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Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking

Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioner Dan Diggins suggested implementing paid parking within a quarter mile of the city-controlled public beach access points located at numerous street ends throughout the city.

Diggins proposed the pursuit of paid beach parking as a non-agenda item during the commissioners’ comments given at the end of the Aug. 26 Holmes Beach City Com­mission meeting.

Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking
Commissioner Dan Diggins asked his fellow commissioners to consider paid beach parking. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Mayor Judy Titsworth and commis­sioners Steve Oelfke, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek said paid parking might be inevitable someday, and it might warrant further discussion now, but they don’t support paid parking at this time. Commissioner Carol Whitmore was more adamant and said she’d fight any city efforts to imple­ment paid beach parking.

When proposing paid parking and requesting future commission discus­sion, Diggins acknowledged he’s not a parking expert and he doesn’t have any logistics or specifics worked out. It’s simply an idea he’d like to pursue.

“I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and I talked to staff, I talked to the mayor, I talked to some of the county folks about this,” he said.

Regarding the currently free parking areas designated at the city’s street-end beach access points, Diggins said, “Where all the ropes and bollards are, those would be paid parking, with an exception for residents.”

Diggins referenced the 42-page Island-wide Urban Land Institute (ULI) study completed in 2015. The ULI study was never used to any significant degree by any of the three Island cities, which each contributed more than $30,000 to help cover the $125,000 cost of the contracted study that offered a never-implemented “Vision for Anna Maria Island’s Future.”

“One of the recommenda­tions said free parking is not a right,” Diggins said. “I’m just wondering if it’s time for us to revisit our paid parking policy at some point in the future and develop some type of plan for paid beach parking. I think it might be time to do that. The county would have to do it and the other cities would have to do it at the same time. I want to know what you guys think. I think it’s a way to raise revenue because we know revenue sources are drying up.”

Manatee County owns and controls Manatee Beach and the beach parking lot in Holmes Beach. The county also owns and controls Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach and their parking lots in Bradenton Beach.

Diggins said he talked to representatives of a couple of companies that provide paid parking systems and he was told the automated payment technology exists and the automated systems can also help motorists find available parking spaces without having to drive around looking for an open space.

“If you want to go to the beach, you have to pay for it,” Diggins said.

Commission feedback

Whitmore, a former county commissioner, said, “I 100% don’t support it. I didn’t support it when I was at the county.”

Whitmore said there’s not much left in life that people can enjoy for free anymore, especially the elderly and those who don’t have a lot of money.

“I don’t think that we should do that to our citizens. We have so many more important things to do than charge poor people for more stuff,” she said.

Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking
Commissioner Carol Whitmore adamantly opposes paid beach parking. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Oelfke agreed with much of what Whitmore said.

“I think we want to try avoid that as long as possible, but I think it might be inevitable at some point,” he said, noting he’d want the county to take the lead on paid beach parking.

“I do like the idea of look­ing for additional revenue sources. I would support increasing parking fines,” he added.

“I’m not for it,” Soustek said, noting the city “worked long and hard” on its current parking provisions.

The city’s current parking provisions include designated free parking spaces at the street-end beach access points and those areas are marked with ropes and bollards and small white, green and black markers that feature an encircled letter “P,” or parking bumpers designated with an encircled “P.”

Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking
The encircled “P” markers on the 52nd Street beach access parking bumpers mean public parking is allowed, and is currently free. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking
Beach parking is allowed in areas where encircled “P” markers are placed on wooden bollards. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Red and white signs designate the nearby city rights of way further from the beach access points where streetside parking is restricted to residents between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with city-issued stickers used to identify residents’ vehicles.

Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking
Several designated Holmes Beach streets allow resident-only parking during the day.

“You’re never going to have enough parking out here. I don’t care what you do,” Soustek said.

“Until it’s an issue we have to look at, I would prefer not to,” she added, noting that she doesn’t mind discussing it further.

Schaefer said, “I’ve never been a proponent of paid parking. If it ever comes to pass, I can’t imagine charging our residents to park within our city.”

Schaefer noted the city had to previously defend itself from the previous county commission’s desire to build a multi-level parking garage at the county-owned Mana­tee Beach. Schaefer said he favors leaving the current parking provi­sions in place until it’s necessary to get in unison with what the county and the other two Island cities do in terms of paid parking.

Titsworth said the city did some preliminary research on paid parking when the since-discarded county parking garage was still in play, but she hopes paid beach parking doesn’t happen while she’s mayor.

“It’s inevitable. I hope inevitable happens when I’m not in this chair,” she said, adding that many residents live on the other side of the bridge now because they were priced out.

“The fact that they get to come back here and park for free and enjoy the beaches is good. Whether it’s now or later, that’s entirely up to this board,” she said, adding that she hopes it can stay free “for a little bit longer.”

Holmes Beach commissioner proposes paid beach parking
Free beach parking is available at the 52nd Street beach access in Holmes Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Regarding the search for additional revenues, Titsworth said convincing the Legislature to provide the Island cities with a larger share of the signifi­cant tourist development tax revenues generated on the Island is a more immediate concern than paid parking revenues.

After hearing what the mayor and other commissioners had to say, Diggins said it would likely take a year or two, or longer, to come up with a workable paid parking plan that includes the county and the other two cities and now is the time to start working on it.

“We could have a workshop on this,” Soustek said. “Be prepared to have this chamber filled. Bring them in and explain why you want to discuss it, because you feel the inevitability of it.”

“It’s worked in a lot of beach com­munities,” Diggins said.

Whitmore again noted some people, including those who live on the main­land, can’t afford to pay for parking when visiting the Island beaches.

“Those are the people that really need our beaches,” she said.

Oelfke and Schaefer supported discussing paid parking with county officials to get a feel for where they currently stand on the issue. Titsworth said she would ask county staff to add a paid parking discussion to the agenda for the joint Holmes Beach/Manatee County meeting to be held at the county administrative building in downtown Bradenton on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at 1:30 p.m. That meeting will be livestreamed at the county website.

“Don’t we have more important things to talk about?” Whitmore lamented.

Diggins noted the county plans to charge boaters to use the boat ramps to be built at the county-owned Cortez Marina when that county facility is constructed on the property formerly occupied by the Seafood Shack and Annie’s Bait and Tackle before the county bought the property in Decem­ber. There’s also been some informal public discussion about possibly charging boaters to use the other county boat ramps as well.

