This column should be titled “Save our Taxes,” since that’s what we’re really talking about. However, saving on property taxes is part of the Save Our Homes benefits and portability transfers are another piece of this law.
In January of 2008, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows homeowners the ability to move an existing homestead exemption to a new homestead. If you are moving, you may be able to transfer or “port” all or part of your homestead assessment difference.
To transfer the Save Our Homes Benefit, you must establish a homestead exemption for the new home within three years of Jan. 1 of the year you abandoned or sold the old homestead. You must file the Transfer of Homestead Assessment Difference Form with the homestead exemption application. The amount of your portability will be reflected on your Notice of Proposed Property Taxes that is mailed in mid-August. If you do not qualify for portability, you will be notified by certified mail no later than July 1.
A portability exemption can be used each time you move and establish a new homestead, and it can be applied for if your new homestead is a higher value than your old homestead or if the just value of your new homestead property is less than the just value of your old homestead. The law was enacted in order to free up homeowners to move on from their homestead properties with low taxes and still protect to some degree the amount of taxes they pay.
The calculation is not straightforward and there are caps to consider. If you don’t yet have a property ready to purchase or have already purchased, you will not know for sure what the benefit will be right away. On the Manatee County Property Appraiser website under Exemptions/Portability, you will find a calculator and more information about this benefit. I found it was a challenge to calculate without knowing the exact purchase price and assessed value of the new property; nevertheless, it will give you an idea of the process.
Based on February sales statistics for Manatee County reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, we are at a balanced market or getting very close to one:
Single-family homes closed 8.7% more properties from last February. The median sale price was $499,990, up 2%, and the average sale price was $722,563, up 13%. Median time to sale was 102 days compared to 88 days last year and there were 53.5% more new listings leaving us with a 4.2 month supply of properties.
Condos closed 0.5% more properties from last February. The median sale price was $349,493, down 5.5%, and the average sale price was $385,521, down 11.5%. Median time to sale was 93 days compared to 67 days last year and there were 28.1% more new listings, leaving us with a 6.2 month supply of available properties. Six months of availability has traditionally been considered a normal market.
Now that the market is adjusting to the benefit of buyers and sellers, utilizing the option of tax portability becomes even more valuable. Save our taxes will also save our homes ultimately, so enjoy another tax benefit Florida offers. You do need to wade through the paperwork, but it’s worth it.
Salon (noun) – a conversational gathering of notables held at the home of a prominent person.
On Saturday afternoon, Suncoast Waterkeeper held its Suncoast Salon fundraiser at the Sarasota home of Anna Maria residents Bill and Debbie Partridge. The event was a sellout and attracted some of the area’s most ardent protectors of the Sarasota Bay watershed, including the event sponsors, Beachside Management, The Mikki and Walter Frank Family Charitable Fund, Manatee Community Foundation, Whistanfox LLC and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. The event was held on the lawn behind the oldest home on Sarasota Bay and was greeted with fabulous weather, a full moon and a beautiful sunset. Tents were placed on the lawn and themed with the organization’s work to protect the Sarasota Bay watershed. The event was catered by Harry’s Continental Kitchen and a wonderful evening of music was provided by The Hedges. The Salon aimed to spark intrigue, excitement and increase commitment to the area’s natural resources. This invite-only event created a unique opportunity for clean water supporters to engage on important local issues and speak to local leaders.
The mission at Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) is to protect and restore the waters on the Florida Suncoast for the benefit of all through community and stakeholder engagement, environmental monitoring, advocacy and responsible legal action. Our goal is clean water for all.
SCWK has curtailed sewage spills, stopped industrial pollution, informed the public about the safety of recreational waters and tackled one of the largest local environmental disasters of our time – Piney Point. Since 2019, the organization’s members have settled eight Clean Water Act citizen suits; five acted against municipalities illegally spilling over 1 trillion gallons of sewage and three aimed to stop industrial facilities from illegally discharging heavy metal-laden stormwater. Combined, the suits contributed more than $500,000 for environmental projects and hundreds of millions of dollars to improve infrastructure.
The salon proved a wonderful opportunity for like-minded protectors of Sarasota and Manatee waters to get together for an evening of discussion, food, music and camaraderie on Sarasota Bay. It also raised funds for the organization to continue its efforts to protect the area’s eco-system and economy. To help with the mission, join the organization, volunteer and donate at www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners considered four temporary use parking permits at the March 21 commission meeting and after much discussion, approved three with stipulations, denying one.
Permit applications were submitted by developer Shawn Kaleta for temporary parking lots at 102 Third St. N., 207 Church Ave. and 206 Bay Drive N.
Businessman Joshua LaRose submitted a temporary use permit application for the parking lot at 109 Third St. N., which is owned by local restaurateur Ed Chiles.
Commissioners discussed each application individually with the parking lot discussion taking more than two hours for the property at 102 Third St. N., as it is in a designated R-3 residential zone.
“Each application will be addressed individually to protect the existing areas,” Mayor John Chappie said.
Evelyn Stob, a neighbor of the Third Street property, spoke in opposition to the application for a parking lot 102 Third St. N.
“Why are we allowing anyone and everyone to purchase a piece of property, demolish what it is and then say, ‘I need to make it temporary parking because I don’t know what I’m going to do with this lot,’ ” Stob said. “Now my residence is turning into a giant parking lot. It was purchased under R-3 zoning. I feel you have the right to say no.”
“In a way, you’re increasing heavily the traffic that’s going to be going through that neighborhood,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said. “We’ve got four or five of these and we’re changing the whole look. It’s not my vision of Bradenton Beach.”
“A temporary use may be just a little bit outside of what was anticipated in the zoning, but you do have criteria on what must be met. It can’t be obnoxious to the neighborhood. It can’t create a public health/safety/welfare issue,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said.
