ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have selected the specific type of pervious brick pavers to be used to install new sidewalks along Pine Avenue.
The first phase of the new brick paver sidewalks will be installed between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive, where no concrete sidewalks currently exist. The initial block-by-block sidewalk installation project will progress in four separate phases toward the end of Pine Avenue near the city pier. The existing concrete sidewalks along Pine Avenue are expected to be replaced during later phases of the Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project.
On Sept. 11, Mayor Dan Murphy told city commissioners that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) approved the city’s proposed $233,000 contract with the Eason Builders Group for the phase one sidewalk installation. Murphy said a preconstruction meeting with Eason Builders and FDOT was scheduled for Monday, Sept. 16.
General Manager Dean Jones presented two slightly different colored pavers to choose from. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
With the contract approved, Murphy said the commission needed to select the specific pavers to be used. General Manager Dean Jones presented commissioners with two pavers that featured slightly different shades of gray – granite or glacier. Jones said there’s no price difference between the two gray-hued pavers that are among the most widely used and most readily available in the industry. Jones said using a different colored paver would result in an 8- to 10-week delay.
Murphy noted the granite-colored paver is slightly lighter than the glacier-colored paver and the lighter-colored paver would absorb and retain less heat. The commission unanimously supported Murphy’s recommendation to use the lighter granite-colored pavers.
ANNA MARIA – City officials are pursuing a coastal resiliency grant to fund a study that identifies the best locations to install underground pumps and pipes to speed the removal of floodwaters from storms and high tides.
On Sept. 11, Mayor Dan Murphy and Anna Maria commissioners discussed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) grant application.
Murphy did not disclose the amount of the grant request or the anticipated study costs.
He said that flooding is a major concern shared by Anna Maria property owners and noted that heavy rains that fall in short timespans are now more common.
“When you get that much saturation, there’s not much you can do,” he said.
He said short of building a dike around the Island, there’s nothing that will stop Tampa Bay waters from rising over the seawalls and sand dunes that help protect the city.
“The object is to get rid of the water as quickly as possible once the tide goes down,” Murphy said.
Anna Maria’s stormwater and drainage system relies primarily on stone-covered, granite-filled underground vertical infiltration trenches that absorb and help transport floodwaters to the designated outfalls.
“Vertical filtration has exhausted itself. It works in some locations and it does not work in other locations. Now it’s down to pipes and pumps,” Murphy said.
Murphy mentioned several flood-prone locations – the entrance to the city, Archer Way, Allamanda Road, the Bayfront Park area, North Bay Boulevard, South Bay Boulevard, the City Pier area, Magnolia Avenue and the area behind Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café. He said a different approach is needed in those areas.
Murphy said the study won’t be cheap, but he’s optimistic the city will receive the state funds in the October timeframe. Using two engineering firms, Murphy estimates the city could have the study and the engineered pump and pipe installation plans completed in approximately 14 months, with the entire project taking approximately two years to complete.
He noted the maintenance of pumps and pipes located in a saltwater environment will be ongoing and expensive.
“Pumping is expensive, especially when it’s buried underground,” Murphy said.
He noted additional funds might be obtained from FEMA and the Southwest Florida Water Management District to help offset the maintenance costs.
Mayor Dan Murphy is spearheading the initial efforts to be continued by Anna Maria’s next mayor. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After 10 years in office, Murphy’s final term as mayor expires in November. He said the next mayor will have to spearhead the project and he advised the commission to maintain close relationships with the state officials and state legislators who can provide the needed funds.
“This is a very expensive proposition,” he said. “You need to be prepared to pony up and get the money to finish this if you want to solve this problem. The answer is getting the water out as quickly as possible and that’s what pumps and pipes will do.”
Commissioner Mark Short noted the study might also identify other drainage options to consider.
ANNA MARIA – Brian Seymour and Mark Short both want to succeed Dan Murphy as Anna Maria’s next mayor, with the winner to be determined in the upcoming election. On Sept. 12, they participated in a candidate forum hosted by The Anna Maria Island Sun at city hall.
Opening remarks
Seymour thanked Murphy for his 10-year tenure as mayor, including during the three years Seymour served as a commissioner. Seymour spent the first 38 years of his life in the Washinton D.C. area and 20 years working for Marriott hotels and resorts at many levels, from banquets to general manager.
“I decided after 20 years in the corporate world I was going to go find a new life. I couldn’t have been luckier to find this little city of Anna Maria. I own three businesses (City Pier Grill, Anna Maria General Store and Pine Avenue Bait and Tackle) and I’m eager to get back involved in city government and help the city continue to move forward,” Seymour said.
Short and his wife, Pat, bought their Anna Maria home almost 13 years ago. They’ve been married 40 years and have three daughters and four granddaughters. In 2017, Short retired as a partner and CPA after 38 years with the Ernst & Young accounting and consultancy firm. Three months later, he joined The Center of Anna Maria Island’s finance committee. In 2019, he was appointed to the city’s Charter Review Committee and then to the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.
“I served on that (the planning board) for several months until I was appointed to the city commission. I actually replaced you, Brian, when you resigned,” Short said, noting he’s been a commissioner for five years and commission chair and vice-mayor for two years.
When asked why he wants to serve as mayor, Short said, “I’ve been actively involved in the city and I’m vested in the city. I know it’s a thankless job and it is certainly not for the money. The city has come a long way. We have a long way to go and some things the city needs to focus on are things I can help with,” Short said.
“It’s definitely not for the $19,000 and change,” Seymour said of the mayor’s salary. “When I was a commissioner, it was $4,800 a year. It’s about having a place in this city and wanting to help the city continue to grow. I’m a good leader. I have good relationships with city staff and the different departments within the city.”
The candidates agree the mayor’s job is a full-time job.
“The residents have come to expect the mayor to be here,” Short said. “I am viewing this as a full-time job. If I’m elected mayor, you’ll see me here.”