“People who use the service have to pay for it; and to me, paid beach parking fits in that category,” Diggins said. “We don’t have to implement it, but we can gather information to see what we don’t know.”

“I’ll fight it all the way,” Whit­more said.

County halts beach parking garage plans

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

MANATEE COUNTY – Commissioner George Kruse received unanimous support from his fellow commissioners on Aug. 27 to cease spending funding on pursuing three parking garages, including one planned for Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.

Previously, the county initiative, led by Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, sought the approval of state legislators on a bill to allow a three-story parking garage to be constructed on the site despite the city’s regulations against multi-level parking structures and the Holmes Beach land development code’s prohibition of multi-story parking garages.

County commissioners had dedicated more than $1 million for design services for the Manatee Beach garage earlier in the year. After the Aug. 20 primary election, which saw Van Ostenbridge, the largest supporter of the garage, being defeated by Kruse for an at-large seat on the dais, Kruse said he thought it was time to revisit the issue and placed it on the Aug. 27 commission agenda, saying that his motivation was to save taxpayer money.

Van Ostenbridge made the motion to indefinitely table the parking garage conversation with no further money to be spent at this time on garage plans in Holmes Beach, Bradenton and Palmetto. The motion received full support from the board of commissioners.

City imposes deadline to close parking lots

City imposes deadline to close parking lots

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – With city-imposed closure deadlines looming, time is running out at Shawn Kaleta’s four paid parking lots.

City commissioners put multiple conditions in place before granting temporary use permits for the paid parking lots; 101 Bridge St. was approved with stipulations on Feb. 15 and 206 Bay Drive N., 207 Church Ave. and 102 Third St. N. gained approval, also with stipulations, on March 21.

Most of the agreed-upon conditions remain unfulfilled, according to City Building Official Darin Cushing. In an Aug. 1 letter to Kaleta, Cushing said he intends to barricade the lots on Aug. 9 with a permanent closure deadline of Sept. 6 if all the stipulations have not been met.

Cushing’s letter reads in part: “To date, very few, if any of these stipulations have been met, first and foremost, the presentation of Professionally Designed Site Plans in order to demonstrate that all of the other stipulations are being adhered to.”

Cushing noted in his letter that the commission approved the applications for temporary use permits contingent on administrative site plan approval by the building official.

“The actual permits have never been approved and are currently sitting in an ‘under review’ status,” he wrote. “Furthermore, the parking lots have all been in operation since February of this year, technically illegally, as they have never been approved by the Planning and Zoning Department.”

Cushing wrote that the applications for these temporary use permits were submitted “after the fact,” as the paid parking lots were all created and put into operation prior to any application being made to the department.

Cushing closed the letter with: “We have no choice but to close the parking lots for use, until such time that we receive the required documentation, and all of the above-mentioned stipulations have been met. We will be barricading the entries and covering the pay kiosks and signs on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. If by Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, we have not received 100% compliance with the stipulations for approval, we will revoke the applications, and all of the modifications that have been made on these parcels will have to be removed.”

Sam Negrin, manager of Kaleta’s Beach to Bay Investments Inc., responded on Aug. 2 to The Sun’s request for comment by text: “Our new parking management company, Island Parking, has taken over as of July 12th and has been working diligently to get the city’s requests completed. We look forward to meeting all of their requirements to remain operating.”

STIPULATIONS FOR APPROVAL

All the temporary use permits for the four lots were granted for one year. Stipulations included a review of a professionally-prepared site plan by the building official, active insurance to be carried by the property owner and production of a business tax receipt to the city clerk. The plans to be submitted to the building department are required to include requested parking spaces, golf cart parking dimensions, ADA compliance and adequate ingress and egress.

The parking lot stipulations for approval at 101 Bridge St. included no entrance or exit from Bridge Street, directional arrows, landscaping less than 3 feet high, sidewalk installation north of Third Street South to hook into the corner sidewalk on Gulf Drive, trolley benches and slab, black and white signage and review of site plan by building official. The one-year temporary use permit runs through Feb. 15, 2025.

There currently remains a driveway leading onto Bridge Street from the parking lot, the sidewalk and slab have not been installed and there are no directional arrows. A leaking artesian well is in the process of being capped.

Some of the stipulations for 206 Bay Drive N., 102 Third St. N. and 207 Church Ave. include the building owner submitting a building permit application or land development approval request within eight months of the temporary use permit approval, permits that will expire on March 21, 2025, and a limit on the number of parking spaces to be approved by the building official on a site plan.

A sidewalk is to be installed along Church Avenue with details to be approved by the building official for the Church Avenue lot, along with landscape buffering and the installation of a privacy fence along the northern and southern property lines. A sidewalk is to be installed along Third Street North along with landscape buffering for the 102 Third St. N. lot.

City threatens shutdown of Bridge Street parking lot

City threatens shutdown of Bridge Street parking lot

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – A city-threatened shutdown of the paid parking lot at 101 Bridge St. prompted its management to begin to fix one long-standing issue, but due to non-compliance with other city requirements, a temporary closure of the lot may still be imminent, according to the city’s building official.

The property, owned by developer Shawn Kaleta, has been operational since earning commission approval in February for temporary use as a paid parking lot. That approval by the commission was conditional on stipulations, including the submission of a site plan, that have not been fulfilled, according to city officials.

“I gave them until last Friday, July 12 to get things tightened up, or we would barricade off the lot and not allow it to be used for parking until there was progress being made to rectify these issues,” Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing wrote in a July 15 email to The Sun. “The representative immediately responded and began working toward resolution and has been in daily contact with myself and the code enforcement officer, therefore we did not shut them down.”

On July 8, Cushing sent Kaleta’s representative, Sam Negrin, the following email:

“The Temporary Use Parking Lot is getting out of hand, yet again. If several issues are not addressed ASAP, we will be forced to barricade and close off the parking lot until they are addressed.

“First and foremost, the artesian well onsite is once again leaking and spreading water all over the lot, and down the street toward the Bay. It needs to be PERMANENTLY capped off immediately, not just temporarily.

“Electronic pay station kiosks have recently been added without any permitting. We were supposed to have been provided with a final site plan for the entire lot months ago as a condition of the temporary use that was approved in February.