Referring to the city’s Land Development Code (LDC), City Attorney Ricinda Perry said, “I believe parking is contemplated for special permit uses because it talks about coffee shops, restaurants, cocktail lounges, retail shops and services and other similar accessory use, well parking is absolutely an accessory to a shop so I believe you can say parking could be contemplated as a special permit use here. You as a legislative body can say that’s not what that means, but then you have to explain why.”
“If we don’t think we have an allowable use, we have to build a case,” Chappie said. “We have to go by the LDC.”
Perry said the commission may add stipulations that will protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.
“The longer the day goes on, that’s all I can see now is parking lots. This is a beautiful place. Do we want parking lots all over the place?” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked, voicing concern that if a temporary use permit is approved for one year, the applicant may then ask for an extension.
Sam Negrin, who represented applicant Kaleta, spoke to the commission to alleviate those concerns and said the parking lot will be temporary.
“The properties were bought with the intention of building,” Negrin said. “This is a way to generate revenue in the meantime.”
A motion to approve the temporary use parking permit for 102 Third St. N. for temporary paid parking was passed unanimously with stipulations that include a limit to the number of motor vehicles to be approved by the building official, with no trailers, RVs, campers, buses, overnight parking or tailgating. The property owner will be required to submit a building permit application or land development approval request within eight months of approval of the temporary use permit and a requirement that insurance must be carried by the property owner.
The temporary use permit is valid one year from March 21 or upon the issuance of a building permit, whichever occurs sooner. Landscape buffering is planned along Third Street North via a landscape plan to be approved by the building official, and a privacy fence is planned along the east and west property lines. The installation of a sidewalk is also planned. A site plan is to be submitted to the building official.
The temporary use permit for paid parking was approved unanimously for 207 Church Ave. with similar stipulations for 102 Third St. N., including landscape buffering along Church Avenue and a privacy fence to be installed along the north and south property lines. The applicant may combine parking with 206 Bay Drive N. for purposes of parking, ingress and egress.
The temporary use permit application for 206 Bay Drive N. was approved unanimously with similar stipulations to 102 Third St. N. Hours of paid parking shall be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
An application for temporary paid parking at 205 First St. N. was withdrawn by Negrin.
The application by Joshua LaRose for a temporary use permit for paid parking at a parking lot owned by Ed Chiles at 109 Third St. N. was denied unanimously by the commission after LaRose indicated that the parking lot may become permanent.
Chappie noted that the lot is in the emergency evacuation route for the south end of Bradenton Beach.
BRADENTON – Almost a year after passing a resolution changing the district’s approach to taxing and inspecting vacation rental properties in residential areas, West Manatee Fire Rescue is receiving pushback from one rental owner.
During a March 19 commission meeting, the district’s attorney, Maggie Mooney, informed the board of a pending lawsuit in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County. C&D Properties of AMI LLC is fighting the regulation change, which treats vacation rental properties in residential areas as commercial properties for the purpose of assessing the district’s non-ad-valorem tax rate and performing fire safety inspections.
According to the complaint filed on Feb. 27, C&D Properties argues that the properties are residential, not transient public lodging establishments as the fire district identifies them under the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
The property owner is seeking to have its rights defined by the court, compensation for deprivation of rights and an injunction to stop the fire district from taxing the properties as commercial. The lawsuit lists two condominium properties in Holmes Beach at 101 67th St., Unit 3 and Unit 4.
The Florida Division of Corporations lists Lawrence Chatt as the registered agent and manager of C&D Properties. The case has been assigned to Judge Edward Nicholas. As of press time for The Sun, no hearing date had been set.
BRADENTON BEACH – In what was an unusually lengthy, seven-hour city commission meeting that began at noon on March 21, commissioners dove into parking and traffic issues, pickleball and organ donation.
BRIDGE STREET ONE WAY?
A Bridge Street business owner asked the commission to consider making Bridge Street one way to alleviate traffic and parking issues.
Brandt Clark, whose family owns Bridge Street Jewelers, read a prepared statement that said in part, “I recommend turning Bridge Street into a one-way street with all the parallel parking spots converted into diagonal parking.”
Clark said delivery trucks block half the street which causes a hazard to drivers and pedestrians.
“Everyone is aware of the parking issues in Bradenton Beach, as well as on Bridge Street. Currently, the street has about 12 parallel parking spots,” Clark read. “The spots are honestly too small, and result in cars not being able to fit, cars taking up multiple spots, cars getting locked in, and a lot of vehicular damage. I, myself, have been locked in by cars parking far too close to mine, as well as having my car hit at least a dozen times. By making the street one way, we can turn the parallel parking into diagonal spots.”
“This has been discussed over the years and the conclusion was not to,” Mayor John Chappie said, suggesting putting the topic on the agenda for the Community Redevelopment Agency.
“Let’s say we wanted to move traffic from west to east, for those 100 spots and everything else that comes down the road would be directed through The Pines and the neighborhoods and along Bay Drive where we have a lot of pedestrians,” Chief John Cosby said. “Do we want to move traffic to this area?”
Cosby said the current two-way traffic is a safer option.
“I don’t know how comfortable I am moving all this traffic into the neighborhoods,” he said.
When the city was reviewing Bridge Street, there was a substantial amount of time spent with engineers, Chappie, Cosby and the Public Works Department and through that collaboration, new signs were posted saying cars must fit completely inside parking spots, according to City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
“If you are over the lines you will get a ticket,” Perry said.
GOLF CART PARKING AT 301 GULF DRIVE S.
A request for a temporary use permit for golf cart parking at 301 Gulf Drive S., a vacant building, was approved by commissioners with conditions.
