Bradenton Beach commissioners are amending their list of 2023 legislative priorities to address a state lawmaker’s calls to study island consolidation and usurp home rule.
Bradenton Beach city attorney Ricinda Perry Jan. 19 recommended the update.
State Rep. Will Robinson Jr., at a meeting of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation Jan. 12, announced a bill to preempt Holmes Beach’s regulations of parking for state and county properties, specifically the city’s ordinance prohibiting multilevel parking facilities.
Passage of such legislation would threaten Holmes Beach’s parking garage prohibition but also the height restrictions in place across the island and in cities around the state.
Robinson, R-Bradenton, also called for a state-funded study on whether the island needs three city governments.
At the Jan. 19 commission meeting, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said, “I have had a discussion with Rep. Robinson and I voiced my concerns and disappointment and he told me his reasoning, which I disagree with.”
Chappie said Bradenton Beach officials will discuss the matters with Florida League of City representatives and also meet with officials from Holmes Beach and Anna Maria on how to proceed.
The Legislature will convene March 7 in Tallahassee.
“This isn’t really even party politics, to me,” Chappie said. “It’s about the best type of governance that they think would be best for us. Well, who do they think they are?”
He continued, “For the almighty big government up in Tallahassee or D.C. to come down here and tell us what we get to do on our city blocks to help protect the health, safety and welfare concerns of our local communities is not the way government is supposed to work. Yes, we depend on the state and federal for certain things but we are responsible right here, on the local level for health, safety and welfare. If we need something, we go to our legislators. It’s not what happened in this case and it’s a sad state of affairs.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole spoke out against consolidation, as well as building parking garages on the island.
“On consolidation, it’s been tried several times. A lot of people come to Anna Maria Island just because of the way it is, the three island cities,” Cole said. “They love this place. What value out of a couple parking garages are you going to get when your beach isn’t really all that big?”
Commissioner Jake Spooner motioned to tentatively approve legislative priorities that address Robinson’s proposed bill preempting home rule and his suggestion for a consolidation study. Commissioner Ralph Cole seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
The city commission was scheduled to meet next for a workshop at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, after The Islander went to press.
The next regular city commission meeting will be 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.