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Tag: Anna Maria Island

Beach Rafts 2

Coronavirus may be increasing tourism

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – While COVID-19 is causing canceled cruises, the shutdown of Disney World and widespread anxiety about venturing far from home, it may also be causing an unexpected uptick in Island tourism.

Some tourists have canceled their plans to visit the Island, but others – including stranded cruise ship passengers – are coming unexpectedly, said Terri Kinder, president of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.

“A lot of these people already planned their vacation, and the rest of the family has already set aside the days, so they have to go now,” she said, adding that vacancies still exist as of this weekend.

Mid-March is the peak of the Island’s tourist season, and crowded beaches, congested roads and an increase in spring breakers caused by the coronavirus-inspired extension of spring break attest that visitation is at normal to above-normal levels.

“We’re not alarmed at this time of the year,” said Elliott Falcione, director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In fact, he said, people in densely-populated cities like New York and Boston are saying, “‘We’re going to get out of here and come to a safe place.’ They believe the beaches are safer than the dense city.”

European visitors are booked for summer and fall, Falcione said, adding that the CVB’s London office is currently monitoring the perception of prospective overseas visitors.

“We’re going to take this one day at a time,” he said.

Some airlines are addressing the health crisis by offering hospital-caliber filtration systems on board the aircraft, Falcione said.

“If I had to fly, I wouldn’t be concerned,” he said. “Just keep your hands from your face and keep your hands clean.”

While some visitation has been lost with canceled airline flights, it has been regained or exceeded by more people driving to Manatee County, he said.

“People within driving distance who had plans to fly are coming here,” agreed Bill Annis, of Island Vacation Properties, adding that the company has had some cancelations from other countries.

Although rental agents are fielding calls and questions all day long, “It hasn’t been horrible for us,” he said, with March booked solidly. “Overall, it’s leveling out for us.”

“It’s a little bit of a hodgepodge,” said Lisa Spehar, of Island Real Estate. People within driving distance from Tampa and Orlando are calling to book rooms because kids on spring break are unexpectedly out of school longer due to coronavirus concerns, she said.

But fears about the virus and its impact on the stock market caused at least one visitor who returns to the Island annually to cancel, she said, while some visitors who normally book a year in advance have said they don’t want to commit to visit next year because of uncertainty about the virus.

“We believe our customers will come back,” Falcione said.

A tourism update is scheduled for the Monday, March 30 Tourist Development Council meeting at 9 a.m. at the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton.

Mayor provides pier lease update

Mayor provides pier lease update

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Archives.

ANNA MARIA – On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Mayor Dan Murphy provided city commissioners with an e-mail update regarding the request for proposals (RFP) the city issued in January seeking a new city pier tenant.

The new tenant will occupy the new city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings at the T-end of the new pier.

“We don’t anticipate receiving any responses to the RFP until we are close to, or most likely on, the due date. This is the norm for any RFP process. Serious bidders take as much time as possible to perform their due diligence, evaluate the market and prepare a business case,” Murphy’s email update said.

“As of today, 10 restauranteurs have expressed interest in our outstanding RFP. That is not to say that all 10 will submit a bid, but a significant level of interest exists in the local hospitality community. We have received inquiries from St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Lakeland, Bradenton/Sarasota and Anna Maria Island,” Murphy wrote.

An optional meeting for interested bidders was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 10:30 a.m.

“Interested parties who may have open questions remaining would probably attend,” Murphy wrote.

“The final submission date for the RFP is Tuesday, March 10 at 1 p.m. The bids will be opened at that time, but only the name of the bidders will be disclosed. We will have 30 days to evaluate and rank the bids. Details of the bid contents are confidential during that evaluation process,” Murphy wrote.

When contacted Friday, Murphy said 14 parties have expressed interest or posed questions about leasing the pier buildings.

“There’s lots of interest out there. That makes me feel good,” he said.

Questions and answers

Upon request, Murphy shared a document containing written questions posed by potential tenants and the responses provided by the city. That document is referred to as Pier RFP Addendum #2 and it does not reveal the names of any potential bidders that posed questions.

In response to one question, the RFP addendum says there is no draft lease for potential tenants to review, but they can obtain a copy of the previous pier lease.

Current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder’s lease expires in mid-December. In January, the commission rejected his final offer to pay $8,000 in initial monthly base rent as part of a new 10-year lease.

The addendum says it is negotiable as to whether the city will provide the pier tenant any allowance for the interior build-out of the city-owned pier buildings.

According to the questions posed and the answers given were:

  • The tenant will be required to obtain liability insurance for at least $2 million.
  • The tenant is allowed to sell retail items and merchandise.
  • Restaurant and bait shop patrons will have the shared use of the pier’s common areas.
  • Hours of operation are negotiable.
  • The bait shop can sell beer, the tenant’s ability to obtain a liquor license is negotiable and there is no city ordinance prohibiting liquor service on the pier.
  • Live music in the outside common area is negotiable, as is the tenant’s ability to place additional outdoor seating in the common area at the pier’s T-end.
  • Maintenance costs will be shared by the tenant and the city on a prorated basis, and those financial terms are negotiable.
  • Regarding menu expectations or requirements, the addendum says, “Good quality food.”
  • Regarding there being any city expectations or requirements for the restaurant’s name, the addendum says, “Yes – City Pier Restaurant, but negotiable.”
  • The city prefers that breakfast be served, but that is negotiable.
  • The number of parking spaces provided to the tenant will depend on how many seats the tenant proposes.
  • The city is unable to provide an estimate on the taxes and utilities to be paid by the tenant.
  • The city is unable to provide data regarding the average number of pier visitors in past years.
  • Potential bidders can request a tour of the pier and pier buildings with their own architect and/or builder.