Use is limited to the storage of battery-powered golf carts; active insurance must be in place; the permit runs from March 21, 2024-Sept. 21, 2025; landscape buffering is required; a site plan must be submitted to city building department; all golf cart loading and unloading shall be onsite or along Third Street South; hours of delivery will be between 6:30-8 p.m.; use of the property is limited to employees and staff; a sidewalk will be installed along Gulf Drive and Third Street South with ingress and egress to be approved by the city building official; compliance with a triangle of visibility for drivers must be met, and a business tax receipt must be submitted to the City Clerk.
The application was submitted by Wendy Kokolis on March 5. Julian Botero and attorney Aaron Thomas represented the applicant at the commission meeting.
PICKLEBALL COURTS AT HERB DOLAN PARK
An anonymous donor has donated $24,000 for the expansion of two soon-to-be-built pickleball courts at Herb Dolan Park.
“We have a situation where we needed more funding and we had a bid in for $24,000. So we had a shortfall,” Mayor John Chappie said. “The City of Bradenton Beach is in possession from an anonymous donor for the full $24,000. We have the funding to expand it 10 feet and take care of amenities to expand it and make it nicer.”
Chappie said the court will be a first-class facility for all levels of pickleball players.
“Thank you to the angel that’s going to provide this for us,” pickleball player Kat Witt said during public comment.
The proposal from Stewart Tennis Courts & Fencing includes adding 10 feet of asphalt to the east side of the court and 4 feet to the back of the court, adding more fencing, installing four new net post anchors and adding color coats to the courts.
A motion to approve the change order for the pickleball courts was approved unanimously.
DONATE LIFE MONTH
A proclamation was passed designating April as Donate Life Month in Bradenton Beach, supporting organ donation through LifeLink of Florida and www.DonateLifeFlorida.org.
The application for commissioner by business owner and former Manatee County records manager Deborah Scaccianoce was approved by the commission and she was sworn in at its March 21 meeting.
She filled the vacant seat left by former Commissioner Jake Spooner. Spooner, a local businessman, ran unopposed in 2023, but resigned in December citing the state’s financial disclosure requirement.
Bradenton Beach resident Gary Michniewicz was the other applicant for the commission seat. The deadline for applications was March 13.
Deborah Scaccianoce was sworn in as Bradenton Beach Ward 1 commissioner by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente at the March 21 city commission meeting. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Scaccianoce is the co-owner of Double Deez Chicago Style Hot Dogs in Holmes Beach.
She addressed the commission prior to the nomination.
“My family has been a part of the Bradenton Beach area for the past 45 years. It’s been my permanent home for almost 12 years. My brother was the chief of police here, Sam Speciale. In the 80s, my father worked for the planning board. We’ve been around a very long time,” she said.
Scaccianoce said over the years she’s watched Bradenton Beach grow and develop.
“I’ve watched all the changes, some painful, others amazing,” she said. “I think I bring a unique perspective. I’m also a small business owner and I understand the balance we have to have with the balance of the city’s needs the balance of our residents, the balance with our commissioners and their various wards, business owners and our visitors.”
“I think Debbie would be a great commissioner with her history and experience,” Mayor John Chappie said. “I’d like to name her as nominee.”
Michniewicz did not attend the meeting.
“We also have the other gentleman, Gary, I’ve talked a little bit with him, he is, I believe, out of town. He knew about the meeting, I can’t really add anything else besides his resume that I have here as well,” Chappie said. “The gentleman said he would also be qualified and interested in other positions, such as the CRA Board and the Planning and Zoning Board.”
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh that while both applicants had excellent resumes, she felt that Scaccianoce had more experience with government work.
“I look forward to getting another member up here,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry read the following motion:
“To approve the Mayor’s nomination of Deborah Scaccianoce as Ward Representative One.”
Cole made the motion and it was seconded by Vosburgh. It passed unanimously.
After being sworn in by City Clerk Terri Sanclemente, Scaccianoce took her seat at the commissioner’s table.
Commissioners receive a stipend of $4,800 per year. Her term will run until November 2025.
Commissioner Marilyn Maro did not attend or phone into the commission meeting.
HOLMES BEACH – About two dozen people came out on March 20 to meet with Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse, bringing their questions for the candidate, who is seeking re-election in November.
Kruse held a town hall meeting at the Island Branch Library where he answered every question posed, discussing everything from parking and traffic to the possible consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities.
On the subject of traffic and making the Island trolley service more efficient during peak times, Kruse said that if there’s traffic, the trolley is stuck in it the same as any other motor vehicle. He did say that he would look into the possibility of adding additional trolleys during peak times, such as over holiday weekends and spring break to help reduce the amount of time spent waiting for transportation that may be too full to accept more riders.
When the new Cortez and Manatee bridges are built, Kruse said he hopes that there will be an express lane – a third lane for emergency and transit vehicles.
“You’re not going to reduce the want of people to go to the beach, you have to get them out of their cars,” he said, adding that with the current situation, one lane in each direction, people won’t want to sit on a bus in traffic instead of in their vehicles. The way around that would be to have a dedicated express lane for those people to bypass congestion on the way to the beach. Kruse said he’s spoken with Florida Department of Transportation representatives about including an express lane in the design for the new bridges but hasn’t received a definitive answer.
When it came to talking about a parking garage and the availability of beach parking on the Island, Kruse said he doesn’t currently see the benefit in building a parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach. With paid beach parking now existing in Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria, he added that he believes it’s just a matter of time before Holmes Beach city leaders will have to reconsider their stance on paid parking.
Currently, Holmes Beach is the only Island city that does not allow paid parking. Speaking up during the discussion, Mayor Judy Titsworth said that she’s not in favor of charging for beach parking and will avoid it in Holmes Beach for as long as possible. She said she feels the beach should be free for everyone to access, not limited to those willing to pay to park to access the sand.
