BRADENTON BEACH – Damage to the Bradenton Beach Pier and floating docks caused by boats during Hurricane Idalia on Aug. 30 was the focus of the Sept. 7 city commission meeting.
Images of the damage reviewed at the meeting showed missing and broken boards and a large boat against the docks.
“I am very disappointed it was the vessels that caused this damage. They did not secure themselves properly or move away from this,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. “In talking with Steve Porter (from Duncan Seawall) he said we would not be facing this if not for the boats.”
Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby described the causes of the damage to the pier and floating docks.
“One boat broke loose and rammed into the others and broke them loose,” he said. “They were secured fine and it was a domino effect. It was a sailboat that broke loose and knocked the rest out of the way.”
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked if boat owners were responsible for the damage and Chappie said the city will be looking into whether or not the boat owners have insurance.
“There will be accountability to individuals that are not following the rules and not tying their boats down the way they should be or trying to find a safer port instead of just leaving it out there in the open seas at the north end of Sarasota Bay,” Chappie said.
“The city is going to do what it can do to hold people responsible for this kind of damage,” Perry said.
Cosby reminded the commission that the pier itself is uninsurable because it’s over water. The city is self-insured for the structure.
Commissioner Ralph Cole made a motion to issue a work assignment to Duncan Seawall for all repairs to the pier and floating dock in the amount of $42,225 to be paid from the 2022-23 city budget, and to authorize Cosby and Perry to work toward future reimbursement from FEMA or any other agency.
The motion passed unanimously.
The repair work is expected to be completed within a week or two.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Much of Anna Maria Island experienced storm surge and king tide-related flooding, but the barrier island survived Hurricane Idalia mostly unscathed.
During the evening hours of Tuesday, Aug. 29 and the overnight and the early hours of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Idalia passed by Anna Maria Island as a category 3 storm, far enough to the west to spare the Island from the worst of its wind damage and storm surge.
On the Island, the hurricane produced significant flooding but minimal structural damage, electrical outages or disruptions of the water and sewer services provided by Manatee County.
The storm produced no Island fatalities or reported injuries.
The plywood used to protect Hurricane Hanks in Holmes Beach was previously used during Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Ian. – Joe Hendricks | SunA hurricane party broke out at Slim’s Place in Anna Maria Tuesday afternoon. – Charlie Trygg | Submitted
A drive around the Island early Tuesday evening before the hurricane arrived indicated most residents and visitors had already evacuated or retreated to the safety of their homes and almost all Island businesses were closed. A hurricane party was unfolding at Slim’s Place in Anna Maria and folks were also still enjoying libations at the Sports Lounge in Bradenton Beach.
Storm unfolds
While the storm unfolded Tuesday night, many Island residents shared information at the Island Ratz Unite Facebook page and elsewhere on the social media platform. The Tuesday evening posts included notice of a structural fire in Holmes Beach, limited power outages and rising floodwaters.
The Bradenton Police Department posted a Facebook notice stating the Palma Sola Causeway was closed due to high water flooding one of the three roadways that lead to the Island.
Bradenton Beach police officer Tom Ferrara cautioned people not to drive on Gulf Drive during the unfolding hurricane. – Tom Ferrara | Submitted
Early Wednesday morning, well before daylight, Bradenton Beach Police Officer Tom Ferrara posted this information: “Please stay off Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach. It’s impassable and very dangerous.”
Police officer Tom Ferrara witnessed the street flooding as it occurred in Bradenton Beach early Wednesday morning. – Tom Ferrara | Submitted
At 4:25 a.m., Lexi DeLeon posted the following information: “Thigh-high flooding through Bradenton Beach. Waves are crashing at beach entrances and flooding out to Gulf Drive. Both bridges are closed.”
The morning after
The Sun’s attempted trip to the Island at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning ended at the foot of the Cortez Bridge, where Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies blocked access to the Island while Bradenton Beach officials assessed the storm damage.
Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies restricted access to the Cortez Bridge Wednesday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Nearby in Cortez, Tide Tables restaurant co-owner Bobby Woodson and others watched the water rising over the docks and seawall and creeping up against the restaurant building. Woodson said the restaurant equipment was removed before the storm and even if some minimal interior flooding occurred, he expected to reopen on Friday.
Rising water from the Intracoastal Waterway made its way toward the Tide Tables restaurant in Cortez. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The rising waters also spilled over into the adjacent Cortez Park mobile home park, and all the side streets south of Cortez Road in Cortez were flooded.
The Cortez Park mobile home park was partially flooded Wednesday morning. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe side streets along Cortez Road were flooded. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
A subsequent trip to Manatee Avenue ended east of the causeway, where officers from the Bradenton Police Department blocked access to the roadway leading to the center of the Island. An officer there said return access to the Island was not expected until 2 p.m. or later, after the mid-day king tide subsided.
Officers from the Bradenton Police Department restricted Island access via Manatee Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After an afternoon conference call with the three Island mayors and others, the Holmes Beach Police Department posted on its Facebook page that return access to the city would begin at 4:30 p.m., with no re-entry tags or proof of residency or business interests required.
