HOLMES BEACH – Deeply-dug beach holes, and using metal shovels to dig those holes, are becoming a major concern on Anna Maria Island’s beaches; and county officials are asking the three Island cities to adopt local ordinances to help address the problem.
Manatee County Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker expressed his concerns about unfilled beach holes when giving a presentation to the Holmes Beach mayor and city commissioners on May 13. He plans to make similar presentations to the Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach mayors and commissioners and he hopes all three cities will adopt ordinances that mirror a county ordinance adopted within the past year or so.
Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker addressed the Holmes Beach City Commission. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding the removal of natural resources, County Ordinance 23-121 states: “No person shall dig, damage, remove, displace or destroy any beach sand, whether submerged or not, or any soil, rock, stone, tree, shrub or plant, or down-timber or other wood or material, or excavate by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means without first obtaining a permit from the director. Exception is made for the building of sandcastles or other sand sculptures, except that the sand used for such activities must not be moved from the general vicinity of its source. The area must be returned to its original state after use.”
In regard to digging holes on a county beach, the ordinance states: “No person shall possess on or about the sandy Gulf beach a metal shovel of the type customarily sold in hardware stores – not a children’s toy – unless part of a construction project permitted under the Florida Building Code or similar law. No person shall dig a hole in the sandy Gulf beach deeper than one foot below surrounding grade unless part of a construction project permitted under the Florida Building Code or similar law.”
Manatee County owns and manages Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach and Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. The county also maintains and manages Bayfront Park in Anna Maria, which is city-owned and includes a beachfront area along the Tampa Bay shoreline. The county does not have the authority to regulate beaches that are not county-owned or county-managed.
As part of the efforts to protect the Island beaches, those who visit them and the wildlife that inhabits them, Hunsicker encouraged the Holmes Beach mayor and commission to consider adopting a city ordinance that would allow the city’s police officers and code compliance officers to enforce hole digging regulations similar to the county’s. Hunsicker will soon ask the Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach mayors and city commissioners to do the same.
“Everyone wants to come and build a sandcastle and get buried on the sand, but what we’re seeing now, and what we’ve seen the last several years, is a movement towards this massive work,” Hunsicker said.
His presentation includes a photo of large holes dug several feet deep on county beaches – some with adults standing in them and some with teenagers standing in them.
“Why is this happening? Because they’re out here with garden tools,” Hunsicker said. “No one’s going to be opposed to a beach pail and a plastic beach shovel and building family traditions and memories about some sandcastle. However, we’ve reached the point where some of these things are just excessive.”
Hunsicker said uncovered holes in the beach sand are even harder to see at night, which can result in people getting injured and sea turtles and other wildlife becoming fatally trapped. His presentation includes a photo of a loggerhead turtle that fell into a beach hole and died on its back, unable to escape.
Hunsicker’s presentation also references an Associated Press news story about a 2024 beach hole collapse in Fort Lauderdale that resulted in the death of a young girl. That story also references three other 2023-24 sand digging incidents that resulted in the deaths of a teenager in each instance.
Beach raker’s observations:
As the county’s primary beach rake operator, longtime Cortez resident Mark Taylor drives a large John Deere tractor up and down the county beaches towing a beach rake. Based in Holmes Beach but utilized Island-wide, the beach rake collects seaweed, algae, dead marine life and wildlife, trash and other beach debris.
Beach Rake operator Mark Taylor shared his concerns with the Holmes Beach mayor and commissioners. – Joe Hendricks Sun
Hunsicker said Taylor once encountered a deep beach hole with a two-year-old child at the bottom of it; had he not seen the hole and then passed over it with the beach rake the consequences could have been disastrous.
At Hunsicker’s request, Taylor addressed the mayor and commission.
“Your police department has had to rope off holes that are bigger than my tractor and rig combined. These holes are dangerous. It’s a real problem,” Taylor said.
Beach rake operator Mark Taylor often encounters deep holes in the sand while navigating the Island beaches. – Manatee County | Submitted
Taylor said he has to avoid the holes when raking the beaches and he also expressed concerns about lifeguards and other first responders hitting an unseen hole while driving on the beach at an accelerated speed.
He said he gets out of his tractor a half-dozen times a day to kindly remind beachgoers to fill their holes before leaving. He also reminds them it’s currently sea turtle nesting season.
