The June 1 meeting of the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency started off uneventfully but turned into a discussion about budget concerns, including funding a shuttle service between beach parking lots and the CRA district.
Joshua LaRose, owner of the Easy Parking Group shuttle service, updated CRA members regarding monthly ridership.
The CRA funds capital improvement projects to promote restoration, growth and tourism for the district with grants and incremental tax revenue collected by Manatee County since 1992, when the area was declared blighted.
The board includes the mayor, city commissioners and two appointed members, restaurateur Ed Chiles and resident David Bell.
In September 2020, CRA members allocated $113,150 in funding over a trial period for Easy Parking to supply and operate the service.
The program was created to alleviate parking shortages in the district.
Last October, the CRA board extended the contract to November.
According to LaRose, the shuttle service is seeing a significant increase in passengers compared to last year. In May, 6,500 people rode the shuttle as compared to May 2021, when there were 4,393 riders.
“We are at about a 50%-70% increase from last year’s months,” he told the CRA June 1.
However, LaRose said people outside the service route expressed concerns the shuttle does not operate north of Cortez Road, the northernmost boundary of the CRA district.
The service area runs along Gulf Drive from Coquina Beach to Fifth Street South, up Bay Drive South to the east end of Bridge Street and onward to the Bradenton Beach Marina, ending at Cortez Road.
While discussing LaRose’s suggestion to extend the route beyond the district, Mayor John Chappie, a member of the CRA, questioned whether the shuttle service still needs funding from the CRA.
“Why use tax dollars to supplement a transportation system?” Chappie asked. “Most of the people that stay here, get golf carts.”
“Maybe it should be privatized,” said CRA chair and Commissioner Ralph Cole. “Then you would open up funds to maybe add some extra security on Bridge Street.”
An agreement with the CRA allows the contractor to sell ad space to subsidize the costs of the service and possibly generate income but, according to LaRose, the $5,475 a month is not enough to make the business self-sufficient.
“Right now, it’s not a viable business if it’s privatized,” said CRA member/Commissioner Jake Spooner. “Without our subsidies, it’s not even break-even.”
Spooner said if the city wants to pursue revenue sources, a better option might be paid parking.
“I’ve never been a fan of paid parking,” said Spooner. “But I think it would cover the shuttle and an extra police officer.”
The CRA members agreed to discuss paid parking lots at their next meeting, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 6, at city hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.