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Manatee County public beaches closing Friday 

Manatee County public beaches closing Friday 

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Archives.

MANATEE COUNTY – In reaction and response to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, Manatee County’s public beaches will be closed as of Friday, March 20 at 6 a.m.

Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur made this announcement with Sarasota County officials on Thursday afternoon at a 3 p.m. press conference at the Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center.

Sarasota County’s public beaches will close at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning, March 21.

Manatee County issued a beach closure-related press release at 3 p.m. Thursday.

Regarding the public beaches in Manatee County, the press release said, “Parking lots will be closed and signs placed to alert drivers, and we expect that most people will heed that advice.”

Manatee County public beaches closing Friday
The Coquina Beach parking lot in Bradenton Beach will be closed as of Friday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The parking lots referred to are at the three county beaches on Anna Maria Island – Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach and Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.

What it means

On Thursday afternoon, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer issued a press release regarding the county’s announcement.

“The Holmes Beach Police Department and Code Compliance Department are enforcing this policy by eliminating public parking. We will continue to proactively patrol the beach to be sure our residents and guests are following the guidance of social distancing. The gates at the public beach located at 4000 Gulf Drive will be locked. Many additional parking areas will be changed to no parking zones. This reduces Holmes Beach’s right of way parking by 70 to 80%. The enforcement guidelines will change based on the daily observations,” Tokajer said in his press release.

When contacted, Tokajer also said the Island’s vacation rental companies are being updated on the closures and any developments that occur.

Manatee County public beaches closing Friday
Folks enjoyed the last few hours of normal beach operations at Manatee Beach Thursday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Lt. John Cosby from the Bradenton Beach Police Department said, “Resort guests, those who live on the Island and those who can find a legal public parking space outside of those areas that are closed will still have access to the beach at this time. We still want you to keep the six-foot distance and no groups larger than 10.”

Cosby said the city of Bradenton Beach currently has no plans to close the public beach access points, some of which are located at city street ends and provide limited or no public parking.

Manatee County public beaches closing Friday
On Thursday afternoon, beachgoers enjoyed the final hours of Coquina Beach being open. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

A one-sentence message posted at the city of Anna Maria website Thursday says, “All beaches in the city of Anna Maria will be closed effective 6 a.m. Friday 3/20/20 until further notice.”

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy was not available for comment after the announcement was made Thursday afternoon.

County statements

In Thursday’s press release, County Administrator Cheri Coryea said, “Each day as our local situation has changed and new advisories have been sent, Manatee County residents have heeded warnings and taken official advice seriously. We’re hoping for more of the same with our beach announcement.”

The press release notes Manatee County lifeguards will remain on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to ensure the safety of those who disregard the closure. A double red flag, indicating no swimming, will fly from lifeguard stands.

“Manatee County Code Enforcement Officers will assist the Island communities enforcing the beach closure. The Anna Maria Island Trolley will continue to operate,” the press release says.

While the Coquina Beach Cafe will be closing, for now, the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe at Manatee Beach will remain open.

Manatee County public beaches closing Friday
The concession at Manatee Beach will remain open during the beach closures. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Coryea said the decision was made to close beaches with careful input from the mayors on Anna Maria Island, and after speaking with Sarasota County officials in order to continue the close coordination of the two counties during the coronavirus outbreak.

“This is not a step we take lightly to close our beaches, but together with the advice of the public health officials we believe it is a step that’s in the public’s best interest,” Coryea said in the press release.

“Our primary concern is the health and safety of our residents and visitors and the people they return home to. The leadership of the Island cities of Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Anna Maria and the Town of Longboat Key collectively brainstormed this decision and will have the authority to manage the impacts in their community,” Coryea said in the press release.

Coryea, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells, Manatee County Department of Health Officer Dr. Jennifer Bencie and Saur will provide more details on the local COVID-19 response during a press conference Friday afternoon at 2 p.m.

For a full list of closures and cancellations, visit www.mymanatee.org/coronavirus.

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City prevails in KORN lawsuit

City prevails in KORN lawsuit

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The city of Bradenton Beach does not have to put four charter amendments proposed by the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee on an upcoming city ballot.

The ruling by 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas was issued at the Thursday, March 5 hearing that was a continuation of a hearing that began in December.

KORN initiatives

KORN, founded in March 2018 by chairperson Reed Mapes and treasurer John Metz, collected petition signatures from Bradenton Beach voters in hopes of placing four charter amendment initiatives on the November 2018 ballot.

The first proposed charter initiative sought to place in the city charter a citywide prohibition on multi-level parking garages. The second sought the mandatory hiring of a city manager empowered to hire and fire city staff. The third sought to prohibit the construction of anything but fences, driveways and utility services in building setbacks, and to require that all stormwater management systems be contained in the setbacks. The fourth sought to prohibit vacant city commission seats from being filled by commission appointment.

After receiving the petition signatures, City Clerk Terri Sanclemente and City Attorney Ricinda Perry identified several deficiencies, including ballot language that exceeded the state-imposed word limits, ballot language that contained political rhetoric and an attempt to decide land use issues by voter referendum.

In June 2018, the city commission cited these deficiencies and refused to forward the petitions to Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett’s office to verify whether at least 10% of the city’s registered voters signed each initiative.

The city commission also convened a charter review committee to review the KORN initiatives and recommend alternative charter amendments to propose to city voters.

On July 5, 2018, KORN filed a lawsuit against the city seeking a court order for the city to submit the petition signatures to the elections office and place any initiative that met the 10% threshold on a future ballot. This resulted in a hearing before 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lon Arend in September 2018.

