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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Island churches welcome parishioners

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While the Island’s six churches were forced to close their doors to the public due to COVID-19 precautions, they’re now beginning the process of slowly and safely reopening.

CrossPointe Fellowship

8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

CrossPointe Fellowship has opened its doors to the public for worship services at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sundays with Children’s Church at 9 a.m. and Life Groups for all ages at 10:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend in person while maintaining proper social distancing. Face masks/coverings are optional. For those who don’t yet feel comfortable attending in person, services also are available to join online.

The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation

4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation is open to parishioners who want to worship in person for 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. services on Sundays. Attendees are asked to wear a face mask and physical distancing measures are being enforced. For parishioners who aren’t comfortable attending an in-person service, the church is continuing to stream the 9:30 a.m. service live on Facebook. Anyone who would like to attend a service is asked to reserve a space by calling the church office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

6608 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is not open for worship services until September, though church leaders say they will reassess the situation in August. Until then, parishioners and the public can join Rev. Doug Kings for 9:30 a.m. services every Sunday online at YouTube.

Harvey Memorial Community Church

300 Church St. N., Bradenton Beach

Harvey Memorial Church is still closed to the public for the time being but parishioners and the public can still worship online with Rev. Stephen King on Facebook.

Roser Memorial Community Church

512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria

Roser Memorial Community Church is open for Sunday worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Attendees are required to wear a mask or face covering and reserve a seat at their desired time to attend by noon on Saturday. Once on site, ushers will guide parishioners to their seats where they are asked to remain throughout the service. Visit Roser Church or call 941-778-0414 to attend. For parishioners who aren’t yet comfortable attending in-person services, the 10 a.m. worship service will continue to be streamed online. The Roser Memorial Chapel is open Monday through Friday during church office hours for individual prayer and reflection. A sanitation station is located inside the door.

St. Bernard Catholic Church

248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach

St. Bernard Catholic Church has reopened its doors to the public and is welcoming parishioners to daily Mass Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. with a 4 p.m. Saturday vigil and 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. Attendees are required to wear a face mask or covering and observe social distancing. Confession is currently suspended until further notice. To attend church services, please contact the church office at 941-778-4769 or visit the website.

Holmes Beach logo OLD

Commissioners consider parking concession for residents

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

HOLMES BEACH – While city leaders await the delivery and installation of new posts and signs for street side, right of way and beach access parking, all of those options remain closed to beachgoers, even those who reside in the city.

During a May 26 commission meeting, Chief Bill Tokajer said that while the parking signs and the posts for them are expected to arrive over the next several days, it could take two weeks or more to have them all installed. Once the installation is complete, he said parking will be reopened at beach accesses but remain closed along city streets and in the rights of way. This opens up about 479 spaces, more than are needed for beach renourishment funding but keeps about 2,000 spaces permanently closed.

Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, Tokajer said his officers issued parking tickets but did not tow any illegally parked vehicles.

Though he said that he’s received 98% support from residents on the new parking plan, there’s still a small percent, particularly those that live on the east side of Holmes Beach who have to drive to the beach, that are unhappy with the decision. In an effort to assist those residents with obtaining a beach parking space more easily, Tokajer said he’s looking at designating golf cart parking spaces at some beach accesses. The reasoning for designated golf cart spaces is that residents and visitors to the Island will be the only people arriving at the beach in golf carts, not people from town or other areas.

Though Tokajer said not all beach access points are large enough to accommodate handicapped parking spaces, four will be designated at the 53rd Street access near the Martinique condominiums. He added that a volunteer from the community has offered to install a handicap ramp to assist with beach access at the location.

Another group having difficulty with the new beach parking arrangements are area churches.

While Tokajer said beach parking has been taking place at CrossPointe Fellowship, it was not under authorization from the church’s leaders and Holmes Beach police can’t interfere because the parking lot is located in the city of Anna Maria.

In contrast, Father Matthew Grunfeld spoke during public comment at the meeting, petitioning for the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation to be able to allow parking at the church’s lot for a donation.

With donations down due to the church’s closure for COVID-19 precautions and a dwindling resident population on the Island, Grunfeld said that allowing beach parking, overseen by volunteers from the church, gives his congregation a new way to minister to the public and also collect a freewill offering if drivers are so inclined to donate to the church.

Though the church did contact the city prior to beginning the parking project and received the police chief’s blessing, Tokajer said a later consultation with the city planner’s office revealed a zoning issue with allowing beach parking at the church parking lot or any private lot in the city.

Mayor Judy Titsworth said she appreciated what the church is trying to do, but that the church or any other owner of a private parking lot would have to submit to the city planner’s office for a site plan review. If the site plan review meets the criteria, it would go before the city commission for review and a vote. Currently, allowing parking and accepting money for it is a nonconforming use, Titsworth said.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer and resident Jayne Christenson both spoke in favor of the church being allowed to host beach parking, saying that the volunteers at the Church of the Annunciation were running a very orderly, friendly operation.

Though Titsworth said a site plan review could take time if there isn’t something immediate that the planner’s office staff can suggest, Schaefer said he’d like to keep searching for a way to help the church members continue with their parking outreach project.

Titsworth said no applications for a site plan review had been received as of May 26.

