ANNA MARIA – The opening statements provided at last week’s Anna Maria Commission candidate’s forum provides a glimpse at who the candidates are, what they’ve accomplished and what drives them to seek public office.

During her opening remarks, Carol Carter, seeking a second term in office, noted previous service on the Planning and Zoning Board and first term commission results accomplished by working with a results-oriented mayor; which included passing the vacation rental ordinance. She said she chaired a committee to investigate new revenue generating initiatives, and she is a strong proponent of protecting green spaces, turtles and shorebirds.

“In 2015, $28.5 million is the estimated rental revenue from 661 parcels operating in the city, generating a 1,000 percent increase in the bed tax in just nine years. Not a dollar of this benefitted our city. I represent you for the peaceful enjoyment of your homes,” she concluded.

Seeking a second elected term in office, Doug Copeland mentioned academic pursuits at DePauw and Wright State universities, living in the city for more than 40 years and spending more than 20 years as a member and/or chair of the Planning and Zoning Board.

“I was involved in the Anna Maria Development Committee when we designed and built the Anna Maria Historical Park,” he said, also mentioning his work on the Bean Point walkway, Gulf Front Park and his continued efforts to remove invasive exotic plants.

“If elected, I’d like to work on the pier park and other environmental issues,” he said.

Seeking his first term in office, John Damato said, “I’ve been a public servant for 32 years in three different jurisdictions in two states, working as police officer, a police supervisor and a dispatcher. For six years I served as a Manatee County deputy in the city of Anna Maria. I diligently enforced the city ordinances and codes.”

He said public service taught him work with others to resolve issues, and role as a homeowners’ association president familiarized him with Robert’s Rules of Order.

He is now embarked on a career in real estate, and he said he moved to the city two years ago.

“I love this city. I believe strongly that the ordinances must be enforced and those that don’t follow them must be stopped,” he said.

Seeking her first term in office, Penny Naylor said she moved to Anna Maria in 2008.She sees Anna Maria as a city made up of different groups of people, some of whom are antagonistic to one another, with longtime residents sometimes expressing disdain for those who arrived more recently.

“We have people who want to protect our zoning rights for single-family residential. I’m one of them; I think this is critical. On the other side, you have the vacation rental people who are trying to make a living who are outraged by some of the excesses in the new ordinance. The new ordinance is terrific, but it’s too complex. The place is slipping away from us; the time to pull together is now,” she concluded.

Seeking his seventh term in office, Dale Woodland said he grew up in Anna Maria, attended Anna Maria Elementary and later obtained a degree in mathematics. He got involved in city government in the early 1990s when a group of Lake La Vista residents complained about the need to dredge and the mayor asked him to help secure a dredging permit.

“Out of that experience, the thing I learned most was the most valuable resource we have in the city of Anna Maria is its people. It’s an absolute honor to be a public servant for these wonderful people that we have in our city,” he said.

BRADENTON BEACH – Incumbent Ward 3 commissioner Janie Robertson and challenger Ralph Cole faced off in a candidates’ forum last Tuesday night.

Moderated by League of Women Voters President Rosalie Shaffer, the forum took place at city hall. Mayor Jack Clarke and challenger Bill Shearon did not participate.

During opening statements, Cole, the owner of Coastal Watersports, said he has had a home and business in the city for 30 years.

“Over the past two years, our city has lost its way. The voters deserve a choice; I am giving you a choice. The system of government we have in place has worked well, from Mayor Connick to Mayor Clarke. My favorite, because he was my father, was Mayor Cole. He understood the chain of command and has given me a wealth of knowledge. He encouraged me to run. We need some positive thinking. I love Bradenton Beach and it has come a long way. We can’t turn back the wheels of progress, but we can manage our future,” Cole said.

Robertson said she has been coming to the Island for 50 years and had a vacation home before purchasing her Bradenton Beach residence 10 years ago.

Recapping her public service, Robertson said, “I started with the 2002 visioning process, followed by an invitation to be on the citizens’ committee for the comp plan. I met some of our movers and shakers of the community, working for them for 18 months and doing that comp plan. Then I went to the Scenic Highway program. I was there for two and a half years, and then I was asked to run for ward 3. I’ve worked under five mayors. They are all different, they all have their own MOs and I’m used to anything that comes along.”

Vacation rentals

When asked about vacation rentals, Robertson said, “I have looked at some of the other cities and what they have done. Some of them have run into snags, and we have to look at those and see if we can come up with something.”

In regard to an amended moratorium being proposed later that week, she said, “The first time it came to us I think it needed some work. At this point in time, I see no reason why I wouldn’t be voting for it.”

