Skip to main content

Tag: parking garage

Island officials unite to preserve home rule

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

HOLMES BEACH – Anna Maria Island’s elected officials are uniting to preserve home rule in the face of recent attempts by state legislators to circumvent local parking ordinances and fund a study to determine if the Island’s three cities should be dissolved.

Not only the central city on the Island, but also the one central to a debate at the state level, Holmes Beach has a prohibition against parking garages that state legislators have threatened to overturn. City leaders took a few moments during a Jan. 24 city commission meeting to address that issue and that of dissolving the Island cities.

It was standing room only in city hall chambers as residents, property owners and other stakeholders came out to show their support to Mayor Judy Titsworth and city commissioners. More joined the meeting online through Zoom.

Titsworth thanked everyone in attendance for their “outpouring of support” and vowed to do everything possible to fight back against the state’s encroachment into home rule of the Island, the ability of local governments to govern themselves.

While she said she and the two mayors from Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria would be meeting on Jan. 30 to discuss options and strategy, she wouldn’t be discussing those things publicly so as to not give state legislators the upper hand.

During a January legislative delegation meeting, Rep. Will Robinson Jr. proposed putting a bill forth in the upcoming state legislative session to install a four-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. Installation of a parking garage would undermine city ordinances that prohibit parking garages in the city and would break the city’s three-story building height limitation, which is written into the municipality’s charter. While parking garages were never an approved use in Holmes Beach, the ordinance officially stating that was not passed until 2022, after a meeting with Manatee County commissioners to discuss beach parking issues.

Titsworth said that Robinson, Rep. Jim Boyd and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge were informed prior to the discussion that parking garages were not an allowable use in the city but that they could submit for a change of use. She said no one from the county, which owns the Manatee Beach property, ever did.

“There’s lots of misinformation from the county,” she said. “I’m over this. We’re not trying to privatize the Island. We’re a far cry from a private island.”

Robinson also proposed having a state-funded agency do a feasibility study to determine if the three Island city governments should be dissolved, putting the Island under the control of Manatee County commissioners. Consolidation of the three cities also has been discussed.

Florida Statutes 165.061(3)(b) requires that if a municipal government is dissolved by a special act of the state Legislature, a neighboring municipality would have to demonstrate that it is willing and able, including financially, to “provide necessary services to the municipal area proposed for dissolution.” Other statutory requirements prohibit the municipality to be dissolved from being “substantially surrounded by other municipalities.”

Data from the Florida League of Cities shows that only 11 municipalities have been dissolved since 1977 and only two of those were by special act of the state Legislature.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer, who attended the legislative delegation meeting, said that no one in the three Island city governments received prior notification about the parking garage proposal or the state-funded study.

“I think it showed a great deal of disrespect to everyone who lives on and loves this Island,” he said, noting that the dissolution study is “a stark warning to every community in Florida.”

“It’ll be really sad if there comes a time when all of our little coastal cities are gone,” Titsworth said.

“We’re not going to get into a fight,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said. “We want to move forward carefully and legally.”

Though the city’s elected officials committed to doing everything they can to halt both the parking garage and the attempt to dissolve the Island cities, they also encouraged all residents, property owners, visitors and stakeholders to lend their voices to the fight by reaching out to local and state representatives with their opinions on the two issues.

Schaefer also appeared on Jan. 26 at a ManaSota League of Cities meeting in Longboat Key on behalf of Holmes Beach. He was joined by Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and representatives from several other local municipalities. The group agreed to draft and send a letter to the state Legislature and local delegation in support of the three Anna Maria Island cities remaining as-is and decrying the state’s potential intrusion into home rule.

Mayor proposes negotiation, not war, with state legislators

Mayor proposes negotiation, not war, with state legislators

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy proposes communicating rather than waging war with state legislators over parking garages and the potential consolidation or elimination of Anna Maria Island’s three city governments.

During the Jan. 26 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Murphy discussed his approach in reaction to State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and other members of the Manatee County legislative delegation recently expressing a shared desire for state legislation that could allow Manatee County to preempt the city of Holmes Beach’s building regulations in order to build a public parking garage for beachgoers. The local delegation of state legislators also seeks a state-funded study regarding the potential consolidation or dissolution of the three Island cities and city governments.

Murphy referenced headlines that ran on the front pages of local newspapers. One read, “AMI fights back against state representatives.” The other read, “Holmes Beach readies options for counterattack.”

Murphy, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, said, “Being a combat veteran, I can tell you that those are fighting terms and they mean war. All you need to do is look at Ukraine and you can see how much is resolved by war. A lot more could be resolved through negotiation.”

Murphy said he already met with Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie to discuss these concerns.

“We discussed these issues, the parking issues, Rep. Robinson’s comments, who might be behind all of this and what the purpose is,” Murphy said.