Related coverage

Parking still a problem in Holmes Beach

Parking remains closed in Holmes Beach

Holmes Beach parking closed for beachgoers

Commission and mayoral seats up for grabs

Commission and mayoral seats up for grabs

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

HOLMES BEACH – If you’ve ever pictured yourself on the dais at Holmes Beach City Hall, your chance is coming up to qualify as a candidate, only, of course, if you’re a Holmes Beach resident.

This year’s election will see two positions coming available on the city commission, the seats held by Commissioners Pat Morton and Kim Rash. Also up for grabs is the mayoral office, currently held by Mayor Judy Titsworth.

All three positions hold two-year terms. Titsworth and Rash are completing their first terms on the dais as mayor and commissioner respectively. For Morton, November marks the end of his 17th year on the city commission.

Qualifying for all three elected positions begins at noon on June 8 and ends at noon on June 12. All candidate paperwork must be submitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office prior to the deadline to be considered as a candidate.

To qualify, prospective candidates must have been a resident of Holmes Beach for at least two years prior to the qualifying date and be a registered Manatee County voter. Candidates must appoint a campaign treasurer, open a campaign bank account and file the corresponding paperwork as well as a statement of candidate, candidate oath, residency affidavit and statement of financial interests. Candidates also are required to pay an election assessment fee equal to 1% of the annual salary of the office sought, $60 for commission candidates and $240 for mayoral candidates, and collect 15 petition signatures of voters also residing in the city.

Candidates also have the option to file an undue burden oath to eliminate the election assessment fee but must still collect 15 signatures from city voters.

Candidates may not accept campaign contributions until after a campaign treasurer is appointed and a campaign account is established.

All candidate information can be found online under the candidate information tab. Forms can be found online or picked up at the Supervisor of Elections Office. Candidates must submit all forms to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office at 600 301 Blvd W., Suite 108 in Bradenton prior to the deadline. No candidate forms will be accepted at Holmes Beach City Hall.

This year’s general election will be held on Nov. 3.

Related coverage

Holmes Beach parks reopen to public

Parking still a problem in Holmes Beach

Boaters outnumber beachgoers in Holmes Beach

WMFR logo

Two fire commission seats up for election

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

BRADENTON – If you live in the West Manatee Fire Rescue District and have ever thought about running for fire commissioner, now may be your chance.

In the Nov. 3 general election two seats on the fire commission – those now held by Commissioners Larry Jennis and Randy Cooper – will be up for grabs. Cooper has already stated that he will not be running for re-election.

WMFR’s commissioners serve four-year terms on the dais.

To qualify as a candidate, the person must be a registered Manatee County voter and reside in the WMFR district, which stretches across unincorporated Manatee County on the west, encompassing the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, along with Cortez, Palma Sola and much of northwest Bradenton.

Though pre-qualifying papers already can be submitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, candidate qualifying officially begins at noon on June 8 and ends at noon on June 12. All paperwork must be submitted prior to the deadline.

Before the end of the qualifying period, all potential candidates must appoint a campaign treasurer, open a campaign bank account and file the required paperwork as well as collect the signatures of 25 registered voters who reside in the district. A fee of $0.10 is required per signature as a verification fee. If a candidate cannot pay the fee, an oath of undue burden must be filed to have the fee waived. Candidates also must file a statement of candidate, candidate oath, a statement of financial interests and either a $25 qualifying fee or certificate of petition verification.

All candidates are required to designate a campaign treasurer and open a campaign account before accepting any campaign contributions. For fire district candidates, any candidate who does not collect campaign contributions and whose only expense is the filing or signature verification fee is not required to appoint a campaign treasurer or open a campaign account. Filing fees are not required to be drawn from a campaign account.

All candidate information can be found on the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website under the candidate information tab. Forms can also be found on the website or picked up from the Supervisor of Elections Office. All paperwork must be submitted for verification to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office at 600301 Blvd W. in Bradenton prior to the qualifying deadline.

The 2020 general election will be held on Nov. 3.

Related coverage

WMFR commissioners vote on assessment increase

WMFR commissioners discuss assessment increase

WMFR commissioners review 2019 results

Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend

Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Anna Maria Island’s short-term vacation rentals were allowed to reopen in time for Memorial Day weekend, with some restrictions.

On Thursday afternoon, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) approved the Manatee County short-term vacation rental reopening plan submitted by County Administrator Cheri Coryea. The state approval took effect immediately.

While local municipalities can still ban vacation rentals, all three Anna Maria Island cities are allowing rentals to reopen.

“Vacation rental check-ins are now allowed in Anna Maria,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said Thursday afternoon after reading the approved plan.

Murphy then issued a local emergency order rescinding a previously issued order that prohibited new vacation rental reservations in that city.

The city of Holmes Beach recently allowed its local emergency orders banning short-term vacation rentals to lapse.

“I do not plan on a Holmes Beach directive extending the rental ban at this time,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said Thursday afternoon.

The city of Bradenton Beach never issued any COVID-19-related local emergency orders that further restricted vacation rental activity beyond the prohibitions set forth in DeSantis’ executive orders.

“Under the plan, vacation rental agencies may now accept bookings from residents of U.S. states with an overall COVID-19 case rate within the state of less than 700 cases per 100,000 residents as of May 15. Reservations from COVID-19 hot spots identified by the governor are to be avoided for the next 30-45 days. Reservations from international travelers will not be accepted,” according to the press release Manatee County issued Thursday afternoon. “Other guidelines spell out protocols vacation rental owners must follow to implement social distancing and still others that address the cleanliness standards of the property.”

