BRADENTON BEACH – A woman and her small dog were attacked by an unleashed mastiff at Island Time Bar and Grill, 111 Gulf Drive S. on Aug. 9.
The dog later died, according to the owner.
Bradenton Beach Police Officer Thomas Ferrara was in the parking lot of Circle K at 103 Gulf Drive S. when he heard people screaming for help at the restaurant next door, according to a police report.
After calling for backup, he arrived at the scene and while trying to determine if a weapon was involved in the incident, he heard someone say it was a dog attack and people had been bitten, according to the report.
Ferrara saw a woman, who wished not to be identified, bleeding from her left leg and left middle finger. His attention was then directed to a man, identified as Anthony Santamauro, holding a large English mastiff dog he estimated to weigh more than 100 pounds. Santamauro was holding his shoulder but did not appear to be bleeding.
Video evidence
Due to conflicting stories from witnesses, Sgt. Steve Masi, who had arrived to provide backup, reviewed security footage from the bar revealing what had happened.
“After reviewing the video, I observed Mr. Santamauro enter the Island Time patio area with his dog (which the owner identified as a service dog), through a northwest doorway near the bar,” according to the police report. “Upon entering, Santamauro had the dog walking directly next to him. It appears the mastiff saw the very tiny dog approximately one-tenth its size leashed and sitting under the table with its female owner while she was eating dinner.”
The report goes on to say the unleashed mastiff grabbed the small dog in its jaws and begin shaking it and violently biting. When the small dog’s owner pulled it out of the larger dog’s mouth by pulling on the leash and trying to hold it in the air, the mastiff knocked the woman to the ground. Santamauro dove between the dogs and tried to separate them, at which time he fell face forward to the ground, landing on his shoulder, according to the report.
EMS arrived at the scene, but the female victim refused transport to the hospital for her injuries.
Police said the victim reported her dog later succumbed to its injuries and did not survive the attack. Sgt. Masi contacted animal control, which is investigating the incident.
Santamauro was issued a city ordinance violation. The female victim said she did not want Santamauro to be “in a lot of trouble,” but did want him to be responsible for any hospital treatment costs and other bills associated with the incident, according to the report.
ANNA MARIA – City officials are still exploring incentives that might be pursued in hopes of retaining current full-time city residents and attracting new ones.
The mayor and city commission have held three discussions on the possibility, legality and financial feasibility of offering property tax breaks, grants and/or additional building use allowances as incentives. In exchange for those incentives, the city would seek from property owners a voluntary restrictive covenant that would prohibit the property from being used as a short-term vacation rental for 20 to 30 years.
On June 22, Commissioner Charlie Salem initiated the first discussion about incentivizing full-time city residents and those who rent their homes to others on a long-term or annual basis, which in turn might provide more on-Island housing for Island employees.
Anna Maria Commissioner Charlie Salem is spearheading the efforts to incentivize full-time residency. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Salem shared a one-page document citing U.S. Census Bureau data that shows Anna Maria’s population declined from 1,814 in 2,000 to 1,504 in 2010 and to 968 in 2020. Mayor Dan Murphy recently stated that 70% of Anna Maria’s residential dwellings are short-term vacation rentals.
Salem proposed including up to $75,000 in the city’s 2023-24 fiscal year budget for a feasibility study that would help determine what could be done to incentivize full-time residency. That expenditure is tentatively included in next year’s budget but a final commission decision is still pending. Salem also proposed a city-initiated marketing campaign that would promote Anna Maria as a destination for full-time residents.
On July 13, City Attorney Becky Vose shared with the commission some research she did in response to the June discussion. She said state law prohibits the city from providing property tax reductions only to certain property owners. The only tax reduction the city can legally offer is a reduction of the annual millage rate that would apply to all taxable properties in Anna Maria and reduce the city’s ad valorem tax revenues. Vose said city-funded grants could be a possible alternative. She also said there aren’t any state restrictions on a city-initiated marketing campaign.
On Aug. 3, Vose told the commission a marketing campaign would be the most risk-free approach and she doesn’t think the city would encounter any legal or legislative impediments in doing so. She suggested the marketing campaign target the growing number of professionals who work at home and no longer report to an office or workplace on a regular basis.
“I no longer go into my office. After COVID, I learned that I was so much more effective working at home; and I think there are an awful lot of people, particularly up north, like that,” she said.
Vose said she knows attorneys who moved to Florida but continue to remotely practice law in New York and New Jersey.
Although city-initiated tax breaks are not allowed, Vose said the city could lobby the Florida Legislature and governor to adopt a new state law that would allow local governments to provide property tax incentives in cities that have lost a certain percentage of permanent residents. She acknowledged that could be a challenging undertaking and she suggested speaking to the city’s contracted lobbyist about the prospect.
She also addressed the possibility of the city giving financial grants to property owners who voluntarily enter into restrictive covenants.
“That would be a very sizable investment,” she said, noting that Florida’s Marketable Record Title Act allows restrictive covenants for up to 30 years, with additional renewals possible.
No specific dollar figures were mentioned while discussing potential grant incentives.
Vose also addressed the city providing additional land use allowances that could include additional lot coverage, living area ratios or parking allowances for those who enter into restrictive covenants. Vose said that’s something the city could try, but she’s concerned that a successful legal challenge could result in vacation rental properties getting greater lot coverage and density than before.
She also addressed the previously-discussed idea of allowing small additional dwelling units to be built in the backyards of residential properties.
