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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Bali Hai site plan negotiations continue

Bali Hai site plan negotiations continue

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

HOLMES BEACH – Talks between the property owners at the Bali Hai Beachfront Resort and city leaders are planned to continue at a future meeting and it looks like both parties are moving closer to an agreement.

During a Feb. 23 work session, discussions on the proposed Bali Hai site plan amendment continued, with Assistant City Planner Austin Doles giving a presentation on what the property owners would like to do and how she recommends city leaders respond. And while city commissioners and attorney Louis Najmy, speaking on behalf of the resort’s owners, are closer to an agreement, there are a couple of sticking points where the two parties are not seeing eye to eye, primarily concerning how the resort should operate until the site plan is approved.

City staff suggested the unpermitted bar/lounge and spa on the premises at the Bali Hai should cease operations until the site plan amendment is approved, permits are received, the property passes all inspections, and receives a certificate of occupancy for those areas.

Najmy said it’s unfair of the city to request the bar/lounge and spa operations to cease while the details of the site plan are worked out with city leaders. He argues that the bar/lounge area was a pre-existing use on the property. Brisson said he’s been unable to find any permits, business tax receipts, or other records that prove the bar/lounge was in use prior to the current owners opening it. Mayor Judy Titsworth said her father built the property and the area underneath the old owner’s apartment currently being used as a bar/lounge for guests was previously an entertaining space for the prior owners.

Najmy also argued that his clients have put millions of dollars into the property to try and make it a five-star establishment. Commissioner Jayne Christenson said it would have benefitted his clients to present their plans to the city for approval before investing to make sure that their vision for the Bali Hai resort could be accommodated in the residential zone where the property is located.

While commissioners said they don’t want to prevent the resort from being profitable for its owners, they have to consider the surrounding residential neighbors and what’s allowed in the beachfront district when approving the site plan, particularly since construction work was completed and amenities were added without prior approval from the city or permits being applied for.

And while discussions ended Feb. 23 at an impasse, commissioners agreed to move the proposed site plan forward to a regular meeting and public hearing in the hopes of getting more input from the resort’s neighbors. Commissioners also hope to reach an agreement with the resort’s owners before a case seeking an injunction to stop operations at the resort until a new site plan is approved moves forward in Manatee County Circuit Court.

Related coverage

Bali Hai site plan review hits a snag

Rental property owners could be fined in October

City leaders, resort owner face off in court

Commissioners close in on illuminated sign regulations

Commissioners close in on illuminated sign regulations

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

HOLMES BEACH – Backlit signs in the residential and A-1 district along Gulf Drive may have to be replaced under new regulations being considered by the city.

Commissioners discussed the changes to city sign restrictions during a Feb. 23 work session. City Planner Bill Brisson reported that there are four backlit signs in the district along Gulf Drive, but only one has a city permit. And that one, he added, was permitted by mistake.

Brisson said the four signs are at Resort Sixty-Six, the White Sands Beach Resort, Cedar Cove and the Anna Maria Beach Resort. The one at the Anna Maria Beach Resort is the one approved and granted a permit by former Building Official Jim McGuinness. However, no backlit illuminated signs are currently allowed outside of commercial districts, according to city codes.

Commissioners said they are not considering allowing illuminated signs in the residential district where the Anna Maria Beach Resort is located on Gulf Drive. However, they are considering offering the owners a sunset clause period where the sign can be used to help recoup the expense of installing the sign.

During the meeting, commissioners agreed to a five-year sunset period for that sign. The other backlit signs will have six months to either be replaced or have the backlit capabilities removed. Illumination would then be allowed only by a single spotlight.

There was no discussion on allowing the owners of the Anna Maria Beach Resort to use an LED board on their sign during the sunset clause period if approved by two commission votes during public hearings.

And though signs are being allowed for property identification purposes, commissioners agreed that they prefer the low, often wooden signs lit by a single spotlight used by many properties in the area instead of the more commercial-looking backlit signs.

Brisson said he would talk with a lighting expert to determine appropriate brightness, lumen output, and sign size before the issue comes back before commissioners at a future work session. The ordinance will have to pass two public hearings and votes by commissioners before it can be enforced.

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Lighting up the neighborhood

Reel Time: Focus on the fun of fishing

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

To many anglers, fishing is simple. It’s no more complicated than dangling a shrimp or fishing a jig in any likely spot. Like other human activities, the level of involvement ranges from the simple to the insane. Most fishermen fall somewhere in between. Some live and breathe life on the water. They dream of rigging rods and reels, sharpening hooks, consulting charts and exploring tackle shops. They regularly consult YouTube videos and online forums for intel on the next great lure or fly. What we should all strive for is keeping our fishing fun.

