The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under the Division of Recreation and Parks has the responsibility of planning the use and management of Florida’s public lands and water areas. Governments are tasked with development and management strategies and plans for the quality of recreation experiences and protection of the natural areas which are directly affected by the implementation of the site plans, or land use plans. As we write our state legislators regarding the current hot topic of the “garage,” perhaps we should encourage a study using the DEP Carrying Capacity Guidelines.
Carrying capacity is the maximum population that can be sustained by a specific environment. Carrying capacity computations are vital to the planning of new use sites, alterations of existing use sites and continuous management of all areas of the system. To prevent overcrowding and resource deterioration, the collection of data is fundamental to assessment.
Carrying capacity for a given site governs the number of parking spaces, the size of restrooms and all quantities of support facilities to be provided. Surveys on tourists’ perspectives have shown that in addition to beach cleanliness, safety, information availability and habitat management, overcrowding is considered as a very significant criterion by potential tourists.
Without becoming too technical, these are the broad capacities:
Economic – maximum number of tourists that an area can support;
Biophysical – damage to the natural environment exceeds the habitat’s ability to regenerate;
Social – Reduced visitor enjoyment and increased crime/indicators of when the social carrying capacity has been exceeded;
Environmental – ecological and physical parameters, the capacity of resources, ecosystems and infrastructure.
Doug Lansky, an international tourism advisor, has a great YouTube video on tourism, “a new model for success in tourism that emphasizes sustainable growth, protecting local assets, and enhancing life for the locals while maximizing the local economic impact.”
The area of Anna Maria Island is less than a half of a percent of the total area of Manatee County. A $45 million parking garage for 1,500 is not a panacea. Encourage legislators to use smart and sensible planning strategies and studies for the benefit of residents, visitors, and the environment.
Last week we talked about interest rates and the effect they may be having on the national and local real estate markets. But what if you’re a senior citizen, retired and want to buy another home? There may be barriers to obtaining that loan you never considered.
No secret that lots of real estate is sold to seniors in the state of Florida, and not just Florida. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports that 13% of all mortgages originated in 2021 were by people 65 years of age and older; that is over 1.9 million mortgages.
Nevertheless, older borrowers who no longer draw a paycheck and rely on investments and the interest they generate may have a problem proving to a lender that they have sufficient income and assets to qualify for a mortgage. This is especially true now as housing prices have gone up substantially over the past couple of years.
In addition, widows and widowers could have another problem qualifying if they have lost income after their spouse has passed. Frequently pension benefits are lost or reduced and Social Security benefits will also be reduced. A woman I met told me that after the loss of her husband, she couldn’t afford to stay in her house and didn’t qualify for a home equity loan to help with expenses even though there was adequate equity in the property.
Seniors who are depending on investments to cover living expenses will qualify if they are taking regular distributions from IRA accounts, which are considered income. However, if they are just withdrawing funds as needed, lenders may not consider that as income. Every lender is different, so finding one that has worked with seniors in similar positions is helpful. And of course, keeping your credit score up is essential, so be prudent when considering cosigning a car loan for your grandson.
Last week, we also reported on the sales statistics for Manatee County and the national sales statistics came out right around the same time. The National Association of Realtors said the number of closed sales fell 36.9% from last January; this is in line with our statistics that single-family closings were down by 31.7% in Manatee from last year.
Not similar, however, were the national median existing-home prices, which rose 1.3% in January from a year earlier. Manatee County’s median sale price for single-family homes was up 5.4% compared to last January. This should be expected when you see the selling prices on Island homes and other coastal areas in Manatee County.
Also, according to the National Association of Realtors, seven of the top 10 cities with the largest year-over-year increases are in Florida or the Carolinas. Sarasota is up 19.5%, Naples is up 17.2%, Punta Gorda is up 15.2% and Daytona Beach is up 14.5% – the Florida hot spots. Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors, says, “Even with a projected reduction in home sales this year, prices are expected to remain stable in the vast majority of the markets due to extremely limited supply.” I would add that supply is gradually improving with the possibility of it impacting sales values.
If you’re a senior and are experiencing a problem getting financing, remember that it is against the law to discriminate because of age. But it’s not against the law to discriminate because of a lack of income. Use the tools available to get that mortgage done before the prices go up again.
