Political cartoon
Year: 2023
Black Bones Music venue coming to Anna Maria
ANNA MARIA – Terri and Paul Davis are creating a new after-hours listening room and live music venue at Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café & Gift Store, 9807 Gulf Drive.
Operating as Black Bones Music, the west Bradenton residents will host their first show on Friday, Jan. 12 with the Trevor Bystrom Trio as the headliner and 10-year-old singer-songwriter “Nora Bear” as the opening act. Bystrom will be accompanied by Judit Maldonado on vocals and percussion and Benny Maldonado on percussion. Bystrom’s stepdaughter, Nora, will open the show with an hour-long set at 6 p.m., followed by the Trevor Bystrom Trio from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Light snacks, coffee drinks, beer, wine and soda will be available before the show and during intermission, but the kitchen will be closed. Tickets are $25 and available at the Eventbrite website at www.blackbonesmusic.com.
Paul is a sergeant with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). He’s currently assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit and he previously led the MCSO Anna Maria Unit. Terri is a paralegal for a law firm in Sarasota. They were interviewed on Dec. 20 during a private Christmas party at Ginny’s and Jane E’s hosted by owners Paul and Tammy Foster. The event featured Christmas music performed by Just The 2 Of Us.
An idea blooms
When asked why they’re launching a listening room, Paul and Terri simultaneously said, “We just love music.”
“We’ve been to a couple different listening rooms and we don’t have anything like that here,” Paul said. “Terri and I would go to different restaurants and bars and some of the bands were really good but they get drowned out by the conversation and other noise. The perfect example is Trevor Bystrom. You can go to different places on the Island and listen to Trevor, but it’s more like background music. His Caribbean/African-influenced music has strong lyrical messages that can get lost in the noise. We want to give Trevor and people like him a place where people can experience the music and the musicians rather than just hearing them.”
“The goal isn’t to have people come in and drink. It’s to have them listen to the music. It’s all about the music,” Terri added.
Using Ginny’s and Jane E’s is the result of Paul and Terri’s friendship with the Fosters and the trips they took to New York City together. During one visit, they were looking for something to do on a Thursday night and fate stepped in.
“Singer-songwriter Matt Walden was playing at The Bitter End in New York City,” Paul Davis said. “We’ve known Matt since he was a young kid, through the Del Couch Music Education Foundation in Palmetto that we’ve been part of for years. Paul and Tammy had never been to a place like that before. We’d talked about listening rooms with them but they never experienced one. When they went to The Bitter End, they got it. Shortly after that, Paul said if you guys are serious about doing this, why not do it at Ginny’s and Jane E’s.”
“Terri and I planned on doing something like this on a larger scale before COVID, but when COVID hit, that all went away. We took that same concept and we’re going to do it on a smaller scale,” he said.
“Our goal is to promote local Florida bands and singers and all different types of music,” Terri said. “We’ve seen Trevor for years and I told Paul he needed to be our first concert. Trevor was all for it. Then we found Trey Wanvig.”
Wanvig is a Sarasota-based blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who will headline the Friday, Feb. 2 show.
“Trey’s 21 years old and he’s a phenomenal blues guitarist,” Paul said. “Then we have Matt Walden (Friday, Feb. 16 and Friday, March 29) and up-and-coming country star Andy Pursell (on Friday, April 12), who we also met through the Del Couch Foundation. Andy’s too big for a place like this, but he wants to play here because he knows us. We haven’t had our first concert yet and bands are already contacting us.”
Drunken Shrubbery will headline the Friday, March 15 show and Passerine will headline the Friday, May 3 show. The local, regional and touring bands performing Black Bones Music shows will primarily play their own songs and occasionally cover songs written by others.
“I want original music because that’s what I’m attracted to. I want to listen to Trevor Bystrom, Trey Wanvig and Andy Pursell, but I don’t mind them throwing in a couple covers,” Paul said.
Black Bones Music also wants to bring in young local musicians as opening acts to give them exposure and experience. They’re working with the Del Couch Foundation and plan to reach out to a couple more music education programs as well.
Black Bones Music is named after the couple’s beloved black cat, Bones, whom they adopted and then rescued again after he ran away.
Fostering environment
When asked about Ginny’s and Jane E’s doubling as a listening room, Paul Foster said, “Paul’s a friend of mine. I knew him when he was a deputy out here. This is a Paul and Terri thing. They love local music. We went to New York with them and they showed us The Bitter End, where Bob Dylan played.
“I do these invite-only Christmas shows every year. Paul and Terri were here last year and they said they thought they could do something with this room. They see this as a listening venue like The Bitter End, not a bar. They want to make the artist the center of attention and let them interact with the audience in a smaller setting. I said I’m not interested as a business partner, but if you want to use the venue you can. Look out for my products and here’s the keys. I’m happy to provide the space to friends of mine so they can pursue their passion,” Foster said.
New financial disclosure law impacting AMI governments
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner has resigned because of the state’s expanded Form 6 financial disclosure requirements that now apply to all Florida mayors and city commissioners holding office as of Jan. 1.
Spooner is one of many city commissioners in Florida who recently resigned because of the new law and the impacts are also being felt in Anna Maria and Longboat Key.
The Form 6 financial disclosure requirements have long applied to elected state, county and city officials in some of Florida’s larger cities. The Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the disclosure requirements earlier this year when creating the new state law that now requires elected city officials to annually file a Form 6 disclosure form.
All elected mayors and city commissioners in office as of Dec. 31 are required to file a Form 6 disclosure form by July 1. The expanded financial disclosure requirements also apply to future candidates seeking election to a city office, and to the nine appointed members of the Florida Commission on Ethics.
Bradenton Beach impacts
Spooner was elected in 2015 and remained in office since then. He tendered his resignation in an email sent to City Clerk Terri Sanclemente, Mayor John Chappie and others on Thursday.
“Please accept this letter as formal notification of my resignation from the Bradenton Beach City Commission and CRA, effective December 28, 2023,” Spooner wrote. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve our community and work towards betterment alongside such dedicated individuals. My time on the commission has been deeply rewarding and educational. I have cherished the opportunity to contribute to our city’s growth and to collaborate on initiatives that have improved our residents’ quality of life. However, due to recent changes in the state law pertaining to financial disclosure requirements for city officials, I find it necessary to step down from my position at this time. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Bradenton Beach. It has truly been a meaningful period in my life. I look forward to watching the city continue to thrive and prosper in the future and know it is in good hands.”
While in office, Spooner suggested the city use its contracted lobbyist to pursue state appropriations. This led to the city receiving millions of dollars in state funds for undergrounding utility lines and other projects. Spooner also proposed the addition of the new finger docks at the Bradenton Beach Pier. He was also a proponent of using Community Redevelopment Agency funds to decorate Bridge Street and the city entrance during the Christmas holidays.
The remaining commission members will appoint someone to fill Spooner’s vacated seat. According to a Florida Commission on Ethics spokesperson, a commissioner appointed after Jan. 1 is still required to file a Form 6 by July 1.
Anna Maria impacts
When contacted by The Sun, sitting Anna Maria commissioners Mark Short, Jon Crane and Charlie Salem each said they were not resigning.
“I just hope it doesn’t discourage others from getting involved,” Salem said.
The city commission anticipated filling two vacant commission seats on Jan. 25. On Dec. 22, Anna Maria City Commission applicant Pat Olesen informed Mayor Dan Murphy and City Clerk LeAnne Addy that she was withdrawing her application for potential appointment to the city commission in late January. Olesen told The Sun she withdrew because of the Form 6 disclosure requirements.
On Thursday (Dec. 28), commission applicant John Kolojeski withdrew his application for similar reasons. In the email he sent to Murphy, Kolojeski stated he was reluctantly withdrawing his application after speaking to Joe Burns at the Florida Commission on Ethics the previous day and confirming that if appointed he would be subject to the Form 6 financial disclosure requirements.
“In my opinion, the residents of Anna Maria did not need to know the value of an elected official’s oriental rug or art collection; such public information would most interest a thief,” Kolojeski stated in his email. “The most important information a voter needs is not required by the new law, namely does a candidate have financial interest in any business subject to actual or potential regulation by the city, e.g., real estate or construction, etc. What interests are financially supporting a candidate? Form 6 requirements I personally find onerous and irrelevant to the conflict issues of far greater importance.”
On Friday, commission applicant Susan Stephen withdrew her application, leaving Gary McMullen and Kathleen Morgan as the two remaining applicants as of 1 p.m. Friday.