“Again, we need a true site plan, prepared by a civil engineer, showing all of the dimensions, number and location of parking spaces, location of the added slabs, location of the pay kiosks and other signage, ingress and egress (traffic circulation), the post and rope that was installed, and anything else that has been added or modified since the lot(s) were vacant. A hand or computer-generated ‘sketch’ won’t cut it, we need a site plan.

“This parking lot has been in operation for five months now, during which time we have had to continually address the well issue. We’ve also asked multiple times for a site plan to be prepared and turned in for the temporary use permit file.

“Please make these things happen. If they have not, by close of business on Friday (7/12/24) of this week, the lot will be shut down, and the area barricaded permanently, and the temporary use permit revoked. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.”

“After I sent them the email, they did contract with someone to cap the artesian well. It’s been leaking for a long time,” Cushing said on July 16. “I still don’t have a site plan and there are other issues that haven’t been taken care of. I still may be shutting it down temporarily in the next few days until these things are done.”

Cushing said the artesian well is next to Florida Power and Light equipment and the repairs to the well need to be coordinated with the power company.

“That well needs to be dug deep,” he said.

UNMET STIPULATIONS

On Feb. 15, the city commission voted unanimously to approve the one-year temporary use permit for paid parking at the lot which encompasses 101 Bridge St., 105 Bridge St., 219 Gulf Drive S., and 106 Third St. S. with the following conditions:

• No ingress or egress from Bridge Street;

• Parking layout in accordance with the city’s land development code for parking drive aisle, parking bumpers and directional arrows;

• Turtle-friendly lighting at the lot management’s discretion;

• Landscaping buffering around the perimeter;

• Installation of a sidewalk on the north side of Third Street to Gulf Drive and Bridge Street at the corner of Gulf Drive to the boundaries of the Daiquiri Deck property;

• Installation of a concrete slab for trolley benches;

• CRA black and white signage; and

• ADA requirements by state and federal law for any parking spaces with a detailed site plan to the satisfaction of the building official.

In addition to the site plan not having been produced to the city, there currently exists ingress and egress from the lot to and from Bridge Street, landscape buffering has not been installed, no directional arrows are in place and the required sidewalks and concrete slab have not been installed.

Despite a statement made by Negrin at the February meeting that there would be no overnight parking at the lot, a food truck has been parked there for at least the past week.

Neither Negrin nor Kaleta responded to The Sun’s request for comment.

CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT

The parking lot was, up until the past week, managed by Easy Parking Group of Sarasota before the contract was terminated by Kaleta and new kiosks were put in place.

The new kiosks, which now say “Island Parking” show a parking rate of $15 per hour.

Josh LaRose, owner of Easy Parking Group, declined to comment on details of the termination.

“We did not do anything to default the contract with Shawn,” LaRose wrote in a July 16 email to The Sun.

LaRose wrote he was not responsible for the maintenance of the parking lot.

“My contract states that I’m only responsible for parking management, collecting payment and enforcement, which is what my company does,” he wrote.

During the February commission meeting, Negrin had stated that LaRose would hold the insurance on the property. With LaRose no longer affiliated with the management of the parking lot, it’s unclear who, if anyone, is carrying insurance.

CANCELED TAX SALE

A tax deed sale for past due property taxes on 101 Bridge St. was scheduled for Sept. 19 and according to the www.manatee.realforeclose.com website, the sale was canceled and the property was redeemed.

The assessed value of the property was listed at $1,086,406 and the opening bid for the tax sale was listed as $67,512.85 with 205 Sycamore LLC as the listed property owner. The manager of that LLC is Shawn Kaleta and the registered agent is Najmy Thompson, a Bradenton-based law firm.

Editorial: Selling access to the sand

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

Manatee County commissioners are on a roll when it comes to disappointing their constituents.

Despite overwhelming protests from the community, commissioners have approved $2.9 million for three pre-design criteria packages for three parking garages, one at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.

Even Commissioner George Kruse, whom Island residents were starting to rally around, voted in favor of the budget amendment.

Commissioners’ intent with these packages is to seek a public-private partnership agreement for a private developer and builder to come in with a bid package to build and run these parking facilities. The reason a private company or investor would do such a thing, as was said on the county commission dais on May 14, is so they can profit from the paid parking facility.

There goes Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s supposed reason for going around Holmes Beach officials to build the parking garage at the beach, which was to give more people access to the beach. Instead, by this plan, only those willing to pay for the privilege of parking on Anna Maria Island will have access to the beach.

Van Ostenbridge already stated that he has no intention of seeking a reduced or free rate for Manatee County residents. Now he and the other five members of the county commission are actively spending tax dollars to build a revenue stream for the developers – and possible campaign contributors – they select at the expense of taxpayers and Manatee County residents.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth is the only Anna Maria Island mayor who has taken a stand against paid parking and doesn’t allow it in her city. Holmes Beach has the only free and truly accessible beach access left on Anna Maria Island and county commissioners have gone all the way to the state Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis to make sure that it’s closed to only those willing to pay a premium to access the sand.

With the current slate of county commissioners, this is your tax dollars at work, something voters should remember at the ballot box in the Aug. 20 Republican primary, where many of our local elections are decided, and in the Nov. 5 general election.

Beach parking garage gets design funding

Beach parking garage gets design funding

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Whether residents want it or not, the wheels are in motion for county taxpayers to foot the bill for a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.

County commissioners voted unanimously on May 14 to approve $1.125 million for a preliminary design criteria package for the parking structure.

The item was listed as a budget amendment under the consent agenda before Commissioner George Kruse pulled it for discussion; consent agenda items are voted on without discussion. The funds for a pre-design criteria package of the parking structure, along with $625,000 for a similar design package for a parking garage at the Bradenton Area Convention Center and $1,175,000 for a garage at the Premiere Sports complex, total $2,925,000. The budget amendment states that those funds are being transferred from the 2023 Revenue Improvement Bonds Capital Projects fund.

Kruse said he pulled the item from the consent agenda because he felt that the commission needed to have more discussion before committing taxpayer funds to come up with a plan for the garages during an RFP process for designing and building the structures. He noted that while other infrastructure projects have been delayed for two years or more due to a lack of funding, commissioners are willing to push the parking garage projects forward. He said he felt the commission should have gotten more information before spending money.

