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Month: June 2024

Proposed charter amendments presented as ordinances

Proposed charter amendments presented as ordinances

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have been presented with separate ordinances containing ballot language and summary language for five proposed charter amendments.

City Attorney Becky Vose presented the first reading of the five proposed charter amendment ordinances to the city commission on May 23. The commission will vote on each separate proposed charter amendment on a second and final reading during a June 13 meeting.

The proposed amendment ordinances that receive the majority support of the commission will be transmitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office for inclusion on the general election ballot this fall.

The city charter can only be amended (changed) with the majority support of the city’s registered voters. Anna Maria voters will be asked to vote yes or no on the amendments proposed by the charter review committee and supported by the city commission majority.

HOME RULE

The city commission is divided on a proposed amendment that would add new language to the city charter regarding the protection of the city’s home rule rights.

The ballot question for the proposed home rule amendment reads as follows: Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to provide for the city to take steps to maintain and protect the city’s residential character and home rule, supporting commercial land use, maximizing the enjoyment of natural and man-made resources and minimizing the threat to health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, posed by hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses, and any environmental degradation?

Commissioners Kathy Morgan, Gary McMullen, Charlie Salem and Mark Short have expressed preliminary support for the proposed home rule amendment.

“I really like us putting before the voters something that confirms our desire to have home rule, to try to retain the residential character of the city and give them a clear opportunity to express their will on this one way or another,” Salem said.

Commissioner Jon Crane and Mayor Dan Murphy oppose the proposed amendment.

As he’s done previously, Crane said, “I don’t think aspirational statements should be put before the voters.”

He referred to the proposed amendment as a “non-action item.”

Mayor Dan Murphy noted he doesn’t vote in city commission decisions but he still shared his opposition to the proposed amendment.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to have it here. I happen to agree with Commissioner Crane that it’s aspirational,” Murphy said.

“I have concerns about taking anything out for a vote that’s not necessary. I think actions speak louder than words. I think our track record as a city has been one of a staunch supporter of home rule. I don’t need a preamble to march to that tune and I don’t think any of you do either. It’s something that’s not necessary. So, therefore, I would caution you about putting something unnecessary before the public for a vote. You already are what this stipulates,” Murphy said.

“I’d be more than happy, as a compromise, to post a mission statement on our website, or even on the wall of city hall, that states that we are staunch supporters of home rule. People already know that. The public knows it. The voters know,” Murphy said.

The mayor and commissioners expressed no preliminary opposition to four additional proposed charter amendments.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to provide a definition for administrative officers of the City?

This amendment would better define which city staff members are considered to be officers of the city.

BUILDING HEIGHT LIMITS

Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to add a height limitation for all structures within the city limits to be no more than two residential/habitable floors and 37 feet above the crown of the abutting road, and include a provision for obtaining a variance?

Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would add the city’s existing height limits to the city charter. Any future modification or abolishment of the city’s long-standing height limits would require the majority support of Anna Maria voters. The similar height limits already contained in Anna Maria’s comprehensive plan and building codes can currently be changed by a simple majority vote of the city commission.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to add language regarding removal of non-qualifying city commissioners and prohibiting city commissioners from holding concurrent municipal or other public office or employment by the city of Anna Maria?

Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would establish residency requirements for elected city officials once they take office. The charter currently sets forth residency requirements for candidates seeking elected office, but it doesn’t currently address residency requirements for those elected to office.

SPECIAL MEETINGS

Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to change the way a special meeting of the city commission may be called, from a call of a single member of the city commission to a call of the majority of the city commission, the chair of the city commission or the city mayor?

Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would prevent a single commissioner from calling for a special city commission meeting.

City releases signed coconut palms agreement

City releases signed coconut palms agreement

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – The fully signed agreement between the city and developer Shawn Kaleta for the maintenance of the coconut palm trees on and around Bridge Street was signed by Mayor John Chappie on May 28 and placed into the public record that day.

That comes more than a month after the trees were planted the week of April 24 in a public-private partnership between the city and Kaleta.

On May 29, City Clerk Terri Sanclemente provided The Sun with a copy of the agreement signed by Chappie, Kaleta – as Beach to Bay Construction LLC manager – and Sanclemente as witness. The Sun made multiple requests for the document beginning on May 6.

The maintenance, indemnification and hold harmless agreement in a public-private partnership between the City of Bradenton Beach and Kaleta, through his LLC, designates responsibility for the tree maintenance to Kaleta and indemnifies the city in the event of injury or damage from the trees.

