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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.

Coquina Beach parking lot improvements nearly complete

Coquina Beach parking lot improvements nearly complete

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Almost the entire Coquina Beach parking lot is now available to beachgoers, including those visiting the beach during the extended Fourth of July weekend.

The second phase of Manatee County’s long-running drainage and parking lot improvement project is now in its final stage, with the remaining work taking place in the overflow parking area being created north of the picnic pavilion area.

Coquina Beach parking lot improvements nearly complete
This diagram illustrates where the work was completed and the overflow parking area, circled in red, still being worked on. – Manatee County | Submitted

According to Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan, all the Coquina Beach parking spaces are now open except for the overflow area, which he said is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Coquina Beach parking lot improvements nearly complete
An overflow parking area is being constructed near the picnic pavilions. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“That is the last and final parking and drainage improvement,” Logan said of the final work taking place.

Formerly comprised of shell and sand, the Coquina Beach parking spaces are now paved with permeable concrete which contains gaps that allow water to drain down through the pavement and into the new drainage elements below.

A visit to the Coquina Beach parking lot on June 27 indicated that, with the exception of the overflow area, the entire parking lot was finished and available for parking.

Coquina Beach parking lot improvements nearly complete
The improvements made to the north end of the Coquina Beach parking lot are complete. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Coquina Beach drainage project started at the south end of the beach parking lot in May 2019 and included the removal of approximately 100 Australian Pine trees. County staff said the trees needed to be removed in part because their expansive root systems would hinder the drainage and paving improvements. As the second phase of the project moved north, approximately 87 more Australian pines were removed. Although many Australian Pines were removed, many still remain in place, including those along the recreational trail between the parking lot and the beach.

When the county commission approved the phase two plans and tree removals in 2020, the estimated phase one cost was $3.36 million and the estimated phase two cost was $3.62 million.

Permit parking only in effect

Permit parking only in effect

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

BRADENTON BEACH – As crews work their way down Gulf Drive South to complete the South Bradenton Beach Gravity System Relocation Project, temporary permit parking is now in effect to accommodate residents and visitors impacted by the project.

The first of the adjacent side roads to be closed during the project is 11th Street South. Residents and guests of homes on that street will be required to park with permits on the west side of Gulf Drive South for at least the next four months.

“There are approximately 70 residential properties on 11th Street South,” Manatee County Public Works Department Strategic Manager Ogden Clark said. “Nobody will be able to drive down the road. The reason we started with 11th Street is that there are the most residences on that road.”

The sewer project will replace and relocate a portion of the gravity collection system in South Bradenton Beach that now lies on private properties to new locations within the public right of way.

Clark said the 2.5-year-long project, which was contracted in January, is slightly ahead of schedule, but that could change during the summer rainy season.

“We had originally anticipated starting on 11th Street in July, so we’re slightly ahead of that,” Clark said. “But as we start to get heavy rains, the dewatering aspect becomes more involved and will take more time.”

Currently, the reserved permit parking section is located slightly north of Eighth Street South and goes south to midway between 10th Street South and 11th Street South.

Free golf cart shuttle service will be available to those living on closed roads. The phone number to call for service is 941-269-6699.

A security guard will be checking parking permits.

Part of the designated permit-only parking area includes public parking formerly for the use of those visiting the beach. “Permit parking only” signs will be placed in the area and citations may be issued to those parking in the designated area without permits.

Beach parking will be open just north of Fifth Street South to midway between Sixth and Seventh Streets. Additional beach parking will be in the area of 13th Street South. A construction material storage zone is located between Sixth and Seventh Streets and ends at the beginning of Eighth Street. The construction work zone is located midway between 10th and 11th Streets and ends between 12th and 13th Streets.

At its May 23 meeting, the Manatee County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution R-23-087, authorizing permit-only parking in designated parking spaces along Gulf Drive (Sixth Street South and 13th Street South) in Bradenton Beach for the project.

“The Acting County Administrator or his designee shall issue temporary parking permits for those impacted by the project construction and disseminate same to the appropriate individuals as needed and in accordance with this resolution and in the following chronological order: 1. 11th Street 2. 12th Street 3. 13th Street 4. 10th Street 5. Ninth Street 6. Eighth Street 7. Seventh Street 8. Sixth Street. Only one street at a time will be under construction and only those impacted by that particular street will be issued permits to park in the designated permit-only parking area during construction on that street.”

