Longboat Bridge
To: Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie
Did the Bradenton Beach Commission take a position on the proposed Longboat Key Bridge?
James G. Haft
Longboat Key
Longboat Bridge
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop and James Haft
At our next commission meeting, I will be asking the commission if they would like to have an official position on the proposed height of the LBK Bridge.
John R. Chappie
Mayor
Bradenton Beach
Longboat Bridge
To: Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie
Residents of north LBK are very concerned about the proposed fixed span bridge. Jim Haft , who co-leads LBK North, has reached out to Bradenton Beach, is hoping you will join our Mayor, Debra Williams, in our request to build a smaller, less intrusive structure.
Thank you John. Hope recovery is continuing on Bradenton Beach. I know you have been swamped.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Bridge
To: Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie
Just following up on my prior message. Is Bradenton Beach willing to send a letter to FDOT opposing the 78-foot mega bridge at Longboat Pass? If so, can you please send me a copy?
I’ve attached the letter that the Town of Longboat Key has sent to FDOT opposing the fixed bridge. Tal Siddique was going to send a letter as well, in support of the communities in his jurisdiction. Having a letter from Bradenton Beach would greatly assist our lobbying efforts to oppose the bridge.
James G. Haft
Longboat Key
High water bill
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
Safe travels, the bill is due I believe on the 24th, I will hold on to it until I hear back. Thanks for taking the time and looking into this. In another development and this is a good thing, a realtor who is trying to get my listing bought to my attention a square footage discrepancy on the county appraisal site, the county came out Monday to look at the property and the square footage was just today reposted to 4,340 square feet, living space previously I had it listed at 3,815. The house is a steal, it was when it was 3,815, now it’s 4,340. That’s a good thing! Safe travels and thanks again.
Steve Marks
Longboat Key
High water bill
To: Steve Marks
Howard Tipton, our Town Manager is looking into your crazy water bill. I will follow up with him next week. I will be in DC for a lobbying trip so it may be Thursday before things settle down.
BJ Bishop
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
High water bill
To: Longboat Key Commissioner BJ Bishop
This is Steve Marks, you recently visited my open house on Pyrula, first and foremost I enjoyed your company. It was a pleasure to meet you both, and I hope your home is finished soon and you enjoy the gift of living in Longboat Key!
I was wondering if I could impose to bend your ear on a matter concerning my property that involves the town of Longboat Key, if you can great, if not I understand in advance, I thought it would be worth my time to run this by you.
A couple of months ago it was bought to my attention that my water utility bill needed to be paid, the company that I used to build the house was getting the bills and they were paying them while the house was being built, and then he stopped forwarding them to me, and I take responsibility for letting the bills pile up, but that is not the issue, I made a payment to rectify the situation as soon as it was bought to my attention in efforts to make the balance current.
While doing so the town was nice enough to contact me and bring this to my attention, when they did so and now comes the issue, they asked me if there was a malfunction on my sprinkling system. Naturally I asked why, there response was that my usage for the months of February, as well as March, dwarfed the usage of previous months, I believe up until February of 2025, my water bill would be less then a couple of hundred dollars and now I was being charged over $3,000 for one month.
I was told that the town reading of my meter shows the irrigation system for instance was on from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. everyday, this is what I was told, that is simply not accurate in any way shape or form, but the town insists that this is factual.
I met a lady I believe her name was Sabrina, she was very kind, she said to me have your landscaper check the system and bring back his invoice with what he found wrong on the system, suggesting this is probably a leak issue and if that was the case perhaps a next step to adjust the bill would take place. Well the landscaper found no issue, and I told Sabrina that, and at that point the communication from the town got aggressive and defensive.
What was told to me is that your readings are accurate, I am wrong. The system had to be functioning the way the meter read; again suggesting that the meter for instance was on. I believe they said everyday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. I am living in the house, why in the world would I have that taking place? The usage is like filling up two swimming pools, which I have never done.
To make matters more interesting my neighbor who lives on Neptune, during the same window of time got a monthly bill from the town for $180,000 dollars that’s not a misprint, $180,000!
