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City may charge commercial boats to use dock

City may charge commercial boats to use dock

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – The free dockage for commercial vessels at city docks may soon come at a cost.

A discussion of the $5,000 cost to replace several floats lost on the floating docks during high surf in April turned to the city’s overall cost of dock maintenance and the possibility of charging a fee for businesses using the docks.

“Five thousand dollars every time that happens, that’s a lot of money,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said at the May 2 city commission meeting. “This is happening more than once, and it seems like it’s going to be a problem and we’re going to be chasing these floats constantly every time there’s a storm or a lot of wave action on that pier.”

Mayor John Chappie said he had received an update from Duncan Seawall General Manager Steve Porter that the replacement floats were on order.

“It’s a tough area to have the floating dock structure in there because it does get a lot of wave action,” Chappie said. “It’s totally exposed to the northern part of Sarasota Bay. I’ll try to get an update on cost and maintenance, what we need to do to prevent some of this damage that’s been happening and try to mitigate the maintenance costs.”

City Attorney Ricinda Perry said she agreed with Scaccianoce and said there should be an established maintenance program, then suggested that commissioners reopen previous discussions about charging commercial vessels to use the city dock.

“What I’d like to revisit, and we had talked about it but didn’t move it forward, was perhaps a charge for those commercial entities who are using the floating dock for their business at no cost to them,” Perry said.

Perry said that she has spoken with people who rent out slips at a minimum of $2,500 per month.

“If you start making a collection from the people who are running their business off of our pier at no cost, you could start to set aside maintenance money to keep that dock in great shape,” Perry said.

She said such charges would give the city the ability to collect funds for future maintenance but also regulate and know if commercial captains are properly licensed.

“We have under $300,000 sitting there for the entire pier, which isn’t enough to handle the wear and tear which the mayor and I have personally observed from these commercial companies who come in, they do not use anything to protect their boat from slamming into the structure and they take chunks out on the side,” Perry said. “We can’t help the storm vessels that come right under the floating dock and pop off floats and destroy the structure, but I do believe we should consider revisiting this concept of regulating through cost the people who are coming in and using our asset.”

Perry said that if someone on an uninsured vessel gets injured on the dock, the boat operator may not have proper insurance to cover losses.

“I’ve been told some of these commercial entities do not have licensed captains running the vessels and so those who do have the proper insurance and do have the proper captains are charging about $50 a tour,” she said. “Whereas those who don’t, their overhead is less and they’re charging $20-$25. They’re putting us at risk. We do have insurance to cover things that happen, but I believe it’s something the commission should consider revisiting again and we need to make sure we have the funds to take care of that.”

“We really should look at this again,” Chappie said. “We are that destination now and we’re getting more and more people to use the facility and the infrastructure that we have developed there.”

Chappie said the discussion will be put on a commission work meeting agenda in about a month.

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Entertainment.

BRADENTON BEACH – Casey Hoffman and Paul “Big Sexy” Weremecki have written a book about the Drift In bar.

Published in March, the 144-page book is aptly titled, “Drift In, Stumble Out” and tells the tale of one of Florida’s great dive bars.

Chapter 1 opens with the following passage: “There’s a host of reasons one would come to the Drift In on Anna Maria Island, such as to enjoy a frosty cold beverage, to try their hand at karaoke, play bingo or bar fun, perhaps listen to some of the best music on the Island or meet up with friends. You may even walk out with a mate.”

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future
The Drift In was once owned by Babe Ruth. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Some sections were written solely by one of the authors and others were written collectively. The book also contains numerous photos of the characters, past and present, who’ve contributed to the bar’s legacy, including former owner Babe Ruth, previous owner Joe Cuervo, current owner Derek Williams (Cuervo’s son-in-law) and the staff members, musicians, locals, part-time residents and visitors who helped make the Drift In “one of the most unique watering holes in America,” according to musician Mike “Mac” McConnell.

The book’s front cover features some of the old photos that hang near the front window, including a classic photo of bar manager Doreen Flynn sporting an impressively high and curly Afro-style hairdo.

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future
The “Drift In, Stumble Out” cover features some of the old photos that hang inside the bar. – Submitted
New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future
These old photos pay tribute to past and present patrons and staff members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The back cover notes the book was “Written from the dual perspectives of both patrons and a ‘Dive Bar Worthy’ bartender (Weremecki).”

Hoffman and Weremecki each wrote a chapter about their relationships with the bar. Another chapter is dedicated to the bar’s iconic, sexy and world-renown mannequin, Mannie. Other chapter titles include “As the Barstool Turns,” “Extraordinary Crew Members,” “Timeless Entertainment” and “Drifting and Stumbling Into the Future.”

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future
Drift In manager Doreen Flynn selects Mannie’s ever-changing outfits that range from sexy to sophisticated. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Drift In, Stumble Out” book is available at the Drift In for $25 and also at Amazon.com.

 Authors’ insights

Hoffman owns the Holmes Beach-based Zegway by the Bay business and serves as a tour guide while giving Segway tours of the Island. She was also the co-founder of the now-defunct AMI Radio station that used to broadcast from the Magnolia Hotel building on Bridge Street that was demolished earlier this year.