Though the city has an updated parking map on its website, the map does not show parking space availability in real time. Titsworth said that to install the sensors and develop the corresponding applications for use would cost “hundreds of thousands of dollars,” funds that the city doesn’t have to commit to the project. To complete the project, she said the parking would have to be paid parking, going against what she believes is in the best interests of the city.
When the conversation turned to the state study concerning consolidation of the three Island cities, Kruse said he’s unsure that anything will come out of it, but he thinks what would be in the best interests of the residents would be to leave the three cities as-is with the possibility of consolidating some services to save taxpayer money.
An ongoing Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) study was begun at the request of the Manatee County state legislative delegation and against the wishes of city leaders in the three cities. While city leaders said they would support the study for the purposes of potentially saving taxpayer funds, they don’t support the other three possibilities – consolidation of the three cities into one, or elimination of the three city governments and annexation of Anna Maria Island into unincorporated Manatee County or the city of Bradenton.
Kruse added that he can’t truly guess what state leaders plan to do with the results of the OPPAGA study because there’s no precedent for the state eliminating a municipality without cause, such as the municipality being financially insolvent, which is not the case in any of the three Island cities.
To hear what Kruse had to say about these issues and more, visit The Sun’s Facebook page to watch the town hall discussion in its entirety.
BRADENTON BEACH – Rather than partnering with an outside vendor as planned, commissioners are now considering city-managed paid parking lots throughout Bradenton Beach.
The city had put out a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Feb. 9 to “Provide the City with a complete parking management and enforcement system that is capable of handling the current parking environment at six (6) municipal locations, a public street, and a future 7th site.”
Two bidders – Beach to Bay Investments and SP Municipal Parking – submitted proposals to the city by the Feb. 29 due date.
Representatives from both entities laid out their cases for approval at a March 19 city commission work meeting. A decision was deferred to the March 21 commission meeting where a choice between the two was expected to be made.
Instead, neither one of them was chosen. On March 21, Mayor John Chappie recommended having the city oversee paid parking without a vendor.
“The more I looked over two really impressive applications – each with a lot of plusses – I thought why have that third person? We’re talking about 75 parking spaces. I’m recommending we deny both of these and look at doing it in-house,” Chappie said.
The RFP 2024-04 went out for bid to provide paid parking in areas that included all of Bridge Street, an after-hours parking lot to the east and west side of the police department, the city hall parking lot, the area around the pickleball court on Highland Avenue (with free passes to pickleball players), the shared parking lot with Silver Resorts at First Street North, Gulfside parking spaces near the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge and future options at the Tingley Library, if the building is raised to create parking.
“This is a big commitment to make, and once we do it, it’s done,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said. “There are a lot of unknowns and that’s what bothers me.”
“I think we should keep it in-house with the ability to go back and revisit the proposals,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said.
During the public comment session, Shawn Kaleta, president of Beach to Bay Investments, addressed the commission.
“It’s an option for the city to review the idea to manage it – wise decision. However, while the RFPs are already in, select one if you don’t come up with a solution,” Kaleta said. “You’ve already done the RFP so maybe selecting which one works now so you don’t have to go through that process and take that time up at a later date. But obviously, it’s your property. If it’s best to manage it internally or try it, if it doesn’t work, then you have the RFP you can go back to on whatever terms you negotiate today. I think the big thing is liability… (cities) are not in the business of operating parking lots, they’re in the business of operating a city.”
“I respect the council’s decision,” said Will Gloor, regional manager for SP Municipal Services, offering consulting services if requested.
“The city needs to give a timeline to go back to the vendors,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said. “I think we’d be biting off more than we can chew.”
Chappie said he is leaning toward rejecting the bids.
“I’m leaning toward a clean slate,” Chappie said. “We may decide we don’t want to do it.”
City Attorney Ricinda Perry asked the board if the city had the funds available to prepare the lots in question for paid parking or whether this would come under the purview of the Community Redevelopment Agency.
“I think it’s the CRA,” Chappie said.
A motion was read to reject all bids submitted under RFP 2023-24 to direct the mayor to investigate and present a plan for municipal paid parking within 90 days to the CRA.
ANNA MARIA –The Anna Maria Charter Review Committee is proposing six potential charter amendments for city commission consideration.
The five-member volunteer committee completed its comprehensive review of the city charter on March 21 after the members voted unanimously in favor of each of the six proposed amendments to be included in a final report prepared by City Attorney Becky Vose.
The committee will meet for the final time on March 28 at 11 a.m. to review the final report compiled by Vose. At least one committee member will then present the recommended charter amendments to the city commission during its April 11 meeting. The commission will then accept, reject or modify any or all of the proposed amendments. Any proposed amendments supported by the commission, including those introduced by the commission, will be placed on the November ballot for Anna Maria’s registered voters to accept or reject.
HOME RULE
The committee spent much time debating a proposed charter amendment that would further establish the city’s desire to preserve its home rule rights. The proposed amendment is sought in response to state legislators Jim Boyd and Will Robinson Jr. requesting a study by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability that could result in the Florida Legislature imposing the forced consolidation of the three Island cities.
When lobbying for the proposed amendment, committee member Chuck Wolfe said, “There’s no hiding from the fact that as residents on the Island the biggest question facing us is whether we’ll continue to be residents of a town. We like being self-managed and we’ve proven that by having the mayor manage the city. This is an extension of that.”
The committee members ultimately agreed to propose the insertion of the words “home rule” into existing language already contained in the city’s comprehensive plan.
With the insertion of the words “home rule,” the committee proposes adding the following language to the charter: “Ensure that the single-family detached residential character and home rule of the city of Anna Maria is maintained and protected while supporting commercial uses in the commercial and ROR land use categories, while maximizing the enjoyment of natural and man-made resources by the citizens and minimizing the threat to health, safety and welfare posed by hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses and environmental degradation.”