Related coverage

Pier opening delayed by electrical issues

Commission rejects Schoenfelder’s pier lease offer

Pier lease offer to be discussed Friday

Vacation rental bills looming large

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Archives.

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Legislature is getting closer to potentially taking away local governments’ ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals and vacation rental advertising.

And Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Commissioner Carol Carter are among those who are concerned that state legislators may finally succeed in their annual efforts to strip away cities’ home rule rights.

Similar in nature and intent, Senate Bill 1128 and House Bill 1011 are progressing toward possible final votes on the House and Senate floors.

As recently noted by Florida League of Cities Legislative Advocate Casey Cook, legislators who support the proposed legislation want to turn over the regulation of vacation rentals to the already understaffed and under-resourced Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulations.

And new this year, state legislators are including in their proposed legislation a requirement that all vacation rentals advertised through Airbnb, VRBO and other online platforms must be fully licensed and registered with the state. This is the legislature’s attempt to ensure that vacation rental-related taxes are remitted to county tax collectors, including the sale tax revenues to be remitted back to the state.

Originally filed by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr, R-Miami/Dade, SB 1128 passed through its second committee stop on Tuesday, Feb. 11. The Commerce and Tourism Committee ruled favorably on the amended bill by the 3-2 vote and committee chair Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, was one of three senators who voted favorably on the bill.

The Senate bill has been referred to the Rules Committee for its third and final committee stop but it was not included on the agenda for the committee’s Wednesday, Feb. 26 meeting.

If SB 1128 passes through the Rules Committee, it is likely headed to the Senate floor for a final vote by the Republican-controlled Florida Senate.

Serving as the House companion, HB 1011 is co-sponsored by Rep. Jason Fischer, R- Jacksonville, and Rep. Mike LaRosa, R-St. Cloud.

HB 1011 passed through its third and final committee stop on Thursday, Feb. 20, when the Commerce Committee ruled favorably on the bill by a 14-9 margin. State Rep. Will Robinson Jr., a Republican from Bradenton, broke ranks with his party and opposed the legislation. The following day, Murphy sent Robinson an email expressing his appreciation.

“Thank you for voting no on HB 1011 concerning vacation rentals. Your stance on this critical issue is greatly appreciated and respected.  It was apparent that you were the only Republican who had the courage on the committee to stand up for what is in the best interests of the community. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed and will not be forgotten. We thank you for your continued support of the city of Anna Maria and your understanding of the impact of this proposed legislation,” Murphy’s email said.

HB 1011 now appears to be headed to the House floor for a final vote in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

If identical bills are adopted by the Senate and the House, the legislation would be sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign into law or veto. The 2020 legislative session is scheduled to end on March 13.

Local concerns

On Friday, Murphy discussed his concerns and said he’s in daily contact with Chip Case, the city’s lobbyist.

“I’m very concerned about this legislation getting to the House and Senate floors. We need to keep the pressure on the Senate Rules Committee,” Murphy said.

“When Commissioner Carter and I were in Tallahassee two weeks ago, every person we visited, including Fischer, said we certainly got a lot email from your constituents. That’s important. It might be falling on deaf ears, but if we didn’t have that public pressure and we appealed to the governor, the legislators could say there’s been no public objection to this bill,” Murphy said.

“If it passes as written, we’re through regulating vacation rentals. Occupancy limits, inspections and registration would all be out the door. We would lose the ability to know, from a law enforcement point of view, who’s responsible for that house. Now we know who’s responsible because we make sure every vacation rental has a registered agent, a person we can contact 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That’s critical if there’s a fire, a burglary, an issue with noise or some other issue. Without registration, we have nothing. You’re not going to call anybody at Airbnb. Most of these homes are listed under an LLC and in many cases, it’s foreign ownership,” Murphy said.

“The annual inspections are good, and the occupancy limits are important too – Airbnb wants to cram 25 people in those houses – but the loss of knowing who’s responsible for that house and having that contact information is critical,” Murphy said.

On Monday, Feb. 24, Carter distributed an email that said HB 1011 could be headed for a final vote on the House floor as early as Thursday.

“Time to reach out to all house members to vote no,” she wrote.

She also noted SB 1128 could be on the Rules Committee’s March 3 agenda.
“Must keep up the pressure on our senators,” Carter wrote.
She urges concerned citizens to contact Republican Rules Committee members Lizbeth Benacquisto, Rob Bradley, Jeff Brandes, Anitere Flores, Travis Hutson, Tom Lee, Kathleen Passidomo, David Simmons, Wilton Simpson and Kelli Stargel.

Related coverage

Vacation rental bills progressing

Local vacation rental regulations under fire again

Concerns raised over horse waste in bay

Scenic Highway group seeks to solve horse problems

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Environment, Featured, Outdoors.

BRADENTON – Members of the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Corridor Management Entity met Feb. 2 with one big item on their agenda: the horse riding operations that take place on the north side of the causeway.

Tim Maddox of The Real Beach Horses was on-hand during the meeting to help provide an insider’s look at how the horse riding businesses operate on the causeway. Because the businesses operate in a Florida Department of Transportation right of way, no money can be exchanged on the site but the businesses can operate with limited oversight and no permits needed. Issues that have been brought up during previous meetings include damage to seagrasses, damage to palm trees from tying up the horses and waste problems both on the causeway and in the water.

Maddox said that his ride operators are careful to only conduct rides during low tide when the seagrass along the beach area is visible and the horses can be led around the grasses rather than through them. He added that his staff also cleans up behind the horses while they’re on land though he added that other horse ride operators are not always so careful to preserve the local environment. Maddox also stated that he has commissioned water quality testing to make sure that the horse excrement isn’t adversely affecting the water in Palma Sola Bay. He said that the tests all came back well within normal levels and that four testing areas were used in close timing to when horse rides were taking place to get the best samples possible.

