Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Manatee County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
13 issues with medium priority
Industrial and storage growth along US 301 and Moccasin Wallow Road
Three separate storage/industrial cases — Parrish Storage 2, Amcor, and Sawgrass Storage — would expand warehouse and outdoor storage capacity in north and east county.
2050 Traffic Circulation Plan Update
A disabled caller asked the commission to add a future agenda item studying whether traffic predictions made when developments were approved ever match reality — pointing to cut-through traffic overwhelming his Rye Wilderness Estates neighborhood.
Planning Commission appointments
A veteran planning commissioner announced he's resigning, saying politics and money have overtaken planning in Manatee County and that the county commission has refused a joint session with the planning commission for over two years.
Senior and disability transit grants
A block of resolutions would authorize federal grant agreements under the Section 5310 program that fund enhanced mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities, plus state funding for the Anna Maria Island Trolley and Cortez Road routes.
Sewer main damage recovery in Bradenton Beach
The county wants to go after the parties responsible for damaging its sewer main on Avenue B to recover repair costs and related damages. Recovery could offset taxpayer-funded repair expenses.
Amendment 3 impact planning
County Administrator Charlie Bishop will brief commissioners on how Manatee County should prepare for potential impacts of Amendment 3. The discussion could shape county policy and enforcement resources.
Pedestrian and E-bike Safety
The board approved updating the pedestrian safety ordinance to address a dramatic rise in e-bike injuries among children, including a QR-code registration system for student riders and a public safety task force.
Food truck park without approved site plan
A property at 3401 14th St. W. in Bradenton was developed and its use changed — to a food truck park — without county site plan approval, according to the case. The magistrate will take action on this long-running violation.
Code enforcement fine mitigation and compliance
More than a dozen property owners are asking the county's Special Magistrate to sharply reduce accrued code enforcement fines, including one request to cut $37,970 down to $700. The outcomes determine whether long-running violations get fixed and how much the county collects.
Carter Property commercial rezone near SR 70 East
About 2.5 acres at 5024 37th Street East could shift from agricultural to limited general commercial zoning, potentially bringing new shops or services near the SR 70 East/37th Street East intersection. Neighbors may see added traffic and new commercial options.
Manatee Avenue SunTrail trail project funding
State PD&E funding for the Manatee Avenue trail got pushed to 2031, so the board unanimously directed staff to find $2 million locally (reprioritized district projects or TIF funds) to keep the trail alive and unlock federal grants.
Dementia Navigation Hub space and funding
Marcy McPherson's new dementia-navigation nonprofit got a $301,000 county grant but says it still can't get affordable space. A last-minute $36,000 rent subsidy failed 2-4, with commissioners split over honoring the original directive versus demanding data and structure.
Independent forensic audit of county contracts
The board unanimously approved an independent external audit covering Mosaic-related contracts, CIP projects, the PFAS water project, Light Up Manatee, and the administrator's discretionary spending — a response to residents' trust concerns. A scoped update is due November 18.