In addition to bartending at the Drift In, Weremecki and his wife, Laurie Lancaster, co-founded the Sunrise Hope nonprofit organization that assists foster children (www.SunriseHope.org). He’s also the founder of the AMI drum circle in Holmes Beach.

“The Drift In has been such a big part of my life since I moved here,” Hoffman said. “The book is a way to give back to the community and tell a fun story about our favorite little watering hole and the people that come through there. There’s always a sense of community, family and friends when you come to the Drift.”

“The Drift was the first bar I went to on the Island when I moved here in 2020,” Weremecki said. “I had my eye on working there and it finally happened last July. The book is a quick, easy read and it makes a nice souvenir. We share some memories and some of the things that go on here.”

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future
This Babe Ruth cardboard cutout stands inside the Drift In. – Paul Weremecki | Submitted

“We got to sit with Joe Cuervo and he shared some stories with us,” Hoffman said. “We had to verify a couple things, like when Bridge Street became the happening street on the Island, when the original bridge was built, when the Pines Trailer Park used to be a campground and about Babe Ruth owning the bar. It turns out his father owned several saloons back where he was born.”

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future
One of the Drift In walls is dedicated to former owner Babe Ruth. – Derek Williams | Submitted

Once written, the book was assembled in Microsoft Word, saved as a PDF file, uploaded to Kindle Direct Publishing and self-published at Amazon.

“The tricky part was the cover, the spine and the back of the book,” Hoffman said. “We always knew that was the cover we wanted. Thankfully, it worked.”

For those who want to publish their own book, Hoffman said, “I encourage people to give it a try. It’s challenging but very rewarding.”

So far, the pair has sold about 150 copies of their book.

“Some of the proceeds will go to charities supported by the Drift, including Sunrise Hope,” Weremecki noted.

“We’re working on getting the book into some shops on the Island and we’re working on a Kindle E-book version too,” Hoffman said.

On April 14, the authors held a book signing party at the Drift In.

“It was so much fun,” Hoffman said. “A couple people said they already started reading the book and couldn’t put it down. One lady said she read it in one sitting at the beach. We also got some great feedback from the bar owners and Doreen. They were very supportive of our project.”

“We sold about 30 copies in a few hours,” Weremecki added.

Those who want a signed copy of the book can swing by the Drift In during one of Weremecki’s shifts. He’s there Mondays from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m., Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“It was lot of fun to write. We enjoyed it and hope whoever buys it enjoys it,” Weremecki said.

“It was a true joy to be able to write the book and help tell the story of a place I love as part of my hometown community,” Hoffman said.

The authors hope to develop a live show at the Drift In that serves as an extension of the book.

“People have emailed saying they have pictures they want to share and stories they want to tell. We’re going to do it live on Facebook and make it a podcast too,” Hoffman said.

Efforts appreciated

Williams and his wife, Helena, bought the Drift In from her parents a few years ago.

“Helena and I both enjoyed the book,” Williams said. “‘Drift In Stumble Out’ is a funny and honest take on an Island original. The team did a great job sharing anecdotes about the Drift: Babe Ruth, the legacy of ownership, the talented musicians and the unique circus of individuals that enjoy our establishment. We’re really proud of Paulie for all he does.”

New book highlights Drift In’s past, present, future
The Drift In’s tiki hut provides outdoor seating and bar service. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Flynn said, “I thought it was well-written and I loved the fact that our entertainers were featured.”

General Manager Dan Zelko said, “It’s fantastic. I love the fact that ‘Big Sexy’ helped write the book and that he loves the bar as much as he does – we all do. He did a great job of expressing how the bar really is. He’s here and he understands it. We appreciate that.”

Eighty new coconut palms line Bridge Street

Eighty new coconut palms line Bridge Street

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Eighty new coconut palms have been delivered and are being planted along Bridge Street.

“This will be a big improvement,” Mayor John Chappie said on April 25. “Many of the existing trees needed to be replaced.”

At an April 3 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, the board approved a city partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta in which he will accept responsibility for the maintenance of the trees and donate $10,000 toward the $50,000 cost of the palms and white river rock. The balance will be paid from CRA funds.

Eighty new coconut palms line Bridge Street
With a newly-planted palm in the foreground, workers continued planting in the roundabout. – Leslie Lake | Sun

The 50 large and 30 small coconut palms were harvested in Miami and were delivered to Bradenton Beach on April 23. Planting along Bridge Street and the roundabout intersection on Gulf Drive began shortly after.

At the April 3 meeting, concerns had been raised among CRA members about damage from falling coconuts.

“Liability does concern me,” Chappie said. “But I think it would enhance the Key West-old Island feel on Anna Maria Island.”

Those concerns were alleviated by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, who assured CRA members that Kaleta, through one of his business entities, would sign a contract ensuring the responsibility of tree maintenance and indemnifying the city against liability for damage caused by falling fruit.

“There would be no cost to the city for maintenance of the trees as Mr. Kaleta wants the coconuts, likely for his restaurants,” Chappie said.