The waters on the Suncoast need the protection of those who love them. You can help Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) do that with a new program the nonprofit launched recently by keeping your “Eyes on the Suncoast” and reporting what you see.
Whether you’re boating, biking, swimming, fishing or walking, everyone on or near the water can help SCWK remind residents and visitors why the Suncoast’s marine ecosystem is worth protecting. Suncoast Waterkeeper can’t be everywhere at once, that’s why your contributions are vital to their efforts.
You can help Suncoast Waterkeeper by report- ing conditions such as this light-colored plume in area waters. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
SCWK has designed a platform that makes it easy for you to submit and share what you see. Sharing what you see using your phone, social media and the hashtag #eyesonthesuncoast can be invaluable in efforts to preserve water quality and habitat.
Here are two ways you can report what you see:
1. Use the form on their website for bad conditions or pollution reports only. The form will let you post an image, add a description and give the location of the report.
2. Post to Facebook or Instagram. Here is the perfect place to post what you love about the Suncoast and why it’s important to help organizations like SCWK keep it sustainable. A YouTube video walks you through the process on the webpage. Follow these four easy steps to post to your social media platform:
• Upload a picture;
• Include a description of what you’re reporting;
• Provide the latitude and longitude for your location using your phone’s compass or by dropping a pin on a map app; and
• Add #eyesonthesuncoast.
Need a couple of tips on what to report?
Post the things that inspire and amaze you – wildlife sightings, clear/clean water, a special sunrise and/or sunset, healthy seagrass or marine scenery.
Post the things we need to be aware of like trash/debris, excessive mangrove trimming, including dead mangroves, fish kills, dead or sick aquatic animals, discolored, foamy
or foul-smelling water, sewage spills, algae blooms, gas, oil or grease spills, runoff from construction sites, direct pollution or chemical spills, invasive species as well as other concerns.
Don’t underestimate the impact that your contributions can make.
As Margaret Mead, the famous cultural anthropologist said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
ANNA MARIA – Last Thursday, The Center’s adult co-ed flag football league closed out the regular season with team Luxury Service undefeated with a 7-0 record.
On the flip side of the coin, the Ugly Grouper squad finished without a win.
The two teams meet up in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs on Feb. 3. A playoff miracle for Ugly Grouper is needed against the high-scoring Luxury team.
The Briley team easily defeated the Ugly Grouper lineup last week 41-0, finishing the season with a 4-3 record.
A late player substitution was made to The Briley Mortgage Team roster with the addition of Jon Moss working behind the center as quarterback.
The change led to a passing game with 30 receiving points, including four thrown by Moss and one by Connor Haughey.
On the receiving side of the scoring, the hot hands and body control by Karri Stephens scored 12 points. Stephens had one defensive stop in the game. Jesse Skipper, Mike Bolognone and Haughey each had a six-point catch to help The Briley team capture their fourth win of the season.
Skipper had a single flag pull and a sack. Haughey’s game stats include one receiving reception, a single one-point conversion, seven total catches and stop while on defense.
Topping off the offensive scoring for The Briley Mortgage Team were Jana Whitehead and Alonzo Lemus, each with a point after a touchdown conversion.
The remaining defensive stops included flag pulls by Bolognone, Whitehead and Lemus, with an interception by Lemus.
Despite the loss, the Ugly Grouper players put critical statistics into the books in last week’s game. Kiatrell Zachery led the defense with six flag pulls and one interception.
Credited with an INT while on defense, Limarcus Waller lit up the football field with three catches and four flag pulls.
Daniel O’Connor had two defensive stops, adding to a single by Colton Fox.
Contributing offensively, Zachary Blakeney and Devyn Larson each had a catch for important yardage in the game.
With Jon Moss as the QB for Briley Mortgage Team, there is a potential match-up against family members on team Moss Builders.
Brother Ryan Moss, cousin, Greg Moss, and father, Ed Moss, make up nearly a third of the team that defeated The Banks Home Lending Team on Feb. 23 with a score of 38-19.