Reel Time: Focus on the fun of fishing
Stu Apt works with a young cancer survivor, teaching that fishing is fun and rewarding. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

Some anglers steadily graduate from cane poles to graphite spinning rods and fly tackle. Some never consider killing a fish, epitomizing the catch and release ethic. Others sport stickers on the back of their trucks with epitaphs like: “I Kill Fish.” Once again, most of us fall somewhere in between, content with our fishing method, respecting our catch and enjoying an occasional fresh fish dinner. Fishing develops into an individual passion, one that’s much more than catching. Some of us can have a great day on the water and never catch a fish, others may be disappointed if they don’t fill the cooler, but we all benefit from our time on the water.

Whether we’re just relaxing on the boat or are in a constant state of alert, the oceans and bays sharpen our senses and take us away from our day-to-day lives. Whatever kind of fisherperson we might be, everyone profits from being immersed in the natural world. The important thing is to enjoy the experience and come back to shore in a better mood than we left.

Of course, not every day on the water is as relaxing and enjoyable as we’d like it to be. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, the fish don’t bite and engine and tackle problems intrude on our reverie. A fishing trip, after all, isn’t immune to the unpredictable. The best advice is to expect the best and be prepared for the worst. Be flexible. I know anglers who wouldn’t think of picking up anything other than a fly rod, and while I might have been one of them, these days there’s usually a spinning rod in my rod rack. After more than my share of frustrating days, I learned a valuable lesson and flexed. Now I seldom venture onto the water without a spinning rod or two, outfitted with a jig and/or a topwater plug. When the wind makes it just too much work to fly fish, I switch to my spinning tackle, a move that has paid dividends more than once.

If you are a live bait fisherman, try artificial lures, particularly topwater plugs. Sometimes when the pinfish are stealing your hard-won bait faster than you can get them on the hook, artificial lures can save the day. The important part is to make the best of your day on the water. Be okay if the catch is less than you hoped for, because if you keep your eyes open, you’ll learn lessons that will pay dividends on future trips.

Taking a kid fishing is a great way to break out of a narrow focus on catching. They’ll be thrilled to land fish but will also notice the rays, dolphins, manatees, birds and other creatures that inhabit our watery world. Whatever your experience, make sure that you’re able to focus on fun.

Castles in the Sand

Not a good time to fall in love

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

Stressed-out seems to be the condition we’re all living with. It may not be an actual medical term, but if you have it, you know it. One of the fastest ways to catch “stressed-out” is to try and buy a house right now, and one of the biggest mistakes you can make when shopping for a home is to fall in love with it.

Valentine’s Day just passed, and I hope you had a lovely day with the one you love, remembering the warm glow and comfortable feelings you had when you first fell in love. Falling in love with a house may give you the same emotional rush as the flesh and blood love, however, you would be making a mistake to give in to it.

Now more than ever, with the shortage of properties available for sale, getting emotionally involved with a house will cloud your thinking and your ability to make good decisions. It’s exhausting trying to buy a home in this market. Whether you’re living in Florida or Montana, inventory is scarce all over the country. Because of the extraordinarily low mortgage interest rates, more buyers than ever are qualified to purchase a home, whether it’s their primary home or a second home, making the shortage of inventory even worse.

Know what you want and know what you can afford to pay for it. If you’re planning on financing, get pre-approved, meaning a full-blown credit application. Lenders will want you to produce bank statements, tax returns, income verifications, credit score and permission to run a credit check, stopping just short of your blood type. The final approval is pending on an appraisal of the property you finally choose, but your ability to get financing will be secure. In addition, there will be an expiration date on this approval, so work fast.

This process is substantially different from a pre-qualification which merely gives you a guideline on what you can afford based on the information you give the lender. In the competitive market we’re in where a high percentage of buyers are all cash, a pre-qualification doesn’t mean much to a seller.

Make a list of your “must-haves” and then tear it up. In the best of real estate markets, there are no perfect homes and you always have to compromise. In this market, compromise is on steroids; I can practically guarantee you what you buy will not look like the image you had in your mind.

If you are lucky enough to find something you love, please don’t “fall in love.” Full-price offers and offers above full price are common so try not to let love get in the way of good financial choices. It’s easy to get in a bidding war – know your limit and be prepared to accept it. Just like when your high school love broke up with you, you may think “I can’t go on,” but you will. Sometimes you just have to walk away before your emotions take over.

There will be more Valentine’s Days in your future and someday there will be more homes available to make up for the one that got away. Keep the stress level down by keeping the expectation level also down. Just like falling in love, the journey is the fun part. Stay safe.

Castles in the Sand

Boomers rule – again

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

Babies born after World War II between 1946 and 1964 are generally considered Baby Boomers. Since their numbers were so enormous, they had an effect on the prices of everything from baby furniture to education, with the biggest impact being on the housing market.

