Commission delays approval for Shark Bite Expo after residents say road closures blocked access

The City Commission voted on March 25 to defer consideration of a special-event permit for the Shark Bite Expo after multiple residents said road closures and barricades left them unable to reach homes on Riverside Drive.

Commissioners and residents told the meeting that promises made at prior events to allow resident access were not kept this year. One commissioner said the problem "didn't happen this year" despite assurances; another said the situation repeated complaints from prior years and that the city must find an alternative route or operational plan.

Event organizer Joe Matuzak, who said the production draws thousands of participants and represented the sponsor on the dais, defended the safety rationale for a closed-course layout on the out-and-back 0.5 marathon and 5K. Matuzak said the event has drawn participants from many states and described operational steps he would pursue, including staging staff at key turnaround points and adding radios to improve officer-organizer communication. "We had 37 states represented at this event," Matuzak said.

Interim Police Chief Chris Kirk told commissioners that an out-and-back route of the type proposed would likely require closing the road during the hour it takes participants to traverse the course to ensure participant safety. Chief Kirk said better communications between officers and event staff could address some beachside traffic issues but that Riverside's configuration meant ongoing safety concerns for a live out-and-back route.

After discussion, the commission made a motion to continue the item to the next meeting and asked staff, the police department and the applicant to prepare a revised traffic and access plan that ensures residents can reach their homes. The motion to defer passed on a roll-call vote.