Moss Builders finished the season with a 6-1 record and faces Gulf Drive Café in the first round of the adult league playoffs at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The café team had a single win in the regular season, with a loss handed to them by The Sandbar team in the final week of pre-playoff games.
Almost pulling out a win last week, with the final score 48-41 in Sandbar’s favor, Gulf Drive Café goes into the playoffs as underdogs against the solid Moss squad.
In the final game of the first playoff night, The Briley Mortgage Team snaps against The Sandbar at 9 p.m.
It’s winter in Florida and it can be a little chilly in the morning, but, if you pay close attention, you may feel a slight warming breeze. However, the breeze I’m talking about is not in the air, but in the real estate market, and it’s starting to stir demand among buyers.
Mortgage rates have fallen by about a full percentage point for a 30-year fixed-rate loan, signaling that the Federal Reserve may be nearly finished lifting interest rates. As of this writing, the average 30-year fixed-rate loan is averaging about 6.79%, but there are loans out there that are as low as 6.46%, and a 15-year fixed-rate loan is averaging about 6.22%.
The last time we saw mortgage rates in the 6% range was for several years between 2003 and 2008 after which the rates started dropping. Understandably, new buyers to the market were appalled when the rates went over 7% from a low of 3% since they had never seen rates this high.
Redfin reports that the number of people contacting real estate agents to start their buying process has increased from a November low. In addition, real estate contracts rose in December and mortgage applications are up by about a quarter nationally since the end of last year.
The real estate market has always been a barometer of how the economy is doing in general because so much of a successful economy is driven by a successful housing market. Goldman Sachs Group economists said this past month “they expect the worst of the downturn has passed and housing is poised to exert less of a drag on economic growth going forward.”
And buyers are hearing the message and getting accustomed to their monthly housing costs being higher if they plan on buying a home. It’s a correction in their thinking which has finally taken hold.
Let’s see if Manatee County residents are also getting the message. These are the January sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.
Single-family homes closed 31.7% fewer homes than January of last year. The median sale price was $505,710, up 5.4%, and the average sale price was $650,544, up 5.8%. Median time to contract was 32 days, compared to 7 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.
Condos closed 24.4% fewer properties than last January. The median sale price was $345,000, up 14.4%, and the average sale price was $392,332, up 3.4%. Median time to contract was 26 days, compared to 6 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.
Cash sales continue to drop 31.6% for single-family and 34.6% for condos. However, inventory is increasing and the median and average sale prices are still in positive territory compared to last year. The combination of increased inventory and values that are holding is a great thing. There are regions around the country that would love to be in our position.
In addition, historically, 6% interest rates are not unusual. What was unusual was when they got down to 3%. We as a country have always survived high-interest rates frequently much higher than 6%. Buyers continued to buy even then because owning a home is ultimately the goal of most Americans. So, enjoy the warming trend and be patient it you haven’t felt it yet, it’s coming.
Several years ago, I started writing a monthly column analyzing the over $1 million properties on the Island and in Cortez. Then, because of the volume of properties, I amended that to do the analysis quarterly. Now I’m faced with the reality of having so many properties over $1 million that it’s easier to count the ones under a million and provide an overview of what’s going on. And what’s going on is mind blowing, probably something I don’t need to tell you.
Little Cortez has 19 properties either available or pending. Twelve of them are $1 million or over, counting a $999,000 property. The properties start with $4,999,999 and several of the properties are part of the new Hunters Point community.
The city of Anna Maria, which everyone knows by now is the second most expensive zip code in the state of Florida, continues to grow. There are 80 properties either available or pending on the north end and only two of those listings are under $1 million. It starts at $12,775,000 and ends at $1,399,900 with only 16 properties between $1 million and $2 million.
The combined cities of Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach have 172 available or pending properties. They start at $12,995,000 and end at $999,000. There are only 53 out of 172 properties listed under $1 million.
All of the above numbers are based on the available information as of this writing, which changes daily. Nevertheless, it’s pretty obvious that we have broken records and keep breaking them. But why?
It seems like the world is moving to Florida and based on the increase in population numbers it very well may be. The population of Florida in 2022 was 22,244,823, an increase of 1.91% from 2021. The population of Florida at the end of 2019, when the COVID-19 pandemic was just starting, was 21,492,056, an increase of 752,767 in just three years.
