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Tingley Memorial Library

Tingley library elevating for parking spaces

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The creation of needed public parking by elevating or moving the Tingley Library was discussed at both the city commission and Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings.

The scope of funding for various portions of the proposed parking project is to be divided with CRA funds used for some of the parking and city funding for elevating or moving the building itself, along with some of the costs associated with parking. The Tingley funds left to the city are earmarked for any improvements to the library building.

The city-owned library was built in the early 1990s using $240,000 of the $678,801 that Beulah Hannah Hooks Tingley bequeathed to the city in 1986 to create a public reading room. The library isn’t part of the county library system.

At the Sept. 6 CRA meeting, members acknowledged the need for public parking, but one member questioned whether CRA funds should be used for the design build project.

“I asked for this to be put on the agenda,” Mayor and CRA member John Chappie said. “The best solution would be to come up with a design build and relocating of the Tingley Library to utilize the square footage of the lot to create the largest amount of parking spaces in that area.  The RFP (request for proposal) would cover the engineering design aspects.”

He requested approval to have City Attorney Ricinda Perry to draft an RFP.

“We’ve talked about it, I think we need to do it,” Chappie said. “I think funds are available in the Tingley Library bequeath for the library itself. And there’s some other funds I think would be available through the CRA.”

“If we do end up doing paid parking it would probably pay for itself in no time,” Jake Spooner said.

Member Ed Chiles suggested city hall modifications should be considered also.

“It seems to me you would take advantage of that opportunity and study city hall as well,” he said.

Chappie said the discussion is just dealing with the library and the property the library is on.

“Over the last several years, we’ve discussed city hall,” Chappie said. “It would appear over the years that in the majority of discussions, people do not want to get rid of city hall.”

“I’m not talking about getting rid of city hall but seeing it survives a storm,” Chiles said.

“We’re not allowed to use city funds for city hall,” Chappie said.

Chiles suggested cost-sharing as an alternative.

“We’ve got a very vulnerable city hall,” he said. “We’ve got sea level rise and storm surge. If we get hit hard city hall’s in trouble.”

Chappie made a motion to direct Perry to prepare an RFP for a design build for Tingley Library to elevate, relocate, create a parking lot area, with regards to stormwater and possible landscaping.

The motion was seconded by Spooner.

“I don’t feel the design or the modification of city buildings is a good fit for the CRA,” member David Bell said. “I understand how you’re trying to get parking and I can see how the CRA could participate in funding some of that parking.  But to do the modifications on the building it seems out of our charter here.”

Perry explained how funding between entities would be allocated.

“To the extent you have engineering costs to elevate the building so you can have parking, you have engineering costs so you can lay out a parking lot, those are all direct costs to create parking,” Perry said. “Any costs to modify the building, those are city funds and could also come from the bequeath.”

The motion was passed by a vote of 3-2, with Bell and Chiles casting the dissenting votes.

City Commission meeting

At its Sept.7 meeting, the city Commission approved the issuance of a design build Request for Proposal (RFP) to elevate or relocate the Tingley Library to create ground-level parking under the building. The parking area could possibly accommodate 20-25 spaces, according to Mayor John Chappie.

CRA member Ralph Cole made the motion at the meeting to approve the issuance and posting of an RFP for relocating the Tingley Library.

“I’ll move to approve issuance of a design build RFP to relocate the Tingley Library and to direct Ricinda Perry to draft and post an RFP,” Cole said.

CRA member Jan Vosburgh seconded the motion.

During public comment, Bradenton Beach resident Marcelyn Harman questioned the elevation of the library.

“I walk in that area, and I know the library has a pie-shaped area in the back of it to the east,” Harmon said. “Could there be parking spaces there instead of raising the building? We are getting a new roof on it and it looks amazing.”

Chappie responded to those concerns at the close of public comment.

“Land is so expensive we have to utilize every single inch that we have,” Chappie said. “It looks like we can get at least 20-25, maybe a few more, parking spaces. The land is too valuable just to leave it go as wasteful underneath it. Parking is at a premium.”

“We couldn’t afford to purchase that land now that’s for sure,” he added. “We need the parking. That’s the reason we’re choosing to go forward.”

“We have some funds lined up to pay for this hopefully,” he said. “The RFP is going to give us a lot of answers to unknowns at this point.”

“The RFP will address all the concerns the member of the public has,” Perry said. “It’s more of an information gathering, planning aspect,”

The motion passed unanimously among commission members, who in addition to Chappie, Cole and Vosburgh, included Commissioner Jake Spooner.

Azure Shores ordinance headed to city commission

Azure Shores ordinance headed to city commission

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

BRADENTON BEACH – An ordinance that will fix existing zoning map and future land use map inconsistencies for 23 properties in the Azure Shores subdivision is ready for city commission review and approval.

The city’s zoning map and future land use map designations determine how a property can be developed or developed. The Azure Shores properties are the first of many properties in Bradenton Beach with map inconsistencies the city wants to cure. The map inconsistencies could result in land use disputes or legal challenges that question whether the zoning map or the future land use map prevails when the two are inconsistent.

On Sept. 6, the Bradenton Beach Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended city commission approval of Ordinance 23-550. The ordinance contains new text amendments that would make the zoning map and future land use map designations for 23 Azure Shores properties consistent with each other.

The ordinance adds R-3 (multiple-family dwelling) as an implementing zoning district for the retail/office/residential (R/O/R) future land use category in the land development code. It also adds bed and breakfasts and hotels/motels as permitted uses in the R-3 district if the underlying future land use category is high-density residential.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Building Official Steve Gilbert said the text amendments also clarify that commercial uses for a bed and breakfast, a hotel, or a motel would only be allowed where the underlying land use is high-density residential.

“The underlying land use here is ROR, so bed and breakfast, hotels/motels will not be allowed in this section of Azure Shores,” Gilbert said.

