HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are fighting to maintain home rule and they’re seeking community support to make that happen.
During a Jan. 23 meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that he hopes members of the community will reach out to their state legislators by writing letters expressing their opinions on the proposed parking garage at Manatee Beach, approved by the Legislature in 2023. He also requested public input on the ongoing Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) state study looking at the consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities and on HB 1537/SB 280, which would assign control of vacation rentals to the state instead of allowing local municipalities to regulate that industry in their locations.
Schaefer added that while city leaders are sending letters to Tallahassee, he said the city’s lobbyist advised him to not send every bit of correspondence to Sen. Jim Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson Jr. While those two men represent Manatee County at the state level, Schaefer said the lobbyist is trying to repair the relationship between the city and the two state legislators and too much correspondence could “put salt in the wound.”
“They know where we stand and we know where they stand,” Schaefer said.
During comments, Commissioner Greg Kerchner said he’s concerned that the OPPAGA study will state that there is a cost savings in consolidating the three Island cities and that it will come down to a public relations move by the state to try and convince residents that consolidation or elimination of the three cities is good for them. He encouraged his fellow city leaders to direct staff to create a financial analysis to get ahead of what he feels is an inevitable discussion between the city and state.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said she met earlier that day with Congressman Vern Buchanan to discuss issues facing the city, potential appropriations requests and what city leaders and staff are doing to improve the area for residents and visitors.
“He’s a great friend to the city and our community,” Titsworth said of Buchanan.