“I’m a firm believer in ‘Occam’s Razor.’ Occam was a medieval philosopher. Occam came up with this brilliant idea that the most obvious answer to the question is probably the correct solution. I firmly believe that what’s behind all this is Representative Will Robinson. This is the person that made the comments. So, I picked up the phone and called him. Representative Robinson and I discussed his intent. He said he’s had a lot of grief and phone calls and complaints from his constituents about not being able to get a parking place at the beach, and that includes our city,” Murphy said.

Mayor proposes negotiation, not war, with state legislators
State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. recently proposed preempting city building codes and studying the potential consolidation of the Island cities and governments. – MyFloridaHouse.Gov | Submitted

Murphy said Robinson mentioned a past meeting in which Robinson, State Sen. Jim Boyd, Titsworth and others discussed the possibility of the county constructing a public parking garage in Holmes Beach. Murphy said Robinson left that meeting with the impression that a parking garage would at least be considered. Murphy said Robinson was then shocked and surprised when the Holmes Beach Commission adopted an ordinance that strengthened the city’s existing parking garage prohibitions.

Murphy said Robinson also told him he gets complaints from Island property owners about their taxes being too high. He said Robinson wonders if taxes could be reduced by consolidating some of the similar services provided by the three cities. Murphy said Robinson told him that he’s not advocating for the consolidation of the three cities.

Murphy asked Robinson if he’d meet with the Island mayors to discuss these issues face-to-face. Murphy then called Boyd, had a similar conversation and asked Boyd if he’d be willing to meet with Robinson and the mayors. Murphy said he, Titsworth, Chappie, Robinson and Boyd agreed to meet on Monday, Jan. 30, in a private, closed-door setting at Anna Maria City Hall.

“We need to sort through the issues and people need to be able to say what they want to say. I don’t know what the outcome of that meeting might be. It might be a miserable failure on my part to try to stop a war from happening between the cities, the Island and the state of Florida. That’s what my intent is,” Murphy said.

“I realize that no good deed goes unpunished, but I think it’s the right thing to do. I wasn’t elected to throw gasoline on the fire. I was elected to get things done. The first step in getting things done is communicating. Having open and honest communications, if for no other reason than there’s no more surprises and we don’t have to worry about Occam’s Razor anymore because we know what the answer is and who’s behind it. That’s what the mission is,” Murphy said.

In response, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “Godspeed.”

Commissioner Deanie Sebring said, “If we can discuss how we all can work together that’s going to go a long way.”

Newly appointed Commissioner Charlie Salem said, “It’s clear that they have a particular point of view and it looks like there could be some room for discussion. They did a lot of this without consulting the Island. Time is short. The legislative session starts in a few weeks. I think it will be important to have some measurable outcomes from this discussion with them, and on their part to signal that they’re interested in two-way communication as well. It’s admirable that you picked up the phone to call them. I encourage you to get something out of that meeting that will make us all more comfortable.”

Past communications

In June 2020, Senate President Bill Galvano and Robinson sent a letter to Titsworth about the on-street parking reductions that occurred in Holmes Beach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In part, that letter said, “Representative Robinson and I are writing today to share our growing concern with myriad impacts of locally-imposed restrictions on public parking in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has come to our attention that on-street parking has recently been reduced by at least 45 percent, impacting the ability of residents and visitors to patronize local businesses and participate in recreational activities on our beaches. Florida’s legislature has invested significant taxpayer dollars to support the long-term health of our local beaches, yet local government is now eliminating parking, effectively restricting public access to public beaches. We respectfully request that you re-evaluate plans to reduce on-street parking.”

In February 2022, Robinson, Boyd and State Rep. Tommy Gregory sent Titsworth a similar letter that said in part, “As members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation, we are writing today regarding the ongoing locally-imposed public parking restrictions in Holmes Beach. Manatee County residents and visitors should not be turned away from our beaches due to parking restrictions. As a delegation who has secured taxpayer dollars for beach renourishment, we respectfully request you reexamine your decision and approach to reduce on-street parking.”

 

Related coverage:

 

AMI fights back against state representatives

 

Bradenton Beach Commission opposes state attacks on home rule

 

State representatives suggest eliminating Island cities

Letter to the Editor: Try ‘park and ride’

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

My family and I have visited Anna Maria Island for more than 30 years and we have witnessed firsthand how the place is strangling itself with its popularity. Our three-month stay ends at the end of the month and we have never before seen such slow-moving traffic so early in the season.

A multi-story car park anywhere on the island is not the solution.