In November 2018, city voters adopted all seven charter amendments proposed by the charter review committee.

In February 2019, Arend issued a final judgment ordering the city to present the KORN petition signatures to the elections office and proceed accordingly.

In August 2019, Bennet’s office determined three of the four initiatives met the 10% threshold.

On Sept. 5, 2019, Bennett sent Sanclemente a letter informing her that none of KORN’s charter initiatives would appear on the November ballot because the ballot language did not comply with Florida Statutes.

Enforcement sought

On Sept. 13, 2019, KORN attorney Robert Hendrickson filed a motion seeking the enforcement of Arend’s final ruling. Arend had rotated to another division so the case was assigned to Nicholas.

Hendrickson’s motion was first argued on Dec. 6, with attorney Chuck Johnson representing the city. The December hearing included opening arguments from both attorneys and testimony from Perry, who was called as a witness.

The hearing continued on March 5 with Johnson still cross-examining Perry. Perry said the charter review committee amendments adopted by city voters essentially addressed the same issues as the KORN initiatives. Perry noted one KORN initiative included the word “cronyism” and she mentioned the excess word counts.

Perry said adoption of KORN’s third amendment could result in the city having to repay millions of dollars in grant money received for city stormwater improvements made on private property through easements granted by the property owners. She also said setback restrictions would prevent the construction of private docks.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett testified the city is contractually obligated to maintain for 20 years any stormwater improvements completed using Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud) grant money.

Burnett said the adoption of that amendment could result in the city having to repay Swiftmud more than $2.2 million for grant money received and could also jeopardize the $600,000 anticipated for pending stormwater improvements.

During closing arguments, Hendrickson alleged the city willfully violated Judge Arend’s order by replacing the KORN initiatives with the charter review committee amendments. Hendrickson said the city did not have the discretion to do something different than what Judge Arend ordered.

Hendrickson claimed the city violated Judge Arend’s order by including KORN’s original ballot language in the city resolution presented to the Supervisor of Elections for placement on the 2019 ballot. Hendrickson said the city knew the ballot questions would be rejected as written because of their deficiencies.

Johnson contended Arend’s order did not specify the exact ballot language to be presented to city voters. He also reiterated the Swiftmud funding implications.

Judge’s ruling

Before issuing his verbal ruling, Nicholas addressed the change in judges.

“There is an inherent challenge in one judge interpreting and potentially enforcing a colleague’s order. I’ll do my best here to interpret Judge Arend’s order and rule in a way that I think is consistent with his order and the law,” he said.

“It is clear to me that Judge Arend’s final judgment allowed for the likelihood of challenge and allowed for the likelihood of further litigation. I think Judge Arend fully anticipated there might be challenges to initiative number 3. Putting private property owners in charge of maintaining stormwater management systems on their own property would almost certainly have resulted in challenge and litigation,” Nicholas said.

“Do I think it would have been preferable for the city to have asked the court for guidance in their effort to implement his order? Yes, I do. However, I cannot say the city willfully and intentionally failed to comply with Judge Arend’s final judgment,” Nicholas said.

“Judge Arend did not definitively say what language specifically should be submitted to the Supervisor of Elections. Judge Arend recognized the city still bore a duty and a responsibility to make sure the ballot language complied with Section 101.161 in Florida law. This is important. The plaintiffs’ motion for enforcement of final judgment and for sanctions is denied,” Nicholas concluded.

Vacation rental bills looming large

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Archives.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Local concerns

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related coverage

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Local vacation rental regulations under fire again

Parking tram discussions continue

Parking tram discussions continue

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials and business owners in and around the Bridge Street business district agree that a parking shuttle program is a good idea.

But no one has stepped forward yet and offered to acquire and operate the electric trams needed to operate a pilot program for a park and ride shuttle service that utilizes county-owned parking spaces Cortez Beach and the north end of Coquina Beach.

These matters were discussed at a special CRA meeting on Friday, Feb. 21.

The half dozen or so business owners who attended Friday’s meeting are also members of the Bradenton Beach Area Merchants association which has expressed support for the parking tram program but no desire to run it.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry provided CRA members and meeting attendees with the detailed research she gathered on parking tram operations implemented in the cities of Stuart and Fort Pierce.

Perry’s presentation addressed upstart and operating costs, operational responsibilities, insurance requirements and costs, routes and route changes, hours of operation, designated stops or on-demand service, tram types and sizes, battery life and battery replacement and much more.

The city of Stuart’s tram program features a 2.2-mile route with 14 specific stops and also allows passengers to flag down trams between stops.

Stuart’s tram program utilizes city employees and includes 12 drivers operating six trams seven days a week. In fiscal year 2019, the city of Stuart budgeted $215,771 for its tram program. That consists of $150,965 for professional services including salaries and benefits, $29,806 for operating expenses and $35,000 for capital outlay.

Perry said she envisions using three trams, which would significantly reduce those costs.

Perry said the Fort Pierce tram program utilizes volunteer drivers. It began as an on-demand service but later transitioned into a program whose primary function is to shuttle users back and forth between their desired destinations and a parking garage.

Perry noted the CRA and the city of Bradenton Beach have not budgeted any money for a tram program in the current 2019-2020 fiscal year, and no funds were committed last week. Potential funding sources include existing CRA funds, advertising revenues and additional financial support from the Bradenton Beach business community.

Path to a pilot program

CRA member Ed Chiles said the goal has always been to include a dedicated tram pathway that runs parallel to Gulf Drive in the Cortez Beach parking lot south of Bridge Street. There have also been previous discussions about a possible tram hub at the north end of the Cortez Beach parking lot.

