Council approves contract extension cap, race permit and solid‑waste plan; tables East Bradenton Park; staff reports major wastewater emergency purchases

Bradenton City Council on Aug. 27 approved several administrative items, held votes on a consultant contract extension and event permits, tabled a county-led park improvement proposal, and heard staff briefings on emergency wastewater system purchases.

Key council actions

- Visioning contract (Stantec) extension: The council approved a limited second extension of the Stantec visioning contract and directed staff to finalize and close out the report with limitations on further expenditures. The council capped additional spending at $5,000 and carried the motion 4–0 (one member absent). Planning director Robin Singer and staff said the extension is intended to allow staff to package and edit graphics and prefatory material from the draft report so that useful elements can be published while acknowledging shortcomings identified by council members.

- Bradenton Riverwalk events permit: The council approved a permit for the Bradenton Riverwalk half marathon, 10K and 5K races, to be held March 1, 2026. Kelly Thomas, event review coordinator, said organizers expect about 300 runners and that the permit will be contingent on FDOT and the City of Palmetto approvals. Motion carried 4–0.

- Solid-waste plan for MET 2A/2B workforce housing project: Council approved a solid‑waste management plan for the Metropolitan 2A and 2B workforce housing buildings, allowing a managed, on‑site transfer arrangement where trash from the new 2A building will be moved to compacting facilities at the adjacent MET property and collected by city service. Staff and the applicant said Public Works has reviewed the approach and requested the compacting system be operational before the new building is occupied. Motion carried 4–0.

- East Bradenton Park improvements (Manatee County project): Council voted to table discussion on right-of-way parking and park improvements proposed by Manatee County for East Bradenton Park to allow further coordination with the county and the ward councilmember. Councilors said they wanted confirmation of county funding status and additional neighborhood outreach before deciding. Motion to table carried 4–0.

Emergency system purchases and infrastructure updates

City staff briefed the council on a set of emergency expenditures and ongoing capital work for water and wastewater systems:

- Temporary equalization (EQ) tank rental: Staff described an emergency rental and installation of a large temporary equalization tank (described in the briefing as roughly 2,000,000 gallons capacity) to provide short‑term storage and help manage peak wet‑weather flows at the wastewater treatment facility. The purchase/authorization amount cited in the briefing was $1,137,000 (rental/installation contract); staff said the item was executed as an emergency procurement to meet conditions raised by environmental plaintiffs and to reduce the risk of process failures during storm flows.

- Permanent EQ basin funding: Staff said the city has received $2,000,000 toward a permanent EQ basin that will be built later; the temporary tank will be used while the permanent basin design and construction proceed.

- Other emergency repairs: Staff also reported a roughly $100,099 emergency authorization for repairs to water‑treatment tank wind rods and riser rods, and described procurement for a temporary lift station (Lift Station 13 relocation) with a 90‑day construction timeline once equipment and final site logistics are in place.

How council described the votes and next steps

Councilmembers said they wanted to preserve opportunities to use useful parts of the Stantec visioning work while correcting shortcomings, and they limited additional spending for the closeout effort to $5,000. For the MET solid-waste plan, council directed staff to ensure the compacting system at the adjacent MET property is operating before the new building is occupied and noted the arrangement is acceptable given the proximity and management plan. Council asked staff to continue coordination with Manatee County and the MPO on the East Bradenton Park plan and to bring back the item with clarified funding and neighborhood outreach.

Votes at a glance (recorded in meeting).

- Consent items a–w (with item v pulled for separate discussion): Approved (4–0; one member absent). - Stantec visioning contract extension (limit additional expenditure to $5,000; staff to finalize report): Approved (4–0; one member absent). - Bradenton Riverwalk half marathon / 10K / 5K permit (March 1, 2026; ~300 runners): Approved (4–0). - Solid‑waste plan — Metropolitan 2A/2B: Approved (4–0). - East Bradenton Park improvements (Manatee County): Tabled for further discussion (4–0).

No additional formal votes were recorded at the Aug. 27 meeting related to the FDOT PD&E study; FDOT provided an informational briefing and asked for local input ahead of a public workshop in early 2026.