LWV Manatee County Commission Notes: 2/4/225

The League of Women Voters of Manatee County Government Committee observes Manatee County Commission meetings for items of interest to citizens and the League and notes adherence, or lack of adherence, to good governance procedures and the Sunshine Law. The following are the major points from the board’s regular meeting on 2/4/225

Link to Agenda and Meeting Video

Invocation Reverend Brock Patterson, Longboat Island Chapel

Pledge of Allegiance Victor McKenzie, Veterans Services Counselor and Air Force Veteran

Announcements

Updates to Agenda – on January 31, 2025, and Updated on February 3, 2025, to add Item #34 concerning the funding of grant-funded positions.

Awards/Presentations/Proclamations

• Presentation of the Team Member of the Month Award for February 2025 awarded to Mike Filippini, Industrial Control Technician (lift stations), Utilities Department for exemplary performance during the hurricanes.
• Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating February 15-22, 2025, as "Florida Cracker Trail Ride Week" in Manatee County. Proclamation accepted by Mike Harrison and Robert Wolfe of the Florida Cracker Trail Association.
• Adoption and Presentation of Proclamation Designating February 15-16, 2025, as "Forty-Third Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival Days" in Manatee County. Proclamation accepted by Jane von Hahmann, prior County Commissioner and Cortez resident.

Approval of Consent Agenda

No items pulled from Consent Agenda.

Citizen Comments (Consent Agenda Items Only)

Two citizens spoke about flooding, and they stated that developers clear cut and pump dirty water into other residents’ and county property. One questioned whether the $1.2 million for consent item 23 is enough to handle flooding at that location. 

Commissioner Kruse responded that $1.2 million is county funds. Another $3 million plus is coming from other sources.

Consent Agenda approved 7-0.

Citizen Comments on future agenda items

• Mike from Our Daily Bread thanked commissioners for $30,000 funding. He provided statistics on the number of meals served and bags of food distributed.
• Two citizens raised concerns again about funding for kennels.
• Dr. Craig stated that moratorium on development will have unintended negative consequences. The county should do “targeted…development.”
• Joe McClash, owner of Bradenton Times electronic newspaper and past County Commissioner, stated that the county needs an infrastructure plan.
• Anna is concerned about the backlog of permit requests. She and other residents are not getting answers or actions on permit requests.  
• Dalton stated that there is flooding because pumping water off development sites onto other residences that then flood.
• Anthony stated that there needs to be a review of evacuation routes because CR 675 does not work and leaves residents trapped. Anthony also stated that the already complete report about flooding during the 8/5/24 Lake Manatee release should be released to the public now rather than after the 2/19/25 meeting.
• Mark with the Borderline Road Preservation Group echoed concern about developers pumping water onto private and county land. 
• Bill from the developer community said that people are unfairly stating that developers get whatever they want. A moratorium is a bad idea.

Commissioner Comments related to public comments on future agenda items

• Commissioner McCann stated that flooding in areas that don’t have a flood designation is concerning and also contended that nobody wants a moratorium. 
• Commissioner Siddique and Commissioner Felts were both concerned about permit delays and the huge volume. Staff stated that recovery permits are prioritized.
• Felts noted that when developers pump water inappropriately the damage is already done.

Advisory Board Comments and Updates

Xtavia Bailey, Chair of the Children’s Services Advisory Board, said close to $61 million has been awarded to various agencies. 

Regular Agenda Items

Community and Veterans Services

Item 28. Appoint one member to the Children's Services Advisory Board in the seat designated for the School Board Representative

Heather Felton, Manatee County School Board member, was approved 3-2. (Commissioners McCann and Bearden opposed, Felts and Siddique absent)

Item 34. Approval to solicit for and hire four grant-funded positions dedicated solely to the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) Grant

The purpose of these hires is to provide an adequate response for grant preparation and compliance administration for the new HUD grant. Last fiscal year, Manatee County managed approximately $53 million in grants, with an additional $70 million in new, multi-year grants secured. The six-year, $252 million HUD grant will be in addition to these grants, thus overtaxing the capacity of the current grants staff. HUD sets aside the first 5% of the grant ($12.6 million) for administration costs (salary/benefits of grant management).