Our full-time home is in the Roman city of Chester in the United Kingdom, one of very few ancient walled cities in the world. It too gets swamped with tourists from around the globe, but it has a solution to gridlock – so-called Park and Ride car parks serviced throughout the day, throughout the year, by an excellent hop-on, hop-off bus service. For a small fee, users can leave their cars and ride into the city to be dropped off at numerous points on a set route, while the return is just as simple.

Chester is not unique. Several other UK tourist hotspots have adopted the idea, enabling traffic-free city streets, pedestrianization, cycle routes and a reduction in air pollution and traffic-related accidents.

The irony is that you already have the excellent shuttle bus solution in place, and, unlike the UK, acres of land off the island on which to locate car parks, multi-level or otherwise.

I urge the powers that be to give the idea some thought. Sadly, I don’t have a solution to the suggestion that AMI’s three cities should be amalgamated, but I suspect that might go away if the car parking was resolved.

Christopher Proudlove

Bradenton Beach

Letter to the Editor: Home rule at risk

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

I would like to thank you for your coverage of the controversial local bills being introduced by Rep. Will Robinson. It is extremely important that we educate all on the dire consequences of loss in home rule.

Cities were founded on the belief that local government understands best the needs of local citizens. The state then determined that cities could legislate themselves. We are currently in a time where the state had giveth and now with precedent, the state can taketh away.

Rep. Robinson has stated that the reason for the first bill on mandating a parking garage at the public beach is because the city would not budge on the reduction in parking in the city. On the contrary, the city of Holmes Beach agreed to the use of AME school, the library, and city hall for additional overflow parking. A suggestion was also made that they purchase the large Bank of America lot that has close and safe access to the public beach for overflow parking. Although county and state leaders choose to lob insults at the city of Holmes Beach, we historically have and continue to be a part of the solution for the county’s failure to plan.

Rep. Robinson has stated that the sole reason for the second bill, a study on dissolving the cities, is due to declining populations on the Island. He even went so far as stating that this is a proactive approach instead of reactive, as this will get ahead of the time when there are no longer enough residents to maintain three cities. What he said is entirely different than what I heard. Being that this study was not initiated by the city leaders and local bills are historically never controversial, it brings me to ponder on whether the proactive approach that our state representatives are taking was generated years ago with the intended outcome, the elimination of cities.

You see, when the cities lost their ability to regulate vacation rentals taking over the residential districts, this brought an onslaught of developers from all over the country gobbling up every beach house in site. The market value soared, and the local hard-working citizens were pushed out of their homes and forced to move inland. The holdouts remain but are subject to a declined quality of life due to noise, trash, nutrient loads in bays, congestion and no longer having the ability to know their neighbor.

As mayor, it is my job to support our residents and businesses and to make decisions to maintain and improve the quality of their lives. Because of these efforts, full-time residents
are returning. I have witnessed the drastic increase in property tax that the county receives by no longer being constrained by homestead caps ($17 million in the past 10 years). Add to that, the Tourist Development Tax that was sold to the voters lacking foresight. The voters thought this tax would be a good thing, it would bring money to our cities from visitors instead of just property owners. What they didn’t understand is what a cash cow it became. The city of Holmes Beach alone has contributed well over $30 million in bed tax to the coffers since its inception with little in return. It isn’t because we haven’t asked. It is because the county commission chose to use it elsewhere.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that this is all happening at the same time entire boards of county commissions are being replaced by potential “yes men” for developers. Campaigns are being driven by strategists, all heavily funded by big developer PAC money. I believe our state representatives have been taking a proactive approach for many years now and it is setting up Florida coastal cities to fail.

Mayor Judy Holmes Titsworth

Holmes Beach

Candidate opposes parking garage

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

While Holmes Beach commissioners seek to ban multi-level parking structures, apparently County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge seems to believe a three-story parking garage built at Manatee Beach will address beachgoers’ needs.

It will not.

City commissioners stated the reasons for the ban were the negative impact of an increase in beach vehicular traffic as well as implying that Manatee Beach is either currently at capacity, or close to it during peak days. It is. I did a beach ride-along with the chief on July 4. The umbrellas were nearly touching each other.

That’s with only 400 parking spaces.

Building a three-level parking facility at Manatee Beach would nearly triple the number of parking spaces and exceed the number of spaces at Coquina Beach.

In a stretch of beautiful beach, slightly less than a mile in length, Coquina has 15 individual changing stations, three separate restroom facilities and six lifeguard stations. Manatee Beach has one restroom facility, four changing stations and one lifeguard station – all centrally located.

To match the length of Coquina, Manatee Beach would extend from 30th Street to 48th Street, with the facilities in the middle.

If a parking garage is constructed, where do all these folks go? And how do they get there?

And avail themselves of what amenities?

Certainly, matching or exceeding Coquina parking capacity with a third or a quarter of available facilities seems like a bad way to treat visitors.