Before the bridge reopenings were announced, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We still have some flooding. The water is receding and Gulf Drive receded much quicker than Marina Drive. We’re hoping that within the next couple hours, it recedes enough so you can discern the difference between the roadway and the ditches.
“The city did well but I think we’re going to see some water damage because the roadways were inundated with high water. I think we had a surge of at least 6 to 7 feet,” he added.
Regarding the fire, he said, “A power line went down on a shed. The shed caught fire, then the fence next to the house caught fire and the house next to the fence caught fire. After FPL shut off the power grid, they (the fire department) quickly knocked down the fire,” Tokajer said.
Tokajer said power outages and downed power lines were minimal and he wasn’t aware of any fallen trees.
When contacted before the Cortez Bridge reopened, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said, “We had a lot of water and it just wasn’t safe for people to come back yet. The main road is open and the water’s gone down on the secondary roads that are passable now.
“Every street in Bradenton Beach was under a minimum of 2 feet of water, and closer to 3 or 4 feet in some places, including the avenues at the north end of the city. The Gulf flowed over to the bay and that has not happened since the ‘Storm of the Century’ in 1993. It pushed a lot of sand onto Gulf Drive and we needed extra time for Public Works to get the sand off the road to make it passable, which they accomplished in record time. Kudos to them,” Cosby said.
“Bridge Street itself flooded and we had some water intrusion, but I won’t know where until the owners get back. The pier has some damage and we’ve got some boats tied to the pier. Some of the new finger docks may have separated from their connections to the floating dock and we’ll do a full assessment tomorrow,” Cosby said.
Cosby said the Longboat Pass Bridge that leads to Longboat Key at the south end of the city would remain closed until further notice Wednesday evening.
When contacted Wednesday afternoon, before the bridges reopened, Sgt. Brett Getman said, “We’re still flooded down here. The water on North Bay is pretty deep. When the bridges open, we’ll be restricting access to residents and business owners. The city fared well. We didn’t lose electricity and there’s not a lot of wind damage. It’s mostly flood damage.”
Back on the Island
The Sun was part of the first wave of people returning to the Island on Wednesday afternoon via the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue. Gulf Drive was dry but motorists encountered several inches of standing water on Marina Drive near Keyes Marina, the Island Branch Library and Holmes Beach City Hall. Gulf Drive was free of any significant standing water, but some of the residential streets between Marina Drive and Gulf Drive remained flooded.
Returning and departing motorists encountered remaining floodwater along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. – Joe Hendricks | SunStanding water remained near the 61st Street/Holmes Boulevard intersection late Wednesday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At the entrance to Anna Maria, near CrossPointe Fellowship, sheriff’s deputies asked motorists to provide reentry tags, proof of residency or proof of business intentions and those unable to provide that information were turned away.
Sheriff’s deputies restricted vehicular access to Anna Maria after the Island bridges reopened. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Nearby, a crew from Manatee County worked to unplug a plugged sewer line.
A portion of Magnolia Avenue, near Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café, was flooded and a safety barricade remained in place. A portion of North Shore Drive near Linda Lane was flooded and remained impassable for some motorists. Around the corner, Jacaranda Road was flooded and remained impassable for some motorists.
Magnolia Avenue, near Ginny’s and Jane E’s, was one of several Anna Maria streets that flooded. – Joe Hendricks | SunNorth Shore Drive in Anna Maria was flooded near Linda Lane. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe flooding on North Shore Drive extended to nearby residential structures. – Joe Hendricks | SunJacaranda Road in Anna Maria experienced significant flooding. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Near the City Pier, a barricade blocked one lane of North Bay Boulevard atop the humpback bridge and the roadway north of the bridge was severely flooded, as were several adjacent side streets.
North Bay Boulevard remained submerged as of Wednesday evening. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
By early Wednesday evening, much of the flooding in Bradenton Beach had subsided. The most visible storm damage was seen at the T-end of the Bradenton Beach Pier. A cabin cruiser anchored south of the pier broke loose during the storm, crashed into the pier and shattered a portion of the wooden pier railing.
The railing at the T-end of the Bradenton Beach pier was damaged by a careening cabin cruiser that broke free during the storm. – Joe Hendricks | SunFive live-aboard boats were tied to the Bradenton Beach Pier and the floating dock Wednesday evening. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Another cabin cruiser that broke free during the storm was tied up to the pier with its motor running, joined by another large sailboat. Two more sailboats that broke free were tied to the new finger docks connected to the floating public dock.
On Bridge Street, the Drift In bar was the first Island business to reopen that evening.
Final thoughts
When contacted Thursday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the storm surge and high tide reached a maximum height of approximately 4 feet in some locations.
South Bay Boulevard, near The Waterfront Restaurant in Anna Maria, was completely underwater on Wednesday. – MCSO | SubmittedSome Anna Maria beaches experienced significant hurricane-related erosion. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The biggest issue we’ve had to deal with in the city has been flooding; and secondly, debris on the streets, including sand. We lost nearly 50 yards of beach in some locations, maybe more in others. It’ll take us a while to get the city back to normal. We’ve had crews and contractors out pumping and clearing the streets. County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Jason Bearden toured our city this morning and promised us whatever help we need to bring our city back to a state of normalcy,” Murphy said.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) expects to receive $635,677 in ad valorem property tax revenues during the 2023-24 fiscal year.