The press release noted the short-term rental guidelines would be mostly self-policed and enforcement would be complaint-driven.

“We’re asking that vacation rental managers take extra precautions to make sure their renters have access to and follow the guidelines in the approved plan. Owners should ensure that their renters are aware and abide by the approved plan, but also any municipal restrictions in the city where the rental is located,” Coryea said in the press release.

When discussing the plan on Tuesday, May 19, county commissioners initially proposed a 24-hour turnaround time for cleaning and sanitizing vacation rentals between guest departures and new guest arrivals.

During public comment, several vacation rental owners said a minimum 24-hour turnaround time would prohibit back-to-back seven-day rentals and result in numerous cancellations.

The commission then decided to simply require “ample time” for cleaning and sanitizing and the approved five-page plan includes an entire page of cleaning and sanitation guidelines.

“Extra time must be allowed for enhanced cleaning procedures to take place between stays based upon the use of appropriate cleaning and sanitation according to CDC procedures and in accordance with this plan,” the plan says.

Local reaction

On Friday, Sato Real Estate co-owner Barbara Sato said via email, “We are very relieved that vacation rentals are open. It has been so frustrating answering the numerous daily phone calls asking when the governor will open rentals again – and why hotels, motels, and resorts are open and not being able to give them a reasonable answer. Needless to say, the word is out and our phone has been ringing non-stop. We think the approved plan is very good. I personally emailed Elliott Falcione, from the Visitors Bureau, and County Administrator Cheri Coryea to thank them for their teams’ hard work in getting it approved so quickly.”

Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend
The phones were ringing off the hook at Sato Real Estate on Friday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When contacted Friday via email, Murphy said, “It is too soon to tell the impact this policy might have on the city, but we are grateful that the county has incorporated a bi-weekly review process to make adjustments to the plan. Our two areas of concern are:

  • Enforcement: Some of the requirements would appear to require an extensive enforcement effort. If these turn out to be an issue, we are not equipped to enforce some aspects of the order.
  • Remote check-in: Although seemingly in everyone’s best health interests, this policy presents serious issues of potential fraud and possibly criminal activity. The policy needs to be revisited,” Murphy wrote.

“We look forward to partnering with the county to improve the plan going forward,” he added.

Short-term vacation rentals reopen for holiday weekend
The folks at Duncan Real Estate are happy to be back in the short-term vacation rental business again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On Saturday afternoon, Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan said via text message, “We opened Friday morning to the sound of phones ringing off the hook with guests ready to book for the summer. We have all our compliance requirements in place and we were ready for guest check-ins Saturday morning. We are thrilled and looking forward to increased bookings due to pent-up demand.”

Alternate administration building plan rejected

Alternate administration building plan rejected

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

BRADENTON – The majority of West Manatee Fire Rescue’s commissioners agreed to continue moving forward with the construction of their own administration building rather than purchase suites in a shell building near Blake Medical Center.

Commissioner Al Robinson brought the idea back to the table during a May 19 meeting, asking realtor J. Daniel Douglass to provide information on a shell building on 21st Avenue West in Bradenton.

Out of the four units in the building, Douglass said there are three units available with a total of 6,140 square feet. The building, designed to serve as medical offices, currently holds one medical office and is a shell building with sprinklers, a ceiling and air conditioning already installed. Located across the street from the Bishop Animal Shelter, the property features a total of 29 parking spaces and does not meet the hardened hurricane-force wind load that commissioners previously said is wanted for the district’s new administration building.

Robinson urged his fellow commissioners to carefully consider purchasing all three units and selling one if the district finds it doesn’t need that much space for administrative staff.

Douglass said that the three units could be purchased for $549,000 and would cost about $614,000 to build out as office space, ending with a total purchase price of $1.2 million, not including condominium fees associated with the property. He added that the building is an as-is purchase.

Commissioner Randy Cooper said he was concerned with the lack of ability to store or stage equipment at the site as it has much less space for parking than the currently planned administration building.

Commissioners Larry Jennis and George Harris both said they have concerns about the building. Some of those concerns voiced by Jennis include that the building isn’t hardened and doesn’t have adequate parking space. Harris added that the location also is problematic, being well outside of WMFR’s district.

Chief Ben Rigney said he’s been working with representatives from Hall Darling Design Studio and expects to have a not-to-exceed price for construction of the district’s new administration building for commissioner consideration in August.

In April, Rigney presented a potential design for the new administration building that features office space, storage and a hardened conference room that could be used as a westside emergency operations center in the event of a hurricane. The building is currently planned for construction on a lot purchased by the district in 2019 and located off Manatee Avenue behind the Fountain Court Shopping Center.

“I think we’re making good progress,” Jennis said of the potential construction project.

Related coverage

Commissioners consider plans for new building

WMFR commissioners discuss assessment increase

WMFR commissioners vote on assessment increase

WMFR commissioners vote on assessment increase

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

BRADENTON – Property owners in the West Manatee Fire Rescue District will see an increase in their assessment rate when TRIM notices are mailed in the fall.

During a May 19 meeting, commissioners voted 3-1 with Commissioner Al Robinson dissenting, to raise the assessment rate 2.6% over the current year’s rates. Commissioner David Bishop was absent.