“The County shall temporarily change certain areas of parking along the west side of Gulf Drive South between Fifth Street and 13th Street from free parking to permit-only parking from the effective date of Resolution R-23-087 until Jan. 1, 2025,” according to Manatee County.

A copy of the resolution was mailed to the current mailing address on file with the Manatee County Property Appraiser for all properties eligible to receive a temporary parking permit.

Commission declines paid parking proposal

Commission declines paid parking proposal

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission has rejected a paid parking proposal that city staff negotiated with Easy Parking Group owner Josh LaRose.

After two and a half hours of discussion on Sept. 15, commissioners unanimously supported Commissioner Ralph Cole’s suggestion to schedule a future work meeting to continue the discussion and decision-making process that may include soliciting bids from additional operators.

Public input from Bridge Street business owners and employees helped convince the city commission and staff to slow their efforts to implement a paid parking program. All parties involved agreed that it’s crucial to address employee parking as part of any paid parking plan.

Commission declines paid parking proposal
Paid parking is being considered for the unpaved parking lot near the Bradenton Beach cell tower. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Thursday’s well-attended discussion began with City Attorney Ricinda Perry providing an overview of paid parking discussions to date. She said the goal is to provide more revenues for the city without placing that financial burden on taxpayers and permanent residents who already pay the highest millage rate on the Island.

Perry said paid parking revenues would be used for three primary reasons – to increase funding for the police department; to replace, maintain or upgrade the aging city buildings, including city hall; and to improve the city’s existing parking areas.

Parking proposal

On Aug. 30, the commission discussed soliciting additional paid parking proposals but then authorized Perry and a team of city staff members to engage in direct negotiations with LaRose, whose Easy Parking Group already operates the Community Redevelopment Agency-funded Old Town Tram program.

The publicly noticed negotiations occurred at city hall on Sept. 6 and produced the proposal that Perry and LaRose presented on Sept. 15.

Perry said paid parking in 56 city-owned spaces at $3.50 per hour would generate an estimated $744,902 in revenue with the city would receiving 63%, or $469,288, and the Easy Parking Group receiving 37%, or $275,614.

The 56 parking spaces are located in the public parking lot along First Street North, behind the BridgeWalk resort, and near the police station, public works building and cell tower at the end of Highland and Church avenues.

Commission declines paid parking proposal
This diagram was included in the paid parking proposal. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

Public parking spaces along Bridge Street were not included in LaRose’s proposal and it was noted that not including them would result in those free parking spots being used by employees and beachgoers.

LaRose said the city would incur no upfront or ongoing costs and his company would provide all the equipment and personnel needed to implement, support and enforce a paid parking operation that would require users to enter their license plate number and pay with a credit or debit card.

Public input

During public input, Bradenton Beach Marina owner Mike Bazzy said he had some reservations about paid parking and the unintended consequences that could include more visitors and employees parking in residential areas.

“If you’re going to do paid parking, do it everywhere, not just in a few locations,” he suggested.

Commission declines paid parking proposal
Bridge Street Jewelers employee Brandt Clark opposes paid parking. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bridge Street Jewelers employee Brandt Clark presented a petition containing the signatures of 360 people who oppose paid parking. Clark asked where the employees would park and he noted those who begin working earlier in the day can’t park at Cortez Beach or Coquina Beach and ride the Old Town Tram because they don’t start running until 11 a.m. Clark said paid parking would take money out of the pockets of the employees the Bridge Street businesses depend on.

Paradise Boat Tours General Manager Sherman Baldwin said the business owners he spoke with oppose Bradenton Beach becoming the first city on the Island to implement paid parking. He said paid parking would create additional revenues for the city but wouldn’t address the lack of parking.

Mermaid Haven owner Deb Myers said the proposed plan wouldn’t resolve the issue of employees parking in spaces that could be used by customers.

Commissioner Jake Spooner said paid parking would create turnover of the existing parking spaces and allow more people to visit Bridge Street. He agreed that employee parking must be addressed, but if done right, paid parking could be a win for everybody.

