form if you wish to serve on a committee.
Artificial Intelligence Seminar was a basic what it does and what it can do. If you use AI voice transcription remember you must provide notice you are recording.
AI can simulate creativity. AI cannot add subjective experiences needed for rich storytelling.
Sachs media poll showed that 1/2 of Floridians use AI. 65% of those are under 45.
My first session on the 16th was FAST – Federal Action Strike Team Meeting – issues that were priorities on our 118th Congressional Session remain – National Flood Insurance Program, PFOS, Simplifying Grants. Added to this will be Beach Renourishment as it deals with the Corp of Engineers requiring perpetual easements – This legislation has passed in the House and Senate, but remain in Conference to iron out the differences in this legislation. A major push by NLC that we are also addressing is Development Block Grants and Tax Exemption for Municipal Bonds.
FLC staff has asked for any reports of cost of clean-up on PFOS, if we have had to do this.
This Task Force does not believe we will go to Washington til after the election and Inauguration on January 20th, but we will meet in Orlando December 4-6.
We attended a very interesting session on Disaster Preparation – Best Practices for Natural Disasters – A Guide for Elected Officials. One of the first things the presenters stated was elected officials must be in one location – especially if you are evacuated from your community. This ensures communication is done one time and all elected officials are being provided the same information .
Municipal responses are to be shared with the elected officials. Be sure you, as an elected official are communicating and receiving communication from the Town Manager.
Getting info right the first time it is put out is critical.
Staff quick assessment of post disaster also critical, but remember Safety First.
Remember constituents need a listening ear and while you assure them there will be follow through – that must happen.
Remember municipal staff in disasters are under tremendous pressure – they need appreciation, understanding, support. In many cases they are leaving their homes and loved ones to deal with the disaster.
Relationships with State and Federal people to assist in moving recovery from a disaster forward is critical. Do not get in the way of these important relationships staff have maintained over the years. If your staff does not have these relationships now, they need to address that before a disaster.
In days, weeks, months & in some cases, years after a disaster remember staff has taken on additional tasks on top of their regular job. Be sure that is being recognized and appreciation extended to those people.
Elected officials must work with Tallahassee and DC for Grants and appropriations to assist with recovery for the community.
Be sure that your PIO is providing ongoing info to the community on recovery efforts. It is sometimes appropriate for the Mayor to be the face of those communications.
All elected officials must know what the Emergency Plan is for their municipality and that plan must be kept up to date and easy for all elected officals to address 365 days a year.
Remember, constituents do not see elected officials as someone impacted by a disaster. How does it affect you, your family? You are wearing two hats – one as an elected offical of a community impacted by a disaster a one as a member of a family that may be impacted, as well.
Be aware of evacuation burnout – those of us in communities that have evacuated and not had severe damage have to remind our citizens – “It only takes one storm” – do not be part of the problem – if there is an evacuation order – evacuate.
Our first general session had two purposes. First, the awarding of the Defender of Home Rule Award. This year’s recipient was Senator Jason Pizzo. In his acceptance remarks he urged us “Demand more of elected officials for home rule.”
Urbanist, Richard Florida (yes, that is really his last name) talked about the importance of communities. He stated people don’t move to Florida, they move to a community. The reality in the past few years are some urban areas have lost population (Miami, Dade). We have 4 million creative class workers in FL – the 4th largest state for this group. These individuals can live where they want. As at home workers they are at home in coffee shops, restaurants and libraries (yes, libraries) as comfortable remote places to work.
Downtowns of the future will be different. Vertical buildings are the last vestige of the old days – tall buildings with cubicles will be a thing of the past.
As you are looking at your community create gathering places. Arenas and stadiums are important to tourism and reviving downtowns.
Changing communities with the times – technology, assets, parks, sports facilities, social outlets. Be aware of changing demographics – just because you used to be a locale for retirees that may not be the case as younger people with families can live anywhere as remote workers.
For more info from this speaker go to FLorida@CreativeClass.com
Our last session on the 16th was Developing Good Commissioner/Manager Relationships. This must start at the very beginning with transition/education of newly elected commissioners.
Equally important is the process of finding a new manager – the right search for your community. Managers must listen and work with staff and staff must be willing to work with them. Good managers must have a plan.
You are an elected official, you are not staff. You represent the citizens.
Elected to develop policy and establish laws that staff must enact and enforce. If staff is not doing their job manager must rectify quickly.
