Skip to main content

Tag: Bridge Street

Pines Trailer Park, Bridge Street redevelopment plans presented 

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Representatives of the Pines Park Investors LLC ownership group introduced their proposed conceptual plan to redevelop the Pines Trailer Park property at the east end of Bridge Street. 

The plans also propose redeveloping multiple properties at the west end of Bridge Street, near the Gulf Drive intersection. 

The conceptual plans and renderings were presented to the mayor, city commissioners and the public during the Aug. 6 city commission meeting. The presentation was given for informational purposes only. The commission took no action and the mayor did not open the discussion up for public comment. 

This map illustrates where the proposed buildings and other elements would be located. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

The plans propose 200 hotel rooms and 13 condo units near the east end of Bridge Street, where the mobile home park and parking lot are currently located. The proposed redevelopment project includes 351 total parking spaces located throughout the four-building project area. 

The Pines Trailer Park is currently zoned M-1 (mobile home use) and the future land use category is split between ROR (retail/office/ residential) and Commercial. The park owners would need the city commission’s approval to rezone the property for other uses. 

THE PRESENTATION 

Sam Negrin was the first to speak on behalf of the Pines Park Investors group, which he said consists of about 15 members, several of whom he said are Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach residents. 

It is not known if developer Shawn Kaleta remains a member of the Pines Park Investors limited liability company formed in 2023. 

The Florida Division of Corporations listed Kaleta as the LLC’s authorized person and manager until November 2025, when Negrin was first listed as the LLC’s authorized representative. Negrin is currently listed as the LLC’s authorized representative and the Najmy Thompson law firm remains listed as its registered agent. The annual limited liability company reports submitted to the Florida Division of Corporations do not list the additional company or ownership group members. 

The plans propose a two-story retail building with a rooftop deck along Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South, and an adjacent 74-space ground-level parking lot along Gulf Drive South and Third Street South – to be located on the four Kaleta-affiliated properties currently used as a paid parking lot. 

Sam Negrin spoke on behalf of the Pines Park Investors ownership group. – Leslie Lake | Sun

When addressing the commission, Negrin said, “A little less than two years ago, Hurricanes Helene and Milton changed the landscape of Bradenton Beach and created uncertainty for nearly everyone in the community, including us. In the aftermath, we had to step back and seriously reconsider what the future of our property should look like. We do not want to respond to the storms by simply placing a private, isolated development in the middle of one of the most important areas of the city.”

Several mobile homes were flooded and damaged by the 2024 hurricanes and most residents of the 86-unit Pines Trailer Park were displaced. Some residents withheld their lot rent payments due to the continued disrepair of the mobile home park and the lack of usable amenities. Park ownership subsequently filed eviction notices against those residents, and some later turned over the titles to their mobile homes to avoid eviction. In 2025, the Pines Trailer Park Homeowners Association filed a lawsuit against the park’s ownership group, and a confidential settlement agreement was later reached. A handful of residents still live in the park.

The plans propose a two-story retail structure along the west end of Bridge Street. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

Negrin said the plan being presented that evening was more than a year in the making and had been studied, refined and reconsidered from many perspectives.

“We believe this property deserved a more thoughtful approach, one that could help strengthen the Bradenton Beach Pier district, one that could reconnect Bridge Street to the waterfront and one that could contribute something meaningful to the future of Bradenton Beach,” he said.

“What we are proposing is not simply a closed-shape hotel accompanied by some downstairs retail. Our goal is to create a welcoming extension of Bridge Street – one that draws people naturally toward the pier and the water, and introduces new gathering spaces.”

Negrin said the project team studied the roots of Key West Victorian architecture and drew inspiration from the late Emily Anne Smith – the architectural designer who designed many buildings on Bridge Street, including the BridgeWalk Resort, the Island Time/Bridge Street Bistro building and the Bridge Street Bazaar/Daiquiri Deck building.

Attorney Bill Galvano, a former state senator, spoke next and noted the presentation was being given voluntarily.

Attorney Bill Galvano addressed the mayor and commissioners. – Leslie Lake | Sun

“It’s not a required presentation. It’s not something that we have to do, or that frankly you have to do, but it’s something that we wanted to do, so that we can broach the subject with the city leaders, so that you can start to understand what the vision is and be part of the vision and be part of the working together going forward,” Galvano said.

He said the developers have not yet filed any formal permit applications and want to gather city feedback before they begin the permitting process.

The proposed Pines Trailer Park development plan includes a 200-room waterfront hotel. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

“We will work with your city planner, your city staff, your city attorney to make sure that as we go through the process, we are doing everything correctly, but at the same time collaborating with the city. I think you and the folks in the audience are going to love when they see what the vision is. It’s a game changer.”

The 15 or so people who attended the meeting on a rainy evening were not allowed to give public input. Most online comments made on The Sun’s Facebook page while the presentation was being livestreamed expressed strong dislike and opposition to the proposed development, but some viewers expressed support for the project.

Galvano said he discussed the project with Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly and she expressed interest in potentially providing some state-level support for it.

Architect David Chilinski presented the redevelopment plans and renderings, joined by Bill Galvano, left, and Sam Negrin, center. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Architect David Chilinski is the president and co-founder of the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based PCA architecture, planning and interior design firm. He provided some background information and displayed many conceptual drawings of the project.

He said the entry from Gulf Drive onto Bridge Street is currently “a little weak.” The area he referred to as weak is the area currently used as a paid parking lot. 

Chilinski said the project would also entail making some changes at the east end of Bridge Street, near the city-owned clocktower and the pier.

“We’re going to color a little bit over the lines and engage with some city property in order to, quite frankly, build on what you’ve done,” he said.

Chilinski said the design proposes extending the Bridge Street district through the mobile home park property to Second Street and including a public walkway and plaza along the waterfront. 

David Chilinski proposed realigning a city-owned street. – Leslie Lake | Sun

He mentioned the need to realign an existing city-owned street that passes through the Pines property. Chilinski said the street realignment would add about 30 public parking spaces and give the city roughly 2,000 additional square feet of land.

“Some of it’s on our land, some of it’s on city-owned land, but essentially this is a public plaza along the water’s edge to create an open public boardwalk that would lead you to another plaza that’s the culmination of Second Street,” Chilinski said.

Chilinski noted the proposed project is divided into four building areas identified as A, B, C and D – Buildings A and B would be located on the current Pines Trailer Park property.

“The thought here is to do something that from a scale-wise is going to fit within the height limits of the district, but to energize the shoreline and to bring people to that water’s edge,” he said.

This diagram of the proposed waterfront hotel complex includes details about the parking accommodations. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

He said 177 hotel rooms would be Building B and 23 hotel rooms would be located in A, both of which are located on the Pines property.

Located closest to the water, on the Pines property, Building A would include 23 hotel rooms, 10,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 27 ground-level parking spaces.

Located behind Building A, Building B would include 177 hotel rooms, 12,560 square feet of retail space and 200 covered parking spaces, including 95 that would utilize stackers that allow more than one vehicle to be parked in a single parking space, with 27 more parking spaces on the street. 

The proposed condo building on the left would be built along Church Avenue, next to the Drift-In. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

The 13-unit condominium building (Building C) would be located on Church Avenue and First Street North, in the space currently used as a paid public parking lot and a parking lot for the remaining Pines residents.

Building D would be the multistory retail building along the west end of Bridge Street.

COMMISSION RESPONSE

The mayor and commissioners shared their concerns about the project’s scale, relative to the rest of Bridge Street.

“This just looks like to me that it’s overwhelming the waterfront, the way it’s presented today,” Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce said. “It makes the rest of Bridge Street look like an afterthought.”

Commissioner Robert Talham said he agreed with Scaccianoce’s assessment, but he noted it’s early in the planning process.

“These guys are going to spend a lot of money, and they’ve got a lot of money, and they’re going to make a lot of money,” he said. “We should, in our own time, in our own work meeting, decide what do we want as a town? What can they provide for us, with their dollars, in order for us to let them do this?”