Though he said that his company is very mindful of how they leave the north side of the causeway, some of the other ride operators are not and it’s taking a toll on his employees who are encouraged to clean up after other businesses’ horses.

“I really think our industry needs regulation,” he said.

Maddox suggested that Palma Sola CME members approach the county about regulating the six or more ride operators that bring horses to the causeway for commercial purposes, including instituting a medallion system where businesses would have to apply for a permit per horse, similar to how some cities regulate taxis, and would have to meet certain standards or risk having the medallions revoked. Maddox suggested $500 per medallion to help pay for enforcement of the program. Currently, he said there are no permits, business taxes or regulations required. Ride operators only have to pay sales tax for monies collected.

Manatee County parks representative Mike Elswick said that if the property is owned by the city, even though it is an FDOT right of way, it could fall under the city of Bradenton’s parks department with rules and regulations determined by the parks department director. Maddox said that he feels the only way to create enforcement is to institute something like the medallion program because it’s a contract with strings attached and the threat of taking away the ride operator’s ability to have horses on the causeway.

“A slap on the wrist won’t work,” he said.

Co-chair Ingrid McClellan said she would work on achieving compliance with the current ride operators on the causeway while working with the Palma Sola CME group to come up with a recommendation to present to Bradenton city leaders.

Related coverage

County moves to regulate horses in bay

Pinellas County bans water horses

WMFR commissioners review 2019 results

WMFR commissioners review 2019 results

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

BRADENTON – West Manatee Fire Rescue’s February commission meeting started out on a happy note as two of their own were promoted, a new staff member was welcomed and a team received chief’s coins for their work in the community.

Kicking the meeting off, commissioners welcomed new administrative assistant Andrea Berggren, who took the oath of office and was greeted personally by each commissioner.

New administrative assistant Andrea Berggren takes the oath of office. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Continuing the festivities, WMFR leaders recognized Chad Brunner and Tyler MacDonald who were elevated to the rank of captain. MacDonald’s son was even on-hand to pin his father’s badge on his uniform.

Battalion Chief Rich Jasinski congratulates the newly promoted Captain Chad Brunner. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The non-transit advanced life support team of firefighters Frank Agresta and John Balzer, along with Lt. John Stump, were presented with chief’s coins by Administrative Battalion Chief Jay Johnson for going above and beyond in their service to the community. Johnson said he’d spoken with a woman whose husband was having a hard time entering their Island home and had fallen. The firefighters showed up to help the man up and then they returned to the fire station to build a step to make it easier for him to access his home without falling down. Johnson said he’d received many thanks and compliments from the man’s wife for the actions of the firefighters.

Once the festivities were over, commissioners moved on to other business, including discussions concerning the district’s new administrative home.

In January, commissioners were presented with the opportunity to purchase an additional piece of land complete with a shell building in a commercial area near Blake Medical Center. Commissioner Randy Cooper reported to his fellow commissioners during the February meeting that he had viewed the property and didn’t recommend pursuing the purchase, stating that he felt it doesn’t meet the district’s needs.

In 2019, commissioners purchased a large commercial lot located behind the Fountain Court Shopping Center off of Manatee Avenue and have already engaged the services of an architecture firm to help plan the new building.

Commissioner George Harris said that he would like the district’s leaders to keep all of their options open for the moment. Commissioner Al Robinson said he was disappointed that his fellow commissioners had dismissed the possibility of purchasing the other lot with the shell building, saying he felt it could save the district money in the long run when weighed against the expense of new construction.

During the meeting, commissioners voted four to one with Robinson dissenting to accept a contract for construction manager at risk with Creative Contractors Inc. for the new administration building. The contract grants Creative Contractors payment of 5.5% of the actual cost of work for the construction of the new administration building and includes a bond percentage of 0.81% with 0.82% of construction costs going to insurance.

“It’s been great working with them so far,” Chief Ben Rigney said.

There’s no timetable set yet for construction on the new administration building.

Commissioners also reviewed the 2019 annual report.

Johnson presented the annual report, stating that it reflects the district’s purchase of new air packs and the launch of non-transport ALS service at all three district fire stations. He said the district had a 3% increase in calls in 2019 with 67% of those being medical calls. He added that there were 45 fire incidents that WMFR firefighters responded to in 2019, including 14 building fires. He said the district’s response time improved 27 seconds over the previous year.

Community members are invited to review the annual report online.

Related coverage

WMFR celebrates promotions, awards

Lawsuit filed against fire department

Special magistrate hears code cases

Special magistrate hears code cases

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

HOLMES BEACH – Four cases came in front of special magistrate Michael Connolly Feb. 19, including one repeat offender.

The first case concerned work without a permit and a davit that was constructed on top of a city drainage pipe at 652 Key Royale Drive.

Code Compliance Officer James Thomas presented the case with testimony from City Engineer Lynn Burnett.

Thomas said the davit was built too close to the property line and was installed without obtaining a permit from the city’s building department. Burnett added that the concrete pad that the davit is on and the davit itself are constructed on a stormwater/drainage easement and on top of a stormwater outfall pipe that is collapsing from the additional weight. She recommended that the davit and concrete pad be removed within the next six months to allow for much-needed repairs to the pipe.

During the hearing, it was revealed by building department clerk Angie Birdwell that a permit for demolition of the davit had been issued on Feb. 10 and is good for 180 days.

Connolly ruled that the property owner has 180 days from the permit date to removed the davit and has to pay $127.24 in hearing costs. An additional $250 per day fine may be assessed if the property owner does not come into compliance within the recommended time.

Repeat advertising offender Mohamed Walliagha was next on the docket for advertising his R-1 rental property as a vacation rental with higher than allowed occupancy.