Cole said, “Vacation rentals are part of the Island and they have been for years. People’s property is best regulated by the owners themselves, who need to step up and put a code of conduct on their property, like shutting their pool down at 10 o’clock. If the residential area wanted a moratorium, I wouldn’t have a problem if it’s worded right.”

Traffic and parking

Shaffer mentioned the high-rise bridge to be built on Manatee Avenue and asked about reducing gridlock.

Cole said, “You could sail under it without raising the bridge, but it’s still going to bottleneck into a two lane road. Once the Island’s full, it’s full. When it comes to the Cortez Bridge, I don’t think we could have a high-rise bridge without ruining Cortez. You might have to find a new place to put it, like at 53rd Street.”

Robertson said, “There’s nothing you can say about cars; there’s no place to put them unless you’re going to go all the way down to Coquina and get on the trolley. You just have to use alternative transportation. We’ve got people talking about a water taxi, we’ve got the Monkey Bus, and there’s lots of bicycle rentals. The main thing we can do is to work with the people who promote tourism and market this Island as a place you can come without a car.”

Treasurer

When asked about the search for a new city treasurer, Cole said City Clerk Terri Sanclemente should screen applicants and present her choice to the commission for approval.

Robertson disagreed: “Managing the city’s coffers is definitely the responsibility of the elected officials. Our financial person was a department head and all department heads reported to the commission, not to the mayor, not to the city clerk. After Mayor Clarke was elected, he put the financial person underneath the city clerk.”

BP money

When asked how the BP oil spill settlement money should be spent, Cole suggested capital improvements.

“I know they want to do something on the building. Let’s beautify our city and make it useful,” he said.

Robertson suggested dune construction and dune walkovers.

“Anything you can do to protect the perimeter of the Island,” she said, citing her previous work on the Bridge Street dune walkover as a key accomplishment.

Pier and anchorage

When asked about the pier, Robertson mentioned an e-mail from a boater who claimed his access to the city’s floating dock was impeded. “Unfortunately, there were two commercial, water taxi-type people parked there, and there wasn’t enough room. This is the first time I’ve heard there was a conflict, but if we’ve got commercial people blocking the floating dock, that has to be fixed,” she said.

Cole believes the adjacent anchorage needs to be addressed.

“That’s something that needs to be cleaned up. Maybe we need to use some of that money to find a place for people to park their boats. The anchorage could be a good thing for Bradenton Beach. We could get rid of the broken down boats and bad things that happen out there.”

Business community

When asked about the Bridge Street Merchants, Cole said, “I know they recently changed their liaison from Janie to Jan (Vosburgh). Bridge Street has become a great place to go, so I think it’s important to have good relationships with our business owners.”

Robertson said, “There’s the residents, and there’s the commercial interests. One should not overpower the other. Bridge Street is our commercial area. The way they survive is to have lots of customers. The Bridge Street people want lots of tourists. I don’t blame them, that’s how make money. However, the residents are suffering because the neighborhoods are being inundated by the party houses. You have to have some kind of balance. You’re going to end up not having a city anymore because you won’t have any residents. I’ve always been a residents’ advocate; maybe that’s why the Bridge Street Merchants decided they didn’t want me.”

Housing flux

A question on what’s positive about Bradenton Beach produced comments on housing and residents.

Robertson said, “There are a lot of younger people who can work from computers at home. We’re trying to get those kind of people to come live here, do their business here, raise their families here. That’s going to be the promotion for the Home Sweet Home initiative.”

Cole said his daughter recently moved back from Puerto Rico and had a hard time finding a long term rental on the Island. He attributed this to an aging population that sold residential properties to investors.

“It’s so expensive; that’s why we’ve lost most of our families,” Cole said.

In closing

During closing statements, Robertson said she wants the commission to focus more on capital improvements. She feels too much time was spent during her current term on forfeiture of office procedures.

“Let’s get something going that’s positive for the Island and the residents. Right now we have three staff members who sit in the back of the room and decide how we’re going spend our money. We’ll put in a new stormwater system on Bridge Street when it doesn’t even flood. We’ve got other places that do flood, why aren’t we doing that first? This city should be run by the elected officials, not the staff saying we’re going to take the money and spend it here and there because we kinda like the Bridge Street Merchants. I want to have balance,” she concluded.

After stumbling a bit, Cole said, “I bring a different point of view. I would make this commission work the way it’s supposed to and go back to when things were running smooth, communicating with people and getting good input.”

A forum recording is posted at www.localmatters.podomatic.com.

