[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6361841,"mediaKeyId","2169564-e4d78bf23aa20797ad31f97dff8dbd7f","parentId",2169564,"title","Manatee County staff outline $252 million HUD resiliency award and next steps; HUD pause noted","audioSeconds",1372,"startMs",6961000,"endMs",8333000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169564-e4d78bf23aa20797ad31f97dff8dbd7f&start=6961&end=8333","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169564-e4d78bf23aa20797ad31f97dff8dbd7f/thumbnail_6961000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6361841/Manatee-County/Florida/Manatee-County-staff-outline-252-million-HUD-resiliency-award-and-next-steps-HUD-pause-noted","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361841-0dfdaa6924a4ecf664d5b592810dc0f0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775537853&Signature=m6BEzqtzXAssYl8KX8Ai3QtcGHtakPt4cPwbvkNo0G50VkZr2P2GvJUjXuYmpFr0bLQfDHQYNAXoCHIGEVJhsHu-sZnYlHlXoHIdTkYwefntZZNn~n2uKgQVoRJQyo1nHQfBRB3K39R0r6x4S1DZuQdGJtzaeXYdN1u-8eHkCG4W0tlnWGxckBkMsEIzcUDmo4u2hXg0jsvg0VXBIIQNYSFt5GYv0QrAa08QsiM4aqU8rCB9OCNLsV4VtkTfBngZO8ZfiScidqzix46rh62dOiNPqewKk700b4x20Z4J5Lh1wbeK7svGieWwJNVMSD9HKvaE98PYVcZByWL9Wj0Csw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Manatee County, FL","date","2025-01-29T14:08:23Z","article","Manatee County officials told the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday that the county has been allocated $252,000,711 in U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery (CDBG‑DR) funds to support rebuilding and resilience from recent storms.

Michelle Davis, the county’s grants administrator, said the funds are targeted to activities HUD does not typically reimburse through FEMA — for example, projects to strengthen communities against future storms in low‑ and moderate‑income areas. “This was allocated to be able to rebuild the disaster‑impacted areas,” she said, describing the award as focused on resilience and repairs FEMA may not cover. She outlined eligible project types: land acquisition for flood control or stormwater mitigation, widening constrained evacuation roads, elevating infrastructure and buyouts of flood‑prone properties.

Tracy Adams, deputy director of Community and Veterans Services, displayed HUD’s mapping of low‑ and moderate‑income census blocks that HUD used to determine eligibility and said county staff will use HUD guidance and local assessments when prioritizing projects. She said HUD allows the county to cover administrative costs up to 5% of the award to manage the program.

Timeline and public process

Staff said Manatee has 90 days to prepare an “action plan” listing candidate projects; after the county posts the plan it will be open for 30 days of public comment before being finalized and submitted to HUD for review. Staff said HUD told counties to expect to ask for extensions given the complexity and local coordination required; “they actually expect most counties to ask for an extension when they are looking to put the action plan together,” Adams said.

Staff also warned the board that late in the day the prior evening federal officials issued a pause on some grant approvals pending a review by the new administration. County officials said they were assessing whether the recent pause affects the CDBG‑DR award, but that the pause is likely temporary and that HUD told counties the pause process would be resolved quickly.

How staff will collect project ideas

Michelle Davis said staff will launch a public submission form and a partner intake form to collect candidate projects from municipalities, nonprofit partners and residents. She said the county will meet individually with commissioners to show projects that meet HUD eligibility and to prioritize a final list to include in the action plan. Staff said they will create a public website for the grant process and that a project intake questionnaire will be published immediately after the meeting.

What staff emphasized

- Buyouts: staff said buyouts of repeatedly flooded homes are eligible; if a property is acquired as a buyout, HUD rules require the land be kept as green space or used for flood mitigation. If the county acquires land for a mitigation project (not a buyout), it can be redeveloped.

- FEMA coordination: for some projects already funded or partially funded by FEMA, HUD allows counties to use the CDBG‑DR award to replace FEMA cost shares in cases where the HUD eligibility standards are met, potentially reducing the county’s out‑of‑pocket share for certain recovery projects.