The Baby Boom generation is 71.6 million strong and has been getting blamed for practically every financial issue in the country. Well, maybe “blamed” is a little too harsh; how about boomers have influenced much of the country’s finances since they were born beginning in 1946. Now, as boomers are getting ready to retire and downsize their homes, comes along a world-wide pandemic, freezing them in place.

The country’s home sales have surged in 2020 to the highest level in 14 years. As we now know, the pandemic has created the desire for families to move to the suburbs and into larger homes. Historically low interest rates, slightly below 3% for a fixed-rate conventional mortgage, have only made this yearning even more attractive.

There’s just one problem – the available number of homes to purchase is also historically low, down about 22% at the end of November according to the National Association of Realtors, and the poor Baby Boomers are getting blamed again. The length of time homeowners stay in their homes has been rising for several years. According to real estate brokerage Redfin Corp., the typical homeowner in 2020 had remained in their home for 13 years. This is up slightly from 12.8 years in 2019 but well ahead of 2010’s 8.7 years.

As the Baby Boomer population ages, they are in better health, more active and retire later, allowing them to remain in their homes longer. This existing trend combined with the pandemic has exacerbated the already low number of homes on the market. When COVID-19 started, this generation calculated there was no point in retiring since there wasn’t much else to do with their free time. Likewise, there didn’t seem to be any urgency to sell a large home and downsize since their retirement plans might have changed along with everything else in their lives.

In addition, there was a lingering fear of having strangers entering their homes during the pandemic, further delaying their decision to move. As the virus grew and more buyers were looking for houses, the market became more and more competitive, adding to the Baby Boomer anxiety about selling and finding another property to buy.

Many Baby Boomers crunched the numbers and just decided it was more appealing to refinance at the extremely low rates and stay in their homes rather than face a real estate market that was experiencing some serious challenges. Naturally, this decision by the boomer bubble only made the shortage of available properties worse, with sale prices moving up as inventory moved down, and, in my opinion, this won’t end soon.

Baby Boomers who have made the decision to stay in their homes and have refinanced to do so will not have the motivation to sell anytime soon. Even if they decide to retire, so many of their retirement plans – especially travel – are likely on hold for a couple of more years while the world digs out of the fallout from the pandemic.

So, you can blame the Baby Boomers all you like, but the reality is a bad convergence of world events is having the largest effect on the real estate market. Hang in there; we’re almost on the downside. Stay safe.

Bali Hai site plan review hits a snag

Bali Hai site plan review hits a snag

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

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are willing to go to the table with the owner of the Bali Hai Beach Resort, but they still have questions about the submitted site plan currently under review.

Issues between the resort’s owner, local developer Shawn Kaleta, and the city arose in 2020 when code compliance officers and the building official discovered unpermitted work being done on the property along with a bar and lounge being operated without a site plan approval from the city. Despite a stop-work order, a pending case in Manatee County Circuit Court and an ongoing code compliance case before the special magistrate, photos presented to city commissioners during a Jan. 26 work session show that construction work continued at the property along with the continued operation of the bar and lounge area.

Assistant City Planner Austen Dole presented the proposed site plan amendment given to the planning and building departments by Bali Hai representatives, noting that in addition to the other unpermitted areas, two small spa service rooms had been constructed in the laundry building, also without permits from the city.

While the site plan is being considered by city leaders, Dole said staff recommends that all operations on the property cease until the proper permits can be approved. Despite the argument submitted by the resort’s representatives, City Planner Bill Brisson said that in records dating as far back as 1998 he couldn’t find any prior use of a bar or lounge existing on the property.

Attorney Erica Augello said that part of the issue is that the bar and lounge area is still operating despite the ongoing litigation and code violations. Mayor Judy Titsworth said she wanted commissioners to go ahead and start the site plan review process to hopefully bring a quick conclusion to the issues between the city and resort owner. To that end, she encouraged commissioners to carefully consider the site plan presented, what questions they have for the resort’s representatives and what conditions they would like to apply to the site plan approval, such as not allowing wedding festivities, including receptions, to take place at the Bali Hai due to its location amidst residential properties along Gulf Drive.

“We do want him to be successful,” Titsworth said of Kaleta and his venture with the Bali Hai, “but we do want him to play by the same rules everyone else plays by.” She noted that the property has repeatedly been in violation of city codes since Kaleta took over as owner.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff recommended commissioners submit their stipulations for site plan approval to city staff to be written up in some form for discussion at a future work session. Commissioners agreed to readdress the issue at their Feb. 23 work session. No representatives from the Bali Hai were present during the Jan. 26 work session meeting.