“That would have to be tied to a restrictive covenant because we cannot have a living unit in the city that was not permitted to be a vacation rental unless it was through a restrictive covenant,” she said.
“My primary concern about all this is the potential for litigation, which could be expensive to defend. I don’t think there’s any chance of us having any litigation with regard to marketing, but most of the other things would be subject to possible challenges. If they were challenged after we already allowed a lot of additional building, that wouldn’t be good for the city. And there’s always the possibility of the Florida Legislature ruling restrictive covenants prohibiting vacation rentals are no longer legal,” Vose said.
Commission input
Commissioner Robert Kingan said he’s in favor of a marketing campaign as a non-contentious starting point. He questioned what would happen when a property owner who signed a restrictive covenant passes away and the next of kin or next owners are bound to an agreement they didn’t sign.
Commissioner Jon Crane said a marketing campaign would be the least contentious approach, but it may also be the least effective. He said it’s unlikely that photographs of waves crashing on the beach and people enjoying fried fish sandwiches would encourage people to become permanent residents and forgo the potential rental earnings their homes could generate.
Commissioner Jon Crane questions the effectiveness of a marketing campaign but is intrigued by a potential legislative effort at the state level. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Crane said he’s intrigued with the idea of lobbying for state legislation that would allow the city to provide tax breaks to full-time residents. He believes tax incentives would be more effective than trying to seduce permanent residents with a marketing campaign.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring agreed. She also said she doesn’t support allowing property owners to build additional living spaces because they’d likely be used as vacation rentals.
Participating by phone, Salem thanked Vose for her research and legal insights. Salem supports asking the city’s lobbyist about pursuing new state legislation, but he also wants to pursue a marketing campaign and conduct a feasibility study regarding restrictive covenants.
Salem noted the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) has been incredibly effective at marketing Anna Maria Island as a vacation destination. He wondered whether similar marketing strategies could be used to attract full-time residents.
Crane suggested Salem speak to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione about the marketing techniques and marketing platforms the TDC uses.
“I’ll talk to anyone who’s got good ideas for how to attract permanent residents here,” Salem said.
Commissioner Mark Short is concerned about potential backlash from current full-time residents. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commission Chair Mark Short said, “If we were to pursue something, I think we could get backlash from the existing residents. Some of them may say this is a great opportunity, but I have a feeling there’s also a good chunk of people that would say ‘Why would we want to add more density?’ and so forth.”
Salem said restrictive covenants could be offered to current residents too.
“That’s the model other cities have used with grants to incentivize permanent residents to remain, and when they sell their house, for it to become a long-term rental or another owner-occupied dwelling,” Salem said.
Short noted no one knows yet what the incentive costs would be for the city.
In response, Salem said, “That’s where we would need to get some expertise from the study, to figure out what the pickup rate could be, what the number would need to be to incentivize people and if it was worth the city’s revenues to encourage that?”
The incentives discussion will continue at a future meeting.
Public input
During public input, Holmes Beach resident Fran Derr offered her insights. Derr said she lives in the Key Royale subdivision and helped establish a welcoming committee for new Key Royale residents.
Fran Derr said some Anna Maria residents are moving to the Key Royale subdivision in Holmes Beach where short-term vacation rentals are prohibited. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Derr said seven of the last eight homeowners who moved into the Key Royale subdivision in 2023 already lived on Anna Maria Island, and six moved from Anna Maria into the Key Royale subdivision that carries an R-1 zoning designation that doesn’t allow rentals for less than 30 days at a time.
The zoning designation Derr referenced was in place before July 1, 2011, when the Florida Legislature and the governor enacted a new state law that now prevents local governments from prohibiting short-term vacation rentals.
The cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach had no such pre-2011 restrictions in place and cannot impose them now.
Derr said she asks new Key Royale residents why they moved to Key Royale and she’s often told it’s because of the 30-day restriction on vacation rentals and the sense of community that fosters.
“We conquered that in our neighborhood because we have an HOA and we don’t allow weekly rentals,” unlike most Island neighborhoods, Sebring said.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A man on a bicycle was killed after a collision with an SUV on Manatee Avenue near the center of the Anna Maria Island Bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The incident took place on Aug 9 at 12:23 a.m. FHP officers say a 23-year-old Bradenton man was driving eastbound on the drawbridge when he struck a 33-year-old Lancaster, New York man on a bicycle riding in the eastbound lane. The driver of the SUV stopped to lend aid. Troopers say the cyclist was thrown into the concrete barrier, suffering fatal injuries. FHP continues to investigate and has not yet released the names of those involved.
ANNA MARIA – Beating the heat, The Center of Anna Maria Island’s youth indoor soccer league played three nights last week, ending with four teams battling it out for the championship title.
After beating the Intentional Resilient Intuitive team last Monday night in the semifinal game, Solid Rock Construction played against AMI Dolphin Tours in their final game of the season to determine which team would be the 8- to 10-year-old league champs.
AMI Dolphin Tours beat Progressive Cabinetry to gain the second spot in the championship game.
In the big match-up, first seed Solid Rock defeated their top rival after two halves of play by four shots. With the final score 10-6, goalkeeper Isaac Roadman made big moves in the goal to help Solid Rock win it all against AMI Dolphin Tours.
Playing hard against the Intentional Resilient Intuitive team in the 8- to 10-year-old indoor soccer league, Solid Rock Construction earned their championship title. Pictured from left are Assistant Coach Matt Darak, Matthew Darak, Obi Roadman, Isaac Roadman, Elijah Roadman, Turner Worth, Holden Lake, Sam Raulerson and head coach James Roadman. – Monica Simpson | Sun
With nine saves in the game, Roadman helped to keep the AMI Dolphin Tours squad to two goals despite grand efforts by the team’s offense. The team’s defense could not keep Matthew Darak from scoring two goals for Solid Rock Construction.