In the withdrawal letter she sent to Murphy on Friday, Stephen stated, “I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the position of city commissioner. Unfortunately, the new laws will impede my desire to run. In my opinion, public release of my personal financial information is ripe for abuse. If I only was disclosing to the powers that be, it might be a different story. I must wholeheartedly agree with John Kolojeski and Pat Olesen that it’s an invasion of my personal information and subjects me to abuse of said information.”
On Dec. 13, commission applicant Sharon Wisniewski withdrew her application. It is not known if the new financial disclosure requirements factored into her withdrawal.”
If two new Anna Maria commissioners are on Jan. 25 as previously anticipated, the new commissioners will have to their first Form 6 by July 1.
Holmes Beach impacts
When contacted on Thursday, Holmes Beach City Clerk Stacey Johnston said no resignations were tendered in Holmes Beach. Johnston said she provided the mayor and commissioners with access to Form 6 training materials and other information well in advance of the new disclosure requirements taking effect.
After contacting the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, Johnston confirmed that the city’s elected charter review board members will continue to file Form 1 disclosure forms when qualifying for election and will not have to file Form 6.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer expressed concerns about the Form 6 disclosure requirements during the commission’s Nov. 14 meeting after attending a presentation that Florida Commission on Ethics Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel Steven Zuilkowski gave after the conclusion of the Nov. 9 ManaSota League of Cities meeting.
“It’s very onerous. It requires detailed financial information, down to the bank accounts, their respective balances, securities and net worth. Is this going to thwart people in the future from even considering running if they have to open their financial statements to the public?” Schaefer said.
Schaefer questioned whether the disclosure requirements would also discourage residents from serving on the city’s non-elected committees and boards.
In response to that concern, Johnston said, “It is not for the committees. It’s only for the elected officials, which are the six of you.”
Longboat Key, statewide impacts
After taking office in March, Longboat Key Town Council member Debbie Murphy submitted her resignation letter on Nov. 20 and her resignation took effect Dec. 24.
“I feel my privacy is being infringed upon in being required to submit the new financial disclosure form and am unwilling to provide personal net worth information being requested. I find these requirements to be more onerous and intrusive than I am willing to share with the public,” she stated in her resignation letter.
Statewide, the new financial disclosure requirements caused many elected city officials to resign. According to various new outlets, four of the five St. Pete Beach Commission members resigned and at least 18 elected municipal officials in Pinellas County resigned. Three elected city officials in Pasco County resigned, the Naples vice-mayor resigned, three North Palm Beach City Commission members resigned and a Fort Myers Town Council member resigned because of the new financial disclosure requirements.
Disclosure requirements extensive
Most Florida mayors and city commissioners were previously required to file the Form 1 disclosure document that doesn’t require a disclosure of net worth. Form 1 requires the disclosure of income sources but not the amount of income received. Form 1 requires the disclosure of business interests, real estate holdings and major debts but does not require the specific amounts of those holdings and debts.
During the Florida League of Cities annual conference in August, Zuilkowski and Commission on Ethics Executive Director Kerrie Stillman gave a presentation titled, “Let The Sunshine In: Everything you need to know about Form 6.”
The presentation is posted at the Florida League of Cities website and provides detailed information about the Form 6 disclosure requirements and the now-mandatory electronic filing process.
Form 6 requires elected officials to report their net worth at the end of the previous calendar year. It requires the disclosure of all income sources and the amount of income earned. It requires the disclosure of bank accounts and year-end balances. It requires the disclosure of land and real estate holdings, tangible and household assets valued at more than $1,000, stock and investment accounts, financial debts and liabilities that exceed $1,000 and the amount owed to each creditor, with the exception of credit card debt and taxes owed.
Senate sponsor
The expanded Form 6 financial disclosure requirements are the result of the new state law created earlier this year with the Florida Legislature’s adoption of Senate Bill 774, and the matching committee substitute bill adopted by the House of Representatives. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the expanded disclosure requirements into law in May.
Sen. Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) sponsored SB 774. When contacted by The Sun, Brodeur’s office said he was unavailable for a phone interview but his aide provided a written statement Brodeur shared with other media outlets.
“Before the bill took effect, the following individuals holding public office were required to file a Form 6: The governor, the lieutenant governor, executive cabinet members, legislators, state attorneys, public defenders, clerks of circuit courts, sheriffs, tax collectors, property appraisers, supervisors of elections, county commissioners, elected superintendents of schools, district school board members, Jacksonville City Council members – including the mayor, compensation claims judges, the Duval County Superintendent of Schools, Florida Housing Finance Corporation Board members, Florida Prepaid College Board members and members of each expressway authority, transportation authority, bridge authority or toll authority,” Brodeur stated.
“City officials, presumably with the highest spending authority and the lowest vote count thresholds, have very little transparency, so the bill lined them up with everyone else in public office,” he stated.
“The Florida Commission on Ethics said during their public testimony when the bill was heard in committee that more people filed to run for public office last year than ever before, so there likely won’t be a lack of good people running for office. Similar arguments were made by county commissions, school boards and constitutional officers when it became a requirement that they submit a Form 6, and we’ve had no shortage of candidates for any of those positions,” he stated.
“I’m not so much concerned about their pay as I am about their spending authority. It takes 82 votes in the Legislature to spend taxpayer dollars. In a city, you can spend tens of millions of dollars with as little as three votes. Taxpayers deserve transparency. If a simple disclosure that hundreds of other elected officials already do makes someone quit, then voters should be glad,” Brodeur stated.
Ethics Commission insights
When contacted by The Sun, Stillman provided additional insights on the Form 6 financial disclosure requirements first promulgated in 1977.
“It is not a new form. It has been around for decades. It’s a new requirement for city commissioners and mayors. The biggest difference between Form 1 and Form 6 is the requirement to provide net worth and to list specific income amounts,” Stillman said.
“This change is something that’s been recommended by the (Ethics) Commission since 2015 or 2016. Over the years, it has been in bills that have been debated in legislative committees, and the Florida League of Cities was closely following and active in the issue,” she said.
“The state of Florida has very broad public records laws and prioritizes transparency. The filing of financial disclosure forms does provide transparency to the public. The ethics laws, the disclosure requirements and the transparency are designed to help bolster the public’s trust in their government and help identify potential conflicts of interest. The exercise of an official completing the form each year helps the official remember where their interests are and helps them avoid potential conflicts of interest,” Stillman said.
Stillman said Form 6 filers are not asked to provide bank account numbers, social security numbers and other sensitive information. She noted the new law also eliminates paper filing and requires all Form 6 filings to be done electronically using the Ethics Commission’s online filing system.
When qualifying to run for a mayoral or city commission seat, non-incumbent candidates must now fill out Form 6, print a copy of the filed form and submit it to the applicable election qualifying officer, which is generally the supervisor of elections office. Incumbent city candidates seeking reelection must provide their qualifying officer with a printed receipt of their most recent Form 6 filing.
When asked, Stillman said elected fire district board members are not required to file a Form 6 and will continue to file Form 1.
“Currently, there are about 26,000 Form 6 filers. With the addition of city officials, we anticipate that amount will double. Our staff is prepared to assist all these officials as they transition to this new form. They’ll have access to our filing system beginning in January,” Stillman said.
She noted that financial disclosure forms, a video tutorial and answers to frequently asked questions are available at the Ethics Commission website.
“We’re ready to help the folks comply and adjust to the Form 6 requirement,” Stillman said.
The original version of this story was updated on Friday, Dec. 29 at 1:25 pm
Reel Time: Luck is when opportunity meets preparedness
Whether you’re fishing local water, stalking bonefish in the Bahamas, poling a flat in Charlotte Harbor for tailing redfish, or any number of angling scenarios, we anglers spend the majority of our time fantasizing about making the perfect cast to a hungry fish under ideal conditions. When we do get on the water, we face the unpredictable forces of wind and weather that can throw hurricanes, fronts, windstorms, clouds and various adverse conditions at us.
While the world of fishing in general and fly fishing, in particular, presents us with many challenges, it’s surmounting these odds that makes success all the sweeter. That’s why we hunt gamefish with imaginative mixtures of feathers, fur, synthetics and tinsel. The excitement of making a presentation to a gamefish you’ve stalked, enticing it into taking a fly, and then connecting through graphite and cork makes all the preparation, time, money and past disappointments worthwhile.