Why this matters

The award is one of the largest recovery funds the county has received and is directed to projects intended to strengthen vulnerable neighborhoods and reduce risk during future storms. Commissioners asked staff to prioritize projects that would reduce evacuation bottlenecks, elevation or widening of heavily used roads and buyouts in repetitive‑flood locations. They also pressed staff for clear public outreach and transparency: several commissioners said they want to see project lists and eligibility criteria available on a public website as soon as possible.

Ending

Staff said they will circulate a county project intake form and partner form and will meet with each commissioner to present projects that meet HUD eligibility. The board did not take funding action at the meeting; staff requested direction and said they will return with an action plan for public comment and formal adoption once the intake and review process is complete.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","January 28, 2025 - Regular Meeting - 2025-01-28 Afternoon","oneSentenceSummary","Manatee County staff briefed commissioners on a $252,000,711 HUD CDBG‑DR award for disaster recovery and resiliency, outlined eligible uses and the public‑comment process and warned that a temporary federal pause on some grants was under review.","taxTitle","Manatee County, Florida","taxId",12476,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6361846,"Manatee County OKs four final plats amid stormwater, notice and process objections",998,300000,1298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169564-e4d78bf23aa20797ad31f97dff8dbd7f&start=300&end=1298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169564-e4d78bf23aa20797ad31f97dff8dbd7f/thumbnail_300000.jpg","/articles/6361846/Manatee-County/Florida/Manatee-County-OKs-four-final-plats-amid-stormwater-notice-and-process-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361846-f87b9a8ecf4720a21d51eeba0572bfc7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775537853&Signature=RzQ2JVrM-fwdw2x0yY6yBgRhCqMY61nyY6ACip9EEDBoMqyPu9A6r3Kzc4PLCabJ~lbZFON7~ACPUWyHl8I4cfIOKD-6WHpe-i5CORSBp9t10ofQBv1ECq91mbp9QxO-TtqUtKM~GERRMB7s~s5cmSbP4h4LUqgTvpdWVhhBLMNUWbDjH9lv~ZmCjQk1fSCPPeuuilRXw5F13sbkS4Twpib84X-AmMHNnhkIANM1zuALh0CvHj1S3kY93HAJfq1UAoGmNTzQb29bHlmwKqqtNqw74nyIy92FEJbsDpswAgj1tUV8gQ~O5ecT8UGKBkttNciMSQJZoRfxIsgute2gAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Manatee County commissioners voted to approve several final subdivision plats and a road plat on Tuesday after extended public discussion about flooding, what commissioners said were inadequate briefings for a new board and whether the items should have been heard at a land-use meeting rather than a regular commission session.

The approvals included final plats for Crosswind Ranch Phase 2A (110 single‑family lots), Oakfield Trails Phase 1 (130 lots), Rye Ranch Phase 1A (270 lots) and a roadway plat for Newport Isles (Sedgwick Boulevard/Costera Parkway). Applicants and county staff repeatedly told the board that under Florida Statutes Chapter 177 and the Manatee County Land Development Code their role at a quasi‑judicial plat hearing is ministerial: to confirm technical compliance, not to re‑examine the larger development approvals.

Commissioners pressed applicants and staff for more contextual material: maps showing the phase locations, how many homes already built in the general development plans, building permit and certificate of occupancy counts, and stormwater assessments following recent hurricane events. Commissioner Shirleen Phelps, whose district includes several of the plats, said she would not “rubber stamp” approvals without up‑to‑date information about how the recent storms affected the area. “We have had some natural phenomena … and we’re still awaiting some reports,” she said during deliberations.

Developers' representatives and county planners emphasized that the final‑plat review is limited. Darren Parks, attorney for several applicants, said on the record: “When you were saying voting yes or no, what we’re looking at is…does it comply with Chapter 177 and the Manatee County Land Development Code.” County staff reiterated that construction plans and engineering had been reviewed before the plat stage. Rob Wenzel, Development Services division manager, told the board, “They have all been designed in accordance with…stormwater requirements. Everything should have been looked at…The ponds are in place. The roads are in place.”

