Bradenton councilors press for clearer, fairer code‑enforcement and neighborhood outreach after towing complaints

Residents raised problems with code enforcement and vehicle towing during citizen comment, prompting a detailed response from staff and an extended council discussion.

At the start of the citizen‑comment period, Kimla Morrell apologized for a scheduling misunderstanding and thanked city staff for follow‑up. Floyd Rome and Felicia Rome told the council about perceived heavy‑handed enforcement in Ward 5 and a case in which two licensed vehicles were towed; Felicia Rome said the city later acknowledged the tow should not have occurred but the family still faces logistics and costs to retrieve the cars.

Mr. Williams (staff member) explained the city’s enforcement baseline: inoperable vehicles must be operable to remain in place, a 10‑day notice period is typical for vehicle issues, and staff has worked with the planning department and Director Robin Singer to seek positive resolutions when possible. He noted managers are reviewing documentation and that towing decisions often follow determinations about operability.

Planning Director Robin Singer and other staff described the administrative toolbox: warnings and door hangers, notices of violation, special‑magistrate hearings, fines (with a $75,000 cap before liens and potential property actions), and, when a vehicle or structure is severely derelict, city self‑help (removal or demolition) for public‑health or safety hazards. Singer said the special magistrate frequently grants additional time when people are demonstrably working toward compliance.

Council members pressed for consistent, equitable enforcement across wards and for more proactive education and outreach. Vice Mayor Coker and Councilwoman Coachman supported targeted postcards and neighborhood canvassing modeled on earlier Village of the Arts efforts. Councilman Perry urged a tactical plan from the planning department and code‑enforcement leadership to define reactive and proactive approaches and management oversight.

Council discussed practical assistance options for residents (help finding funding or contractors to repair tires, obtain tags, or otherwise make vehicles operable), the limits of city authority for repairs to private homes (e.g., roof repairs), and ways to avoid perceptions of selective enforcement. No formal policy change or new ordinance was adopted at the meeting; council directed staff to develop outreach materials and a tactical plan for equitable enforcement and to continue casework on the Rome family's towing issue.

The city emphasized that remedies vary by case: mailing notices to property owners (including out‑of‑area owners), fines and liens for persistent violations, foreclosure in extreme cases, and self‑help demolition or removal where public health or safety is at risk.