So I don’t know how I can be told with confidence that I’m crazy and the meter reads are factual. I believe I was told that the town actually replaced the meter just to see if there was an issue, and they found no issue, I am not positive of that but I think I recall being told that, my point would be if in fact that was the case you don’t replace something unless you think you have a problem, certainly the gent on Neptune had a legitimate issue.
The only thing I can say is I have a bill for these two months in excess of $6,000 dollars I paid $3,200 of the over $6,000 so far. My bill for this month is $83.47, that’s a big cry from $3,000! And prior to February and March that was closer to the norm.
So, I wanted to bend your ear to see if you think I have a beef, the water folks are dug in that this is on me that the meters don’t lie, so that means I do; which I don’t.
Like I said from the opening sentence, either way I loved meeting you both, just figured quite frankly you should know about this one way or the other.
Steve Marks
Longboat Key
Trash collection at Broadway beach access
To: Longboat Key Mayor Debra Williams
Mayor Williams, we will continue to monitor the situation at that and other beach access points and adjust accordingly. These get emptied three times a week and we pick up any trash outside the can every day during the work week. Over major holiday weekends we also empty them on Sunday. I included Mark on this as well, in case he wants to add anything. I hope this helps.
Charles Mopps
Public Works Director
Town of Longboat Key Public Works
Trash collection at Broadway beach access
To: Longboat Key Public Works Director Charlie Mopps
I just had a conversation with LBK North representatives regarding trash collection at the Broadway beach access points, particularly on weekends. One of the big concerns is that there aren’t ample trash receptacles, and/or they are not being emptied frequently enough. They are seeing an increase in crows, rodents and coyotes raiding the overflowing trash receptacles. Can public works arrange a fix for this (more frequent collection or more containers)?
Debra Williams
Mayor
Town of Longboat Key
Charter Required Preliminary Budget for FY26-27
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
The additional amount of annual revenue raised by pushing up the millage rates from 1.9600 to 1.9999 is approximately $380,000.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Charter Required Preliminary Budget for FY26-27
To: Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton
Tip, excellent job in preparing the preliminary budget, as always, would you please provide me with the ad valorem revenue increase if the mileage rate is 1.9999.
My focus is, and always has been, number one on the employees’ and two, on the residents. In an effort to increase our fund balance, prepare for potential emergencies, maintenance within an ever-aging systems, I feel that an increase is not a luxury but an absolute priority. IF we are to provide our residents with Premier community and exceptional service they have come to appreciate and love, we need to do this, Particularly in this politically uncertain state and federal times.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Charter Required Preliminary Budget for FY26-27
To: Longboat Key Commission
The attached budget letter and PowerPoint presentation are provided to you in compliance with the Town’s charter requirements. This will form the basis of the staff presentation for the budget workshop on June 22nd. As always, I want to recognize Sue and Erica for their extraordinary work in pulling this together as well as our departmental leadership for their efforts to reduce costs over what was previously shared in the May budget workshop.
We look forward to reviewing with you during our briefings this week. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Charter Required Preliminary Budget for FY26-27
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Tip is correct. We currently only have the prior year comparisons. We will try to get this information from the other cities.
Sue Smith
Finance Director
Town of Longboat Key
Charter Required Preliminary Budget for FY26-27
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
I’m not sure we’ll have that information as many of the jurisdictions are still working on what their numbers will be. We may be able to round up some information for the 6/29 meeting, but not by the 6/22 meeting.
Howard N. Tipton
Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Charter Required Preliminary Budget for FY26-27
To: Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton
Thank you Tip and I know in the past you have provided us with the neighboring cities tax and mill rates . Could you provide those as well, I did not see them in this presentation. Thanks Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Sign on public beach
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
One of the reasons I live here!
Lynn Cook
Longboat Key
Sign on public beach
To: Lynn Cook
We are most fortunate to have the competent and capable staff that we enjoy their efforts from every day.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Sign on public beach
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Thanks for letting me know. I did see it was down on my turtle patrol yesterday. I am impressed with the speed of the removal. Good job.
Lynn Cook
Longboat Key
Sign on public beach
To: Lynn Cook
Lynn the sign issue on the beach has been dealt with, thank you very much for your interest and reporting.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Sign on public beach
To: Lynn Cook
Thank you Lynn for including me in the information stream. I will ask if these issues be dealt with swiftly.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Sign on public beach
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Gary, I am sending you this picture of the sign. I saw while patrolling my turtle zone yesterday since you are the commissioner of district one and would surely want to be aware of it.