“It’s about balance,” Seymour said. “I would be in and out of city hall every day. I have good leadership at my two bigger businesses and the ability to extract myself from those two businesses and implement myself here at city hall.”
The issues
A recent independent investigation of the city workplace cited a “pervasive lack of trust and collegiality amongst co-workers.”
Short said he was required to participate in annual workplace training during his career and he’d require the same of city staff. He’d also consider outsourcing the city’s human resource needs to outside specialists so city employees can express their concerns to unbiased, non-city personnel.
“With regards to managing the staff, it’s the mayor’s job and you have to be hands-on with everybody,” Short said.
“I’ve had a lot of dealings with staff issues and different personalities that maybe don’t work well together,” Seymour said. “It comes down to consistent training. There needs to be accountability and a review of the entire city staff, from the top down, to make sure people are in the right positions, given the tools they need and have proper working relationships.”
Seymour and Short disagree on hiring a full-time city administrator or city manager to assist the mayor.
Brian Seymour previously served on the city commission for three years. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I’m very much in favor of a city administrator-type position to help oversee the city,” Seymour said, noting he’d like the administrator to have human resources experience. “It has become such a large city with so many departments and so many employees. I really believe that would be beneficial.”
“I do not believe the city needs a city manager or a city administrator,” Short countered. “If you read the city charter, that is the job of the mayor. You’re electing someone to do exactly what a city administrator or manager would do.”
Mark Short has served on the city commission for five years. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Both candidates adamantly oppose the consolidation of the three Island cities or annexing them into Manatee County or Bradenton.
Both candidates strongly support the commission’s recent decision to reduce the property tax millage rate from 2.05 to 1.65 mills and maintaining or lowering that rate in the future.
Short and Seymour agree that improving the city’s drainage system to reduce flooding is a top priority and they support Murphy’ pursuit of a resiliency grant to fund a study for the future installation of drainage pumps and pipes.
Both candidates agree the city should use Facebook and other social media platforms to communicate more immediately with residents and business owners, especially regarding weather events and other emergencies.
The candidates agree the $1.3 million budgeted for law enforcement services by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is a wise and prudent expenditure. They both believe the code enforcement department should focus on a wider range of enforcement issues beyond writing parking tickets.
Both candidates would continue Murphy’s use of a lobbyist and the Home Rule Florida website to help preserve Anna Maria’s home rule rights and the city’s ability to regulate vacation rentals.
Seymour and Short support the Reimagining Pine Avenue project and oppose eliminating the existing parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue. They both oppose making Pine Avenue a one-way street and Seymour opposes making Spring or Magnolia a one-way street. Short said he’d at least look at making Spring or Magnolia a one-way street to create space for a bike path.
Seymour and his business partners operate the City Pier Grill in space leased from the city. The initial five-year pier lease expires on Dec. 31, 2025, and Seymour’s group has the option to renew the lease for five more years.
When asked if this could create a potential conflict of interest, Short noted the mayor’s duties include negotiating the city contracts that require the city commission’s final approval.
“I would be concerned if that contract came up and it was effectively the mayor negotiating with himself,” Short said.
“I have partners in the business,” Seymour said. “That negotiation would need to be pushed out of my hands to the vice-mayor and maybe to the city attorney and then let the city commission decide. I would not be involved with those negotiations.”
Regarding the quality of the natural waters surrounding the city, Seymour said, “It’s a shame what’s happening around us. Yes, we’ve had some significant rainfalls but for Bradenton to still be discharging (sewage) is just uncalled for. I’m tired of seeing Bayfront Park end up on the no-swim advisory. I’m not going to throw a fellow business under the bus at this moment, but there’s one that’s constantly putting sewage into the Bayfront Park area. It’s not acceptable and it needs to be fixed.”
“Water quality starts with us,” Short said. “We need to make sure our infrastructure can handle these 4-, 5-, 6-inch rains we get with minimal impact on the environment. I think we, the Island, need to collectively have our voice heard in Bradenton, in Manatee County, at the DEP and in Tallahassee about our concerns about what’s happening on the mainland. At the end of the day, that water ends up out here.”
Both candidates would support the city regulating and enforcing mangrove protections at the local level.
Closing statements
“I feel confident my friend Mark Short or I would both make excellent mayors,” Seymour said. “I am also a resident here, not just a business owner, and there are times when I do believe enough is enough. I hope you all vote for me. I look forward to potentially serving the residents.”
Short said, “I feel like I have a pretty good pulse as to what is going on with the city, the people working for the city and the concerns of you, the residents. I’ve been committed on this commission and I believe I would be just as committed should you elect me mayor.”
BRADENTON BEACH – One of four paid parking lots owned by Shawn Kaleta was brought into compliance by the city’s Sept. 9 deadline for adherence to several requirements.
The applicants opted to close the remaining three lots at 102 Third St. N., 206 Bay Drive N. and 207 Church Ave.
Seven months after the city commission conditionally approved a one-year temporary use permit for paid parking at 101 Bridge St., all requirements there have been met, according to city Building Official Darin Cushing.
City commissioners voted unanimously on Sept. 5 to remove the sidewalk installation stipulation for the temporary use permits at Kaleta’s paid parking lots on Third Street and Bay Drive.
Sam Negrin, manager of Beach to Bay Investments Inc., a Kaleta-owned entity, told commissioners at the Sept. 5 meeting that Kaleta plans to build homes on the lots and said permits will be submitted within a couple of months.
“The permit packages are being worked on at this point,” Negrin said.
“The applicants for the temporary use parking lot permits came to last Thursday’s commission meeting to ask for a modification of their stipulations, essentially to not install sidewalks on the Third Street and Bay Drive lots as was originally stipulated,” Cushing wrote in a Sept. 11 email to The Sun. “The commission agreed, and that stipulation was removed.”
But on Sept. 9, Cushing said the applicants emailed city staff informing them that they now intended to terminate the operation of paid parking lots at those lots as well as the Church Avenue lot.
