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Holmes Beach asks county to reconsider beach-patrol support as officials and residents weigh paid parking and concession dollars
Summary
Holmes Beach requested a county increase in support for beach patrols (city requested about $146,000); county staff asked for a formal ILA review and full dataset. Officials also reviewed beach-concession revenue rules and discussed possible island-wide paid parking to manage access and fund services.
Holmes Beach officials told the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners they need a larger county contribution to help fund police patrols that work the public beach and Kingfish Boat Ramp. The city said its analysis shows roughly $146,000 per year in officer man-hours devoted to beach patrols and asked the county to increase support from the recent $46,000 level.
City police presented data on hours and enforcement activity dating to 2016; Chief Tochinger said the figure reflects time taken from other duties to secure beaches, manage large visitor groups and respond to fights and medical calls. "We're patrolling the public beach and Kingfish Boat Ramp," the chief said, asking the board to consider funding that better matches operational costs.
County staff responded that the existing interlocal agreement (ILA) is tied to Uniform Crime Reporting metrics and that any change should follow a formal review. Staff also noted that some revenue from citations is retained by the city and recommended a broader island-wide approach before adjusting one city's allocation. County commissioners agreed staff should work with Holmes Beach to produce a data-driven ILA proposal in time for the next budget cycle and suggested possible interim funding while the review occurs.
Sheila McLean, the county CFO, briefed the board on beach-concession revenues (Part A capital; Part B operational surplus) and the rules governing their use under resolution R14-119: funds are for one-time capital improvements and interlocal projects that benefit all three Anna Maria Island cities and are distributed on a reimbursement-basis once the cities provide joint letters and match details. McLean said the concession account had collected about $9.25 million historically and showed roughly $504,936 available as of June (months in arrears).
Commissioners also discussed paid parking as a tool to manage demand and provide revenue for beach services. County leaders emphasized the need for a coordinated islandwide plan to avoid displacement of parking to other municipalities, suggested resident exemptions or season passes, and recommended vendor briefings and work sessions to study feasibility and technical options (including dynamic pricing, resident passes and enforcement models).
Next steps: county staff will analyze the ILA and Holmes Beach data, explore interim funding options for this budget season, and work with island cities on a parking workshop and any joint concession-fund proposals.