According to the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service website, “Coconuts can grow up to 15 inches long and 12 inches wide, composed of a thick fibrous husk surrounding a spherical nut with a hard, brittle, hairy shell… The coconut palm starts fruiting 6-10 years after the seed germinates and reaches full production at 15-20 years of age. The tree continues to fruit until it is about 80 years old, with an annual production of 50-200 fruits per tree, depending on cultivar and climate. The fruits require about a year to develop and are generally produced regularly throughout the year.”

Officials discuss state plan to replace Longboat Pass Bridge

Officials discuss state plan to replace Longboat Pass Bridge

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

LONGBOAT KEY – Members of the Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials (BIEO) discussed the proposed new Longboat Pass Bridge on April 17.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One has initiated a project development and environment study for SR 789 (Gulf Drive/Gulf of Mexico Drive) from North Shore Road on Longboat Key to the Coquina Beach entrance in Bradenton Beach.

“The study will evaluate alternatives to replace the existing SR 789 bridge over Longboat Pass. Alternatives to be evaluated will include rehabilitation of the existing bridge, a new high-level fixed bridge and moveable bridge,” according to FDOT.

“There are three options, with challenges and opportunities to each,” Longboat Key Town Manager Howard Tipton said. “There’s one that’s too tall, one that’s too low and one that’s just right. We’re hoping it’s just right.”

The Longboat Pass Bridge was built in 1957 and renovated in 2005 and 2020. The bridge is classified as functionally obsolete due to substandard shoulders and traffic barriers, according to FDOT.

If constructed, a new bridge is planned to be wider than the existing bridge to provide safer accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians. Additional travel lanes for vehicles are not being proposed.

Tipton said the new bridge would be moved to the west and closer to condominiums at the north end of Longboat Key.

“That’s understandable because that’s where their (FDOT’s) right-of-way is,” he said. “It does impact condominiums at the very north end of town and brings it from 120 feet or so to about 30 feet, so it’ll be up close and personal, and we want to try to work with them as much as we can for sound mitigation.”

Tipton said the new bridge will allow improved traffic flow.

“We had a meeting with the MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) last week and we talked about the corridor from Cortez coming south to Longboat. And now it is a longer trip than anyone would expect,” he said. “The MPO is looking to circle back around and look at the bare ground of the traffic study.”

He said the traffic not only impacts residents and visitors but also those who work in Longboat Key.

“One of the hardest things for workers is let’s say they get hired in July and once season starts, they say, ‘I didn’t sign up for this’ and we lose folks that way,” Tipton said. “It’s the restaurants, it’s the hotels, it’s everybody.”

The issue of traffic also plays into the ferry conversation with Manatee County, he said.

“Is there a location where they can congregate on the mainland side?” he asked.

“There’s been a lot of construction in your city,” Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said to Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie. “Was there a lot of parking added in Bradenton Beach?”

“I think they’ve added well over 100 spaces” at Coquina Beach, Chappie said.

“When everybody is leaving at the end of the day and they add 200 or 300 parking spots, that’s 200 or 300 more cars you have to wait for,” Titsworth said.

“Don’t misunderstand where the traffic is coming from. I would say a lot of that traffic, most of that traffic, is coming from Longboat Key, not the beach,” Chappie said. “I live on that end of town, and it will be bumper to bumper during season at 8 or 9 o’clock. That’s not beach people.”

Chappie said he thinks both the proposed new Longboat Pass and Cortez bridges will help with traffic congestion.

“I had a recent meeting with our state representatives and one thing we talked about was the turn lanes to Cortez Road,” Chappie said. “Once the new (Cortez) bridge is completed, the merge lane will be expanded significantly. What people are doing at that intersection is stopping. You don’t stop, you use the merge lane to merge into traffic. It’s all about keeping the flow.”

Golf cart accident victims say ‘buckle up’

Golf cart accident victims say ‘buckle up’

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – One of the biggest concerns for the Island’s police departments is the use of seatbelts on low-speed vehicles (LSV), commonly referred to as golf carts. After an accident that sent a 75-year-old woman crashing face-first through the windshield of the LSV she was riding in, her family wants to stress the importance of buckling up, something they admit they hadn’t done when the accident happened.

The situation unfolded on March 10 at 7:30 p.m. as Debbie Guilfoyle, 75, of Iowa was riding in the passenger seat of an LSV being driven by her 46-year-old daughter, who asked that her name be withheld, as well as her daughter, Lisa Walker, who was riding unbelted in the rear seat of their rental cart.

The women say they were driving northbound on Gulf Drive when they approached the green light at the intersection at Cortez Road and had the right of way, so they entered the intersection. At the same time, a car making a southbound left turn onto Cortez Road toward the Cortez Bridge did not yield and turned into their path of travel, they said, leaving the unnamed daughter no choice but to brake as hard as she could, sending Guilfoyle through the cart’s windshield, landing headfirst on the pavement. The SUV that cut them off left the scene.

“My mom took a header through the windshield and did a 180-degree flip onto the ground,” Walker said. “She hit her head, bruised her shoulder and had plenty of bumps and bruises.”