The mayor and commissioners shared their initial thoughts on the conceptual plans. – Leslie Lake | Sun

Commissioner Ralph Cole questioned the scale and height of the proposed project.

“I’m trying to get a visual of what we have sitting next to it. When you digitally enhance this, it looks a lot taller. Are we seeing the right proportion?” he said.

Chilinski said the proposed buildings would comply with the city’s three-story height limit. He said he’d create some additional renderings that better illustrate the proposed buildings in relation to their surroundings.

This rendering illustrates the hotel’s retail corner. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

Commissioner Scott Bear said Key West experienced similar redevelopment a couple of years ago, which he saw firsthand when he visited.

“The locals that we talked to thought that the new development overshadowed everything else and the rest got lost and then that lost its luster. It was like a sore thumb sticking out,” he said.

Mayor John Chappie said, “I agree about the overwhelming part, and this kind of makes everything else secondary to some degree.”

“You started out talking about Key West Victorian style and Emily Anne Smith,” Chappie said. “Some people loved it, some people didn’t like it and said it’s too much gingerbread.”

Chappie said he would like to see the proposed project buildings with an old Florida look, but not a Key West look.

“I’d like to see more of an Anna Maria Island look, and this isn’t quite that,” he said.

The plans propose a public plaza near the waterfront. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

Chappie noted the proposed east end redevelopment would occur near the city-owned Bradenton Beach Pier, the historic clocktower and the boardwalk that leads to the pier.

“That’s kind of a signature thing for Bradenton Beach and you see that all over the county in photos,” Chappie said.

“I would hope that you’re talking to also John Horne a little bit,” he said in reference to pier tenant and Anna Maria Oyster Bar CEO John Horne.

Galvano closed the presentation by telling commissioners the development team would take the commission feedback into consideration as it continues refining the plans and preparing to work with city staff on a formal application.

“I just want to highlight again, we’re here to work with you,” Galvano said. “Regardless of some of the comments, we do have property rights; we do have development rights and there are procedures that we can follow that are more sterile. The feedback that we got tonight is helpful and we’ll take it under consideration.”

No timeline was given as to when the permitting process would begin.

KALETA PROPERTIES

On Aug. 7, The Sun texted Negrin and asked him if Kaleta is still affiliated with the Pines Park Investors ownership group.

In response, Negrin wrote, “Different ownership groups coming together to create the most comprehensive plan for the area.”

The properties currently used for paid parking are included in the redevelopment plan. – Apple Maps | Submitted

The proposed retail space and parking lot along Bridge Street, Gulf Drive South and Third Street South, would be located on four adjacent properties currently owned by four different limited liability companies that each list Kaleta as the manager and authorized person. The Najmy Thompson law firm is listed as the registered agent for the four LLCs – 205 Sycamore LLC, Bridge Street Resort LLC, Bridge Street Retail LLC and Tampa Bayshore Trust LLC.

The plan proposes a two-story retail building along Bridge Street and a parking lot along Third Street South. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

On June 26, according to Manatee County official records, the four Kaleta-affiliated properties were used as collateral for a $10 million mortgage (loan) agreement with ServisFirst Bank. Kaleta signed the agreement four times, as the manager of each LLC. 

According to Manatee County official records, on June 23, Bridge Street Retail LLC bought the property at the corner of Gulf Drive South and Third Street South (201 Gulf Drive South) from AMI Plaza LLC for approximately $2.45 million. The Florida Division of Corporations lists William Conrad Saba as AMI Plaza LLC’s manager and Firkins Nissan Inc. as its authorized persons.

(Sun reporter Joe Hendricks contributed to this story.)

Online commenters weigh in on Pines, Bridge Street redevelopment plans 

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Pines Trailer Park redevelopment plans included in the Pines Park Investors ownership group “Bridge Street Pier District” redevelopment project generated a great deal of social media commentary before, during and after the plans were presented to the Bradenton Beach City Commission on Thursday, Aug. 6. 

Shared by the city clerk’s office on Wednesday, Aug. 5, the conceptual presentation references four buildings, 200 hotel rooms, 13 condo units, a beach club, restaurant and retail spaces, 351 parking spaces, a public plaza, a waterfront walkway and more – to be spread across the Pines Trailer Park property at the east end of Bridge Street and the properties currently being used as a paid parking lot at the west end of Bridge Street. 

PRE-PRESENTATION COMMENTS 

More than 750 comments were posted after the plans shared in PDF form were posted on The Sun’s Facebook page on Aug. 5. Many Facebook users lamented the loss of the charm of Bridge Street, the possibility of increased traffic and the loss of the Pines Trailer Park, and some expressed support for the proposed project. 

Kimberly Meyers-Collins wrote, “This takes away all the charm of Bridge Street and the area in general. We fell in love with the area almost 20 years ago because of the quaint bars, stores and charm. This reminds me of something you would see in St. Armands along with all its traffic.” 

“It’s almost like the hurricanes did SK (Shawn Kaleta) a favor, making those trailers unlivable and making his property suddenly worth way more,” Scott Andrews wrote. 

Eric Geraldson wrote, “Traffic already doesn’t move around here. How could this even be considered?” 

Rusty Price wrote, “McDonald’s, Holiday Inn and a ferris wheel next. Y’all are getting what you wanted now!” 

Lynn Marie wrote, “Please don’t commercialize it more than it already is. I love Bradenton Beach and the south end just the way it is. Well, other than the traffic, but imagine what traffic will be like if this monstrosity happens!” 

“They’re killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Say good-bye to old Florida. Sorry for y’all,” Dennis Chasse wrote. 

“The problem is its going to bring so much more traffic and people than that area can handle,” Nancy Green wrote. 

“This is replacing the dilapidated trailer park. I’m all for it,” John Rainieri wrote.

“This looks great, but it needs to incorporate condos for workers and also more trees. The architecture style is lacking,” Lucie Allen wrote. “Great plan but needs to be better executed. Employ better architects. More greening, more trees, more planting and more textures on the building itself.” 

LIVESTREAM COMMENTS

During and after The Sun’s livestream of the Aug. 6 presentation given to the city commission by Pines Park Investors group’s representatives, 232 Facebook comments were received on the livestream post.

Cindy Quinn wrote, “AMI is not Key West!”

“Too big for this space,” Calvin Johnson wrote. “Why do people feel bigger is better? We love our sleepy town. We will never come back from this!”

Cheryl Lumsden Jozsa wrote, “It’s apparent that the old charm of AMI Bradenton Beach is done. It’s disgusting.”

Joanita McGreal Mayle wrote, “I love the Bridge Street character. The current Bridge Street, I hate this plan. We already have a paradise! Leave it be $$$$!”

“The character of Bridge Street will be gone,” Lynn Johnson wrote. “Cruise ship port vibes.”

Anita Burris Jones wrote, “This will take away the charm of Bradenton Beach.”

Michael Patsy wrote, “Too big for the space.”

Joachim Schiffer wrote, “Nobody can or will stop this.”

Sue Longacre wrote, “Our Mayor and Commissioners DO NOT LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. They approved the last proposed big hotel on Bridge Street despite over 5,000 signatures opposing the size of it.”

Regarding the park owners’ redevelopment rights, Valerie Amick wrote, “They have rights, but there are many of us who also have rights that precede theirs.”

Regarding comments made by architect and presenter David Chilinski, Shannon Anberzon wrote, “Bring people to the pier?! The pier is always busy with people visiting?!? This guy is a joke.”

Jennifer Garringer wrote, “Please don’t let this happen!! BB can’t handle this craziness!! The small-town ambiance that we are loved for is already disappearing and this will absolutely destroy our wildlife and everything we stand for!”

In support of the project, Peter Zig wrote, “It’s a great concept, maybe a bit overwhelming in scale for that area, but the future of that property is more businesses and revenue for everyone. The new owners of the trailer park property will be utilizing that prime waterfront real estate one way or another. Most business owners will want this to happen. It will bring in more people & more money to Bridge St. businesses.”