This county tractor and beach rake are stored near the Holmes Beach Skate Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Taylor said the county beaches are his top priority but he often operates the tractor and beach rake Island-wide, including while traveling from one county beach to another. During turtle nesting season, Taylor works closely with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella to ensure the Gulf shoreline is clear of debris and that the sand is properly sloped for the sea turtles to travel upon.
Taylor supports all three Island cities adopting beach regulations similar to the county regulations.
Commission comments:
Mayor Judy Titsworth said the city recently updated the public beach access signs placed at city street ends.
Regarding sea turtle awareness, the signs say:
“Lights out of for sea turtles May 1-Oct. 31;
“Do not approach turtles or nests;
“Remove beach furniture at dusk;
“Leave nests and signs undisturbed;
“Fill all holes dug in the sand.”
Signs placed at the public beach access points include sea turtle nesting season instructions. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Police Chief Bill Tokajer supports the adoption of a city ordinance that would provide his officers and the city’s code compliance officers with the authority they need to direct beachgoers to fill their excessive holes immediately and return their metal shovels to their vehicles.
“Deeper than your knee is too far,” Tokajer said about enforcing an ordinance that would limit the depth of the holes dug in the beach sand.
City Attorney Erica Augello said she has no legal concerns about the city adopting an ordinance that mirrors the county’s language and she noted the commission could revise the county language if so desired.
The commission reached unanimous consensus in directing Augello to draft an ordinance and present it for first reading at a future commission meeting. Any changes desired by the mayor, commission or city staff can then be incorporated before the ordinance is brought back for second reading and final adoption.
MANATEE COUNTY – Anna Maria Island beach renourishment is scheduled for 2026-27 at federal expense, but Manatee County must pay to stabilize Gulf Drive, install offshore erosion control breakwaters and repair the Longboat Pass jetty, the county’s beach official said.
During a joint meeting of the Manatee County Commission and the Town of Longboat Key on May 7, Manatee County Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker gave a presentation on storm recovery and beach renourishment.
“Our contract with the federal government says if we lose the beach to a hurricane or a single major event, what’s called an emergency condition… the federal government will return to rebuild your project at 100% federal cost including putting in dunes to replace the ones lost,” Hunsicker said. “So we’re in a very fortunate position Island-wide, but that still leaves us with the full burden of cost for these other features at Coquina and Cortez Beach.”
Beach renourishment
The first Anna Maria Island beach renourishment was in 1992.
“Up until 1992, 9 miles of Anna Maria beaches left us only 30% of the beaches you could walk at high tide,” Hunsicker said. “If you weren’t here then and you see our healthy beaches now, you wonder why are we in this strong effort to keep these beaches healthy and continue to nourish. Because this is the end point when our nourishment stops. The erosion effects on our Island is day to day. Storm or no storm, we are losing about 10 feet a year to erosion.”
“We’ve continuously stayed with the projects ever since, with help from our federal partners as well as state partners. Of course, we have a program with the city of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach area that is supported by the Army Corps of Engineers,” Hunsicker said. “The Bradenton Beach area called Coquina and Cortez Beach are not federally supported because they are recreational beaches. There’s really no value behind that sand for a federal interest to protect.”
Hunsicker said there is talk that FEMA may not participate in funding recreational beaches.
“That would be a dramatic shift in responsibilities to the State of Florida and local governments who have recreational beaches,” he said. We have to ponder that as we think about our future budgets.”
Gulf Drive stabilization
Hunsicker addressed Gulf Drive stabilization to protect against storm surge and damage such as that caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
“The Gulf Drive stabilization, this was and still is a non-engineering structure. It’s there to protect wave runoff and protect this road from getting washed away,” Hunsicker said.
He said the current structures were placed in the early 1960s and he showed a slide which stated that Hurricane Helene storm surge and overwash caused severe damage to dunes, the revetment and the roadway.
“Because they were not engineered with a planning permit, we’re not going to get any assistance from FEMA or any government agencies to replace what was there,” Hunsicker said. “So we’re going to need to come back with an engineered structure designed to accommodate our knowledge of rising sea levels over decades and also provide the protection we’re going to need.”
Hunsicker said the choice of materials to protect the road is either rock or seawall.
“The downside is we can’t get through any of these processes without committing about $20 million along that Cortez Beach road section,” he said. “So we put in for a grant application and other activities. We’re going to be trying very hard to make that happen, but remember that $20 million is for that section of Cortez Beach. We really don’t have an alternative.”
Cortez Beach groins, Longboat Pass jetty
In 1957-58, perpendicular erosion control structures called groins were placed on the shoreline of Coquina Beach, Hunsicker said.
“They have deteriorated to the point where it’s not only an embarrassment from the standpoint of a beautiful beach, but is actually a safety hazard,” he said. “If a small child is on this side and the lifeguard tower is on this side, you can’t see them.”
The county is working on a plan to build four offshore breakwaters to deter erosion.
“We have to provide the same erosion protection and our plan coming up next year is to remove all these structures and substitute an offshore breakwater system that will continue to protect the beach but will give a complete and free clear run for public safety, for beach enjoyment, all the way to our central holding pier,” Hunsicker said.
At the south end of Coquina Beach, “The jetty is almost 70 years old. This has held up about as long as it can. We’re going to be removing some of the cross ties, putting in additional rock and a sheetwall right here behind it to be able to continue to rely on this jetty from keeping Coquina Beach from washing up into Longboat Pass,” Hunsicker said. “That’s the purpose of this jetty, to protect the navigational integrity of Longboat Pass to the Gulf of Mexico.”
ANNA MARIA – Manatee County and Anna Maria officials spent an hour or so discussing five potential Gulf Islands Ferry landing locations at or near the City Pier.
During the May 8 city commission meeting, the pros and cons of the proposed landing areas were discussed but no decisions were made. A county-funded ferry landing built alongside or near the City Pier requires city commission approval.
Last October, Hurricane Milton destroyed a large section of the City Pier walkway, taking with it the boat landing that had served as the Anna Maria ferry stop since January 2024. Mayor Mark Short and the city commissioners are unified in their belief that replacing the hurricane-damaged pier walkway and reopening the pier is their top priority and the ferry landing is an important but secondary concern. It was stated during a recent TDC meeting that the county-contracted Gulf Islands Ferry Service is not expected to resume in Anna Maria until August 2027.
The ferry service currently consists of two 49-passenger, open-air pontoon boats traveling on the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway between downtown Bradenton and the Bradenton Beach Pier. The county expects to add a larger and heavier boat to the fleet later this summer. The new boat will seat approximately 76 passengers inside and 22 people outside and handle the Bradenton/Anna Maria river route. The two pontoon boats will serve as ‘Island hoppers’ traveling between Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Coquina Beach, and potentially Holmes Beach.
Holmes Beach Commissioner, ferry proponent and Tourist Development Council (TDC) member Dan Diggins attended the May 8 meeting but didn’t participate in the discussion.
The county was represented by Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione, Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker and county consultants Thomas Pierro and Morjana Signorin.
County staff members Elliott Falcione, left, and Charlie Hunsicker addressed Anna Maria’s mayor and commissioners. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Options A, D and E propose constructing a stand-alone ferry dock near the Lake La Vista channel and jetty. Options A and D are closer to shore and would require dredging. Option E is in deeper water, almost parallel with the T-end of the pier, and would not require dredging.
This diagram illustrates all five ferry landing scenarios. – Manatee County | Submitted
Option C proposes a ferry dock constructed along the northwest side of the pier walkway, between the shoreline and the City Pier Grill building. Option B proposes a ferry dock constructed off the far end of the pier. Options C and B wouldn’t require dredging but would require a gangway that connects the ferry dock and the pier.
All five options propose wave attenuator walls that would help offset the wind, waves, currents and other conditions that impact docking, and all five options were subjected to extensive computer modeling that predicts how each option would be impacted by those natural conditions. Additional factors to consider include water depth, seagrass and marine life habitats, dredging needs, permitting requirements and cost.
The county presentation lists option D (by the jetty) and C (alongside the pier walkway) as the top two options. Using cost figures that are now 18 months old, the county presentation lists an estimated $1.2 million price tag for option D and $600,000 for option C.
Falcione said the county seeks the city’s input on how to proceed and he personally prefers the two pier-based options.
“We’re at a fork in the road,” he said of the ongoing decision making processes.
Concerns, considerations
City officials aren’t sure the City Pier can accommodate a larger, heavier ferry. Participating by phone, Commissioner John Lynch asked how many more passengers would arrive and depart from the City Pier aboard the larger boat. The county representatives didn’t have that information but Falcione said he’d get it. Lynch also questioned how the increased passenger loads might impact the land-based infrastructure near the pier.