Thomas presented the case, stating that advertising for the property at 515 75th St. allows for rentals of up to 16 people in the seven-bedroom property and for a period of less than the 30-day minimum allowed in the R-1 residential district. Under the city’s ordinances, rental units are allowed a maximum occupancy of two people per bedroom or a total of six, whichever is greater, capping Walliagha’s property at a maximum occupancy of 14.

This is the second time Walliagha has been brought before Connolly during a special magistrate hearing for advertising violations. The first time was Sept. 11, 2019, when Connolly ruled in the city’s favor, ordering the property owner to bring his advertising into compliance with the city’s ordinances. Thomas said that while the advertising did come into compliance for a while after the special magistrate hearing, Walliagha began listing the property on vacation rental sites VRBO, Home Away and Flip Key in December 2019 again in violation of the city’s ordinances. Thomas asked for Walliagha to pay $127.24 in fees along with a $250 per day fine for days the advertising was out of compliance from Dec. 19, 2019, to Jan. 30, 2020.

Walliagha argued that his advertising was on a three-month hold with the websites and was reactivated after that time without his notice. He also stated that since the property is his primary home and is homesteaded, he does not have to adhere to the city’s ordinances concerning rentals in the R-1 district. Thomas argued that the property is listed with all seven bedrooms for rent and that he showed the advertisements to the property owner well in advance of the hearing date, stating that he’s been working with Walliagha for two to three years to bring the property into compliance.

Connolly ruled in the city’s favor, ordering Walliagha to pay a $250 fine along with $127.24 in fees.

The third and fourth cases concerned dilapidated structures, one at 3017 Avenue E and another at 605 Emerald Lane.

The Avenue E property, owned by 3015 Avenue E LLC, was deemed by Thomas to be a dilapidated and unsafe structure.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that the police officers had responded to the property Jan. 3, finding vagrants squatting on the property. He said the vagrants were removed from the property and said that officers had attempted to contact the property owner to have it boarded up.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer testifies Feb. 19 during one code compliance hearing before the special magistrate. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Thomas said since then the property had not been boarded up and was still open to the elements and abandoned, though it appeared that someone had mowed the lawn. He asked for fees along with a $250 per day fine for every day the property is not in compliance along with a $100-250 per day fine for every day the property remains out of compliance after the recommended 30 days to obtain a permit and 60 days to execute the permit to completion, including demolishing the structure, rehabilitating it or presenting a plan to the building department for rehabilitation. Thomas also noted that a permit had been pulled for the structure in 2019 that allowed for three units to be constructed inside the structure. He said it appeared that before work stopped at the property, five units were being constructed in violation of the permit.

The property owner was not present during the hearing.

Connolly ruled that the property owner has 30 days from the hearing date to obtain a permit from the building department and 60 days from the permit date to complete work or come back before the magistrate for an extension. He also granted the request to impose $127.24 in fees and a $250 per day fine if the property owner does not bring the structure into compliance.

The Emerald Lane property, currently owned by Stephanie Morris of Emerald8 LLC, was a bit of a different story. While Burnett said she inspected the property with Building Official Neal Schwartz and found it to be an unsafe structure, resident Tom Sanger stepped up to say that he was currently in negotiations to purchase the property in an owner-financed transaction to allow for the repairs needed at the home.

Two neighboring property owners also stepped up to serve as witnesses as to the condition of the property, Peter O’Brien and Jim McIntire. O’Brien said that he’s observed the property in its same, boarded up, dilapidated condition for over two years. McIntire said that he hopes the property can be sold to someone who will care for it and bring it up to the standards of the Key Royale neighborhood.

Connolly found in favor of the city, giving the current owner until March 6 to record a deed of sale or obtain a demolition permit. If a new owner is recorded for the property, that person has 30 days to obtain a permit and six months to complete renovations or come back before the magistrate to ask for an extension. He also assessed a $127.24 fee to the current owner and a $250 per day fine if his timeline for renovations or demolition is not met.

The next Holmes Beach special magistrate hearing will be held at 10 a.m. on March 18 at city hall, 5701 Marina Drive.

Related coverage

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Reel Time: Pulitzer Prize winning author to speak

Reel Time: Pulitzer Prize winning author to speak

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

On March 8, Suncoast Waterkeepers (SWK), a local environmental group whose mission is to protect and restore the Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, fieldwork, advocacy and environmental education, will hold its annual fundraiser Brunch for the Bay at the Bradenton Yacht Club.

The group uses the funds to advance its water quality enforcement and “Sick of Sewage” campaigns. SWK has been effective in educating the public about man-made pollutants (stormwater and sewage) and enforcement with legal challenges to municipalities in Tampa Bay and surrounding waters.

After a series of horrific sewage spills in 2016 despoiled Tampa Bay and other local waters, SWK and partners brought suit against the cities of St. Petersburg and Gulfport to stop serious and ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act. It focused its efforts on achieving four key goals for municipal wastewater systems: to de-politicize the issues by agreeing to court oversight of overdue infrastructure maintenance and improvements; to provide certainty via mandatory long-term commitments and deadlines; protect local waterways and to ensure public transparency along the way.

During the course of the hard-fought two-year litigation against St. Pete and Gulfport, Suncoast Waterkeeper began investigating sewage spills in Sarasota County. The investigation of Sarasota County’s sewage system revealed a shocking pattern of longstanding, systematic infrastructure failures and disregard for public health and water quality in area waters. In a race to consolidate its far-flung sewage system, the county decommissioned two tertiary, or Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT), plants to better centralize its operations. However, the remaining plants that it increasingly relied upon employed only secondary treatment, leaving billions of gallons of highly nitrogenated wastewater as a byproduct.