BridgeWalk resort owner Angela Rodocker provides parking for her guests and employees, but she said she supports paid parking if it addresses employee parking.

Rodocker has been critical of LaRose’s operation of the Old Town Trams. She suggested the city implement paid parking on its own and not give up a significant percentage of the revenue.

Perry said a competitive bidding process might be a better route and Mayor John Chappie noted that wouldn’t prevent LaRose from submitting another proposal.

Sea-renity Beach Spa owner Amanda Escobio agreed with Rodocker’s comments and cautioned that paid parking could result in some employees deciding not to work in Bradenton Beach, which would further exacerbate the ongoing labor shortage. Island Time restaurant co-owner Ron

Fuller said he witnessed the paid parking implementation in St. Armands Circle and the initial implementation was “an absolute disaster.”

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said, “I don’t think it’s up to the city to supply parking for businesses. You have a business and it’s up to you.”

Police Chief John Cosby agreed that employee parking is a problem, but he noted city code allows Bridge Street establishments and businesses to be built and operated without any parking requirements. Cosby said he supports paid parking but is concerned that the city is moving too fast. He also said a lot of people don’t feel comfortable with LaRose as the project operator. Some of Cosby’s other concerns are a lack of enough officers to enforce paid parking and that the city doesn’t have the staff or the experience to implement a paid parking program on its own.

Memorial Day weekend parking won’t be without peril

Memorial Day weekend parking won’t be without peril

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – With Memorial Day weekend just days away, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach are preparing for what could be record-breaking crowds.

While a number of visitors will fly to the area from around the U.S., Canada and Europe, the Island is also preparing for the thousands of Florida residents who will arrive by car.

Officials in all three cities encourage visitors to take advantage of public transportation options, but for many there is no option but to bring the car and hope for the best.

“We’ll be here through Memorial Day weekend. We drove from Atlanta so we have a car but we’re not crazy, the car won’t be leaving the condo all weekend,” said Terry Dosier, who arrived May 14 with his family. “Traffic hasn’t been bad since we got here, but we’ve talked to enough people to know it will be an entirely different animal for the holiday weekend.”

The Dosiers are staying in Holmes Beach, which is making every effort to accommodate the influx for the weekend, but there is only so much the city can do beyond offering the normal beach parking. According to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, there was an average of 39,000 cars per day coming into the city during the busy spring break season, and that number could be topped over Memorial Day weekend.

“We will be allowing parking at Anna Maria Elementary School for Memorial Day weekend, but no cars can be left on the lot overnight, and only legal parking spaces may be used,” said Tokajer, who stressed that all signs posted in the city must be observed and rules must be followed.

Bradenton Beach has been the scene of serious parking violations that number in the hundreds over the past few weeks. More than 100 tickets were written for double parking along Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach on Mother’s Day and close to 100 more were written the following weekend. Police could have written more, but some violators got lucky when police ran out of tickets.

“Double parking will not be tolerated; neither will parking in the right of way. We have signs out there and we’re not wanting to ticket people, but people get confused. They see the barricades that say no parking and don’t realize that those apply the entire length of Gulf Drive starting at the bridge,” said Bradenton Beach Police Lt. Lenard Diaz, whose advice to visitors is to come early.

“Use common sense, if you’re questioning where you’re parking then it’s probably not the right place to park,” he said.

All three cities plan to have extra officers on duty due to the large anticipated crowds, and all three cities will tow any vehicle that is blocking access for emergency vehicles. Depending on the tow company, vehicles could be taken more than 10 miles from where they were illegally parked, so in addition to the expensive tow cost, there is the cost of a ride to retrieve the vehicle. If not towed, tickets could range from $50 to more than $250 depending on the violation.

Plans for driving to the Island over Memorial Day weekend should also include allowing time to get across the three bridges that link Anna Maria Island to Bradenton, Cortez and Longboat Key. During busy holiday weekends, traffic can back up for miles, resulting in wait times that can be more than two hours at peak arrival times. With pedestrian crossings, trolley stops and other things unique to AMI, officials say it’s best to relax and accept the things that can’t be changed.