Elected officials need six days to review an agenda with a time in that period to review with the manager. Managers must understand how commissioners’ function when it comes to addressing issues coming to the dais. That knowledge is developed over time. Each person, both commissioner and manager, communicate differently. Know the difference and respect each person’s style.
Staff should never surprise commissioners and commissioners should ask questions that need research before a meeting – don’t blindside your staff and vice versa.
Thought this was interesting – it was stated that most elected officials have their own Facebook page as an elected official – separate from the Town communication on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and press releases.
With Ken unable to attend the Conference I became the voting delegate. This is the new officers for FLC:
Michael C. Blake – President – currently Mayor of Cocoa
Holly Smith – First Vice President – Commissioner, Sanibel
Mark Franks – Second Vice President – Mayor of Shalimar
The League Breakfast held before the Voting for new officers did bring up an interesting opportunity for Florida newly elected officials – since Sunshine is so restrictive in FL, many communities in the local leagues have their more experienced commissioners volunteering to mentor or serve as a sounding board for newly elected commissioners. This will probably come up at the next Manasota League meeting.
The luncheon and swearing in of the newly elected officials also celebrated the 100th anniversary of the FL League of Cities and former Presidents of the League were invited to sit on the dais.
The new President Michael Blake gave a powerful speech. He will focus on the need to help our cities recruit and keep staff. As we have all seen, it is becoming more difficult to find individuals in many fields that are special to municipalities. Working with educational institutions is one step. Helping our towns and cities in FL with cooperative websites hosted by the league is another step.
Michael is a high school teacher, a football coach and the Mayor of Cocoa. His enthusiasm is contagious and I know from time I have spent with him on our DC trips that he will be a great President.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Update
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Excellent overview of the conference BJ. You have covered most of the highlights. I will check my notes to see if there is anything left to add at the next Commission meeting.
Penny Gold
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Sarasota Bay
To: Longboat Key Commission, Sarasota City Commission
We’ve been working with our partners from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and Sarasota County to sample water quality in response to the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby and we just received the latest data on bacteria earlier today.
First off, the areas we are focusing on are the parts of Sarasota Bay that we believed would be hardest hit by the extreme rainfall, due to the very high watershed-to-open-water ratio. This doesn’t mean the upper bay hasn’t been impacted – it has. However, the lower bay is more susceptible to high rainfall and runoff effects. This map shows the areas we’ve been sampling – three locations in each of the three lower bay segments.
The table below summarizes what we’ve found when analyzing Enterococci, the “fecal indicator bacteria” used for Class 3 – Marine waters, which is the classification FDEP has assigned to the lower bay. Values are compared against the appropriate threshold value of 130 / 100 ml. A lower standard of 70 / 100 ml is the upper threshold for bathing beaches, but none of these sites we sample are considered bathing beaches, which are separately monitored by FDOH.
Values that are higher than the Class 3 Marine standard are in red, and you can see that 16 of the 18 samples (9 locations sampled twice) exceeded that standard. However, the third row summarizes the change in bacteria levels between the two dates for each of the nine locations. Locations with an improvement in bacteria levels are in light blue, while those with higher values are in yellow. There are about as many areas with higher values (four) as lower values (five). However, there is some good news in Roberts Bay, where bacteria levels have declined by between 75 to over 99% from the first to the second sampling effort. The northernmost sample site in Little Sarasota Bay (closest to Roberts Bay) showed a 97% reduction in bacteria levels. Blackburn Bay remains problematic, as values continue to exceed Class 3 Marine standards, and levels have also increased from the first to the second sampling event.
It’s important to note that the state of Florida has three “fecal indicator bacteria” – 1) enterococci (used for Class 3 Marine waters and bathing beaches), 2) E. coli (used for Class 3 Freshwater waterbodies, and 3) fecal coliform bacteria (used for shellfish harvesting areas). These are all useful indicators, but none of them are specific to humans as a source. They aren’t even specific to animals as a source. So, while there have been sewage spills in the amount of millions of gallons in our watershed, that doesn’t mean that the bacteria levels we are recording are from sewage spills. Elevated bacteria levels could be coming from sewage, but also from bird poop washing off of docks and pilings, dog poop from people who don’t pick up after their dogs (in their own yards, for example), but also elevated bacteria levels could be from decomposing grass clippings, leaves and pollen, or decomposing seaweed. About a third of the bottom of Sarasota Bay is covered with seagrass meadows, and the blades on those plants replace themselves at a rate of about 3% a day in the summer months. Piles of decomposing seagrass blades aren’t evidence of “pollution” it’s how these undersea meadows replace their photosynthetic surfaces so that they don’t get overgrown with algae and barnacles and the like. Also, as the oxygen levels were so low last week along much of the bottom of the bay, the decomposition of untold numbers of worms and clams and starfish and gobies and stingrays could be contributing to bacteria levels.