The parking lot stipulations from the Feb. 15 commission approval of the Bridge Street parking lot include no entrance or exit from Bridge Street, the installation of directional arrows, landscaping less than 3 feet high, a sidewalk north of Third Street South to hook into the corner sidewalk on Gulf Drive, trolley benches and a slab, and black and white signage, in addition to review and approval of the site plan by the building official. The one-year temporary use permit runs through Feb. 15, 2025.
In an Aug. 1 letter to Kaleta, Cushing wrote that he intended to barricade the lots on Aug. 9 with a permanent closure deadline of Sept. 6 if all the stipulations had not been met. The deadline was extended to Sept. 9 to allow for the repair of a leaking artesian well at 101 Bridge St.
The parking lots were barricaded by the city on Aug. 9, but reopened the following day after intervention by Kaleta’s Bradenton attorney, Louis Najmy.
Two weeks ago, I reported that my wife, Chris, and I were traveling to Colorado, occasioned by an invitation from friends. Two weeks in Durango with side trips to Mesa Verde and a vintage train ride to Silverton through the majestic San Juan mountains gave us a unique perspective. The soaring stratified cliffs and mountains whose faces were forever altered by mining less than two centuries ago stood juxtaposed with remnants of ancient civilizations. The sight provided me with a vastly different perspective on the passage of time.
As we once again crossed the San Juans, we would experience another side of southwest Colorado where we would be wowed by the scenery and meet some very special new friends. Due to a fortunate miscalculation, we were the first visitors to a magical home situated on a mesa at close to 7,500 feet between Ridgeway and Telluride. Jimmy and Kathy Harris’ daughter and son-in-law, Addie and Scott Bowen, had constructed their vacation home on a 30-acre lot with magnificent views of the nearby Uncompahgre Mountains. That first night we reveled in the elegance of the accommodations, soaked in the hot tub and lay outside marveling under a star-filled sky that stretched from horizon to horizon in this rare dark sky region with little to no light pollution.
Angler Rusty Chinnis found some time to do a little fishing while on a trip through Colorado. – Submitted
The next morning after a tour and lunch in nearby Telluride, we returned to greet the Harrises and the three other couples that we would share a week of adventures with. Harris, the owner of Unicoi Outfitters in Helen, Georgia, and his wife, Kathy, had invited us to the recently finished Sanctuary on the Mesa, a stunning home worthy of a spread in Architectural Digest. The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bath home has a state-of-the-art kitchen, a large outside covered porch, hot tub and flat-screen TVs in every room. One would never have to leave the property except for the amazing natural wonders, skiing and fishing the area has to offer. Over the week we explored and fished the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, did a float trip on the lower Gunnison with Rigs Fly Shop in Ridgeway, explored Ouray, described as the Switzerland of America, and rode E-bikes over scenic and sparsely traveled nearby roads.
The accommodations, the scenic surroundings and the multitude of opportunities for every lover of the outdoors are unmatched in my experience. Sanctuary on the Mesa is a destination I look forward to visiting again and is a wonderful venue to share with fishermen, family and friends. To book your piece of paradise, email sanctuaryonthemesa@gmail.com.
ANNA MARIA – After a two-week delay due to torrential downpours, the Island’s recreational adult co-ed flag football league playoffs started last Thursday with the eight teams vying for a spot in the semifinals.
In the closest game of the night, both teams came off the field drenched from the humid air with Floridian Mortgage clinching the first semifinal spot 32-24. Winning by eight points over Solid Rock Air Conditioning, the top-ranked team had to fight hard under the heat of the sun.
Quarterback Chase Richardson threw for five touchdowns to Tim Holly, Rex Kesten and Zach Wyrick. Tyler Brewer and Kesten each added a point to the scoreboard with catches from Richardson after the team’s TDs.
On defense, Derrick Carey had two interceptions off throws by Solid Rock Air Conditioning quarterback Dominick Otteni. The Solid Rock defense kept the pressure on with 20 team flag pulls.
The pressure on the Floridian QB forced three Richardson interceptions to help keep Solid Rock in the game for the two halves of play. Karri Stephens, Zaon Williams and Otteni each snagged a Richardson pass, giving their team the football.
Offensively, Otteni found his targets for four touchdowns to score 24 points. Williams caught for 18, while Stephens was the receiver for six.
The Solid Rock Air Conditioning team could not find the endzone for a point after conversion, reducing their score by four points and dampening momentum each time the team scored. With the loss, Floridian Mortgage plays Moss Builders at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Moss Builders secured its place in the next round of the playoffs with a win against Solid Rock Electrical 33-12. Brothers Moss faced each other in the QB position with Ryan Moss out-throwing Jonathan six touchdowns to two.
Each brother had two interceptions in the game. J. Moss’ interceptions came from the hands of his cousin, Greg Moss, playing for Moss Builders. Solid Rock Electrical’s Jesse Skipper and Zach Long made the takeaways from R. Moss.
A different family battle continued in the game with the faces of the Solid Rock group. James Roadman and Peggy Smith, in-laws, scored the touchdowns for Moss Builders, while Evelyn and Zach Long, also in-laws of Roadman and Smith, made plays happen for Solid Rock Electrical.
G. Moss and Shawn Balvin also scored for the Moss Builders team. Their counterparts, Brandon Rolland and Skipper each found the endzone with the football in hand to score for team Solid Rock Electrical.
Earning their spot in the semifinal round, Salty Printing found their groove, defeating team Slim’s Place 33-12. The Slim’s QB was held to two touchdown passes to Jaden Grant. Defensively, the team could not stop Salty with only three recorded flag pulls by Isaiah Lambert, Jana Whitehead and Rodriguez.
On the other side of the field, Charles “Tuna” McCracken threw for four touchdowns, finding lifelong friend Blake Balais for two. Raul Loera and Matt Manger were McCracken’s targets for the other TDs.
Finding his footing on the gridiron, Loera scored two of the three extra points, with Christian Hampton putting one point on the scoreboard.