At the 2.6% increase, the district’s revenue will increase by $189,436, eliminating the need for district leaders to draw from reserves to meet anticipated needs including capital projects and projected increases in insurance, pension fund contributions and a potential increase in employee compensation. Commissioner Larry Jennis reminded his fellow board members that the coming year is a bargaining year with the firefighters’ union. For the 2020-21 fiscal year, WMFR’s staff projects bringing in $7,475,424 in revenue from assessments.

With the increase, the base rate for a residential property increases to $195.53 from $190.57 with the square foot rate increasing from $0.1124 to $0.1153. The total assessment rate for a 2,000 square foot residential building will increase from $302.97 to $310.85.

For commercial buildings, the base rate will increase from $473.62 to $485.94 with the square foot rate increasing from $0.2051 to $0.2104. The total assessment rate for a 2,000 square foot commercial building will increase from $678.72 to $696.37.

Before the vote was taken, Commissioner Al Robinson expressed concern about raising the assessment rate in a year that has produced financial hardship for many property owners.

“I’m not in favor of raising anything,” Robinson said. “We have plenty of money.”

Chief Ben Rigney said that the district’s staff typically spends about 95% of the funds budgeted each year. Any rollover amounts are put into savings for future capital expenses, equipment purchases or emergency savings in case of a natural disaster.

“I think it’s very evident that our staff has been frugal in spending taxpayer dollars,” Commissioner George Harris said, adding that he believes the board makes a sound decision each year concerning assessment rates.

Each year, the amount that commissioners can increase the assessment rate is based on a rolling five-year personal income growth number or PIG. This year, the maximum amount allowed for an increase is 5.46%. Because he expects the next year’s PIG to be much lower, Rigney asked commissioners to consider a 4% increase, which was rejected by board members.

“I know it was a tough decision but we have to do what’s best for the district,” Commissioner Randy Cooper said after the vote had been taken.

Related coverage

WMFR commissioners discuss assessment increase

WMFR commissioners review 2019 results

Castles in the Sand

Does anyone have a clue what’s going on?

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

Just like the coronavirus predictions about numbers of infections and deaths have been off the mark, so too are the predictions about the future real estate market. There are a whole range of conflicting opinions out there, all from reputable sources saying exactly the opposite things; what’s a girl to do?

So far, in spite of the shrinking economy and evaporating jobs, in the housing market values are stabilized and, in some regions, even higher. This of course has to do with the classic supply and demand dynamic that we’ve been experiencing for a long time, only now supply is contracting even faster.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the March median home price nationally rose 8% from March of 2019. Manatee County’s March median sale price was also up by 2.4%. They also reported that buyer demand fell 8.5% nationally for March compared to last year but at the same time, supply is at a five-year low.

The NAR says homeowners are waiting to list their homes either because they have decided not to move, or they are worried about letting buyers into their homes during the pandemic. Many homeowners say that until the lockdowns are lifted, they will just take a “wait and see” attitude to selling. In addition, homes that are currently on the market are not cutting prices. According to Realtor.com, by the end of last month, only 4% of sellers cut their prices, indicating buyers haven’t viewed their homes in person. Nevertheless, buyers are out there still looking for a bargain and could possibly trip on a situation where homeowners absolutely need to sell because of coronavirus fallout.

Mortgage applications were also down by 20% at the end of April compared to a year earlier. The fear here is that down the road, values could drop when the forbearance period ends, and homeowners cannot keep up with the payments.

The way it stands now is some economists expect home sales to crash this year while some say prices and sales will climb slightly or hold flat. Fannie May said in April that it expects the median existing home price to tick up to $275,000 this year from $272,000 last year while CoreLogic calls for a nationwide home price increase of 0.5%. Zillow says home prices are likely to drop 2% to 3% compared to last year. The more you read about these predictions the more you realize no one really knows.

Let’s look at the April sales numbers in Manatee County reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee comparing April of this year to April of last year.

Single-family closings for this April compared to last year were down 21.2%. Median sale price was $340,000, up 7.9%, and average sale price was $406,699, up 4.1%. New pending sales were down 36.7% and months supply of available properties was 3.3 months, down 17.5%.

Condo closings were down 30.9%. Median sale price was $212,000, up 7.9%, and average sale price was $236,764, up 0.3%. New pending sales were down 53.3% and months supply of available properties was 4.4 months, down 6.4%.

All of the negative figures are no surprise relative to what we have been living through. However, the average and median sale prices are up, much like the trend around the country. Keep in mind that sales statistics are a lagging number frequently based on negotiated contracts that may have been in the pipeline prior to the shutdown.

All we can do is keep watching the numbers and hope that as businesses open more sales will be booked. At this point it’s anyone’s guess what’s going to happen with the virus or with the real estate market. Stay tuned and stay well.

Reel Time

The quality of our fishing future

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

Fishing and the outdoors experiences that my love for the sport have occasioned have played a pivotal role in my life for almost seven decades. This infatuation has also made me passionate about working to protect the natural world that provides me with sport, inspiration and a desire to see future generations have some of the same opportunities that I’ve had.

That’s why I keep coming back to what I think is a crucial responsibility, being aware of how elected officials voted when it comes to the quality of the air I breathe, the water I drink and the water that the fish I love to pursue swim in. It’s become painfully apparent to me that the politicians we elect all too often have a different agenda than what they present to us when they want our vote. That’s why I have decided that I’m not a Republican or a Democrat. I don’t vote red or blue, liberal or conservative. What I am is an environmental voter.