Also, non-residential Coquina Beach has its parking spaces stretched out – evenly spaced over the entire beach.

We don’t have that option, as our beach is mainly in residential neighborhoods.

Also, if a parking garage is built at Manatee Beach – where will the 400 beachgoer vehicles park during construction?

Where will beach workers park their dozen or so vehicles?

There will have to be some type of accommodation made for all these vehicles during construction.

Certainly, street parking for more than 400 additional vehicles is not a reasonable accommodation during the construction phase.

If the county wants to build a parking garage, the above issues have to be addressed. But by then, most likely our planned ban will prevent construction.

 

Dan Diggins

Holmes Beach Commission candidate

Parking garages on chopping block

Parking garages on chopping block

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

HOLMES BEACH – Parking garages are one step closer to being officially banned in Anna Maria Island’s largest city.

Commissioners have voted unanimously to pass the first reading of an ordinance banning multi-level parking structures in the city. The ordinance will have a final public hearing and vote in August.

Though parking garages are not currently an allowable use in Holmes Beach, they aren’t exactly prohibited either. Under the proposed ordinance, multi-level buildings with parking would be allowed with parking on the bottom floor. However, any parking above the bottom floor would be prohibited.

City Planner Bill Brisson said that anyone wishing to build a multi-level building with parking on the bottom and a business on an upper floor would likely have to build that structure in the city’s mixed-use commercial district, noting that the ordinance does not prohibit any other type of parking lot from the city.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she doesn’t feel that the addition of a parking garage to the city would help solve any of the parking or traffic concerns of residents or visitors.

Mayor Judy Titsworth presented updated visitor parking numbers to commissioners. She said there are 775 parking spaces available at beach accesses and other public parking areas, another 81 parking spaces at the public beach, 3,702 parking spaces at vacation rental properties and 225 spaces at motels in the city, for a total of 4,783 visitor parking spaces.

Related coverage

 

Parking garage poses problems for commissioners

 

Gloves come off in parking garage discussion

 

Holmes Beach parking changes planned

Parking garage poses problems for commissioners

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

HOLMES BEACH – Parking is still creating problems for city commissioners.

Commissioners relaunched a conversation concerning banning parking garages in the city during a June 28 work session. Unfortunately for them, that conversation became a bit murky as they started examining regulations concerning off-site parking and parking for businesses that requires drivers to back out onto busy roads.

At the urging of Mayor Judy Titsworth, commissioners agreed to move the ordinance to a first reading for further discussion and revision due to a shortened meeting schedule for the summer.

The discussion began with a talk about disallowing multi-level parking structures, or garages, within the city. Multi-level parking garages currently are not an approved use in any zoning district in Holmes Beach, but could be approved through a special exception. If the proposed regulations pass, the special exception approval avenue would be lost. While commissioners are not opposed to covered parking, the proposed ordinance states that parking can only take place on the ground floor. It does not prohibit a dwelling unit or business on the second floor.

If it passes two public hearings and votes by commissioners, the proposed ban on parking garages would derail plans by Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge to pursue a parking garage.

When the topic was broached previously during a Holmes Beach commission work session, Van Ostenbridge stepped up to the podium during public comment to warn city commissioners away from the proposed ban, stating that he was planning to present a proposal for a parking garage at the county-owned public beach. He left before the discussion began but told Titsworth that he was listening to the meeting on Zoom.

Though commissioners could agree on the parking garage issue, the discussion derailed a bit when they ventured into other items, including how and where to allow off-site parking for businesses. City Attorney Erica Augello warned commissioners that any change they made to current off-site parking regulations would affect existing businesses and commercial properties if those properties ever were to undergo major renovations or need to be rebuilt.

Augello noted that paid parking is already disallowed in all districts in the city.

In an additional parking discussion, Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that city leaders had spoken with representatives from Hancock Whitney Bank. During that conversation, he said that while the bank’s representatives were willing to continue the beach parking agreement with the city, they weren’t happy with the arrangement, which was causing issues for bank customers.

He added that the tow-away zone signs placed in the lot by the bank caused confusion for beachgoers and that the parking wasn’t well used by visitors. Tokajer recommended not attempting to re-enter into a beach parking agreement with the bank.

“I can’t find a compelling reason to reopen it,” Commissioner Terry Schaefer said of the lot. He added that the city doesn’t get a benefit from Manatee County by having the lot open to beachgoers after hours and the insurance for the parking costs the city money.

“I think the bank did a really nice public service for our Island and our visitors,” Commissioner Jayne Christenson said. “I commend them.”

Commissioners opted to not move forward with attempting to renew the parking contract.

