LWV Manatee County Commission Notes: 5/6/25

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 5/6/25.

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 Bearden attended remotely.

Invocation Reverend Brock Patterson Longboat Island Chapel

Pledge Of Allegiance Bryan Parnell, Deputy County Administrator and U.S. Navy Veteran

Announcements

Updates to Agenda - May 1, May 5

Awards/Presentations/Proclamations

Proclamations

Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating May 12-16, 2025, as “Economic Development Week" in Manatee County   

Sharon Hillstrom, CEO of Bradenton EDC accepted the recognition for economic developers who contribute to a vibrant community. 

Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating May 6, 2025, as "IMG Academy Girls National Basketball Team Day" in Manatee County   

The proclamation is in recognition of the first national championship for the IMG Academy Girls Basketball Program.

Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating May 12-18, 2025, as "National Salvation Army Week" in Manatee County   

Presented for serving the people of Manatee County physically, emotionally, and spiritually for 102 years.

Citizen Comments (Consent Agenda Items Only)

Ken objected to the loan for affordable housing saying there is enough affordable housing already (Item #9) and felt the 11-acre purchase was a large enough expenditure that it should not have been on the Consent Agenda (Item #35).

Consent Agenda

Approval of Consent Agenda 6-1, Bearden voting no.

Select Citizen Comments (Consideration for Future Agenda Items)

• Three citizens requested the county stop the “warfare on citizens” by continuing to use multiple outside attorneys on a 2020 lawsuit which the 501(c)(3) litigant has agreed to settle and has no more money.
• Glen, among other things, stated that the County still has not produced a list of surplus real estate properties.
• Ken requested a work session on the quasi-judicial process so that public interest is more clearly heard and served. He also noted that there is no “finding of fact” presented or made available to the public on what Commissioners vote on and no ability for public to question staff about facts.
•  Two citizens complained of no sign of any progress on the new animal shelter and no promised quarterly report on status. One citizen questioned the amount of the county surplus. One asked for status on the hurricane Debbie debris pick up. One citizen felt there should be a maximum dollar amount for something to be added to the consent agenda. One citizen noted that the county isn’t providing adequate infrastructure. One citizen said the county is not providing adequate infrastructure. One citizen accused a commissioner of corruption and complained about the lack of a murder investigation.

Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

Item #16 Approval of Revised 2025 Board of County Commissioners Meeting Calendar

Approved 7-0

Item #23 Authorization to Issue Change Order No. 1 to Purchase Order Agreement No. T2500125 to Cascade Engineering, Inc. for the Provision of Additional 96-Gallon Evolution Series Carts        

Commissioner Felts asked about the new-sized garbage bins and the change to a once-per-week pick-up schedule. A lengthy, detailed discussion ensued about current services, proposed services, and the impact of any changes.

Approved 7-0

Item #45 Execution of Second Amendment to Conservation Easement between The Concession Golf Club, LLC and Manatee County for Tract 624 of the Concession Golf Course Two Replat - District 5         

Commissioner McCann stated that residents of Concession did not want the amendment to the Conservation Easement. 

Commissioner Kruse spoke in favor of amendment because the land would be pervious shell surface and would generate more tourist dollars from PGA tournaments scheduled at Concession Golf Club. 

Public Comment

• Elliott Falcione, Director of Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, spoke in favor of amendment because a PGA tournament generates $30-50 million in tourism.
• Two citizens didn’t want to sacrifice wetlands and wanted to table the item.
• Ken asked if there was any off-set process for giving up this Conservation Easement. Staff responded that Concession Golf Course had already purchased a conservation off-set credit. 

Approved 4-3   Bearden, Felts & McCann voting no

Item #49 Initiate steps necessary to establish a dedicated Stormwater Fee        

Approved 7-0

Proclamation added not on the agenda.

Adoption and Presentation of May 6 as the “First Black Woman Postmaster Day” in Manatee County

Parthenia Jackson Davis was the first black woman postmaster in Manatee County. Family members were there along with her brother, who was grateful and said he had tried for years to obtain this recognition for his sister.

REGULAR

Government Relations

Item 52. Adoption of Resolution R-25-072, indicating the Board of County Commissioner's support for State of Florida Executive Order #25-44, entitled ensuring government efficiency, commitment to participation with the EOG DOGE team, and providing for an effective date.   

On April 15, the Board requested staff develop a letter of commitment to participate in the Florida DOGE initiative. Stephanie Garrison, Government Relations Director, shared the letter which enumerates ways the county has already worked to be efficient and effective including outside audits, reducing the millage rate three of the past 4 years, streamlining several department functions, and developing a county wide strategic plan, among other initiatives. The letter proposed a citizen liaison committee to work with the DOGE team.

The motion was composed of four components: to approve the letter in the current form; direct the County Administrator to send to the Governor; approve R-25-072; and charge the government relations staff to create the citizen liaison committee of five members.

Motion passed 6-0 (Rahn absent)

Item 53. Manatee County Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR) Update   

Michele Davis, grant administrator, requested the Board approve Manatee County allocating Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) funds specific for specific projects to each municipality in proportion to their percentage of the population of the county: Unincorporated Manatee 82.28%,

City of Bradenton 12.94%, City of Palmetto 3.08%, Holmes Beach 0.69%, Longboat Key 0.58%, Anna Maria 0.23%, Bradenton Beach 0.21%.

Motion approved 5-0 (Rahn and Siddique absent.)

Property Management

Item 54. Execution of Contract for Sale and Purchase from Valrie Massey and Robert M. Mayhew for Property Located at 10205 Erie Road, Parrish, Florida 34219 - District 1   

Tim Cristello, Property Acquisition staff, described the contract as a full acquisition of two lots for $7.3 million, less than the appraised value, for right of way along Erie Road, a stormwater management pond, a roundabout at Sawgrass Road, and the Erie Road Wetland Mitigation Bank, which will be managed by the Manatee County Natural Resource Department.

Citizen Comment

One caller for public comment praised the preservation of wetlands.

Motion to execute the contract passed 5-0 (Rahn and Siddique absent)

Item 55. Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-25-067; Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-25-073; Execution of Contract for Sale and Purchase from CMHC 9000 JV LLC, for property located at 9000 Town Center Parkway Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202; and Adoption of Resolution R-25-068 - District 5     Waterman

Deputy County Administrator, Bryan Parnell, noted that our growing county needs space and that purchasing an existing building for a new County Administration building is less expensive than new construction. Deputy Director of Property Management, Charles Meador gave the PowerPoint presentation and stated if the county purchases this property, the county will not need additional office space as proposed previously as part of the replacement garage to be done in partnership with the City of Bradenton, Manatee County, and a private partner.

Commissioner’s comments:

• Siddique asked for transit and virtual options for employees negatively impacted by the relocation.
• Kruse stated it is a good deal because office space prices are depressed due to the number of people working from home.
• County Attorney clarified that the retention of the building in Bradenton will meet the state requirements to be in the county seat by keeping county records and holding Board of Commissioners meetings in the existing county building.
• McCann asked when the property became available; answer 2 months ago.
• Bearden expressed some concern about commute times for employees and impact on employee retention and asked if there was a traffic impact study. Bishop stated there was one done when the building was built in 1998.
• Felts stated that this purchase proposal was “sprung on the public”. It would have been ideal to present 5 options to choose from. 

Citizen Comment

Note: All published public comments were opposed to the purchase as presented.

• Ruth Harenchar, President of the League of Women Voters of Manatee County, criticized the lack of transparency and lack of good governance process.
• Six citizens opposed the deal due to location, traffic, and the public not being consulted.
• One citizen changed his mind and supported the purchase but was concerned about losing employees.
• One citizen was in favor.
• One citizen pointed out that there are elements in the contract that will be determined after the contract is signed.  

Motion approved 7-0

Item 56. Adoption of Resolution R-25-035, declaring Certain County Real Property as Not Surplus and Rescinding Resolution R-22-176 - District 5     Fields

The county intends to use the Lena Rd property to extend the life of the landfill, put in a Sheriff's Office warehouse, a maintenance fleet facility and similar uses.

