CORTEZ – The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board unanimously approved a proposal by Allen Garner to complete a public accessibility project at the FISH Preserve at the eastern edge of the historic fishing village.
The project will fulfill the conditions of a grant from the Barancik Foundation.
Garner, a retired landscape architect with more than 40 years of experience, will:
• Design and construct two new bridges. One of the bridges will be sufficiently strong and sized to accommodate both pedestrians and maintenance vehicles. The second will be for foot traffic.
• Create and grade 12,000 square feet of shell trails.
• Build an information kiosk, which will be a relocatable structure.
• Create and install signage, including a FISH Preserve entrance sign, four education signs, four orientation signs and 12 trail markers.
• Build two picnic shelters.
• Provide and install four picnic tables and six benches.
• Provide construction support for the completion of the Bradenton Kiwanis-funded bridge.
“I will be starting work in mid-July and I expect to have this all done in about six months,” Garner said.
The total budget for the project is $180,000, including $165,000 of grant funding with FISH providing the additional $15,000. The grant funds were awarded on Feb. 9.
According to FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann, it is a two-year grant with a report on progress due by March 2025.
According to the grant application, “This project is both environmental and educational. Educational signage along the trails will share the history and biology of this coastal habitat, providing information to visitors that will enhance their understanding of local flora and fauna, and provide context on why this land was important to save.”
In 2000, FISH and community members came together in a grassroots effort to raise the money to purchase 95 acres of land immediately adjacent to the village. The parcel now is one of the only undeveloped waterfront properties on Sarasota Bay. The habitat supports one of the last working waterfronts in Florida.
HOLMES BEACH – Representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) want to make sure that city leaders know what they’re getting into if they opt to take over mangrove regulation from the state agency.
Holmes Beach city leaders are considering partnering with Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key officials to locally monitor and regulate mangrove trimming and removal under the authority of FDEP. Issues of unauthorized removal of mangroves, large-scale trimming and lot clearing have led local leaders to consider taking on the permitting and enforcement duties.
FDEP Environmental Administrator Hannah Westervelt visited city commissioners during a June 11 meeting to explain how mangroves are regulated by the state and what the limits of their power would be if commissioners opt to apply to take over regulations from the state.
Florida Statute 403.9321, the 1996 Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act, states the intent for the government regulation – to protect mangroves from unregulated removal and destruction, protect uninhabited mangrove islands and conservation/preservation lands, give property owners a riparian right of view and encourage property owners to plant and maintain mangroves.
A lesser-known regulation that Westervelt stressed in her presentation is that the act doesn’t distinguish between living and dead mangroves, therefore it protects both and the same trimming and removal rules apply even if the tree is dead.
While she said that a local municipality can create a delegation to enforce mangrove protections and make their own rules regarding mangrove trimming and removal, they are limited by established exemptions, which they cannot change. Only state legislators can change the exemption qualifications for mangrove trimming, alteration and removal.
“There is the ability for local governments to apply and obtain the ability to regulate and enforce this act,” Westervelt said. To qualify, she said the local government must create a program, budget funds for running the program, and handle both permitting and compliance.
Exemptions are not required to have a permit from FDEP, Westervelt said, though they can have an exemption verification done if the work is questioned. She said all exempt trimming, defined by FDEP as “to cut mangrove branches, twigs, limbs and foliage; does not include roots; does not mean to remove defoliate or destroy the mangroves,” must occur only in a riparian mangrove fringe. The riparian mangrove fringe is where mangroves growing along a shoreline do not extend more than 50 feet waterward from the most landward mangrove trunk to the most waterward mangrove trunk.
Homeowner exemptions include trimming within the riparian mangrove fringe on land owned or controlled by the homeowner, including submerged land. Mangroves cannot exceed 10 feet tall before they are trimmed under an exemption, or be trimmed lower than 6 feet tall. All trimming should be done by a certified professional mangrove trimmer and within regulations determined by height and shoreline length. Any trimming or mangrove alteration that doesn’t fall within an established exemption should be discussed with the local governing authority before any work takes place to determine if the work can be legally done and if a permit is needed.
Westervelt also advised that anyone doing mangrove trimmings take before and after photos of the mangroves in case a question of a violation comes up when the mangroves are inspected. If a violation is found, she said both the owner and the person trimming the trees are liable and may be required to restore the mangroves or perform some kind of mitigation on the site.