Walker said her family is grateful the injuries weren’t worse than they were. Guilfoyle was taken to HCA Florida Blake Hospital by EMS and given a CT scan, which showed no serious injuries, and she was released after five hours of evaluation. Walker also received multiple injuries to her chest after hitting the rear safety bar of the cart during the accident but was also cleared by doctors after a CT scan.

Walker said an ER nurse was in traffic behind them and came to the scene to stabilize her mother’s head until West Manatee Fire Rescue arrived. A doctor at the scene also assisted. She said her family was blessed to have these two people nearby, and the three of them all learned a lesson they want to share with anyone who will listen.

“Wear seatbelts on these carts, please,” Walker said. “Please, please, please! Don’t crash through a windshield, or wind up in the hospital with a bruised chest or far worse; just wear a seatbelt.”

Walker, who admits none of them were belted, hopes her story will inspire people to remember that just because they are in vacation mode and the Island is a virtual paradise, no amount of white sand or palm trees makes a car, truck or SUV weigh one ounce less or makes them immune from causing a tragedy that could be possibly prevented by a simple click.

Island police departments also warn that not only is not wearing a seatbelt on an LSV dangerous, it’s also illegal, and tickets are written in all three Island cities.

Beach House employee killed in Bradenton shooting

Beach House employee killed in Bradenton shooting

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON – A Manatee High School wrestler and employee of the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach was tragically killed in a March 8 shooting in Bradenton.

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO) Public Information Officer Randy Warren said a suspect in the shooting has been arrested. The victim, Jann Michael Feeney, 17, known to friends and family as J.M., was said by friends and family to be a talented athlete with a great level of sportsmanship and a hard worker loved by his Beach House co-workers and many friends.

Shortly after 7 p.m. on March 8, MCSO deputies responded to a report of a shooting with injuries. When they arrived they found a 17-year-old male lying in the backyard of a residence with a gunshot wound to his chest. Deputies performed life-saving measures until EMS responded. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Witnesses told detectives multiple teenagers were hanging out in the backyard of a residence in the 5900 block of Eighth Avenue Drive West, Bradenton,” Warren said. “Through investigative means, detectives developed probable cause early the morning of March 9 to arrest Carter Layne, 17, for Manslaughter with a Firearm. He was taken into custody at his home in Parrish.”

Warren also said the investigation continues, and his department believes there are more individuals who were at the scene and may have information that will help paint the picture of exactly what happened. MCSO is currently working to speak with those individuals. According to Warren, alcohol was present at the party.

“This is exactly why guns can’t be in these types of situations,” Warren said. “This is a tragic case of a loss of life that could have been prevented, and our hope is to not see it happen again.”

The Beach House set up a GoFundMe page for the Feeney family with a goal of $12,500. As of the time this story was written, they had raised more than $30,000.

A celebration of life was held at The Center of Anna Maria Island on March 16, where friends and family gathered to remember the young man who was taken from them too soon. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Feeney family can visit https://gofund.me/bdac2632.

Warren also said the investigation continues, and his department believes there are more individuals that were at the scene and may have information that will help paint the picture of exactly what happened. MCSO is currently working to speak with those individuals. According to Warren, alcohol was present at the party.

“This is exactly why guns can’t be in these types of situations,” Warren said. “This is a tragic case of a loss of life that could have been prevented, and our hope is to not see it happen again.”

The Beach House set up a GoFundMe page for the Feeney family with a goal of $12,500 goal. As of the time this story was written, they had raised more than $30,000. There was also a celebration of life held at the Center of Anna Maria Island March 16, where friends and family gathered to remember the young man who was taken from them for too soon. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Feeney family can go to https://gofund.me/bdac2632. 

Bradenton Beach logo

Commissioners consider more paid parking lots

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following their approval to draft a contract with Beach to Bay Investments Inc. for a paid parking lot across from the Public Works Department, commissioners postponed a decision on March 7 on a second set of bids for paid parking in multiple city lots.

Request for Proposal (RFP) 2024-04 went out for bid to provide paid parking in areas that included all of Bridge Street, an after-hours parking lot to the east and west side of the police department, the city hall parking lot, the area around the pickleball court on Highland Avenue (with free passes to pickleball players), the shared parking lot with Silver Resorts at First Street North, Gulfside parking spaces near the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge and future options at the Tingley Library, if the building is raised to create parking.

“On Bridge Street, the majority of people parking are employees there and shoppers can’t get a space,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. “The parking near the Moose, those are prime beach spots.”

Perry said two bids were received.

“SP Municipal Services offered a 65/35 split to the city,” Perry said. “The city would receive 65% of net revenue. They haven’t told me costs.”

The second bidder, Beach to Bay Investments Inc., offered three choices. Developer Shawn Kaleta, president of Beach to Bay, is a principal in the recently-approved Bridge Street hotel resort project.

“They recognize they will be having the hotel up and operating with valet service, they would utilize their valet system to get people parked,” Perry said, adding they would provide shuttle and trash services.

