BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved Australian pine tree removals, monthly street parties on Bridge Street, a new member of the Scenic Highway Committee and donations to local community centers at their June 20 meeting.
SUNDOWN GET DOWN APPROVED
City commissioners heard details about the planned Bridge Street Merchants Association’s Sundown Get Down monthly street party events on Bridge Street. The events will be held at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month beginning on July 18 with a retro beach party theme.
“There will be additional trolleys, a kid-zone and family-friendly themes,” Leah Brown of Big Idea Events said. “The goal is to drive business to Bridge Street’s established businesses.”
The monthly events received an open container waiver from the city. Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. Lenard Diaz said the department will be fully staffed for the events.
Bridge Street will be closed to vehicular traffic during the events and commissioners expressed concerns about parking.
Sam Negrin of Beach to Bay Investments said the Shawn Kaleta-owned parking lot at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive will be available at either zero or reduced fees during the street parties.
“Yes, parking fees will either be waived or greatly reduced for the events,” Negrin said.
Merchants will allow for the use of public restrooms during the events.
Commissioners unanimously approved a motion for the monthly event to run from July through December.
AUSTRALIAN PINES REMOVAL APPROVED
Commissioners unanimously approved a $7,500 bid from Sarasota-based Harley’s Tree Service to remove two Australian pine trees on city property around 1102 Gulf Drive N. with funds to come from the city-wide tree trimming budget line item.
A second bid for $7,600 from Harley’s Tree Service to remove nine Australian pines from Children’s Park and Herb Dolan Park was also unanimously approved by the commission with funds to come from the half-cent sales tax fund.
NEW MEMBER ON SCENIC HIGHWAY COMMITTEE
Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Bradenton Beach resident Brie Bender to the Scenic Highway Committee.
“I’ve been a resident in Bradenton Beach since 2019 and I’m interested in seeing how I can give back to the community,” Bender said to commissioners. “I’ve been very involved in the community in South Carolina.”
The committee serves as an advocacy group for the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway corridor.
Bender listed her occupation as director of brokerage operations at INNOVATE Real Estate.
“We appreciate you being here,” Mayor John Chappie said.
CITY DONATION SPLIT
With an available city budget of $4,750 for donations to Island community centers, commissioners voted to donate two-thirds of that amount to the Bradenton Beach-based Annie Silver Community Center and one-third to The Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria.
City commissioners unanimously approved a donation of $3,182 to Annie Silver for its programs and $1,568 to The Center of Anna Maria Island for programs to help with the organization’s senior program collaborations with the Annie Silver Community Center.
Commissioner Ralph Cole is the liaison to The Center of Anna Maria Island and Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce is the liaison to the Annie Silver Community Center.