Related coverage

 

Rental property owners could be fined in October

 

City leaders, resort owner face off in court

 

Special magistrate rules on seven code issues

County skips using state vaccine signup system

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Good news has emerged for some Floridians with the launch of the state’s COVID-19 vaccine signup website. However, it doesn’t change things for anyone wishing to receive their vaccine doses in Manatee County.

The new Florida state website for vaccine pre-registration invites any resident of the state who is age 65 or older, a resident of a long-term care facility, especially vulnerable to COVID-19 or a healthcare professional with direct patient contact, to register their information on the site. Once registered and when vaccines are available, they’re distributed from the federal government to states and then to different counties, where they’re administered. And while some Florida county governments have chosen to participate in the state registration system, Manatee County currently isn’t among them.

To receive a vaccination in Manatee County, qualified individuals are still required to register through either the senior or healthcare worker/first responder county organized standby pool. The standby pools can be found online or by calling 311 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information on receiving the vaccine in Manatee County can be found online.

Though Manatee County residents can register through the state system to receive a vaccine in another county, registering in the state system will not give access to a vaccine appointment in Manatee County at this time. Wherever you receive your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is also where you will have to receive the second dose, as vaccine records do not transfer between counties or agencies.

In Manatee County, vaccine recipients are selected at random each week from those registered in the vaccine standby pool. Operators then call those selected to set up an appointment. If someone is selected and not available to answer the phone when 311 operators call, they’ll try one more time before putting the name back in the standby pool and selecting another. Anyone who is unable to book an appointment when called does not need to register a second time in the standby pool as duplicate registrations will be deleted. Couples are allowed to register together and be vaccinated at the same time as long as both people are eligible to receive the vaccine.

There are still more than 100,000 people registered in the county’s standby vaccine pool.

Manatee County officials announced that 5,100 first vaccine appointments were being made available Feb. 2-5 at Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd. in Bradenton, with 1,700 people being vaccinated each day. Recipients of those vaccines were to be notified Feb. 1 by 311 operators.

During a Jan. 26 commission meeting, Manatee County commissioners voted to send a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office asking to be able to open up the vaccine standby pool to those people under age 65 who have a medical condition which makes them more at risk if they contracted the novel coronavirus. After some discussion, commissioners decided to not try to determine which conditions would make someone eligible to receive the vaccination, leaving it to the governor’s office to determine.

Related coverage

 

Changes for Manatee County COVID-19 vaccine program

 

County officials give COVID-19 vaccine update

 

Manatee County launches new vaccine sign-up website

Applications reopen for CARES Act funding

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – For residents and businesses still working to recover from the financial effects of COVID-19, more help is coming in the form of CARES Act funds.

Nonprofit organizations that previously received funding through the Manatee County distribution of CARES Act money can extend their funding applications through March 31 to receive the same amount previously distributed. The total amount expected to be distributed is $2.9 million.

As part of the county’s phase three extended spending plan, nonprofits that provide food distribution to Manatee County residents can apply for funds beginning Feb. 26. The county has earmarked $750,000 for the effort.

Community health and wellbeing grants up to $5,000 also are available to nonprofits to assist in reconfiguring their spaces to allow for social distancing and to purchase safety equipment. Up to 100 applicants will be awarded the funds for a total of $500,000. The applications are scheduled to open at the end of February.

For homeowners, the mortgage assistance program is reopening the week of Feb. 22, though only 75 applications are planned to be accepted with a total of $500,000 available in funding. The funds will be available to Manatee County homeowners whose mortgage payments are in arrears due to loss of income related to the pandemic.

Small business owners who have not previously received a CARES funding grant with a physical location in Manatee County, 500 employees or fewer and documented financial losses due to COVID-19 can apply for financial assistance. Funds totaling $1 million will be available to brick and mortar and home-based businesses with applications opening on Feb. 8.

Small business owners can also receive up to $5,000 per business for an Open Safe grant to help pay for personal protective equipment, signage, outdoor seating, equipment, supplies and other items. The county plans to accept 250 applications with the application process opening the week of Feb. 8.

The county also has set aside $5 million in funding for vaccine distribution, staffing and COVID-19 testing.

Financial support totaling $4.2 million is being made available to Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Hospital for personal protective equipment and reimbursement for loss due to business interruption from the governor’s executive order 20-72. That order prohibited elective services at hospitals to make room for additional COVID-19 patients. Blake Medical Center opted out of the funding program.

Applications will be taken through Neighborly.com and the application period will only be open for a short time to allow for the quick distribution of funds. Anyone interested in applying for funds can visit this website to determine their eligibility and the requirements to apply for funding before the opening of the application window.

An emergency rental assistance program to sustain housing, not related to CARES Act funds, is being made available to help pay rent and utilities in arrears, home energy costs and other related housing expenses. The total amount available in Manatee County is $12,081,000.

