Do you support organizations that help protect the environment and our fisheries but can’t seem to find the time to get involved by volunteering or participating in events? You can help fund the efforts of these organizations during the 2024 Giving Challenge being held April 8-9. During the 24-hour event, donations will be matched, so a $100 donation provides $200 to support the nonprofit’s efforts. While there are many worthy organizations to choose from, let me suggest three local nonprofits whose work has had a significant impact on the health of the Suncoast and Sarasota Bay. Suncoast Waterkeeper, Oyster River Ecology and Sarasota Bay Watch, while having different missions, all support the health of our local estuaries.
Go to the Giving Challenge website to read about the mission of the different nonprofits that benefit from local donors and philanthropic organizations. – Submitted
The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour online giving opportunity that connects about 700 nonprofit organizations with passionate donors and community members to support diverse causes and create enduring impacts in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties.
Since 2012, the Giving Challenge has provided more than $75 million in unrestricted funding over eight challenges.
Your donations during the Giving Challenge can transform nonprofit organizations through meaningful relationships and partnerships, all while strengthening their potential reach.
The Giving Challenge is hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, with giving matched by The Patterson Foundation. Keep up with the latest on social media with #GivingChallenge2024 and #BeTheOne.
To learn more, visit the Community Foundation of Sarasota County website or call 941-556-7171.
These nonprofits support the important work being done in the region and deserve the support of every citizen who appreciates the natural world which supports the local economy.
HOLMES BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business Card Exchanges are always a great networking event, but the March 28 exchange at LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air was extra special for two area high school seniors who were each awarded $1,000 college scholarships by the chamber.
Bryanna Sparks and Jacob Burdette were on hand to accept their awards and meet Island business owners and managers.
According to AMI Chamber President Terri Kinder, money for the scholarships is raised through the organization’s annual Bayfest event, as well as the annual chamber golf tournament.
“Portions of the proceeds from those two major events is what funds our scholarships,” Kinder said. “We have a committee that does the scholarship awards. This year we had a record 26 applications for the scholarships. They all go to the committee, which scores the scholarships.”
Only two of three scholarships were given out at the event. One of the winners, Nathan Rupprecht, was away with his family for spring break, so his award will be given at the next April business card exchange with the Anna Maria Island Historical Society. Kinder said the historical society, which will be awarding its own scholarships at the upcoming exchange, was gracious enough to allow the chamber to award its final chamber scholarship then.
BRYANNA SPARKS
Sparks is graduating from Manatee High School after excelling in its Medical Academy and serving in leadership roles as president of both Future Health Professionals and the National Honor Society. She also serves as webmaster for Key Club. Sparks has been active in Girl Scouts since 2011, including receiving the Gold Award for her focus on maternal mental health. She also has over 300 hours of community service, including Downtown Ministries, Blake Hospital and work with the homeless population.
Sparks plans to earn her bachelor’s degree in biology and then work toward her goal of becoming a pediatrician in Bradenton, attending LECOM for her doctorate in osteopathic medicine.
JACOB BURDETTE
Burdette is graduating from Manatee High School in the top 1% of his class. His long list of honors includes AP Scholar Distinction, AP Capstone Diploma, White M, National Honor Society, Junior Manatee & Boys State Leadership and more. Burdette is also an Eagle Scout and has more than 225 hours of community service. Burdette has been accepted to the University of Florida to pursue a bachelor’s in business finance and a master’s in business administration with a minor in chemistry.
CORTEZ – After seven years in business as a pub, market and live music venue, Bunny & Pirates Bazaar is closing and will be having a grand finale celebration on Saturday, April 6.
Beginning at 3 p.m., the farewell event will feature live music, food trucks, raffle prizes and a silent auction at 12404 Cortez Road W.
Bunny & Pirates business owners Elizabeth Shore and Jeffrey O’Connell announced the unexpected closing on Facebook on March 16 after lease negotiations stopped with building owner Shawn Kaleta.
The pair opened Bunny & Pirates in 2017 as a coastal store selling new and vintage items, snacks and craft beer. The following year they launched the pub and live music.