What does that mean? It means I research how a politician who wants my vote has voted on issues, not what they promise. In this day of the internet, there’s really no excuse for not getting information based on facts instead of innuendo. A word of caution of course. All too often we make the mistake of looking for information that supports views we already hold rather than a search for the facts. Both are available in spades so be selective when choosing your sources and check to make sure they have no underlying (alternative) agenda. Here are a couple of resources you might want to explore.

Florida Conservation Voters has a scorecard that tracks how politicians have voted on important issues like clean water and clean air. Their mission is to elect lawmakers who protect our environment and healthy communities for everyone. Their vision resonates with mine: “Our vision for Florida’s future is one where our environment is recognized as the irreplaceable foundation of our economy, culture, and quality of life. It’s a future where our economic development, energy innovation, and conservation goals align. We envision a government that reflects the people it serves and lawmakers who vigorously fight for policies that protect our environment and create a healthy, sustainable future for all Floridians.”

There are also resources on the internet that, with a little research, will reveal how a senator or representative has voted on varying issues. Check them out at www.senate.gov and www.congress.gov.

Floridians, especially those who are blessed to live on a barrier island, can see firsthand the effects of poor policy and pollution on the waters that surround our homes. If you haven’t noticed, take a look at all the algae that is accumulating in our bays right now. Yes, some of that is a natural occurrence, but personally I’ve never seen so much so early in the season.

Bottom line, do a little homework going forward and see how those who claim to have your interests at heart actually voted and where their true allegiance lies. It’s a vital component of an informed electorate and will affect the quality of life and fishing we are leaving our children, grandchildren and future generations.

Bradenton Anna Maria Island Longboat Key

TDC recommends opening vacation rentals

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

MANATEE COUNTY – The Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) took the first step on Monday to reopen vacation rentals countywide, including on Anna Maria Island.

TDC Chair and Manatee County Commissioner Misty Servia persuaded fellow TDC members to recommend that Manatee County commissioners remove the COVID-19 prohibition on short-term vacation rentals.

Under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan effective Monday, county commissioners can submit a plan to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation for approval to allow short-term vacation rental properties to reopen to guests. The plan would likely require working with owners and managers of vacation rentals to come up with strategies to meet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) requirements for disinfecting and cleaning of units between guests.

Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), said that he’s been working with other west coast Florida county leaders to help develop a plan for vacation rentals that would provide some consistency for owners and visitors.

Servia added that coordination with the leaders of the three Anna Maria Island cities, where many of the county’s short-term rentals are located, would be a key component to success. Falcione said that no matter what plan is enacted, it will be up to the city leaders to oversee the operation of the vacation rental properties.

Local vacation rental owners who spoke during public comment said they are ready to reopen their units to visitors and are willing to abide by any necessary regulations to keep their properties safe for renters.

The recommendation passed in a unanimous vote. Members Ed Chiles, an Island restaurateur, and Wayne Poston, mayor of Bradenton, were absent from the meeting.

Marketing during COVID-19

The new short-term marketing recovery plan, debuted by Falcione and Dave DiMaggio, has two implementation phases. Phase one involves bringing visitors in from drivable markets, including Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward counties and Atlanta with plans to expand the advertising area up as far north as Memphis and Nashville and as far west as New Orleans.

Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Broward counties are the worst three counties in the state for COVID-19, with nearly 27,000 cases, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Manatee County has 867 cases as of Monday.

DiMaggio said that when deciding which markets to spend advertising dollars in, the overall health of the area and whether it’s a COVID-19 hotspot will be considered first along with how economically stable the target markets are.

The second phase involves bringing airline passengers back to the area. DiMaggio said that the success of phase two involves coordinating and sharing data with local airports, including Tampa International Airport and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. For some of this data, he said he would be looking closely at the information provided by Anne Wittine of Research Data Services, the county’s tourism consultant, to see how comfortable people feel about travel and flying to their vacation destinations.

Wittine presented the results of a travel sentiment pulse poll which showed numbers trending upward over the past two weeks toward people being more comfortable with travel and ready to take a vacation. While 52% of the people polled are concerned about reopening the state too quickly, Wittine said that 15.9% of people say that travel is essential to them and they’re ready to get back out there. Of the people who participated in the poll, Wittine said she’s seeing a trend toward people’s intent to travel increasing in the late summer months, specifically July. She added that of the people willing to travel, 78.2% of them feel most comfortable traveling by car, which lines up with the first phase of the TDC’s new marketing plan.

DiMaggio said the second phase includes continuing to target drivers and targeting fliers from the Midwest and northeast of the United States.

He said he expects that some segments of the market will be slower to recover, including people who travel for sporting events, work conferences and travelers from the United Kingdom and Central Europe.

Falcione said that he would be utilizing a month-to-month budget approach, periodically re-evaluating how and where the CVB’s limited advertising budget is spent to determine where those funds will have the most impact to help get the local tourism economy back up and running.

The TDC next meets June 15 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto.

Related coverage

DeSantis expands reopening plans, opens door for vacation rentals

DeSantis: Restaurants, retail can open; vacation rentals cannot

Mayor issues executive order for vacation rentals

Castles in the Sand

When the real estate market sneezes, it infects everyone

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

The last thing anyone wants these days is for someone next to you in line at the market, the bank or in our slowly-opening restaurants to sneeze near you. But if the real estate market starts to get seriously infected from the effects of the coronavirus, it may start to sneeze all over related industries.