Mayor Dan Murphy and City Attorney Becky Vose said they do not support placing such an amendment before the city’s voters. Vose questions the point of the proposed amendment and she and Murphy cautioned the committee that 73% of the residential properties in Anna Maria are used as short-term vacation rentals and some of those property owners who are currently registered to vote elsewhere might register to vote in Anna Maria instead to oppose the proposed home rule statement.
Murphy said that could potentially result in the proposed charter amendment being rejected by city voters or garnering enough support to further encourage state legislators’ consolidation efforts. Murphy noted the proposed charter amendment would be abolished with the rest of the charter if the state Legislature imposes the forced consolidation of the city.
BUILDING HEIGHTS
Unlike the Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach charters, the Anna Maria charter does not restrict building heights. The city’s comprehensive plan and building code currently restrict building heights to 37 feet above the crown of the road, with no more than two habitable residential floors.
The height restrictions set forth in the comp plan can currently be eliminated or modified with the support of at least four city commissioners. The height restrictions set forth in the city code of ordinances can be modified or eliminated with the simple majority support of the commission, which could be as few as two votes.
The committee proposes a charter amendment that includes the following code language: “No building or structure or part thereof shall exceed 37 feet as measured from the crown of the road to the highest point of the roof.” The adoption of the proposed amendment would then require the future approval by the city’s registered voters to modify or eliminate the height restrictions established in the charter.
CITY PROPERTY
The charter currently requires a city commission-approved ordinance to sell, abandon ownership or lease city-owned land and real property. The adoption of a city ordinance requires the simple majority support of the commission.
The committee proposes a charter amendment language that would require 100% support of the sitting commissioners at that time to sell, abandon or enter into a long-term lease for the use of a city-owned property. The proposed amendment would allow the city commission to grant with simple majority support a short-term lease of less than five years.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
The charter currently addresses the qualifications and the two-year residency requirement for candidates qualifying to run for the mayor’s seat or a city commission seat, but the charter is silent regarding those actually holding elected office. The committee proposes a charter amendment that would better define the residency requirements for the mayor and city commissioners once in office. The proposed amendment would provide that once in office if a mayor or city commissioner ceases to reside in the city, the commission shall remove that elected official.
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS
The charter currently allows a single city commissioner to call for a special city commission meeting. The committee proposes an amendment that would only allow the mayor, the commissioner chair or the commission majority to call for a special meeting.
The committee also proposes an amendment that would replace gender-specific pronouns such as “he” and “she” with proper nouns such as “mayor,” “commissioner” and “clerk.”
BRADENTON BEACH – Due to rainy weather, Saturday morning’s Easter egg hunt at the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge took place inside the lodge.
The annual event usually features hundreds of brightly colored plastic eggs buried in the beach sand between Moose Lodge #2188 and the Gulf of Mexico. Separated into two age groups, the youngsters then make a mad dash for buried eggs and the hunt is over within a few minutes. The rain that fell Friday night and early Saturday morning forced the Women of the Moose to improvise and bring the event inside.
The Women of the Moose and other Moose lodge volunteers hosted another successful Easter party. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Upon arrival at 10 a.m., and accompanied by parents and grandparents, the 99 youngsters who pre-registered for the free March 23 event were greeted by Moose volunteers who handed them activity sheets that included a word puzzle and images to be colored.
Anna Maria Elementary students Easton Nock and Alex Czajkowski played cornhole. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The youngsters were served breakfast that featured French toast sticks and were encouraged to play games that included Easter-themed cornhole boards. As the activities unfolded, the Easter Bunny made rounds to the delight of youngsters and adults alike.
Vinnie Dentino, 4, had a visit from the Easter Bunny. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe Easter Bunny visited with Kai Rosbury, 2, and her mom, Natalie. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Women of the Moose planned this year’s event, with Moose member Sandra Zenzel leading the way.
“We started planning this about two months ago,” Zenzel said. “We have 400 eggs and they can pick out two eggs at a time. Once they go through the lines, if we have any eggs left over they can come back through again.”
Six-year-old Deklin Giasone wore a festive hat while retrieving his Easter eggs. – Joe Hendricks | SunCaydan McLaughlin, 5, displayed one of the Easter eggs he received. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The plastic eggs containing 35 cents each were placed in two large bowls and the youngsters stood in one of two lines waiting their turn to dig through the colored confetti to retrieve their eggs.
Moose member Janet Curran assisted with the Easter egg giveaway. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After all the eggs were given out, the youngsters were told four larger golden eggs were hidden under the dining room chairs and a frenzied search ensued for the golden eggs, which each contained a $10 bill and a small stuffed bunny rabbit. Brady Kolanowski, Scarlett Cody, Morgan Clemens and Cooper Henderson found the golden eggs.
Each attending youngster received an Easter bucket. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When the event concluded at 11:30 a.m., each child left with an Easter bucket filled with candy and other goodies and treats.
ANNA MARIA – Some business owners are concerned about the city’s desire to extend the multi-use path along Gulf Drive that runs from the entrance of the city to Willow Avenue.
They say that extending the path to Magnolia or Pine avenues would eliminate the parallel parking spaces located along that side of Gulf Drive.
The multi-use path currently extends from the entrance to the city to Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
City officials are still awaiting word as to whether Gov. Ron DeSantis will approve or veto a $250,000 state appropriation supported by the Florida House and Senate for Anna Maria’s multi-use path extension project. The funding request is included in the proposed 2024-25 state budget not yet finalized by DeSantis.