A dedicated tram path and hub located on county property would require county commission approval. County commissioners have some offered preliminary support for the tram idea, but they’ve also expressed concerns county parking spaces being used to serve the Bridge Street business district.

These are two types of trams that could be used for a parking shuttle service in Bradenton Beach. – Submitted

Perry and others have noted a pilot program could be started without the county’s support.

CRA chair Ralph Cole mentioned the need for signs at the entrance to the city that direct drivers to the designated parking areas. Chiles mentioned the need for a cell phone app too.

Perry said one of the first decisions that needs to be made is who’s going to operate and manage the desired tram program.

It was noted there are currently two gas-powered trams being privately operated in the Bridge Street area: one by the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and one by the Blue Marlin Grill. It was also noted that CRA member Jake Spooner will soon be required to operate a tram shuttle seven days a week, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., when his new building on Bridge Street opens soon.

After 90 minutes of discussion that included insight from business owners, CRA member John Chappie made a motion calling for the CRA to partner with the Bradenton Beach Area Merchants to develop a parking tram pilot program and for Perry to work with the merchants to define the functioning model of that program.

Chappie’s motion also called for City Engineer Lynn Burnett to provide engineering drawings and for Perry and Burnett to work with Lt. John Cosby and Public Works Director Tom Woodard on safety concerns and signage. That motion was adopted by a 7-0 vote.

The CRA members adopted a second motion by a 6-1 vote that directed Perry, Burnett and Cosby to work with Chappie to prepare a pilot program presentation to present to county officials. CRA member David Bell opposed that motion because he felt it was premature and more information is still needed.

Monday meeting with merchants

On Monday, Feb. 24, Perry met with business owners and Bradenton Beach Area Merchants members Lynn Horne, Sherman Baldwin, Ryan Davis and Fred Bartizal.

“There is no option that they can identify for creating a pilot program that is sponsored by the merchants,” Perry said of that meeting. “Their concerns include cost, ADA compliance, construction activities by Manatee County and the ability to secure trams prior to the upcoming peak season.”

Perry said she will recommend the CRA issue request for proposals seeking a third party to operate a parking tram program on a trial basis if the members want to continue this pursuit.

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WMFR commissioners review 2019 results

WMFR commissioners review 2019 results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Commissioners also reviewed the 2019 annual report.

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

Community members are invited to review the annual report online.

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Castles in the Sand

Florida’s in the tax driver’s seat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Castles in the Sand:

The greying of the mortgage market

Credit scores have new meaning

Let’s all just take a breath

High enterococcus levels in Bradenton Beach waters cause for concern

High enterococcus levels cause for concern

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

BRADENTON BEACH – “Extremely high” pollution levels have been discovered at the Bradenton Beach bayfront, according to Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Andy Mele and board Chair Joe McClash.

According to their Friday, Feb. 14 press release, “Over a period of two weeks, enterococcus levels exceeding 24,000 colony-forming units (CFU) per liter have been discovered twice along the waterfront at Bridge Street and Bay Dr. South in Bradenton Beach, an area intensively used by tourists throughout the year. Other samples reached 1,670 cfu/L and 4,884 cfu/L.”

According to the Florida Department of Health website, “Enterococci are enteric bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of enteric bacteria can be an indication of fecal pollution, which may come from stormwater runoff, pets and wildlife and human sewage. If they are present in high concentrations in recreational waters, and are ingested while swimming or enter the skin through a cut or sore, they may cause human disease, infections or rashes.”

The Suncoast Waterkeeper press release states that the Florida Department of Health’s threshold for beach closure advisories is 70 cfu/L and that Bradenton Beach bayfront samples have ranged from 24 to 340 times higher than the levels the state regards as unsafe for direct human contact.

“Bay Drive is home to a dinghy beach for people coming ashore from boats in the anchorage, a waterfront restaurant and a number of docks and private piers with small beaches. Bridge Street is Bradenton Beach’s main commercial hub, linked to the bayfront at Bay Drive and the historic pier. The area is frequently accessed by boaters and frequented by recreational paddlers,” according to the press release.

The press release does not cite any suspected sources for the higher-than-usual enterococcus levels.

For several years now, Bradenton Beach residents, business owners and city officials have expressed concerns about liveaboard boaters in that area dumping untreated human waste into those waters. It is not known if the liveaboard boating activities in the unmanaged anchorage south of the Bridge Street Pier contributed to the recently higher enterococcus levels.

High enterococcus levels in Bradenton Beach waters cause for concern
Several liveaboard boaters populate the unmanaged waters south of the Bridge Street Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Suncoast Waterkeeper is also monitoring 11 other sites on a weekly basis for enterococcus along Sarasota Bay and its adjacent waters.

“The Florida Department of Health monitors public beaches weekly and biweekly, so Suncoast Waterkeeper makes no attempt to duplicate their efforts, but to monitor other areas used recreationally that are representative of our inshore coastal waters. Other sites exceed the advisory level of 70 cfu by orders of magnitude, but the two Bradenton Beach bayfront sites are by far the worst,” the press release states.

According to the press release, Mayor John Chappie said, “We are aware we had a problem and we are about to start testing ourselves so we can get to the bottom of it. You know we believe in the importance of clean, healthy waters. We have the clam project and living shoreline in progress.”

The Suncoast Waterkeeper samples were analyzed by Benchmark EnviroAnalytical Inc. an accredited and certified laboratory in Palmetto.

“We are not pointing fingers here,” Mele said in the press release. “We are concerned that there could be a public health problem and we will be working with the Manatee County Department of Health and the Bradenton Beach government to help identify the sources and resolve the problem.”

The Feb. 12 sampling data can be viewed in its entirety at the Suncoast Waterkeeper website.

Anchorage enforcement

Officer Eric Hill, Det. Sgt. Lenard Diaz and Lt. John Cosby from the Bradenton Beach Police Department are among those who play active roles in the ongoing and increased enforcement efforts taking place in the unmanaged waters south of the pier.

When contacted Sunday, Cosby said, “As time goes on, I believe some of that will clear up. We’ve reduced the amount of liveaboards there by half. Six months ago, we had 58 boats out there. We’ve got 24 right now. And the ones we have removed were the ones we were having the most issues with.”

Cosby was asked if the city is having issues with liveaboard boaters dumping human waste into those waters.

“We don’t know, because we would have to physically see them dump it, and we have not seen that. Obviously, if we’re out there they’re not going to do it in front of us,” Cosby said, noting it could possibly happen at night.

Regarding vessel inspections, Cosby said, “We have the Coast Guard help us with that, but the boat has to be operational. If the boat is derelict and the boat doesn’t run, the pump system doesn’t work so the Coast Guard can’t test it. So, that’s part of this derelict enforcement that we’re doing.

“They have to get the boat up and running and be able to demonstrate that it has power, steering and is seaworthy. And FWC just came out with a new course that boaters have to navigate in order to show us the boat is maneuverable. Before, it used to be a guess. Now a sailboat or powerboat has to run to demonstrate to us that the boat is able to be steered and has enough power to propel itself,” Cosby said.

“The big thing out there is continued enforcement. That’s the only thing that’s going to keep that under control, and that’s what we plan on doing,” he added.

Cosby noted the city has a newly-amended ordinance, Ordinance 19-509, that addresses vessels moored in the unmanaged anchorage. The amended ordinance now limits the space available for liveaboard boaters to leave their dinghies at and near the city-owned ‘dinghy dock’ next to the Bridge Tender Inn’s Dockside Bar.

High enterococcus levels in Bradenton Beach waters cause for concern
A newly amended city ordinance allows beached dinghies to be removed from the area at the dinghy owner’s expense. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“That’s going to help a lot. We’re having signs made that say you can’t beach your dinghy anymore in that area.  If there’s not enough room to put their dinghy on the dinghy dock, then they’re out of luck. They’ve been beaching them on that little cove where the dinghy dock is. They’re not allowed to do that anymore. Once the signs are up, we’re actually allowed to seize the dinghy, charge a $100-a-day storage fee and also charge them what it costs for Public Works to remove it,” Cosby said.

The amended ordinance prepared by City Attorney Ricinda Perry also addresses the rafting of multiple vessels and/or floating platforms and other prohibited acts and anchorage-related concerns.

High enterococcus levels in Bradenton Beach waters cause for concern
A recently amended ordinance also addresses the rafting of multiple vessels and/or floating platforms. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Castles in the Sand

What does a mortgage broker do?

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

I’ve talked many times in this space about getting a mortgage for a home and how it is one of the most stressful aspects of purchasing. Many people don’t have the time to contact numerous lenders and comb through the details when shopping around and choose instead to go to a mortgage broker for help. But what do they really do and how much does it cost?

Mortgage brokers are licensed in the state of Florida and most states as well. They are financial professionals who act as the bridge between borrowers and lenders. They originate loans and help you connect with a variety of lenders who best fit your financial situation. Working directly with a bank will not give borrowers any flexibility in rates or loan requirements, however, mortgage brokers can offer buyers products of many banks and many more options. This is particularly important for buyers who may not have perfect credit scores and have small down payments.

In addition, mortgage brokers coordinate and manage paperwork and typically close a home loan faster than a traditional bank. They work in cooperation with real estate agents, underwriters, lenders, title companies and attorneys. They are part of the closing team and are trained to anticipate glitches and troubleshoot problems standing in the way of a closing.

There are disadvantages to using a mortgage broker. Since they are motivated to close as many properties as possible, keeping up with the hands-on service can be a challenge for them. It’s critical that you choose a broker who comes with a good recommendation from a friend, family member or real estate professional who has had recent transactions with the broker. Also, you must feel comfortable with the mortgage broker and feel you can tell them anything since you are essentially telling them everything about your personal finances.

Mortgage brokers are paid by commission by either the borrower or the lender. The fee is typically 1% or 2% of the total loan amount and usually is rolled into the loan in the case of a no-cost loan. However, be alert since rolling in the mortgage broker origination fee could result in a higher interest rate.  The other option is to pay a loan origination fee to the broker separately, again 1% to 2% of the loan amount.

Mortgage brokers are required to disclose all fees up front and can charge only that disclosed fee amount. Further, each fee should be itemized, and the broker should be ready to tell you, the borrower, exactly what each fee was for. Mortgage brokers, like real estate brokers, do not get paid unless there are a closed loan and a closed transaction regardless of how much work they do prior to closing.

After the financial crisis, the Dodd-Frank Act restructured how mortgage brokers get paid. Before this legislation came into effect, lenders could compensate mortgage brokers for getting their clients to agree to high-interest rate loans and signing off on costly fees. This left the door open to an unscrupulous loan broker and hidden fees, affecting many inexperienced buyers.

With so many details involved in purchasing a home, working with a competent mortgage broker whom you’re comfortable with can be a good idea to help you get through the process. They could be invaluable in procuring the best loan for your financial situation and taking some of the work off your shoulders.

More Castles in the Sand

 

Real estate winter

 

Is Anna Maria Island still Old Florida?

 

Happy new real estate year

Water line broken during undergrounding work

Water line broken during undergrounding work

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Wilco construction crew doing the boring for burying the Bridge Street utility lines accidentally broke a water line Saturday afternoon on Bay Drive South.

The accident happened near the east end of Bridge Street and forced the Anna Maria Oyster Bar to close for the day. The temporary water shortages also impacted the Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar.

According to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the water line break occurred at about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. Roughly three hours later, a crew from Manatee County arrived to make the needed repairs.

Perry, Mayor John Chappie and Lt. John Cosby from the Bradenton Beach Police Department were among those who responded to the scene.

“Everyone is working together and doing everything they can to get the water turned back on as quickly as possible,” Perry said as the situation unfolded.

When contacted Saturday afternoon, Anna Maria Oyster Bar managing partner Lynn Horne said, “We don’t have any water, so we had to close.”

Horne said the Oyster Bar closed at about 2:45 p.m. and was expected to reopen Sunday morning. On Sunday, he said his water service was restored and the restaurant opened as scheduled.

At 3:30 Saturday afternoon, Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar owner Fred Bartizal said he had limited water access and was hoping to remain open.

Drift In manager Doreen Flynn said although they still had water at their establishment on Bridge Street she had to cancel Dos Macs’ Saturday afternoon outdoor musical performance because a portion of Bridge Street was closed.

“I can’t imagine why they would close down Bridge Street in season on a Saturday, which is usually the busiest day for shopping and the restaurants. We had very little foot traffic because of the dust and noise. We lost money, but at least we were open,” Flynn said.

Perry said that section of Bridge Street was closed on Saturday because of the brick paver crosswalks being installed. Perry also said Wilco was available to work on the undergrounding project that weekend and the weekend before, but Wilco’s availability is limited between now and March.

Bridge Tender Inn Manager Shannon Dunnan said later the water shortages eventually resulted in the kitchen being closed, but the Dockside tiki stayed open. Dunnan said their big concern was being fully open again in time for Sunday’s Green Bay Packers-San Francisco 49er’s playoff game.

According to Perry, water service was restored at about 6 p.m. Saturday evening and the temporary repairs to Bay Drive South were completed at 11 p.m.

On Sunday, Bartizal said normal business operations had resumed and he praised Perry and Chappie for their efforts.

“Kudos to Ricinda and John for staying there all day, and to Ricinda for trying to expedite matters. That just shows they care about the city, care about the businesses and care about the residents. They spent the whole day here,” Bartizal said.

Perry suspended all undergrounding and paver installation work on Sunday in order to keep the streets open and unencumbered. She said some work would resume Monday.

Castles in the Sand

Real estate winter

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

It’s winter in southwest Florida and although we talk a lot about beach, road and Publix congestion, we really do love visitors to the Island. We, of course, would love them even more if the visitors converted to owners and not just on Anna Maria Island.

Florida and Arizona have built a real estate market catering largely to retirees, specifically baby boomer retirees. As much as we boomers want to continue influencing the culture and finances of the country, we will inevitably pass away. Not only do we have to face death we may also need to face not being able to live in our homes and migrating to family or assisted living facilities.

Now that I’ve completely ruined your day, these numbers will further depress you. According to Zillow, one in eight owner-occupied homes in the U.S., or roughly nine million residences, are set to hit the market from 2017 through 2027. In addition, Zillow calculates that by 2037 one-quarter of the U.S. homes for sale, or roughly 21 million homes, will be vacated by seniors.

This is a lot of real estate and a good percentage of these homes are in over 55 communities where at least one owner needs to meet that age criteria. These communities have been popular with baby boomers for decades. However, the concern is that the next generation of homeowners are not only looking for a different lifestyle but there aren’t even enough of them to fill the vacancies.

In theory, older homeowners are replaced by younger homeowners and the recent lack of available properties to purchase has kept many millennials stuck in rentals, so this should be a good thing. However, in the case of many of the baby boomer properties, the properties are located in areas where younger buyers don’t want to buy. Suburban living is less of a draw than for previous generations and millennials prefer cities and major metropolitan areas. In addition, even generations below the baby boomers who may be in pre-retirement years have little or no interest in living in planned, age-restricted enclaves no matter how great the weather is.

Economists worry about what the impact of unpopular large retirement communities will have on the local economy surrounding these areas. There are some market experts who suggest that a retooling of these communities to make them more attractive to families and lifting the age restrictions could be a better use of these properties down the road. Arizona and Florida are naturally in the crosshairs of potentially having an overabundance of senior housing. Thankfully for us, Florida’s east coast will be harder impacted.

Real estate markets are a balancing act. If one part of the market has a problem, another part may benefit from those problems. For example, the beautiful and exotic state of Hawaii.

Who doesn’t love Hawaii for vacations, but do you want to live there? Apparently lots of people don’t since Hawaii is experiencing the third straight year of negative migration, with the young, highly educated and well-off being the ones most likely to leave.

Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the country, and according to the Tax Foundation, the real value of $100 in Hawaii is $84.39. According to Zillow, the median list price for a house is $630,000 compared with $284,999 for the U.S. as a whole. In Hawaii, gasoline has been as high at $5.00 a gallon and a gallon of milk $7.00. Hawaiians may be going kicking and screaming from their beautiful state but they’re leaving for the same reasons residents of New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey are leaving – taxes, cost of living and public education.

Inevitably, we will see a dramatic change in the real estate market in the near future. Right now, the baby boomers still rule and will for a while.