With so many odds facing a fly angler, there is good reason to be as well prepared as possible. Too many anglers wait for months to take the trip of a lifetime and find their casting proficiency severely tested. The old saying that “luck is opportunity meeting preparedness” is especially true for fly fishers. Why not develop the mindset from the beginning that everything we do, on the water and off, contributes to turning odds into opportunities?
Preparation comes in many forms, and the most important components are practiced throughout the year. That means having tackle in top form, as well as knowing how to tie proper knots and flies that imitate your prey’s food. Casting skills are developed over a lifetime, and practice should not be saved for fishing trips, or even the days leading up to a trip. If you can’t get your fly to the fish, all other factors are moot. The best practice is on grass, throwing to targets placed at different distances and angles. Don’t make the mistake of judging your casting ability by how long a line you can throw. Learn to make a tight (in saltwater), accurate 40-foot cast first and then work on distance.
While I’ve been blessed to learn from some top fly casters, I’ve found the best instructor of all is having a compelling reason to fly fish. That’s what leads successful fly fishers to learn the basics and practice. One of the first and most important lessons I’ve learned is to see the wind as a friend, not a foe. If you’re new to the game, don’t put off a fly-fishing trip because the wind is blowing. On my first trip to the Bahamas, I was face to face with a large school of bonefish just 40 feet away, into a 25-mph headwind. All those days of avoiding the wind meant that I didn’t have the skills to get the job done. Now I appreciate the windy days because I know that if I can be successful on windy days, I’ll be golden on the nice days. Wind-generated waves provide windows into the water and fish are far less spooky and more readily take a fly. If you can make a short, accurate cast into a 15-20-knot wind you’ll excel on those rare perfect days. Practiced fly anglers who are mentally prepared and visualize their outcome (just like top athletes) have a definite advantage. They’re primed when the opportunity presents itself as luck. The next time you have a chance to go fishing, don’t let the wind dissuade you, make the wind your friend. It will pay dividends in your fishing future.
Will there be home stability in the New Year?
It’s a whole year later and we’re still talking about interest rates and low inventory – will it ever end? The sellers are still happy with their values, the buyers are still dismayed with the lack of inventory and it’s not likely things will change much in the new year.
The most recent conversation among real estate analysts is that even though interest rates have dropped slightly, it will make homes more affordable but not affordable enough since the shortage of available properties to purchase is not expanding at the national level.
The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures home prices across the nation, rose 3.9% from a year earlier in September compared with a 2.5% annual increase the prior month. September was the highest since the index began in 1987. In addition, according to the National Association of Realtors, the median existing home sale price rose 3.4% in October from a year earlier to $391,800.
So, what is the outlook for the new year? Some analysts feel home prices are feeling the burden of high mortgage rates, which will slow the rate of price growth in the new year. Others agree and think it might be that home prices are going to tread water for a number of years until the economy gets in balance with higher incomes and lower rates.
One nice change for those buyers out there is the increase in the maximum size of home mortgage loans eligible for backing by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which represent the majority of home mortgages. In expensive markets like Hawaii, California and New York, the increase will be a maximum of $1,149,825 from $1,089,300 and for less expensive markets, the cap would rise to $766,550 from $726,200. The increases are set by a legal formula and could make it easier and more affordable for some borrowers, especially in the high-end markets.
Let’s take a look at Manatee County’s November sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed 22.2% more properties compared to last November. The median sale price was $485,861, down 4.1%, and the average sale price was $662,237, up 4%. The median time to sale was 82 days compared to 77 days last year.
Condo sales were up 20.7% compared to last November. The median sale price was $351,500, down 1.8%, and the average sale price was $393,475, up 0.6%. The median time to sale was 83 days compared to 56 days last year.
The month’s supply of available properties for both single-family and condos were up. Single-family properties had a 3.4 month’s supply, up 13.3% from last November and condos had a 4.4 month’s supply, up 63% from last November.
Overall demand is strong for both Manatee and Sarasota counties. With inventories in both counties continuing to increase, we can assume sales will be strong over the winter months when visitors and part-time residents return in force.
The stability of the real estate market really depends on the stability of countrywide and even worldwide economies. And don’t discount the emotional impact of wars and unrest as well. Fortunately, Florida is still a hot market that doesn’t look like it’s cooling off any time soon. We’re going into the busy buying and selling season, which will be the real barometer of how successful our market is.
Happy New Year and much joy and love in 2024.
Year in review: Environment
MANGROVE VIOLATIONS
In January, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection levied an $8,500 fine for improper mangrove trimming and debris removal activities that occurred at Carlos Beruff’s Aqua development in unincorporated Manatee County in 2022.
FOX HONORED AT CELEBRATION OF LIFE
At the celebration of Suzi Fox’s life in January, local dignitaries, family and friends painted a picture of a dedicated advocate for Island turtles, a fun-loving and funny friend, and a caring mother, sister and grandmother. Fox, longtime executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, died on Sept. 30, 2022 after a fall. More than 150 people attended the event at the Center of Anna Maria Island to pay tribute to Fox.
EARLY START TO SEA TURTLE SEASON
Island sea turtles got off to an early start in 2023 as the first nest of the season appeared on Anna Maria Island. “AMITW got a big surprise early this morning, finding the first loggerhead nest of the season,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in an April 18 statement. Sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1 and lasts until Oct. 31.
SUZI FOX DAY DECLARED ON MAY 1
As turtle nesting season began, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring declared May 1 as Suzi Fox Day to honor the legacy of its former executive director.
PINEY POINT CONTAMINATION EXTENDED FURTHER THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT
A study showed that contaminated water from the 2021 Piney Point spill, which contributed to algae blooms and red tide in Tampa Bay waterways, traveled farther than originally thought. According to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), a chemical signature from the spill was found more than 30 miles away, in St. Joseph Sound near Tarpon Springs.
LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE ‘SUZI’ PARTICIPATES IN TOUR DE TURTLES
As hundreds of delighted onlookers gathered to see a publicized turtle release at Coquina Beach, loggerhead sea turtle “Suzi” made a grand entrance from the sand to the water. She hesitated several times walking on the beach, appearing to look at the crowd, but once she reached the water she was in her element and took off swimming. The June 27 release wasn’t the last time Suzi’s whereabouts was known – she was satellite-tagged and tracked during the Tour de Turtles race.
MULTIPLE TURTLE NESTS RUN OVER
On a daily patrol in July, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers were shocked and saddened to find multiple turtle nests that had been trampled on and run over with vehicles. On its Facebook page, Turtle Watch posted photos of tire tracks and footprints through multiple nests with marker stakes broken and on the ground. Vehicles are illegal on the beaches of Anna Maria Island. The culprits were not found.
SEA CAPTAINS CATCH POACHERS
The vigilance of three local charter captains resulted in multiple citations against three men for poaching marine life in local waters.
TURTLE HATCHLINGS RESCUED FROM HOLE ON BEACH
Four turtle hatchlings that had fallen into a hole on the beach were found by Holmes Beach Code Enforcement staff on the morning of July 16. While entrapped, the turtles were using up energy they needed for their long swim to the floating sargassum line where they will spend the next few years.
HURRICANE IDALIA CAUSES BEACH EROSION
Hurricane Idalia’s Aug. 31 storm surge eroded the Island’s renourished beaches, but the full extent of the damage and when it will be repaired is not yet known. “It could be months before any decision on what efforts will be undertaken is made,” Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said in a Sept. 8 email to The Sun.
FLAMINGOS FLOCK TO FLORIDA
Hurricane Idalia’s Category 3 landfall in late August brought rain, wind, and, surprisingly, flamingos, to Florida. One flamingo was rescued by boaters in the Gulf off St. Petersburg Beach. Nicknamed “Peaches,” the bird was brought to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay and was then transferred to the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores for rehabilitation. After a week, “Peaches” was self-feeding and becoming active. She was released and spotted later at Fort DeSoto in Pinellas County.
HURRICANE IMPACTS TURTLE NESTING
Turtle nesting season ended early this year, with Hurricane Idalia having left a large dent in nesting numbers. “Hurricane Idalia had a major impact on our nesting season, causing the loss of 18.5% of this season’s nests,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said. The last nest on the Gulf of Mexico side of the Island hatched on Sept. 19. The season typically runs through October.
BIOLUMINESCENCE FASCINATES BEACHGOERS
The bioluminescent glow that came off the water in September may be related to the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, according to one local expert. “This could be related to the nutrient pulse from Idalia,” said Dr. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. “The water came up and much of the grass clippings and yard debris on our landscape got dragged back out into the bay as the water receded.”
