ANNA MARIA – Fifty-one Anna Maria property owners recently received letters from the city regarding their efforts to receive hurricane-related property tax relief without applying for building permits from the city.
The letters pertain to property tax relief sought for properties for which the city has no record of any hurricane repair-related building permits being obtained. The letters inform property owners they have until Aug. 15 to obtain their needed permits, including permits for previously completed repairs. Thirty-six letters reference properties owned by individuals, married couples and trusts and 15 letters reference properties owned by corporations and LLCs. (see the complete list here)
According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, “A homeowner may be eligible for a refund of a portion of property taxes paid for the year in which the catastrophic event occurred if the property was uninhabitable for at least 30 days due to a catastrophic event.
“To be eligible for a partial property tax refund, the property appraiser must determine the residential property was ‘uninhabitable,’ ” according to the property appraiser’s office. State law defines “uninhabitable” as “the loss of use and occupancy of a residential improvement for the purpose for which it was constructed resulting from damage to or destruction of, or from a condition that compromises the structural integrity of, the residential improvement which was caused by a catastrophic event.”
A copy of the letter obtained from the city’s clerk’s office says, “The city of Anna Maria has received information from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office indicating this property was uninhabitable for a period of at least 30 days, resulting in a claim for property tax relief as stipulated in Florida Statute 197.319. This relief is based on a claim that significant damage or destruction occurred as a result of a catastrophic event, in this case either due to Hurricane Helene or Milton.
“According to building department records, we have no information indicating you have submitted permit applications for any work on your property subsequent to Hurricanes Helene and Milton relating to building repairs, rebuilds, renovation or demolition. Florida building codes and city of Anna Maria ordinances require building permits be issued for any repair, rebuild, renovation or demolition work prior to such work being performed,” according to the letter. “If work was performed, or is being performed, on this property that required building permits under Florida Statutes or city codes, the city requests such permits be applied for by August 15. An eligible property owner or the contractor that performed any such work may apply for the permits. Permit fees based on the city’s fee schedule will be assessed for all permit applications submitted, including penalties for work previously performed or work currently in progress.”
The letter states that if no work was performed that would require building permits, the property owner is asked to submit an email that includes a statement of the property owner’s intent to perform or not perform any hurricane-related repair work.
“Under city ordinances, any non-conforming property must be repaired and all work completed and inspected within one year after an event causing damages. If the work is not complete by that time, and the city commission has not granted a time extension waiver to complete the work, the property must be brought to conforming status,” according to the letter.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners held a work meeting on July 15 to hold preliminary discussions about the upcoming 2025-26 budget.
According to the numbers presented at the meeting, total city revenues are projected to be $5,652,680 for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with expenditures projected at $5,045,506.
“A formal budget will be put together and there will be two public hearings (in September) on that,” Mayor John Chappie said. “Today is a preliminary discussion. This is just making sure everybody has an opportunity to answer questions.”
There is no planned increase in property taxes.
“The decision was made that we would not increase property taxes,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby said. “There was discussion about going to the rollback rate. We decided that by implementing the fees that we’ve been discussing over the last couple years, that this was the year we were going to do it. That happens to coincide with what happened with the hurricanes.”
Cosby said the city has seen an 11% reduction in property values due to the hurricanes.
“We have been discussing raising certain fees to bring them more in line with what the other cities are doing and you’re seeing that happen now,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby said. “We had toyed with raising the property tax. I personally walked the neighborhoods after the storm and people need more time to get situated. I think this is just the right thing to do.”
Cosby said that some city expenditures have been put on hold.
“We made some decisions not to do some capital improvement projects,” Cosby said. “New vehicles were going to be purchased and we talked about adding some personnel in the planning and police department and we’re going to put those on hold. As we’re going through this cycle with FEMA, we aren’t 100% sure what projects are going to fly and what percentage they’re going to get through the system.”
Cosby said that the city received $1.1 million in FEMA funding through the state to offset storm-related costs after storm debris removal was completed.
“Half of the projects were in the CRC (FEMA Consolidated Resource Center), which is the final approval to be funded,” Cosby said. “Then we will be getting 100% of those costs back. We decided to lay low this year because we are still going to responsible for 12.5% of our total damage from the hurricanes.”
Cosby said the city has requested its consultant to apply for a hardship through FEMA.
“The city is too small to incur the types of costs we’re having to incur due to the hurricanes,” he said. “Next year once we see where we’re at with FEMA and if we can get some assistance from FEMA to cover some of our losses, this budget could look a lot different next year.”
Millage rate and reserves
“The budget is built with not changing the millage of 2.3329,” City Treasurer Shayne Thompson said. “It functions as it is, it’s a moving target, so this is not the absolute be-all end-all number, but the goal was put some healthy amount back in reserves that were taken this year from the storm. We’re looking at putting back close to $320,000 into reserves in the coming year, so keeping the millage the same accomplishes that goal.”
“If you’re a coastal community, you should have 35% in reserves,” Cosby said. “In some of the budget years when there was money left over, instead of putting it back into the general fund, we put it back in uncommitted reserve. That was by far, one of the smartest things we have done as a city, because we’ve been able to weather this event, with two back-to-back category three hurricanes within 10 days.”
In discussing the millage rate, Commissioner Ralph Cole said that Bradenton Beach should ask Manatee County to contribute to policing in the city.
“We set our millage rate, the county sets their millage rate, and because they set their millage rate high, it puts the burden on us,” Cole said. “We need more money from the county for policing out here with all the people that are coming. Between the two entities we need to figure out something without raising the taxes on people that live here. We need to put more of our tax dollars where they come from.”
City employees will be receiving a 5% salary increase with no change in benefits.
“Last year the cost of living was set at 2.5% and we all got together and we decided 2.5% for a raise would put us at 5% and that is a nice increase for all the employees,” City Clerk Terri Sanclemente said. “I know it’s a little less than last year but it’s still a good raise.”