Third Street North resident Evelyn Stob was the only potentially impacted property owner to attend Wednesday’s meeting. During public input, she sought clarification on the potential impacts for affected property owners.

In response, Gilbert said, “The zoning map will not change. It will stay R-3 high-density residential. The future land use map will not change. It will stay ROR (retail/office/residential). We’re not changing the maps at all. What we are doing is by text saying that the R-3 high-density residential zone district will partially implement the underlying ROR land use.”

Gilbert said there would be no financial impacts for the affected Azure Shores property owners regarding property taxes, assessed property values and fire district assessments.

Stob asked why a small section of the Azure Shores subdivision, south of Third Street North, is excluded from the area being addressed by the ordinance.

Gilbert said the Azure Shores subdivision extends from First Street North to the Cortez Bridge, and from the Gulf of Mexico to Sarasota Bay. The proposed text amendments would not apply to some properties along Second Street North.

“We had one applicant that wanted the zoning designation to change to remove that 25-foot setback requirement that only applies to the R-3 zone district. That’s a separate issue for the Planning and Zoning Board to address at some point,” Gilbert said. “The R-1 district front yard setbacks are 20 feet. The R-2 front yard setbacks are 20 feet. Commercial can be as low as zero and typically it’s 20 feet and R-3 is 25 for some reason.”

After the meeting ended, Gilbert explained that a property owner on Second Street North wanted to build a small deck above his swimming pool, and the current 25-foot setback requirement would only allow for a very small deck.

“Eventually we’ll do the rest of Azure Shores as well,” Gilbert said. “At that point, it behooves these folks to say we’ll keep it R-3 but we’ll give you a 20-foot front yard setback.”

Several months ago, a representative of the Chiles Hospitality group expressed the group’s desire to create a designated parking lot at the corner of Highland Avenue and Third Street North. That property is located in the Azure Shores subdivision and carries the R-3 zoning designation that prohibits standalone parking lots. Gilbert said Chiles Hospitality can accomplish their goal by initiating a comprehensive plan change and/or rezoning the property.

Where have all the volunteers gone?

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

Election season is coming up and it’s a strange one this year on Anna Maria Island, mainly because there are no elections being held in any of the three cities. All the qualified candidates are incumbents, leaving no reason for voters to go to the polls in November.

Either residents are happy with their current elected officials or are there no more willing volunteers on the Island.

It may be the latter.

Holmes Beach commissioners are about to amend their city’s charter because only one person qualified to run for the five-person 2024 Charter Review Commission. In Anna Maria, the historic preservation board just dropped its numbers down to three people so that it only takes two volunteers showing up to have a quorum.

Are Island residents just not taking an interest in their city governments anymore or is the lack of volunteers due to residents leaving the Island?

While city leaders in Holmes Beach say their population grew over the past year, U.S. Census data from 2021, the most recent data publicly available, shows a drop in full-time residents across the Island.

Drops in population combined with a lack of willing candidates to run for office could signal a shift that some Manatee County and state leaders are looking for, one that would indicate the three Island cities are ripe for consolidation.

Our communities need some volunteers to step up to work on committees and run for office. Otherwise, it may just be the straw that breaks the Island’s back.

Island consolidation back on table

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The threat of consolidation of the three Island cities isn’t over. Members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation have warned Island mayors that they’re getting ready to start up talks again at an October meeting.

In an Aug. 21 letter, delegation members Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Rep. Will Robinson (R-Bradenton) sent a letter to all three Island mayors noting that they’re ready to initiate a Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study, known as OPPAGA, to “focus on the potential benefits of combining the three municipalities of Anna Maria Island, which encompasses the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach.”

The letter is in response to Jan. 30 talks with the mayors about the possibility of combining city services. In the Aug. 21 letter, Boyd and Robinson said they haven’t received a major update from the mayors and blamed Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth.

“We understand the mayor of Holmes Beach does not want to participate in the coordination talks, given it will be seen as a first step toward consolidation of the three Island cities,” the letter states, giving the mayors a deadline sometime prior to the delegation’s planned Oct. 5 meeting for a response.

In speaking to The Sun on Aug. 24, Titsworth said that she hasn’t stopped participating in any talks among the three Island mayors. In fact, she said she’s been hosting the ongoing talks at city hall in Holmes Beach.

“Staff is working on it,” she said of the process to combine or streamline some services. She noted that the building departments in all three cities are working to see how they can streamline their processes to make applying for permits in each municipality easier for homeowners and contractors. Though the mayors have all been participating in the talks, she said that at only about eight months in, they’re not at a point where any specific service has been identified for consolidation or streamlining.

“As mayors, we all have full plates,” she said, adding that the mayors are committed to all working together. She said that her city’s code compliance officers have helped to train code enforcement officers in the other cities.

“We’re not trying to be defiant,” Titsworth said. “This was just dropped on us in January. We’re trying to work on what the delegation has requested but they need to have some patience.”

One sticking point is that Titsworth said she and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie are unwilling to give up their individual police departments, allowing those two cities to be patrolled only by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies who now provide law enforcement services to the city of Anna Maria. Titsworth said she’s happy with the services provided by the Holmes Beach Police Department and doesn’t want to change the law enforcement situation in the city.

As for the study, she said that it’s important to note that the example given in the letter from Boyd and Robinson of Longboat Key having had a study to determine if it should remain in two separate counties has a major difference from the one proposed on Anna Maria Island – the people of Longboat Key asked for the study.

“They asked for that study; we didn’t,” she said.

If state leaders insist on conducting the study on Anna Maria Island, Titsworth’s response is, “Bring it. I’d love to find ways to help save taxpayer money.” The letter states that the purpose of studying the benefits of consolidation would include saving taxpayer money and potentially reducing taxes for property owners.

