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Seymour withdraws city commission application

Seymour withdraws city commission application

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

ANNA MARIA – Former city commissioner and mayoral candidate Brian Seymour has withdrawn his application seeking appointment to the Anna Maria City Commission.

Seymour’s withdrawal leaves John Lynch as the lone remaining commission applicant seeking appointment to the city commission on Jan. 9.

Dated Jan. 4 and addressed to Mayor Mark Short, Seymour’s withdrawal letter says, “I am writing to inform you that I would like to remove myself from consideration for the open city commission seat. After much thought over the last few weeks, I have concluded that I can better serve the community as I have been for the past several years, as a regular attendee of city commission meetings and participating when public comment warrants.”

Seymour and Lynch submitted applications seeking appointment to serve the remaining year of former Commissioner Jon Crane’s two-year term. Citing hurricane damage to his Anna Maria home and a desire to live off-Island, Crane resigned in November, creating the commission vacancy.

As a precursor to the commission appointment expected to be made on Thursday, Jan. 9, Lynch and Seymour were slated to participate in a candidate forum at city hall on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m.

After receiving Seymour’s withdrawal letter, Short said Tuesday’s forum would still take place, with Lynch still being given the opportunity to answer written questions previously submitted by the public.

According to his commission application, Lynch is a retired consultant and supply chain executive who also served for 10 years as a high school football coach. His application states he resides in Anna Maria 10 months a year and is a registered Anna Maria voter. He’s involved with the Habitat for Humanity organization and serves as president and secretary of the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation.

During Thursday’s meeting, the four sitting commissioners – Chris Arendt, Kathleen Morgan-Johnson, Gary McMullen and Charlie Salem – could either appoint Lynch to fill the vacant commission seat or delay the appointment and seek additional applicants.

WITHDRAWAL LETTER

In his withdrawal letter, Seymour stated his decision to withdraw was prompted primarily by his desire to avoid situations where he would have to recuse himself from discussing and voting on matters pertaining to the city’s top two project priorities: rebuilding the hurricane-damaged City Pier and completing the Reimagining Pine Avenue sidewalk installation and safety improvement project.

Seymour owns and operates two businesses along Pine Avenue: the Anna Maria General Store and Pine Avenue Bait and Tackle. He and his business partners also operate the City Pier Grill in pier space leased from the city. The City Pier Grill remains closed until the portion of the walkway obliterated by Hurricane Milton is replaced and any additional hurricane-related pier repairs are complete.

Salem owns commercial property along Pine Avenue and Seymour’s letter notes Salem, the new commission chair, recuses himself from Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions and votes.

“The city already has one commissioner who recuses him on Pine Avenue votes and I fear having two commissioners recusing themselves will not serve in the city’s best interests,” Seymour wrote.

“In addition, as one of two tenants on the City Pier, I would probably have to recuse myself from any votes on that project as well. I think all five commissioners should have a vote on the various stages of the pier rebuild. I believe my input and help from a citizen/tenant standpoint would be more valuable to the city than being on the dais and not being able to vote. I appreciate your understanding and hope that the other candidate is successful in their bid to join the city commission,” Seymour wrote.

Seymour’s letter concludes with well wishes for Short in his new role as Anna Maria mayor: “I look forward to seeing your growth and future achievements as mayor and the growth of our wonderful city I know we both love so much. I stand by and am available any time you may need assistance.”

Four candidates qualify in Anna Maria

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

ANNA MARIA – The first week of Anna Maria’s two-week candidate qualifying period saw city commission chair Mark Short and former city commissioner Brian Seymour qualify to face each other in the race to succeed departing Mayor Dan Murphy.

Seymour is the business owner of the Anna Maria General Store on Pine Avenue and the co-owner/ operator of the City Pier Grill business that leases city-owned space on the Anna Maria City Pier.

Incumbent Commissioner Gary McMullen qualified to run for a city commission seat, as did former charter review committee Chairperson Chris Arendt. McMullen was appointed to the commission in January and now seeks election to a full two-year term. Arendt seeks his first city commission term.

Short qualifying to run in the mayor’s race means he must vacate his current city commission seat, win or lose, after the general election in November.

This creates a third opening to be filled in the general election – or filled later by commission appointment if no additional commission candidates emerge during the second and final week of qualifying.