Mangroves are protected in Florida due to the protection they provide for properties against erosion and flooding and their role as nurseries for sea life.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners took issue with multiple provisions of a proposed parking lot management contract between the city and Shawn Kaleta-owned Beach to Bay Investments Inc., opting to continue the discussion at a Tuesday, July 16 meeting.
At a March 7 commission meeting, commissioners unanimously approved a bid from Beach to Bay Investments, the sole bidder for RFP 2024-03, to manage the existing parking lot between Church and Highland Avenues by the Public Works Department in a 50/50 split partnership with the city.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry read the terms of the proposed contract to commissioners on June 20 and several of the provisions raised concerns among the commission.
One of the sticking points was a clause that stated in part, “All decisions as to changes, charges and rates, and the timing and modification of same during the term of this Agreement and extensions or renewals of same shall be made by the operator (Beach to Bay) in its sole discretion.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole said that stipulation conflicted with his recollection of the discussion of parking rates at the March meeting and he requested time to review the audio recording.
“I thought we had thoroughly discussed pricing in March,” Cole said.
“I hate to say this to a client, but an open-ended determination of the cost was agreed upon by the city,” Perry said. “Nothing in the RFP said it was capped. We’d have damages if we walked away.”
At the March 7 Commission meeting, the following discussion took place.
Mayor John Chappie said, “We’d like to look at a cap on what we charge per hour.”
Pricing would change during the time of the year, Beach to Bay Investment representative Sam Negrin said.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked what the parking rates would be and Negrin said that was open to discussion with the city.
“That’s something we could certainly put a cap on,” Negrin said. “I don’t know what we’re going to charge there yet. The lot across from Beach House charges $5-$10 an hour, so I think it will be somewhere in that range.”
Cole said he would like to know what the hourly charges are in order to make a determination as to which of three offered partnership plans to accept.
Some of the other issues discussed by commissioners at the June 20 meeting were the costs to the city for termination of the agreement.
“Either party shall have the right to terminate this agreement with or without cause upon providing 30 days’ notice to the other party,” according to the agreement proposal.
Beach to Bay Investments will be improving the city-owned parking lot with paving and striping, landscaping, clearing of the lot, signage and installation of lighting and security cameras.
A discussion ensued as to when the city’s obligation for reimbursement for the improvements would be ended in the event of a termination of the agreement.
“We need to have a good number for the cost of the improvements,” Cole said. “I need to see all the numbers before the contract is signed.”
“We can come up with a number the city is comfortable with,” Negrin said at the meeting. “It can be made more specific.”
Perry said she had an issue with indemnification and insurance.
“They want to cap it at $250,000,” Perry said. “Our agreement with John Horne at AMOB is $1 million per occurrence. I have an issue with indemnification and insurance. That’s very important.”
Perry suggested resuming the contract discussion at a future meeting.
“Let’s carry this on to the next meeting,” Chappie said.
A motion to continue the discussion to the July 16 meeting was made by Commissioner Jan Vosburgh and seconded by Cole. The motion passed unanimously.
BRADENTON BEACH – Since a colony of least terns began nesting the week of May 6, their numbers have grown to include 45 birds, with 20 of them sitting on eggs, along with five new hatchlings.
Rainfall during the week of June 10 raised concerns about the colony’s survival. At that time many of the eggs had been incubating for more than 25 days and were expected to be close to hatching.
Not only did the colony survive the storms, but throughout the weekend five chicks could be seen peering out from under their parents, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
A least tern chick is learning to stand. – Submitted | Kathy Doddridge
“Least tern chicks are highly mobile within a day of hatching. The adults can be seen using fish to coax the chicks to stand, open their bills and experience a fish in their mouth,” Mazzarella said in a press release. “At two days the adults lead the chicks around the colony to strengthen their legs and may leave the chicks unattended.”
Eventually, the chicks will use chick huts, upside-down V-shaped shade structures, as shelter, allowing the adults to forage offshore and feed fish to the chicks. The chick huts protect the chicks from predators such as fish crows and laughing gulls.
“Chick Crossing” signs have been placed at the north and south ends of the colony. In addition, chick fencing has been placed to deter chicks from going into the beach access area.
Beachgoers are asked to watch for chicks that may decide to explore outside the posted area and allow the least tern adults to call the chicks back into the enclosure.
Mazzarella offered the following tips to keep the colony safe:
• Keep your distance. If birds become agitated or leave their nests you are too close. A general rule is to stay at least 300 feet away from a nest.
• Respect posted areas. Avoid posted nests and resting areas and use designated walkways.
