County Plans Transfer of Norma Lloyd Park Maintenance Responsibilities to City

MANATEE–Transferring maintenance responsibilities to the City of Bradenton for Norma Lloyd Park would save Manatee County approximately $26 thousand per year. That was the County Parks and Recreation Director’s recommendation presented to the board of county commissioners at Tuesday morning’s work session in the county administration building.

Since 2000, Manatee County has maintained the entire park including capital improvements. In 2001, the county determined Norma Lloyd Park recreation facility needed more than $1 million in improvements. In 2005, the Bradenton Central Community Redevelopment Agency (CCRA) committed up to $2 million to fund improvements to the park if both the city and county entered an inter-local agreement with Manatee County managing and maintaining the facility.

In a 2006 agreement between Bradenton and Manatee County, the city deeded three acres dedicated to the United Community Center (UCC) to relocate and build a new facility. The county would be responsible for its maintenance and project manager for capital improvements. Manatee County entered an agreement with UCC in September 2007 to build a new football press box, concession and restroom building contributing $100,000 to the project with the CCRA and UCC funding the balance.

Between 2007 and 2009, the UCC held various athletic league programs at Norma Lloyd Park per its agreement with the county. The UCC believed it was exempt from paying team and player fees to use the park’s facilities. This resulted in a meeting between the city, county, UCC, CCRA, Neighborhood Services and the County Attorney’s office. A consensus was reached forming the proposed recommendations offered to the BCC at Tuesday’s workshop.

The county would end its obligation to maintain Norma Lloyd Park and transfer it to the City of Bradenton as of September 30, 2011. The county will also transfer maintenance equipment to the city on that date and will train the city’s designee (UCC) on its use. The UCC will assume park management and maintenance responsibilities through the city of Bradenton.

Consensus among the county commissioners was that this is a good plan. It will be brought before the BCC as an agenda item at a future meeting.

Commissioners also heard recommendations from the parks and recreation staff to demolish the run down community center building in John H. Marble Recreation Complex which would save the county nearly $37,000 and use those funds to operate the pool at the facility. This item will also be put on a future agenda for BCC consideration.