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Bank rezone passes first reading despite resident protests

Bank rezone passes first reading despite resident protests

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

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are halfway through rezoning approvals for the former Regions Bank property, despite the protests of several residents who’d rather not see a new Publix pharmacy and package store at the property.

The rezone came up for its first public hearing and vote during a May 25 commission meeting, during which commissioners said that they cannot deny the rezone request from C-1 to C-2 without a good reason, such as that it does not meet city standards. They all agreed with staff reports on the project that the application does meet with all city standards. The property also is surrounded by C-2 zoned properties.

Currently, the former Regions Bank location at 503 Manatee Ave. W. has been empty for eight years. Now Publix plans to renovate the existing building to be a liquor store and pharmacy location with a walking path between that building and the existing grocery store to encourage people to not move their car to go from one to the other. Right now, the property is zoned C-1, which allows for office space, banks and medical offices. Changing the property to C-2 allows for retail sales on the property.

Residents who spoke up about the potential rezone during public comment listed a few reasons for the request to be denied with a few of them agreeing that it would be better as an urgent care facility instead of a liquor store and pharmacy.

Resident Nancy Scott said she’s concerned about Holmes Beach becoming too commercialized and would like to see some sort of educational attraction placed in some of the vacant commercial buildings in the city.

Resident Tim Cullinan said that he feels rezoning the property would set a precedent for rezoning two other vacant bank properties in the city.

Another concern was that the retail use would increase traffic in the area, potentially causing more traffic accidents, something Police Chief Bill Tokajer said wasn’t a concern. He said he’d spoken with the city’s traffic engineer and that the proposed usage wasn’t expected to cause any more traffic than what had been there when the bank was in business. To help reduce accidents in the area, he’s suggested to the Florida Department of Transportation that Sixth Avenue become a right-turn-only option to Manatee Avenue instead of people being able to turn left and block traffic across the state road.

Commissioner Jim Kihm said he feels that the revitalization and use of the property proposed by representatives for Publix would be a productive asset for the community.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that the request met all of the city’s requirements and that she’s looking forward to seeing the property in use again rather than sitting vacant.

During a June 2 planning commission meeting, planning commissioners voted unanimously to approve the rezone as consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan.

The matter is scheduled to go back before commissioners for a final vote and public hearing Tuesday, June 8 at 6 p.m. While the public is invited to view the commission meeting and following work session online via Zoom, you must appear in person in commission chambers during the meeting to make comments.

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Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

Parking rift between city, county widens over Memorial Day

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

HOLMES BEACH – Memorial Day weekend brought thousands of people to Anna Maria Island to celebrate the holiday weekend, exacerbating the disagreement between Manatee County commissioners and Holmes Beach city leaders over beach parking.

Prior to the start of the weekend, some Manatee County leaders wanted Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth to open more residential city streets for public beach parking. Titsworth refused, and new County Administrator Scott Hopes made a late-night deal on May 28 with the Manatee County School Board, of which he was a member at the time, to use the parking lot at Anna Maria Elementary School for public parking through Memorial Day, though overnight parking was not allowed there. He also allowed for the public to use the parking lot at the Island Branch Library for beach parking after the library closed for the weekend.

While Hopes informed county commissioners of the decision, Titsworth said that he did not provide any notice of the parking allowances to Holmes Beach leaders or police.

If the county’s leaders wish to continue providing public parking at the school and library sites, Titsworth said they’re going to have to work with the city on it.

First, she said the use of the school property for anything other than its intended use requires either a special use permit from the city or an updated site plan approval by city staff and potentially city commissioners.

A temporary special use permit is needed to provide parking one time or sporadically at the site. A site plan amendment would be needed to provide beach parking at the school on an ongoing basis.

Beach parking at the Island Branch Library poses a more difficult challenge for county officials, primarily because the property is owned by the city of Holmes Beach and leased by the county strictly for the library. Providing beach parking in the library parking lot is in violation of the county’s lease for the property, Titsworth said.

If county officials push to provide additional beach parking at the school, Titsworth said she would remove an equal number of spots from residential streets. She said she would not be adding any additional beach parking in Holmes Beach.

Holmes Beach currently has 1,261 non-permit public parking spaces and 642 residential permit-only parking spaces until 5 p.m. daily within a quarter-mile of the beach, including spaces located at beach access points. When city leaders closed off some residential streets to public parking following a COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 of all beach parking spaces, 497 parking spaces were lost citywide.

Hopes did not return calls for comment.

Holiday weekend numbers

After the holiday weekend, Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that he counted an average of 31,222 vehicles passing into the city each day from Friday, May 28 through Monday, May 31 for a total of just under 125,000 vehicles. Despite a large number of people in the city, Tokajer said Holmes Beach police officers only wrote 169 parking tickets, and none of those were at the two parking lots authorized by Hopes. Some parking tickets were written for cars parked at AME, but those were written by Manatee County officers patrolling that area, he said.