The business owners’ concerns are expressed in a petition initiated by Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café owner Paul Foster. The petition was sent to DeSantis, Sen. Jim Boyd, State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
Several Anna Maria businesses are supported by the free parking spaces along Gulf Drive. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The petition was signed by the owners of Body & Sol Spa and Wellness, Snips Hair Design, Harry’s Grill, AMI Beach Hut, Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café, The Porch restaurant, Robinhood Rentals and John Cagnina, the owner of the Ginny’s and Jane E’s property leased to Foster, which includes a rear parking lot.
The Porch restaurant is among the businesses listed on the petition. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In part, the petition says: “There is a bill going to your desk that will hurt small businesses in the city of Anna Maria. We have, over the last number of years, seen a rapid decline in free public parking. Private lots turned into paid parking and projects like this extension of a multi-use path from a residential area into a commercial area, removed free parking in front of many small businesses. It not only hurts business, but it is dangerous to bring traffic like this into a busy corner. We have options that keep bikers (bicyclists) safe and keep businesses prospering.
AMI Beach Hut customers and Harry’s Grill patrons are among those who utilize the free parking spaces along Gulf Drive. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I implore you to use your veto authority and put a stop to the funding of this project. I am asking for a more thorough study on the impacts to health and safety, and to businesses directly impacted,” the petition says.
When speaking to The Sun on March 22, Foster said the concerns addressed in the petition stem in part from previous city commission discussions regarding the potential elimination of the streetside parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue as part of the yet-to-be-constructed Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project.
Eliminating the Pine Avenue parking spaces has been discussed by the city commission and supported by some current and past commissioners, but that idea has never garnered the majority support of the commission. City Commission Chair Mark Short and Mayor Dan Murphy are among those who’ve expressed concerns about the negative impact eliminating the Pine Avenue parking spaces would have on those businesses.
Eliminating parking spaces along Gulf Drive to accommodate an extended multi-use path has never been publicly discussed by the city commission or presented to the commission in a planning document.
Foster was asked if anyone representing the city ever mentioned to him the possibility of eliminating Gulf Drive parking spaces to accommodate an extended multi-use path.
Foster referenced a wide-ranging conversation he had with Reimagining Pine Avenue project engineer Gerry Traverso in 2021. Traverso is employed by the George F. Young Inc. engineering firm.
“Gerry never told me they were going to do this, but he did say the extension of the multi-use path would eliminate the parking,” Foster said.
There does not appear to be enough space along Gulf Drive to extend the multi-use path while also preserving the existing parking spaces. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It would be devastating. If people are coming to a restaurant, they’re not going to use paid parking. They’re going to want to park for free. Up here, free parking is definitely limited and these 13 spaces in front of these businesses are their lifeblood,” he added.
When asked why he didn’t approach the mayor before petitioning the governor, Foster said he felt this was the most effective means to address these concerns.
FUNDING REQUESTS
The city’s $250,000 funding request is addressed in Florida Senate local funding initiative request 1512, sponsored by Boyd, and House of Representatives HSE form 2599, sponsored by Robinson. Anna Maria City Clerk LeAnne Addy said the city’s contracted lobbyist submitted the funding requests on the city’s behalf.
The Senate form asks the applicant to state the purpose to be achieved with the desired state funds.
The city’s response says, “The goal is to improve safety and accessibility along the city’s main artery for the key stakeholders – residents, businesses, and visitors – while addressing the impact of seasonal traffic. The project will make the city’s main street corridor more user-friendly by addressing safety concerns, access issues and aesthetic deficiencies resulting from the currently antiquated infrastructure along the street that doesn’t account for increased tourism.”
The House request form asks if the need for funds is documented in a study completed by an independent third party.
The city’s response says, “Yes. George F. Young Inc. has done a study on this as the engineering firm that is working on the project.”
The city response refers to the initial Reimagining Pine Avenue research Traverso conducted. Neither funding request form includes any drawings or plans of the proposed multi-use path extension area, nor do they mention the removal of existing parking spaces.
When contacted by The Sun on March 22, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said no specific plans for the proposed path extension have been created or presented to the city commission; and Addy said she wasn’t aware of any such planning documents.
FOSTER’S LETTER
The petition sent to DeSantis and others was accompanied by a letter written by Foster.
“We are very concerned with the city’s push forward with a multi-use path into a busy commercial area. All businesses along this strip will be affected negatively,” his letter says.
The letter claims the path extension would eliminate 13 parking spaces that currently serve more than 200 people per day.
“Yes, health and safety must be the number one priority, but this must be done with an eye out for our community of ‘Ma and Pop’ businesses that need to survive there. I think it’s important that everyone’s interests are looked after,” Foster stated in his letter.
Ginny’s and Jane E’s owner doesn’t support a multi-use path located in front of his businesses. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After acknowledging that city officials have a tough job and their overall efforts are appreciated, Foster’s letter says, “I’m afraid they missed their mark on this one. There is still time if protecting businesses is as important to them.”
MAYOR’S RESPONSE
On March 22, Murphy provided a written statement regarding the petition and the business owners’ concerns.
“The problem we are trying to address is that people are opening their car doors into oncoming traffic on Gulf Drive and then walking in the road to go to the restaurants and stores,” Murphy stated. “We want to develop some ideas, and then plans, on how to best address that if possible. So, we submitted a funding request for $250,000 to help defray some of the costs of addressing the problem and then work on a plan. We want to find out if anything can be done to make Gulf Drive safer to walk and drive, more people-friendly and easier to shop and eat, not to eliminate the number of parking spaces serving that area.”
The multi-use path ends at Willow Avenue, with no sidewalk on that side of the street for pedestrians. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
He noted the path extension planning process would include the solicitation of public input, similar to what occurred during the initial Reimagining Pine Avenue planning process.
“I’m not sure why Mr. Foster wouldn’t have called me about his concerns prior to launching into a petition campaign, but that’s his prerogative. I’m hoping the appropriation doesn’t get stalled and goes through so we can quickly get started on addressing this issue,” Murphy stated.