As a comparison, the state of New York for the year 2022 had a population of 19,677,151. You would have to go back to 2014, long before COVID was even a word, when Florida’s population was 19,853,880 to come close to New York state’s current population. The increases in Florida’s population show a consistent growth pattern, with only two states, California and Texas, having higher populations.
And there are other reasons for Florida’s expanding population. Certainly, the lack of state income tax is a huge draw for wealthy individuals and businesses alike. Florida has a lower budget by billions than other large states and a higher GDP rate. And, although our sales tax and some permitting fees may be higher than other large states, in the end, it’s generally a more affordable state to live in.
Finally, do I even want to go down the lifestyle road, something it’s impossible to put a number on? For the most part, properties are being bought by buyers from out of state and it’s not all about the money.
I guess I really do know the reason the sales numbers are too high to count and the population keeps increasing. In spite of some adjustments to the real estate market all over the state, chances are it will continue, especially when buyers and sellers realize it’s now or never.
Have you been looking for a way to meet new friends who share your passion for the environment and work to keep it healthy? An upcoming event will provide you with that opportunity. Join Sarasota Bay Watch, Suncoast Aqua Ventures and Suncoast Waterkeeper on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Harbor Cove Community, 499 Imperial Drive in North Port. Hurricane Ian blew a tremendous amount of debris into the Myakka River, our area’s premier wild and scenic river. Join the effort in removing debris and restoring this natural treasure.
You can sign up at the Sarasota Bay Watch website. The event starts at 8:15 a.m. with a safety meeting followed by the cleanup, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided at noon at the end of the cleanup. Fourteen kayaks will be provided for those who want to participate but don’t own a kayak. Sign up early to reserve a seat. Participants can, of course, bring their own kayak or shallow draft boat. Work gloves, trash bags, maps and equipment will be provided. Non-boaters are needed to retrieve trash or clean areas from land. Parking is limited, so carpool if possible. If you have questions, contact Ronda Ryan at 941-232-2363. Other sponsors include North Port Friends of Wildlife and the Harbor Cove Community.
As you may be aware, Hurricane Ian had a huge impact over a wide swath of waterways across the state. While the news has moved on to more immediate stories, the debris left by the storm remains in some of the Suncoast’s most important natural areas. On their first event held on Dec. 11, 2022, the organizations cleaned up the waterways in the community of Holiday Estates. A particularly hard-hit area on the Suncoast, Lemon Bay sits at the southern end of the watershed monitored by Suncoast Aqua Ventures, Sarasota Bay Watch and Suncoast Waterkeeper. With the assistance of Lemon Bay Conservancy and the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Program, they worked to clean up the canals of Ainger Creek, a major tributary of Lemon Bay.
This is a great opportunity to learn about and participate in the important work of these organizations, as well as an opportunity to spend a day making a difference and meeting new friends. Join in to keep the Suncoast the special place it is for this and future generations.
Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also partially funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit https://www.taxcollector.com/tdt-evader.cfm.
ANNA MARIA – Team Luxury Services remains in the top-ranked position in The Center’s adult co-ed flag football league going into week six of winter league play.
With the win over The Briley Mortgage Team, Luxury stays one game ahead of team Moss Builders. Luxury beat the Moss squad week two in the season.
Matthew Briley did the scoring for his team with two rushing touchdowns. Briley also had three critical stops on defense.
The lack of points after the TD and a successful throwing game kept The Briley Mortgage Team squad playing catch-up the entire game going into halftime scoreless.
Karri Stephens lit up the field for The Briley Mortgage Team with two interceptions, two catches and five flag pulls. Alonzo Lemus caught four catches and had a defensive stop.
Teammate Connor Haughey made three nice receptions and pulled one flag in the game for The Briley team.
In the win, Luxury Services’ QB, Chase Richardson, had four passing touchdowns and a pick six on the other side of the football. Two of the scoring catches were to Jonathan Soultatos.
Soultatos’ contributions in the game also included six points running the football into the endzone and a flag pull to help stop the opponent’s forward progress.
Teammates Ramon Guerrero IV and Sequiel Marintez each had a receiving touchdown. Guerrero made three defensive stops, while Marintez had two along with a two-point conversion.