“We say we’re fiscally conservative up here,” Kruse said, noting that he has a lot of questions about why his fellow commissioners are willing to spend taxpayer funds without more information.

Speaking on behalf of county staff, Manatee County Director of Property Management Cary Knight said, “My understanding of the process that was put into place is that we’re bringing on an architecture firm to do a pre-design criteria package. That pre-design criteria package then gets included with RFQ for a three-P partner (public-private partnership) to come and make proposals for how they would build the building, how they would finance it, how they would make money off of it, whether or not it would be a paid parking situation or maybe the county is a lease situation where the three-P becomes basically the bank for the county. That’s kind of the process that’s in place right now.”

“It seems like this is almost a cart before a horse,” Kruse said. He added that he feels the county staff could determine if paid parking is a viable option. He suggested looking at established paid parking in Bradenton Beach to see utilization, hourly rates and what the backlash from visitors and residents is. He said he feels he’d rather spend the money elsewhere.

Despite Kruse’s misgivings on the topic, he voted in favor of allocating the funds to design services for the three parking garages.

County Administrator Charlie Bishop said the county isn’t “an expert on building parking garages” and is relying on Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, to determine that public-private partnerships are viable at the three proposed parking garage locations.

The downtown Bradenton parking garage, which has been deemed structurally poor and needs to be replaced as soon as possible, was not on the list of proposed garages discussed at the May 14 meeting.

The beach parking garage is a pet project for Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who represents the residents of Anna Maria Island and west Bradenton, many of whom have spoken out publicly against a parking garage at the county-owned beach in Holmes Beach. Van Ostenbridge has disregarded protests from residents and visitors, along with other county commissioners, stating that the parking garage would allow for more inclusive beach access for county residents, despite the fact that he plans for the garage to have paid parking instead of the free parking currently allowed in Holmes Beach.

While Holmes Beach city leaders have staunchly defended their city against the encroachment of paid parking, which has sprung up to the north and south in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach, Mayor Judy Titsworth has stated that if county commissioners build the garage with paid parking, the city may have to rethink its stance on paid parking.

SIDESTEPPING HOLMES BEACH

Currently both multi-level parking garages and paid parking are against the city’s land development code and ordinances. County commissioners opted to circumvent the city by going to the Manatee County state legislative delegation. The five-member delegation pushed a bill through the state Legislature in 2023 allowing the county to build the parking garage at Manatee Beach without approval or permits from the city.

During a 2023 county commission work session, Van Ostenbridge presented his ideas to his fellow board members. He said the garage would have three stories with a fourth parking level on the roof and span the entirety of the buildable space at the public beach park. The current historic concession stand, retail space, bar, restroom and shower facilities would be demolished with new facilities built into the parking garage. At the time, he estimated the parking garage could be built for about $45 million.

Van Ostenbridge said the garage would have around 900 parking spaces, about 450 more than what currently exists on the Manatee Beach property, and paid parking of at least $2 per hour would be necessary to pay for the construction of the garage and the estimated $200,000 annual maintenance costs.

During demolition and construction, the current parking spaces and facilities would be unavailable to beachgoers, meaning that the only beach on Anna Maria Island with restroom, shower and changing facilities would be Coquina Beach on the southern tip of the Island.

Island residents, visitors and elected officials alike all protested strongly prior to the bill being filed during the legislative session and continue to do so.

The latest protest action against the parking garage occurred earlier this month at a rally hosted by residents’ group Save Florida Home Rule, where several people spoke out against the building of a parking garage at Manatee Beach. None of the county commissioners attended, though a contender for Van Ostenbridge’s seat on the county commission, Diana Shoemaker, did speak and said she was committed to hearing the voices of the residents in District 3, not dismissing them as she said some others have done and continue to do.

Bradenton Beach logo

Commission denies another parking lot

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners denied a temporary use application for a paid parking lot next to the Gulf Drive Café at an April 4 commission meeting.

The application for 900 Gulf Drive N. was submitted by applicant Joshua LaRose on behalf of property owner Wendy Kokolis.

Julian Botero represented the applicant at the commission meeting.

“We’re looking for paid beach parking, 27 spots on the south end of Gulf Drive Café at the white fenced-in lot,” Botero said. “This is a C-2 (commercial) zone, similar to everything else going on on the Island.”

Botero noted that the parking area would give visitors direct access to the beach.

“We got an application for a paid parking lot,” City Building Official Darin Cushing said. “This is again a case of where it got started before it was requested. We told them to halt construction, we had to have a permit.”

Mayor John Chappie cited a number of his concerns about the application.

The property is seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line, he said.

“Several state agencies need to chime in on this after-the-fact application. This is something we’re cracking down on,” Chappie said. “These are the problems you run into when you do something without asking and it creates problems with the city.”

The applicant requested that hours of operation for the parking lot be approved for 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and that it could be used as additional parking for the Gulf Drive Café.

“None of this jives. It makes me wonder what’s going on here,” Chappie said.

Chappie expressed concerns about the health, safety and welfare of the public in a high-density, high-traffic area.

“This is two blocks from the Cortez Road intersection, one of the busiest on the Island and the busiest in Bradenton Beach,” he said. “It’s high density with condos to the south. I’m concerned about that and the traffic.”

Chappie said there are no crosswalks in the immediate area, which has high pedestrian activity.

“I don’t see how the negative impact can be mitigated,” Chappie said, also taking issue with the proposed hours of operation and the potential for lights on the beach to disorient sea turtles during nesting season, which begins May 1.

Cushing said that the application for the parking lot would require approval from multiple agencies prior to the city considering approval.

“You’re under an FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) permit for an addition to the restaurant, this would require this as well,” he said. “There’s no way we can say yes. There’s the FDEP sea turtle division. SWFWMD (the Southwest Florida Water Management District) would also have to get involved. There are state agencies that have required permits before we can even take a look at this.”

PUBLIC OPPOSITION

During public comment, several people spoke in opposition to the application to which Botero replied, “We feel precedent has been set, such as the parking lot at the Beach House, which is the same dis tance from the Cortez Bridge intersection. We could change the time of operations,” he said. “City lights were attracting turtles. All the other lots that have been approved have been in residential areas. Ours is not.”