Anna Maria’s qualifying period ends on Friday, June 14 at noon. Qualifying packets can be obtained from the city clerk’s office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.

Proposed charter amendments presented as ordinances

Proposed charter amendments presented as ordinances

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

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have been presented with separate ordinances containing ballot language and summary language for five proposed charter amendments.

City Attorney Becky Vose presented the first reading of the five proposed charter amendment ordinances to the city commission on May 23. The commission will vote on each separate proposed charter amendment on a second and final reading during a June 13 meeting.

The proposed amendment ordinances that receive the majority support of the commission will be transmitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office for inclusion on the general election ballot this fall.

The city charter can only be amended (changed) with the majority support of the city’s registered voters. Anna Maria voters will be asked to vote yes or no on the amendments proposed by the charter review committee and supported by the city commission majority.

HOME RULE

The city commission is divided on a proposed amendment that would add new language to the city charter regarding the protection of the city’s home rule rights.

The ballot question for the proposed home rule amendment reads as follows: Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to provide for the city to take steps to maintain and protect the city’s residential character and home rule, supporting commercial land use, maximizing the enjoyment of natural and man-made resources and minimizing the threat to health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, posed by hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses, and any environmental degradation?

Commissioners Kathy Morgan, Gary McMullen, Charlie Salem and Mark Short have expressed preliminary support for the proposed home rule amendment.

“I really like us putting before the voters something that confirms our desire to have home rule, to try to retain the residential character of the city and give them a clear opportunity to express their will on this one way or another,” Salem said.

Commissioner Jon Crane and Mayor Dan Murphy oppose the proposed amendment.

As he’s done previously, Crane said, “I don’t think aspirational statements should be put before the voters.”

He referred to the proposed amendment as a “non-action item.”

Mayor Dan Murphy noted he doesn’t vote in city commission decisions but he still shared his opposition to the proposed amendment.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to have it here. I happen to agree with Commissioner Crane that it’s aspirational,” Murphy said.

“I have concerns about taking anything out for a vote that’s not necessary. I think actions speak louder than words. I think our track record as a city has been one of a staunch supporter of home rule. I don’t need a preamble to march to that tune and I don’t think any of you do either. It’s something that’s not necessary. So, therefore, I would caution you about putting something unnecessary before the public for a vote. You already are what this stipulates,” Murphy said.

“I’d be more than happy, as a compromise, to post a mission statement on our website, or even on the wall of city hall, that states that we are staunch supporters of home rule. People already know that. The public knows it. The voters know,” Murphy said.

The mayor and commissioners expressed no preliminary opposition to four additional proposed charter amendments.

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS

Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to provide a definition for administrative officers of the City?

This amendment would better define which city staff members are considered to be officers of the city.

BUILDING HEIGHT LIMITS

Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to add a height limitation for all structures within the city limits to be no more than two residential/habitable floors and 37 feet above the crown of the abutting road, and include a provision for obtaining a variance?

Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would add the city’s existing height limits to the city charter. Any future modification or abolishment of the city’s long-standing height limits would require the majority support of Anna Maria voters. The similar height limits already contained in Anna Maria’s comprehensive plan and building codes can currently be changed by a simple majority vote of the city commission.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to add language regarding removal of non-qualifying city commissioners and prohibiting city commissioners from holding concurrent municipal or other public office or employment by the city of Anna Maria?

Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would establish residency requirements for elected city officials once they take office. The charter currently sets forth residency requirements for candidates seeking elected office, but it doesn’t currently address residency requirements for those elected to office.

SPECIAL MEETINGS

Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to change the way a special meeting of the city commission may be called, from a call of a single member of the city commission to a call of the majority of the city commission, the chair of the city commission or the city mayor?

Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would prevent a single commissioner from calling for a special city commission meeting.

Two city commission vacancies pending

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

ANNA MARIA – In the coming months, the Anna Maria City Commission will have two vacant commission seats to fill by commission appointment.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring’s final meeting will be on Sept. 21. After that, she and her husband, Tripp, are moving to France. She will leave office with approximately one year remaining in her two-year term.

Commissioner Robert Kingan is not seeking reelection in the fall election and his current two-year term will expire on Dec. 7. The person appointed to fill Kingan’s vacant seat will have approximately two years to serve.