Whatever the source(s) of bacteria, it’s still a good idea to maybe wait a bit longer before going out into the bay to recreate. Boating itself is not a concern, but I would be cautious swimming in the bay – at least for a while. And it’s important to know that while a high value along a shoreline next to a stormdrain outfall doesn’t necessarily mean high bacteria are found in the waters further offshore, having high values in the middle of the bay – where we sample – does most likely mean that bacteria levels are higher along the shoreline.
Paraphrasing Churchill, after the Second Battle of El Alamein “Now this is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” Not to equate Montgomery’s victory over Rommel (the first defeat of the Wehrmacht in WW2) with our bay’s recovery after Tropical Storm Debby, but it’s such a great quote that I try and find places to use it whenever possible. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll have good news when we present our Week 3 bacteria results, which will be collected this Thursday, weather permitting.
Hoping for a continued recovery,
Dave Tomasko
Executive Director
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Great meeting
To: Military Legislative Assistant Sami Araboghli
Thank you so much for coming out to LBK and meeting with me and our department heads to discuss how we can work together on issues that impact our residents. I believe our entire staff felt it was very helpful especially in reference to appropriations and federal grants.
I enjoyed our lunch so much. Great getting to know you better. Anything we can do to help you or Congressman Steube please let me know. Our Town Manager, Howard Tipton, was sorry to miss this meeting. He is taking some well-deserved time off with family. Paul Dezzi and I will bring up to speed.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Great meeting
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Thank you again for your hospitality last week. I certainly enjoyed being able to meet with you and the rest of the LBK leadership team. Additionally, it was a pleasure catching up over lunch as well! Thank you again. Certainly look forward to continuing our conversations in the future and finding ways we can all support Longboat Key!
Sami Araboghli
Military Legislative Assistant
Office of Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)
Great meeting
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
I was just thinking about you and the lovely visit to LBK earlier this morning and was going email you as well!
Thank you so much for lunch. That was so kind of you to extend the visit and give us a chance to get to know you and the Town better. I really enjoyed and was so excited I spent night (that didn’t last long). I look forward to keeping in touch. Please let me know if there is anything we can do to assist you.
Erica Gregory
District Director
Congressman W. Gregory Steube (FL-17)
Drones
To: Bill Byrd
There are no Town ordinances that would prohibit you from operating your drone for arial photography.
Drone usage is governed by both FAA and Florida State Statutes (use of the unmanned aircraft system UAS). The FAA has a site (B4UFLY) that has mobile and desktop information regarding where recreational flyers can and cannot fly. Most of Longboat Key has a 400’ flight ceiling which can be found in (airspace link). You can also go on (avision) to see the areas that are controlled airspace.
George B. Turner
Chief of Police
Town of Longboat Key
St. Regis
To: Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier
I have been hearing reports from fellow Mote volunteers and staff that several nests in this area have disoriented over the last couple of months. I was curious to see how the lighting had hopefully improved since the last time I was out looking in the evening.
I was shocked to see the numerous white lights coming from ground floor opening.
These photos were taken at 10:30 p.m. starting from north end of property at waters edge aka wet sand. I walked to the groin and stopped.
I will send a second email with photos showing one super bright light coming from the center of the property. It appeared to be pretty far east. It was as bright as the photo shows!
Given the number of disorientations which likely resulted in dead hatchlings, what action is planned to resolve these lighting issues in common areas which management has control over? Once there are hotel guests and residents onsite there will be potential for more issues. Our town Marine Protection ordinance goes to Oct 31st. We might have nest without yellow stakes but still viable and they do need our help!
Appreciate your assistance once again to get action to correct lighting issues.
Cyndi Seamon
Longboat Key
St. Regis
To: St. Regis Executive Assistant to the General Manager Jenny Quinn
This came in our public mail – I do not think this is the image St. Regis wants. Please direct this to appropriate staff ASAP. Our wildlife are important to LBK.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
St. Regis
To: Longboat Key Turtle Watch Cyndi Seamon
It has been an awkward start with St. Regis. Given the magnitude of the project, we need to get on the right path sooner rather than later. Thanks for your input.
