The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Government Committee observes Manatee County Commission meetings for items of interest to citizens and the League and notes adherence, or lack of adherence, to good governance procedures and the Sunshine Law. The following are the major points from the board’s regular meeting on 4/1/25.
Link to Agenda and Meeting Video
To view a particular item in the video, click on that item on the agenda and then click on the video that is inset in the agenda.
Commissioner McCann attended via Zoom.
Invocation Reverend Brock Patterson, Longboat Island Chapel
Pledge of Allegiance Teresa Beckta, HR Labor & Employee Relations Manager and Navy Veteran
Announcements
Updates to Agenda - March 25, March 28 and March 31, 2025
Awards/Presentations/
Awards
Presentation of Retirement Award to Rossina Leider, Planning Section Manager
Rossina Leider was honored for her 19 years of service to the county in the planning section. She told her immigrant story of moving from Venezuela with her family in 2003 for a better life, led to her remarkable career with the county where she rose to become the manager. She is an amazing teacher and coach and has given more than 1,000 presentations
Presentation of Retirement Award to Mark Regis, EMS Deputy Chief of Training
Mark Regis joined the county in 1998 and held various jobs as a paramedic, dispatcher, and educator. Five years ago, he stepped into the role of clinical education and training, transforming the department with new equipment and training methodology. He demonstrated compassion and emphasized it to his team.
Proclamations
Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating April 2025 as "Donate Life Month" in Manatee County
There are 104,000 people waiting for organ transplants on the national donor waiting list, with 5500 in Florida. Sue Ann Miller (recipient of a donor heart in 2002) accepted the proclamation on behalf of Lifelink of Florida, a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplantation therapy in Florida.
Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating April 9, 2025 as "Sexual Assault Awareness Day" in Manatee County
Terry Allen, Trauma Services Manager, accepted the proclamation on behalf Centerstone, one of 29 certified rape crisis centers in Florida.
Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating April 2025 as "Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month" in Manatee County
Gail Gottalk of the National Amputee Coalition, as well as a local leader of a support group in Bradenton, accepted the proclamation. The designation is to help make people aware of the mobility, accessibility, and other challenges faced by people living with limb loss and differences.
Commissioner Kruse presented an off-agenda item to acknowledge that April 6-12 is National Library Week. He said that the county has calculated the value of library services rendered as almost $51 million. In addition to books, libraries host STEM programs, house a podcast studio, and following recent hurricanes, served as comfort stations in some communities. He noted that libraries serve as community centers.
Consent Agenda
Approval Of Consent Agenda 7-0
Kruse moved to continue Item 26, Adoption of Ordinance to cease adding fluoride to the County's Public Water Supply, to the 4/15 regular meeting, citing noticing issues. Motion approved 7-0.
Select Citizen Comments (Consideration for Future Agenda Items)
Pat Neal, developer, came to discuss two items: 1) Moccasin Wallow Phase 5 which he stated has been under discussion since 1985 and 2) county population growth. He contended the county needs to spend more on infrastructure than it currently plans to accommodate coming development. He suggested a new infrastructure tax or other sources of funding.
Two members of the Bayshore condo community described increasing inappropriate sexual behavior including assaults, and damage in a homeless encampment near their buildings. A recent call to the police resulted in them being told that it wasn’t a police issue, but police are their only recourse.
Sue Ann, a Lakewood Ranch resident, said that drag racing has increased since the Board approved raising the speed limit on Rangeland Boulevard from 35 to 40 mph. She asked the Board to return the speed limit to 35, add flashing monitor signs, and post signs prohibiting all trucks except for deliveries.
Laura expressed concern about care of the elderly based on her mother’s experience and proposed an in-depth analysis of nursing home accountability.
Commissioner’s comments
Commissioner Kruse responded to Neal stating that he will not take taxpayer money for infrastructure to handle growth when impact fees to developers are not at 100% of the cost to add infrastructure for their new developments.
REGULAR
Community and Veterans Services
Dr. Robert Marbut, a consultant engaged by the county, gave a presentation of his analysis of homelessness in the county and made recommendations for strategic action steps.