How the two vacancies will be filled was discussed at the city commission’s Sept. 7 meeting. The commission has not yet determined whether the pending vacancies will be filled one at a time or both at once. That decision will be made at a future meeting.

The commission will use the appointment process employed in recent years which includes soliciting applications from interested candidates and each remaining commissioner then ranking the applicants in order of their preference.

The upcoming appointment process will also use the new pre-selection vetting process and public question and answer forum introduced in January when Charlie Salem and Brian Seymour sought appointment to the seat vacated by Carol Carter. Salem was appointed to fill that seat and he and incumbent Commissioner Jon Crane are running unopposed in the fall election. No candidate qualified to run for the third open seat to be vacated by Kingan.

When the application process begins, Mayor Dan Murphy suggests the applicants specify whether they’re seeking an appointment to the one-year or the two-year term.

Commission Chair Mark Short asked City Attorney Becky Vose about the city’s residency requirement for commission candidates.

Vose referred to a memo she provided to the commissioners. The memo notes the city charter requires commission candidates to be qualified voters in Anna Maria and have at least two years of residency in Anna Maria before qualifying for office. The memo notes candidates cannot be city employees and cannot hold another municipal office that would remain in effect after the candidate is elected or appointed to serve on the city commission.

Short asked Vose how the city defines city residency. Vose said under Florida it’s simply a matter of where the candidate believes in good faith their primary residence to be.

Vose noted residency is not well defined by the city or the state, but those who claim Anna Maria residency but also claim a property tax homestead exemption in another city run the risk of violating the homestead law and/or losing their homestead exemption.

Crane said he’s concerned about the number of remaining Anna Maria residents who would be interested in serving on the city commission.

“I used to have more friends in this city,” Crane said of the city’s shrinking population.

Sebring said she had already spoken with someone interested in serving. Kingan said he also spoke with someone who expressed great interest in serving.

No timetable for the pending appointments has been established yet.

Anna Maria commissioners are paid $4,800 per year.

Proposed vacation rental legislation fails

Proposed vacation rental legislation fails

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

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Legislature has failed in its efforts to preempt the regulation of short-term vacation rentals to the state.

During the 60-day legislative session that concluded on May 5, the Florida Senate and House of Representatives both proposed preempting the regulation of short-term vacation rentals (also known as transient public lodging establishments) to the Florida Department of Professional and Business Regulation (DBPR).

Doing so would have severely limited city and county governments’ ability to regulate and inspect short-term vacation rentals at the local level. The proposed legislation would have prohibited city and county governments from imposing and enforcing occupancy limits and would have also ended their ability to regulate and enforce short-term vacation rental advertising by online platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

Florida law defines a transient public lodging establishment as any unit, group of units, dwelling, building or group of buildings rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less; or which is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to guests.

On April 27, the Senate adopted SB 714 on third and final reading by a 28-10 margin. Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) voted in favor of the proposed legislation.

On May 3, the House voted 73-39 in favor of adopting on third reading an amended version of House Bill 833. Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) voted in favor of the proposed legislation.

According to Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, a last-minute amendment made to the House bill would have prohibited local governments from suspending for any reason a locally issued vacation rental registration or license.

Proposed vacation rental legislation fails
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy led the city’s opposition efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

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The House amendment resulted in HB 833 no longer being an identical companion bill to SB 714, which in turn resulted in the non-matching House and Senate vacation rental bills both dying. If matching House and Senate bills had passed through their respective governing bodies, the legislation would have been sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis for him to veto or sign into new state law.

Using the city’s contracted lobbyist and the city-owned Home Rule Florida website, Murphy, the Anna Maria City Commission and City Clerk LeAnne Addy led the statewide opposition to the proposed vacation rental legislation. According to Addy, the Home Rule Florida website generated and resulted in approximately 40,000 opposition emails being sent to state legislators during the past two months.

Proposed vacation rental legislation fails
City Clerk LeAnne Addy manages the city’s Home Rule Florida website. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When contacted Friday, Murphy shared his thoughts on the failed legislation.

“We are pleased that the vacation rental legislation died a natural death. It was poorly thought out and would have been unenforceable by the state,” he said.