Teammate Turner Worth scored a solo goal in the game to help secure the win.
On the other side of the hard pitch, Miles Moss had 13 stops in the goal for AMI Dolphin Tours. Playing in both age divisions, Moss maintained his top-notch play for two games last week.
Gunnar Maize and Parker Svoboda both scored outstanding goals in the match-up, but their scoring just was not enough to bring home the win.
In the older league for 11- to 13-year-old youth, the older Solid Rock team lost to team Moss Builders. Ranked #1 going into the game, Solid Rock was the favored team, but the third-ranked Moss Builders squad proved too hard to beat.
In the semifinals, Solid Rock Construction played against the Island Vacation Properties team to solidify their place in the big game. Moss Builders won against Coastline West Team to clinch the second spot.
As the ranking underdog last Wednesday night, Moss Builders turned up their game to win against Solid Rock by two.
Playing goalie for Moss Builders, Magness Rollins was credited with 11 big stops, while Callin Westfall put two points on the scoreboard for his team. Teammate Jackson Wyatt contributed to the win with a goal of his own.
Solid Rock Construction’s Austin Guess saved 11 goals in the game as well, with a single goal by Ryk Kesten to keep the team in the game until the last whistle blew, signaling the end of the game and season.
Rounding out recreational sports action at The Center, adult co-ed flag football play continued last Thursday night. Remaining undefeated, top-ranked Luxury Services eked out the win against Cortez Deep Sea Fishing by a touchdown and one-point conversion, 34-27.
In the second game of the night, team Moss Builders easily ended the game victorious against Sandbar Seafood & Spirits. With the final score, 46-24, Moss Builders advances to the championship game to face Luxury Services on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. at The Center.
I’m working on my 14-hour real estate continuing education course which I am required to do thankfully only every two years to keep my Florida real estate license. Every time I work through the questions and answers I almost always learn something new, and I guess that’s the point. This time I learned about gentrification, and I knew from the very first page that this would be a column.
To quote my course book, “Gentrification is a process of changing the character of a neighborhood through the influx of more affluent residents and businesses. This is a common and often controversial topic in politics and urban planning. Gentrification often increases the economic value of a neighborhood but can force out low-income residents due to the increased cost of rent and higher cost of goods.”
And there’s more, “The gentrification process is typically the result of increasing attraction to an area by people with higher incomes spilling over from neighboring communities.” Does any of this sound familiar to you? It certainly should since we’ve been living through island gentrification for the last 10 to 15 years – we just didn’t give it a name.
Anna Maria Island was discovered by a vast number of vacationers when the Island started hitting national publications at least 10 years ago. At first, I thought what fun, little Anna Maria Island has been discovered, but I never dreamed it would keep going to the degree that almost every month you can find something about Anna Maria Island in print. My family in Connecticut told me that Connecticut Magazine has an advertisement saying to come to Anna Maria Island and its Old Florida charm courtesy of Avelo Airlines.
As recently as January of this year, the Wall Street Journal profiled just the city of Anna Maria “which is on the north end of a 7-mile-long tropical oasis.” They were profiling the city of Anna Maria’s zip code, which they pointed out is home to Florida’s second most expensive ranked median listing price properties. Miami’s Fisher Island is first.
Florida’s growth is no secret. It was growing before World War II and after the war, it boomed. I once heard a lecturer in a real estate seminar say the growth of Florida is primarily due to air conditioning and mosquito control. Now we can add to that the COVID-19 pandemic, which sent hundreds of thousands of new residents and even more new visitors to our shores.
The result is all based on economics. Old Florida cottages and some not-so-old single-family homes are being replaced with huge new homes sporting multi-million-dollar price tags designed to rent to vacationers or flip as the prices keep going up.
Recently in this newspaper, one of our reporters wrote a very enlightening story about the decline in population on the Island. That doesn’t mean fewer people are walking, riding bikes or eating in local restaurants on the Island, it means there are fewer full-time residents. She reported in one year from 2020 to 2021, the Island lost 1,322 residents, 26.75% from Holmes Beach, 4% from Bradenton Beach and 13% from Anna Maria.
Gentrification is all about changing the character of a community and infusing it with tons of money. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes it’s not. Out with the old and in with the new. The only thing they can’t change is the beach – or can they?
In a recent column, I reported how state rules and regulations passed during the DeSantis legislative session limited the protection of local waters at a time when the threat to water quality and habitat destruction has never been graver. Now, according to Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) Executive Director Abbey Tyrna, that threat has come to Manatee County.
In a statement, SCWK responded to newly-proposed changes in the Manatee County Comprehensive Plan with the following:
“Manatee County has proposed removing policies of the comprehensive plan and sections of the land development code to allow for the destruction of our wetlands and wetland buffers. We’re taking action to ensure that another threat to our quality of life, local economy and waterways don’t become a reality. These changes would create permanent damage. Once wetlands are gone, they are gone for good.
“Wetlands are protected ecosystems because they perform a wide variety of important functions, chief among them is their ability to clean polluted water. This function alone should have the county commission and its appointed planning commission fighting to protect these valuable ecosystems in the face of increasingly harmful algae blooms including red tide and lyngbya. Wetlands do more than enhance water quality, they protect us from flooding, provide habitat for Florida fish and wildlife, and replenish our dwindling groundwater supplies.
