Mayor Ken Schneier of Longboat Key joined 36 other Florida mayors on Tuesday in writing to Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto a bill that would limit local control of home-based business.
As of Thursday, the Florida League of Cities’ website shows the town is among 37 municipalities that have written the governor in opposition to House Bill 403. Bradenton Beach mayor John Chappie also wrote in opposition to the bill that would prohibit local governments from taking certain actions relating to the licensure and regulation of home-based businesses.
“We felt it [was] important to take a stance on this, I would say more in solidarity with other municipalities that may be dramatically affected by it than as a result of feared impacts on Longboat Key itself,” Schneier said.
Longboat Key Town Manager Tom Harmer and Mayor Ken Schneier earned recognition Thursday morning for advocating on behalf of the town during the Florida legislative session.
Harmer and Schneier each received the Florida League of Cities Home Rule Hero Award during Thursday’s ManaSota League of Cities meeting inside the chambers of Longboat Key’s Town Hall.
“I think it’s a team effort,” Harmer said. “The whole legislative session is so active with bills being proposed, being amended, moving forward, not moving forward, and so it takes a lot of eyes and ears on it.”
Harmer received his award in person. Schneier was out of town.
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Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano is chair of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. (Pasco County, Florida)
The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council elected new board officers for 2021 at its meeting on February 8. The leadership reflects the Council s wide geographic reach, with leaders hailing from Manatee, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano is the new chair of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council board. St. Petersburg City Council member Brandi Gabbard is vice-chair and Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh is secretary-treasurer. Bradenton City Council member Patrick Roff is immediate past-chair.
Jack Mariano, chair
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First elected in 2004 to the Pasco County Commission, Jack Mariano is currently serving his fourth term. He is a past chair of the Pasco County board of commissioners as well as of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.
SARASOTA – The shadow cast by the COVID-19 pandemic’s financial impact – both in the past and projecting forward for the coming new year – hovered over Friday morning’s meeting of the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation as it heard requests and local priorities for the 2021 session.
Delegation chairman Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton, was quick to note that the state could be trying to dig itself out of an anticipated budget hole of between $2 and $3 billion when it meets next spring.
“That will be a challenge for us,” Robinson said.
The full delegation made the meeting in Sarasota County Commission chambers: Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota; Rep. Michele Rayner, D-St. Petersburg; Rep. Fiona McFarland, R-Sarasota; Rep Tommy Gregory, R-Sarasota, and Rep. James Buchanan, R-Osprey.