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VOL 19 No. 18
February 13, 2019
County officials limited in regulating hunting BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The possible reconfiguration of Bridge Street was the topic of last week’s town meeting.
Bridge Street options discussed The possibilities discussed ranged from closing the street to building a nearby parking garage. BY JOE HENDRICKS
BRADENTON – Manatee County would have to petition the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to establish no hunting zones, according to a memo by County Attorney Mitchell Palmer. Residents bordering Perico Preserve on Perico Bayou and Neal Preserve on the Intracoastal Waterway are among those who have recently complained to county commissioners that shotgun blasts from hunters disturb them, particularly at sunrise and sunset. Hunters have countered that they are within their legal rights to hunt in those areas if they abide by the FWC's hunting regulations. Commissioners asked Palmer to research the issue last month. Manatee County no longer has any ordinances in place that restrict or regulate hunting; they were repealed in order to comply with Florida Statute §790.33, which gives the state sole authority to regulate firearms, including the discharge of firearms and the taking or possession of wildlife, according to Palmer’s Feb. 7 memo. Only the FWC can establish a bird sanctuary, where hunting is prohibited, or a restricted hunting area, where hunting is prohibited unless authorized by an FWC permit, according to Palmer’s memo. The county can petition the FWC to establish such areas and, if successful, would be responsible for posting the boundaries and enforcing the regulations. FWC considers petitions for bird sanctuaries and restricted hunting areas at its July and January meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for July 17-18.
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
SEE HUNTING, PAGE 33
BRADENTON BEACH – There isn’t much community support for closing Bridge Street to vehicular traffic, but some rare and limited public support was expressed for possibly building a parking garage near the Bradenton Beach police station. The notion of closing Bridge Street or reducing it to one lane was discussed at an open town meeting at city hall on Wednesday, Feb. 6. The purpose of the evening meeting was to give residents and business owners an opportunity to provide architectural designer
INSIDE NEWS 4 OPINION 6 FOOD & WINE 18 OUTDOORS 26-27 RESTAURANTS 30-31 REAL ESTATE SALES 32 REAL ESTATE 34-39 SPORTS 42
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The city commission chambers were full during last weeks town meeting. Emily Anne Smith with their thoughts on closing or reconfiguring Bridge Street, which runs through the heart of the downtown business district. More than 30 people attended the meeting and were provided with a seven-page document titled
DON’T MISS the
Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival this weekend. 10-11
Anna Maria Island, Florida
“Parking Study for Town Meeting.” Two pages were dedicated to the number of seats and parking spaces Smith counted at the bars, restaurants and businesses along Bridge Street – including Com-
CINDY LANE | SUN
A mottled duck at Neal Preserve.
SEE BRIDGE STREET, PAGE 33
ONE Particular Harbour marina opens with tropical celebration. 16 RED TIDE down, tourism
promotion up in Manatee County. 15
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