The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency worked Aug. 16 to budget for district projects and events in fiscal year 2023-24.
The budget year begins Oct. 1.
In Bradenton Beach, the local government adopts two budgets — one for citywide operations and one for the community redevelopment district bounded by the bay, the Gulf, Cortez Road and Fifth Street South.
The community redevelopment agency includes the mayor, commissioners and two citizens, who set the CRA budget, which in 2023-24 includes funding for underground utilities, parking lot improvements and a pocket park on the bayfront connecting to the pier.
City attorney Ricinda Perry told CRA members Aug. 16 the city was looking for $5 million for its next push to underground utilities.
Undergrounding is one of the most expensive projects in the proposed budget and the CRA members discussed funding sources for the next year.
Perry said she and Mayor John Chappie discussed funding with state Rep. Will Robinson Jr., R-Bradenton, regarding potential state grants, but the city won’t know until halfway through its fiscal year whether they’ve been secured.
Based on projections from Hau Tran, a program manager with Florida Power and Light, the total cost for the complete undergrounding of Bradenton Beach is approximately $4,725,777.
Perry cautioned CRA members that any money from the state could not be counted on until the grants were awarded.
She suggested putting roughly half the cost of recent individual undergrounding projects aside to be built upon in the next fiscal year should the city be unsuccessful in securing grant funding in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Commissioner Ralph Cole, who chairs the CRA, suggested allotting $300,000, which the CRA board unanimously approved.
The next phase of undergrounding will be in the northernmost sections of the city.
The CRA also approved $300,000 to improve public parking lots in the district, with an emphasis on the possible relocation of the Tingley Public Library, 111 Second St. N., to create more parking.
CRA members also agreed to budget $106,690 for a conceptual project connecting the pier boardwalk to dinghy docks adjacent to the Bridgetender Inn & Dockside Bar, 135 Bridge St. Improvements would include a pocket park with decking and tables with seating.
The CRA agreed to recommit $40,000 for the annual Christmas on Bridge Street Festival, which includes the lighting of a 40-foot tree, a boat parade and a block party.
“The CRA provides the funds available but it was the merchants that were able to unite and bring it forward and organize. They’ve been amazing in this. It’s their street as well,” Chappie said.
Meanwhile, the CRA board decided not to budget for a tram service in the district that carried people to and from parking at Coquina Beach.
The tram began operation in 2020.
“I think that tram is a waste of money, personally,” said Commissioner Jan Vosburgh. “I think we should do without it. I don’t see any benefit.”
“On that note, I say that it could be privatized,” Cole said. “Which is what I thought it should be to begin with and we could use that money towards the promenade when we get the opportunity.”
Chappie and Commission Jake Spooner supported reallocation of the tram funding.
“I think it could be more successful when we do have the promenade — when we do have the designated time and routes,” Spooner said.
Then Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby, referring to various construction projects in the city, observed, “We have so much disruption with what’s coming in the next eight years”
CRA members also OK’d:
- Shoreline monitoring, $38,550;
- Fencing at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar at the city-owned Historic Bridge Street Pier, $25,000;
- Cultural arts, $10,000;
- Bay Drive South resiliency project, $75,000;
- Sidewalk improvements, $30,000;
- District improvements, $50,000;
- Signage $50,000;
- Pier improvements $10,000.
Chappie motioned to authorize the spending, including the buried utility funds, and was seconded by Spooner. The vote was unanimous. Marilyn Maro was absent with excuse. Ed Chiles attended by phone but his call dropped and he did not vote.
The next CRA meeting will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
Public hearings for the CRA and municipal budgets will be in September. The first hearings will be at 5:05 p.m., Sept. 7 and the second hearings will be at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 14.
The CRA and its projects are funded with incremental tax revenue collected by Manatee County.
The 2023-24 budget has an approved millage rate of 2.3329 making this year’s budget an increase in taxes. To keep taxes on par with last year, the city would have to enact a rollback rate of 2.0402.
About the CRA
The CRA funds capital improvement projects to promote restoration, growth and tourism for the district, which is bordered by Cortez Road, Sarasota Bay, Fifth Street South and the Gulf of Mexico.
The CRA funds the projects with incremental tax revenue collected by Manatee County since 1992, when the area was declared blighted.