[1:19] Good morning everyone and welcome to the Braden City Council meeting

[1:24] Wednesday September 9th at 8:30 a.m. City Hall chambers. And I

[1:31] just want everybody to think about 25 years ago. what a beautiful day

[1:36] September 9th was and what our world would change in two days and uh just to

[1:42] thank all of those we'll do it through the meeting but the first responders and

[1:46] all the families and that that were involved. So at this time I'll call the

[1:51] great Pastor Don Steriono with Kingdom Life Christian Church to give us our

[1:55] prayers and then our um invocation. Thank you.

[2:01] » Would you bow your heads please? Heavenly Father, we thank you for your

[2:04] presence. We thank you for this wonderful city, what you're doing here

[2:08] through these leaders, through our citizens, and all that serve the city on

[2:12] every department. I just pray and for their lives and every front of their

[2:17] life that you would bless them. You would strengthen them. You would cause

[2:20] your face to shine upon them. And Lord, as this meeting continues, I pray that

[2:25] you would just give the wisdom that only you can bring. Open their hearts, touch

[2:29] their hearts, and bless them. keep them safe and keep them strong. And now I

[2:33] pray your prayer. Father, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

[2:38] » Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this

[2:44] day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against

[2:49] us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the

[2:54] kingdom, and the power, and the glory now and forever. Amen. will join all of

[3:00] our first responders and families in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge

[3:04] » allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

[3:10] for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[3:17] justice for all. >> Thank you, Pastor Don.

[3:22] Call the meeting to order. Madam clerk, >> the first item on the agenda this

[3:27] morning is a proclamation for tribute to Heroes Day.

[3:40] Morning, Mayor and Council. I appreciate um the

[3:45] opportunity to read the proclamation. >> Let's bring everyone down behind the

[3:49] chief. All >> first responders, uh retired or

[3:53] currently on duty first responders, come on up. Join us.

[4:08] Is some gonna buddy gonna tell Doug Huffman?

[4:10] » Doug Huffman. That includes retirees. >> Yep. [laughter]

[4:16] » He thought he could get away with it.

[4:21] So, we appreciate this opportunity this year again on the 25th uh year uh

[4:26] anniversary of 911. And uh I'm going to go ahead and take a minute to read the

[4:31] proclamation. On behalf of the mayor uh city of Braden, officer office of the

[4:36] mayor proclamation. By virtue of the authority vested in me as mayor of the

[4:40] city of Braden, I do hereby issue this proclamation honoring tribute to heroes

[4:45] day, September 11th, 2026. Whereas on September 11th, 2001, the

[4:51] United States suffered and endured one of the most horrific acts in our

[4:55] history, the attack of our homeland by terrorists who hijacked four jetliners

[5:00] in a carefully executed plan to fill Americans with fear and insecurity. And

[5:06] whereas the American people refused to be uh cowed and stood proud and honored

[5:13] their lost countrymen with strength and dignity. And whereas 343 firefighters

[5:18] and 60 police police officers lost their lives on that faithful day as they

[5:23] responded to the calls of the injured and trapped. They did not hesitate. They

[5:27] did not falter. They went forward regardless of the risk and our true

[5:31] heroes. [clears throat] And whereas September 11th, 2001 proved to the world

[5:36] that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, there are the many firefighters,

[5:41] emergency services, and law enforcement personnel who responded on that day and

[5:46] are ready to respond again whenever and wherever they are needed. And whereas

[5:50] the courageous and unselfish acts that day proved again that our country is

[5:55] truly the land of the free and the home of the brave. Now therefore, be it

[5:59] resolved that I, Gene Brown, as mayor of the city of Brandon, Florida, do hereby

[6:04] proclaim September 11th, 2026 as tribute to heroes day, and urge all citizens to

[6:10] reflect and remember those lost but never forgotten, and thank those

[6:14] emergency response personnel who risk their lives daily. Their spirit endures

[6:20] and the breeze that lifts the stars and stripes each and every day. God bless

[6:24] America and all those that reside in her land from sea to si shining sea. Sign

[6:29] Jean Brown, mayor, September 9th, 2026. >> Thank you, Chief.

[6:34] » Thank you. [applause]

[6:40] » Thank you, mayor, and thank you, council, for the proclamation. Um, every

[6:44] year this is solemn memory. I think we all remember where we were, obviously,

[6:50] some more than others. Um, but it's impacted everybody. You think about uh I

[6:56] I flew yesterday. Everything's different than it was just before that. And it's

[7:01] become our way of life. Uh we stand here, all of us stand here vigilant to

[7:06] make sure uh everyone's freedom stays safe and secure. Uh that includes

[7:12] somebody protesting on the corner of for 15th and Manatee as I drove in today. um

[7:17] we protect their rights to be able to do that every day and we will continue to

[7:21] do that every day. Thank you all. >> Thank you, Chief. Um one of the things

[7:25] that I I look back on and really think about over the years is I'm very proud

[7:30] of our public safety, fire divisions here in

[7:34] Manatee County because we've celebrated and you got to celebrate so we don't

[7:39] forget, but we celebrate every year. other areas around us have stopped doing

[7:46] the memorial and the different type of celebrations on September 11th. So kudos

[7:52] to especially the fire districts that in the city of Bradenon that continue that

[7:56] and I know you're the president of that organization in Manatee County this this

[8:00] year chief. So thank you for that. But we also think that well it happened in

[8:04] New York and there but every one of you especially the ones that were in command

[8:09] or in that day it was also happening in Bradenton Florida where we didn't know

[8:13] if people were going to attack. We didn't know what was going to happen

[8:16] because President Bush was at a elementary school in Sarasota. So, you

[8:21] didn't know if all of a sudden, you know, my my recollection was, you know,

[8:26] we were at the funeral home and having a piece of equipment delivered and all of

[8:31] a sudden I saw hundreds of fighter jets just going back and forth. You looked up

[8:37] and then all of a sudden you felt Air Force One fly over top of us and it was

[8:42] almost like you could reach out and grab it. It was so close to the ground. But

[8:46] then, you know, I look back on that and we didn't know if there they didn't know

[8:50] if there was going to be surfaceto-air missiles that they were going to do, how

[8:54] how detailed they were. And you know, I just think of all those things that

[8:59] really this community stepped up as well as every other community in the country.

[9:05] And um we all think of where we were, who we were talking to at the time, and

[9:10] what relationships we had. Uh, and because my cousin was isn't was in NYPD

[9:16] and he's retired, but he was actually in one of the trade centers. So, my aunt

[9:21] was talking to my mom all day because they didn't know for 24 hours if he was

[9:24] alive or dead because they couldn't get a hold of anybody. And Willie actually

[9:29] ended up signing up. He was in the reser army reserve and after that got out,

[9:34] spent two tours in Iraq, boots on the ground fighting. So, you know, f every

[9:40] family was affected in some way. and he's now retired NYPD after all the

[9:46] years and just living out his life in New York. But um just everybody has a

[9:50] story and that's what we got to keep talking about. And my 16-year-old

[9:54] grandson and my three-year-old granddaughter knows the story. And you

[9:59] know, my granddaughter last night at dinner said, "Papa G, are we doing

[10:03] something on 911?" So, we've got to keep telling those stories. She doesn't

[10:08] understand it right now, but as she gets older, I think it's important to

[10:12] continue to talk about it because not only all the firefighters, and you can't

[10:17] say a few police officers, you know, an ambulance and all the first responders,

[10:22] it was a team that did that, plus, you know, 2,977

[10:28] people. You know, that's what you got to think about. So, I appreciate what you

[10:31] do every day and what you do for our city and our whole country. So we

[10:37] appreciate that and just thank you and as long as we have all of us in this

[10:42] room have breaths in our lungs we got to keep never forget keep celebrating this.

[10:47] So thank you councel >> more.

[10:51] » Sure. >> Miss Moore. Well, I was thinking while

[10:55] the proclamation was being read that um if you'll indulge me, I am the daughter

[10:59] of immigrants and my grandfather [clears throat] used to tell me this is

[11:03] the best country in the world and I feel every day that it's an honor to be a

[11:07] part of it and the reason why I can do that is because of what you all do. So,

[11:12] um eternally grateful for that privilege and it's an honor to work with all of

[11:16] you all. >> Thank you.

[11:19] Scotchia. >> On 911, the United States of America

[11:25] became a big family. And of course, every family has its ups and downs, but

[11:30] it's the best family on Earth, probably in this whole galaxy. And I just say

[11:37] thank you because you right here are our heroes

[11:43] every day. And I'm not going to get too involved because I'll start. But just so

[11:49] appreciative and thank you for giving so much just as those on 911. You're ready

[11:57] too and we just appreciate you. Love you. [snorts]

[12:03] » Miss Barnaby. No motions.

[12:09] I was vice mayor that year and I have not forgotten a single thing.

[12:19] Our children weren't allowed to leave their their classroom because we didn't

[12:23] know what was going on. And my son was in American history and

[12:29] they asked the teacher, "What happens when one country invades another

[12:32] country?" And the teacher, not realizing Matthew

[12:36] was sitting in there, said, "Well, they go and they get all of the elected

[12:39] officials, and they usually kill them." And then they go after the newspapers

[12:43] and the intelligencia, the doctors, the lawyers. What does my husband do? He's a

[12:49] lawyer. So my son sat there all day thinking that

[12:53] we were gone.

[12:58] We have a brother-in-law that served at the Pentagon.

[13:03] The plane stopped six feet before his office.

[13:07] He was on the other side of the building doing a physical assessment, stress test

[13:12] kind of thing. And they sent all those people home. He

[13:17] had to borrow money to be able to get on the subway because he couldn't go back

[13:22] to his office. He couldn't go anywhere except out that way kind of thing. We

[13:26] didn't know where he was for about eight hours.

[13:30] We were very blessed as a family that day. There's a lot of families

[13:35] that were blessed to have family members and sacrifice them.

[13:42] That's why we should never forget.

[13:46] » Vice Mayor Co. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, you know, of

[13:52] course, this is a very this is a great day to honor all the service that you do

[13:56] for us. Of course, 9/11 brings it all uh very real. It was a

[14:02] very emotional time, especially if you had small children. And I do worry now

[14:07] about some of the effects of social media and rhetoric out

[14:12] there that are so anti- um public servants. And um I am glad

[14:19] that we celebrate this and show what heroes that you really are so that we

[14:23] can let our children grow up knowing that. Um, I thank you so from the bottom

[14:30] of my heart for everything that you do and when you see all the craziness that

[14:33] goes on in some of the other communities and uh you you've kept us so safe here

[14:39] and kept it so peaceful and uh I'll be grateful for that. Thank you.

[14:44] » Thank you, Councilman Shusler. >> Yeah, I likewise just wanted to thank

[14:48] you for what you do every day. Um, Miss Coachman mentioned family and uh from

[14:56] tragedy there also can be uh greatness and um when I look at you all, I've

[15:03] heard it before, you're wearing the badge, you're wearing the uniform.

[15:06] Please be mindful that everyone is watching you. Um and uh thank you for

[15:11] your service. Thank you for all you do. The silver lining is I like to believe

[15:17] that because of your service and the way that you've acted, you know, daily down

[15:22] here, up north, uh with others, the silver lining is hopefully we're a a a

[15:29] more caring um uh neighborhood and community. Um and you know, your actions

[15:36] and the way that you behave in the community also reflect on us. There was

[15:40] time last week that I saw a gal moving a a small washing machine into her car and

[15:46] probably uh prior to 911 I I may have rushed by because I was busy and I had

[15:51] to do stuff in the house and you know it just causes us to stop, reach out a

[15:55] hand, say hello. We see it in the community. I'm thankful for it. If

[15:58] there's any silver lining, it's just that uh we are uh one one people, one

[16:03] community and and uh and and that's also true.

[16:08] Thank you, Mr. Perry. >> Yes, sir.

[16:11] » All right. >> Appreciate it.

[16:13] » Thank you. All right. So, let's uh get a picture. You guys all stand up front,

[16:17] turn sideways, face each other, and we'll get behind you.

[16:23] » I'm not saying anything.

[16:26] » Oh, yeah. >> I might need the box.

[16:32] » There's a crowd. [clears throat]

[16:37] Everybody see

[16:42] [laughter] >> She's still taller than you.

[16:56] » All right. Thank you. And we'll see most of everybody Friday.

[17:03] » Thank you, Rob. I didn't think about that.

[17:07] » But yeah,

[17:13] » take it personal. [snorts] >> Yes,

[17:17] » madame clerk. >> There are not any presentations

[17:20] scheduled this morning. >> All right. At this time, we'll go to

[17:23] citizen comment. Citizen comment will be accepted during the citizen comment

[17:27] portion of the meeting on any non-aggenda item, agenda items, future

[17:32] agenda items, or topic of relevance to the city. Comments will be accepted on

[17:36] the public hearings at the appropriate time. As you remember, when you come

[17:40] forward, please state your name and city of residents, and you'll have three

[17:44] minutes. Um, at this time, we'll call Keith Green, Knights of Columbus.

[17:52] » [snorts]

[17:54] » Good morning. >> Morning, Mr. Mayor, Council.

[17:58] [cough and clears throat] On behalf of the Knights of Columbus,

[18:02] St. Cosmos and Damian Council 13341. I am honored to formally invite the city

[18:08] of Bradenon, our first responders, and members of the public to attend the 2026

[18:14] first responders mass at Arlay of the Angels Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch

[18:18] this evening at 6:30 p.m. This mass

[18:23] is our opportunity to honor the dedicated men and women who serve and

[18:28] protect our communities and express our gratitude for their service, sacrifice,

[18:34] and commitment. It is also an opportunity to come together in solemn

[18:38] remembrance of the tragic events of September 11th, 2001.

[18:43] September 11th holds a very deeply personal place in my heart as I was 17

[18:48] years old, just two months away from my 18th birthday and was not far from the

[18:53] Pentagon when the when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the building.

