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 to, 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 6/16/26.
Commissioner McCann attended virtually. Commissioner Bearden was absent.
Invocation – Reverend Kim Munns Johnson, Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
Pledge of Allegiance - Lee Washington, Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran. Washington is the Veterans Project Manager for Manatee County and former Acting County Administrator.
Announcements
Updates to Agenda were made on June 9, June 10, June 11, June 12, June 15, 2026.
PORT AUTHORITY
Public Comments
Two citizens questioned why the Port Authority does not allow for public comments by phone. The Port Authority meetings are held as a subset of regular BoCC meetings and call-in comments are allowed for BoCC meetings.
Port Authority consent agenda passed 5-0.
Grant Agreements
Amanda Tyner, Port Authority Director of Planning and Project Development, presented four public transportation grant agreements between the Port and the Florida Department of Transportation.
REQUESTS BY COMMISSIONERS (Items to be pulled from Consent Agenda)
Commissioner McCann pulled items 1, 7, 11, 15, 19, 20, 45 and 46.
CONSENT AGENDA
The League encourages residents to read the full meeting agenda to learn about the approved consent items. Approved 5-0.
CITIZEN COMMENTS (Consideration for Future Agenda Items)
Siddique urged citizens with complaints about short-term renters to contact the county code enforcement office directly.
Item 59. Manatee County Task Force Recognition - Jodie Fiske, Public Safety Director
Joel Baker, Assistant Chief of the North River Fire Department, explained the county has an informal arrangement for staff from all fire departments to work together on major events beyond the ability of a single department. The request is to formally create a task force that pulls together multiple specialized disciplines into one single coordinated response team to manage large-scale disasters, such as hurricane response, water rescue and building collapse rescue. The task force would be housed under the Department of Public Safety and apply for official designation by the state, making the task force accessible to regional and state partners in times of disaster.
Public comments
Approved 5-0.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA
Item 1. Approval of the Clerk's Consent Agenda dated June 16, 2026 -
McCann explained the minutes of the May 21 meeting that he missed for health reasons didn't give him enough information about one item and he asked for further information about that item.
Clerk’s consent agenda approved 4-1. McCann opposed.
Item 7. Adoption of Resolution R-26-073, authorizing execution of the Agreement for the Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) 26/27 Program Funds; and Adoption of Budget Amendment Resolution B-26-086 - Sarah Brown Director CVS - Countywide
McCann raised a question about client co-pays. Staff explained that client fees are set on a sliding scale depending on their income.
Approved 5-0.
Item 11. Approval of the FY 2026 Neighborhood Enhancement Grant Projects - Makayla Lindecamp, Neighborhood Services Coordinator - District 4
McCann questioned why the county was funding a beautification project that should be the responsibility of a homeowner’s association. Staff explained it is a matching grant between the county and the HOA.
Commissioner George Kruse explained the program has been around for a decade and wants to revisit continuing the program. Siddique said there are numerous county grant programs that the BoCC needs to review as part of its budget process for next year.
Approved 5-0.
Item 15. Execution of Land Use Restriction Agreement for Livable Manatee Multifamily Rental Incentive Program for the property located at 5410 10th Lane East, Bradenton, FL 34203 - Helena Yeatman, Affordable Housing Development Coordinator - District 2
McCann wanted to bring to the public's attention this commendable affordable housing project.
Approved 5-0.
Item 19. Authorization to Issue a Purchase Order for Second Life Machine Rebuild Services of a Caterpillar D6T Dozer = Matthew Case, Fleet Services Division Manager, and Patrick Shea, Utilities Director - Countywide
McCann questioned why the county was fixing a piece of machinery that is at the end of its life cycle and fixing it under a noncompetitive bid.
Case said the repairs will be done as part of a Second Life Rebuild Program. He explained the rebuild will be quicker, done to a standard that the county will get a new serial number and a new warranty and be thousands of dollars less expensive than new.
Approved 5-0.
Item 20. Execution of Amendment No. 4 to Agreement No. 21-R077667SAM for Professional Services Premier Campus Racquet & Aquatic Complex - Angela Honts, Project Manager - District 5
McCann questioned why the county needed to pay an additional $230,000 for architectural services for the Premier Sports Complex and pointed out this is the fourth amendment to the contract.
Michelle Worley, Division Manager, Construction Services, explained the money would pay for additional design projects and does not anticipate any more amendments to the contract.
Approved 4-1. McCann opposed.