• Never intentionally force birds to fly. When birds are chased or disturbed, they use energy they need to reserve for nesting and migration.
• Pets are not allowed on AMI beaches. Keep cats indoors.
• Keep the beach clean and do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators such as raccoons and crows to the beaches. Litter on beaches can entangle birds.
• Spread the word. If you see people disturbing nesting birds, gently remind them how their actions may hurt birds’ survival. If they continue to disturb nesting birds, please call and report their activities to FWC’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
For more information or ways to help protect nesting shorebirds and seabirds, visit islandturtlewatch.com.
HOLMES BEACH – Last year’s election left city leaders in a bit of a pickle. While there’s been no shortage of people volunteering for most of the city’s volunteer boards, the charter review commission is another story, with only one candidate, William Romberger, running to fill the five-person CRC.
Romberger is currently running for election to the city commission in 2024. Now city commissioners are considering a change to the charter to help fill the board in coming years.
During a June 11 work session, City Attorney Erica Augello presented commissioners with two charter amendment options.
The first option allows city commissioners to appoint the five members of the CRC by a supermajority vote instead of the members having to run for office and be elected by voters. If the five people appointed are unwilling to serve, the city’s charter would not be reviewed in that year. Currently, the Holmes Beach city charter is scheduled to be reviewed every five years without exception. This is the first time the charter has not been reviewed as scheduled since the city’s incorporation.
The second option presented by Augello leaves the election of CRC members as-is, requiring them to run for office during a general election cycle and be selected by voters. If there are fewer than five qualified candidates, the charter would not be reviewed during that fifth-year cycle as scheduled.
Neither option would change the requirement for any proposed charter amendment to be approved by a supermajority vote (four of five) of city commissioners before being put to the voters for final approval on the next general election ballot.
Augello said that the two options she presented are intended to start the discussion with city commissioners. Once commissioners make a decision, they would need to get the suggestion in ordinance form to be approved and then put on the November ballot for approval or rejection by voters. She added that the deadline for the 2024 general election ballot is Aug. 19.
“I think it’s important that we move forward with this,” Commissioner Terry Schaefer said. “I think it’s very important that we have a charter review every five years.”
Commissioner Carol Soustek said that she felt some people shied away from applying for the CRC because they would have to run for election.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said she was in favor of the first option which would allow city commissioners or the mayor to nominate members of the CRC with each nomination approved by a supermajority vote.
Commissioners agreed to move forward with the first option suggested by Augello to allow for the CRC members to be nominated by city commissioners and approved by a supermajority vote with the charter review to be skipped if not enough people step forward for consideration. Augello said she would look into whether city commissioners could take part as members of the CRC or if it would be considered dual office holding.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved Australian pine tree removals, monthly street parties on Bridge Street, a new member of the Scenic Highway Committee and donations to local community centers at their June 20 meeting.
SUNDOWN GET DOWN APPROVED
City commissioners heard details about the planned Bridge Street Merchants Association’s Sundown Get Down monthly street party events on Bridge Street. The events will be held at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month beginning on July 18 with a retro beach party theme.
“There will be additional trolleys, a kid-zone and family-friendly themes,” Leah Brown of Big Idea Events said. “The goal is to drive business to Bridge Street’s established businesses.”
The monthly events received an open container waiver from the city. Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. Lenard Diaz said the department will be fully staffed for the events.
Bridge Street will be closed to vehicular traffic during the events and commissioners expressed concerns about parking.
Sam Negrin of Beach to Bay Investments said the Shawn Kaleta-owned parking lot at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive will be available at either zero or reduced fees during the street parties.
“Yes, parking fees will either be waived or greatly reduced for the events,” Negrin said.
Merchants will allow for the use of public restrooms during the events.
Commissioners unanimously approved a motion for the monthly event to run from July through December.
AUSTRALIAN PINES REMOVAL APPROVED
Commissioners unanimously approved a $7,500 bid from Sarasota-based Harley’s Tree Service to remove two Australian pine trees on city property around 1102 Gulf Drive N. with funds to come from the city-wide tree trimming budget line item.
A second bid for $7,600 from Harley’s Tree Service to remove nine Australian pines from Children’s Park and Herb Dolan Park was also unanimously approved by the commission with funds to come from the half-cent sales tax fund.
NEW MEMBER ON SCENIC HIGHWAY COMMITTEE
Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Bradenton Beach resident Brie Bender to the Scenic Highway Committee.
“I’ve been a resident in Bradenton Beach since 2019 and I’m interested in seeing how I can give back to the community,” Bender said to commissioners. “I’ve been very involved in the community in South Carolina.”