At the same time, demand for the reclaimed irrigation water from the county was disappearing as developers, in managing nitrogen in stormwater runoff, turned to less polluting options, such as well water or highly treated reclaimed water from the city of Sarasota. To date, spills from the Bee Ridge facility have totaled over a billion gallons since 2013 on at least 394 separate days, adding over 65 tons of nitrogen into bay waters.

Meanwhile, the extensive sewage collection system was deteriorating and poorly maintained in a piecemeal fashion, resulting in periodic spills of dangerous raw sewage throughout Sarasota County. In early 2019, the environmental groups initiated a federal lawsuit under the Clean Water Act.

According to SWK’s lead attorney Justin Bloom, “to their credit, the Sarasota County Commission showed a willingness to immediately work towards a solution and to avoid protracted litigation.”

You can help support the group’s efforts and learn about its ongoing campaigns in Sarasota and Tampa Bay by attending the fundraising event. Not only will you be treated to a wonderful brunch at the scenic Bradenton Yacht Club, but you’ll hear a presentation by University of Florida history professor Jack Davis.

Davis’s book, “The Gulf,” garnered numerous literary accolades including the Pulitzer Prize for history, the Kirkus Prize for non-fiction, was a finalist National Book Critics Circle Award (nonfiction) and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, just to name a few. I’ve lived here for close to 40 years and the book caused me to see the place I live with new eyes. I highly recommend it and this is a chance to get your own signed copy.

Suncoast Waterkeeper is a group that has earned the support of anyone that values and is willing to work to protect the amazing marine ecosystem surrounding our local islands, and that is vital to the region’s local economy. Anglers, in particular, can learn how the group’s efforts are supporting an environment conducive to healthy fisheries, now and for future generations. Learn more at the Suncoast Waterkeeper website. Tickets can be purchased for the brunch online.

I hope to see you there.

More Reel Time:

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Bortell’s Lounge poised for a comeback

Bortell’s Lounge poised for a comeback

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars.

ANNA MARIA – Extensive renovations will soon take place at Bortell’s Lounge and the popular Anna Maria watering hole is expected to reopen as early as June.

Located at 10002 Gulf Drive, Bortell’s Lounge closed after its husband and wife owners, Steve Rose and Marci Wilhelm, were involved in a plane crash in South Carolina in 2018. Wilhelm was seriously injured in the crash and the pilot and co-pilot were killed when the private jet they were flying in went off the runaway and crashed after landing.

“We’re both getting back to normal, as normal as we can. We would have been open a long time ago but the plane crash took us out of the game for a year. And right after that my dad got brain cancer and we brought him back to the Island and put everything else on hold,” Rose said when speaking by phone on Sunday.

Rose said he was out of town last week and didn’t know the Shoreline Builders’ permit box had been affixed to the building until several friends texted him about it. Security fencing was also installed last week.

Security fencing is now in place in preparation for the pending renovations. – Submitted | Doug Copeland

“We’re doing a full renovation of the building. It had not been renovated in 40 years. We needed electrical, plumbing and a new roof. I like to say we needed one of everything and two of some things. The I’s are dotted, the T’s are crossed and the permits are filtering in. Hopefully, we’ll be open in four to four-and-a-half months. We’re shooting for June,” Rose said.

“The day we shut it down, we yanked out the memorabilia and old stuff that’s been hanging on the walls for 40 years. We got it to an offsite location and secured it. We’ll bring a lot of that stuff back,” he explained.

Rose said Bortell’s occasionally opened for customer appreciation days during the extended temporary closure.

“We’d just fling open the doors and serve drinks, but I can’t even remember the last time we did that,” he said.

“We’re doing a top-quality job and it’ll look great when it’s done,” Rose said, noting there will be at least one significant addition.

“I’m putting a kitchen in, but I don’t know what we’re doing with the kitchen yet. When you spend this kind of money on a rebuild you do it for best possible use – so best possible use does have a kitchen,” he said. “The only food we served since we owned it was the free hot dogs during football on Sundays, and that will continue.”

Bortell’s will also continue the no-smoking policy implemented in 2015.

“That worked out really well for us,” Rose said.

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Castles in the Sand

Florida’s in the tax driver’s seat

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand, Real estate | Development.

It’s almost tax time again so why not talk again about Florida’s advantageous tax position and the influx of new residents. I like to tie in our growing population with real estate sales statistics since it’s my opinion there’s a direct correlation between the two. I’ll also report the January sales in this column.

But first, it’s been two years since the new tax law was signed and we’re just starting to see the effects. Local economies and housing markets are motivating residents of high tax states to relocate to more tax-friendly states like Florida with no state income tax. Even though the tax overhaul resulted in many people experiencing lower taxes, homeowners in high tax states are being seriously hurt and when many of these high-end individuals move, it has a ripple effect on the economies of that state.

If you remember, part of the new law capped how much homeowners can subtract from their federal taxes for the payment of local property and income taxes. The cap is set at $10,000 which, in states like New York, New Jersey and Illinois to name a few, is far below what most homeowners pay in property tax and state tax combined.

The average property tax in the United States in 2018 was about $3,500 according to a national data real estate firm. However, this is far below what much of the northeastern states pay in property tax. In Westchester County in New York State, the average property tax was more than $17,000, the highest in the country. In addition, the law also lowered the size of mortgages for which new buyers can deduct the interest to $750,000 from $1 million, just adding to the high tax and high property value states’ misery.

Not everyone is moving because of taxes exclusively, some were considering a move already and many were near retirement and just needed a little push. Whatever the reason, Florida is one of the beneficiaries of the movement with increased sales and rising property values.