More Castles in the Sand:

 

Is Anna Maria Island still Old Florida?

 

Happy new real estate year

 

Home ownership matters

Castles in the Sand

Is Anna Maria Island still Old Florida?

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

There’s no doubt how much Anna Maria Island has changed over the past 25 years since I found the Island. One might say it’s gone from shabby chic to polished coastal, but has it also gone from Old Florida to upscale Florida pretending to be Old Florida.

Last month the Island, or at least Holmes Beach, had another “best of” rankings bestowed on them. This time it was from Trip Advisor who picked the top seven “delightfully low-key Florida beach towns you might not know about.” Well if they didn’t know about it before they sure know about it now. Just what we need, more cars on the Island. On the other hand, for people who own property on the Island and want to generate some profit, this may be the right time if you follow a few simple rules.

There are lots of ways to get your property out there if you’re considering rentals, VRBO, Airbnb, the new Marriott Homes & Villas and of course, traditional Island real estate companies.

Starting with a great location is key and the Island has a multitude of great locations. Properties closer to the beach always rent for more but it’s hard to find anywhere on Anna Maria Island that’s undesirable.

Next is the number of bedrooms, the more the better. If there is any way to turn available space like an office or storage room into another bedroom it will make your rental more attractive. Also, remember the children and furnish the property with sturdy and well-built trendy furniture that is washable and somewhat indestructible. Leave the Chippendale in storage.

Provide big sectional sofas and seating areas for everyone to get cozy on, and also a large enough dining table for the maximum number of guests allowed. Add some beach essentials like beach chairs, beach toys, beach carts and maybe even paddleboards. If you have a pool having a floating chair with a drink holder could seal the deal. A gas grill is also appreciated by renters as are ping pong tables, bikes, games and restaurant recommendations. Towels, including beach and bedding that are not expensive but in good condition, are essential. No one likes a dingy towel. Don’t forget toilet paper, paper towels, bath soap and dishwasher soap, providing at least enough to get started if it’s a long-term rental and enough to get short-term renters through to the end.

Leaving a complimentary bottle of wine and some welcome cheese and crackers is a nice touch that people don’t forget. And don’t be afraid to decorate with some cute and beachy stuff. I read somewhere it’s a good idea to have a plaque made with the name of your rental placed in a position where renters might take a picture, free advertising when they show their vacation photos to friends.

The bottom line is to create a space that you would like to spend time in.

Trip Advisor loves the slower pace of Holmes Beach and the “Old Florida” vibe without the crowds. But we’re not alone – the other top six low-key Florida destinations include Venice, Cocoa Beach, Englewood, Daytona Beach Shores, Lauderdale By The Sea and Longboat Key. I’m not sure if Longboat Key residents would agree with the “Old Florida” characterization, but polished coastal does fit.

There’s no argument that Anna Maria Island is one of the most beautiful beachfront communities in the country and to people coming here for the first time it still epitomizes Old Florida. So, if you’re considering using your home as a rental there certainly is a thriving market. Old or upscale, it’s still the tops.

More Castles in the Sand:

Happy new real estate year

Home ownership matters

Million dollar homes and taxes

A sailor’s life cut short

A sailor’s life cut short

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The liveaboard boating community in Bradenton Beach lost a friend and fellow sailor with the recent passing of 59-year-old Octavio Utrera.

Utrera previously owned and operated Anna Maria Island Sailing Adventures. His charter trips included the gourmet meals he prepared aboard his sailboat, the Zefiro.

According to Longboat Key Public Information Officer Tina Adams and Lt. Robert Bourque of the Longboat Key Police Department, Utrera’s body was discovered at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24 floating just offshore in the Gulf of Mexico near the 100 block of Sands Point Road by New Pass at the south end of Longboat Key.

On Monday, Dec. 30, Bourque said the case remained under investigation. Bourque said no cause of death had yet been determined, but the medical examiner initially found no signs of trauma to the body. A toxicology report was pending.

Adams said Utrera’s driver license listed a Holmes Beach address, but those who knew him said he’d recently been living on a sailboat anchored near the Bridge Street Pier.

Bourque said the last known sighting of Utrera alive was when a Bradenton Beach police officer spoke with him on Sunday, Dec. 22 at approximately 10:47 p.m.

Bradenton Beach Det. Sgt. Lenard Diaz said Officer Eric Hill spoke with Utrera that night when he discovered Utrera’s sailboat tied to a piling alongside the south side of the Bridge Street Pier.

“Apparently his boat cut loose so he had tied to one of the pier pillars east of the floating dock,” Diaz said.

“They talked for a little bit. It was pretty windy, so there really wasn’t much he could do until the next day. When Eric left, he was still on the boat. That was the last time we had contact with him,” Diaz said.

A sailor’s life cut short
Octavio Utrera’s sailboat remained tied up at the pier for a few days after he passed away. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Diaz said Hill returned to the pier around 2 a.m. and discovered a second boat tied up near Utrera’s boat but had no additional interaction with Utrera.

Utrera’s body was located approximately 12 miles from the pier. When asked if it was known how or where Utrera wound up in the water, Bourque said that question could not yet be answered.

A respected sailor

Bradenton Beach resident Patti Clarke met Utrera when she worked at the Bradenton Beach Marina.

“He was a very dear friend of mine,” Clarke said.

Clarke said Utrera had been living in New Jersey for the past couple of years, but returned to the Island in September. Clarke helped Utrera acquire the use of the sailboat he was living on and they planned to use that boat to do charters together.