“At the same time, we realize this issue will come back again even stronger next year. So, we’re preparing for that fight now. HomeRuleFl.com served a vital role in getting the word out, not just locally, but across the state as well. We plan to expand our coverage over the next few months so as to have greater coverage and an even more diverse universe of users interacting with our website,” Murphy said.

Salem, Seymour seek city commission seat

Salem, Seymour seek city commission seat

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

ANNA MARIA – On Thursday, Jan. 26, the city commission will appoint Charlie Salem or Brian Seymour to fill the commission seat recently vacated by Carol Carter.

Commissioners Mark Short, Jon Crane, Robert Kingan and Deanie Sebring will decide whether Salem or Seymour serves the remaining months of Carter’s two-year commission term, which expires after the city elections in November.

The sitting commissioners will base their decision in part on the presentations Salem and Seymour gave during a city commission workshop on Jan. 19. The two commission applicants each answered the 24 questions they received in advance as part of a new vetting process recommended by Mayor Dan Murphy.

When filling past commission vacancies, applicants were simply given a few minutes to address the commission before the appointment was made. During Thursday’s workshop, Salem and Seymour were given as much time as they needed to address the commission.

The questions were received before State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and other state legislators who represent Manatee County expressed their desire for the state to preempt the city of Holmes Beach’s building codes so Manatee County can build a public parking garage. Those same legislators also seek a state-funded study pertaining to the potential dissolution of the three Island cities and its city governments.

Introductory remarks

Salem was born and raised in Miami. He and his husband, Scott Toland, moved from Washington D.C. to Anna Maria in 2017. They own a commercial building on Pine Avenue that’s leased to two businesses. Salem serves as a board member for The Center and in 2021 was appointed to the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.

Salem, Seymour seek city commission seat
Charlie Salem currently serves on the city’s Planning and Zoning Board. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science and government and a doctorate degree in law, Salem worked in Tallahassee as a special counsel for the State of Florida’s Office of Planning and Budgeting. He then moved to Washington D.C. to run a state office of federal affairs pertaining to the Hurricane Andrew recovery efforts in south Florida. He then served as legislative director and chief of staff for a U.S. Senator and he finished his time in D.C. working as a public policy director for Microsoft.

In reference to Robinson and other state legislators, Salem said, “I’m re- ally concerned about our permanent resident population and the ability of our citizens to be able to govern themselves. That is something I think I could help bring some focus to.”

Seymour was born and raised in the Washington D.C. area and moved to Anna Maria 14 years ago. He spent 20 years working for Marriot International before becoming the owner/operator of the Anna Maria General Store & Deli. He and his business partners also operate the City Pier Grill in space leased from the city.

Seymour was elected to the city commission in 2016 and earned a second term running unopposed in 2018. He resigned from office in September 2019 to devote more time to his business ventures and private life. While in office, Seymour served as commission chair and as vice mayor. Seymour said this is a good time for him to return to the commission.

Applicant presentations

Regarding the most important responsibilities of a city commissioner, Salem listed protecting quality of life, ensuring public safety and being a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars.

“I haven’t held elected office, but I’ve been around both the legislative and executive branches of government,” Salem said.

Salem, Seymour seek city commission seat
Brian Seymour previously served as a city commissioner for three years. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Seymour said it’s important to be open and approachable to everyone and to be open-minded and educated about other people’s concerns.

“Take the personal out of your decisions and do what’s best for the entire community,” he said.

Regarding his skills that would benefit the city, Salem listed “Understanding the political and the policy processes, how the levers of government work and how we can use the resources we have to impact that process.”

Regarding the state legislators’ latest efforts to eliminate the Island cities’ home rule rights, Salem said, “I have a background in putting together coalitions. I would use that experience to help craft a strategy to work with the commission, the mayor and our lobbyist on this issue.”

Regarding his beneficial skills and traits, Seymour said, “I believe I’m pretty open-minded. I might go into a discussion with an opinion but you can change my mind. I’m open to both sides of an idea. I also tend to look at the benefit to others before I look at a benefit to myself.”