Beach to Bay offered three options to the city. All of the options included the bidder taking on all improvement costs.

1) A lump sum payment of $100k per year;

2) An annual payment of $50,000 with 25% of profits;

3) A 50/50 split.

Beach to Bay asked for a 15-year lease term.

“That’s a lot to look at,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said. “I’d like to see more public input.”

Cole said he would like to know more of the operational costs.

“The costs of improvement are the responsibility of Beach to Bay, but will that be part of the profit costs?” Cole asked.

“My understanding is they’re eating that cost up front, but that needs to be fleshed out,” Perry said.

Cole said he would have a difficult time making such a big decision without additional thought and information.

“I think we’re all in agreement to postpone this to flesh out some things,” Mayor John Chappie said.

Commissioner Marilyn Maro, who telephoned into the meeting, spoke in favor of holding a work meeting.

“It’s such a big issue it needs its own one-agenda meeting,” Cole said.

“We will hold the selection of the bidder under 2024-04 in advance and to be considered in a work meeting to be scheduled by the city clerk,” Perry read as a motion.

The motion passed unanimously.

“We are under a cone of silence so the bidders may not communicate or lobby in any way shape or form,” Perry reminded commissioners at the conclusion of the meeting.

David Bell resigns from CRA board

David Bell resigns from CRA board

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Following the end of a March 6 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting during which board member David Bell criticized many of the agency’s methods and policies, Bell handed City Clerk Terri Sanclemente a pre-written letter of resignation.

He noted in his letter that he is leaving while the board is in a comfortable financial position but had the following comments on methods and projects:

“I never have agreed with the prioritizing of cars over people as the focus of the city,” he wrote. “To believe that day visitors to the city are a greater asset than the people who have chosen to live or rent in Bradenton Beach makes no sense to me.”

Bell is a resident of Bradenton Beach and has been a CRA board member for five years.

He wrote that there has been too much focus on parking versus circulation, accessibility, safety, environmental issues and aesthetics.

Bell went on to comment about Bridge Street development in his letter:

“Likewise, the millions of dollars in commitment to the merchants of Bridge Street to supply more business, add parking, support special events, install landscaping and provide security as well as the city’s latitude on code and contract violations has clearly not been universally rewarded,” Bell wrote. “For years, the return on that investment has been that both ends of Bridge Street and the Third Street South corridor – a huge section of our commercial district – have been an embarrassment to the city. I expected better. The CRA should demand better.”

“I’m sorry to see him leave, I really am,” Mayor John Chappie said, declining further comment on Bell’s letter.

Created on Feb. 5, 1992 by the City of Bradenton Beach, the CRA provides financial assistance to the city to create public projects.

In addition to Chairman Ralph Cole, the CRA board is comprised of Chappie as vice chair, local businessman Ed Chiles and City Commissioners Jan Vosburgh and Marilyn Maro.

Commissioners approve paid parking lot

Commissioners approve paid parking lot

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved a bid from Beach to Bay Investments Inc. on March 7 to improve a city parking lot and begin charging for parking.

Request for Proposal 2024-03 pertains to the parking lot between Church and Highland avenues directly across from the city’s Public Works department.

“It is our public works parking lot, it is largely unfinished and was in need of someone to come up with a design,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. “We received one bid that came in.”

Developer Shawn Kaleta is president of Beach to Bay Investments Inc.

Perry, Public Works Director Tom Woodard and City Treasurer Shayne Thompson evaluated the bid favorably based on background and experience, references, business plan, financials, bid details and project timeline.

Police Chief John Cosby participated in the evaluation by telephone.

“They came up with 21 standard spots, two ADA and 10 golf cart spots,” Perry said. “My understanding is if the city blesses the plan, they are prepared within a month’s time to get the construction completed on the site for paid parking.”

Three options were presented by the bidder for commission consideration, all with parking lot improvements to be made at the bidder’s cost.

1) A payment to the city of $48,000 per year;

2) A $24,000 lump sum payment annually to the city and 25% of the proceeds from the paid parking;

3) A 50/50 split of parking proceeds.

Perry said she, Woodard, Thompson and Cosby were leaning toward the second option, as it will provide guaranteed income to the city.

“We like that blended model, but this is all in your court to do anything you want,” Perry said.

Beach to Bay Investments asked for a lease term of 15 years and will provide insurance and indemnification, Perry said.

“The city needs flexibility, being committed for 15 years with no out is something that needs to be looked at by the city,” Perry said.

Sam Negrin, who represents Beach to Bay, spoke at the meeting.

“We own the property next door, the Bradenton Beach Marina,” Negrin said. “Part of our proposal was we’d like to offer nighttime security, 24/7 security to this parking lot as well.”

Negrin said the bidder is flexible as to terms.

“That 15 years, we might want to look at more of a trial period, less than 15, that’s for sure,” Mayor John Chappie said. “We’d like to look at a cap on what we charge per hour.”

Pricing would change during the time of the year, Negrin said.

“I think there needs to be a shorter term so we can make adjustments along the way, if need be,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said.

Cole questioned the ability of the city to track revenue and Perry said the city would have the right to audit.

