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Year: 2024

Reel Time: Take a kid fishing

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

Reflecting back on the importance fishing has had on my life, I’d like to pass on some of the things I’ve learned over the years about how to introduce children to the marine world and fishing.

Those first experiences on the water leave indelible memories, so we should work to make them uncomplicated and as much fun as possible. Creating unrealistic expectations can discourage young anglers and be the difference between the kindling of a passion or a dislike for the activity. The basics of fishing are not complicated to learn, are easy to teach children and don’t require expensive equipment. If there’s a cardinal rule to getting kids interested in fishing, it’s to make sure and keep them engaged.

Children are naturally curious, they love to play in and on the water and are fascinated by the creatures that inhabit the water. Catching fish isn’t their main objective and you shouldn’t make it the focus of an outing. It’s important to plan a trip that includes other activities such as swimming, wildlife identification and snorkeling, as well as fishing. Being on the water provides an excellent opportunity to teach kids about their environment and boating safety skills. You could also make a game out of learning basic nautical terms such as port, starboard, bow and stern. Every child I’ve ever had on the boat wants to drive, so let them, even if it’s just sitting on your lap with their hands on the wheel!

Take a kid fishing
By being sensitive to what interests children, it’s possible to foster a lifetime passion. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

It’s important let kids be a part of the adventure, and getting them involved is a great way to interject a stealth lesson in responsibility in children. Give them things to be in charge of such as making sure everyone knows where the safety equipment is. Don’t start children out with cheap fishing rods and reels. Provide them with decent equipment that’s light and manageable. An ultra-light rig with 6-pound test line is a great way to start. Try and think like a kid when fishing. Children would rather catch a dozen pinfish in a half hour than wait a half hour for a chance at a bigger or better fish. Try tying on a bait-catching sabiki rig and watch their excitement and boasting about catching so many fish. Action is paramount; kids are easily bored and distracted.

Consider starting kids fishing with a small popping cork that they can watch for signs of action. If you can start teaching kids that the enjoyment of the adventure isn’t measured by the number or size of fish you catch, you’ll teach them an important lesson that many fishermen never learn.

Local shops like AMI Outfitters can suggest the right tackle and the fish to pursue. If you can make the experience interesting and educational for them, even if there’s no hook-ups, they are more likely to want to do it again. Kids might be more interested in collecting shells, counting crabs or looking for manatees or dolphins than fishing, so be sensitive to what’s bringing them pleasure. It’s a good strategy to have children involved in other activities while you search for the fish. When the action gets hot, get them involved. That is a much better way to make a day of “fishing” more memorable and one they’ll want to repeat. It’s also important to emphasize safety, bending down barbs and making them aware of fish with sharp teeth and barbs like catfish and stingrays. This is also an excellent time to teach them to carefully handle and release any fish that’s not going to be kept. The first experiences on the water are very important and you should consider a plan of action in advance in case the fishing isn’t great. The last thing you want to do is bore kids by sitting on a spot too long. Keep your eyes and ears open and you might learn a lesson or two from them!

Oysters, past and future

Oysters, past and future

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Water Quality.

ANNA MARIA – Damon Moore outlined his vision for local oyster habitat restoration during a Feb. 21 presentation at The Center of Anna Maria Island.

Moore, the founder and executive director of Oyster River Ecology Inc., began with the historical abundance of oysters in local waters and their subsequent decline.

“The oldest reference I could find to the Manatee River was in 1792,” Moore said, when explorers referred to the river as the “River of Oysters.”

From 1876 to 1897, he said the waters went from “oysters, oysters, everywhere to totally depleted” due to the commercial oyster trade.

“It gets worse. A lot worse. Manatee Avenue was originally a sandy road which was paved with oyster shells which were taken from the river,” Moore said. “For several months after, the oyster meat rotted and Manatee Avenue was the most odiferous street in the whole United States.”

From 1931 to 1962 the Bradenton Dredging and Shell Company removed more than 650,000 cubic yards of shell from the Manatee River, he said.

Moore said the current decline in the oyster population is due to water quality issues including water pollution, altered freshwater flows and increased erosion and sedimentation.

“When you put a big dam on the Manatee River that changes how much fresh water comes in, I call it the Goldilocks zone of salinity,” Moore said. “When you’re an oyster, if it’s too fresh, you close up and you don’t open, you will starve to death. If it’s too salty, you’re fine with that but so are all of your predators.”

Moore said the problem locally was overharvesting of hard material that oysters need to thrive and create oyster beds.

“What restoration projects generally consist of is returning that hard material into the water column to allow them to grow,” Moore said. “We don’t have to seed them. We’re lucky there’s enough of an existing population growing in mangrove roots. There’s plenty of larval oysters.”

“When I’m talking about restoration I’m talking about restoring a population of oysters that existed in the Manatee River,” he said, adding that restoration can take place through both community-driven and contract-driven projects.

“Vertical oyster gardens are very popular,” he said. “This is something you can do on your own dock. The docks on Anna Maria Island, you’re in really high salinity waters. If on docks or seawalls, the predators can’t jump which gives the oysters an extra level of protection.”

A vertical oyster garden is typically a string of recycled shell which can be hung from a dock where oysters can grow. Once they’ve reached a certain size, they will fall off into the water and coalesce into an oyster reef, Moore said.

He compared barge and backhoe placement of 6 inches of limerock at a per acre cost of $635,000 to the $216,000-per-acre cost of 12-inch metal pin vertical oyster gardens.

“That’s a significant savings,” Moore said.

“Restoration targets are 300 acres by 2050 for Tampa Bay in the 2020 Tampa Bay Estuary Habitat Management Plan,” he said. “For 300 acres, the cost is $190,680,000 for barge and backhoe compared to $64,947,960 for 12-inch metal.”