Salem and Seymour agree that street paving, stormwater and drainage projects and the pending Pine Avenue safety improvements are the city’s top three core objectives, but neither believes installing bike paths along Pine Avenue and preserving the existing parallel parking spaces should be an either/or proposition. Both said they want to learn more as to why bike paths can’t be installed without eliminating the street-side parking spaces.

If forced to choose one or the other, Seymour said he’d keep the existing parking spaces.

Regarding additional priorities, Salem said, “Given recent developments, I’d say home rule is also very important and something I’ve been working on as part of planning and zoning is restoring the balance between vacationers and the residents. I think that’s also important for home rule. If we don’t have an active population and voter base that cares about the city, we’re not going to be able to withstand the influences from outside of our Island that are trying to govern us.”

Seymour said, “We could potentially lose home rule and they could throw all those codes and ordinances out the window and we could become a high-rise city. That scares me.”

Seymour thinks the city should also prioritize utility infrastructure improvements.

“I think this Island and our city has a considerable problem with utility infrastructure,” Seymour said.

He noted the 500 block of Pine Avenue loses power for six to 12 days a year, even on sunny days. He also said several Anna Maria properties recently experienced non-storm-related Spectrum internet service interruptions on two non-consecutive days.

“It really impacts business when we can’t process payments. How can we partner with FPL and Spectrum to make our grid a little more stable?” Seymour said.

Salem and Seymour both said they’d seek re-election in November if appointed.

They both support the 2.05 millage rate that’s remained in effect for several years. Salem favors the lowest tax rate possible and Seymour is open to lowering or raising the millage rate if needed.

They agree that noise ordinance enforcement is important for maintaining residents’ quality of life. Neither owns vacation rental properties and neither has any conflicts of interest they feel would impede their ability to govern.

Seymour resigns from city commission

Seymour resigns from city commission

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

ANNA MARIA – City Commission Chair Brian Seymour tendered his immediate resignation Friday morning.

His resignation came one day after his fellow commissioners voted 4-0 in favor of not pursuing a potential city ordinance amendment that might have allowed Seymour to open a takeout package liquor store next to his Anna Maria General Store on Pine Avenue. Seymour planned to lease the adjacent retail space vacated by Island Charms, but those plans are now scrapped.

Seymour resigns from city commission
Brian Seymour planned to open a package liquor store in this space next to his Anna Maria General Store. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The commission reached this unanimous decision during a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 29. Seymour did not attend the meeting in order to avoid a potential conflict of interest between his business activities and his commission duties.

“It is with regret that I tender my resignation as city commission chairman/vice mayor effective immediately,” Seymour wrote in an email sent to Mayor Dan Murphy Friday morning.

“It is time for me to return and focus on my private life and private business ventures,” Seymour’s letter said.

In closing, he wished the mayor and the commission well.

The remaining commissioners must now appoint someone to serve the rest of Seymour’s two-year term that expires in November 2020.

Commission decision

During Thursday’s meeting, City Attorney Becky Vose said she received an email on Monday, Aug. 26, that included a written opinion from City Planner Robin Meyer regarding Seymour’s proposed business operations.

Adopted in the late 1980s, the city’s liquor ordinance prohibits liquor sales within 2,500 feet of Roser Memorial Community Church.

Meyer’s Aug. 26 email to Seymour said sales of alcohol for consumption off premises is a normal retail sale and is not covered by the city ordinance.

“This is further supported by Florida Statutes Chapter 563.02, which clearly states that licensing is different for establishments selling alcohol for consumption off premises … it goes even further by stating such uses shall not be subject to zoning by municipal or county authorities. It is my interpretation of this section that the city must treat any business selling alcohol for consumption off premises as a normal retail use, and we are banned by state law from placing any other restrictions on them,” Meyer wrote.

“I knew that the opinion written by the city planner was incorrect,” Vose told the commission.

Vose said she immediately called Seymour and reached out to the mayor. As a precautionary measure she drafted for commission consideration a potential city ordinance that would have allowed a package liquor store to operate on Pine Avenue.

Vose said time was of the essence because Seymour had contractual obligations to meet regarding the liquor license and additional leased space.

Commissioner Dale Woodland said when the ordinance was adopted the intent was not to allow any additional liquor establishments within 2,500 feet of the church.

“I don’t recall anybody opposing this ordinance when it was passed,” he said.