In a press release to news outlets, Shore wrote in part: “Announcing that we have been forced to close the venue has been among the most difficult things we have ever endured. We evolved the beer garden over time with the grassroots help of friends and family. Everyone pitched in, and we transformed our outdoor space with many helping hands. There is something special about being part of helping one another. We brought people together around common human needs – a place of belonging and friendship.”
Shore wrote that customers became part of their extended friends and family.
“It’s obvious from the reaction of our community over the last couple of weeks since we announced our sudden closing how much our familiar vibe resonated with so many people,” she wrote. “We became a destination for friends to meet; there is heart and soul in what we created. Our brand developed over time because of the love of our friends and customers.”
Shore characterized Cortez as a sleepy Florida town when Bunny & Pirates first opened.
“Our salty, humble place lets people of all backgrounds let their hair down, grab a music shaker, and enjoy life without pretense. Its absence will be a terrible loss,” Shore wrote. “Yes, change, growth and business are essential, but so are the riches of our history, family values and helping our neighbors.”
Shore wrote that old Florida history is being erased.
“You can’t buy the love and respect that Bunny & Pirates has in our community,” she wrote.
Over the years the pair has managed to overcome numerous business challenges.
“We made it through Hurricane Irma, which delayed our opening, the long red tide in 2018, our first year in business, the 2020 COVID shutdowns during our second anniversary, the resulting 2021 supply chain crisis, the 2022 great resignation, and the 2023 rising inflation prices.”
Bunny & Pirates will close permanently in mid-April, according to Shore.
ANNA MARIA – Hundreds of children and their families gathered on the beach at Sandbar Seafood & Spirits on Saturday for the restaurant’s 36th Annual Easter Egg Hunt and bonnet contest.
Jake Borchik, 2, waits for the beginning of the Easter egg hunt at the Sandbar on March 30. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Sand flew as children searched for eggs on the beach. Kids and adults later competed in a contest for the most festive Easter bonnet.
Lorie Terranova took first place in the adult division of the Easter bonnet contest at Sandbar Seafood & Spirits on Saturday. – Leslie Lake | Sun
The top three adult bonnet winners were Lorie Terranova in first place, followed by Lisa Meadows in second and Shawn Templeton in third.
Lisa Meadows took second place in the Easter bonnet contest with her tropical-themed hat. – Leslie Lake | Sun
The top three winners in the kids’ bonnet division were Alexandria and Blaire, who tied for first place, with Lindsay in second and Jackie in third.
Sisters Blaire, 5, and Alexandria, 3, won first place in the children’s division of the bonnet contest at Sandbar Seafood & Spirits on Saturday. – Leslie Lake | Sun
The free event, hosted by Sandbar owner Ed Chiles, featured live music by Chuck Caudill, visits with the Easter Bunny, crafts and food.
sisters Gracie and Callie relax with their baskets of Easter eggs following the egg hunt. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Event sponsors were The Anna Maria Island Sun, The Fudge Factory, Shiny Fish Emporium, The Fish Hole Miniature Golf and Compass by Margaritaville.
ANNA MARIA – Revising the city of Anna Maria’s CBD and hemp prohibitions is proving to be challenging for city officials.
Anna Maria’s code of ordinances currently prohibits the sale of any product derived from the cannabis plant, including medical marijuana and CBD and hemp products. The current ordinance was adopted shortly before Florida voters legalized medical marijuana and medical marijuana dispensaries in 2016.
After debating proposed revisions to the existing city ordinance on March 14 and March 28, city commissioners remain divided and undecided as to how to allow Anna Maria businesses to sell limited amounts of CBD and hemp products while still prohibiting medical marijuana sales and discouraging retail operations focused primarily on CBD sales.
The city’s regulatory quagmire began in late February when Holmes Beach-based CBD vendor Mel Wendell was told she couldn’t sell CBD products at an arts and crafts fair being held in Anna Maria. In response, Wendell told the mayor and commissioner there were other businesses currently selling CBD products in Anna Maria.