Charter review committee considering changes

Charter review committee considering changes

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

ANNA MARIA – During its second meeting, the Anna Maria Charter Review Committee discussed three potential amendments to the city charter.

Similar to the state constitution, the 20-page Anna Maria charter sets forth how the city government is structured and how the city is governed. The charter establishes which city actions require a city ordinance and how citizen-initiated voter referendums are initiated. The charter establishes the duties of the city clerk, city treasurer and city attorney and includes a detailed description of the city’s physical boundaries and corporate limits.

State law requires a city charter to be reviewed at least every five years. The Anna Maria charter was last reviewed in 2019. The city charter can only be amended and revised with the approval of the city’s registered voters.

Chris Arendt chairs the committee that also includes Stevie Coppin, Scott Isherwood, Pat Olesen and Chuck Wolfe.

During the committee’s Feb. 23 meeting, the members discussed three potential amendments to the city charter.

Arendt noted the conveyance or lease of any city-owned property requires a city commission-approved ordinance. Regarding the conveyance of city property, Arendt said the Holmes Beach charter requires a four-fifths supra majority support of the city commission and the approval of the city’s registered voters in order to sell, vacate or give away a city-owned property. The Bradenton Beach charter includes similar language.

The Anna Maria charter does not require city voters to approve a proposed conveyance of city property. The committee is considering, but has not reached formal consensus, on proposing a charter amendment that would add that requirement to the charter.

Wolfe suggested including in the conveyance amendment language a provision that would also require voter approval for any city-owned structures or properties leased to another party for 25 years or more.

The city currently leases space on the City Pier to the City Pier Grill operators and to Mote Marine. Using essentially rent-free leases, the city also has long-term leases with The Center, Island Players and the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum for the use of those city-owned properties and structures.

The committee is considering proposing an amendment pertaining to the scheduling of special city commission meetings called in addition to the regular commission meetings that generally occur twice a month.

The charter currently provides that a special meeting may be called by any city commission member and when practical, with no less than 24 hours’ notice given to the public and the other commissioners.

Isherwood expressed concerns about a commission member theoretically acting as a “loose cannon” and abusing or over-using the ability to call special meetings. The committee is still considering proposing an amendment that would allow the mayor, the commission chair or a majority of commission members to schedule a special meeting, instead of a single member.

The commission discussed and is considering a potential charter amendment that would increase the non-voting mayor’s two-year term in office to a four-year term, while likely leaving the voting commission members’ terms at two years.

Seeking input from the mayor, the commission will invite Murphy to its Friday, March 8 meeting in hopes of getting his thoughts on four-year mayoral terms versus two-year terms. The committee also welcomes the city commissioners to attend the March 8 meeting to share their thoughts about two-year terms versus four-year terms. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.

During the Feb. 23 meeting, Coppin shared her concerns about the charter’s use of gender-specific pronouns such as “he” and “she.” Coppin said the gender-specific pronouns are not keeping with the times, are grammatically awkward and should be replaced with non-gender-specific language. The committee reached no consensus on this matter and agreed to revisit the topic at a future meeting.

When the committee completes its review of the charter, the committee’s suggestions will be presented to the city commission for consideration. The commission can then support or reject any or all of the proposed charter amendments being placed on a future ballot. The commission can also propose charter amendments of its own to place on the ballot.

Manatee mortality down

Manatee mortality down

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Featured, Manatees, Outdoors.

MANATEE COUNTY – The recently released manatee mortality report for 2023 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) shows that statewide deaths for manatees are well below the five-year annual average of 793.

The total number of deaths statewide last year was 556 and is the lowest since 2017 when 538 manatee deaths were recorded. The FWC’s estimate of the state’s manatee population in 2021-22 was between 8,350 and 11,730 manatees.

The leading cause of death last year was watercraft-related, according to the FWC report, which also noted that approximately 20% of the total statewide mortality last year was attributed to a significant red tide bloom in southwest Florida earlier in the year.

In Manatee County there were 19 total deaths recorded – four from watercraft, two perinatal, three natural and 10 not necropsied. The watercraft deaths occurred in the Braden River, Manatee River and Sarasota Bay.

“Population models identify both watercraft collisions and red tide blooms as one of the most significant threats to manatees long-term,” the FWC report stated. “In contrast with the Gulf coast, a high proportion (81%) of Atlantic coast carcasses was fully necropsied for the ongoing health investigation in the Unusual Mortality Event from starvation, but starvation-related mortality was very low (3% of Atlantic coast carcasses) in 2023,” according to FWC.

No mortalities were definitively attributed to Hurricane Idalia, but FWC staff and partners rescued 10 manatees across southwest Florida that had become entrapped after storm-related floodwaters receded.

Manatee Tips

 

• Obey posted signs for manatee slow-speed zones.

• Wear polarized sunglasses to see manatees in your path.

• If you observe a manatee mating herd – several manatees gathered as males vie to mate with a female – watch from at least 100 feet away. Coming any closer might disrupt the mating or endanger you; adult manatees typically weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

• Look, but don’t touch manatees. Keep your distance when boating, even if you are steering a canoe, kayak or paddleboard.

• Never feed or water manatees as they will become habituated to people, which could put them at risk of injury.

• Stow trash and line when underway. Marine debris that blows overboard can become ingested by or entangled around manatees.

• Report stranded or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).

Feds issue approval for mangrove removal

Feds issue approval for mangrove removal

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Environment, Featured, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA – Despite attempts by neighbors to put a stop to mangrove removal at a Gull Drive home under construction, the developer received final approval on Feb. 16 to remove mangroves and construct a seawall.

