everyone and welcome to the Braden City Council meeting Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. as we always do and will. We'll start with an invocation and a pledge and we're bringing up the great
pastor Don Steriono with Kingdom Life Church and also our police and city chaplain. >> Good morning everyone. I woke up this morning early around 3 and was praying for all of you in our city and I heard one word, love. >> So I wrote a prayer for today. Would you bow your heads? Thank you, heavenly
father, for your perfect love for us, for your love for our city, city leaders, city employees, and every citizen that calls the friendly city their home. I pray for all of us that we would encounter and be saturated by the waterfall of your unconditional love.
For your holy word declares, "Your love never fails. It conquers all. Can't be measured, nor can we be separated from it. For your love keeps no record of wrongs. Your love is perfect, patient, and kind. So I bless this meeting and I pray that you would guide the decisions
made. Bless our leaders and all in attendance in every part of their life. Bless them and keep them. Cause your face to shine upon them in Jesus name. And everyone said, "Amen." >> Amen. >> Amen. >> And I'm going to ask our Boys and Girls Club representative to come forward for
a moment and lead us in the pledge. And we'll hear more from her later. So would you lead us in the pledge? I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> And sorry to spring that on you, but that's uh >> it happened to me a lot when I was your age at the boys club. So, it makes us better. So, um, we'll call this meeting
to order. Madame Clerk, >> the first item on the agenda this morning is a proclamation for Irishamean Heritage Month, which Councilwoman Barnaby will be reading for us today. It will be my honor.
Irishamean Heritage Month, March 2026. Whereas in 1776, nearly 300,000 Irish nationals had immigrated to America colonies and played a crucial role in America's war for independence.
And whereas five signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish descent and three signers were Irishborn. And whereas Irishameans helped fashion a system of government for our young nation. And whereas 22 presidents
proudly proclaim their Irish American heritage. And whereas the Irish first came to Spanish Laaferida in the 1500s first as missionaries and mercenary soldiers and then as planters, traders, businessmen,
doctors, and administrators. And whereas Andrew Jackson, whose family came from the county antim served as Florida's military governor following its acquisition by the United States. And whereas Irish Americans since America's
inception have pro provided and continue to provide leadership and service to this nation's political, business, and religious establishments. And whereas it is fitting and proper to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and
the many valuable contributions of Irishameans. Now therefore be it resolved that I, Gene Brown, is the mayor of the city of Bradenon, do hereby proclaim March 2026 as Irish American Heritage Month in the
city of Bradon. And it's signed and sealed. >> Thank you. And who do we have accepting this? >> Take a guess. Let's take a wild guess. >> There's only two people only a couple people in the room with green on. So >> welcome.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Say okay. Sure. Pardon me. I've got a couple of dates I'd like to share with you today. And uh firstly, thank everyone here today uh for proclaiming this to be Irish American Heritage Month. On the first
day of January in 1892, Ellis Island opened its doors and the very first person to cross that threshold was a teenager. Reports claimed her to be anywhere from 13 to 16 years of age. Her name was Annie Moore and she was from Ireland. In 1943, Ellis Island closed
and over those years 17 million people crossed through those doors. The AOH, the ancient order of Hiburnians, the organization we represent, was founded here in the states May the 4th, 1836, some
30 years prior to her arrival. Our mission at that time was simple. Protect the people. At the time, nivists believed that we were coming over here just to elect the pope to be president. And so, they burned our churches. They attacked our people. They posted signs
Irish need not apply. Our order dates back over 300 years before that in Ireland. These proclamations mean a great deal, not to just to my order, but the American people. Thank you very, very much.
>> Thank you. >> So, what we're going to do is we'll all come stand up behind you. We'll do it from back here. You're the >> You want me to stay here? >> Yeah, I want you in the middle. We get everybody in. >> I wish the gentleman would tell me what >> Yeah. Can you see everybody?
>> I think I'm okay as long as there's not a crowd. >> A little bit more. >> Can you get everybody? David. >> All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you all. >> Thank you. Yes, sir. All right. Um, at this time, um, we have
under presentations, we have nothing listed, but we're going to ask Johnnali to come up and kind of give us a little, uh, information about Boys and Girls Club, the Youth of the Year or in our area. So, John, welcome. >> Thank you, mayor, council,
administrators. Nice to see you all today. We turn 80 years old this year. 80 years now. We have been going through Manatee County and selecting folks uh who are going to be the top person competing in our state. They compete in our region. They compete uh at the state level and national level. And this year
is absolutely no different. A little biased myself because this is, you know, the second year that they uh both come from Palmetto. Uh this year both the junior youth of the year, Miss Ka and Miss Shayen are coming from the Palmetto Club. You know, it is not an easy task. Some of you have been a part of it and
assisted us in the selection process. Some of you have been amongst the ranks. We know that in Manatee County, this is where great futures start. Both of our mayors, Bradenon and Palmetto are both former club kids. Senator Boyd is also a former club kid. And that just tells you
what we're cap what our capacity is and what we're capable of doing. Today, it's my deep honor to introduce our youth of the year who will be competing in Tampa right during gala time, I believe, around April 11th. uh to see how she does on a regional level. Uh both of our
youths of the year are both young ladies which is always encouraging to see the engagement in the transition that has occurred in the organization as a whole. Without further ado, >> welcome. >> I'm glad to be here. I'm >> Don't be nervous
nervous than you are. I promise >> you got this. Attention parents and guardians. Attention parents and guardians. All Man County school sites have been closed for the foreseeable future. This was the message
my mother received on March 13th, 2020. In that moment, life as we knew it stopped. Classrooms and dark, fear crept in, and uncertainty and chaos was eminent. Good evening. My name is Shayen Johnson. I am from the Palmetto Boys and
Girls of Mandy County. Thank you all for coming out tonight. Now imagine this, a child of six, living in a home never meant for living, but for memory. This was my reality, my life. This way living wasn't a choice for the my siblings and
I when we had to face cover in our great grandmother's home. On any given day, you could hear the sound of rain hitting a wooden floor to a hole in the roof. rod in scurry without the home and most spots just as seemed like paint splattered on a canvas. To escape
reality, I found comfort in art. Art was a lifeline for me when I was dealing with my mother's two-month unemployment, failing my classes, and having been quarantined throughout the pandemic for months with no good news. So, it should come to no surprise that the Boys and Girls Club became like my second home.
But like all homes, it wasn't easy at first. Entering the Boys and Girls Club, I was a massive bundle of nerves just waiting to explode. My nervousness was prominent and I hesitated to communicate everyone, including staff. But the club embraced me and my talent wholeheartedly. The staff encouraged me
to speak through my passion, my art. For example, our art director at the time, Annie, approached my peers tonight with the idea of creating a mural to honor one of her most influential Boys and Girls Club members, Mr. Willie Cooper. contributing my talents for someone who dedicated 40 years to shaping your
minds. It was an honor to help highlight his legacy. From this experience, I became more bold with my efforts in the club. I've had the privilege of creating another mural for our teen center with our current art director, Mr. Ralph. Additionally, me and Mr. Ral coordinated
to create a Christmas card to represent our club at the annual UTC Christmas event. Eventually, this led me to becoming Keystone's vice president. As their vice president, I assisted in events, led meetings, and was involved in every
aspect the program had to offer, all for the club and its members enjoyment. As famous American monk and activist Thomas Merin once said, "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. I am able to find my path in this world as a leader and artist while losing my past and embracing the
future." My name is Shayen Johnson. I am from the Palmetto Boys and Girls Club. I'm the MLK art division contest winner and I am an AE program student at Palmetto Highway with 3.5 GPA working on the journey of my masterpiece. Thank you all for coming out tonight. >> Thank you.
So stay up at the microphone. There might be some of us that might want to say something or two. And uh obviously you see um being all the international women's week and everything going on. Um
Kemp and I up here are very proud to be surrounded by very four very strong women. some longer in the community, generationally in the community in that and really been involved with a lot of great organizations and and fortunately for myself at eight years old, I walked
into that Boys and Girls Club on 34th Street and I had to have cards that I typed up to read for my um boy of the year. So, I'm very impressed and I was sweating. It was May of 1983. I was sweating profusely. just got done with
football practice for spring and I had to rush to that at the Braden and Country Club. But 20 years to the day, I was giving my president's speech as the corporate board for the Boys and Girls Club and and 40
50 years later, 51 years later, I'm up here as mayor. So, um but you need to be mayor of Palmetto, not Bradenton, because I might be here for a while. No, no. Whatever town you want, you come be mayor. Um, but you've got great mayor in Palmetto as well. But is thank you.
Great job. It's easy for me to say now, don't be nervous because I still get nervous today, but it's a good thing. And uh, we're so proud of you. Does anyone else want to give a council coachman? >> I was trying so hard to keep my face
neutral, but I was just like this the whole time. I heard you before and hearing you today even more magnificent. You keep on keeping on. Okay. The sky is the limit for you. I I know your mom's proud cuz
I'm proud of you and I'm just getting to know you. So, just continue to work hard. Continue to let what's in you come out and show the world. And I I'm
telling you, you got this. >> Thank you. >> All right. Well, I would like to uh at this time have all of us go down and get a picture >> because I found some of my old pictures and they're still very important even though they're on little pieces of
paper, not phones anymore. But if we can all go down and get a good picture, I'd appreciate it. You think he Thank you. Keep up the good work. Proud of you. Proud of you. >> Hey Yeah.
Okay. At this time, we'll move on to citizen comments. Citizen comments will be accepted during the citizen comment portion of the meeting. on any non-aggenda item, agenda item, future agenda item, or topic of relevance to the city. Comments will be accepted on the public hearings at the appropriate
times. And as we always do, we've got cards. If you haven't turned in a card yet, please fill one out and turn it in. Um, and and again, this is this is a business meeting now, so we go forward. You know, whether you agree or disagree in the audience with the the citizen
comment, there is no cheering or booing or anything. It's uh give respect like you would want respect for yourself. So, thank you. The first one I have is Kimla Morurell. Please state your name and um city of residence. And you'll have three minutes.
>> Good morning. My name is Kimla Morurell. I live um in Bradenon, 52112 A West. Um, I want to come here because um, in January I came here and I was a little bit perturbed about an event that I wanted to do and um, the dates weren't
matching and so I called out Kelly and so I'm here to apologize to Kelly. If I publicly call you out, I want to publicly apologize to Kelly. Um, I do want to say that the mayor and Kelly reached out to me and explained to me
uh, the dates. They sat down with me, told me the dates, everything because I thought it was a bunch of fluff that she gave me and they assured me that it was not. So, I want to thank you, mayor, for the opportunity and also Kelly. >> All right. We appreciate that. We're one
city, one team all over. So, we're going to keep working. Thank you. >> Next, I have Floyd Rome. Please come forward. You state your name and city of residence and you have three minutes. Good morning. My name is Floyd Rome. I
am a resident of Bradington. Uh since the year of 1991, I Manatee County um born and raised in Palmetto. Um thank you for allowing me to come down and speak and uh I I like to speak on the topic of code enforcement uh within Ward
Five. Uh I that's the only ward that I can speak on particularly because that's the one that I live in. Um, I think that the as of late, some of the code enforcement practices have been somewhat of uh heavy-handed and um even to the point of intimidation.
