Bradenton Times News Articles

The Manatee County Planning Commission took steps to change the county's much-praised Comprehensive Plan for coastal properties at Thursday's meeting. If you own 200 acres or more, want to develop it and can meet all of the other regulatory qualifications, you might be joyed. However, if you are of the environmental persuasion, you may be less thrilled.

A Thursday's Manatee Planning Commission meeting, members recommended approval an amendment to the Manatee County Comprehensive Plan, which would allow a zoning of RES-9 to MU (Mixed Use). In related business, the commission also recommended approval for a text change in the Comprehensive Plan, creating a new policy for coastal management.

At Wednesday's meeting, the Bradenton City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that will effectively allow for vehicles to be impounded in relation to violations of prostitution, drug and decency laws. The council also passed a resolution that codifies its policy of invoking religious prayers at the beginning of meetings, and took time to recognize Harold Bridges and Jim Williams, two engineers from Jones Edmunds & Associates who have worked with the city since the 70's. 

Have you ever felt that something is going on, but you don't know what it is? If not, go to downtown Bradenton, sit in on one of the Manatee County Commission meetings, and just wait for discussion about the Special Referendum Election that is scheduled for June 18, 2013. I'm reminded of the Joe Pesci scene in JFK, where Pesci says, "It's a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside an enigma."

At Tuesday's county commissioner meeting, board members approved a request for another bus route proposal and the "consent" agenda, where you'll often find some of the bad news. In that portion of the meeting,"Meals on Wheels" had their budget cut by almost $6,000 (item #15) and their partner in helping the needy "Adult Day Care" was also cut by more than $16,000 (Item #16). In other business, over 100 citizens showed-up to express their dissatisfaction with a report on a $70 million, 20-year-old road job that those opposed to it call the "Road to Nowhere."

Manatee County Commissioner Michael Gallen has sent two emails to County Administrator Ed Hunzeker regarding concerns that citizens are being misled regarding the June 18 referendum to add a half-cent sales tax to fund indigent healthcare programs. Gallen cited direct mail, videos and text being disseminated by a group calling itself Healthy Manatee, as well as the county's own materials to illustrate how easily voters could erroneously get the impression that a vote for the referendum equates to a vote for property tax cuts.

At Monday's Palmetto City Commission meeting, members approved a continuance to the second meeting for the mobile food vender ordinance. For those watching this closely, a vote will likely come soon. In other business, commissioners chose not to move yet on a vote for funding the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

Manatee County has an opening for a citizen member on the 2013 Value Adjustment Board, which hears appeals regarding denied property tax exemptions, petitions relating to assessments, and appeals concerning ad valorem tax deferrals. After the special magistrate hearings, the VAB meets to consider and act upon the recommended decisions of the magistrates. Applicants must own homestead property within Manatee County; and must not be a member or employee of any taxing authority in this state, or represent property owners, property appraisers, tax collectors, or taxing authorities in any administrative or judicial review of property taxes.

It's a three day week for local government board meetings. On Monday afternoon, the Manatee School Board will hold a special workshop on the 2013-2014 District budget. Also on Monday, the City of Palmetto will hold a workshop and regular meeting, when it will hold a discussion on the future of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and its first of two public hearings on mobile food vendors. The BOCC meets on Tuesday morning, and the Bradenton City Council will hold a public hearing on its ordinance that would impound motor vehicles related to acts of prostitution during its monthly evening meeting on Wednesday.

The possibility of the International Rowing Championships being held at Nathan Benderson Park Rowing Facility dominated the talk at Wednesday's Tourist Development Council meeting. The Florida Legislature must have some interest too, because in its new budget it allocated $5 million to the park, contingent to the rowing facility being awarded the games. So what's the chances of the Sarasota/Bradenton area being thrown onto the world regatta stage? Well, the TDC members weren't popping the champagne, but I might have heard some rattling glasses.