During public input, city resident and Planning and Zoning Board member Jeff Rodencal shared similar concerns. Regarding a pier-based ferry landing, he theorized there could be a hundred people getting off the large ferry, a hundred people waiting to board the large ferry and another 30-40 people waiting for a smaller ferry headed for another Island destination. He questioned where all those passengers would sit or stand on the pier while waiting for their boat.
“The logistics of moving people through that period and that time has to part of this project,” Rodencal said.
City Pier tenant Brian Seymour, left, shared his thoughts on the proposed ferry landing scenarios. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Pier tenant and City Pier Grill operator Brian Seymour can’t resume his business operations until the pier reopens and he expressed his concern that ferries coming close to shore would endanger manatees, dolphins, sea turtles and other marine life. He also expressed concerns about a landing alongside the pier walkway becoming dislodged during a hurricane and damaging the pier.
“I think B gives us the best option,” he said of his preferred pier-end option.
Regarding stand-alone jetty-based options, Seymour questioned how many ferry passengers would come ashore and then walk 900 feet back out to the T-end of the pier. As a pier-based business operator, he doesn’t see a financial benefit with that scenario.
Raising another consideration, Hunsicker said the county is constantly challenged by non-boaters fishing at county boat ramps and leaving their lines in the water when boats approach. He said this could be a problem on the City Pier unless an “all lines up” policy is in place during ferry arrivals and departures.
Seymour said the L-shaped areas where the pier walkway meets the T-end are heavily fished but “No Fishing Beyond This Point” signs could be placed at the far end of the pier to accommodate the pier-end option.
The discussion ended with Commission Chair Charlie Salem thanking the county representatives for their work and their presentation.
“There’s a lot of stuff to consider here and we’re obviously anxious to get going with our rebuild, but we know this is an important part of restoring ferry service. I look forward to continuing discussion,” Salem said.
ANNA MARIA – When discussing three conceptual scenarios for a Manatee County-funded Gulf Islands Ferry stop in Anna Maria, Mayor Mark Short said city commission approval is needed for any ferry landing installed at or near the Anna Maria City Pier.
The ferry landing scenarios first discussed during the April 21 Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting include a standalone ferry stop located between the City Pier and the Lake La Vista jetty. This scenario also calls for the current jetty to be extended to help reduce sediment accumulation and the need for maintenance-related dredging of the channel. The conceptual scenarios also include a ferry landing installed alongside the northwest side of the City Pier walkway or a ferry landing that extends from the tip of the T-end of the pier.
Last October, Hurricane Milton destroyed most of the pier walkway, including the boat landing at the T-end of the pier that served as a Gulf Islands ferry stop since January 2024. Built on a concrete foundation, the T-end of the pier and the pier buildings sustained minimal hurricane damage.
On April 24, Short told city commissioners he contacted Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione on April 17 regarding the ferry update included on the TDC meeting agenda.
“I reminded him that anything they want to do out here needs this commission’s approval,” Short said. “I also told him that our priority is to rebuild that pier; and it has to be built in the exact footprint it was in.”
During the TDC meeting, Falcione said the new, larger enclosed 76-passenger ferry boat, the Manatee Belle, expected to arrive in July, would weigh 30,000 pounds. He said the two 49-passenger, open-air pontoon boats that will remain in service weigh 1,000 pounds. Falcione later corrected himself and said the Manatee Belle will weigh 100,000 pounds and the pontoon ferry boats each weigh 33,000 pounds.
This diagram illustrates three potential City Pier ferry landing scenarios being explored by county officials. – Manatee County | Submitted
Short said the new pier walkway, when constructed, could accommodate the pontoon ferry boats but a pier walkway built in the exact same footprint could not accommodate the new and heavier ferry boat.
“Sooner or later, this commission is going to be asked to vote on one of the scenarios. They can’t make our reconstruction of the pier part of their add-on. They cannot bolt that on to our project. It would be a completely separate project, outside of what we’re working on with the pier rebuild,” Short said.
Commissioner Charlie Salem noted the county’s August 2027 estimate for ferry service to resume in Anna Maria would leave the city without ferry service for another two and a half years.