U.S. COAST GUARD SUSPENDS INVESTIGATION INTO SEAPORT MANATEE OIL SPILL
Following testing of multiple potential sources, and with no responsible party identified, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its investigation on Sept. 26 into the source of an oil spill at SeaPort Manatee, pending any new information. The spill was reported by SeaPort Manatee on Sept. 1, launching the Coast Guard’s examination of facilities and ships for evidence of an improper oil discharge.
PINEY POINT CLOSES FIRST OF FOUR WASTEWATER COLLECTION PONDS
In September, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the work on the first of four wastewater collection ponds was complete. The pond, built to contain industrial wastewater from phosphate processing operations, is located at the top of a phosphogypsum waste stack.
MANATEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REDUCE WETLAND BUFFERS IN A 5-1 VOTE
Commissioners voted on Oct. 5 to default to the less restrictive state of Florida minimums from more restrictive county standards. Buffers between sensitive wetlands and new upland development were reduced from 50 feet to 25 feet. Buffers between outflowing wetlands and new upland development were reduced from 30 feet to 15 feet.
MANATEE PROTECTION, ALGAL BLOOM RESEARCH FUNDED BY FEDS
Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research. Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office announced that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two of his amendments to the Interior and Environment government funding bill, one of which dedicates $1.15 million for the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees.
– Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story
Year in Review: Tourism
Journal featured a full-page article about Anna Maria’s 34216 zip code being the second most expensive in Florida. It ranked second only to the ultra-exclusive Fisher Island in Miami, which is home to residents like Oprah Winfrey, Andre Agassi, Robert Herjavec and other high-net-worth individuals and celebrities. The City of Anna Maria had a current median list price of $3.6 million, a median $1,695 price per square foot, an average of 75 days on the market before a home is sold and 42 active listings, which was up 133.33% year-over-year. Tourism is known to drive home sales on Anna Maria Island.
SPRING BREAK BOOSTS NUMBERS
In March, thousands of students, many with their families, flocked to AMI to escape the still-freezing temperatures farther north, trading quizzes and tests for beach volleyball and fun in the sun. Due to different regions of the country having spring break on different weeks, spring break season on the Island runs from the first week of March through the middle of April, more than a month long. According to the Holmes Beach Police Department, which has license plate readers that count how many cars enter the city each day, the first week of March saw 214,740 cars for an average of 30,677 per day. The numbers continued to grow as the month went on.
COQUINA BEACH TRAIL IMPROVED
At the April 24 meeting of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC), Chad Butzow, public works director for Manatee County, presented a proposal to the TDC requesting the approval of $1.5 million for improvements to the Coquina Beach Trail, a paved path popular with visitors and locals about the width of a city sidewalk that begins at the Longboat Pass parking lot and runs 1 1/2 miles along the beach north to Fifth Street South. The trail is estimated to cost $1.5 million, including the removal of 96 Australian pine trees whose roots are damaging the pavement, to be replaced by native tree species. The money was later approved by Manatee County commissioners and work began in September. The project is currently delayed due to supply chain issues, but is scheduled to resume in January 2024.
BEACH CLOSING TIMES CHANGE
Manatee County had the full support of the Bradenton Beach Police Department and Mayor John Chappie when officials changed the closing time of beaches and beach parking from midnight to 10 p.m. Anna Maria and Holmes Beach had the 10 p.m. closing time for many years, with Bradenton Beach being the only city remaining with the midnight closing time. The county said the reasons for the earlier closing time were reports of numerous after-hours issues with drugs, homeless persons, vandalism and the safety of workers who clean common areas, bathrooms and other duties that can’t be completed until beach visitors have left the area.
MEMORIAL DAY BUSIEST EVER
In the days following Memorial Day, Island officials said this year may have been the busiest Memorial Day weekend ever. Traffic was backed up all weekend long, and parking was chaos in many areas. Bradenton Beach Police Lieutenant Lenard Diaz said while he had nothing official to back up his claims, it felt to him like it was the busiest weekend he had ever seen, a sentiment echoed by Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, who said his department wrote more than 400 tickets for illegal parking over the weekend. Visitors reported wait times of more than two hours to get onto the Island on both Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue.
HURRICANE IDALIA IMPACTS TOURISM
As news of approaching Hurricane Idalia dominated the days leading up to Aug. 29, tourism came to a screeching halt on Anna Maria Island. Rooms were canceled and eventually, a forced evacuation was mandated for AMI as, at the time, forecasters said the Island could sustain a direct hit from the category 3 storm. Fortunately, the Island was spared the worst of the surge, suffering flooding but not much structural damage. However, hundreds of thousands of tourism dollars were lost and many local businesses took some time to recover from water damage.
AIRBNB USES AI
In November, Airbnb announced they had been using artificial intelligence (AI) to crack down on people renting houses and condos for the sole purpose of having parties. Airbnb launched the AI-driven anti-party system ahead of the Halloween holiday weekend in both the U.S. and Canada. The purpose of the technology is to help owners of houses rented through Airbnb to avoid the hassle of dealing with renters whose sole purpose of renting is to have a disruptive party. On Anna Maria Island, this is especially problematic, as noise ordinances are in place in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Police in all three cities respond to multiple potential noise violations every week. Airbnb’s AI can learn patterns of renters that may be potential party risks and block them from renting.
Year in Review: Cortez
CORTEZ COMMERCIAL FISHING FESTIVAL CELEBRATES VILLAGE
The 41st Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival took place on Feb. 18-19 in the historic fishing village. The festival, which celebrated 100 years of Star Fish Company, was organized by a volunteer committee from the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH). “The money raised at the festival will support the continued restoration of the FISH Preserve,” FISH board member Jane von Hahmann said. The preserve covers over 98 acres of environmentally sensitive land immediately east of the village. It is the last stretch of undeveloped waterfront property left on North Sarasota Bay.
CANAL DISPUTES
In 2023, Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty, his Cortez Road Investments and Finance ownership group, and his legal team prevailed in two rulings pertaining to multiple canal-related disputes that remain ongoing. In March, Administrative Law Judge Bruce Culpepper recommended the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s governing board issue a final order granting the developer’s application to construct 49 boat slips/docks in the privately-owned Hunters Point canal. In May, the governing board issued that order. The owners of the nearby Cortez Village Marina are appealing the final order as part of their ongoing opposition to the Hunters Point docks. In late October, as part of another canal-related dispute, 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas denied motions seeking to dissolve the lis pendens claims Cortez Road Investments filed against canal-side property owners Wendy and George Kokolis and Jonathan and Sheila Graham. A lis pendens claim notifies potential buyers of a lawsuit involving the property and can impact the ability to sell a property, obtain financing or obtain title insurance.
FISH PRESERVE DAMAGED BY FIRE
Despite a May 10 fire that the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office said was intentionally set at the 98-acre Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) Preserve, work continued on the final phase of a restoration project. The fire had minimal impact on the restoration efforts.
SEAFOOD SHACK/ANNIE’S BAIT AND TACKLE FOR SALE
Annie’s Bait and Tackle is part of a parcel including the Seafood Shack that went up for sale in May with a starting price of $15 million. Annie’s, which has been in operation since the 1950s, has been owned by Bruce Shearer and Kim Shepherd for more than 20 years. The Seafood Shack went under contract for sale in August, but the listing agent remained tight-lipped about the potential buyer. Realtor Dave Neff said, “The property has not sold yet, but it is under contract. I am not able to disclose who the buyer is. Much of the speculation on the internet centers around the potential buyers as the current owners of a waterfront restaurant in Venice. There are rumors going around about who the buyer is, but those rumors are premature in nature and inaccurate,” Neff said.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND PRINCESS FOR SALE
The Anna Maria Island Princess paddleboat went up for sale in 2023. Listed at $499,999 on the Boat Trader website, the 99-foot paddleboat has caught the attention of potential buyers. “It hasn’t sold yet but we’ve had a lot of interest,” said Mia Still, Bradenton Beach Marina executive assistant for tours and operations on Sept. 26. The boat is owned by Bradenton Beach Marina, which was purchased in January by local developer Shawn Kaleta.
HURRICANE IDALIA CAUSES SHORT-LIVED DAMAGE
As residents and businesses cleaned up following the Aug. 30 storm surge from Hurricane Idalia, which flooded local roads, the recurring consensus was, “We got lucky.” “There was no boat damage (to the fleet of fishing boats). We lost a few boards on the dock,” A.P. Bell Fish Company owner Karen Bell said. “We were very lucky.” On Wednesday morning, roads in Cortez were underwater. By that evening the waters receded and roads were passable. In advance of the storm, local fish houses secured their fleets of fishing boats. Tide Tables was flooded from the storm surge but cleaned and dried by the following day.