Tim Holly was most effective for Luxury Services with three flag pulls and a sack to help with the big win.
Ugly Grouper looks to put their first win in the record books this week against Luxury Services. The Briley team plays Solid Rock Construction, which shares a 3-2-0 record with their next opponent, as well as The Banks Home Lending Team.
Solid Rock Construction kept team Ugly Grouper out of the endzone, shutting them out with the final score 36-0. In a scoring showdown, Moss Builders eked out the win by three points, in the 58-55 win over The Sandbar.
Sharing a record of 1-4-0 with The Sandbar after week five play, the Gulf Drive Café team lost against The Banks Home Lending team by 20 points.
With the championship match up on Thursday, March 16, all eight teams are looking to the end game with a win. The championship game starts at 7 p.m.
Buying a house during the past almost three years can be compared to a rollercoaster ride. You go up and you go down, you scream and you hold your breath waiting for the next hairpin turn. But maybe, just maybe, we’re starting to see the end of the ride.
The National Association of Realtors reported at the end of last year that the sales of previously owned homes, most of the real estate market, slid 17.7% in 2022. Also, on a month-to-month basis, sales fell 1.5% in December for an 11th straight monthly decline, the worst rate since November of 2010.
The housing boom generated by the pandemic and the ability for workers to work remotely accelerated selling prices and demand until the Federal Reserve stepped in to cool the economy and curb inflation by raising interest rates. This took a big chunk out of the ability of buyers to proceed with purchases when borrowing rates more than doubled.
As recently as October of last year, mortgage interest rates climbed over 7%, a rate not seen for two decades. This, plus the increased asking price of homes, forced many buyers out of the market since they could not qualify for the additional monthly carrying charges. Now, however, the rates are starting to trend down, and as of Feb. 5, Forbes reported the following average annual percentage rates (APR) rates: 6.37% for a 30-year fixed mortgage and 5.56% for a 15-year fixed mortgage, the two most popular mortgage products.
The forecast for 2023 is that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rates will stay within the 5% to 6% range. Freddie Mac forecasts the average 30-year mortgage rate to start at 6.6% in the first quarter and end up at 6.2% in the last quarter of this year and Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtor’s chief economist said, “Mortgage rates have fallen for the past few weeks, so I’m very hopeful that the worst in home sales is probably coming to an end.”
The other bit of good news is that the Federal Reserve raised their benchmark interest rate by only a quarter of a percent rather than a full half percent, which they have been doing monthly for some time. All of this may point to the fact that the mortgage rates have hit their peak, advertising to buyers and sellers it may be time to get back in the game.
Next week when we review the January sales statistics, we’ll have a better idea if our local market is starting to show an increase in sales activity and available inventory. As far as affordability, the asking prices on the Island are as high as ever and the construction of new homes is on practically every street. If the city of Anna Maria is second in Florida’s most expensive median listing price, as recently reported by Realtor.com, it will take a lot to turn that around any time soon.
So, just like getting off the rollercoaster, it takes you a few minutes to get your land legs back under you and wait for your heart to return to a normal beat. Everyone’s hoping this is that time… prices are still high but leveling off, mortgage rates are gradually declining and sellers who have been sitting on their super-low mortgage rates may start to reconsider the financial benefit of selling. However, stand by – there’s always another rollercoaster coming down the track.
Seabirds are one the Suncoast’s prime attractions for anglers, visitors and residents alike. Birds in general, and seabirds specifically, provide a significant boost to Florida’s economy and are a major reason the state ranks as one of the nation’s top wildlife viewing destinations. We are stirred by their song and their aerial displays and are guided to fish as they wheel and dive over schools of bait being plundered by pelagic fish. The haunting sound of a whippoorwill signals the arrival of spring, while the colorful plumage of a spoonbill and the elaborate rituals of herons, terns and other seabirds heralds the breeding season. We marvel at the graceful flight of a formation of black skimmers, their bills tracing paths across the water’s surface at sunset, as they wheel overhead in a rush of wings.