Falcione and Manatee County Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker will present the ferry landing scenarios to the mayor and commission on Thursday, May 8 at 1 p.m.
“The city encourages the public to attend that meeting to learn more about the options the county is considering,” Short said.
The May 8 meeting can be accessed by phone and public input can be given by calling 1-929-205-6099 and entering the meeting ID: 85392000280.
Pier repair funding
Earlier this year, Short submitted a funding request to the county that listed an estimated $8 million total cost to replace the pier walkway. The city hopes to fund the pier repairs with a portion of the hurricane-related $252.7 million in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the county.
Falcione told The Sun that he, Short and other county staff members have also engaged in preliminary discussions about possibly using county commission-controlled tourist development tax revenues to help fund the pier walkway repair project.
During the April 24 meeting, Short also addressed the pending demolition and removal of what remains of the pier walkway. He said 10 construction companies sent representatives to the mandatory pre-bid walkthrough meeting held at the pier the previous day. Bid proposals for the demolition and debris removal contract are due by May 16 and Short hopes to recommend a demolition firm for city commission consideration on May 22.
Ferry accident
Contracted by Manatee County, the Gulf Islands Ferry service is managed and operated by Trisha and Dennis Rodriguez through their Gulf Coast Water Taxi LLC. Through their Clearwater Ferry Services LLC, the couple also manages and operates the Clearwater Ferry service that was involved in a fatal boating accident in Clearwater on April 27. The accident resulted in the death of 41-year-old ferry passenger Jose Castro and 10 other passengers were injured.
The fatal accident is being investigated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Coast Guard. According to the FWC, the three-engine power boat that struck the ferry boat was driven by Jeff Knight, 62. At the time of the accident, Knight owned the Jannus Live music venue in Clearwater and several other Clearwater businesses. On April 30, Jannus Live issued a statement saying Knight is no longer affiliated with the music venue.
According to FWC Capt. Matthew Dellarosa, Knight voluntarily subjected himself to a breathalyzer test that evening and no alcohol was detected in his system. To date, no criminal charges have been filed as the investigation continues. Knight’s legal team now questions whether the ferry boat was properly lit when the accident occurred.
According to various media reports, Knight was piloting the same motorboat in 2019 when it collided with a pontoon boat, injuring three pontoon boat passengers. In 2012, he was named in a civil lawsuit after a man slipped and drowned while getting off his boat. That lawsuit was later dismissed.
BRADENTON BEACH – In a large-scale beach restoration project to put back sand pushed across Gulf Drive during recent hurricanes, tons of sand are being cleaned and returned to the beaches at the Coquina Beach processing site.
Sand is picked up daily along Gulf Drive and carried to the site by dump trucks. There, it is put through sifters to remove debris before being placed back on local beaches.
“Clean sand is being delivered to both Cortez and Coquina public beaches and shaped to mimic low-level dune formations along the landward side of the beaches there,” Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Director of Natural Resources, wrote in a Nov.18 email.
Sand recovered from roadways is sorted, sifted, tested, and returned to the beach under Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Florida Department of Health requirements.
Sand removal from private property is the owner’s responsibility. Sand deposited on private property cannot be returned to the beach due to concerns about nails, debris, or household contaminants like oil, bleach, fertilizers, etc.
“Any dumping of sand from private properties on the beach is a direct violation of FDEP regulations. It is very important that the sand from private property not be mixed with the sand currently piled up on the roadsides. Residents with any remaining sandbags are encouraged to keep them through the end of storm season (Nov. 30),” according to the Manatee County website.
The sand being processed at the screening site is separated into two grades: beach-quality sand and construction-grade darker sand such as is found in parking lots.
As of Nov. 15, 19,000 cubic yards of beach-quality sand has been sifted and returned to Anna Maria Island beaches. The county website estimates that amount to be enough to fill six Olympic-size swimming pools.
Construction-grade sand is being processed differently.
“Last week’s figures showed 27,000 cubic yards was transported to the Hidden Harbor staging site along Ft. Hamer Road in the eastern part of the county for future use in road building and infrastructure projects,” Manatee County spokesperson Bill Logan wrote in a Nov. 18 email to The Sun.
According to Logan, “With fill dirt costing between $5 to 15 per cubic yard, the county has already realized average savings of over a quarter million dollars. By the time all the debris sand is repurposed, the county will save well over a million dollars. That does not even calculate the cost of taking sand that could be repurposed to a landfill – which would be substantial.”