While Titsworth said she was unable to attend an Aug. 24 Anna Maria Commission meeting, she said Mayor Dan Murphy had her approval to speak on her behalf giving an official response to the letter on behalf of all three mayors. She said the mayors met earlier in the day to discuss their response and decided that they’re in favor of the study if it can help save taxpayer money. However, they’re not in favor of consolidation of the three Island governments.

The topic of consolidation came as a surprise to the three mayors when the members of the state legislative delegation started the conversation at their Jan. 11 meeting, voting unanimously to approve the OPPAGA study for the Island. That was the same meeting in which the idea of sponsoring a bill to allow Manatee County commissioners to approve and build a parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach against the city’s land development code was initiated. That bill, HB 947, was passed earlier in the summer by the state Legislature after receiving unanimous votes in the House and Senate before gaining the approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

County sewer project enters second phase

County sewer project enters second phase

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Woodruff & Sons construction company is now working along 12th Street South as Manatee County’s extensive sewer improvement project in Bradenton Beach continues.

On Aug. 23, Community Outreach Representative Tina Allen issued her latest email update.

“The contractor has completed installation and switching over of services to the new sewer system on 11th Street South. The road has been reconstructed and is now open to vehicular traffic. Final paving will be performed simultaneously with other completed side streets,” she stated.

“Installation of the new gravity sewer pipe across Gulf Drive South, and east on 12th Street South, is now complete. 12th Street South will remain closed to traffic through late September 2023 as the contractor works to perform service connections and reconstruction of the road. A reserved parking area has been provided along the west of Gulf Drive South for use by residents and renters impacted by the 12th Street construction,” Allen stated in her update.

In her July 28 update, Allen noted the lateral connection line had been installed down the center of 11th Street South and that work completed phase one of the two-phase project.

In her July 28 update, Allen wrote, “On Thursday, July 27, 2023, the contractor began installing a new gravity sewer pipe across Gulf Drive South to the east side of Gulf Drive South at 12th Street South. To accommodate pipe installation, traffic lane shifts will remain in place through late August 2023 for the northbound and southbound travel lanes of Gulf Drive South.

Allen’s updates are emailed to subscribers and they’re also posted at the project website, https://amiprojects.io/projects/bradenton-beach-sewer-improvements.

Manatee County Public Works Director Chad Butzow provided a project update during the Aug. 1 Council of Governments meeting.

“We’ve learned a lot. Our public outreach consultant has done a very good job. It is very timely and has been well-received,” Butzow said of the project updates that Allen provides.

Butzow said the main gravity sewer line has been installed parallel to and west of Gulf Drive South and that portion of the project is completed. Lateral connection lines are being installed down the center of each connecting side street, from 12th Street South to Sixth Street South, resulting in those side streets being temporarily closed to vehicular traffic one street at a time. Butzow said there will not be any instances when two side streets are closed at the same time.

The project-related street closures will impact residents, vacationers and property owners as that work progresses from street to street in the coming weeks and months. For those unable to access their side streets by automobile, the county is providing free shuttle service between the designated Gulf Drive South parking areas and the impacted side streets. For more information on the shuttle service, please call 941-269-6699.

The county project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024.

Bradenton Beach declares state of emergency

Bradenton Beach declares state of emergency

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

BRADENTON BEACH – In advance of Tropical Storm Idalia, which is forecast to potentially make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s west coast, city commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 28 to declare a local state of emergency.

The state of emergency will remain in place until Tuesday, Sept. 5 and will be extended if needed.

“What we’re expecting now is a storm surge of 4-7 feet,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said. “Tuesday night around 1 a.m. is high tide. We’re going to have some water. That’s going to be our biggest issue. Winds anywhere from 35 (miles per hour) gusting to 73.”

At 2 p.m. Monday, a mandatory evacuation order was in place for Level A residents and all Manatee Couty residents in mobile home parks. The county also issued a voluntary Level B evacuation.

“The reason we’re issuing the evacuation order so soon is sometimes it takes people a while to get out,” Cosby said. “You don’t have to go at that time. You’re probably going to be pretty comfortable staying here through tomorrow (Tuesday). But tomorrow night is when you really need to start thinking about it.”

Cosby suggested people closely monitor the weather forecast.

“The concern is if it shifts to the right, we’re going to have a problem,” he said. “The best situation for us is it moves a little more to the left. The further away the better.”

He said city businesses, along with city hall, will be closed Aug. 29-30. Manatee County government offices closed at noon on Monday.

“There are three shelters open – Miller, Freedom and Mills,” Cosby said.

Virgil Mills Elementary School is located at 7200 69th St. E., Palmetto; Jesse P. Miller Elementary School is located at 6014 Third St. W., Bradenton and Freedom Elementary School is located at 9515 FL-64, Bradenton.

City officials said public works staff is preparing for the storm by checking storm drains and code enforcement is clearing the beaches. Construction sites in the city also will be shut down.

Cosby said there would be extra police staff on duty.

Residents who do evacuate Anna Maria Island will need to show a driver’s license as proof of residency upon return, Cosby said.

Castles in the Sand

High-end properties show blow-out numbers

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

Every day I look at new listings on Anna Maria Island and in Cortez, and every day I’m surprised and ask myself when it will end. In the years leading up to COVID-19, I would analyze over $1 million properties listed on the Island and in Cortez. Now that exercise seems quaint, almost peculiar and it all changed in a short three-year period.

Because of these extraordinary listing numbers, which I see every day, I did a quick analysis of available properties in the three cities of Anna Maria Island and Cortez, researched on the Realtor.com website as of this writing. Rather than use $1 million as my breaking point, I upped it to $3 million, so get ready for this:

The city of Anna Maria had 82 properties listed, 44 of which were $3 million or over, almost half. The top property was listed at $16,995,000. Every million-dollar category was represented, and, except for the very top listing, there wasn’t a big gap between the categories.

Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, which are combined by zip code on Realtor.com, had 179 properties listed, 45 of which were $3 million or over. The top listing number was $22,500,000 and, like Anna Maria, except for the very top, the listing prices represented every million-dollar category.

Even Cortez has a new listing at $3,750,000 with the rest of the 12 listings hovering in the mid- to high-million dollar range.

Sales of properties in the high-end market around the country are slowing. The high-end and luxury market nationwide is defined as the top 5% of homes and they’re suffering from the same issues the regular old real estate market is struggling with, low inventory and high interest rates.

Redfin’s analysis reports that in the first quarter of 2023, the sales of high-end properties were down by 33% from the first quarter of the previous year. They feel this is the result of the frenzy during the pandemic as well as inflation and a volatile stock market.

The markets with the biggest drop in transactions for the three months that ended June 30 are also the metro areas that were unstoppable during the pandemic: Miami was down 40.14%, Nassau County on New York’s Long Island was down 39.34%, New York City was down 35.98%, Los Angeles was down 36.17% and Chicago was down 34.13%.

Miami and New York City are starting to show signs of life. Miami is still recovering from the mass migration and buying frenzy during COVID-19, and inventory has not been resupplied. And New York is New York and will always come back to life with the suburban high-end areas around it following. However, it appears that Los Angeles and Chicago will take a little longer based on residents leaving Los Angeles for lower tax states and Chicago residents leaving because of crime.

Based on the number of pending properties, it looks like Anna Maria Island is also slowing but we are in the worst part of our off-season with heat alerts and record-breaking temperatures, so we won’t have a clear idea until later in the year. Typically, Anna Maria Island, and Florida in general, has outpaced most of the country in growth and the real estate market has followed along.

The combination of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach had 89 properties listed at $3 million or over, all on a 7-mile spit of land. I think I’ll stop asking myself where it will end because I don’t know and neither does anyone else. Such is the nature of real estate.

CRA votes to discontinue tram funding

CRA votes to discontinue tram funding

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board voted unanimously to discontinue funding the Old Town Tram at an Aug. 15 budget meeting.

The potential defunding of the tram comes on the heels of another free Anna Maria Island ride service, the Monkey Bus, which has temporarily shut down services while attempting to resolve insurance issues.

The Old Town Tram, a free park-and-ride shuttle service in the CRA district (from the Cortez Bridge to Fifth Street South), is supported by the CRA at a cost of $52,000 annually.

“We have $52,000 set aside for this as a recurring cost in our budget,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said during the budget discussion meeting. “Is this something that you’re looking at continuing? We have extended and extended and extended the trial period to see if this is a success.”

Launched as a pilot program in November 2020, the Old Town Trams were put in place to help address the lack of parking on and around Bridge Street. The program, using two electric golf carts, is provided by the Sarasota-based Easy Parking Group, owned by Joshua LaRose.

Perry noted that the tram agreement between the CRA and Easy Parking Group is on a month-to-month basis and could be closed this budget year.

“We have had a loose understanding of what is successful. We know that one of the main contributors to why this is not wildly successful is because of what is happening with the construction on the south end of the city,” Perry said, referring to an ongoing sewer project.

Perry noted that changes are coming with regard to Manatee County’s water taxi and she said she has had discussions with Elliott Falcione of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council about how people will make their way to the beach and back, and perhaps the county might want to be in partnership with that endeavor. Perry asked the board: “Do you feel the $52,000 is something you want to continue to invest in that project or is this something we need to look at tapering off and picking up potentially down the road?”

“I think that tram is a waste of money personally,” Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said. “I don’t see any benefit to that tram.”

Commissioner Ralph Cole expressed his belief that the tram service should be run privately.

“I think there’s enough interest out there that a private individual would buy the insurance to do it,” he said.

Mayor John Chappie echoed Cole’s sentiments.

“I’ve said all along that I thought the private sector could handle things. If the businesses want to provide some sort of tram, trolley system, golf carts, they should be the ones to do it,” Chappie said, adding, “We’ve tried this as an experiment. I don’t think it’s been all that successful.”

Chappie noted that a significant change throughout the Island in recent years is the rental of golf carts.

“That’s what the people are driving around in,” Chappie said. “The private sector needs to step up.”

The tram is partially funded by advertising sales.

“No one’s going to do that business,” Commissioner Jake Spooner said. “Josh is not covering his own costs. To think that service is going to keep happening from the private sector – I don’t think is going to happen.”

“If there’s money to be made, somebody will do it,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said.

Spooner said while he doesn’t feel the tram is successful, he thinks it could be more successful after a promenade is built and the ride service has a designated route.

“I think it does serve a purpose, and for $52,000 a year, that’s totally up to the board. My other thought is if we get rid of it and then we get the promenade, it’s hard to get things back,” Spooner said.

“Let’s see if that $52,000 is one of our priorities,” Chappie said. “Let’s move on and see how it shakes out.”

After a line-by-line discussion of other CRA-budgeted projects during the meeting, the tram was not among the approved expenditures.

LaRose declined to comment on the specifics of the CRA vote, but expressed the desire to continue the tram service.

“We would like to keep going,” he said, adding that he has reached out to the city to discuss options. “I haven’t heard back yet, but I have some ideas. We still have service going right now.”

LaRose said the two trams he has in service currently accommodate 4,000 riders a month off season and close to double that in season. One of those vehicles is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible.

“Right now, we have more value than ever with the construction limiting the amount of parking,” he said. “Our guys tell people where parking is so we’re also an information service.”

