Bradenton City Council Regular Meeting Results September 12, 2012

At Wednesday morning's meeting, the City Council approved a day-old request from Mosaic Company for the naming rights to the Riverwalk project's ampitheater. In return, the City will receive a $95,000 "grant" from the company that will go toward improving the ampitheater. Other business at the meeting included approval of an application from Sabal Palm Limousine to operate a service within the city limits, and final approval to vacate the part of 32nd Street West that runs between the two campus grounds of Manatee High School. Councilman Bemis Smith was absent from the meeting. 

1. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Invocation led by Lexie Taylor of Manatee Religious Services.

2. PROCLAMATION

3. PRESENTATION

4. ADMINISTERING THE OATH

5. CITIZEN COMMENTS

6. CONSENT AGENDA (Items unanimously approved 4-0 without discussion, with the exception of Resolution 12-33, which Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey recused herself from voting on to avoid a possible conflict of interest. Smith absent.)

• Minutes: Aug. 25 Emergency City Council meeting (Hurricane Isaac).
• Resolution 12-33: Authorizing the vacation of 32nd Street West.
• Resolution 12-34: Adopting the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) annual report.
• Resolution 12-36: Reappointing Ron Santarlas to the Merit Board. 
• Resolution 12-37: Reappointing Thomas Heitzman to the Tree Board. 
• Resolution 12-38: Recognizing the IAFF Supervisory Bargaining Unit. 
• Approval of application from Sabal Palm Limousine to operate a limousine service in the City limits.
• Surplus property disposal: Authorize surplus and disposal of vehicle.
• Public Event: Childrens Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Harvest Chapel, 1300 17th Ave. W. 
• Public Event: Star Talk Along the Riverwalk on Saturday, Oct. 20.
• Public Event: Riverwalk Fishing College – request to change date to Saturday, Oct. 20.
• Public Event: Rotary’s Taste of Manatee Saturday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 4, on the Riverwalk.
• Public Event: Snooty Gala on Saturday, Nov. 3, at the museum. 
• Public Event: Water Works Science Fun on Saturday, Nov. 17, on the Riverwalk.
• Public Event: Kids Create on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Riverwalk’s Outdoor Living Room.
• Approval of Summation 360 contract for utility billing services.

7. BUSINESS/ADVERTISING, PETITIONS, HEARINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS

ORDINANCE NO. 2942                                   FIRST READING (A motion was made to do a second reading of Ordinance No. 2942 on September 25. The motion passed 4-0, with Smith absent.)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, AMENDING SECTION 62-88 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY EXPANDING THE AREA OF THAT CITY PARK KNOWN AS THE ANTHONY B. ROSSI WATERFRONT PARK;  PROVIDING SKATEBOARDING PROHIBITIONS WITHIN SUCH PARK EXCEPT IN DESIGNATED AREAS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

ORDINANCE NO. 2943                                   FIRST READING (A motion was made to do a second reading of Ordinance No. 2943 on September 25. The motion passed 4-0, with Smith absent.)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BRADENTON, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, SECTION 50-36 BY PROHIBITING PARKING IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SPACES OTHER THAN FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF CHARGING SUCH ELECTRIC VEHICLE; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

8. NEW BUSINESS BY DEPARTMENT HEADS, CITY ATTORNEY AND COUNCIL

Carl Callahan, City Clerk & Treasurer/Chief of Staff
The Downtown Development Authority and Realize Bradenton have been notified that Mosaic Company Foundation has approved a grant of $95,000 for the support and naming of the Riverwalk Amphitheater. Request of council to accept the grant and the renaming of the amphitheater. (Approved 3-2, with Smith absent) The majority of the meeting was spent debating controversial phosphate mining company Mosaic's request for the naming rights to the Riverwalk Ampitheater in exchange for a "grant" that will further improve the venue. Council members Harold Byrd and Marianne Barnebey expressed their concerns about approving the measure. Mrs. Barnebey said that she took issue that approval of the request would give Mosaic perpetual naming rights, as opposed to other area venues whose names are contracted out for a specific amount of time. Mr. Byrd noted that many citizens in the community have a stark dislike of the company, and that $95,000 seemed a small sum for perpetual naming rights. (Mayor Wayne Poston later dismissed the argument over the amount of money in the grant, saying that the Ampitheater "is not a baseball stadium.") Both also noted that they had not been able to review the grant application as the Council had not received copies of it. Council members Gene Gallo and Patrick Roff spoke up for approval, with Mr. Gallo noting Mosaic's charitable work in the area, and Mr. Roff remarking that a major consideration of whether to approve the measure should be the state of the economy. The final vote was 3-2, with Barnebey and Byrd dissenting; with Smith absent, Mayor Poston stepped in to break the tie, voting "Yes" on the amendment.

9. BUSINESS BY APPOINTMENT   

10. COUNCIL REPORTS   

11. DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS