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Tag: Anna Maria Island

License plate readers coming to Holmes Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – It’s official, a five-camera license plate recognition system is coming to the city, costing $105,240 for 5 years, not including $40 per month for wireless internet service to each camera.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer presented the quote for the system from Vetted Security Solutions LLC out of St. Petersburg for the Vigilant camera system. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the project but also said that outside of the monthly charge for wireless internet access, any costs over the $105,240 will have to come back before commissioners for approval. The approved agreements include the purchase and installation of the cameras and related system, software to run it and five years of maintenance for the entire system.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve a LPR system user agreement with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement that Tokajer will have to bring back before them annually for approval. The user agreement allows FDLE to access the LPR system’s records with cause in the event of a crime taking place on the Island or officers believing a suspect may have been on the Island before or after the crime was committed.

The LPR system reads everyone’s license plates, but it only sends an alert to officers in certain situations, such as a suspended driver’s license, the registration is more than a month or so out of date, the vehicle is stolen, or the owner has an outstanding warrant. Tokajer said police also will be able to pull the recordings from certain time periods to help solve crimes that occur on the Island.

“It’s a beneficial tool for law enforcement,” he said. “This system brings us up to date with current technology.”

Commissioner Jim Kihm said he would like to see reports regularly that show commissioners how the system is being used by police and how it’s helping to reduce crime in Holmes Beach.

Bradenton Beach commissioner deposed

Commissioner deposed regarding Sunshine lawsuit

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in First Place, Special Sections.

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioner Randy White has been deposed as part of the discovery process for the city-initiated 2017 lawsuit that alleges six city advisory board members violated the Sunshine Law.

White is not a defendant in the lawsuit and has not been accused of any wrong-doing in connection with the lawsuit filed before he took office in November 2017. White was the first non-defendant to be deposed in this lawsuit.

First Place

First Amendment Defense

Jon A. Roosenraad Award

2019

Representing the city of Bradenton Beach and co-plaintiff Jack Clarke, attorney Robert Watrous told White the Wednesday, Nov. 14, deposition would pertain only to events that transpired before he became a city commissioner. Paralegal Michael Barfield assisted Watrous with the deposition.

White was represented by attorney Hunter Norton. The deposition took place in the conference room at the Vincent M. Lucente & Associates court reporting services building in Bradenton.

Clarke attended the deposition. So did defendant Reed Mapes and his attorney, Jim Dye; defendant John Metz and his attorney, Thomas Shults; and defendants Tjet Martin, Patty Shay, Bill Vincent and Rose Vincent. All six defendants are former city advisory board members and former members of the now-defunct Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB) political action committee.

Former Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon and former city commissioner and CNOBB member Janie Robertson also attended the deposition.

The 2017 civil lawsuit alleges four Planning and Zoning Board members and two Scenic WAVES Committee members violated the Sunshine Law by discussing past and potential board business – including a prohibition on parking garages – via private email exchanges and during CNOBB meetings that were not properly-noticed city meetings.

The questions Watrous posed, the answers given and the documents reviewed during the deposition did not indicate any wrong-doing by White.

During the deposition, White confirmed that the handwritten notes he previously turned over to the city clerk’s office in June were written by him. City Attorney Ricinda Perry requested the notes White had on the dais with him during a commission meeting discussion regarding payment of an invoice from Watrous and a same-day discussion about four charter amendments proposed by Mapes, Metz and their Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee.

White has been the only commissioner to oppose payments to Watrous and the only commissioner to support KORN’s unsuccessful request to have its proposed charter amendments placed on the ballot for the recent city elections.

White said the notes he turned over in June were all written by him during his campaign and before he was elected.

Watrous asked White about his handwritten note that said, “Can I talk about CNOBB meetings and state for the record that you guys did not break any Sunshine laws that I witnessed in CNOBB meeting?”

White said that note was written in preparation for a candidate’s debate and as a response to a potential media questions.

“If it comes up, I will state for the record I personally believe they didn’t break any laws,” White said.

Watrous asked White if any concerns about Sunshine Law compliance were voiced at the CNOBB meetings he attended.

“The Sunshine Law was spoke of at the beginning of a meeting. I don’t think there was concern whether it was followed or not. I guess it was assumed it was followed. I didn’t know anything about it, I was just ‘John Q Public’ who showed up at these things,” White said.

Watrous asked White if he recalled any discussion about parking garages during CNOBB meetings.

“Yes, it was brought up,” White said.

White’s two-hour deposition and the emails received from him and others as part of the pre-trial discovery process also shed light on White’s relationships with the defendants, CNOBB and the support he received from them during his 2017 campaign.

“CNOBB was founded by people I know very well, people I’ve known for years,” White said.

He then acknowledged that some of those people were currently sitting in the conference room.

“It kind of started with Mayor Shearon and then I met the Vincents and went from there,” White said.

Related coverage

Sunshine lawsuit depositions continue

Mapes and Martin deposed in Sunshine lawsuit

Press conference sheds light on Sunshine lawsuit

Holmes Beach vrc presentation chief

Vacation rental changes on hold for now

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

HOLMES BEACH – It’s been a long, sometimes rough road for the city’s vacation rental certificate program and the code enforcement officers who oversee it since the program’s inception two years ago. Now with the first round of certificate renewals occurring, commissioners are re-evaluating the program.

On second reading, an amendment to the VRC program failed due to a list of questions and concerns voiced by Commissioner Jim Kihm that caused his fellow commissioners to agree to take the amendment back to a work session rather than vote to approve the suggested changes. The amendment will now be studied by commissioners in a work session before returning to regular meetings for two public hearings and votes before any changes can be enacted.

The decision came the same day that Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer hosted a stakeholder public forum for short-term rental owners and agents to come to learn about the proposed changes to the program and ask any questions. Now those changes may or may not materialize.

The primary reason for enacting the changes to the program was to give code enforcement officers the ability to immediately fine property owners for some violations of the certificate program including misleading advertising, renting for higher occupancy than allowed or for fewer days than permitted, and for not including the unit’s VRC number on advertising. With the program in its second year, Tokajer said the ticketing changes would help to reinforce the city’s stance on violating the program.

vrc delay lynn tran
Rental property owner Lynn Tran appeared before commissioners Nov. 13 during public comment to explain why the additional advertising requirements proposed in an update to the city’s vacation rental certificate program could be problematic for short-term rental owners and agents. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Rental owner Lynn Tran spoke to commissioners during public comment about the proposed changes to the program and how requiring property owners and agents to add more information to advertisements could become a hardship due to increased cost. She suggested finding a compromise between what the city wants and what’s considered reasonable for owners.

Though the changes to the VRC are going back to a work session for further review and discussion, commissioners did vote unanimously in favor of approving a contract with Host Compliance LLC in San Francisco for $30,600 to monitor rental advertisements for Holmes Beach properties online and alert police when a potential violation of the rental certificate program is noted. Sample violations include the advertised length of stay or occupancy and the lack of a VRC or business tax receipt number in the advertisement.

Once alerted of a potential violation, Tokajer said police would do their own investigation to determine if the property owner or agent is in violation of the VRC program and issue a citation, if necessary.

Castles in the Sand

Anticipating condo special assessments

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

Owning property is nothing short of waiting for the unexpected to happen. Whether you own a single-family home or live in a condominium community, you can be sure that eventually, you will have to make a major repair involving major money. The only difference is how those repairs will be funded.

When you own your own home and the roof needs to be replaced, it’s your financial responsibility. When you live in a condo community, it’s still your responsibility only it’s administered differently. Hopefully, your homeowners’ association will have anticipated major repairs and will have funded these and other expenses accordingly, however, if they didn’t, get ready for a special assessment.

Special assessments are designed so that condominium boards can pay for unanticipated expenses they don’t have the money for. These are one-time payments that can be a lump sum or spread out over a specified period of time. Once the purpose of these additional funds is met, the special assessment ends, and if there is money that was collected from the owners, it cannot be used for any other purpose and must be refunded.

Condo boards have the ability to pass a special assessment as they see fit without the majority vote of owners. Owners must, of course, be notified of a scheduled vote and the purpose of the assessment. Typically, owners know well in advance of an upcoming assessment since these matters are discussed in prior board meetings with the full knowledge of owners and a full explanation from the board of why this is necessary. Frequently boards will decide if it is more advantageous to borrow the money for the repairs and use the special assessment to repay the loan.

Another type of special assessment that many condo associations in Manatee County experienced last year was a special assessment for hurricane damage. Just like single-family homes, condo associations have a hurricane deductible as part of their insurance policies. If the association requires repairs after a hurricane, as many experienced with Irma, that are not covered because of the hurricane deductible, the owners will likely be billed for a special assessment to cover these repairs.

However, most homeowners’ insurance policies for condos have loss assessment coverage to reimburse owners for assessments levied on them for hurricane damage. Loss assessment coverage by Florida law is a minimum of $2,000, and some insurance companies have a $250 deductible from that amount.

It is particularly important for anyone who is considering the purchase of a condominium to inquire about the financials of the association. Ask if the association is fully funded, meaning that it has anticipated future repairs and is funding this amount from regular dues payments. If you have an accepted offer and contract on the purchase of a condo, you will be provided with the financials of the association and have time to understand how healthy the association is financially. Also, be sure to ask for a list of recent special assessments and their purpose. Naturally, older condo communities will face more maintenance issues, and you want to be sure that the board has recognized and planned for these events.

Expect the unexpected when you own any kind of property because for sure it will happen. Just because you own a condominium, don’t think that everything is automatically taken care of. It’s your responsibility before you purchase to understand and feel comfortable with the way funds are disbursed within a homeowners’ association.

More Castles in the Sand

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Real estate sales can require scary disclosures

Mullet fishing tournament Winner

Jeffries wins mullet tournament

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Environment, Fishing, Outdoors.

CORTEZ – Cortez resident Kenny Jeffries won the Fifth Annual Flippin’ Mullet Sports Bar Mullet Fishing Tournament at the Swordfish Grill in Cortez on Sunday, Nov. 18.

Jeffries was the overall tournament winner with a combined weight of 21.10 pounds for his five largest mullets. For this, he won a $100 Swordfish Grill gift card and $120 cash. He also won the largest fish award for his 4.88-pound mullet, which earned him another $100 Swordfish Grill gift card for catching the biggest fish.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Jeffries, a commercial fisherman from Cortez.

Jeffries fished with his friend, Brandon Ison.

In anticipation of mullet season soon kicking into high gear, Jeffries said, “We’re for the roe to grow in the fish so we can go out and get them.”

“Big Dan” Kennison finished second with a combined weight of 16.53 pounds of mullet. For this, he won a $50 gift card and a shirt.

The smallest fish of the day was 2.61 pounds, caught by Preston Rowden whose combined catch was 15.21 pounds. He won a hat and $20.

“It feels awesome that I’m even here, but next year I’m gonna take it all,” Rowden said.

The mullet were caught with cast nets.

The tournament was organized by Swordfish Grill manager Greg Koeper and bar manager Brandon Rolland.

Bobby Martin won the raffle prize that was a cooler filled with liquor bottles.

Some of the tournament proceeds will be donated to the local Fishing For Freedom chapter.

When addressing the crowd, General Manager Bob Slicker described mullet as a “super fish” because of its variety of uses. Patrons were treated to free samples of fried mullet, fried mullet roe and fried mullet gizzards during the awards ceremony.

After the contest, Slicker expounded on the virtues of mullet.

“It’s an exciting fish. People think mullet are bottom-feeders, but they aren’t, and they have gizzards, so they process their food much like a chicken does, which is unique for a fish. They sell the gizzards overseas and people love them,” he said. “Their meat is high in protein and they’re also looking at its medicinal uses.

“Mullet roe is selling in Italy for $110 to $180 an ounce. They smoke it and do a slight shaving at high-end restaurants. Mullet roe is so high in protein that you can’t eat a lot of it, but it’s a great, strong, smoky flavor, and it just takes a little bit. Cortezian mullet is known around the world as being the best.”

He said Cortez fisherman make $7 to $13 for a pound roe.

“We use the male fish as bait. We use the whole mullet and also sell it as chum,” Slicker added.

“It’s too early to tell” what impact the red tide might have on mullet season, he said. “It doesn’t look like there’s as many fish out there, but they’re as big as they’ve ever been. The ones that got trapped in the red tide died, but a lot of them moved. They’ve spotted the mullet in different spots where the red tide hasn’t been,” Slicker said.

Toy drive

The Swordfish Grill is currently doing a toy drive to assist those in the panhandle city of Port St. Joe who were impacted by Hurricane Michael.

“We brought up a bunch of donated items up there and found out they didn’t have Halloween candy so we got together and handed out 450 Halloween bags. When it comes to Christmas, we thought we’d continue the toy drive we started at the Stone Crab Festival. All month, if people bring toys here, we’ll get them up there,” he said.

reel time Clam Drop

Reel Time: Sarasota Bay Watch clams survive red tide

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

Sarasota Bay Watch (SBW) is excited that the clams they introduced into Sarasota Bay this past summer survived the recent red tide outbreak, an outbreak that included the highest concentrations of Karenia brevis ever recorded.

SBW originally focused its shellfish restoration efforts on scallops. Since it was formed in 2007, SBW has released over 21 million scallop larvae, and will continue its scallop restoration program.

Like bay scallops, southern hard clams (aka quahogs) were once abundant in our bays and waterways. Due to the same factors that affected scallops – overharvest, water pollution, sewage, dredge and fill and stormwater runoff – clams no longer thrive in local waters.

The decision to add clams to the restoration effort came about because of their ability to withstand red tide and their extended life cycle. Clams inhabit shallow flats and bays from Canada to Florida. They range in size from one to four inches wide and vary in color from gray to white. Depending on their size they are also known as cherrystone or littlenecks.

Unlike bay scallops, which have a maximum lifespan of 1.5 years and are sensitive to red tide, the southern hard clam lives up to 30 years and actually eats red tide, mitigating the harmful effects of the toxin.  An adult can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day. In the filtering process, they also absorb assorted viruses, toxins and bacteria in the polluted water. Low levels of pollutants do not harm clams, and they are able to clean themselves when the pollutants are removed.

Scallops also are a favorite food for many marine animals and suffer from predation throughout their short life cycle. Adult clams feature a thick protective shell that is virtually predator-free (except for human harvesting).

These facts convinced SBW to mobilize its experience and team of enthusiastic volunteers to clam restoration as well.  The program is now in full swing with plans to begin a fresh effort in 2019.  START (Solutions to Avoid Red Tide) generously provided seed funding to create a matching challenge, while community funding rose to the task as well.  These donations, along with a gift from the Disney Conservation Fund, provided the springboard to kick-start this effort.

This past Saturday, SBW did its fifth release in Sarasota Bay and provided clams to Mote scientist Jim Culter, who is documenting and monitoring the effort.  The organization continues to gain experience and was assisted by Eagle Gulf Coast Distributors, which provided a refrigerated truck to transport the clams from Pine Island where they are being grown out. SBW partner, Larry Beggs, of Reef Innovations, once again provided his barge to assist in the transportation and distribution of the clams to their new home in Sarasota Bay. The effort was launched from the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, a longtime conservation partner.

SBW is excited by the prospect of clams improving our bays and increasing water clarity, which will in turn support healthier and more abundant sea grass. In addition, these adult clams will naturally reproduce. This will increase their stocks in our bays and waterways.

Sarasota Bay Watch is a grass-roots, non-profit, citizen-based organization dedicated to preserving and restoring Sarasota Bay’s ecosystem through education and citizen participation. You can become an active participant by volunteering in Sarasota Bay Watch’s on-going effort to protect and restore this valuable natural resource. Visit their site to learn more.

More Reel Time

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Turtle kids

Young artists work to protect dunes

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Beach, Environment, Outdoors.

HOLMES BEACH – Student artists in Mary Miller’s fifth grade class at Anna Maria Elementary School will soon see their artwork on signs posted on Anna Maria Island beaches to educate people about why it’s important to stay off sand dunes.

The artists were treated to a reception on Thursday, Nov. 15 at the Waterline Marina Resort, where more than 50 of their masterpieces were on display.

Turtle kids
Signs like this soon will be installed at Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach to alert people to keep off the sand dunes. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Walking over dunes crushes native plants that hold the dunes together and erodes the dunes, which provide a barrier against storm-driven high tides, according to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, which provided funds for the project to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring.

Gulf Drive alongside Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach, where the first signs will be posted, is particularly susceptible to flooding, and is the hurricane evacuation route for Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach. Ropes and bollards protect the dunes there, but have not deterred all beachgoers from walking across them instead of using beach walkovers, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said.

With the theme of “Choose the right path,” the signs will illustrate why using walkovers is preferred, both for erosion control and for wildlife, like sea turtles, shorebirds and even beach mice.

The artwork will be enlarged to make about 60 18- by 24-inch signs. Signs will be available for beachfront vacation rental owners who would like to purchase them for $50 each to help educate visitors about the importance of not disturbing dunes. For more information, call Turtle Watch at 941-778-5638.

Holmes Beach mike norman rezone

Real estate office rezone approved

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

HOLMES BEACH – Despite some concerns from the public, city commissioners voted unanimously to allow an increase in intensity of use at the 3101 Gulf Drive office of Michael Norman Realty, rezoning the C-1 commercial property to a C-2.

As a C-1 commercial property, the location could primarily only house an office. With a C-2 designation, future generations of the Norman family may choose to turn it into a coffee shop, café, or retail space. The use of the building will be held back primarily by the lack of onsite parking and lack of space to expand the 1,200 square-foot building, according to city planner Bill Brisson.

Though a majority of planning commissioners voted that the rezoning project is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, the decision wasn’t reached without some serious discussion. Planning Commissioner Barbara Hines appeared at the Nov. 13 city commission meeting where the rezone was undergoing a final public hearing and vote to voice her concerns as a resident.

Hines said her concerns are that allowing an increase of intensity at the property will cause problems for an already clogged intersection at East Bay and Gulf drives. She also expressed concern that allowing more than an office in the spot could compromise the adjacent conservation lands which are a part of Grassy Point Preserve. Hines encouraged commissioners to deny the request for rezoning at this point and reconsider it when the property owner has plans for how to utilize the property.

Holmes Beach resident Robin Rouse, who owns a condo overlooking the property at 3100 Gulf Drive, said she’s concerned about the future of the real estate office and wants her neighborhood to remain “calmer and more quiet.”