Dr. Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper and a wetland scientist, addresses the Manatee County planning board. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
“So why would Manatee County Commission want to push changes that would destroy wetlands in the face of these threats? The answer is simple: They want more developable land to put corporate profits before our quality of life, our local economy and water quality.
“It is time to take action to make sure these changes do not become a reality. Will you join us in protecting our wetlands? Add your name to our petition that we are sending to the Manatee Board of County Commissioners online. Together we’ll protect what makes the Suncoast special.”
In what many described as a surprise decision, the Manatee County Planning Commission voted 4-2 on Aug. 10 not to recommend the proposed changes to the commission. At that meeting, Tyrna, as well as many local citizens, including past Commissioner Joe McClash, gave powerful testimony that swayed the majority of the board to vote the proposal down. That deprives the commission of the cover of their planning board. Unfortunately, they are not required to abide by that decision and could vote for the changes. That’s why SCWK, the Manatee County League of Women Voters, ManaSota-88, Speak Out Manatee, the Sierra Club, East Manatee Preservation and Kids for Clean Water are encouraging voters (you) to turn out at this Thursday’s commission meeting, which will be held at the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton. The meeting starts at 9 a.m.
If we, the citizens of Manatee County, don’t speak out, our children and future generations (who have no voice in this decision) will suffer the consequences of our inaction.
HOLMES BEACH – For some children, it was their first day of kindergarten, and emotions ranged from excitement to just plain nervousness. For fifth graders, it was the first day of their last year at Anna Maria Elementary School (AME), and they were ready to enjoy a year of being at the top of the elementary school food chain.
Kindergarten teachers Kiley Flynn and Rachel Frantz lead their students to the classroom after the new parent orientation on Aug. 10, the first day of school at Anna Maria Elementary, as Joshua Cook looks back. – Anne Yarborough | Sun
Dressed to impress, with many sporting new backpacks and their personal favorite outfit, students were ready for the first day of school on the morning of Aug. 10. Parents lined up to drop off their children at AME as Principal Mike Masiello, the school staff, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and several Holmes Beach police officers greeted parents and this year’s 206 students.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer greets first-grader Wilder King on the first day of school at Anna Maria Elementary. – Anne Yarborough | Sun
“We had a great turnout for back-to-school night. Parents and students were excited to meet the teachers,” Masiello said. “It’s wonderful to be back in session and see the kid’s smiling faces as they walked into the building for the first day of school. We look forward to a school year full of teaching, learning and all of the wonderful events that make AME such a great school.”
It wasn’t just staff and students who were excited to begin the new school year; parents were also ready for another year at the little school by the bay that many feel is a special privilege for their children to attend.
Jana Wilder smooths her son Abel’s hair on his first day of kindergarten at Anna Maria Elementary. – Anne Yarborough | Sun
“My kids couldn’t wait to get into school this morning,” said Margie Messinger, who has three children at AME. “I have children in kindergarten, second and third grades. They were dressed up and ready to go, and there was quite the welcoming committee this morning. The principal, chief of police and just about everybody was out there; it was great.”
“This is one of the reasons we live here. Anna Maria Island is already amazing, but this school is the cherry on top,” second-grader parent Michelle Urbiola said. “They brought in the Guy Harvey program and I can’t have my kids anywhere else. This is the best place for them and I’m just so grateful.”
MANATEE COUNTY – Parking garage plans for Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach are moving forward despite pushback from Anna Maria Island residents and one commissioner.
During an Aug. 14 work session, county commissioners discussed four potential parking garages, one of which is the proposed parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach that was approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year. When initially discussed, Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge proposed a three-story 1,500 parking space garage costing an estimated $45 million. The garage proposal presented to county commissioners during the work session is expected to cost $30-35 million to build and have about 900 parking spaces. While the actual look of the garage is not yet decided upon, the garage is planned to cover the entirety of the existing beach parking area, including the concession, retail and restroom areas. The new parking garage would include concession, retail, restroom and other facilities.
Commissioner George Kruse said he’s concerned about the cost of the four proposed parking facilities. He said that three of the garages are “niceties,” but the proposed downtown Bradenton replacement garage is the only one that is actually needed. The current garage has structural issues and must be replaced for safety reasons. Out of the four proposed garages, the downtown garage is estimated to cost the most at around $100 million.
Kruse said that rather than serving the public interest, he feels the Manatee Beach parking garage is being considered strictly to support a narrative constructed around a lack of beach parking. Having toured the city’s available parking, he said he feels that the 600 additional spaces the garage would provide over and above the current 300 in the parking lot are unnecessary and that the construction of the garage, planned to take anywhere from 18-24 months, could cause significantly more damage to the area than it helps, reducing facilities and beach access over two high tourism seasons. He also noted that the garage is currently an unfunded expense for the county.
Kruse’s comments received a round of applause from members of the public in the commission chambers. However, Van Ostenbridge said he feels that the rest of the board doesn’t share Kruse’s concerns.
Commissioner James Satcher said that if he could just choose one parking garage on the list of proposals, he’d pick the Manatee Beach parking garage. “People are clamoring to get to the beach. This is the right thing to do,” he said. “This should definitely be number one on our list.”
PUBLIC OPINION
During public comment, several people spoke against the parking garage, including Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, former Holmes Beach mayor and former county commissioner Carol Whitmore, city attorney Erica Augello and Titsworth.