The committee serves as an advocacy group for the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway corridor.
Bender listed her occupation as director of brokerage operations at INNOVATE Real Estate.
“We appreciate you being here,” Mayor John Chappie said.
CITY DONATION SPLIT
With an available city budget of $4,750 for donations to Island community centers, commissioners voted to donate two-thirds of that amount to the Bradenton Beach-based Annie Silver Community Center and one-third to The Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria.
City commissioners unanimously approved a donation of $3,182 to Annie Silver for its programs and $1,568 to The Center of Anna Maria Island for programs to help with the organization’s senior program collaborations with the Annie Silver Community Center.
Commissioner Ralph Cole is the liaison to The Center of Anna Maria Island and Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce is the liaison to the Annie Silver Community Center.
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy has vetoed an ordinance containing a proposed charter amendment that will now not be placed on the fall ballot unless the city commission overrides the veto by a 4-1 supermajority vote.
On June 13, the commission voted 3-2 in favor of including on the ballot a proposed amendment that called for the insertion of mission statement-like language that expressed a desire to maintain Anna Maria’s home rule rights and residential character. Commissioners Jon Crane and Mark Short opposed the proposed amendment because they felt it was more aspirational than actionable.
During commission discussions, Murphy, as the non-voting mayor, expressed his opposition to the proposed amendment. On Monday, June 24, he sent an email to commissioners informing them of his veto.
The email said, “Commissioners: This is to inform you that I have vetoed the above referenced ordinance for the following reasons:
• The ordinance is unnecessary,
• Cannot be effectively enforced,
• Could potentially cause harm to the city,
• Should be addressed as a part of the ‘land use element’ in the comprehensive plan, not the charter.”
During the June 13 meeting, the commission voted 5-0 in favor of placing on the ballot four additional proposed charter amendments that pertain to building height limits, calling special commission meetings, the charter’s designation of city officers and strengthened residency requirements for sitting mayors and commissioners. These four proposed amendments will be placed on the fall ballot for Anna Maria voters to accept or reject.
The city charter can only be amended with the majority support of the city’s registered voters.
ADDITIONAL ACTIONS
During the June 13 meeting, the commission unanimously approved providing $50,000 to assist with the replacement of The Center’s aging air conditioning system. The commission also approved providing The Center with an additional $28,000 for a previously completed restroom remodeling and shower installation project.
The Center’s air conditioning system needs to be replaced. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When first presenting the funding requests on May 23, Executive Director Chris Culhane said the $50,000 provided by the city would serve as matching funds for a $90,000 grant The Center received earlier that day from the Bishop-Parker Foundation. The two funding sources provide The Center with $140,000 for a new air conditioning system.
On May 23, Murphy noted the city owns The Center building and property. He also noted the commission previously approved a similar $50,000 funding request last year that was not utilized before the 2022-23 fiscal year ended on Sept. 30.
“I firmly believe that improving our own property is the right thing to do. I also like the way the community center has been running for the last of couple years,” Murphy said during the May meeting. “There were times when I worried about having to take over that community center because it was adrift. I have to congratulate Chris and his staff on bringing it back in line. You’re running a good operation there.”
PLAYERS’ ROOF
The commission authorized the mayor to spend up to $65,000 to replace the asphalt roof on the Island Players building. Murphy said the theater group’s long-term lease with the city obligates the city to help maintain the city-owned building.
Murphy said the Island Players canceled their wind insurance policy due to the roof’s current condition.
He said the theater group obtained two roof replacement bids and he obtained three additional bids. The five bids ranged from $38,000 to approximately $60,000.
Murphy said he would prefer to put a metal roof on the Island Players building because of the low maintenance requirements but for sound and acoustic purposes, the Island Players prefer another asphalt roof.
Murphy said Building Department General Manager Dean Jones would analyze the five bids with the goal to have the new roof installed and the wind insurance policy reinstated before peak hurricane season arrives.
PINE AVENUE
The city commission voted 4-1 in favor of issuing the first of four RFPs for the section-by-section installation of new pervious brick paver sidewalks along Pine Avenue where no paved or hard-surfaced sidewalks currently exist. Where applicable, the brick paver sidewalks will follow the same meandering paths that veer away from Pine Avenue and closer to the business entrances.
Some of the unpaved pedestrian paths along Pine Avenue meander away from the street and closer to the businesses. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I oppose the meandering sidewalks. People don’t use them. They walk the street,” Commissioner Gary McMullen said when expressing his opposition to the new sidewalks following those same meandering paths.