The Salty defense was on fire with two sacks and three interceptions, including a pick-six by Balais in the win.
Salty Printing faces Fishing with Salty on Thursday, Sept. 12 in the second semifinal game. Fishing with Salty defeated Prosper Bradenton 35-18 to move them to the next round of play.
In a lopsided game, the Fishing team’s Miguel Rodriguez threw for three TDs. Dina DeJesus scored twelve points, with teammates Matthew Briley and Rodriguez catching the other two.
Rodriguez showed his versatility on the field with a touchdown reception from Jonathan Soultatos. He was also the only player of the night to put a rushing TD in the statistics.
Scoring for Prosper Bradenton, QB Ray Gardner hit Tony Giammari twice and found Connor Ludwig for six points in the team’s final loss of the season.
The championship game is scheduled to be played following the last semifinal game on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 8:30 p.m. at The Center to close out the season.
Remember The Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida? Probably haven’t heard that name in a while, but it was the very shocking collapse of the tower with loss of the building and loss of life. The event profoundly impacted the condominium market in the state and is still having an influence on the condo market.
A condo termination, also known as a condominium deconversion, refers to the process in which a condominium association legally dissolves. Condo terminations occur for several reasons including economic, aging or the desire of unit owners to capitalize on the real estate market. It can also happen when a developer gradually buys up units within the association in an effort to gain the number of condo units necessary to control the future of the building.
Typically, because of a lack of prime property, usually waterfront, developers are pursuing older buildings, taking control and tearing them down. Although this can happen anywhere in the state, it is more common on the east coast where there are many more older buildings and very little land left.
These buildings have become targets for developers after the state passed a law that requires certain older buildings to undergo safety inspections that often require special assessments that can run to more than $150,000 per unit, making it impossible for the majority of owners to pay.
Many of the older buildings have elderly residents who have lived there for many years and have not voted, along with their board members, to perform the necessary maintenance due to the high costs. Because of this deferred maintenance, it is leading to deteriorating building conditions and failure of the Florida state inspections.
The only way for residents to continue living in their units is to pay special assessments for work required to pass the state inspections. In addition, insurance costs have increased due to the increased risk of natural disasters, adding to the financial burden on owners and associations and leaving an opening for more condominium terminations.
Condo owners frequently welcome the price developers are willing to pay to sell, which are generally above market value. Savvy owners also understand they likely will not be able to afford the special assessments necessary to maintain the buildings and are happy to get out from under the albatross that can become an older condo building.
However, in March of this year, a small group of residents refused to sell their units, preventing a developer takeover, and they were upheld in the appeals court. This was a stunning outcome for Florida east coast developers who have borrowed funds to buy the buildings. They will, of course, appeal the decision and bring it to the Florida Supreme Court if the appeals court does not reconsider.
Nevertheless, until this is settled, there is a hold on condo terminations unless the owners all agree based on their condominium documents, or until the developers are successful in purchasing enough units to change the documents.
With land value along Florida’s coastline exceeding the value of the buildings, don’t expect this to end soon. It’s a sad situation for older residents who have to find a new home, but the reality is they may have no other option and accepting a developer’s offer will save them years of stress.
BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s proposed 2024-25 general fund and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) budgets are one step from final adoption.
During the Sept. 5 budget hearings, the Bradenton Beach City Commission and the CRA board that includes all five city commission members separately approved on first reading the proposed 2.3329 millage rate and the anticipated revenues and expenditures for the general fund and CRA budgets. The proposed budgets will be finalized on Sept. 12 and the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.
The budgets are based on maintaining the current 2.3329 millage rate. Bradenton Beach property owners will pay $2.33 per every thousand dollars of assessed property value and most property owners will see their property taxes increase due to increased property values.
GENERAL FUND
According to the budget worksheet prepared by City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the city anticipates receiving $5.1 million in total revenues during the coming fiscal year, including $2.46 million in ad valorem property tax revenues. The city anticipates $4.81 million in total general fund expenditures, which would leave a $289,349 year-end net balance to be carried over into the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The budget includes 6% wage increases for city employees, longevity bonuses for employees who qualify and additional salary adjustments for the city clerk, city treasurer, police chief and the yet-to-be-hired public works director.
The budget anticipates $854,569 in expenditures for the administration department, including $329,750 for employee wages and salaries and an additional $188,507 for overtime pay, longevity bonuses, FICA payroll taxes, retirement contributions and insurance benefits. The administration budget includes $75,000 for city attorney fees.
The budget anticipates $208,009 for city commission expenditures, including $28,800 for the mayor and city commissioners’ salaries and $20,000 for city attorney fees.
Police department revenues are expected to be $253,368. Projected police department revenues total $1.93 million and include $1 million for regular wages and salaries and $655,757 for additional overtime pay, wage incentives, longevity bonuses, taxes, retirement contributions and insurance benefits.
Projected emergency operations expenditures are $92,400 and projected code enforcement expenditures are $108,991.
Including building permit fees, the building and planning department anticipates receiving $525,350 in total revenues. The department anticipates $476,183 for projected expenditures that include $80,125 for wages and salaries, $42,798 for additional wages, taxes and benefits and $285,977 for professional services provided by the contracted building official and city planner.
Pier revenues are projected to be $168,824 and include $46,981 in monthly lease payments received from the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and $110,843 in additional revenue sharing received from the restaurant. Anticipated pier expenditures total $144,018.
The budget anticipates $90,976 for street and road revenues generated primarily by gas taxes. Street and road expenditures are anticipated to be $504,951 and include $233,250 for regular salaries and wages and $146,121 for additional wages, taxes and benefits.
The budget anticipates $267,407 for stormwater management revenues that include the annual stormwater assessments levied on property owners. The $231,652 projected for stormwater management expenditures includes $106,250 for regular wages and salaries and $35,836 for addition wages and benefits.
The capital projects and reserves portion of the budget includes $10,900 for tree trimming, $19,820 for stormwater and drainage expenditures and $31,860 for improving city facilities.