The CRA board unanimously approved the following expenditures: 300,000 for paid parking; $38,550 for a grant to monitor seagrass and $20,000 for future monitoring professional services; $300,000 for undergrounding; $40,000 for Christmas on Bridge Street; $25,000 for a fence at Anna Maria Oyster Bar; $10,000 for cultural arts; $75,000 for a resiliency project on Bay Drive South; $106,690 for cistern improvements; $30,000 for sidewalk improvements; $50,000 for district improvements, including trash cans, bike racks, planters and landscaping; $15,000 for signage in the CRA district; and $10,000 for additional improvements.

The next CRA budget meetings are tentatively scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 14 at 5 p.m.

Dog attack injures woman, kills dog

Dog attack injures woman, kills dog

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

BRADENTON BEACH – A woman and her small dog were attacked by an unleashed mastiff at Island Time Bar and Grill, 111 Gulf Drive S. on Aug. 9.

The dog later died, according to the owner.

Bradenton Beach Police Officer Thomas Ferrara was in the parking lot of Circle K at 103 Gulf Drive S. when he heard people screaming for help at the restaurant next door, according to a police report.

After calling for backup, he arrived at the scene and while trying to determine if a weapon was involved in the incident, he heard someone say it was a dog attack and people had been bitten, according to the report.

Ferrara saw a woman, who wished not to be identified, bleeding from her left leg and left middle finger. His attention was then directed to a man, identified as Anthony Santamauro, holding a large English mastiff dog he estimated to weigh more than 100 pounds. Santamauro was holding his shoulder but did not appear to be bleeding.

Video evidence

Due to conflicting stories from witnesses, Sgt. Steve Masi, who had arrived to provide backup, reviewed security footage from the bar revealing what had happened.

“After reviewing the video, I observed Mr. Santamauro enter the Island Time patio area with his dog (which the owner identified as a service dog), through a northwest doorway near the bar,” according to the police report. “Upon entering, Santamauro had the dog walking directly next to him. It appears the mastiff saw the very tiny dog approximately one-tenth its size leashed and sitting under the table with its female owner while she was eating dinner.”

The report goes on to say the unleashed mastiff grabbed the small dog in its jaws and begin shaking it and violently biting. When the small dog’s owner pulled it out of the larger dog’s mouth by pulling on the leash and trying to hold it in the air, the mastiff knocked the woman to the ground. Santamauro dove between the dogs and tried to separate them, at which time he fell face forward to the ground, landing on his shoulder, according to the report.

EMS arrived at the scene, but the female victim refused transport to the hospital for her injuries.

Police said the victim reported her dog later succumbed to its injuries and did not survive the attack. Sgt. Masi contacted animal control, which is investigating the incident.

Santamauro was issued a city ordinance violation. The female victim said she did not want Santamauro to be “in a lot of trouble,” but did want him to be responsible for any hospital treatment costs and other bills associated with the incident, according to the report.

Hillsborough Sergeant arrested in Bradenton Beach

Hillsborough sergeant arrested over parking space dispute

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

BRADENTON BEACH – A Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) sergeant is on administrative leave after being arrested and charged with obstruction without violence by Bradenton Beach police (BBPD) for allegedly escalating an argument over a parking space.

According to his report, BBPD Sgt. Steve Masi was investigating a fight on July 30 at 6 p.m. over two handicapped parking spaces at a condo complex involving large groups of people. A man later identified as HCSO Sgt. Brendan Fitzgerald claimed a man punched him, but that man claimed it was Fitzgerald that had struck and pushed him first and he wished to press charges. Masi obtained criminal complaints and witness statements from the 13 people involved in the incident, all of whom complied, except for Fitzgerald, according to the police report.

“Fitzgerald’s behavior went from calm to aggressive very fast and back down as we talked,” Masi said in his report. “He kept saying he was a Hillsborough sergeant and I should take note.”

Masi said he asked Fitzgerald many times to provide identification, but he refused. He then asked Fitzgerald’s girlfriend and family to convince him to identify himself, but he continued to refuse, stating, “I’m a sergeant, I know the law kid, and I’m not identifying.” Masi explained to him that he was investigating a crime that had taken place that he was involved in, and he was required to provide identification. After continuing to refuse after being asked more than 10 times, Fitzgerald was advised he was going to be arrested for obstruction as he knowingly and willfully was obstructing the investigation, according to the report.

“This is a joke and you’re a joke, you can’t take me for obstruction, learn your laws boy!” Fitzgerald allegedly responded.

After placing Fitzgerald under arrest and taking him to BBPD for processing, Masi radioed Officer Thomas Ferrara to come to the police station to observe and document the arrest and take detailed notes on any statements Fitzgerald made during the process. According to a separate report filed by Ferrara, Fitzgerald continued to be belligerent and insult both of the officers, saying things like he had worked with “idiots” like them in the past, and using graphic language.

Fitzgerald was taken to Manatee County Jail on an obstruction charge where he was later released on $120 bond. He is due to appear in court on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.

The HCSO issued the following statement regarding the arrest: “The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has placed a sergeant on administrative leave after he was arrested in Manatee County on July 30, 2023. Brendan Fitzgerald, 52, was charged with obstruction without violence by the Bradenton Beach Police Department after an argument over a parking spot.

“Sgt. Fitzgerald’s behavior is inexcusable,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “He will now face the consequences for his actions.”

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime Cortez and Bradenton Beach resident Marty Tupin passed away on Aug. 1, just a few weeks before his 63rd birthday.

Over the years, Marty was a commercial fisherman, a fiberglass and metal fabricator, an artist, a furniture maker, and more. After a portion of his right leg was amputated, Marty spent his final couple years as the ever-vigilant parking attendant at the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach, where he zipped around on his three-wheeled electric scooter supervising the sometimes challenging two-deep, tandem parking reserved for patrons only.

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Marty Tupin spent his final years patrolling the Drift In parking lot. – Submitted

The Drift In, 120 Bridge St., will host a celebration of life on Sunday, August 27, at 2 p.m. Attendees are invited to bring a dish to share and to share their memories of Marty.