City Treasurer Shayne Thompson presented the projected CRA revenues and expenses to CRA board members during the July 18 budget meeting that marked the beginning of the board’s annual budgeting process. Further discussion and decision-making will occur at a future budget meeting before the proposed CRA budget is formally adopted in September.
The city of Bradenton Beach has the only CRA on Anna Maria Island. The property tax revenues the CRA receives are a portion of the property tax revenues collected from residential and commercial property owners in the CRA district that extends from the Cortez Bridge to the southernmost residential property lines along Fifth Street South.
Each year, the CRA also receives a state-mandated transfer of funds from the city’s general fund. For the coming fiscal year, the city will transfer $142,516 from the general fund to the separately controlled CRA fund. The proposed CRA revenues also include $3,000 in interest income, giving the CRA $781,193 in total anticipated revenues for the 2023-24 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. Approximately $300,000 from the current fiscal year budget will be carried over into the new fiscal year, giving the CRA approximately $1.1 million to work with for the year. According to Thompson, the CRA has an estimated $711,839 in unallocated funds to spend on projects and improvements within the CRA district.
The proposed budget includes $121,100 in general CRA-related operational expenses and an additional $5,000 for administrative services provided by city staff.
The proposed budget includes $100,769 for the CRA-funded additional policing of the CRA district. This entails patrolling Bridge Street during peak hours and using the police boat to police the liveaboard boats and boaters in the unmanaged anchorage south of the Bradenton Beach Pier. CRA police funding will increase by $17,125 compared to last year.
Police Chief John Cosby said he’s adding Wednesday evenings to the CRA-funded policing that already occurs on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Cosby said Wednesdays have become another busy night on Bridge Street, in part because the AMI Moose Lodge attracts hundreds of people to the area during its Wednesday evening Queen of Hearts drawings.
The proposed budget includes $84,500 for CRA-related salaries and wages for the Public Works personnel who maintain, clean and service the CRA district. During Tuesday’s meeting, CRA member John Chappie said he’d like to discuss increasing that amount at the next budget meeting. Chappie would also like further discussion on once again giving bonuses to city staff members who significantly assist the CRA.
CRA projects
In recent years, the Bradenton Beach CRA has funded several projects to enhance and improve the district for visitors, residents and business owners, including the floating dock expansion project next to the pier that included 13 new finger docks (with 50% matching funds provided by Manatee County), undergrounding most of the utility lines in the CRA district and partially funding the Old Town Tram parking tram shuttle service.
The expanded floating dock funded by the CRA and Manatee County features 13 new finger docks that provide more public dockage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Smaller-scale CRA-funded pursuits include park improvements, holiday decorations, signs, landscaping and beautification projects, bike racks and financial support for special events.
Undergrounding utility lines has been a CRA priority in recent years and these lines and poles are expected to be removed later this year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The preliminary budget worksheet Thompson presented for the coming fiscal year lists $72,000 in anticipated CRA-funded projects and capital improvements, $52,000 for Old Town Tram operations and $20,000 for seagrass mitigation required for a previously completed CRA-funded dredging of the navigational canal between the Bradenton Beach Pier and Leffis Key. Thompson said the seagrass mitigation expenses might be more than currently budgeted.
Thompson noted the CRA spent about $10,000 more than it budgeted for the current fiscal year and advised CRA members to hold back $20,000 to $25,000 to cover any unexpected costs, including project costs that run higher than expected. Thompson advised the CRA members to create a list of desired projects for the coming year and task the appropriate staff members to get estimated costs for the proposed projects.
“If there’s something you want to do, add some dollars for it,” Thompson said.
At Chappie’s suggestion, CRA members agreed to include in the budget $30,000 for beautification/facade grants that were previously budgeted for but never used. Chappie said he’s talked to a couple of property owners who have expressed interest in pursuing the grants that would require them to match the funds received from the CRA.
CRA Chair Ralph Cole said he’d like to allocate some money to enhance and possibly widen the walkways that lead to the CRA district.
CRA member David Bell suggested setting aside $200,000 each year for the next five years to purchase small slices of property for CRA enhancements, but that suggestion didn’t garner much support.
The CRA members will better define their list of proposed projects during their next budget meeting.
The city commission and CRA members have expressed support for a paid parking program that would include some or all of the city-owned parking spaces in the CRA district, but the proposed CRA budget doesn’t currently include any anticipated paid parking revenues or expenses. There are still details that need to be worked out before a request for proposals can be issued seeking bids from potential paid parking program vendors.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) is getting closer to completing several improvements sought for its Bradenton Beach Pier-based restaurant operations.
On July 20, the Bradenton Beach City Commission approved the request made by the AMOB ownership group, We’re Back Inc., to remove and replace several sabal palm and black olive trees currently located in the city-owned pier parking lot.
The AMOB ownership group had hoped to replace the existing trees with taller maypan coconut palm trees, but due to liability concerns, the city commission stipulated no trees from which coconuts could drop are allowed in the public parking lot at the foot of the pier. The commission also stipulated the removed trees must be replanted or replaced in other locations on a one-to-one basis.
This crab trap-themed fence in south Florida inspired the decorative fence desired by the AMOB ownership group. – We’re Back Inc. | Submitted
Building Official Steve Gilbert said the installation of a decorative crab trap-themed fence that will replace the existing chain link fence between the city-owned parking lot and the Pines Trailer Park remains on hold until the fire marshal reviews and approves the potential fire risk posed by the wooden crab trap fence facade.
AMOB’s crab trap-themed fence will replace the existing chain link fence between the parking lot and the Pines Trailer Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) previously agreed to contribute $30,000 toward the $60,000 fence installation. The CRA anticipates recouping $15,000 of that contribution from Manatee County as part of the recently completed floating dock expansion project for which the county is providing 50% in matching funds for the total project costs.
Gilbert also said he still needs to review the diagrams needed to issue a conditional use permit previously approved by the city commission. The conditional use permit will allow alcoholic beverages purchased from AMOB to be consumed only on the pier, where alcoholic beverages have historically been prohibited.
The new to-go food kiosk and service bar are ready to go, but were not yet in operation. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The commission-approved to-go food kiosk and service bar recently installed in an adjacent auxiliary building that AMOB leases from the city is ready for use but was not yet in operation at week’s end.
Three umbrella-covered tables are now in place alongside the pier entrance railing. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Three new umbrella-covered tables have been temporarily installed along the pier entrance railing south of the main restaurant building. Those tables will eventually be replaced by permanent tiki hut-covered tables.
AMOB CEO John Horne told The Sun he planned to meet with Mayor John Chappie on Monday, July 24 to further discuss AMOB’s desired improvements and implementation timelines.
ANNA MARIA – Manatee County’s two newly-built water taxis have arrived and negotiations continue between the county and the city of Anna Maria regarding the City Pier being used as a water taxi stop.
On July 13, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione issued a press release regarding the arrival of the two newly-built pontoon catamarans that will serve as the Gulf Island Ferry Service fleet.
“The two 50-foot catamarans, as part of the highly anticipated Gulf Island Ferry Service, have splashed down in Cortez. The water ferry service is set to transport visitors and locals between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. The service is anticipated to launch later this summer,” according to the press release.
The new water taxis were placed in the water at the N.E. Taylor Boatworks in Cortez. – Manatee County | Submitted
“We anticipate families parking in downtown Bradenton, hopping on the ferry at the downtown port located just off the riverwalk near Green Bridge and enjoying a beautiful boat ride out to the Island. At the same time, visitors staying on the Island can enjoy a leisure boat ride to downtown Bradenton to enjoy our amazing restaurants and attractions located on the mainland,” Falcione said in the press release.
This map illustrates the proposed water taxi stops. – Manatee County | Submitted
Traveling on the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway, the Clearwater-based Gulf Island Water Taxi company will operate the Gulf Island Ferry Service. The family-owned parent company, Clearwater Ferry, already runs a water taxi service between Clearwater and Dunedin. The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is part of Manatee County government, is marketing the water taxi service.
Initially operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the county-funded service will include water taxi stops at the city of Bradenton-owned Riverwalk Day Dock near the Green Bridge in downtown Bradenton, the city-owned floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier and the county-owned Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach, across the street from Coquina Beach.
The county plans to run the water taxi from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. three days a week. – Manatee County | Submitted
The county also proposes using the Anna Maria City Pier as a landing spot but the city of Anna Maria and Manatee County have not yet entered into an interlocal agreement approving the destination.
The county is willing to pay for any improvements needed at the various water taxi docking stops to ensure public safety and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including safety railings. But the county wants each city to pay for the ongoing maintenance of any county-funded water taxi-related improvements made to their docking facilities.
The Bradenton and Bradenton Beach city commissions have already approved their city-specific, water taxi-related interlocal agreements with the county and those two city commissions agreed to pay for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related improvements made by the county.
The recently expanded floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier will be used as a water taxi stop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When approving the interlocal agreement earlier this year, the Bradenton Beach Commission noted the county’s water taxis are welcome to use the recently expanded floating dock as a landing area on a first-come, first-served basis like other users, but the city is not creating a reserved and designated water taxi landing area on the floating dock.
Negotiations continue
As part of the ongoing interlocal agreement negotiations that began last year, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission would like the county to also pay for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related safety improvements made to the City Pier – a provision the county has not agreed to.
During past discussions, Murphy said the City Pier cannot be used as a water taxi stop without a city commission-approved interlocal agreement with the county.
The county proposes using the existing boat landing near the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier, with some additional safety improvements potentially needed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In March, the city sent the county a revised agreement that proposed the county pay for the ongoing maintenance. In June, the city received back from the county a version of the interlocal agreement that contained the following language: “Prior to the commencement of water taxi services to the dock, the county shall ensure that the dock is ADA accessible for water taxi service to the public, including constructing any ADA improvements that may be required. The cost of ADA improvements, permits or required ADA-related improvement studies required for dockage of the water taxi vessel or for related upland property are the responsibility of Manatee County and its contractor. Following installation of ADA improvements and acceptance by the city, subsequent maintenance of the cost thereof for the Pier shall remain the responsibility of the city.”