[18:59] In the days and months that followed, I witnessed the extraordinary unity and

[19:04] resilience that emerged from that tragedy.

[19:07] Americans from all walks of life came together, first responders, countless

[19:11] others, worked through the rubble, searched for survivors, supported

[19:16] grieving families, and began the difficult process of recovery and

[19:19] rebuilding. The damaged section of the Pentagon was

[19:24] rebuilt in just over a year, standing as a powerful testament to the

[19:29] determination and resilience of our nation.

[19:33] 25 years later, we must never forget. We must never forget that nearly 3,000

[19:38] lives lost that day. We must never forget the first responders who ran

[19:42] towards danger when others were trying to escape it. And we must never forget

[19:47] the courage, sacrifice, unity, and resilience that our nation demonstrated

[19:52] in the aftermath. We must also continue to stand behind

[19:56] the men and women who answer the call to serve every day, our police officers,

[20:01] sheriff's deputies, firefighters, EMS personnel, and the men and women of the

[20:07] United States Armed Forces. The mass is our opportunity as a

[20:11] community to say something very simple but very important. Thank you. Thank you

[20:17] for answering the call to serve. Thank you for the sacrifices you and your

[20:21] families make. And thank you for being there for our communities when we need

[20:25] you the most. I have brought with me official flyers

[20:29] for this evening for this evening's mass which I would like to leave with you

[20:33] which I've already taken care of with the clerk. I sincerely hope that members

[20:37] of the city of Bradenon, our first responders, and our community will join

[20:40] us this evening as we pray for those who serve, remember those we lost, and

[20:47] reaffirm promise that endured for 25 years, we will never

[20:54] forget. >> Thank you. Now, we have Patricia

[20:58] Simmons.

[21:02] Please state your name and your city of residence. You have three minutes. Good

[21:07] morning.

[21:10] » Good morning. Pat Simmons Man County. Um, I wanted [laughter] to

[21:18] I thought I had paperwork for this, but unfortunately I

[21:26] must have given it all away to people up the street. So,

[21:33] the first thing I wanted to tell you about is Mesa, Arizona was named the

[21:41] world's first autism certified city in 2019.

[21:49] And Phoenix just recently became the largest municipality

[21:56] in the US to gain that certification and it's through bear with me

[22:05] international board of credentiing

[22:10] and continuing education standards which is IBCC

[22:18] ES um which requires at least 80%

[22:25] of front facing city employees in public services

[22:32] including police um fire parks department staff to

[22:39] complete a specialized autism and sensory training.

[22:46] Um in Mesa

[22:51] this they're calling a frontfacing employees.

[22:57] Nearly 60 local businesses, hotels, attractions joined in

[23:04] and in Phoenix um which is the fifth largest city, it's fully accessible and

[23:14] sensory friendly. and they did it. And I'm not a Cubs fan.

[23:21] I'm a White Socks fan, but I'm was so proud of the city of Chicago because

[23:28] Wrigley Field is now the first Major League Baseball Stadium to be certified.

[23:37] So, I got to thinking about the camp park and the um city park and maybe

[23:45] that's something you might want to look into is being the first spring training

[23:54] park. So, um those are just a [laughter] few

[23:58] ideas. And there's also um I can part with this because I have a

[24:06] cup

[24:11] This is in Long [laughter] Beach, California.

[24:15] There's actually adaptive um hot air balloon rides, which I thought was

[24:23] pretty cool. But there's um camping in Utah. There's all kinds of things in

[24:30] Colorado. So think about what kind of niche you want to be and maybe we could

[24:37] be like an adaptive sports tourism city. >> Thank you. M

[24:45] » Chief Kramer, can you give a little update on some of the things we do with

[24:49] the autism and what we have that month and with obviously that family that we

[24:53] deal with? >> Yes. um every April, autism awareness

[24:58] month, and we uh partner with the Autism Society of Florida who has come and

[25:03] received uh proclamations, I believe, from the city in the past. Um we put our

[25:08] officers through the training uh if not annually, then by annually, and um there

[25:14] is training that's required from FDLE now. Um but also the fire department is

[25:21] part of that training as well. So, >> so I appreciate that, Miss Simmons. And

[25:26] we'll bring, you know, I will talk with the pirates and see if there's, you

[25:30] know, some of the things that they actually can implement during spring

[25:34] training to help out because obviously, you know, you always want to be ready

[25:39] for any situation, but if something happens, you want to be prepared to to

[25:43] help somebody. And then also, I'll just talk on for the the uh

[25:49] event tonight. Um we appreciate that all that's been done through that through

[25:54] the the Knights of Columbus and over the years and it's been at different

[25:58] churches and rotated around but but it's a great event to celebrate in a kind of

[26:03] a mass that that happens and so we appreciate all of that that's gone on

[26:08] over the years. So it's been a a great event and uh look forward to it tonight.

[26:14] All right, any other council hearing? None. Thank you, Madame Clerk.

[26:20] Item six is the consent agenda as staff and requesting approval of items A

[26:26] through P. >> Chair will entertain a motion.

[26:31] » Move to approve consent agenda as presented. Items A through P. Sec.

[26:36] » All right. We have a motion by Councilwoman Barnaby, seconded by

[26:40] Councilwoman Coachman. Any discussion? Hearing none, we'll start the vote in

[26:46] ward five. >> Yes.

[26:48] » One. >> Yes. Two.

[26:50] » Yes. >> Three.

[26:51] » Yes. >> Four.

[26:52] » Yes. >> Carries five to zero. Thank you very

[26:54] much, madame clerk. >> Item 7A is the public hearing for the

[26:59] JAG grant submission. >> All right. And we have Mr. Giddens

[27:05] coming forward. >> Morning, Mayor Council.

[27:09] » Uh before you is our application approval for submission to the 2026

[27:15] Edward Burn Justice Assistant Grant. Uh our award allocation this year was

[27:19] $25,17 dollars. We would allocate that to

[27:23] purchase ballistic vests, uh rifle lockers, and tactical training uniforms.

[27:29] Um this does require a public hearing and we have advertised it publicly for

[27:34] 30 days in line with the requirements of the funding source.

[27:38] » Any questions for Mr. Giddens before we go to the public hearing? Hearing none,

[27:43] we'll open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak? Anyone wishing to

[27:48] speak? Anyone wishing to speak? Hearing none,

[27:52] we'll close the public hearing. Chair will entertain a motion

[27:56] » for approval of the Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistant Grant.

[28:00] » Mr. >> Yes. Uh my motion to approve the

[28:04] acceptance >> to accept the FY2026

[28:08] Edward Burn Memorial Justice Assistance Grant submission and authorization for

[28:12] the mayor to execute the final agreement.

[28:14] » Second. >> Second

[28:17] by Vice Mayor Coker, seconded by Councilman Schustler. Any further

[28:20] discussion hearing? None. We'll start the vote in Ward one.

[28:24] » Yes. >> Two.

[28:25] » Yes. >> Three.

[28:26] » Yes. >> Four.

[28:27] » Yes. >> Five.

[28:28] » Yes. >> Carries five to zero. Thank you, Mr.

[28:30] Gib. Thank you, Mar. Madame clerk,

[28:33] » item 7B is the first reading for ordinance 4064,

[28:38] an ordinance of the city of Bradenton, Florida, annexing into the city of

[28:43] Braden, Bradenton Certain Real Property contiguous thereto, generally located

[28:50] approximately 1,200 ft east of the intersection of

[28:54] 59th Street West and 33rd Avenue Drive West, identified as parcel A and a fee

[29:01] simple deed of the Manatee County Official Records Book 1043,

[29:06] page 1 1914, and more particularly described herein, containing 0.62 acres

[29:13] total and owned by the city of Bradenton, providing for findings of

[29:18] fact, providing for amendment of the city's boundaries, providing for

[29:22] severability, and providing for an effective date. And the second reading

[29:26] and public hearing for ordinance 4074 is scheduled for September 23rd.

[29:32] » All right. Thank you. >> Item 7 C is the first reading for

[29:37] ordinance 4081. An ordinance of the city of Bradenton,

[29:41] Florida, annexing into the city of Bradenton certain real property

[29:46] contiguous thereto generally located

[29:50] approximately 160 ft south of the intersection of 59th Street West and

[29:55] 33rd Avenue Drive West identified as parcel B in a fee simple deed of the

[30:01] Manatee County official records book 1043

[30:05] page 1914 and more particularly described described herein containing

[30:11] 0.42 acres total and owned by the city of Bradenton providing for findings of

[30:17] fact providing for amendment to the city boundaries providing for severability

[30:22] and providing for an effective date and that second reading on public hearing

[30:26] for ordinance 4081 is scheduled for September 23rd.

[30:31] » Thank you [snorts] madam clair. Item 8A is a deed from

[30:36] Manatee County for property located at 100009 4th Avenue West, the former GTE

[30:42] building. >> Mr. Perry, mayor, council, um, as

[30:47] I [clears throat] believe you're all aware, um, the county commission has

[30:51] agreed to convey the property, formerly known as the GTE building, to the city.

[30:56] Uh, the purpose of that is for, uh, a public purpose and it's within the CRA's

[31:02] program when the city is contemplating um a an expansion and and satellite

[31:08] potential satellite campus of an educational institution. And so that is

[31:13] what we're dealing with. Um this basically would allow the city to

[31:17] receive that deed and uh to take take title to the property. There's

[31:21] provisions in the deed for a five-year um

[31:26] provision that it would revert back. It's called the reverter provision if

[31:30] the property was not actively utilized as a public purpose within the CRA plan.

[31:37] And that's basically the overview of it. >> Yeah. And I think one of the things

[31:40] that's important that is if there's misinformation out in the public right

[31:45] now that we would get this and then all of a sudden turn around and sell it. We

[31:51] don't have that authority with the way that it's written out to sell it unless

[31:55] we go back to the county and they authorize it. So, I think, you know,

[31:59] some of the propaganda that might be out and some of the media information needs

[32:04] to be corrected that if it's not used for a public purpose, the county gets it

[32:08] back. So, there is stop gaps in it to make sure we don't do anything right

[32:14] underhanded. unfortunately that there's people out

[32:18] there that that don't get all of the information and should.

[32:23] » So, u I just want one other comment on it. The city staff is working with the

[32:27] CRA. Dr. Burton is here. He's taken a lot of initiatives to um kind of move

[32:32] forward with the development of this facility uh as it relates to consistency

[32:37] with the the CRA program plan and the potential for an educational

[32:41] institution. >> Right. And I think one of the most

[32:43] important things we you know had several of us there the other day and Mr. Perry,

[32:49] myself and then also um Jannine Amik was able to to answer some of the questions

[32:54] and the vote by the county commission was six to zero to approve this. So I

[33:00] was glad that we were able to answer all their questions um because three of them

[33:04] had specific questions. We were able to satisfy their questions and we were able

[33:09] to get a unanimous vote. So, I think that was important to for the public to

[33:14] understand that this is a collaboration with the county and the city and our

[33:19] urban core. So, um we just need a vote to accept the conveyance of this

[33:25] property. Mr. Rudicel, is there anything specific?

[33:28] » No, it's just just an acceptance. Yes. And then we have the uh the original

[33:33] deed in our office and it'll be recorded once it's accepted.

[33:36] » Okay. >> All right. So, chair will entertain a

[33:38] motion. >> Um

[33:40] » well, would and then we'll have discussion.

[33:43] » Mr. Mayor, >> yes.

[33:44] » Motion to accept the deed from Manatee County conveying the property at 1094th

[33:49] Avenue West to the city of Bradenton and direct staff to advertise for

[33:53] disposition by lease specifically for purposes of providing educational

[33:58] workforce development and community training opportunities or other

[34:02] redevelopment purposes consistent with the downtown district area community

[34:07] redevelopment plan. >> Thank you. Second. I heard Miss Vice

[34:11] Mayor Coker. All right, Miss Moore. >> Um I um as you all know, I had some

[34:17] questions about uh not the project itself, but locations of properties and

[34:21] whatnot. And um and I just wanted to reassure you all that I that I

[34:29] understand how our, you know, democratic collaborative body works. And uh while

[34:37] my advocacy for an area within my ward won't stop, I will though I you know I I

[34:43] am I'm appreciative of our community partners and our their willingness to uh

[34:48] take time with me and answer a lot of my questions. Um, Miss Amik was also aware

[34:55] that I had all, you know, some reservations and some concerns and she

[34:59] reached out and took uh a couple of hours of her day last week to go over

[35:03] some of my questions with me. And I thought that for the benefit of you all,

[35:08] I would share what those questions were and then if it was okay, if it was

[35:12] appropriate that she could maybe come and answer some of them to give you all

[35:15] the same uh information that she provided to me.

[35:19] So, I'll [clears throat] just run through those questions real quick. Um,

[35:22] and they included things like why had we not met with the university individually

[35:27] as council members? Um, what kind of financial downtown investments were they

[35:32] committed to or proposing? Keeping in mind that we are, you know,

[35:36] aware that and with our CRA hat in the future, we're going to be discussing

[35:41] some some level of financial commitments on our behalf. um what their plan was

[35:47] for future development, capital campaigns that might support the Florida

[35:51] campus operations, um their plans for future development of

[35:55] student populations and to what level they had committed those student

[35:59] populations and planned and anticipated for those and what kind of support

[36:03] systems they would offer or work with us to uh provide for their students in

[36:09] their Braon campus. And then generally speaking, I just wanted some reassurance

[36:14] as far as I understand that this the university is engaging the services of

[36:18] their own consultant to provide an economic uh study of the of the uh

[36:25] wisdom of them proceeding with their own process. Um and I would love to see the

[36:30] results of that. My understanding is that it's not available yet. and then

[36:33] also just our basis of what we hope to see as economic redevelopment from this

[36:39] um from this endeavor and um yeah and then that so that was

[36:45] actually it that's the list of questions that I presented to Miss Amic and she

[36:49] was very thorough and um I think that we're moving in the right direction and

[36:55] I appreciate her time. >> So I don't know if anyone else would

[37:00] like to hear from her. Other questions from council?

