HOLMES BEACH – In the wake of Hurricane Helene, city leaders have enacted a moratorium banning vacation rentals for 45 days. Both city leaders and local rental owners are hopeful that the ban will be lifted quickly.
During an Oct. 2 special meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to enact the 45-day moratorium after much discussion and hearing from the public. Originally, commissioners were considering a 60-day moratorium, but that motion failed due to lack of support from Commissioners Greg Kerchner and Dan Diggins. Commissioner Carol Soustek was absent from the meeting.
Kerchner and Diggins reluctantly approved the 45-day moratorium.
The moratorium prevents vacationers from coming to Holmes Beach at a time when cleanup is still in progress and many property owners are making repairs from flooding due to the storm. While Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Oct. 3 lifting required rental time periods, that order only pertains to how long a guest can stay at a vacation rental property. The governor said he trusted local municipalities to do what is right for their communities regarding allowing tourists to return to the area.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said the moratorium only affects vacationers, not locals, contractors or others who may be displaced by the hurricane. She said property owners can rent their vacation rental properties to those people, which she hopes will reduce some of the financial burden for business owners.
The moratorium can expire at the end of 45 days from Oct. 2 or be ended by city leaders when it’s determined that the city is safe for visitors to return to the city.
“It was certainly not a decision that was come to easily,” City Attorney Erica Augello said, a sentiment echoed by Mayor Judy Titsworth and Commissioner Terry Schaefer.
Titsworth said the moratorium is to assist the city’s recovery efforts and keep people safe. Since the hurricane there have been several structure fires due to damaged electrical systems and batteries from golf carts and low-speed vehicles catching fire that were damaged in the storm, she said.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he doesn’t want to see a tourist or their child injured or killed by a sinkhole or heavy equipment being used to remove sand and debris.
Public Works Superintendent Sage Kamiya said that roads remain narrow due to the large amount of sand washed across the Island. Sidewalks also remain under sand, crosswalk visibility is low and side streets remain covered by debris and sand, all of which can be safety hazards.
“I didn’t want to make this decision,” Titsworth said, adding that she reached out to Manatee County and Florida state leaders for advice. After hearing from many vacationers that their rental companies were telling them that it was fine to come and vacation in Holmes Beach or they wouldn’t get their money back, she said she felt like the moratorium was the only decision to be made at this time.
“I can’t imagine anyone other than someone with an extreme interest in tragedy wanting to be here,” Schaefer said.
“There is no doubt in our mind that safety is an issue,” rental and business owner Billi Gartman said during public comment. She said her concern is not only for the safety of their visitors but also the financial toll a prolonged ban on rentals will take on her business and staff.
Titsworth said it’s not only the safety component, but that debris removal could take weeks to be completed, which could also present a public hazard.
Real estate owner Larry Chatt said that he feels the return of tourists will temper itself without interference from city leaders. With it already being low season and with some rental properties requiring more damage remediation than others, Chatt said he doesn’t anticipate tourists coming back all at once.
Holmes Beach remains under a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew daily with only residents with a re-entry tag allowed to enter the city during those hours.
Tokajer said that anyone walking or driving the city during curfew hours can expect to be stopped by police to determine what their purpose is, with the exception of residents with the city’s green re-entry tags on their dashboards. He said anyone not there to work on a property or not a resident will be escorted out of Holmes Beach.
All Anna Maria Island beaches and parks remain closed as cleanup efforts continue.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione issued a letter to all rental management companies on the Island:
“First and foremost, it is amazing to witness the hard work and resiliency of our hospitality industry on our barrier islands. We may be small, but we certainly are mighty, and we know that this passion will result in a quick recovery,” he said in the letter. “With that, we were made aware that some rental companies have notified their future guests that we are currently open for business. While we are excited to see your rentals reopen and understand the importance of your financial recovery, we must also follow the direction of our local governments for the safety and welfare of our citizens.”
Falcione went on to reiterate the restrictions already laid out by the Anna Maria Island communities, the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew that remains in effect for Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, and that only residents, business owners and contractors are allowed to access Anna Maria Island via Manatee Avenue. The city of Anna Maria has rescinded its curfew. The city of Bradenton Beach has reopened Cortez Bridge for vehicular traffic to that city with access limited to residents, business owners and property owners.
