Manatee County officials discuss Jewfish Key, a new road roundabout and Gulf Islands Ferry

Jesse Mendoza, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·3 min read
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The Manatee County administration building.
The Manatee County administration building.

Homeowners on Jewfish Key are pushing for de-annexation from the town of Longboat Key to circumvent restrictions on short-term rentals that limit stays to less than 30 days.

Manatee County and Longboat Key officials met Tuesday to discuss the matter, as well as plans for a new traffic roundabout, the potential expansion of the Gulf Islands Ferry Service, a learning center at Whitney Plaza, and funding for increased police presence on Greer Island.

Jewfish Key homeowners seek de-annexation

The Jewfish Key Preservation Association submitted a voluntary petition for de-annexation to town officials on Jan. 16, triggering a state-mandated process to study the feasibility of de-annexation. Town officials said there are five or six homes on Jewfish Key and 26 buildable lots.

The study is on pace for completion and presentation at a June 3 meeting. If de-annexation occurs, the key would become a part of unincorporated Manatee County, which does not have restrictions on short-term rentals.

Longboat seeks additional funding for Gulf of Mexico roundabout

The Town of Longboat is proposing a roadway that incorporates a 7 foot wide bike lane, a 12 foot multi-se trail, landscape and median treatments and resiliency improvements in addition to the roundabout project planned for the Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street.
The Town of Longboat is proposing a roadway that incorporates a 7 foot wide bike lane, a 12 foot multi-se trail, landscape and median treatments and resiliency improvements in addition to the roundabout project planned for the Gulf of Mexico Drive and Broadway Street.

In April 2023, the Florida Department of Transportation rejected project designs by Longboat Key's consultant, Kimley-Horn and Associates, for aspects of a proposed roundabout at the Gulf of Mexico Drive intersection with Broadway Street.

The town is now proposing a roadway that incorporates a 7-foot wide bike lane, a 12-foot multi-use trail, landscape and median treatments, and resiliency improvements in addition to the roundabout project.

The new project scope has increased the cost of the effort. Manatee County contributed up to $150,000 toward the original design of the project and serves as the certified project administrator for the effort to qualify for FDOT funding. FDOT has committed $1.685 million.

Could Manatee County's ferry service expand to Longboat Key?

The Gulf Islands Ferry will launch on its first public voyage on Jan. 12, giving residents and visitors a chance to travel from downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island.
The Gulf Islands Ferry will launch on its first public voyage on Jan. 12, giving residents and visitors a chance to travel from downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island.

Tourism officials are eyeing Longboat Key for potential expansion of Manatee County's Gulf Island's Ferry Service.

The service ferries visitors between stops in Bradenton and the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach and is currently transporting about 325 to 350 people per day Wednesday through Sunday.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau Director Elliott Falcione said the ferry has been running smoothly since services opened in January, but indicated the ferry had to stop operations for 25 days because of bad weather. He pitched plans to purchase an enclosed 90-passenger ferry that could supplement the county's two existing pontoons and operate during inclement weather.

The county is working to add a new ferry stop at the South Coquina Beach boat ramp before the end of the year, and eventually another stop at the Palmetto Estuary Park located next to the Bradenton Area Convention Center. Town officials expressed interest in adding a ferry stop in Longboat Key in the future.

Longboat Key North Learning Center at Whitney Plaza

Manatee County Director of Property Management Cary Knight delivered a presentation discussing progress made on efforts to build the Longboat Key North Learning Center at Whitney Plaza.

Knight said the maximum pricing for the project will be settled in May and presented to Manatee County commissioners during the June 11 meeting or sooner. Necessary construction could begin as early as July and finish in time to open during the second quarter of 2025.

Plans include a main lobby with a lounging area, a multi-purpose room that can be divided into two rooms, an arts center, and a computer lab. The county is holding conversations with the School Board of Manatee County about providing programming for the space.

Additional funding for law enforcement on Greer Island

Longboat Key officials have asked for an increase in funding for law enforcement services on Greer Island to keep up with an increase in police salaries.

The town's police department has provided services on Greer Island on behalf of Manatee County since 2018 in exchange for $60,000 in county funding. Since then, town officials said Tuesday that police salaries have increased by 40%. They requested an additional $20,000 to cover the associated cost increase. County commissioners will consider the request on May 14.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee County huddles with Longboat Key on joint initiatives