[37:04] » Oops. We're just getting into this. So, yeah, I mean,

[37:09] » I just have a a comment if I may. >> Yes.

[37:12] » Yeah. I mean, um I appreciate what Miss Moore just said

[37:16] in terms of due diligence and uh the process and looking through it. And I

[37:21] just wanted to say that uh Dr. Burton talks about hierarchy of of of needs.

[37:28] Um, and I like to call it maybe the the the halo effect of a university coming

[37:34] into our downtown uh core. Um, and the potential economic impact that will be

[37:40] felt in every ward citywide. Um so I I look forward to further exploration and

[37:46] as this moves forward and and uh you know seeing the econ economic impact,

[37:52] the jobs created um the uh more uh visitors um in our city and I think that

[38:00] as we talk about a walkable city tying everything together um this is a a very

[38:06] big step in that direction. >> Right. I'll just say a couple things

[38:10] that we've learned even from the last meeting. There was some questions about

[38:15] parking. There was different opportunities, but that building isn't

[38:20] going to need the traditional parking. A downtown, as you grow, doesn't have

[38:26] traditional 30 spaces right in front of a building.

[38:31] We know that in a city in Florida, and I won't say Bradenon only, but a lot of

[38:38] cities, people think that, well, I'm gonna drive around the block until I

[38:42] find that spot right in front of the restaurant. I'll drive for 15 minutes

[38:47] looking for that spot right up in front of Walmart. I'll, you know, so we we're

[38:52] trying to create that. So, I think that's an important issue. Um, a

[38:57] building's value is only what someone's willing to pay for it. And when you have

[39:02] to spend considerable amounts of money, we've seen our downtown buildings that

[39:06] people were willing to go into it and possibly purchase it and remodel, but

[39:13] when they get what they have to do, fire safety, life and safety, when they have

[39:17] to do electric because of the old building, they can't afford to do that.

[39:22] And that's where in some area instances CRA in a district has an opportunity to

[39:27] do that. So I think this building, you know, probably two years ago was slated

[39:32] to be torn down for a parking garage. So in reality, you know, we're looking at

[39:38] saving it. So, um, yeah, I I don't never I'm trying to think of the best way

[39:45] because in a workshop we have people come up and talk and we've already had a

[39:49] motion in a second to have somebody come up and talk is a little unique and it's

[39:55] at my discretion if I'm not mistaken, Mr. Rudesel, to let somebody come up and

[40:01] talk that questions have been gone. But I'm going to allow Mrs. Amic to come up

[40:07] and and answer the few questions because those questions have been answered to a

[40:11] lot of the council members and we do not want to get into any proprietary stuff

[40:15] and that's one of the biggest things and you cannot talk fourpoint park. You can

[40:20] answer some questions and so I'm trying to think of logistically

[40:24] where we want to get to answer the questions but also they are in their

[40:30] process of getting their accreditation with their middle state and the state of

[40:34] Florida. So, we're not particularly talking about anyone in general, but

[40:38] what can happen to best serve our community if this goes forward.

[40:44] » So, uh for the record, Janine Aik, CEO, Florida Cultural Group. Uh to the

[40:49] mayor's point, that was part of the discussion that I had with councilwoman

[40:53] um Gonzalez Moore was in regards that it was not that they could not meet

[40:58] collectively with everybody, but there is a number of people on the team both

[41:03] from individual nonprofit organizations, foundations in the city of Bradon as

[41:09] well as the city of Bradon and the county. And so being mindful of the

[41:13] brand of Point Park University as well as the individual organizations

[41:18] that are also contemplating their own involvement.

[41:22] Um h you how do you do that? that protects each organization as they go

[41:28] back to their individual boards of directors to say what's going to be in

[41:32] our best interest as well as how can we collectively make this happen because we

[41:37] see it as not just something that the city is doing but more of a bigger plan

[41:43] that it is really our community holistically and a lot of players at the

[41:49] table um bringing this to the community for the benefit of everybody not just

[41:54] one organization. So, uh, one of the things that Miss Moore was talking about

[41:59] is the need in specific the GTE building. Um, and I can speak in regards

[42:05] to the comfort level for council people as they move forward in taking this

[42:09] building and the cost that will be involved in renovating it is that we're

[42:14] very excited at the performing arts center and Sarah Studios to share that

[42:20] uh even when we added the fourth floor to Sarah Studios um based off of the

[42:26] need of people who have already reached out to us um were over capacity.

[42:32] And with Point Park coming it as we hope and um secure some more space in our

[42:38] building, we're not going to be able to meet the needs of everybody. And so to

[42:42] give the council comfort saying that if it didn't work out with the university

[42:46] and they put this in, um that we do have partners who would immediately want to

[42:53] have access and rent that space from you. uh we won't share their names

[42:57] because we don't want them getting kicked out of their current spaces um as

[43:01] they're looking for other spaces. But the space that we hope that you guys are

[43:05] able to create u I can promise you would definitely be used and we've been able

[43:10] to build a case that there is a need and a usage in downtown Bradon. And I think

[43:15] that was some of what people were hesitant about about spending these

[43:19] dollars and if it didn't work out what's going to happen and what's the ROI on

[43:23] the investment. it's there's other people who are lined up who would also

[43:28] be able to use that space. [clears throat] I think that was the

[43:31] biggest of the questions. >> No. And I think that that in any

[43:35] business and you know we cannot be full business as I've been

[43:41] » um told in the past, but we can be businesslike and you can always find a

[43:47] reason why not to do something. And unfortunately, I think Bradenton has

[43:52] done that for a long time, you know, and since uh this last six years with since

[43:59] I became mayor and we've got a great council that we're trying to find out

[44:04] why we can do things. And when I came into this job in 2013,

[44:09] uh I don't know if any of nobody was sitting up here at that moment but me

[44:15] with others, but I ask a lot of why questions the first six months. So, I

[44:19] don't I I love the why questions, but unfortunately, some of them couldn't be

[44:23] answered. Exactly. And then they thought I wanted to change things. And I had to

[44:27] explain, I've never been in a job like this where you can't talk to your

[44:31] co-workers, you can't talk to others, staff isn't sure all the time where

[44:36] you're going. And but I needed to know why so then I could make an educated

[44:42] good decision. And I I appreciate that. You know, those are the questions that

[44:46] we got. So that may play into why I wanted a referendum on the this year

[44:53] about the mayor's voting power because then we can talk a little bit more and

[44:58] give a little bit more information. So I think there's opportunity there. Um, one

[45:03] of the things again the the EDC has certain regulations because

[45:09] the businesses don't want to say, "Okay, let me kick the tires here." And then

[45:15] all of a sudden people are saying, "Well, if you're kicking the tires

[45:18] there, we're kicking you out of this building." You know, so a lot of people

[45:22] have to go through that. And that's what I think we've got to understand. And

[45:27] it's hard when you want to know everything, but everything in this has

[45:31] been more than transparent as we've got the information. And you know the field

[45:36] of dreams, well, we're going to call it the friendly city of Bradenton field of

[45:40] dreams that we're going to bring as much to we can. And if you will build it, if

[45:45] you build it, they will come. I'm very confident in us building it and having

[45:50] the opportunity whether it's with this or the next opportunity. But we don't

[45:56] want to continue sand piles. Mr. Perry's probably tired of me saying the sand

[46:01] pile. Well, finally the sand pile is no more. But the sand pile for 30 plus

[46:07] years was a draw on Breton because we as count as city council and mayor's

[46:16] offices for 30 plus years found reasons why not to do things. If that's not what

[46:23] people want, then that I'm not your guy. But I'm going to continue to work on

[46:28] those strategies to make our city that 1922 friendly city when it became the

[46:34] friendly city and continue that over a hundred years later when none of us were

[46:40] up here. Miss Barnaby,

[46:43] » well, I I just wanted to add it hasn't that sample hasn't been a, you know,

[46:51] » detriment [clears throat] to the city for 30 years. My mother was in labor

[46:55] with me >> when the afternoon paper came out and

[46:58] said they were going to dredge up the river bottom and they were going to

[47:01] create the sand pile. I was born in 1957.

[47:06] How long did that just sit there and sit there and sit there?

[47:11] So again, from the benefit I've I've had, from the

[47:17] the privilege I've had of serving the community for as long as I've had, I

[47:21] have seen different companies, different businesses, different people coming in

[47:27] from out of town, you know, coming up wanting to meet with the mayor. Um, I

[47:33] I'm thinking of moving my business here. What can you do for me? Kind of thing.

[47:36] And and you realize what they're doing is they're shopping. They're going to

[47:40] take whatever an incentive that we might give them and they're going to go play

[47:45] us against somebody else. And you may have 50

[47:50] different people come in with 50 different ideas and not a single one of

[47:56] them end up coming here because they got something from us. They think and then

[48:02] they're going to go play us against somebody else. It happens a lot. I've se

[48:06] I mean like in and out in and out. So, I understand that there are times that

[48:11] that we may not know exactly what is happening because if we talked about

[48:17] every single person that came in and said they wanted to do something,

[48:23] it would look like, well, what's wrong with the city? Because they they didn't

[48:26] reel the fish in. And a lot of times, they're not really

[48:31] interested here. They just want to see what they can get and go and use it to

[48:35] their advantage in another situation. I don't think this is what's happening

[48:39] here. >> If I could, mayor only because you said

[48:44] something about the sand pile. You know, years ago, the the city and those who

[48:48] were sitting here took a risk and with the performing arts center and

[48:53] relocating it from where Spring Hill Suites [clears throat] is to and it was

[48:57] because community came together and I believe that's the success to Mayor

[49:02] Brown's point. It was the community who came together to realize a vision and I

[49:07] believe this is the same situation. It is a community of different

[49:11] organizations coming together asking the city as well as the county for help in

[49:17] making this happen because overall we see it for the benefit of the community.

[49:21] » Right. And the collaboration what we've seen so far outside of

[49:26] government has been unbelievable. than inside of government. It it is um also

[49:32] great collaboration and sometimes the uh toughest decisions to be made end up

[49:41] being the best decisions and sometimes they're not always the most popular with

[49:46] depending on the groups and out there. But people look back, Route 66 through

[49:51] Albuquerque, New Mexico, uh, many years ago, but they look back now and that

[49:56] redevelopment, I think people would say, is the best thing. But it did cost

[50:01] people their jobs in their elections because of the turmoil at the moment of

[50:07] the traffic and all of that. And you know, you can look at a million of those

[50:11] throughout government that and you can also look at probably 10 million that

[50:16] government chickened out and didn't make a decision and they should have. So I

[50:22] think and obviously I'm very confident that we're in a process that's going to

[50:25] keep going. But, you know, I think the e when it should be out in weeks, we think

[50:30] within some of the that information, which will just solidify, I believe,

[50:34] from what everything we've heard and and you know, they did interview me and talk

[50:38] with me about some things in a community that Kennet support.

[50:43] Our biggest community support, I think, is uh a school, little school off of

[50:49] 43rd Street and Manatee Avenue. And you look at the another school over in

[50:54] Palmetto that is a a public school that has an opportunity. You look at a high

[50:59] school that's building that is going to be out east that is going to process

[51:05] through and help this. So it's not just, oh, we're going to bring everybody in

[51:08] from everywhere else. There's people that live here now that we might have

[51:12] heard on a a Zoom call yesterday that are graduates that are so excited about

[51:18] it with Point Park. So, you know, I think that and again, you don't have to

[51:23] know all you don't know all of that yet. Some of it, it's hard to know it until

[51:28] it becomes more public. Um, but those type of things. I've had two phone calls

[51:34] already, one from New York and one from Michigan that have seen this and want to

[51:39] bring small business down here now kicking the tires. So, those I've turned

[51:43] them over to the EDC to get that. So when you talk about how hard and you

[51:48] hear a lot of people that I've heard the whole time because you know I'm a rahrh

[51:52] person for city of Bradon heard so many people talk about that our retail

[51:59] is um not rentable in downtown. We have a as a when I sat on the CRA board, city

[52:07] council, we made a couple of decisions at those moments and there's been a lot

[52:11] of them that we have forced people if they wanted to take our money, they had

[52:18] to put retail in the base of them and they can't rent them. And so what are we

[52:25] doing to try to get those properties rentable? And I think this is one of

[52:31] those things that could be that catalyst. What money they will put in

[52:37] it. All you got to do is look at what they've done for capital campaigns in

[52:41] Pittsburgh the last seven years. I'm very confident once this is successful.

[52:47] They're going to do the same type of thing here. And that's part of it. So,

[52:51] Mrs. Moore. >> Yeah. [clears throat] Um, I just wanted

[52:55] to clarify that I mean I see my decision making up here is I need to lay a

[53:02] predicate uh for the public. Um, Miss Ammit could have uh well, she could have

[53:08] not reached out at all knowing that I had some questions and reservations. She

[53:11] chose not to do that. She spent time with me. we could have left it there,

[53:14] but she offered to come here because I expressed that I wanted the public to

[53:20] know that there's, you know, that people are crossing tees and and dotting eyes.