The American housing market is such a major influence on the country’s economy that even a slight downturn could have a very big effect on goods and services generated from buying, selling and building new homes. Right now, there are large portions of the country where the real estate market is at a total standstill because of lockdowns. Properties cannot be shown to prospective buyers, sellers are taking their homes off the market and construction of new homes and apartments has mostly stopped.

Obviously, there are hundreds of industries related to the real estate market that are losing money and jobs. The construction industry is being particularly impacted per the Commerce Department which reported a 22% decrease in new home construction in March from February. The Northeast region is experiencing the most pronounced decrease in new home construction with a 42.5% decline during this period.

New construction generates a plethora of jobs – carpenters, plumbers and electricians in addition to support and office staff. The materials alone needed to build range from lumber to sheetrock to paint to concrete and roofing not to mention heating and air conditioning systems.

Sales of existing properties are also down across the country as they are right here in Manatee County. If and when this will turn around as we in Florida start to open our economy, we just don’t know. But what we do know is that a slow real estate resale market touches so many other areas of the economy.

When someone purchases a home, they spend money preparing that home for the specifics they need and require for their family. Even the lack of simple renovations like new flooring, appliances, landscaping and paint will have an effect on the economy. This is in addition to major renovations to existing homes that have been sold or aren’t even on the market yet. The fallout from homeowners holding up on renovations can’t be calculated but inevitably will be substantial.

And what about the financial part of all this? Job loss is now measured in the millions, impacting tax revenue at every level of national, state and local governments. Much of this loss will ultimately be traced back to the real estate market, including the hard-working real estate professionals whose income and careers have been upended.

The one bright light for the real estate industry has been its ability to pivot to electronics to market and close properties. Agents all over the country are running virtual open houses and creating video tours for available properties. Video chats are taking the place of conference room meetings and available digital mortgage platforms can remotely verify employment and assets. A decade ago, the housing market would have been completely shut down during a situation like this; now at least everyone can move forward, even if at a slower pace.

So, no sneezing in public – we all have to do our part. As far as the real estate market, we don’t really know what the future is and neither does anyone else. Stay safe and wear a mask.

Reopening weekend gets off to a fast start

Reopening weekend gets off to a fast start  

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – A tour of Anna Maria Island on Saturday revealed an Island wasting no time trying to return to normal as the first weekend of the governor’s phase one reopening plan unfolded.

With a two-hour parking limit in place, the parking lot at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach was already full shortly after 10 a.m. Additional cars were not allowed to wait in front of the main gate and were turned away and forced to circle around until other cars exited out another gate.

Manatee County Code Enforcement Officer Pete Chadziewicz said people were being patient, but growing more impatient with each unsuccessful pass by the gate.

“When we’re full, we’re full,” he said.

The beach itself was quite busy and social distancing was practiced with varied degrees of success.

The West Coast Surf Shop was open and the picnic tables at Skinny’s Place across the street were filled with outdoor diners.

After leaving the beach, Valrico residents Dana Kates, Shaun McCloskey and their three children hit the Ugly Grouper restaurant for lunch, where Kates and her 5-year-old son, Andrew, engaged in a joyous dance to the live music performed by Nick Lutz.

“This is the first time we’ve had the kids out in eight weeks. It feels pretty amazing,” Kates said.

“It’s Mother’s Day weekend. We had to get mom to the beach,” McCloskey added.

Down by the Anna Maria City Pier, folks gathered on the narrow beaches on both sides of the pier, joined by several boaters anchored just offshore.

Across the street, ice cream cones were enjoyed on Two Scoops’ waterfront patio.

Ginny’s and Jane E’s, Harry’s Grill, Poppo’s Taqueria, the Sandbar, Slim’s Place and The Waterfront restaurant were among the Anna Maria restaurants welcoming back their weekend patrons.

On Pine Avenue, Shiny Fish owner Rebecca Preston was happy to be back in the retail business, even at limited capacity.

“I’m thrilled to be open. We’ve seen a steady increase in visitors this week,” Preston said.

The beach in front of the Sandbar restaurant was a popular destination and so was nearby Bean Point.

The beach near the Moose Lodge in Bradenton Beach was moderately busy, but the beachgoers were spread out.

Bridge Street was abuzz with activity, including those who enjoyed lunch and/or adult beverages at the Anna Maria Island Oyster Bar, the Bridge Tender Inn, the Daiquiri Deck, Blue Marlin Seafood, Island Time Bar & Grill, Oma’s Pizza and more.

Reopening weekend gets off to a fast start
Bridge Street Bazaar employees are now protected by Plexiglas shields. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

People also visited the reopened retail establishments, including the Bridge Street Bazaar, where the clerks now work behind newly-installed Plexiglas shields.

Similar dining activities took place north of Cortez Road at the Gulf Drive Café, Wicked Cantina and Smoqehouse.

The Island’s stand-alone bars – the Drift In, Sports Lounge, Anchor Inn, D Coy Ducks and The Doctor’s Office – remain closed under the governor’s executive order.

Vacation rental check-ins are still prohibited according to the governor’s executive order, but out-of-town visitors and out-of-state license plates were a common sight.

A Tampa attorney recently filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis seeking to get the vacation rental ban lifted and DeSantis has not yet announced when vacation rental operations can legally resume.