Public-private partnerships between cities and developers are unique to Bradenton Beach among the three Anna Maria Island cities.

Both Mayor Dan Murphy of Anna Maria and Mayor Judy Titsworth of Holmes Beach responded to The Sun’s email asking if either city had partnered with a private entity for city projects.

“If you define a public-private partnership as a “capital improvement project with the city getting dollar funding from a developer” the answer is no, we have had none that I can recall during my tenure of 10 years as mayor. I don’t think we’ve ever had a developer give us any money for a project,” Murphy wrote.

Titsworth wrote, “We have not, to my recollection.”

The partnership with Kaleta for the palm trees’ maintenance and indemnification was approved unanimously on April 3 by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

At that meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry assured CRA members that the agreement would be signed by Kaleta prior to the trees being planted.

CRA member Jan Vosburgh expressed concern about the trees’ safety and maintenance.

“I believe everything the city does should be as maintenance-free as possible,” Vosburgh said. “It sounds to me like we’re making a nightmare for the city and the businesses.”

Ultimately, following assurances by Perry that a signed agreement would be in place, Vosburgh voted to approve the agreement, making it a unanimous vote.

In addition to Chappie and Vosburgh, Deborah Scaccianoce, Marilyn Maro, Ed Chiles and Chair Ralph Cole make up the CRA.

OUT OF ORDER

It is unclear when Kaleta signed the agreement.

The city clerk provided The Sun a copy of the receipt for the April 10 $10,000 payment from Kaleta, but based on correspondence between City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Kaleta’s attorneys, it does not appear that he signed the agreement prior to the planting of the palm trees the week of April 24.

On April 25, Kaleta attorney Sean Kelly sent an email to Perry that said, “Shawn asked me to finalize this agreement for the coconut palms on Bridge Street. Will you please send me the Exhibit A site plan and the dollar amount for the CRA’s contribution? Then I can update the document and have Shawn sign. Thanks!”

On May 9, Perry sent an email to Kelly copied to Kaleta that said, “Good morning. It took me a bit to find a way to document in a ‘site plan’ the palms and to make sure we knew exactly where Miguel was planting everything. I ended up flying my drone and then inserting stars where palms are located with a description for areas that have multiple palms at or near an address.” “Miguel” refers to Miguel Mancera, the owner of M&F Lawn Care, Inc., the company that planted the palm trees, who has not yet been paid for his work (see story, page 9).

On May 14, Kaleta attorney, Rainier Altiere, sent Perry an email that said, “Here is the completed maintenance agreement. The only thing missing is the start date. Please provide me with that and let me know if this is OK for us to have Shawn sign.”

On May 15, Perry sent Kaleta, Kelly and Altiere an email that referenced an unnamed limited liability corporation (LLC) Kaleta intended to use as the CRA’s project partner and the party responsible for maintaining the coconut palms for the next 30 years.

“This corp (corporation) named in the document was set up at the end of last month. Is it just a ‘shell company’ with no assets or insurance to cover the harm/damage caused by a falling coconut? At a minimum, the company will need an insurance policy naming the city that actually covers damage caused by the coconuts. I can’t just have a piece of open (missing word) with no actual protection for the public. Ideas?” Perry wrote.

On May 15, The Sun emailed Perry requesting a copy of the fully signed and fully executed agreement. In her May 15 response, Perry wrote, “There is a signed agreement. The clerk is out of the office and can provide further documents upon her return.”

On May 29, Perry sent an email to Sanclemente and Chappie that addressed the date Sanclemente and Chappie signed the agreement.

“Contracts have counterpart signatures that most always have differing dates – hence the reason contracts ALWAYS state an effective date. The effective date controls contracts. In this instance, I always stated that the effective date would be when the date trees were being delivered. The city did not pick nor write the date but found the effective date to be acceptable and within the approval of the CRA. Standard contract law. Feel free to forward to anyone needing legal contract law information,” Perry wrote.

The effective date of the agreement is April 1, which is two days before its approval by the CRA at its April 3 meeting. The city did not respond to The Sun’s request for an explanation of the earlier effective date.

“The city of Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has approved a CRA beautification project on Bridge Street to be installed at a cost not to exceed forty thousand and no/dollars ($40,000) to be paid for by the CRA and ten thousand and no/dollars ($10,000) to be paid for by the Sponsor (Kaleta). All trees installed in this beautification project shall be maintained at the sole cost of Sponsor,” the agreement states.