Piles of sand remain to be processed. Logan said it is difficult to pinpoint exactly how much remains as FDOT and the three Island cities are still bringing sand to the processing site.
He said the cost of the project has not yet been determined, but Manatee County will be reimbursed from FEMA debris funds.
“The FEMA deadline for total reimbursement is Jan. 11 (2025). Every effort is being made to wrap up sand screening operations by this date,” Logan stated.
Logan stated that each day tons of sand is screened and re-applied or shipped to the staging site at Hidden Harbor.
“While the sand screening is only a part of the overall debris effort, you can always follow along on the overall progress at mymanatee.org/debris. As of today, there has been more than 1.5 million cubic yards of debris collected county-wide,” Logan wrote.
HOLMES BEACH – With dozens of beachgoers soaking up the sun at Manatee Beach as the backdrop to a Manatee County press conference, county officials announced the progress in reopening all of Anna Maria Island’s beaches.
The conference on Oct. 25 was held to discuss the timeline and progress in beach clean-up and featured speakers were Manatee County District Three Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Deputy Director of Parks and County Grounds Carmine DeMilio, State Rep. Will Robinson, State Sen. Jim Boyd and businessman Shawn Kaleta.
“It’s so important that everybody knows the great strides that we are making in our recovery efforts. Our island and surrounding communities continue to exemplify what it is to be real, authentic and resilient in the face of adversity,” Van Ostenbridge said.
Manatee Beach is open and part of Coquina Beach will reopen next week, according to Van Ostenbridge.
“The sand is safe, the water is safe,” he said. “In about 30 days time we believe the entire seven miles of Anna Maria Island beaches will be open. The beaches will be safe and that includes dragging the sand multiple times with smaller nets to catch all the debris that we can and magnets for pulling any metal we can out of the beach.”
“It’s so important we get the message out that these restaurants and these businesses are back open for business so people will come back out to their favorite places,” he said.
Hunsicker talked about the efforts being made to restore the all the Island beaches.
“This was a significant event and that’s a huge understatement,” he said. “When hurricane Helene came in, that’s when we had an overwash of the Island and we now have sand throughout the Island.”
He said crews have been working to move sand to appropriate locations.
“We have a lot of sand out here that came right from the beaches, but we also have areas that were taken from parking lots and private homes and it’s a dark color,” Hunsicker said. “We’re going to be sorting and sifting beach sand at the county reception site at the end of Coquina Beach.”
He said the dark sand, which is not suitable for the beach, will be brought to an inland location in Manatee County and will be used for road building materials.
DeMilio said many county staff members have been working 29 straight days, 10-12 hours a day to clean up the beaches.
“We have removed 4 feet of sand from the rest rooms, the sidewalks and the parking lots,” he said. “We have removed truckloads of debris from these beautiful beaches. We have cut up and removed over 80 trees and two to three beach rakes daily to keep the beaches clean.”
He said safety is at the forefront of their efforts.
“Manatee Beach is clean, clear and safe and we invite all of you to come out and enjoy our beautiful beaches,” DeMilio said.
Before introducing State Sen. Jim Boyd and State Rep. Will Robinson, Van Ostenbridge said, “Remarkable help from the state level has helped us to rebound as quickly as we have.”
“It’s nothing short of remarkable to see what we see in front of us here today. Four weeks ago, this place was destroyed,” Boyd said. “Do we still have work to do? Yes we do. One thing I think is important is not to take our foot off the gas.”
“It’s truly remarkable to be standing here when four weeks ago water was over my head,” Robinson said. “Two weeks ago a Category 3 hit our area, and the pure devastation that we saw was not just on the Island but inland as well.”
He said the work is ongoing.
“I’m proud of the county and the state and our federal partners to get us where we are right now. To see folks bring out beach umbrellas and chairs is one step, we have many steps to take over the next few years,” Robinson said. “We will be there with you. It warms my heart to see the great beautiful sand is returned to our shores and we will always be here for our community as we recover the right way.”
In introducing Kaleta, Van Ostenbridge said a heavy responsibility is to get hospitality workers back to work.
“We employ directly hundreds of people, indirectly thousands of people,” Kaleta said. “We’ve kept all our employees and staff, maybe their job titles have changed a little bit in the short term, and we’re doing whatever we can do keep our employees with jobs.”