Will D Johnson wrote, “Way better than a bunch of old trailers. And, the fact is the Pines owners could be lobbying for making the whole dang parcel a giant hotel giving residents nothing but tax receipts in the deal. Love the idea of anchoring the concept with a public boardwalk.”

The plans propose a public plaza near the waterfront. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

Jeepin Jen wrote, “AMI is NOT CLEARWATER.”

Susan Curry wrote, “Goodbye lovely quaint, REAL, Bradenton Beach. Looks like every other contrived, beachside tourist trap. Nothing like OUR island.”

Meg Rago Burnopp wrote, “There’s nothing architecturally pleasing about that design! Looks like a mall we have up in Illinois! Not a historic beach area!”

Sandy Ziros wrote, “I sure hope the commissioners do the right thing and save Bridge Street.”

Sharon Puckett Verderber wrote, “WE DO NOT WANT THIS!”

Related coverage: Pines Trailer Park, Bridge Street redevelopment plans presented

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Entertainment, Holiday.

Story and photos contributed by Lance Roy | Special to the Sun

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Labor Day weekend on Anna Maria Island usually means umbrellas in the sand, music floating from beachside patios and parking lots packed with families hauling coolers to the shoreline.

But this Sunday, the Gulf had other plans. From sunrise onward, the skies seemed to empty without pause, with steady sheets of rain, heavy at times, falling in a rhythm as familiar as waves breaking on the shore.

The downpour softened now and then, even teasing a glimpse of blue sky, but never quite surrendered.

At Manatee Beach, in Holmes Beach, families reluctantly packed up early, darting from the café patio to their cars between bursts of rain. Some stayed put under the overhangs, turning the weather into an excuse for another round of fries or ice cream cones.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
Anna Maria Island Beach Café customers took shelter from the rain. – Lance Roy | Submitted

County lifeguards kept a watchful eye with yellow flags waving at their towers as lightning offshore turned the Gulf into a look-but-don’t-touch scene.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
This stretch of beach was empty at one point on Sunday. – Lance Roy | Submitted

Further south, the scene was quieter still. At Cortez Beach, in Bradenton Beach, the usual clusters of beachgoers gave way to empty chairs, collapsed tents and only a handful of determined surf fishermen. Among them, a couple recently relocated from Pennsylvania grinned through the drizzle, calling it “a blessing” to live close enough to wet a line whenever the mood struck – rain or shine.

Over at Coquina Beach, at the south end of the Island, families made the best of it, taking shelter under picnic shelters and canopy tents, with their laughter and music competing with the steady patter of raindrops.

A Bradenton Beach police officer described the day as “calm, quiet, almost too easy,” as he monitored light traffic along Gulf Drive South.

Bridge Street merchants noticed the shift too. A burst of shoppers wandered in earlier than usual, ducking away from the storms. While business owners would have preferred sunny skies to cap off ‘summer’ with a final holiday surge, most were thankful for steady support from locals and visitors alike.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
For some folks, the rainy day activities included strolling and shopping on Bridge Street. – Lance Roy | Submitted

And true to the Island spirit, the gray weather couldn’t wash away the sound of live music at the Bridge Tender Inn and the Drift-In, while Island Time Bar & Grill buzzed with the sound of fans watching football and baseball games over cold drinks.

As late afternoon gave way to early evening, the rain let up, the sun came out and many beachgoers found their way to the Gulf shoreline to enjoy their rain-delayed holiday beach time.

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
The beach activities resumed when the sun came out. – Lance Roy | Submitted

Sunday rain keeps AMI beach crowds light, but fun was still had
By day’s end, the Island skies turned sunny. – Lance Roy | Submitted

In the end, Anna Maria Island proved what locals already know: rain or shine, the Island always finds a way to charm. The skies may have been gloomy, but Anna Maria Island’s holiday spirit never really left the beach.

CRA members discuss 2025-26 budget

CRA members discuss 2025-26 budget

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Com­munity Redevelopment Agency members discussed the proposed 2025-26 budget of $2,231,070 at a work meeting on Aug. 6 in prepara­tion for the next steps in the budget process – two public hearings before final approval.

City Treasurer Shayne Thompson introduced the proposed budget.

“We carried some things forward that were in last year’s budget, for example, some undergrounding and pavers,” he said. “Beyond that, it’s kind of placeholders for the projects to come.”

CRA Vice Chair Ralph Cole said he would like to see the underground­ing projects continue.

Thompson said $300,000 for undergrounding from the previous year’s budget was carried forward.

“I don’t want to say placeholder values can change, but direction can change, priorities can change, so what’s in the budget doesn’t necessarily mean it has to stay where it is,” Thompson said. “If during the course of the year, let’s say, for example, undergrounding isn’t something we can accomplish, those funds can remain for a future time or be reallocated to a new priority project.”

Thompson said some projects such as pier improvements became tied to the storms and were funded differently.

“Do we still have to allocate all that money 100% each year?” Cole asked.

“We have to demonstrate the need to use the funds,” Thompson said. “This budget does that.”

Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby outlined some proposed projects in the CRA district, particularly on Bridge Street.

“We have an unbelievable amount of foot traffic in the CRA district, and we need to look at widening the sidewalks in the main thoroughfare areas,” Cosby said.

Cosby discussed building projects from the ground up beginning with wiring for lighting, irrigation systems and then moving on to the next level including paving, concrete and sidewalks.

“In the past we’ve put stuff in and had to dig it out and we don’t want to do that,” Cosby said. “We want to revitalize what we have there and try to make it more pedestrian friendly.”

Cosby suggested scheduling a work meeting to get input from residents and businesses.

“The hurricane has taken so much out it does give us the op­portunity to do this,” he said. “You can see the age of the street when you look at how nice the pier is and the docks and the pergola and you look at the rest of the street and that age really comes out.”

Cosby addressed flooding in the district following heavy rains.

“The rain that we had yesterday that lasted 45 minutes, every­thing in the CRA district was underwater and it’s because of the system that was put in. The pipe is clogged, and we’ve got to clear that out. We had a conversation with our stormwater engineer about putting in the baskets to collect the silt. It may not look pretty for a little while because we’ve got to get started from the bottom and work our way up.”

Mayor John Chappie said the CRA board could talk about putting out an RFP (request for proposal) at a future meeting.

“Maybe not all in one year or two years, but we could plan that out in stages,” Chappie said. “In the budget we have $675,000 for the CRA enhancements and another $450,000 for district improvements along with the $300,000 for undergrounding and streetlights. There’s quite a nice amount of money in there.”

Chappie said undergrounding has never been on the back burner.

“It’s always been in the forefront and that’s part of the foundation before you start doing the other work on top of the ground,” he said.

“If we have a project that can’t be completed in the coming fiscal year we can plug it into the budget for the following, so we’re still demonstrating using it at a future time,” Thompson said.

CRA member Deborah Scacci­anoce said that standing water in the district is a problem and she would like to take steps to move forward with repairs.

“Yesterday when it was raining and with the blockages on Bridge Street, the water was bubbling up out of the storm system because it was so overwhelmed,” Cosby said. “Everything that way is blocked and I want to use that money to fix what’s broken before we move forward and put money into other areas.”

He said the standing water will eventually undermine the roads.

“The pipes are good; the main issue is this damming system that was put in to try to force the water to flow slower and percolate into the ground,” Cosby said. “We’re on a barrier island – that’s not going to happen. When we get that fixed that will take care of that.”

Two public hearings will be held in September for the fiscal year 2025-26 CRA budget prior to final approval.

Manatee County, Bradenton Beach officials discuss ferry options

Manatee County, Bradenton Beach officials discuss ferry options

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The future Cortez Marina at the site of the former Seafood Shack restaurant is expected to become an integral part of Manatee County’s Gulf Islands Ferry system.

County commissioners and Bra­denton Beach officials discussed the expansion at a June 18 joint meeting.