The attention created by Wendell’s public statement resulted in the North Shore Café owners receiving a notice of violation for selling food and drink products made with a hemp powder containing a miniscule amount of THC. The Cool Beans AMI coffee shop owners received a similar notice for selling some of the same CBD products sold legally at their Live Naturally store in Holmes Beach.
CBD sales are legal in Holmes Beach and Live Naturally is one of two CBD-prevalent stores in that city. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On March 14, City Attorney Becky Vose presented an ordinance that proposed limiting CBD and hemp sales to no more than 10% of a retail outlet’s total inventory. The commission agreed that provision would be virtually impossible to enforce and would require an audit of a businesses’ total inventory.
On March 28, the commission reached preliminary consensus on two key points proposed in the ordinance but remained puzzled as to how to regulate CBD sales at brick-and-mortar retail locations and the signage associated with such sales. Federal law prohibits the regulation of sign content.
Anna Maria commissioners are concerned about the signage associated with CBD stores in general. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The commission agrees CBD and hemp sales should be allowed at craft fairs, markets and other special events taking place with a city commission-approved special event permit, as long as the number of CBD/hemp vendors doesn’t exceed more than 10% of the total vendor roster.
The commission agrees that mobile CBD sales not related to special events should remain prohibited in order to prevent CBD being sold from trucks, trailers, tents and other mobile operations.
The commission also agrees that the fine amounts associated with CBD or hemp sales violations should be established in a separate city resolution.
Commissioner Gary McMullen noted CBD sales are allowed statewide and take place in Holmes Beach and many other Florida cities. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Gary McMullen questioned why the city wants to continue outlawing CBD and hemp products that are legal statewide and legally sold in Holmes Beach and many other Florida cities.
Along those same lines, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I’ve got nothing against medical marijuana and I support it.”
Commissioner Kathy Morgan expressed support for the current CBD prohibitions.
Commissioner Charlie Salem asked Vose to research how other Florida cities are regulating CBD sales.
After noting CBD sales are prevalent in most Florida cities, Vose said the commissioners are essentially dealing with a cut-and-dried decision to either allow or continue prohibiting CBD and hemp sales and CBD stores in Anna Maria.
These matters will be discussed again at the Thursday, April 11 meeting. In lieu of the ongoing regulatory efforts, Mayor Dan Murphy is giving the North Shore Café and Cool Beans AMI owners an additional 30 days to comply with their notices of violation.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Island dodged direct hits from major hurricanes in 2022 (Ian) and 2023 (Idalia), but this year may be different, according to AccuWeather, whose prediction for 2024 is far above average.
AccuWeather’s team of expert meteorologists is warning people and businesses to start preparing for a frenzy of tropical activity that could have major impacts on the U.S. this hurricane season, which begins on June 1.
The AccuWeather 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast calls for 20 to 25 named storms, with eight to 12 of those storms forecast to strengthen into hurricanes and four to six directly impacting the U.S.
“The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is forecast to feature well above the historical average number of tropical storms, hurricanes, major hurricanes and direct U.S. impacts,” AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Forecaster Alex DaSilva said. “All indications are pointing toward a very active and potentially explosive Atlantic hurricane season in 2024.”
AccuWeather’s forecast calls for a dramatic shift from the 2023 hurricane season. Nineteen storms were named in the Atlantic basin, but only four had direct impacts in the U.S. last year. Hurricane Idalia hit Florida as a Category 3 storm in August, directly affecting Anna Maria Island. Tropical Storm Harold soaked southern Texas in August. Tropical Storm Ophelia brought gusty wind and rough surf to North Carolina in September. Lee swiped the New England Coast as a tropical rainstorm, before making landfall in Nova Scotia.
DaSilva says there are four factors that indicate this year will possibly be record breaking. The first problem is that ocean temperatures are very warm, and that’s basically food for hurricanes.
“Sea surface temperatures are well above historical average across much of the Atlantic basin, especially across the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and the Main Development Region,” DaSilva explained.
AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said there is high confidence that that sea surface temperatures across the Atlantic basin will remain well above the historical average throughout the 2024 hurricane season.