[53:26] And it's not my personal opinion that that we're not doing that due diligence,

[53:31] but I think it's important that the public knows. And I think that uh if our

[53:35] meetings are too quiet because of the sensitivities

[53:39] um then I uh what my main concern is then that we don't have that public

[53:44] buyin that we're going to need eventually. We're going to need the

[53:46] other merchants on Main Street to to support it. I mean I think all these

[53:50] things are happening but we're going to need community buyin. And so if we don't

[53:56] if we don't do this thing where we kind of put out there what we can, I just

[54:02] want to make sure that the public is trusting our decision-m and that is my

[54:05] goal in in basically asking her to to come and and share what she can that she

[54:12] shared with me and also have us have this conversation because I think

[54:16] ultimately the public will be reassured that we're not just willy-nilly, you

[54:22] know, just like moving forward that things are happening in their proper

[54:26] time and place. >> Well, Mrs. Moore, I'm going to agree

[54:28] with you when you say I because I think that if you've heard me up here, we

[54:34] all believe that. So, and that's where some of my frustration has come lately

[54:39] is we got to keep saying we and I individual council members, individual

[54:44] votes, but I would hope that the public would see that my family's seventh

[54:51] generation here in Mante County wouldn't think we're trying to hoodwink

[54:56] something. But unfortunately, we have a Facebook and some of the merchants on

[55:01] Main Street articulate on that Facebook and say

[55:06] things that, you know, we should not always um take personally, but when you

[55:13] post something on Facebook and you're a merchant on Main Street, it's public

[55:18] knowledge then because it's on Facebook. So, I would hope that our merchants on

[55:23] Main Street and others would be uh cautious and con conscious of what

[55:30] they're posting. >> And that was just an example, but I'm

[55:33] saying generally speaking that there's some others that do it, too.

[55:36] » And I know we all care about that. I'm not saying

[55:39] » we all we as a group about it. Yes. >> And and there's been some emotion in the

[55:43] last couple of meetings that none of us are against anybody. We're all for

[55:48] Bradon, the friendly city, and I hope that you as well as everybody else with

[55:53] his staff and others, you know, know that. But, you know, I'm

[56:00] going to keep in my position fighting for our downtown urban core to finally

[56:07] develop. And I say that finally, and I did say I

[56:12] because I'm only one, but I also am the leader of this group and this city to

[56:18] say we are going to keep fighting for the positive

[56:23] no matter what a few are bashing.

[56:29] Vice Mayor Coker. >> Yeah. Um, it's it's funny because I had

[56:35] this in my mind to discuss during uh my council comments, but I think it's more

[56:42] it's even applies to this and it's not even just this specific issue. It's been

[56:48] in a lot of the local community decisions recently. Um leadership is

[56:54] about I mean this job is about not just the decisions that we make here but it's

[57:00] about relationship building with other organizations with other um parts of

[57:07] government. It's about um having that networking and it's also about trust.

[57:15] And I think it is time for some of these people that are getting on their phones,

[57:20] sitting in their cars and just opining on things without facts and really

[57:26] misleading a lot of people. It's time for them to put those down, go eyeball

[57:31] to eyeball, come to our meetings, talk to us, and just stop this. it it's

[57:37] gotten out of control. And I and I'm not directing that at you, but I think it

[57:42] somewhat applies here. We've got to have some trust in our staff and in the um

[57:48] people that we are that they are working with. It's kind of happening

[57:52] organically. And I think what we end up with is going to be a better um a better

[57:59] uh product if we're not just constantly kneejerking to this next door post or

[58:05] this Facebook post. Um everyone is working for the best outcome for for our

[58:12] community. And so I I I I would encourage people and I understand that

[58:17] that that you feel that that maybe you feel more sensitive. I try to ignore

[58:22] them because there's so much misinformation out there and they don't

[58:27] seem to want to believe facts. They only want to believe what's that. So, um I I

[58:33] would I would like to encourage us all to have a bit of trust in our in our

[58:40] team. So, that's all >> and I think you know I agree with that

[58:45] vice mayor. Um and and we have tried through our PIO to get as much

[58:51] information out and answer some of [clears throat] the false information.

[58:58] And some people have different beliefs in that that way you should just let it

[59:01] go because it's only on Facebook. But sometimes you have to at least respond

[59:04] once and that's what we've been doing. Put the facts out. One of our biggest

[59:09] things is the face it and fix it. The facts. We've we've talked about that and

[59:14] I know that's off topic with this, but it is something that people think we're

[59:18] not doing anything. Well, $200 million is not doing anything, but it takes

[59:23] time. And those things that again, it goes to this concept, too. I believe

[59:29] that if we would have maybe faced that a little sooner, we wouldn't be facing as

[59:34] much of it right now. If we would have faced a little things sooner and done

[59:39] some things, it wouldn't have been right now as much. But no, there has to be

[59:43] some trust. There has to be some, [clears throat]

[59:46] you know, privacy for the companies because until they can actually put it

[59:51] out publicly, we don't know. And I don't think

[59:54] government should just say no to everything or we're never going to be

[59:57] anything. And I'm not criticizing one over the other on Facebook, but when it

[1:00:02] becomes a permanent record, >> people gota Yeah.

[1:00:06] » And I just want you all to know I'm not responding to anything on on FA I don't

[1:00:09] I actually don't >> really look at social

[1:00:12] » I'm not saying you >> I'm not that's not what I'm doing. It is

[1:00:14] just my I guess we all bring a certain flare

[1:00:17] » and like it or or not like it. This is my this is this is the way I do the

[1:00:23] thing that I do. Um and so yeah, I just I need you all to trust that this is the

[1:00:29] way I [clears throat] think that this is the way I do this job. It is not a

[1:00:32] matter of not trusting. It is this is what makes me feel better. [snorts]

[1:00:36] » And I think one of the things that and this is not to any particular person up

[1:00:40] here, but our agenda traditionally comes out. We try on Wednesday or Thursday the

[1:00:46] week before. So everybody gets the agenda. If you

[1:00:53] careful what I wish for here, but

[1:00:59] there's nobody in the audience. >> I know

[1:01:02] » there wasn't anybody two weeks ago. There wasn't anybody two weeks ago. And

[1:01:07] we've got three, well, I'd say two, maybe one citizen

[1:01:13] here that's not being paid somehow by the city and and Janine. So, two um and

[1:01:22] the other uh there's four people in here that are not city employees as of today,

[1:01:26] but two of them are tied to it in some way. And so,

[1:01:32] come and talk to us. Listen, you do not hear on TV what you hear in the meeting.

[1:01:40] I don't know how many of you love Zoom, but I since co I love Zoom to not have

[1:01:47] to drive across town, but how many of us are um dialed in on a Zoom call? 100%.

[1:01:53] You're doing 10 other things and there is not a person up here that can say

[1:01:56] they're not because you can continue to do other things

[1:02:00] Zoom [clears throat] or Teams or whatever they call them now. So anyway,

[1:02:05] I think we've had a lot of discussion and thank you Mrs. dynamic for all of

[1:02:09] your knowledge. Um to approve this acceptance, we'll start the vote in ward

[1:02:14] two. >> Yes.

[1:02:15] » Three. >> Yes.

[1:02:16] » Four. >> Yes.

[1:02:17] » Five. >> Yes.

[1:02:18] » One. >> Yes.

[1:02:19] » Carries unanimously. Thank you. >> All right, Mr. Perry.

[1:02:27] » We go to lectern. Mayor, I think it might be a little easier.

[1:03:03] » [cough] [clears throat]

[1:03:13] » I think you can all read that and I believe uh it's in your package under

[1:03:17] item 8B which is the census population estimate and authorization letter for

[1:03:22] 2026.

[1:03:29] So I wanted to come down and talk about this. I I present it pretty much every

[1:03:33] year and and the short version of our uh of our population estimate deals with a

[1:03:40] letter that we get pretty much in August of every year. And what it does, it

[1:03:44] takes the US census population for the city of Bradenton that of course is done

[1:03:49] every 10 years. The last year it was done was 2020.

[1:03:54] And then through uh through the uh bureau of of business and and economic

[1:04:00] and business research at the University of Florida, they're charged with taking

[1:04:05] into account what the annual population growth is for an all the cities in the

[1:04:11] state of Florida, all all the municipalities basically. And one of the

[1:04:15] reasons why they do that is that those population numbers um impact how much in

[1:04:20] state revenue share we get from the state of Florida as well as can impact

[1:04:26] how much we get on on different types of federal um assistance as well as well.

[1:04:31] But un under section 186.0901 of the Florida uh revenue sharing act,

[1:04:38] it's specific. And so it's important that we have accurate numbers because if

[1:04:41] we grow a lot, we want to make sure that we're capturing additional revenue. Um,

[1:04:46] one of the interesting things is is that since I've been here for the last five

[1:04:50] years, I've heard about the um the prolific growth in the area and and and

[1:04:56] there certainly is in Manatee County, but I I I've tried to analyze the growth

[1:05:01] in the city of Bradenton and [cough] look at the statistics and data opposed

[1:05:06] to the Facebooks as you pointed out and people's kind of um feeling about the

[1:05:12] growth. Again, we're 14.4 four square miles in geographical area and we don't

[1:05:18] have a whole lot of undeveloped swaths of property to develop for either

[1:05:23] residential subdivisions or commercial development or the like. We're built out

[1:05:29] by and large. There's a few but but but by and large we're built out. And so as

[1:05:34] you look at the growth of the city, there's kind of a a a misunderstanding

[1:05:40] that that we're proliferating its growth. And and and and the reason why I

[1:05:44] say that is that statistically when we go back to the 2020 US estimate of

[1:05:51] population, we were at 55,698.

[1:05:56] And then as we move forward this year, we're at 58,185.

[1:06:02] um it actually went down from the 2025 estimate by about I want to say 217

[1:06:09] uh folks. The difference there is we've really grown by about 2,487

[1:06:16] uh people over the last five years. And so you think about that 2,487

[1:06:25] it represents basically um a growth rate of about 0.009

[1:06:35] of 1% so almost 1% annually that's so I said well is that high because if you

[1:06:42] take 1% annually extrapolate it to 10 years it's 10%. And so I I I went to the

[1:06:48] US census data and looked at that to say, well, what's what's the average?

[1:06:52] And the interesting thing is the US census data does it um they average

[1:06:57] municipal city growth rates between 1 half of 1% and 1.1%. And remember, we're

[1:07:04] we're 0.9 of 1%. We're not even 1% on average. But then as you get more

[1:07:11] granular and you look at cities that are of a certain size, they they kind of

[1:07:16] look at different configurations. In larger cities, which are designated as

[1:07:20] as 50,000 plus, they grow at 1%. And again, we're growing at 0.9 of 1%

[1:07:27] slightly below it. And then when you look at where growth occurs in the

[1:07:31] United States and you look at the southeastern states and the western

[1:07:36] states, basically they're slightly higher. and some of the Midwest and

[1:07:40] upper Northeast states are actually declining. But I think the takeaway from

[1:07:44] this is that if you hear people saying that there's outlandish overdevelopment,

[1:07:50] high levels of growth in the city of Bradenton, the data doesn't flush that

[1:07:55] out. >> Um there's measured growth and it's good

[1:07:58] growth in my opinion because you don't want to be disgrowing. You know,

[1:08:03] obviously there's economic distress related to that, but we all have to

[1:08:08] remember that as we do development, um the term development in the city of

[1:08:13] Bradenton, that's probably a novice term to use for a city the size of Bradon,

[1:08:17] the age of Bradenton, the more accurate and precise term would be we do

[1:08:22] redevelopment. We look at what we have and how we make

[1:08:26] it better. and and there is density increases as well in the downtown urban

[1:08:31] core which isn't uncommon. You're going to have that with multif family. If you

[1:08:36] look at basically our economic lay of the city,

[1:08:41] health care is big as a as an employer. Um tourism is is maybe one of the

[1:08:47] biggest and we don't have manufacturing or e-commerce at the levels that they

[1:08:52] would in the eastern part of the county and other areas um of the United States.

[1:08:57] And so our growth basically is urban growth. That's where it comes from. and

[1:09:03] and and really frankly if you probably put a

[1:09:06] put a box around here, we councilwoman Coachman and I talk about the big blocks

[1:09:11] and the little blocks for a while. It's probably it's probably about a two-m

[1:09:15] radius of downtown for for the most of the growth, but this comes to us every

[1:09:21] year. We can contest it. I don't think we have the data, the resources to

[1:09:25] contest it, frankly. And and we've always accepted it as I believe probably

[1:09:29] 99% of other municipal governments do. there is a process to contest it. So I

[1:09:34] want to just present this to you to kind of flush out a little, you know,

[1:09:38] information on growth in Bradenton as it relates to the census data that's

[1:09:43] provided by the both the the census folks at the US Department of Census um

[1:09:48] as well as those that conduct the annual update of census at uh at the University

[1:09:54] of Florida. And that's where we're at. >> All right. I have one question. So it

[1:09:58] says inmate population 412026 45. Does that include the six of us on this dis?

[1:10:04] » Uh that very I I think you're on supervised release with with the public.

[1:10:09] [laughter] So I wouldn't consider you an inmate. But it's interesting because I

[1:10:12] don't know of us having any >> know where they are. Yeah. I I don't

[1:10:15] know of us having any detention facility. Yeah.

[1:10:18] » They they probably are city residents in the jail.

[1:10:21] » That's what I'm thinking. Yes, sir. >> Very well.

[1:10:23] » But anyway, no, I was just looking at that and so that's that's our

[1:10:28] right 581 185 >> right

[1:10:30] » and you know it people think that oh we've grown we've grown well

[1:10:36] » it's the traffic that's grown but it's going people live working in Bradenton

[1:10:40] and deciding to live in the bedroom community

[1:10:42] » parish >> of parish and visiton

[1:10:44] » and visit Bradenton and a lot of times it's drive-thru and one of the things

[1:10:48] I've said for many many years now is we've got to give them a reason to stop

[1:10:54] and I think we're there and I think that starts

[1:10:57] from Leecom to Village of the Arts to Old Main Street in downtown to the

[1:11:02] Riverwalk to Tarpon Point to Old Manatee and you can say it one way or the other,

[1:11:08] but we're trying to work those and I think that we have great opportunity for

[1:11:13] that um with the step we're going now. So, you don't need a vote on that, do

[1:11:17] you? >> No, sir.

[1:11:18] » No, I didn't. >> Why do we have

[1:11:20] » I I did have a motion basically to adopt it. Um we could probably do that if we

[1:11:24] could just get a motion. I don't need to write, you know, anything more than

[1:11:27] that. >> All right. Just to adopt the

[1:11:28] information. >> Yes. Yes. And we we actually there's a

[1:11:31] fairly tight timeline on it. We receive it. It's dated August 18th typically. I

[1:11:35] don't know if this one is August 18th, but it's there.