The meeting included multiple calls from commissioners for better briefing materials and for the county’s stormwater study, which some commissioners said is expected Feb. 19, to be made available before further plat approvals in the same area. Commissioners also debated agenda timing; some said plats historically appear on either a regular or land‑use meeting and requested a clear schedule so a new board can be briefed adequately.

Votes at a glance

- Crosswind Ranch Phase 2A final plat (PLN 2406‑0090): Approved. Motion by Commissioner Ron; second by Commissioner Siddique. Board recorded the motion as approved 4–3 with Commissioners Feltz, McCann and Bearden voting no. Applicants: Homes by West Bay LLC and Gen Tampa 4 LLC. Zoning: PDMU; compliance confirmed by licensed surveyor and engineer on record.

- Oakfield Trails Phase 1 final plat (PLN 2403‑0088): Approved after public and commissioner questions. Motion and second recorded; vote recorded 4–3 with Commissioners Feltz, McCann and Bearden opposed. Applicant: Pulte Home Company LLC. Site: approx. 66 acres north of Moccasin Wallow Road; previously approved under PDMU 2116zg and related approvals.

- Rye Ranch Phase 1A final plat (PLN 2402‑0170): Approved 4–3 with Commissioners Feltz, McCann and Bearden opposed. Applicant: Lennar Homes; presentation confirmed prior approvals and that the plat complies with Chapter 177 and the LDC.

- Newport Isles—roadway plat, Sedgwick Boulevard/Costera Parkway (PLN 2312‑0026): Approved 5–2, with Commissioners Feltz and McCann dissenting. This plat covered a road section previously tied to other Newport Isles phases; applicant said it is a road‑only plat (no lots) to extend the development’s east‑west corridor.

What commissioners asked for and what staff said

Commissioners repeatedly requested: maps showing exact phase locations, how many of the entitled homes in the general development plans have been built, recent building permit and CO counts, and the county’s stormwater findings after recent storms. Applicants repeatedly declined to provide information beyond plat technical compliance, saying the plat stage is a ministerial review. County planners said administrative approvals — preliminary site plan, final site plan and construction plan — had already been reviewed and approved for the plats on today’s agenda.

Commissioner Carol Peltz and Commissioner Phelps asked that the board receive more historical context and up‑to‑date site photos before deciding on plats within a single commissioner’s district. Chase Goss, a staff planner, provided technical details for Crosswind Ranch: “The request is for a final plat consisting of 110 previously approved single‑family residential lots…zoning district is a PDMU, future land use category UF‑3, and the site is 134.3 acres.”

Why it matters

Approving a final plat allows builders to record subdivision lots and move toward construction and sales. Commissioners said they were balancing the legal duty to approve plats that meet Chapter 177 and the Land Development Code with constituent demands for up‑to‑date information about flooding, roads and school capacity. Several commissioners said they support timely housing production but want stronger, up‑front briefings for a newly seated board.