CORTEZ ROAD CONSTRUCTION STUDY BEGINS
In August, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) launched a Cortez Road corridor study that extended from 121st Street Court West in Cortez to U.S. 301 in Bradenton/West Samoset. The corridor study project is a partnership between FDOT, Manatee County and the Sarasota-Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, with the Renaissance Planning consulting firm tasked with gathering input from the public and other stakeholders. The primary goals were to identify ways to make the Cortez Road corridor safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and others and to address the relationship between the roadway and future growth along the corridor. More than 8,500 new homes and residential units are expected to be constructed near Cortez and Anna Maria Island in the coming years. In April/May, the Woodruff and Sons construction company began clearing trees and other landscaping along the north side of Cortez Road as part of a Manatee County sewer line project. The utilities easement agreement the county entered into with property owner Whiting Preston stipulates the new sewer line must provide the capacity to handle the sewage produced by the 2,000 residential units planned as part of Preston’s Peninsula Bay development.
CORTEZIAN GROWS RECORD-SETTING PUMPKIN
What started out as a casual pastime for Cortez resident Tim Caniff turned into a statewide record-sized pumpkin. At 1,039 pounds, the pumpkin, grown in Caniff’s backyard, blew the previous state record out of the water by more than 400 pounds. “This started off as a fun beer-drinking hobby,” Caniff said.
CORTEZ STONE CRAB FESTIVAL CELEBRATED
The kickoff to the stone crab harvest season was celebrated on Nov. 11-12 at the 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival. The festival typically draws more than 5,000 attendees and more than 2,000 pounds of stone crab is consumed. “The festival celebrates the heritage of Cortez and the kickoff to stone crab season,” Adam Sears, Swordfish Grill General Manager said. This year’s theme was “Crack a Cold One,” since stone crab is served cracked and cold.
FISH PRESERVE RIBBON-CUTTING HELD
In the culmination of more than two decades of planning and hard work, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve on Nov. 3.
At nearly 100 acres, the preserve is on the south side of Cortez Road, an oasis of natural beauty among multiple construction projects nearby. The preservation and non-development of the preserve land, adjacent to the Cortez fishing village and bordering the waters of Sarasota Bay, was precisely the goal of FISH members in 2000 when they began fundraising to purchase the property. The invitation-only ribbon cutting featured speakers Dr. Dave Tomasko, Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program; Dr. Jay Leverone, staff scientist with SBEP; FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann; EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle and Manatee County Commissioner and SBEP policy board member Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
PASSINGS
On Feb. 22, former Swordfish Grill Manager Greg “Grego” Koeper passed away from melanoma at 67.
– Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story
Year in Review: Holmes Beach
HOLMES BEACH – The bang that kicked off 2023 in Anna Maria Island’s largest city wasn’t the fireworks. The year that was had a lot of ups and downs for both city leaders and residents along with a few surprise loops along the rollercoaster of a year.
TREE HOUSE OWNERS MARK DECADE OF LEGAL WRANGLING
In January, the year started the same way that it ended, with the city and tree house owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen facing off in court over the beachfront tree house structure at Angelinos Sea Lodge. As the legal fight passed the decade mark in Manatee County courtrooms, the tree house owners received another blow as cases against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the city were found in favor of the government entities. Despite the setbacks, the fight for the owners to keep the two-story tree house aloft and for the city to have the unpermitted structure removed continues.
PARKING GARAGE PURSUED
One of the twists that took city leaders for a loop in 2023 started in January with Manatee County Legislative Delegation members deciding to push a bill forward to allow Manatee County commissioners to construct a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach. The fight over the parking garage began more than a year earlier with Manatee County commissioners, spearheaded by Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge, arguing with city leaders over some street-side parking in residential neighborhoods being designated as resident-only until 5 p.m. daily. Though the plan to change the parking in some residential neighborhoods was almost 10 years in the making, Van Ostenbridge claimed that city leaders took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to close side of street parking in residential neighborhoods in a bid to keep visitors away from the beach. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer provided county leaders with personally collected numbers demonstrating the abundance of open beach parking in the city, even during high-volume holidays such as Easter and spring break. Despite the data provided to county commissioners, they pushed for state legislators to introduce a parking garage bill in violation of the city’s land development code and comprehensive plan. The bill passed and at the end of the year city leaders are considering their legal options to continue the parking garage fight.
If built according to plan, the garage would cost Manatee County taxpayers more than an estimated $45 million to construct and $200,000 annually to maintain, remove the existing beach facilities including a historic building housing concessions, a bar and retail store, eliminate the existing more than 450 parking spots and facilities for more than two years during construction, and provide around 900 total parking spaces. Van Ostenbridge said the parking spaces in the garage would need to be paid for hourly by drivers in order to fund the garage’s maintenance. Though paid parking is not currently an allowable use in Holmes Beach, and neither are multi-story parking facilities, Mayor Judy Titsworth said that if county commissioners decide to go ahead with building the garage and charging for parking, the city will be forced to reconsider its stance on free beach parking for the public.
CONSOLIDATION STUDY BEGUN
After giving leaders in the three Anna Maria Island cities a few months to discuss how they could consolidate services to save taxpayers money, members of the state legislative delegation opted to go forward with an Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study to look at consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities or annexation into Bradenton or unincorporated Manatee County. Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) and Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) sent the mayors of all three cities a notice in the fall that the OPPAGA study would be going forward with the intent of investigating if the three Island cities should be consolidated, annexed or left as three independent municipalities. While the mayors said they support the study in an effort to look at ways to save taxpayers money, they are all opposed to consolidation or elimination of the Island municipalities.
ISLANDERS 4 CLEAN WATER LAUNCHED
In the spring, Holmes Beach city leaders celebrated the launch of the Islanders 4 Clean Water campaign aimed at raising awareness of water quality issues in and around Anna Maria Island and how residents and visitors can reduce their negative impact on the environment. Dozens of people took the plunge in support of the campaign and city leaders are continuing to raise awareness for the campaign and environment into 2024.
NO ELECTION NEEDED
The sitting city commissioners escaped the need for an election in November as candidate qualifying ended in July with incumbent Commissioners Pat Morton, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek all running unopposed. Because only one person qualified to run for the charter review commission, which was set to convene in January 2024, City Attorney Erica Augello said that no additional members could be appointed to the charter review commission outside of the election process, meaning that this will be the first time since the city’s incorporation that the charter review commission will not meet as scheduled.
LIGHT IMPACTS FROM HURRICANE IDALIA
Anna Maria Island once again slipped through hurricane season virtually unscathed. The closest brush the Island had with a named storm was when Hurricane Idalia moved past about 100 miles in the Gulf of Mexico off Holmes Beach’s shoreline. While the Island missed taking a direct hit, the storm brought a day of rain and windy weather to the city, flooding and some minor damage to structures.
WATER MAIN REPAIR DELAYED ON BRIDGE
Due to delays in receiving materials, work to repair and relocate a water main along the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue was postponed. Crews are completing the last phase of the water main pipe repair, installing additional hangers to support the pipe on the east side of the bridge.
Year in Review: Bradenton Beach
BRADENTON BEACH – The Pines Trailer Park and Bradenton Beach Marina sales and the approved hotel/restaurant/retail project on Bridge Street and Gulf Drive made the biggest headlines in the city in 2023.
Bradenton Beach Marina sold
In early January, developer Shawn Kaleta and the Metropolitan Property Ventures LLC purchased the Bradenton Beach Marina from the Bazzy family for $14 million. Kaleta now serves as president of the Bazzy Marine Corp.
County works on sewer, drainage problems
In January, Manatee County initiated its ongoing $8 million sewer improvement project along Gulf Drive South and the adjoining side streets from Sixth Street South to 13th Street South. As the sewer line replacement and installation work takes place on the residential side streets one street at a time, those streets temporarily closed to vehicular traffic for a month or more. Impacted residents, property owners and visitors must park in designated parking areas in the Cortez Beach parking lot until their street reopens. The county project is slated for completion in late 2024. By mid-August, Manatee County had essentially completed the second and final phase of the $7 million Coquina Beach drainage improvement project that included the installation of pervious pavement that allows rainwater to seep into the new drainage systems below. The completed project that began in 2019 provides more than 1,000 paved parking spaces and required the removal of more than 180 Australian pines.