“Something that we’re considering is the potential addition of a water taxi at what we’re tentatively calling the Cortez Marina,” County Commissioner Tal Siddique said. “We are currently in the process of building a dimensional plan for that and potentially coming out to the community to see what partners might be interested in abiding to that concept with us. You take what’s today an hour ride that would be shortened by half with the new boat and with a 10-minute stopover at the new property.”

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said the county hopes to make the marina a ferry stop and eventually keep ferries overnight there.

Bradenton Beach commissioner Ralph Cole asked if the marina would have a parking facility for people who drive to the marina and take the ferry.

“We’re still in early design stage, we’re talking about parking, we’re talking about other opportunities in that greater area,” County Commission Chair George Kruse said. “One of the concepts has been to have the ferry come across because that alleviates traffic and keeps cars off your Island. But to do that, we’re going to need sufficient parking because we’re going to need parking for the boat launches for the trailers and other utilization. If we’re going to use this ferry, we’ll have to contemplate how we can maximize parking as part of the design.”

“We all know what’s happening in Cortez with the intensity of the corridor,” Siddique said. “The ferry is one part of it. That’s something I’m factoring in so we can have a sustainable action plan inclusive of the Island in the future.”

Currently, two 49-passenger pontoon ferry boats run on a two-stop system between downtown Bradenton and Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, a reduced route since the 2024 hurricanes.

“After Hurricane Milton, Anna Maria lost the City Pier and that was one of our landing spots, Falcione said. “The city of Anna Maria is hoping to have that pier rebuilt by late 2026, concurrent with (Manatee County Director of Natural Resources) Charlie Hunsicker’s depart­ment to start designing and permitting for a vaulted perpendicular dock to accommodate not just one water ferry, but two; and you’ll have a transfer there. You’ll bring people out of Bradenton, stop, and then the pontoon (boats) will take them to historic Bridge Street.”

Manatee County, Bradenton Beach officials discuss ferry options
Bradenton Beach currently has the only ferry stop on Anna Maria Island. – Sun file photo

Falcione said a larger third water ferry with an enclosed component should be on the water for late summer sea trials and be operational in the fall.

“It will be about 100,000 pounds compared to the two 30,000-pound pontoon catamarans we have now,” he said.

He thanked City Attorney Ricinda Perry for working with Duncan Seawall to make the modifica­tions to the Bradenton Beach Pier to ac­commodate the third ferry.

“We know that the re­tailers on Bridge Street are real happy when that ferry pulls in,” Falcione said. “More importantly we have to get down to Coquina Beach. It looks like the south boat ramp is probably the spot. And what that does is it entices more residents to ride the ferry because that’s one of the beaches of choice. If we have about 70% visitors and 30% residents, then we’re doing good,” Falcione said, adding the hope is to begin Coquina Beach service no later than the fall.

Falcione said the ferry service passenger count for 2024 was nearly 28,000 riders.

“That’s about 13,000 cars off the road,” he said.

The MCAT Manatee My Stop app can show visitors having lunch at Anna Maria Oyster Bar on Bridge Street where the ferry is, Falcione said.

Manatee County, Bradenton Beach officials discuss ferry options
The Manatee Belle is expected to make the Manatee River run between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. – Manatee County | Submitted

Ricinda Perry introduced herself as the Bradenton Beach city attorney and CRA director/project man­ager/public information officer recently named by Police Chief John Cosby to be his number two for emergency operations.

“In wearing that hat, I get to play a lot of different roles in the city that meld together and I think my most favorite is what I do here with the TDC (Manatee County Tourist Develop­ment Council),” Perry said. “The TDC in its projects hits a lot of points and pulls a lot of things together that city attorneys don’t get to do when we’re sitting and writing laws. You have the components where you come up with a creative project, and you look at ways that project can benefit the community, protect our residents with a strategic idea of targeting the individuals that we host.”

She spoke about where the city of Bradenton Beach started, its present and its future.

“The water ferry is certainly a big piece of it,” she said. “Bradenton Beach has the vehicle gateway to the city but what was underutilized was the waterfront gateway into the city.”

“When I started 21 years ago, I remember seeing this mess, and when I say a mess, I’m talking about derelict vessels, irrespon­sible boaters who were dragging their anchors across the seagrasses, they were dumping things overboard into the waterway,” she said. “What we talked about, mainly – chief and I – was what are we going do about this, because it resulted in unsavory individuals who were utilizing that and those individuals would then get off their vessels and they would come down the streets and that im­pacted tourism. People wanted to stay away from the commercial corridor.”

She said the city ob­tained jurisdiction over additional boundaries to allow policing in the mooring field and more than 80 derelict vessels were removed.

“The plan is to eventually work with the TDC and make it a tourist hub and (the ferry) an alternate means of getting onto the Island without using a vehicle,” she said.

She said the pier was beyond its age and needed repair and replacement.

“It was a challenge with DEP (Florida Department of Environ­mental Protection) permits, FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva­tion Commission), ACoE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and submerged land leases. The city worked on getting a permit to put in a floating dock system. The city realized they needed a strong anchor tenant on the pier. AMOB (Anna Maria Oyster Bar) is a huge draw. When the ferry does its drop off, how do you get people moving when they don’t have a car? And they have their towels and their beach toys, and they want to get down to Coquina. How do you connect that last mile?” Perry said.

She described three segments of a plan to move visitors around the city.

“Segment one: Cortez to Bradenton Beach Pier. If you’re putting your marina in and potentially having people parking and enjoying your amenities over on the mainland side, it would be great to connect a walkway from where the bridge stops, have it multi-modal to host golf carts, bicycles and pedestrians so they can walk if they want across the Cortez Bridge and make their way down through the existing marina that’s there,” she said. “I’ve had discussions with that owner (Shawn Kaleta). People can then make their way down to your other stop on the Bradenton Beach Pier. It makes that stop more usable.”

“Segment two would then tie in from the Bradenton Beach Pier a usable crossing area over to the beach that would take you to the county’s segment and the idea is to create a multi-modal trail that continues along.”

“Segment three: That final section that needs to be put together for the multi-modal trail could be from Fifth Street South to Coquina Beach,” Perry said.

Related coverage:
City, county officials discuss pier replacement, ferry landing

CRA board discusses initiating new projects

CRA board discusses initiating new projects

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Proposed state legislative bills that would prohibit new projects for Communi­ty Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs) after Oct. 1 prompted Bradenton Beach CRA members to identify several new potential projects to begin before the deadline.

“Ricinda (City Attorney Ricinda Perry) has an update about what’s going on in Tallahassee with regard to CRAs,” Mayor John Chappie said at the April 17 meeting. “That’s going to affect us big time.”

Senate Bill 1242 and House Bill 991 propose that:

  • A community redevelopment agency may not initiate any new projects or issue any new debt on or after Oct. 1;
  • A community redevelopment agency in existence on July 1 shall terminate on the expiration date provided in the agency’s charter or on Sept. 30, 2045, whichever is earlier; and
  • A community redevelopment agency operating on or after Sept. 30, 2045 may not extend the maturity date of any outstanding bonds.

“We’ve got the CRA money for 20 years and if they pass this law we have to quit using the money?” CRA member Ralph Cole asked.

“Correct, no new projects,” Perry said.

“You had authorized me to pre­pare a letter,” Perry told the CRA. “I have that letter ready for the execution of the chairman stating that we oppose this and see where it goes.”

Perry said the proposed bills are a real threat to the future of CRA districts.

“It springboards me into the next discussion I wanted to have,” she said. “I’ve alluded to this in past meetings that we may just want to go ahead and move forward on all of our projects that we have discussed previously in the CRA and anything in the future that you might be interested in.”

Perry suggested scheduling a special meeting to discuss and commit to possible projects in the CRA district.

“I think it would be appropriate for us to reevaluate where we are on things,” Perry said.

One possible project would be to make paver improvements around the CRA district. Another was to have signs redone in a black and white theme, she said.

