This Week in Manatee Government, June 21-25

This Week in Manatee Government, Jun 21-25

It was a raucous week dominated by development issues and as the summer heats up, the local government meetings are just as hot. The possibility of Amendment 4 passing in the fall has major developers scrambling so fast for comp plan changes, that the county commissioners' heads are spinning. Spinning so fast, in fact, that some of them are willing to completely ignore not only the will of their constituents (no suprise), but even the safety concerns of their own staff. If you're going to pay attention to county government at all this year, now is the time. Huge budget cuts and Amendment 4 are creating remarkably full agendas, which is when the real stinkers tend to slip past the goalies.

Monday, June 21

Anyone who has ever questioned developer Neal Communities', uh-uhm, "influence" over the BCC, need only watch the replay of last Thursday's special land use meeting. The guys at Neal enjoy seemingly limitless floor time and apparently have a Bat-phone to hospitalized commissioners along with the juice to score some sort of closed-circuit re-vote when they don't have the votes to push through an application.

The Robinson Farms PA action, which failed to carry at 3-3, will get another go round with Commissioner Getman participating via cell cell phone. Getman, who is not seeking re-election has seemed to have grown rather development friendly in his last year as a commissioner, and it will be interesting to see if he falls in lock-step, as Neal hopes. If not, you can bet some of the three votes against will be worked for reconsideration.

If it seems like there's an awful lot of special land use meetings these days, there is. The county is flooded with applications, as developers seek to get approval before Amendment 4 goes to referendum, ironically making the best argument to vote in favor of it, in the process.

In addition to the re-vote, there will be no less than 14 comp-plan amendment votes! Please check out the agenda and see what might be coming to a neighborhood near you. If you don't like it, get, I don't know, say 300 signatures of like minded neighbors... well then again maybe not. Still, you can keep score for November, when some of the "development friendly" commissioners come up for re-election.    

Manatee County Board of Commissioners Special Land Use Meeting
BOCC Chambers
County Administrative Center
1112 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL
9:00 a.m.
* Editor's Note: It seems that the county attorney is advising the BOCC against such a revote. Tune in tomorrow for full coverage.  

A public hearing on a pain management moratorium, as well as the first reading of a fair housing ordinance are among the issues on the Palmetto City Commission's agenda.

Palmetto City Commission Meeting
Commission Chambers
City Hall
516 8th Avenue West
Palmetto, FL
4:30 p.m. - Workshop
7:00 p.m. - Meeting


The Manatee County School Board will continue to iron out budget issues. Click here for the full agenda. 

Manatee School Board Budget Workshop
Manatee School Board Building
215 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL
5:45 p.m.

Tuesday, June 22

Coming off of a full day of land use items, the BCC will tackle an extra-full slate in their regular meeting. Click here for the full agenda.

Manatee County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting
BOCC Chambers
County Administrative Center
1112 Manatee Avenue West
Bradenton, FL
9:00 a.m.


Wednesday, June 23

Two SHIP housing rehab project contracts will be on the agenda.

Bradenton City Council Meeting
City Hall
Council Chambers
101 Old Main Street
Bradenton, FL
6 p.m.


Thursday, June 24

14th Street CRA Meeting
Kiwanis Hall
1401 21st Avenue West
Bradenton, FL
5:30 p.m.