[1:11:38] » Yeah. >> And we you have to actually do it by

[1:11:40] September 4th, and we didn't have a meeting that would accommodate that,

[1:11:43] unfortunately. >> Councilman Shusler has a question.

[1:11:46] » Yes, sir. >> Yeah. So, I I just uh just to rehash

[1:11:48] over the six-year period, we've added approximately

[1:11:53] 2500 residents or 4 and a half% total. And if you look at that on an annualized

[1:11:58] basis, as you said, it's less than 1%. Um, so we've heard a a great deal of uh

[1:12:04] rapid about rapid growth in Manatee County and I think from what you're

[1:12:10] saying is that there is not [clears throat] it it you can't really

[1:12:13] characterize that as an inordinate amount of growth within the city of

[1:12:17] Bradenton. >> That that that's absolutely the

[1:12:20] characterization and conclusion I'd reach based on the data. I don't think

[1:12:23] you have to be a high level statistician to be able to reach that conclusion. Um

[1:12:29] and and then secondly, you know, I thought it was worthwhile to bring to

[1:12:32] your attention because we are in an election cycles and I try to stay out of

[1:12:36] that, but the reality is it's it's obvious to me that growth is a large

[1:12:39] issue, particularly the comedy probably even more so. And I thought it was

[1:12:44] important to let the public have data on the city of Braden and of course our

[1:12:47] elected officials and boards more important

[1:12:51] um on that because I hear people try to uh kind of

[1:12:57] they they convolute, you know, the county with the city and, you know, the

[1:13:01] Facebooks, as you say, and other things. There's no data to support that.

[1:13:07] » I I do have uh one question along those lines, one final question for you. So,

[1:13:14] um is is population growth the same as development activity? Um what I'm

[1:13:21] getting to, in other words, can we have redevelopment and new investment within

[1:13:26] the city? uh without necessarily experiencing rapid uh population growth.

[1:13:38] I think it's I think that the type of development is going to impact

[1:13:45] population growth and I keep hearing that people want affordable housing and

[1:13:50] understandably so and when I look at the numbers that the CRA as you in your

[1:13:55] positions in CRA and the city have contributed to affordable housing

[1:13:59] initiatives um they're roughly about 850 units that the city's put in place thus

[1:14:04] far We're looking at probably upwards of what? Probably about another 500 units

[1:14:08] with something. >> That 850 has only been over the last

[1:14:10] couple years. Absolutely. A lot more before that.

[1:14:13] » Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So, you know, they kind of go hand inand to to a certain

[1:14:17] extent. Um, but when you look at other types of development, whether it's

[1:14:22] infrastructure development, quality of life development, public safety facility

[1:14:26] development, I we've built two fire stations, a police station, emergency

[1:14:29] operations station. We're doing city park. That's development, too. It's just

[1:14:34] a different type of development. >> Understood. Thank you,

[1:14:37] » Councilwoman Coachman. You

[1:14:41] » know, earlier we said trust how much you have to trust. We

[1:14:47] also have to trust that the when they were gathering the data, okay, you go to

[1:14:53] a household, they say, "Oh, there's two of us in here, but there actually six."

[1:14:56] I mean, you know, >> you know, I don't know if there's a

[1:15:00] range of error uh in in any consideration, but of

[1:15:04] course, you have to accept one number and work with that. Um my

[1:15:08] [clears throat] question is where did those 2500 people go? Was it urban? Was

[1:15:17] it, you know, more the outer sides of the city? And I've often

[1:15:23] um mentioned that I feel like maybe we should look at the boundaries of the

[1:15:29] wards. I know that's that's scary talk, but initially I assumed that the idea

[1:15:36] was to split the city into five equal parts so that no particular person had

[1:15:43] to be the go-to for twice as many as the other, I'm guessing. Um, so if that was

[1:15:49] the case, are we still that way? That's I just wanted I'm I'm

[1:15:56] curious. That's all really not necessarily saying let's go and change

[1:16:00] things, but just thoughts on that. >> Yeah. And that's something we've looked

[1:16:04] at over the years, even before I was a mayor,

[1:16:07] » is um I think the growth has been in some of

[1:16:12] our workforce affordable housing because you've looked at if we've added 850

[1:16:18] units in the 920, Riverview 6, the story on

[1:16:23] 9inth, some more Lincoln Village, you know, some of those were replacing

[1:16:28] things that were may have been there, but they were replacing them at a larger

[1:16:32] number. You look at where the Braden and Herald used to be. That's a facility

[1:16:38] that's got more people. You look at where um the out in Ward 4 Old Manatee

[1:16:46] where all those apartments came into effect. We're not doing big

[1:16:50] subdivisions, >> right,

[1:16:52] » of home ownership like the county is. Um you look at where Westminster

[1:16:58] » Church used to be. You know there's a presbyterian there's a number of homes.

[1:17:02] Now you think 20 30 40 won't make a difference but it's 80 people. So if you

[1:17:08] look at 920 is 137. So you know that would add up to some of our numbers over

[1:17:15] the last six years because those have rolled in. So that's what I'm guessing,

[1:17:20] you know, because that's what it would be about 2000. If you look at those

[1:17:25] units when somebody sold a house on anywhere in Northwest Bradon, it's

[1:17:31] basically just replacing the same people. Two people live there, maybe a

[1:17:35] family moved in and now there's five. >> But in that household, there probably

[1:17:39] was five at one point till they kids moved out. Um, one of the things that I

[1:17:44] think we really have to think about, a lot of our urban development, urban core

[1:17:49] development, not every single person that's going to

[1:17:52] be down here is going to live in the city. They're going to live in the

[1:17:57] outskirts of the city or some of the, you know, complexes that we're building,

[1:18:04] apartment complexes. So, that's how I look at it. And that's, you know, just

[1:18:08] kind of guessing. And that would match right up with our numbers. If you really

[1:18:12] think about it, if we've added 800 units,

[1:18:15] 2.3 pier people to a unit is about that.

[1:18:22] Not the best math major, right, Mr. Williams?

[1:18:25] » Well, in no in no time, we'll be 60,000, >> right? Mrs. Moore,

[1:18:31] » um to Councilwoman Shusler's question, um I think that's why uh census data is

[1:18:36] obviously important and relevant. I'm sure correlates to things like HUD and

[1:18:40] FEMA responses and and grant applications and whatnot. Um, but to the

[1:18:45] question of redevelopment, um, it it doesn't really give us a very robust

[1:18:50] picture. Uh, I think you have to look at the demographic of those 58,000 people

[1:18:54] and and ask yourselves what is lacking that we can control in um within those

[1:19:01] 58,000 people. So, to Mr. To Perry's point, the construction of new fire

[1:19:06] stations and new police headquarters are wonderful investments. It makes people

[1:19:10] feel safe. People will bring their business here. They will spend money

[1:19:12] here. They will move here. City Park is a great example of an amenity. We're

[1:19:16] competing with Lakewood Ranch. And now we're trying to offer some competing

[1:19:20] amenities. Uh we still have to work on in my opinion if we really want to have

[1:19:24] a robust redevelopment um especially economic redevelopment um our

[1:19:29] demographic by and specifically income levels and higher education levels. I

[1:19:34] think those things are going to be continue to be relevant and so our our

[1:19:38] focus on how we encourage to change those demographics so that they're

[1:19:42] favorable to private investment is maybe I think to what Mr. Shusler was getting

[1:19:48] to. I think it's all relevant and the 58,000 is kind of an overhead view, but

[1:19:53] then we have to boil down into the specifics just in I mean just to the

[1:19:58] question of how that correlates to economic development,

[1:20:01] » right? And I think you you mentioned City Park. That is a great opportunity

[1:20:06] to bring in a demographic that may not live here, but it's going to bring in a

[1:20:12] demographic that's going to spend money here. And that's where those businesses

[1:20:16] will come. Point Park is a demographic that is totally different. And again, I

[1:20:21] mentioned when I talked to the the company that was doing the economic

[1:20:25] study, you got St. Stevens right on Manatee

[1:20:29] Avenue. It's $30,000 to go there, I believe, in high school. It's 20,000 to

[1:20:34] go to middle school and it's 15 or 18 or higher. You 20,000 for elementary

[1:20:40] school. And that's our demographic. may not be in the city of Bradenton as much

[1:20:45] because of the way the that is in the city but the students that from around

[1:20:49] here go [clears throat] there. So that demographic

[1:20:54] I believe we have in Manatee County. >> Oh sure

[1:20:56] » in the city of Bradon. But what are we doing? And what have we collectively

[1:21:04] that sit up here before us have done to make them want to come down

[1:21:09] [clears throat] to

[1:21:11] the boundaries that I talked about from old manatee all the way around? And

[1:21:16] that's where probably one of the best things I learned going to the um retail

[1:21:21] strategies with the EDC is there's a plan that these businesses

[1:21:30] have. If they put their pin and it doesn't fit that plan, then they're not

[1:21:35] coming. They're not even looking. They're not even kicking the tire. We

[1:21:38] can beg them. We can give them all the incentives, but if we don't have a plan

[1:21:44] or an opportunity, which sometimes is the plan before the opportunity, a

[1:21:50] chicken in the egg, and it's hard to come up with the best plan. And I think

[1:21:55] we've come up with a couple of plans, strategic planning that,

[1:22:00] you know, you look back over all the years and they sit on the shelves

[1:22:04] because it's pie in the sky and there's no way to reach that. But how do we get

[1:22:10] to that? So sometimes the chicken or the egg has to come first and you have to

[1:22:16] have a little trust and hope. And I think when something falls in your lap,

[1:22:21] you got to try to work it through. Now nothing's guaranteed even up till today.

[1:22:27] But we have set us up, classes half full, and we're setting us up to

[1:22:32] succeed. And that's what I'm excited about. Miss Barnaby,

[1:22:36] » I think it's also important to realize that the city cannot just have

[1:22:42] affordable or lowincome housing. We have to expand the market. We have to have

[1:22:47] offerings at every level because you have people and I'm going to pick on the

[1:22:52] mayor. You have people that at one time lived in a in a neighborhood and raised

[1:22:57] their children and their children are now pro functioning adults contributing

[1:23:02] to society and they're not living in that neighborhood. They're living in in

[1:23:07] a a building that's that better suits their needs at this point in their life.

[1:23:13] And that's we have to have every part of that market to be able to

[1:23:20] continue to redevelop and revitalize and re-energize our downtown. So now that

[1:23:27] I've said that, I'm going to make a motion to give authorization to Mr.

[1:23:30] Perry to execute the official population estimate from that school in

[1:23:35] Gainesville. >> Second. [laughter]

[1:23:39] » Wait a minute. Say the lights just blinking here. Have we paid our electric

[1:23:44] bill? >> Just make sure that's verbatim.

[1:23:49] » All right, we have a motion and a second to authorize Mr. Perry to just move

[1:23:55] forward on what he's we talked about. Um, start the vote in W three.

[1:24:00] » Yes. >> Four,

[1:24:00] » yes. >> Five,

[1:24:02] » yes. >> One,

[1:24:02] » yes. >> Two,

[1:24:04] » yes. >> Approved. Five to zero.

[1:24:06] » Thank you, mayor. I know it's closed business, but I I just want to take a

[1:24:09] moment to kind of comment a little bit on on on Councilwoman Gonzalez Moore's

[1:24:15] comments and and I appreciate your comments. I do. You know, it's

[1:24:18] interesting if you look at some place like Lakewood Ranch, right, that's

[1:24:20] really developed over the course of the last what probably 40 years. Uh and you

[1:24:25] know, it's probably more monolithic, frankly, that than the city of Bradon,

[1:24:31] which is 120 plus years old. And so we're an age city and we're a fullervice

[1:24:37] city. And there's certainly like underserved communities there of lower

[1:24:41] incomes. I don't, you know, the the demographics, the demography of the city

[1:24:46] um are interesting because they're historical. They're very historical. And

[1:24:52] although I I absolutely agree that you want to raise, you know, everybody's

[1:24:56] income level, everybody's quality of life and the like, but sometimes when

[1:25:00] you do that in places that have um a variety of different demographies to

[1:25:06] them, you do what's called gentrifying the community, right? You make it

[1:25:10] unaffordable. Somerville, Mass, where I grew up, right outside of Boston, it was

[1:25:16] low middle class neighborhood. It's yepyville now kind of. And uh that's a

[1:25:23] good example of it. You know that most of the people of those income levels

[1:25:27] couldn't really live in Somerville anymore. And so it's a tricky it's a

[1:25:31] sticky wicket to do what we're talking about. And I think we all try to improve

[1:25:35] the quality of life for everybody. And I think some of the projects we're doing

[1:25:38] are reflective of that. >> Um we always want to do more, you know,

[1:25:42] frankly. And I do agree that education, income levels, all of that are

[1:25:47] incredibly important and everything. And I think everybody agrees with that that

[1:25:51] I've worked with over the last five years. But uh you know we we face the

[1:25:55] challenges that are that we face. >> I think one thing that that if you

[1:25:59] really looked at talking to that point, Mr. Perry, if everyone in this room had

[1:26:04] an opportunity to say, how would I plan the city of Bradenton differently?