“I think revisiting the (eastern) roundabout on Bridge Street and redesigning the roadway system there would be a worthwhile project to look at,” Perry said.

She also suggested revisiting a discussion about a walking trail.

“We talked about doing a trail and scenic routes for bikes and walking that goes to Fifth Street and after you come off of Gulf Drive, all down there it meets up with Bay and then we talked about continuing that forward somehow and connecting going under the city bridge,” Perry said.

She also suggested irrigation estimates along with landscaping projects.

“Some of the areas we talked about landscaping were the two roundabouts and down Bridge Street,” Perry said.

She said seating and lighting could be added to the new gazebo area as a potential project.

“We’ve also looked at parking on First Street North,” Perry said.

She said she is getting pricing from Steve Porter of Duncan Seawall to install a viewer on the pier.

“We had approved and discussed another lift or some dockage for the county’s water taxi on the north side of the pier,” Perry said. “Those waters are more protected with the waves and current action. We had originally talked about putting things in there, but the owners for the Pines Trailer Park, the Jackson brothers, were opposed to riparian access for those slips in there, and I believe that the current property owner is more favorable at granting the city the rights to get in and use that side.”

Chappie spoke in favor of the CRA helping Bradenton Beach mer­chants to promote Bridge Street.

“I think with the marina (Cortez Marina) coming in across the way, especially a public marina, it’s hard to compete,” Cole said. “It is going to be competition.”

“I think we should start prioritiz­ing the projects we want to put money into and figuring out which ones really are important to the board and for improvement in the CRA,” CRA chair Scott Bear said.

A work meeting to brainstorm and prioritize potential projects was tentatively scheduled for May 8 pending confirmation by the city clerk.

Treasured architectural designer passes away

Treasured architectural designer passes away

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Emily Anne Smith, the architectural designer who helped transform Bridge Street into what it is today, has passed away.

According to close friend and longtime office administrator Lea Ann Bessonette, Smith passed away on March 29 at the age of 83. She passed under the care of Hospice at the Lombardo House assisted living facility in west Bradenton. She was born in Atlanta on April 18, 1940.

Bessonette, now 87, spent 40 years working with Smith.

“After 40 years together, you take a deep breath and say, ‘She’s going to the Lord.’ And that’s exactly what she did,” she said.

Treasured architectural designer passes away
Emily Anne Smith redesigned the historic Bradenton Beach clock tower. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The still-visible work Smith created with her Designs of Significance by Emily Anne Smith design firm includes the city-owned Bradenton Beach clock tower, first built in 1937 and later restored using Smith’s design. Smith also designed the city-owned Bradenton Beach Pier buildings, including the building occupied by the Anna Maria Oys­ter Bar.

Treasured architectural designer passes away
Emily Anne Smith designed the BridgeWalk resort, completed in 2002. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

For mother and daughter business partners Barbara and Angela Rodocker, Smith designed the BridgeWalk resort building that includes several ground-level businesses spaces and the neighboring Bridge Street Bistro/Island Time restaurant building. Smith designed the Bridge Street Bazaar/Daiquiri Deck building for Jake Spooner and she designed The Sports Lounge’s exterior façade.

Beyond Bridge Street, the prolific Smith designed the La Costa condominiums at the north end of Bradenton Beach and she designed numerous homes and other commercial structures elsewhere on Anna Maria Island and beyond.

A life’s work

According to the Designs of Significance website, www.emi­lyannesmithdesigns.com, Smith began her career in Atlanta in 1964. She worked as a designer, developer and builder and was one of the first female licensed general contractors working east of the Mississippi River.

Bessonette started working with Smith in Atlanta. After celebrat­ing Bessonette’s 50th birthday, the pair left Atlanta and spent time living on a sailboat near Kissimmee, Florida before sailing to Anna Maria Island in the early 1990s.

“We came to Anna Maria Island on a sailboat up the ICW (Intracoastal Waterway). We came here, parked the boat, came ashore and we’ve been on the Island for the better part of 30 years. Emily saw the architectural design needs here and she brought the gift the good Lord gave her and put it to work,” Bessonette said. “She did a great deal and Anna Maria Island was in her heart of hearts. When Emily opened her office on Bridge Street, where the jeweler is now, I worked for her after hours.”

While moonlighting for Smith, Bessonette worked full-time for the city of Bradenton Beach, working under longtime City Clerk Alice Baird, who essentially ran the city. Bessonette retired from the city at the age of 65 after securing her retirement benefits and became Smith’s office admin­istrator.

“I’ve been in Emily’s office since,” she said.

Treasured architectural designer passes away
Emily Anne Smith designed The Sports Lounge’s exterior façade. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In 2018, Smith served as a contracted consultant to the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and she advised the agency and the city on sign design consistency and other public design matters, accompanied by Bessonette, her ever-present note-taker.

About 12 years ago, Smith, Bessonette and the design firm moved into the Holmes Beach home that Smith designed.

“We lived on the top floor and the first elevated living level is where her office is,” Bessonette said of the place she still calls home. “Emily took some bad falls two years ago and stopped working about a year and a half ago.”

Work praised

Before the April 2 Planning and Zoning Board meeting began, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie placed a collage of Smith’s design drawings in the commission chambers because he planned to mention her passing during the following night’s city commission meeting.

Treasured architectural designer passes away
Mayor John Chappie displayed Emily Anne Smith’s drawings in the commission chambers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

While doing so, the longtime mayor praised Smith for her talents and creativity and he expressed his appreciation for the style and architectural beauty she brought to Bradenton Beach.

When contacted by The Sun, Angela Rodocker said, “Emily might be one of the most creative people I’ve ever met. She loved Anna Maria Island with such passion. Her architectural designs will be a lasting fingerprint and legacy for us to admire for years to come.”

With Smith as their designer, Rodocker and her late mother, Barbara, completed the BridgeWalk resort construction project in 2002 that fueled the revitalization of what was then a somewhat downtrodden Bridge Street.

“I feel privileged to have worked so closely with her on the BridgeWalk design,” Rodocker said.

Treasured architectural designer passes away
Emily Anne Smith designed Jake Spooner’s Bridge Street Bazaar and Daiquiri Deck building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When contacted, Spooner said, “Emily was a very kind and wise woman that designed some of the most attractive and unique residential, municipal and commercial structures on the Island and in town. She was a joy to work with and will certainly be missed by many.”

Smith also designed Spooner’s parents’ home.

Treasured architectural designer passes away
Emily Anne Smith designed the La Costa condominiums in Bradenton Beach. – LaCostaCondo.com | Submitted

A personal note Smith posted at her website says, “My procedure to custom design is an adventure of discovery and creativity. It is a path we take together with me as your guide. An adventure you don’t take that often in your lifetime – a discov­ery where we examine your needs, wants, desires, how and who you entertain, your hobbies, interests, habitual use of space and function which sets the requirement of the floor plans and your tastes for architec­tural style. A house is not just a home. Your place of business is not just your workplace. Both are where your life happens.”

Construction to begin on Bridge Street hotel project

City attorney: Hotel project will begin construction this year

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Business, Featured, Real estate | Development.

BRADENTON BEACH – Construction is expected to begin this summer on the Bridge Street hotel project, according to City Attorney Ricinda Perry.

“By way of keeping you in the loop with development activities within the CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) district, I have spoken with Shawn and Jake (hotel co-applicants Shawn Kaleta and Jake Spooner) who have the hotel that’s supposed to come on to Bridge Street,” Perry said to CRA members at a Jan. 16 meeting.

On Dec. 7, 2023, the city commission approved the 106-room resort hotel, 60-seat restaurant, 5,396 square feet of retail and 154 on-site parking spaces.

“I have been told that those plans have been worked on, they are submitting the building department plans for this and they hope to turn dirt by late summer for that project, so it is still on task,” Perry said.