When asked if there’s enough available space along that side of Gulf Drive to extend the multi-use path and preserve the existing parking spaces, Murphy said, “Not currently.”
ANNA MARIA – With local spring break closing in, The Center worked the youth flag football schedule to conclude before the Island kids take some time off for the season. Last week’s gridiron action saw the semifinal round games played on March 11 with the championship matchups the following day.
After strong, action-packed games on Monday, four teams faced their opponents in the final youth flag football games of the winter. Number two seed Cheesecake Cuties came out on top in the 8- to 10-year-old league, while the older Moss Builders squad remained number one in their league.
Cheesecake Cuties earned their spot in the big game, defeating team Sato Real Estate 12-6. The younger Moss Builders team beat Adrian Griffin Interiors 33-14 to clinch their place in the championship matchup.
In the 11- to 14-year-old league’s semifinal play, team Moss Builders faced the fourth-ranked Solid Rock Electric. Moss’ win put them on the field against the Solid Rock Air Conditioning team in the age group’s final game. Shady Lady Horticultural Services were out of the playoff race after the 24-13 loss to Solid Rock AC.
The final game of the season for the younger league was a close one. Cheesecake Cutie’s five-point win was the result of two touchdown passes by Sawyer Leibfried. Leibfried found the hands of Andre Harwood and Gunnar Maize.
Harwood was the game’s top flag puller with five defensive stops. His game stats include two receptions and an extra point after a TD.
Maize added a rushing touchdown to his offensive accolades. On defense, Maize nabbed an interception and three flags.
Teammates Wesley Bekkerus, Phoenix Harwood, Henry Leibfried, Simon Messinger and Payton Miller all made strong contributions during the championship game and the season.
Despite the loss, the Moss Builders team fought hard with huge plays and determination.
Quarterback Miles Moss threw for two touchdowns to Braylen Briggs. Briggs finished the game with four catches and three defensive stops.
The points after scores by Briggs were made from catches by Cannon Ott and Kellen Reed. Defensively Ott and Reed had a total of three flag pulls.
Adding to the Moss Builders stats were Owen Mahoney and Owen Serra with three flag pulls by Mahoney and a single for Serra.
The Moss Builders squad had playmakers, like Tristan Boender and Oliver McCallister, who helped get the team to the final game of the league’s season.
Moss Builders’ older team won by 15 points against the Solid Rock Air Conditioning team to capture the winter flag football title.
Miles Moss’s older brother, Mason, led the charge as quarterback for team Moss Builders. Throwing for three TDs, two to Austin Guess and one to Addie Guess, Mason was arguably the most valuable player of the game.
In addition to throwing for 21 points, including three one-point conversions, Moss had an amazing game scoring a rushing touchdown along with three catches. On defense, he made seven flag pulls and grabbed two interceptions.
Moss’s receivers for the extra points were Aiden and Austin Guess along with one by Turner Worth. Rounding out the statistics for the Guess family trio was five overall catches for Addie and three flag pulls made by Aiden.
Austin Guess topped it off with seven total receptions and six defensive stops.
Worth added to the team’s playmaking on defense with six flag pulls and the only sack of the night.
The Moss Builders team showed its depth on the field with big plays by the entire roster last Tuesday night. Ryder Boender had four flag pulls, with teammate Gunner Maize making three stops of his own.
Celebrating the 8- to 10-year-old league youth flag football championship game win at The Center, team Cheesecake Cuties flash their smiles after a fun season. Pictured from left are Sawyer Leibfried, Simon Messinger, Wesley Bekkerus, Henry Leibfried, Phoenix Harwood, Andre Harwood and Gunnar Maize, along with Coach Brian Leibfried and Coach George Maize. – Submitted | The Center
On the other side of the field, the Solid Rock Air Conditioning team played two solid halves of flag football.
Lilian Price made her contributions to Solid Rock Air Conditioning’s success this season. Her teammates worked to keep the championship game against the number one seed close.
Scoring 12 points, Hayden Eurice threw to Isaac Roadman for six points. Carter Eurice took the football into the endzone, scoring six points for the Solid Rock team.
H. Eurice contributed on defense with nine stops in addition to the flag pull by C. Eurice.
Roadman’s contributions on the field were on both sides of the football. Offensively, he caught six passes by H. Eurice. While playing defense, Roadman made two stops and a huge interception.
Also playing D, Van Havell, Obadiah Roadman and Luke Willing all grabbed flags to help contain the Moss Builders offense.
Despite the grand effort, the Solid Rock Air Conditioning squad came up short of the league champions, Moss Builders, to close out another fun-filled season at The Center.
When you think of energy you probably think of power used to generate light and heat. But have you ever thought of the type of energy that isn’t physical or chemical, the kind that can’t be seen?
When it comes to improving your home, there are forces beyond updating and repairing. According to energy healers, you need to harmonize the property’s energy and honor previous owners. Using ancient spiritual practices and healing arts unblocking creativity, and creating tranquility and rejuvenation will result in a safer, wealthier and happier home.
This is a lighthearted column for me, but more than a few homeowners and their realtors are taking it very seriously. Across the county, house energy specialists are being hired to reset and elevate the home’s energy, especially if they’re getting it ready for sale or a potential buyer is viewing the property with an eye towards its energy fields.
Some of the healing techniques are a Celtic space-clearing blessing, tarot cards and a drowsing pendulum, something I never heard of until I read it and then I had to look it up. Apparently, the dowsing pendulum is used to observe the motion of a pointer or stick as it changes direction responding to unseen influences. Interesting, I wonder how that would work pointing it at potential buyers coming into your home, if it points up, they’re good if it points down, forget it?
