BOCC to Hold First Special Meeting of 2025

BRADENTON — On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the Manatee County Commission will be in session for the first special meeting of the year. The meeting will cover several topics for discussion, including legislative priorities and impact fees.

The meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and will be held on the fifth floor of the county’s downtown Administration Building in the Osprey Room. The meeting’s agenda includes six items for discussion and/or possible action by commissioners.

The first item on the agenda is the “State of the Chair,” Commissioner George Kruse is named as the item’s presenter.

In December, commissioners unanimously appointed Kruse to serve in the BOCC leadership role for 2025. As board chairman, Kruse will oversee commission meetings, setting the tone and facilitating the orderly taking of business.

During his campaign, Kruse pledged that if reelected he would diligently work to “give a voice back to the people of Manatee County.” As board chair, Kruse could propose changes to how meetings are conducted that might work toward fulfilling his campaign promise of facilitating more positive and accessible public engagement with their elected officials.

The last item on Tuesday’s agenda could be related to the first, as it is an item for discussion concerning revised rules of procedure for BOCC and County Planning Commission meetings.

The second item on the special meeting agenda is a discussion of “Strategic Planning Initiatives.” The item’s presenters include Deputy County Administrator Courtney DePol and Business Services Manager Robert Burke.

A PowerPoint slideshow included in the item’s attachments provides an overview of the discussion’s goal, including the benefits of a strategic plan, development process, timeline, and expected outcomes.

The presentation slides conclude with a proposed motion for commissioners to consider directing staff to solicit a Strategy Consultant for the implementation of a county strategic plan.

The third item scheduled for presentation is a discussion on the BOCC's 2025 legislative priorities.

The attached presentation slideshow includes several priorities that the commission will likely seek state funding support for, including the demolition and reconstruction of the Old Green Bridge Fishing Pier, construction of a facility for the unhoused, stormwater improvements, Gateway Greenway Trail System, Veteran Services Hub, and design and construction of Washington Park.

The final two meeting items are separate discussions, one on the reinstatement of a transportation concurrency policy and the other on impact fees rates. 

On December 10, 2024, Commissioner Jason Bearden motioned to direct staff to develop and present a plan to reinstate traffic concurrency requirements, ensuring that transportation infrastructure is adequately funded and implemented in alignment with new development. Commissioner Kruse seconded the motion which was passed unanimously by the board.

Staff was directed to prepare a plan to reinstate transportation concurrency that included a proposed policy framework, level of services standards, implementation mechanisms, and regulatory, fiscal, and economic impacts. To ensure a balanced approach to the proposed reinstatement, staff was directed to bring back to the board possible solutions to incorporate input from developers, community members, and transportation planning experts.

Deputy Director of Public Works Clark Davis is the scheduled presenter for the transportation concurrency item.

During the same Dec. 10, 2024, BOCC meeting, the commissioners also directed staff to commission an updated impact fee study to reassess current impact fee rates to determine the feasibility and implications of restoring impact fees to 100%.

Staff will be providing commissioners with an update on the directive on Tuesday. 

Public comment on future agenda items will be taken near the start of the special meeting. Members of the public may also have the opportunity to comment on any of the six scheduled agenda items, though it is unclear whether public comment will be taken on each item—regardless of whether any action (vote) is taken.

Public comments may be submitted in writing, in person by attending the meeting, or by phone via a Zoom meeting number.

Citizens wishing to submit written public comments can submit their comments online at www.mymanatee.org/comment.

To participate in any public comment session by phone, citizens can dial 1-(888) 788-0099 or 1-(877) 853-5247 and enter Meeting ID Number: 811 8149 8805 (followed by the pound symbol “#”).

If participating by phone, callers must push star (*) followed by the number 9 to raise their hands. Once invited to speak, callers must push star (*) 6 to unmute themselves.

To access Manatee County Commission meeting agendas, including Tuesday’s special meeting agenda, click here.

On Wednesday, Jan. 8, the BOCC will convene for a regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. in Board Chambers.