These are the January sales statistics for Manatee County from the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee: Single-family homes closed 22.4% more homes in January compared to last January. The median sale price was $329,500, an increase of 6.6%, and the average sale price was $420,775, an increase of 8.7%. Condos closed 47.7% more properties this January compared to last year. The median sale price was $210,000, up 7.7%, and the average sale price was $236,687, down 1.8%.

An ongoing problem continues to be a lack of inventory, with 3.4 month’s supply for single-family properties and 4.7 month’s supply for condos. These numbers are either down double digits from last year or even. As the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee headline reads in its press release “Home Sales Out-Pace Supply.” Not a great place to be.

For those who want to change your address to one in Florida, make sure you establish a legitimate residency. States are known to conduct residency audits to verify you’re really leaving their state. This happens a lot when people own two homes in different states and want to move their residency. Florida wants you to get a driver’s license, obtain Florida license plates and auto insurance, file a declaration of domicile, apply for Florida homestead exemption, register to vote and open a bank account. Floridians should get ready for this influx to continue.

As with most changes, there’s always a good and a bad aspect and we’re sure to experience both.

More Castles in the Sand:

The greying of the mortgage market

Credit scores have new meaning

Let’s all just take a breath

Bunny & Pirates adds to their bounty

Bunny & Pirates adds to their bounty

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Restaurants | Bars, Retail.

CORTEZ – The expanded business operations at Bunny & Pirates Bazaar now include the Skullywags Coffee Bar and Marketplace.

The coffee bar and marketplace recently joined the live music, beer and wine service, and gift and souvenir sales that have been the staples of the eclectic business that life partners and business partners Elizabeth Shore and Jeffrey O’Connell operate at 12404 Cortez Rd. W. in Cortez.

On Jan. 31, Bunny & Pirates Bazaar celebrated the grand opening of the coffee bar and marketplace named after a beloved family member.

“We lost my brother-in-law, Tim ‘Skully’ Quinlan, a couple years ago and this is our way of honoring him,” Shore said.

“Our coffee beans are 100% Arabica from Brazil freshly roasted to order in Ybor City and then delivered to my doorstep. There’s no warehousing, so it’s always fresh, smooth and delicious,” Shore said.

“We soft-opened the coffee bar a while back and we were working out how that would work with the pub. I’m doing keto breakfasts, we have ‘grab and go’ breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, parfaits and fresh bagels, muffins and croissants, depending on what’s available that day,” Shore said.

The marketplace was originally part of the business Shore and O’Connell opened in 2018, but Mother Nature had other plans.

“When the pub was a month and a half old, I was just starting to build up the convenience store and it was doing well. But when the red tide hit, business was dead. The capital I planned to use for growing the business was used instead to pay the lease and the electric bills,” Shore explained.

“The marketplace has Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, vegetables, crackers and snacks, salads and more. We also have eggs, milk, juice, flour, rice, cans of tuna, toilet paper and things like that. It’s just the basics, but the basics done right. It’s a great convenience for the neighborhood and we have great daytime offerings for people headed to and from the Island and the beaches,” Shore said.

And that’s not all…

“About two months ago, we started doing a one-item menu in the evenings called ‘What’s for Dinner?”. It’s like coming to our house for dinner and it’s really starting to get some momentum. We’ll serve one item and an appetizer with it. We’ve done a Hawaiian beef burrito with pineapple coleslaw, a BLT with tomato soup and we’ve done chicken tacos. Now we have people calling and saying ‘what’s for dinner tonight’?” Shore said.

Bunny & Pirates features live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and an open mic night with Erin McCarthy on Mondays.

Skullywags opens daily at 8 a.m. and Bunny & Pirates remains open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 11 or 11:30 on weekends.

“If we have a crowd, we’ll stay later,” Shore said, noting the entire business is closed on Sundays.

And there’s the gift store.

“Our gift store has some of your traditional souvenirs, but there’s also the one-of-a-kind

finds because that’s where the pirating comes in. We’re always looking for something unique. It’s a great place to find last-minute gifts or something special you want for your house. And we’re really starting to build up the stuff we get from our local artists,” Shore said.

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Sports action at The Center heating up

Sports action at The Center heating up

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

The recreational sports program at The Center is in full swing for the Anna Maria Island area youth as well as the adults. The field and hard court at the community center are filled with volleyball, indoor soccer or flag football action.

In last Monday night’s adult volleyball matches, Solid Rock Construction retained their undefeated record by beating Sandbar and Ugly Grouper.

Ugly Grouper ended the week with a 0-4 record. Ugly Grouper and Bins Be Clean sit in the middle of the pack.

Youth flag football lit up the fields Tuesday night. Playing their seventh and final week of the regular season, Moss Builders came out on top with one defeat going into the playoffs in the eight-to 10-year old league.

HSH Designs and Diamond Turf are the second and third seed, respectively, with 4-2 records.

Diamond Turf went up against Beach Bums and finished with the win.

In the win, quarterback Carson Clover had three throwing touchdowns. Clover found Maddox Culhane and Mason Moss as the receivers.

Culhane had one rushing touchdown to be matched by a running score by Clover.

Hayden Eurice was at the top of his game for Beach Bums, finishing the game with two catches for points and a running touchdown.

Dennis Gallagher worked behind the snap as the quarterback for the Beach Bums squad. Gallagher put two passing touchdowns in the statistics.

Beach Bums and Cool Today both won three of their six match-ups, while Rays Ramblings earned two victories in the regular season.

In the 11-to 13-year old flag football league, Progressive Cabinetry and Solid Rock Construction sit one and two on the leader board. Slim’s Place is in third place with three wins and four losses. Ugly Grouper look for their first win in the season.

With a late bye week, MuniPlan currently is at the top of the 14-to 17-year old league with a 5-1 record. Hashmark Sports plays this week and could even up the score with MuniPlan.