 

Related coverage

 

Gloves come off in parking garage discussion

 

Holmes Beach parking changes planned

Gloves come off in parking garage discussion

Gloves come off in parking garage discussion

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

HOLMES BEACH – The gloves are off in the fight between city leaders and Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge after the county commissioner made an appearance during a city commission work session.

With the possibility of a parking garage ban in Holmes Beach on the agenda, commissioners weren’t surprised when Van Ostenbridge wanted to share his opinion on the issue. After being welcomed by city commissioners, he stepped up to the podium during public comment to issue a warning against the potential prohibition of parking garages in the city.

“Think long and hard before you make this decision,” he said, stating that prior city commission decisions have resulted in county commissioners rejecting funding requests.

“How do I say this politely? It’s not an accident that the governor vetoed $2 million in funding for the city,” Van Ostenbridge said, insinuating that the recent cut made by Gov. Ron DeSantis to the state’s budget removing appropriation funds for water quality in the city was related to parking discussions.

“There will be good or bad consequences to what is decided here today,” he said, adding a warning to commissioners to be thoughtful in their deliberations.

After speaking to commissioners, Van Ostenbridge left the June 14 meeting but told Mayor Judy Titsworth later that he listened to the ensuing discussion on Zoom.

“I’m sorry he couldn’t stay,” Titsworth said when the parking garage discussion began on the dais. She noted that with taxable property values in the city increasing over 200% in the current fiscal year and Holmes Beach accounting for 37% of all bed tax funds collected by the county, it’s not in county leaders’ best interests to threaten withholding funding to the city.

“You want to protect the golden goose,” she said.

After the meeting, Titsworth posted a video response to Van Ostenbridge’s comments on the city’s YouTube channel restating her position.

“I too am sorry the commissioner chose to not listen to our response to his threats,” Commissioner Terry Schaefer said. “It’s sad how this county commission is run, putting a gun to our heads.” He went on to say that he feels that with all the tax dollars going to the county from Holmes Beach, the city is getting “a very poor return on our investment.”

In the past 10 years, more than $30 million has been funneled to the county through tourist tax dollars, Schaefer said, adding he believes the city has only received about $141,000 of those funds back for parks projects. He said he’s not in favor of parking garages in the city and felt that allowing them would only serve to help the county solve its issues created by overmarketing of Anna Maria Island and its beaches.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she wants to see long-term traffic and mobility solutions to address issues and help residents and beachgoers coming from county commissioners rather than threats. She said that she doesn’t think adding more places to park would solve the problems facing city and county residents, primarily traffic congestion, public safety and failing infrastructure.

During his comments, Van Ostenbridge said that he was planning to put together a plan to present to city commissioners over the summer for a parking garage to be constructed at the county-owned Manatee Beach.

While the prohibition of parking garages was on the city work session agenda, parking garages are currently not an allowable use in the city, nor is paid parking. To allow a parking garage to be constructed at the beach would require an ordinance change, site plan approval and potentially an in- crease of the current height limit in Holmes Beach. The height limit now would only allow for a three-story structure.

Despite Van Ostenbridge’s comments, Titsworth noted that the discussion had been placed on the agenda not because of the potential for a parking garage at the public beach but because the property owner of the former Wells Fargo Bank location at the corner of Marina and Gulf drives was seeking city staff guidance to determine what uses could be al- lowed on the property. She said no formal proposal for the site had been given to city staff, which committed to looking at potential ideas for the site and other nearby vacant commercial properties for future commission discussion.

Related coverage

Holmes Beach parking changes planned

Beach parking meeting reaps results

All roads lead to parking

Bradenton Beach voters support conflicting parking garage amendments

Election results in for Bradenton Beach, Manatee County

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Voter approval of two conflicting parking garage amendments in the Nov. 3 election means that a prohibition of parking garages will not be added to the city charter.

Running unopposed in this year’s election, incumbent Bradenton Beach City Commissioners Ralph Cole and Marilyn Maro won additional two-year terms in office.

Running unopposed in Anna Maria, incumbent Mayor Dan Murphy and incumbent City Commissioner Mark Short won additional two-year terms in office.

Bradenton Beach voters prohibit parking garages, help decide county and state races
Bradenton Beach resident Steve Leister was among those who voted in person Tuesday at the Bradenton Beach Fire Hall. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Once the final Manatee County election results are certified, the Anna Maria City Commission will appoint someone to fill the commission term recently vacated by former commissioner Amy Tripp, who is moving out of state.

Anna Maria Island voters joined Manatee County voters in deciding several county, state and national races – including the District 3 Manatee County Commission race in which Kevin Van Ostenbridge held a significant lead as of 9 p.m. tonight.

County voters also supported a proposed bond referendum that will provide additional water quality protections and wildlife habitat preservation.