Construction companies have until July 17 to submit bid proposals to install brick paver sidewalks and new and improved crosswalks along Pine Avenue between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive. Murphy expects this first section of the multi-phase sidewalk and crosswalk installation project to be completed by the end of September.
He also presented a schedule for subsequent RFPs to be issued later this summer. The RFP for the section of Pine Avenue between North Shore Drive and Crescent Drive will be issued on June 30. The RFP for Crescent Drive to Tarpon Street will be issued on July 15 and the RFP for Tarpon Street to Bay Boulevard section will be issued on July 31.
Murphy said the goal is to have the initial four phases of the brick paver and crosswalk installations completed by the end of November. The existing concrete sidewalks along Pine Avenue will then be replaced in a future phase of the project.
STATE APPROPRIATIONS
During the June 13 meeting, Murphy informed the commission that DeSantis approved a $500,000 state appropriation to assist the city in developing a long-term plan to eliminate the need to dredge the Lake La Vista inlet and jetty area every few years at the city’s expense.
DeSantis vetoed the city’s $1.9 million request to extend the multi-use trail along Gulf Drive and he also vetoed a $475,000 request for the installation of stand-alone public restrooms near the city-owned public parking lot adjacent to city hall and the Island Players building.
MANATEE COUNTY – If you’re noticing a musty or earthy taste or odor in your drinking water, it’s being caused by algae that grows in all lakes, including Lake Manatee, the source for two-thirds of the county’s drinking water, according to county officials.
“Customers of Manatee County Utilities may notice a temporary and non-harmful change in their water taste or odor. Algae blooms are regular seasonal occurrences in Lake Manatee but vary in frequency and duration,” according to a June 21 press release from Manatee County.
“Current conditions favor a bloom, and tests conducted over the past several days indicate the presence of algae at elevated concentrations in Lake Manatee. This can create an earthy and/or musty taste or odor in the treated drinking water. While the odor or taste may be noticeable, the water remains safe to drink.”
“We will continue monitoring and conducting treatment efforts until water quality returns to normal,” Manatee County Utilities Deputy Director Katie Gilmore said. “It is our hope that by informing the public of this algal bloom, we can alleviate any concerns that may arise should a customer experience taste or odor issues in their drinking water.”
The county has implemented a treatment process that involves the addition of powdered activated carbon.
“This process is very effective in the removal of taste and odor-causing compounds. However, when the levels reach quantities that exceed the limit of the systems’ removal capability, customers may notice a slight earthy/musty taste to their water,” the press release stated.
“The water remains entirely safe for consumption. If desired, customers can utilize a carbon filter hooked up to the faucet to the water system of the refrigerator or a filter pitcher designed for taste and odor removal to help minimize the off-taste and/or odor,” the release said.
According to the Manatee County online Water Odor and Taste Fact Sheet, “Certain algae and bacteria produce compounds (MIB Methyl-Isoborneol and geosmin) as part of their metabolism that impart the earthy/musty odor/taste to the water (These same compounds are produced by bacteria in soil and make ‘dirt smell like dirt.’). The compounds do not affect the safety of the water but produce odors at very low levels (part per trillion).”
The algae blooms occur most frequently in late spring and early summer. They occur two to three times a year and last between two and four weeks.
CORTEZ – Karen Bell hosted five candidates running in local political races at a meet and greet event at the Star Fish Co. dock on Sunday evening.
Invited candidates were Scott Farrington (R) for Manatee County Supervisor of Elections; Charlie Hackney (R) for Manatee County Property Appraiser; George Kruse (R) for Manatee County Commission District 7 at large; Tal Siddique (R) for Manatee County Commission District 3; and Carol Whitmore (R) for Holmes Beach City Commission.
“I decided to do this because I am concerned about the current state of our local government and thought it would be good for people to have an opportunity to meet these candidates who I know personally and respect,” Bell said.
Farrington, who has more than 20 years of experience in the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office as chief of staff, spoke first.
“This election is important to make sure there are accurate and secure elections,” Farrington said. “I believe that experience matters, doubly so, when it comes to elections. I have 20-plus years in elections, in Sarasota County for 10 and in Manatee County. That experience gives me the ability to run the elections office and in a way you expect the elections office to work.”
Farrington, a Republican, reminded those assembled to vote in the Aug. 20 primary.