I know that there's no such thing as a perfect government and uh that's why I'd like to come and speak hoping that we can move forward and uh work together. Um and I'm sorry that we're here on a negative um situation. I'd like to take
this and see if we can't spin this and make this a positive um to get to know not only u the mayor but every member of the city council and um not only that I've been heavily involved with the youth and would like to try and strike
up a uh movement with the youth to get them to know how our government works so that we can produce leaders for tomorrow. So, if we could sit down somehow and and talk and see if we can't come up with some um form or formula to
bridge the gap in communications and um just moving forward that we can make this a positive. I would appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, we have and the last name is also Rome, but I think it is it Theelisa? All
right. If you come forward, please. And again, just state your name and your city of residence and we'll have uh 3 minutes. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is The Lisa Rome. I'm the wife of Floyd Rome. Um I reside on 14th
Street East in Bradenton. Um I have a parent that had two vehicles that were licensed and registered sitting in her yard. One of which was my father's vehicle that he passed away. um
was in the process of having the car restored for his grandson, for his great-grandson. Um paid someone to restore the car. The guy never restored the car, but again, the car was licensed and insured. So was my mother's car, licensed and insured. They were both
towed. Um eventually, we found out what toward they were towed to. Then um we received a phone call. I called um to find out get information was told that um the city would release the cars however we would be responsible for
getting the cars towed back to the place in which they were towed from and I'm not understanding that and moving forward the vehicles are still there because I would like to get answers from the city as to
you know they admitted that the vehicles should not have been towed, but you know, it's my responsibility to get the vehicles towed back. So, just want answers. And then she also received a laundry list of things that
need to be done, you know, around the house. She has two little dogs, so she put like a lattice fence type thing so that the kids wouldn't poke and jug at the dog. She's 79 years old, battling cancer. And yeah, the money that you
know work needs to be done around the house, she needs in medical. And I understand everybody, you know, has their way of doing things, but you know, everybody's lifestyle does not match up to what the code enforcement wants your yard to look
like. If she wants to put mulch around, she got to code for having mulch around trees, not understanding it. So I don't know if the mulch needs to be a certain color. I don't I don't know. But yeah, if and
then the other thing is when they come I ask that you know there I know that the city has different programs. When you come to violate also let them know that ma'am this is out here for you. Take advantage of it. So thank you.
>> Okay. Thank you. Um I don't have any other cards at this time. Um, so, uh, Mr. Williams, would you like to answer anything on the code violations? >> Um, yeah, we're we're kind of working through this process to to kind of
analyze what the what the business proc the business process is following the what is in our code. Um, and kind of working with the community. um much to your point to say, you know, this may be your situation now, but there are programs available uh you know, to help
mitigate some of, you know, the housing issues and so forth. Um as far as the vehicles go. So in our code, vehicles have to be operable and that's that's the biggest thing. And I believe in those two in the two vehicle cases, um there was questions on if they did
operate or not. And so I've been working with uh Director Singer to to kind of work through this process to make sure that we come out, you know, both agree that we come out with a a positive resolution. So we'll continue to do that. Mr. Perry and I have sat down several times to talk through um you
know with with Director Singer to talk through our process with code enforcement, not just in W 5, but just across the city. uh you know looking for consistency and and accuracy and and good proper documentation going forward. >> Okay. Thank you,
>> Vice Mayor Coker. >> Uh yes, I I I guess I've always assumed but um you know what happens. So is are they getting a warning before they're actually um so there is a process before we get
heavy-handed as it was described um to work with them? >> Okay. Yeah, there is a with and I'm learning it. I mean, I'm not I'm not a code expert, but a code enforcement expert, but uh with vehicles, there's a a 10day window um of hey, this is this
is what needs to happen per the code. Um there's a 10-day waiting period and then uh you know, then obviously code enforcement enforces the code at that point if nothing's done. >> Yeah. Now what the communication is in between obviously will be situational uh
you know with the with the resident and the code enforcement officer but sometimes there's a lot of good communication. I know our code enforcement officers work you know as long as they're getting positive direction. Um I think they work with them fairly well. Um, obviously we're running into situations and I'm not
saying this is the case in this particular matter, but there are situations where they just don't get a response and so, you know, they do have a job to do. But we we need to make sure that there's consistency across the board again, not just in ward five, but in all five wards together.
>> And lately, I've got some conversation from different wards of things going on. So, it's not just being ward five being singled out. It's it's all over the city with things that people have asked us and tasked us and this board has tasked
us to and from the administrative part to do the job of what our codes are. So, you know, we have done that and unfortunately if we have a policy that isn't being followed, >> you know, it needs to be enforced, right? And um those vehicles that
everything that's come to me were not operational and they were given more time than I think the 10 days and the uh vehicles are there and we've tried to help them out but to for us to tow them back in my
opinion and put them back into code violation if they're operational they could be driven back. >> So and and another thing that was addressed by Mr. Rome was the youth in that community is and I think Mrs.
Coachman would agree to this. City park is going to be a huge thing with the POW building going in for that community to try to give opportunity for the youth to have a better life going forward which we will be breaking ground on the first
phase of that >> for the first of May. So we're getting close. So there's a lot of opportunities going on that people don't see, but we also have to be accountable to what our codes are. And I think that this council has tked that throughout, especially
with unfortunate hurricanes we've had and things going on. So, you know, we aren't as as um and I've been on doing this now for 14 years almost up here and Vulkar Reese has been there the whole
time. He always would tell me, "We're not the Gestapo. We're going to try to work with people. We give every person a chance to succeed. So, that's my experience with it. So, Councilman Barnaby, did you have something? No. >> Oh, I thought you raised it. Mr. Perry,
>> mayor, I just want to I want to kind of touch on a little bit the issue in this case, which was started as inoperable vehicles. um inoperable vehicles is probably one of the most challenging um blighted and and problematic types of
code enforcement that we do. Um, we often have folks that have vehicles in their driveway, in their sidey yards, and we receive both uh proactive complaints where we respond to a complaint and they're more reactive and
then we proactively will do sections of towns for that. You know, it's interesting like you all know I run a lot down there by Tarpon Point area and I walk I I I've seen vehicles there that have been sitting there for the last
four and a half years lit literally and as I run by them I go I can tell you I'm not a mechanic. That vehicle is inop is inoperable. There's flat tires on the vehicle. Um there's no tag on the vehicle. There's other things that
objectively you can see about the vehicle. Why hasn't the vehicle been addressed? Because if I was a neighbor that lived there, I wouldn't want my other neighbor probably doing that. Particularly if if it was enforced against me, I'd want it equally enforced. So, there's challenges with
that. In this particular case, it it was rather unique from what I understand in the briefings I've received to the extent that there was an antique vehicle. And when you look at it, it's a it's a nice older vehicle. you know, and everything. It was supposed to be restored for what I found out, but the
photographs I saw did the last tag on it was dated 2022 from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Now, I'm told that it also had an updated tag that did was registered, I believe, in the front windshield area or something like that. So, I I don't know if that was visible.
I don't know if the code inspector looked at that or not. Um, and it was again a pretty old vehicle. Um there was other signs regarding things growing around it that didn't look like it had been operable or moved. Um the the
second vehicle had two flat tires on it and it also looked like it hadn't been moved in a long time. From what I understand, there was a warning that was provided and an a request that there be voluntary compliance and ultimately the vehicles were removed from there. We're
u we're trying to take a look at it. What's interesting is if they're operable vehicles, I would imagine you go down to the tow company and you say, "Here's my registration. Uh, I'm the owner of the vehicle. There's no fees for storage that have been charged. I
have my keys." You turn the key and you operate the vehicle. You drive the vehicle back to your home or you have a family member or whatever. We did pay actually the city that tow bill and the storage which we don't typically do.
>> We don't typically do. Um I I I know I mean I've had vehicles in my my yard that I've worked on and things like that so I get the fact but you can't do it. It's not fair to the neighborhood. The law doesn't allow for it. We have to maintain standards at a minimum that
don't allow inoperable vehicles because these vehicles may have easily become operable quite possibly. But I've gone into locations where again some of these vehicles are clearly they're junk and and and and and they're in the yard and
and we've allowed them or or we enforce on them or whatever it might be. and that's not the standard that a modern, you know, city can tolerate where we're trying to, you know, up maintain quality of life standards and the like. So, it's a touchy situation. My apologies to the
family. You certainly seem like excellent, fine people. You've been here for a long time and and um you know, I don't have personal knowledge. I'm just telling you what I've reviewed about the situation and we will try to get it resolved in a favorable manner. >> Thank you, Councilwoman Moore. Um I I am
not aware of this particular situation and um my question was really more about the process. I was operating under the impression that we cited people and then went through a process where they potentially started to incur fines, but it sounds
like sometimes we take action on that violation. Does that extend to any other kind of violation? And I'm I'm thinking specifically vacant homes from the hurricane that have 2 feet of grass. That's very hard. Mr. Rice and I have had conversations where it's difficult because you you would think it's a
simple thing for someone to fix because they could just mow it. But there's some difficulty in giving someone a warning about mowing their lawn and then for some reason it's not happening and then they're just going through a process there. So I just was curious. >> Code code violations run the gamut.
There are people that have $75,000 in fines and that's what our limit is. we stop doing it after 75,000 and ultimately we can file a lean um on the property and take the property and and we've done that. Um there's been properties where we didn't even know who
owned it. we go to the tax collector's office and it's some person in New York or a probate or something like that and there's just no responsiveness and the property's condition becomes so um deteriorated that neighbors are
complaining and so you know >> bankruptcy court >> what's that >> we've had some in bankruptcy court and when it's in bankruptcy court we can't touch it >> right because an automatic stay provision of of the federal bankruptcy code they run the gambit when you ask the question about or things that we take action on and things that uh that
we do ourselves. We had an RV out on 25th Avenue um and 9inth Street yesterday on the the uh west side of 25th Avenue. It was probably a 1970s vintage RV. There was no wheels on the
RV. The whole front component of this old beaten up RV was removed. The engine had been cut out. There was a fluid trail of hydraulic leaks that went to a premise nearby. Uh there was an engine that matched the RV. So, we're taking
some action. We couldn't actually tow the RV because it was so inoperable. So, we basically had to bring a D6 loader out there, break the RV up. We had to have rolloffs from the public works
department on site after we broke it up and broke the frame of it. I I photographs. It's just amazing this demolition job. And we had to bring grapples in. So we had solid waste. We had our public works department. We had our streets and drains. We had our police department assisting us. Thank
you, Chief. And a whole host of other things. So yeah, we'll we'll we'll do what we have to do in those cases. Um because you can't have that type of, you know, a junk situation um that that deteriorates the quality
and fiber of the neighborhood both from a perspective of sightliness as well as public health and safety. I mean, you know, sometimes these things actually have rodents and rats and homeless people and and other problems that that become with it. So, it's it's somewhat
factually sensitive on what the situation is about whether we have to exercise self-help and deal with the problem or whether we can uh uh levy, as you said, fines throughout our fine system,
violation system. And as you all know, we we've had situations where the fines acrew and we've had to go to circuit court and get a judge to give an order to tell someone that if you don't clean it up, the city will come clean it up,
which we've done and we will charge back and we will basically move to perfect our lean by taking the property because if you can't take care of it, we'll take we'll clean it up. will get title to it and we'll sell it as a surplus property
to someone that will. And that might seem somewhat drastic, but at some point sometimes it's the only remedy. >> Well, then that's years and and the process takes four or five years. >> Well, and the most egregious one that we've dealt with was in Ward 4 in Village of the Arts. Mr. Ruticell, I
want to just if my memor is correct, I might probably was the only one up here on the council was when we were in crewing hundreds of thousands of dollars of fines and we basically made an ordinance, a rule resolution to bring it to where it was 75 to cap it so we could
try to get people to come into compliance. And I know most of the people that come to us with that, there is circumstances, there is things, but as long as they work with the city, we aren't trying to collect the 75,000.