Item 45. Execution of the Second Amendment to Cooperative Agreement for Central County Complex with Musgrave Real Estate Holding, Limited Partnership -Scott May, P.E., County Engineer – District 5
McCann questioned why the county continues to put money into the expansion of Lena Road south of State Road 64. May explained the request is to extend the existing contract, which is expiring, to October 10. The project will be brought back to the BoCC at a future time.
Approved 5-0.
Item 46. Execution of a Interlocal Agreement with the City of Bradenton regarding an Alternative Potable Water Supply Line for Blake Hospital - Scott May, P.E., County Engineer, and Patrick Shea, Utilities Director – District 3
McCann questioned why the county was providing an alternative water supply line to a private hospital. Pat Shea, Utilities Director, reminded the BoCC that the project was approved in May and the request at this meeting was to approve the interlocal agreement. He explained the hospital will pay for the water used.
Approved 4-1. McCann opposed.
ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARINGS - LEGISLATIVE
Item 47. Adoption of Ordinance 26-24, amending Article II of Chapter 2-13 of the Manatee County Code, Revising Certain Definitions and Correcting Scriveners Errors - Matthew Myers, Chief of Emergency Management - Countywide
Myers stated these are minor corrections in part due to State law changes and that he is now the official Director of Emergency Management.
Approved 5-0.
Item 48. Adoption of Ordinance 26-25, amending Article III of Chapter 2-13 of the Manatee County Code and Revising Certain Definitions - Matthew Myers, Chief of Emergency Management - Countywide
Myers explained the code revision was for changes in definitions and duties for emergency preparedness.
Approved 5-0.
REGULAR
Administrator
Item 49. Appointment of a Citizen Member to serve on the 2026 Value Adjustment Board (VAB), and Appointment of Commissioners to serve on the 2026 Value Adjustment Board - Vicki Tessmer, Board Records Supervisor
Item 50. Appointment of Two Interested Citizens to the Tourist Development Council (TDC) - Elliott Falcione, Executive Director of Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau - Countywide
The two members must be citizens who demonstrate an interest in tourism development and are not subject to the Manatee County 6% resort tax.
Norma Kennedy (5 - 0) and David Wick (4-1, McCann voting for an alternative candidate) were reappointed to the Tourist Development Council.
Item 51. Proposed Business Terms for Indoor Sports Multiplex (Project Grace) - Elliott Falcione, Executive Director of Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau - District 5
Elliott Falcione, Executive Director, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau made a presentation about Project Grace, a proposal by Icemann Development to privately design, finance, construct, maintain, and operate an indoor sports multiplex (Multiplex) near the library at Premier Sports Campus North, that will include an attached paid parking garage, four ice rinks, food and beverage services, retail shops, orthopedic/medical, and athletic training.
Motion to was made to authorize the County Administrator or his designee to move forward with a proposed business transaction with Icemann Development LLC and bring back, for Board consideration, a proposed land lease and operating agreement.
Approved 5-0.
Financial Management
Item 52. Authorization for the County finance team and bond professionals to negotiate a Revolving Credit Agreement (a "Credit Agreement") with Regions Capital Advantage, Inc ("Regions Bank") for interim financing related to capital improvement of the Utilities System; and Adoption of Resolution R-26-083, authorizing the reimbursement of certain capital expenditures financed and to be financed - Claudia Campos, Interim Chief Financial Officer
This agreement is for a revolving line of credit not exceeding $110 million in principal to finance all or a portion of the costs of the Public Utilities Projects.
McCann noted the County’s significant debt and asked how it would be repaid. Mickey Johnson, Senior Managing Director, Public Resources Advisory Group, explained that the agreement is a revolving line of credit that will provide interim financing. The current interest rate is 3.3%, but it is variable and will reset monthly. Unused funds are subject to a 0.15% fee.
Approved 4-1. McCann opposed.
Item 69. Approval of the updated Investment Policy and Adoption of Resolution R-26-086, adopting an Amended and Restated Investment Policy,
Neil Unruh, Clerk Finance Director, stated that the Investment Policy has been reviewed and updated.
Approved 5-0.
Government Relations
Item 53. Progress update on housing phase pre-application process of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Grant and Lasting Manatee Program
Ashley Schnitker, Grants Division Manager, gave a brief update on the status of this program to date. In addition, the county will drop the 8/30 deadline and keep the application phases open indefinitely until all grant funds are utilized. No vote was required.
Item 54. - Strategic Plan Progress Update for Q2 - Robert Burke, Business Services Manager - Countywide
Burke gave an overview of the strategic planning process and noted the county has partnered with South Florida research team to conduct resident surveys and analysis. Survey results will guide future adjustments to the strategic plan.
Siddique asked how we can make the county organization flatter, reducing management and overhead.