“We do have adequate parking and I want to show you so bad,” Titsworth said to the county commission. “Please, before you act, take me up on my offer. Come take the tour and see our available parking.” She did note that Bearden agreed to come visit the city in the next week.
Some of the issues with parking in residential neighborhoods that Titsworth noted include lack of bathrooms, resulting in people defecating in sea oats, and lack of lifeguards down the entire length of the beach.
Resident Bruce Meyer also spoke and said he feels that he’s being “punished” and is not represented by the county commission. He said that 600 spaces wouldn’t make a difference with the amount of people who want to come the county beaches.
Augello noted that the proposed revenue stream for parking garage, paid parking, is not an allowable use in Holmes Beach and would not be allowed. If pursued, she said it could potentially end in litigation.
Owner of the Bamboo Beach Apartments, Alice Sutton, invited the county commissioners to come for a free weekend stay on a day of their choice and help her pick up used diapers, condoms and other debris from the sea oats and beach, help direct parking and explain to naked people why they can’t change in the complex’s laundry room.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek said that the issue isn’t availability of parking, it’s not addressing the issues with traffic and not addressing multi-modal transportation. She noted that the city commission is responding to the concerns raised by the residents they’re elected to represent to reduce on-street beach parking in residential neighborhoods. She said the city is not limiting access to the beach.
“We want to accommodate everyone we can,” she said. “We just can’t accommodate all of the cars.” Soustek encouraged county commissioners to look at some of the studies that have been done concerning traffic and congestion for additional solutions to issues with beach access, such as multi-modal transportation.
Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner addressed Bearden’s comments about planning for the future of the county with the potential for residential growth of 100,000 people over the coming years. He said that if the county wants to plan for the future, leaders need to look at more sustainable options than 600 beach parking spaces.
Closing out the meeting, both Kruse and Bearden spoke again with Kruse reiterating his earlier concerns that there are more pressing infrastructure issues in the county, such as the $60 million Fort Hamer Bridge project and the downtown Bradenton parking garage, that need to be addressed before a mere 600 parking spaces at Manatee Beach that will tie up facilities and parking for years is considered. Bearden said that he believes the 600 spaces will make a huge difference to people who live on the east side of the county who are waiting in traffic to get to the beach.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is conducting an extensive study of the Cortez Road corridor from the east end of the Cortez Bridge in Cortez to the tip of U.S. Highway 41 in the West Somerset area.
During the Aug. 1 Council of Governments meeting at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto, FDOT Community Planner and Strategic Intermodal System Coordinator Vitor Suguri and Renaissance Planning Managing Principal Frank Kalpakis provided county and city officials with an overview of the study and what it hopes to accomplish.
Suguri said the study, in addition to transportation elements, also addresses land use and future development along the corridor and will look at the relationships between transportation and land use. He said land use has a great impact on transportation and vice versa and the goal is to integrate both approaches in the study.
The study’s first phase includes meeting with and gathering insight from city leaders, residents, impacted stakeholders and property owners, developers and others. Public input meetings will be scheduled, but none have been scheduled yet pertaining to the western portion of Cortez Road that leads to Cortez and Bradenton Beach.
Suguri noted the lengthy Cortez Road corridor passes through multiple areas and neighborhoods that are different from one another and have different needs. He said three of the top 10 most dangerous segments of FDOT’s District 1 roadways in terms of fatal and serious injury crashes are located along the Cortez Road corridor, including the fourth most dangerous portion of the corridor between East 80th Street West (just west of 75th Street) to 30th Street West, near the Bowlero bowling alley. The next portion, from 30th Street West to 44th Avenue is listed as the sixth most dangerous stretch of road in District 1, which Suguri said includes 570 corridors.
According to the presentation, nine crash fatalities and 63 serious severe injuries have occurred along the corridor since 2015.
“It’s very important for us at the department to focus on safety, making sure whatever improvements we’re doing are not just about speeding up traffic. We want to make sure traffic is flowing safely. We want to make sure pedestrians can walk safely to where they’re going,” Suguri said, noting bicyclist safety is another key component.
“We know that just designing a safe roadway is not going to answer all the problems. There are multiple things involved with safety, so we want to take a system-wide approach. It takes all of us to bring it together. It’s policymaking, it’s how we interact with our community, it’s law enforcement and emergency management. It’s everybody working together to bring a good solution and that’s why we want to involve as many people as possible in this plan, so we can come up with good solutions,” Suguri said.
The presentation slide illustrates the most dangerous portions of Cortez Road in terms of vehicular fatalities and serious injuries. – Submitted | FDOT
“It’s a commuter corridor. It provides access to the beaches. It serves multiple functions. It’s important to understand that in terms of developing a vision to respond to and facilitate the type of function that it serves,” Kalpakis said. “We’re looking at traffic conditions today and how conditions will be in the future as the corridor grows and as more people move into the area. Looking at safety conditions and the safety record in the corridor, which is not really good. That’s really the intent; to make sure the transportation strategies that we’re developing will make safe conditions for everyone.”
Regarding the anticipated study timeline, Suguri said, “We have about six months to complete this stage of the project. We’re already conducting interviews. We met with some of the commissioners and we’re scheduling more of those meetings. We have an extensive stakeholder list. We’re going to be engaging with them one-on-one, not only on how the roadway functions, but also on their plans for future development along the corridor.
“We’re also in the process of collecting data. We want to produce an existing conditions report that shows what the corridor is like today, what are the hot spots and where do we need to focus. We’re going to combine that with the information we get from the public to formulate those strategies. By fall and late winter we should have a vision plan and some high-level strategies we can offer,” Suguri said.