With all that birds provide us, it’s alarming to learn that species-wide, we’ve lost the equivalent of one in four birds in the last 50 years. The major reason is loss of habitat, and the seabirds we treasure are particularly vulnerable due to the loss of mangroves for nesting and the practice of many seabirds to lay their eggs and raise their young just above a barrier island’s high-water line.
Birds need our help, and there are specific things that anglers and outdoor enthusiasts alike can do to help them. One of the most heartbreaking things anyone can experience is a dead or dying bird garroted in the mangroves by an unsuspecting fisherman’s line. Anglers who fish the coastal waters of Florida will invariably come into contact with seabirds that inhabit the estuaries of our state. Often that encounter is deadly to seabirds if anglers don’t know the basics of avoiding contact with or caring for hooked birds. Birds live here, it’s their home and they aid savvy anglers as they search for food. The birds get into trouble when they come in contact with discarded fishing line in the mangroves or they take line to their roosts after becoming hooked. The incidents of anglers hooking birds can be reduced or eliminated by following a few simple rules. First, never feed birds. This trains birds to look for a handout and leads them to often unsuspecting anglers. Secondly, while you’re fishing, be aware of birds that might be eyeing your bait or lure. It’s easy to pull it out of harm’s way at the last second before a bird dives on it.
If you do hook a bird, make sure that you fight them just like you would a trophy fish to prevent them from breaking the line. Trailing line can be a death sentence for the birds when they return to their roost at night. Care should be taken when handling birds due to their fragile, hollow bones and sharp beaks. First, place a towel over the bird’s head. This will calm them and protect the angler from sharp bills. You can then cautiously remove hooks and unwind line before releasing them.
During nesting season (peaking here May through June) birds are particularly vulnerable, especially those that nest on the beaches of our barrier islands. It’s crucial that humans avoid breeding colonies on public beaches and especially the few places designated as off-limits because of their critical nesting potential. Locally protected areas like Egmont Key and Passage Key are often threatened by unsuspecting and careless beachgoers endangering eggs and young hatchlings. The birds don’t have a voice and it’s left to those of us that appreciate and benefit from them to be their advocates.
If while fishing you see a hooked or tangled bird in an active rookery, don’t approach them during nesting season. Our well-meaning intentions can cause more harm than good by causing startled young birds to fall from the nest.
Taking care of the environment that feeds our passion is everyone’s responsibility. Follow these simple guidelines: be aware of the presence of seabirds, take care in handling them and never feed birds. If you see a bird in distress and it’s not nesting season, you can free them. If they swim or fly away on their own that’s all you’ll need to do. If you believe they are too weak to recover on their own, contact one of the local organizations that rescue and rehabilitate sea birds. On Anna Maria Island you can call Wildlife Inc. at 941-778-6324. To our south, call Save Our Seabirds on City Island in Sarasota at 941-388-3010. Audubon’s Coastal Island Sanctuaries has an informative website and can be reached by calling 813-794-3784. Join Suncoast Waterkeeper in their efforts to protect mangroves and water quality and join Sarasota Bay Watch’s Annual Fishing Line Cleanup in the fall.
Birds of all kinds are a critical component and bellwether of a healthy environment. Let’s all work together to create a vibrant and safe place – for the birds.
HOLMES BEACH – What a difference a few days and some strong winds can make.
While red tide reports from several days earlier showed low concentrations of Karenia brevis, the organism that causes red tide blooms, conditions changed on Sunday.
With winds out of the west at more than 23 mph churning up the blooms in the Gulf of Mexico and pushing them toward Anna Maria Island beaches, the unmistakable smell – and feel – of red tide permeated a largely empty Manatee Beach.
One visitor from New York was coughing profusely as she left the beach Sunday morning.
“I wanted to see the beach, but I have asthma and I couldn’t stay long,” she said. “I started coughing almost immediately. This is too much for me.”
Some people experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) when red tide is present and winds blow onshore, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), while offshore winds can keep respiratory effects experienced by those on the shore to a minimum.
Red tide produces toxins capable of killing fish, birds and other marine animals. The toxins can also cause health problems in humans, including respiratory irritation when wave action breaks open red tide cells and the toxins become airborne, according to the FWC.