CRA BUDGET
CRA revenues are expected to total $1.01 million. That figure includes $864,714 as a portion of the total ad valorem property tax revenues collected in the CRA district that extends from the Cortez Bridge to the southernmost property lines along Fifth Street South. The CRA revenues also include a state-mandated transfer of $145,656 in ad valorem tax revenues from the city’s general fund to the separate CRA fund.
The CRA budget projects $349,606 in total expenditures and a year-end net balance of $663,764 to be carried over into future fiscal year budgets for future CRA-funded projects.
The CRA budget includes $126,006 for salaries, wages and other expenses associated with the additional policing that takes place in the CRA district, $89,500 for employee salaries and wages associated with the streets and roads in the CRA district, $25,000 for attorney fees, $25,000 for additional professional services and $10,000 for administration staff salaries.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved a request last week to remove one of the requirements for two paid parking lots owned by developer Shawn Kaleta.
Sam Negrin, manager of Beach to Bay Investments Inc., a Kaleta-owned entity, spoke to commissioners at a Sept. 5 meeting about a sidewalk installation stipulation at the 102 Third St. N. and 206 Bay Drive N. parking lots.
“I’d like to apologize for how this whole situation has gone down from the start,” Negrin said. “We took the lots back over and we’re back on track and I’ve been working daily with Darin (city building official Darin Cushing) to get the parking lots up to the standards that you’re requiring making sure we’re meeting all your regulations.”
He then addressed the sidewalk stipulation that had been put in place in March by the commission.
“Essentially what’s being requested is these two very small patches of sidewalk at the ends of the two properties, abutting up against Third Street North,” Negrin said. “From my talks with Darin and his talks with the police chief, it seems the general consensus is these sidewalks might not be the greatest set of ideas, for a couple of reasons.”
Negrin said that Kaleta plans to build homes on the lots and that permits will be submitted within a couple of months.
“The permit packages are being worked on at this point,” Negrin said. “Within several months they will no longer be operating as parking lots. The point of this is to walk through this with you and see if it’s something you want us to rush into place for our deadline next week. It’s something that we can do. We’re just questioning whether that’s something you’re looking to have done.”
“You’re saying you’re going to build in a couple months? December?,” Commissioner Ralph Cole asked Negrin.
“No it’s a much longer process,” Negrin said. “We’ve had these plans in the works, they’re now out of the design phase. And we’re working on the permit packets to submit to Darin. He should see the permit submissions within the next couple months.”
Once the plans are submitted and approved, the temporary use permits on those lots will end, according to the stipulations that were put in place for approval in March.
“They serve their purpose for just a short couple months,” Negrin said. “We could start laying the sidewalks tomorrow, that’s not really the issue. The issue is does the city really want to have them?”
“My only concern is we’re getting ready to redo our entire stormwater system and I’d hate to see spot sidewalks all over the city that we’re probably going to wind up ripping out because we’re going to put pipe,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief and Interim Public Works Director John Cosby said. “We have lengthy conversations about mid-block swales to divert the stormwater that is coming. So until we know where we’re actually going to put our stormwater system, that may change the thought that the sidewalk needs to be at the pavement or it needs to be put further back in the right of way. I think there needs to be a little more thought on this.”
City commissioners voted unanimously to remove the sidewalk stipulation for temporary use permits for paid parking at lots on 102 Third St. N. and 206 Bay Drive N.
HOLMES BEACH – With heavy rainfalls becoming the norm around Anna Maria Island, residents and property owners have concerns about flooding and stormwater infrastructure, and the city’s public works staff recently held a workshop to address those questions.
Residents and business owners came to city hall on Sept. 5 with more joining online to see what the public works department, led by City Engineer Sage Kamiya, had to say.
Opening the meeting, Mayor Judy Titsworth said that she feels the city hasn’t been good at communicating what is going on with stormwater infrastructure to the community, something they’re trying to rectify with the workshop. She said the top priority for the city is to protect property values, keeping properties from flooding. The challenge, Titsworth said, is having heavy rains on top of king tides.
“Everyone has to do their part,” she said. “The city is doing its part.”
Some of her suggestions to property owners included adding flood barriers or dams to doorways, increasing permeable surface area on properties, adding stormwater infiltration where possible and lifting items on ground levels up to prevent them from being damaged by flood waters.
During a recent storm, Titsworth said she saw a manatee drinking water from a stormwater outfall and told the crowd that it’s important that infiltration trenches are built to collect rainfall in the ground rather than having it pass through untreated to local waterways where it can negatively affect wildlife.
“You’re going to be inconvenienced, you’re going to have some road closures and detours,” she said, adding that the work is necessary to reduce flooding.
Kamiya said that the infiltration trenches that have been installed all over the city aren’t necessarily meant to address capacity but to improve water quality. The infiltration trenches work by filtering rainwater through several different layers before the water flows into the water table beneath the city. He said that recent infiltration trenches installed by the city do have a capacity component to help pull more water off roads and properties faster than the older trenches.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she’s never seen water flow out of the city’s stormwater outfall pipes in the volume that she did during a summer storm on Aug. 29. – Submitted | Judy Titsworth
Kamiya noted that a component of all stormwater improvements is maintenance. He said infiltration trenches need to be dug up and cleaned, removing compacted soil and other debris on a regular basis. Pipes can be enlarged, but they still need to be cleaned out and checked for breaks, leaks or other structural issues and repaired or replaced when necessary.
The city’s stormwater system was built and maintained to be a 25-year system. Kamiya said those guidelines were created by the state of Florida and handed down to the cities. Unfortunately, he said the city has experienced 200-year and 100-year storm situations just within the last few months. To simplify the math, Kamiya said the chance of a storm happening is likened to a meteorological forecast. A 100-year storm has a 1% chance of happening. Yet what the Island is seeing, he said, is an increase in the frequency of those lower percentage storms, which is causing flooding issues. In response, Kamiya said the city is constantly looking for more ways to improve resiliency and locate grant funds to improve infrastructure as quickly as possible.