The city commission approved the following proposed expenditures:
When was the last time you got upset when you were on the water? Was it when someone cut you off while you were poling a shoreline, or maybe when they motored up to that school of tarpon you had been positioning yourself well ahead of? Maybe it was someone who had gotten a little too close to where you’re anchored and fishing, i.e., in your “comfort zone.”
If you were like me, your first reaction might have been to get upset or even to throw your hands up and yell expletives. It took a long time for me to realize that strategy only upset me and often made the situation worse. To give you an example, I would be set up on a line on the beach waiting for tarpon when a Jet Ski would appear and run back and forth right on the line the tarpon were traveling. My first response was to get upset, throw my hands up in a one finger salute and yell something like, “Hey, ******* it’s a big Gulf of Mexico out there!” That kind of a response was most often met with a return of my salute and multiple close passes just out of casting range.
Now, I wave them over and tell them what a nice day it is to be on the water. Then I explain what I’m doing and politely ask them to stay clear of my fishing lane. Almost always they respond with an apology and explain that they didn’t realize what I was doing.
The same goes for those times when I’m fishing inshore and another angler gets in my “comfort zone.” It’s important to realize that we have no idea what’s going on with the other anglers we’re sharing the water with. They could be fishing to eat, indulging a passion, finding solace from a traumatic experience, enjoying a day with friends and family, or just getting some relaxation. We all get caught up in our fishing at times and let our awareness drift as we stalk a school of fish or head to the next spot we’re going to target. Most anglers start out with areas in mind where they’ve caught fish before, and more often these days we either find someone there or nearby. All too often, this can mean that fishermen get crowded together, which has the potential to ruin everyone’s experience. There are lots of places to fish, so if you find someone else nearby, move on to another location. You may even find that you discover fish or a fishing spot you didn’t know about.
I generally hunt fish by poling in shallow water or in schools along the beaches. When I encounter another angler, I either ask them if it’s OK to pass or just give them a wide berth. Most everyone appreciates this gesture and will tell you to proceed, but sometimes they want you to stay completely away, even if there’s little chance of disturbing the action. If this is the case, I don’t argue, I just move on. Even though I don’t fish offshore, I know that many anglers work hard to find a ledge or hard bottom where they target fish and they carefully guard it, never overfishing it. One of the worst things they experience is anglers who look for spots that others are fishing. Most often they don’t have the same respect as the original angler and mark the spot on their GPS, returning later to catch every fish they can. If care isn’t taken, it’s possible to ruin a good hole by overfishing it.
Fishing schooling species like tarpon, Spanish mackerel, little tunny and kingfish requires a stealthy approach; savvy anglers work the edges of a school where they know predators patrol for prey. They understand that a careful approach is their best chance of success. Anglers who don’t know the ropes often troll right through schools of baitfish and breaking fish, causing them to sound and ruining the action for everyone. When anglers take the time to consider others on the water, everyone wins.
Fishing should be fun, and with a little consideration, it can be. When you’re on the water, make it a habit to stay well away from other anglers and if you encounter someone who isn’t playing by those rules, move on. Show them the courtesy they don’t show you.
Last week we talked about the future restoration and look of Cortez after the storms and after the county’s purchase of the Seafood Shack property. This week we’ll cover an emerging trend in the country where communities that have been struck by a disaster are frequently rebuilding richer and more exclusive – sound familiar?
Natural disasters can be galvanizing for a community where people come together to help neighbors and share information about contractors, painters, debris removal and just about anything else. It also presents an opportunity for developers and investors to swoop in and leave their mark on the area.
Homeowners who have received government aid and insurance payouts are rebuilding sturdier homes and meeting updated building codes. In addition to adding another layer of storm protection in the rebuilt homes, homeowners also have the opportunity to remodel damaged areas. This will ultimately translate into a more valuable and marketable property.
Unfortunately, there are low-income homeowners who have more problems navigating the bureaucratic procedures to file for disaster aid and may not have personal funds to close the gap until the funds are available. Also, on Anna Maria Island, longtime residents with beachfront property handed down through families frequently did not carry homeowner’s insurance since the premiums were higher than the value of the building. Many of these cottages and older one-level homes have been sold to developers for the land value. Renters of course can get evicted or choose to move from damaged properties and are facing higher costs and a short supply of rentals.
What this means for Anna Maria Island and Cortez is a change in the profile of the communities. The slow pace of living in these communities is changing, replacing an Old Florida vibe with a jazzier vibe and new, larger homes capable of entertaining family get-togethers and weddings.
Many of these properties are owned by investors or investor groups and are designed for renting and although Anna Maria always had many properties that were available for rent, it still maintained the quality of Island life. Many islanders now fear the Island will never be the same.
A good example of how a Category 5 storm changed a community in Florida is Hurricane Michael, which hit the Panhandle in 2018. Panama City had an older, slightly tattered downtown area which has been restored with trendy restaurants and boutiques and an increasing population. Brokers specializing in waterfront properties say wealthy buyers are arriving in growing numbers, raising the economy and value of properties considerably.
While we were talking hurricanes, which I swore I wouldn’t do, I found some interesting statistics from the FSU Florida Climate Center. Starting with the Great Miami Hurricane in 1926 through Milton in 2024, there have only been three Category 5 hurricanes, nine Category 4 hurricanes and 10 Category 3 hurricanes. Don’t get too comfortable with these numbers since the one-two punch of Helene, a Category 4, and Milton, a Category 3, did an incredible amount of damage prior to making landfall compounded with a 4-foot storm surge.
Nevertheless, populations have increased in three of the most severely hit Florida communities. Andrew in Miami was a Category 5, Charley in Charlotte County was a Category 4 and Ian in Lee County was a Category 4 – all increased their populations substantially within a three-year period after the storm.
I’m standing by my prediction from last week about the value of properties in Cortez. I also believe that Anna Maria Island will enjoy an increase in property values as well. You may not like the new vibe, but you may really enjoy the increasing trends in value.