Ending

Commissioners approved the plats as presented while several members demanded clearer briefing materials and the county stormwater report be shared before similar items return. Staff said they will provide maps, building permit/CO counts and additional context at future hearings; some commissioners asked that final plats for District 1 be routed to a land‑use session so the new board can be fully briefed before making decisions.","After hours of questioning from commissioners about stormwater effects and agenda placement, the Manatee County Commission approved four final subdivision plats and one road plat; commissioners pressed staff and applicants for maps, stormwater reports and details about construction progress before voting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6361836,"Commission directs work session after debate over opioid‑settlement priorities and long‑term treatment options",180,7320000,7500000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2169564-e4d78bf23aa20797ad31f97dff8dbd7f&start=7320&end=7500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2169564-e4d78bf23aa20797ad31f97dff8dbd7f/thumbnail_7320000.jpg","/articles/6361836/Manatee-County/Florida/Commission-directs-work-session-after-debate-over-opioidsettlement-priorities-and-longterm-treatment-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6361836-652c6383949a99cc5aaa816c317e3cca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775537853&Signature=gpfOqaOhDPNoY8nGp3240lz64~Hso4FOUgBVoELAWyVbC2CsFwx53LHJc4IuFvdunIRsDcbzvZ--8FSduwNu0WSC8KStbXabCUmt-~hAOol9fSZL-VW6kg~xJSE41Lo7QGMJ-tONZXJMfvJGyrZtlJkU3fcURyr~GX0Mf7RXeqBdl8hokOIqmOteihmjCqttR67InKGnf~EJ6AcXc000UKq~2W~13cQZZ0IkefqJZjE~fdj7V7BAWZ2HhZSM5oBQSGCN6neQELSOhsBiNydMCTwNAW1949mHpNaDNk8lvmkNI1R9vWydN-uRZ9jy6QI~R0vc1o7Tb0Ydf9WUxJ7xRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Manatee County’s opioid policy coordinator briefed commissioners on how opioid settlement dollars have been used and proposed a funding framework tied to the Addiction Crisis Task Force priorities. The presentation highlighted existing programs funded by settlements and requested board approval to open a community application process for future allocations.

James Crutchfield, deputy director of Public Safety, introduced the briefing and the county’s opioid policy coordinator. Staff described last year’s settlement‑fund investments that supported: Helping Up Mission (a long‑term residential program with out‑of‑county residential placements), the CORE community health response program, and the Overdose Prevention and Education Program (OPEP), which distributes naloxone and trains community members. The programs helped expand screening, treatment referrals and naloxone distribution countywide.

The Addiction Crisis Task Force recommended a multi‑year allocation framework: roughly 50% of future settlement receipts to prevention, 20% to response, 20% to recovery and 10% to evaluation. Staff proposed a fiscal‑year 2026 budget of $3 million (partly drawing on carryover funds) and $1.5 million in subsequent years as a baseline for grant rounds to implement the task force priorities.

Commissioners questioned the proportions and pressed staff for more detail on how prevention spending would be measured and how long‑term recovery options would be funded. Commissioner Charlie McCann, who has medical and emergency‑care experience, criticized short residential programs as insufficient: “A 28‑day program does nothing…Once they get out of the 28‑day program, you know, it’s an honor system. For some people, no relapse. For some people, relapse the next day.” Commissioners suggested that long‑term treatment and housing supports be emphasized.

Helping Up Mission (HUM) update

Staff provided a status report on Helping Up Mission, which began operations locally in October 2024 to screen and transition individuals into long‑term residential recovery. Staff reported that HUM had assessed 43 clients in the first months and had transported 23 clients to its Baltimore program for long‑term recovery.

Next steps and board direction

Commissioner Ballard proposed, and then withdrew, a motion to approve the task force priorities as presented; commissioners said they wanted an opportunity to discuss allocation details with additional stakeholders. Ballard then moved to direct staff to schedule a dedicated work session so commissioners could examine priorities, application criteria and program models in depth; Commissioner McCann seconded. After public comment from local clinicians and advocates urging a stronger emphasis on recovery services, the board voted unanimously to direct staff to schedule the work session and return with a refined proposal and timeline.

Why it matters

County settlement funds are a multi‑year resource for prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery supports. Commissioners’ call for a work session reflects a desire to match investments to local needs—particularly for long‑term recovery capacity—and to build evaluation metrics to track outcomes.

Ending

Staff will hold the work session, gather input from providers and advocacy groups, and return to the board with an updated application timeline and recommended allocations. Meanwhile, existing programs such as CORE and OPEP will continue operations under current funding.","The county’s opioid policy coordinator presented settlement‑fund uses and an Addiction Crisis Task Force priority list; commissioners debated percentages for prevention versus recovery and directed staff to convene a work session to refine allocation and application details.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Manatee County staff outline $252 million HUD resiliency award and next steps; HUD pause noted

Manatee County OKs four final plats amid stormwater, notice and process objections

Commission directs work session after debate over opioid‑settlement priorities and long‑term treatment options