“In order to vote in the primary, you must be a registered Republican,” he said. “I understand some of you may not be Republican, but understand in the primary a 30% turnout is considered really good, so that means the winner is going to be selected by less than 30% of the Republican party. It’s your choice, but if you want to have a say, vote in the primary. I’m not asking you to switch parties.”
Charlie Hackney, Manatee County’s property appraiser for 32 years, is running for another four-year term.
“If I get elected, we can keep doing what we’ve been doing for the past 30 years, what I’m proud of,” Hackney said.
George Kruse spoke next.
“I’m at large so everybody in Manatee County will have me on their ballot Aug. 20,” Kruse said. “This is having a voice in your government and you’ve lost a voice in your government. Every year it’s getting chipped away more and more and more.”
Without mentioning names, Kruse spoke about the Manatee County Board of Commissioners.
“Those people don’t actually care about you, they don’t answer your calls, they don’t answer your emails,” Kruse said. “You need to fix that. This year is incredibly important. In the supervisor of elections race you have somebody in there now that has no business being there.”
“We’re not hoarding money from developers and LLCs who tell us to do what we’re told,” Kruse said. “We’re not sitting on our couch with mailers full of lies going out. We’re here speaking to you and hearing your concerns so we can govern for the next four years.”
Tal Siddique spoke next.
“I’m running to be your next grassroots commissioner,” he said. “If you’re a registered Republican and you live in the district, you can vote for me in the primary. I want to see a new generation of leadership.”
Siddique referenced a benefit for boat captain Marty Lee in Cortez on Saturday night.
“In no other town in this country have I seen that,” he said. “This is old Florida. When we see a problem, we fix it. That’s what I want to see happen on this board.”
“We need good people on this board,” Siddique added.
Carol Whitmore spoke next.
“I’ve been there done that, I was mayor of Holmes Beach, city commissioner and county commissioner. I came back to the Island after I lost my election to Bearden and I worked for a year and a half raising money for a non-profit. I cannot live in Holmes Beach and not try to repair the relationships with what’s going on. They’re trying to consolidate the Island because of one person,” Whitmore said, adding, “I promise you this is my last time in public service.”
Jonathan Lynch (NPA), candidate for the Manatee County School Board, was invited but unable to attend.
TALLAHASSEE – The fate of the Florida Legislature’s latest attempt to reserve the regulation of vacation rentals to the state lies in the hands of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
On June 17, DeSantis received the vacation rental preemption bill proposed by the Florida Legislature in the form of Senate Bill 280 and its matching House bill.
The proposed legislation seeks to assign vacation rental regulation and vacation rental advertising regulation to the state and take those regulatory rights away from local city and county governments.
As of June 23, DeSantis had not yet signed the bill into law or vetoed it. He also has the option to allow the bill to become a new state law without his signature.
As part of its ongoing efforts to maintain the right to regulate short-term vacation rentals and advertising at the local level, the city of Anna Maria immediately initiated an opposition campaign directed at the governor.
The campaign uses the city-owned Home Rule Florida website which has more than 2,000 subscribers statewide. On June 17, Home Rule Florida issued an email to subscribers encouraging them to express their opposition to the proposed legislation by emailing DeSantis or calling his office.
The June 17 Home Rule Florida email said, “Vacation rental bill SB 280 is on the governor’s desk. Now is the time to let Gov. DeSantis know how this bill can destroy our delicate coastal communities. Ask him to veto SB 280.”
The email also said, “Lend your voice in asking our governor to carefully consider the implications of this bill and not try to fix something that’s not broken. The elimination of occupancy limitations can cripple the infrastructure of some of our coastal communities. The actual population of people residing in these coastal communities can increase by up to 35% overnight, hampering law enforcement, sewer and water resources, as well as creating traffic congestion and impacting public safety. The required and exclusive methods set out in the bill for enforcement make enforcement of those standards virtually impossible.”
The email also addresses the carve-out exemption that would allow Flagler County to continue regulating short-term vacation rentals at the county level.
“There is a carve-out for one county. No one seems to be able to explain why Flagler County was the only county in Florida to be exempted from this draconian piece of legislation. No need exists for this legislation. Cities and counties do not need new enforcement means and restrictions only applicable to enforcement against vacation rentals since the current enforcement methods available under current Florida law are certainly sufficient,” the email said.
Additional Home Rule Florida emails were distributed on June 18, 19 and 21.