The Florida Department of Health advises people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions, such as COPD, emphysema or asthma, to avoid areas with red tide.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Vacation rentals are a popular use of residential properties both on the Island and in unincorporated Manatee County where West Manatee Fire Rescue’s district is located. Now district leaders are looking at reclassifying those properties within their district as commercial properties for enforcement and tax purposes.
During a January board meeting, Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski presented the idea to the district’s staff and board of commissioners as a life safety concern. With so many people in and out of vacation rentals across the district and limited oversight from government agencies, as a preventative measure, he said he’d like the district’s fire prevention bureau to be able to inspect the properties for safety.
Inspections would include looking for items such as properly placed smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, floor plans of the home indicating exit points, emergency lighting and other precautionary measures commonly found in commercial properties. To fund the initiative, he suggested the fire department’s staff look into the possibility of assessing the owners of vacation rental properties in the district as commercial rather than residential properties. If that happens, it will mean a jump of approximately $200 per year, depending on the size of the property, for vacation rental owners and an increase of more than $1 million in funding to the fire district.
To run the program, Kwiatkowski said the district would need two more inspectors and an assistant at an estimated cost of $350,309 per year with an additional $140,000 needed to pay for department vehicles for the new hires.
Currently, the district charges a fire assessment on residential trim notices at a lower rate than they do for commercial properties. And while multiple-unit residential properties are already assessed and inspected as commercial properties, traditionally residential properties, such as single-family homes and duplexes, are still treated as if a full-time resident lives there. Because they are rented, Kwiatkowski said that under the state’s fire code, the properties are identified as transient public lodging establishments, allowing for them to be inspected by the fire district’s staff. This is the same designation given to a hotel.
In the past three years, Kwiatkowski said that of the 11 residential structure fires on the Island, eight of them were at vacation rental properties. In 2022, he said there were three pediatric drownings or near-drownings on the Island, all of which occurred at rental properties.
He presented the proposed project at a Holmes Beach Code Compliance town hall meeting with vacation rental owners and representatives on Jan. 31, reassuring the rental community that the fire department would be working with local municipalities to make sure that enforcement and inspections would not overlap with those currently taking place on the Island as a result of city efforts to make rentals safer for visitors. He added that the inspections would likely begin taking place in the fall.
ANNA MARIA – State legislators say they no longer intend to commission a state-funded feasibility study on the potential consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities and their respective city governments.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy made the announcement during this afternoon’s Anna Maria City Commission meeting.
Murphy returned to Anna Maria today after spending Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Tallahassee meeting privately with the five members of the Manatee County legislative delegation – Rep. Will Robinson Jr., Sen. Jim Boyd, Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. Tommy Gregory and Rep. Mike Beltran.
State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. is no longer pursuing a consolidation study. – MyFloridaHouse.com | Submitted
On Jan. 12, Robinson announced that the delegation intended to seek during the upcoming 2023 legislative session a state-funded study on the feasibility of consolidating or dissolving the three Island cities. During that same meeting, the delegation also announced its intent to file state legislation that could potentially preempt the city of Holmes Beach’s land development code and city charter to allow Manatee County to build a multi-story parking garage on county property to provide more public parking for beachgoers and other visitors.
An outcry erupted from many elected officials and their constituents in the Island’s three cities, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, that state officials were attempting to destroy home rule, the ability of the Island cities to govern themselves. Concerns were voiced that consolidating or dissolving the Island cities would put them under Manatee County’s jurisdiction, eliminating local codes including building height restrictions and paving the way for a new set of rules for development.
Regarding the consolidation discussions he had with Robinson in Tallahassee, Murphy said during today’s meeting, “He has agreed to pull that from the table for this year. That won’t be an item this year. Sen. Boyd agreed.”
During a recent Anna Maria commission meeting, Murphy said that Robinson told him he sought the state-funded consolidation study because he’s received numerous complaints about taxes being too high on Anna Maria Island. The proposed consolidation study would have looked at whether consolidating some or all of the similar public services provided by each of the three Island cities might produce lower property taxes for the Island’s property owners.
Consolidating Island city services
However, Murphy said, “They would like the three Island mayors to have some formal discussions as to what can be consolidated because they are getting pressure from constituents about the tax rates here on the Island. What can we do from a service point of view? To that end, I asked the other two mayors to meet with me here at city hall this morning on my return from Tallahassee. We agreed that the three of us will work on what can be consolidated. What’s the low-hanging fruit that can quickly be captured? Long-term and short-term, what can we do here with the idea of saving taxpayers money?” he said.
