A state bill that would allow the construction of a parking garage in Holmes Beach is on track in Tallahassee to become law.
But the Holmes Beach mayor is on her own track with a last-ditch effort to strike a deal to stop the measure.
Mayor Judy Titsworth wrote an April 4 letter to state Rep. Will Robinson Jr., R-Bradenton, asking him to table House Bill 947 in exchange for potentially designating 220 free parking spaces in the city only for Manatee County residents.
“What I learned most in my government classes as a child is that relationships and compromise make a whole lot more sense than war,” Titsworth wrote. “I am offering a compromise, a solution that I believe we can all be proud of if the true intent of this bill is in providing parking for Manatee County residents.”
HB 947 would allow the county to construct a 36-foot-tall parking garage at a county-managed public park — Manatee Public Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive — overriding city code that prohibits multilevel parking facilities.
Robinson’s bill comes in response to a feud between the county and city over parking lost when the city established its park-by-permit system in 2020.
The city prohibited public parking 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in 645 parking spaces along residential roadways and began selling $15 decals to residents and property owners to allow them to park in those spots.
City officials stand by the system, which they argue has improved residential quality of life by reducing roadside parking in residential areas and the outfall, such as litter and noise.
Van Ostenbridge and now Robinson argue such a system is unfair to off-island residents visiting the beaches and have pushed the city to restore the lost parking spaces.
The county legislative delegation unanimously supported HB 947 in January and the county board of commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 28 to support it as well.
The House of Representatives State Affairs Committee found the bill favorable March 31 and it was added to the full House’s second reading calendar later the same day.
If the House votes to approve HB 947, it will be sent to the Senate for review despite not having a companion bill.
If both chambers pass the bill, it will be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis — who has veto power — for final approval.
The bill would become effective immediately upon adoption.
Titsworth questioned state legislators’ review of the bill, which has passed unscathed through several committees.
“It is quite apparent, given the vagueness and speed of HB 947, committees did not have ample information and time to responsibly study and review this development order,” she wrote.
If Robinson agrees to table the bill, Titsworth is promising to bring a proposal designating 220 free parking spaces for county residents before the city commission for consideration.
Titsworth wrote that the city had recently surveyed its parking and found more than 200 “regularly unused” parking spaces on residential streets.
She added that the number did not include spaces at Anna Maria Elementary or churches, which could “potentially” open up for overflow beach parking.
“The county has yet to conduct a survey on the need for additional parking in the city. I am certain if one was accomplished, it would be determined that we would have a bigger traffic and congestion problem than we have a parking problem,” Titsworth wrote.
“The county residents are extremely important to the city of Holmes Beach. My children live on the other side of the bridge as many young families struggle to afford to live on the island. But the main reason we appreciate county residents is because we too are county residents. We are and will always be a part of the solution. I appreciate in advance your willingness to possibly consider this compromise and I thank you for your service to our district,” Titsworth wrote.
Robinson had not responded to Titsworth’s letter as of April 7, according to the mayor.
HB Mayor Judy Titsworth’s plan has extended a reasonable and fair olive branch to the county and state officials in response to the recently proposed hugely expensive, unworkable ideas for island parking. Her thoughtful plan focuses on off island county residents who have always been encouraged to come to the beach and are made to feel welcome. All county residents, both in town and on the island, understand the fragile ecosystems there and care deeply about preserving and protecting the beaches we all share. Longtime permanent island residents, including the mayors and commissioners elected in all 3 island cities, have always embraced the philosophy that the beach is for everyone in the county. Island government has always created a reasonable balance between resident safety and quality of life while encouraging our friends, families and all county residents to come out and enjoy time at the beaches. All county residents, both on the island and across the bridges, are priorities. That is why we have dedicated marked access ways in neighborhoods, public trash disposal cans, trolleys, significant neighborhood and other increasing parking, bike paths, crosswalks, public beaches, public safety for swimming and boating and more.
Unfortunately, the reality of excessive State of Florida overdevelopment legislation has not only overwhelmed island residential life, it has drastically cut into access opportunities the people from town and throughout the county once enjoyed. The HB Mayor’s plan focuses on those two historically important groups, otherwise know as the countywide residents, voters and taxpayers, showing she is in touch with what is best for locals countywide. Her proposed compromise prioritizes all county residents and is an important example of how home rule works best for local issues. All without spending millions of taxpayers money and creating years of additional traffic problems. I think most of the county commissioners would prefer to handle this without State interference . The State can be very damaging to county interests as well and should have more to do than “solve” local parking issues. The county commissioners should beware what else the State wants to “solve” for us. The Mayor well understands county commissioners and all three island cities, not just HB, need to work this out together and her proposal makes a good dent in that. The State has done enough unwitting damage to our local landscape and needs to let locals do local.