In the aftermath of the devastating 2024 hurricane season, our initial thought was that the suggested increase in Holmes Beach stormwater fees is a small price to pay. However, research suggests that more time is needed to study the issue.
First, increased rates do not necessarily guarantee the most effective stormwater mitigation. Land acquisition for pumps and reservoirs has been identified as a major component of stormwater management and has been skillfully managed by other Florida cities. Cape Canaveral is a role model for stormwater planning and grant utilization. St. Petersburg has the Shore Acres Resiliency Infrastructure Project where they are currently using a $1 million state grant towards another pump construction.
While Holmes Beach had a $12 million reserve, there were available properties on the market in the $1-2 million range that could have provided the needed space.
Second, in 2020, former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash wrote “Proposed Stormwater Utility Fee Would Be an Unfair Tax.” He explained that the fair way of calculation is by usage. Holmes Beach calculates using lot area, while many Florida municipalities calculate using impervious coverage. It is the impervious surfaces which displace the water and more fairly represent the impact.
In Holmes Beach, commercial properties are allowed 70% impervious coverage; residential properties are allowed 40%, yet the fees are calculated at the same rate for all “real property.”
We have properties which have maxed out their impervious area, elevated their lots and pools and installed walls. All impacts are not created equal.
Third, Mr. McClash mentioned how governments themselves contribute when they make special exceptions such as rezones which increase densities. Holmes Beach has honored multiple rezones despite resident opposition. We know firsthand that, despite code, excessive landfill is sometimes brought in and required swales are omitted. The City Center project elevated parts of Marina Drive by a foot, and now, property owners are being charged to remedy the additional flooding that it most assuredly created.
Fourth, contrary to the thought that this is the perfect time for presenting this increase, it may contribute one more layer to the litany of reasons for the exodus of residents.
Urgency does not necessarily make the most productive outcomes. Now may be the opportunity to make fees more appropriately “user based.” Perhaps approving the 4.95% rather than 9% now would be a modification that would allow the city time to address the need for calculations based on impervious coverage rather than lot area.
BRADENTON BEACH – To offset a budget shortfall of $350,000 from post-hurricane tax exemptions, city commissioners have voted to add revenue sources that include increases to short-term rental license fees, building department fees and parking ticket fines.
“As a result of the storms, our ad valorem revenue has gone down about 14% this year. To put a dollar figure on that, that’s $350,000 give or take,” City Treasurer Shayne Thompson told commissioners. “That’s driven mainly because of a Florida Statute that allows
for a property owner who can’t inhabit their home for 30 days or more to request an exemption on property tax.”
He said Manatee County has 11,000 people who have requested such exemptions this year. “What the decrease has done is leave the city in a position to have to replace $350,000 in addition to put some in reserves. As we’ve all seen, having a healthy reserve allowed us to
weather this storm better than most,” Thompson said.
He presented a plan that he said was multi-pronged and would raise revenue but not raise taxes.
“One of the prongs is our TPLE (Transient Public Lodging Establishment) license. We’ve had the same fee structures since 2017,” Thompson said. “The reality is we need to raise it.
We’ve come up with a hybrid solution that doesn’t impact the mom and pop that has a duplex that lives in half and rents half.”
He proposed the same fee structure, $150 per year, for a home that has up to four occupants.
“Each occupant above the four would be an additional $100 per occupant. That would shift the burden to, I hate to say it, but party houses,” Thompson said. “The ones that have the largest occupancy are the ones that also cause the most burden on infrastructure and staff.”
He said the city currently has 561 TPLE licenses. Of that number, 192 have four occupants or less.
He said the average occupant count is seven, and in applying the new fee structure, the average cost would be $450 for an annual license.
“In the opinion of staff, we don’t feel we’re burdening an investor,” Thompson said. “The reality is if you’re renting your property for $11,000, $450 or $600 per year won’t deter you from renting it.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole asked how this increase would affect hotels. Thompson said motels and hotels are exempt.
Commissioner Scott Bear asked how the fees compare to other Island cities.
“In Anna Maria they’re looking at redoing theirs right now,” Thompson said. “We’re about half of where they are right now. Looking at Holmes Beach’s model, theirs is current, and they charge $100 per occupant period.”
Thompson addressed the fee structure in the city’s building department.
“We last changed it in 2022. We now have more staff on board more than we had,” he
said. “Bill (City Building Official Bill Palmer) made me aware that by statute we can have reserves for operations of the building department equal to two years of expenses. In that hiatus of fees, we’re waiving fees due to the hurricane, it wouldn’t have put the building department in a deficit position, and we could draw on that reserve. Bill is looking at adding other fees that other cities have done.”
The moratorium on hurricane-related building fee waivers ends at the end of this month.
Thompson said there are some fees in place in Holmes Beach that Bradenton Beach could implement.
“For example, a stop work order in Holmes Beach, if they put a red tag on a door is $500, it they do it twice it’s $1,000. That will be part of the new increased fee structure,” he said.
Thompson said the fees will help build up a reserve so if another storm event comes, the city is not waiting for FEMA reimbursement.
“To bring us competitive with parking lots, we’d be raising the parking ticket fines from $75 to $100,” Thompson said.
He summarized the city’s goal with the increased fees.
“The goal is to put us in a position to break even. The city must have a balanced budget by
statute. And without raising taxes to get to that spot and put $300,000 give or take into reserves for next year. With those things it makes up for that shortfall and it keeps us in a healthy position.”
A motion to approve and direct staff to make changes as discussed for the 2025-26 budget was unanimously approved.
The waters on Florida’s Gulf Coast are more than the scenery, wildlife and beaches, they are also a lifeline for fishing guides. Following the 2024 hurricane season, which brought widespread damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many who depend on healthy waters for their livelihoods are still struggling to recover.
In response, Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper are teaming up to provide much-needed financial aid to local recreational fishing professionals impacted by these storms. Thanks to a grant from the International Game Fish Association’s Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund, eligible captains and guides can apply for competitive grants of up to $1,000 to help cover lost income and recovery expenses.