Murphy said the three mayors will meet every two or three weeks to discuss what can be done regarding the consolidation of shared services. He said the mayors would likely address one potential point of consolidation at a time. He said the three mayors will also solicit input from their commissioners and city staff members and provide their commissions with regular updates.
“I feel comfortable that my fellow mayors will give it a fair and honest shot,” Murphy said.
When asked if he could provide any examples of services that might potentially be consolidated, Murphy said it was too early to do so. He said those details would be released when there’s a solid plan in place. Murphy said listing potential areas of consolidation now could cause city employees in all three cities to become apprehensive about the potential impacts consolidation might have on their jobs and livelihoods.
A few years ago, Murphy proposed consolidating the Anna Maria and Holmes Beach public works departments but those efforts proved unsuccessful.
“We need to have a serious effort on the consolidation. We’ve made efforts in the past and that went nowhere. This time it’s serious and we need to have a serious conversation. I have every confidence, after my meeting this morning with the other two mayors, that we’ll make progress with some form of consolidation,” Murphy said.
Murphy said if left to the state, the complete consolidation of the three Island cities is a possible scenario.
For his efforts, Murphy received a round of applause from the commissioners and others who attended today’s meeting.
Parking concerns
Murphy said the Legislature’s continued concern about parking in Holmes Beach is not an issue that directly impacts the city of Anna Maria.
“That’s an issue between Holmes Beach and the state. This is not a county issue anymore,” he said.
Murphy referenced the streetside parking spaces the city of Holmes Beach eliminated during its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Approximately 650 parking spaces were eliminated in Holmes Beach. The county, through the state, wants some reprimands for those. They’re gone and they’d like to have them back. I think everybody recognizes that a parking garage is not a panacea. You could put up a dozen and you still wouldn’t have enough, but 650 spots are 650 spots. They were taken and is there some way to get that back?” Murphy said.
He added that the parking reductions in Holmes Beach have “created a lot of angst” with people on the mainland who feel their ability to visit the public beaches has been negatively impacted by those actions.
“Was it the right thing to do or not? At this point, the ship has sailed,” Murphy said of that past decision.
He said Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth has reached an agreement with the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation in Holmes Beach to provide some additional public parking spaces in the church parking lot. Murphy said he was asked to meet with the priest at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach, where Murphy is a member, and there’s a willingness there to also provide some additional public parking spaces.
I strongly oppose your efforts to do away with home rule on Anna Maria Island. The three cities are unique, which adds to the appeal of the Island, and they deserve to rule themselves according to their specific needs.
In addition, your proposal to override local parking restrictions to build a parking garage will do nothing to solve the “parking” problem and will do much to worsen the actual problem, traffic. There is a finite amount of space on the Island, and allowing more cars to park will only worsen the conditions for everyone. Any long-term solution should maintain the character of the Island and involve off-site parking with shuttles. There will never be enough parking for every resident of Manatee County, nor should there be.
It is highly suspicious of your true motives that you failed to consult with Island officials before acting on your proposals. How ironic and sad (and infuriating) it would be if your changes eliminated the very things that make the Island appealing.
I have already witnessed the gradual worsening of conditions on the Island in the nine years we have been coming here. The first year we were here, I was struck by the pristine condition of the beach. It felt “holy” to me, like a very special place; I never saw a single piece of trash. With the increase in “day trippers,” I now see trash on the beach constantly. There seems to be a lack of a sense of “ownership” when people are here for just a few hours. It would benefit the Island to maintain the combination of renters, owners and visitors and not turn the place over to those who seek to make money above all else.
I am a property owner and part-year resident of Holmes Beach. I did not buy property as an investment or to be a landlord. I own property here because of the Is- land’s unique, old Florida character and combination of residents, part-time residents and vacationers. Your proposals would lay waste to what makes AMI special. I beseech you: Do not submit these as part of a bill in the forthcoming legislative session.
Sincerely,
Debra Pysno
Holmes Beach
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