The city also has engaged a contractor to do hydrodynamic modeling to help public works employees see where the biggest issues are related to stormwater and high tide events. These models help to predict the worst areas for flooding and assist with finding solutions for property owners. Staff noted that the rainfall received in Holmes Beach in August was the highest amount since 2012 in one month. Kamiya said that vulnerability assessment reports also help to determine where issues are and assist in applying for grants to fund those improvements.
“We’re doing our best to maintain the stuff that we have but then also look to the future to make things better,” Kamiya said. He added that “it breaks my heart” to see people get water in their houses, but his team is working to making things better, and it takes time to get through all the steps required for design, funding, permitting and construction.
After the presentation, residents stepped up to ask their questions.
Carol Whitmore said she understands that the infiltration trenches clean the stormwater, but she’s concerned because she’s seeing more flooding. She questioned if swales could help more than the infiltration trenches. Kamiya said that the city is looking at whether a swale or an infiltration trench is the best solution for a certain area. He added that in recent incarnations of the infiltration trenches, the staff has been experimenting with an infiltration trench that works more like a swale but that only time will tell if it works well.
Mike Roth and Commissioner Pat Morton also brought up water pumps. Kamiya said stormwater pumps are on his radar but feels that those are a longer-term solution. His concerns with installing pumps are the initial cost and then the cost and labor for maintenance. He’s waiting to receive a vulnerability assessment study to determine what the best solutions could be to flooding. Using a vac truck to clean out pipes, Kamiya said, also may help to allow more stormwater to go through outfall pipes quicker, something the city already uses but is looking at using more often to potentially reduce flooding issues.
In response to Planning Commissioner Steve Oelfke’s question, Kamiya said he feels that the city is in some ways caught up with stormwater infrastructure and in other ways he thinks they’ll never be caught up due to maintenance. He said he has an “amazing team” that is diligently working to improve the city’s stormwater infrastructure, however, once something is installed, it has to be maintained, leading to consistent work that needs to be done on the city’s part to mitigate flooding.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners voted unanimously at the Sept. 5 meeting to modify the makeup of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board from a seven-member to a five-member board.
The five-member board will consist of commissioners only and act as a governing body. In contrast, the seven-member board included two CRA-area residents or business owners and only made recommendations for the commission to decide.
“We have one vacancy and probably will have another one,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said, introducing the topic at a commission meeting.
The vacancies Perry referred to are resident David Bell, who resigned from the CRA in March, and Ed Chiles, former owner of Beach House Restaurant. Chiles has been absent with excuse from meetings for the past several months.
“Initially the CRA was a five-member board, then we went to a seven-member board, then five, then seven again. Right now, we are looking at these vacancies. My question is do you still want the two alternates, or do you want it to go back to a five-member board?” Perry asked the commissioners.
Perry said the CRA is going into a little bit of a lull as projects are being completed.
“We’re catching up on all the work we’ve done, we’re putting money back into the coffers. Our focus right now is primarily any emergency situations that Chief (John) Cosby as public works director brings to us,” she said. “There’s not a lot of major projects coming forward.”
As a practical matter, Perry said the monthly Wednesday morning CRA meetings could be held on the same night as the Thursday commission meetings.
“The CRA would have to have its own agenda,” she said. “You could have your CRA meeting first, adjourn that meeting and then have the commission meeting.”
“I think it’s an important discussion,” Mayor John Chappie said. “Manatee County does their CRA meetings first and then go back into their regular session.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole, who also serves as CRA chair, said he recommended going back to a five-member board.
“I’ve been commissioner long enough that I’ve seen it both ways and I think we should go back to five,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said.
Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce raised concerns about non-participation by businesspeople if the board returns to five members.
“At the CRA meetings I’ve been to, it’s pretty much only been us,” Scaccianoce said. “Mr. Chiles hasn’t been here and it’s probably been because he sold his business. I don’t know what the role is because I’ve never had a businessperson present for a CRA meeting. How does that impact the businesses if they’re not a part of it?”
Cole pointed out everyone on the board is subject to the Sunshine Law.
“Everything has to be discussed at a public meeting,” Cole said. “You can’t approach the mayor as a businessperson and talk to him about something you want voted on.”
“If you’re on the same board you can’t talk,” Chappie said.
“It’s easy for someone to trip up on Sunshine Law and public records retention,” Perry said. “It’s a very challenging thing.”
“I think Sunshine is a deterrent and it also ties their hands,” Scaccianoce said. “I think we would have trouble getting seven.”
Vosburgh noted that all the commissioners now or in the past have been business owners.
Chappie read the motion to approve a resolution to modify the makeup of the seven-member CRA board to a five-member CRA board.
Scaccianoce made the motion. It was seconded by Vosburgh and passed unanimously.
BRADENTON – A Cortez man will be arraigned on Friday, Sept. 13 in connection with a June 6 shooting during which a Cortez woman sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.
Kevin Armstrong, 48, was originally charged with aggravated assault with intent to commit a felony. His charge was amended on Aug. 22 to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
According to a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) arrest affidavit, shortly after 10 p.m. on June 6, deputies responded to a 911 call reporting an active shooter.
Armstrong
Caitlin Lipke, 33, had been shot in the chest and transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital. Interviewed there, Lipke told detectives that she was in a relationship with Armstrong and that the two had an argument earlier in the evening at Armstrong’s Sunny Shores residence.
Following the argument, Lipke went to a nearby restaurant and spoke to friends Dylan Taylor and Cole Banyas. The three went by golf cart to Armstrong’s residence so Lipke could retrieve her debit card and her dog, according to the arrest affidavit.
Lipke told investigators that when she and the two men arrived at Armstrong’s residence, he and three others were outside armed with shotguns and pistols.