Commissioner Rick Hurst questioned Brisson’s approval of the rezone, asking if he would still be comfortable with it if the property was turned into a Starbucks or other popular café.

Brisson said he doesn’t envision a company like Starbucks wanting the property because of its small size and few parking spaces. He did say that he’s comfortable with the location having some intensity of use and that any future use of the property would need to be approved by the sitting commission at the time the site plan request comes up, not now when no plans have been made. Right now, he said the property owner meets all of the requirements for the rezone which is all commissioners should consider.

“Everything else is a later decision,” he said.

“If the applicant meets the requirements for a rezone and it is consistent with the comprehensive plan it should be approved,” city attorney Patricia Petruff said. She didn’t recommend waiting for future plans to consider rezoning the property.

Planner Darenda Marvin, speaking on behalf of the property owner, said her clients have no plans to change the use of the building at this time, they just want options for future generations who may not want a real estate office or for the day that having a physical location is no longer needed.

“I see C-2 as a viable request and support it wholeheartedly,” Commissioner Judy Titsworth said just before the vote was cast in favor of the rezoning project.

Related Coverage

Planning commissioners consider commercial rezone

Egmont Key ruins in water

Egmont Key renourishment starting soon

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Beach, Environment, Outdoors.

EGMONT KEY – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is supplying the weapons in the only battle Fort Dade has ever seen – the one against erosion.

Historic Egmont Key is slated to receive sand to shore up what’s left of the 1899 fort when the Tampa Bay shipping channel is dredged for maintenance beginning this month.

The $10 million project should take about five months to complete.

Egmont’s beaches will not get the high-quality white beach sand recently collected from shoals to its north; that is being used to renourish Pinellas County beaches, according to Pinellas County spokeswoman Ashley Johnson.

Egmont Key, north of Anna Maria Island, will get the sand dredged from 17 miles of the Tampa Harbor Egmont and Mullet Key channel cuts, according to Susan Jackson, of the Corps’ Jacksonville corporate communications office.

The sand will be placed in the middle of Egmont Key’s west side, which faces the Gulf of Mexico, then the project will move to the north end of the island and make its way south, according to the project description.

The dredged material “can be beneficially placed on Egmont Key rather than at a dredge disposal site,” she said.

Nature preserve

The key is protected by both state and federal law as Egmont Key State Park and Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, and is a nesting ground for shorebirds and sea turtles, as well as a gopher tortoise preserve.

But the animals don’t seem to mind about the quality of the dredged sand, said Richard Sanchez, president of the Egmont Key Alliance, a citizens’ group working to restore and preserve the key.

Egmont has been renourished with dredged material from the shipping channel before, and sea turtles broke nesting records the last two years, with the 2018 season that ended on Oct. 31 producing 150 nests, he said.

Placing the sand in the early part of the winter season provides time for wave action on the beach to naturally sort the sand and silt, project biologist Aubree Hershorin said, adding, “This is important, because it ensures the beach is as suitable as possible for nesting sea turtles that will begin using the area in April.”

Erosion problem

Egmont Key was used by the U.S. Army to detain Seminole prisoners at the end of the third Seminole War in 1858, and was occupied by both Confederate and Union troops during the Civil War. It later became the site of Fort Dade, begun in 1899 to defend against Spanish attack during the Spanish-American War.

The fort, completed in 1906, served its defensive purpose so well that no battles were ever fought there.

But it has been losing the battle against the Gulf and its storms; parts of the fort are submerged.

The dredge project “will put another Band-Aid on it,” Sanchez said.

Erosion control geotubes installed on the north end of Egmont seem to be holding the Gulf at bay there, he said, although Hurricane Irma moved some of the sand off the north tip in 2017.

A $13 million Corps plan to control erosion and renourish Egmont Key has been in limbo for years, he said. Despite all the required agency approvals being in place, it’s hard to justify funds for a largely-uninhabited nature preserve when people need funds to rebuild from hurricanes, he said.

The island is a temporary home for the Tampa Bay Pilots who maintain living quarters at their docks, where pilot boats transport them to tankers entering and leaving Tampa Bay.

A lighthouse keeper also has quarters on the key. The working lighthouse dates to 1858, and replaced the original lighthouse built 10 years earlier. It is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard as an aid to navigation.

Egmont Key was named for John Perceval, the second Earl of Egmont and a member of the Irish House of Commons who died in 1770. The title “Earl of Egmont” died with the death of the childless Thomas Frederick Gerald Perceval, the 12th Earl of Egmont, in 2011.