“When you’re dealing with a temporary use permit every application stands alone,” Chappie said, adding that not all applications for temporary parking have been approved, and those that were have come with stipulations to protect the health, safety and welfare of the community.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry said Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby objected to the parking lot and said it would cause excessive vehicular traffic in the area.

“The chief specifically objected to turning on a southbound lane from a parking lot because it will likely back up traffic,” Perry said. “To travel in the northbound lane will require a vehicle to travel across three lanes of traffic and that is very dangerous, especially without traffic control devices.”

Perry added that without an FDOT study and without support of FDOT, the proposed parking would create a dangerous situation.

“People need to stop doing things before they come to the city, period, it’s not going to be tolerated. We have rules and regulations and we treat everybody the same according to our land development regulations and our comprehensive plan and it creates problems, and creates a tremendous cost to the taxpayers when things happen the way they should not happen,” Chappie said.

Police chief says beach parking plentiful in Holmes Beach

Police chief says beach parking plentiful in Holmes Beach

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Spring break is in full swing on Anna Maria Island but despite long traffic delays, the Island’s biggest city still has plenty of parking for beachgoers, according to officials.

During a March 12 commission meeting, Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he’d been out every day during spring break to check parking in Holmes Beach. Despite beautiful weather and traffic delays, he said there were hundreds of spots available to beachgoers throughout the city in marked spaces within a quarter mile of beach access points.

He said he’d seen entire blocks of open spaces that were properly marked. Due to the number of open spaces, he said he’d stopped counting the openings when he reached in the hundreds each time he was doing inventory.

In addition to the open parking spaces within the quarter block area, more unmarked parking spaces slightly further from the beach were also available.

Tokajer said that over the previous week and two weekends since spring break started, Holmes Beach has seen an average of 36,000 cars coming into the city each day.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said that the open parking spaces are being recorded with time and date-stamped photographs for future meetings with state legislators. She said the problem isn’t a lack of parking, it’s that people aren’t in favor of waiting in line for up to three hours to travel down Manatee Avenue from Bradenton to the Island.

City leaders are working diligently to make sure that available parking spaces in the city are improved and marked as well as indicated on the city’s public parking map. The accounting of parking spaces is at least partially due to an ongoing issue among the city, Manatee County commissioners and members of the Manatee County state legislative delegation concerning the availability of beach parking in the city.

County commissioners say that there isn’t enough parking in the city after some residential areas were turned into permit parking-only areas during the day following complaints from residents about vandalism, trespassing and other issues with beachgoers parking in front of their homes and then damaging property, using private pools and hoses, leaving trash and causing other problems. State leaders made the decision to skip city permitting and land development code regulations during the 2023 state legislative session by passing a bill allowing the county to construct a three-story parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach. Though some county commissioners have been very vocal about wanting to build the garage as soon as possible, no funding for that project has been secured.

City leaders and residents continue to oppose the parking garage. If constructed, the garage would eliminate the current parking at Manatee Beach during construction, cause the demolition of the current concession, retail and restroom facilities and cost taxpayers more than an estimated $50 million to construct with an estimated $200,000 in annual maintenance once completed. County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who champions the parking garage, said that the money for maintenance and construction would be recouped by charging an hourly rate for parking.

Paid parking is also not an allowable use in Holmes Beach. City leaders said if a garage is constructed and paid parking initiated there by the county it would mean that other parking, including street side and at beach access points, would also become paid parking spaces.

Parking at Manatee Beach, at beach access points and along the side of the road where allowable in Holmes Beach is currently free.

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Commissioners consider more paid parking lots

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following their approval to draft a contract with Beach to Bay Investments Inc. for a paid parking lot across from the Public Works Department, commissioners postponed a decision on March 7 on a second set of bids for paid parking in multiple city lots.

Request for Proposal (RFP) 2024-04 went out for bid to provide paid parking in areas that included all of Bridge Street, an after-hours parking lot to the east and west side of the police department, the city hall parking lot, the area around the pickleball court on Highland Avenue (with free passes to pickleball players), the shared parking lot with Silver Resorts at First Street North, Gulfside parking spaces near the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge and future options at the Tingley Library, if the building is raised to create parking.

“On Bridge Street, the majority of people parking are employees there and shoppers can’t get a space,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. “The parking near the Moose, those are prime beach spots.”

Perry said two bids were received.

“SP Municipal Services offered a 65/35 split to the city,” Perry said. “The city would receive 65% of net revenue. They haven’t told me costs.”

The second bidder, Beach to Bay Investments Inc., offered three choices. Developer Shawn Kaleta, president of Beach to Bay, is a principal in the recently-approved Bridge Street hotel resort project.

“They recognize they will be having the hotel up and operating with valet service, they would utilize their valet system to get people parked,” Perry said, adding they would provide shuttle and trash services.

Beach to Bay offered three options to the city. All of the options included the bidder taking on all improvement costs.

1) A lump sum payment of $100k per year;

2) An annual payment of $50,000 with 25% of profits;

3) A 50/50 split.

Beach to Bay asked for a 15-year lease term.

“That’s a lot to look at,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said. “I’d like to see more public input.”

Cole said he would like to know more of the operational costs.

“The costs of improvement are the responsibility of Beach to Bay, but will that be part of the profit costs?” Cole asked.

“My understanding is they’re eating that cost up front, but that needs to be fleshed out,” Perry said.

Cole said he would have a difficult time making such a big decision without additional thought and information.

“I think we’re all in agreement to postpone this to flesh out some things,” Mayor John Chappie said.

Commissioner Marilyn Maro, who telephoned into the meeting, spoke in favor of holding a work meeting.

“It’s such a big issue it needs its own one-agenda meeting,” Cole said.

“We will hold the selection of the bidder under 2024-04 in advance and to be considered in a work meeting to be scheduled by the city clerk,” Perry read as a motion.

The motion passed unanimously.

“We are under a cone of silence so the bidders may not communicate or lobby in any way shape or form,” Perry reminded commissioners at the conclusion of the meeting.

Commissioners approve paid parking lot

Commissioners approve paid parking lot

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved a bid from Beach to Bay Investments Inc. on March 7 to improve a city parking lot and begin charging for parking.

Request for Proposal 2024-03 pertains to the parking lot between Church and Highland avenues directly across from the city’s Public Works department.