In a May 28 email to county commissioners, Hopes said that parking at the school would be available in the designated parking lot May 29-31 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and that the county would make sure that all litter, trash and debris was removed from the school parking lot by June 1 at 7 a.m.

While the trash was removed from the school parking lot, Tokajer said that county officials did not make any preparations for the additional trash at beach access points near the school to be collected. He added that he and other city officials heard about the beach parking at the school and library from local media outlets and that he was very disappointed that the city was not included in the conversation with the county officials who made the decision to allow the extra beach parking. In the future, Tokajer said he hopes there will be open communication between city and county leaders.

Titsworth said she felt that other than issues with trash, the impromptu parking at the school and library went well over the weekend. She said that issues with additional parking throughout the city remain, such as the need for additional trash and restroom facilities and lifeguards to be stationed further down the beach than just at Manatee Beach. Without these necessities, Titsworth said a public health and safety issue persists.

As Tokajer and his officers patrolled the parking areas over the weekend, they discovered that the majority of people using the parking areas that county commissioners intended for Manatee County residents weren’t used by residents.

At the parking lot at AME, Tokajer said on Saturday there were 47 cars parked in the lot. When officers ran the plates of those cars, it was noted that only one vehicle was from Manatee County. At the Manatee Beach parking lot, he said there were 335 vehicles parked and less than 10% of those were from Manatee County.

On Memorial Day, Tokajer said he observed a group of six vehicles in a row parked with the occupants unloading for the beach. When asked, he said the occupants of five cars said they were from Orlando and the sixth was from Ocala.

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Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

Memorial Day weekend parking sparks drama in Holmes Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – The ongoing saga of beach parking in the biggest city on Anna Maria Island is hitting a fever pitch over the busy Memorial Day weekend.

In a bid to gain more parking for Manatee County residents and visitors going to the Island’s beaches, county Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge announced during a May 25 commission meeting that he would be asking Holmes Beach officials to reopen street parking that was turned into permit parking for city residents only in the wake of COVID-19 closures. The consideration for making some streets near beaches permit-only parking until 5 p.m. wasn’t a new idea, it was just made easier to implement after all parking was closed due to pandemic shutdowns.

Last week, county commissioners sent a letter to Holmes Beach officials asking them to reopen the parking spaces to everyone in the public – not just the city’s residents – for the busy Memorial Day weekend. Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth denied the request.

If all of this sounds familiar, it’s because trying to demand more parking on Holmes Beach streets for the public on the Island has been an ongoing theme since Van Ostenbridge took office in November. And each time the subject’s been broached, city leaders have denied the request, citing safety concerns for residents and overcrowding during busy times on the Island. Titsworth’s response has consistently been that Holmes Beach residents shouldn’t bear the brunt of the need for more parking on the Island and that county officials should consider alternative transportation options instead of focusing on parking.

With an average of 30,000 people coming to Holmes Beach daily during season and more than that on busy holiday weekends, according to numbers provided by Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, finding a way to accommodate that many cars on a 7-mile island won’t be an easy task. Titsworth suggests people coming from the mainland take advantage of other transportation options, such as the beach express free bus that allows people to park their cars at 75th Street and Manatee Avenue in the Beachway Plaza and take a bus ride to the Island’s beaches.

To solve the immediate issue of Memorial Day weekend parking, County Administrator Scott Hopes received permission from the Manatee County School Board to open the lots at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach for public parking, though no overnight parking was permitted. Hopes also arranged for public parking at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach after the library closed at 5 p.m. on May 29.

In an email to county commissioners, Hopes said he would personally oversee the launch of public parking at the two sites and that they would be monitored by code officers. He added that the county would be in charge of all cleaning and trash pickup from the two parking areas.

All permit parking spaces in Holmes Beach open to the public after 5 p.m. daily.

Adding to the traffic congestion at the start of the Memorial Day weekend was a Florida Department of Transportation intersection improvement project at the intersection of Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive just in front of the entrance to Manatee Beach.

The project shut down two left-turn lanes at the intersection, one going north on Gulf Drive and another going east on Manatee Avenue from Gulf Drive. Though construction on the project stopped in the afternoon on Friday, May 28, it picks up again for milling and resurfacing overnight from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. June 1-4.

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Travel + Leisure shows love for Anna Maria Island

Travel + Leisure shows love for Anna Maria Island

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Although Anna Maria Island is comprised of three cities – Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach – Travel + Leisure recently bestowed the entire Island with the number 2 spot on its list of “most charming small towns in Florida.”

In its recent top 10 list, Travel + Leisure called AMI one of the state’s best-kept secrets. As Memorial Day weekend traffic can mean more than an hour just to cross one of the Island’s bridges, it may be hard for many to believe AMI is still a secret, but in the article, the publication cites the white sand beaches, emerald and sapphire seas, shops, galleries, restaurants and Instagram-worthy spots as reason for the high ranking on the list. 