Just days after approval, on Dec. 11, a permitted demolition began on 129 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. On Jan. 26, demolition began on the building at 105 Bridge St., formerly the Magnolia Inn.

The parcel, on the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South, has since been used as a public paid parking lot.

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

“It’s nice to hear Bridge Street hotel is moving forward with their project,” Mayor John Chappie said.

Building Official Darin Cushing said he has not yet received updated plans from the hotel applicants.

Perry’s update was one of three she presented on Kaleta-owned projects at the CRA meeting. The others were a possible rezoning of the Pines Trailer Park and conceptual plans to eliminate dry storage at Bradenton Beach Marina and add retail and restaurants there.

The Sun reached out to a representative for Kaleta for comment, but no response was received by press time.

Christmas tree lights up Bridge Street

Christmas tree lights up Bridge Street

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Just two months after Hurricane Helene’s storm surge pushed piles of sand and debris into the city, a concerted clean-up effort enabled the festive spirit to return to Bridge Street.

At the city-hosted Christmas tree lighting at the post office on Nov. 21, Mayor John Chappie welcomed the crowd to the town’s main street.

“It’s been 56 days since this storm hit and it’s been tough,” Chappie said. “We are going to step up and do what needs to be done to get our city back up and better. We are survivors and we are going to survive.”

Christmas tree lighting takes place on Bridge Street
Luca meets Santa and Mrs. Claus for the first time at the tree lighting on Bridge Street. –
Leslie Lake | Sun

Chappie applauded Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby as the driving force behind the massive cleanup and the restoration of activity in the city.

“Chief Cosby and his team have been amazing with the recovery that’s happened out here,” Chappie said. “He is an expert in his field of emergency operations and he has helped to develop this team of our city, our public works, our city clerk, our building department, the SERT team that came down to help our community to beat this. We have and we will continue to beat this.”

He introduced Cosby, who was chosen to light the Christmas tree.

“This is the first normal thing we have done since the hurricane,” Cosby said. “And if you look around, we all made the decision to do this five days ago – all the lights and the tree. We weren’t going to do it, then we decided we needed to do it.”

Cosby said following Hurricane Helene, there was 4 feet of sand on just about every road in the city.

“Even when the governor (Gov. Ron DeSantis) came, he looked at me and said, ‘I’ve been to a lot of disasters and I’ve never seen this much sand,’ ” he said.

Cosby thanked FDOT for the help with sand removal, Bradenton Beach city staff and City Attorney Ricinda Perry for organizing the tree lighting.

As Cosby pushed the button to illuminate the tree, cheers sprang up from hundreds of attendees.

The next event, Christmas on Bridge Street, will be held on Dec. 7 beginning at 2 p.m. with a Table of Hope banner signing. In a display of city resilience, the signed banner will be hung across Bridge Street.

Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

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

BRADENTON BEACH – As Bridge Street comes back to life with merchants reopening businesses following back-to-back hurricanes, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) discussed their vision for the area, including Christmas on Bridge Street.

“We had already paid to complete the pergola, and we know that’s an important vision for the street, and in talking with Chief (John) Cosby one of the goals and objectives we have that ties in with is that we are going to be open and supporting Christmas on Bridge Street,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at the Oct. 17 CRA meeting. “That is not an option, that is going to happen.”

She said Bridge Street merchants have been working hard to get up and running by Nov. 23.

“It is my goal to execute what we’re going to call our Table of Hope, and that is going to be our kickoff to Christmas on Bridge Street,” Perry said. “The Table of Hope we put together for everybody who’s been a part of this experience, we’re going to shut Bridge Street down, line it with tables, get a bolt of fabric, we’re going to write what we want on that fabric and we’re going to hang that banner over our street for everybody to know that we are strong, that we are standing and that we are a hopeful community.”

The date for that event has not yet been determined.

“Mayor and I are going to be working with the decorators,” Perry said. ”It may not be pretty but it’s going to be something and we’re going to celebrate that heart of the city. “

She invited community members to reach out with thoughts and ideas.

“The merchants are certainly pressed to get where they need to be,” she said, noting that multiple businesses in Bradenton Beach have already reopened including Daiquiri Deck, Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier, SALT Bar and Table, Bridge Tender Inn, Circle K (north location open with fuel, south opens this weekend), and Smoqe House (opens Oct. 21).

Staff at Drift-In AMI, Blue Marlin, Island Time and Island Creperie, among others, told The Sun that they are working to get back up and running as soon as possible.

The CRA board unanimously approved Christmas on Bridge Street and the Table of Hope.

Sundown Get Down celebrates back to school

Sundown Get Down celebrates back to school

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Family fun.

BRADENTON BEACH – It was a beautiful day for a Back to School Bash on Bridge Street as the Bradenton Beach Merchants Association held its third Sundown Get Down street party on Sept. 19.

The event, scheduled on the third Thursday of every month through Dec. 19, offers attendees the chance to try out the unique offerings of the city’s diverse array of businesses. Information tents at both the west and east ends of Bridge Street explained discounts and freebies offered by local businesses.

Sundown Get Downcelebrates back to school
Sophia Troxler enjoyed the Sundown Get Down Back to School Bash on Bridge Street. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

This month’s event had a Back to School Bash theme, and plenty of families were on hand to enjoy some fun in the sun.

Sundown Get Down’s upcoming themes are:

• Oct. 17: Pumpkins and Palms in Paradise

• Nov. 21: Coastal Harvest Hoedown

• Dec. 19: Sandy Clause Beach Celebration

During each Sundown Get Down event from 4-9 p.m., Bridge Street is closed to auto traffic and open alcohol is permitted. The event offers sporting competitions for prizes and a chance to fish in a kiddie pool for prizes.

The Monkey Bus runs a complimentary shuttle service to and from the free parking lot at Coquina Beach and paid parking lots in the area offer half-priced rates during the event.

For more information, visit www.sundowngetdown.com.

City commission approves Bridge Street parties

City commission approves Bridge Street parties

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners approved Australian pine tree removals, monthly street parties on Bridge Street, a new member of the Scenic Highway Committee and donations to local community centers at their June 20 meeting.

SUNDOWN GET DOWN APPROVED

City commissioners heard details about the planned Bridge Street Merchants Association’s Sundown Get Down monthly street party events on Bridge Street. The events will be held at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month beginning on July 18 with a retro beach party theme.

“There will be additional trolleys, a kid-zone and family-friendly themes,” Leah Brown of Big Idea Events said. “The goal is to drive business to Bridge Street’s established businesses.”

The monthly events received an open container waiver from the city. Bradenton Beach Police Department Lt. Lenard Diaz said the department will be fully staffed for the events.

Bridge Street will be closed to vehicular traffic during the events and commissioners expressed concerns about parking.

Sam Negrin of Beach to Bay Investments said the Shawn Kaleta-owned parking lot at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive will be available at either zero or reduced fees during the street parties.

“Yes, parking fees will either be waived or greatly reduced for the events,” Negrin said.

Merchants will allow for the use of public restrooms during the events.

Commissioners unanimously approved a motion for the monthly event to run from July through December.

AUSTRALIAN PINES REMOVAL APPROVED

Commissioners unanimously approved a $7,500 bid from Sarasota-based Harley’s Tree Service to remove two Australian pine trees on city property around 1102 Gulf Drive N. with funds to come from the city-wide tree trimming budget line item.

A second bid for $7,600 from Harley’s Tree Service to remove nine Australian pines from Children’s Park and Herb Dolan Park was also unanimously approved by the commission with funds to come from the half-cent sales tax fund.

NEW MEMBER ON SCENIC HIGHWAY COMMITTEE

Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Bradenton Beach resident Brie Bender to the Scenic Highway Committee.

“I’ve been a resident in Bradenton Beach since 2019 and I’m interested in seeing how I can give back to the community,” Bender said to commissioners. “I’ve been very involved in the community in South Carolina.”

The committee serves as an advocacy group for the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway corridor.

Bender listed her occupation as director of brokerage operations at INNOVATE Real Estate.