We're trying to collect our cost and get the property into compliance. But sometimes after a time period, you do have to crush the RV. You do have to do other things. So, I mean, you remember that when I believe that was before anybody else was up here. >> That's correct. And the city also
created a process that allows the special magistrate to reduce those lean amounts. So even if even if the, you know, fines have been acred on a property, if somebody's willing to come and come into compliance, they have the opportunity to go in and request for
that to be reduced. Um, so yes, all those processes are in place. Going back to uh Councilwoman Moore's question, we have we have several different processes for in terms of of code violations. Some are your traditional notice and hearing
before the magistrate and things like that. We do citations. Um but some specific types of categories of offenses do allow for self-help under our code. >> Yeah. Yeah. And just >> and also I think Miss Moore, one of the things that and we've dealt with it
since the hurricane in particular is we do have a process where after a certain time if they don't mow >> we'll send them out and mow >> but you know then charge them back or and that's happened in I can think of three cases in W three or excuse me w
two recently. She left out ward one is where we went and mowed and you know and again >> the everything that we've asked lately from this council is to try to come get people to come into compliance right >> and nowadays you know if some if a
neighbor complains you know sometimes it does open up the whole rest of the neighborhood because they're out there now right >> and you do have to with the new state law a couple years ago when somebody complains they aren't anonymous anymore so it's not a thing where the city does
and but I I still think if we we try to be the friendly city with everything we do but sometimes compliance with the rules is important. So >> yeah ultimately voluntary compliance is what we're >> that's the goal. >> Well that's when Mr. Reese would always tell me, "We're not the Gestapo."
>> Right. >> Obviously, if you know him, he's from Germany >> and and because at point when I was a councilman and some things were happening in World War II, most of them were bankruptcies because that was the time of the that was really happening and the houses were either burned out,
they were boarded up, they became homeless, drug havens, they were grass was overgrown and so many neighbors were complaining for a while. Some of the neighbors were mowing the yards, but then that that wasn't sustainable and we were really trying to get into it, but there was nothing we could do with the
bankruptcy. We've now figured that out though a little better. I think Mr. Barry with some of the bankruptcy things and a company we hired at one point to help us with that. So, and again, it's compliance, not punishment. But if you don't come into compliance, then there is the consequences. Mrs. Moore, and
then I'll go to Miss Coachman last. >> I think I had mine up and she put hers down. Well, I didn't know if it was >> Put it back up, >> but I didn't know if it was a conversation that she wanted to finish. >> No, actually it was about the youth thing. So, >> Okay. So, yeah, then we'll come back. I thought you wanted to finish because you were still up. >> Um, yeah. No, I Mr. Rousel, I think, answered my question.
>> All right. Perfect. Miss Coachman. >> Okay. A lot to unravel. Uh, this is my ward. Um, and to your point about the parked cars, the junk cars, there was a time when someone
was illegally in the middle of the night parking cars on an open lot that my family owned. And I called first I called the police and then they couldn't do anything because the VIN numbers didn't come back to anything. And then
so code enforcement came and I was going to be fined. So fortunately for me, the tow truck company decided, "Yeah, we'll take it cuz we could scrap them." And that was kind of And there was a big trailer that they had to break down as
well. But um I I don't want to go back, but I will. Certain parts of the city are accustomed to in the past some practices that were used
and it was basically to ex almost like extort or gain properties for some development. So that's historically in a lot of everyone's mind in in the area. So there's a little sensitivity right
there. What I would like to see just as we do we did the face it and fix it you know brochure. I know it may seem like everybody should know what the codes are, but they don't. And when you get
that notice saying you got to have this done in 30 days or 10 days, and you you you just can't. Um, I think I think if they if if we were
informed of the ordinances, the time frames, and all of that instead of just a check >> on inoperable cuz I mean to some people that means the engine doesn't work. It doesn't really mean tires cuz they feel like, well, yeah, you're right. You can
put tires on it and go. But in certain situations, I wish there was a way though to inform people prior to >> like really prior prior prior to and give them a lot of time because not everybody can slap two or four tires on
their vehicle. Um, and I include it. Uh so if we could even move towards that and I know this particular situation we're working through it and that that's not going to be a problem. But from this day forward, um, if we could come up
with something that has those those typical neighborhood kind of ordinances that are broken, cars, fences, grass, you know, just cuz some people right now in some areas and not in this
case because the home is owned in some areas a lot of the owners of those homes that were kept well kept kept up, they're gone. And some investment
per a landlord has them. And you know that that's a whole another story right there. But I just wish we there was a way we could do some upfront more um education, if you will, because
things get sensitive just because of history. And I think that kind of gets in the way. I mean, we're we're dealing with that in more than one situation. So, >> if I could just kind of follow up with
comments. I think you know the the example of community engagement that you've referred to. I think that's kind of what we're talking about. Has been pretty effective in policing with community policing, right? Well, this is community enforcement. And I think it would be
good if we went out into the community and as you said, not just with brochures, but did some community outreach, community events, community meetings, community door hangers, whatever it might be. Um, in order to basically encourage folks to voluntarily
comply with some of these things because as you pointed out, some people might have a vehicle out there and they don't even know it's a code enforcement violation and they might not have the money and they might, you know, you want to encourage them. there might be some funding sources available or or otherwise, but that type of community
enforcement outreach I think is a good point to look at. Um, you know, I'd come from Albuquerque, of course, we have the the International Balloon Fiesta and that area that that it's in actually would often kind of have a lot of blight in it. We didn't want the million.5
people that came over for 10 10 days getting a bad impression of the area from, you know, around the world really. And so we did an outreach effort called companies coming and we provided basically help to the area and we got captains in the area and it it didn't
solve everything but it looked a lot better when company was coming you know. Yeah. >> I like that. >> Yeah. So Mr. Perry, um, you made me think of something and Miss Coachman that captains are actually you ward people and it's your responsibility to
work in your ward. And so, you know, and I and I say that as a former ward person, and I think all five of you up here know, as active as I am, that I will be there to help, but also we have responsibility. And some of the
responsibility is to know what your ward is doing and what things are happening and and this is not um Germaine to Ward five only. >> Oh, no. >> Ward four has seen a lot more with hurricane damage. >> Yes. Ward two has seen it in the years
back with the economy and crashing. We still have and it's still but it comes up to where and we know that most citizens don't get engaged until it affects them directly. So if I look in
the camera and say to the citizens, you know, you probably know if something's wrong in your house. if it's weeds are growing through the engine mount and all the other stuff, there's four two or four flat tires, you know, or something's going on and yes, you can go
through your ward and be proactive and maybe that's a challenge to and I'm challenging each council person. >> I'll take that challenge >> because Yeah, because again, that's what you're elected to do to help your ward while representing the whole city. So, we've got to make that. So, but no, I
think that's a great idea. But you know me, I'm not just sitting up here on Wednesdays twice a month and once in some other months and then going away. I'd be the first one helping them do it. And and I'm not saying that for me just because we want our city. But we also am
am asking the requirements of our codes and ordinances and everything else to be followed. >> Absolutely. >> So, and I think that's important. And in this case, I'm just going to say it because I kind of already said it. If they're not operable and we put them back there, we put them right back in
the same situation. So, how do we help them get them operable? >> You know, not to get them back into a because as soon as they would be put back, they would be a code violation again >> in in in that situation. It would probably be prudent to say, "Okay, we
put them back, but you now have this amount of time, >> but 10 days or 30 days might not solve this issue." and and then all of a sudden then we're the bad guy in 30 days again. Let's see if there's a way to help them get the cars where they can drive them back.
>> Here here's what um if those cars had all four tires with air in them and there was no grass growing around them but the engine doesn't work. >> Nobody would know. >> Nobody would know. Right. So that in itself,
>> right, would >> right now with the situation you're bringing up is one of them isn't registered as 22. Well, there's two vehicles. One of them isn't still. And anything I've seen, I haven't seen the second one register yet. And one of them has either two or four flat tires, which
is a lot of money, but it's not a lot for operation. You know, the tires are the probably easiest thing to fix. So, if they if tires were placed on it, but it can't be driven back. >> But if it's sitting there in the driveway with four tires on it, we don't
know if it's drivable or not. >> But the condition they were in, the photos I saw, >> they were not operational and they're still not operational. What >> right now? I think we're going to be working on this uh in the background, but definitely >> but I don't believe the city should
exert any more money that we've already tried to work with them. If we can get somebody to help, then that's what we need to do. We need to try to help them. But the city did what was legally with Miss M. Singer can come up. If we break any laws,
>> it's it's not necessary. I'll I'll I'll help. I'll help >> and I will too. I mean, from the standpoint of helping. Um, >> but I just think that we can't set a standard up here that is going to put us down a rabbit hole. >> Wasn't asking for the future. Wasn't asking that. But it's some kind of way
the discussion came >> right. Well, we can't discuss anything really outside that would, you know, you and I could talk about things to help get people involved outside of these meetings. But once it comes a point where the cities have to start spending money, it's better to have the discussion and open so we don't get in
trouble. I see what you're I don't want to get in trouble because well, you did it for this person. Why aren't you doing it for me? >> Yeah. And and and we've definitely gotten into those situations before. >> And again, there's and I'm not saying this again. I don't think there's any
one of the six of us up here that wouldn't try to help somebody >> that needed help. But it comes to the things that we're doing. People also got to help themselves. And it's not about how much money you have or don't have. It's about what you can do to get helps. We We're out there for you. What?
Gotcha. >> But I would definitely like to if I can have some assistance in >> um putting together um >> he's not here >> a way to you know for outreach. I can't do it alone. I I I don't just sit up here on Wednesdays either. I you know I
still unfortunately work full-time. So I just need a little help with that. >> Go to Miss Vice Mayor Coker and then Miss Singer. >> Yeah. Back to being able to um be a little bit more proactive in our in our wards. I think it would be helpful if we had, you know, um, a palm card that we
could hand out. That way we make sure that the information getting out there is accurate and it's the same to everybody. >> I agree, >> Miss Singer. >> Thank you. >> Um, abandoned vehicles have a unique
challenge in terms of, you know, um, how we deal with those issues because it is something that we can do something about. We can't necessarily go on properties and fix their roof and replace their screens and chip fix their chipped and peeling paint, but with towed vehicles, we can do something
about them to have them removed. So, we tend to do that, but we do there are conversations that are had, you know, unless we can't reach anyone. Um, there are conversations that are had with the property owner uh to make sure they're aware of the circumstances before the vehicles are towed. I think in any other
kinds of code enforcement violations, there's ample opportunities. We put door hangers. We have conversations. We come back in 10 to 30 days to see if the problem's been fixed. If it hasn't been fixed, then they get a notice of violation. They still have more time before that's heard by the special
magistrate to fix the violations. And then if if they come to the special magistrate and the violations been fixed, then it's it it you know, and then there's even times where they get continued um because we know that they're working on it. And then when they do appear in front of the special
magistrate, she also has been very generous, I think, with allowing people additional time uh to fix their violations and she's always very clear with them. Make sure you're doing it and then it's only if it comes back to a second hearing that a fine is imposed. So there is ample opportunities to
correct violations and a number of conversations that are had with um code enforcement and if they want to talk to the code enforcement manager, they have that opportunity as well. So I I don't think we're heavy-handed. I I really don't believe we are. I think we did
have the program um where we did it one time, but it was the Village of the Arts where we sent out a postcard ahead of time and said we are coming >> during this month and we're going to be looking specifically for these things and that gives everybody the opportunity and it lightens the load for code
enforcement. Um also because you're instead of writing up 10 violations, maybe half of those could be remedied before we come out there and cite them. I I think we we can do that on a targeted limited basis. uh geographically. I think taking on a
total a whole ward wouldn't be possible doing that, but we definitely could um reinitiate that process and do it in some other parts of the neighborhoods. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I'm glad you brought that up, Miss Singer, about village of the arts because that was a neighborhoodled
situation and the ward person got involved and I got involved with it and we said, "How do we get them?" because those weren't we weren't going to be able to fix those. Like like you said, a vehicle is easier to tow than a roof, a house, weeds, and all of that. And the
neighbors were complaining and they said, "How do we fix it to a way that makes it happen?" So, we did send that out. So, that's a good idea. And sometimes things like this, you know, unfortunately, somebody is punished for something or or it happens, but it does
bring up the other parts of how do we make it better? And I think that's what our city's for. So, uh, Miss Coachman, did you have anything else before I go to Miss Moore? Good. Okay. Thank you, Miss Moore. >> Um, real quick, just before I leave this one, because something you said just reminded me. God bless you. So, that is what I think that Mr. Vulker or Mr. Rice
and I talked about when I was um a little concerned about the the for me right now, it's mainly the houses that are vacant and that they're not being maintained at all. So, it's a lot of mowing is the thing. And I love the idea of warning of, you know, specific areas
that there's going to be, you know, that code enforcement is coming through. But the challenge is that like if I leave a door hanger, it doesn't matter because they're not there. So I don't know what we do about that. But for for things that are a little simpler like mowing, I feel like that would be a perfect thing
to do. But I don't know like do we spend money on postage and actually like take staff time to mail things to people? I don't know how we address the fact that people that the homes that I am seeing pretty regularly that are problematic are probably not inhabited.