Kaleta said he works with an organization called amistrong.org.
“That’s a community organization led by community business owners that is a great resource,” Kaleta said. “Over the last couple weeks, we’ve been keeping our heads high with all of our staff and making sure we maintain all of our employees. They’re a vital part of our community and the tourism business as a whole.”
Kaleta said many businesses have been working around the clock to open their doors.
“We have natural resources here that we’re very fortunate to have – probably some of the best on earth. It’s impressive to see what has been done in the matter of less than 30 days,” Kaleta said. “We’re here and we’re offering tourists to come back as quickly as possible.”
BRADENTON BEACH – The aging wooden jetty at the southernmost end of Coquina Beach is scheduled to be refurbished next spring and extended back to its original length.
The jetty, which extends into the Gulf of Mexico at Longboat Pass, was built in the 1950s and is made of squares of timber that are filled with rocks, according to Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department Director Charlie Hunsicker.
Built in the 1950s, the Coquina Beach jetty resembles a wooden railroad bridge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The structure is about 70 years old and it looks sort of like an old railroad bridge. The waves have been hitting this structure of 70 years and it’s finally taking its toll on the last 40-50 feet. Some of the wood is breaking apart and the fasteners and bolts are rusting out. Some of those rocks are now spewed on the bottom of the Gulf,” Hunsicker said. The iconic jetty will be restored to its original length, around 30 feet, he added.
“The jetty was intended to hold the Coquina Beach sand from going into Longboat Pass and it did its job for the longest time, but it started to get a little leaky. So, about eight years ago, we experimented with putting in a tube filled with sand and laid it against the north side of the jetty. It’s like a hot dog filled with sand. This tube stopped the movement of sand that would have gone through the leaky part of the jetty. If this tube did its job, we could observe that the pass wasn’t filling in as fast as it had been. It worked. The tube was only intended to be there for three years, but it’s hung in there ever since,” Hunsicker explained.
A sand-filled tube was previously placed alongside the jetty to help prevent beach sand from entering Longboat Pass. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Now we’re going to replace it (the tube) with a permanent and impervious sheet pile wall that will be driven down into the sand at the same elevation as the rock jetty. A sheet pile wall is a steel wall that’s driven into the ground. When we put in the sheet pile wall against the existing structure, that will replace the tube of sand, and we are going to replace the broken-up pieces at the western end of the jetty. There’s not going to be a wall there that you can’t see around, nothing like that. The top of the jetty will stand about three feet above the sand,” Hunsicker said.
The jetty extends out into the Gulf of Mexico, near Longboat Pass. – Cindy Lane | Sun
ANNA MARIA – The cleanup of the shipwreck debris field along the Anna Maria shoreline is mostly complete.
The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three commercial fishermen from a 70-foot commercial fishing vessel that took on water on Friday evening 2 miles west of Anna Maria Island.
After being abandoned at sea, the superstructure of the commercial fishing boat Warrior – owned by the Versaggi Shrimp Corp. in Tampa – broke apart in the rough seas, leaving the remaining hull submerged in approximately 14 feet of water.
By Saturday morning, a great deal of shipwreck debris had washed ashore in Anna Maria. To a lesser degree, debris also washed ashore in Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key.
Capt. Kathe Fannon spotted this large piece of debris floating near Longboat Pass Saturday afternoon. – Kathe Fannon | Submitted
Saturday morning, the city of Anna Maria, with the county’s help, initiated an extensive cleanup effort that was essentially completed by the time the sun set Sunday evening.
Early Saturday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy spoke to Joe Versaggi by phone and the two men agreed that the Versaggi Shrimp Corp. would ask its insurance carrier to pay for the cleanup efforts.
Due to rough seas, Sunday’s offshore diesel fuel containment and salvage efforts were postponed until Monday morning.
Situation updates
Late Sunday morning, Murphy provided city commissioners with a detailed email update.
“The debris field from the wrecked shrimp trawler has pretty much all been removed, with the exception of a few very large pieces remaining near the beach access at Fir Ave., and a large water tank near Bean Point.
“These pieces will be removed over the next few days after cutting them into manageable pieces. The fuel smell has dissipated and appears to have not caused any major damage to the beach or dune system. However, our staff, FDEP and USCG are continuing to monitor the beaches to ensure there is no impact,” Murphy’s email said.
