City Council Approves Conceptual Plan For Downtown Riverwalk Project

BRADENTON--The Bradenton City Council unanimously approved the conceptual plan for the Downtown Riverwalk Project before a full auditorium at Wednesday night’s meeting in city hall. A final approval of the plan and financing will be brought back before the city council at a later date.

The council voted 4-0 (Councilman Gallo was absent due to illness) to give an initial go-ahead to the $6.2 million project to construct a 15.2 acre riverwalk along the Manatee River in downtown Bradenton with amenities including a skate park, butterfly garden and botanical walk.

Most of the estimated 120 attendees at Wednesday’s meeting were wearing “I Support Bradenton Riverwalk” stickers and applauded after each of the several speakers concluded their remarks in favor of the project.

The project was put together through the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) who held several design charrettes to get input from the public.

Project Manager Dale Weidemiller asked the city council to approve the conceptual design of the project and financing through a bond issue of $5.8 million. He also asked the council to approve a covenant to budget to get an A rated bond. That would provide a line item in the city’s budget which would require the city to make up a short fall if the DDA could not make a payment on the bond issue.

“Our having to step behind this is not unusual for bond service,” said City Clerk and Treasurer Carl Callahan. “We’re comfortable with the plan.”

According to Mr. Weidemiller, the DDA has about $1.2 million in grants in place to pay for the Riverwalk project's $6.2 million costs for construction outside of the proposed bond issue. As the financing plan shows in the conceptual plan, the City of Bradenton would have a total debt service of $600,000 on the project.

Before voting, Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey said, “I know what happens if we don’t do anything. The time is now to do something.”

Mayor Wayne Poston added, “I’m thrilled about this project. A lot of people worked hard to fulfill a lot of people’s dreams.”

While not totally against the project, one resident, J. Clifford Curley told the city council they should not approve it unless a full-service restaurant was included.