“When you look back at historical sea surface temperature in the Atlantic’s Main Development Region, recent average water temperatures jump off the chart. They are the highest observed this early in the season in the available records,” Porter said. “This is a very concerning development considering this part of the Atlantic Ocean is where more than 80% of the storms form which go on to become tropical storms or hurricanes.”
AccuWeather also blames the flipping from El Nino to La Nina for the forecast. Even though the Pacific Ocean is thousands of miles away from the Atlantic, what happens there has major impacts on severe weather in Florida; especially hurricanes.
During an El Nino pattern, waters in the eastern Pacific are warmer than the historical average. In La Nina, sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific are cooler than the historical average. In short, this leads to less wind shear over most of the Atlantic basin, which when mixed with the warmer water, makes for perfect conditions for tropical development.
Other factors include weather patterns in Africa. A stronger African jet stream could jump-start the development of storms long before they make it here to the states. The strength, orientation and position of a feature known as the Bermuda-Azores high pressure area can have a major influence on the formation of tropical storms and hurricanes.
AccuWeather expert meteorologists say the Bermuda-Azores High can be offset farther south and east compared to the historical average, due to warmer sea surface temperatures.
While this forecast may not sound too good for Florida, or anywhere in the path of hurricanes, it remains a prediction, and many predictions don’t live up to expectations. Whether any given season is predicted to be intense, or more mild than usual, anyone living in the potential path of tropical storms or hurricanes should be well stocked and prepared for the worst, whether it happens or not. Preparation can save property and lives.
ANNA MARIA – City leaders have pledged not to eliminate parking places to accommodate the potential extension of the existing multi-use path along Gulf Drive.
On March 28, the Anna Maria City Commission reached a 4-1 consensus to preserve the existing parallel parking spaces along Gulf Drive if and when the multi-use path is extended from Willow Avenue to Magnolia Avenue. Commissioner Gary McMullen opposed the consensus and supports the elimination of those parking spaces if needed.
Mayor Dan Murphy said it’s never been the city’s intent to eliminate parking spaces. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mayor Dan Murphy initiated Thursday’s discussion after learning that a group of potentially impacted business owners recently sent a petition to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking him to veto the city’s $250,000 funding request for the path extension project. The petition was also sent to Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Manatee) and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, accompanied by a letter written by petition initiator and Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café owner Paul Foster.
Concerned business owners attended the March 28 city commission meeting.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
Foster’s letter expressed concern that 13 parallel parking spaces in the vicinity of Palm, Magnolia and Spring avenues would be eliminated if the multi-use path is extended along the same side of the street as the existing path. Accommodating pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists, strollers and more, the path currently extends from the entrance of the city to Willow Avenue and connects to a multi-use path in Holmes Beach.
The multi-use path currently extends from the city entrance to Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe multi-use path currently ends at Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In November, the city’s $250,000 funding request was submitted to the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives via Senate local funding initiative request #1512, sponsored by Boyd, and House funding request form, HSE form #2599, sponsored by Robinson.
“The funds will be spent to complete the multi-use path and drainage facility along Gulf Drive,” the Senate funding request form says. The Senate request form says the city plans to contribute $250,000 in city funds to the proposed project that is in the “construction” phase and “shovel-ready,” with an estimated fall 2024 start date and a summer 2025 completion date.
The House funding request form poses the following question: “Is there any documented show of support for the requested project in the community including public hearings, letters of support, major organizational backing or other expressions of support?”
The city’s response is: “Yes. Businesses, visitors and residents have all expressed a desire to see the current multi-use path expanded on Gulf Drive, from Willow Avenue to Magnolia.”
The House request form also poses this question: “Has the need for the funds been documented by a study, completed by an independent third party, for the area to be served?
The city’s response says, “Yes. George F. Young, Inc. has done a study on this as the engineering firm that is working on the project.”
Neither funding request form references parking or eliminating parking.
The commission has previously discussed extending the multi-use path as a desired future project, but to date no formal plans or completed studies have been presented to the city commission or the public.