“The recreational fishing industry plays a vital role in safeguarding our local waters, often serving as the first line of defense by reporting pollution incidents,” said Dr. Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper. “We’re proud to support this community and give back to those who faced economic hardship during the 2024 hurricane season.”
Application details:
Open: July 26 – Aug. 2
Who’s eligible: Recreational fishing industry professionals impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, including charter captains, operating within the Suncoast and Tampa Bay regions. Priority will be given to those who work full-time in the recreational fishing industry.
Required documentation: A valid U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license, proof of insurance, completed W-9 form, verified proof of trip cancellations or revenue loss (booking records, customer statements).
“Charter captains are the tip of the spear when it comes to our coalition of water quality advocates in Tampa Bay,” said Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. “This industry took a significant and unfortunate hit during last season’s historic hurricane season. We are honored to stand with our partners to support our community.”
Grant recipients will be announced on Aug. 15. Funds will be awarded based on the applicant’s primary service area, either the Tampa Bay or Suncoast region.
This effort is made possible by the Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund (WARF), established in 2017 in partnership with Costa Sunglasses. Since its inception, WARF has distributed over $305,000 to fishing communities impacted by natural disasters across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America, helping local guides recover and rebuild. Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper share a united mission to protect and restore the waters of the region to ensure fishable, swimmable, and drinkable water for all.
Together, these Waterkeeper organizations are committed to supporting and giving back to the fishing community that has been heavily impacted by natural disasters, standing alongside those who support and depend on healthy waters.
To learn more about and join the work of Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, visit their websites at https://www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/ and https://www.tampabaywaterkeeper.org/
Time to talk about Cortez again in view of the monumental changes being made on the Cortez peninsula and, by extension, within the fishing village. The changes will affect all Cortez residents and many residents of Manatee County as well, and likely some of it you won’t agree with.
You would never know it now if you took a ride down 127th Street past the former Seafood Shack Restaurant site, but the property owned by Manatee County is slated for a major overhaul. As a matter of fact, you can’t even access 127th Street from Cortez Road since the county is working on infrastructure for the new Cortez Bridge scheduled to start construction late 2025 or early 2026, also a big change.
At this moment, the Seafood Shack property is tentatively being renamed the future Cortez Marina. Plans for the best use of this property are still being worked on and the county commissioners are looking for input from residents. At a meeting held in Bradenton Beach on June 12, with residents from the peninsula, there were a lot of opinions. Mostly homeowners were concerned about traffic flow and boats on trailers accessing narrow roads on their way to a planned boat launch area. If you’re concerned about how the property is being developed – whether you live in Cortez or not – you should make your voice heard. Don’t wait for another meeting; you can email the commissioners, whose contact information is on the Manatee County website.
In addition to boat ramps and parking for boat trailers it is suggested that the site could be a landing area for a water taxi and possibly the Gulf Islands Ferry with vehicle parking provided for that purpose. Also discussed was a restaurant and hopefully some retail space, both of which would be a bonus to the community.
Will these changes give new life to the 8 acres? I believe it will, even though not everyone will be happy with the county’s plans. Some other positives are a fixed high-level new bridge to the Island with some pedestrian- and bike-friendly areas, providing quick access from the Island in the event of storms as well as access to the charm and seafood restaurants of one of the few remaining authentic fishing villages in Florida. Add to this a new active boating area on some of the best boating waters on the west coast of Florida and hopefully you will see a facility that will be a draw for more than just the boating community.
What, if anything, does this mean for real estate values in Cortez? There’s no surprise that values are down and available listings are more than available buyers. However, if you are a home or condo buyer considering waterfront and water access property, I would give Cortez a serious look. We’re in a buyer’s market and Cortez is not immune to that so it can be a very advantageous time to buy. Primarily I keep thinking about how things will look in a couple of years after everything is rebuilt and spanking new for an underused 8 acres of prime land. Property values can only go up in an area with spectacular water views and convenient water access.
Ask yourself why did you come to Florida in the first place? Was it to live in a master planned community or to live in a vibrant varied community on the water, where the dolphins are jumping every day? I’m optimistic for the first time since October. I believe little Cortez will come back better than ever and more valuable. Look to the future – not the past.
BRADENTON BEACH – Following city commissioners’ discussion on July 10 about commercial beach cabana companies doing business on public beaches, commissioners
asked City Attorney Ricinda Perry to look at legal options and possible modifications to regulations.
“I looked at our existing code and in Article 2 – conduct in public parks – ‘park’ is defined as the beach, and there is an enforcement provision,” Perry said. “When you get down to
Section 46-37, it says no person in a park shall construct or erect any building or structure whether of permanent or temporary character.”
She noted another section, 46-44, which states that no person in a park shall erect, maintain, use or occupy on or in any beach any tents, shelter or structure of any kind without a special written permit.
“What that says to me is there can be no tents of any kind or sun shelter on any part of the beaches because they are covered under that code,” she said.
Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said her concern would not be to prevent beachgoers from using personal shelters to stay out of the sun, but was opposed to having private cabana companies using the public beach for financial gain.
“The concern is those concierge companies that don’t have a brick and mortar building, they just have a storage unit with a bunch of cabanas in it and they pull out their cabanas and chairs and set them up,” Scaccianoce said. “The bigger issue is concierge companies lining up 20 cabanas on prime spots on the beach. Nobody’s in them and they’re taking up space on the beach, in the hope that somebody is going to rent them.”
She noted that Holmes Beach has also recently expressed concern about private businesses advertising for financial gain on the beach.
“Holmes Beach is addressing it in a way that has code enforcement going out and watching these cabanas,” Scaccianoce said. “These cabana companies are advertising with their name, phone number, QR codes, and setting up empty tents with chairs that are not rented. If they’re set up in the morning and in the afternoon if they’re still empty they (Holmes Beach) are doing code enforcement.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole noted that resorts put out umbrellas for their guests.