Castles in the Sand

It’s worth the stretch

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

A very wise real estate broker I was fortunate to meet more than 40 years ago not only got me interested in selling real estate, but also gave me great advice about buying as much house as you can possibly afford. In a fundamental way, it changed my life, pushing me to buy a home I loved but thought I couldn’t afford.

Today’s millennials are facing the same decisions my husband and I made all those years ago. Should we take the leap into homeownership, spending more than we ever thought we would, or should we play it safe?

As difficult as it is for buyers to find a home in this market, if you do find one and it’s over the top of your price point, don’t discard it. My rule of thumb is if a lender thinks you’re qualified, believe them, even if your parents and friends think you’re nuts. Get into the game now and you’re set for the next 30 years and you won’t be at the mercy of landlords.

Generally, lenders are qualifying buyers based on between a quarter and a third of their monthly gross income on the monthly mortgage payment. That range increases to between 35% and 45% of your monthly gross income if you include maintenance, taxes and insurance. Credit scores are still very important in analyzing credit worthiness, so be ready in the event you have anything on your credit report that is incorrect or needs an explanation.

Finally, first-time buyers are frequently short on cash and may opt for a mortgage down payment of less than 20%. If you are considering this, don’t forget that you will be required to pay mortgage insurance, which will cost from $30 to $70 a month for every $100,000 borrowed. This insurance is for the protection of the lender should you default on the loan before there is a sufficient build-up of equity. It will stay in effect until you have paid enough of the principal to equal equity in the amount of 20% of the home’s value. Also, the mortgage insurance payment will count towards your monthly costs and will be included when qualifying for a mortgage.

Historically, mortgage rates are very low and housing costs are very high. But should buyers sit out the market waiting for prices to come down? Good luck with that; the only time home values went down was after the financial crisis, which was generated by risky mortgage lending and exotic mortgage programs, all of which have been corrected through legislation passed after the crisis.

Even if buyers end up with a mortgage payment they are not totally comfortable with, it’s likely they will grow into the payment. As younger buyers establish careers, the anticipation is their income is likely to rise over time, so while you’re stretching to make those early monthly payments, you’re building equity and long-term wealth. Young buyers also should not discount the psychological benefits of owning a home of your own – pride of ownership, family building and becoming part of a community have real-life benefits.

Playing it safe turned out not to be in my playbook, so thank you, June, for confirming what I already knew. As my mother always said, paying rent is throwing money away, another wise woman. Go for the stretch, you 30-year-olds; you’ll look back on it as one of life’s pivotal moments. Stay safe, we’re almost there.

Privateers Fourth of July parade is a go

Privateers Fourth of July parade is a go

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, Family fun, Parades.

HOLMES BEACH – With the support of Holmes Beach city leaders, the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ Fourth of July Processional is officially coming back in 2021.

Commissioners voted unanimously during a May 25 meeting to approve the temporary event permit for the parade, giving their stamp of approval for the return of one of the Island’s premier events. This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, July 4, setting sail at 10 a.m. from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and continuing down Gulf Drive, East Bay Drive, Manatee Avenue, Marina Drive, Palm Drive and Pine Avenue to Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. The event is free to participants in the parade who are asked to sign up in advance at www.amiprivateers.org and to the public.

Due to COVID-19 precautions, Privateers President Kim Boyd said that the group is asking all participants with 10 or more people on a float to wear masks and do a temperature check before boarding the float. Also, anyone participating in the parade who gets within 6 feet of parade viewers will need to wear a mask and gloves.

No candy will be allowed to be thrown from floats this year. Participants and parade spectators also are asked to not throw water balloons during the parade.

“We’re trying to do everything we can to promote this as a COVID-safe event,” Boyd said.

She added that city leaders in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach had already approved the event.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that she feels that it’s OK to have “a little celebration here and there” to help people forget about COVID-19 and have a good time in an outdoor environment.

Commissioner Jim Kihm said that he feels people should be able to use common sense when celebrating the holiday.

“I am looking forward to this,” he said. “Thank you for doing this for the community.”

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WMFR logo

Commissioners vote to increase fire assessment rates

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

BRADENTON – Property owners in the West Manatee Fire Rescue District in western Manatee County will notice an increase in the fire assessment rate when TRIM notices go out later this year, but it won’t be a big jump in cost.

District commissioners voted 4-1 to increase assessment rates for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The increase will be 4%, slightly less than the allowable increase of 5.64%.

WMFR gets most of its income from special assessment rates paid by property owners in the district. Since the assessments are non-ad valorem, they’re not based on a property’s taxable value. Instead, they are based on the size of the building on the property or set at a flat rate if the property is vacant.

The maximum percentage that the rate can be increased each year is based on personal income growth, or PIG. Though district leaders expected the 2021 number to be much lower, it came in at 6.8% for the state of Florida according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The maximum increase considered by WMFR commissioners during their April mid-year budget workshop was 5.64%.

What this means for district taxpayers, including all property owners on Anna Maria Island, in Cortez and the west side of unincorporated Manatee County, is that what you pay annually for fire service is increasing slightly on your next property tax bill.

A 4% increase will bring the residential property base rate up $7.82 to $203.35 with an increase for properties over 1,000 square feet of $0.0046 to $0.1199 per square foot. For a 2,000-square-foot home, this brings the total rate up from $310.85 to $323.28, a difference of $12.43. The rate for a 3,000-square-foot home would increase from $426.17 to $443.22 and from $541.50 to $563.16 for a 5,000-square-foot home.

Commercial property owners will notice an increase as well, with the commercial base rate increasing from $485.94 to $505.38 and the per-square-foot rate increasing from $0.2104 to $0.2188 for buildings over 1,000 square feet. The 4% increase brings the total rate for a 2,000-square-foot commercial property to $724.23 with a 3,000-square-foot building coming in at $943.08 and the rate for a 4,000-square-foot commercial building increasing to $1,161.92.

Commissioner Al Robinson was the lone vote against raising the assessment rate for the coming year. Robinson has previously been vocal about curbing the department’s spending and lessening the burden of the fire district on property owners.

Despite the increase in assessment rates, WMFR still has one of the lowest rates in Manatee County.

Commissioner David Bishop said the decision to vote whether or not to increase assessment rates is a difficult one. He warned his fellow commissioners that in looking to the future of the district they don’t get too far ahead for the taxpayer base. He said he feels the district could quickly reach a tipping point with costs and that they want to make sure that those costs don’t tip the wrong way, ending up too high to be sustainable.

“It’s a tough vote every year,” Bishop said.

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Reel Time: Catch and release

Reel Time: Catch and release

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

Catch and release used to be a relatively new concept in sport fishing, one that recognized that fish populations are vulnerable and not the endless resource that they were once thought to be. Now the concept is commonplace and has even spawned a sort of backlash, as the “I Kill Fish” sticker on the back of a truck I saw recently attests.

Fishermen who fish mostly for fun have been criticized because many see catching and releasing fish as playing with fish. Anglers, unlike hunters, can pursue their passion and release their prey. Both hunters and anglers are quite often great champions of their respective passions and invest their time and money in protecting the habitat and well-being of fish and animals.

Most anglers I know who practice catch and release have no problem with taking an occasional fish home for dinner. It’s more about enjoying the sport and trying to be proactive in helping it to remain healthy and viable. There are many species, notable among them tarpon, that anglers seldom, if ever, kill. Catch and release is not just about releasing fish that you don’t want, it’s also about safely releasing undersized fish or species that aren’t valued at the table. Catch and release in any form is a wise use of the resource, but unfortunately, many anglers don’t know how to properly handle fish.

When we get cut, bruised or battered we can head for the local drug store, or in more extreme cases the Emergency Room. Not so for fish. For them, it’s heal or die, and in their world, it’s the sick and wounded that first fall prey to predators. What a shame to do the right thing, releasing a big speckled trout full of roe, only to have it eaten by a shark, barracuda or other predator because it wasn’t handled properly.

The first step I would suggest is to make sure you match tackle to the task. Trying to land a big tarpon on 20-pound tackle might be OK if you’re experienced, but to the uninitiated, it’s like announcing a free meal to the sharks that ply local waters looking for weak or injured prey. Enjoy the action, but land the fish as quickly as possible. Once you have the fish subdued, the best course is to never take them out of the water. If you’ve been fighting them for a long time (think tarpon), make sure you revive them properly. If you can reach the water over the gunwale, slowly move the boat forward while holding the fish firmly but lightly. This forces water and oxygen through their gills and helps them recover from oxygen depletion. They’ll let you know when they’re ready to go.

The hook is probably the next most important consideration. Either a circle hook or a barbless hook is usually best for anglers and their fish. The key to keeping fish on a barbless hook is to keep the line tight. Circle hooks are recommended for inexperienced anglers and on fish that tend to swallow the hook, like speckled trout. Fish secrete a protective coating that covers the scales and skin. This slime coat acts as a defense against invasion by bacterial, parasitic and fungal pathogens. Whatever hook you use, a de-hooker will keep your hands safe and clean, preventing you from inadvertently harming the fish’s protective slime coat and protecting hands from sharp gills and teeth. De-hookers come in various shapes depending on how they’re used. The simplest is J-shaped and removes hooks in or near the jaw. A circular-shaped longer version allows anglers to remove hooks that are deep in the throat of a fish or in the jays of a big fish like a barracuda.

Anglers who fish for reef fish like snapper and grouper need to learn how to “vent” fish with inflated swim bladders. Bringing the fish up from deep depths fast bloats the bladder, which has to be punctured to allow the fish to reach the bottom. A good presentation of the process is available online.