As part of the still-pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project, the commission previously discussed but took no action on the potential elimination of 50 or so parallel parking spaces located along Pine Avenue. Former commissioner Deanie Sebring and current commissioners Kathy Morgan and Gary McMullen have expressed support for eliminating those Pine Avenue parking spaces and that support contributed to the Gulf Drive business owners’ concerns.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
On March 28, Murphy addressed the petition and the business owners’ concerns previously reported by The Sun. He sought, and later received, commission consensus in support of not eliminating parking spaces to accommodate an expanded multi-use path and to possibly create more parking if possible.
“It has never been the city’s intent, nor is it now our intent, to eliminate parking spaces,” Murphy told the commission. “The author of this petition seems to think there’s no way to run the multi-use path to Magnolia unless you eliminate parking spaces. That simply isn’t true.”
Murphy mentioned three potential options that would preserve those parking spaces: extend the path along the other side of Gulf Drive from Willow to Magnolia, shift Gulf Drive over to create enough space to extend the path along the same of the street or relocate the existing parking spaces to the other side of Gulf Drive.
Foster recently told The Sun that Reimagining Pine Avenue project engineer Gerry Traverso told him in 2021 that due to the limited amount of available space in that area, extending the multi-use path would eliminate those existing Gulf Drive parking spaces. At the time, Traverso was contracted by the city through the George F. Young engineering firm referenced on the House funding request form.
“He never did work on this project because we’ve never had a study to address it. Traverso knew nothing about the multi-use path,” Murphy said.
“I would have appreciated at least a phone call before all these businesses signed a petition, so that I could clarify what the city’s policy is – not eliminating parking. When we submitted a document requesting a quarter million dollars to Sen. Boyd and Rep. Robinson in January, it said this project would be parking neutral, meaning we’re not eliminating any parking,” Murphy said.
The mayor was referring to a Jan. 8 email from City Clerk LeAnne Addy to the city’s lobbyist, Bethany McAlister, in response to a follow-up question about parking neutrality.
Commissioner Gary McMullen supports the elimination of streetside parking spaces. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
McMullen asked Murphy why the multi-use path wouldn’t be extended to Pine Avenue and said, “It just doesn’t make any sense to me to stop at Magnolia when everyone wants to go to Pine.”
“It’s a matter of resources and money, so we take it a piece at a time,” Murphy responded.
Commissioner Mark Short acknowledged differing opinions have been previously expressed about eliminating the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue, but he said it’s always been the commission’s intent to preserve those spaces.
“The last thing I want to see happen is the city lose any parking spots, especially in the commercial area,” Short said.
“I’m opposed to parallel parking on Pine because you can’t see around those cars,” McMullen countered.
PETITIONERS SPEAK
When addressing the commission, Foster said, “I’m the one that started the petition. It wasn’t my intention to catch you guys off guard. It was my intention though to stop the funding for this funding request. The request is very black and white. It says, ‘businesses, visitors, residents have all expressed a desire to see the current multi-use path expanded from Willow Avenue to Magnolia.’”
Ginny’s and Jane E’s owner Paul Foster addressed the city commission. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Foster said he and the other business owners who signed the petition and attended Thursday’s meeting never expressed a desire to extend the multi-use path: “I just want to run my business and be a good citizen. This scared me because I do know the impact those parking spaces have.”
Commercial property owner John Cagnina suggests rerouting bicyclists down Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
John Cagnina is one of the owners of the building leased to Ginny’s and Jane E’s, Body & Sol Spa & Wellness and Snips Hair Salon, three of the seven businesses whose owners signed the petition. Cagnina also signed the petition.
He said eliminating those 13 spaces along Gulf Drive would be a catastrophe.
“Those parking spaces turn over two, three, four times a day,” he said, noting this can amount to more than 300 people using those spaces per day.
Cagnina requested the commission instead direct bicyclists down Willow Avenue and away from the heavily-congested commercial district that lies ahead along Gulf Drive. He said it’s nerve-racking to drive through that area when bicyclists and pedestrians are coming from every direction.
In response, McMullen said, “The people won’t go down Willow and make a detour. They’re going to keep going right down Gulf with their bicycles.”
