There’s no question on the existence of a parking problem in Bradenton Beach.
City commissioners met in a workshop Sept. 20 to explore the feasibility of a parking garage in the Bridge Street vicinity.
The commission concluded more research is needed before developing a comprehensive plan for the project.
Vice Mayor Ed Straight was absent with excuse.
Discussion of a parking garage to relieve parking woes in the community redevelopment district, bordered by Cortez Road, Sarasota Bay, the Historic Bridge Street Pier, Fifth Street South and the Gulf of Mexico, was initiated by Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon at the Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Sept. 7.
The commission, which also serves as the CRA, would budget CRA funds for the project and approach the Manatee County Tourist Development Council for additional funding.
The TDC budgets — with county commissioners’ approval — the 5 percent sales tax collected countywide on rentals of six months or less.
The CRA funding is limited to projects that support tourism within the boundaries of the CRA.
First, the commission — CRA members — must create a comprehensive plan including an estimate of costs, structure size and location.
At the Sept. 15 meeting, Shearon said his past suggestion for a parking garage near the police department on Highland Avenue “would not work” and he has been looking into other locations that would support CRA-TDC funding.
At the Sept. 20 workshop, Shearon said he was “not ready to disclose the other possible locations at this time.”
Commissioner Jake Spooner said he spoke with Joe Spallino, owner of Joes Eats and Sweets, 219 Gulf Drive S., who may consider selling his property — a “perfect location” to build a city parking garage.
Additionally, Spooner said Spallino might be interested in partnering with the city on the project.
Shearon said he needs to meet with Elliott Falcione, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director, to see if the parking garage would qualify for TDC funding. He said he is not sure the TDC would recommend funding the garage if it’s not located on city property.
The TDC recommends a budget for spending the county’s tourist tax collections, but the final decision rests with the county board of commissioners.
Shearon said he has concerns that the city and county would be spending tax revenue to purchase public property and it needs to be determined if this is allowed before the commission can approach private agencies or individuals.
Additionally, Shearon said he is not sure if Spooner’s suggested location would be a conflict of interest for Spooner, given the proximity to Spooner’s businesses, Bridge Street Bazaar, 117 Bridge St., and The Fish Hole Miniature Golf, 115 Bridge St., and his proposed business on an adjacent vacant lot on Bridge Street.
“We need legal opinions on the process, mechanisms and timeline before we can move forward,” Shearon said. “As head of the city, I am not comfortable doing anything until we’ve figured out what we can and cannot do.”
Shearon said he would discuss the issues with city attorney Ricinda Perry and give an update at the next scheduled CRA meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5, at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
I think that if Mr. Spooner wants to be taken seriously, then he should remove his baseball hat, and recuse his own vote on this issue. Clearly he would benefit financially from his public vote. His vote is for sale, and it has already been purchased.