“However that’s worded needs to be fixed so we can protect the businesses that were here for years and years,” Cole said. “The last thing we want to do is ruin our resorts and make people not want to come here because they have to sit on the beach with no umbrella.”
Cole compared the private cabana rental companies to many other businesses on the Palma Sola Causeway.
“I have a problem with someone just showing up on a public beach and starting to rent out Jet Skis,” Cole said. “When I see people up on the causeway, they’ve got banners out and they pay no rent. That’s just what the cabanas are doing. It’s getting out of hand.”
Scaccianoce said she does not support taking opportunity away from resorts or from families coming to the beach with sun shades.
“The issue I’m talking about here is that I think we should be able to police the businesses,” she said.
Mayor John Chappie suggested directing Perry to look at the city’s legal options with the possibility of making modifications to the current code. A motion to that effect passed unanimously.
“I believe all of us want to try to address this and have some type of regulation,” Chappie said.
The Thursday, July 17 city commission meeting agenda includes an update on commercial activity on public property.
ANNA MARIA – City commissioners want to see improvements to Waste Management’s current side-door trash and recycling collection services while still considering the company’s request to switch Anna Maria’s trash collection days from Mondays and Thursdays to Tuesdays and Fridays.
Waste Management also wants to change recyclable collections to half of the city on Tuesdays and half of the city on Fridays, with yard waste still collected on Mondays.
On July 10, Waste Management representatives Brenna Haggar, Luigi Pace and Chris Sawallich presented the company’s request to Mayor Mark Short and the city commissioners. No final decisions were made and the commissioners stressed the need for Waste Management to first improve its side-door trash and recycling collection efforts that have fallen far short of the city’s expectations and have been the subject of several commission discussions.
Side-door service entails a Waste Management employee retrieving the trash and recyclable receptacles from the side of a home, emptying them and returning them to the side of the home rather than leaving them at the end of the driveway or alongside the street, where they sometimes sit for days. All non-homesteaded residential properties in Anna Maria, including short-term vacation rentals, are required to use side-door service, which comes at an additional cost.
Haggar serves as Waste Management’s government affairs manager.
“I’m not saying we’re perfect. We know that. With the side-door service, there’s always opportunities for improvement,” she said during her opening remarks.
She noted the company now provides the city with weekly Saturday beach access point dumpster and receptacle collections at no additional cost to the city, rather than the five holiday weekend collections set forth the company’s current contract with the city. That exclusive contract and revenue sharing franchise agreement expires next June.
Haggar told commissioners Manatee County is switching to carted, automated solid waste collections on Oct. 6. Automated collections utilize trucks equipped with mechanical arms that grab and empty the receptacle carts placed curbside while the driver remains in the truck. This eliminates the need for a second employee to manually empty the receptacles.
Haggar said the county wants all its contracted solid waste service providers to operate on the same days when that October change occurs. She said the county’s request will require a significant change in Waste Management’s current route planning and staffing assignments.
“If we don’t make these changes, on Mondays we would need twice the number of trucks, twice the number of drivers only on Mondays. And then those drivers and trucks would be sitting idle the rest of the week. It’s not sustainable for us,” Haggar said.
The Waste Management team did not propose automated collections for Anna Maria.
“Monday pickup is after the busy weekend. That’s when you have the most trash,” Commissioner Gary McMullen said. “That’s when I believe it should be picked up. It shouldn’t matter to me because I have side-door (service), but it does, because they don’t always do that.”
“We hear you loud and clear about the side-door service. That is something that needs a solution,” Haggar acknowledged.
“I think the difference between Thursday and Friday is fairly minimal. But there are probably a lot more (vacation rental) checkouts on a Monday than there are on a Tuesday,” Commissioner Charlie Salem said when noting the proposed Tuesday collections would result in trash accumulating over the weekend and sitting uncollected for an additional
day.
Salem wants to see side-door service improved before he supports changing the collection schedule.
“A lot of this hinges on whether or not that gets solved, and it’s been a problem for quite a while. I don’t have a ton of confidence that there’s a magic bullet out there for that,” he said.
He also noted Waste Management recently imposed a 3% cost increase on its Anna Maria customers.
Commissioners Chris Arendt, John Lynch and Kathy Morgan-Johnson agreed with Salem and share those same concerns.
“We really need to understand the impact of the rental weekends, what that looks like and how that affects the trash pile going to Tuesday versus Monday,” Lynch said.
Lynch said it’s also important for side-door service customers to receive the service they’re paying for.
It was noted that 80% of the Anna Maria’s residential properties currently have side-door service and the Waste Management truck drivers are supposed to use their digital, in-truck tablets to identify which properties require that service.
McMullen suggested a simpler solution: Placing easily identifiable stickers on receptacles that require side-door service. As an alternative, he suggested requiring all residential properties to have side-door service.
He said that would eliminate any confusion as to which properties require that service, but he also noted that some residents who bring their receptacles to the street and back themselves won’t want to pay the additional fee. The Waste Management team said they’d get back to the commission with an estimate on customer pricing for mandatory
side-door service citywide.
“I think there’s a lot to discuss,” Salem said as the discussion ended
with no final decisions proposed or voted on regarding the proposed
change to the current collection days.
HOLMES BEACH – Mayor Judy Titsworth and city staff presented a proposed $23.7 million 2025-26 fiscal year city budget that’s currently based on increasing the current millage rate from 1.99 mills to 2.1812 mills.
At 2.1812 mills, Holmes Beach property owners would pay an ad valorem city property tax rate of $2.18 per every thousand dollars of assessed taxable property value.
City commissioners are expected to formally adopt this year’s maximum millage rate during their Monday, July 22 meeting that starts at 2 p.m. The adopted maximum millage rate can then be lowered, but not increased, before two budget adoption hearings are held in September. The 2025-26 fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.
When presenting the proposed budget during the city commission’s July 8 budget work session, City Treasurer Julie Marcotte said the millage rate increase is proposed to offset the 8.33% decline in Holmes Beach property values, as established by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office.