Natural Resources
Item 55. Adoption of Resolution R-26-080, approving the Cooperative Agreement with the Department of the Army for the Manatee County Shore Protection Project; Authorizing Acquisition of Temporary Work Area Easements; Execution of the Cooperative Agreement, Certificate of Lands, Certificate regarding Lobbying, and related project documents; and Acceptance and Recording of the Temporary Construction Easement from the City of Bradenton Beach for Parcel 181 located at 100 Gulf Drive North, Bradenton Beach, Florida 34217, and Accept and Record the Temporary Construction Easement from the City of Holmes Beach, a Florida Municipal Corporation of the State of Florida for Parcel 4 Property located at 77th Street, Holmes Beach, Florida 34217 - Charlie Hunsicker, Natural Resources Director, and Peter Morrow, Property Acquisition Division Manager - District 3
Due to hurricane damage, Anna Maria beaches need renourishment. Hunsicker reported that the portion of the damage that meets the federal criteria, recovery costs will be 100% covered by the Corps of Engineers. The county is responsible for the cost of the county beaches’ renourishment. Board approval to proceed and will save the county $12 million.
Approved 5-0.
Item 56. Adoption of Resolution R-26-060, adopting Budget Amendment Resolution B-26-080 and authorizing prepayment to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) for an estimated $6,181,500 for beach renourishment “extra work” associated with the combined Anna Maria Island and Manatee County Shore Protection Projects - Charlie Hunsicker, Natural Resources Director - District 3
Hunsicker explained the source of funding is the one dedicated penny of six pennies collected in tourist development taxes. Eighty-eight percent of the amount the county authorizes is expected to be reimbursed by FEMA and State of Florida.
Public Comment
Cody wanted beach renourishment for Palmetto.
Hunsicker reminded the public they can enjoy the public beach at Emerson Point.
Approved. 5-0
Property Management
Item 57. Authorization for staff to Work with the County Attorney's Office and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) to Prepare a Resolution and Ballot Language for Increased Dedicated, Ongoing Sources of Funding for Environmental Lands - Kara Koenig, Environmental Lands Program Section Manager – Countywide
Casey Bauer, Trust for Public Land's Director of Conservation Finance for Florida, reviewed the timeline of their involvement with Manatee County's successful 2020 Save Water and Land ballot issue. He described meeting with individual County Commissioners, county staff, and based on these conversations and the recent Manatee County public opinion research, TPL is suggesting requesting a ballot initiative of 0.16 mill tax with 75-million-dollar bond with 2.9 mill/year for maintenance and operations of the land purchased with the bonds.
The approval of this item would authorize TPL and the County Attorney's Office to prepare a resolution and ballot language to that effect to be brought back to the Board for final approval to place this on the November 2026 ballot.
Commissioners were pleased with broadened coverage to include conservation easements and maintenance.
Public Comment
Rusty commended county for saving land like Robinson Preserve and praised its past work of conservation.
Approved 5-0.
Item 58. Proposed Agreements with Sema Construction, Inc., Concerning a Portion of the County Property located in Cortez, Florida 34215 - Peter Morrow, Property Acquisition Division Manager - District 3
Chad Butzow, Director of Public Works, noted the Cortez Bridge rebuilding is now in process. Sema Construction has been selected as the low bidder.
Justin Oakes, Vice President, Florida District of Sema Construction, explained that south of Cortez, the Florida Department of Transportation has an existing right of way, but there is not enough space to offload equipment, and they have cranes that need to be delivered and assembled. They are requesting north side land use.
Kruse expressed his concerns that the northern properties, that the county paid $13 million for, have an agreement that for four years there will be no public use.
Staff made two requests: 1. Authorize staff to negotiate with Sema Construction, Inc. for a proposed transaction under which the company would be permitted to enter upon and use County-owned property in Cortez and perform certain work and to return the matter and proposed documents to the Board for review, consideration, and potential approval at a future public meeting
2. Approve the Right of Entry Agreement with Sema Construction, Inc., and authorize the Chair, or the Vice Chair in the Chair's absence, to execute same.
Public Comment
Mark Silagy, representing the Concerned Citizens of Cortez Coalition (CCCC), and Mike Albert, president of the Mariners Cove HOA, proposed holding a town hall meeting between residents, SEMA, or County officials. Both expressed concerns that the proposed deal is financially unfavorable and could negatively impact local property, access, and safety. Additionally, they questioned the requested timeline, voicing apprehension that the initial four-year period might be extended.
Staff pointed out that the second request for point of entry only was until August 17, 2026. The Board decided to consider the two requests as separate motions.