The island has been the property of the U.S. Department of the Interior since 1974. Prior to that, it was owned by the U.S. Department of Defense, previously known as the U.S. Department of War. The key has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Related coverage

Erosion lands Egmont Key on preservation list

Under Egmont 1: History’s mysteries persist at Egmont Key

Under Egmont 2: Unearthing Egmont Key’s mysteries

Under Egmont 3: Found

Under Egmont 4: Egmont cemetery mysteries put to rest

Egmont Key gallery

Red tide forecast medium through Monday

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Outdoors, Red tide.

Medium levels of patchy red tide are predicted through at least Monday, Nov. 19 around Anna Maria Island, with high levels to the north and south of the Island, according to the University of South Florida/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides.

The Nov. 16 FWC report shows medium concentrations of red tide in water samples collected on Nov. 13 in the Gulf of Mexico at Longboat Pass boat ramp in Sarasota Bay, Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach, the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria, School Key and Mead Point in lower Tampa Bay and at the Palma Sola Bay bridge.

Fish kills also were reported in Manatee County over the past week.

Background concentrations of red tide cause no anticipated effects. Low levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and possible fish kills. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures and probable fish kills. High levels can cause all of the above, plus water discoloration.

Red tide is a type of algae that emits a neurotoxin when it blooms. Deadly to fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and shorebirds that feed on affected fish, red tide makes shellfish unfit to eat, and can cause respiratory irritation in people, especially those with asthma, COPD or other respiratory diseases.

The toxic algae bloom has been spreading in the southwest Gulf of Mexico for the past year, reaching Anna Maria Island in early August. It was detected in Florida’s east coast waters in October.

holmes beach planning thank you

Planning commissioners consider commercial rezone

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

HOLMES BEACH – What started out as a potentially simple commercial rezoning request for an office building currently owned and occupied by Mike Norman Realty was a hard sell for some planning commissioners.

Tasked with determining whether or not a request to change the commercial zoning of the property is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, planning commissioners found themselves divided on the issue. Currently, the 1,200 square-foot building is zoned C-1, which allows only for offices in the space.

The owners at Mike Norman Realty requested a rezone to C-2, which would allow a retail establishment or small café to open up shop in the space. City planner Bill Brisson said the size of the business and any increases in size to the existing structure would be severely hampered by lot coverage requirements and the small amount of on-site parking available. Some planning commissioners worried about allowing an increase in intensity of use in the space because it’s bordered partly by conservation lands included in Grassy Point Preserve.

Planning Commissioner Jayne Christenson said she feels the property is more consistent with being claimed as conservation land and a part of the preserve, not as a continuation of the commercial space on two sides of the property.

Planning Commissioner Scott Boyd, a former city planner, argued that from a pure planning perspective, the real estate office property appears to be a case of spot zoning and should be allowed to expand its commercial business options for future use.

“There’s no need to change it until they tell us why they want to do it,” Christenson said.

Planner Darenda Marvin, speaking on behalf of the property owners, said that the request for a rezone is to allow for different future uses of the property if it was determined at some point that the realty company didn’t need to maintain a physical office or future generations of the family want to use the property for another purpose. She said currently there is no plan to close the realty office.

“I think this is a terrible idea,” Planning Commissioner Barbara Hines said. “If it was consistent, we wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. If this motion passes I feel it would be a shameful day for Holmes Beach and this commission.”

“We all worry about what may happen in the future,” Chair Charles Stealey said. “Everyone has rights.”

The matter moves back before city commissioners for a final public hearing and vote Nov. 13.

Bradenton Beach day dock located

Digital trail leads to undelivered day dock

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials have found the undelivered floating day dock and are now cautiously optimistic the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) dock project will be completed.

Police Chief Sam Speciale and CRA chair Ralph Cole found the aluminum-framed dock decking in Gibsonton on Thursday, Nov. 8. This happened one day after the CRA members directed Speciale to use his investigative resources to try to find the undelivered dock sections.

Eight 30-foot aluminum-framed sections of composite dock decking were manufactured in Spain and delivered to Port Everglades in mid-August. On Sept. 25, Technomarine CEO Erik Sanderson sent Speciale an email that said the docks were delivered to a storage yard in Tampa. Sanderson’s email included two photographs of the decking at its undisclosed location and no information on a subcontractor to install the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier.

During the Wednesday, Nov. 7, CRA meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry noted 10 days had passed since she sent Sanderson and his attorney, Roger Stanton, a letter notifying them the CRA was declaring Technomarine in default of the $119,980 contract agreed to in early 2017.

Perry’s letter gave Technomarine an additional 20 days to cure the contractual concerns before the CRA pursued legal action and/or asked the Florida Attorney General’s Office to investigate Technomarine’s business practices. Sanderson and Technomarine are already named as defendants in multiple lawsuits, including a 2017 suit that resulted in a jury awarding a yet-to-be-paid $1.7 million judgment against Technomarine.