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked what the parking rates would be and Negrin said that was open to discussion with the city.

“That’s something we could certainly put a cap on,” Negrin said. “I don’t know what we’re going to charge there yet. The lot across from Beach House charges $5-$10 an hour, so I think it will be somewhere in that range.”

Cole said he would like to know what the hourly charges are in order to make a determination as to which plan to accept.

“I like what I’m hearing so far,” Chappie said. “The security, the nighttime cameras, that’s big.”

Commissioners discussed the three revenue options as well as proposed lease terms and an exit plan for the city.

“I do take into consideration we’re getting the parking lot redone and that’s worth a nice chunk of money,” Chappie said. “I’m sure in the negotiation we’ll have a figure they’d like to recoup if we decide to part ways.”

The commission agreed to a five-year lease with options to renew twice at five years each.

Cole said he was in favor of the 50/50 split option.

“I’m fine with the 50/50 split,” Chappie said.

“If you charge $5 that’s $500 for eight hours – that’s good money,” Cole said.

Vosburgh agreed to the 50/50 split.

A fully negotiated contract will be presented at the next commission meeting, Perry said.

“A motion to accept the recommendation to evaluate Beach to Bay as the number one bidder for RFP 2024-03 public parking and to select Beach to Bay for parking services under RFP 2024-03 and to direct the city attorney to prepare a contract with Beach to Bay,” was read by Perry and was approved unanimously by commissioners.

Commissioner Marilyn Maro telephoned into the meeting.

Editorial: Strange changes

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

Anna Maria Island beachgoers lost their beloved fishing pier at Manatee Beach in 2009. There were some good reasons; principally, it was a safety hazard due to its deteriorating condition, lifeguards said. But for those who remember learning to surf there, it was like a death.

Within the next three months, the Island is about to lose the beloved treehouse at Angelino’s Sea Lodge. There are some good reasons for that too – for one, the owners never got a permit from the city of Holmes Beach before building it. But fans who come back year after year always ask the same thing: “Is the treehouse still here?”

Last week, we lost the beloved red train caboose at Anna Maria Elementary School, which for nearly 40 years was the school’s unofficial mascot (the official mascot is the dolphin). There was again a good reason; it was deteriorating due to the salt air.

Old Australian pines were recently removed on Coquina Beach, leaving pedestrians in the sun instead of the shade, but the good reason was that their roots were buckling the sidewalk.

Pines Trailer Park residents in Bradenton Beach – and many islanders – fear losing the old-Florida-style park now that new, development-minded owners have purchased it. Progress may be a good reason to some, but not so good to others.

Losing the Gregg Allman-era vibe on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach with the recent demolition of the historic Magnolia Inn and several other buildings soon to be replaced with a bigger, better hotel – ditto.

When they got rid of the automobile ferry to Anna Maria Island after the first bridge to the island was built – which happened within the lifetime of some elders who are still with us – those folks shook their heads, but they faced the strange changes.

Y’all, listen up.

The only constant in life is change.

Sometimes, it’s for a good reason. Sometimes, a bad one. Sometimes, it’s for an anguished but necessary reason, like using the nuclear bomb to end WWII. Sometimes, it’s for a selfish reason. Sometimes, a greedy reason. Sometimes, for no apparent reason at all.

Back in the day, Anna Maria Island used to be pronounced Anna “Mar-eye-ah” Island. That changed too.

Love AMI now, because – like everything else in life – we will eventually lose what we thought it was to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. And again and again, we will have to let it go.

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Commissioners discuss expanding city boundaries in ICW

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Commissioners reached no conclusions on Feb. 15 while discussing expanding the city’s boundaries in the Intracoastal Waterway to increase jurisdiction over the city’s mooring field.

The discussion arose from Bradenton Beach Marina’s offer to partner with the city to act as harbormaster, provide pump-out service and coordinate payment for the mooring field.

City attorney Ricinda Perry presented the idea of a partnership with the marina at a Feb. 1 city commission meeting.

Mayor John Chappie said at the Feb. 15 meeting that one of the concerns would be vessels moving south to avoid regulations in the mooring field.

He lauded local law enforcement for removing abandoned and derelict vessels from the waters off Bradenton Beach.

“We’ve been leaders in the area in the ability to get rid of abandoned and derelict boats and I wanted to say thank you to the marine patrol,” Chappie said.

“Part one is figuring out what we want to do with the mooring field area,” Perry said. “We’ve had discussions in the past about having stronger regulations as it relates to the floating dock. If you’re going to have the mooring field, will those vessels drift into other parts of the city where regulations can’t be put into place or enforcement can’t be made available as easily since they’re not within the municipal boundaries.”

Commission Jan Vosburgh expressed concerns about the propensity of boats to move southward if there is a mooring field.

“We have to think about the residents, not just what’s going to happen on Bridge Street where we have the pier. It’s not fair to the residents who are living further south,” she said. “I’m against a mooring field.”

Commissioner Marilyn Maro phoned into the meeting and asked if the Bradenton Beach mooring field would be like the one in Sarasota.