HOLMES BEACH – When Commissioner Jean Peelen attempted to generate discussion on the controversial 25 mph speed limit, she was met with silence from her fellow commissioners.

The 25 mph speed limit was put in place in the area of the elementary school without public notice or input and has caused continued complaints by citizens. Peelen said she has been inundated with complaints.

“My issue is the way it was done and having said we goofed up, we can’t say, ‘We did it, so let’s go on.’ We did screw up. We don’t have a good stated reason to lower the speed limit there.

“The studies the chief did showed most people don’t go that fast (35 mph) anyway, but to me, that’s not a reason to lower the speed limit. I would like a do over and take it back to where it was and have public discussion and input.”

Peelen made a motion to return the speed limit to 35 mph until a study can be done on reasons why it should be lowered and the public has had a chance to comment. The motion died for lack of a second.

Commissioner Marvin Grossman said after they resolve more pressing city business, he would like to discuss the issue.

Later in the week, Police Chief Bill Tokajer announced that the Florida Department of Transportation completed a study of the portion of Manatee Avenue from the Anna Maria Island Bridge to the public beach and agreed to lower the speed limit to 35 mph starting 800 feet east of East Bay Drive, as he had requested.

According to the DOT memo, the new speed limit was to be in effect no sooner than 14 days from Sept. 24. However, on Thursday, Oct. 1, the DOT installed the new speed limit signs, contrary to the memo.

“They promised to give us 14 days in order to alert the public,” Tokajer said.

On Friday he covered the signs with black garbage bags until the 14-day period is completed. The covering will come off the signs on Thursday, Oct. 8.

ANNA MARIA – Ever wished you could get a healthy juice drink, salad or light breakfast after that yoga or Tai Chi class at the Community Center?

Well now you can thanks to the Traveling Gourmet, aka Molly O’Connor, who took over the Center’s kitchen recently and opened the Center Café to the delight of members and guests.

“I met with Kristin (Executive Director Kristin Lessig) to see if I could lease the industrial space for my business,” O’Connor explained. “She asked if I could take over the concessions. We discussed it and decided we wanted to make it more of a café.

“I ran with it, and decided to start with fresh blended juices and healthy breakfast options, but still have fun things like Danish.”

Currently, the café is open six days a week from 8 to 11 a.m. and juice offerings include O’Connor’s special green juice, a combination of grapes, spinach, kale and other veges; a second juice that changes weekly; brunch salads and an egg with vegetables on puff pastry.

Dinner options coming

In mid-October, O’Connor will introduce dinners, an especially welcome option for parents and children participating in or attending sports or other activities.

“There will be things like tacos, sandwiches, special sides, soups and salads that will be served so they can take it out and watch a game,” she explained.

“People also will be able to sign up to pick up a dinner for the family and can choose from several options such as pot roast or meat loaf. I hope eventually to offer lunch options.”

O’Connor, who grew up in New Hampshire, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in New York with a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts management. She then followed her parents, who had moved to Key West, and worked at the island’s finest dining restaurant.

“I met my boyfriend, Ben Sato, in Key West,” she explained. “He grew up on the Island and convinced me to move here.

“I worked at the Beach Bistro and Eat here before starting my personal chef business about a year ago. I offer my services on the Island and in Bradenton.”

Her offerings include chef services for cocktail parties, holiday events, baby showers, bridal showers and small, privately served dinners. Her Website includes popular meal package plans and sample menus.

“People can order any number of meals for any number of people,” she said. “I have a sample menu on my Website, but I like to cater to their personal needs and taste.”

O’Connor can be found at www.travelinggourmetfl.com.

ANNA MARIA – Once again, the community is buzzing about fitness equipment installed on the second floor of the Community Center.

The equipment, donated by board member Shawn Kaleta, is in the area that residents had understood was to be an open area for yoga, stretching and floor exercise.

As stated by Jim Froeschle, treasurer of the Community Center’s board of directors, in a June meeting with Holmes Beach city commissioners, “The intent is to have an open area that we can be flexible in how we use it. It’s a multi-use, open, flexible concept.”

Some residents said that they feared that the Community Center’s original plan to build a fitness center on the second floor of the Center was being revived. Residents, some city officials and two Island fitness center owners had opposed that plan.

Fears are groundless

However, Executive Director Kristin Lessig said the fears are groundless and pointed out, “It is specialized Nautilus equipment for the Silver Sneakers program. The equipment is spread out right now while the room is being painted, but it will be pushed back and half the room will be open.