Killer Bait is in third with Ugly Grouper holding on to fourth with a single win. Gulf Drive Café is still fighting for win number one.

Week two of the adult indoor soccer league finished with Pool America and Duncan Real Estate on top with two wins. Sato Real Estate and Slim’s Place both have 1-1 records.

Going into week three, Ross Built Construction and Gulfview Café take the field playing for their teams’ first victory.

The adult flag football league has veteran wisdom going for them with Moss Builders undefeated at the season’s midpoint.

The youthful team sponsored by Lancaster Design is in second with a single loss. Ugly Grouper has a 0-4 record and Capt. Sky Cruises is in seventh with a win and three losses.

Beach Bums, Firkins Automotive, Rays Ramblings and Slim’s Place all go into week five winning two of the four games played to round out the week of Island sports.

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Holmes Beach logo OLD

No stormwater fee relief for residents

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

HOLMES BEACH – There won’t be reduced stormwater fees on any Holmes Beach property owner’s trim notice in the fall.

Commissioners voted in December to raise the city’s stormwater fee to $2.95 per 100 square feet of lot space from the $1.50 per 100 square feet that property owners paid in 2019. After receiving some feedback from residents and owners with larger properties, including the Key Royale Club’s golf course management, commissioners committed to discussing whether or not to allow exceptions to the higher stormwater fees for certain property owners, such as churches, the golf course on Key Royale and low-income residents. That conversation ended during a Feb. 11 work session when commissioners decided that no exceptions to the stormwater fee will be given.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett presented commissioners with options, including giving low-income property owners and the golf club a break on the increased fee, decreasing it down to the current $1.50 fee. The issue, she said, is that by reducing the fee for some, it would mean the burden would have to be carried by other property owners and it would take longer to fund the repairs and replacements needed on the city’s failing infrastructure. Burnett said that even properties with their own stormwater infiltration systems and retention ponds are still a part of the problem creating flooding situations on the Island.

“Every inch of property on this Island, except Grassy Point, contributes to the problem,” she said. With higher than normal tides and heavier rainfall events, Burnett said the overdevelopment of the Island is creating too much strain on a failing system that’s outlived its useful years.

Commissioner Jim Kihm said that with a huge bill in front of city leaders for repairs and replacement, he felt the $2.95 stormwater rate already voted on should stand.

“We’re all in this together,” he said. “We’re all part of the problem. My feeling is that we all need to be part of the solution.”

While Kihm said he doesn’t like raising fees or taxes, funding has to be secured to fix the infrastructure problems.

“It costs something to live here,” he said.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he wasn’t in favor of lowering the $2.95 rate.

“I’m paying my fair share,” he said. “It’s worth the investment for the city to protect the future of what could become an inundated island.”

“You don’t want to walk out of your house into a pond,” Schaefer added.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that if commissioners agreed to go with the stormwater fee already voted on, she didn’t think there could be exceptions.

“Everybody gets the tax, everyone pays the same,” she said.

If the city is successful with the Bert Harris Act cases facing it, Soustek said she hoped the funds put in reserve for that can be used to help fund infrastructure improvements and lower the burden on property owners.

“It’s a burden on everybody, we all have to pay the price,” Kihm said.

Though there are no exceptions to the fee, property owners still have the option to appeal the fee. Appeals have to be submitted to the city clerk’s office in writing. Appeal forms are available at Holmes Beach City Hall.

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Skate park opens to cheers from local skaters

Skate park opens to cheers from local skaters

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

HOLMES BEACH – After months of anticipation and a lot of help from the community, the city’s new Community Skate Park finally opened Feb. 15.
A cheer went up from community members and local skaters as the ribbon was cut, officially opening the park to the public. Mayor Judy Titsworth said the park was being called the Community Skate Park because, without the community, she said the park couldn’t have been built. For the ribbon-cutting, she called up Island residents David Zaccagnino and Tom Sanger to join the city and Manatee County elected officials and staff. Zaccagnino worked with city leaders to help secure the $100,000 in donations necessary to build the bowl section of the skate park. Sanger not only helped to raise funds, materials and labor, he also stepped up to create the concrete skate path from the bowl to the promenade section of the skate park.
“Tom poured his heart and soul into this skate park,” Titsworth said, thanking him for his contributions.
To thank the many local community members and businesses who contributed to the skate park, a banner was placed on the fencing lining the back of the park identifying the dozens of contributors.
“Take a look at this banner and when you see these people out in the community, tell them ‘thank you,’ ” Tokajer said of the skate park’s donors.
Dozens of skaters of all ages came out and took to the new skate park, trying out the ramps, rails, quarter pipe and other obstacles, though one of the most popular attractions was the skate bowl, which was newly opened for public use. Skaters lined up for their chance to skate through the bowl.
When they needed a break, staff from Poppo’s Taqueria and The Beach Bistro were on hand with tacos and hotdogs. City staff handed out drinks, along with T-shirts and baseball caps commemorating the occasion. The team from West Coast Surf Shop brought along a new skateboard, which was won by Ben Rigney Jr.
“It’s a great day,” Commissioner Kim Rash said, looking out at all of the people gathered to celebrate community in Holmes Beach.