It was noted that Bortell’s Lounge, which is currently closed, was grandfathered in because it predated the ordinance. It was also noted the Waterfront restaurant later successfully petitioned the city to serve liquor on premises. Both establishments are within 2,500 feet of the church.

Commissioner Doug Copeland expressed concerns about Seymour’s businesses and liquor license being sold someday and potentially being used for on-site liquor consumption.

Vose said the city’s zoning laws could limit Seymour to takeout sales only and those restrictions would also to apply to any future owner.

The commission, minus Seymour, then voted not to move forward on an amended ordinance.

Seymour’s reaction

Immediately after Thursday’s meeting, The Sun visited Seymour at the location he proposed to use for his liquor store.

“Those liquor licenses are based on supply and demand and do not come available that often. I had a choice: sign for it or lose it. And the new space is almost ready,” Seymour said.

Seymour said he was now contractually obligated to pay a $35,000 deposit toward the full $350,000 due in September. He also recently signed a long-term lease with the property owner, Lizzie Vann.

“The letter I received from City Planner Robin Meyer said I was not subject to the city’s 2,500-foot rule. That’s for restaurants and bars,” Seymour said, noting he received similar opinions from previous planners.

“When this ordinance was written in 1987 it created a monopoly. According to the city’s interpretation, it blocks anyone else from opening a package store. The way I interpret it is you can’t have a bar or restaurant that serves liquor in our business district because everything’s within 2,500 feet of the church,” Seymour said.

“I already sell beer and wine to go in the General Store,” Seymour said, noting that those who wish to purchase liquor for offsite consumption must drive to Holmes Beach since Bortell’s closed.

When contacted again on Friday, Seymour said, “Thankfully, I was able to get out of the liquor license contract, and I’m working on getting out of my verbal agreement on the lease.”

Regarding possible legal action against the city, Seymour said, “That’s probably the last thing I’d want to do, but I’m still in discussion with my attorney as to what my exposure has been and the city’s liability in that. There’s a lot of expenses that have been paid to this point, and we haven’t discussed the future profit damages,” Seymour said.

Anna Maria swearing in Murphy

Mayor and commissioners take oath of office

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

ANNA MARIA – During the Thursday, Nov. 29, organizational meeting. City Clerk LeAnne Addy administered the oath of office to Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and city commissioners Amy Tripp and Brian Seymour.

All three incumbent city officials ran unopposed in the recent city elections and will serve additional two-year terms in office.

Anna Maria swearing in Seymour
Brian Seymour is sworn into his second term as a commissioner. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

After the swearing-in ceremonies, Tripp nominated Seymour to serve as the commission chair, and the commission unanimously supported the nomination. Seymour will serve as commission chair for one year and Commissioner Carol Carter will serve as vice-chair.

Anna Maria swearing in Tripp
Amy Tripp is sworn into her first full term as a commissioner. She served a partial term after being appointed in February. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I’m very honored that Commissioner Tripp nominated me. I’m happy to learn from the staff and the mayor and continue to grow my knowledge of the operations and execution of the city priorities,” Seymour said after the meeting.

Commissioner Doug Copeland served as commission chair for the past three years. Copeland, Carter and Dale Woodland have one more year remaining in their current commission terms.

Bill Vincent Withdraws

Vincent ends commission candidacy

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Former Planning and Zoning Board member Bill Vincent says he’s withdrawing from the Bradenton Beach City Commission race.

On Thursday, June 28, Vincent distributed an email that said in its entirety: “Greetings. I have withdrawn my candidacy for commissioner of Bradenton Beach without advance announcement or public comment.”

Vincent announced his withdrawal a week after he and four other candidates qualified to run for the two at-large commission seats currently held by Marilyn Maro and Ralph Cole. Maro and Cole are seeking reelection and being challenged by former Scenic WAVES chair Tjet Martin and former Planning and Zoning Board member John Metz.

In 2016, John Chappie defeated Vincent in the Ward 4 commission race by a 378-234 vote margin. In 2014, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh defeated Martin in the Ward 4 race by a 347-143 vote margin. This is Metz’s first pursuit of a Bradenton Beach commission seat.

Vincent, Martin and Metz are among six former city advisory board members who resigned from their volunteer city positions last summer amidst allegations of Sunshine Law violations that are now the subject of a pending civil lawsuit initiated by the city and a city resident.