Anglers that release a trophy-sized fish may want to take home a picture. Here are a few tips that will help you record your catch. Set your exposure in advance and have an idea where in the boat you want to take the picture. The best picture for the fish would be when it’s still in the water, but if you do remove the fish, hold it horizontally, with one hand near the head, and the other hand under the fish’s belly to support its weight. Holding a fish vertically puts a strain on the internal organs and can potentially dislocate its jaw. This is particularly important with large fish. Lastly, eliminate any extraneous objects like rods and focus in on the subject.

By being prepared we can get the fish back in the water fast, thus ensuring its chances of survival. Taking the time and having the tools and knowledge to release fish mindfully is a great way to help ensure we have a healthy population of fish now and into the future.

Record crowds predicted for Memorial Day

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

BRADENTON BEACH – With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted, flights back to 100% capacity, people vaccinated and school coming to an end, Anna Maria Island could potentially see a record number of visitors for the Memorial Day holiday. With many service industry businesses already being understaffed, owners and managers are doing their best to prepare. 

According to Research Data Services, which tracks monthly visitor statistics to the Island, there is every reason to believe the number of visitors will likely surpass not only 2020, but pre-COVID-19 as well. Data also shows that the length of time people are staying has continued to increase. This is also supported by data from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). Southwest Airlines has added new cities such as Columbus, Houston and Nashville, and continues to increase the number of daily flights. SRQ is currently the fastest-growing airport in America, and a large number of those passengers are headed to the beach. 

“We’ve been sold out for Memorial Day since the beginning of April,” said Dawn Hollar, of the Anna Maria Island Dream Inn. “It was pretty crazy during spring break in March, especially with a limited staff. We’re expecting more of the same for Memorial Day.” Dream Inn, like many other businesses on the Island, continues to work with a smaller-than-normal crew.

It may come as a surprise, but according to Hollar, Memorial Day and Valentine’s Day are the two busiest holidays of the year.

“Regardless of being sold out and short on staff, we’re still able to handle it. Still ready for everybody to come in, still here with a smile on our face, with clean rooms and a ready staff,” she said.

Wanting to give guests the best experience possible is a sentiment shared by Island business owners and managers. While at times stressful due to the challenges they’re facing from the pandemic, owners expressed optimism that things are returning to as close to normal as possible.

“We’re seeing people who were here in February coming back in June; they’re trying to catch up on lost time,” said Kathy Wooten, General Manager of Queens Gate Resort in Bradenton Beach.

“June, as a general rule, brings families after the kids get out of school, but this year is over the top,” Wooten said. “We are sold out well into July and have been for weeks. We broke records in March, broke records in April, and are about to break our record for May. There’s a frenzy about Anna Maria. I’ve been here 30 years and never seen anything like it.” 

As with any busy holiday week on the Island, expect an increased police presence, parking rules being strictly enforced, and much higher-than-average traffic volume.

Castles in the Sand

Crazy rich homeowners

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

We’re in the “careful what you wish for” zone, not just Floridians, but every homeowner across the country. Prices are up, inventory is low and a lot of potential buyers are really unhappy; where will it end?

Home prices rose around the country during the first quarter of the year to a record level. The median sale price for existing single-family homes was higher in the first quarter compared with a year earlier for most of the metro area tracked by the National Association of Realtors. They reported that in 89% of the metro areas tracked, median prices rose by more than 10% from last year.

In addition, the National Association of Realtors reported the United States average median single-family home appreciation rate was up 16%. The following are first-quarter median single-family appreciation rates for some of the major areas around the country: Northeast up 22%; West up 18%; South up 15% and Midwest up 14%. This may be a confusing mouthful, but it boils down to no matter where you live or are trying to buy a home, you’ll pay a lot more than last year.

Realtor.com also reported the number of active listings on their website was down 52% from a year earlier at the beginning of May. The fact that mortgage rates are low, even though they did have a slight blip up, is not significant in some areas since all-cash buyers are representing a large slice of buyers. And Fannie Mae is forecasting median existing-home prices to rise 11.5% in 2021 then slow to a 4% increase in 2022, none of which is good news for buyers who are getting priced out of the market every month. Not to mention lenders who are less than enthusiastic about giving mortgages to first-time borrowers, especially if their credit ratings are less than very high 700s.

Before I go into Manatee County’s April sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, comparing April of last year to April of this year will show remarkable changes because April 1 of last year was the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown and a pause in real estate sales. Regardless, the numbers are incredible, breaking yet another record for single-family median sales price.

April single-family closed sales were up 69.7%, cash sales were up 166.7% and the median sale price was $405,000 up 19.1% a new record. The average sales price was $578,162, up 42.2%, the median time to contract was seven days and month’s supply of available properties was 0.6 months.