The agreement will be in place for 30 years with options to renew every 10 years.

According to the signed agreement, “Sponsor shall at its sole cost and expense maintain the permitted installation in good condition. The city makes no warranties or representation of any kind regarding the suitability of this public property/right-of-way location for the proposed installation.”

The signed agreement includes indemnification language that states, “As consideration for use of the city’s public property to install coconut palm trees, the Sponsor (Kaleta) shall at all times, at its expense, hold harmless and indemnify the city, its officers, employees, agents, elected and appointed officials, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, demands, liens, liabilities, penalties, fines, fees, judgments, losses and damages whether or not a lawsuit is filed, including, but not limited to claims for damage to property or bodily or personal injuries, including death.”

The indemnification language also states that Kaleta is responsible for any costs, expenses and attorney fees associated with a claim or lawsuit associated with the coconut palm trees.

According to the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, “To indemnify, also known as indemnity or indemnification, means compensating a person for damages or losses they have incurred or will incur related to a specified accident, incident or event. Typically, parties make a written agreement in which one party promises to indemnify the other party for future specified losses.”

On May 31, The Sun received a copy of Kaleta’s proof of insurance with $1 million in liability per occurrence for personal injury, $5,000 for medical expenses per person, $100,000 damage to rented premises and $2 million general aggregate coverage. The policy expires on Sept. 9.

The insured is listed as Beach to Bay Investments, 102 48th St., Holmes Beach and the producer of the policy is Gulf Insurance, LLC, 301 Manatee Ave. in Holmes Beach.

The Sun has requested an updated site plan since the location of some of the trees has changed due to their FDOT-mandated May 24 removal from Gulf Drive South, a state road.

As of May 31, that site plan has not been received.

According to the maintenance, indemnification and hold harmless agreement Exhibit B, Kaleta’s company is responsible for: “Removing fronds, fruit, seedpods and fruit stalks carefully without damaging the trunk or fronds that are to be retained. All coconut fruit must be removed once it produces on the tree.”

The guidelines continue, “Pruning will be required a minimum of two times a year on municipal property and rights-of-way to manage the hazards of falling coconuts and fronds and to minimize the risk to persons and property within the fall zone.”

People on the Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page had plenty of comments about the palm trees and the agreement.

Wendy Holcomb wrote, “Not a good idea EVER to put coconut trees where pedestrians walk and vehicles drive.”

Richard Becker wrote, “All this over a palm tree. It’s not about the palm tree, it’s about the politics.”

“Indemnify means to ‘make right again’ not ‘protect,’ so if the city lost a case, Team K would have to pay them back, the settlement ck (check) has to come from the defendant,” Susan Paxton wrote.

According to recent city Scenic WAVES committee meeting agendas, the CRA board did not request a preliminary project review from the city commission-appointed committee

The Scenic WAVES committee acts as the commission’s advisory board on proposed landscaping and beautification projects.

Related coverage:

Editorial: Signed palm tree agreement better late than never

Palm tree landscaper awaiting payment from city

Editorial: Palm trees and other shady endeavors

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

 

Reverse mortgage loans explained

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Anyone who considers themselves a senior, which I certainly do, at some point will probably have considered a reverse mortgage. It’s not a conventional mortgage designed for the majority of home purchasers but rather a vehicle for senior homeowners to tap into their home equity.

What exactly is home equity? Home equity is the amount of your home that you actually own. Specifically, the equity is the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe your lender or lenders. Don’t confuse it with “mental equity,” which is a term sometimes used in real estate where sellers think they know what their property is worth.

Seniors who are 62 or over can apply for a reverse mortgage, releasing some of the equity in their property. With property values increasing in the past three to four years, seniors who have owned their homes for a long time are considering reverse mortgages with an eye to staying in their homes. Homeowners are still responsible for paying property taxes, insurance and maintenance; however, the repayment of the loan is deferred until the homeowner dies, sells or moves out of the home.

In addition to being 62 or over to qualify, you also need to have enough equity in your home. The loan works by making payments to the borrower based on a percentage of the equity that has been built up in the home. The factors that determine the loan amount include your age, the value of your home, the interest rate and the FHA mortgage limit, $1,089,300 as of this writing.