“It won’t be near as large as Sarasota,” Chappie said.

The expansion would bring the city-designated water area to 14th Street South, just south of the Coquina mooring, 500 feet out to the Intracoastal Waterway, Chappie said.

Cole noted that the expansion would allow tougher restrictions in that area.

“The annexation part will cover all those waters so our marine patrol would be legally allowed to enter those waters,” Chappie said.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby addressed Vosburgh’s concerns.

“The majority of boats you’re referring to come from Sarasota when Sarasota enacted their mooring area, they moved this way,” Cosby said. “To say that those boats move from our field is not true. There’s one there now and we’re taking care of that one.”

Cosby said boundary expansion should happen before the discussion of a mooring field.

“The mooring makes no sense to me. I don’t think the water’s deep enough to get the kind of boats you need in there to make any money,” Cosby said. “And all that seagrass that was put in there, we’ve done channeling so no boats can go there. To make it profitable, I don’t think it’s possible, I don’t know.”

A work session will be scheduled to continue the discussion.

City commission to consider paid parking lots

City commission to consider paid parking lots

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – If approved by the city commission on Feb. 15, paid parking will cover much of the footprint of a future 106-room hotel/restaurant/retail complex for the next year.

A temporary use application dated Jan. 29 was submitted for city commission approval by developer Shawn Kaleta to allow paid parking lots at 101 and 105 Bridge St., 219 Gulf Drive S. and 106 Third St. from Feb. 1, 2024 through Feb. 1, 2025.

The agenda item is listed under new business for the upcoming city commission meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15 at noon at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.

A rendering of the proposed parking submitted to commissioners shows approximately 90 parking spaces.

A pay-by-plate parking lot on 219 Gulf Drive S. opened recently, with posted parking rates of $15 per hour. The property, along with 101 and 105 Bridge St., is zoned commercial C-2. 106 Third Street South is zoned commercial C-1.

On Dec. 7, Kaleta and hotel co-applicant, former Bradenton Beach commissioner Jake Spooner, received city commission approval for the hotel, which will include a 60-seat restaurant, 5,396 square feet of retail space and 154 on-site parking spaces.

The hotel property is situated on 1.61 acres and located at 101, 105 and 117 Bridge St. and 106, 108, 110 and 112 Third St. S.

On Dec. 11, demolition began on the building at 219 Gulf Drive S., the location of the former Joe’s Eats N Sweets. On Jan. 13, 101 Bridge St., formerly the Freckled Fin, was demolished. The building on 105 Bridge St., formerly the site of the Magnolia Inn, was demolished on Jan. 26.

Bradenton Beach permit technician Annabre Veal said on Dec. 27 that a demolition permit application for the Fudge Factory at 117 Bridge St. had been submitted but was missing some information at that time.

In love with luxury

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

Happy Valentine’s Day! Every year this day is put aside for the lovers of the world and the greeting card companies. But this year, deep-pocket lovers have even more to be in love with, since luxury real estate has a new benchmark of an outrageous $100 million.

Granted, this number isn’t for everyone. In fact, only 5% of the overall housing market is defined as luxury, but we can all dream, can’t we? Based on how quickly Anna Maria properties have increased in value over the past three years, why shouldn’t $100 million be the new norm for a narrow percentage of the population?

According to The Wall Street Journal, since 2020, at least 24 homes nationwide have traded for $100 million and up. Florida has had a dramatic increase in nine-figure transactions in recent years. Since 2020, three homes over $100 million have changed hands in New York City compared with six in and around Palm Beach. Tampa is also benefiting from the ultrarich due to the lack of available luxury properties in the Miami area. Tampa’s sales have been boosted by 35.8% in the luxury market during the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same period last year, bringing in buyers who were disappointed with the availability of high-end homes on the east coast of Florida.

In 2023, there was a record set for a sale in Florida of $170 million. A broker selling high-end properties in Palm Beach said there are more billionaires than there are oceanfront estates to sell them. Don’t get too comfortable with the $100 million benchmark, $200 million is waiting in the wings as the number of billionaires around the world grows. There were 3,194 billionaires in 2023, up from 2,170 in 2013, according to the wealth research firm Wealth X.

The ultra-rich aren’t much different from any buyer. Not comfortable with the higher interest rates, especially for jumbo loans, they’re using cash to buy their estates. These cash buyers are propping up the overall real estate market, shifting from a downturn in late 2021. According to Redfin, the median luxury sale price during the third quarter of 2023 rose 9% year-over-year to $1.1 million, almost three times the annual jump for nonluxury homes, which rose only 3.3% during the same period. The median price is the mid-point of sale prices; half of the sales are above and half are below.

Redfin also reports that 42.5% of luxury buyers paid cash during the third quarter of 2023 compared to 34.6% during the same period the previous year. In the third quarter of 2023, only 28% of nonluxury homes sold for cash. In addition, inventory of luxury homes rose 2.9% during the third quarter of 2023 compared to a decline of 20.8% for nonluxury homes nationwide.

If there’s a lesson to be learned here, it’s that wealthy people watch their money the same as the rest of us and use cash if the numbers make sense. It also means that it’s far better to be rich and have the option of an all-cash offer on a property.