Another popular healing practice is crystal healing, which, according to professional energy healers, is an oversimplification of the power of crystals. Realtors who are always looking for a way to make their homeowners happy are getting on board with crystals positioned around the inside and outside of the home to usher in vibrancy and aliveness. This process could come with steep fees in the thousands, not including the crystals and tarot cards.
I’m having some fun with all of this since my brain is more left-oriented than right, leaving my creative abilities and invisible energy untapped. But what do I know beyond the value of a renovated kitchen and spa tub? I do, however, have some interest and faith in feng shui.
I love the idea of a red entry door; aside from the fact that it looks smashing, it does encourage good energy to come in hopefully along with a good buyer. Red front doors mean good luck, protection, prosperity and the fire energy it represents makes the property stand out while promoting wealth and inspiration.
The other thing about feng shui that appeals to my left brain is following some basic house-selling rules. Declutter – open neat space allows the energy to flow and not get stuck, probably on your toddler’s three-wheeler hanging out in the kitchen. Soft colors, plants and strategic lighting are things realtors emphasize on a regular basis but are also elements of feng shui. The Chinese also like water elements in and around the home – that should be easy on Anna Maria Island – comfortable furniture (no wicker please) and natural textures.
I may not get the whole crystal energy thing but every homeowner needs to find their comfortable environment and how to achieve it. Since I love a lot of things associated with Asia, the food, the furniture and I do play Mahjongg, feng shui fits my sensibility and is acceptable to the left side of my brain.
How many times have you arrived at the boat ramp to find you left something important behind? How about forgetting to put the drain plug in before launching the boat? Not often, I hope, but if you’re like me, there are a ton of other small items that might get overlooked, like a boat towel for the floor, ice or food and drink.
Unfortunately, this happens to me all too often. It took way too long, but eventually, I decided to create a checklist and consult it every time before ever leaving the house. Each angler’s list will be somewhat different, but I offer you a look at mine in case you want some ideas to get started. I’ve found this to be a living checklist, meaning there’s always something you’ll need to add or subtract. I printed two copies of mine, laminated them and keep one in the glove box of the car and one in the boat. I save a copy as a Word file and periodically update it. Here’s a look at my evolving list.
BOATING CHECKLIST
DAY BEFORE
• Check to make sure boat batteries are charged;
• Check to make sure there is adequate fuel;
• Make sure winch battery is adequately charged.
BEFORE LEAVING GARAGE
• Sunscreen applied and extra available;
• Make sure trolling motor handle isn’t elevated;
• Remove leaning posts from overhead storage;
• Remove wheel chock;
• Remove push pole and install on boat;
• Bring a boat towel.
BEFORE LEAVING FOR RAMP
• Check that trailer is secure;
• Make sure plug is in boat drain;
• Plug in and test trailer lights.
FISHING AND OTHER GEAR
• Stripping basket;
• Fly boxes, pliers, cable to charge phone;
• Rods and reels, leaders, hooks, hook sharpener;
• All barbs bent down on hooks before use.
BEFORE LAUNCHING
• Double check drain plug;
• Remove safety chain;
• Loosen winch cable.
RETURNING TO RAMP AND BEFORE BACKING INTO GARAGE
• After backing trailer to retrieve boat, tighten winch cable;
• Remove leaning posts;
• Make sure safety chain is secure;
• Flush engine;
• Before backing into garage make sure trolling motor is in upright position but not too high;
• Secure wheel with chock;
• Open all hatches.
A checklist can be a valuable asset considering the energy that’s required to get to your destination and start fishing. I’ve employed a checklist for traveling for years but it’s proving more valuable all the time!
ANNA MARIA – The Island Players continue their historic 75th season with Alan Ayckbourn’s “Communicating Doors.” Directed by veteran director Preston Boyd and stage managed by his talented wife, Priscilla Boyd, the show zigs and zags through times of hilarity and plenty of suspense. Even though the killer’s identity is clear in the first act, how this thing will end is certainly not.
The characters cross paths as the result of a door to a storage room in the hotel suite that works as a time machine, but not every character can use it, and it only works in 20 year “leaps” to the times each murdered ex-wife once stayed in the room: 1974, 1994 and 2014, the year Phoebe arrives to become the center of this time warp centric story.
Audiences may find themselves a bit confused at first, but the whisking into another time soon becomes as expected as it is frequent. With plenty of laugh lines and an abundance of physical comedy, the exact story doesn’t hold as much power as the fascinating action handled by experienced actors who know how to not only get the best out of a line, but also can manage falling over a balcony “wall,” having a head bounced against the floor and plenty more action that has most likely left more than one cast member with a bruise or two.
We first see a “special consultant” arrive in 2014 at a large London hotel suite. Phoebe (Morgan Powls), whose trade name is Poopay, finds that her client, Reece (Dan Coppinger), does not seek her usual services. A dying old man with a guilty conscience, he asks Phoebe to sign as a witness on his written confession of the long-ago murders of two different wives. He is accompanied by his long-time loyal assistant and friend, Julian (Joseph Smith) who executes the role of the quintessential bad guy with perceived ease.
Director Preston Boyd did an outstanding job in getting the most out of this talented cast of veteran actors, who overcame an illness that affected most of the actors and caused the delay of opening night. Audiences would never know many of the rehearsals were done virtually. Serious talent is on display, and the plot is one of the most unpredictable in recent Island Players history.
“Communicating Doors” is a can’t-miss, and it’s not difficult to see why this season continues to sell out just about every performance.
The show continues through March 24. “Communicating Doors,” runs Tuesday through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Both on-line and box office ticket sales are available for the remainder of the run. On-line at www.theislandplayers.org and box office at 941-778-5755. Box office hours are 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and one hour before curtain on Sundays for will call tickets only.
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