“It is our public works parking lot, it is largely unfinished and was in need of someone to come up with a design,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. “We received one bid that came in.”

Developer Shawn Kaleta is president of Beach to Bay Investments Inc.

Perry, Public Works Director Tom Woodard and City Treasurer Shayne Thompson evaluated the bid favorably based on background and experience, references, business plan, financials, bid details and project timeline.

Police Chief John Cosby participated in the evaluation by telephone.

“They came up with 21 standard spots, two ADA and 10 golf cart spots,” Perry said. “My understanding is if the city blesses the plan, they are prepared within a month’s time to get the construction completed on the site for paid parking.”

Three options were presented by the bidder for commission consideration, all with parking lot improvements to be made at the bidder’s cost.

1) A payment to the city of $48,000 per year;

2) A $24,000 lump sum payment annually to the city and 25% of the proceeds from the paid parking;

3) A 50/50 split of parking proceeds.

Perry said she, Woodard, Thompson and Cosby were leaning toward the second option, as it will provide guaranteed income to the city.

“We like that blended model, but this is all in your court to do anything you want,” Perry said.

Beach to Bay Investments asked for a lease term of 15 years and will provide insurance and indemnification, Perry said.

“The city needs flexibility, being committed for 15 years with no out is something that needs to be looked at by the city,” Perry said.

Sam Negrin, who represents Beach to Bay, spoke at the meeting.

“We own the property next door, the Bradenton Beach Marina,” Negrin said. “Part of our proposal was we’d like to offer nighttime security, 24/7 security to this parking lot as well.”

Negrin said the bidder is flexible as to terms.

“That 15 years, we might want to look at more of a trial period, less than 15, that’s for sure,” Mayor John Chappie said. “We’d like to look at a cap on what we charge per hour.”

Pricing would change during the time of the year, Negrin said.

“I think there needs to be a shorter term so we can make adjustments along the way, if need be,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said.

Cole questioned the ability of the city to track revenue and Perry said the city would have the right to audit.

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked what the parking rates would be and Negrin said that was open to discussion with the city.

“That’s something we could certainly put a cap on,” Negrin said. “I don’t know what we’re going to charge there yet. The lot across from Beach House charges $5-$10 an hour, so I think it will be somewhere in that range.”

Cole said he would like to know what the hourly charges are in order to make a determination as to which plan to accept.

“I like what I’m hearing so far,” Chappie said. “The security, the nighttime cameras, that’s big.”

Commissioners discussed the three revenue options as well as proposed lease terms and an exit plan for the city.

“I do take into consideration we’re getting the parking lot redone and that’s worth a nice chunk of money,” Chappie said. “I’m sure in the negotiation we’ll have a figure they’d like to recoup if we decide to part ways.”

The commission agreed to a five-year lease with options to renew twice at five years each.

Cole said he was in favor of the 50/50 split option.

“I’m fine with the 50/50 split,” Chappie said.

“If you charge $5 that’s $500 for eight hours – that’s good money,” Cole said.

Vosburgh agreed to the 50/50 split.

A fully negotiated contract will be presented at the next commission meeting, Perry said.

“A motion to accept the recommendation to evaluate Beach to Bay as the number one bidder for RFP 2024-03 public parking and to select Beach to Bay for parking services under RFP 2024-03 and to direct the city attorney to prepare a contract with Beach to Bay,” was read by Perry and was approved unanimously by commissioners.

Commissioner Marilyn Maro telephoned into the meeting.

Commission considers paid parking in residential zones

Commission considers paid parking in residential zones

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following commission approval of temporary use parking lots in the footprint of the planned Bridge Street resort hotel/restaurant/retail complex, commissioners discussed applications for paid parking lots in residential zones.

Building Official Darin Cushing said the city received four applications for temporary parking lots in areas that are zoned residential. The city Land Development Code prohibits parking lots in residential zones, he said.

Hotel developer Shawn Kaleta submitted temporary use permit applications for parking lots at 207 Church Ave., 206 Bay Drive N., 205 First St. N. and 102 Third St. N. The proposed duration of the permits is from Feb. 1, 2024 through Feb. 1, 2026.

Cushing said the new applications came in with drawings similar to the applications submitted by Kaleta for parking on 101 and 105 Bridge St. along with 219 Gulf Drive S. and 106 Third St. S. The difference, he said, is that one of the lots is in the C-2 zoning district and the others are in the R-3, or residential, zone.

“When they applied for the temporary use permit for this one we were just talking about, they brought in four more applications,” Cushing said. “There’s one for the lot on Third Street that was mentioned that popped up and also there are two back-to-back lots on Church and Bayview – both on the side of the marina – and then also for the lot currently used as a parking lot at the Pines (Trailer Park).

“We do need parking, that’s for sure, but at the same time we make sure it’s done properly,” Cushing said.

“I don’t think it’s proper for us to discuss, because it’s an upcoming item; it just came in,” Mayor John Chappie said.

Evelyn Stob, who lives on Third Street North, spoke during the public comment session of the discussion.

“There are two additional spots. I assume they were all zoned R-3 and continue to be zoned R-3. R-3 does not allow parking,” Stob said. “I’d like you to seriously consider those before you grant any type of additional parking, because I’ll be honest with you, it depreciates my home value.”

The lot Stob was referring to is at 102 Third St. N., a home that was, according to tax records, purchased for $1,150,000 in February 2023. The property owner is listed in tax records as 102 3D Street LLC.

Stob said the home was demolished and set up for parking.

“They’re all set up to go. Doesn’t this seem a little backwards?” Stob asked. “Can I just start throwing that up in my front yard? It’s something for you to consider.”

Stob said she did not want her home to be surrounded by parking lots.

“What is the status on the applications for those properties?” Chappie asked Cushing. “The hotel property is after the fact. They’ve already put stuff in there. With the other parking lots that we haven’t reviewed yet, we’re telling them you have to shut it down.”

Chappie said if the rules aren’t followed, the commission has no choice.

“The zoning dos and don’ts are pretty clear, and I don’t know how we can continue to allow the illegal activities in those areas,” Chappie said. “It does create a negative with the surrounding residential neighborhood.”

There are areas in city regulations where an applicant can make an application to change the rules, he said.