April condo closed sales was up 126.8%, cash sales were up 121.7% and the median sale price was $235,000, up 10.8%. The average sale price was $303,121, up 28.9%, the median time to contract was 11 days and month’s supply of available properties was 0.7 months.

Make note of the cash sales, which keep going up every month. That number is having a significant influence on the market. First-time buyers are not only being outbid they are also being outmaneuvered by cash buyers and quick closings, frequently without an inspection contingency.

Every month, it’s hard to believe the numbers can improve as much as they do. But we are in real estate crazy land, something we all at one time wished for. Nevertheless, keep in mind that comparisons will be off for the next several months when you compare them to last year because of last year’s lockdowns. Stay safe.

Red tide advisory issued

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County has issued a red tide advisory for Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.

Low levels of red tide persist in Manatee County, and fish kills were reported at the 59th Street canal in Holmes Beach on May 18, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission weekly report.

Low concentrations were detected at the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria and the Holmes Beach Boat Ramp.

Very low concentrations were detected in water samples at School Key (Key Royale on Anna Maria Island) and the Longboat Pass Boat Ramp.

Background concentrations of the toxic algae were detected at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.

Red tide produces a neurotoxin called brevetoxin that can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and more serious illness for people with severe or chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema or COPD, according to the Florida Department of Health. Health officials recommend that people experiencing symptoms stay away from the water, go inside to an air-conditioned space, or wear masks, especially during onshore winds. Residents may consider wearing masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing.

No red tide-related respiratory irritation was reported over the past week in Manatee County.

Consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. Health officials also warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and sea foam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Environmental officials say that the nutrients phosphorus and nitrogen, which feed toxic red tide algae blooms, were present in the 215 million gallons of polluted water discharged last month into Tampa Bay at Port Manatee from one of the closed Piney Point phosphate plant’s retention ponds, built into a gypsum stack. The emergency release, which ended April 9, took pressure off the compromised stack, avoiding its collapse and a more serious spill. The polluted water is spreading in Tampa Bay and its estuaries and into the Gulf of Mexico, according to the University of South Florida College of Marine Science.

Castles in the Sand

The never-ending saga of Florida insurance

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Like a bad soap opera, the Florida insurance storyline keeps repeating itself. This time it’s not even flood insurance, which I touched on two weeks ago; it’s your regular homeowner’s insurance that is breaking hearts all over the Sunshine State.

Here’s an interesting little fact; Florida is the most expensive state in the United States for home insurance, according to the insurance trade group Insurance Information Institute, and premiums are going up. Florida residents are projected to pay on average $2,380 in premiums this year, a 21% increase over 2018. The average American homeowner is expected to pay $1,297 this year, up 4% from 2018.

Some of the reasons Florida’s premiums are going up have to do with claims resulting from two hurricanes, Irma in 2017 and Michael in 2018. As we Floridians know or should know, even if we don’t take a direct hit from a hurricane, no matter where it hits in the state, we’re all subject to increases in insurance. Adding to payouts for storms, there is an increasing amount of litigation over insurance claims and sham roof-related claims, as well as increasing rates for reinsurance insurers to mitigate some of their risk.

The end result of this is insurance carriers experiencing mounting losses and increasing premiums or dropping coverage completely in certain areas. Some homeowners are being forced to go to Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the state-backed insurer of last resort, which is quickly increasing the number of policies they carry. We’ve been down this road before with flood insurance; in the end, it’s the Florida taxpayer who gets hurt.

What we don’t know at this point is if it will have any effect on the real estate market. Florida residents and out-of-state buyers are reeling from sticker shock, but will that translate into a cooling of the blow-out real estate market we’re in? My opinion, for what it’s worth, is it won’t have any significant effect on the value of the real estate market. Individuals relocate to Florida and continue living here for reasons other than insurance premiums. In all respects, Florida is a low-tax state with so many other benefits driving up the population I doubt an insurance increase will change too many minds.

Florida lawmakers have been attempting to change some legislation to help control the growth of insurance premiums with bills that put limits on attorney fees and frivolous lawsuits and claims, hopefully reducing the incentive for homeowners to go forward with false claims.

And all of this is happening at the same time we can expect flood insurance increases in October. FEMA is reviewing its national insurance program. It is estimated that one out of five Florida homeowners (19.8%) should see a decrease in their yearly flood premium. However, one out of 25 (4.2%) should see a yearly rate increase greater than $240. We’ll know more at the beginning of October.

I personally had about a 15% increase when my homeowner’s policy renewed a couple of months ago, and what I hear from other people is about the same. Will it drive anyone out of Florida? I don’t see that happening. When the flood insurance increased several years ago there was a momentary panic, but it evened off when the federal government made some changes, and it had no effect on the real estate market.

There’s always something as the world goes round. Stay safe.

City denies Center funding

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

HOLMES BEACH – In what’s proved to be a controversial decision, commissioners voted to deny The Center of Anna Maria Island a financial contribution from the city.