>> Yeah. I think once we issue the vi notice of violation that mailing goes to the whoever's listed as the current property owner. >> So it does have to be a viol like it's not we can't give them forewarning like we're coming through. >> Well, we could we can we can start to do that. That's where mailing the postcard as opposed to putting on a door hanger
comes in. And and you know, but that that would occur on an individual basis. If you're talking about an abandoned home, chances are >> it's abandoned. They're ne they're maybe not even going to respond to the postcard because at this point they're they're probably looking to sell it or dump it. And >> you know, then we're on the lookout also
for uh unsafe structures. And that's where we get the building official involved. And so we may have to tag him for that. And uh if it's uninhabited, we also can go through the foreclosure process. So um we have a number of remedies just depending on how severe the violations and persistent the
violations are. So >> Mr. Perry, mayor, I'm glad Miss Singer's up here. Um, I I I I think really what we should do is allow Miss Singer as the manager of the planning department that has the code enforcement division that has the
code enforcement chief official and deputy official and then six other code enforcement officers to put together what we call a tactical plan just like the police do. And we work out the logistics of these things whether we do door hangers or cards. You don't all
need to know about that up here in the dis. And we need to have both a reactive and a proactive plan. I know that I see basically code enforcement go out every morning in their vehicles and I kind of know what they do, but I don't know who's going out with them. I know that
when the police officers go out there, there's a first line supervisor called the sergeant. There's a lieutenant that's typically responsible for enforcement of the zone area or the shift and then even captains above that. I don't think we have a management structure that's doing that frankly and
I think Floyd and some of these comments are are are indicative of that and I think it has to be equitable. I think it has to be thoughtful. I think it has to be legal and I think it has to be planning department. Um, and just as I talk at Nauseium about the face it and
fix it because you held that up, maybe they should talk at Nauseium at meetings about what they're doing to ensure the quality and cleanliness of this community is fairly, legally, and equitably enforced. That's what I think. Appreciate you coming up.
>> All right. Thank you. And I think one of the things too is is, you know, like Mr. Perry said about captain of the areas when it comes. So, you know, I think that's almost like a challenge to ward because again, if you're driving around your ward, you're seeing these things
and you know what they are and you know, and I think most of you as well as myself because I get the phone calls are going to Mr. Reese and giving it to him. So, you know, and then if unfortunately or fortunately if somebody makes a complaint about this house when they go
out there, they're going to check the 10 houses around it. So right, it's not wrong, but it's what they are and that's what we can come up with a kind of a face it and fix it with that. But we and I and I would say that that we have given a lot of opportunities for people
to fix it even with changing some of our resolutions and codes about the fining and and then our magistrate. I've sat in on many of those hearings and whether I agree with her or not, I think she's fair, over fair, >> overly fair because some of the people
are good people, some of them aren't. >> They're taking advantage of it. And and I won't use the word that Miss Barnaby doesn't like me to use. But it's it's unfortunate that when you do have somebody that owns it that's not living there, that may not live in Bradenton, they don't care about Bradon. They just care about how much money they're taking
out of it. they should be um taken care of in that way. So, Miss Moore, did you have one final thing before we move on? >> Um yes, I um it was the youth count um the youth comment. I it made me think of I've seen uh through the Florida League of Cities that some municipalities have
something called a youth council. I don't know how involved it is or what you like how what the steps are to do it, but if anyone I can happily find information and share it if you all would like to read more. >> So sometimes be careful what you
volunteer for. >> It came to mind. >> That may be something perfect to play into. >> Um obviously we just had the Boys and Girls Club youth of the year with PAL coming in. >> Yeah. You know, maybe that's something that, you know, the sheriff's office and
our police department will basically be over the PAL building there. I mean, it's still a couple years away. That may be something that will play right into that. And that's a good idea. >> I like that idea of engaging them. >> Yeah, because like I said, there's you almost volunteer when you ask for
something. So, so um all right. Well, I think we've had great discussion. There's going to be more discussion. Miss Coachman, >> just one one comment, Mr. Perry. I'll stay in my lane. >> No, but and I I think one of the things is that, you know, can any every
department can we as council people and me as mayor do better every day? Absolutely. That's what we try and there's things we learn every day. Um, so I think that's very important to take it out of it and and although we may disagree on how things are done, we all agree that we love our city and I think
not only the electeds but also every person sitting in this room and up here and throughout our entire employees try to help and do the right things and help more. So um, I appreciate it and that was a great conversation and we are going to take a fivem minute recess.
Thank you. Madame clerk, >> item six is the consent agenda and staff is requesting approval of items A through Q. >> Chair will entertain a motion. >> Move to approve the consent agenda as
presented today. Second. Second by f uh motion by Miss Barnaby, second by Miss Coachman. I hear that right? >> All right. >> And mayor, for the record, I have had the opportunity to talk with all councils about the consent agenda, the items that are on it, items A through Q.
And uh I think I answered some qu good questions that council had many of them. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Perry. So, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, we'll start the vote in wart five. >> Yes. >> One. >> Yes. Yes. >> Two. >> Yes. >> Three. >> Yes.
>> Four. >> Yes. >> Carries. Five to zero. Thank you very much. >> Madame clerk. >> Item 7A is the second reading and public hearing for ordinance 4066. An ordinance of the city of Bradenton,
Florida, providing for text amendments to the comprehensive plan related to coastal development. Amending the future land use element policy 1.2.1 2.1 and omitting policy 1.2.2 addressing land use and density in the
coastal high hazard area, providing for applicability, providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. >> Thank you, Miss Singer. >> Good morning. Uh Robin Singer, planning community development director. Uh this is concerning an ordinance to further
amend um our uh comprehensive plan regarding coastal high hazard areas. Um you had previously seen amendments and you did hear this one on first reading before it was transmitted to the state. Um and so this is just basically a clean up to address some other issues uh
regarding the assignment of additional density um within the coastal hazard area. Since we um already addressed that in some of the other terms um and and that was compliant with the state as well. Um this is we we don't anticipate that there'll be any issues with this
and the state uh didn't uh issue any comments or recommendations or objections uh to the amendment. Um just to recap this is basically it's hard to see but the outline of the shoreline but basically everything that has that blue overlay is within the coastal high
hazard area. Um so what this uh ordinance does is amends policy uh 1.2.1 2.1 to allow the assignment of density bonuses in the urban core future land use designation in coastal high hazard areas and it also admits omits the
policy that um which is 1.2.2 to allow density bonuses for affordable units in the coastal high hazard area. Um and this was the urban core overlay district where you are able and that's in this blue area in the middle here slightly in
between the two colors. Uh that allows you to assign additional bonuses uh density bonus not just for affordable but for uh any kind of development in that area. Um so this and if you recall what this does is it it's just not a blank assignment of density. It still
has to go through a process to do that for city council to approve, but there is that clause in that approval process that said that you couldn't uh be located in a coastal hazard area. So, if you recall the prior amendments, you're still uh city council is still approving
a development agreement to um assign any kind of density. So, if somebody comes in for a comp plan amendment to go to a higher uh density limit, a category with a higher density limit, then it allows you to do that provided they're providing for evacuation.
And that's what Westminster did if you recall. Um, and they had a development agreement that covered those processes and that's compliant with state statutes. And then this is the policy. When you're talking about density bonuses for affordable housing, it's it's minor in comparison. Um, and so
we're we're just trying to uh free the way so that if somebody does build within a coastal hazard area, they can include some affordable housing units. It it allows them it incentivizes continues to incentivize that. I don't know how many people developing
waterfront property are going to want affordable units, but the option is then there. Um, so with that again, state had no objections, comments, or recommendations. Um and so uh make approval. >> So the chair will entertain a motion to
get to discussion. >> Mr. Mayor, it is a public hearing. >> It is a public hearing. Okay. All right. I'm sorry I did. Yeah, I missed that. I didn't miss it, but All right. So, is there any questions to Miss Singer before we go to the public hearing? >> Yes, I have just one question. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Um Miss Singer, I think you said it and
I just want to make sure that I heard it correctly. This has gone to the state. The state has sent it back. They had no they they made no comments on it. They didn't ding us for anything. They didn't recommend we change anything. They
didn't applaud us for anything. They just sent it back to us, which in Tallahassee speak means go forth and send no more. >> That is correct. >> Okay. I just have a quick one. >> All right. Miss Moore and then >> they blessed it. I think
>> I think that we talked about this in the first hearing. Um or maybe you and I have just talked about it, but um to be clear, the process includes a development agreement so that when we're being asked to grant higher density in the coastal high hazard areas, there'll
be some level of council control over the project and what they're doing. Okay, >> that is correct. And in fact, there has to be if they're going for a higher density category, it has to come to you just for the amendments that we already put in there. If it's in a coastal high hazard area, it has to come to city
council. >> Okay. >> In addition to whatever other uh approvals they need from city council. >> And as far as criteria goes, I know that they're required in the coastal high hazard to address evacuation in the event of um an emergency, but we're we
would be permitted to consider other factors such as the type of project and yes >> and the goals of the project. >> Yeah. So the coastal hazard will be part of any kind of future land use map amendment. So you'll still have all the criteria that you need to judge that
future land use map amendment on its own without even considering coastal hazard and the evacuation zones and then you consider that and and approve a development agreement as part of that approval process. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Schustler.
>> Yeah. Uh, Miss Moore touched on it and Miss Singer just answered it a little bit, but my concerns mainly, I don't know whether it was a question or a statement, would be around public safety and evacuation routes as we're updating the language. Um, and I did have a uh a
discussion with Mr. Perry who answered all my questions. That would really just be around public safety and and evacuation as we're changing the density. >> Yeah, if I could. >> Are you done, Mr. Schustler? >> Yes. >> Okay. Yes, ma'am. this morning >> to I I agree with your concern. I think
it's very valid if it just to reassure you to some extent. My goals with this change are actually to help people have their structures be safer. Um because our 2024 hurricane season taught me that elevating a single structure is
expensive, very expensive, prohibitively expensive. And a lot of people in that area, myself included, found that to be out of reach. And so my goal with considering higher density is that people maybe in those type of structures can elevate and be a little bit safer.
>> Absolutely agreed. >> That's why I want that's why I want the project to have to come before us because I absolutely don't think any of us want to be irresponsible in what we let people do. >> I agree with that, Miss Mo. I was driving through Ward 4 the other day and saw a structure >> that is 20 feet in the air now. It's
amazing. Oh my goodness. >> It's a house that they've actually lifted. Yes. >> And all the braces are under while they're putting the permanent. So it's amazing. >> It really jumped too just um for you know if you're interested it was really incremental and then all of a sudden it was like >> it's it's almost 20 ft.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Crazy. >> All right. So um any other before we go to public hearing? >> Hearing none from the council. We'll open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak? >> God bless you. >> Anyone wishing to speak? Anyone wishing to speak? Hearing none. will close the
public hearing. Now the chair will entertain a motion on ordinance 4066. >> I move to approve ordinance 4066. >> Second by Mr. Shusler. There any further
discussion by the council. Hearing none. We'll start the vote in ward one. >> Yes. >> Two. >> Yes. >> Three. >> Yes. >> Four. >> Yes. >> Five. >> Yes. >> Approved. Five to zero. Thank you, Miss Singer. Moving on,
>> item 7B is the first reading and public hearing for ordinance 4069, an ordinance of the city of Bradenton, Florida, amending the city of Bradenton land use regulations in formbbase code to establish a process for the review
and approval of certified recovery residences and for the consideration of requests for reasonable accommodations from local land use regulations as mandated by section section 397.487
Florida statutes amending chapter 4 of the land use regulations to create a new section 4.3.15 relating to certified recovery residences. Amending chapter 10 of the land use regulations relating to
definitions. Amending article 12 of the formbbased code relating to definitions. Amending article 4, table 4.7 of the formbbased code relating to specific functions and uses within transct zones.