DeSantis allowed hair and nail salons to reopen Monday with enhanced safety protocols, but he had not yet announced when the second phase of his reopening plan would begin.

Continued testing

When the reopening began on Monday, May 4, there had been a total of 619 reported COVID-19 cases in Manatee County, with 59 deaths and 162 hospitalizations. As increased testing continues, Manatee County had 783 reported COVID-19 cases, 178 hospitalizations and 74 deaths – 46 of which were attributed to nursing homes and assisted living facilities – as of Monday, May 11.

There was still only one reported COVID-19 case in Holmes Beach, one in Bradenton Beach (cruise ship-related) and none in Anna Maria. According to Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur, a positive case is attributed to the zip code shown on the driver’s license or ID of the person who tests positive.

Reel Time: The bike angle

Reel Time: The bike angle

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

I like to bike and I love to fish. It occurred to me a long time ago that I might be able to access some great fishing spots by bike. More often than not though, my fishing adventures involved a boat. That is until I started pedaling to Longboat Pass to fish from the bridge and to the bay to explore local public docks. What I discovered was a way to get in some excellent fishing without having to do the work to get a boat in and out of the water, with all that’s involved.

That didn’t keep me from boating, but it opened up a new avenue for getting my fishing fix and a bike ride too. For anglers who don’t have easy access to a boat, a bike can take you to some excellent angling opportunities. A good example is Robinson Preserve in Manatee County. The park is a treasure for walkers, bikers, kayakers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. It also provides access to Perico Bayou and Tampa Bay. In addition, it also holds a maze of canals that, based on recent observations, hold some pretty terrific fishing. On a bike ride to the park recently, I encountered a number of anglers who had used their bikes to access the bridges that span the preserve’s canals and outlets to Tampa Bay. When I reached a favorite spot for a water break near the bay, I saw two anglers far out on a shallow flat I’ve fished many times from my boat. Nearby, leaning against a picnic table were their two bikes with rod holders. I took some pictures along the shoreline and eventually the two anglers waded to shore nearby. They had experienced a productive morning of fishing, seen no other angers and landed a number of big redfish and trout.

Although it doesn’t take more than a medium-light spinning rod rigged with an artificial lure to get in the game, I saw other bikers transporting live shrimp and even cast nets for catching bait. My preferred rig is an 8-pound spinning outfit or 8-weight fly rod with a 25- or 30-pound leader. I’m confident in the flies, plugs and jigs I fish, so that’s what I use and what I catch fish on. I double my standing line with a Bimini twist or a spider hitch and then tie my leader to the double line with a blood knot. After tying on a fly, top water plug or jig with a Non-Slip Mono Loop, I stick a spool of leader and a couple of extra flies or lures in my pocket and I’m good to go.

This time of the year is perfect for a world of wade fishing that a bike gives access to. All you’ll need is a pair of wading boots or old tennis shoes and a change of pants for the ride home. Bikes can quickly get you to places you’d find hard to reach even by boat. You can plan your outing by consulting access points (Google Maps) online. Then pack your gear and use your bike to explore some local less-accessible fishing gems. Try using your bike to expand your fishing horizon. Whether it’s a quick ride to a local pass or to one of a number of local parks near Anna Maria Island, you’ll be surprised at the opportunities it will open up for you.

Beach reopenings welcomed by most, questioned by some

Beach reopenings welcomed by most, questioned by some

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach and Manatee Beach are open again.

By order of the Manatee County Commission, the county beaches and beach parking lots on Anna Maria Island reopened at 10 a.m. this morning.

Public Safety Director Jake Saur closed the county beaches and beach parking lots on March 20 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But the beaches were never totally off-limits to Island residents, vacationers and those who found parking spaces.

Beach reopenings welcomed by most, questioned by some
The Bridge Street Bazaar in Bradenton Beach reopened with new plexiglass shields to protect the employees. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Monday also marked the return of outdoor dining, with tables spaced at least 6 feet apart and indoor dining at 25% capacity according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ phase one reopening plans, which took effect Monday.

These masked friends from Tampa – Caroline, Abby and Lesley – enjoyed lunch at Ginny’s and Jane E’s in Anna Maria on Monday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Many of the Island’s retail businesses also reopened Monday in accordance with the 25% capacity set forth in DeSantis’ executive order.

Beach reopenings welcomed by most, questioned by some
The Ugly Grouper in Holmes Beach was open for lunch on Monday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The entryways to Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach and Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach are now staffed by county workers who hand drivers 5 by 7 cards with COVID-19 safety tips on one side and the handwritten date and arrival time on the other.

The dashboard cards provide county code enforcement officers the information they need to issue $25 parking citations to those who linger too long – with no tires chalked.

“If you’re away from people and keeping your distance, you can be out in the open air enjoying the sunshine, water and sand.” – Tina Miller, Bradenton resident

“Our goal today is to be courteous and helpful to the people who want to enjoy the beach,” Manatee County Code Enforcement Officer Zach Stiscak said, noting the goal is to educate beachgoers, not ticket them.

Construction projects at Manatee Beach and Coquina Beach have reduced parking capacity at both beaches. When a parking lot becomes full, entry will be delayed until cars leave and make room for others.

The main entrance at Coquina Beach is open. Drivers can also pull through the Coquina South boat ramp parking lot and under the Longboat Pass Bridge to access the south parking lot.