City Treasurer Julie Marcotte presented the proposed budget. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to the property appraiser’s 2025 Taxing Authority Report, the 4,759 parcels in Holmes Beach have a total taxable value of $3.26 billion. Development Services Director Chad Minor said 1,671 of those parcels are being used as vacation rentals. According to the 2024 report, 4,762 parcels in Holmes Beach had a total taxable value of $3.54 billion.
Marcotte said the lower property values would produce a $590,000 decrease in the city’s ad valorem property tax revenues if the 1.99 millage rate is maintained. The proposed millage rate increase would result in the city receiving about the same amount of city property tax revenues as it did this year at the 1.99 rate.
An increased millage rate combined with lower appraised property values would result in most property owners paying about the same amount of city property taxes in the coming fiscal year. Property owners are also subjected to the taxes and fees levied by the county, school board, fire district and other taxing authorities that account for a significant portion of a property owner’s total annual tax bill.
BUDGET SPECIFICS
State law requires cities to operate with balanced budgets where projected revenues match the projected expenditures. The $23.7 million in projected 2025-26 revenues includes $7.46 million in reserve funds to be carried over from the current 2024-25 fiscal year budget, which is $25.2 million.
The proposed budget for the general operations of the city that includes employee salaries and benefits is $1.77 million – a decrease from the $1.94 million budgeted this year.
The current fiscal year police department budget is $5.49 million. Marcotte and Police Chief Bill Tokajer propose increasing it to $5.52 million for the coming fiscal year. The proposed increase includes Tokajer’s yet-to-be-approved request to hire an additional officer with a starting pay range between $68,000-$72,000.
The building department budget Marcotte and Minor proposed would increase from $1.37 million to $1.6 million, but increased building permit revenues and other development fees are expected to cover the additional expenses incurred by the one department that generates as much or more money than it spends.
The public works department budget proposed by Marcotte and Public Works Director Sage Kamiya anticipates expenditures decreasing from $4.08 million to $3.58 million in the coming fiscal year. Kamiya said his department is currently three employees short of being fully staffed and he’d like to hire at least one additional employee if approved by the city commission.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said the proposed public works budget is about $500,000 lower than the current fiscal year and to him that justifies hiring an additional employee and adding about $63,000 to the city payroll.
The proposed budget doesn’t yet factor in a proposed stormwater fee increase from $2.95 per 100 square feet of property to $4.95 or $9 per 100 square feet. The proposed budget lists $1.88 million for anticipated stormwater drainage project expenses and Kamiya said that projection would change if additional revenues are to be generated by a stormwater fee increase.
The projected $765,236 for code compliance department expenditures is about $10,000 higher than the current fiscal year.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore opposes increasing the millage rate at a time when many property owners are still recovering from hurricane damage sustained in 2024. She opposes adding an additional police officer and an additional public works department employee to the city payroll and she opposes the proposed stormwater assessment fee increase to be determined during the commission’s Tuesday, July 22 meeting.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore opposes the proposed millage rate increase. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Manatee County’s 6% tourist development tax (resort tax) is collected from hotel, motel, resort, condo and other short-term vacation accommodations rented for six months or less.
The amounts shown were collected for May and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in June. A third of the tax revenues are spent on marketing the county as a tourist destination and almost 17% is spent on beach renourishment.
In Anna Maria, May tourist tax revenues increased from $318,188 in 2024 to $406,297 in 2025 – an $88,109 (27.6%) increase.
In Bradenton Beach, May tourist tax revenues decreased from $112,803 in 2024 to $93,365 in 2025 – a $19,438 (17.23%) decrease.
In Holmes Beach, May tourist tax revenues increased from $660,167 in 2024 to $620,641 in 2025 – a $20,474 (3.41%) increase.
In unincorporated Manatee County (the areas located outside of the six chartered municipalities), May tourist tax revenues increased from $770,194 in 2024 to $917,906 in 2025 – a $147,712 (19.17%) increase.
In Manatee County as a whole, May tourist tax revenues increased from $2,520,318 in 2024 to $2,520,318 in 2025 – a $349,445 (16.09%) increase.
Tourist development taxes are also collected in Bradenton, Palmetto and the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key. The revenues are controlled by the Manatee County Commission and can be shared with local municipalities to help fund tourism-related projects and enhancements.
ANNA MARIA – Former city commissioner and longtime Anna Maria resident Dale Woodland passed away on June 28 at the age of 76 due to complications caused by dementia.
The family plans to host a memorial service in October but those details are still being worked out.
Dale served eight consecutive two-year terms as an Anna Maria commissioner before leaving office in late 2019. He’s survived by his son, Jason Woodland; daughter-in-law, Meghan Woodland; seven grandchildren; younger sister, Melanie; and former wife, Gayle. Dale and Gayle’s son, Scott, passed away in 2020.
After relocating from Canada at a young age, Dale grew up on Mangrove Avenue in Anna Maria with his parents Maxwell and Marguerite Woodland, sister, Melanie and older brother, Christopher.
Maxwell Woodland served as Anna Maria mayor from 1959-62. According to family members, he suddenly disappeared after completing his tenure as mayor and the family never heard from him again. Dale was about 14 at the time and many years later it was learned that Maxwell died in his home country of Australia in 1963. Christoper Woodland was a U.S. Air Force pilot and died in a plane crash in the 1970s.
After starting their family in east Manatee County, Dale and Gayle bought the property at 134 Hammock Road in Anna Maria in 1986, when Jason and Scott were teenagers, and there they built the house Dale would call home most of the rest of his life.
From 1995 to 2020, Dale and Scott owned and operated Woodland Quality Pool Care.
In his later years, Dale dated Anna Maria resident Jayne Slade-Dashiell for six and a half years.
Jayne, a nurse, first noticed signs of Dale’s dementia in March 2022 immediately after Dale had open heart surgery.
“He never really recovered from that,” she said of the memory issues that gradually worsened. While living in her own home, Jayne cared for Dale as long as she could.
