Manatee commissioners approve termination of roundabout reimbursement talks after public protest, sunshine-law dispute

The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4–3 on Aug. 19 to instruct county staff to cease negotiation of changes and to proceed under the existing reimbursement agreement related to proposed transportation improvements at University Parkway and Legacy Boulevard.

The vote followed more than three hours of public comment and extended debate among commissioners about whether the agreement and the process that put it on the agenda complied with Florida’s Sunshine Law. Commissioner McCann repeatedly urged the board to obtain an outside legal opinion on whether public notice and the board’s handling of the item met statutory requirements; Commissioner McCann said, “There is a Sunshine Law violation here,” and urged delay to seek formal counsel.

Supporters of moving forward said the November 2024 consent-item vote that first authorized the agreement had been properly noticed and briefed. Chairman Cruz, who presided over the meeting, told the board that the agreement had been publicly posted and defended staff’s handling, saying the item “was put in at the same time as other ones were with the same information other ones were.” He and other commissioners who supported the motion said terminating or reopening the contract risked costly litigation and would undermine the county’s ability to rely on contracts.

Why it matters: the item affects traffic flow and property access around a rapidly growing portion of Lakewood Ranch and adjacent residential communities. Residents who spoke at hearings said they learned about the proposed design — which staff and project partners described as a roundabout — after the agreement was already on a consent agenda, and they argued that the description on the consent calendar was too vague to alert affected residents. Multiple speakers asked the board to pause and either hold additional public meetings or obtain formal legal guidance.

What the board decided: Commissioner Ron’s motion — to cease negotiations that would change the existing reimbursement agreement and to continue with the agreement as written — passed 4–3. Commissioners Phelps, McCann and Bearden voted no. The board also rejected a series of subsidiary motions earlier in the meeting that would have postponed consideration to a specific date, sought an immediate written opinion from the state attorney general’s open-government counsel, or otherwise delayed action.

Public comment and legal questions: Residents from Lakewood Ranch’s Country Club and nearby neighborhoods told the commissioners they were surprised by the consent-agenda wording and by the lack of a visible, dedicated announcement that the County planned to authorize reimbursement for a roundabout at that intersection. Several asked to see traffic studies and engineering reports supporting the design choice; some asked for the county to restart negotiations from scratch. A resident who identified himself as representing Lakewood Ranch CDD leadership requested clearer notice and said district boards had not been apprised of potential easement or alignment changes.

Board members also warned that litigation is possible regardless of the board’s vote. Commissioner Ballard said the county could face expensive legal action either to defend a termination of a contract or to enforce one. Several commissioners urged staff and partners to keep negotiating practical fixes that would avoid major litigation costs to taxpayers.

What’s next: Staff was directed to proceed consistent with the board’s motion. Multiple commissioners asked staff to compile and post supporting documents — traffic and engineering studies, the reimbursement agreement text and related correspondence — and to continue outreach to adjacent community boards. Several commissioners also said they want the county attorney to compile a legal memo on the Sunshine Law and notice requirements for similar future consent items.

Votes at a glance: Motion — "Direct staff to cease negotiation to mutually terminate the University Parkway–Legacy Boulevard roundabout reimbursement agreement and continue with the existing reimbursement agreement." Mover: Commissioner Ron. Seconder: Commissioner Phelps. Vote: approved 4–3 (yes: Cruz, Ron, Sadiq, Ballard; no: Phelps, McCann, Bearden).

The dispute highlighted two recurring issues for the board: how much detail belongs in a consent-agenda line item and how the county balances timely project delivery with broader public outreach and legal transparency. Several commissioners said they want to review the county’s internal notice and agenda procedures so impacted residents have clearer, earlier notice of transportation proposals that change neighborhood traffic patterns.

Ending note: Commissioners and staff acknowledged that while the board voted to direct staff forward under the existing agreement, the debate exposed continuing mistrust among some residents and commissioners. Several members urged staff to quickly publish the project analyses and to pursue additional community meetings to explain impacts and options to neighbors.