Be careful, the ultrarich will be coming for your home when the inventory of appropriate billionaire estates runs out, and Anna Maria Island is prime for their next stop. Nevertheless, the Gulf of Mexico that we all love is the same whether your home is a cottage for $1 million or a sprawling estate for $100 million. Luxury is in the eye of the beholder.

Year in Review: Tourism

Tourist tax collections reveal mixed results in AMI’s cities

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Taxes, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Tourism in the city of Anna Maria was up in all 12 months of 2023 over 2022, according to tourist tax collection statistics from the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office.

The Island’s other two cities did not experience the same boon.

Bradenton Beach tourist tax collections were down in every month but August, which showed approximately a 3% increase from August 2022.

In Holmes Beach, tourist tax collections were down in every month but September, which showed no change, and October, which showed approximately an 8% increase from October 2022.

Anna Maria brought in $3,070,039 in tourist tax collections in 2023, up 20.3% from $2,552,183 in 2022.

Bradenton Beach tourist tax collections totaled $1,620,837 in 2023, down 6% from $1,724,637 in 2022.

Holmes Beach brought in the lion’s share at $7,816,520 last year, down 13.6% from $9,045,714 in 2022.

The tourist tax is one of the most accurate indicators of whether tourism has increased, decreased, or remained steady from year to year.

Each month, Manatee County’s 5% tourist tax is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists.

About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also partially funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers.

2023 Manatee County tourist tax collections compared to 2022

 

JANUARY

Anna Maria up 12%

Bradenton Beach down 3%

Holmes Beach down 24%

Manatee County up 27%

FEBRUARY

Anna Maria up 36%

Bradenton Beach down 2%

Holmes Beach down 7%

Manatee County up 19%

MARCH

Anna Maria up 26%

Bradenton Beach down 6%

Holmes Beach down 5%

Manatee County up 21%

APRIL

Anna Maria up 29%

Bradenton Beach down 3%

Holmes Beach down 10%

Manatee County up 12%

MAY

Anna Maria up 18%

Bradenton Beach down 6%

Holmes Beach down 11%

Manatee County up 8%

JUNE

Anna Maria up 18%

Bradenton Beach down 4%

Holmes Beach down 11%

Manatee County up 11%

JULY

Anna Maria up 21%

Bradenton Beach down 17%

Holmes Beach down 14%

Manatee County down 2%

AUGUST

Anna Maria up 33%

Bradenton Beach up 3%

Holmes Beach down 5%

Manatee County up 11%

SEPTEMBER

Anna Maria up 16%

Bradenton Beach down 3%

Holmes Beach 0%

Manatee County down 10%

OCTOBER

Anna Maria up 10%

Bradenton Beach down 14%

Holmes Beach up 8%

Manatee County down 30%

NOVEMBER

Anna Maria up 15%

Bradenton Beach down 1%

Holmes Beach down 1%

Manatee County down 16%

DECEMBER

Anna Maria up 6%

Bradenton Beach down 15%

Holmes Beach down 14%

Manatee County down 12%

 

Source: Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office

Marina seeks partnership with city on mooring field

Marina seeks partnership with city on mooring field

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – In what was described as a potential public/private partnership to protect the city’s dinghy docks and control derelict vessels, City Attorney Ricinda Perry presented an offer to city commissioners from a local marina.

“I was approached today by the marina, the former Bazzy marina, who said, ‘Why don’t you throw mooring balls out there?’ ” Perry said at the Feb. 1 city commission meeting.

A harbormaster and a pump-out comes at an extreme cost, which is why the city had dropped the idea in the past, Perry said.

“So today the marina said, ‘Would you be interested in us helping you with the mooring balls? And what we can do is basically act as your harbormaster, provide the pump-out service and deal with the people that are paying?’ “ Perry said, adding, “And something else to think about is the amount you charge people, which they would enforce for us. Which would make it so a particular clientele would be able to afford that mooring ball.”

Perry said the city doesn’t have the resources or staff, but with the help of the marina, the mooring field could be a revenue source for the city and the marina, and would potentially clean up the area.

She told commissioners if they were not opposed to the idea, she would put the item on a work meeting agenda.

Commissioner Ralph Cole said, “There’s a lot of pros and cons to this. When we talked about it before, we talked about the cost and how the city was going to maintain it. That would have been really difficult for the city to maintain it.”

Cole said he would like to know the details and the cost involved.

Derelict boats have been an issue in the harbor, and a priority for Bradenton Beach police.

“The police have done a very good job,” Cole said. “We had 47 derelict boats out there at one time, and it takes time to clean all this stuff up.”

“To remove a derelict vessel is extremely expensive,” Perry said. “We can regulate those people who are living on them. Do we want people there who have slammed into our floating dock so many times? I love the private partnership that targets those who are living out there.”

A discussion of the mooring field offer as well as the potential expansion of the city’s boundary jurisdiction on the water, which is currently at 500 feet from shore, will be considered by the city commission in the future, according to Mayor John Chappie.