Ken Schneier
Mayor
Town of Longboat Key
St Regis
To: Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier
Thank you. I know our code enforcement officers have both been working all summer to get this property in compliance with our Marine Protection ordinance. Appreciate your help to get whatever needs to happen next to actually get it into compliance.
Cyndi Seamon
Longboat Key Turtle Watch
A question about Drones Photography on Longboat Key
To: Longboat Key Commission
My wife and I have reservations for a two week stay on Longboat Key in January 2025.
As an FAA licensed drone pilot, I would like to take some aerial photos and videos of your amazing area.
So, I’m contacting you to ask about the drone photography regulations/restrictions on and around Longboat Key.
I would also offer to take aerial photos and videos of Longboat Key for your media use if wanted. My website has examples of the kind of high-resolution images I can capture.
Thanks for your response. We look forward to our January 2025 visit.
Bill Byrd, Owner and Pilot, Eagle Eye Drone Shots, LLC
Brownsburg, Ind.
Latest on water quality post-Debby
To: Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Executive Director Dave Tomasko
Dave, great informative report. Have you received any updates about the manatee populations or sightings . On the south end of LBK in our canals it’s not unusual to see them 2to 4 times a week. I’ve seen none in three weeks?
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Latest on water quality post-Debby
To: Longboat Key Commission
Yesterday, August 15th, we finished our second sampling effort, focusing on the water quality in the lower bay, where the combination of a high watershed-to-open water ratio and longer on-average residence times were expected to bring about the worst water quality. A special shout out to Sarasota County and Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, who we joined to get this bay sampled. Somewhat surprisingly, it appears that our water quality is worse than what we found after Ian. For example, the highest average level of enterococci bacteria after Ian was on October 4, 2022 – a value of 400 /100 ml in Blackburn Bay. After Debby, we’ve had values higher than 2,000 – or five times higher than the highest average values we saw after Ian.
Also, after Ian, we had hypoxia (dissolved oxygen [DO] levels below 2 mg/L) only in Little Sarasota Bay, and only in the bottom waters. In contrast, here are the graphs from yesterday, showing plots of dissolved oxygen in each of the three locations within each of the three bays we sampled. The vertical axis displays depths, in meters (a meter is about 3 feet) and the horizontal access is oxygen levels in the water, with lower (worse) values to the left side of the graph. The red line represents “hypoxia” or levels of oxygen at 2 mg/L, which is a level below which many marine organisms cannot live.
In Roberts Bay (far left), we had hypoxic conditions only at one site (Roberts Bay South) at depths greater than 1.5 meters. In Blackburn Bay (far right) one site (Blackburn Bay North) was too shallow for us to look at values in the deeper waters, but we did see hypoxia at depths deeper than 0.5 meters. In Little Sarasota Bay (in the middle) we not only saw hypoxia at depths deeper than 1 meter (at the two deeper sites) but we had almost a complete absence of oxygen. Values less than 0.5 mg/L are so low that you can have problems with the meters.
Suffice it to say that we have very low levels of oxygen in waters deeper than about 1 meter in an area of Sarasota Bay from just south of Siesta Drive down to Venice Inlet. This condition is giving us fish kills for those species that are associated with the bottom. The first photo shows a mixture of organic debris, and a few dead fish found in Blackburn Bay. In the second photo, there is a blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) swimming on the surface of the bay. Normally, these crabs are found on the bottom of the bay, but when there’s little to no oxygen in the water, they will swim to the surface to try and find enough oxygen to keep them alive. Some fish are not so lucky, such as the ray that we saw (third picture) that was fairly decomposed, most likely after dying a few days earlier.
Despite the fish kills and high bacteria, we still saw people swimming in the bay, as seen in the fourth photo.
So, low oxygen has caused fish kills, but why should we care? Well, first off, one of the reasons we are spending so much to improve our stormwater and wastewater infrastructure is to improve our water quality, to be able to maintain a healthy environment. Debby showed us the limits of our ability to protect our water quality.