Cagnina said a designated bike path down Willow Avenue would be more inviting to bicyclists and might encourage more of them to use that alternate route.
“Right now, it’s just a road,” Cagnina said.
Before the commission reached its 4-1 consensus, McMullen said, “I’m against saying you can’t do anything to the parking spaces.”
Available space is limited in front of Jane E’s and Ginny’s Cafe. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After leaving city hall, Foster said, “I feel a tremendous amount of relief. All but one of them agreed they would not touch that parking. I’m happy with the outcome and I’m going to let the state know as well. This is not about politics, it’s about our livelihoods.”
Body & Sol owner Amanda Escobio agreed and said, “I’m relieved.”
HOLMES BEACH – The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study being conducted on the three Anna Maria Island cities is starting to rattle local city leaders.
During a March 26 commission meeting, Mayor Judy Titsworth said she had participated in a conference call with OPPAGA representatives, who recently visited the Island to observe the city’s public works department.
She said that afterwards, she hoped the state representatives were considering public works as a possible department to consolidate across all three Island cities to save money. In talking with Public Works Supervisor Sage Kamiya after the visit, Titsworth said she learned that wasn’t the case. Instead, she said OPPAGA representatives were looking at public works as the only department that would need to remain on the Island if all three cities were eliminated and daily government operations were moved to the city of Bradenton or Manatee County.
“So that’s unfortunate,” she said. “I’m still hopeful because that is such an overreach. That is going to affect people so much. Their everyday lives are going to change so drastically if we don’t have their cities out here and they have to go to the county for everything. Your tax bill, you’re not assured that any of that is coming out here. I think you’re going to get more resistance from the residents and our visitors who love this Island with that type of an option. Unfortunately, I’m almost certain that’s the only one they’re looking at right now.”
Titsworth said that she’s still trying to get dialogue reopened between the city and state Rep. Will Robinson Jr. but hasn’t yet been successful.
Robinson is one of the five state legislative delegation members from Manatee County who ordered the OPPAGA study without the input of the three Island municipal governments.
While the three Island mayors said previously that they would support the OPPAGA study with the goal of looking at ways to save taxpayer money across the three cities, they all said they do not support consolidation or elimination of the cities.
The four possibilities being studied by OPPAGA representatives include consolidation of the three cities into one new city, elimination of the city governments and annexation of Anna Maria Island into the city of Bradenton or Manatee County or leaving the Island governments intact.
Titsworth said she believes that the OPPAGA study is focusing on elimination of the cities and annexation into Manatee County to get development rights for the Island. Currently, development on Anna Maria Island is controlled by city regulations. Those regulations would vanish if the city governments are eliminated.
Once the study is complete, City Attorney Erica Augello said that consolidation or elimination of the cities could be forced at the state level as a special act of the Legislature. The OPPAGA study would be submitted with a bill by the beginning of September and then would go through three committees in the House, voted on in the House floor and, if it passes, be put on the con-sent agenda for the Senate unless someone in the Senate pulls the bill for discussion. If the bill passes those hurdles, it would go to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval or veto.
Commissioner Carol Soustek said it’s not just the current residents who are being affected by the ongoing study. She said she’s also spoken with potential residents who are holding off on purchasing property on the Island because of the uncertainty of the outcome of the OPPAGA study.
Titsworth said that staff members in all three cities also are working with a cloud of uncertainty hanging over their heads about the future of their jobs. She said the only thing they can do is persevere.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he was told that Sen. Jim Boyd, one of the members of the Manatee County state delegation, would meet with him and Titsworth at the end of the legislative session, which ended two weeks ago. Schaefer said he’s losing patience and is drafting a letter to Boyd to try again to set up a meeting to discuss consolidation.
TOWN HALL MEETING POSTPONED
Holmes Beach leaders planned to host a town hall workshop on Tuesday, April 9, but the workshop has been postponed indefinitely and may or may not take place at a future date.
BRADENTON BEACH
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie confirmed that OPAGGA representatives recently visited the city’s Department of Public Works, headed by Tom Woodard, which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of city-owned streets, sidewalks and traffic signs, street striping, stormwater drains and systems, maintenance of city facilities and parks and street sweeping.