Lipke told investigators that another argument ensued when she attempted to enter the residence to retrieve her belongings, and the shooting started. Taylor said Armstrong aimed a shotgun in Taylor’s direction and then in Lipke’s. As Taylor went to the golf cart to retrieve a pistol, he said he heard two shots.
Taylor said he fired approximately nine or 10 shots. He then said he saw Lipke with a gunshot wound to her chest. The three then fled and called 911 from the area of 119th Street West and 45th Avenue West.
“Due to the type and location of Caitlin’s wound, it is believed at this point that she may have inadvertently been struck by Dylan while he was trying to protect her from Kevin,” according to the MCSO affidavit.
Armstrong also called 911 and said that Lipke had “shot up the house.” He told deputies that he had been shot in the foot, but the MCSO report stated that his injury did not appear to be consistent with a gunshot wound.
Armstrong was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for battery against Lipke.
If convicted on the aggravated assault charge, he faces a prison term of up to five years.
He is represented by Bradenton attorney E. Jon Weiffenbach Jr.
CORTEZ – Ending speculation about the identity of the new owner of the Seafood Shack Restaurant and Marina, the Manatee Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved its $13 million purchase at a Sept. 5 land use meeting.
Prior to the vote, Manatee County Property Acquistion Division Manager Charles Meador spoke about the proposed use for the property, which consists of seven upland parcels of approximately 5.9 acres and two submerged land leases of 2.9 acres. He said the property will provide a public boating access facility to include a boat ramp, dry storage facility and marina.
“If the property is acquired by the county and developed as a private boat ramp facility, the site has the potential to increase the number of available boat trailer parking spaces up to 25% countywide,” he said.
Sherri Swanson, Manatee County Ecological Resources Division Manager, said the new facility will help with the current shortage of county boat ramps.
“The county currently operates nine saltwater access public boat ramps providing 17 launch lanes and approximately 234 trailer parking spaces. Considering Manatee County’s population of over 400,000 residents as of 2023 and considering the Parks and Recreation Open Space Master Plan and the adoptive level of service of one boat ramp per 7,500 residents, we should be offering approximately 59 boat ramp lanes,” Swanson said. “Which means we have a deficiency of 42 lanes.”
She said the new facility would provide up to 65 additional trailer parking spaces and up to 100 marine slips.
Commissioner Amanda Ballard asked about the cost to get the public boating access facility running.
“It depends on the board’s direction,” Manatee County Administrator Charlie Bishop said. “The current marina is in poor shape. If we want to extend the marina out and add more slips, there’s a lot of options on the table so we have to go through the process.”
Bishop said there is about $20-$21 million available in the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) fund.
“Like Charlie explained, there’s $20.8 million that was originally in the CIP 24-28 designated for the Peninsula Bay program. Unfortunately, that project is not feasible so they’re going to utilize this,” Manatee County Budget Office Chief Financial Officer Sheila McLean said. “Fortunately, we have this opportunity to take those funds. We’re using our own cash reserves and some infrastructure sales tax.”
“The Peninsula Bay project became unfeasible, ballooned to about $30 million. We have $21 million in the bank for it which wasn’t going to cut it,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “This opportunity came up. We can achieve the same objective faster and cheaper by doing this.”
PUBLIC COMMENT
James Morganroth, who operates a boat business at the Seafood Shack Marina, was the sole speaker during the public comment portion of the meeting.
“I don’t know if the county is in the business of operating any marinas currently or any restaurants, those things are already operating on that property,” he said. “I’m not opposed to the county owning this property. I want the board, and anybody involved, to consider any of the current businesses that are operating out of the marina there. And any of the current employees that are working, whether Seafood Shack, Annie’s, Cortez Watersports, any of the other boat businesses, I want that to be a consideration if that property is approved for purchase.”
Van Ostenbridge addressed Morganroth’s concerns.
“I assume the board will act as a landlord and essentially create a revenue source by leasing slips and continue to lease space to those businesses that are already there,” he said. “We’re not looking to put anybody out of work.”
Bruce Shearer, co-owner of one of the businesses on the property, Annie’s Bait and Tackle, hopes that to be case.
“I’m not ready to retire,” Shearer said. “So, I hope we can be here a while longer.”
Shearer said he heard about the purchase “through the grapevine,” but said no one has spoken to him yet about the county’s plans for Annie’s.
TIMELINE
The Seafood Shack, 4110 127th St. W. in Cortez, was built in 1972 and for many years was an iconic dining spot on the Intracoastal Waterway.
The property was listed for sale by Elliot Rose and David Neff of Coldwell Banker Commercial Property in April 2023 and was recently reported as “under contract.”
In May 2024, the county had the property appraised by Colliers Valuation and Advisory Services. The appraised value was $12,550,000 for the property with all improvements. That appraisal assumed that two expired submerged land leases will be renewed. An agreement was then negotiated with the seller, Vandyk Properties, at $13 million.
While the submerged land leases are expired, the seller has temporary use agreements (TUA’s) in place. The county’s property acquisition division reached out to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for clarification regarding the leases. Officials were told by FDEP that once the county owns the land, the county and the agency can work together to finalize a long-term submerged lands lease.
On July 15, an environmental site assessment was completed by the county’s consultant, Tierra Inc., and showed no evidence of recognized environmental conditions.
According to the sales contract, the closing will take place in October.
UNANIMOUS APPROVAL
Van Ostenbridge made two motions, both seconded by Commissioner Jason Bearden.
The first was for the adoption of a budget resolution amending the annual budget from Manatee County for fiscal year 2024. The amendment adjusts the FY24-28 CIP, appropriating $13,100,000 for property acquisition costs. The motion passed 6-0.
The second was the execution of a contract for sale and purchase from Vandyk Properties of Seafood Shack Properties for the purpose of boat ramp expansion in the amount of $13,000,000. The motion also passed 6-0.
“The citizens and the fishermen will be very happy, we have more boat ramps coming out with parking,” BOCC Chair Mike Rahn said after the vote.