When contacted on June 22, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “Our lobbyist is very optimistic that he (DeSantis) will veto the bill but we need to keep the pressure on. If he signs it or doesn’t sign it and it becomes state law, we are weighing our options on what our next move will be. The Flagler carve-out seems to hit a raw nerve with the governor’s staff and we have been emphasizing that in the campaigns we’ve run so far. In just one week, our campaigns generated over 2,000 letters (emails) and numerous phone calls opposing SB 280. I know our message is hitting home with the governor’s office and I’m hoping this ‘pork chop’ piece of legislation fails.”
BRADENTON BEACH – To the delight of hundreds of spectators at Coquina Beach this morning for a publicized turtle release, loggerhead sea turtle Henrietta stopped several times as she made her way down the sand toward the water.
Once she hit the Gulf of Mexico, cheers erupted among onlookers as she took off swimming.
Commenting on the turtle’s slow walk to the water, one spectator said, “She’s tired because she just had babies.”
Henrietta was chosen for the release after having laid a nest on the beach on Saturday night.
The turtle release was sponsored by the Sea Turtle Conservancy, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and Hurricane Hanks.
Henrietta’s name (the female version of Henry) was chosen by Hurricane Hank’s owner, Brian Mathae.
She was outfitted with a satellite monitor and will be tracked by the Sea Turtle Conservancy in the annual Tour de Turtles race. Scheduled to begin on Aug. 1, Tour de Turtles will track individual sea turtles for approximately three months as they leave their respective nesting beaches and race to complete a “marathon.”
The competitors will swim with the goal of being the turtle to swim the furthest distance during the migration marathon.
“Research into the behavior and life cycle of marine turtles has taught us that these creatures do not generally nest and feed in the same area. We now know that sea turtles are highly migratory, often traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles between the beaches where they lay their eggs and the foraging (feeding) grounds where they spend much of their time at sea,” according to the Tour de Turtles website. “Since most research conducted on marine turtles has been carried out on nesting beaches and well over 90% of a sea turtle’s life is spent in the water, feeding, mating, migrating and doing whatever else a sea turtle does when no one is watching, we are missing important information that can help us better protect sea turtles.”
The results of the Tour de Turtles race will be posted at: https://tourdeturtles.org/
The Sun will be monitoring Henrietta’s progress and her results will be posted weekly on The Sun Facebook page.
BRADENTON BEACH – Likely disoriented by streetlights on Gulf Drive, a loggerhead sea turtle that had just nested wandered onto the road and was struck and killed by a vehicle in the early morning of June 19.
The turtle had nested in nearby sand dunes and was likely disoriented by streetlights illuminating a crosswalk, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
Sea turtles use light to find their way back to the water after nesting, heading away from dark shadows and towards the brightest horizon, which is usually the light of the night sky over the water. Disorientations occur when sea turtles fail to orient towards the water and travel towards artificial light instead.
Mazzarella told The Sun that the turtle was struck near the Coquina North Boat Ramp at around 5:30 a.m.
“Nesting turtles are 25 years or older, so she was definitely an adult sea turtle,” she said. “Sea turtles produce eggs until they die, so there were many future nests she could have laid.”
The turtle died at the scene and will be taken for necropsy (an animal autopsy) by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
“The good news is that she laid eggs before heading towards the road, so her legacy will continue,” Mazzarella said.
Sea turtles are federally protected by the federal Endangered Species Act and by state laws. In addition, local ordinances protect sea turtles by prohibiting lights that can be seen from the beach. Lights can be turned off, have red or amber (turtle-friendly) LED bulbs, or can be shielded from the beach to prevent them from disorienting sea turtles.
“The nest this turtle laid will be in danger of disorienting if the lights are not modified before the nest hatches. Last year, 105 of 404 nests disoriented on Anna Maria Island,” Mazzarella wrote in a press release, adding that Turtle Watch works with local municipalities, Florida Power and Light, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to identify lighting problems and turtle-friendly solutions.
That area of Gulf Drive is a state road and is managed by FDOT, which did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
It is unclear whether the lights that illuminate the crosswalk are manually operated or remain lit all night.
Mazzarella said that Turtle Watch is working with the City of Bradenton Beach and FDOT to find a solution to lighting that disorients sea turtles.
“I hope this brings awareness to the problem,” she said. “I understand lights for public safety, but they can be shielded or have a change in color.”
Two days after the turtle died, Mazzarella reported that progress was made with FDOT regarding the lights in the area.