Following a digital trail

During last week’s meeting, some CRA members seemed resigned to the idea that the dock project might be dead in the water and need to be started again from scratch. But member Jake Spooner said he could not accept losing the money, $83,682, the CRA already paid Technomarine.

During public comment, it was suggested that before giving up and pursuing the alternatives, Speciale be asked to call all the marine storage yards in the Tampa area in hopes of finding the undelivered dock components.

Local contractor and marine contractor Billy Cahoon then told The Sun he might know where the dock sections were, based on a photograph he saw in the paper. While the meeting continued, Cahoon was shown the photo Sanderson sent Speciale. Because of the building in the background, Cahoon thought it might have been taken near the Gandy Bridge in Tampa, by Orion Marine Construction and the Hula Bay Club.

City Treasurer Shayne Thompson suggested checking the photograph’s metadata and digital properties for information on where it was taken. The metadata included the longitude and latitude where the photo was taken, which is not always the case with digital photographs.

Using Google Earth, City Planner Alan Garrett retreated to his office and looked up the general longitude and latitude coordinates. Speciale then returned to his own office to research the exact GPS coordinates.

Using Google Earth, Speciale determined the longitude and latitude coordinates were slightly to the east and on the other side of Tampa Bay. When he zoomed in on the exact longitude and latitude, Speciale saw a white cabin cruiser sitting in an outdoor storage yard. When he rotated the view, he saw a building across the street that resembled the building in the photo Sanderson sent him.

That building is home to StorSafeStorage and using that address Speciale and CRA chair Ralph Cole drove to Gibsonton Thursday morning. They found the dock sections across the street sitting next to the cabin cruiser on the grounds of the Hecker Construction Company.

An employee told Speciale the dock sections were delivered two months ago and Hecker Construction has a verbal agreement with Technomarine to install the dock in Bradenton Beach.

While standing next to the dock sections, Speciale called The Sun and said, “We found our dock. We’re standing in front of it and touching it.”

In response to an email Speciale sent Sanderson later that day, Technomarine project manager Vinnie Frega confirmed the storage location – not knowing Speciale had already found it. In another email, Sanderson told Speciale the cleats and other hardware were still at Technomarine’s warehouse in North Palm Beach. Speciale is still awaiting word on where the dock’s pontoon floats are located.

“It was good to see the dock. It’s in good shape. Now we have to go the next step and get it, and I think we will,” Cole said.

Speciale said he’s feeling “cautiously optimistic.”

Perry will prepare for CRA approval a release agreement that if accepted would relieve Technomarine of its remaining contractual obligations. The agreement would assure Sanderson and Technomarine that no additional legal or investigative remedies would be pursued if the dock materials and additional hardware are released to the CRA. Hecker Construction could then install the floating dock as planned, working directly with the CRA.

Related Coverage

CRA declaring Technomarine in default of dock contract

Proof of pending dock shipment received

Day dock project pushed back again

Center fall youth soccer

Planet Stone, Bins Be Clean, Sato Real Estate on top

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

In the final week of the youth soccer regular season, Planet Stone finished in first place for the youngsters making up the eight- to 10-year-old league. Bins Be Clean found them on top for the 11- to 13-year-old league.

Both teams clinched a spot in the championship match on Wed., Nov. 14. Neither will know who their opponents will be until the semifinal play is completed at the 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. games that same night.

Planet Stone went head-to-head against Ugly Grouper last Tuesday night to start the evening’s action.

Ugly Grouper’s Cale Rudacille scored the only goal of the first game of the night for the eight- to 10-year-old youth soccer league in their victory against number one ranked Planet Stone.

Planet Stone stayed on the field for the week’s second game against Progressive Cabinetry. Despite having just played the previous game, the Planet Stone team still showed fire in its boots, taking the win with a goal at the 23rd minutes of the play by Ava Harlan. Just 36 seconds later the top team put the ball in the net for the second and final goal of the game.

In the older age group, Bins Be Clean finished the season with a loss and a tie, but its strong season play kept the team at the top of the rankings. Wash Family Construction, which finished second in the regular season, completed its night with a victory over Bins Be Clean.

The men and women who make up the co-ed adult soccer league finished their fourth game of the season last Thursday night, leading them into the second half of the regular season.

The three weeks of play prior saw tough competition and close scores among the teams. Week four was four blowout games, with players missing and mismatches.

Sato Real Estate showed its dominance on the pitch against Jiffy Lube with a 7-2 win, putting it neck and neck with Eason Builders.

Eason Builders, in the last game of the night, handed Ross Built Construction its fourth loss of the season finishing six goals ahead. Ross Built goes into the fifth game versus Lancaster Design looking for its first win.

Lancaster Design, a team once on top with Sato Real Estate, fell to third place with a loss against AMI Locals with the score 3-8.