[1:26:10] » Right? Because Lakewood Ranch, Wateride, you know, their group at the time, no

[1:26:15] matter who it was, planned how Main Street would be, you know, Wateride is

[1:26:21] very interesting the way they planned where people could live right there, do

[1:26:25] it. And it's a more probably higher rent if I don't know if there's any home

[1:26:29] ownership in those places, but most of them are probably rentals and they plan

[1:26:33] to get that. Well, I'm just gonna say my number one plan if I was planning

[1:26:37] something would be to have Lecom on the water because you look at most ballparks

[1:26:44] that are in the right area on the water have development around it that really

[1:26:50] does what you're saying as you go to it. And so, you know, that's what we're

[1:26:56] trying to create being off of the water a little bit because we don't have that

[1:27:00] choice to plan it. We've got to plan with what we've got. I think with every

[1:27:07] situation with a business closing on Ninth Street

[1:27:11] had nothing to do with the economy per se. Some of its management, some of it's

[1:27:16] family dynamics, but that is a great opportunity with City Park coming in,

[1:27:24] you know, because location, location, location. Unfortunately, we know the

[1:27:28] brewery that you liked. I didn't mean it that way, but

[1:27:32] » [laughter] >> A pizza place just went under, too. Just

[1:27:35] for the record, I also like pizza. >> The place, the food [laughter] place,

[1:27:38] the the neighborhood connection that you liked really was in a tough location. If

[1:27:46] they'd have been downtown or somewhere closer, I think that might have been a a

[1:27:53] family-owned business could have sustained more. But that was kind of,

[1:27:57] you know, it's we've seen that over the years with the location. It's a tough

[1:28:02] location because of number of people. So the opportunity to get more people in an

[1:28:06] area helps that. >> So those are the things that that if to

[1:28:11] your point about that that's um I I really think the Second Avenue to that

[1:28:15] exact location I think what we're doing with the Second Avenue streetscape will

[1:28:18] actually help that. Um, so it's those little things that we do that I think

[1:28:22] can, you know, try to move the needle because I think that we want to retain,

[1:28:26] that's what I think helps us retain our character is having the mom and pops and

[1:28:30] the things, but how do we make it so that they can really thrive,

[1:28:33] » but also putting opportunity of certain type of

[1:28:39] residences that will go that have the means to go spend it at a place like

[1:28:46] that because you can put a lot of housing, but they're they're not going

[1:28:51] to leave their house to go because they don't have the means. And that's not

[1:28:54] right or wrong. It's just what's there. And I think Second Avenue, one of the

[1:28:59] best things, and we'll dialogue all day on stuff, but and and I guess that's the

[1:29:04] benefit I have by being in this chair. I can dialogue.

[1:29:08] » Just keep going. >> So, um, but my point is because people

[1:29:12] people say they [laughter] don't get what we talk about. Well, there's no

[1:29:15] place we can talk. The one of the best things we did with our sanitation is

[1:29:20] change the rules because Mr. Perry and I have talked about this and we drive

[1:29:25] around. When he first got here, Second Avenue

[1:29:28] was a dump site >> because of the ownership of the

[1:29:32] properties. We changed how we were going to manage that and now drive down Second

[1:29:39] Avenue. So hopefully some of the people that live on the outskirts of Second

[1:29:44] Avenue that own their homes will encourage others now to buy those homes

[1:29:49] on Second Avenue instead of them being rentals or other things. So you know I

[1:29:57] think that is a positive in a way that maybe we didn't even think about. We

[1:30:02] were just thinking about trying to get our so people just didn't from their

[1:30:06] duplex in in Samoset bring their trash and put it out in front of their duplex

[1:30:11] they owned in Bradenton because we'd pick everything up. So that was one of

[1:30:14] those things I was talking about earlier. That was a tough decision to

[1:30:18] make but from the city standpoint it was the right decision to make and those are

[1:30:23] some of the things we have to continue to do.

[1:30:26] » So if I if I can just one historical >> footnote

[1:30:31] 20s. >> In 1998,

[1:30:36] we'd been talking a lot about revitalization and redevelopment of

[1:30:40] downtown. Two restaurants closed within three

[1:30:44] weeks of each other. And the Braden Herald called me and said, "What could

[1:30:48] the city have done to stop that from happening?" Well, one restaurant closed

[1:30:53] because the owner was called Glory. And the other restaurant closed because the

[1:30:58] husband and wife that owned it got a divorce.

[1:31:02] And I actually said to the reporter, "Well, seeing as we're not in charge of

[1:31:06] when people get called to heaven, and seeing as we're not marriage counselors,

[1:31:10] I'm not sure what we could have done in that situation." Because that's some of

[1:31:14] the things that happen that we have absolutely no impact on,

[1:31:19] » right? And I think that's another thing from retail strategies that I learned is

[1:31:23] if you look at almost every one of our bigger businesses around our urban core

[1:31:31] are familyowned a little bit more, which it's good. We love it. But when they

[1:31:37] have a situation, they close easier where if it was a chain, which a lot of

[1:31:42] people don't like chains as much as you know in a downtown core, but we've got

[1:31:47] to give both. We got to get a mix of them. The only way to get a mix is get

[1:31:50] more people. >> Yeah.

[1:31:52] » And you know, or not necessarily get more people in our boundaries is give

[1:31:57] more people a reason to stop >> and be aware

[1:32:00] » and and be aware of it. So, you know, again, we're going through city

[1:32:05] » history >> history 101 and try. But again,

[1:32:09] [clears throat] I think that's important. Plus, we got a shorter

[1:32:11] meeting, so we're right. >> You know, we can do that. All right. M

[1:32:14] » and just to close out, you got a great tool and a great Greg team with Jeff.

[1:32:19] » Oh yeah. >> Burton and the CRA. I mean we that's a

[1:32:22] pretty powerful tool for redevelopment and strategic redevelopment. Yeah.

[1:32:27] » We have a motion on the floor. >> I think it passed.

[1:32:29] » It passed. Did it pass? Okay. Sorry, Mr. Perry.

[1:32:32] » Yes, sir. Item number 8 C, which is um a proposal a proposed purchase and sales

[1:32:37] agreement for 1706 9th Street East um as surplus property. Uh I want to go over

[1:32:44] the motion itself to start. basically what I'm requesting within the motion,

[1:32:48] which is an authorization for the city administration to enter into further

[1:32:53] negotiations with 6C's LLC and authorize the mayor or the city administrator to

[1:32:59] execute a purchase and sales agreement that is subject to final approval by

[1:33:03] city council. And the reason why I say that is that you may remember that this

[1:33:07] particular property was part of the Tropicana purchase. It's the property

[1:33:11] that uh uh that abuts um 9inth Street basically. um and and it's on the north

[1:33:17] side of of Ninth Street. We basically have also um surplused off uh the part

[1:33:24] the parcel that's on the south side. Um this particular matter, the way it was

[1:33:29] done is we put it out for surplus on uh I think it was July 26th and August 2nd.

[1:33:36] The city advertised the notice for property for sale invitation offer

[1:33:40] proposals uh in the newspaper as required by the disposition of surplus

[1:33:44] property. Um it had been previously declared surplus and then uh the city

[1:33:50] received a proposal and the only proposal we received was from 6C's to

[1:33:54] purchase the 3.89 acre parcel. Um that was a solicited uh parcel offer to the

[1:34:01] public. No other responses to the invitational offer were received and I

[1:34:06] believe a copy of that proposed purchase and sales agreement is in your package.

[1:34:11] Um it was within range of what we thought u market value was and there's a

[1:34:17] couple of issues that we have to negotiate on it. The major issues that I

[1:34:21] see is environmental responsibility. the site itself did have some designation

[1:34:26] for brownfield designation that we're dealing with D on and again how uh the

[1:34:32] owner or the city is the the current owner of the city and the potential

[1:34:36] purchaser would share responsibility financial responsibility for any type of

[1:34:40] environmental re remediation that's required will be part of our

[1:34:43] negotiations. Second part of our negotiations will deal with um

[1:34:47] connectivity of utility service and we of course are trying to bring utility

[1:34:52] service into that lot to service our public works um uh build out and

[1:34:58] currently currently um we'd have to run it up a certain way to the public works

[1:35:03] facility and then continue it on and so I'm work I would negotiate with those

[1:35:08] folks some share of of cost related to that utility connection and then

[1:35:13] ultimately ely their access easement off of 9inth Street itself, 9inth Street

[1:35:18] East. um that is the major point into the into that parcel currently and we

[1:35:24] would share that easement um and and responsibility for that road would be

[1:35:29] the city's with us as the owner of the road with probably maintenance and

[1:35:33] operations responsibility and uh try to at this point and it was included within

[1:35:38] the purchase and sales agreement a lump sum contribution to reinforce the road

[1:35:43] this particular road that portion of it isn't going to be you

[1:35:48] a a class a a class B type road for transportation because we're going to

[1:35:52] have heavy equipment on it. We have to reinforce it and it's going to cost a

[1:35:56] little bit more money to do that because you're going to have 60,000lb trash

[1:35:59] trucks that go through other types of heavy equipment and everything. And so a

[1:36:03] portion of it again abuts that property will be the major ingress and eress to

[1:36:07] the proposed new owner of the property and the purchaser. And so that's what we

[1:36:12] have to negotiate. That will all come back to city council after we we we

[1:36:17] basically uh negotiate final terms to the contract. That's what we're um you

[1:36:22] and your staff have done a great job at looking throughout the city, all

[1:36:29] departments of how we can um what's the word I'm looking for? how

[1:36:34] we can maximize opportunity to

[1:36:40] do a great job financially of using outside government entities

[1:36:48] and saving us money. So, this will be an opportunity, I believe, to do that in

[1:36:55] building a $60 million facility that might go down to hopefully 35 million by

[1:37:02] having a good partner right next to us. >> Absolutely. There's different

[1:37:06] mechanisms. We're trying to deal with both the uh buildout financing as well

[1:37:11] as the continuing financial obligations and operating cost associated with it.

[1:37:15] And, you know, we have done a good job that the staff's done a done a great

[1:37:18] job, frankly. And uh we've been fortunate as well as a city to access

[1:37:23] that funding and to use different types of financing sources. This is an good

[1:37:27] example where we paid basically 4.875 for the property itself and it was

[1:37:33] approximately 32 acres between the two parcels involved. And if we're able to

[1:37:37] close at this what we believe within the purchase and sales agreement as well as

[1:37:42] the other property, we're recovering about 75% of the cost of the property

[1:37:47] and at the same time getting about 75% of the acreage of the property. So it's

[1:37:53] a pretty pretty good deal. >> Yeah. And that was not the plan.

[1:37:56] » No, it was never the plan. >> But when an opportunity arose Yeah. with

[1:37:59] that other property that we ended up not needing with what we're doing, you know,

[1:38:03] and obviously the biggest catalyst to our public works and sanitation moving

[1:38:09] is City Park. So the economic impact of city park, you know, even though

[1:38:15] financial wise is difficult daytoday now will, I believe, come back to the city

[1:38:22] over the next 10 to 15 years in a positive light while still trying to

[1:38:29] financially be responsible right now. >> Right? I think the interesting thing too

[1:38:34] is if you look at the kind of whole portfolio of public projects that we've

[1:38:38] done uh for infrastructure whether they be police stations and fire stations and

[1:38:43] and you know some of our parks um improvements and the like and and you

[1:38:50] know obviously city hall uh we have to resolve that but public works itself

[1:38:54] city park um that's a pretty impressive impressive portfolio of work that's been

[1:38:58] done in a short period of time and really the better part part of the story

[1:39:02] is that It sets the city up for the next probably 40 or 50 years where they don't

[1:39:06] have to make those investments >> and generationally,

[1:39:09] » right? You set entirely generational. I think that, you know, we can thank our

[1:39:13] entire council from relationships as well as the staff

[1:39:17] » for relationships we've built with our legislators and everybody because the

[1:39:23] county all of and and city of Palmetto, >> you know, I mean, you look at and what

[1:39:29] what we've set up to work aggressively to get the additional monies that we

[1:39:34] could have never taxed our way out of it. And that's what people don't

[1:39:38] realize. And that's one thing that I think people, you know, might watch this

[1:39:42] a little bit more than others is when you look at what our budget line item is

[1:39:46] this year, it's really not what our budget line item is, right?

[1:39:50] » It's just because we've we've been so aggressive and successful.

[1:39:56] It makes it look like our budget has doubled,

[1:39:58] » right? >> In reality, by the numbers, it might

[1:40:01] have doubled, but it's other people's money. And our budget this year has

[1:40:05] actually gone down from the line item that we had last year.

[1:40:10] » That's correct. I mean, that's a really good point. We have our obviously 501

[1:40:13] meeting, you know, coming up and uh what the increases in the budget because

[1:40:18] because ex revenues have to equal expenses. And so if we bring in a

[1:40:22] hypothetically a hundred million from the federal government, they just say

[1:40:26] here's a hund00 million that's got to go into your budget. But the taxpayer

[1:40:31] hasn't been taxed more for it. the rateayer has been charged more for it.

[1:40:35] That's basically coming in through that the and and then you have certain

[1:40:39] accounting issues that take place particularly the uh the local provider

[1:40:44] tax over at the hospital that deals with Medicare and reimbursement rate. I think

[1:40:48] almost $75 million is related to that and that's entirely pass through money

[1:40:54] that the federal government pays through a Medicare reimbursement and makes up a

[1:40:58] small gap that ends up basically funding both Blake and U Manatee Memorial for

[1:41:05] their their expenses unfortunately reflects on our budget but it really has

[1:41:09] almost zero impact on our budget >> and that was the benefit working with

[1:41:12] the governor's office you know and through the federal government to get

[1:41:17] that money which if We didn't do that by resolution.

[1:41:20] » Yeah. >> Those two hospitals wouldn't have had

[1:41:23] that money to help the people that probably with the CDBG part of things is

[1:41:29] more related to the city of Bradenton than the whole rest of the county.

[1:41:33] » Absolutely. >> Because we have the majority of that in

[1:41:36] that the CBDG area. You're right. >> That that those are the things that the

[1:41:39] public >> doesn't pick up on.