Suguri said the next steps include finalizing the transportation and land use existing conditions report, conducting more stakeholder interviews and preparing a community story video.
“It’s best to hear from the community so we can share with the public, so it’s not DOT leading the way, it’s really the community taking leadership,” he said.
Suguri said a visioning workshop is anticipated in October that will give the public a chance to talk to FDOT officials and highlight what they feel are problem areas and hot spots. Suguri said a project website will also be created.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie expressed support for the study.
“I see this as a great opportunity, especially for the west side to be involved. FDOT is footing the bill on this so let’s get involved. We have traffic issues trying to get to and from the Island and there’s all the development that’s going to be taking place on the west side in the next few years.”
Along the west end of Cortez Road, 86 new homes are currently being built as part of the Hunters Point development, approximately 2,000 residential units are approved for the nearby and pending Peninsula Bay development and 6,500 residential units are approved for the pending Lake Flores development along Cortez Road and the El Conquistador Parkway.
BRADENTON BEACH – A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) sergeant is on administrative leave after being arrested and charged with obstruction without violence by Bradenton Beach police (BBPD) for allegedly escalating an argument over a parking space.
According to his report, BBPD Sgt. Steve Masi was investigating a fight on July 30 at 6 p.m. over two handicapped parking spaces at a condo complex involving large groups of people. A man later identified as HCSO Sgt. Brendan Fitzgerald claimed a man punched him, but that man claimed it was Fitzgerald that had struck and pushed him first and he wished to press charges. Masi obtained criminal complaints and witness statements from the 13 people involved in the incident, all of whom complied, except for Fitzgerald, according to the police report.
“Fitzgerald’s behavior went from calm to aggressive very fast and back down as we talked,” Masi said in his report. “He kept saying he was a Hillsborough sergeant and I should take note.”
Masi said he asked Fitzgerald many times to provide identification, but he refused. He then asked Fitzgerald’s girlfriend and family to convince him to identify himself, but he continued to refuse, stating, “I’m a sergeant, I know the law kid, and I’m not identifying.” Masi explained to him that he was investigating a crime that had taken place that he was involved in, and he was required to provide identification. After continuing to refuse after being asked more than 10 times, Fitzgerald was advised he was going to be arrested for obstruction as he knowingly and willfully was obstructing the investigation, according to the report.
“This is a joke and you’re a joke, you can’t take me for obstruction, learn your laws boy!” Fitzgerald allegedly responded.
After placing Fitzgerald under arrest and taking him to BBPD for processing, Masi radioed Officer Thomas Ferrara to come to the police station to observe and document the arrest and take detailed notes on any statements Fitzgerald made during the process. According to a separate report filed by Ferrara, Fitzgerald continued to be belligerent and insult both of the officers, saying things like he had worked with “idiots” like them in the past, and using graphic language.
Fitzgerald was taken to Manatee County Jail on an obstruction charge where he was later released on $120 bond. He is due to appear in court on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.
The HCSO issued the following statement regarding the arrest: “The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has placed a sergeant on administrative leave after he was arrested in Manatee County on July 30, 2023. Brendan Fitzgerald, 52, was charged with obstruction without violence by the Bradenton Beach Police Department after an argument over a parking spot.
“Sgt. Fitzgerald’s behavior is inexcusable,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “He will now face the consequences for his actions.”
BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime Cortez and Bradenton Beach resident Marty Tupin passed away on Aug. 1, just a few weeks before his 63rd birthday.
Over the years, Marty was a commercial fisherman, a fiberglass and metal fabricator, an artist, a furniture maker, and more. After a portion of his right leg was amputated, Marty spent his final couple years as the ever-vigilant parking attendant at the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach, where he zipped around on his three-wheeled electric scooter supervising the sometimes challenging two-deep, tandem parking reserved for patrons only.
Marty Tupin spent his final years patrolling the Drift In parking lot. – Submitted
The Drift In, 120 Bridge St., will host a celebration of life on Sunday, August 27, at 2 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a dish to share and to share their memories of Marty.
Marty’s family will host a celebration of life at the Star Fish Company restaurant in Cortez, at 12306 46th Ave. W. on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Life’s challenges
Marty’s sister, Judy (Tupin) Mossorofo, lives in Venice with her husband, Charles Mossorofo, and they shared their insights on Marty’s colorful and sometimes challenging life.
Marty was born in Medina, Ohio. When he was about a year old and Judy was two, their parents were in an automobile accident in Butler, Georgia that killed their mom, Elsie, a former Manatee County schoolteacher.
Marty’s dad, Lynn, had family ties to the Cortez commercial fishing community and was a commercial fisherman himself. After the accident, he and the children moved to Manatee County, where the siblings lived with various family members before being placed in separate foster homes.
“All four of us got split up. We didn’t grow up together,” Judy said of their fractured family.
Marty loved his son, Cory Herrick. – Submitted
Judy said Marty began his commercial fishing career in Cortez in the 1980s.
“He loved fishing and crabbing. His friends were commercial fishermen and shrimpers and he worked the docks at the AP Bell Fish Company. He loved catching fish and bringing them to all his friends. He fiber-glassed a lot of boats and he was really good at that. He mended nets too. He also loved painting, making metal sculptures and building and painting wooden chairs and benches. He loved working with his hands. He was very creative. He was a fabulous artist. He was a good father and he loved his dogs too,” Judy said.