With the consent of both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), mangroves have been removed and construction of a 116-foot seawall began along the waterline at 111 Gull Drive beginning the week of Feb. 21.

“I have lost this battle and I accept that, but we haven’t lost the war; we’ve gained awareness of our environment. I’ve pulled the fire alarm on this,” said Ronnie Leto, an environmentalist and self-described whistleblower who lives across the canal from the Gull Drive property. “The sad part is, it’s not a homeowner doing this. It’s a developer doing this for profit.”

The property is owned by Sharp Real Estate Development of Hingham, Mass.

According to the Sharp Development website, “The private lot sits at the end of a cul-de-sac on a wide, open waterway” and has an expected list price of $6,195,000.

The work there had been stalled since December when neighbors reported mangrove removal to the FDEP and the city of Anna Maria.

“I was in my front yard putting up Christmas lights when I heard the machines,” Leto said in December. “I went out back and saw a backhoe ripping out mangroves.”

In a Dec. 18 email from Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy to The Sun, Murphy wrote, “The City received a complaint from a resident on Dec. 4, 2023, regarding the extensive removal and alteration of mangroves at 111 Gull Drive. As a result of this complaint, city staff visited the property and confirmed that mangroves had been removed and fill dirt had been added in its place.”

A permit for seawall construction had not been issued by the city and a stop work order was posted on the property on Dec. 6, according to Murphy.

“On Dec. 13, 2023, staff received several complaints from residents that mangroves had been removed yet again, despite the stop work order,” Murphy wrote. “One of the complainants shared a video of workers removing the mangroves and noted that the complainant called the Manatee County Sheriff to the site on the eve of Dec. 12, 2023. City staff visited the site on Dec. 13, 2023, and observed workers actively removing mangroves.”

Murphy wrote the stop work order had been removed and staff reposted it.

“The City of Anna Maria has confirmed that Mason Martin LLC, the contractor for the construction of the house at 111 Gull, was the entity that removed the mangroves,” Murphy wrote in a Dec. 19 email to The Sun.

FDEP issued an exemption on Sept. 19 for the construction of an approximately 116-foot seawall with a 2-foot-wide concrete cap and 815 square feet of backfill to level the property.

Following complaints the agency had received on Dec. 13 about mangrove removal, FDEP inspectors conducted a site visit on Dec. 22.

The FDEP final inspection report on released on Jan. 11 stated in part: “The inspection revealed that construction had commenced and a portion of the mangroves on the property were removed within the exempt activity’s footprint. Erosion control devices were installed upon request after the inspection.”

According to that report, 67 feet of mangroves had been removed, leaving 49 feet of mangrove fringe.

“The canal system is considered Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and is within retained waters. Therefore, additional authorization is required from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE),” the FDEP report stated. “The Department notified the property owner that they should continue to coordinate with USACE and to not continue construction until a USACE authorization is obtained.”

On Feb. 16, the USACE issued the required authorization, according to Army Corps spokesman David Ruderman.

“The authorization included a requirement that the applicant purchase mangrove credits from the Tampa Bay Mitigation Bank before construction of the proposed seawall,” Ruderman wrote in a Feb. 22 email to The Sun. “I don’t have any details on the dollar amount of the credit but have asked for that info and will pass it on if/when I get a response.”

The Army Corps of Engineers mitigation credits can provide wetland mitigation for impacts within its federal wetland mitigation service area, according to the Tampa Bay Mitigation bank website.

“Mitigation banking is a practice in which an environmental enhancement and preservation project is conducted by a public agency or private entity (“banker”) to provide mitigation for unavoidable wetland impacts within a defined region (mitigation service area),” according to the FDEP website. “The bank is the site itself, and the currency sold by the banker to the impact permittee is a credit, which represents the wetland ecological value equivalent to the complete restoration of one acre.”

Mitigation banks are authorized by a state permit, issued by either a water management district or the department, and by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Mitigation Bank Instrument (MBI), according to FDEP.

“The cost of a ‘credit’ often seems high at first look (initially listed at $100K-$150K per credit); however, the cost is often significantly lower than the cost of designing and permitting on-site mitigation projects taking into consideration land costs, consulting and engineering fees, and delays in project implementation,” according to the Tampa Bay Mitigation website.

Anna Maria legalizing sandwich board signs

Anna Maria legalizing sandwich board signs

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

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria is revising its sandwich board sign regulations.

On Feb. 22, City Attorney Becky Vose presented on first reading a previously discussed ordinance that would allow one A-framed sandwich board sign per business address. The second reading and final adop­tion of Ordinance 24-291 is slated for Thursday, March 14.

Anna Maria’s code of ordinances currently prohibits sandwich board signs but the enforcement of that prohibition was suspended to assist businesses in response to a hurricane-related pier closure in 2017 and the COVID pandemic.

Anna Maria legalizing sandwich board signs
The Bortell’s Lounge sandwich board sign promotes a breakfast and booze pairing. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

With enforcement suspended, many Anna Maria businesses currently use sandwich board signs to attract customers and promote the goods and services they offer. Some busi­nesses use more than one sandwich board sign, but they will soon be limited to one such sign per business address.

Anna Maria legalizing sandwich board signs
Anna Maria businesses will be limited to one sandwich board sign per business address. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

According to the soon-to-be-amended ordinance, “Each separate address housing one or more legal existing commercial uses within the ROR (Retail/Office/Residential) and C-1 zoning districts shall be permitted a single A-frame sandwich board. Such board shall have two fixed panels and be free of any parts that may swing or move in any fashion. Additionally, such board shall not exceed 27 inches in width and 45 inches in height, including the A-frame. Such board shall not be located in the right of way or in any parking space, shall not impede pedestrian traffic or line of sight and/or vehicular sight distances and/or sight triangle and shall be allowed during business hours only and shall be removed during non-business hours and inclement weather.”