Signs, signs, signs installed
In February, Scenic WAVES Committee members and others expressed their concerns about the Florida Department of Transportation installing more than 60 new “No Parking on Right of Way” signs along Gulf Drive South, near Coquina Beach. Police Chief John Cosby requested the signs but had no input on the number of signs FDOT installed.
Azure Shores ordinance passed
In November, the city commission approved an ordinance that eliminated zoning map and future land use map inconsistencies that existed with 23 residentially zoned (R-3) properties in the Azure Shores subdivision between Bridge Street, the Cortez Bridge, Highland Avenue and Gulf Drive North.
Beach House Restaurant celebrates 30 years
Celebrating a longevity rarely found in the restaurant business, Chiles Hospitality observed the 30-year anniversary of the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant.
Hurricane Idalia precautions taken
In advance of Tropical Storm Idalia, City commissioners voted Aug. 28 to declare a local state of emergency until Tuesday, Sept. 5, as clean-up efforts continued following storm surge. Beaches were closed and a mandatory evacuation order was in place for Level A residents, including all mobile home parks. Manatee County issued a voluntary Level B evacuation. “What we’re expecting now is a storm surge 4-7 feet,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said prior to the storm’s landfall.
Pines Trailer Park purchased
In late August, Shawn Kaleta and the Pines Park Investors LLC purchased the Pines Trailer Park for $16.25 million after the resident/owners were unsuccessful in their efforts to purchase the park. In late September, Pines Park Investors LLC sent letters to park residents and mobile homeowners informing them of the rent increases that will take effect Jan. 1. The monthly rents are increasing from $620-$625 per month to $1,200, $1,350 per month or $1,475 per month depending on proximity to the waterfront.
Alcohol sales, consumption on city pier approved
Commissioners approved with conditions a special use permit for the sale and consumption of alcohol at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) on the Bradenton Beach Pier. The permit, with the City of Bradenton Beach as applicant, was approved on Sept. 18 allowing the consumption of alcohol purchased from AMOB, either from the main restaurant or takeout kiosk, at designated areas of the pier. AMOB leases both spaces from the city.
Tingley Library elevation considered
The creation of public parking by elevating or moving the Tingley Library was discussed at both the City Commission and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings in September. The city-owned library was built in the early 1990s using $240,000 of the $678,801 that Beulah Hannah Hooks Tingley bequeathed to the city in 1986 to create a public reading room. At the Sept. 6 CRA meeting, members acknowledged the need for public parking, but one member questioned whether CRA funds should be used for the design/build project. Mayor John Chappie directed city attorney Ricinda Perry to draft an RFP.
Coquina Beach Market reopens under county management
Nearly a year after the Manatee County tourism agency took over management of the Coquina Beach Market from the previous market director, a new manager and opening date for the market was announced. In a July 25 meeting of the Manatee County Board of Commissioners, it was approved that Dottie Deerwester from Ready Set Go Tour and Travel serve as the new market manager. The market reopened on Oct. 4 at South Coquina Beach and operates year-round.
Zoning irregularities discovered
At an Oct. 5 city commission meeting, a city building official determined that several properties in the city do not conform to the building code. “What we discovered, Runaway Bay – all the condominiums – Tortuga, Silver Surf, Bridgewalk, Old Bridge Village, all of these appear to be triggered in some way by this provision on first blush,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. Many properties in the city exceed the number of allowable units, making them legally non-conforming, according to Perry. City officials say the classification only affects property owners if a natural disaster forces rebuilding, whereupon current codes would apply, potentially eliminating some units.
Chappie, Vosburgh and Spooner begin new terms
Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Janet Vosburgh were sworn in for new two-year terms on Nov.17 by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente at Bradenton Beach City Hall. Chappie, Vosburgh and Commissioner Jacob Spooner ran unopposed. Spooner was sworn in the following day.
CRA votes to discontinue tram funding
At a Dec. 6 meeting, the CRA board voted unanimously to discontinue funding of the Old Town Tram, a free park-and-ride service which it began subsidizing in November 2020 at a cost of $52,000 per year. The tram was launched as a pilot program to help address the lack of parking on Bridge Street. Annual funding for the service was cut from the city’s 2023-24 budget, but CRA board members agreed at a Sept. 6 meeting to a $10,000 expenditure to keep it going until the end of 2023.
Hotel/Restaurant/Retail project approved on Bridge Street
At the end of a second public hearing on Dec. 7, city commissioners voted unanimously to approve a hotel/restaurant/retail project at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South. The 106-room hotel will also have a 60-seat restaurant, 5,396 square feet of retail space and 154 on-site parking spaces. Co-applicants for the hotel are Shawn Kaleta and Jake Spooner, a Bradenton Beach city commissioner who recused himself from all hearings related to the hotel. At the first public hearing on Nov. 16, following a Nov. 13 recommendation for approval by the City Planning and Zoning Board, commissioners expressed concern about lack of parking, hotel design and density. In addressing those concerns, applicants’ representatives made design changes to the original plan, adding balconies, public walkways and a hydraulic lift parking system. Within days of approval, demolition began on one building on the site of the hotel – the former Joe’s Eats ‘N Sweets ice cream shop.
Passings
On April 10, Bradenton Beach Public Works Department employee and Holmes Beach resident Marylou Kelley passed away at 62.
On June 17, Pines Trailer Park resident and former Michigan resident Dick Smith passed away at 83. Smith was a popular regular patron at the Sport Lounge and the Drift In.
Drift In parking lot attendant, local artist and former Cortez commercial fisherman Marty Tupin passed away on Aug. 1 at 62 after battling ongoing health issues.
Longtime Bradenton Beach property owner and visitor Judy Kuhlman passed away on Sept. 23 at 81. Kuhlman and her husband, Dick, owned the historic 3 Pines Cottage beachfront vacation rental at 2214 Gulf Drive N. that still contains the 1948 Airstream trailer her grandparents placed on the beachfront property in the late 1940s.
Former Chiles Group Chief Financial Officer Martha Wright passed away on Oct. 20. Wright was also the treasurer and a longtime volunteer for Gulf Shore Animal League.
– Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story
Anna Maria: The Year in Review
ANNA MARIA – Vacation rental legislation, consolidation, the Gulf Island Ferry service, the Mote Marine outreach center, the Reimagining Pine Avenue planning process and the city’s 100th anniversary were among the city’s top stories of 2023.
Rental bills defeated
In April and May, Anna Maria officials, the city-owned Home Rule Florida website, Island residents and the city’s contracted lobbyist in Tallahassee played key roles in fighting off the Florida Legislature’s annual attempt to preempt vacation rental regulations to the state and strip city and county governments of their authority and ability to enact and enforce local vacation rental regulations. The Home Rule Florida website generated more than 40,000 emails and letters in opposition to the House and Senate vacation rental bills sent to state legislators.
Consolidation opposed
The mayor and city commission took, and continue to take, a non-adversarial approach with the city’s response to the OPPAGA consolidation study requested by state legislators Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton).
In September, Mayor Dan Murphy sent a letter to Boyd and Robinson that stated that he and the city commission would support consolidating some of the similar city services provided by all three Island cities, but he and the commission do not support consolidating the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach into one city.
On Nov. 7, Murphy and Commission Chair Mark Short met with OPPAGA representatives and learned that OPPAGA and the Florida Legislature are not required to share the consolidation study report with the three Island cities when the study is completed in 2024.
In mid-November, the city received from OPPAGA a request for information that asked the city to address the pros and cons of the three possible consolidation options: consolidating similar services only, consolidating the three cities into one new Island city or annexing and consolidating the three Island cities into the city of Bradenton.
Ferry stop modified
Manatee County’s proposed Gulf Island Ferry stop at the City Pier was a frequent topic of city commission discussion in 2023. In August, commissioners rejected the county’s proposal to install a floating finger dock and submerged pilings and create a gated and locked landing area at the T-end of the pier to be used exclusively by the ferries. In September, the commission approved the county’s plan to simply attach two non-submerged composite pilings to the existing boat landing instead.
The anticipated Dec. 8 launch of the ferry service was delayed in part because the U.S. Coast Guard had not yet certified the two 49-passenger pontoon boats to be used for the ferry service between downtown Bradenton, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach. Uncompleted docking modifications also contributed to the delay. A new anticipated launch date has not been provided.