Amending chapter 4, section 4.3.6 of the land use regulations relating to group care homes and group care facilities. Amending chapter 3, section 3.2 of the land use regulations related to standard land use atlas district
regulations. Amending chapter 3, table 3.2.1 of the land use regulations related to residential districts/permitted uses and special uses, providing for severability, providing for repeal of
ordinances and conflict, and providing an effective date. >> Okay. Robin Singer, planning community development director. Um, this ordinance involves the change of permitted and conditional uses and under state statute, you do have to have two public hearings. So, that's why you're hearing
this on first reading. Um, the city attorney drafted uh this ordinance in response to state statute requirements that say that we have to address recovery residences in our code and we also have to provide for reasonable accommodation. Um and so what the scope of the changes
are that it uh defines a certified recovery residence and reasonable accommodation. It amends the definitions for group care homes and group care facilities to uh include recovery residences. Currently they they it states recovery homes in some cases. Uh it provides for group care homes and
group care facilities in the form based code. Currently that doesn't it doesn't address that and so it would be treated as a use that's not listed and be put through a special use process. This basically defines certain districts where you can go through that special use process for all kinds of group home
group care homes and group care facilities which would include recovery residences. It classifies recovery residences group care home or group care facility and it establishes a procedure for applying for a reasonable accommodation as a recovery residence including appeals and revocation.
Uh so this would be and and I I'll invite the uh city attorney to interject on this, but essentially we're taking a lot of the definitions out of the statutes in terms of um recovery residence and and reasonable accommodation. Is that correct? Yeah.
>> Yes, that's right. The our definition of certified recovery residence comes directly from the statute. It's a little it's a little bit different than some of the other um statelicicensed types of um group care facilities that we deal with because they're not actually being
licensed, but the state does have a certification process. So, the facility would have a certificate of compliance from the state. They would also have a certified um administrator who's responsible for that for that residence.
So that's essentially what the what the state definition provides for and and what the statute essentially required of the city was two things. One, that we establish a process to approve these, and two, that we establish a process for
um requests for reasonable accommodation, which is essentially a cotification of the ADA requirements that are that are already in place. >> So, a recovery residence essentially otherwise known as a sober house. Uh
it's it's not a treatment center. Um we do have treatment centers further defined in the code and in some cases but um this is specifically for recovery residents which would be your afterare after you've gone through treatment and sober house would you know you're guaranteed that your neighbor at this
house is sober I mean if there's there's any benefit to it uh reasonable accommodation modification or exception to the land use regulations necessary to afford a person with a disability equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing. I don't know if you recall, we were attempting some amendments to the
formbbased code a few years ago. uh I mean we're talking about homeless facilities and other kinds of facilities and really came to the point of saying that uh for treatment facilities and other kinds of things that we really can't discriminate and that's where um
it's considered a disability as a city attorney said and therefore um we can't treat them differently uh than other kinds of categories of of um residents that might reside in group care homes and group care facilities. Uh we currently, as I said, have a definition
for group care facility and group care home. That's in our land use regulation. Uh we're going to be also importing that into the formbbased code as well. Um they have their separate definitions. Um and we are basically taking out recovery homes and replacing with certified
recovery residences. So, uh because we had some confusion about like what's the difference? So, we're we're making sure that it it is one. We're also further clarifying there's something called a community residential home that's also defined in the statutes and that deals with certain categories of residents
mainly elderly is what you'll see and other people with certain disabilities. So a community residential home currently doesn't really overlap necessarily with a u recovery resident. So it is necessary to put them separately in the code. Uh, also there
is provisions in the statutes for community residential homes that you have to if it's six or under, you have to treat it as a single family. That doesn't wouldn't necessarily apply um to recovery residences or all group care homes or all group care facilities because the statutes specifically apply
to community residential homes. So, it's included in this category, but it's not but it's not reciprocal. It doesn't mean that the other categories are included with a community residential home. So, Miss Singer, I think can we stop there for a second because I know I've got people have probably specific questions
of that, but my first question would be and we've dealt with it is parking, you know, because when you start to add more people to a home and where all of a sudden with the complaint we get a lot of is all of a sudden it's
a twocar driveway and there's 10 cars there. >> So, how does that is addressed in any of this? um we treat it as another any other kind of residence. So if it's a single family home, essentially the parking would be consistent with the single family home. >> But what is our policy on that? Do you
know? Right? >> Uh it's basically two spaces per unit depending on where it's located. In the form based code, it's one space per unit. So if you have multiple units uh in a group care facility uh and there is also a factor of group care facilities
in terms of parking or or density um where it's like a 6:1 ratio if they don't have kitchens in the individual units. So we would treat it the same as any kind of residential unit essentially. >> But we do have some availability of rules that if all of the sudden a group
home is 20 people >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And each one of them drives a car >> and now they're blocking. They're drive parking on the grass. They're parking everywhere. There might be some opportunity to >> help that. >> Yeah, I believe so. >> If I could, Mr. Mayor, the the
definition for a group care home is six people or less. Um, so in terms of the regulation of the group care homes, if they have more than six, it's going to bump them into a different category, which is a group care
facility. Um, and in most cases, both of these categories would require a special use permit, and that would give us the opportunity to review parking in addition to the other compatibility issues that we look at in that process,
>> right? But we do know that other event other uh things that come in Airbnbs different things that that cause where there's more people in a home than right >> again you could have mom and dad could have two three four kids and they're all
of 16 years old living at home there could be six cars in a situation like that >> but we've got to just I just think that you know we're getting complaints about a lot of things that we want to try to do what's right within the law But also, if there's standards that we can set, I
think now's the time to do what we can. And I think that's that's what this is, a cleanup >> and it needs to be done. >> Yeah. I mean, what you're talking about maybe something even outside of this ordinance. It sounds like, you know, you're potentially looking at the
residential parking requirements and that that may be something that we could look at in terms of, you know, uh, you know, some jurisdictions may prohibit parking on the grass, for example. And I I don't know if that's something that would be feasible in the city or not.
Um, but, um, or having, you know, ensuring that there are parking spaces on site for the vehicles that you have, that could be something that we look at. I went by a residence yesterday and not only are they parking, you could tell that it's somebody they're renting a
rooms and there there's four cars in the driveway, then there was two cars actually blocking the sidewalk. So, I mean, that would be something that, you know, they're not allowed to block the sidewalk, but you could tell the one car had been there on and off for a long time because of the oil spots where it
had pulled up when we were driving by it. And that made me think of this and that or all of a sudden, not only are we allowing more cars to park, but they're also parking on the sidewalk, blocking it on a heavily traveled road. So if
there was somebody that was going to walk, they'd have to walk out in the road. So all right. So that's that. I'm going to go to Vice Mayor Coker and then Mr. Shusler. >> Yes. Um with this certification that these uh facilities are getting, who is
it that ensures the compliance? >> Um it's a state agency. >> So they'll make sure that it stays alcohol free, drug free, and all that. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Okay. Anything else, Miss Coker?
>> No, no, that's it. >> Mr. Schustler. Um yeah, so Miss Singer too, I I guess I just want to make sure that the really the mayor mentioned cleanup that the goal of this ordinance is to align um Bradenton Code with state statuates and also federal housing that
>> Yeah. Yes. >> All right. Um my my I mean I know what I know why we're doing and what we're doing and that is good but just like as a general comment to everyone I following uh Vice Mayor Coker's comment um I have concerns
about people that are not licensed not with a real program. I know people have the right to rent their properties. I don't know if there's any prohibition on capacity, you know, having 12 people in a 32 or something like that, but um I
don't know if we have a mechanism for that, but I'm there are areas in Ward 4 that are struggling with unlicensed unofficial >> uh recovery situations and my concern is that they're not doing it well. You
know, not all the programs are the same. So I don't know if we have any any way to address that. >> Yeah. I think what may be compelling people in this circumstance because we have receive some interest we've heard from some people is the funding that may
be available to them. Um but in ordinary circumstances we don't really have we don't have a definition of family in the code that limits the occupancy. We do have some occupancy limits in a property maintenance code uh that we can enforce on. Um but um and then also fire, you
know, may get involved if it is more of a commercial situation. Um they can get involved in that. Um so we we kind of attack it from the various angles that we can in terms of of enforcement on the code and and making sure that they're coming in for the public hearing process
where one is warranted. But it does bring up the point that you can have multiple roommates, >> you know, you can put in and without going through this because if you're not looking for the funding for recovery residence or some other form of group home, um, you know, we
there are limits to what we can do and we've dealt with that with vacation rentals as well. >> Yeah. >> Vice Mayor Coker. >> Yeah. Um, just like with the vacation rentals, there's I think an annual inspection. Am I not am I >> think it's by annual
>> are or are we able to you know put that on to this require that they get their inspection from their agency or >> uh that would be something we'd have to look at because you know the fact that the state is
regulating to some extent may limit what the city can do. Um, but if that's something that the city is interested in, we can we can look into that further to see if we have the ability to do inspections on these units and whether the
planning department has the ability to to do that >> or if we could require that they provide a certificate of compliance that maybe their agency gives you. Well, we do require that they provide their, you know, they have to provide the evidence
of the lensure or the the cert certification from the state in order to proceed under these definitions because the definition specifically requires that they have that certification from the state. So, if they didn't have that certification from the state, they would
not fall into this category. >> But how are we managing that to know that they did that? >> And how often do they have to I mean, do you just get your application, you get certification, and then you just have it in per in perpetuity, or do they have like >> yearly >> continuing ed, you know? I don't know.
>> Right. I I don't know what the state process looks like either. I don't know if they are inspected or if it's just a certification that they get from the state and then they go off on their own and and do that. >> So, so if I may chime in just for one second. All right. So, some of this is
regulated under Florida Department of Health. you know, when we're when we're notice when we're notified of the facility request, then it's it promotes a change of use occupancy for the for the residential um site. That gives us
the ability to go in and do our inspection annually. And also, I'm I'm confident the department of health will do the same because what does that do for us? We start responding to those locations. in one scenario recently required um a sprinkler system to be
installed. Uh so you know once they go through that application process and request that change of use it gives us the ability to go in and and do our inspections and so that comes into an annual inspection if not more often
based on complaint or you know our response there you know if we have nuisance uh responses and along with EMS. So, you know, it does open the door uh for us as the uh uh AHJ uh to go in
and um so, you know, we kind of I don't want to say we deal with it frequently, but we kind of deal with it often and um you know, add additionally on a um yearly basis for for inspection. >> Thank you, Miss Singer.
Um I think the remainder of this is just we um sorry going the wrong way. So uh this is just showing you the formbbased code use table. We uh we did not list it for T3 but we are listing as a special use and T4 and this is for the smaller
group care homes. Um so T4 on up through um T6 and special districts. uh group care facilities which would be the larger facilities uh again would be a special use but in the only in the T40 through T46 and special districts.
Um again uh adding the definitions on certified recovery residences um and um this also being added mainly to the land use regulations but also being added to the formbbased code. Uh,
and then this is alternative reasonable accommodation if the city council determines that the request accommodation will impose an undue financial or administrative burden to the city's um or will require a fundamental alteration to the nature of the city's land use and zoning regulations. The council may consider whether an alternative reasonable
accommodation exists which would effectively meet the disability related needs. So, it's not a given. It's not the same as the the uh community residential homes which the state just says we have to treat them like any other single family home or multiple family. There there is a process by
which you can you know if it's reasonable accommodation that you can consider um what kind of impacts it'll have on the city and make your determination accordingly. Um, so the procedures basically there's an application required, there's a departmental review, and there's a final
determination to city council within 60 days of receipt. And this is for reasonable accommodation. There is also if they're going through the special use process, um, that would go to the planning commission and then on to city council. And then you do have the the ability to
approve with or without conditions or approve in part or deny with specific reasons and actions necessary for reconsideration. So, um, so it's not just totally handsoff the way some of the other ones are. Um, there are some limitations. They've got
some time limitations like they do on many other permit types. Uh, so we have to proceed with these and this is again for reasonable accommodation. We have to proceed with these expeditiously. We can't let them lie because essentially they get approved if if we uh do that.