Anna Maria legalizing sandwich board signs
Roser Church used a sandwich board sign to promote its pancake breakfast. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

While participating in the Feb. 22 meeting by phone, City Planner Ashley Austin noted the city commission previously discussed the proposed ordinance amendment in August. The proposed ordinance was then reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board in September and the revisions suggested by the commission and planning board were incorporated into the ordinance presented that evening.

Anna Maria legalizing sandwich board signs
Anna Maria Rocks is among the many Anna Maria retailers that utilize sandwich board signs. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Austin said she reached out to 21 Anna Maria business owners seeking their input. She said 16 business own­ers support the proposed sandwich board sign allowance, one business owner opposes sandwich board signs in general and four business owners are neutral on the matter.

Hemp, CBD regulations to be revisited

Hemp, CBD regulations to be revisited

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Retail.

ANNA MARIA – The mayor and city commission plan to review and potentially amend a city ordinance that prohibits the sale of hemp and CBD products.

Hemp is a cannabis plant that contains 0.3% or less THC, the psychoactive ingredi­ent in marijuana that produces a “high.” CBD is a cannabis product that contains legally-allowed low levels of THC.

Enacted in 2015, Section 34-2 of Anna Ma­ria’s code of ordinances says, “The growing, processing, distributing and sale of marijuana within the city limits of Anna Maria is hereby prohibited. Marijuana shall be defined for purposes of this section to include all parts of any plant of the genus cannabis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the plant or its seeds or resin, including but not limited to low-THC cannabis.”

At Mayor Dan Murphy’s suggestion, Anna Maria’s current hemp and CBD prohibitions are tentatively scheduled for discussion during the Thursday, March 14 city commission meeting that will start at 2 p.m.

Anna Maria’s hemp and CBD sales prohibitions came into question during the Feb. 8 commission meet­ing, when Blue Ribbon Events owner Danielle Lynch and Holmes Beach-based Edibles N More owner Mel Wendel were informed that Wendel could not sell hemp and CBD products at the arts and crafts show taking place at Roser Church that weekend. Wendel noted CBD sales are allowed in Holmes Beach because that city amended its hemp and CBD prohibi­tions in accordance with the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp and differentiated it from marijuana.

When addressing the commission, Wendel said she purchases and resells CBD products produced and sold by Beach Bum Apothecary in Anna Maria (no relation to Beach Bums on Pine Avenue). She also said the Cool Beans AMI coffee shop was selling CBD products.

In response, Murphy said he wasn’t aware of any Anna Maria businesses selling hemp or CBD products.

VIOLATION NOTICES

Although not named by Wendel, North Shore Café owners Nathan Scott Geller and Colleen Geller now find themselves involved in the hemp and CBD regulation discussion.

On Feb. 13, the Gellers received a notice of violation letter from Code Enforcement Manager David DeZutter.

The notice includes the city code language pertaining to hemp and CBD sales and says, “This is to inform you that it was brought to our attention that your location may be selling CBD products which are made from hemp. If the allegation is correct, please remove all CBD products. Your imme­diate attention is required to bring your property into compliance by Feb. 23.

That day, Cool Beans AMI owner Morgan Bryant received a similar notice.

When contacted by The Sun, Beach Bum Apothecary owner Jim Harwood said he did not receive a notice of vio­lation. He said he previously utilized a commercial kitchen facility in Anna Maria to produce CBD products but he no longer uses that facility.

“The (Florida) Department of Agriculture granted me a permit to use at the kitchen. Right now, the business is not operating and I do not and have not sold items in the city of Anna Maria. My billing and shipping addresses are located in Bradenton,” Harwood said.

BUSINESS OWNER RESPONDS

The Gellers attended the Feb. 22 city commission meeting and Nathan addressed the commission during general public comment.

Regarding the notice of violation, Geller said, “I can assure you we’re not doing any of those things. As a resident and business owner, we support the intent of this ordinance, but somehow we got ensnared in this ordinance because of a product we sell at the café.”

Hemp, CBD regulations to be revisited
Some of the North Shore Café menu offerings contain hemp. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Geller said the café uses hemp powder as an ingredient in some menu items and he showed the commission a package of the product used.

The café’s online menu includes an Acai Hemp Protein Bowl and smooth­ies that contain hemp protein, hemp seeds or hemp powder. Geller said the hemp product the café uses has a THC level of one-thousandth of one percent.

“They call it industrial hemp. Completely safe and legal. We feed this to our children. It has nothing to do with CBD,” he said. “North Shore Café has never sold CBD products. We don’t intend to sell CBD products.”

Making an analogy, Geller said, “The poppy seed comes from the poppy plant. The poppy plant also produces opium and heroin. No one is making poppy seeds illegal or banning lemon poppyseed muffins or poppy seed bagels, because they come from a different part of the plant.”

He also said, “This ordinance needs to be more specific and actually go after CBD products and synthetic CBDs.”

In response, Murphy said the cur­rent ordinance was enacted in 2015 to prohibit medical marijuana dispensa­ries before Florida voters approved the sale of medical marijuana. All three Anna Maria Island cities prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries and Holmes Beach is the only Island city that permits CBD sales.

“We didn’t want pot dispensaries in the city and we didn’t want smoke shops. That’s what that commission was after,” Murphy said, noting none of the current commissioners were in office in 2015.

Commissioner Jon Crane asked if the Gellers could wait until after the March 14 meeting to address the code enforcement citation they received. Murphy said the city is compelled to enforce the ordinance but the mayor has some discretion as to how the enforcement is conducted.

