County and Holmes Beach Continue to Spar Over Parking

PALMETTO – A Manatee County Commission work session held on Tuesday brought the issue of island parking back into discussion as county commissioners and staff discussed the possibility of reduced public parking on Holmes Beach costing the county millions in federal beach renourishment funding. The discussion prompted a swift and curt response from the island city's mayor.

While county beaches were closed for the COVID-19 crisis and city council meetings were being held via zoom, the City of Holmes Beach adopted a parking plan that severely reduced the number of public parking spaces for mainland residents seeking to visit the beach and surrounding businesses, eliminating approximately 45 percent of the spaces within 1/4 mile of beach access points.

"Mayor Titsworth and the Holmes Beach City Commission have jeopardized future beach renourishment projects in their city," said District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge who was sworn into office that morning and whose district includes the island.

Van Ostenbridge said he would not support county participation in beach renourishment projects in Holmes Beach until on-street parking levels were returned to their pre-COVID numbers, which a majority of the board supported.

"As cities change their allowances, if it’s happening outside of a quarter-mile it doesn’t affect our federal grant availability or our state grant availability," explained Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker. "If we mess up inside that quarter-mile zone, it means millions of dollars of local cost."

County staff said that they were able to work with the city to get to 460 spaces within that quarter-mile, which allowed them to cross the threshold for full funding. In a letter to commissioners sent following the meeting, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth disagreed with the county's assessment and scorned commissioners and staff for what she felt was a lack of communication with City Hall.

"In response to COVID-19 and public safety, the City of Holmes Beach, in a collaborated effort with the County and neighboring cities, eliminated all beach access parking on streets and right-of-ways in an attempt to enforce beach closures and stay-at-home orders. This decision was made as the safest way to keep our code enforcement officers and police officers protected in the enforcement of the stay-at-home orders, and at the same time allowing our residents and guests the ability to enjoy the beaches during these most trying times.

"Once the County determined it was safe to open the public beaches, the City of Holmes Beach, under the recommendation of myself and the Police Chief, proposed an end to unlimited beach parking. The reasoning behind the recommendation was increased complaints of traffic congestion, trash, and noise in residential neighborhoods. Public safety and public health was also a concern due to the lack of lifeguards and restroom facilities. Unfortunately, the Island has experienced recent drownings on beaches, and more and more citizens have witnessed people using the screening of sea oats and bushes on private properties to relieve themselves.

"The City of Holmes Beach has a signed inter-local agreement with the County for 500 parking spaces within a one-fourth mile distance from the beach, although the state requires only 378 identified beach access parking for continued beach re-nourishment in our City.

"In 2013, the City identified 435 beach access parking spaces in an agreement with the County. In 2020, the City offered to increase the identified beach access parking to 500 spaces to make certain the County continued to have a buffer in place to meet and exceed the requirements for beach re-nourishment and to receive top ranking. Both Charlie Hunsicker and Cheri Coryea were in attendance at this meeting and all were in agreement with this approach. At that point, they understood my commitment to assist."

Titsworth wrote that the city does currently have and always will have adequate public parking to qualify for full beach renourishment funding.

"As of this date, the City of Holmes Beach continues to greatly exceed the amount of parking required for the County to continue to receive beach re-nourishment funding," Titsworth's letter continued.

"The City has 1,261 beach access parking spaces within a one-fourth mile distance from the beach available to the public. The City has an additional 642 permit parking spaces available to Holmes Beach residents and vacation homeowners for beach access. Keep in mind these numbers are from a living document that changes periodically based on development in the area, but will generally remain.

"I hope that if you have any additional questions or concerns that you would first reach out to me so that I can provide you with true and accurate information before any additional discussions are held in public. The dialogue at yesterday's meeting lacked leadership and demonstrated a true disregard for any type of meaningful relationship with the City of Holmes Beach. You have my word that I will continue to treat you with respect and dignity, and I only ask for the same in return."

Click here to read the letter in full.

Click here to watch that portion of the work session.