Which gets us to the question of what caused these problems with oxygen? Oxygen levels have decreased in response to an increase in the load of organic material into the bay. Organic material brought into the bay will be consumed by bacteria, mostly, which use oxygen, just like you and I use oxygen. Those bacteria, as well as bacteria from sewage overflows, can test positive as “fecal” bacteria, even if they have nothing to do with fecal material. The state of Florida has three basic fecal indicator bacteria: fecal coliform, E. coli, and enterococci. These are all useful indicators, but none of them are specific to humans, or mammals or even animals as a source. You can, for example, get very high levels of “fecal coliform” bacteria from decomposing grass clippings. So, If we had less organic material coming into the bay, we’d likely have lower levels of bacteria. And right now, our bay is functioning a bit like an underwater compost heap.
This begs the question – is this all due to sewage overflows? Because we’ve had multiple tens of millions of gallons of such overflows from Bradenton down to Venice. First off, let’s keep in mind that none of those overflows are good for the bay – at all. But consider a utility has a reported overflow of 20 million gallons, but which normally handles about 5 million gallons of sewage a day. In such a situation, it is more likely than not that of that 20 million gallons, most of it was bypassing the wastewater treatment plant, with perhaps 5 million gallons as raw sewage, with the remaining 15 million gallons likely from groundwater that infiltrated the decades-old collection pipes that transport sewage to the treatment plants.
Or, think of it this way, we have reported overflows of perhaps multiple tens of millions of gallons, much of it into the Manatee River, not directly into our watershed. But let’s say we had 50 million gallons of wastewater overflows that were directly discharged into our bay. And let’s, for the sake of argument, say that ALL of that was raw sewage, not sewage mixed with groundwater that had infiltrated into the collection system. Our salinities yesterday ranged from as low at 5 practical salinity units (psu) up to 30 psu. Freshwater is 0 psu, the Gulf of Mexico averages about 35 psu. Sarasota Bay is about 50 square miles in size, with an average water depth of about 6 to 12 feet (deeper in some areas, shallower in others). Let’s use 6 feet as an average, for reasons that will hopefully become clear in a bit. At 6 feet of depth, 50 square miles would hold about 6 billion gallons of water. If we assume 50 million gallons of wastewater overflows of raw sewage came into a bay with 6 billion gallons of seawater, that would equal less than 1% of the volume of the bay – that is not nearly enough to drop the salinities as low as what we recorded.
In contrast, let’s assume we had “only” 6 inches of rain across our 150 square mile watershed, and that only 25% made it into the bay. Both of those are underestimates but will work for this exercise. If we had 6 inches of rain on average, across a 150 square mile watershed, and just 25% made it into the bay, then that would amount to 3 billion gallons of stormwater runoff. Three billion gallons of stormwater runoff into a bay of perhaps 6 billion gallons in volume better explains the change in salinity we recorded, and also better explains the organic loads and bacteria and oxygen problems we are seeing in the bay. As an example of how much runoff came into the bay, check out this photo I took of the bay offshore of Cortez, on Monday of last week. In this photo, notice the plume of stormwater runoff, which spread out almost to the Intracoastal Waterway.
Wastewater overflows are serious, and we need to get them under control. And the best way to help our utilities folks is to make sure that we fund the types of projects that they are calling for. It’s not just wastewater treatment plants we need to upgrade, it’s the infrastructure that gets wastewater from our houses and businesses to those plants: collection pipes and lift stations included. As we’ve pointed out previously, wastewater overflows sometimes happen because people put “flushable” (not dissolvable, by the way) wipes down their toilets, along with dumping oil and grease into our sinks.
Wastewater is a stress to the bay, and acting on those wastewater overflows that plagued us between 2013 to 2019 – when we had over one billion gallons of overflows – getting that under control is a big reason why our water quality has been improving recently. But storms like this? Wastewater overflows are one of many sources of the bacteria and low oxygen levels we’re now seeing in the bay. We need to control both – wastewater and stormwater – if we’re going to be able to protect our water quality and our living resources.
For now, it is not a good idea to recreate in the bay – at all. Be careful out there, as we are. And hopefully, we’ll get to see improvements in our water quality over the next few weeks.
Dave Tomasko
Executive Director
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Undergrounding
To: Longboat Key Commission
The Underground project remains on schedule to complete conversions within the month of October. Hurricane Debby impacted our area from early to mid-August. Initially, Wilco Electrical and FPL had informed the Town that they thought Debby had no apparent project schedule impact, and then once recovery efforts progressed and levels of saturation were realized, FPL and Wilco confirmed about a 1.5 week impact, but that does not change the projected completion date within the month of October at this time.
