ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy has vetoed an ordinance containing a proposed charter amendment that will now not be placed on the fall ballot unless the city commission overrides the veto by a 4-1 supermajority vote.
On June 13, the commission voted 3-2 in favor of including on the ballot a proposed amendment that called for the insertion of mission statement-like language that expressed a desire to maintain Anna Maria’s home rule rights and residential character. Commissioners Jon Crane and Mark Short opposed the proposed amendment because they felt it was more aspirational than actionable.
During commission discussions, Murphy, as the non-voting mayor, expressed his opposition to the proposed amendment. On Monday, June 24, he sent an email to commissioners informing them of his veto.
The email said, “Commissioners: This is to inform you that I have vetoed the above referenced ordinance for the following reasons:
• The ordinance is unnecessary,
• Cannot be effectively enforced,
• Could potentially cause harm to the city,
• Should be addressed as a part of the ‘land use element’ in the comprehensive plan, not the charter.”
During the June 13 meeting, the commission voted 5-0 in favor of placing on the ballot four additional proposed charter amendments that pertain to building height limits, calling special commission meetings, the charter’s designation of city officers and strengthened residency requirements for sitting mayors and commissioners. These four proposed amendments will be placed on the fall ballot for Anna Maria voters to accept or reject.
The city charter can only be amended with the majority support of the city’s registered voters.
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS
During the June 13 meeting, the commission unanimously approved providing $50,000 to assist with the replacement of The Center’s aging air conditioning system. The commission also approved providing The Center with an additional $28,000 for a previously completed restroom remodeling and shower installation project.
When first presenting the funding requests on May 23, Executive Director Chris Culhane said the $50,000 provided by the city would serve as matching funds for a $90,000 grant The Center received earlier that day from the Bishop-Parker Foundation. The two funding sources provide The Center with $140,000 for a new air conditioning system.
On May 23, Murphy noted the city owns The Center building and property. He also noted the commission previously approved a similar $50,000 funding request last year that was not utilized before the 2022-23 fiscal year ended on Sept. 30.
“I firmly believe that improving our own property is the right thing to do. I also like the way the community center has been running for the last of couple years,” Murphy said during the May meeting. “There were times when I worried about having to take over that community center because it was adrift. I have to congratulate Chris and his staff on bringing it back in line. You’re running a good operation there.”
PLAYERS’ ROOF
The commission authorized the mayor to spend up to $65,000 to replace the asphalt roof on the Island Players building. Murphy said the theater group’s long-term lease with the city obligates the city to help maintain the city-owned building.
Murphy said the Island Players canceled their wind insurance policy due to the roof’s current condition.
He said the theater group obtained two roof replacement bids and he obtained three additional bids. The five bids ranged from $38,000 to approximately $60,000.
Murphy said he would prefer to put a metal roof on the Island Players building because of the low maintenance requirements but for sound and acoustic purposes, the Island Players prefer another asphalt roof.
Murphy said Building Department General Manager Dean Jones would analyze the five bids with the goal to have the new roof installed and the wind insurance policy reinstated before peak hurricane season arrives.
PINE AVENUE
The city commission voted 4-1 in favor of issuing the first of four RFPs for the section-by-section installation of new pervious brick paver sidewalks along Pine Avenue where no paved or hard-surfaced sidewalks currently exist. Where applicable, the brick paver sidewalks will follow the same meandering paths that veer away from Pine Avenue and closer to the business entrances.
“I oppose the meandering sidewalks. People don’t use them. They walk the street,” Commissioner Gary McMullen said when expressing his opposition to the new sidewalks following those same meandering paths.
Construction companies have until July 17 to submit bid proposals to install brick paver sidewalks and new and improved crosswalks along Pine Avenue between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive. Murphy expects this first section of the multi-phase sidewalk and crosswalk installation project to be completed by the end of September.
He also presented a schedule for subsequent RFPs to be issued later this summer. The RFP for the section of Pine Avenue between North Shore Drive and Crescent Drive will be issued on June 30. The RFP for Crescent Drive to Tarpon Street will be issued on July 15 and the RFP for Tarpon Street to Bay Boulevard section will be issued on July 31.
Murphy said the goal is to have the initial four phases of the brick paver and crosswalk installations completed by the end of November. The existing concrete sidewalks along Pine Avenue will then be replaced in a future phase of the project.
STATE APPROPRIATIONS
During the June 13 meeting, Murphy informed the commission that DeSantis approved a $500,000 state appropriation to assist the city in developing a long-term plan to eliminate the need to dredge the Lake La Vista inlet and jetty area every few years at the city’s expense.
DeSantis vetoed the city’s $1.9 million request to extend the multi-use trail along Gulf Drive and he also vetoed a $475,000 request for the installation of stand-alone public restrooms near the city-owned public parking lot adjacent to city hall and the Island Players building.