The commission unanimously supported Murphy’s suggestion to place the matter on the agenda for its March 14 meeting.

STATE, FEDERAL LAWS

According to the Florida Depart­ment of Agriculture and Consumer Services website, the 2018 Farm Bill adopted by the federal government created a process for states and tribal governments to establish state hemp programs in which individuals could legally cultivate hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the federal Controlled Substances Act.

In 2019, the Florida Legislature adopted a state hemp program in which hemp is considered an agricultural commodity and hemp-derived cannabi­noids are not controlled substances or adulterants. State laws defines hemp as any part of the cannabis plant that does not contain more than 0.3% of THC.

Related coverage: Craft fair prompts CBD sales discussion

Vacation rental bills in jeopardy

Vacation rental bills in jeopardy

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

TALLAHASSEE – Two vacation rental bills working their way through the Florida Legislature are not yet identical matching bills and time is running out for them to be made identical before the 60-day legislative session ends on Friday, March 8.

For legislation to become state law, the House and Senate must approve identical matching bills to send to the governor to sign into law, approve without signing or veto.

On Feb. 1, the Florida Senate approved Senate Bill 280 by a 27-13 final vote on the Senate floor. On Feb. 22, an amended version of House Bill 1537 successfully passed though the House of Representatives Commerce Commit­tee by a 13-5 margin, with Committee Chair Bob Rommel (R-Naples) among those opposing the amended bill.

The amended House bill and the adopted Senate bill are not identical bills. With no more committee stops, the House bill could be further revised through internal negotiations before Speaker of the House Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) decides whether the bill will be brought to the floor for a final vote. If the House adopts a bill that doesn’t identi­cally match the Senate bill, both bills would be considered dead.

Vacation rental bills in jeopardy
State Rep. Philip Griffitts presented the Commerce Committee with an amended version of House Bill 1537. -MyFloridaHouse.gov | Submitted

When presenting his bill to the Commerce Committee, State Rep. Philip Griffitts (R-Panama City Beach) mentioned three primary goals: “Standardize the licensing and registration of vacation rentals, make available the information and the tools necessary for effective and efficient enforce­ment for good neighbor codes and ensure the effective collection of taxes due on vacation rental transactions.”

The lengthy amendment he then introduced was adopted without additional discussion.

When discussing his bill in general, Griffitts said the proposed occupancy limits are based on the Florida Fire Prevention Code provision that would allow one occupant per every 150 square feet. The Senate bill proposes a two-plus-two occupancy limit that allows two guests per bedroom and two additional guests.

Speaking on behalf of the city of Jacksonville Beach, lobbyist Jack Cory said, “This bill would erode the property rights of over 5 million constituents who bought and want to live in a homesteaded residential property. They do not want to live next to mini-hotels. Gov. DeSantis probably said it best when he said for us to be micro-managing vacation rentals, I am not sure that is the thing to do.”

Lauderdale Isles Civic Improvement Association Vice President Geoff Rames said, “HB 1537 will destroy our neighbor­hoods. Vacation rentals will run rampant without the fear of consequences.”

State Rep. Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs) said, “We talk so much about property rights. How about my freedom to not live next to a party house?”

When expressing his tentative support, Rep. Patt Maney (R-Shalimar) said “It frankly is a little frustrating for local governments to beat us up over preemption when they don’t do their job and exercise their police powers to control noise, trash and garbage, traffic and parking. If they won’t do it, they shouldn’t complain when the state decides to get a 800- or 900-mile-long screw­driver to tighten the screws.”

ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS

When contacted by The Sun the following day, Griffitts confirmed the House and Senate bills were not identical and he doesn’t anticipate the House members simply adopting the Senate bill.

“There are considerable differences. I don’t believe there’s a lot of buy-in with the Senate bill. The Senate bill will not pass the House,” he said.

Griffitts said he filed HB 1537 at the request of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, who sought his assistance because of his family’s background in hotels and hospitality and his experience as a county commissioner and tourist development council member.

Griffitts, a Panama City Beach resident, said, “I have 12,000 registered vacation rentals in my county. I am infinitely familiar with the problems.”

Griffitts said he supports local governments’ ability to continue regulating and inspecting vaca­tion rentals.

“In my opinion, vacation rentals are no different than hotels. Why should they be treated any differently? The state just wants to make sure they don’t put somebody out of business,” he said.

ANNA MARIA REACTION

The amended House bill was discussed that night at the Feb. 22 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

“They amended the bill and actually made it worse,” Mayor Dan Murphy said.

City Attorney Becky Vose said the House bill would limit local inspections only to items specified in the Florida Fire Prevention Code such as smoke alarms, battery-powered emergency lights, points of exit and floor diagrams. She said the city inspectors also monitor compliance with city regulations that require vacation rentals to have swimming pool fences, pool door alarms, stairway railings and other safety features not addressed in the fire prevention code.

She said the House bill doesn’t define sleeping accommodations and cots and sleeping bags could be considered sleeping accom­modations. She also noted House bill would give the vacation rental owners and managers until 9 a.m. the following day to respond to a complaint.

 

Related coverage

 

Vacation rental bill lagging in House of Representatives

Holmes Beach logo

Mayor responds to OPPAGA study changes

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth is reacting to the state’s decision to include a fourth option in the ongoing Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study – eliminating the three Anna Maria Island cities and folding the Island into unincorporated Manatee County.

“It’s concerning that none of the mayors were told this was an option,” Titsworth said. “That’s concerning, why there’s no dialogue between us and our state representatives who represent us. Our citizens want to be informed so it’s important that we continue to make ourselves available.”