The beach restrooms are open, but the concession stands are not.

With no gated entryways, enforcement of the two-hour parking limit at Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach was minimal.

The parking lot at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria remains closed.

Back to the beach

Amanda Daughtry and her two sons were among the first to arrive at Manatee Beach Monday morning.

“We are out of the house and so excited,” she said, noting she didn’t think their beach visit would expose them to greater risk.

Bradenton resident Tina Miller sat on the beach with two friends from Michigan.

“Opening the largest playground in Manatee County for large gatherings sends the wrong message.” – Bill Tokajer, Holmes Beach Police Chief

“I am so happy they reopened the beaches. If you’re away from people and keeping your distance, you can be out in the open air enjoying the sunshine, water and sand. Thank you, Manatee County,” Miller said.

Manatee Beach was busy but not packed, and for the most part beachgoers practiced social distancing. The same was true at Cortez Beach and at Coquina Beach, where Bradenton residents Judy and Dennis Schultz enjoyed beach time with seasonal Cortez residents Deb and Bob Bates.

“We missed it a lot,” Judy Schultz said.

“We’re snowbirds and we haven’t been able to come to the beach. I’m thrilled that I get to spend a couple days here before we go back to Michigan,” Deb Bates said.

Police perspective

The Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach police departments are not assisting with the enforcement of the two-hour parking rule. And Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer doesn’t think the beaches should be open yet.

Tokajer said that message was conveyed to county commissioners last week before they made their decision.

“Opening the largest playground in Manatee County for large gatherings sends the wrong message. The commissioners need to listen to the medical professionals who are telling everybody the numbers in Manatee County are still too high. Opening the beach indicates the virus is over and everything’s OK, but there’s still the opportunity for this virus to be spread to our workers at Publix, CVS, Walgreens and at our restaurants. That puts our residents, workers and officers in harm’s way.

“Holmes Beach will continue to have no parking on our streets, right of ways and beach accesses and violators will be ticketed and possibly towed,” Tokajer said.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale is concerned about the lack of parking at Coquina Beach.

“You’re going to get people from across the state who decide to go to the beach and they’re going to get here and find out there’s no parking because of the construction,” Speciale said.

Lt. John Cosby said, “People are ready to get out, they’re tired of being locked down. But the more people that come out, the more interaction they’ll have with all the Island’s law enforcement officers, and that puts our people at risk,” Cosby said.

Parking remains closed in Holmes Beach

Parking remains closed in Holmes Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – Beach parking may be opening to visitors but in Holmes Beach, beach access, side of street and right of way parking remain closed to drivers.

Drivers who illegally park their vehicles may return to find them towed or ticketed. Holmes Beach police officers are regularly patrolling city streets to enforce the parking regulations.

Once the COVID-19 pandemic passes and parking is reopened in the city, visitors and residents will notice some major changes. During an April 28 virtual commission meeting, Chief Bill Tokajer presented a plan to open only the spaces needed for beach renourishment funding and leave much of the city’s parking closed, reducing parking by about 2,000 spaces.

Tokajer said the city is required to have 364 parking spaces available to the public for beach renourishment. In the city’s beach access points, there are 473 public parking spaces available. When the pandemic threat is over, Tokajer said he plans to only open those 473 beach access spaces, which don’t affect residents, and leave right of way and side of the street parking closed on all roads on the west side of the city.

From 28th to 38th streets in the south of the city, parking on the side of the street and right of way will remain closed from East Bay/Gulf Drive west to the beach. From the public beach at Manatee Avenue to 52nd Street, parking will be closed west of Gulf Drive except at beach accesses. In the rest of the city, side of the street and right of way parking will remain closed on all streets west of Marina/Palm Drive north to the Anna Maria city border. Once the new regulations are put into effect, Tokajer said his officers would monitor the situation to see if adjustments need to be made. He said the new regulations hopefully will ease beach parking and reduce traffic in residential areas.

Jayne Christensen, former chair of the city’s congestion committee, said that she’s “100% behind it,” and that the reduction in street parking in residential neighborhoods was exactly what her committee was working for.

“Thank you for doing this,” she said to commissioners.

“This is just a wonderful, big step to bringing balance back to the Island,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said.

Commissioners Pat Morton, Kim Rash, Jim Kihm and Terry Schaefer all agreed that they are behind enforcing the permanent reduction in parking.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Kihm said, adding that if any visitors to the Island want beach parking, they’d better plan to come out early.

Tokajer said he’s already ordered signs to be put up in anticipation of reopening the street end beach access parking and the removal of the no parking banners currently placed throughout the city. He added that the parking measures would not affect service workers, such as landscapers who are working at a residential property, from parking on the side of the street.

Another parking change that surprised even city leaders came when the Florida Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the county administrator’s office, put up signs on the south side of Manatee Avenue, prohibiting overflow parking from the Kingfish Boat Ramp.

In her May 1 report on the status of the city, Mayor Judy Titsworth said that FDOT gave Tokajer permission to cover the no parking signs across from Kingfish with bags. She added that the city will work with FDOT to come up with a safer, designated parking area for overflow parking for the boat ramp. During that time, however, the historic overflow parking on Manatee Avenue remains open to boaters.

Related coverage

 

What to expect on Monday at the beaches

 

Boaters outnumber beachgoers in Holmes Beach

 

Holmes Beach parking closed for beachgoers