Some skaters attempted tricks, like this one who practically flew on the quarter pipe. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Some skaters attempted tricks, like this one who practically flew on the quarter pipe. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Master mind behind the new Community Skate Park, Tito Porrata of Pivot joins elected officials for a celebratory photo. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Master mind behind the new Community Skate Park, Tito Porrata of Pivot joins elected officials for a celebratory photo. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Skaters raised their boards in salute, joining community members and elected officials as the ribbon was cut, officially opening the Community Skate Park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Skaters raised their boards in salute, joining community members and elected officials as the ribbon was cut, officially opening the Community Skate Park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Some skaters attempted tricks on the many obstacles throughout the skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Some skaters attempted tricks on the many obstacles throughout the skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Skaters of all ages took to the new Community Skate Park in Holmes Beach during the grand opening party Feb. 15. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Skaters of all ages took to the new Community Skate Park in Holmes Beach during the grand opening party Feb. 15. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Commissioner Kim Rash, with his puppy Lucy, Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman, HBPD Officer Josh Fleischer, Commissioner Carol Soustek, Code Compliance Officer Nate Brown and City Treasurer Lori Hill hang out at the opening of the city’s new skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Commissioner Kim Rash, with his puppy Lucy, Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman, HBPD Officer Josh Fleischer, Commissioner Carol Soustek, Code Compliance Officer Nate Brown and City Treasurer Lori Hill hang out at the opening of the city’s new skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Vendors including Poppo’s Taqueria, West Coast Surf Shop and The Beach Bistro came out to support the opening of the new skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Vendors including Poppo’s Taqueria, West Coast Surf Shop and The Beach Bistro came out to support the opening of the new skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Skaters glided down rails and jumped obstacles on the promenade skate area. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Skaters glided down rails and jumped obstacles on the promenade skate area. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Some of the people responsible for helping to get the skate park built, including designer Tito Porrata of Pivot, HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer, Mayor Judy Titsworth, City Engineer Lynn Burnett, Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman and Tom Sanger of Sanger Pool and Spa, celebrate in the skate bowl. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Some of the people responsible for helping to get the skate park built, including designer Tito Porrata of Pivot, HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer, Mayor Judy Titsworth, City Engineer Lynn Burnett, Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman and Tom Sanger of Sanger Pool and Spa, celebrate in the skate bowl. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One of the most popular parts of the skate park was the one that almost wasn’t built. Skaters lined up for the chance to skate the park’s bowl. - Kristin Swain | Sun

One of the most popular parts of the skate park was the one that almost wasn’t built. Skaters lined up for the chance to skate the park’s bowl. - Kristin Swain | Sun

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Lighting up the neighborhood

Lighting up the neighborhood

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners are considering amending the city’s sign ordinance to allow hotels and motels in the A-1 residential area along the beach to have lighted signs – just not the kind that one hotel owner wants.

Attorney Stephen Thompson, representing the owners of the Anna Maria Beach Resort, appeared before commissioners during a January meeting to ask commissioners to consider changing the sign ordinance. His clients installed an interior lighted sign with an LED message board and a neon-lighted sign on the overhang at the entrance to the resort in mid-2019 with a building permit from then-Building Official Jim McGuinness.

City leaders realized the permit was issued in error because lighted signs aren’t allowed in the A-1 district where the resort is located, and revoked the permit, requiring the signs to be removed.

The matter went before the city’s special magistrate in September. The magistrate ruled that the signs could remain but they could not be lit and the LED message board should be removed.

Rather than remove the LED message board and keep the signs dark, Thompson submitted a draft ordinance amending the sign ordinance that would allow all commercial properties in the city to have lighted signs. While commissioners said they see the need for some sort of nighttime signage at the resorts for safety, they agreed they would not be looking at changing the sign ordinance citywide and any changes to the sign ordinance for the A-1 district wouldn’t involve bright lighted signs that would adversely affect the residents living nearby.

Mayor Judy Titsworth suggested only allowing a reasonably-sized painted wooden sign or similar sign that is lit externally by a single landscaping spotlight, in the same manner that other hotels in the district use for their signs. She said having signs lit in this manner would be visible to motorists and allow them to safely see where their hotel is and mark the entrance and exit to the property but not be bright enough to disturb residents at adjacent condominium properties and residential homes.

“It’s just to find the hotel,” she said of the signs.

City Planner Bill Brisson asked commissioners for time to research how many resort properties are in the A-1 district, if they have any lighted signs and what type of lighted signs might be best in the area given the number of residential properties. He said that he expects it will be March before he has a draft ordinance ready to put before commissioners for discussion. He added that he feels the resorts should be allowed to have some sort of illumination but that the owners should be sensitive to the surrounding residents. Another concern is how lighted signs on Gulf Drive will affect sea turtles during nesting season.

The one thing city staff and commissioners agreed on is that the draft ordinance submitted by Thompson won’t work.

“We have to start from scratch,” Building Official Neal Schwartz said of the ordinance changes. “There’s no way we’re letting commercial signage go in that district.”

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Community garden proposed for Holmes Beach

Community garden proposed for Holmes Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – The city’s Parks and Beautification Committee members are considering a new project – the possibility of installing a community garden.

Holmes Beach resident Mary Catherine Melancon and committee Chair Mary Lange presented the idea during a Feb. 5 committee meeting.

Melancon said the idea would be to have a community garden where people in the community could participate in growing vegetables, fruits and herbs in a social setting.

Lange said that while she would like the city to purchase the vacant lot located between Key Royale and Marina drives, she knows that might not be possible. Instead, Lange suggested identifying one or more areas in city parks that could be used for the community gardening project. After the meeting concluded, Lange and Melancon walked to Memorial Park, located adjacent to Holmes Beach City Hall, to see if there was enough flat, raised green space between the park and the Island Branch Library to place a few raised gardening beds as a pilot program. The two plan to report back to the committee in March after looking at other potential locations. The women also agreed to develop a presentation on the project and a cost estimate to present to city commissioners.

Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman said he thinks the idea is a good one, but that the project would need to be a spot where the large gardening beds could be placed, has access to irrigation, is safe for pedestrians to walk to and would have easy parking. Melancon added that there should be fencing or some kind of barrier to prevent people not a part of the gardening project from picking the produce.

If the committee opts to move the project forward, it will need approval from city commissioners before any construction on the gardening beds can begin.

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