Parking garage status quo remains

Bradenton Beach voter support for two conflicting parking garage charter amendments means the city charter will remain as is, minus the inclusion of a new parking garage prohibition.

The city’s comprehensive plan and land development code already prohibit the construction of a multi-level or stand-alone parking garage, but the existing comp plan and land development code prohibitions could be reversed by a future city commission.

Voter adoption of proposed charter amendment 1 combined with voter rejection of proposed charter amendment 2 would have prevented a future city commission from reversing or amending the existing parking garage prohibitions.

There are currently no plans or proposals to build a multi-level parking garage in Bradenton Beach and the current city commission does not support the construction of a parking garage.

Bradenton Beach Charter Amendment Question 1 was placed on the ballot at the request of the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee formed in 2018 by Reed Mapes and John Metz.

The ballot language for charter amendment question 1 read as follows:

“Should the charter of Bradenton Beach be amended to prohibit the building of any multi-level parking garages within the city of Bradenton Beach? All other parking garages, facilities and structures are allowed as permitted by local law.”

In response to question 1, 410 votes (71.8%) were cast in favor of the proposed charter amendment 1 and 161 votes (28.2%) were cast in opposition of the proposed amendment.

Suggested by City Attorney Ricinda Perry and supported by the city commission in response to the proposed KORN amendment, charter amendment question 2 read as follows:

“Should the city amend its charter to: (1) Prohibit the approval, development and building of any stand-alone parking garage structures in all residential zoning districts; (2) Prohibit any multi-level parking garage, structure, or facility exceeding a total density of one multi-level parking garage within the entire municipal limits; and (3) Establish a mandatory citywide voter referendum to increase the multi-level parking garage density?

In response to question 2, 378 votes (67.02%) were cast in support of the proposed charter amendment that would allow one multi-level parking garage and 186 votes (32.98%) were cast in opposition to the proposed amendment.

As of 9 p.m., all of Bradenton Beach’s Election Day and early voting results had been tallied, but it was possible there could still be some remaining vote-by-mail ballots to be added to the reported totals.

County Commission races

As of 9 p.m., all Election Day and early voting ballots in each of Manatee County’s 70 voting precincts had been counted and reported, with some vote-by-mail ballots still not yet reported.

When contacted at that time and asked about the remaining mail ballots and their potential impact on any of the final results, Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett said, “Pretty much what you see is what you get.”

Bennett said he did not anticipate the outstanding mail ballots to alter the outcome of any county races.

In the County Commission District 3 race, Van Ostenbridge, a Republican, had received 22,897 votes (58.53%) and Bower, a non-party-affiliated candidate, had received 16,222 votes (41.47%). Van Ostenbridge will fill the commission seat vacated by one-term commissioner Steve Jonsson, who did not seek reelection.

In the County Commission District 1 race decided by District 1 voters only, Republican James Satcher is the winner. As of 9 p.m., Satcher had received 35,452, (65.6%). Democrat Dominique Brown received 18,593 votes (34.4%). Satcher will fill the commission seat being vacated by longtime Commissioner Priscilla Trace.

Running unopposed, incumbent Republican Commissioner Vanessa Baugh has claimed the County Commission District 5 race. As of 9 p.m., Baugh received 45,529 votes (87.82%) of the general election votes, with 6,314 votes (12.18%) cast for write-in candidates whose names did not appear on the ballot.

Running unopposed after defeating former County Administrator Ed Hunzeker in the Republican primary, George Kruse officially claimed the County Commission District 7 at-large race. As of 9 p.m., Kruse had received 157,382 votes (93.3%) and he will fill the seat being vacated by longtime Commissioner Betsy Benac.

Additional races

Running as the incumbent, Bennett, a Republican, won his reelection bid and he will remain Manatee County Supervisor of Elections. Bennett received 136,656 votes (65.65%) and his Democratic challenger, Charles Williams, received 71,516 votes (34.35%).

In the Manatee County School Board District 3 race won by Mary Foreman, Foreman received 110,746 votes (58.8 %). Incumbent school board member Dave “Watchdog” Miner received 77,593 votes (41.2%).

In the non-party-affiliated County Judge Group 4 race, race winner Melissa Gould received 113,511 votes (60,97%) and Kristy Zinna had received 72,676 votes (39.03%).

In the Mosquito Control District Group 2 race, incumbent Michael Daugherty has retained his seat having received 106,884 votes (61.49%). His challenger, Rodney O’Quinn, had received 66,944 votes (38.51%)

Manatee County bond referendum

Manatee County voters supported a proposed a millage increase and bond referendum question pertaining to water quality protection, fish and wildlife habitat preservation.

As of 9 p.m., the vote total for this referendum was 139,717 votes (71.27%) cast in favor of the millage increase and 56,323 votes (28.73%) cast in opposition.