The proposed agreement discussed in June also says, “The county agrees to provide a detailed plan in advance to the Anna Maria City Commission for approval showing the proposed landing area on the pier and any modifications or improvements required for the dockage and the pier. The city has the right to cancel this agreement if it finds that such modifications or improvements are unsatisfactory to the city.”
At that time, the county had not yet provided city officials with the plan referenced in the proposed agreement.
On July 13, Murphy provided the city commission with a status update on the still unresolved agreement negotiations.
Murphy said City Attorney Becky Vose met with county officials after the city commission’s June discussion and earlier in the week he received the county’s latest proposed agreement.
“I’ve gone through that proposal. There’s still some gaps. Late last night, I received a proposed picture of the landing spot, where they would like this to land. I have not received the ADA improvements that are required nor a cost of those ADA improvements, which we would need,” Murphy said.
Vose said she engaged in lengthy discussions with Falcione and one of the assistant county attorneys.
“They, unfortunately, did not implement my requested changes,” she said.
“In the big picture, we certainly do not want to let small details interfere with this, but I’m putting together a short list of some things that need to be changed in the agreement, particularly having to do with liability issues,” Vose said.
She said the negotiations are more challenging for the city because the Bradenton Beach and Bradenton city commissioners already signed the agreements as proposed by the county.
“They just took what was presented, signed it and sent it back,” Vose said.
The city-owned Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton will serve as a water taxi stop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said, “There’s attachments missing and I’m not going to put the city in the position of recommending to you signing a contract with attachments that are blank, or not attached or not filled out. Secondly, I’m not real satisfied with the terms and conditions. I’ll come back with a recommendation one way or the other.
“I’m hoping that we can successfully do this, but if we can’t, we can’t. There’s some things you just need to walk away from and hope that things get better later. The legal issues are going to be escalated to the county attorney himself (Bill Clague) rather than to an assistant attorney. There are legal aspects of this contract that to me seem serious and not something that is in the best interest of the city. Those all have to be ironed out, but I think we need to get this off the table one way or the other in two weeks.”
Commissioner Robert Kingan said, “You would certainly think that the county would have engaged us much earlier in the process and got this sorted out at the beginning.”
“It’s a serious matter. I don’t want to be an obstacle. I don’t want bad will, but our interests have to be looked out for,” Murphy said.
Since the water taxi agreement discussions began in 2022, the mayor and commission have also continually expressed a desire for discounted water taxi fares for the service industry employees and others who work on Anna Maria Island and commute from the mainland. During Thursday’s meeting, Anna Maria Commission Chair Mark Short noted the county’s proposed agreement makes no reference to discounted fares for Island employees.
Murphy said he’ll present a “last, best and final proposal” during the commission’s Thursday, Aug. 3 meeting. At that point, the commission will approve or reject the proposed agreement.
After Thursday’s meeting, Murphy said he also received from the county a diagram that illustrates how the county proposes using the existing landing area near the T-end of the pier as a water taxi landing. That diagram was not shared during Thursday’s meeting and as of press time had not yet been provided to the media due to the city’s pending review of the plans that may require some additional pier improvements.
The water taxi service is also scheduled for discussion at the Tuesday, Aug. 1 Manatee County Council of Governments meeting taking place at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto at 4 p.m.
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission are not yet willing to sign a proposed interlocal agreement that would allow Manatee County to use the City Pier as a water taxi stop.
The county hopes to start its Friday, Saturday and Sunday water taxi service using two covered pontoon boats shuttling between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island this summer. The proposed route for the county-funded service includes multiple stops per service day at the City Pier, the floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach.
During the June 8 city commission meeting, Murphy said he recently received the county’s latest draft of the interlocal agreement, which City Attorney Becky Vose had already briefly analyzed. Murphy said he was sending the proposed agreement to the city commissioners for them to review before accepting, rejecting or revising the agreement at a future meeting.
The original draft agreement the county introduced earlier this year stated the county would pay for any Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other water taxi-related improvements made to the City Pier.
Murphy and the city commission responded with a revised agreement that proposed the county also be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related improvements made to the pier.
The agreement Murphy recently received strikes out the city’s recommended revisions and again proposes the city pay for the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi-related pier improvements. The county’s proposed agreement also stipulates the city must reimburse the county for any such improvements if the city signs and later opts out of the water taxi agreement.
Murphy noted the county agreement, as currently written, is supported by the Bradenton Beach and Bradenton city commissions.
The new finger docks alongside the Bradenton Beach Pier will accommodate the county water taxis. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I’m disappointed with what I received. They basically threw our agreement out and now they want us to hurry up and approve this. There’s some things in this agreement that need serious consideration. It doesn’t bear any resemblance to what we sent out,” Murphy told the commission.
“I hate to be obstinate. I’m not trying to be. I want to be cooperative, but this can’t become carte blanche. The pier is the center of our universe here. There’s things in here that don’t make business sense. I’ve got to have a complete understanding of exactly what they have in mind,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he and Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione have had many discussions about the proposed water taxi agreement, but no one else from the county staff contacted him or Vose when crafting the proposed agreement.