To qualify for the emergency rental assistance program, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident, reside in Manatee County, be delinquent on rent or utility payments due to COVID-19 on or after April 1, 2020, qualify for unemployment or be able to prove a reduction in household income or financial hardship due to COVID-19. The applicant also must have a household income of 80% or less below the area median income. The program can provide assistance for up to three months before the applicant has to reapply for additional funding. Manatee County is currently working with local nonprofits to provide utility assistance for utilities not included in rent payments.

Applications will be taken online on Neighborly and open on Feb. 16. More information on the emergency rental assistance program is available here.

Related coverage

 

CARES Act funding applications reopen

Changes for Manatee County COVID-19 vaccine program

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Health.

Updated Monday, Jan. 25 at 2:20 p.m. – MANATEE COUNTY – Good news came to those waiting in the COVID-19 vaccine standby pool when county leaders announced the receipt of 4,500 additional first doses.

The news came on Monday, alerting the public that they will receive a call from operators at 311, who were scheduled to randomly select and call people in the standby pool to book appointments for Wednesday through Friday, Jan. 27-29, at Tom Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd. in Bradenton.

Of the 4,500 vaccine doses received, 600 of those will be allocated to the healthcare and frontline worker standby pool. Those recipients also will be notified by operators. Two hundred doses per day are planned to be administered from 8-9 a.m. at Bennett Park.

Patients who received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Jan. 8 should receive an automated call or text to confirm their second dose appointment on Jan. 29 at the Manatee County Public Safety Center. Anyone who received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine between Jan. 2-7 should also have received an automated message Jan. 25 to inform them of their second dose appointment on either Feb. 1 or 2 at Bennett Park.

Calls will come from 941-742-4300 and texts will come from 88911. Seniors are advised to put the numbers in their phone’s contacts to avoid calls being blocked as spam.

Residency requirement

Anyone 65 or older who is a Florida resident or who can prove at least part-time residency through the production of a Florida driver license or state-issued identification card, a utility bill with their name and a local address or a local rental agreement is eligible to receive the vaccine in Manatee County.

Recipients also need to take to their first appointment a completed copy of the COVID-19 consent form and a valid photo ID along with paperwork proving residency.

The residency requirement doesn’t apply to anyone who already received their first dose of the vaccine in Manatee County. Shot records cannot be transferred to another facility or jurisdiction.

Healthcare workers register separately

Frontline healthcare workers and first responders must also show their medical credentials to receive the vaccine. These individuals who do not have access to the COVID-19 vaccine at work are encouraged to enter their names into a separate vaccine standby pool registration for area first responders and frontline healthcare workers at www.vax.mymanatee.org/frontline.

When vaccine doses become available, workers will be notified in the same way as the general public – by operators calling from 311 to set up an appointment to receive a first dose of the vaccine. These operators work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To receive a vaccine, healthcare workers need to download and complete a consent form available online at www.mymanatee.org/vaccine and bring that along with a valid photo ID and medical provider credentials to the appointment.

To sign up for the vaccine standby pool, visit www.vax.mymanatee.org.

For more information about receiving the vaccine in Manatee County, visit www.mymanatee.org/vaccine.

 

Related coverage

 

County officials give COVID-19 vaccine update

 

Manatee County launches new vaccine sign-up website

 

What to expect when you’re getting a COVID-19 vaccine

Castles in the Sand

New construction surges

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

Practically every week there is a trend in the real estate market directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis has taken over every aspect of our lives, but it appears that housing and real estate values have been especially impacted. The latest effect is the shortage of building lots to meet the demand for new construction.

The U.S. Commerce Department has reported that new home sales rose 19.1% in volume in the first 11 months of 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. Even little Cortez has been affected, with two lots sold and one currently on the market in the past six months per realtor.com.

With the shortage of previously-owned homes on the market, record low interest rates and the desire for more space during the pandemic, builders are running out of land. Some builders are limiting the number of sales they put in contract, worried they won’t have enough buildable land to start construction on. Land development is a long and expensive process that involves permitting and infrastructure planning long before a shovel goes in the ground.

This demand is also likely having an impact on green buildings according to the American Institute of Architects. Their goal was to hit “net zero” construction by 2030, however, they have a long way to go and few of their members are meeting their goal. The majority of people just aren’t asking for green construction.

To complicate the new construction industry further, investors – sometimes partnering with builders – are building tens of thousands of houses expressly to rent. Their bet is that the housing culture has changed enough this past year with individuals and families embracing suburban living to keep the demand for single-family homes increasing.

In addition, because of the demand for single-family homes, prices have soared, and in spite of low mortgage rates, availability is unaffordable for many. It’s projected that newly-constructed homes sold straight to investors will exceed 5% over the next few years, up from the historical average of approximately 1%.