The obvious benefit is that you can continue to live in your home and retain the title. The proceeds of the loan are generally tax-free cash, so you can use the money as you see fit for improvements and everyday living expenses. You choose the disbursement option; lump sum, monthly payout, quarterly, etc.

The primary drawback of reverse mortgages is that the loans are generally more expensive than other financial products. The balance of the loan increases over time as does the interest on the loan and the fees associated with the loan, eating into any home equity that is left.

If this is something that you might consider, the first thing you should do is attend a counseling session from a licensed third-party counseling agency. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) maintains a list of counselors available in Florida.

Next, research and identify companies that specialize in reverse mortgages. Factors to look for when evaluating companies are years in business, number of products offered, customer service availability, state licensing, Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings and the inclusion of a mobile application. Once you have found a company you’re comfortable with, discuss what options may be available to you as far as qualification, timeline and any other questions you may have.

When the application is completed, the process is similar to a traditional mortgage application. The loan will go to an underwriter and appraiser and once approved, a distribution is made.

No matter what age you are, it’s tempting to look at all the equity you have in your home and convert it into a “piggy bank.” Like any loan where you reduce your equity, whether it’s a home equity loan, refinancing your current mortgage or a reverse mortgage, always remember that the funds you withdraw are real money and analyze what the effect of that could have on your future. Get professional advice and good luck.

Van Ostenbridge switches races

Van Ostenbridge switches races

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Incumbent District 3 Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge announced he’s no longer seeking reelection in his current district.

He will instead seek election to the District 7 at-large seat currently held by George Kruse, who seeks re-election to another four-year term in that seat. The two sitting county commissioners will square off in the District 7 at-large Republican primary that concludes on Tuesday, Aug. 20.

On May 31, Van Ostenbridge filed his campaign redesignation letter with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, as did former District 7 Republican candidate April Culbreath, who is now running against Tal Siddique in the District 3 Republican primary.

The winner of the District 7 Republican primary will then face the winner of the Democratic primary between Aliyah Hurt and Sari Lindroos-Valimaki in the general election. The winner of the District 3 Republican primary will face Democratic candidate Diana Shoemaker in the general election.

On May 31, Van Ostenbridge distributed the following text announcement regarding his political lane change: “For me, it boiled down to this: Manatee County Republicans deserve a truly conservative representative who believes in the free market; who will never apologize to liberals; and who will protect and defend every God-given constitutional right. I can continue to represent west Bradenton and at the same time restore the promise of conservative representation to the county as a whole. George Kruse is a liberal. I am a staunch Trump conservative. George Kruse thinks the government knows best. I know the people know best.”

Van Ostenbridge shared his pro-Trump campaign statement the day after a 12-person New York jury found the former president guilty of all 34 felony charges alleged against him.

 

Van Ostenbridge switches races
George Kruse seeks reelection to another four-year term as the District 7 at-large county commissioner. – VoteKruse.com | Submitted

On June 1, Kruse provided The Sun with the following written response to Van Ostenbridge’s statement: “Both the decision to run away from the District 3 race and the context of his announcement are not a surprise to anyone. After a lifetime of living in his district and four years of ‘representing’ his district, the residents out west made it clear through their polling that Kevin only represents himself and a very small handful of people in Manatee County and his district wants him out. I’m happy for those residents and I’m hopeful they’ll once again have a commissioner who actually cares about their voice and their future.

“His announcement of this change is a reflection of how they’ll campaign throughout 2024. When you know you can’t run on your record, you deflect and distract in hopes of finding enough uninformed voters to manipulate into voting against their best interests. Kevin’s consultant (Anthony Pedicini) will deflect everything wrong with him onto me while they continue pushing their revisionist history of the facts. Kevin has consistently fought to stifle the voices of the people he claims ‘know best.’ Through his actions on Anna Maria Island and throughout the county, he has proven to be the foremost advocate of authoritarian, big government, tax-and-spend policies Manatee County has had on our board in a very long time,” Kruse stated.

“I’m hopeful that our community has finally been pushed too far by Kevin and his syndicate. The public is waking up and an informed electorate is not their voter base,” Kruse stated.

DISTRICT DIFFERENCES

Van Ostenbridge has invited opposition on Anna Maria Island due to his ongoing efforts to build a three-story parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. Since being elected to the District 3 seat in 2020, Van Ostenbridge has frequently feuded with Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Police Chief Bill Tokajer about beach parking and other parking allowances.