Motion to adopt the resolution passed 5-0 (Rahn and Siddique absent)

Reports

Development Services

Item 57. Short Term Vacation Rentals

In the January 28 BoCC meeting, Item 61, Commissioner Siddique proposed development of a Manatee County licensing system that will register vacation properties' owner information so that contact information on the owner was available. Rob Wenzel, Development Services Division Manager, Tom Wooten, Code Enforcement and Chief Rodney Kwiatkowski, West Manatee Fire Marshal did not have a draft ordinance but did present a PowerPoint explaining what different departments do to address community concerns about noise and traffic. Manatee County has approximately 5800 short term rentals. Oversight is conducted through the Tax Collector. The Fire Marshal gave an overview of the fire and safety assessments conducted on short term rentals on Anna Maria Island and Code enforcement discussed the types of enforcement consequences.

The motion to draft an ordinance was a 3-3 tie (Ballard, Kruse, Siddique voting yes and Bearden, McCann, and Felts voting no; Rahn absent).

With a tie, the motion failed.

Commissioner Agenda Items (Items for Discussion)

Item 58. Discussion, with motion, to instruct staff to bring back an ordinance at the next meeting to regulate the use of Electric Bikes and Scooters in public spaces.  

Commissioner McCann said that his constituents are being “menaced” by young people on vehicles. He proposed an ordinance similar to one in Collier County, which would include requirements such as being at least 16 years old, wearing a helmet, and a maximum speed.

Motion passed 5-0 (Rahn and Siddique absent)

Item 61. Motion to rescind contract for roundabout on Legacy and Deer Drive

Commissioner McCann said that his constituents have told him clearly that they don’t want a roundabout at this location.

Commissioner comments

• Kruse was unhappy that only one side of the agreement is represented in the room today. He noted that the item was placed on the agenda at 5:45 the previous night. 
• McCann defended the late placement as unintentional because staff indicated that there was going to be an update on CIP priorities. 
• The County Attorney stated that the motion would be to enter a mutually agreeable termination.

Citizen comments

Five residents of the community came forward to agree that a roundabout wasn’t the right solution to the busy intersection due to the heavy volume of traffic, though several acknowledged that some mitigation was needed.

Motion passed 6-0 (Rahn absent)

Commissioner Comments

• Kruse said that several Board members went to D.C. last week for meetings coordinated by the Government Relations Director. He said the visits allayed their concerns about FEMA and storm management. 
• Kruse will host a Town Hall meeting on May 12 at Lakewood Ranch Library.

GOVERNANCE

Link to Good Governance Guidelines

The Commission continues to have problems with adding last-minute items to the agenda. For example, the addition of an item on roundabout and neglecting to add a proclamation to recognize the first black woman postmaster. This shows a lack of respect to a family who worked on it for years.

We applaud the Chair for accommodating the citizens who show up for comments by reordering the agenda to bring forward those items that have significant interest by the individuals present.

Transparency

The agendas continue to lack clarity and are incomplete. All items need to be posted early enough for public review and backed with well prepared information in order to become part of the public record.

• Prior to 2021 the county administrator or an assistant to the administrator would carefully review each item to assure there was sufficient and clear support information and presentations. In 2021 the newly elected commissioners passed on viewing many well prepared presentations and brought items to vote that were not on the agenda. Significant items got placed on the agenda at the very last minute with no documentation.
• This lack of attention to the agenda has led to decisions being made without full information resulting in public outrage and lack of a complete public record on decision processes.
• Wording on some titles do not include key information. Item 55 had neither the dollar amount nor the fact that it was for a County Administration building. Another example is the 2024 purchase of a building for $1.35 million that was on the consent agenda where the title had neither dollar amount nor that the building would house the Community and Veterans Services Department.
• We recommend that the County Administrator assign an assistant with an eye for detail to review the agendas and assure that, if an item is on the agenda that the title clearly reflects the important facts and that there is sufficient supporting materials early enough to enable full commissioner and public review.

Process

The process used for making the significant decision to purchase a new County Administration building does not reflect good governance.

• A process to determine the location of a new County administration building might be to determine the need, determine the location of current and future population, do traffic studies, determine the options, and select the best. Thus, options not considered previously but might be a better fit for the county.
• In this case, the property came up for sale, and we understand that it was toured by Manatee County staff that same day.
• Two months later commissioners were asked to vote on an already negotiated contract. The only alternative presented to the commissioners was building on the Lena Road property, which was never meant to house county administration. There was no rationale given for urgent reason to settle on this property.
• If the county does proceed with this purchase, which is not advised without more research, an audit of expected costs to renovate is recommended. In addition, we recommend regular monitoring of renovation costs.