The referendum ballot question read as follows: “To finance the acquisition, improvement and management of land to protect drinking water sources and water quality, preserve fish and wildlife habitat, prevent stormwater runoff pollution and provide parks, shall Manatee County levy an additional 0.15 mill ad valorem tax and issue general obligation bonds in a total principal amount not exceeding $50 million, maturing within 20 years, bearing interest not exceeding the legal rate, payable from such ad valorem taxes, with annual public audits?”

State seats

In a race decided by voters in Manatee County and a portion of Hillsborough County, Republican Jim Boyd has apparently won the State Senate District 21 race. In Manatee County, Boyd received 128,614 votes (61.78%) and Democrat Anthony “Tony” Eldon had received 79,583 votes (38.22%). Boyd also held a significant lead in Hillsborough County.

Decided by Manatee and Sarasota county voters, Republican incumbent William Robinson Jr. is winning the State Representative District 71 race. In Manatee County, Robinson has received 43.072 votes (59.98%). His Democratic challenger, Andy Mele, had received 28,742 votes (40.02%). Robinson also held a 2 percentage point lead in Sarasota County.

Presidential race

And in the much-anticipated presidential race, incumbent Republican President Donald Trump has apparently carried Manatee County. As of 9 p.m., Trump received 123,316 votes (57.67 %) in Manatee County and Democratic challenger Joe Biden received 88,275 votes (41.28%).

The full unofficial and updated Manatee County elections results can be viewed at www.votemanatee.com.

Two parking garage questions on Bradenton Beach ballot

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

BRADENTON BEACH – With vote-by-mail ballots already being cast, Bradenton Beach voters have begun deciding whether the city charter will prohibit or allow parking garages.

The Bradenton Beach ballot for the general election that concludes Tuesday, Nov. 3 includes two separate charter amendment questions pertaining to parking garages. City voters are being asked to vote yes or no on each proposed parking garage-related amendment to the city charter.

In August 2018, the city commission amended the city’s comprehensive plan and land development code in a manner that currently prohibits the construction of stand-alone or multi-level parking garages anywhere in the city. Those existing prohibitions could be lifted by a future city commission.

Amending the city’s comprehensive plan to allow for a parking garage would require the four-fifths supermajority support of a five-member city commission. Amending the land development code would require the simple-majority support of at least three commissioners. Both documents would have to be amended to allow for the construction of a parking garage. Currently, there are no plans or proposals to build a parking garage in Bradenton Beach.

Ballot Question 1

After a two-year legal battle, Bradenton Beach Ballot Question 1 was placed on the ballot at the request of the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee formed in 2018 by Reed Mapes and John Metz. Mapes has since moved and is no longer a Bradenton Beach resident.

The ballot language for Bradenton Beach Ballot Question 1 reads as follows:

“Amendment 1 to city of Bradenton Beach charter.

“Prohibition of multi-level parking garages only.

“Should the charter of Bradenton Beach be amended to prohibit the building of any multi-level parking garages within the city of Bradenton Beach? All other parking garages, facilities and structures are allowed as permitted by local law.”

According to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the adoption of Ballot Question 1 would add language to the city charter that would prohibit the future construction of a multi-level parking garage anywhere within the city limits. Perry has previously stated the adoption of this proposed charter amendment would not prohibit the construction of single-level parking garages or parking facilities.

Similar to the existing height restriction placed in the charter many years ago, a parking garage prohibition added to the city charter could only be reversed by a future charter amendment approved by Bradenton Beach voters. If this amendment is adopted, the city commission would not have the authority to allow for the construction of a multi-level parking garage. That authority would lie solely with a future vote of Bradenton Beach voters.

Ballot Question 2

Suggested by Perry in response to KORN’s proposed amendment, and supported by the city commission earlier this year, Bradenton Beach Ballot Question 2 reads as follows:

“Amendment 1 to city of Bradenton Beach Charter.

“Prohibition of multi-level parking garages and mandated citywide voter referendum to increase its density.

“Should the city amend its charter to: (1) Prohibit the approval, development and building of any stand-alone parking garage structures in all residential zoning districts; (2) Prohibit any multi-level parking garage, structure, or facility exceeding a total density of one multi-level parking garage within the entire municipal limits; and (3) Establish a mandatory citywide voter referendum to increase the multi-level parking garage density?

Voter approval of this amendment would allow for the potential construction of a single multi-level parking garage in Bradenton Beach should any government and private entity choose to pursue such an endeavor.

According to Perry, if city voters approve both proposed charter amendments, neither amendment would be adopted and neither would be placed in the city charter because they would be in conflict with one another.

If city voters reject both proposed amendments, parking garages will remain prohibited according to the comp plan and land development code.