Mote facility opens
In early May, the long-delayed Mote Marine Science, Education & Outreach Center opened to the public. Located in a city-owned building at the T-end of the City Pier and offering free admission, the outreach center features live and virtual marine life and marine habitat exhibits.
In November, City Commissioner Robert Kingan said that by the end of October, the marine outreach center had received approximately 70,000 visitors since it opened and was averaging about 460 visitors per day.
Reimagining pine avenue project expanded
After not receiving a satisfactory bid for the initial Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project approved in 2022, the mayor and city commission decided to expand the project to include similar safety improvements along Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue in hopes of generating more interest from construction companies for an expanded project that has approximately $3.3 million in available state, federal and city funding.
In November, the commission supported Mayor Dan Murphy’s suggestion to begin the expanded project in 2024 with a block prototype along Pine Avenue, between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive. The one-block prototype will serve as a test area for the larger project and will include new paver sidewalks, new crosswalks and new streetlights.
Commission vacancies open
In January, Charlie Salem was appointed to serve the remainder of Carol Carter’s vacated commission term. In November, Salem and Commissioner Jon Crane earned additional two-year terms in office after running unopposed. City Commissioner Deanie Sebring vacated her city commission seat in September and Robert Kingan vacated his commission seat in early December.
The three remaining commissioners – Salem, Crane and Short – will appoint two new commissioners on Jan. 25.
Idalia causes flooding
In late August, the combined arrival of Hurricane Idalia and king tides produced flooding in Anna Maria and throughout Anna Maria Island and Cortez.
In Anna Maria, some ground-level homeowners experience flood water intruding into their homes. The flooding and street flooding were particularly heavy in some areas along Magnolia Avenue, North Shore Drive and North Bay Boulevard.
City celebrates centennial, more
In late May, the city held the first of two centennial celebrations at City Pier Park. Taking place immediately after the city’s Patriotic Symphony Salute in recognition of Memorial Day, the centennial celebration included a historical presentation by longtime Island resident Tom Aposporos and music from the year 1923 performed by musicians from the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra. Before the celebration, the city purchased ceremonial centennial flags that were displayed along Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive.
In September, a second centennial celebration took place at the park featuring local non-profit organizations, food, beer and wine sales and live music.
In October, the city-hosted farmers’ market at City Pier Park returned for the season. In November, the city hosted its annual “Old Soldiers & Sailors” parade and veterans recognition ceremony. Also in November, the annual Thanks-Living community gathering and potluck dinner took place at City Pier Park.
Other happenings
In March, Sgt. Brett Getman returned to his duties as the leader of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s Anna Maria Unit after suffering a major heart attack while on duty in December 2022.
In October, the city commission discussed allowing dogs in City Pier Park, but no final decision has been made.
In November, the city closed on the $1 million purchase of a building previously leased to the city for use as a city annex for the building department. The building department will return to city hall and the Anna Maria Unit of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is moving into the recently purchased building.
In November, German brewer and restaurateur Oliver “Oli” Lemke bought the Rod & Reel Pier and restaurant from Mario Schoenfelder.
Passings
Former Anna Maria Island Sun reporter and copy editor Pat Copeland passed away on June 13 at 76. Her life was celebrated with a ceremony that included a New Orleans-style second-line march down Pine Avenue. Copeland was also the co-founder of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and Museum.
Former Anna Maria City Commissioner Gene Aubry passed away on Dec. 9 at 88. He lived in Palmetto at the time of his death. Aubry served as a commissioner from 2010-13. He moved to Anna Maria in 1985, where he continued to work as an architect after a long and successful career as an architect in Texas and elsewhere.
Bright Holiday Lights winners announced
ANNA MARIA – The city’s Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest produced a repeat winner and a first-time winner.
For the second year in a row, Andrea and Jim Stepan won the residential category for the elaborate decorations gracing their home and yard at 602 Gladiolus St. Luann Marshall also entered the residential category and her decorations at 708 Gladiolus St. include a wide array of inflatable characters.
The Shiny Fish Emporium at 306 Pine Ave .won the business category, which also included the Anna Maria General Store (winners of the previous two business category contests), AMI Beach Hut, Anna Maria Life, Duncan Real Estate, Once Upon a Beach and Pizza Social.
The winners were announced on Dec. 20 with Deputy Clerk Fran Berrios and Administrative Assistant Barbara Jeffries paying visits to each entry and delivering the winners’ trophies.
Rebecca Preston owns the Shiny Fish Emporium and her husband, Dan Novi, did most of the holiday decorating, which features a lighted swinging porch chair, lighted globes and balls, white lights, some colored lights, yard ornaments, nautical-themed window decorations and more.
Regarding their first-time win, Novi said, “I was shocked. Winning was a surprise. Rebecca gave me some suggestions and said it was pretty much up to me to do what I wanted to do. We love decorating because Christmas time is so special on the Island. We wanted to be thematically consistent. We like sparkle and twinkle and we like it to feel like you’re under a snowy night sky. We have only one thing with color and the color is very subtle. Everything else is white light. I just kept putting lights up because we were having fun doing it.”
Novi said he was inspired in part by the positive responses he continually received from women who live above the emporium.
Seeking a repeat win, the Stepans took their decorating efforts to a new level by using a coastal theme that includes a river of blue lights, lighted marine creatures, a gingerbread couple, a shark eating a gingerbread man, oversized Christmas ornaments, lawn ornaments, rooftop decorations, a digital display in the carport and more.
Working at night, the Stepans began decorating soon after Thanksgiving, and they had to redo some of the decorations due to the heavy rains and flooding that occurred on Dec. 16 and 17.
“We were so excited,” Andrea Stepan said. “We had so many people come up and ask what we were going to do this year. We do it for fun. Winning again means a lot to us and it means a lot when people stop by and tell us how great it looks. We changed it up from last year. I wanted to do a coastal theme because we live in Florida and Jim executed it. He did a great job. We have a lot of color and my favorite is the water feature.”
“We changed it up this year,” Jim said. “We put The Grinch on the roof. Last year we had Santa on the roof. We thought we’d make a water theme in the yard winding around the agave plants with lights in them. We have an alligator, a crab, a walrus, a dolphin and a flamingo to make it more beachy this year.”
See more of contest entries below.
Mangrove removal triggers scrutiny
ANNA MARIA – A company identified by Mayor Dan Murphy in a Dec. 18 email as the contractor at a residential construction site where mangroves were removed was not the responsible party, he told The Sun the next day.
“The City of Anna Maria has confirmed that Mason Martin, LLC, the contractor for the construction of the house at 111 Gull, was the entity that removed the mangroves, not West Coast Marine Construction, LLC,” Murphy wrote in his Dec. 19 email. “It was not the intention of the City to imply that the seawall contractor, West Coast Marine Construction, LLC was responsible for the mangrove removal.”
In its Dec. 20 edition, which went to press before Dec. 19, The Sun quoted Murphy’s Dec. 18 email, which was also sent to other news outlets detailing the city’s response to mangrove removal at the property.
Murphy wrote on Dec. 18 that subsequent to a neighbor’s complaint on Dec. 4 “regarding the extensive removal and alteration of mangroves at 111 Gull Drive,” city staff visited the property and confirmed the mangrove removal.
“This scope of work is proposed by building permit ACC22-000153 which has not been issued and thus, is not permitted to commence,” Murphy wrote in the Dec. 18 email.
He wrote that a stop work order was issued and posted on Dec. 6 and emailed to James Annis of West Coast Marine Construction and property owner Jackie Sharp of Massachusetts-based Sharp Development LLC.
“On December 13, 2023, staff received several complaints from residents yet again, despite the Stop Work order,” the mayor’s email continued.
He wrote the Stop Work order posting had been removed from the property and city staff observed workers actively removing mangroves.
Murphy wrote the Stop Work order was reposted, adding in the email, “The actions of the contractor in ignoring the previously issued Stop Work order constitute the willfull violation of the building code, making the contractor subject to the jurisdiction of the City of Anna Maria’s Local Construction Regulation Board.”
Annis was the only contractor mentioned in the Dec. 18 email.
“I never did any work there,” Annis told The Sun. “We got DEP (Florida Department of Environmental Protection) approval to take some mangroves out, but then it goes to the Army Corps of Engineers. If they don’t approve it within a year it goes back to DEP. We’ve been so busy, I thought this job was dead in the water.”
Annis said having his name mistakenly attached to the mangrove removal caused him concern about the potential impact to his business.
“I think the mayor jumped the gun,” Annis said. “I’ve been doing this for 30 years, I know better.”