“It’s not a free-for-all,” Chappie said. “We have to follow the rules and regulations. We can’t start making exceptions for anybody because then you open a can of worms. It’s not right, it’s not fair and it’s not the way the system is supposed to work.”

Commissioner Ralph Cole noted that there is a process that should be followed to make exceptions to zoning.

“There has to be public notice, to go through the process,” Cole said. “I don’t think we should break our own rules to give an exception. When they purchased these pieces of property they knew what the allowable uses were.”

Commission considers paid parking in residential zones
An application for a a parking lot at 102 Third St. S. was discussed by the commission at its Feb. 15 meeting. – Leslie Lake | Sun

“They could apply for a variance, that’s a whole process that takes months,” Cushing said. “It has to happen before the lots are installed. These are already up and running, they have kiosks. It’s the cart before the horse at this point.”

“I don’t think we have much choice but to put a stop and desist on this,” Chappie said. “It’s not legal according to our rules and regulations. I don’t see any way around it.”

City Attorney Ricinda Perry said it’s premature at this point because there is not an application for the commission to act upon.

“We don’t have the application, so we’re not in a position to act on it,” Perry said. “They can defend why they are not in violation of our code, and we can look at it at that time.”

“If you as a mayor find a violation, you can direct staff to look into it,” Perry said. “It appears that code enforcement would be that mechanism if it’s a violation of a code.”

Cushing said parking facilities have been put in place without any type of permit and letters from the city went out to the property owners saying the parking lots have to be removed.

“Since the time the letters went out, we’ve received applications,” Cushing said. “The letters went out a week ago.”

“It was instructed (in the letters) what they needed to do to become compliant,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said. “That’s why you’re getting the applications now. It needs to come back to the commission to make the decision.”

Perry advised the commission to let the process play out until the applications are reviewed.

City commission to consider paid parking lots

City commission to consider paid parking lots

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – If approved by the city commission on Feb. 15, paid parking will cover much of the footprint of a future 106-room hotel/restaurant/retail complex for the next year.

A temporary use application dated Jan. 29 was submitted for city commission approval by developer Shawn Kaleta to allow paid parking lots at 101 and 105 Bridge St., 219 Gulf Drive S. and 106 Third St. from Feb. 1, 2024 through Feb. 1, 2025.

The agenda item is listed under new business for the upcoming city commission meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15 at noon at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.

A rendering of the proposed parking submitted to commissioners shows approximately 90 parking spaces.

A pay-by-plate parking lot on 219 Gulf Drive S. opened recently, with posted parking rates of $15 per hour. The property, along with 101 and 105 Bridge St., is zoned commercial C-2. 106 Third Street South is zoned commercial C-1.

On Dec. 7, Kaleta and hotel co-applicant, former Bradenton Beach commissioner Jake Spooner, received city commission approval for the hotel, which will include a 60-seat restaurant, 5,396 square feet of retail space and 154 on-site parking spaces.

The hotel property is situated on 1.61 acres and located at 101, 105 and 117 Bridge St. and 106, 108, 110 and 112 Third St. S.

On Dec. 11, demolition began on the building at 219 Gulf Drive S., the location of the former Joe’s Eats N Sweets. On Jan. 13, 101 Bridge St., formerly the Freckled Fin, was demolished. The building on 105 Bridge St., formerly the site of the Magnolia Inn, was demolished on Jan. 26.

Bradenton Beach permit technician Annabre Veal said on Dec. 27 that a demolition permit application for the Fudge Factory at 117 Bridge St. had been submitted but was missing some information at that time.

Paid parking lot opens in Bradenton Beach

Paid parking lot opens in Bradenton Beach

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following the demolition of the colorful Joe’s Eats N Sweets building to make way for a 106-room hotel/restaurant/retail project, the cleared site is being used as an interim paid parking lot – until construction begins.

The city commission approved the hotel project on the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South on Dec. 7. On Dec. 11, demolition began on Joe’s Eats N Sweets. The drawings for the hotel project show that the area of the paid parking lot will be replaced by the hotel loading dock.

Co-applicants for the hotel are local developer Shawn Kaleta and former Bradenton Beach city commissioner Jake Spooner.

The pay-by-plate parking lot at 219 Gulf Drive S. has 33 parking spaces with 24/7 rates of $15 per hour.

According to the sign at the pay station, “You are on a privately owned and managed parking lot that’s not associated with any municipality.”

The lot is managed by Easy Parking Group.

Violators will be booted or ticketed at the owner’s expense to a maximum boot fee of $200.

“Must pay, don’t run away,” according to the pay station sign.

Beach parking garage fight continues

Beach parking garage fight continues

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – In the aftermath of a Manatee County Commission work session discussing the building of a parking garage at Manatee Beach, city and county officials continue to make their thoughts known on the hotly debated project.

During the Aug. 14 work session, county Commissioner Jason Bearden said that the beach parking garage should be “the top priority for the county.” This would rank the proposed three-story parking structure at the county-owned beach in Holmes

Beach, with an estimated 900 parking spaces at a cost of $30-50 million, higher than parking garages at the downtown Bradenton county administration building, among others.

Manatee County commissioners stated the garage would provide beach access for everyone in the county, which has almost half a million residents. Anna Maria Island is a 7-mile-long barrier island that is 1 mile wide at the widest point. According to Holmes Beach police, who patrol the Manatee Beach parking lot, the lot has more than 400 parking spaces with hundreds more located within a quarter mile of the public beach access, the only one in the city with restroom, shower and concession facilities.

The current downtown garage has an estimated lifespan of less than two years due to structural issues. A presentation on the plans for that garage estimates that it will cost about $100 million to construct and, once complete, would potentially have two stories of office space for county staff and parking for both the administration building and the downtown business and entertainment district at large.

Bearden’s comments were echoed by Commissioners James Satcher and Kevin Van Ostenbridge.

Commissioner George Kruse stated that while he’s not in opposition to putting a garage at the site, he doesn’t feel that it’s the project that’s most needed in the county right now. He was the sole member of the county commission who opted not to move the project forward into the design phase at this time.