Murphy plans to meet with county staff within the next week or so. He asked the city commissioners to review the agreement on their own and provide him with any feedback they want shared with county staff.
Murphy said he’s not trying to “poison the well” but he doesn’t believe it’s in the city’s best interest to act quickly and enter into the proposed agreement as currently written.
Throughout the ongoing water taxi discussions that the county initiated in February 2022, the mayor and commission have insisted the water taxi service provide transportation for Island employees for free or at a discounted rate. The county agreement does not specify any fare rates for water taxi passengers.
“If we refuse to sign their onerous agreement, we could still get some workers coming up to the city by way of Bradenton Beach and then the trolley,” Commissioner Jon Crane said.
During Thursday’s meeting, the commission took no formal action on the county’s proposed agreement.
Manatee County has not yet provided the city with a plan that details exactly how the City Pier would function as a water taxi stop. – Joe Hendricks | SunDuring past discussions, Murphy noted the City Pier cannot be used as a water taxi stop without a city commission-approved interlocal agreement. He also noted the county must provide the city with a detailed plan that shows exactly where and how the City Pier would be used as a water taxi stop. To date, that plan has not been provided.
BRADENTON BEACH – City Attorney Ricinda Perry told commissioners last week that they cannot promise to designate a reserved space for the proposed water taxi on the floating day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier.
Manatee County’s long-planned water taxi service includes proposed stops in downtown Bradenton, the City Pier in Anna Maria, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the county-owned South Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach. The county has not yet announced an anticipated start date for its initial Friday, Saturday and Sunday water taxi operations.
Perry said she made a few changes to a proposed interlocal agreement recently received from the county. One significant change notes that the water taxi operations must comply with the state-issued sovereign submerged land lease for the existing floating dock and the nine additional perpendicular finger piers that will be connected to the south side of the floating dock later this month, or soon thereafter.
Perpendicular finger piers will soon be attached to the existing floating dock. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted
Perry noted the submerged land lease requires the free public dockage offered at the floating day dock to be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. She said the city can’t provide the county with a reserved water taxi landing area.
“There’s really nothing the city can do to give an exclusive spot to Manatee County or any entity on the floating dock. It’s got to stay first-come, first-served,” she said.
City commissioners unanimously approved the draft version of the city’s proposed interlocal agreement presented by Perry on April 6 establishing the city’s requests and requirements pertaining to the use of the pier area as a water taxi stop. The agreement addresses any improvements the county or its contracted water taxi operator, Clearwater Ferry, wish to make to the pier area.
According to the proposed agreement, “The county shall only be responsible for the costs of creating ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) -compliant dockage at the pier for water taxi use. Subsequent maintenance of the pier shall remain the responsibility of the city.”
The city of Anna Maria’s proposed interlocal agreement with the county calls for the county or its contractor to cover the cost of any ongoing maintenance and repairs associated with any water taxi-related improvements or enhancements made to the Anna Maria City Pier.
Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner said covering the ongoing maintenance costs would be Bradenton Beach’s contribution to the county’s water taxi service. Chappie also said he’s more comfortable with the city’s Public Works Department overseeing any maintenance or repairs needed on the pier or floating dock.
At this point, it’s not known what, if any, improvements the county might request. One potential safety improvement discussed was the installation of safety railings on the floating dock. The floating day dock doesn’t currently feature safety railings running along the length of the dock, but there are railings along the ramp area that leads from the floating dock to the elevated pier.
City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said she’s shocked that the floating dock doesn’t have safety railings.
Spooner noted it would be difficult to access the floating dock by boat if railings existed along the southern edge of the dock that boaters tie up to. He also questioned the logic of installing railings on the backside of the floating dock, which is not accessible by boat.
Chappie said he doesn’t see the need for safety railings on the floating dock, but if the county installs them, the city will maintain them.
Perry told commission members they didn’t need to worry too much at this point about the specific improvements the county might want to make.
The proposed Bradenton Beach agreement notes, “The county agrees to provide a detailed plan in advance to the Bradenton Beach City Commission for approval showing the proposed landing area on the pier and any ADA-related modifications or improvements required.”
The commission-approved interlocal agreement is to be returned to the county for further review, which could result in additional revisions requested by the county.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) took a few more steps in the ongoing process to make several improvements to its Bradenton Beach Pier-based operation.
Led by company president John Horne and operating its Bradenton Beach location as We’re Back Inc., AMOB, since late 2015, has operated in the pier building leased from the city.
We’re Back Inc. also leases the two smaller buildings located next to the main pier building. The yellow-colored space is subleased to Paradise Boat Tours. The salmon-colored space was previously subleased to two retail tenants.
AMOB wants to use that vacant space as a to-go food pickup kiosk that also serves ice cream, alcoholic beverages and more.
When presenting this request in January, Horne also requested the city’s permission to allow alcohol purchased at the to-go kiosk or in the restaurant to be consumed on the Bradenton Beach Pier. An existing city ordinance currently prohibits alcohol consumption on the pier, but alcohol consumption is allowed inside the AMOB restaurant and on the restaurant’s open-air patio.