Illegal parking in Bradenton Beach becoming a big problem

New illegal beach parking trend grows

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – A new parking trend at Cortez Beach is not only making it difficult for legally parked vehicles to maneuver, but is leaving Bradenton Beach police no choice but to write tickets until their hands cramp.

On Mother’s Day, May 8, drivers parked their vehicles along Cortez Beach on Gulf Drive from north to south behind cars that were legally parked in east-west spaces. Bradenton Beach police say they aren’t sure why this is happening now, after the height of tourist season in March, but on May 14, what they hoped was an isolated problem due to a busy Sunday repeated itself, resulting in plenty of tickets.

“We wrote over 100 tickets on Mother’s Day, and wrote at least 60 today,” said Officer Charles Marose of the Bradenton Beach Police Department, speaking of the May 14 repeat of the Mother’s Day parking pattern. Both Marose and Lt. Lenard Diaz said it probably started with a couple of people, then when others saw the new lane of cars, they just followed the pattern, resulting in a snowball effect. 

The penalty for illegal or double parking along the beach parking lots, as well as parking in grassy areas along Gulf Drive at Coquina Beach, is $75.

“I really don’t care; there are no spots available and they’re not towing, so we’ll just pay the ticket,” said Tom, who requested his last name not be used. Tom and his wife were on the Island for a three-day weekend May 14-16, visiting from Orlando.

Diaz also said the department had to tow several cars on Mother’s Day that were parked in the trolley turn-around area at Coquina Beach, an area that has clearly posted signs stating that cars aren’t even allowed to turn around there, much less park.

There are several options for beachgoers to avoid tickets and tows, yet still enjoy a day at the beach. The Anna Maria Island Trolley makes regular stops both north and southbound along Gulf Drive. The Old Town Tram, a golf cart shuttle, and the Monkey Bus can both be reached by phone for an arranged pickup.

Parking tram discussions continue

Parking tram discussions continue

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials and business owners in and around the Bridge Street business district agree that a parking shuttle program is a good idea.

But no one has stepped forward yet and offered to acquire and operate the electric trams needed to operate a pilot program for a park and ride shuttle service that utilizes county-owned parking spaces Cortez Beach and the north end of Coquina Beach.

These matters were discussed at a special CRA meeting on Friday, Feb. 21.

The half dozen or so business owners who attended Friday’s meeting are also members of the Bradenton Beach Area Merchants association which has expressed support for the parking tram program but no desire to run it.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry provided CRA members and meeting attendees with the detailed research she gathered on parking tram operations implemented in the cities of Stuart and Fort Pierce.

Perry’s presentation addressed upstart and operating costs, operational responsibilities, insurance requirements and costs, routes and route changes, hours of operation, designated stops or on-demand service, tram types and sizes, battery life and battery replacement and much more.

The city of Stuart’s tram program features a 2.2-mile route with 14 specific stops and also allows passengers to flag down trams between stops.

Stuart’s tram program utilizes city employees and includes 12 drivers operating six trams seven days a week. In fiscal year 2019, the city of Stuart budgeted $215,771 for its tram program. That consists of $150,965 for professional services including salaries and benefits, $29,806 for operating expenses and $35,000 for capital outlay.

Perry said she envisions using three trams, which would significantly reduce those costs.

Perry said the Fort Pierce tram program utilizes volunteer drivers. It began as an on-demand service but later transitioned into a program whose primary function is to shuttle users back and forth between their desired destinations and a parking garage.

Perry noted the CRA and the city of Bradenton Beach have not budgeted any money for a tram program in the current 2019-2020 fiscal year, and no funds were committed last week. Potential funding sources include existing CRA funds, advertising revenues and additional financial support from the Bradenton Beach business community.

Path to a pilot program

CRA member Ed Chiles said the goal has always been to include a dedicated tram pathway that runs parallel to Gulf Drive in the Cortez Beach parking lot south of Bridge Street. There have also been previous discussions about a possible tram hub at the north end of the Cortez Beach parking lot.

A dedicated tram path and hub located on county property would require county commission approval. County commissioners have some offered preliminary support for the tram idea, but they’ve also expressed concerns county parking spaces being used to serve the Bridge Street business district.

These are two types of trams that could be used for a parking shuttle service in Bradenton Beach. – Submitted

Perry and others have noted a pilot program could be started without the county’s support.