Van Ostenbridge switches races
These anti-Van Ostenbridge campaign signs can be seen throughout Manatee County. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

District 3 includes all of Anna Maria Island, all of Cortez, the northern half of Longboat Key, west Bradenton and portions of Bradenton. It was long-rumored that Van Ostenbridge would switch to the District 7 at-large race if early polling numbers indicated he might not win the District 3 race, which features fewer total voters and a higher percentage of Island voters. Island voters make up a significantly smaller percentage of the total votes cast in the countywide District 7 at-large race.

When winning the election for the first time in 2020, the then-relatively unknown Van Ostenbridge received 23,213 (58%) of the 39,766 votes cast in the general election in which he faced non-party-affiliated opponent Matt Bower. Van Ostenbridge was the only Republican primary candidate in that race.

When winning the election for the first time in the 2020 District 7 at-large Republican primary, Kruse received 21,184 (57%) of the votes cast in the primary race that also included former county administrator Ed Hunzeker. When later running unopposed in the general election, Kruse received 159,894 (93%) of the 171,437 votes cast, with unnamed write-in candidates receiving 11,543 votes.

CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING

According to the latest campaign fundraising reports, Van Ostenbridge has raised $214,253 so far. Kruse raised $37,088, Valimaki raised $500 and Hurt has raised nothing. In the District 3 race, Siddique has raised $26,933, Culbreath has raised $19,993 and Shoemaker has raised $25,767.

Monday, July 22 is the deadline to register to vote in the August primary. July 22 is also the deadline to change one’s party affiliation to vote in the Republican primaries that will help determine who ultimately wins the county commission seats up for grabs in this year’s general election.

Letter to the Editor: It’s horse, of course

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

The Suncoast Waterkeepers is a group which watches for problems within our local waters. They aren’t some government group, but one would think otherwise with comments from a recent Facebook post concerning results from tests at Palma Sola Bay and the continuing problems with the water and beaches there. The tests showed that along with human contaminants there were high levels of DNA from horse waste. Some are OK with saying “Of course there is, there are horses there.” Well, there are also people there. These folks long for the old days when a few girls would ride their horses there. They seem to overlook that it’s more than four or five girls riding once or twice a week, it’s now commercial businesses with eight or more horses operating seven days a week. Their waste is a problem at this point. But they blame everything but the horses. Somehow the horses get a pass. So, if the horse waste is so safe (as they claim) then maybe they can add stables to the new garage and have horse rides on Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach too.

 

Rick Lewis

Parrish

Manatee County evacuation information

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Hurricane Guide, Special Sections.

MANATEE COUNTY – The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is underway. Two of the scariest issues when a storm heads toward Anna Maria Island are if an evacuation will be issued and where you and your family will go when you have to leave your home.

Manatee County addresses are assigned an evacuation zone based on proximity to the water and the elevation of the property. All of Anna Maria Island, Perico Island and Cortez are located in the Level A evacuation zone, the first zone that will be called in the event of a storm. All coastal areas of the county are included in this zone along with all mobile home communities.

From Anna Maria Island, the evacuation routes are east along Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road. When an evacuation is called, first responders advise making preparations and leaving as quickly as possible. Rather than attempting to catch a flight or drive to another state, residents are asked to evacuate 10s of miles, not 100s of miles. Once the storm passes, it might be difficult to get back due to heavy traffic and lack of supplies, such as gas, along the way.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said while first responders cannot force a property owner to evacuate, all vacationers are required to leave in the event an evacuation is called for the area. And if a property owner chooses not to evacuate, he said they should remember that first responders cannot respond to an emergency once winds reach a certain speed. These first responders include fire, EMS and law enforcement. Once winds reach a sustained 45 miles per hour, the fire department’s staff is required to evacuate the Island. Once winds hit a sustained 55 mph, EMS and law enforcement are required to evacuate. When these agencies leave the Island, they are not allowed to respond to any emergency calls until after the storm passes. Anyone who calls 911 to report an emergency during this time will be placed on a list to be checked on once the storm passes, Tokajer said.

Learn your evacuation zone at https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/evacuation_levels

Stock your hurricane kits

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Hurricane Guide, Special Sections.

MANATEE COUNTY – With the start of hurricane season on June 1, Manatee County reminds residents to stock disaster supply kits.