When I went online at the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s website so I could report on the December sales statistics, the first thing I saw was “single-family homes flying off the market in Sarasota and Manatee.” So here are the numbers on homes in flight.

Sales of single-family homes were up 41.6% from last December. The median sales price was up 6.8% to $357,900 and the average sale price was up 14.5% to $496,984. The median time to contract was 60 days, down 33.3%, and the month’s supply of homes is 1.5 months, down 54.4%.

Condo sales were up 45.1% from last December. The median sales price was up 19.5% to $239,000 and the average sales price was up 52.4% to $365,012. The median time to contract was 26 days, down 43.5%, and the month’s supply of condos is two months, down 51.2%.

According to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s president, “This is one of those weird moments when it’s a great time to sell, but it’s also a great time to buy. If this trend continues, and data is showing that to be the likeliest forecast, then sellers can get top dollar in record short timeframes, while buyers can lock in record low interest rates and buy a home that is going to be worth much more in a year from now. And if they do both, then they can get the best of both worlds.”

The best of both worlds doesn’t come along very often; enjoy while you can. Stay safe.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina

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

CORTEZ – At about 3:45 p.m. Monday afternoon, personnel from West Manatee Fire Rescue and Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue responded to a boat fire at the Cortez Cove Marina, 4522 121st St. W. in Cortez.

WMFR Fire Chief Ben Rigney said the fire occurred on a 72-foot Princess yacht that was out of the water and up on jacks when the fire occurred.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
A 72-foot Princess yacht that was out of the water and up on jacks caught fire Monday afternoon. – Ben Rigney/WMFR – Submitted
“It’s contained to the one boat and it is not out yet. We have a ladder truck in the air. There’s a lot of fiberglass and fuel so it will probably take a while to put out,” Rigney said.

When contacted again at 5:03 p.m. Rigney said the fire was contained but not completely extinguished.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
A ladder truck was used to disperse water on the burning boat. – Ben Rigney/WMFR | Submitted

“We have it knocked it down pretty good, but it’s fiberglass so it will burn for a while. It’s on jacks so we have to let it fill up and then let the water drain out and then do it again because we don’t want to put too much stress on the jacks and have the boat fall over. It’ll be a long, slow process, but you shouldn’t be able to see the smoke anymore,” Rigney said.

Rigney said the fire was contained to that yacht only and there were no injuries and no damage to the marina buildings.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
This ladder truck and crew responded to the fire scene. – Ben Rigney/WMFR – Submitted

Rigney said Sea Tow diked the area to prevent water runoff and the Coast Guard was notified as well.

“We had a quick knockdown and did a good of containing this to the one boat. Now it’s just a slow process making sure it’s out,” Rigney said.

WMFR responds to fire at Cortez Cove Marina
The fire was contained to a single boat and no injuries or structural damage to the marina occurred. – Shane Pelkey | Submitted
Events set to return to city field

Events set to return to city field

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

HOLMES BEACH – Two events are scheduled to take place at Holmes Beach city field but there are going to be some changes from events past.

Commissioners heard pleas from representatives of the Anna Maria Island Art League and TNT Events, Inc. to allow them to host events in February and March at the city field park. TNT Events, Inc. is hosting an arts and crafts fair on Feb. 13 and 14 benefitting the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus and Orchestra. The Art League plans to hold Springfest on March 13 and 14 on the field.

After some discussion, commissioners agreed that both events can go forward and be held at city field with some stipulations.

The first is that all booths have to be spaced at least 10 feet apart. All participants and vendors are required to wear a mask while on the city’s property and the event sponsors are required to hire an off-duty police officer to enforce mask-wearing during both days of each event. The number of people allowed in each booth at one time will be limited to two patrons and each booth must have hand sanitizer available. Hand sanitizing stations also will be located throughout the festival grounds.

Commissioners voted 4-1 in each instance to allow the events to take place. Commissioner Jim Kihm voted against allowing the events, stating that with the threat of COVID-19 still looming over the Island’s residents, he feels it’s too early to allow large gatherings to take place, even with safety precautions in place. Commissioner Kim Rash said he was in favor of allowing the two events to take place with safety precautions to bring back a sense of normalcy to the community.

These will be the first events to take place at Holmes Beach city field since the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020. Mayor Judy Titsworth said that while she wanted commissioners to weigh in on these two events, she had already rejected an application to hold an event at the city field space proposed for January.

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City officials ponder hoverboard prohibitions

City officials ponder hoverboard prohibitions

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

ANNA MARIA – City officials are pursuing an ordinance that would prohibit riding bicycles, scooters, skateboards, hoverboards and Onewheel devices on Anna Maria beaches.

The proposed ordinance would impose additional restrictions in public parks.

City Attorney Becky Vose also is researching prohibiting hoverboards and Onewheels on Anna Maria streets.