CRA chair Ralph Cole mentioned the need for signs at the entrance to the city that direct drivers to the designated parking areas. Chiles mentioned the need for a cell phone app too.

Perry said one of the first decisions that needs to be made is who’s going to operate and manage the desired tram program.

It was noted there are currently two gas-powered trams being privately operated in the Bridge Street area: one by the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and one by the Blue Marlin Grill. It was also noted that CRA member Jake Spooner will soon be required to operate a tram shuttle seven days a week, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., when his new building on Bridge Street opens soon.

After 90 minutes of discussion that included insight from business owners, CRA member John Chappie made a motion calling for the CRA to partner with the Bradenton Beach Area Merchants to develop a parking tram pilot program and for Perry to work with the merchants to define the functioning model of that program.

Chappie’s motion also called for City Engineer Lynn Burnett to provide engineering drawings and for Perry and Burnett to work with Lt. John Cosby and Public Works Director Tom Woodard on safety concerns and signage. That motion was adopted by a 7-0 vote.

The CRA members adopted a second motion by a 6-1 vote that directed Perry, Burnett and Cosby to work with Chappie to prepare a pilot program presentation to present to county officials. CRA member David Bell opposed that motion because he felt it was premature and more information is still needed.

Monday meeting with merchants

On Monday, Feb. 24, Perry met with business owners and Bradenton Beach Area Merchants members Lynn Horne, Sherman Baldwin, Ryan Davis and Fred Bartizal.

“There is no option that they can identify for creating a pilot program that is sponsored by the merchants,” Perry said of that meeting. “Their concerns include cost, ADA compliance, construction activities by Manatee County and the ability to secure trams prior to the upcoming peak season.”

Perry said she will recommend the CRA issue request for proposals seeking a third party to operate a parking tram program on a trial basis if the members want to continue this pursuit.

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Commission seeks consistent parking restrictions

Commission seeks consistent parking restrictions

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Parking with any tires on the pavement or parking within 15 feet of a stop sign will soon subject drivers to a $50 parking ticket.

The mayor and city commissioners remain divided as to whether parking with a portion of your vehicle hanging over the pavement will also be a finable offense.

These changes to the city’s parking ordinance were discussed at the Tuesday, Sept. 10 commission work meeting. At the commission’s request, City Attorney Ricinda Perry is now drafting ordinance language that incorporates the commission’s requested changes.

Mayor John Chappie and commissioners Ralph Cole, Marilyn Maro and Jake Spooner agree that vehicles should not park with any tires on the road or park within 15 feet of a stop sign. The city’s parking ordinance currently prohibits parking within 10 feet of a stop sign.

Chappie and Maro believe tickets should be issued for parking with a portion of the vehicle hanging over the pavement. Cole and Spooner do not support that position.

Commissioner Randy White will likely cast the tie-breaking vote on vehicle overhang when the ordinance is presented for adoption at two future public hearings. White did not attend the recent work meeting.

Chappie initiated the work meeting discussion and voiced concerns that included too many vehicles being parked at vacation rental homes on the south side of town.

Chappie said his primary concern with vehicles overhanging the pavement pertains primarily to vehicles parked close to an intersection, which impedes the visibility of approaching drivers.

Inconsistent rules

Police Chief Sam Speciale said his officers would enforce whatever changes the commission adopts, but they have to be written in a manner that will hold up if challenged in court.

Speciale said the city’s current parking regulations are inconsistent because they have long differed for the north and south sides of the city due to varying space limitations.

Speciale said there generally isn’t enough space in the rights of way on the south side of the city to park without having at least two tires on the road, but you can be ticketed for doing the same on the north side of town.

Speciale questioned the fairness and consistency of ticketing someone who parks with their tires on the pavement on the north side of the city and does not get ticketed for doing the same on the south side.

The four attending commission members agreed that they want consistency and they seek an ordinance that prohibits parking with tires on the pavement citywide.

Other changes

Other proposed changes include prohibiting parking in a manner that blocks an alley, similar to the existing prohibition on blocking a driveway.

Building Official Steve Gilbert suggested eliminating the wordy ordinance language that pertains to parking at city street ends and allowing street end parking unless a no parking sign prohibits it.

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