In an effort to help keep the public informed about the ongoing study, which is expected to conclude in late summer/early fall, Titsworth said the city has purchased the domain saveannamariaisland.com and is in the process of building a website containing facts on the three Island cities and the study as well as information for residents and concerned members of the public who want to reach out to their state representatives. Though consolidation of the three Island cities isn’t up for discussion during the current state legislative session, it’s expected that it will be addressed in 2024. Titsworth says if that happens, she fears an approval for consolidation could go through at the state level quickly and without the input of Island residents similar to the bill to construct a parking garage at Manatee Beach that was approved in 2023 without resident input and against local building regulations. She said she urges everyone who has an opinion on the potential for consolidation to reach out to their state representatives now rather than wait for it to be brought up in bill form for consideration at the state level.

The option joins three other considerations including allowing the three cities to remain as-is, consolidating the cities into one new city or eliminating the three city governments and folding the Island into the city of Bradenton.

The ongoing study, conducted by the state of Florida, is the result of a request from the five-member Manatee County Legislative Delegation and is not being done at the request of the three Island mayors. While the mayors said they would support the study insofar as it looks at potential ways for the three cities to share costs and reduce the burden on taxpayers, they’re not in favor of consolidation. Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown previously stated that he also has no interest in consolidating Anna Maria Island into his city.

If the Anna Maria Island cities are forced into consolidation or elimination by the state, Titsworth said there’s nothing protecting any other Florida municipality from suffering the same fate, including other Manatee County cities.

“If you get on the wrong side of state leaders, it’s no

Cortez founded on mullet

Cortez founded on mullet

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – A visit by Dr. Angela Collins to the Cortez Cultural Center furthered the organization’s mission to “preserve the past and protect the future.”

The University of Florida Sea Grant marine extension agent told visitors last Thursday all about mullet, the reason Cortez was founded in the late 1880s, and still its most profitable crop.

Fisheries are part of Florida’s second-largest economic driver, agriculture, Collins told a group of about 25 visitors, many of them tourists, supporting the state’s largest industry.

Collins quizzed visitors about why mullet jump. It could be to rid themselves of parasites, or because they like it, people ventured. Scientifically, no answer has been discovered, but scientists have learned that when you see a fish jump in Florida, nine times out of 10, it’s a mullet, she said.

The fish can live to be 13 years old, are scavengers, and it’s tough to catch them with hook and line.

As a result, ancient tribes in Florida used gill nets to catch the fish, using coconuts as floats and shells to weigh them down, and herding them into dead-end canals to have fresh fish close at hand, Collins said.

Cuban fishermen traveled to Cortez to catch mullet, especially during Lent in February and March, when demand was particularly high since many Catholics eat fish on Fridays in Lent when other meat is forbidden.

In the late 1960s, the mullet fishery shifted more to roe – fish eggs – than the fish itself, due to the high prices it brought in foreign markets. Mullet became known as “Gulf of Mexico gold,” Collins said.

“Sailfish is the state fish of Florida,” she said. “It should be mullet.”

Gill nets continued to be used until 1995, when voters passed a state Constitutional Amendment banning them, believing mullet fishing was depleting mullet and other bycatch species caught in mullet nets. Mullet fishermen now rely on different types of smaller nets, she said.

Cortez is special, Collins said, with its status on the National Register of Historic Places, its 95-acre FISH Preserve on Sarasota Bay and some descendants of original settlers from Carteret County, North Carolina still living in the village.

As a working waterfront on very valuable Florida property, Collins said, “There is no place left like Cortez in Florida.”

Bradenton Beach logo

Commissioners discuss expanding city boundaries in ICW

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners reached no conclusions on Feb. 15 while discussing expanding the city’s boundaries in the Intracoastal Waterway to increase jurisdiction over the city’s mooring field.

The discussion arose from Bradenton Beach Marina’s offer to partner with the city to act as harbormaster, provide pump-out service and coordinate payment for the mooring field.

City attorney Ricinda Perry presented the idea of a partnership with the marina at a Feb. 1 city commission meeting.

Mayor John Chappie said at the Feb. 15 meeting that one of the concerns would be vessels moving south to avoid regulations in the mooring field.

He lauded local law enforcement for removing abandoned and derelict vessels from the waters off Bradenton Beach.

“We’ve been leaders in the area in the ability to get rid of abandoned and derelict boats and I wanted to say thank you to the marine patrol,” Chappie said.

“Part one is figuring out what we want to do with the mooring field area,” Perry said. “We’ve had discussions in the past about having stronger regulations as it relates to the floating dock. If you’re going to have the mooring field, will those vessels drift into other parts of the city where regulations can’t be put into place or enforcement can’t be made available as easily since they’re not within the municipal boundaries.”

Commission Jan Vosburgh expressed concerns about the propensity of boats to move southward if there is a mooring field.

“We have to think about the residents, not just what’s going to happen on Bridge Street where we have the pier. It’s not fair to the residents who are living further south,” she said. “I’m against a mooring field.”

Commissioner Marilyn Maro phoned into the meeting and asked if the Bradenton Beach mooring field would be like the one in Sarasota.

“It won’t be near as large as Sarasota,” Chappie said.

The expansion would bring the city-designated water area to 14th Street South, just south of the Coquina mooring, 500 feet out to the Intracoastal Waterway, Chappie said.

Cole noted that the expansion would allow tougher restrictions in that area.

“The annexation part will cover all those waters so our marine patrol would be legally allowed to enter those waters,” Chappie said.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby addressed Vosburgh’s concerns.

“The majority of boats you’re referring to come from Sarasota when Sarasota enacted their mooring area, they moved this way,” Cosby said. “To say that those boats move from our field is not true. There’s one there now and we’re taking care of that one.”