Marty’s family will host a celebration of life at the Star Fish Company restaurant in Cortez, at 12306 46th Ave. W. on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Life’s challenges

Marty’s sister, Judy (Tupin) Mossorofo, lives in Venice with her husband, Charles Mossorofo, and they shared their insights on Marty’s colorful and sometimes challenging life.

Marty was born in Medina, Ohio. When he was about a year old and Judy was two, their parents were in an automobile accident in Butler, Georgia that killed their mom, Elsie, a former Manatee County schoolteacher.

Marty’s dad, Lynn, had family ties to the Cortez commercial fishing community and was a commercial fisherman himself. After the accident, he and the children moved to Manatee County, where the siblings lived with various family members before being placed in separate foster homes.

“All four of us got split up. We didn’t grow up together,” Judy said of their fractured family.

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Marty loved his son, Cory Herrick. – Submitted

Judy said Marty began his commercial fishing career in Cortez in the 1980s.

“He loved fishing and crabbing. His friends were commercial fishermen and shrimpers and he worked the docks at the AP Bell Fish Company. He loved catching fish and bringing them to all his friends. He fiber-glassed a lot of boats and he was really good at that. He mended nets too. He also loved painting, making metal sculptures and building and painting wooden chairs and benches. He loved working with his hands. He was very creative. He was a fabulous artist. He was a good father and he loved his dogs too,” Judy said.

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Marty Tupin spent many years working as a commercial fisherman. – Submitted

Judy can’t remember exactly when it happened, but she said Marty was in a motorcycle accident that seriously injured his right leg and impacted the rest of his life.

“Later, his leg hurt so bad that he couldn’t walk. It got so badly infected that they had to cut the foot off at the ankle. It then spread up his leg and more of his leg was amputated because of bad circulation and sepsis,” Judy said, noting some toes on his left foot were later amputated too.

In mid-July, Marty became seriously ill and was hospitalized. His left leg was amputated in an attempt to save his life and he was later moved to Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton where he spent his final days, visited by family and friends.

Regarding his late brother-in-law, Charles said, “I’m from New York City. I met Marty 23 years ago when I first came down here with Judy. This guy was just beaming with life. He’d tell me stories about being a commercial fisherman and getting off the boat for a burger and a beer at a bar. He certainly had a lust for life and the open sea.

“We didn’t see each other often, but I was close to him. He lived life completely on his own terms and he did it without being malicious. Marty got grumpy sometimes, but he was all heart and we never argued. I taught him it was OK to agree to disagree and we did that for 23 years. He was a remarkable, beautiful man. He had a heart of gold,” Charles said.

Friends aplenty

Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn said, “I called him ‘Mr. Crotchety’ but I loved him and I wish he was still here. He worked here for the past couple of years but I knew him for 15 years. He used to bring me my fish and shrimp and he taught me to freeze fish in water in a bag so it was fresh when you took it out. He was dealt some tough cards but he always kept his head up and he did not want anyone to know he was in pain every day. He will be deeply missed. He drank Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey and Icehouse beer and we’re going to have an Icehouse special on the 27th.”

Joy Nelson hosts bingo and deals bar poker at the Drift.

She said, “Words to describe my friend: arrogant, funny, straightforward, loving, caring, hard-headed and more. There was never a question about what he was thinking about you. You could be a stranger or a great friend and he never held back. He was completely real and he encouraged me to be the same. He didn’t have an easy life, but he won at bar poker all the time, so I figured he was at least lucky at one thing. But after he went into the hospital for the last time, I realized I was wrong. He was lucky that he found our crazy Drift In family and somehow fit in. We could all butt heads at times and then share a drink and laugh together at the end of the night. I miss my friend,” Nelson said.

Drift In patron Mike Cunningham said, “Most people’s first impression of Marty was that he was a little prickly, but if you accepted him as he was and took the time to get to know him you would find he was a straight-up guy and a true friend. I miss his honesty, humor and frankness. The setbacks he had the last couple of years never changed the good things I loved about him.”

Drift In patron Rebecca Brodeur said, “I loved him. I went to see him during his last days. He was a good, old friend. I went to elementary school with him. He was a stinker even on the bus and at school, but he had a good heart and he was a good person. He wasn’t just a parking lot attendant. He was a great fisherman and artist too.”

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
As an artist, Marty Tupin worked in many mediums. – Submitted

Local musician Mike McConnell said, “Marty was one of those salty characters that made up the diversity at the Drift In. Our relationship was contentious at first but I believe we regarded each other as friends and we worked together at the most unique watering hole in America.”

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Marty Tupin enjoyed time spent on the water. – Submitted

Drift In patron Tammi McCoy said, “Every morning I’d pass by on my way to yoga and Marty would always wave to me. I loved Marty. He was a really good guy.

Her husband Greg, said, “You had to avoid that damn scooter he was on because he’d about run you over.”

With the help from the Drift In and Beach’N Bikes & Rentals, Marty’s scooter was donated to Cortezian and fellow-amputee Kathy Barnett, per the family’s request.

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Marty’s family donated his mobility scooter to Kathy Barnett. – Submitted

When asked about Marty, AP Bell and Star Fish Company owner Karen Bell said, “He hadn’t been around here a lot lately, but he used to be in the village all the time when he fished and lived up in Popeye’s apartment. He was kind of a jack of all trades who usually crewed on someone else’s boat. He was as committed to his art as much as anything else and he really enjoyed painting fish on glass. He had a good heart, but he also had an edginess to him.”

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Marty Tupin enjoyed painting fish on glass backgrounds. – Sarah Santos | Submitted

Charter captain and cousin Kathe Tupin Fannon, said, “Marty had the ability to piss you off but he also had the ability to make you like him. I am sure when he made it to the front gates of Heaven he was explaining to God how to run Heaven.”