The decision was a split one with Commissioners Carol Soustek and Terry Schaefer voting to give The Center an already-budgeted financial contribution of $22,500 and Commissioners Jim Kihm, Jayne Christenson and Kim Rash voting against the donation.

Carol Soustek
Soustek

Before the vote took place during the May 11 meeting, Schaefer reminded his fellow commissioners that they had previously decided to donate $5,000 to the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce’s passport program from the approved budget line for charitable contributions, leaving $17,500 in the budget. City Treasurer Lori Hill suggested taking $5,000 from the mayor and commission discretionary fund, which has about $40,000 left in it for the 2020-21 fiscal year after other planned expenditures. She said the city has been contributing at least $22,500 annually to The Center since 1998.

The city of Anna Maria provided The Center with $25,000 in 2020. The city of Bradenton Beach provided The Center with no funds in 2020 and $5,000 in 2019.

Meet the candidate: Terry Schaefer
Schaefer

Manatee County Commissioner and former Holmes Beach Mayor Carol Whitmore said in an email to The Sun that when she left the position of mayor in 2006, the city was donating $30,000 per year to The Center.

Currently, the nonprofit is working to fill the $100,000 budget gap created by pandemic shutdowns and canceled events.

Christenson said that while she personally supports The Center, she’s not sure that taxpayer dollars should be given to one nonprofit. She added that while she understands the donation to The Center from the city was in the approved budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year, she feels that the city’s responsibility is to use taxpayer funds to make the city better for its residents and property owners. She said the city’s taxpayer base should personally choose which organizations they want to donate to. Christenson was not on the city commission when the budget for this fiscal year was approved.

Meet the Candidate: Kim Rash
Rash
Christenson

Rash said he had heard concerns from some city residents about city funding of a nonprofit, leading to his vote against releasing the funding.

Kihm said that while he feels that The Center is a worthy organization, he too feels that taxpayers should decide where they want their dollars donated and then donate personally.

“I am extremely disappointed,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said. “I think this is a punch in the gut and it’s very disappointing if it doesn’t go through.” She said The Center is a huge benefit to the Island and the effort to bring families back to the three Island cities.

Meet the candidate: Jim Kihm
Kihm

Soustek said she was not going to vote against giving a donation that had already been approved by a majority of commissioners during the budget process. She added that if commissioners want to change future donations it should be addressed during the budget process.

“If we make a commitment, we should stand by it,” Schaefer said.

After a plea from the mayor, Kihm said he would put funding for The Center on a future agenda for more discussion.

The decision to not fund The Center was unpopular with some Holmes Beach residents.

“I am appalled that this year, in the midst of a global pandemic, when more than ever we need to support The Center, commissioners would vote to strip promised funding,” Holmes Beach resident Christine Shuck wrote to commissioners in a letter to the editor. “I was under the impression that the job of the commissioner was to try to better the community. In fact, that was what many of you campaigned on.

“I find it extremely concerning that not only are you failing to deliver already-promised funding, but you are also failing to fulfill the campaign promises on which you all ran,” her letter continued.

“Without this vital venue, the few families who can afford to live here will no longer have a reason to come live in Anna Maria. If we are going to have to drive off the Island for all our kids’ sports and camps, then what is the point of living here?” resident Mary Catherine Melancon asked in her letter.

“That our Center, truly AMI’s only recreation department, has to beg for dollars from each city is a sad statement of what our tax dollars are doing,” residents James and Lee McParland wrote in their letter to the editor.

In the recreation and open space element of the city’s comprehensive plan, the document which is intended to guide the future of Holmes Beach, it states that in the calculating of the level of parks, open space and outdoor facilities for residents, that city leaders will take into consideration “the city’s contribution to the continued operation of the Anna Maria Island Community Center and the recreational services it provides.”

“I will continue to encourage our citizens of Holmes Beach and visitors to be involved in our community but to respect a person’s right to choose the organization(s) they wish to give a charitable donation to,” Christenson said in a response email to one resident’s concerns about Center funding. “There are many deserving, community-based organizations on the Island and the choice to give should be the individual’s.”

Related coverage

 

Youth soccer fills the air at The Center

 

Center reports positive end of year results

 

The Center receives financial help

Influencers, national media descend on AMI in tourism campaign

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – After a year of quarantine, visitors are beginning to once again plan vacations. With tourism being so vital to the economic well-being of Anna Maria Island and Manatee County in general, public relations campaigns are essential to draw travelers to the area. At last week’s Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, the Marketing and Communications Director for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Kelly Clark, along with Aqua Public Relations Director Megan Brewster, discussed how public relations is being used to encourage tourism in the area.