“It’s a multi-use space. The kids can come up here for health and fitness exercises, so they have somewhere to go besides the gym and playground, the seniors can use it, and even the teens can use it. “

She said the work is being funded by a $91,000 grant from the Manatee County Children’s Services Advisory Board to support programs that focus on healthy lifestyles.

“This includes health and fitness activities, the Center Café with healthy food options and the new art program,” she explained. “We’re trying to be more of a culture center and create a more healthy, holistic environment to support our families.

“The three areas upstairs are no longer dead space, but are now functional. The community should worry less about the pieces of equipment and focus on the programs we’re offering.”

HOLMES BEACH – At the City Commission meeting on Sept. 22, commissioners said they would like to have penalties for those who repeatedly receive stop work orders.

The issue came up during a discussion of the new permit and fee schedule when Commissioner Carol Soustek asked the building official if he is satisfied with the stop work order fees.

Building Official Jim McGuinness said he is and added, “There was no fee before and now there is one.”

According the schedule, the fee for the first issuance of a stop work order is $500, the second within 12 months of the first, not job specific, is $1,000, the third within 12 months of the first, not job specific, is $2,000.

“I think they should get slammed for the third issuance,” Soustek said. “I want to make an impression. I don’t think $2,000 is going to slap anybody’s hand hard enough when they are going to sell that place for $500,000 or more.”

However, Mayor Bob Johnson pointed out, “This is a fee, not a penalty,” and Commissioner Jean Peelen noted that it is builder specific, not job site specific.

Other remedies

City Attorney Patricia Petruff stressed, “This is not the place. If a contractor continually gets stop work orders on jobs or a series of jobs, there are other remedies.

“You can report them to the DPBR (Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation) or go to Chapter 14, which is our building code, and you also have some administrative procedures.”

She said the mayor and McGuinness could look at the procedures and make adjustments.

“A stop work order is much more serious than failing an inspection,” Commissioner Marvin Grossman said. “I would like us to do something about it.”

Chair Judy Titsworth suggested issuing a license to build in the city.

According to building department records, to date in 2015, 10 stop work orders have been issued to contractor Shawn Kaleta at Beach to Bay Construction. One was issued to Mr. Boles, and one was issued to Agnelli Pools. In 2014, four stop work orders were issued, two of those to Kaleta.

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners expressed concerns about rental homes being advertised as wedding venues after Commissioner Jean Peelen said she saw an advertisement on the Internet for a house at 5601 Flotilla Drive.

The ad states, “This 10,000 sq. ft. under roof villa has everything you could possible (sic) want or within minutes. (It’s the) Perfect location for a wedding or celebration. Seven bedrooms with three king-size beds, two queen, four twins and a double bed has more than enough to house your family and friends for the vacation of a lifetime,” and it boasts parking for 18 cars.

“I wrote to our code enforcement officer and I don’t know the status of that,” Peelen said.

“We presently have no requirements or temporary use permit for back yard weddings,” City Attorney Patricia Petruff explained. “It’s turning into a cottage industry so they can make extra revenue on top of the vacation rental, and it needs to be looked at.”

Peelen said it is a commercial use in a residential area, “Which is different from getting a temporary use permit.”

Commissioner Marvin Grossman agreed and called for it to be banned.

However, Petruff disagreed and pointed out, “They are not running a wedding business from that house. They are using the house to stage a wedding, usually in conjunction with renting the house.

“The problem becomes if we ban a house that’s used as a vacation rental from having a back yard wedding, then how do we allow the resident next door to have one?”

“I’m not concerned about anyone having a back yard wedding,” Peelen replied. “I’m concerned about running a business out of a residence.”

Petruff suggested putting the issue on a future agenda for discussion.

West Manatee Fire Rescue District Deputy Chief Brett Pollock was presented with the Congressional Career Service Award on Oct. 5. Pollock received the award from United States Congressman Vern Buchanan during the 2015 Florida 16th Congressional District Fire and EMS Awards ceremony held in Sarasota.

Pollock began his career with Westside Fire District as a volunteer firefighter in 1980 and was hired as a career firefighter in 1983. He progressed through the ranks including engineer, lieutenant, captain, district chief, and battalion chief to his present rank of deputy chief. During this time, Pollock became involved in the National Fallen Firefighters Program, “Courage to Be Safe,” and held the position of regional coordinator.

The fire districts in Manatee County have benefitted from his skills and ability in preparing and executing various grants. Specifically he was successful in obtaining a $1,000,000 Assistance to Firefighter grant that provided new compatible mobile and portable radios for all the fire districts in Manatee County.

West Manatee Fire Chief Thomas Sousa nominated Pollock for this award, stating, “We cannot quantify the lives saved as a result of his work.”