The 8 p.m. game had Moss Builders facing Slim’s Place. At the end of 46 minutes of play, Moss Builders gained its second win of the season. Like Ross Built Construction, Slim’s Place looks forward to its first W next week.

All eight teams push forward toward the final games of the season in December, with the Paul “Ace” Hayward Cup championship game on Dec. 20.

Related Coverage

Little cleats, lots of fun

Champions Sato Real Estate starts season strong

Jiffy Lube slips by Ross Built for the win

Castles in the Sand

So, you want to be a real estate investor

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

There’s only one thing trickier than real estate investing and that’s – well come to think of it there isn’t anything trickier. When it comes to navigating the ins and outs of real estate investing there is so much to learn that pulling a rabbit out of a hat seems like child’s play.

There is a saying that true real estate wealth is based on cash flow and that’s what investors, especially first-time investors, should aim for. Generating cash flow in a good, stable rental is more dependable than counting on a quick flip and appreciation.

If you’re purchasing a property that needs work first determine if the improvements are for the purpose of renting or flipping. Obviously, rental property can be improved with simpler and lower end finishes. If you are buying to resell, check out comparable properties for sale in the area and see what type of finishes are being offered.

The three most important factors when purchasing investment property is the cost to buy, the cost of improvements and how much you can sell or rent for after you renovate. Essentially, don’t over improve.

Determine the existing leases in place for rental properties and how that works for you. Go to the city departments to make sure there are not any road changes or new developments that can decrease the value of the property down the road.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Finding someone you trust could be the difference between a successful purchase and a disaster. Interview property managers and real estate agents who are active in the area, but don’t use their input to make a final decision.

Be realistic when calculating your financials and value your personal time in maintenance and paperwork. There are always unforeseen costs when tackling a renovation – taxes and loss of a tenant or a sudden downturn in the market can really set you back. Also, be careful when screening tenants. Do a credit check and get references, if necessary. Start small and make sure you can pay the mortgage on your investment should you find yourself in that position.

Careful with neighborhoods that are transforming, it may or may not happen. Learn the market as thoroughly as you can but it may be best to leave the more exotic purchases to experienced investors who can tolerate a downturn.

Set a targeted budget for your purchase and don’t get off track. Remember this is a business, don’t let your emotions rule your good sense. Education is the best way to keep emotions in check. Probably the most important thing and the one that first-time investors always forget is to stick to your principles and don’t overbid to prove you know what you’re doing. Know when to pass and keep searching without any emotional attachment to what you lost.

All real estate is local and that may be the best advice, especially for a new investor. Again, don’t make your decision based on the home you would like to live in and forget about the potential for profit. It’s easy to confuse where you would live personally to where you should invest.

There’s no real trick to becoming a real estate investor, no rabbits to pull out of a hat and no ladies to be cut in half. The real trick is pretty straightforward: know the market and don’t let emotions get in the way. Good Luck.

More Castles in the Sand:

Before you sell, become a home historian

Real estate sales can require scary disclosures

Florence – another wake-up call

Veterans Day parade honors military

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

The city of Anna Maria honored active military service men and women along with our veterans during a moving Veterans Day flag ceremony held at City Pier Park on Monday.

Music for the event was provided by the Pine Park Quartet and members of the United States Marine Corps.

The day’s events kicked off with the Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade. Following the flag ceremony, an ice cream social was hosted by the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and sponsored in part by Dips Ice Cream Shop and the Roser Food Pantry.

- Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

The Lakewood Ranch drumline. - Kristin Swain | Sun

The Lakewood Ranch drumline. - Kristin Swain | Sun

The Manatee High School marching band is decked out in their patriotic best as they play during the Veterans Day parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

The Manatee High School marching band is decked out in their patriotic best as they play during the Veterans Day parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

Some of our Island military veterans, including Sun reporter Tom Vaught, took to the street to march down Pine Avenue in the Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Some of our Island military veterans, including Sun reporter Tom Vaught, took to the street to march down Pine Avenue in the Old Soldiers and Sailors Veterans Day Parade. - Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

- Kristin Swain | Sun

Southeast High School marching band. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Southeast High School marching band. - Kristin Swain | Sun

Local veterans stand to be recognized for their military service as the Pine Park Quartet sings the final verse of “Veterans Hallelujah.” - Kristin Swain | Sun

Local veterans stand to be recognized for their military service as the Pine Park Quartet sings the final verse of “Veterans Hallelujah.” - Kristin Swain | Sun

A Marine Corps honor guard at the start of a flag ceremony honoring veterans at City Pier Park in Anna Maria. - Kristin Swain | Sun

A Marine Corps honor guard at the start of a flag ceremony honoring veterans at City Pier Park in Anna Maria. - Kristin Swain | Sun