Clarke said she received text messages from two mutual friends who said Utrera called them on Sunday, Dec. 22 and said he was having trouble with the boat due to the strong winds and weather conditions. Both friends were out of town and could not help.

A sailor’s life cut short
In early November, Octavio Utrera took some friends for a cruise on the sailboat he was living on. – Patti Clarke | Submitted

Utrera used to dock the Zefiro at the Bradenton Beach Marina.

“We called Octavio ‘O.J.’ He was around the marina for many years buying fuel or getting repairs done. O.J. was a nice guy – quick to laugh and joke around. He escaped from Cuba on a naval boat. He was quite proficient at handling boats,” marina president Mike Bazzy said.

“He had his boat at my place a couple years ago. With the winds and the weather and the floating dock being closed, it was getting too hard to run his charter business out of the anchorage, so he rented a slip here for more than year. He took six people out at a time and when they came back to the dock everyone would be cracking up. He was a good guy to be on a boat with,” Bazzy said.

Paradise Boat Tours General Manager Sherman Baldwin operates his tour boat business from an office at the foot of the pier.

“When Octavio was doing AMI Sailing Adventures full-fledged in 2014 and 2015 there would be days when except for provisioning his boat and running to the market on a scooter he would be on the water 24 hours a day. Food was part of his charters and he used to make these amazing meals. He loved boating and he was great with people,” Baldwin said.

“He defected from the Cuban Navy. He came here because he loved America. He used to do this funny thing when he sailed in. He’d see some boaters and yell ‘Which way to America?’” Baldwin said.

Morgan Rothe met Utrera about 12 years ago when he sailed from Sarasota to Bradenton Beach.

“I threw an anchor down next to this guy and he said, ‘Welcome to America.’ He threw me a Busch beer from 30 feet away. Octavio was the first person I met out there. He told me he and some of his buddies were in the Cuban Navy and stole one of Castro’s patrol boats and escaped to America in the late 1970s. Octavia was a seasoned sailor. I sailed with him seven or eight times,” Rothe said.

Reef project helps filter local waters

Reef project helps filter local waters

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – A windy, cloudy afternoon didn’t stop the father-son team of David and David Wolff from coming out to the dock behind the Bridge Tender Inn Dec. 20 to install four mini reefs as a part of The Center’s Go Green initiative.

The four reefs were only a part of the six reefs purchased by the Bridge Tender’s owner, Fred Bartizal, who purchased two additional reefs to be placed in the water near his home.

In a statement emailed to The Sun, Bartizal said, “The Bridge Tender Inn takes great pride in going green. Everyone should be doing it; it is essential for the earth and future generations.” He added that the restaurant participates in recycling and is switching over to biodegradable napkins, straws, cutlery and to-go containers.

David Wolff Jr. carries two of the mini reefs down the dock to be installed at the Bridge Tender Inn. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The mini reefs, the brainchild of David Wolff of Ocean Habitats LLC, are made almost exclusively of sustainable materials designed to hold around 150 pounds with a lifespan of 10-15 years. The reefs are installed underneath docks, attached by floating marine ropes, and bob just underneath the surface where they provide a home for fish and other marine life. Ocean Habitat’s mini reefs can be used in salt and brackish water. They filter over 30,000 gallons of water per day and can provide a nursery home for fish and crabs, producing around 300 fish per year and 200 crabs per year.

Wolff said the idea for the reefs came out of a college research project. Once he shrunk the initial reef down to its current 24x36x24 inch size and rethought all of the materials with longevity and sustainability in mind, he developed the current mini reef and a fish crib to be used in freshwater lakes and ponds.

Though the mini reefs are available through the Ocean Habitats website, they’re also available through The Center of Anna Maria Island at a discounted price, including installation.

David Wolff Jr. secures two of the mini reefs underneath the dock at The Bridge Tender Inn. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The reefs are being made available as a part of The Center’s Go Green campaign, encouraging community members to live a more sustainable life while also supporting the nonprofit. Each reef can be purchased for $350 with $150 going to support The Center’s annual fund. Through Jan. 15, a private donor is sponsoring a donation match up to $130,000, so any reefs purchased by the deadline produces an additional $150 donation for a total of $300 back to The Center.

Center Director of Development Jim McDaniel said that as of Dec. 20, 52 mini reefs had been purchased and were planned to be installed around Anna Maria Island by the New Year. He said an additional four were in-process. The goal, he said, is to not only see what kind of positive impact these mini reefs can have on local waters but also to see how many new donors will come forward to help out The Center.

Once all of the reefs are installed, McDaniel said The Center plans to create a map of the reef locations and hopefully will be able to use the project for research purposes in the future.

For people who want a different, but still tangible, way to support The Center, there’s the Giving Reef, located in the nonprofit’s lobby. For the Giving Reef, program directors priced and placed tags with items needed, from soccer balls to new fitness equipment, on the reef. Anyone can come in, find something that they feel passionate about supporting or that fits into their budget and provide the funds to purchase that item. McDaniel said that items range from about $130 to $3,500 and are all currently included in The Center’s budget. By community members purchasing those items, those budgeted funds can go back into the annual fund for use in other areas or for saving for the future of the nonprofit.

For more information on the mini reefs and the Giving Reef, visit The Center online.

Related coverage

Mini reefs installed at Mar Vista

Pines plague parking project

Pines plague parking project

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Controversy over Australian pine trees in the Coquina Beach parking lot may slow down or stop the second phase of a $6 million drainage project, county tourism officials learned on Monday.