Motion # 1 Approved 5-0
Motion # 2 was made with language regarding right of entry until August 17, 2026, allowed in areas 1, 3, and 4 on Exhibit A. Approved 5 - 0.
Item 60. Appointment of no more than seven (7) members for the Health and Human Services Investment Review Committee, Thu Le, Health Information Services Manager - Countywide
Le reported seat 3, for a person with housing experience, had no applicants. The following were nominated:
Seat 1, Terri Davis; Seat 2, Maryom McCloud; Seat 4, Diane Nixon; Seat 5, Ariadnis Milian; Seat 6, Teresa Alford; and Seat 7, John Agnelli
Approved 5-0.
Utilities
Item 61. Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 24-R083613CD for Operation and Maintenance Services at the Piney Point/Buckeye Road Pretreatment Facility and Industrial UIC Well System - Patrick Shea, Utilities Director
For background on Piney Point, the proposed contract discussion, and the motions please review Item 21 in the June 2, 2026 BoCC Notes.
At the previous BoCC Regular meeting, a motion passed to defer approval of a contract until June 16, pending receipt of additional documents and information. Shea presented the background.
McCann noted that safety of the citizens' potable water is a responsibility of the state and the county should stop spending money on this. Siddique replied that the State Department of Environmental Protection and the county entered into this agreement. Siddique continued, looking forward, Manatee County should get state help and maybe county employees or other entities can operate the well.
Motion to authorize the chair to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 24-R0836113CD between Manatee County and CIP Solutions adopting the revised fee rate schedule effective May 1, 2026 for the operation of the Buckeye Road pretreatment facility and the UCI well. The Amendment applies during the first one-year renewal term ending May 28,2027, pursuant to the Agreement's renewal provisions.
Approved 4-1. McCann opposed.
COMMISSIONER AGENDA ITEMS
Item 64. Palmetto Downtown Main Street Community Revitalization - District 2
Ballard moved to allocate $25,000 from the Commissioner Discretionary fund for the Palmetto Downtown Main Street Community Revitalization.
Karen Dixon, Executive Director of Palmetto Downtown Main Street (PDMS), explained that the parcel is a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) property and they have given PDMS permission to develop this parcel as a park for residents. They plan to apply for a permanent permit to bring more events into the space.
Commissioners discussed the purpose and history of the Commissioner Discretionary Fund and questioned whether this would be an appropriate use of funds.
Substitute motion was made to direct alternative funding sources for a grant to Palmetto Downtown Main Street to develop a pocket park and to bring the item back on July 28, 2026 and approved 5-0.
Item 65. Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance tailored for Manatee County - District 5
McCann noted that cities within Manatee County (like Bradenton, Holmes Beach, and Anna Maria) have their own rules, but the unincorporated county areas have historically lacked a unified ordinance. Unincorporated Manatee County residents are requesting an ordinance in response to multiple complaints and a lack of enforcement due to no clear guidelines or regulations. Florida state law limits local governments from passing outright bans or restricting stay lengths, therefore a new ordinance must focus heavily on health, safety, and operational standards.
Several commissioners spoke in favor of looking at this again and noted it was mentioned a year ago and failed 3-3.
Motion to instruct the staff to review and revise a proposed legally enforceable, state compliant, Short-Term Vacation Rental Ordinance tailored for Manatee County and bring back an executable ordinance at the next scheduled Regular BoCC meeting.
Public Comments
Rich, a small business owner, shared that the majority that stay in their homes are families and sports tourism. He added that noise ordinances are in place and they use noise monitoring devices on perimeters of their properties.
Lori, Sean, and Diana all voiced concerns about the number and behavior of rentals.
John, a vacation rental owner, stated that many owners are not large corporations and questioned what the proposed ordinance solves.
Approved 5-0.
Item 66. Fiscal And Feasibility Analysis regarding Kennel Structures at the Bishop Campus - District 5
McCann's motion was made to secure the necessary financial clarity and ensure the long-term sustainability of Manatee County’s animal welfare infrastructure. The motion requests a comprehensive cost assessment to remove the existing prefabricated kennel structures and replace them with a permanent, stand-alone brick-and-mortar facility or a structural attachment to the new administration and adoption resource center currently under construction.
The motion failed for lack of a second.
Kruse is the liaison to the animal shelter and defended the process and result. The new Animal Welfare Advisory Board is meeting in 18 hours, and he felt the motion was premature.
Citizen comments
Commissioner comment
Kruse stated portable kennels are used all over our state, that the county fostered dogs out during storms, and the county is $60 million short on reserves this year.
GOVERNANCE
Link to Good Governance Guidelines
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