HOLMES BEACH – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommends county commission approval of the city of Holmes Beach’s request to use $395,011 in tourist development tax revenues to install a multi-use path along a portion of Marina Drive and a connecting, perpendicular brick paver sidewalk along 65th Street.
During their Oct. 30 meeting, TDC members also voted in favor of recommending county commission approval of the city’s request to use $15,000 in tourist development tax revenues to pay for the city’s 75th anniversary celebration on Friday, Dec. 5.
Manatee County’s county commission-controlled tourist development tax revenues are generated by the 6% tax levied on all vacation rental, resort and hotel/motel stays of six months or less. In 2023, the county collected $30 million in tourist development tax revenues.
Multi-use path, sidewalk
If approved by county commissioners, the $395,011 in tourist development tax revenues would be combined with a $133,401 contribution from the city to complete the $528,412 multi-modal transportation enhancement project.
Multi-modal transportation systems include pedestrians, bicyclists, automobiles, e-bikes, golf carts, scooters, rollerbladers, public transit, water taxis and provide connectivity between the various transportation modes.
Holmes Beach Development Services Director Chad Minor attended the TDC meeting and was prepared to make a presentation and answer questions if needed.
Before the meeting began, Minor said the proposed project will fill a gap and complete the existing multi-use path along the east side of Marina Drive that already connects to the multi-use path in Anna Maria. The remaining section of the multi-use path will be installed from 56th Street to 66th Street, between city hall and the Gloria Dei church property, where a much narrower sidewalk currently exists.
The project will also include the installation of a brick paver sidewalk along 65th Street from Marina Drive to the 65th Street beach access, a lighted crosswalk at the Gulf Drive/65th Street intersection and wildlife habitat-related educational signage.
TDC member comments
When presenting the city’s funding request, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said it’s significantly lower than a similar request the city previously proposed for approximately $800,000.
Falcione said the city’s current request aligns with the county’s desire for an integrated, seven-mile-long pedestrian and bike trail that runs the entire length of Anna Maria Island and connects all three Island cities for the benefit of tourists and residents.
Falcione noted the existing Marina Drive multi-use path already passes by the Waterline marina basin the county hopes to use as a Gulf Islands Ferry stop.
“Please keep in mind that the city of Holmes Beach is the second highest collector of the tourism tax – with unincorporated Manatee County being the number one collector,” Falcione said.
Off-Island hotel owner and TDC member Rahul Patel questioned whether the installation of a multi-use path is an allowed use of state regulated tourist development tax revenues, but he voted in favor of the request.
Holmes Beach-based Cedar Cove Resort Manager and TDC member Eric Cairns said, “The amount of taxes that are generated on the Island and in Holmes Beach would warrant. So many people are trying to walk down sidewalks that don’t exist.”
Holmes Beach commissioner and TDC member Dan Diggins said he also owns a vacation rental home in Holmes Beach and tourists probably make up 90% of the multi-use path users.
Citing information provided by Falcione’s office, Diggins said Holmes Beach has generated approximately $45 million in tourist tax revenues over the years and to date has only received $144,200 in return.
Palmetto Marriott Resort managing director and TDC member Tony DeRusso said, “Multi-modal transportation is an amenity for tourism. People who visit want a jogging trail. They want a place to ride a bike. I think this is a perfect situation for us to contribute.”
DeRusso said the Florida Department of Transportation and other agencies also need to help fund multi-modal improvements: “It shouldn’t be solely on tourism, because this is also for the residents.”
County commissioner and TDC Chair Amanda Ballard said, “When people come to a beach destination, they want that laid back lifestyle where they can ride a bike, walk down the sidewalk, ride on a golf cart. Being able to provide that kind of amenity is huge for the tourists and there’s an ancillary benefit for residents as well.”
Anniversary celebration
If approved by county commissioners, the $15,000 in tourist development tax revenues will help fund the city’s 75th Anniversary Celebration being held at City Field on Friday, Dec. 5 from 5-8 p.m.
The anniversary celebration will include live music by Jah Movement and Trevor Bystrom, food and beer vendors, children and family activities and more.