Marty Tupin spent many years working as a commercial fisherman. – Submitted
Judy can’t remember exactly when it happened, but she said Marty was in a motorcycle accident that seriously injured his right leg and impacted the rest of his life.
“Later, his leg hurt so bad that he couldn’t walk. It got so badly infected that they had to cut the foot off at the ankle. It then spread up his leg and more of his leg was amputated because of bad circulation and sepsis,” Judy said, noting some toes on his left foot were later amputated too.
In mid-July, Marty became seriously ill and was hospitalized. His left leg was amputated in an attempt to save his life and he was later moved to Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton where he spent his final days, visited by family and friends.
Regarding his late brother-in-law, Charles said, “I’m from New York City. I met Marty 23 years ago when I first came down here with Judy. This guy was just beaming with life. He’d tell me stories about being a commercial fisherman and getting off the boat for a burger and a beer at a bar. He certainly had a lust for life and the open sea.
“We didn’t see each other often, but I was close to him. He lived life completely on his own terms and he did it without being malicious. Marty got grumpy sometimes, but he was all heart and we never argued. I taught him it was OK to agree to disagree and we did that for 23 years. He was a remarkable, beautiful man. He had a heart of gold,” Charles said.
Friends aplenty
Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn said, “I called him ‘Mr. Crotchety’ but I loved him and I wish he was still here. He worked here for the past couple of years but I knew him for 15 years. He used to bring me my fish and shrimp and he taught me to freeze fish in water in a bag so it was fresh when you took it out. He was dealt some tough cards but he always kept his head up and he did not want anyone to know he was in pain every day. He will be deeply missed. He drank Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Icehouse beer and we’re going to have an Icehouse special on the 27th.”
Joy Nelson hosts bingo and deals bar poker at the Drift.
She said, “Words to describe my friend: arrogant, funny, straightforward, loving, caring, hard-headed and more. There was never a question about what he was thinking about you. You could be a stranger or a great friend and he never held back. He was completely real and he encouraged me to be the same. He didn’t have an easy life, but he won at bar poker all the time, so I figured he was at least lucky at one thing. But after he went into the hospital for the last time, I realized I was wrong. He was lucky that he found our crazy Drift In family and somehow fit in. We could all butt heads at times and then share a drink and laugh together at the end of the night. I miss my friend,” Nelson said.
Drift In patron Mike Cunningham said, “Most people’s first impression of Marty was that he was a little prickly, but if you accepted him as he was and took the time to get to know him you would find he was a straight-up guy and a true friend. I miss his honesty, humor and frankness. The setbacks he had the last couple of years never changed the good things I loved about him.”
Drift In patron Rebecca Brodeur said, “I loved him. I went to see him during his last days. He was a good, old friend. I went to elementary school with him. He was a stinker even on the bus and at school, but he had a good heart and he was a good person. He wasn’t just a parking lot attendant. He was a great fisherman and artist too.”
As an artist, Marty Tupin worked in many mediums. – Submitted
Local musician Mike McConnell said, “Marty was one of those salty characters that made up the diversity at the Drift In. Our relationship was contentious at first but I believe we regarded each other as friends and we worked together at the most unique watering hole in America.”
Marty Tupin enjoyed time spent on the water. – Submitted
Drift In patron Tammi McCoy said, “Every morning I’d pass by on my way to yoga and Marty would always wave to me. I loved Marty. He was a really good guy.
Her husband Greg, said, “You had to avoid that damn scooter he was on because he’d about run you over.”
With the help from the Drift In and Beach’N Bikes & Rentals, Marty’s scooter was donated to Cortezian and fellow-amputee Kathy Barnett, per the family’s request.
Marty’s family donated his mobility scooter to Kathy Barnett. – Submitted
When asked about Marty, AP Bell and Star Fish Company owner Karen Bell said, “He hadn’t been around here a lot lately, but he used to be in the village all the time when he fished and lived up in Popeye’s apartment. He was kind of a jack of all trades who usually crewed on someone else’s boat. He was as committed to his art as much as anything else and he really enjoyed painting fish on glass. He had a good heart, but he also had an edginess to him.”
Marty Tupin enjoyed painting fish on glass backgrounds. – Sarah Santos | Submitted
Charter captain and cousin Kathe Tupin Fannon, said, “Marty had the ability to piss you off but he also had the ability to make you like him. I am sure when he made it to the front gates of Heaven he was explaining to God how to run Heaven.”
Facebook tributes
Marty’s passing also generated many Facebook comments.
Drift In owner Derek Williams wrote: “I bought the Drift-In in December 2022. Marty was one of the first people to offer me a hand. He loved his Drift family and he truly had pride in our business, our parking lot and his job. He earned every tip and he made people laugh.”
Former Drift In bartender Sharon Bell wrote: “Marty was one-of-a-kind for sure; my salty parking pirate. I think his drive and spirit were so strong that he willed himself into living the past few years. He enjoyed being the center of attention and truly loved being generous. I remember him offering his food and if you didn’t take at least a little it hurt his feelings. He was a pot-stirrer for sure, but kind at his core. He was a hard worker that wanted to contribute and be as independent as he could. We are less for not having him around to antagonize us with his antics. He will be missed and always remembered.”
Sarah Santos and Heather McNeal were among Marty’s many friends. – Sarah Santos | Submitted
Charter captain and Sports Lounge bartender Sarah Santos wrote: “I met Marty a little over 12 years ago when I lived across from Starfish Co. in the village. He was the sweetest man and always made me feel like a million bucks! We will all miss him dearly. He was so talented.”
Sunshine Bechler wrote: “Rest in Peace Marty. Thanks for squeezing me in and out a time or two.”