In mid-2024, Dale’s grandson, Michael Stull, moved into Dale’s home and began providing live-in care, assisted by Michael’s girlfriend. They rode out Hurricane Helene at Dale’s home but before Hurricane Milton arrived, the family decided to move Dale to Jason and Meghan’s home in Live Oak.
Dale passed away at The Canopy at Harper Lake assisted living and memory care facility in Lake City.
Commissioner Woodland
Dale’s beloved dog, Lucy, accompanied him to the city commission meetings and often wandered around the commission chambers during meetings.
After Hurricane Irma damaged the City Pier in 2017, Woodland was the only commissioner in support of building a new pier atop the existing wooden pilings, or atop new wooden pilings. Mayor Dan Murphy and the other commissioners opted for a new pier built atop concrete pilings instead. Due to damage caused by Hurricane Milton, another pier replacement project is currently in its early stages.
Commissioner Dale Woodland and Mayor Dan Murphy examined the hurricane-damaged City Pier decking after Hurricane Irma in 2017. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In 2019, Dale filed his qualifying paperwork with the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office seeking a ninth term, but he was disqualified because he paid his $48 qualifying fee with a personal check instead of a check drawn on a designated campaign account. He then sought commission appointment to his vacated seat but the commissioners appointed Joe Muscatello instead.
Dale never sought office again, but when addressing the commission that day he said his path to public service began when he came to a city meeting to complain to the commission and Mayor Ray Simches about Lake La Vista being so shallow and the need to dredge the channel that connects with Tampa Bay.
“That’s how I got involved in the city. Later, Ray asked me if I’d be on the code enforcement board,” Dale told the commission.
Meghan believes Dale’s memory loss contributed to the qualifying fee error.
Family
Meghan shared with The Sun a soliloquy Jason wrote about his father’s passing: “What makes a life? Is it the one with the most toys wins? Maybe it is riches and a luxurious lifestyle. Or could it be Love; giving, receiving and sharing love? For my dad, toys were never his priority. I never heard him want for anything. He had what he wanted and ignored the rest,” Jason wrote.
“Dale took advantage of opportunities that enriched his life. He built a home in paradise and made a dream life he would never leave. If experiences in life, living exactly where and how you want to live count, then my dad was a very rich man.
Dale got some help on the campaign trail from his grandchildren Jordan, Michael, Savannah, Shyanne and his daughter-in-law, Meghan Woodland. – Meghan Woodland | Submitted
“Dale loved people and people loved my dad. He once told me that my mother (Gayle) was the greatest woman he ever knew. His grandchildren were the apple of his eye. He opened and shared his home with family, friends and people he knew. My dad never missed an opportunity to make a person happy with a ‘Dale Burger.’
Scott Roscoe, Scott Woodland and one of Dale’s friends waiting for ‘Dale Burgers’ during a Daytona 500 party. – Meghan Woodland | Submitted
“Dale was born in Canada and became an American citizen. He loved America and the Constitution. And oh, how he loved Anna Maria. So much so that he became your city commissioner so he could be of service.
“And last, but first, my dad loved God. His favorite part of the Bible was the Beatitudes, Matthew 5. These verses were always in his mind on how to be a better person,” Jason wrote.
Dale Woodland and his youngest granddaughter, Montana Woodland. – Meghan Woodland | Submitted
“I saw his heart break when he lost his dog (Lucy). I saw him support his sons in their endeavors. But what made his life, to me, and what will stay with me, are the stories. My dad was a genius storyteller – and these are real stories, not fables. He had a gift of humbling himself and sharing these stories that would jerk a tear from your eye or have you crying from laughter. He loved it because it made the listener happy. Dale had a fulfilled life and it showed in his stories,” Jason wrote.
“Now my dad is with Our Father, finally satisfied in the Beatitudes and experiencing more love than humanly possible. Dad, I love you and I will see you again one day and I can’t wait to hear the stories you will have to tell,” Jason wrote.
Meghan Woodland and her beloved father-in-law, Dale Woodland. – Meghan Woodland | Submitted
Speaking by phone, Meghan said, “Dale was amazing. He knew so many people and he had so many stories to tell about his life and his parents’ life. Dale was the kind of guy where if you walked by you would be friends. It didn’t matter if he knew you his whole life or he just met you five minutes ago. His house was open for anyone to come visit at any given time. He’d tell people he just met walking down the road to come use his kayaks. He was generous and open.
“He was born in Canada and when he was a young child they moved here. He told me he remembered the day he became a U.S. citizen and it was the greatest day of his life. He was such a patriot. He loved this country and he loved Anna Maria,” Meghan said.
Anna Maria Mayor Max Woodland was featured on the cover of the Key Look-out newspaper in 1959. – Meghan Woodland | Submitted
She shared a copy of a three-page feature story that ran in the “Key Look-out” newspaper in August 1959. The newspaper’s coverage area included Longboat Key, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island and their story touted Maxwell Woodland as a “Man of the Keys.” The story recapped Maxwell’s service as a bomber pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force, his career path as an engineer, comptroller and certified public accountant, the life journeys that brought him and his family to Anna Maria and his current status as the Anna Maria mayor.
“He disappeared later and was never heard from,” Meghan said of Maxwell’s mysterious disappearance.
Meghan first noticed signs of Dale’s dementia around the time he started dating Jayne, and as his memory loss progressed he relied more heavily on her.
“He really turned to Jayne for everything. She would answer questions, speak for him and she was like a safety net for him. When Lucy passed away, it was traumatic. He was grieving and he couldn’t be at his house without his dog,” Meghan said.
When Michael took over Dale’s care, the family hoped to keep him at home as long as possible.
“We wanted him to stay in his house until the very last day of his life. That’s where he wanted to be and we didn’t want to take him from the Island. But I found out just how bad Dale was and my son (Michael) said he couldn’t do it anymore,” Meghan said of the decision to bring Dale to Live Oak where she could help care for him.