I also sent it to the coding officer because I had some beach furniture of violations and lighting violations in the turtle zone as well.
Lynn Cook
Longboat Key
Sign on public beach
To: Lynn Cook
We are most fortunate to have the competent and capable staff that we enjoy their efforts from every day.
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key Beach Sand Degradation
To: Longboat Key Mayor Debra Williams
Dear Mayor Williams, we noticed the recent headlines in one of our local newspaper’s noting the beautiful sugar white powder sand beach of Lido Key. As you know that is LBK’s sand, “our” sand, that drifts South in the Gulf Stream current and due to storms as well as New Pass sandbar dredging, of our sand. One of the big reasons we bought our first home here thirty years ago, and before that making annual visits to the Colony, was the white powder sugar sand of LBK. We loved our beach walks. Now we walk on the course grey sand from we don’t know where and has cost millions in beach “re-nourishment”. Previous Commissions have understandably been pressured by fiscally responsible residents to minimize the cost of beach re-nourishment projects over the years. We have been in Commission meetings with Commissioners passing glass vials of different grades of sand samples trying to balance their fiscal responsibility with their sand quality decision. This dynamic has resulted in a clear degradation of LBK beach sand quality. “A penny wise and a pound foolish” because LBK has lost its key point of difference in attraction value. We also notice a dramatic reduction in marine birds on the beach as their coquina food source is buried. We urge our current and future Commissions to bring our special LBK beach back by re-nourishing with top quality sand to the benefit of LBK resident’s quality of life and to support repeat visitation to our hotels and real estate market values. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Bob and Shannon Gault
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Let’s go to job site.
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
I thought the intent was onsite, but I am good either way. It can be on site at Town Center Green or at my office at Town Hall (501 Bay Isles Road). I will plan on being onsite at Town Center Green, unless I hear otherwise.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman
Are we meeting on the job site or at Isaac‘s office?
Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Yes, I can do that. I’ll be there at 11 am.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman
I can swing by around 11 am if that works Let me know.
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Sounds good, thank you!
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman
Let me see how Monday and Tuesday developed because then I’m on my way to Europe, but I’ll be back in touch.
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Commissioner Gary Coffin
Thank you Commissioner and George. Things can change quickly, but right now, I am open all of Monday morning, and Tuesday morning from around 10 a.m. to noon.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Bronwman
Oddly enough I’m open both days, just let me know and I’ll put it on the calendar. Thanks. Gary Coffin
Commissioner
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Sounds good, thank you, sir!
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman
I’ll read this and maybe we can get together and walk through it either next Monday or Tuesday because then I leave on Wednesday and I’m out of the country on business and I don’t get back till around 18 July.
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Our Public Works team met with a different contractor onsite this week, and the contractor is also one that we have used before and are satisfied with his work. His numbers were much better indicating he may be more interested in the work. We do need to work out some details, but here are the following preliminary numbers:
Bridge and boardwalk 130’x8’ all the way from the Tennis Center deck to the oval walkway with composite decking, rip rap on the ditch banks at the bridge, replacement of chain link fence at tennis deck, and mahogany staining deck rails.
Preliminary estimate: $99,800.
Bridge 60’x8’ with composite decking and add pavers from bridge landing through retention pond to the oval walkway, rip rap on the ditch banks at the bridge, replacement of the chain link fence at tennis deck, and mahogany staining deck rails.
Preliminary estimate: $81,000.
We would need to work out the details and formalize this a bit, but even if we add a little contingency, numbers are still better. Please let us know what you think.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Yes sir, I’ll keep you posted. Thank you.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman
OK, let’s see what happens. I’m leaving Tuesday afternoon for Germany gone for about a week on business and then I’ll be back around 1 July.