“We appreciate you being here,” Mayor John Chappie said.

CITY DONATION SPLIT

With an available city budget of $4,750 for donations to Island community centers, commissioners voted to donate two-thirds of that amount to the Bradenton Beach-based Annie Silver Community Center and one-third to The Center of Anna Maria Island in Anna Maria.

City commissioners unanimously approved a donation of $3,182 to Annie Silver for its programs and $1,568 to The Center of Anna Maria Island for programs to help with the organization’s senior program collaborations with the Annie Silver Community Center.

Commissioner Ralph Cole is the liaison to The Center of Anna Maria Island and Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce is the liaison to the Annie Silver Community Center.

Mayor accepts responsibility for misplacement of palms

Mayor accepts responsibility for misplacement of palms

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

BRADENTON BEACH – At the June 5 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, Mayor John Chappie accepted responsibility for the Florida Department of Transportation-mandated removal of the newly planted coconut palm trees on Gulf Drive.

“I did make a mistake at the beginning when we had the 19 palms that were planted in the FDOT right-of-way and that’s all on me,” Chappie said.

The trees were planted the week of April 24 on the Gulf Drive South roundabout and traffic islands as part of a CRA-approved project that included Bridge Street. The $50,000 coconut palm project is a public-private partnership between the city and developer Shawn Kaleta’s Beach to Bay Investments LLC.

That portion of Gulf Drive South is a state road and falls under the jurisdiction of the FDOT. The city was notified by FDOT that coconut palm trees are not allowed on state roads due to safety concerns about visibility, along with falling fronds and coconuts.

“Darryl (FDOT Scenic Highway Coordinator Darryl Richard) was very kind and very efficient with trying to get ahold of us,” Chappie said. “Once he got ahold of us I was out of town for a week at the hurricane conference, but within 24 hours, I considered it an emergency situation that those needed to get out of the right of way because they were concerned that it doesn’t meet their standards.”

Chappie said the city would have to fill out a permit form and go through the FDOT process to plant in the traffic islands and roundabout.

“He (Richard) did say, the rule is four inches in circumference,” Chappie said. “The Alexander palms (which were previously in the roundabout) were four inches in circumference but apparently, 10 years ago or whenever it was, there wasn’t needed permission from FDOT to put them in. So my thought was on trying to replace those, they didn’t look very healthy and that’s all on me of course.”

According to Chappie, four of the 19 palms were taken back to landscaper M&F Lawn Care’s yard. Chappie said the trees may be relocated to Lou Barolo Park or the city police department.

Chappie said he will be meeting with Miguel Mancera of M&F Lawn Care and city attorney Ricinda Perry to determine what is needed to finish the project.

Chappie then spoke about the trees along Bridge Street.

“There were a total of 60 palms that have been delivered. We planted 56 palms on Bridge Street, on First Street and the pier dock area,” he said.

Chappie said that four or five of the smaller palms were leaning and didn’t appear to have a good connection with the root ball.

“Miguel assured us that he was guaranteeing everything that was planted,” Chappie said. “I talked to him yesterday. We need to get together to go over everything, to continue to do some of the beautification that we like.”

IRRIGATION PURSUED

Chappie brought up an irrigation system installation on Bridge Street which had received CRA approval for a cost of up to $7,500.

Police Chief John Cosby, who is currently serving as interim public works director following the resignation of Tom Woodard, weighed in.

“I don’t think the amount of money that’s budgeted is going to cover it,” Cosby said. “In order to run the line down the entire street on both sides we’re going to have to lift the bricks out of the crosswalks to put the pipe underneath it, otherwise we’re going to have to bore and boring is very expensive so that brick would have to be removed and the lines run so the whole street has irrigation. I don’t know that $7,000 is going to cover it but we’ll get some estimates and bring those back and we’ll go from there.”

MAYOR RESPONDS

At the June 6 city commission meeting, Chappie responded to press coverage of the city’s lag in producing a fully-executed agreement between the city and developer Shawn Kaleta ensuring Kaleta’s assumption of responsibility for newly-planted coconut palm trees on Bridge Street.

The Sun’s news coverage included a timeline of events, including emails from the city, that showed that a signed agreement for the coconut palms between the city and Kaleta was not in place until May 28 – more than a month after the trees were planted the week of April 24. The Sun also published two editorials criticizing the process and the project.

Chappie did not name The Sun and did not refute any of the facts in the stories.

“As everybody knows, we’re five people up here and we are a weak mayor form of government, we are equal, and we assign people to oversee on certain projects,” Chappie said. Ricinda (City Attorney Ricinda Perry) has gotten the brunt of a lot of projects to do and unfortunately has gotten a lot of the brunt of the criticism.”

Palm tree landscaper awaiting payment from city

Palm tree landscaper awaiting payment from city

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Since April 24, Miguel Mancera’s landscaping crews have been busy laying stone, planting and, in some cases, removing and replanting multiple coconut palm trees on and around Bridge Street.

Mancera, the owner of M&F Lawn Care in Bradenton, sent an invoice to the city on April 19 for a $25,000 down payment toward the $50,000 cost of the trees and landscaping work, and as of May 30, he said he has not received payment.

“I have payroll to meet every week,” Mancera said, adding he has 12 employees. “They haven’t paid me yet. I called Ricinda (City Attorney Ricinda Perry) and she is supposed to talk to Thompson (City Treasurer Shayne Thompson).

Mancera said he paid for the stone and trees out of pocket in anticipation of payment by the city.

“I don’t know the exact amount, but it cost more than half (of the $50,000),” he said. “There was more than 20 yards of rock, so that was $6,000 just for the rock.”

M&F Lawn Care was hired by the city to plant up to 80 coconut palm trees on and around Bridge Street, as well as to lay white river rock.

The tree planting project is a city partnership with developer Shawn Kaleta. According to the city clerk, Kaleta made his agreed-upon donation of $10,000 toward the project on April 10.

Palm tree landscaper awaiting payment from city
Some of the coconut palm trees that were removed from Gulf Drive South were replanted along the approach to the Bradenton Beach Pier. – Leslie Lake | Sun

Mancera, who has done work for both the city and Kaleta, said he had been contacted by Perry and Kaleta for the tree project.

“They called me up and I met them a couple of times on Bridge Street so they could show me where to plant the trees,” he said.

On May 24, Mancera’s crews were back to remove what he said were 22 of the coconut palms that they had planted in the roundabout and traffic islands of Gulf Drive South as part of the project.

The trees were removed after the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) informed the city that coconut palms were not allowed on state roads due to safety concerns about sight lines along with falling palm fronds and coconuts. That section of Gulf Drive South falls under the jurisdiction of the FDOT.

“We took out 22 trees and we replanted 18,” Mancera said. “Some were replanted on Bridge Street, some in front of the parking lot at the Pines Trailer Park and some along the pier across from the oyster restaurant (Anna Maria Oyster Bar). I don’t know about the other four.”

The city clerk sent The Sun a copy of the April 19 M&F Lawn Care invoice which showed a total cost of $50,000 for the landscaping and planting of the palm trees. M&F had requested a $25,000 down payment which was due within 30 days or subject to a 1.5% late charge.

The invoice was marked with a handwritten: “OK to pay. JRC (Mayor John Chappie’s initials).” The city clerk confirmed by email on May 30 that payment had not been made.

Editorial: Signed palm tree agreement better late than never

City releases signed coconut palms agreement

Editorial: Palm trees and other shady endeavors

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive

City releases signed coconut palms agreement

City releases signed coconut palms agreement

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The fully signed agreement between the city and developer Shawn Kaleta for the maintenance of the coconut palm trees on and around Bridge Street was signed by Mayor John Chappie on May 28 and placed into the public record that day.

That comes more than a month after the trees were planted the week of April 24 in a public-private partnership between the city and Kaleta.