Recommended items are:

  • First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, tape, compresses, aspirin and aspirin-free pain relievers, antacid and important phone numbers;
  • Flashlights and batteries for each family member;
  • Portable radio and batteries;
  • Mosquito repellent;
  • Whistle and distress flag;
  • Emergency charger for cell phones and other devices;
  • Cash as ATMs may not be operating;
  • Charcoal, matches and grill (for outdoor use);
  • Generator and fuel;
  • Ice chest/cooler and ice;
  • Plastic tarp, window screening, tools and nails;
  • Non-electric can opener;
  • Instant tire sealant;
  • Fire extinguisher;
  • Water purification kit;
  • Clean-up supplies;
  • Garbage can or bucket with tight-fitting lid and cat litter;
  • Toilet paper, paper towels and pre-moistened towelettes or baby wipes;
  • Up-to-date list of family medicines and dosages, along with a two-week supply of prescription medicines;
  • Enough non-perishable food to feed your family and pets for at least 7 days, including special dietary foods or baby food and formula;
  • One gallon of drinking water per person, per day, plus water for cooking and washing for 7 days;
  • Extra batteries.
Holmes Beach prepares residents for hurricane season

Holmes Beach prepares residents for hurricane season

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Hurricane Guide, Special Sections.

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders did not hold back in this year’s hurricane preparedness town hall meeting. In addition to offering resources to prepare for the best possible outcome, Police Chief Bill Tokajer also showed a mock video of the worst, Tampa Bay taking a direct hit from a Category 5 storm.

Over a dozen people plus city staff members and elected officials came out to the May 22 presentation hosted by the Holmes Beach police, code compliance and public works departments. The goal of the annual workshop is to help get property owners ready to face the rigors of hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

This year’s season is predicted to be more active than average with 23 named storms and 11 hurricanes, 5 of which are predicted to be major hurricanes – a Category 3 storm or higher. Tokajer presented the forecast from Colorado State to the group, noting that it only takes one storm to turn our way and wash over the barrier islands.

Holmes Beach prepares residents for hurricane season
Director of Public Works Sage Kamiya explains to the crowd at city hall how meteorologists describe storm surge and how it translates to where they live and own property. – Kristin Swain | Sun

On the Saffir-Simpson Scale, a Category 1 storm has sustained wind speeds of 74-95 mph, a Category 2 storm has sustained wind speeds of 96-110 mph, a Category 3 storm has sustained wind speeds of 111-129 mph, a Category 4 storm has sustained wind speeds of 130-156 mph and a Category 5 storm has sustained wind speeds of 157 mph or more.

During his presentation, Tokajer primarily spoke on safety before, during and after a hurricane.

He noted that first responders are required to leave the Island once sustained wind speeds hit a certain level. The fire department must leave once sustained winds hit 45 mph to safely navigate their equipment over the bridge. EMS and the police leave once sustained wind speeds hit 55 mph.

Once an evacuation has been called and the storm approaches with enough force to send first responders to the mainland, Tokajer said that calling 911 will only put you on a list to be checked on after the storm safely passes. First responders will not be able to come out and provide assistance during the storm.

Once the storm passes, Tokajer said the city has its own “first in” team to check for structural damage, clear roads and look for downed power lines so the city’s residents and property owners don’t have to wait for Manatee County teams to make it to the Island.

Holmes Beach prepares residents for hurricane season
A light pole at the skate park in the City Field complex, 5901 Marina Drive, is painted to show what storm surge at levels up to 9 feet would realistically look like at that location in Holmes Beach. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Re-entry tags are available at the police station for city residents and are valid for five years.

He encouraged everyone to have a plan in case of evacuation and to go tens of miles away, not hundreds of miles. He also reminded people that while shelters are available in Manatee County they should be used as a refuge of last resort. And while the county does offer a medical needs shelter and transportation to the shelter for those who cannot drive on their own, those services are limited and anyone who thinks they may need the services should visit www.mymanatee.org/needs or call 311 for information.

Tokajer also reminded everyone to digitize records, prepare their homes for the storm including removing any outdoor furniture or tying it down, pack a hurricane kit with food and water for each member of your family and each pet for seven days, a first aid kit, blankets and other bedding if you need to go to a shelter, toys or games for children, comfort items including bedding and potty pads or other necessities for your pets and all of your medication. He also stressed adding cash to your hurricane kit, noting that if electricity isn’t working, debit and credit cards won’t work either.