The county removed 103 of the non-native pines and replaced them with native species in phase one at the southern end of the parking area, scheduled to be completed by February or March, Mike Sturm, project manager at the Manatee County Public Works Department, told Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) members.

Another 126 pines will need to be removed at the northern end in phase two, he said.

Spirited discussions at city and county meetings about removing the first batch of trees caused the project to fall three to four months behind, he said, adding that the city of Bradenton Beach required the county to replace the 103 pines with 103 native, salt-tolerant trees, mostly black olive, gumbo limbo and green buttonwood. The county exceeded the city’s height requirements, choosing trees 8-12 feet high, Sturm said.

TDC Chair and Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore was not appeased by the effort, citing the Australian pines’ shade and aesthetic appeal.

The nearly-completed portion of the southern parking lot “looks like Siesta Beach or one of the other sterile beaches we have south of us… I wanted to save some of the character of Anna Maria Island,” said Whitmore, who voted against the project as a county commissioner. “People come to us because we aren’t a sterile beach like you see in other places in Florida. If you go for phase two, I’m really going to fight it hard,” she said.

In phase two, which Manatee County commissioners have not yet approved, the county public works staff can try to mitigate the impact to the pines by changing the pavement design to save some of them, Sturm said.

But Australian pine opponents, like Island restaurateur and TDC member Ed Chiles, say the trees are unstable in high winds due to shallow root systems and produce acidity that discourages the growth of native plants.

Pines lining Gulf Drive could topple into the roadway, which is a hurricane evacuation route, Chiles said, complimenting the county on removing the pines and on the drainage project’s progress, saying it “provides access to our crown jewel, the beaches.”

The county worked with an expert who determined that 90% of the time, the Coquina Beach parking lot gets an inch of rain or less, he said, so the system is designed to keep the lot dry 90% percent of the time. During a heavy storm, it may take a day or so to clear, he said, but any water coming off Gulf Drive will be routed around the parking area.

The system also should help reduce harmful algal blooms, Chiles said; the project incorporates carbon filters under pervious parking surfaces to help filter out nutrients from stormwater runoff, which will drain into the Intracoastal Waterway.

Pervious concrete was used at Riverwalk and Lecom Field, TDC member and Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston said.

“It’s worked very well, we’re very pleased with that,” he said, predicting that the improved beach parking lot will attract more visitors and locals when it is finished in January.

But the Australian pines made the beach “look like the Island,” he said.

“I think Carol’s right,” he said. “You get a new puppy and everybody forgets about the old dog who has served you so well.”

“I lost this one,” Whitmore said. “As a TDC member for a long time now, I just don’t want the character to be inching away… I’m just trying to preserve a little bit of the character and that to me was a big thing. But they’re gone.”

Related coverage

County submits Coquina Beach tree replacement plan

County commission approves Coquina Beach tree removals

City to county: ‘Not so fast’ on tree removal

Castles in the Sand

The Grinch that stole your real estate deal

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

If you’re in a home negotiation, whether you’re the buyer or seller you better watch out for the home inspection grinch. To the buyer, the grinch is a kindly and informed fellow who will uncover all of the home’s secrets and to the seller, the grinch is a nosey picky guy who when he uncovers all of your home’s secrets will tell the buyer. Whichever grinch you see he is a necessary evil to the purchase transaction.
Home inspections have become standard operating procedure for both single-family homes and condos all over the country. Generally, a seller is entitled to a home inspection within a specified number of days after both parties have signed the purchase of sale agreement and/or contract of sale. The number of days is determined by the culture of the region and the availability of inspectors in that region.
Inspectors are looking for defects in major systems like electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning. In Florida in particular, inspectors are very sensitive to mold and mildew and may use a moisture meter looking for damp areas behind walls from a plumbing leak. They will also check for water pressure in toilets, tubs and dishwashers, as well as the condition of appliances and outdated wiring.
If an inspection comes back with legitimate problems, the buyer and seller should come to an agreement and time frame for repairs. If they fail to do so, the contract is voided, the buyer gets their earnest money back and everyone walks away.
Some buyers will waive the contingency of inspection in an effort to make their offer more appealing, however, they may still have an inspection. This means that in theory if an inspector finds a problem the buyer cannot walk away from the contract and will forfeit their earnest money. But, as we all know, anything can be litigated, tying the house up in court while the buyer tries to get his money back or renegotiates a new price. The point is, be careful with a buyer who removes the inspection contingency as a strategy.
As a seller, there are a couple of ways to keep the real estate grinch away from your door. One is to have your own home inspection prior to putting your home on the market. This will give you a heads up on any problems you may not know about or may not think are serious. An inspection is also a useful tool to provide your broker with to pass on to potential buyers along with other disclosure documents. Buyers will likely still want their own inspection, but it will give them a nice warm feeling about the home and you as a seller.
Another positive to present to buyers is a gift of a home warranty that covers certain repairs to appliances, plumbing, electrical systems and heating and air conditioning units. Warranties are typically for a year and will cost about $700 for the average single-family home. According to the National Association of Realtors, only 17% of all sellers offer a home warranty as an incentive to potential buyers. Again, buyers will get a nice warm feeling about the transaction and it will also make your home stand out among others. Home warranties included in the sale should not, however, remove the home inspection from the buyer’s list of due diligence items.
Even though the inventory of homes is way down, sellers should still attempt to provide quality disclosure about their property and remedy serious issues. It’s the ethical thing to do and it’s the best way to keep the Grinch from stealing your real estate transaction.

More Castles in the Sand:

Today’s challenge for buyers

Mythical credit scores

When did $100,000 not become enough?