[1:41:42] » And I don't know if and I agree with you, Mrs. Moore. I want to say, you

[1:41:46] know, me, I'm more I want to say more. But how do we get that out when until

[1:41:54] they want to bash us? And it's just it's frustrating. And I

[1:41:58] don't it doesn't run how I govern, but you like to you want to say sometimes,

[1:42:04] listen, come get the facts because but the facts don't matter to them because

[1:42:09] then they don't have a message. Unfortunately,

[1:42:12] » and you know what's interesting about that just to close out because because I

[1:42:15] think you make an excellent point is that you all get put into these rock and

[1:42:19] hard place positions, right? Because for years, Manatee Memorial was dealing with

[1:42:25] deficit basically reimbursement particularly in indigent care

[1:42:29] underserved populations. They had come to us and asked for help and we said we

[1:42:32] can't tax our way out of that. They went to the county kind of the same thing and

[1:42:37] they basically found a way where they bought equity under prevailing federal

[1:42:42] reimbursement criteria. Now do you think the public understands that? I don't

[1:42:46] understand it. And so I'm here every day and you know have other types of

[1:42:49] background and it becomes difficult. But the the the policy decision you have to

[1:42:53] make is if you accept this you're avoiding a healthc care crisis because

[1:42:58] if manatee memorial goes away or Blake you know and their trauma center goes

[1:43:03] away we got a problem here with healthcare and everything. And so I

[1:43:07] applaud you for that because it doesn't cost the taxpayers any money. They're

[1:43:11] paying for it anyway through their federal through their federal taxes.

[1:43:14] » We've already given it. Yeah. So if we weren't willing to take that and it was

[1:43:18] a yo men's job >> to get one of them that doesn't accept

[1:43:24] it anywhere else >> because both hospitals had to accept

[1:43:27] that and if one of them wouldn't have accepted it was just out the water.

[1:43:31] » So you're trying to give them $7 million this year and they say no. Well, we've

[1:43:37] we did that. when I say we as staff and and administratively through all that to

[1:43:43] to convince them to take it because of our relationships.

[1:43:49] » So, uh we have a motion or we're looking for a motion to give Mr. Perry through

[1:43:56] the mayor's >> move to authorize city administration to

[1:43:59] enter into further negotiations with 6C's LLC and authorize the mayor or

[1:44:05] county or sorry city administrator to execute a purchase and sale agreement

[1:44:10] that is subject to final approval by this city council.

[1:44:14] » Second. >> All right. So we have a motion by Miss

[1:44:16] Barnaby, second by Miss Coker. Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll

[1:44:20] start the vote in ward four. Yes.

[1:44:25] » Five. >> Yes.

[1:44:26] » One. >> Yes.

[1:44:27] » Two. >> Yes.

[1:44:28] » Three. >> Yes.

[1:44:29] » Approved. Five to zero. Thank you. >> Thank you, mayor.

[1:44:32] » Thank you, Mr. Perry. Anything else? >> Don't have You don't have any uh big

[1:44:37] pipe breaks or anything this week. >> No emergency repairs. Let's not

[1:44:42] » Why did you just do that? >> Hey, I don't believe in that.

[1:44:47] » What's going to happen is going to happen. My back hurts right now. It's

[1:44:50] going to hurt. I I just want to point out that I have here u this our our

[1:44:55] mid-season hurricane update and that we met everybody since we're talking about

[1:45:00] uh contingencies. We had everybody um PD public works fire um thank you for

[1:45:08] lending us Scott McDonald. Thank you for lending us your folks chief and uh you

[1:45:13] know we're on top of this. uh just because we had a good year last year and

[1:45:16] haven't had any problems this year doesn't mean that we're not ready for

[1:45:20] what might come down the pike. And so we thought it was important to continuously

[1:45:24] update our emergency response to weather conditions particularly coming into the

[1:45:29] September and [snorts] you know this month where the probability of storm

[1:45:33] strike is probably the highest. >> Thank you Mr. Perry.

[1:45:38] » All right. No unfinished business.

[1:45:43] » All right. We'll go to council reports and we'll start in W five.

[1:45:48] [clears throat] >> Wow. Um, most of what I was considering

[1:45:53] talking about today, I think we kind of talked about it in discussion. Um, as

[1:45:59] I've said many meetings before, there is so much going on in War Five that I I

[1:46:06] mean, you know, I don't want to sound like a broken record saying it over and

[1:46:10] over, but um, just real happy that W five is not only

[1:46:16] alive, but it's going to be kicking for a long time and doing a lot for the

[1:46:21] city. Uh [sighs] and of course we do have um important

[1:46:29] day coming up and we've already discussed about how we celebrate our

[1:46:33] heroes and we don't want to forget all that was lost on 911 because not

[1:46:43] only did we lose lives, we lost the way we live and just so grateful for all

[1:46:52] that everyone did at that time pulling together and how we still to this day

[1:47:00] vow that we won't forget that it actually happened and pray that never

[1:47:06] again. Um

[1:47:12] uh back in school I guess you guys know that already because I'm tired.

[1:47:16] [laughter] War five is alive. Thank you,

[1:47:20] » Vice Mayor Cooker. >> Well, this may sound a little redundant

[1:47:25] because most of my comments that um I made talking about um what I believe

[1:47:32] leadership is about and what I believe about trusting each other and about

[1:47:38] these people that are getting in sitting in their cars doing talks

[1:47:42] [clears throat] and putting out misinformation and is really um

[1:47:47] disturbing. But I made those comments and uh and then also I am unable to

[1:47:53] attend the 9/11 ceremony because of my obligation on the Sarasota Bay estuary

[1:47:58] program. So that they're meeting and I can't we only meet quarterly and so I

[1:48:03] can't miss that. Um but um I do hope that we will honor the the innocent

[1:48:10] lives and the heroes that ran toward the danger and the families who are still

[1:48:15] having to carry that loss still today and hope that we never forget the

[1:48:21] courage, the sacrifice and the unity that brought us together as Americans.

[1:48:28] That's >> it.

[1:48:28] » Thank you, Councilwoman Barnaby. >> Thank you. you and if I it's a

[1:48:33] reoccurring theme here. Um my challenge to everyone would be if you could think

[1:48:41] back and remember how you felt on September the 12th as an American and

[1:48:45] maybe the way that we show our our appreciation for the sacrifice of so

[1:48:51] many is to continue to try to operate as one nation indivisible.

[1:48:58] I think that would be important. I also want to give condolences to the family

[1:49:03] of Butch Powell. He was a former Hernando Dodto. Um did a lot in this

[1:49:09] community and uh we want to send

[1:49:14] condolences and may God give his family strength and comfort at this time.

[1:49:20] » Thank you, Councilman. >> Good morning. Um just one quick note.

[1:49:26] I've had the opportunity recently to spend a lot of time in our

[1:49:29] neighborhoods, uh, talking with residents and listening to what's on

[1:49:32] their minds. Um, those conversations are always a a good reminder of how

[1:49:36] important it is for us to stay connected to the people we serve and I am grateful

[1:49:42] for everyone who takes the time uh to share their thoughts and concerns with

[1:49:46] me. >> Right. Thank you, Miss Moore.

[1:49:51] » Um, I um Mr. Mr. Perry and I have been working on um just to give you guys some

[1:49:59] I feel like this is maybe you already know what I'm about to say. Uh but as

[1:50:06] you know in Mineral Springs Park that was the site of an archae archaeological

[1:50:11] dig. Um, there's an organization there that I that I believe that I've gotten

[1:50:16] to know a little bit better since being on council and they really just they

[1:50:21] feel like they're stewards of the site and and um of the history regarding the

[1:50:26] site and they have been working with Mr. Perry and uh Dr. for Burton staff to

[1:50:32] place uh educational signs uh that reflect the history of the Englean

[1:50:38] settlement and how the um the really really remarkable uh way that it was

[1:50:46] instrumental in the Underground Railroad. And I just wanted to bring

[1:50:51] that before you all so that maybe I could move the needle a little bit on

[1:50:55] just wrapping that up. They have the signs. they they were came before us

[1:50:59] years ago. Um, and I think they've been tweaking on it and working with staff

[1:51:03] and so I'd love to just wrap it up and and put the signs out there. Um,

[1:51:11] I think it's a great interesting part of our history uh that we have something

[1:51:16] like that in within our city limits. Uh, and so I just thought I would ask you

[1:51:22] all if you would be comfortable with Mr. Perry kind of just like bringing it

[1:51:25] home, landing the plane. That's maybe a bad preference um given today, but

[1:51:33] » Yes, ma'am. >> I just would ask a question about that

[1:51:36] because I remember I mean it's been a while since I've been over there, but

[1:51:40] » weren't there some signs that were put up? were when we did originally opened

[1:51:45] and they were educ I don't remember what they were but

[1:51:49] » so they were contained when we did riverw walk um and and mineral springs

[1:51:53] park there was a budget basically for public art and realized Bradenton used

[1:51:58] postcards from Bradenton yeah >> and some things out of their um coloring

[1:52:02] book they're on the north side of the park but what councilwoman Gonzalez Mo

[1:52:06] is talking about is reflections itself and of course reflections is a separate

[1:52:11] nonprofit that's out in front on the north side, sorry, the south side of the

[1:52:15] park. What they're proposing to do is to place somewhere between eight and 10

[1:52:20] historical preservation signs. Really starting at Reflections itself and then

[1:52:26] kind of moving a little bit to where the pergola is um and and probably maybe two

[1:52:32] to four within the park itself towards where the pergola is. And so it's kind

[1:52:37] of a little bit of a walking trail to the Mineral Springs itself. Um the the

[1:52:42] signs themselves as it relates to historical preservation are designed to

[1:52:46] showcase the uh movement basically of of of free men basically and the Angola

[1:52:53] settlement itself and and the Marauders you know as it relates to the history

[1:52:58] and it's obviously tremendous historical significance there that the postcards

[1:53:03] themselves don't really explain any of that and so they're going to stay away

[1:53:07] from the north side of the park. the signs themselves, what me and John Totty

[1:53:10] and Lance told them was, "Give us a site plan that shows us kind of the size of

[1:53:14] the the the signs themselves." And really what they are is they're not

[1:53:19] particularly obtrusive. They're somewhat elevated and probably on order of

[1:53:24] somewhere between, I don't know, 30 in and and probably 36 in. and they just

[1:53:31] would have basically a designation as it relates to the historical events on the

[1:53:37] site. Um I I want to work with the mayor to basically try to hone this down and

[1:53:45] ultimately bring it back to council for approval. Um, I'm I'm in favor of it

[1:53:49] because I think it tremendously worthy of historical support because of the

[1:53:55] role of that area and you know the area goes back to indigenous people well

[1:53:59] before African-American free slaves but that's also depicted in the park itself

[1:54:04] currently. It's a special very special area of you know the south

[1:54:11] south Tampa Bay and and Manatee County and and that history of Angola and uh

[1:54:17] the the the the movement of free men there is something that to be celebrated

[1:54:22] um and also recognize um as it relates to Angola itself was was basically taken

[1:54:29] over by federal troops and people were told you have to leave because

[1:54:33] » Washington has to take action and it wasn't Good.

[1:54:36] » No, I think something that, you know, I've always been supportive of them, not

[1:54:40] only by my votes, but also by my wallet, probably more than most, um, in the

[1:54:47] community. But one of the things is is they did sue us.

[1:54:52] » There was a lawsuit, so I want to make sure that that all of that stuff is is

[1:54:57] in the right spot. One of the things I'll say, and I've said this to them,

[1:55:02] um, that I'm disappointed that they haven't tried to tie in with the

[1:55:06] historic part of Manatee County with Angel

[1:55:10] Coloniso because there is funding for them to get through that. But we can't

[1:55:16] live in a silo from that. And I've said that to them over not haven't talked to

[1:55:21] them now in a while, but you know, it's they've got to try to work

[1:55:26] collaboratively with right across the street because I think that can draw

[1:55:30] more people to them. But that is them giving up a little bit of control but

[1:55:36] not losing the concept of it. Because we know what happens in any business.

[1:55:44] If you lose a principle or somebody gets divorced or something

[1:55:49] happens, we want it to be sustainable. So that would be important to me to see

[1:55:55] that there is some sort of collaboration other because I'd love the plaques. I

[1:56:00] mean, that's a huge thing, but you also have to set it up to succeed, not just

[1:56:04] be one-sided. And I've said that to them. And I have dug the ditches with

[1:56:10] them. I made the motion to allow them to do the big dig with Dr. Brain at the

[1:56:17] time >> when

[1:56:19] we probably didn't have the votes to do that because we wanted to get the park

[1:56:23] going. Um, and if you look back at history, the city allowed them to do a

[1:56:29] lot of things longer than most would have done. And I agreed with letting

[1:56:32] them do it, you know. So, you know, again, we've got to figure out though

[1:56:38] long term what happens. >> And that's globally looking in the city

[1:56:44] » because what if that group, you know, and does somehow

[1:56:51] fall to the wayside? They've got to somehow in my opinion

[1:56:56] collaborate with Angel Coloniso right now in that group because it gives them

[1:57:02] a way then to get more visitors which if you get more visitors what does that

[1:57:06] mean? You might fall into a donation that's going to help with still having

[1:57:11] autonomy from it. So that's that's just my only thoughts because you know like I

[1:57:16] said I've been supportive from day one not only with my votes also with my

[1:57:20] pocket. >> Yeah. Um, I can talk to them about that.

[1:57:23] That's I hadn't heard anything about um collaborating with uh Miss Colonizo's

[1:57:27] office, but I can follow up. Yeah, >> I I think definitely the story needs to

[1:57:34] be told for sure. I I'm a little concerned if we're getting too many

[1:57:38] signs in a park. >> I know. I thought that

[1:57:40] » and I don't know what the condition of the realized brain in signs are or and

[1:57:48] so and I don't know that I'm the person that needs to be saying that. Maybe it

[1:57:51] goes through public art. >> It might

[1:57:54] » uh the public art board. I just I don't want it to look bad over there. I did

[1:57:58] actually talk I I thought that might be a concern and um I don't want to speak

[1:58:02] for her because this conversation was literally like months ago but I did ask

[1:58:07] Karen Corbin you know if they would have any objection to you know somehow this

[1:58:12] sign you know was this going to create friction between the two nonprofits and

[1:58:16] she said absolutely I mean and of course again we should check with her you know

[1:58:20] like I I don't want to speak for her because that was months ago but at that

[1:58:23] time she said no absolutely not she's not married to those signs I think the

[1:58:26] signs were my understanding ing because since I wasn't on council at that time

[1:58:30] was that those signs were in conjunction with the coloring book and trying to get

[1:58:34] the word out about the park and and realize Braton's work and I feel like

[1:58:38] Realize Braon has also evolved. >> It was geared toward towards the little

[1:58:42] kids. >> It it is they're pretty they're pretty

[1:58:45] simplistic because it was based on the coloring book

[1:58:46] » and that's one of the reasons we did the park because it's a neighborhood park.