Cosby said boundary expansion should happen before the discussion of a mooring field.

“The mooring makes no sense to me. I don’t think the water’s deep enough to get the kind of boats you need in there to make any money,” Cosby said. “And all that seagrass that was put in there, we’ve done channeling so no boats can go there. To make it profitable, I don’t think it’s possible, I don’t know.”

A work session will be scheduled to continue the discussion.

Police investigate gunshots in Holmes Beach

Police investigate gunshots in Holmes Beach

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Shots were fired, but who fired them and exactly where they were fired remains a mystery after all of the Island’s three police departments participated in the search for the shooter.

The incident began on Feb. 10 at 10:03 p.m. when Holmes Beach Police Department (HBPD) Officer Chris Bennett was getting into his patrol car at the HBPD station and heard two gunshots coming from the south nearby. Bennett advised dispatch of the shots and requested that Officer Ryan Welch respond to the area, believing the shots came from the area of the Waterline Hotel, 5325 Marina Drive, or the area of 5200 Gulf Drive.

While searching around the Waterline, Bennett spoke with a bystander who said she had not heard the shots, and he found no physical evidence of the shots coming from that area. At the same time, Welch was checking the parking lot in the area of D Coy Ducks bar across the street. An employee of the bar told Welch he had also heard the shots, and thought they had come from the area near Hurricane Hanks restaurant, 5410 Marina Drive, possibly behind the building on the 52nd Street side of the business.

Shortly after, HBPD dispatch got a call from a concerned citizen in the area of 46th Street who also heard the shots nearby, but couldn’t provide an exact location.

Officers Bennett and Welch went on foot to check the beach access parking lot at 100 52nd St.

“While checking the parking lot, we heard two additional gunshots very close to our south,” Bennett said in his official report. “They were possibly coming from the 50th Street beach access area.”

Officers from the Bradenton Beach Police Department (BBPD) and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) arrived at the scene to assist in the search.

“I deployed my agency-issued AR-15 rifle, and Officer Welch deployed his agency-issued shotgun,” Bennett said in his report. “Along with the aforementioned law enforcement officers from neighboring agencies, conducted a thorough check until approximately 10:45 p.m. of the area between 47th Street and 52nd Street while on foot.”

An MCSO helicopter was requested but was not available to assist at the time. After an extensive ground search, no suspect could be located by officers. There were no gunshot wound victims that night, and no related property damage was reported. Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Holmes Beach Police Department.

School zone speed cameras could be coming to AME

School zone speed cameras could be coming to AME

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Excessive speed in school zones is a serious safety issue that can be addressed by cameras, according to a recent Manatee County Commission vote.

Cameras will be installed at some Manatee County schools, possibly including Anna Maria Elementary School (AME).

The vote was unanimous to move forward with installation and monitoring of the speed zones. A 6-1 majority approved an agreement with the vendor, RedSpeed, to furnish, install and maintain the speed detection system, comply with FDOT placement and installation specifications and assist Manatee County Public Safety in the public announcement and awareness campaign according to a press release from Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan.

The lone dissenting vote came from Commissioner George Kruse.

“There will be warning signs up for about two weeks prior to them being turned on, so drivers will have ample opportunity to be notified the cameras will be in effect,” District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “And even once the cameras are in place and active, there will still be warning signs that they are active.”

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that his department supports the installation of the cameras if the county includes AME in the project.

“We had a speed study done two weeks ago from a different vendor than the county uses to see what it would be in our area,” Tokajer said. “During the five-day period, there were almost 1,300 violations.”

Tokajer said they are waiting to see if the county is doing this in the entirety of the county, or if the cities are going to make their own decisions. He said he has not yet been informed by the county about the issue, and his department has not been included in the conversation.

Tokajer said that while his department supports the installation of the cameras, saying it will increase driver awareness of the seriousness of speeding in school zones, it will not affect his placement of officers on Gulf Drive in front of the school during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times.

The move comes after the Florida Legislature passed Florida House Bill 657 last April, which authorizes counties to enforce speed limits in school zones using speed detection systems. Drivers traveling more than 10 mph over the posted school zone speed limit during designated hours would receive a $100 ticket in the mail. The speed camera zones would be active only at times when kids are heading to and from school.

Commission considers paid parking in residential zones

Commission considers paid parking in residential zones

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Following commission approval of temporary use parking lots in the footprint of the planned Bridge Street resort hotel/restaurant/retail complex, commissioners discussed applications for paid parking lots in residential zones.

Building Official Darin Cushing said the city received four applications for temporary parking lots in areas that are zoned residential. The city Land Development Code prohibits parking lots in residential zones, he said.

Hotel developer Shawn Kaleta submitted temporary use permit applications for parking lots at 207 Church Ave., 206 Bay Drive N., 205 First St. N. and 102 Third St. N. The proposed duration of the permits is from Feb. 1, 2024 through Feb. 1, 2026.

Cushing said the new applications came in with drawings similar to the applications submitted by Kaleta for parking on 101 and 105 Bridge St. along with 219 Gulf Drive S. and 106 Third St. S. The difference, he said, is that one of the lots is in the C-2 zoning district and the others are in the R-3, or residential, zone.

“When they applied for the temporary use permit for this one we were just talking about, they brought in four more applications,” Cushing said. “There’s one for the lot on Third Street that was mentioned that popped up and also there are two back-to-back lots on Church and Bayview – both on the side of the marina – and then also for the lot currently used as a parking lot at the Pines (Trailer Park).

“We do need parking, that’s for sure, but at the same time we make sure it’s done properly,” Cushing said.