Director of Public Works Sage Kamiya discussed what the age of their property means for property owners. He said that while a newer structure may be able to withstand higher wind speeds, an older one built to different building codes may have a lower maximum wind speed designation. He encouraged everyone to know the age of their home and to prepare it accordingly using hurricane shutters, sandbags and roof tie downs and other items to prevent damage from winds and flooding. He noted that sandbags, a maximum of 10 per property, are currently available by the pickleball courts at City Field and encouraged people to get them early, before a storm hits to avoid the rush or potentially not being able to get them at all. In the event of massive storm surge, he said that no sandbag will help keep water out of the house.

Holmes Beach prepares residents for hurricane season
Mayor Judy Titsworth does a happy dance at the idea of Anna Maria Island successfully surviving another hurricane season. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Mayor Judy Titsworth encouraged property owners to lift all appliances on the ground floor up by two feet to prevent damage from flooding. Kamiya also noted that all appliances should be unplugged before water begins to enter a structure.

A light pole at the skate park at City Field has recently received a new paint job. Kamiya said that the purpose of the paint is to show realistically what storm surge flooding looks like up to 9 feet or more in Holmes Beach. He said he hopes the pole will help people prepare accordingly for a storm and to reduce confusion from meteorologist predictions.

Multiple agencies predict above-average 2024 hurricane season

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Hurricane Guide, Special Sections.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its 2024 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, and although Anna Maria Island dodged direct hits from two major hurricanes in 2022 (Ian) and 2023 (Idalia), forecasters warn that 2024 could be a bigger problem.

The season began on June 1, and NOAA’s forecast for this season predicts an 85% chance of an above-normal season, 10% chance of near-normal and 5% chance of below normal.

NOAA is forecasting a range of 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher). Of those, 8 to 13 are forecast to become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 4 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5 with winds of 111 mph or higher). Forecasters have 70% confidence in these ranges.

NOAA’s forecast is very similar to AccuWeather’s recent forecast. 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 United States this hurricane season.

“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.”

DaSilva says there are four factors that indicate that this year will possibly be recordbreaking. 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 weather systems 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 Niño pattern, waters in the eastern Pacific are warmer than the historical average. In La Niña, 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.

 

“Severe weather and emergencies can happen at any moment, which is why individuals and communities need to be prepared today,” FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks said. “Already, we are seeing storms move across the country that can bring additional hazards like tornadoes, flooding and hail. Taking a proactive approach to our increasingly challenging climate landscape today can make a difference in how people can recover tomorrow.”

The Sun recently spoke to longtime Bradenton Beach resident Dave Redeker to get a resident perspective on how he prepares for hurricane season, and how concerned he is in general regarding the potentially turbulent time of year.

Sun: Do you evacuate when told to?

Redeker: I evacuate for storms Cat. 3 and up. I think anything less than that is for the tourists.

Sun: When you do evacuate, how you decide what to take and what to leave?

Redeker: Records, guns and anything laying around that’s valuable. By records, I mean insurance papers, deeds and any important papers that can’t be replaced. I grab some clothes, a little bit of food and this-and-that. Usually, you’re going somewhere where there’s going to be food, so that’s not as important.

Sun: Do you take pictures of the house and other properties before you go?

Redeker: No, I know I’m going to get screwed by the insurance company, so why bother. The wind insurers are going to say it’s flood damage and the flood insurers are going to say it’s wind damage. They’ll begrudgingly pay you a fraction of what they should.

Sun: What do you say to people who ask how you can live in a potential path of destruction, and is it worth it?

Redeker: I say that we get at least three days’ notice when a big hurricane is coming. Somebody in the Midwest only gets three minutes notice a massive tornado is about to destroy everything they own. I don’t know where you live that you don’t have something. Mudslides, wildfires and earthquakes out west, or flash floods in the mountains, nowhere is very safe, but I really like it here.

Sun: Is hurricane season being potentially worse this year a concern to you?

Redeker: Every year is going to be the worst year; we’ve been hearing it forever. All I know is that hurricanes one or two or three weeks after Labor Day are the ones you’ve got to watch. If something bad’s coming, that’s when it’s going to show up. If you’ve got to be gone because you have a hurricane phobia, be gone in August and September.

Whether or not this will be a bad hurricane season remains to be seen, but every government agency and local municipality agrees being prepared for the worst will result in the best outcome.