Mayor Mark Short emailed The Islander Feb. 28, reporting that the city commission met Feb. 27 and covered a number of topics.
He said they passed a resolution providing special event permit fees based on either attendance numbers or the number of vendors. The fee is waived if the event is solely for the benefit of a non-profit.
He also announced the city’s annual vacation rental registration process began in March and can be filed electronically. Vacation registration fees — due by the end of April — are based on the number of approved occupants for the rental property and equate to $104.78 per occupant.
Short also provided a list of various projects going on in the city, including:
- The city is installing lights on the T-end of the pier and the walkway to provide boaters a visual of the pier after sunset.
- Shade sail at City Pier Park installation begins March 5.
- Road projects in early March include the second phase of minor repairs to some streets, including Elm, Spruce, Magnolia, Gulf and others. Grading and gravel to be installed on Kaye Lane, Moss Lane, and at the city pier parking lot.
- FPL is repairing streetlights in the city.
Short also said the city is working with Dave Haddox, P&Z chair and commander of a local power squadron to map buoys and channel markers both in and offshore to identify any that are missing, and confirm the owner of permits for those buoys and channel markers — city, county or U.S. Coast Guard. The mayor said the city would work with the county and Coast Guard to get any missing buoys and markers replaced.
Finally, Short reported that he met Feb. 25 with Manatee County administrator Charlie Bishop, County Commissioner Tal Siddique, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Elliott Falcione and members from Bishop’s team.
“Our discussions covered a number of topics but the main focus was the planning and vision to get the city pier rebuilt,” Short said.