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Manatee County delegation files two local bills, unanimously approves historic‑parks special act and North River Ranch boundary amendment
Summary
The Manatee County legislative delegation unanimously filed a special‑act bill to formally recognize the county clerk’s management of four historic parks and approved a second local bill to expand the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District by roughly 640 acres.
The Manatee County legislative delegation on Jan. 8 voted unanimously to file two local bills: a special‑act request to memorialize the county clerk’s long‑running management of four local historic parks and a boundary amendment to the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District to add roughly 640 acres.
Clerk Coloneso told the delegation the special act would “memorialize and solidify our 40 plus years” of interlocal agreements naming the Florida Maritime Museum, Manatee Village Historic Park, Palmetto Historic Park and the Palmetto agricultural historic park under the clerk’s stewardship.
The clerk said the change “doesn’t change anything” operationally but would formally recognize the office’s role in preserving local history and educational programming.
During public comment Emily Lane of Friends of Manatee Village said the clerk’s office “does a magnificent job” managing the properties and urged the delegation to preserve the current arrangements.
The delegation then approved a second local bill sponsored by Representative Connolly to amend the boundaries of the existing North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District. Sarah Sandy, representing Neal Communities, told the delegation the amendment would add about 640 acres to the district to allow financing—by taxes and bond issues—to pay for on‑site infrastructure such as roadways and utilities. She said the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners had approved a letter of no objection the day before.
Both bills were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Representative Connolly made the motion to support and file the clerk’s local bill, which Representative Owen seconded; the delegation “signified by saying ‘aye’” and the chair declared the motion passed unanimously. Representative Owen moved the North River Ranch filing; Senator Jim Boyd seconded and the delegation again voted in favor.
Votes at a glance: • Clerk’s local special‑act request (historic parks): motion to file made by Representative Connolly; second by Representative Owen; outcome: filed/approved by unanimous voice vote (yes count not enumerated in the record). • North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District boundary amendment: motion to file made by Representative Owen; second by Senator Jim Boyd; outcome: filed/approved by unanimous voice vote (yes count not enumerated in the record).
Delegation leadership directed the clerk and the two sponsors to carry the filings forward to Tallahassee for drafting and introduction in the 2025 session. The transcripts show broad bipartisan support for both filings and no objection from members of the public who testified on those items.
The approvals are procedural steps that place the measures into the legislative process; neither action changed local operations or transferred authority. The stewardship district amendment, if enacted, would enable developer‑financed bonds and assessments to pay for infrastructure in the added acreage, and the special act would codify current management arrangements for the clerk’s museum and historic park functions.
Members and staff said the bills will be formally drafted and filed with the House and Senate for the 2025 session.