On May 29, City Clerk Terri Sanclemente provided The Sun with a copy of the agreement signed by Chappie, Kaleta – as Beach to Bay Construction LLC manager – and Sanclemente as witness. The Sun made multiple requests for the document beginning on May 6.

The maintenance, indemnification and hold harmless agreement in a public-private partnership between the City of Bradenton Beach and Kaleta, through his LLC, designates responsibility for the tree maintenance to Kaleta and indemnifies the city in the event of injury or damage from the trees.

Public-private partnerships between cities and developers are unique to Bradenton Beach among the three Anna Maria Island cities.

Both Mayor Dan Murphy of Anna Maria and Mayor Judy Titsworth of Holmes Beach responded to The Sun’s email asking if either city had partnered with a private entity for city projects.

“If you define a public-private partnership as a “capital improvement project with the city getting dollar funding from a developer” the answer is no, we have had none that I can recall during my tenure of 10 years as mayor. I don’t think we’ve ever had a developer give us any money for a project,” Murphy wrote.

Titsworth wrote, “We have not, to my recollection.”

The partnership with Kaleta for the palm trees’ maintenance and indemnification was approved unanimously on April 3 by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

At that meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry assured CRA members that the agreement would be signed by Kaleta prior to the trees being planted.

CRA member Jan Vosburgh expressed concern about the trees’ safety and maintenance.

“I believe everything the city does should be as maintenance-free as possible,” Vosburgh said. “It sounds to me like we’re making a nightmare for the city and the businesses.”

Ultimately, following assurances by Perry that a signed agreement would be in place, Vosburgh voted to approve the agreement, making it a unanimous vote.

In addition to Chappie and Vosburgh, Deborah Scaccianoce, Marilyn Maro, Ed Chiles and Chair Ralph Cole make up the CRA.

OUT OF ORDER

It is unclear when Kaleta signed the agreement.

The city clerk provided The Sun a copy of the receipt for the April 10 $10,000 payment from Kaleta, but based on correspondence between City Attorney Ricinda Perry and Kaleta’s attorneys, it does not appear that he signed the agreement prior to the planting of the palm trees the week of April 24.

On April 25, Kaleta attorney Sean Kelly sent an email to Perry that said, “Shawn asked me to finalize this agreement for the coconut palms on Bridge Street. Will you please send me the Exhibit A site plan and the dollar amount for the CRA’s contribution? Then I can update the document and have Shawn sign. Thanks!”

On May 9, Perry sent an email to Kelly copied to Kaleta that said, “Good morning. It took me a bit to find a way to document in a ‘site plan’ the palms and to make sure we knew exactly where Miguel was planting everything. I ended up flying my drone and then inserting stars where palms are located with a description for areas that have multiple palms at or near an address.” “Miguel” refers to Miguel Mancera, the owner of M&F Lawn Care, Inc., the company that planted the palm trees, who has not yet been paid for his work (see story, page 9).

On May 14, Kaleta attorney, Rainier Altiere, sent Perry an email that said, “Here is the completed maintenance agreement. The only thing missing is the start date. Please provide me with that and let me know if this is OK for us to have Shawn sign.”

On May 15, Perry sent Kaleta, Kelly and Altiere an email that referenced an unnamed limited liability corporation (LLC) Kaleta intended to use as the CRA’s project partner and the party responsible for maintaining the coconut palms for the next 30 years.

“This corp (corporation) named in the document was set up at the end of last month. Is it just a ‘shell company’ with no assets or insurance to cover the harm/damage caused by a falling coconut? At a minimum, the company will need an insurance policy naming the city that actually covers damage caused by the coconuts. I can’t just have a piece of open (missing word) with no actual protection for the public. Ideas?” Perry wrote.

On May 15, The Sun emailed Perry requesting a copy of the fully signed and fully executed agreement. In her May 15 response, Perry wrote, “There is a signed agreement. The clerk is out of the office and can provide further documents upon her return.”

On May 29, Perry sent an email to Sanclemente and Chappie that addressed the date Sanclemente and Chappie signed the agreement.

“Contracts have counterpart signatures that most always have differing dates – hence the reason contracts ALWAYS state an effective date. The effective date controls contracts. In this instance, I always stated that the effective date would be when the date trees were being delivered. The city did not pick nor write the date but found the effective date to be acceptable and within the approval of the CRA. Standard contract law. Feel free to forward to anyone needing legal contract law information,” Perry wrote.

The effective date of the agreement is April 1, which is two days before its approval by the CRA at its April 3 meeting. The city did not respond to The Sun’s request for an explanation of the earlier effective date.

“The city of Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has approved a CRA beautification project on Bridge Street to be installed at a cost not to exceed forty thousand and no/dollars ($40,000) to be paid for by the CRA and ten thousand and no/dollars ($10,000) to be paid for by the Sponsor (Kaleta). All trees installed in this beautification project shall be maintained at the sole cost of Sponsor,” the agreement states.

The agreement will be in place for 30 years with options to renew every 10 years.

According to the signed agreement, “Sponsor shall at its sole cost and expense maintain the permitted installation in good condition. The city makes no warranties or representation of any kind regarding the suitability of this public property/right-of-way location for the proposed installation.”

The signed agreement includes indemnification language that states, “As consideration for use of the city’s public property to install coconut palm trees, the Sponsor (Kaleta) shall at all times, at its expense, hold harmless and indemnify the city, its officers, employees, agents, elected and appointed officials, and volunteers from and against any and all claims, demands, liens, liabilities, penalties, fines, fees, judgments, losses and damages whether or not a lawsuit is filed, including, but not limited to claims for damage to property or bodily or personal injuries, including death.”

The indemnification language also states that Kaleta is responsible for any costs, expenses and attorney fees associated with a claim or lawsuit associated with the coconut palm trees.

According to the Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute, “To indemnify, also known as indemnity or indemnification, means compensating a person for damages or losses they have incurred or will incur related to a specified accident, incident or event. Typically, parties make a written agreement in which one party promises to indemnify the other party for future specified losses.”

On May 31, The Sun received a copy of Kaleta’s proof of insurance with $1 million in liability per occurrence for personal injury, $5,000 for medical expenses per person, $100,000 damage to rented premises and $2 million general aggregate coverage. The policy expires on Sept. 9.

The insured is listed as Beach to Bay Investments, 102 48th St., Holmes Beach and the producer of the policy is Gulf Insurance, LLC, 301 Manatee Ave. in Holmes Beach.

The Sun has requested an updated site plan since the location of some of the trees has changed due to their FDOT-mandated May 24 removal from Gulf Drive South, a state road.

As of May 31, that site plan has not been received.

According to the maintenance, indemnification and hold harmless agreement Exhibit B, Kaleta’s company is responsible for: “Removing fronds, fruit, seedpods and fruit stalks carefully without damaging the trunk or fronds that are to be retained. All coconut fruit must be removed once it produces on the tree.”

The guidelines continue, “Pruning will be required a minimum of two times a year on municipal property and rights-of-way to manage the hazards of falling coconuts and fronds and to minimize the risk to persons and property within the fall zone.”

People on the Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page had plenty of comments about the palm trees and the agreement.

Wendy Holcomb wrote, “Not a good idea EVER to put coconut trees where pedestrians walk and vehicles drive.”

Richard Becker wrote, “All this over a palm tree. It’s not about the palm tree, it’s about the politics.”

“Indemnify means to ‘make right again’ not ‘protect,’ so if the city lost a case, Team K would have to pay them back, the settlement ck (check) has to come from the defendant,” Susan Paxton wrote.

According to recent city Scenic WAVES committee meeting agendas, the CRA board did not request a preliminary project review from the city commission-appointed committee

The Scenic WAVES committee acts as the commission’s advisory board on proposed landscaping and beautification projects.

Related coverage:

Editorial: Signed palm tree agreement better late than never

Palm tree landscaper awaiting payment from city

Editorial: Palm trees and other shady endeavors

FDOT: Wrong trees, wrong place

Expert outlines optimum coconut palm maintenance

Signed palm tree agreement remains elusive