“He didn’t know where he was. He kept thinking he could walk up the street but he was out in the middle of nowhere,” she said of his time there.
Eventually, the family concluded it was time to place Dale in a memory care facility for his own safety and that’s where he would later pass away.
When sharing the news of this grandfather’s passing on Facebook, Michael wrote: “Some of you may have known my grandpa, Dale Woodland. He was commissioner on the Island for many years and his dad, Maxwell, was mayor many, many years ago.
“It’s come time where my grandpa has gone to be with our Father. He was loved by many people on Anna Maria, and he loved you all and the Island. He was a family man and a man for America. He preached common sense and lived by it too. He spent more time at the Rod & Reel (Pier) than anyone else; and more importantly, knew how to handle a couple too many beers. I’ll forever cherish the times that I spent with my grandpa and I hope that those of you that did spend time with him will cherish them too. Rest in Paradise Grandpa Dale,” Michael wrote.
Friends
Jayne said she and her late husband, Vic, met Dale many years ago when he was campaigning for a city commission seat, and as time passed, they got to know him better.
“My husband passed away eight years ago. I was walking my dog six months later and Dale was cleaning a pool. I asked him about windows, because I was going to get new windows for my house; and he asked me out for a date. He asked me to go to the Island Players with him because he had season tickets. He always bought two season tickets and asked different people to go,” Jayne said.
Jayne Slade-Dashiell and Dale Woodland dated for more than six years. – Jayne Slade-Dashiell | Submitted
When asked what she misses most about Dale, she said, “Going on our long walks, whether it be on the beach, down the piers or walking over to Ginny’s and Jane E’s in the morning to see the locals. We also liked to go on long bike rides around the Island, knowing that if we got tired, or the weather got bad, we could get on the trolley. I am an outdoor person and so was he. He loved the mountains in North Carolina and we enjoyed going there to go hiking and see the leaves change. I just loved that he such was an outgoing, friendly person.”
While growing up on Mangrove Avenue, Dale became close friends with fellow Mangrove Avenue resident Bruce Dickins.
Currently a Tampa resident, and soon moving to the greater Sarasota area, Dickins said, “Dale lived down on Mangrove with his parents, on the beach side. I was up the street at a little house called ‘The Mayflower’ and we became good friends. His father was the mayor of Anna Maria and he was very strict. One day, I asked if I could go down there and watch color TV for the first time and I watched my first cartoons in color. Dale was the kind of guy people gravitated too. Nobody disliked him.”
Regarding Dale’s dad, Bruce said, “I don’t know why he left. After being the mayor, one day he was gone. Apparently, he died in Australia.”
Dickins also suffered a childhood tragedy: “My mom died when I was 12, so we moved to Connecticut, but we kept in contact. When I moved to Daytona, I used to go over to Anna Maria to visit. Dale was a great guy and he never forgot me,” Bruce said, noting that he continued to visit Dale and Anna Maria through the years.
From talking to Jayne, Bruce knew Dale’s dementia was getting worse.
“The last time I saw him was last year on the Rod & Reel Pier before the hurricanes blew it out. My wife and I were walking up the pier and we were about 100 feet from Dale and he looked up and said, ‘holy crap.’ We talked for an hour or two. He knew the dementia was setting in and I’d ask him questions and he didn’t know the answers,” Bruce said.
“After we talked, I got a couple pictures of us and told him I was going to leave. We were walking off the pier and Dale followed us and walked with us to the car. I didn’t think that would be the last time I saw him, but I think he knew it would be the last time. He was my oldest friend and I was his oldest friend, I loved him and he loved me back. He was a great guy. I’ll miss him so much,” Bruce said.
Dale Woodland saw his lifelong friend, Bruce Dickins, for the last time last year on the Rod & Reel Pier. – Bruce Dickins | Submitted
Holmes Beach resident and charter captain Scott Moore said, “I’ve known Dale all my life. He was a true islander. He loved to scuba dive. He used to dive underneath the piers to see how many fish were there. Him and Andy Torgeson used to dive a lot together. He was always interested in protecting the environment, the fisheries and the animals here on the Island.
“Dale was a very good commissioner. You could talk to him and he was very sensible, and a gentleman. His favorite spot was the Rod & Reel Pier. He would ride his bike up there almost every day and have a couple beers. He loved that place. We lost the Rod & Reel last year and now we lost Dale. He was a really good man,” Moore said.
Reading aloud some thoughts he wrote down, former Rod & Reel Pier General Manager Dave Cochran said, “Dale was a very unique individual and an interesting person. He loved going to the Rod & Reel Pier and talking to everyone about Anna Maria and its charm. Dale was especially enthusiastic with visitors and children about the local history and activities.
Dale dedicated himself for the betterment of Anna Maria and its people. He always promoted the beauty and flavor of the Island. Having a conversation with Dale was always interesting and enjoyable. Dale was a real character at promoting good feelings and happiness around him. He will be missed and remembered by all.” Cochran said.
Public officials
The Anna Maria City Hall flag was flown at half-staff in Dale’s honor.
“I briefly served with Dale on the commission,” Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short said. “Dale was a well-known figure here in the city and gave years of service to the city as a commissioner and as an involved citizen. On behalf of the city, we were sorry to hear about Dale’s passing and our condolences go out to his family.”
Dale Woodland was a voice of the people during his long tenure as a city commissioner. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Former Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland said, “Dale loved Anna Maria and spent a good portion of his life trying to make it a better place to live.”
Former Anna Maria Commissioner Brian Seymour said, “Dale was one of the first locals I met when I moved here 16 years ago. I also had the privilege of serving on the city commission with him for three years. There was nothing more important to Dale than his family, his dog and serving this community. I will miss running into him at city events and around the ‘north end’ when we would catch up on how each other was doing. Another true islander lost too soon.”
Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Whitmore said, “I have known Dale since the 1970s. He was a true islander and a free spirit. He was always smiling and he always had a story to tell. He will be missed.”