We’re Back Inc. wants to install three or four tiki hut-like covered high-top tables along the pier railings directly south of the restaurant building.
The Bradenton Beach CRA pledged a total of $30,000 for the installation of a $60,000 decorative fence that would resemble this fence located elsewhere in Florida. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
We’re Back Inc. also wants to install a $60,000 crab trap and buoy-themed decorative fence along the northern end of the pier property, between the pier parking lot and the Pines Trailer Park. The trailer park side of the fence will be plain wood and will not feature the decorative crab traps.
Horne’s previously requested pier improvements were discussed again at the April 5 CRA meeting and the April 6 city commission meeting.
CRA approvals
During the April 5 CRA meeting, Horne secured from the CRA board a $15,000 contribution for the fence installation. Through the CRA board, he also secured an additional $15,000 in matching funds from Manatee County.
In 2021, the Manatee County Commission approved up to $850,000 in matching funds for the CRA’s yet-to-be-completed floating dock expansion project and the completed dinghy dock replacement project. The county’s $15,000 share of the decorative fence costs will be rolled into the previously approved dock project.
CRA member David Bell requested more time to consider Horne’s requests, but City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the county match expires on Sept. 30 and any additional delays could impact those matching funds. Bell then cast the only opposition vote to Horne’s funding request.
Commission approvals
On April 6, Horne and the city commission resumed their discussion about the requested pier improvements.
According to Horne and Perry, We’re Back Inc. is paying $45,894 in base rent in 2023. The city also receives 2% of We’re Back Inc.’s total gross revenues for its Bradenton Beach operation.
Perry noted the city owns the pier and the city commission must approve any improvements made to it. She said the proposed changes must also be addressed in an amended version of We’re Back Inc.’s existing lease with the city.
After much discussion, the commission unanimously supported We’re Back Inc.’s request to extend its current lease until 2045.
“It’s a long time. I’m happy with their performance, but I’m a little reserved about doing it for the rest of my lifetime,” Commissioner Jake Spooner said before expressing his support for the extension.
At the commission’s request, the amended lease will include language that states the extension only pertains to We’re Back Inc. If Horne, 61, retires, but We’re Back Inc. continues to run AMOB’s Bradenton Beach location, the extended lease remains in effect. If someone else buys We’re Back Inc. and continues to conduct business as We’re Back Inc., the extended lease remains in effect. If We’re Back Inc. is no longer the entity in charge of the pier-based operations, the city commission can terminate the extended lease.
Alcohol consumption
Perry noted an existing city ordinance currently prohibits any alcohol consumption on the pier and that ordinance must be amended before alcohol can be consumed on the pier. We’re Back Inc.’s lease agreement will also have to be amended accordingly.
Horne’s request to allow alcohol consumption on the pier pertains only to alcoholic beverages purchased from AMOB’s new outdoor kiosk or the existing bar inside the restaurant. The alcoholic beverages are to be served in cups bearing the AMOB logo. Alcoholic beverages purchased elsewhere will not be allowed on the pier.
At the request of Police Chief John Cosby, open containers of alcoholic beverages would not be allowed on the floating dock adjacent to the pier. Alcoholic beverages purchased from AMOB and served in sealed to-go containers could be transported from the restaurant area to a boat tied up at the dock.
Before these changes occur, Horne must provide the city with a detailed diagram that shows exactly where alcohol will be sold and consumed on and near the pier.
If the alcohol consumption allowance becomes problematic, the city commission can revoke it. The city commission can also temporarily suspend the alcohol allowance during a children’s fishing tournament or some other family-friendly event taking place on the pier.
None of the commission-supported pier improvements and changes will take effect until the amended We’re Back Inc. lease is finalized and the alcohol ordinance is amended.
BRADENTON BEACH – A fleet of delightfully lit and decorated boats will pass along the Bradenton Beach shoreline during the second annual Bradenton Beach Holiday Boat Parade.
Setting sail on Saturday, Dec. 14, the Holiday Boat Parade is hosted and organized by Bradenton Beach Marina and its president, Mike Bazzy.
The parade will begin at 7 p.m. near the south end of Jewfish Key, travel past the Longboat Pass Bridge, head north through the Intracoastal Waterway and pass by the Bridge Street Pier before ending at the Bradenton Beach Marina. The boat parade is expected to last 60 to 90 minutes.
Boat owners are invited and encouraged to display their holiday spirit by entering their decorated vessels. Entry is free and open to powerboats and sailboats. Cash prizes will be awarded in multiple categories, including the category for best lighting and the category for most holiday spirit.
Entry forms can be downloaded from the boat parade website, www.boat-parade.com.
The Holiday Boat Parade coincides with the Christmas on Bridge Street holiday event taking place on Bridge Street that afternoon and evening.
The parade can best be viewed from the Bridge Street Pier from 7:30-8 p.m., or before then from the Longboat Pass Bridge as the parade gets started.
Those without a boat can catch a ride aboard the Bradenton Beach Marina’s old-fashioned paddlewheeler, the Anna Maria Princess. Space is limited, so please call 941-778-2288 to reserve your spot.