After the meeting, Kruse released a statement reiterating his position on the proposed beach parking garage. He said that while the county has heard many reasons from residents why the garage should not be built, personally, he has two reasons why the project should slow down, not speed up. The first reason, Kruse said, is the cost of the parking garage versus other needs in the county that could better serve a larger number of people. Some of his examples include failing infrastructure across the county, the planned Fort Hamer Bridge, which he said would help more than 21,000 people a day in their commutes and cost approximately $60 million, and the planned downtown parking garage, all of which are currently awaiting funding.

Kruse went on to say that these projects could better enhance the quality of life for more county residents than a few hundred parking spaces at the beach.

During the county presentation, staff said there are approximately 300 surface parking spaces at the county beach available. If the garage is built, it will remove those spaces, along with the concession stand, retail stores, restrooms, bar and showers, for a minimum of 18-24 months. The new facilities would be incorporated into the bottom level of the garage, providing about 900 parking spaces on the property for beachgoers.

While the county presentation listed Manatee Beach as having about 300 parking spaces, Holmes Beach officials state that the existing parking area has 406 spaces. When first proposed, Van Ostenbridge said the beach garage would have 1,500 or more parking spaces. County staff said it would have a maximum of 900 spaces, increasing parking at the public beach by 496 spaces according to the city or 600 according to the county.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, whose officers patrol the beach property, also issued a statement following the county work session. In his statement, Tokajer said that even during heavy beach days, such as over spring break, there were regularly 100-300 parking spaces available in the city for beachgoers that went unused. He also noted that if the garage is approved, lanes need to be installed along the sand for first responders and law enforcement personnel to be able to respond to an emergency situation.

“Approving this garage will truly put you on the wrong side of history,” he said. “You will be ruining the character of the Island, the experience that past guests have had and future guests expect. Destroying a beautiful landmark with open space, a natural environment filled with trees and nature, replacing this historic site with a massive concrete public safety nightmare.”

In addition to concerns about being able to access beachgoers in an emergency, Tokajer has also expressed concerns about patrolling the garage structure itself and traffic and safety concerns due to the congestion caused by a larger number of people trying to get in and out of the garage at the same time.

County moves forward with beach garage design

County moves forward with beach garage design

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

MANATEE COUNTY – Parking garage plans for Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach are moving forward despite pushback from Anna Maria Island residents and one commissioner.

During an Aug. 14 work session, county commissioners discussed four potential parking garages, one of which is the proposed parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach that was approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year. When initially discussed, Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge proposed a three-story 1,500 parking space garage costing an estimated $45 million. The garage proposal presented to county commissioners during the work session is expected to cost $30-35 million to build and have about 900 parking spaces. While the actual look of the garage is not yet decided upon, the garage is planned to cover the entirety of the existing beach parking area, including the concession, retail and restroom areas. The new parking garage would include concession, retail, restroom and other facilities.

Commissioner George Kruse said he’s concerned about the cost of the four proposed parking facilities. He said that three of the garages are “niceties,” but the proposed downtown Bradenton replacement garage is the only one that is actually needed. The current garage has structural issues and must be replaced for safety reasons. Out of the four proposed garages, the downtown garage is estimated to cost the most at around $100 million.

Kruse said that rather than serving the public interest, he feels the Manatee Beach parking garage is being considered strictly to support a narrative constructed around a lack of beach parking. Having toured the city’s available parking, he said he feels that the 600 additional spaces the garage would provide over and above the current 300 in the parking lot are unnecessary and that the construction of the garage, planned to take anywhere from 18-24 months, could cause significantly more damage to the area than it helps, reducing facilities and beach access over two high tourism seasons. He also noted that the garage is currently an unfunded expense for the county.

Kruse’s comments received a round of applause from members of the public in the commission chambers. However, Van Ostenbridge said he feels that the rest of the board doesn’t share Kruse’s concerns.

Commissioner James Satcher said that if he could just choose one parking garage on the list of proposals, he’d pick the Manatee Beach parking garage. “People are clamoring to get to the beach. This is the right thing to do,” he said. “This should definitely be number one on our list.”

PUBLIC OPINION

During public comment, several people spoke against the parking garage, including Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, former Holmes Beach mayor and former county commissioner Carol Whitmore, city attorney Erica Augello and Titsworth.

“We do have adequate parking and I want to show you so bad,” Titsworth said to the county commission. “Please, before you act, take me up on my offer. Come take the tour and see our available parking.” She did note that Bearden agreed to come visit the city in the next week.

Some of the issues with parking in residential neighborhoods that Titsworth noted include lack of bathrooms, resulting in people defecating in sea oats, and lack of lifeguards down the entire length of the beach.

Resident Bruce Meyer also spoke and said he feels that he’s being “punished” and is not represented by the county commission. He said that 600 spaces wouldn’t make a difference with the amount of people who want to come the county beaches.

Augello noted that the proposed revenue stream for parking garage, paid parking, is not an allowable use in Holmes Beach and would not be allowed. If pursued, she said it could potentially end in litigation.

Owner of the Bamboo Beach Apartments, Alice Sutton, invited the county commissioners to come for a free weekend stay on a day of their choice and help her pick up used diapers, condoms and other debris from the sea oats and beach, help direct parking and explain to naked people why they can’t change in the complex’s laundry room.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek said that the issue isn’t availability of parking, it’s not addressing the issues with traffic and not addressing multi-modal transportation. She noted that the city commission is responding to the concerns raised by the residents they’re elected to represent to reduce on-street beach parking in residential neighborhoods. She said the city is not limiting access to the beach.

“We want to accommodate everyone we can,” she said. “We just can’t accommodate all of the cars.” Soustek encouraged county commissioners to look at some of the studies that have been done concerning traffic and congestion for additional solutions to issues with beach access, such as multi-modal transportation.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner addressed Bearden’s comments about planning for the future of the county with the potential for residential growth of 100,000 people over the coming years. He said that if the county wants to plan for the future, leaders need to look at more sustainable options than 600 beach parking spaces.

Closing out the meeting, both Kruse and Bearden spoke again with Kruse reiterating his earlier concerns that there are more pressing infrastructure issues in the county, such as the $60 million Fort Hamer Bridge project and the downtown Bradenton parking garage, that need to be addressed before a mere 600 parking spaces at Manatee Beach that will tie up facilities and parking for years is considered. Bearden said that he believes the 600 spaces will make a huge difference to people who live on the east side of the county who are waiting in traffic to get to the beach.