And so with that um this is first reading. staff's recommending approval and um we'll return in um on the 25th for a second reading. >> All right. So, >> by Mr. Mayor, >> right, it's a public hearing item, but no action required today. So, right.
>> All right. We'll open the public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak? Anyone wishing to speak? Anyone wishing to speak? Hearing none, Madame Clerk, we'll set the effective date. >> Pardon me. I'm sorry. We'll uh we've had
the first public hearing set the second for >> the second reading and public hearing is set for March 25th. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on to new business. Mr. Perry, >> the emergency purchase report. We have one emergency purchase report to council
February 25th, 2026. It was basically a sewer repair from on 1st Avenue West and 15th Street. That was an emergency repair. It included work requiring mobilization um labor, road and building materials that was conducted by Woodruff
and Suns, one of our contractors for those types of projects. The total amount of the expenditure was $12,776.70. >> All right, >> mayor. We have a couple other matters of uh new business that we'd like to kind of bring to the attention >> Yes, sir. >> of council. And the first thing is uh we
could do I think we'll probably start with probably have to go down. >> Is that a call? >> It's just like a It was a little >> Thank you. >> Thank you, ma'am.
This is basically a request um and a requested motion we're going to seek to approve uh two temporary access agreements um with T-Mobile and with Verizon Wireless and their their uh
corporate LLC's. And what involves basically is that we are doing uh a good deal of elevated water tank repair and and upgrade dates that are required. And this particular tank is the one on 59th Street out by 29th Avenue, the big big
white one that's out there. And so our our tank uh folks that do that and have the contract to do the upgrades require that the cellular carriers that we allow to be on those tanks in exchange for lease agreements and revenue we receive
remove their equipment while we do it. And um the time is coming up where we need that to be done basically by Friday. Um what the cell carriers do in the interim when we they have to remove their permanent equipment and tennis and other um adjunct type of electronics is
they bring in what's called a cow. It's a a cell on wheels. It's basically a large trailer. Not even a large trailer, probably a mediumsiz trailer and it has an extending antenna that goes up. We use these actually quite frequently in storm conditions too. We're always ready
to deploy cows when we get with our contractors uh in in pre-storm preparation. And so they'll basically have this cow on site that allow the cell service to continue um while the work is being done. The temporary access
agreements have been reviewed legally um and they've been approved. uh they'll be in place and we need them really to get moving by this Friday. That's why it's under new business on the agenda. So, I'm asking basically for a motion to approve the temporary access agreements
with T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless uh and allow me to to sign off on the easements. Typically, these would be required uh to go to council in full and the mayor would execute them because it's land use, but they're temporary um
access agreements. And so that's where we're at. >> Any questions? Can >> we get a motion before we have discussion? >> Okay. So, chair will entertain a motion. Motion to approve the temporary access agreements with T-Mobile South LLC and Celco Partnership doing business as
Verizon Wireless and authorize the mayor to execute. >> We authorized the city administrator to execute these two agreements because when I noticed the form on them, that's what it has. >> Oh, okay. >> Mr. Perry, that's been corrected. >> It has been correct. Yes, sir. >> Okay. On the form. >> Yes, sir. >> Excellent. Then the mayor is perfect.
>> Second. So motion >> stated by the mayor and seconded by Miss Coker. >> Vice Mayor Coker. >> All right. Discussion. Mrs. Moore. >> I was just going to point out that um that Mr. Rutil had had read it and
>> yeah, I think Marissa prepared these documents. So they've been reviewed by our office. >> That's I I'd mentioned that. Um I didn't know if it was Mr. Rudesaw and that's why I said it' been reviewed by legal. >> Yep. >> Next slide. >> All right. Um, any other discussion?
Hearing none, we'll start the vote in W two. >> Yes. >> Three, >> yes. >> Four, >> yes. >> Five, >> yes. >> One, >> yes. >> Carries five to zero. Mr. Perry. >> And at this point, uh, Mayor, I think that Miss Shadic's going to come up and give a brief presentation on some of the work she's been doing um for our
quarterly reports and capital projects update. Tiffany, and she's done a great job. Um, I'm sure you've noticed a lot of the work product coming out. um her and her team in communications working with public works and the the the department
have just done a really good job of both internal i.e. letting other folks in the city know particularly our principles being the city council and mayor um as well as external partners as well. But this we think will be very helpful for you to be a quick reference um as to the
activities that going on. And you as the mayor's pointed out whether we call them captains or not are our leaders for the administration both technically but also in the community based situation. And I know you get asked a lot of questions about what's going on with wastewater
with with with drinking water with utility storm water and the like. So and and even mobility, right? Someone couple, right? We have our books with us. All right. So, how do we use those? >> Okay. So, Tiffany Shadic, public
information manager. Mayor Council, on February 20, I placed the first set of quarterly engineering project updates in your mailboxes. I see that some of you have brought them. I'm glad. I hope they've been useful for you. >> I know you're a quiet talker, but can you get a little closer? These reports
were developed in coordination with public works to provide a clear snapshot of the city's active infrastructure projects and planning efforts currently underway. The goal of this format is to make it easier to see where work is occurring across the city and to quickly reference
project details. And I'd like to just briefly go over a few examples from the report. So the first category highlights storm water improvement projects focused on improving drainage and reducing localized flooding.
The next section covers sanitary collection system improvements including lift station upgrades and related infrastructure that support wastewater service. And you'll see that we also have it by date. So at this point it is a bit
dated. These will be quarterly. Uh we have project manager information, location, um so it's ward specific, many are citywide as well. Uh funding source, project phase and scheduling as well as details about the project and the
purpose. So you can quickly reference this. That's another from sanitary collection. Our next is water reclamation facility. That's these um projects support wastewater treatment capacity and
overall system reliability. And then the next section, this includes improvements of the water treatment plant focused on maintaining water quality and modernizing treatment infrastructure. The next category includes water distribution system improvements such as
water main replacements and related upgrades that support a reliable drinking water service in mobility or transportation. This section highlights transportation improvements including roadway and sidewalk projects focused on safety and accessibility.
And then we also have included in this a quarterly operations and maintenance report for Woodard and Currin. I also um kept the slide out because I had so many uh we have over 65 included in that packet. But we also have a um lineup of all the grants that that we've been
awarded to date. So that's that watered incurring report. And those are just a few of the examples from the full report. Uh we prevent we plan on providing this uh quarterly. So the next report will be available in April.
>> And I'll turn it over to Mr. Perry. Great. >> Thank you. Any questions for Tiffany first? >> Mr. Mayor. >> Yes, ma'am. Miss Barnaby. >> Mad. I would like to thank you because this is going to be very very helpful to
me. I I'm not an engineer and to have this information at my fingertips when I get questions from the citizens, it's very very helpful to me. I also wanted to thank you for the very lovely post that you put up in honor of
International Women's Day with all of all of us council ladies up here. That was very very kind. I don't know what kind of filter you used on it. I I thought I look like I did back in high school and that made me super happy. So
>> you can thank David for that. >> Ditto. Ditto. Ditto. That was actually from the freebie shoot if you recall. >> Yeah. >> Someone asked me if it was AI. >> No, it was a real picture. >> It was the actual photo. It was just,
you know, lightly retouched. Obviously framed. Yeah. But I'm so glad that that's been useful for me. >> Very much appreciated. Yes. Mr. U Mr. Mayor, um if I also could just give you kudos for what something I really like about the book is that it is
um citywide uh so that it's not just me educating myself about what's happening in W 4, but I can then have at my fingertips what's happening across the city, which is awesome. So, thank you. >> You're very welcome. I'm so glad you love it. Mr. Yeah, I just wanted to add too on top of the way that it is
organized, the schedule, but also the project managers. >> Um, >> I'm newer to the city and that was a, you know, it's a great thing. We see people and we see faces and we meet them, but it doesn't necessarily translate into what they do every day. I
thought that was excellent. So, thank you. >> Yes, absolutely. Sorry, I left that slide out because we had so many, but we do have a slide that features the entire team to say. Obviously, there are several people in public works that we need to thank. Those are some of the engineers that are featured. >> And I think if the citizens are out
there listening, this is all available on Face It and Fix It. Um, for the most part with any information you want to get about your location, what's happening citywide. Um, the only comment that I did get one time is to face it and fix it maybe towards the bottom a
little bit. Can we put it in a more prominent area? Um, so it's a little easier for jumping out at them >> on the website. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Because I, you know, of course I say that anywhere I go >> and go look at the face it and fix it.
It's easier to look at something and and um when we did have a W two meeting here with 20 people and they have some issues and not a one of them, even though we've said it numerous times, had gone to it. So, it's up to you as a citizen to go
gather information and not just um think your government isn't doing something. So, thank you. Great job. >> Great job. I I just want to kind of summarize a couple of uh the comments from council and the presentation from Miss Shadic. And
yep, you can leave it up if you want. Okay. And and if you look at page two, you'll see the people behind the projects and it was mentioned by um Councilman Shusler that the team we've put together um including Colonel Lee and Mr. Ference at the top, Miss
Clayback now kind of moving more towards what I would call strategic engineering that Mr. Williams and myself and Colonel Lee and others have kind of uh tried to mold her towards that because we have so much that has to be strategically engineered. And when you look at what
we're applying for, I mean, we do a we do a project meeting every two weeks that Mr. Lindsay runs. And and when I first started, we would probably do somewhere on the order of about eight 8 to 12 projects at any given time that
deal with utility. And uh the last one had 54, but there's actually 64 projects that were able to do the funding sources and the the requirements. And Mr. Giddens and the Wooded and Curran team
and our finance people, they're connecting together now. Now Heidi, we're Monday who handles the overall city finances knows what's going on as far as these these requests for funding, where the funding's coming, when we're going to have to pay it. I mean,
everything is interconnected. It's very sophisticated. It requires sophistication, I should say. and we're beginning to sophisticate at a much more higher bandwidth to do it. And even though we have what I would call the technicians here, there's a bunch of
other folks in the city, including Miss Shadic because the and and and Mr. Myers, all these pretty pictures basically, you know, David puts together and and we've got to basically toot our own horn because we're making huge investments and really um uh
transforming the future. Miss Melton gave me a reading of minutes from I think it was 2017, >> I believe. So, yes, sir. >> And it was when the facilities report was done for the city from Jones Edmonds
and and Mr. Mlen came up to the dis and he talked about it and he said, "Yeah, I think we're going to need about $6 million." >> Mhm. >> That's what the report says. We're on the order probably over 200
now. seeking probably 175. That's pretty good shape and we'll continue to do that and the initiative that it takes where we're at right now. And it's a different city and different utility today than it was when Mr. Callahan here was having to
handle these responsibilities and obligations to the future. But where we're at now is different. The environmental rules are different. The cost of it different. the availability of funding is different, the people that do it and the needs for that
sophistication is different. And my hat goes off to everybody and probably most of all you for supporting us in that. Um there's so many different facets to to running a city and the responsibility to our citizens, but the things that are included here are some of the most
important about whether your drains work appropriately, whether your water is delivered, you know, in clean, reliable, um affordable manners and the like. And so we're doing everything we can to bring this to a very high performance
level. This isn't JV anymore. this isn't the public works department of the past. And I talk with Colonel Lee and his staff and go, "Nope, we need to do increase game speed." And we've done that. And and and it's been well warmly received and this challenges, but we
will continue to do it. And I really think if we stay on this path, we will be in really good shape, particularly when you look at some of the projects like our aquifer recharge well and we'll be out of the river. So the water keepers lawsuit, you know, about
environmental potential environmental contamination and the like, we won't even be injecting anything in the river. It'll be going 1,600 ft deep. >> 16016001. Thank you. Good point. Yep. The terminal terminal depth
>> lower than 1600. Yep. 01. >> Yep. And uh you know, that's where you want to be. You want to be ahead of the curve, not behind it. And and I would venture to say that a lot of folks, a lot of cities out out of the total municipalities and other local governments in the state are going to find themselves a little bit behind the
eightball um when those times come and state law kicks in where you have to be out in navigable waterways. And so, you know, we're doing everything we can. I assure you, our sophistication, our commitment, our passion, and our support uh and appreciation for you is amongst
the highest. So, thank you so much. >> Thank you, Miss Moore. Um I on on the on the topic of funding I and maybe this is a good time to um thank you for sharing the Woodard and Curran financial plan. I think it was called the financial strategic plan.
