Palmetto mayor: We may not cooperate with regatta in 2016

MANATEE -- While the Bradenton Area Riverwalk Regatta has been largely classified as a major success for Bradenton, Palmetto isn't so sure.

Crowds were sparse on the north side of the river compared with those in Bradenton, even though there were more people than would have been present on an average Saturday.

There were also plenty of empty parking spaces, according to police.

From the onset, Palmetto officials had expressed concerns about the city's limited involvement in the regatta that was initially billed as a county event.

Those concerns deepened when "Palmetto" was left off of the event's name and the original fliers and then the city's primary event, a Christian music concert, was canceled when local organizers failed to sign an act.

A few food vendors and use of the Palmetto Riverside Park Boat Ramp as a dry dock for the regatta's competitors were not enough, according to Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant.

She said if the economic development study being conducted does not include good news for the city, it will be difficult to support Palmetto's cooperation for a 2016 event.

"What I'm sensing from people in our community and from what I'm hearing is that our businesses were negatively impacted by not having enough in Palmetto to

draw a significant crowd and then diverting traffic away from our downtown corridor," said Bryant. "I've heard some people say they enjoyed the races, but at what cost?"

While organizers have said they have every intention of bringing the regatta back next year, Palmetto's cooperation is vital. Organizers secured an annual environmental permit for the regatta but did not ask for an annual Florida Department of Transportation permit to close the Green Bridge.

FDOT can close the bridge without the support of Palmetto, but isn't likely to do so.

"It was a Bradenton concept all along, with the Tourism Development Council," Bryant said. "I would have liked them to hesitate a little and do the math and how it impacts all of the businesses both north and south of the river to get a true evaluation. I want to see what the real dollars are that have cost taxpayers money."

Bradenton Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Dave Gustafson acknowledged Wednesday to the Bradenton City Council that more needs to be done in Palmetto for future regattas. While Gustafson has taken the lead on that, it is more of a county effort that Palmetto is seeking.

Bryant praised Gustafson's efforts in trying to secure a concert in Palmetto, "but we were certainly disappointed when the concert was canceled," she said. "You have to make sure one group is not struggling to call it a success and everything I'm hearing is that our businesses took a hit. My first job as mayor is to make sure our businesses and residents are taken care of and from the moment the concert was canceled, Palmetto just kind of snowballed off the radar from there."

Gustafson said Palmetto's concerns will be part of the planning for a 2016 event. For example, he said there will be more events in Palmetto, and a better plan to encourage people to visit both sides of the river during the regatta.

Bryant doesn't disagree that the regatta was a good event and that residents enjoyed the races. She questioned the benefit of the event to Palmetto.

Bryant said she has tasked her commissioners to engage their constituents leading up to a commission meeting on March 2. At that time, officials will gauge their support of a future regatta.

"I'm glad that they are acknowledging our concerns," said Bryant. "I don't know what the answer is. I'm hopeful that lessons were learned, but I'm not going to say I would support this again just by taking a glance at it."

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter @urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published February 12, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Palmetto mayor: We may not cooperate with regatta in 2016 ."