Staff outlined the purpose and reporting structure of the four full-time positions to be added. To commissioner questions, staff indicated the positions needed to be solely working on HUD grants, and they were using consultant experts.

Motion to hire four positions to solely work on the CDBG-DR Grant. Approved 7-0.

Public Safety

Item 30. Approval of amended enforcement hours for the Red Speed School Zone Enforcement Program

McCann said the Sheriff and School Superintendent were okay with changing the hours for issuing tickets.

Kruse felt that the contract was faulty and that it is a “money grab.”

Citizen Comments

Three citizens spoke against the Red Light cameras and the contract. Joe McClash stated that there was no study as stipulated in the statute before the contract was awarded. Red Light, the vendor, receives 33% of the fines collected.

Motion to modify hours for enforcement time of school speed zone cameras to within 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after the start and end of a regular school day. Approved 7-0.

Public Works

Item 31. Discussion on School Speed Zones  

Kruse indicated his preference for a 15 miles per hour limit. A motion to change School Zone Speeds to 20 miles per hour. Approved 6-1, Kruse voting no.

Commissioner Agenda Items

Siddique

Item 32. Discussion on the expansion of New College into Manatee County

Siddique spoke in favor of a land swap with New College. New College wants to expand to create new offices and classrooms, which the Powel Crosley Estate could provide. Siddique proposed the county swap the estate property for 180 acres of mangrove swamps on Tidy Island. The Tidy Island property is not accessible to the public and is a restoration project for New College. Siddique made a motion to direct staff to pursue this agreement, but there was no second.

Kruse said the cover memo about this item included with the agenda said there would only be discussion, not a motion or vote. Discussion continued and the first motion was modified and seconded by Commissioner Rahn to direct staff to research the issue.

Negative comments about the proposal were made by Commissioners Bearden, McCann, Ballard, and Felts.

Kruse asked the county attorney if Rahn needed to recuse himself as Rahn is on the New College Foundation. The attorney said he could vote.

A motion was made by Siddique to direct staff to have discussions regarding conservation land at Tidy Island in exchange for space at Powel Crosley Estate. Failed 2-5, with Rahn and Siddique voting yes. 

Item 33. Florida Association of Counties Tech Summit Debrief

Siddique reported on the Summit he attended with members of the county IT staff.

• He talked about multiple grant opportunities that the county should pursue such as rural broadband expansion, work force development and digital expansion.
• He praised the county IT staff for digital leadership, such as the pending new website with an AI chatbot.

Commissioner Comments

Commissioner McCann

• He stated that commissioners need training on Sunshine Law. Kruse pointed out there is detailed training provided, but not required, in the first year of a new commissioner’s tenure. 
• He wants an outsider to provide training on Roberts’ Rules of Order.

Kruse said he’s in favor of hiring a parliamentarian, however, there are times when he feels it’s important to allow more than 2 comments from any individual commissioner when they can only talk in public meetings due to Sunshine.

GOVERNANCE

Link to Good Governance Guidelines

When Kruse highlighted that Siddique had not indicated a motion on his agenda item, a vote shouldn’t have been allowed if the Board was following its own approved procedures. 

The lack of indication that there would be a vote on the property swap with New College and the lack of any details in the agenda packet to help commissioners evaluate the proposal led to confusion. It did not allow fellow commissioners time to review and prepare for a vote. 

The prior meeting was 14 hours long, and this meeting was 4 hours long. Some solution should be found to balance the number of items in a meeting, such as the county administrator suggesting that some items move to another meeting if the number or complexity of items on an agenda is particularly heavy.

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