BB seal

Dueling parking garage amendments slated for fall ballot

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Bradenton Beach voters will likely see two parking garage questions on their general election ballots this fall.

Both parking garage questions are expected to be presented to city voters as proposed amendments to the city charter, but the Bradenton Beach Commission will simultaneously seek a judge’s ruling on the legality of the first parking garage ballot question.

The first parking garage ballot question addresses the city-wide parking garage prohibition first sought in 2018 by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee formed by Reed Mapes and John Metz. The second ballot question will ask city voters if they want to allow one parking garage to be built in Bradenton Beach.

There are currently no proposals to build a parking garage in Bradenton Beach and the construction of a stand-alone, multi-level parking garage is currently prohibited by the city’s comprehensive plan and land development code (LDC). However, the comp plan and LDC prohibitions adopted by the commission in 2018 could be reversed by a future commission. A parking garage prohibition or parking garage allowance added to the city charter could only be reversed by city voters.

Both parking garage questions were formalized with the adoption of City Ordinance 20-518 during Monday morning’s special city commission meeting.

When presenting the ordinance on first reading on Thursday, Aug. 6, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said she made slight modifications to the KORN question that now reads as follows: “Should the charter of Bradenton Beach be amended to prohibit the building of any multi-level parking garages within the city of Bradenton Beach? All other parking garages, facilities and structures are allowed as permitted by local law.”

The second charter amendment question – suggested by Perry and first discussed by the commission in June – reads as follows: “Should the city amend its charter to: (1) Prohibit the approval, development and building of any stand-alone parking garage structures in all residential zoning districts; (2) Prohibit any multi-level parking garage, structure, or facility exceeding a total density of one multi-level parking garage within the entire municipal limits; and, (3) Establish a mandatory city-wide voter referendum to increase the multi-level parking garage density?”

When discussing the second question Thursday evening, Perry said, “County commission has now been asking for solutions to parking and I know that Carol Whitmore was one of the commissioners suggesting a parking garage. The (city) commission has made it very clear that they don’t want to see a parking garage in the city. Nonetheless, the city is putting it out there to see what the voters are wanting to do.”

According to Perry, if voters approve both amendments, neither would be enacted because they would be in conflict.

According to Perry, Monday was the final day to submit ballot items to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office for inclusion on the fall ballot.

Monday morning, the commission, minus Commissioner Jan Vosburgh, adopted by a 4-0 vote the following motion: “A motion to approve the second reading and adoption of Ordinance 20-518 to the extent of preserving a timely placement of ballot language on the 2020 general election, with a directive to Ricinda Perry to coordinate with Chuck Johnson and schedule a hearing in front of Judge Nicholas to argue that land use matters do not belong in a city charter.”

Commission actions

The city now seeks a ruling from Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas regarding the legality of the KORN amendment first sought in 2018. When the city commission refused to place on the 2018 ballot the parking garage question and three additional charter amendment questions proposed by KORN, KORN filed a lawsuit against the city.

In March, Nicholas ruled the city did not have to place KORN’s charter amendment questions on a future ballot. Nicholas felt the city addressed most of KORN’s concerns via the alternative charter amendments recommended by the Charter Review Committee and approved by city voters. When issuing his ruling, Nicholas said he would consider future arguments regarding the parking garage question that had not been posed to city voters.

Johnson represented the city in that case. On June 18, Perry told the commission KORN attorney Robert Hendrickson emailed Johnson regarding the lingering parking garage issue.

“It’s not been ordered by the judge to put it on the ballot, but Mr. Hendrickson has indicated KORN will continue to take this to court and try to force the city to put it on the ballot. Do you want to put it on the ballot and kill that argument or do you want to fight it in court?” Perry said that day.

After much debate that day regarding the legalities of addressing a land-use issue in the city charter in contrast to current state law, and the legal precedent that might establish, the commission voted 3-2 to move forward with two parking garage ballot questions.

On Monday, Mayor John Chappie asked Perry if the commission could place both parking garage initiatives on the ballot but still seek a ruling from Nicholas.

“If the city feels strongly that a parking garage, as a land-use regulation, doesn’t belong in the charter, you could still appeal this ordinance to the judge as a new cause of action,” Perry said of the city appealing its own ordinance.

“As it relates to the current lawsuit by KORN, he could issue a mandate that this be taken off the ballot and not voted on. He could direct that to the supervisor of elections. I believe we could still go to Judge Nicholas and say we did this in good faith moving it forward, but we still strongly object to it and feel it should not be put in front of voters,” Perry said.

She expressed confidence that a hearing could be held before November and it was noted mail voting begins in October.

“On Nov. 3, if it all got voted on and it all got passed, it could still be thrown out by the judge. He could basically nullify the votes that came in,” Perry said.