Metz is also the plaintiff in the stalled, but still pending, lawsuit he filed against the city and Building Official Steve Gilbert in 2016 in an attempt to have a neighbor’s property declared ineligible for continued use as a vacation rental.

In 2012, Martin, Bill Shearon and Jo Ann Meilner filed a lawsuit against the city in objection to a beachfront parking allowance given to Ed Chiles’ BeachHouse restaurant. The lawsuit was later settled in a manner that preserved Chiles’ parking rights but also allowed for the creation of a small beachfront park.

According to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, there’s nothing in the city charter that prevents someone involved in an active lawsuit with the city from running for a commission seat or serving as a commissioner if elected.

Commissioner Amy Tripp

Tripp joins Anna Maria commission

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

ANNA MARIA – Amy Tripp has been appointed to fill the City Commission seat recently vacated by Nancy Yetter.

The commission appointment occurred at the Thursday, Feb. 22 commission meeting. Tripp will serve the remainder of the two-year term that expires in November.

Commissioners Carol Carter, Doug Copeland, Brian Seymour and Dale Woodland unanimously ranked Tripp as the top candidate from a trio that also included Jonathan Crane and David Bouchard.

The appointment process devised by City Attorney Becky Vose required each commissioner to rank on paper the three candidates as their first, second and third choices. The seat went to the candidate with the lowest total score.

Tripp’s score was four, followed by Crane’s nine and Bouchard’s 11.

Commission chair Doug Copeland thanked Crane and Bouchard for their willingness to serve and City Clerk LeAnne Addy swore Tripp in so she could participate in the rest of the meeting.

Candidates speak

Each candidate was given three minutes to speak before the commissioners voted.

“I saw an opportunity. I ran for commissioner a few years ago and thought it might be a good idea to throw my hat in the ring again. I hope to assist in any way I can,” Bouchard said.

Crane said, “I’d very much like to serve alongside all of you on this commission. I believe I’m the best candidate here in terms of qualifications because of my experience and because of my lifelong commitment to public service.”

He cited his current chairmanship of the Planning and Zoning Board and his experience as a private and public attorney, hearing officer, small claims judge and mediator in Los Angeles County.

Tripp spoke last.

“The Tripp family has had a presence in the city of Anna Maria for over 65 years. My father- -in-law (Ted Tripp) was a mayor and served on the Planning and Zoning Board for 25 years. My mother-in-law, Paula, was on the board of directors at the Historical Society and was a turtle watch volunteer before there was a Turtle Watch organization. I would like to follow their commitment to service,” she said.

“One thing that is most important to me is the home rule protection and I have worked the past two years trying to keep that in place,” she said.

Last year, Tripp gathered more than 600 petition signatures in opposition to the state Legislature’s unsuccessful attempt to eliminate local governments’ ability to regulate vacation rentals. She traveled to Tallahassee to meet privately with legislators and presented them with copies of her petition.

Working from home, she continued her advocacy efforts during the current legislative session that has seen state senators trying to preempt all vacation rental regulation to the state.

At the request of Mayor Dan Murphy, Tripp developed the Anna Maria bike route and route map two years ago.

“These things show that I know how to build a coalition to do positive things for the city,” Tripp said.

Tripp reaction

Tripp’s husband Alan was born on Anna Maria Island. While raising two daughters in Atlanta, the couple bought a second home in Anna Maria in 2001 and became full-time residents in 2013.

Speaking by phone on Friday, Tripp said, “I felt honored that I was their number one pick across the board. I feel it’s a good fit for me, the commission and the mayor and I look forward to working with them.”

Regarding home rule rights, Tripp said, “I think local government does the best job governing people. They’re the closest to us.”

Referencing comments that state Representatives Carlos Guillermo Smith and Kristin Jacobs made last week when discussing vacation rentals, Tripp stated, “Like they said, the homesteaded property owner should have privileged rights over an LLC owned by someone in another country or another state. They shouldn’t share the same privileges.”

When asked about Tripp’s appointment, Murphy said, “I’m pleased that Amy has joined the commission. She’s going to be a valuable member. She’s got great experience and she knows the all the issues.”