His analysis was based on interviews, an inventory of existing services, and visits to encampments around the county. He identified four cohorts: families with children, veterans (because they have unique clinical issues and revenue streams for program funds), adult women, and adult men.
Marbut identified five issues: out-of-towners (an issue for north/south corridors), a significant lack of critical services, services that are only from 9-5 M-Fri when needs are round the clock, no formal integration system for services, and insufficient coordination of planned initiatives.
His action steps are:
The recommended realignment was endorsed by the Community Project Manager for the county.
Commissioner’s comments:
Sgt. Jewett of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office described a newly launched program, Community Care Court, which can address people sleeping in encampments, panhandling, etc. and has four case managers. The challenge is finding housing.
Commissioner Siddique felt the county had disparate programs and Commissioner Ballard countered that the existing programs serve the four different cohorts. She stated that funding will come through the opioid litigation funds.
Bearden questioned what would happen if one of the existing nonprofits loses funding and floated the idea of a dedicated millage in the future.
Kruse seemed skeptical of the out-of-town concept and said that the best way to fix homelessness is to provide affordable housing. He supported the concept of a dedicated millage for housing.
Public Comments
Development Services
Item 28. Comprehensive Plan Re-Write
This update presentation was only for the Transportation section of the Comprehensive Plan. Transportation is multi-modal and includes cars, walking, bikes, scooters, and boats. Through human error, the presentation given to Commissioners and attached to the agenda for the public was NOT the full presentation given in the meeting. Click here for the video of the presentation.
The county now has a tool that indicates where jobs are located and nearby available undeveloped land nearby for housing. Roads are identified by type, such as rural, suburban, or city, and therefore can be appropriately designed for use and traffic.
Traditional transportation concurrency was a pool of money that was used to fund infrastructure for planned growth. Infrastructure was to be built concurrent with development. This changed in 2013 to a proportional share method that requires developers to pay their proportional share, but does not require infrastructure to be built concurrent with the development. This makes use of metrics very important to the planners. Commissioner Bearden noted the County could change back to the traditional method.
A few Florida counties have implemented Mobility Tax but since 2016 -2019, so there’s limited data available on the effectiveness. Bearden voiced serious concerns that a Mobility Tax may not be adequate to meet the County’s needs.
Financial Management
Item 29. Appointment of three (3) Manatee County residents living in the Unincorporated area of the County to the Citizens Oversight Committee for Infrastructure Sales Advisory Board to serve a term of two years
Leland Taylor nominated by Commissioner Rahn approved 6-1 (McCann voted no)
Jack May was nominated by Commissioner Felts approved 6-1 (McCann voted no)
Bruce Stamm nominated by Commissioner McCann approved 7-0.
Property Management
Item 31. Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC) Advisory Board Appointments
All but one seat was a direct appointment by that district’s commissioner.
Merrie Lynn Parker nominated by Felts and approved 6-1 (Siddique voted no)
Charles Richards appointed by Felts for District 1
Dr. Kyle Fisher appointed by Siddique for District 3
Eric DiSilvestro appointed by McCann for District 5
Alyssa Gay appointed by Kruse for District 7
Link to Good Governance Guidelines
Commissioner Kruse generously gave leeway to some speakers during public comments on future agenda items because their comments were relevant to Item 27, Homelessness, on the agenda.
We commend Kruse for moving a vote on ceasing the use of fluoride to the next BoCC meeting so the public has sufficient notice to be able to relay facts and express opinions to the BoCC before the vote.
Two years ago, the county paid for a homelessness study that was similar to the one presented, except that this report lacked detailed Manatee County support data and reports. We encourage the Board to make the data from the current study public and to implement solutions to address homelessness.
Commissioner Ballard has indicated that the money for homelessness initiatives will come from the opioid settlement funds. This funding isn’t sustainable as the settlement is only paid over 18 years and there will be no more funds after the 18th year.
The majority of people experiencing homelessness do not have an opioid addiction. It is therefore not appropriate to use opioid recovery dollars for housing unless there is a direct relation to opioid addiction recovery.
Commissioners need to be more facile with technology. Felts had to have assistance with microphone each time she made a comment.
The League appreciates that through virtual technology McCann has, despite having health issues, remained fully engaged. Citizens have also been able to participate through phone-in comments
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