When asked about his thoughts on the OPAGGA study, Chappie said, “We’re going through the process.”
ANNA MARIA
OPPAGA representatives were unable to meet recently with Anna Maria Public Works Manager Roosevelt Jones, who was on bereavement leave, according to Mayor Dan Murphy, who said that Jones is expected to participate in a phone meeting with OPPAGA representatives this week.
Leslie Lake and Joe Hendricks contributed to this report.
ANNA MARIA – Leashed dogs will soon be allowed in City Pier Park, including during some special events held in the park.
The city of Anna Maria’s code of ordinances currently prohibits dogs and other domestic animals on beaches and in city parks.
“It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow or permit any such domestic animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits,” the current ordinance says.
On March 28, City Attorney Becky Vose presented the city commission with the first reading of Ordinance 24-924, which contained the proposed addition of the following language: “Provided, however, dogs on leashes shall be allowed in parks that are not on the beach or which have coastal barrier sand dunes, as long as no special event is occurring at such park, and as long as the person accompanying such dog shall promptly remove any feces deposited by such dog and properly dispose of such feces.”
When discussing the proposed ordinance, Commission Chair Mark Short said, “I do not agree that we should not allow dogs in the park when there’s a special event.”
He noted that leashed dogs are allowed at the Sarasota farmer’s market and at many other markets and public spaces in the area.
“I don’t see an issue with allowing dogs in the park at any time,” Short said. “We have had them at some of our events, Veterans Day and so on, where there have been people there with their dogs sitting beside them. I think they should be allowed at City Pier Park even if there is a special event.”
Short noted a different city ordinance prohibits dogs on the City Pier and that prohibition will remain in effect.
“The Pier’s not a park,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.
As for allowing dogs during special events, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I’m not certain about this because you get too many dogs in an area together and they fight. We have an elderly population and that concerns me a little bit.”
Commissioner Gary McMullen said he sees dogs in City Pier Park during the weekly farmers markets held on Tuesdays. He asked if the market events are considered special events or reoccurring events. Murphy said the farmers markets are considered special events.
Murphy said more than 1,000 people attend the city’s annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day events and allowing dogs during those events could be disruptive.
Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if the commission could prohibit dogs during certain special events. Murphy suggested the ordinance be crafted in a manner that would allow the commission to prohibit dogs during certain special events while allowing them in general and during other special events. The commission agreed and directed Vose to rewrite the ordinance to reflect that desired revision.
Commissioner Jon Crane recommended installing dog waste stations in the park.
“It’s a small investment and I think we need to do it,” he said, noting the dog owners sometimes forget to bring their own dog waste bags.
PUBLIC INPUT
The efforts to make City Pier Park dog-friendly date back to last September when the Planning and Zoning Board members unanimously supported board member Dusty Crane’s request to recommend to the city commission that dogs be allowed in the city-owned park located across the street from the City Pier.
When Crane (Commissioner Jon Crane’s wife) presented the planning board’s request to the city commission in October, Murphy suggested dogs remain prohibited during special events held at the park, including those offering food service.
As an alternative, Commissioner Robert Kingan proposed installing a small dog park within City Pier Park and designating that as the only area dogs would be allowed. Commissioner Charlie Salem suggested the space between the children’s playground and the Lake La Vista canal might be a good location for a dog park and the commission took no further action that day.
During the October meeting, Anna Maria resident and dog owner John Kolojeski expressed his support for allowing dogs in the park and for creating a dog park within the park.
Anna Maria resident John Kolojeski supports allowing dogs in City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the March 28 meeting, Kolojeski said, “I agree with Commissioner Short. I think dogs on leashes should be allowed at city events. I also think we should have a dog park. What’s happening with that? I think that was fairly well-received.”
The mayor and commission did not respond to Kolojeski’s dog park comment and no further discussion ensued.
The commission doesn’t vote on the first reading of a proposed ordinance. The revised dog allowance ordinance will be presented on second and final reading and a commission vote on Thursday, April 11.