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Thank you for the feedback. Yeah, it’s possible this contractor, who has done good work for the Town before, may have plenty of work and priced it that way. I just talked to our PM, and he thinks the other contractor’s numbers will be a good bit better. Right now, the other contractor is not scheduled to be out there until Thursday, but our afternoon is going to try to get him out there earlier than that so we can get his numbers sooner.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Premier Community, Exceptional Service
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman
Well, it’s probably better if the other contractor comes to the site first, so you can see one comparison to the other. Then we could get together and talk about it, but I have to tell you seems like an awful lot of money for what they’re doing. Maybe I’ll swing by with someone on the QT and get an idea. I do want to talk to you face-to-face about the road. Dedication
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Ok, thank you. I have time Wednesday morning June 10th between 10:00 am and 11:00 am, and also Thursday morning June 11th between 8:00 am and 9:30 am.
We (Town) already had planned to have another contractor look at the site later this week and give us an idea on their price, but not sure what that will look like yet. We can see if it is substantially different from this one.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: Longboat Key Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman
We should revisit this. This is an insane number for something that will get minimal use. I’m back in town this week and then gone for a couple of weeks to Europe, but I’m gonna take a walk up there one day this week. Maybe I can find out a better path to solve this. I’m happy to be on the team, but this number is insane. Let me know if there’s a time this week that works for both of you and let me see if I can make it work for me.
George Reenstra
Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Here are the draft cost estimates we have from one of our contractors. Option 1 is what we discussed. The contractor also wanted to provide an option that included an elevated boardwalk over the retention pond to the walkway; they made the suggestion onsite when we met with them. That is noted as Option 2 below. Here are the breakdowns. Bridge & Pavers at grade through the pond to the walkway – Option 1
Install 60-ft.x 8-ft. Bridge with stainless steel carriage bolts and install 55-ft.x8-ft. paver pathway at grade. All exposed timber stain Mahogany color.
Install 5” rip rap on both banks at Bridge Boardwalk location totaling 300 CY.
Remove Fencing at Tennis deck and match railings, up to 60-ft. Line Items of work include:
Mobilization/Demob.
Bridge Construction & Paver Pathway
Drainage Swale Rip Rap (at the banks on either side of the bridge)
Remove Fencing & Replace at Tenns Deck (includes mahogany staining)
Total Option 1: $182,300
Bridge & Boardwalk over the pond to the walkway – Option 2 (rough layout attached)
Install 115-ft.x 8-ft. Bridge & Boardwalk with stainless steel carriage bolts. All exposed timber stain Mahogany color.
Install 5” rip rap on both banks at Bridge Boardwalk location totaling 300 CY.
Remove Fencing at Tennis deck and match railings, up to 60-ft.
Line Items of work include:
Mobilization/Demob.
Bridge & Boardwalk Construction
Drainage Swale Rip Rap (at the banks on either side of the bridge)
Remove Fencing & Replace at Tenns Deck (includes mahogany staining)
Total Option 2: $205,800
Some benefits of comparing Option 1 and Option 2:
With Option 1, paver walkway will be unusable until the pond drains after a rain event. Option 2 keeps users out of the wet in wet season. In Option 1, after the pond drains, the pavers can get silted over until regular surface cleaning. The pavers can also have a tendency to move, settle, and displace with the surrounding soil wet. With Option 2, the boardwalk can meet ADA accessibility requirements at that price; for Option 1, we would need to add/modify pond banks to make the paver slop ADA accessible.
Also, these are estimates right now, albeit good estimates. Final pricing will depend on how the Town procures this and whom are the interested contractors. Please let me know if you would like to discuss further. Thank you!
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Longboat Key: Wood Bridge over Creek and Bridge Designation
To: George Reenstra
Thank you for reaching out! I met with our Public Works Department onsite, and they have started the work to clean up all the ditch banks and the ditch itself. We also just met with our contractor last week about the wood bridge over the creek project. He is working up some numbers for that. As soon as we get that, we will forward your way.
As far as a memorial opportunity for the south bridge (New Pass Bridge) in Honor with Vietnam Helicopter Pilots and Crews, I did some research, and it is a little bit involved. Memorials on state roads or bridges are defined by Florida Statute. Below is my understanding of the statute:
Starts with a Formal Recommendation(s) from the local government showing support for the memorial designation. If the bridge or road is in more than one locality, it would require formal recommendations from both cities. In this case, the Town of Longboat Key and the City of Sarasota since the bridge connects the two cities.