Facebook tributes

Marty’s passing also generated many Facebook comments.

Drift In owner Derek Williams wrote: “I bought the Drift-In in December 2022. Marty was one of the first people to offer me a hand. He loved his Drift family and he truly had pride in our business, our parking lot and his job. He earned every tip and he made people laugh.”

Former Drift In bartender Sharon Bell wrote: “Marty was one-of-a-kind for sure; my salty parking pirate. I think his drive and spirit were so strong that he willed himself into living the past few years. He enjoyed being the center of attention and truly loved being generous. I remember him offering his food and if you didn’t take at least a little it hurt his feelings. He was a pot-stirrer for sure, but kind at his core. He was a hard worker that wanted to contribute and be as independent as he could. We are less for not having him around to antagonize us with his antics. He will be missed and always remembered.”

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Sarah Santos and Heather McNeal were among Marty’s many friends. – Sarah Santos | Submitted

Charter captain and Sports Lounge bartender Sarah Santos wrote: “I met Marty a little over 12 years ago when I lived across from Starfish Co. in the village. He was the sweetest man and always made me feel like a million bucks! We will all miss him dearly. He was so talented.”

Sunshine Bechler wrote: “Rest in Peace Marty. Thanks for squeezing me in and out a time or two.”

Marty Tupin: A colorful character remembered
Commercial fishing was one of Marty Tupin’s many passions. – Submitted
Castles in the Sand

Money, money, money

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

There’s a great song from the movie Cabaret that goes something like this: “Money makes the world go ’round, the world go ’round, the world go ‘round.” I like it because it says so much in such a short lyric and is understood by everyone. For buyers and sellers in this real estate market, the money is represented by mortgage interest rates which change so quickly your head could go ‘round and ‘round.

At the July meeting of the Federal Reserve, they raised interest rates by another quarter percent, which was expected, but they did indicate the possibility of easing towards the end of the year. According to Forbes on Aug. 2, the average residential 30-year fixed rate mortgage was 7.47%, not making buyers feel warm and fuzzy.

Interest rates are impacting the real estate sales market as frustrated home shoppers are facing high rates combined with a shortage of available properties that are not moving substantially down. Sellers are happily sitting tight on their 3% mortgages with Cheshire cat smiles on their faces for being so smart.

According to the National Association of Realtors, June sales fell 18.9% nationally compared to June of last year. Manatee County had 17.7% more sales for single-family homes compared to June of last year.

Sale prices are down slightly but still historically high. The national median existing-home price fell 0.9% in June from last year to $410,200, and the Manatee County median sale price for single-family homes was down 4.5% to $525,000. However, based on the new listings coming out daily, I wouldn’t be too worried about our values taking a deep dive any time soon.

There is another way for buyers and those sellers who want to sell to come together despite high rates that may be disqualifying some buyers. Sellers could offer or buyers could suggest that sellers finance a buyer’s purchase of their home. This is called taking back a mortgage and is more common for investment properties but could also offer a solution for some buyers with an interested seller.

Seller financing helps buyers increase their purchasing power by saving on closing costs, setting up escrow accounts, and application fees or paying lower interest rates. It could also help sellers who want buyers to make a full-price or higher offer on the home and are concerned about the property appraising through a conventional bank lender. The transaction is similar to closing with a lender; the buyer receives title to the property at the closing as with a traditional mortgage.

Sellers are assuming the larger risk of taking back a mortgage on their property. If the buyer defaults or doesn’t pay their real estate taxes or insurance, the seller will need to proceed with a foreclosure which is expensive and time-consuming. It’s all a little complicated and risky for all parties including getting a tax advisor involved and, of course, an attorney.

Anxious sellers who have properties that have been on the market for some time could consider holding the mortgage. This could also produce a steady stream of income for the seller if they are in a financial position to delay receiving the proceeds from the sale.

Typically, buyers can negotiate an interest rate lower than the prevailing rate, however, there is a minimum interest rate regulated by the IRS to consider. Sellers could wait out the higher rates hoping for a future decline then apply for a conventional mortgage and pay off the seller.

Money makes the world go ‘round and trying to understand it can make your head explode. Proceed with caution.

Castles in the Sand

Mortgage rates on the move

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

Residential mortgage rates barely budged in June, leveling off at the 6.5% mark the last week of May. Just when buyers were starting to exhale, thinking this may be as high as we go, the national 30-year average fixed-rate mortgage blew past that mark the first week of July. Talk about fireworks. According to Freddie Mac, rates finished the week ending July 6 at an average of 6.81%. One outlier from the Mortgage News Daily reported a 30-year fixed mortgage hit 7.22%.

If you’re thinking well, that’s not too bad, consider the poor buyer who is looking at a $400,000 mortgage and now faces an increase in monthly carrying charges over $100. This could be the breaking point for some buyers as far as qualifying.

And we’re not done yet. Housing market watchers expect mortgage rates to remain elevated amid ongoing economic uncertainty and the Federal Reserve’s rate hike war on inflation. The expectation is two more rate increases before the end of 2023. If they proceed with quarter-point increases, you do the math.

The Federal Reserve has clearly stated there is a long way to go to bring inflation back to its 2% goal. Since July 26 is their next meeting, we won’t have long to wait for an answer. Housing experts like Lawrence Yun, chief economist at the National Association of Realtors, feel the Fed has been hawkish as it regards rate increases. Yun says, “The rate hikes from earlier months have yet to exert their force at a time when inflation has already decelerated to 4% and there is no need to consider raising interest rates.” We’ll see if anyone in Washington listens to him.

Further, if you think housing inventory is down now, wait till these higher rates kick in. Sellers with mortgage rates below 3% or 4% are not motivated to sell no matter how much they want that extra bedroom or water view. Homeowners feel locked in and are remaining on the sidelines willing to wait it out. They may have a long wait.