“I don’t think it’s proper for us to discuss, because it’s an upcoming item; it just came in,” Mayor John Chappie said.

Evelyn Stob, who lives on Third Street North, spoke during the public comment session of the discussion.

“There are two additional spots. I assume they were all zoned R-3 and continue to be zoned R-3. R-3 does not allow parking,” Stob said. “I’d like you to seriously consider those before you grant any type of additional parking, because I’ll be honest with you, it depreciates my home value.”

The lot Stob was referring to is at 102 Third St. N., a home that was, according to tax records, purchased for $1,150,000 in February 2023. The property owner is listed in tax records as 102 3D Street LLC.

Stob said the home was demolished and set up for parking.

“They’re all set up to go. Doesn’t this seem a little backwards?” Stob asked. “Can I just start throwing that up in my front yard? It’s something for you to consider.”

Stob said she did not want her home to be surrounded by parking lots.

“What is the status on the applications for those properties?” Chappie asked Cushing. “The hotel property is after the fact. They’ve already put stuff in there. With the other parking lots that we haven’t reviewed yet, we’re telling them you have to shut it down.”

Chappie said if the rules aren’t followed, the commission has no choice.

“The zoning dos and don’ts are pretty clear, and I don’t know how we can continue to allow the illegal activities in those areas,” Chappie said. “It does create a negative with the surrounding residential neighborhood.”

There are areas in city regulations where an applicant can make an application to change the rules, he said.

“It’s not a free-for-all,” Chappie said. “We have to follow the rules and regulations. We can’t start making exceptions for anybody because then you open a can of worms. It’s not right, it’s not fair and it’s not the way the system is supposed to work.”

Commissioner Ralph Cole noted that there is a process that should be followed to make exceptions to zoning.

“There has to be public notice, to go through the process,” Cole said. “I don’t think we should break our own rules to give an exception. When they purchased these pieces of property they knew what the allowable uses were.”

Commission considers paid parking in residential zones
An application for a a parking lot at 102 Third St. S. was discussed by the commission at its Feb. 15 meeting. – Leslie Lake | Sun

“They could apply for a variance, that’s a whole process that takes months,” Cushing said. “It has to happen before the lots are installed. These are already up and running, they have kiosks. It’s the cart before the horse at this point.”

“I don’t think we have much choice but to put a stop and desist on this,” Chappie said. “It’s not legal according to our rules and regulations. I don’t see any way around it.”

City Attorney Ricinda Perry said it’s premature at this point because there is not an application for the commission to act upon.

“We don’t have the application, so we’re not in a position to act on it,” Perry said. “They can defend why they are not in violation of our code, and we can look at it at that time.”

“If you as a mayor find a violation, you can direct staff to look into it,” Perry said. “It appears that code enforcement would be that mechanism if it’s a violation of a code.”

Cushing said parking facilities have been put in place without any type of permit and letters from the city went out to the property owners saying the parking lots have to be removed.

“Since the time the letters went out, we’ve received applications,” Cushing said. “The letters went out a week ago.”

“It was instructed (in the letters) what they needed to do to become compliant,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said. “That’s why you’re getting the applications now. It needs to come back to the commission to make the decision.”

Perry advised the commission to let the process play out until the applications are reviewed.

Thousands flock to Cortez for FISH Festival

Thousands stream to Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Festivals.

CORTEZ – There was something “fishy” going on in Cortez on Saturday as thousands of people streamed to the 42nd Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. Although heavy rain forced the cancellation of Sunday festivities, Saturday was cool and rain-free, and the party was in full swing.

Thousands flock to Cortez for FISH Festival
The Fisherman’s Fashion Show was a big hit with the festival crowd on Saturday. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“It was really warm last year, but this is fantastic,” Janelle Applegate said. “We love this little fishing town, and come down for this every year from Clearwater. Cortez is as real as it gets. I can’t imagine there are too many places like this left in Florida; these people are real. They work hard, there can’t be anything easy about this way of life, but it seems like they wouldn’t have it any other way.”

For only $5, visitors had acres of the historic Cortez fishing village to roam and find plenty to excite all five senses. There was just about any kind of seafood and beverage to satisfy taste, arts and crafts for the eyes, smells of everything from crab traps to funnel cakes, the chance to touch live sea creatures in the “Dock Talks” area and the sounds of live music on the main stage that had the large crowd on their feet.

Thousands flock to Cortez for FISH Festival
there was no shortage of seafood at this year’s Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

Awards were given at this year’s festival to people who have made an impact on the Cortez fishing community. The Pioneer of the Year Award was presented to Kaye Bell, and the First Annual John Stevely Memorial Award was given to Linda Molto as the person who best represents the values of FISH. The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Bob Hooper, and a special FISH Community Service Award was given to the Cortez Trailer Park in honor of their support for all of FISH’s endeavors and the large number of residents who volunteer for this event each year. Finally, Cortez fisherman Tommy Killoran was crowned the winner of the popular Fisherman’s Fashion Show which was judged by crowd applause on the main stage.

The huge festival is put together by a small group of people made up of members of the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and some local residents who volunteer their time throughout the year to plan and execute the event. To handle the task of doing all the work, they rely heavily on volunteers who donate their time to do everything from selling tickets to working parking lots and picking up trash.

Thousands flock to Cortez for FISH Festival
The Eric Von Band had the crowd on their feet on Saturday. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

Proceeds from the Festival will be used to maintain and make improvements to the FISH Preserve, 98 acres of environmentally sensitive land immediately east of Cortez. The festival has been dubbed “a party with a purpose,” since the money will assure future generations will be able to not only fish but also educate others about the importance of commercial fishing and its importance to the coastal Florida way of life for so many that rely on these natural resources to both survive and thrive.