Other than the short period of resourcing to support the immediate storm efforts as noted above, FPL is meeting their commitment of streamlined, dedicated switch order processing, and Wilco is delivering on progression of work. Below is a more detailed summary of activity from July 16, 2024 through August 12, 2024 based on information from Wilco, our contractor:
Phase 2 (North End – Dream Island Road to Longboat Pass Bridge)
Phase 2 is fully complete and all poles have been removed!
Phase 3 (Country Club Shores to County line)
Work completed between 7/16/24 – 8/12/24
Transformers: 70 of 70 energized 100% complete
Service Conversions: 41 remaining to convert, 242 of 283 complete, 86% complete (last month was 78%)
Switching Orders: 92 of 95 orders completed 97% (last month was 96%)
1 completed last month
Feeder Order 1
The only remaining orders are to finish the tie between phases 1 and 4. We cannot execute these orders until the service conversions are at 100% because these orders will completely de-energize the overhead lines for final wreck-out.
Overhead Wreck-out: Based on Wilco Phase 3 neighborhood completions to date, this is eligible to begin on the side streets off of GMD. FPL has started the internal process to schedule these removals.
Phase 4 (County line to Dream Island Road)
Work completed between 7/16/24 – 8/12/24
Feeder: 100% energized
Feeder Switch Cabinets: 17 of 17 energized 100% complete
Transformers: 52 of 76 energized 68% complete (last month was 62%)
Service Conversions: 0 of 252 0% complete – Conversions planned to begin week of 8/26/24. Completing the last conversions in Phase 3 until the project phase is completed before starting on Phase 4’s. Enough of the necessary transformers are energized to begin this work as noted.
Switching Orders: 39 completed of an estimated 115 orders 34% (last month was 17%) – All remaining switching orders have been requested to FPL. We will resume these the week of 8/19/24.
19 completed last month
Feeder Orders 2
Loop Orders 13
Renumbering Orders 4
We plan to have a live underground update at the first Town Commission meeting after recess on September 9, 2024.
Isaac Brownman
Director Public Works
Town of Longboat Key
Rosemary District population estimates
To: Sarasota City Manager Marlon Brown
At Monday’s CC meeting Vice Mayor Ahearn Koch ask about the population of the Rosemary District… I answered: “3,600ish.”
My memory was good…following is mainly work I did in January to estimate the RD population…my work is based on the total number of residential dwelling units in the RD…
Going forward I believe the RD will grow by another 500-700 people…..plus there is the population growth that will occur from the 154-unit Aspire on 10th project under construction that is just outside the official RD boundary…
I’d be happy to discuss… I do note that, of course these numbers are estimates for ‘in season’ of dwelling units only… I have sent a copy of this to Wayne Applebee with a separate note…
David Lough
Sarasota
Deputy City Manager Patrick Robinson
I still do not understand why the City has not notified the public of the levels in the bay. The City sent out notification on social media today about how safe the “beaches” are. That’s great. But how can there be no notification of areas that are potential hazards in the Bay?
Mr. Tomasko has given you the formula for an alert. Storm Water + Waste Water = Major potential for concern. When these conditions exist, why aren’t we putting out an advisory that says “Until we complete testing and have results that show water to be safe, we advise against bathing in the following locations…” The Debby scenario repeats multiple times a year.
Eileen Walsh Normile
Sarasota
Latest on water quality post-Debby
To: Eileen Normile
The Florida Depart of Health is the organization responsible for posting health related signage for our area.
I have been in multiple conversations with Mr. C. Henry over the last two days about how we can enhance our notifications to the public. Attached is the link Mr. Henry sent me this afternoon indicating the Florida Department of Health has indicated that the Bird Key Park/Ringling Bridge site as “good” (see link below).
Information on the spill has been shared by our Utilities Department via our Communications Team with multiple local media outlets (print, tv, radio, and online).
It is my understanding in speaking with the FDOH and in reviewing the email threads related to this situation none of the reports from Sun Coast Water Keepers that have been mentioned were transmitted to the Florida Department of Health. If Dr. Tyrna has information to the contrary please correct me.
