Manatee County Accepting Applicants for Tourist Development Council CRA Boards

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County is now accepting applications for four openings on the Tourist Development Council which makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on the expenditures of Tourist Tax Revenues and the Community Redevelopment Area advisory committees that make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on CRA districts. 

The Tourist Development Council is comprised of nine volunteer members who make recommendations to the Board on the effective operation of the projects set forth in the Tourist Development Plan and the uses for which Tourist Development Tax revenues may be expended. 

Eligible applicants include owners/operators (General Managers) of motels, hotels, recreational vehicle parks or other tourist accommodations in the County that are subject to the 5 percent resort tax in Manatee County.  All applicants must be registered voters in Manatee County.   

Applications are due July 12 and may be found online at www.mymanatee.org/advisory_boards.

The Tourist Development Council meets on the third Monday of every other month at 9a.m. at various locations throughout Manatee County.  Terms are for four years. 

For more information, call Monica Luff at the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at (941) 729.9177, ext. 231 e-mail her at Monica.Luff@mymanatee.org.

Manatee County also has openings on two Community Redevelopment Area advisory committees that make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. 

The advisory boards consist of between five and 15 volunteer members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. Volunteer members serve three-year terms. There are a number of vacancies on each board. Vacancies are advertised each year in June. 

Community redevelopment areas are designed to attract commercial and building investments in an effort to improve the area, increase the tax base and to encourage public and private improvements. 

CRA advisory board members are responsible for: 

·        Considering, making recommendations to and amending the redevelopment plan; 

·        Reviewing the proposed annual work program for the Redevelopment Area; 

·        Making recommendations concerning Redevelopment Area programs and their implementation, and recommending project priorities to the Agency; 

·        Recommending incentives to further the redevelopment efforts in the Redevelopment Area and carrying out and effectuating the purposes and provisions of the Redevelopment Act; 

·        Considering any matters referred to the Advisory Board by the Agency; 

·        Receiving comments from members of the public interested in redevelopment of the Redevelopment Area and reporting such information to the Agency. 

The South County CRA is generally bounded by 53rd Avenue West on the north, Bowlees Creek, west of 15th Street (Old US 301) on the east, 65th Avenue and the U.S. 41 corridor to 69th Avenue West on the south, and the west side of U.S. 41 on the west. The South County CRA advisory board generally meets on the third Tuesday of March, May and September and the second Tuesday in December at 5:30 p.m. at the Harllee Family Center at 6423 9th St. E., Bradenton. 

The 14th Street West CRA extends from the Bradenton City limits at 26th Avenue West to Cortez Road (north to south) and generally 9th Street West to 18th Street West (east to west).  This group generally meets on the fourth Thursday of February, April, July and the first Thursday in November at Peace Lutheran Church, 1611 30th Ave. W., Bradenton, starting at 5:30 p.m. 

When possible a CRA advisory board should include: 

·        Manatee property owners and/or residents; 

·        merchants and business owners in the area; 

·        workforce development employees and the development community (i.e., developers, architects, planners, engineers); 

·        human services professionals; 

·        the arts community; 

·        faith/religious community; law enforcement; 

·        Real estate professionals; 

·        Members of the Hispanic community; 

·        and Manatee County School District. 

People who live, work or own property in the South County CRA or the 14th Street West CRA, and know the area and the issues that impact it will be prioritized. Youth, women and others representative of the diverse CRA neighborhoods are highly encouraged to serve on advisory boards. 

Applications are due July 12 and may be found online at www.mymanatee.org/advisory_boards.

For more information, visit the Community Redevelopment Area section of mymanatee.org or call Ivan Groom, Community Redevelopment Area Coordinator, at (941) 749-3029, ext. 6232 or e-mail him at ivan.groom@mymanatee.org.