>> Y >> um uh just you know for for citizen information I think that they put our immediate uh need projects high priority at 197 million. Um, but I
thought it was a really great >> That's just on That's just on wastewater, >> right? >> It's a lot. Um, but I think it's important for people to know that. Uh, but I also think it's important for people to know that we have a a strategic plan to obtain that kind of funding. And if to the extent that they
continue to to update those type of plans, I would love to continue to receive them um because I found it to be very helpful >> and and you will and you'll be asked to adopt them. And we appreciate what you all did which was approve our ability to engage them for our drinking water as
well um as and our storm water because really the eligibility for some of that supplemental funding we're seeking requires that it's kind of a you know there's certainly technical requirements of eligibility but you got the facility plan you have the financial plan. The
reason why the DP and commerce at the state level that kind of administers those things both from an environmental as well as the fiscal side, they want to make sure that if they're giving money to a local government, that local government is is do doing the best practices of looking at the strategic
plan from an analysis of both short, mid, and long-term perspective, but also looking at the technical plan to say engineers have certified that these improvements are necessary. They'll create resiliency, they'll create reliability, and they'll create environmental positive conditions. So,
that's the facility plan, and they got to integrate together. So, excellent, excellent comment point. Yep. >> Yeah. I think it's important that people really realize that the bandwidth has changed, you know, in that department
because not only are we doing all of the face it and fix it stuff, we're also doing other projects. We're moving public works and sanitation. We're we're doing a lot of things that take a lot. So from the administrator down, everyone
is stepping up and and being held accountable, which is important, which is not the obviously the job of this council dayto day, but it's putting the right people in the seats at the moment to make sure that those things are getting done because we do not ever want
to either falter on a grant or lose a grant because we didn't do the right things. And I think there's opportunity with like hiring a woodarded and current which thanks to the council that was seen as a priority when it was
brought and from the wastewater standpoint and the availability of what they bring and and you you said it and we used it the other day at an event with probably about 20 people that you know why is on the monopoly board
why is the waste or the water the most important? >> Waterworks. Waterworks is the most expensive because it's the most important and you know going through and we've said this before we may challenge some of the things that happen to us but that doesn't mean that we aren't pushing
them and you know with like water keepers and that we're being held accountable for some things but we're also going to be hel holding people accountable for also saying hey kudos for what you're doing. We don't want kudos. We just want it fixed. But you also have to give people credit when
it's happening. So, I will not back off of that >> for this council doing what it was through our staff. But I will stand up for what we're doing. >> We appreciate that. It takes uh it takes time and and you know, we so far it's so
good so good and good results and um right now where we're at may you know, I think it's it's harder to come out from where you were to get to a certain point. Um, and we've done that already for sure if we continue to do it. Just remember the rules of monopoly that if
you land on the utility, you own all the utilities, then you get double the rent. >> So that's the electric company's on there, too. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Perry. Anything else? >> No, sir. >> No. So, um, I'm going to go to rest of
department heads before we go to council reports. Anything else department headwise? Seeing none. Um, all right. Council will start in W five. >> Well, we had quite a bit of discussion about something going on in W five, so I
don't think I have to bring that up. Um, on a good note, um, had the opportunity, Mr. Mayor and Councilwoman Moore and Council Shushler. I got it right. I got the vowel right.
Um had the opportunity to go to the back to Angola Festival and it was each year gets better and better and and this year I I I don't know how they're going to top it. I I think it was a beautiful day. the weather cooperated
until about 6 or around that time and it started to rain, but we were doing the junk canoe or whatever. I tried to hang in there as long as I could, but um it it was just really a wonderful uh event and and just the meaning behind it. We
got I feel like we got a lot of um history in in some of the things that were said. Um, and I definitely enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to next year. And she did mention that during the summer they have some kind of
um, clinic or something where you can make your own costume head so forth. I'm going to make sure I be I do that so I can be ready uh, next year. I won't belabor it because it's not my ward.
Uh um and and just want to kind of say ditto to how wonderful our staff and all the people that make this city move from I I always say bottom is not the bottom.
To me the bottom is the top. um from all the way from each end. Um this city is definitely moving in a direction um of greatness and it is definitely moving
differently. Um, and that's thanks to not just us uh allowing people to be hired or what have you. The people that we hire and the people that
are involved and I say w 5 is alive, but it definitely sounds like Bradenton is alive. That's it. Thank you, >> Vice Mayor Coker. >> Yes. Well, um, what a great time of year
this is. I mean, we got this great weather and there's just so many things to do. I unfortunately this past Saturday there were so many things. I did not make it to the festival, >> but I was there in spirit and uh I'm glad it was a success because I've heard
all good things. Um, and um the Pirates are having a very promising start to the season. It's been a lot of fun. If you have a chance, go to a Pirates game. Go Bucks. And um while my hairdresser maybe have taken my Irish out a little bit, I
will say um that I too am an Irish uh lassie up here. And so I want to end with a little Irish blessing. One of the better ones. There are good ships and there are wood ships. These ships they sail tame the
sea. But by God, the best ships are our friendships, and may they always be. >> Great. Thank you, >> Miss Barnaby. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, just wanted to say that thanks to the to the staff and everyone that came out
with the butterfly garden. Uh, we will be doing a a grand opening once um Betsy Neil and Annabelle Pulland get back in town from college, and it will be sometime this summer. we were not able to work it out with their spring breaks that it just didn't couldn't couldn't
get it together that quickly with them. Plus, when when teen, you know, when college kids come back from spring break, I know their families want to spend as much time with them as they'll let them, and I'm sure they want to see their friends and and and that sort of thing. Um, I too was at the um
uh Wonder Wall on Saturday with the Village of the Arts and Mr. Sh going to talk about it, but it was a great event and and um was there had another event and also apologies I was not able to make it to back to Angola um due to the
funeral of a family friend. So, uh other things that are coming up very quickly, we've got the service club gala on March the 14th at the Palmeta Fairgrounds. That is a ticketed event and you can get tickets by going online to manateeserviceclub.com.
The Manatee River Garden Club is having a free event this weekend on the 13th from 1 until 4 and on the 14th from 10 until 3 and it is a flower show uh based around the luck of the Irish. So uh want want to encourage everyone to turn out
for that. And since Mrs. Coker gave you an Irish blessing, I will give you an Irish joke. >> Oh boy. >> So Patty goes down to the pub and he says to the barkeep, "Give me a Guinness." And the barkeep goes, "Patty, what's what's going on?" And he said,
"Oh, I had another fight with me, wife." And the barkeep says, "Well, Patty, you married a stiff neck woman. You did." He goes, "I I did, but she came crawling up to me on her hands and knees this time." The barkeep goes, "Patty, you be telling
something now. That woman of yours, she would not be doing that." He said, "I." She came crawling up to me on her hands and knees. She did. And the barkeep just can't understand this. And he says, "Well, whatever did she say?" And Patty said, she said, "Come out from under
that bed and fight like a man." >> Happy St. Patrick's Day. >> Happy St. Patrick's Day, >> Mr. Shusler. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, since we were just discussing the uh fiscal year 2026 quarter 2 capital projects report, I
just wanted to say that it's encouraging to see the continued progress uh being made across the city. The fix it and face it initiative is helping identify and address issues in our neighborhoods more quickly and residents are clearly seeing those results. Uh, speaking of
infrastructure and funding, uh, we will de certainly benefit from the four million in federal community project funding secured by Congressman Vern Buchanan, including 3 million in storm water improvements associated the city park project and a million to support
transportation improvements along State Road 64. These funds add to the more than 150 million in state and federal grants and appropriations the city has secured in recent years to advance infrastructure improvements across Bradenton. So we certainly appreciate
Congressman Buchanan's continued support of our community. Um regarding backedola and mineral springs, I just have one further comment to add about that. um got an opportunity to walk around in a hot hot Saturday. And
all I have to say is if you have not been to Mineral Springs Park um it is uh you know core to Bradenton's history and a unique historic site and it is a gem. So uh if you haven't been there you
should go. Uh, regarding the village of the arts, uh, they did host its first wonderall mural festival, which featured artists creating largecale murals throughout the district. The event literally transformed the village into a living canvas for the weekend and drew
residents and visitors alike to experience the creativity and energy that make that neighborhood uh, so special. Um, and personally, it's great to see so many positive things happening across Bradenton, and it's a reminder of
how active and engaged our community continues to be. On that note, I appreciate the residents, city staff, and our community partners um who make that progress possible. Well said,
>> Miss Moore. >> Um, I am sorry that I couldn't go to the Wonder Wall. >> That this weekend was or this past weekend I thought was really jam-packed with really, you know, so many offerings in the community, which was I love seeing that, too. But I was I was sorry
I missed that. I parts of it parts of it were temporary, but some of it is permanent. >> I was going to say that's awesome. Um, yes. And I appreciate everybody uh supporting the Back to Angola Festival. really a really uh hefty educational event. Um and you really can learn a lot
about just the history of our whole area really. Um but they've got a lot of they really have stepped up their game with the programming and um the different segments that they have as far as education goes. Um I am happy to report that the mayor and I were able to attend
community meetings at Braden Castle and at River Isles since our last meeting. I absolutely love the engagement and I appreciate it when it, you know, we all go together. Um, of course, one of the things I'm super excited about is that we're having a W4
uh project uh meeting tonight 6:00 p.m. So, I don't know if anyone can watch this in time, but hopefully we'll get a good turnout. Um, I think it's worth saying that I I expressed this to Mr. Williams informally this week that I
have a sense that Ward 4 residents are very optimistic. Um that they, you know, for for some areas that maybe felt, you know, not paid attention to in the in the past, the feedback that I'm getting is
very positive, very excited that there's so much going on in Word 4. And so I think it's worth telling you all that, you know, your support of projects that span ward 4 are definitely noted and appreciated um not only by me but also by residents that are expressing that.
Um let me see if there was anything else. Um I'm excited about our workshop. Um so I'm looking forward to that this afternoon. Um, I also wanted to let Miss Singer know that I have also been getting kudos on the planning department. In
particular, I just recently had a couple of different people tell expressed what a pleasure it was to work with you and Mr. Dong. So, way to go guys. Uh, and then finally, just something interesting that I don't even know. I don't have an answer to this, but I'm just going to share it. Um, I have been seeing an
increase. I've been getting calls and I've actually witnessed at least one species myself um in the area that is uh ward 4 north of Manatee a not the not the plan development south of it as much
I just haven't heard from them um but we are seeing an abundance of coyotes and uh one in particular is not well uh he comes out at weird times like broad daylight and he's clearly lost most of his fur um so I just wanted to I don't Oh, are you all I don't know if anyone
else is seeing that, but I mean I've I have seen the coyote myself and uh many pe I mean I've been getting pictures of them, especially the one that isn't well and out in weird times of the day, but I thought maybe it was something I could just share. >> Um >> how handles that?