Once Formal Recommendations are achieved, there would need to be a State Legislative sponsor (FL House or Senate).
That sponsor would then make sure to get actual formal Resolutions from both the Town and the City.
Once the Resolutions are passed and obtained, the sponsor brings it to the State Legislature and the State Legislature votes on it.
Once approved, the Florida Department of Transportation (“FDOT”) designates the bridge with a memorial marker.
So, it all starts at the local Town level with a recommendation from the Town Commission. Then, if the Town Commission supported it, that recommendation would go to the City of Sarasota to see if their elected officials support it.
Another potential option is a memorial as part of the new Broadway Street at Gulf of Mexico Drive Roundabout that the state is helping us build at the north end. I am not sure, but it may have to go through the same process because Gulf of Mexico Drive is a state road (SR 789). The upside is that it is more of a Town requested project rather than an existing bridge between two cities. But we understand that a bridge designation is strong and very meaningful.
Another idea is that the Town has historical markers in Town right-of-way or property like the one below. These are usually tied to some historical event in connection with Longboat Key, but maybe there is a connection that can be considered.
These are just some initial thoughts and research. As far as the wood bridge over the creek is concerned, I will send the construction estimate once we have it in hand.
Isaac Brownman
Assistant Town Manager
Town of Longboat Key
Traffic Cameras
To: Longboat Key Commission
I wanted to let you know that we have made several of our cameras accessible to the public. They can now be viewed on the Town website by navigating to Community → Longboat Key Traffic and Web Cameras.
We currently have three cameras available (fourth being replaced), providing a total of 10 viewing positions:
Two cameras provide views of traffic on each side of the island.
One camera provides views of Bayfront Park.
Please note that the Bayfront Park camera rotates every 30 seconds through eight preset positions, providing eight different views of the park and surrounding area.
A fourth camera, located at Bayfront Park Crosswalk facing the Gulf, is currently offline and will be replaced within the next few weeks.
For added convenience, I have also placed a link to the cameras on the Traffic Maps page. I will be placing a link on the main front page later in the week. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Jason Keen
Chief Information Officer
Town of Longboat Key
The BLVD
To: Sarasota City Commissioner Jen Ahearn-Koch
I’d like to bring an issue to your attention that I have shared with City staff, but which remains unresolved.
1000 N is a new private club currently under development in The BLVD building at the corner of Boulevard of the Arts and US 41. I serve on The BLVD Condominium Association Board.
1. Construction on Common Elements Without Association Approval
The developer of The BLVD remains a member of The BLVD Condominium Association through ownership of the commercial space where 1000N is being constructed. As part of this project, the developer has constructed a substantial structure above the loading dock, which is a condominium common element, without membership approval.
The BLVD Board immediately demanded that construction stop. The developer has not complied. The developer has since agreed to mediation, which is required before The BLVD can pursue litigation regarding this encroachment. That process is currently underway.
Two attorneys have advised the Association that the developer does not have the legal right to construct infrastructure on the common elements to support the new club.
2. Apparent Inconsistency Between the Approved Application and Actual Construction
The Development Review Committee (DRC) has issued final approval for Application 26-MCU-02. This application seeks conditional use approval for a private club within the Downtown Bayfront (DTB) zoning district. The matter is expected to proceed to the Planning Board, likely in August.
However, the application specifically states that no exterior construction is proposed as part of the request, and the submitted site plans reflect that representation. In reality, a substantial exterior structure is currently being constructed.
I contacted planner Camden Jenkins to explain the situation. He immediately contacted Allison Christie, and both requested photographic evidence, which I provided (attached). This occurred on Monday. While I have followed up several times since then, I have not yet received a response.
My concern is that the DRC approved an application based, at least in part, on representations that no exterior construction would occur, while significant exterior construction is in fact underway. Further, the structure appears to be located on property that the developer does not own because it is a condominium common element.
I am bringing this matter to your attention in the hope that you can help ensure it receives appropriate review or, at a minimum, help facilitate a response from staff. I recognize that only a few days have passed, but the lack of any response is concerning given the circumstances.
Thank you in advance for your consideration, and thank you for your continued service to our City.
Patrick McNamee
The BLVD Condominium Association
Sarasota