[1:58:50] » You don't want to the neighborhood didn't want to all of a sudden trying to

[1:58:53] be in traffic thousands of people. That's why we don't allow events except

[1:58:57] for the one. And with that group that does that event, I hope they would be

[1:59:01] involved in kind of being part of it because the history

[1:59:05] » Oh, yeah. >> with with them. And um I'm working right

[1:59:09] now with them and I got to finish it up. It's been a little while, but we believe

[1:59:14] we found a college that will give two full scholarships.

[1:59:17] » Oh wow. >> People from the Bahamas to come over

[1:59:21] here and study in this area. But I've got a

[1:59:24] » That would be wonderful. >> I was told yes. Now we got to follow up

[1:59:27] with it. >> She would be really excited to hear.

[1:59:30] » Stephanie will be Yeah. >> And of course the

[1:59:33] » secretary of I forget what her title is, but she just

[1:59:38] » I forget what their branch of legislative government. I know. I

[1:59:42] » know. She made that statement. I made a phone call and

[1:59:46] it was hopefully will work out. >> Excellent. Thank you.

[1:59:51] » That's all I've got for word for >> All right. Oh, actually, if I may just

[1:59:54] really quickly, um, this is just by way of education. Uh, some of you already

[1:59:59] may know this, >> but, um, I spoke I touched on it a

[2:00:02] little bit a couple of meetings ago, but with the heavy rains, um, this is just

[2:00:07] again my rah rah. We did it on consent with the storm water master plan. Um,

[2:00:13] but with the rains, the system in the older parts are just being inundated and

[2:00:18] the, um, yesterday was a I was like, what is going on? Uh because two both

[2:00:24] temp 13 and lift station 2's alarm started to go off. Not no one was you

[2:00:28] know like there wasn't roses [laughter] or anything. Uh they're doing what they

[2:00:31] need to be doing but the elevation of water within those lift stations just

[2:00:35] gets inundated when we have those kind of rains. And I sent several pictures to

[2:00:38] Mr. Williams as I do and I put it in the app. Um [laughter]

[2:00:44] um but I just want to keep that on y'all's radar that you know again like

[2:00:48] as we kind of you know prioritize as we have to do storm water I think is really

[2:00:53] next on our horizon to be something that we're going to want to because of the

[2:00:56] way those systems are all related to each other.

[2:00:58] » Yeah. And one of the biggest things is it's going to take time. Yes. And I

[2:01:02] don't think the people >> unfortunately we're getting we're trying

[2:01:05] to get more resources and we've got them but it's still three to five to

[2:01:09] sevenyear plan that a lot of that's going to take and then it's just volume

[2:01:14] in and volume out and unfortunately some of that we don't control and um so thank

[2:01:22] you. So anyway, obviously the 911 memorial, there's an 8 o'clock event

[2:01:26] over at the Palmeta Marriott being done by the Boys and Girls Club, Manatee

[2:01:31] County, clubs of Manatee County. So if you want to run over there at 8 o'clock,

[2:01:34] it'll be only 20 25 minutes. Then we'll be able to get back over here for the

[2:01:38] 9:30 at Rossy Park. Um, so just got to, you know, like I said, if if we forget

[2:01:44] now, the generations to come will won't do it. So we got to keep that. And I'm

[2:01:49] very proud of our community that has kept doing the memorial where other

[2:01:55] communities have stopped around us. And I know it's a lot of work, but again,

[2:01:59] chiefs, thank you. And >> well, let me let me chime in real quick,

[2:02:02] Mayor. And I I you know, y I got to say kudos to all of you because it's so

[2:02:07] noticed in our group that all of you attend when you can. All of you show up.

[2:02:13] All of you show support. And uh Miss Coker, that's not anything to do about

[2:02:19] Friday, but [laughter] >> but no, I mean um it was, you know, all

[2:02:24] the way to Julius House. And if y'all know Chief How and going back many

[2:02:28] years, a friend to us, the state, you know, and just he was so impressed that

[2:02:33] y'all made every event over the last couple weeks, that's hard to do. And not

[2:02:39] only that, but the city administrator and the COO and and so it's very

[2:02:43] noticed. we appreciate it and um you know and and everybody else notice

[2:02:49] notices too and pays attention to that. So um I appreciate y'all being there to

[2:02:53] show support and makes the city of Braden look look good. The Braden Fire

[2:02:57] Department and uh I just can't thank you enough.

[2:03:01] » Thank you, Chief. All right. And then we've had a lot of good conversation up

[2:03:05] here today. I think a lot of good things and again it was could have been a very

[2:03:09] short meeting but I think information is king and that's what we need to do. Um

[2:03:14] my last comment is I was fortunate enough on Saturday night to at the

[2:03:19] Marauders game which we're lucky we know when COVID hit that 400 plus minor

[2:03:25] league teams were eliminated. Even though the Marauders don't always draw

[2:03:30] the biggest crowds, the Pittsburgh Pirates worked hard to keep the

[2:03:34] Marauders because that stadium would have just been shuttered other than

[2:03:38] spring training and now city parks happening. But I was proud along with my

[2:03:43] wife and Chief Kramer showed up um for the game because he's the concessor of

[2:03:49] baseball and loves that more than a lot. But but it's a great thing that we were

[2:03:54] able to give Marty the Marauder a key to the city. And and I've just got to say

[2:04:00] it because it's so funny that there's people on social media that were

[2:04:07] criticizing us for giving Marty a key to the city. Well, I'm going to say shame

[2:04:12] on them. Marty the Marauder goes to over 150 events in the last year. Now, not

[2:04:20] all city events >> in the county.

[2:04:24] » He goes to He's at Christmas in July. He's at Christmas at the market. He

[2:04:30] comes to a lot of events. He's been at at the performing arts. He's been at

[2:04:34] anywhere that that's opportunity for him to go to these events and it's promoting

[2:04:41] Bradford. It's promoting Manatee County. So, if you don't know what Marty does

[2:04:47] 150 times a year, then you need to get educated.

[2:04:52] And it's just comical that somebody felt like they had to go on and say something

[2:04:59] negative about me giving a key to the city to Marty for his great stewardship

[2:05:04] of the city of Bradon and Manatee County. And he's at schools and anywhere

[2:05:09] that they are. So you wonder what the Pirates and the Marauders do for our

[2:05:13] community. They are good stewards of our community all day long, every day, 365.

[2:05:21] So that is the good things that I get fortunate enough to do and share that.

[2:05:27] So I just want to say congratulations Marty and it's through the pirates

[2:05:31] organization and Marauders that thank you for doing all you do year round for

[2:05:36] our community and everything else today was I think a

[2:05:41] great conversation and we appreciate it and we do as Miss Coachman said couple

[2:05:46] our last meeting that we get along and we got a great team. Let's keep working.

[2:05:51] There's no marriage, there's no business relationship that doesn't have times

[2:05:55] where you want to word Smith through stuff, but you still are a team at the

[2:05:59] end. And that's what's important and that's what I see our city

[2:06:03] administrators see all the way down through the staff and

[2:06:07] that's not always the case in all all um governments around us.

[2:06:13] » So, thank you. Department heads, anything?

[2:06:17] » Mr. Lee, let me let me go ahead of you if I could.

[2:06:20] » Mr. Williams and then Colonel Lee. >> Mayor and Council, um, I'd like to call

[2:06:24] Mr. Toth up to the podium if Oh, yeah. It's happening. [laughter]

[2:06:31] » So, um, I'm doing this on behalf of, uh, Miss Warn. She's actually in a training

[2:06:36] session right now, so she couldn't do this, but uh, Mr. Toth, um, has been

[2:06:41] with the city for approximately six years. Uh we had our procurement manager

[2:06:46] uh go elsewhere. Mr. Toth uh you know he's worked

[2:06:50] diligently started in the warehouse um and has worked uh very hard to get to

[2:06:55] where he's at now. Um we went through several interviews uh Mr. Perry myself

[2:07:00] and Miss Warren Monday and and a couple other folks that um that we had included

[2:07:07] and um we were we were rather impressed with with Mr. dedication to the city,

[2:07:13] his knowledge, his expertise, his involvement. Um, and then we uh recently

[2:07:18] promoted him to our new procurement manager.

[2:07:21] » Congratulations. >> So, I wanted to give him a chance to

[2:07:24] just, you know, share a little bit of his background. He does have his uh

[2:07:28] certified public purchasing buyer. >> Thank you. Procurement buyer

[2:07:33] certification. Um, and he's actively seeking additional certifications. Um,

[2:07:39] he's impressed quite a few people. um staff in within the city, not just Mr.

[2:07:44] Perry and myself and Miss Ward Monday, but um others especially over public

[2:07:47] works and and working with them individually. So, Mr. To one,

[2:07:51] congratulations. >> I want to kind of chime in the same and

[2:07:54] and Lance did a really good job covered his background.

[2:07:58] Th >> this is a really important job. Um and

[2:08:01] particularly as it relates to face it, fix it. You know, us, as I always say,

[2:08:05] the game speed has increased and it's increased over there as much as it's

[2:08:09] increased anywhere. And so Vance and I were really concerned um about getting a

[2:08:13] good candidate. And so we put out advertisements and got a couple of

[2:08:18] pretty good candidates that had worked in other venues and the like. But we

[2:08:23] kept getting the we interviewed several times with Nick and he had awesome

[2:08:29] interviews and gave us great insights. We interviewed, we we talked with people

[2:08:35] within the organization itself and every each and every one of them said, "Nick

[2:08:40] is your guy. He's been doing this. We work with them. He's responsive. He

[2:08:45] understands it technically. He gets all the work done. We feel comfortable." And

[2:08:50] when you get that kind of vibe about somebody um and and he came, you know,

[2:08:54] from the ground up. He started at the warehouse. It's the first place I met

[2:08:57] him literally. I said, "I'm Rob." He goes, "I'm Nick." and there was no air

[2:09:02] conditioning in there or anything else and he was working hard then and he and

[2:09:05] he's a college graduate. You go to you went to USF, didn't you?

[2:09:08] » Yeah. A great story about that too. Um Nick works out works out a lot. He kind

[2:09:13] of went from exercise physiology and that kind of thing. Um to I think

[2:09:18] government's a good direction to go in and everything. But he's he brings a lot

[2:09:22] to the table and he's the future in my opinion of what we're trying to build

[2:09:26] for succession. And so I'm glad we could give him an opportunity to show uh us

[2:09:32] his what he's got and what he's about and re reach what we expect him to do to

[2:09:38] support the organization and ultimately your policy decisions. So I

[2:09:42] fullheartedly support [clears throat] Nick.

[2:09:46] » So Nick, go ahead and share a little bit about yourself that we have.

[2:09:49] » Well, thank you Lance words.

[2:09:52] » My name is Nicholas Toth. Obviously they gave you guys a little bit of a

[2:09:55] background about me, but I did start here at the warehouse five years ago,

[2:09:58] about the time when Rob started, too. So, and I uh kind of just fell in love

[2:10:03] with procurement. I didn't really know what procurement was when I first

[2:10:06] started, but I knew this is kind of what I felt I saw myself doing for the

[2:10:10] future. And like Lance said, I took a opportunity that I was given to me and

[2:10:16] got my education, got my certified procurement uh public procurement buyer

[2:10:20] license. And I'm still taking more classes to just continue to educate

[2:10:24] myself and I'm just excited to continue to contribute to the city's mission and

[2:10:29] goals and contribute with you guys and on on the missions. I mean, there's a

[2:10:32] lot of exciting things coming to the city. So, I'm just excited to be a part

[2:10:35] of it. So, again, thank you guys as well.

[2:10:37] » Congratulations. Congratulations. >> Thank you.

[2:10:40] » Thank you. >> Well deserved.

[2:10:41] » Thank you. >> Thanks for coming in.

[2:10:43] » Thank you. All right, Mr. Lee. >> Colonel,

[2:10:46] » thank you for indulging. Very quick just uh mayor council Lee director of public

[2:10:52] works utilities just reminding everyone one week from today one week from today

[2:10:57] pro projects open house will start it promptly at 6 please come out and you

[2:11:02] can see more of what your public works and utilities department is doing.

[2:11:07] » Thank you very much. >> Anything else?

[2:11:14] » Uh Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, sir. Uh I want to thank you guys

[2:11:18] again for the uh proclamation today. Thank you very much for that. Um but

[2:11:23] also for your approval of the state forfeite fund grant program. Um

[2:11:29] not that you have a lot of choice. Uh we have to as part of state law we have to

[2:11:34] give back at least 25% of what we take in in state forfeite funds which are

[2:11:40] basically state cases. Um we are years ago we went way beyond that

[2:11:46] and it's tough to not have that number at least maintain what it is or grow. Um

[2:11:53] just depends on how much we take in uh this year. We didn't take in as much.

[2:11:57] We've gotten a lot in the last recent past. But um anyway, I just want to

[2:12:02] thank you for that. Uh it was I was asked like how come we're approving this

[2:12:06] today but we're not doing the presentations

[2:12:09] procedural. you have to approve it and then we do the presentations at the next

[2:12:12] meeting. So look forward to that. Uh I'll try to keep it under 30 minutes. So

[2:12:18] but uh thank you again. >> Right. Anything else?

[2:12:24] Hearing nothing will be 10:41.

Bradenton City Council Meeting, September 9, 2026

Transcript