MANATEE COUNTY – On Thursday, April 2, Manatee County issued a press release that said Manatee County commissioners were considering a countywide curfew.
Thursday’s press release said county commissioners would meet at 2 p.m. on Friday to consider a supplemental local emergency resolution that, if adopted, would create a temporary local curfew.
“That would give law enforcement agencies the ability to enforce group gathering restrictions on private property, in conjunction with Governor DeSantis’ Executive Orders 20-91 & 20-92,” Thursday’s press release said.
The press release notes Friday’s meeting will be streamed live at www.mymanatee.org/mga.
It will also air live on the Manatee Government Access channel that can be seen locally on Spectrum channel 644, Verizon channel 30 and Comcast channel 20.
“The county will enforce social distancing guidelines inside the Patricia M. Glass Chambers for the meeting. Members of the public are strongly encouraged to watch the meeting remotely,” the press release notes.
According to Thursday’s press release, county, law enforcement and municipal leaders from each of the county’s municipalities discussed the curfew and private property restrictions during a virtual Emergency Policy Group meeting Thursday morning.
“The group agreed that the additional measures will send a clear message to Manatee County residents that social distancing orders must be taken seriously and are not to be ignored. The proposed curfew would prohibit non-essential travel – travel that is not for food, medicine, essential supplies, employment – from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., seven days a week. An effective date will be decided during tomorrow’s meeting,” the press release says.
The press release notes the Emergency Policy Group reached a consensus on many parts of the proposed emergency actions, but an official resolution was being drafted by the county attorney’s office to be presented to county commissioners on Friday.
“If commissioners approve the supplemental local emergency resolution, Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and municipal police department officers will have the ability to issue citations to anyone in non-compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order 20-91 & 20-92,” the press release says.
“Law enforcement would also have the ability to cite group gatherings on private property. Under Florida Statute 252.50, those who violate the State Emergency Management Act are guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor and can be served a notice to appear order,” the press release says.
“Currently the county’s COVID-19 restrictions are only enforceable on public property such as public beaches and public boat ramps. County and city officials say the public has largely heeded those restrictions, but group gatherings at private residences – such as vacation rental homes, recreation centers and event halls – continue to pose a public health risk,” the press release says.
According to the press release, County Administrator Cheri Coryea said, “This supplemental emergency resolution would add support to the White House and the Governor’s directive to ‘Slow the Spread’ through April 30, and also helps our local law enforcement, the Department of Health, first responders and the medical community protect our citizens in a more stringent way. If you thought you could save one life by being temporarily inconvenienced during this unprecedented COVID-19 event, wouldn’t you want to?”
MCAT updates
Wednesday’s press release also included updates on other coronavirus-related matters in Manatee County.
The press release said Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) riders are being asked to limit their trips on county transit, trolley and Handy Bus systems to essential travel only.
The press release notes the following changes will take effect Saturday, April 4:
- MCAT daily service will continue, but routes will halt at 7 p.m.
- The Anna Maria Island Trolley and Route 3 serving the Manatee Avenue/State Road 64 corridor will both be reduced to 60-minute service frequency, Monday through Saturday.
There will be no AMI Trolley service on Sunday until further notice. - The Longboat Key Shuttle will cease operation until further notice.
- The Skyway ConneXion service which connects Manatee County and Pinellas County daily will now operate on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only.
Riders with questions or concerns can contact MCAT at 941-749-7116.
Miscellaneous updates
The County’s public basketball courts are now closed.
County dog parks remain open but park officials are taking the next step to discourage social gathering by removing the seating areas in the dog pavilions.
View the latest on Manatee County’s community-wide effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by visiting www.mymanatee.org/COVID-19 or text ManateeReady to 888-777. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter @ManateeGov.