Hoverboards are two-wheeled, electric-powered devices that resemble a Segway with no handlebars. Resembling a large skateboard, an electric-powered Onewheel contains one large wheel in the center. Riders of both types of devices stand upright while riding them.

When presenting proposed Ordinance 21-882 to city commissioners on Thursday, Jan. 14, Vose, said, “It expands what we prohibit on the beach to include hoverboards, skateboards or any other device with one or more wheels.”

According to the proposed ordinance that requires additional revisions and another first reading, “No person shall operate a bicycle, motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, motor vehicle, hoverboard, skateboard, trailer or any other device with one or more wheels on any beaches or any coastal barrier sand dunes located within the city limits, except for small hand-pulled wagons, or walkers or wheelchairs for the mobility impaired.”

The proposed ordinance also says, “No person shall operate a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, motor vehicle, hoverboard, skateboard, trailer or any other device with one or more wheels in any parks located within the city limits, except for bicycles, small hand-pulled wagons, or walker or wheelchairs for the mobility impaired.”

In January 2020, the commission adopted a pier ordinance that prohibits bikes, scooters, skateboards and other devices on the new City Pier.

During last week’s discussion, Commission Chair Carol Carter referenced recent complaints from residents.

“We got the complaints from people who have private beach areas, like around Bean Point, about the hoverboards being out there,” she said.

Code Enforcement Manager Debbie Haynes referenced a photo of a man riding a Onewheel on a beach in Anna Maria.

Commissioner Mark Short asked if state law allows hoverboards to be operated on city streets.

He said he recently saw someone riding a hoverboard down the middle of North Shore Drive.

“It’s almost as bad as the golf carts that can’t go 15 mph. We have the opportunity if those are not covered under state law, to get those off the streets,” Short said.

“I saw a mother with a child on a hoverboard on North Shore. I couldn’t believe it, in the middle of the road,” Carter added.

Vose told the commission she has not found anything in state laws that specifically references hoverboards, but state law does address “electric personal assistive mobility devices” in a more generalized manner.

Citing Florida Statute 316.2068, Vose said, “A county or municipality may regulate the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices on any road, street, sidewalk, or bicycle path under its jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that regulation is necessary in the interest of safety.”

Mayor Dan Murphy asked Vose to first provide him with the framework of a potential hoverboard prohibition so he can discuss potential enforcement and cost implications with Sgt. Brett Getman from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s Anna Maria Unit.

“If you’re gonna ban them, somebody’s got to enforce it and it’s going to be the sheriff’s department. We need their input as to, could they do it or not?” Murphy said.

According to F.S. 316.2068, electric personal assistive mobility devices can be operated on:

  • On a road or street where the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or less.
  • On a marked bicycle path.
  • On any street or road where bicycles are permitted.
  • At an intersection, to cross a road or street even if the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 25 miles per hour.
  • On a sidewalk, if the person operating the device yields the right-of-way to pedestrians and gives an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian.”

According to state law, a person under the age of 16 may not operate or ride an electric personal assistive mobility device without a properly fitted, securely fashioned bicycle helmet.

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Ugly Grouper owners seek expansion

Ugly Grouper owners seek expansion

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

HOLMES BEACH – The owners of the Ugly Grouper are hoping city leaders will give them the opportunity to expand their business.

On behalf of the owners, attorney Scott Rudacille appeared before city commissioners during a Jan. 12 work session. He presented a slide show demonstrating what changes the owners are proposing to the existing site plan approval, primarily utilizing golf cart parking spaces to allow for an increase in daytime and nighttime seating.

Under the current site plan approval, the Ugly Grouper can have three seats per vehicle parking space. If the restaurant’s seven six-person golf cart spaces were used to count an average of four seats per space and the six two-person golf cart spaces were allowed to count as 1.5 seats per cart, it would allow the restaurant to add 38 more seats. This would bring the number of seats in the restaurant to 270 seats plus 8 free seats for a total of 278.

Rudacille said the fire marshal has already approved the increase in the number of seats.

City Planner Bill Brisson said that while the applicant planned to increase parking to 92 spaces on the property and at adjacent properties owned by the same group, two of the spaces, which previously were occupied by a sign and mailbox couldn’t be considered parking spaces. If the parking lot, located next door to the restaurant at 5702 Marina Drive, was restriped to try and create more spaces, Brisson said that space restrictions could create too many compact vehicle-only spaces. Holmes Beach city code allows only 20% of total parking spaces to be compact spaces, which would be a maximum of 18 spaces for the Ugly Grouper.

Rudacille added that the restaurant owners may also have to seek a special exception for the outdoor speakers installed to play music after live music ends nightly at 8 p.m.

