BB officials to workshop options for city hall, library future
Bradenton Beach commissioners discussed May 20 asking voters to decide nonbinding referendums on the fates of the city hall and Tingley Library buildings, but did not reach a consensus.
Possible questions presented for the November ballot included:
- Should the city sell properties where city hall operates at 107 Gulf Drive N. and the Tingley Memorial Library, 111 Second St. N., and apply the proceeds to relocate and rebuild a new municipal complex?
- Should the city raise taxes in lieu of selling 107 Gulf Drive N. and 111 Second St. N. to renovate, repair and maintain the existing city hall and Tingley Library?
City hall requires repairs to windows, roof, ducts, air conditioning, foundation and walls.
Tingley Library also requires significant maintenance, including a new roof, new stairways and windows.
Building official Steve Gilbert estimated the cost to fix city hall to be about $1.5 million.
Meanwhile, the cost to insure the property will continue to increase 25% a year, said police Lt. John Cosby, who has long been the city’s point person on hurricane readiness and management.
Cosby, who has participated in the city budget process in recent years, suggested paying for building repairs by issuing a bond that would be paid over time.
Commissioner Jake Spooner said he thought there were more solutions than the possible ballot questions and suggested hiring a real estate expert to review options.
“There are at least nine options I could come up with quickly,” Spooner said.
For example, Spooner discussed building city hall as a multistory building with rental space.
Commissioners also discussed repairing and relocating the Bradenton Beach police and public works buildings.
The two possible referendums were presented as part of an ordinance drafted by city attorney Ricinda Perry that also included a ballot question on term limits for elected officials.
Commissioners decided they wanted to discuss the options for city hall and other city properties at a workshop but did not set a date.
The Islander reported in March that a new round of stimulus funding from the American Rescue Plan is expected to provide $78.21 million to Manatee County and $540,000 to Bradenton Beach.