The Sun made a public records request on Dec. 21 to the City of Anna Maria for a copy of the Stop Work order, but it was not received by press time. City offices were closed from Dec. 22-25.
In his reply to a request for comment, Mason Martin LLC’s Frank Agnelli did not address the mangrove removal.
An email request to Murphy for comment as to how city officials determined that Mason Martin was the responsible contractor was not replied to by press time.
STATE, FEDERAL AGENCIES WEIGH IN
According to Dec. 20 correspondence received by The Sun from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the agency had issued a permit exemption for the construction of a seawall at the property. Under this exemption, limited mangrove alteration/removal is allowed within the footprint of the seawall.
“Last week, members of the community began reaching out to DEP with concerns about the work occurring at the site,” DEP spokesperson Brian Humphreys wrote in an email to The Sun. “In the coming days, DEP will send an inspector out to ensure any mangrove alterations (trimming/removal) are being done within the footprint of the site’s permit exemption.”
If it is determined that unauthorized mangrove alteration has occurred, DEP may pursue enforcement against all responsible parties, Humphreys wrote.
While the seawall permit exemption was granted by the DEP, Sarasota-based environmental attorney Justin Bloom, who represents Suncoast Waterkeeper, said it may have been granted without the agency having all the facts and a permit may have been required.
“The schematics sent to the FDEP didn’t show the mangroves,” Bloom said. “Had they done so, a permit would likely have been required.”
According to a Sept. 19 letter from DEP to Bradenton surveyor Jeffrey Hostetler, the applicant must obtain additional authorization according to the terms of the permit exemption.
“This letter does not relieve you from the responsibility of obtaining other federal, state, or local authorization that may be required for the activity,” he wrote.
In an email chain provided by Bloom, Anna Maria City Planner Ashley Austin emailed the following on Dec. 13 to Heather McClurg of the DEP: “The City of Anna Maria Building Department has received several complaints regarding the removal of mangroves at 111 Gull Dr in preparation of the installation of a seawall which has not received a City permit yet. Based on the complaint, the City has requested that a survey be provided by the applicant showing the preconstruction limits of the mangroves. In reviewing the file, I located the attached FDEP exemption letter. The survey located on page 6 of the attached exemption letter does not show any mangroves and thus, may not have been a part of FDEP’s review. Does this information change FDEP’s conclusion outlined in the attached exemption letter? Please let me know.”
McClurg wrote to others at the DEP, “I received this message from the City of Anna Maria yesterday. I responded letting them know that the applicant was authorized to alter the mangroves due to the activity being exempt. After viewing the photos though, I did note that they do not have proper BMP’s deployed and wanted to forward this over to compliance for review.”
A BMP (Best Management Practice) is a method used to prevent or control stormwater runoff and the discharge of pollutants, including sediment into local waterbodies, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Based on emails provided by Bloom, propety owner Jackie Sharp wrote the following in part on Dec. 13 to Tracy Hurst of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“I am unaware of the unauthorized activity you are referring to but look forward to working with you to resolve any issue that exists in a timely manner.”
Hurst responded by email on Dec. 13: “Ms. Sharp, As you are aware, the Corps is currently reviewing your request for a permit to construct a seawall. The attached pictures show a potentially unauthorized activity, that is, the removal of mangroves. I will be coordinating with our enforcement manager, but he is currently out of the office for the holidays. Please cease any additional work within waters of the United States, including but not limited to, mangrove removal. I will be in touch shortly.”
In a Dec. 21 email to Suncoast Waterkeeper, Hurst wrote, “We are just starting to look into this case and I will need to coordinate with our enforcement officer before further action is taken.”
Reel Time: The value of mangroves
Anglers know the value of the mangrove forests to provide habitat, food and protection for the snook, redfish, sheepshead and other species they pursue. For those who don’t fish but enjoy eating fish, it’s important to realize that over 80% of the most popular species like grouper depend on mangroves as juveniles
People come to the west coast of Florida to live because of the area’s unique environment. The natural world that forms the basis of that environment is often poorly understood and misrepresented. Case in point, mangroves. Recently a property on a canal on Longboat Key that was lined with a 35-foot stand of mangroves was listed in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) with the line, “mangroves will be removed.”
A statement like this might signal to someone coming to the west coast of Florida for the first time that mangroves are not desirable, and are in effect a liability. They’re not understanding that mangroves help create what brought them here in the first place, and subsequently are protected by state law. This is a perfect case for helping homeowners understand and communicating to them how the environment (mangroves in this case) is an asset. When trimmed by a reputable mangrove company:
• The laws protecting mangroves are followed while the view is enhanced;
• The shoreline is protected from erosion;
• The maintenance cost is minimized;
• “Eye appeal” is created, enhancing the value of the property; and
• The cost of seawall construction (when allowed) and subsequent maintenance is avoided.
Mangroves that are windowed and trimmed to provide a view can function to protect the property from storms while enhancing the overall ambience of the property.
When laws protecting mangroves are violated, Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection must enforce these laws. Unfortunately, state regulators are not performing their duty promptly to protect the citizens and businesses of Florida, present and future. But it wouldn’t be fair to lay the blame only on the FDEP. People I have spoken with who deal with state regulators regularly fault prior Gov. Rick Scott for eviscerating the FDEP and spawning a mass exodus of the brightest and most committed regulators. The people I spoke to at the agency have been responsive to questions and concerns and ultimately addressed the issue when they were alerted. My feeling is the agency is struggling with a limited budget and staff, especially considering the rapid development taking place in coastal areas.
That’s where we the voters come in. It’s incumbent on the citizens of Florida and Manatee County to elect officials with a proven record of protecting our most important and vulnerable resources.
You can report mangrove trimming violations at the Suncoast Waterkeeper site using their new Eyes on the Suncoast initiative. If you’re a boater, request one of their stickers that has a QR code to take you to a form where you can make a report. If we don’t do it, who will?
It’s a wonderful Island
Although most Americans didn’t realize it then, the holiday season of 1946 was the opening bell of some of the most prosperous decades in our history. World War II had just ended, and men and women were coming home from overseas and starting new lives, which also included new homes.
The postwar housing boom created 40 million new homes starting in 1946. New suburban communities sprouted up all over the country but particularly adjacent to major cities where returning soldiers were filling jobs in a suddenly booming economy. Florida, of course, didn’t enjoy the same level of building as the Northeast and West Coast did, but starting after the war there was a steady increase in population that still hasn’t slowed down.
What happened in 1946 was the beginning of the suburban lifestyle. Americans for the first time had the choice of living in a single-family home and commuting to their jobs in the city. It was a way of life that mostly continued until COVID-19 locked everyone in their homes and on their computers. This once-in-a-century phenomenon pushed property values and the desire to own a home through the roof, which has substantially benefited Florida.
If you don’t pore over Manatee County listings like I do, take a few minutes to review the Realtor.com website. The website can be sorted by zip codes and if you start with the highest price properties you may be shocked. Here’s an overview, just to give you an idea as of this writing.
The city of Anna Maria has 79 listings. The highest price is $12 million and the lowest is $1.15 million. Less than half of the properties are under $3 million.
The combined cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have 214 properties listed. The highest price is $10,950,000 and the lowest is $510,000. A little less than 25% of the properties are above $3 million.
All of Anna Maria Island has ongoing new construction of large homes with multi-million-dollar price tags. These properties have drastically changed the price point of properties on the Island, as you can see from the above.
Cortez has 19 properties listed starting at $3,750,000 and ending at $695,000. Out of the 19 listings, 12 are over $1 million. The construction of the new Hunters Point development on Cortez Road has also changed the price point of Cortez properties, listing new construction townhomes at just under $2 million.
If you are dazzled by the numbers, here’s a reason to step back in time. Another major event happening in 1946 was the release of the iconic holiday movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” This black and white film has been playing every year for 77 years and will undoubtedly go on forever. It’s a classic story about good and evil and the important things in life that rang true in 1946 as they continue to do today.
One of my favorite parts of the movie is when new homes are built for needy families in the town. James Stewart and Donna Reed present the keys to the new owners along with these gifts and an accompanying poem: “Bread that this house may never know hunger, salt that life may always have flavor and wine that joy and prosperity may reign forever.”
Wishing you a peaceful and happy holiday surrounded by friends and family in one of the world’s most beautiful places to live. Enjoy the food and the wine, and ring the bells because “Whenever you hear a bell ring, an angel gets its wings.” Happy holidays!