I will follow up With Dr. Tomasko and the Florida Department of Health tomorrow to see if there are ways to enhance our engagement efforts.
https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/county-detail.html?County=Sarasota&Zip=34237
Patrick Robinson
Deputy City Manager
City of Sarasota
Latest on water quality post-Debby
To: Sarasota City Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch
There are, to my knowledge, at least three entities that report on bacteria levels in our local waters. The SBEP doesn’t normally sample for bacteria in the bay, but we have after big storm events, such as after Ian – Hurricane Ian’s Impact on Sarasota Bay, and also after Debby – Director’s Note: Bacteria levels after Debby, and introducing our newest employee (sarasotabay.org).
The data we report comes from samples in the middle of the bay, and so when we find very high levels of bacteria in the middle of the bay, you can be fairly confident that they would be even higher along the shoreline, and in our creeks. After Debby, we found higher levels than after Ian, which is why we posted on social media about why it’s not a good idea to recreate in the bay in ways that immerse you in the water, such as swimming. It’s not fun to go out on a boat during post-storm sampling, but we do it without being overly concerned, although we do wear gloves to take our samples. We don’t sample at bathing beaches, because FDOH does. Instead, we sample within the bay, where the appropriate threshold for warning people about poor conditions is 130 / 100 ml for enterococci bacteria.
The Florida Department of Health has a long-term and robust sampling effort that focuses on what most people think of when they think of “beaches” – Florida Healthy Beaches Program | Florida Department of Health such as Lido, Siesta, Casperson, Coquina, etc. They use the more restrictive threshold of 70 / 100 ml to report “failing” beaches.
Suncoast Water Keepers samples at several locations across the bay, at locations that include boat ramps, and waterside parks. Their data typically show higher values than our results, because we sample in the bay’s open waters of the bay, and they sample along the shoreline. They also see more “failures” in part because they use the bathing beach threshold at places where it is more likely that people would experience impacts from urban stormwater runoff – Is Your Water Safe? – Suncoast Waterkeeper. There’s nothing wrong with where they sample, but most residents who want to go to a public beach will go to Siesta Beach or Lido Beach, not Indian Beach or the Longboat Key boat ramp.
All of this gets complicated because none of the state of Florida’s “fecal indicator bacteria” (fecal coliform, E. coli, and enterococci) are specific to humans as a source. In fact, none of them are restricted to animals even as a source. While in the private sector, I led a study that found that decomposing grass clippings could result in extremely high levels of “fecal coliform bacteria” in Florida lakes – 0717 FWRJ_t1.pdf, and just recently, a researcher in Charlotte County found that he could get extremely high values of enterococci bacteria by sampling within a pile of decomposing seaweed, consistent with what other researchers have found (see references in the attached paper). So, when someone finds elevated levels of E. coli bacteria, maybe that’s because of a sewage spill, or maybe it’s because there’s a pile of rotting seaweed next to the sample collection site.
So, finding elevated levels of bacteria doesn’t mean we know why it’s high. It could be due in part to sewage overflows, but high values could also come from bird poop washing off docks and pilings, dog poop from backyards, decomposing grass clippings, or piles of rotting seaweed. It’s not a good idea to swim in waterbodies with elevated levels of bacteria, but it would be premature to assume that elevated levels of bacteria mean that a sewage spill is the cause. That could be the case, but not necessarily.
Dave Tomasko
Executive Director
Sarasota Bay Estuary Program
Latest on water quality post-Debby
To: Sarasota Deputy City Manager Pat Robinson
Copying you (Mr. Brown and Mr. Robinson) as I just responded to this conversation and I see you have been communicating.
Ms. Normile’s questions are valuable and I am interested in the notification / signage etc. mechanism in this (and future) situation(s).
The Sarasota Bay Estuary emails are very helpful – as is Mr. Tomasko – in understanding all of this and thought you would like to see it below (I think I sent it earlier but maybe not).
It would be a good idea to ask Mr. Tomasko if he can attend our next meeting and make a short presentation on the impacts of TS/Hurricane Debby specifically focusing on the City of Sarasota and I have copied him on this email as well.
Jen Ahearn-Koch
Vice Mayor
City of Sarasota
Latest on water quality post-Debby
To: Sarasota City Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch
Thank you but it still begs the question: Why wasn’t there a warning issued immediately? The forces at work (as described below) are well known to the experts. Wastewater + Stormwater = A High Probability of Unsafe Water. Pending analysis of the cause, why isn’t the city issuing warnings to the residential and visiting public?
In addition to upgrading our infrastructure, per Dave, the Bay is acting as a compost heap. What can we do to educate people about leaving foliage in the gutters to be swept into the storm sewers?
Eileen Walsh Normile
Sarasota
