The Bradenton Beach City Commission, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, unanimously agreed in a meeting Sept. 7 to implement a course of action for the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
The commission has been working with city attorney Ricinda Perry to determine replacement and expansion plans for the pier and the future of the day dock, following structural damage in June from Tropical Storm Colin as it passed through the Gulf of Mexico.
Additionally, Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon has been communicating with Manatee County officials regarding funding for the pier.
The CRA, which consists of the commission, met Sept. 7 to discuss how to move forward with the Bay Water Project.
Prepared by Shearon and Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale, who chairs the city pier team, the Bay Water Project involves replacing the damaged day dock and expanding the pier facilities to include a dock with boat slips on the north side of the pier. Finger docks would be added “when needed.” according to Shearon.
The CRA has discussed asking the Manatee County Tourist Development Council for matching funds to cover the cost of replacing the floating day dock on the south side of the pier.
The TDC is an advisory committee that makes recommendations to the Manatee County Board of Commissioners on how best to spend tourist development tax revenues collected on rentals of six months or less.
On Sept. 7, Shearon said he spoke with Elliott Falcione, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director and TDC member, regarding TDC-supported funding for the pier.
Instead of the county paying for 50 percent of the day dock costs, Shearon said the TDC would be interested in completely funding the day dock if the city would incorporate a mooring field in the anchorage south of the pier.
The area that is now used as an anchorage is considered a “blighted area” by the TDC and it contains more boats than can safely occupy the space, according to Shearon.
Additionally, Shearon said boats tied to mooring balls are less likely to be detached and crash into the pier in storm situations.
Perry said for the anchorage to be considered “blighted” by the state requires a lengthy process.
City Commissioner Jake Spooner asked Shearon why the commission’s initial plan to approach the TDC for matched funding for the day dock was no longer on the table.
Shearon said he asked for funding assistance for the project and what he proposed to the CRA — a mooring field and a new day dock — is what the TDC suggested. TDC funding is strongly governed by the state and “they do not negotiate,” said Shearon.
Spooner said if the city pays for a mooring field it would be “spending $20 to make $5” and the city needs to focus on replacing the day dock.
Shearon motioned that the city meet with the county in a workshop setting to further discuss the funding plans. The motion carried unanimously.
The commission, which also serves as the Community Redevelopment Agency, plans to use CRA funds for the project.
The guidelines of the CRA require projects in the district be tourism related.
At the Sept. 7 meeting, Perry outlined a plan to move forward with the Bay Water Project with CRA funding.
The plan would include adopting bylaws with a “clearer, better approach to fund use,” Perry said. It also would include an interlocal agreement that would allow use of CRA funds for policing the district, according to Perry.
City Commissioner Ralph Cole agreed with Perry and said “the sooner the better” for increased police presence in the district.
Perry said she will research and develop a CRA plan that will “build a record to show the anchorage area is blighted,” said Perry.
Perry said she will distribute examples of CRA plans that have been successful in other parts of the state for the commission’s review. Commissioners will then meet in a CRA workshop to discuss ideas garnered from the array of CRA plans before opening it up to the community.
Following the CRA workshop, the CRA will host a workshop for the public to voice concerns. The next step would be a CRA meeting, when Perry would present the CRA with a draft of the revised plan determined by the two workshops.
The city would then conduct a workshop as both governing bodies — the commission and the CRA — which would be open to public comment.
A draft of the revised CRA plan would be presented to the CRA in a public meeting for approval before being adopted.
Cole motioned to approve Perry’s proposal. The motion passed unanimously.
Parking possibilities
Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon said he discussed with Elliott Falcione of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau the possibility of Manatee County Tourist Development Council funding for a parking garage near Bridge Street in the CRA district, which is bordered on the north by Cortez Road, the east by Sarasota Bay, including the Bridge Street Pier, the south by Fifth Street South and the west by the Gulf of Mexico.
Because the parking garage would be in the CRA district, which was established to support tourism, the TDC might be willing to recommend funding to the county, according to Shearon.
Shearon said the lot adjacent to the police department, 403 Highland Ave., Bradenton Beach, would be a good location due to its high elevation.
Shearon also mentioned the possibility of a shuttle service from the parking garage to nearby hotspots.