Commercial fishing was one of Marty Tupin’s many passions. – Submitted
If you’re a boater, Sea Grant can use your help. If you are a reader of this column, you know that our waters are suffering from too many nutrients, the various forms of insults that lead to devastating red tide events and other harmful algae blooms (HABS). Florida Sea Grant has launched a survey for the recreational boating community to address discharges from vessels, one of those problems.
According to Victoria Gambale, Clean Vessel Act education coordinator, “This survey is part of a needs assessment that will help determine what educational programming and resources are developed and implemented. It will also be used with other data to determine what and where additional sewage waste disposal resources (pump outs and port-a-potty dump stations) are needed.”
This survey is for anyone who boats recreationally in Florida. The boater can own or rent, and the boat does not need to have a head for the boater to participate in the survey. Although the survey’s primary target is recreational boaters, any commercial boater who serves recreational purposes (like charters, sightseeing tours, etc.) can also participate in the survey.
The survey is estimated to take about 10 minutes or less and is anonymous – they don’t ask for your name, address, phone number, or email. They do ask for your home zip code for analysis purposes.
Information the survey asks for includes questions about your boat, sewage discharge laws, your opinion about pump out and dump station equipment, where you dispose of sewage waste, where you find boating information, standard demographic questions and a few others.
This survey has an “if-then” logic model, so you’re not asked questions that are irrelevant to you. For example, if your boat has an installed toilet with a holding tank, you won’t be asked about port-a-potty dump stations.
Your response is confidential and only accessible to project researchers at the University of Florida. Your response will only be shared once compiled with other respondents.
As part of a comprehensive needs assessment, Florida Sea Grant is also looking at boating infrastructure in the state. More specifically, they are looking to determine how many recreational boats have direct access to the water in each county. They are then comparing that to how many sewage disposal resources (pump outs and port-a-potty dump stations) are available.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Clean Vessel Act Technical Guidelines recommend “As a general guide, at least one pump out station and dump station should be provided for every 300 to 600 boats over 16 feet length overall.” Florida Sea Grant will be using this study to determine if this general guideline is still appropriate, and, if not, to develop a new guideline to target counties in Florida that do and do not meet the guideline.
Based on the results of the needs assessment, they will focus efforts to promote the installation of sewage disposal resources where they are most needed.
Data collection for the study will be completed by June 2024 or earlier, depending on participation rates. Once all the data is collected, it will be reviewed for quality control and analysis. When that is completed, the results will be written up in a report. It is expected that the report will be available by September 2024. The report will be published on Florida Sea Grant’s Clean Boating webpage.
If you’d like to be notified when the report is available or would like more information, please email Gambale at v.gambale@ufl.edu or call 352-562-1134.
Boater survey promotional materials include a poster, postcard and social media graphics and text if you would like to spread the word about the survey.
To keep our waters healthy, we need the help of everyone who enjoys these natural wonders and whose livelihoods depend on them. Most importantly we owe it to future generations so that they too can enjoy their bounty, both spiritually and economically.
ANNA MARIA – Last week at The Center, the summer youth indoor soccer regular season play came to a close with both Solid Rock Construction teams solidly on top with 10-0 wins in both the age group leagues.
In the 11- to 13-year-old league, the Solid Rock team beat the Island Vacation Properties squad. Working hard on the court, team Island Vacation Properties held their own and fought hard for two halves of play.
The Coastline West team handed the Moss Builders team their fourth win with a forfeit last Monday night, leading into the playoffs.
The first round of playoffs was played this past Monday night with identical matchups. Coastline West looks to beat Moss Builders on the indoor pitch to advance to the championship game on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 7:15 p.m.
One of the two teams faces either Solid Rock or Island Vacation Properties.
The younger ballers played last Tuesday night in The Center’s gymnasium with family and friends perched on the stage watching the hardcourt action. AMI Dolphin Tours won against Progressive Cabinetry by three goals, with a final score of 6-3.
In the last game of the regular season for the 8- to 10-year-old league, Solid Rock Construction kept the Intentional Resilient Intuitive team from getting their first win of the season, despite their hard, never quit play.
Each of the four teams matched up identically this Monday night to determine the championship game showdown. The teams are scheduled to play on Wednesday, Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m.
Quarter-final adult flag football play concluded Thursday night with no big surprises. Top-ranked Luxury Services faced the last seed The Banks Home Lending Team, coming out on top with an easy win, 54-18.
Luxury faces Cortez Deep Sea Fishing Thursday at 8 p.m. in the first semifinal adult flag football game. The fourth-ranked Cortez Deep Sea Fishing crew won against team Salty Fishing by 27 points. Salty finished the regular season just under their quarterfinal opponents.
In the second half of the night, team Sandbar Seafood & Spirits won against an injured Solid Rock Construction squad. Quarterback Charles “Tuna” McCracken was sidelined at the end of the last regular season game with an injury that impacted him Thursday night.
McCracken’s injury added to team aches with Zach Long also sidelined during the season. Long was unable to play the quarterfinal game.
Sandbar Seafood & Spirits goes up against the second-ranked Moss Builders team in the 9 p.m. semifinal game on Thursday night under the lights of the community center gridiron.
Moss Builders won by 18 points against the second-to-last place Gulf Drive Café team. With the final score of 25-7, Moss Builders showed why the team is a top contender for the season championship winner.
The final game of the adult co-ed flag football season is slated for Thursday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m. at The Center of Anna Maria Island to close out the summer sports season.