>> They have Well, they actually that that's part of the story because the other thing that I also had been um receiving notes of are iguanas. Iguanas in like Tidewater area. Tidewater the harbor. the one that's right behind it. Um I I mentioned it to Mr. Williams and
it county does animal services. the resident that uh reached out about the iguanas and the recently one of the more recent emails I got about the coyotes um also included commissioner Ballard because district 2 is her ward 4 lies
within district 2 and she replied all and educated us that while the county does animal services they don't deal with what they consider to be wildlife and both of these species fall within that category I only bring it she seems willing to collaborate she said um more
more so with the iguanas, less with the coyotes. Uh because iguanas are extremely invasive. So given free rain, they will reproduce and kind of take if anyone has spent any time in South Florida, you can see them that they're literally everywhere. Um and they're
problematic because they're not native. But um she seemed open to some kind of collaboration. I don't know. Then again, I don't know the answer. She doesn't know the answer, but I just thought I would raise it in case you all are getting the same kind of things. Um, >> I haven't I haven't heard the iguana
thing, but the thing I watch on TV about South Florida is the fire department's in charge of that. So, >> um, >> that's what you see on that show on on uh, a Discovery Channel or something. >> I've seen I've seen those. I don't really care for them that much,
>> especially the snakes. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. There they go. The snakes, too. That was pretty The last one of that was pretty bad. >> I think I think the police ought to be looking at that. No rivalry there. >> Yeah. No, no comments. No, the iguanas I
hadn't heard about, but the coyotes over the last 20 years, they kind of come and go. >> Yeah. >> And unfortunately sometimes that you don't if you see a coyote at any time, something's wrong. >> Yeah. >> Because they normally come out at night. >> Yeah. >> And if they're sick or if they're
>> The one that I think was healthy, it was actually I mean, just if I could uh bore you with this, but I thought it was insane. Um, I walk the dog before the sun comes up, but it's usually up by the time I'm done with the walk. And I I saw one come out of the river.
>> Um, I know it I I don't know if it was scavengering because it's shallow there sometimes in low tide, you know, you can um I can't remember who I shared the story with. It might have been Mr. Williams, but I I couldn't literally could not believe my eyes that I was I I saw something moving coming out of the
river and I thought, "What is that?" And then it hopped into the street, shook off, looked at Mickey and I, and then bolted. Um, so that was crazy. But yeah, I think you're right because the other one >> dog, correct? >> What's that? >> Mickey is the dog. >> Mickey is my dog. Yes. Who Thank you, by
the way, uh, Miss Shadik, that, uh, he got he got included in the back to Angola Love post. My kids thought that was hilarious and wonderful. Um but yes, so uh the one that is not well, um my husband just saw that one going home for lunch yesterday and sent
me a couple of pictures and it was so it was midday. It was lunchtime and he definitely does not look like he >> supposed to be. Yeah. >> So just FYI, that's kind of a >> Your husband was going home for lunch or the wolf was going >> I don't know. I know. I don't know what he was doing. He's not supposed to be
out at lunchtime. Oh, >> Miss Barnaby, >> thank you. Um, coyotes are very interesting creature there. There there are coyotes in New York City. >> Y >> they are very adaptable. Uh, I would recommend that if if there's
not a food source, they will leave. But people put out cat food. People put out cats. >> Yes. I was going to say cats are getting mauled a little No, I I don't mean I'm I love my cats and that's why my my cat does not go outside. >> Chickens.
>> Um yeah, chickens. >> Um so if if if if you're out there and you've got you think you see coyotes in your area, pick up don't leave cat or dog food out. Pick it up. Bring it in. Bring the the animals in because they
will attack other >> animals does not necessarily size does not necessarily detour a hungry coyote. Mhm. True. >> Um, the other thing I might recommend is you give Florida Fish and Wildlife a call. >> Oh, that's a good idea.
>> And see if they have someone in the area that might be able to if if it's if it's an animal that you know, nobody wants to see any animal suffer. >> Right. >> So, I would I would give them a call. Um, >> it's >> Yeah. If you think it might have mange
or be raid, that's that's a health issue. >> Yeah, >> that's a great idea. I'll do that. >> Call us. We'll go out assess and if we have to call others, we'll call them. >> Oh, that's nice. >> Yes, sir.
>> I mean, we we respond to them all the time. We get we get calls about them. >> I I take it back. We don't get calls about them. We really don't. Uh because I've had council members ask in the past, hey, how many coyote calls? We had minimal. Um but they are invasive. They
are mangy sometimes and >> um they're hungry if they're out and about. So, >> all right. >> I'm not going to say what might happen, >> right? >> If we're confronted, but >> Yeah. But >> it might happen. >> Sick and going to attack somebody. You got >> it might happen.
>> Yeah. >> Yep. All right. Thank you. Um a lot of stuff has been talked about. I'll go over a few things that um first I just want to thank our police department. We had a lost individual that um and I've had residents from that area that were out and they called and and wanted me to
give kudos to obviously our police department, our sheriff's office. Everybody collaborated and a lot of times you do not find the individual safe and we were fortunate enough to find this older gentleman that I guess had a little dementia, Alzheimer or something that
>> he has cognitive issues but um after he was he was just dehydrated uh but he was cracking jokes in the back of the ambulance and >> requested a certain meal for dinner and >> right >> um >> but yeah >> kudos to the police >> and also man well
mant sheriff's office. Blood Hound is the one who actually found it. Um, man search and rescue had dogs out the day prior did not locate him. Um, he had he was so back in the thicket he had created a little shelter for himself. He created a little cane to walk with out
of a heavy palm frond. Uh, and apparently um is known for in the past for going on walks longer walks than what he did. Um, MSO's watch was around with their thermal unit. They didn't detect anything. We had our drones out. The
deputies who ended up finding him said that you would have had to have the drone down at basically waist high level through all that thicket, which was impossible to fly through to be able to see him. So, kudos to their K9. We our K9 retired at the end of uh February, K9
Liberty. So, um, but again, um, >> can't say that for sure, but, uh, but we were very thankful they were able to assist. >> Well, just the the residents and I think obviously with everything that we did with that with collaboration. >> Absolutely. >> And that's what we talk about in Manatee
County and all of ours is unique in that collaboration when you listen to other areas around the state. So, good job on that. Um, uh, there'd be another meeting before Bamfest, but I just want to remind everybody Bamfest is coming up the end of the month and you see the signs and
really going to be exciting with Real Eizenton doing a great job at bringing that to the second annual now and see how we can continue to grow on that. Back to Angola was uh, very fun compared to
the heat maybe, but but everything else because it's just hot out there. But when you I was impressed this year with the number of vendors. It seemed like >> you know the hurricane and stuff kind of reset it maybe and got people more involved and just listening to some of
the stories and that you know hour and 40 minutes sitting up there when it was supposed to be 15 20 minutes was worth the time. >> Yes. >> And you know we were last to speak and was very last to speak up there but that was a good thing. Um, think about it for
the Pace Center for Girls. The duck races are going to be the second year right off of the day dock coming up in the next month. And obviously, uh, we're excited about that. Um, after back to Angola, I drove through the village of
the arts and kind of waved to a few people because it was a long and hot day. But and and this is what I want to bring up about that and a lot of other things we're dealing with. Sometimes in a situation, controversy may bring you
out stronger than you were before when people are willing. People are passionate about a lot of things. But if all you want to do is complain, complain, complain, then you're not wanting to solve anything. And I think, you know, the Wonder Wall came out of
the state requiring us to remove some sidewalk paint, which the sidewalk paint wasn't supposed to be there anyway for safety ADA reasons and a lot of things, but that has brought the village stronger. Some of the other things that we've done over the years can bring things stronger. And when you look at
what we do as this council, you know, a good battle sometimes brings us together stronger. So, let's let's articulate on that and make it better. I'm very excited about the workshop at 1:00 um to really kind of see what next plans
are going and and one of the reasons that I probably slowed it down more, you know, because I wanted it to come up in January, but I felt like that and you'll see today that I want an actionable plan. I don't want to spend the money and then put it on a shelf and nothing
happen. And the whole time that we talked about that and Mr. Perry was in there, Mr. Williams was in some of those meetings with Dover Cole and through our EDC was how are we going to help some of these small businesses pay their mortgage next month and do that. So
hopefully today you'll be excited to see some of those next steps and it's harder but it's at least a plan and you know yeah we want we care about how we set ourselves up for 50 years from now but I don't believe any of us will be alive in 50 years. You know, we hope so, but
maybe not. Um, I'm not gonna say anything Mr. Williams or Miss Barnaby. So, um, but in a in a funny way how we set that up to succeed. >> So, >> I don't want to be alive. I can tell you that right now.
>> Um, 108, I don't know. Um, butterfly garden obviously has been a great thing and those two young ladies that kind of got us started on it with a great Rotary Club that got us started on some of the things at at Lewis Park is is unbelievable. >> Real quick on the butterfly garden. Yeah, sorry to interrupt. I just want to
give kudos to Bill Ackles. >> Yeah, Bill Ackles has really got that that once it got started, Bill Ackles took it over and got it done. all our staff, the people that came out that day and uh really did all the hard work were were good to see and and we appreciate
that. Um pirates you had mentioned um is coming towards an end, but the end of that brings in city park construction which we're excited about. Phase one, keep going with that. We're going to keep working that. I was able to attend
a military and first responder ball on Saturday night through our veterans group. So, Saturday was a busy day for everybody and it was just and we had several of our police officers and others there um throughout the community and it's just really heartfelt to see
some of our veterans that you obviously are there. It's a couple active military and all of our first responders that are able to go and and it gives them some kudos and just a fun night for for them to see that. So, that was definitely worth it and thank um the people
involved in that and Minnesota I think it's Maninnesota Veterans Group. Yeah. That does a great job on that. >> Um, one one last thing. Um, if if you've been around Manatee County for very long, um, you've probably would have known John Carlock. Coach Carlock
coached on the first Manatee High School state championship team as a state champion or the offensive line coach all through that and coached for years and then coached the girls softball team for a number of years. Just been a staple. He passed away during the night. Um, Coach Carlock's been sick a little
while, but but you know, just a great person within our community and teaching the kids and really from, you know, when you coach boys and girls, which I've done both of, it's totally different. If you've only coached one or the other, you have no idea coaching
>> different, you know, groups of kids. Um, not in a good way. >> And that's where I loved both coaching football and then coaching softball with a family and and going through that over the years. and but it gives you different perspectives and it makes things how it is. And coach Carlock was
a a great resource for me going through doing those things and he'll be greatly missed. And then one of the things that that I don't get a lot of chance to do and I always forget is to thank my wife at times when things that are going on and and today she's
not here but but she'll see this. She watches the meetings from start to finish every time and I'll come home and she'll be watching the meeting. I'm say why are you doing that? She go, "You want to watch it?" I said, "I already lived it, so I don't need to watch it, but in a good way." But today's her birthday, so just thank her for allowing me to do this. And also, happy birthday,
Gina. >> Thank you. That's all I got. >> Yeah. St. Patrick's event is this Saturday night. And uh then so there'll be a Saturday night event for St. Patrick's Day that'll be downtown. Street will be closed after the the
market. And then Tuesday night, there still would be more activities, but the street won't be closed. Um, and we'll see how kind of because Tuesday is St. Patrick's Day, so they want they're going to get it both. And and that's again for some of the small businesses. Yeah. >> That'll help them pay some of their
mortgages with our events and that. >> So, um, you can go online and find out some of the St. Patrick's Day stuff events for Saturday and that. So, thanks for reminding me. I had everything written down and see it. um 1:00 workshop. I think that's kind of the the
next step in the future of our city. And it's not part of the face it fix it, but it's plays right along with it as we go through. And then I'm going to go back to challenging our ward captains now because some things may not seem as as
important at the moment, but then when something happens, it brings out perspective. And I think that's something that we really need to see. if you see it, we want it to be done and but you know that's what we're there for and so thank you for all of that. Anything else for the good of the order?
>> We'll be ajourned. Thank you. The one with the