No matter how high the rates go, however, keep in mind the real estate market has survived rates higher than we will probably be looking at by the end of the year and people were still buying houses. Eventually, buyers and sellers will have to blink and start the market rolling again.

Before I end this column, I would like to acknowledge the passing of Pat Copeland, an Island treasure and the editor of this column for The Sun for many years. She edited with a light touch, never passing judgment, simply suggesting a more concise sentence structure or precise word, and she was always right.

I was away when she passed, but was thankfully home in time to attend her memorial at Roser Church on Pine Avenue. Her family did her proud, from her young grandchildren to her well-poised and talented daughters and sons-in-law and, of course, her husband of 50 years, Doug Copeland, an Island treasure in his own right. It was an uplifting event with big smiles from all who attended, ending with a New Orleans-style second-line processional to celebrate a life well lived by a special lady.

You may not be able to influence how mortgage rates are moving, but you can keep your life moving in the right direction. In the words of Pat Copeland, “Life is a party.” Who cares what the Federal Reserve says?

Castles in the Sand

The value of a renovated home

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

Most homebuyers today want to buy a home, but very few want to buy a project. Nice work if you can get it, but even in our slightly leveling-off market, it may not be so easy.

Unfortunately for buyers, there is still a lack of inventory in most markets around the country. Our local market is no different with only a 2.7-month supply of available properties as of the end of May, higher than last year but still well below a 6-month availability, which is considered a healthy market.

The challenge for buyers has a lot to do with increased mortgage rates. Purchasing a home that is fully renovated may cost more but if the buyer is qualified, this additional cost can be financed and become part of the overall underlying mortgage. Even at today’s higher rates, 6.67% on average at the end of June, it’s still better to have the work done before purchase than to renovate after purchasing. Coming up with the cash to renovate or finance the renovation is also subject to today’s higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms.

The challenge for sellers is that they are no longer getting multiple offers on their property no matter what condition it’s in. According to the National Association of Realtors, sellers are receiving an average of three offers now, compared with around six a year ago. The consensus is that renovated properties sell quicker than unrenovated properties, which appears to be true for both primary homes and second homes.

Real estate professionals feel that anything that sits on the market for more than a month is usually either overpriced or in need of significant repairs or updates. In Manatee County as of the end of May, single-family homes were in contract an average of 32 days from listing. How long a property is on the market can be influenced by a variety of factors. Here in Florida, the season is a major factor. The market traditionally slows down in the summer, so there are fewer buyers in the pool. That said, some buyers simply have no choice but to purchase a home that needs renovation.

Despite fewer offers on properties, the prices haven’t declined as much as many economists expected. Because of higher mortgage rates, current homeowners are reluctant to sell their properties, keeping the supply of homes on the market lower than normal. Home prices peaked in June of 2022 and declined until January of 2023 when they started to recover.

However, even homes that need renovations are still selling near the list price or slightly higher because there aren’t enough homes on the market to meet the demand. Nationally, the median existing-home price fell 3.1% in May from a year earlier to $396,100, according to the National Associations of Realtors. Manatee County’s median single-family home price at the end of May fell by 6.4% to $515,000.

Buyers with busy lifestyles are less inclined to buy a home requiring major renovations. This is especially true for many buyers in our area who are second homeowners and live out of state. It’s difficult to manage a home renovation when you’re local but almost impossible from 1,000 miles away.

Nevertheless, if you’re in the market for a project, and have the funds to renovate and manage the project, you may be able to come out ahead. Picking your kitchen cabinets and bathroom tile does have an advantage and is nice work if you can get it.

Island population drops in all three cities

Island population drops in all three cities

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – It may not come as a surprise to some long-time residents, but the population of this seven-mile stretch of paradise is dwindling.

While the U.S. Census Bureau conducts 10-year counts across the country, the organization also conducts a yearly American Community Survey to record changes and trends in population. The available online data spans 2010-2021 and shows a few minor ups and downs in population numbers. However, there is a stark difference in all three Island cities in the numbers between 2020 and 2021 – all three cities lost a significant portion of their population.

Looking at the data, the city of Holmes Beach is the undisputed largest municipality on the Island. In 2010, Holmes Beach had 4,136 residents. After fluctuations of 100-200 people per year, the city had 4,276 residents in 2020. That number dropped to 3,132 in 2021. That’s a loss of 1,144 in a single year, or 26.75% of the population.

In Anna Maria, the population changes were more volatile over the years. In 2010, the city had a recorded 1,475 residents, hitting a high of 1,556 in 2013 before steadily dropping to 719 in 2019. In 2020, the city’s population jumped to 1,087 before dropping to 944 in 2021, a loss of 143 residents in a single year, representing 13% of the population.

The population in Bradenton Beach also suffered a steady decline over the years. In 2010, the city had 1,452 residents. That number dropped to 836 by 2019 before picking back up to 902 in 2020. By the 2021 count, Bradenton Beach had lost another 35 residents, dropping the population down to 867, a 4% loss.

In a single year, 2020-21, 1,322 residents left the Island life behind. With stories floating around the three municipalities about more and more residents moving away, population numbers have the potential to drop even more when the 2022 and 2023 data comes out. And while the state of Florida and greater Manatee County are showing population increases, that data isn’t reflected in the population numbers for the Island.

The Census Bureau states that when cities start to see marked decreases in population year over year, that’s when it becomes more likely that the cities will disincorporate, with the land annexed into a larger geographic body, such as unincorporated Manatee County, an idea that was proposed by the Manatee County legislative delegation prior to the 2023 state legislative session. While the idea of folding the three cities into one or putting them all solely under the governmental leadership of the Manatee County Board of Commissioners wasn’t pursued this year, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s off the table for coming legislative sessions if population numbers continue to dwindle.