Commissioners decided after some discussion to bring the matter back to a future work session to obtain further information from the restaurant owners before taking the matter to a public hearing and formal vote.

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Let the games begin: Another year of action at The Center

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Football, Soccer, Sports.

Youth sports and adult co-ed flag football and soccer started another set of seasons last week at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Week one of action started for the grown-up kids on Wednesday night, Jan. 13, with adult soccer.

This season’s team rosters witnessed a mixing up of standard team lineups. On paper, the Jiffy Lube squad, with the strong games of the Anderson brothers, Sean Flynn’s versatile play and speed on the field, Eric Pullen’s scoring power, Robb Marshall’s superb stopping ability, Tim Holly’s youth and tenacity, and Lyn Clarke’s wisdom and experience, could be the team to beat.

Against Slim’s Place, both teams showed this could be anyone’s season, with the game ending in a 3-3 tie.

With a new sponsor to the league, now veteran Zach Reda, along with past teammates Cody Wright, Clancy Vaughn and Cole Peterson, took the field with other league veterans to get their Allied team a solid win over the strong Blalock Walters team. Despite goals by Matt Staggs and Chris Scott, Allied scored seven goals in the game and won 7-2.

Reda had a hat trick, leading his team in scoring and tied with Chris Klotz in the league with one game completed.

Klotz’s team, Burton Brick and Tile, won 6-3 against Servis First Bank in the third game of the night. In the loss, Kevin Roman scored two goals and Ben Sato had nine saves.

Also with two goals, Burton Bricks’ Zach Leib started the season strong once again.

In the final soccer game of the night, Sato Real Estate put a win in the record books to start the season. Their victory came against The Gitt Team. Finishing with the score at 4-2, Josh Sato, Amy Ivin, Hakan Toka, and Race Arande each had a goal in the game.

Robert Fellowes eluded the Sato Real Estate goalkeeper twice for his team’s two points.

The next night, in flag football action, the adults took to the Island gridiron for four exciting games to start the season.

In the first game, youth sports standout Jackson Hayes was credited with a touchdown pass for Sandbar in 40-27 first-game victory, as well as single point conversion reception. Matteo Ferris threw the other three touchdown passes and had an interception in the game.

Sandbar’s Tyler Brewer had two catches, one for the point after a touchdown.

Salty Printing’s Shaughnessy family trio, Mike, Bri and Tim, took the field against former teammate Karri Stephens for the first time in many seasons.

Team captain, Tim Shaughnessy had two passing touchdowns in addition to a scoring pass by Danny Murphy. Murphy and T. Shaughnessy also had rushing touchdowns in the loss.

The two interceptions, caught by Stephens and Ferris may have been the deciding factor in the match-up.

In a closer scoring game, Beach Bums won by three points, 21-18, against Ryan Moss and Moss Builders. Quarterback Matt Briley hit Rueben Young twice for touchdowns, with a single touchdown throw to Anthony Mannino for the win.

In addition to the six points, Mannino had an interception against the Moss Builder’s squad.

Quarterback Ryan Moss hit friend Jordan Demers twice, cousin Greg Moss thrice, Cole Carter four times, and Dina DeJesus for five catches, including two for touchdowns.

Moss had a rushing score of his own, while his cousin caught Briley for two defensive sacks. Despite Demers’ two interceptions, Moss Builders could not pull off the win.

Ugly Grouper scored 32 points against team Mi-Box lead by Dominick Otteni, who scored 19 in the first game of the season. Each team finished the game with a single interception by the team captain.

Captain Brandon Kull, is also noted with three touchdown throws and one scoring catch for his Ugly Grouper team.

Chad Woods leads the league with nine receptions for his Mi-Box team, including one for a score. Woods was supported by his fellow scoring teammates Otteni and Dylan Doyle.

In the win, each of the Ugly Grouper players had a catch in the game. Octavious Cole had the most for his team with five grabs, followed by Melissa Acevedo with four catches, and Mark Anthony and Cory Banks each with three.

Cam Winston and Jaret Rojas had single nabs in their team’s first win of the season.

To end the night, Solid Rock Construction and Slim’s Place played a nail biter that ended in a tie after regulation time.

Slim’s Place took the win in overtime, with quarterback JB Shuck throwing a solid four scoring receptions to Cruz Rodriguez, Tim Holly and Jacob Robertson. Holly had an additional five points in the game for Slim’s Place.

Connor Haughey served as the quarterback for Solid Rock Construction, with three passing touchdowns to team captain Jon Moss.

In addition to Jesse Skipper’s and Zack Long’s extra points after the touchdowns, Haughey had a Pick Six taking the Solid Rock team to overtime.

Slim’s Place overtime win puts them in a four-way tie for first place with Ugly Grouper, Beach Bums and Sandbar going into week two.

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