The Holiday Boat Parade is sponsored by the Bradenton Beach Marina, the city of Bradenton Beach, the Bridge Street Bazaar, the Bridge Tender Inn, the BridgeWalk Resort, Paradise Boat Tours, Yolo Parasail and The Anna Maria Island Sun.
For more information, visit the boat parade website, call John or Mike at 941-778-2288 or email dockmaster@bradentonbeachmarina.com.
BRADENTON BEACH – Two boats in the unmanaged anchorage near the Bridge Street Pier broke loose Saturday afternoon, one making contact with the new floating dock being installed along the south side of the pier.
Bradenton Beach Police Officer Eric Hill responded to the report of an unmoored sailboat making contact with the pier. He then ensured the vessel was removed from the floating dock area and secured to the nearby dolphin pilings that protect the pier.
Mayor John Chappie said the vessel was tagged and the owner was given five days to retrieve the sailboat. If not retrieved during the allowed time period, the boat will be removed and destroyed.
Later that day, a cabin cruiser broke loose and was redirected to the nearby dinghy dock before it could make contact with the new floating dock.
Hill serves as the city’s primary marine patrol officer and has been at the forefront of the city’s increased enforcement efforts pertaining to the navigable waters near the pier.
State law requires a vessel to be able to move under its own power in order to not be considered a derelict vessel that becomes subject to removal and destruction.
BRADENTON BEACH – The long-delayed floating dock is now in the initial stages of being installed alongside the Bridge Street Pier.
A four-man crew from the Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company drove the first fiberglass composite dock pilings on Wednesday, July 10. The crew is using a pile-driving mechanism connected to a mobile crane that sits atop the floating work barge.
The new dock will replace the storm-damaged dock that was removed in 2016.
Co-funded by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Manatee County, the new floating dock will provide short-term dockage on a first-come, first-serve basis for recreational boaters visiting the pier and the Bridge Street business district.
The floating dock will also provide limited, short-term dockage for tour boats, water taxis and other commercial vessels for loading and unloading passengers.
“They’re out there working on it,” CRA chair Ralph Cole said at the July 10 meeting. “I’m excited.”
Without providing a specific completion date, Cole said Hecker’s Operations Manager, Eric Shaffer, told him the company’s goal is to get the dock installed as soon as possible.
The Hecker bid proposal, approved by the CRA members in early May and finalized in June, includes agreement language drafted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry that gave Hecker six weeks to complete the project once the dock pilings were delivered. The agreement includes a $500 per day penalty if the project is not completed on time.
The pilings arrived at the county barge dock near the Coquina South Boat Ramp during the last week of June.
“I’m really happy to see this project coming to completion. We had some unfortunate circumstances and delays, but we overcame that through the efforts of our city staff and our city officials. I can’t wait to use it,” CRA member and Vice Mayor Jake Spooner said later in the week.
These construction crew members helped guide the pilings into place. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Anna Maria Oyster Bar leases the city-owned restaurant space and two smaller city-owned spaces at the foot of the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
“A gorgeous view for sure,” Oyster Bar president John Horne said of the work underway. “I can’t wait to see boats rafted off that dock with visitors and patrons of Bridge Street and the Anna Maria Oyster Bar.”
Sherman Baldwin is the general manager of Paradise Boat Tours. The company’s on land terminal is located in space subleased from the Oyster Bar. Baldwin also serves as the vice president of the Bridge Street Merchants Association.
“The long wait is over. Thanks to the persistence of the CRA for making this project happen after facing every challenge imaginable. This will be an economic boost for all of Bridge Street,” Baldwin said.
Project timeline
In early 2017, the CRA entered into a $119,980 contract with the North Palm Beach-based Technomarine Group to provide the materials and install a new floating dock alongside the pier.
In the CRA’s 2016-17 fiscal year budget, CRA members budgeted up to $250,000 for the dock project. And Manatee County commissioners agreed to reimburse the CRA for up to $125,000 of the project costs.
In August 2018, Spain-based Ronautica Marinas shipped the premanufactured floating dock decking sections to Port Everglades. After some additional delays, Technomarine later delivered the dock sections to Hecker’s construction yard in Gibsonton, so the floats could be attached to the decking.
In early 2019, the CRA ended its contractual relationship with Technomarine due to the ongoing delays and began dealing directly with Shaffer and Hecker Construction. According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the CRA had paid Technomarine $83,682 of the $119,980 contracted amount at that time – and to date, the county has reimbursed the CRA $26,995 of the $83,682 paid to Technomarine.
In May, the CRA members approved Hecker’s $52,400 revised bid proposal to attach the floats to the decking dock sections and install the dock.
The CRA members also decided the CRA would purchase the pilings directly to receive the sale tax exemption given to governmental agencies. According to Perry’s May 15 project update, the pilings cost $45,704 when ordered.
The Hecker contract, the piling purchases and other additional expenses bring the anticipated final cost of the dock project to approximately $184,000.
During past CRA meetings, Cole has expressed his belief that despite these additional costs the final product will be superior to the dock originally envisioned.