Over the past six months, the CVB has put together a multi-phase public relations campaign. Phase one focuses on hyper-local social media influencers. These are people with a strong social media presence that live in the area. According to Clark, these people are a safe way to spread the word about events and activities that will be of interest to potential visitors. They developed tiered packages based on how many people each social media influencer reached. Top-tier influencers, who reach hundreds of thousands of people, were offered a two-night stay experience. Those with less of a following were offered day trips. 

“The itineraries focused on what was open, what was safe, wide-open spaces, and stuff that research showed us people were looking to do if they were considering traveling,” said Brewster, who added that in exchange for hosting the influencers, participating partners received Instagram posts with direct links to their business via @Visit_Bradenton as well as Instagram stories at each stop. The combined audience reach of this phase of the campaign is 380,000 people. 

Phase two involved short trip itineraries for some in-state travel writers. Brewster said research showed that short trips would be the first to return after restrictions were lifted. This is known as the “drive market,” since those making this type of trip would most likely be coming by car from within the state of Florida. The slogan “Unwind With Peace of Mind” was used for this phase of the campaign. 

“You can come here, we’re being safe, and here’s how we’re doing it,” said Brewster, speaking of the slogan. Brewster also said this phase of the campaign garnered interest from Indulge Magazine, which is produced by the Miami Herald and has a large reach. Orlando Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for family-oriented professionals in the Orlando area, also visited and did a feature about Anna Maria. 

Phase three focused on markets of lift, bringing in travel writers to coincide with Southwest Airlines’ inaugural flights to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). With flights to Houston, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago and Nashville now added, social media influencers and media from all four of these markets were brought in for a visit. The most influential of these outlets to be hosted on Anna Maria was Forbes Magazine. With an audience reach of 33.7 million people, the in-depth article with multiple photos and interviews with area residents and business owners is great publicity for the area. 

Clark reviewed upcoming efforts, which include expanding Lift Market outreach in appropriate markets, continuing to expand markets showing SRQ passenger demand, expansion of outreach to national outlets, and shifting of focus to family travel in summer. 

Reel Time: Online angling

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

It might seem like the digital world has been around forever but it wasn’t that long ago that information about fishing was only available in books and magazines, on fishing shows, or by going fishing. Now, in the internet age, fishermen have a wealth of resources to supplement their days on the water.

Whatever your questions, answers can be found on YouTube instructional videos, Facebook posts, groups and live events. Searches reveal forums, illustrated articles, and much more right from your computer keyboard. Want to learn how to tie a particular knot, or a permit fly? Wondering where the fish are biting or what the tides are for your fishing trip (anywhere in the world) next week? You can even learn about the licensing requirements for an excursion to Belize or lodges that cater to fly fishermen in the Bahamas. The internet has a wealth of wonderful information and tons of junk. You have to know the right questions to ask to get the right answers.

Cast your net wide with “fishing” in Google, the net’s current #1 search engine, and you’ll have 271,000,000 websites to choose from. There are also 373 million fishing-related images and 209 million groups with fishing links, as well as directories and news. If you want to go fly fishing in the Bahamas and you’ve heard great things about the Abacos, type in “fly fishing the Abacos” – without quotation marks – and you’ll get approximately 431,000 websites. Google is looking up everything on fly fishing and Abacos. Narrow the search by putting quotes around the query and you’ll narrow the search to 272 sites specific to fly fishing the Abacos.

When searching the internet, be as specific as you can by entering words that narrow the inquiry. This advice will get you close in your search, but it may take some further sleuthing to find just what you’re looking for. Narrow your search down as far as you can, and then start paging through the results to view the websites. I pay attention to page views when searching YouTube. More views are often a sign of a good result, but not always.

If this all seems very confusing, that’s because it is. But that doesn’t mean it’s not useful.  The best way to learn is to practice. Time on the web, when used intelligently, is fun, interesting and very informative.

Here are a few sites you might want to check out. They have information on tides, what’s biting, where the action is, clubs, events and much more.  Captain Mel Berman’s Online Fishing Florida Magazine has to be the most comprehensive site in our area. Many of you may remember Mel as the host of “The Mel Berman Show” on Tampa’s 970 WFLA Radio. His website has a wealth of information for local anglers. Even though Berman passed away over a decade ago, Neil Taylor administers the site and has kept Mel’s legacy alive and well. Learn from others, and share your thoughts through chats, forums and email.

When you’re planning your next trip, you might want to stop by The Angling Report, www.anglingreport.com, an independent online (and print) newsletter on fishing travel.

The Angling Report gives fishermen what they call the “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” low down on destinations, lodges and guides. The site concentrates on quality fly and light tackle fishing in the U.S. and abroad and is written by anglers who actually traveled to and fished the destinations. Want to chat and share information with other anglers? Explore sites like www.flyfishingforum.com , or www.floridasportsman.com. There’s something out there for even the most sedate armchair angler.

The possibilities are endless, so sit down, turn on your computer and see what you can find. Just remember, it’s a jungle out there and you’ll want to narrow your focus to the sites that are worth your time!