“We’ve been having briefings for quite a while on this,” Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse told The Sun after the meeting. “We had to keep this under wraps since there were others who were interested in the property.”
Kruse noted that the property is zoned ROR (retail/office/residential), which is the highest density allowed in Manatee County.
“This will keep development low around Cortez and will help the area restaurants,” he said. “This is the most ready-made boat ramp you’ll ever see. Everything is already there.”
CORTEZ – Manatee County commissioners unanimously denied Cortez Village Marina’s request to expand current operations.
The Chicago-based MHC Cortez Village LLC purchased the marina in 2024, one of many Loggerhead Marina properties that the parent company owns and operates throughout the U.S.
Matthew Gillespie, of the Kimley-Horn engineering firm, presented the marina owners’ request to construct 12 additional Jet Ski storage spaces inside one of the marina’s three dry storage buildings, to add boat maintenance as an allowed use inside that same building and to add a boat washing area outside another dry storage building.
To bring the marina property into compliance with county code, Gillespie also proposed removing or relocating a non-compliant shell parking area and relocating a non-compliant trash dumpster location.
This diagram shows the location of the Cortez Village Marina boat storage facilities. – Manatee County | Submitted
According to the county staff report, the marina property was rezoned in 2006 and is allowed 272 dry slips, 10 wet slips, 12 staging slips and a marina office.
When discussing the request, District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge was highly critical of the marina’s non-compliant operations.
Gillespie said the shell parking lot was in place when the current owners bought the marina.
“The previous owner wanted more storage, more trailer parking so they added it at some point,” Gillespie said.
“Illegally, I might add,” Van Ostenbridge noted.
This photo presented during the land use meeting shows outdoor boat storage racks placed atop parking spaces at the Cortez Village Marina. – Submitted
Van Ostenbridge said during his four years as the District 3 commissioner, he’s received more complaints about the marina property than any other business in the district.
“You guys have been more than bad neighbors. You’ve been abusive neighbors up to this point,” Van Ostenbridge said.
“I’m well aware from complaints from neighbors that there are far in excess of the amount of boats you’re allowed to store on the property. They were on top of handicapped parking spaces,” Van Ostenbridge said.
The Cortez Village Marina business operations are currently non-compliant with county codes and entitlements. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding the expansion requests, Van Ostenbridge said, “You’ve not been fair actors up to this point. Why should we believe you guys would be compliant with this going forward? You’re here because residents raised hell, and we eventually had to send code enforcement out there and they found violations.”
In response, Gillespie said, “I can’t speak to previous ownership. All I can speak to is current ownership. They’re making the corrections. We’re getting rid of all the extra storage.”
Commissioner Jason Bearden asked county staff member Chris Klepek about the marina’s current state of compliance.
“Is it in compliance currently or is it getting into compliance?” Beardon said.
“It’s not in compliance at the current moment,” Klepek said.
“That’s all I need to know,” Beardon said.
“Is this approval required to get them into compliance?” Commissioner George Kruse asked.
Klepek said commission approval is needed for the additional Jet Ski storage, boat wash and maintenance areas but not to correct existing code violations.
“They could theoretically be in compliance before asking us for more?” Kruse asked.
“You’re right. They could just come into compliance,” Klepek responded.
Canal concerns
To reach the nearby Intracoastal Waterway, marina clients use a man-made canal owned by adjacent Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty. Gobuty owns the portion of the canal that extends from the east end of the marina property to the humpback bridge at 127th Street West, near the Seafood Shack. In 2022, Gobuty’s attorney filed a still-pending civil lawsuit against MHC Cortez Village seeking a court order that would prohibit the marina and its clients from using the privately-owned canal.
During public input at the land use meeting, Gobuty expressed concerns about additional Jet Ski traffic posing a risk to the manatees in the canal.
“The last thing we need is more Jet Skis going down the canal. It’s a lot of noise and a lot of aggravation that’s unnecessary,” Gobuty said.
He also expressed concerns about the boat washing and maintenance activities potentially releasing harmful fluids into the canal.
Gobuty referenced a Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) permit application in which a marina representative stated the marina had 10 in-water boat slips, 55 outside dry slips and 300 inside storage slips. He noted that far exceeds the 294 slips allowed by FDEP and the county.
Citing the safety of the manatees and dolphins in the canal, Hunters Point resident William Fulford was among the residents who opposed the additional Jet Ski, boat washing and maintenance activities.
The Hunters Point development plans include 49 canal-side boat slips. – Hunters Point | Submitted
Representing the marina owners, attorney Meredith Delcamp noted that Gobuty’s plans to install 49 boat slips along the canal that abuts the Hunters Point property will also increase traffic on the canal.
After public input, Van Ostenbridge noted the marina is owned by a “huge conglomerate” that operates multiple marinas and should be well aware of what’s required of them.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Water quality concerns persist as the city of Bradenton continues to discharge partially-treated sewage into the Manatee River.
During and immediately after Tropical Storm Debby in early August, the city discharged an estimated 25 million gallons of untreated and partially-treated sewage and wastewater into the Manatee River. According to reports posted at the city’s website, the sewage discharge remained ongoing as of Sept. 6, with more than 1,000 gallons per day being discharged into the river.
During and after the storm, which became a hurricane after it passed the Island, the city of Sarasota discharged an estimated 18 million gallons of sewage and wastewater into Sarasota Bay.
On Sept. 6, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) issued water quality advisories for Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and south Palma Sola Bay in west Bradenton. According to the advisory, tests on Sept. 3 and Sept. 5 indicated the water quality did not meet recreational water quality criteria for enterococcus (fecal) bacteria recommended by FDOH, which “advises against any water-related activities at these locations due to an increased risk of illness in swimmers.”
After Debby, Mote Marine Laboratory scientists recorded a significant spike in Sarasota Bay concentrations of nitrate and ammonia, which can serve as an increased source of nutrients for aquatic bacteria and algae such as red tide.
Red tide was observed at background concentrations in one sample from Manatee County, at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported on Sept. 6.