“We had a tragic loss of a nesting turtle that was hit by a car on 6/19,” Mazzarella wrote in a June 21 email. “The good news is she became an ambassador identifying lighting problems on the Island and educated the public about the issue. FDOT notified us yesterday that they are turning off the new streetlights that illuminate the crosswalks until a turtle-friendly solution can be installed. Hopefully, this will prevent any future incidents and keep the turtles safe in these areas.”
Turtle Watch officials thanked Manatee County, Mote Marine Laboratory, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bradenton Beach Police Department for assisting in the response to the turtle.
The public can report lighting violations to local code enforcement officials. If you see a sea turtle in distress on Anna Maria Island, call Turtle Watch at 941-301-8434 or the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922. For more information, visit www.islandturtlewatch.com.
ANNA MARIA – The spring adult co-ed soccer season on the Island started with 10 full teams of players young and not so young, traveling from Sarasota, Palmetto and beyond to hit the pitch for the last three months.
Last Thursday night, two teams faced off for the final game of the season and bragging rights as Island soccer champions.
After two halves of play, the exciting game ended in a tie. Tim Holly scored the first and only goal for the Ross Built Custom Home team in the first half of the big game. Leo Gonzalez scored the tying goal for Progressive Cabinetry after halftime.
The strong defensive efforts by both teams kept the scoring low and goalkeepers busy. Each team is known for their shooting and Progressive’s Tyler Bekkerus made eight saves in the team’s win.
On his side of the field, Ross Built’s main keeper, Max Gazzo, worked hard with a recorded 14 stops of his opponents’ strikes. Taking Gazzo’s place at the net, Eliza Faillace made two saves in the game.
The title of champion for the season came down to overtime play. Using Golden Goal overtime play, Progressive’s team captain, Keith Mahoney, was the first to strike and first to score in overtime, giving his team the big 2-1 win and championship title at The Center, and ending another great season of soccer on Anna Maria Island.
It’s Florida, it’s hurricane season and your insurer is taking a good look at the most important thing over your head, and it’s not your favorite baseball cap.
It used to be that a roof needed to be replaced every 20 to 30 years, sometimes even 40 years depending on where you live and the material of your roof. Well, we live in Florida and it’s probably the worst environment for roofs in the country if you’re not including states north of Massachusetts where purchasing a snow broom and a variety of snow shovels are the norm.
To complicate the weather issues, we also have insurance issues which thankfully are starting to work themselves out. After a rising number of homeowners had their insurance policies canceled or their insurers refused to offer them coverage simply due to the age of their roofs, the Florida Legislature implemented new roof requirements for homeowners’ insurance in Florida in May of 2022. It’s not perfect, but the legislation has helped many homeowners.
According to the Tampa Bay Times: “Companies would be blocked from denying coverage because of a roof’s age if the roof is less than 15 years old. And for roofs that are older than 15 years, insurers would have to allow an insurance agent or homeowner to have an inspection on the roof’s condition before refusing coverage. If the inspections show the roof has five or more years of useful life left, the insurance company could not reject coverage simply because of age.”
Essentially, the legislation aimed to improve conditions for both homeowners and insurers. While insurers could no longer drop homeowners simply because of the age of their roof, they also received financial protection to cover their own losses. This reduced the likelihood of unnecessary roof replacements when repairs would be sufficient, lowering homeowner premiums and costs to insurers.
In addition, insurance companies can now offer policies that pay out the actual cash value for roofs over 10 years old rather than the cost of a full replacement. Homeowners can now opt to buy a policy with a stated value limit for roof coverage and lower payments based on a schedule for roofs over 10 years old subject to an inspection.
And while we’re talking inspections, any roof inspection should be performed by a certified roof inspector, not by a contractor who may have an interest in installing a new roof. Inspectors can be found on certification organizations’ websites such as the National Roof Certification & Inspection Association.
A homeowner’s situation with their insurer is one problem facing them today. The other issue is buyers who want to know that they’re buying a secure and preferably new roof so they don’t have any insurance issues. It frequently comes up in negotiations, especially if a potential buyer hires a roof inspector. If you have an older roof, even if you haven’t experienced any leaks, be prepared to get pushback from buyers.
Finally, the type of roof you have is key to longevity. Metal roofs can last for 50 years. Concrete or clay tiles also last up to 50 years. Wood is more vulnerable and even the old standby asphalt shingles are also vulnerable to Florida’s weather. How insurance companies treat roofs that have a long life even if they are over 15 years old is going to be on a case-by-case basis.
Do what you can to keep the most important thing over your head in good shape by keeping up with repairs and adding roof straps or clips. At least you’ll be safer in a storm even if your insurance company isn’t happy.