“As to the remains of the trawler, salvage operations with divers are scheduled to begin today just off of Bean Point where the trawler ran aground. The fuel tank, which had a maximum capacity of 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel, remains offshore attached to the hull in approximately 14 feet of water. USCG aerial observations indicate no further leakage. Still, this tank continues to pose a potential threat to our beaches should it rupture prior to or during salvage operations.
Debris collected in Anna Maria was placed in large dumpsters and transported to the AMI Historical Museum. – Dan Murphy | Submitted
“The debris removed from the beaches has been placed in dumpsters and moved to the vacant lot by the Historical Society museum. The insurance adjuster for the shrimp company owning the trawler will inspect the debris this week,” Murphy wrote.
His email included a copy of the Coast Guard debris chart that indicated the locations of the wreck and the debris drift.
This refrigerator washed ashore in Bradenton Beach Saturday. – Karen McKay | Submitted
“Dean Jones and his Public Works staff, along with some incredible help from Charlie Hunsicker’s Manatee County staff, all did a remarkable job of quickly responding to this emergency. They came in on short notice during one of the coldest days in months and worked long hours under extreme and adverse conditions to restore our beaches to normal. We owe all of them our gratitude and a ‘thank you’ for a job well done,” Murphy’s email said.
Additional updates
At approximately 6:45 p.m. Saturday evening, Murphy provided a situation update.
“The United States Coast Guard informed me this evening that after their last flyover, the vessel’s fuel tank appears to still be secure. It is their opinion that the fuel we have on our beach is possibly remnants from the vessel’s bilge. The salvage boat will be on site between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday morning,” Murphy said via text message.
At approximately 1 p.m. on Sunday, Murphy provided a text message update that said, “Over 75 cubic yards of debris were picked up off our beaches. Last few pieces of debris placed in museum lot to be cut up and removed.”
At 6:40 p.m. Sunday evening, Murphy provided another text message update regarding the efforts to place a circular fuel spill containment boom in the water above and around the hull of the sunken ship.
“Not good news. Hoping for early a.m. placement tomorrow,” Murphy said in his text message that also contained a message he received from a Coast Guard representative.
“Sir, the tug and barge was on scene but could not conduct operations due to 4-foot seas and high winds. Additionally, these conditions would be outside of the parameters for effective boom deployment. Their plan tonight is to anchor behind the Island and get started first thing in the morning. Forecast tomorrow is much more favorable. They will be placing the buoy on the wreck this evening,” the Coast Guard message said.
When contacted at 10 p.m. Sunday evening, Murphy said the plan is to place 3,000 feet of containment boom in the water surrounding the submerged hull. Murphy said the entire superstructure is gone and all that remains is the hull.
This debris that appears to be a bait well remained just offshore of Anna Maria Sunday afternoon. – Dan Murphy | Submitted
Murphy said the city’s cleanup efforts were for the most part complete, with the exception of a large piece of debris still floating just offshore. Murphy said the Coast Guard’s aerial surveillance did not indicate a great deal of additional floating debris headed toward the Island.
“It’s pretty much over at this time, except for whether I’m going to get the money from the insurance company. That’s a whole different story,” Murphy said.
This crew from Manatee County played a key role in the Anna Maria cleanup efforts. – Charlie Hunsicker | Submitted
“When the mayor put out a call for help to respond to literally a shipwreck off Anna Maria Island, we bring the Cavalry!” said Charlie Hunsicker, director of Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Resources Department. “Got to be proud of this multi-department, multi-city team effort.”
When contacted Monday morning, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “To my knowledge, we didn’t have a tremendous amount of debris, but our public works department and police department worked together to clean it up.”
BRADENTON BEACH – Paradise Boat Tours General Manager Sherman Baldwin questions the county’s request that he no longer refuel his tour boat at the county-owned loading dock near Longboat Pass.
The loading dock and seawall are located near the mouth of the pass, at the south end of the Coquina South boat ramp area.
For several years, Baldwin and his employees have used a modified pickup truck to refuel the tour boat at the county-owned loading dock, rather than pay the higher cost of refueling at a marina.
Concerns expressed
On Monday, Dec. 14, Baldwin addressed his concerns in an email to county commissioners, County Administrator Cheri Coryea and several county staff members.
His email noted he’s been using the county loading dock for nearly seven years.
“During this time, our refueling operations have been inspected by The United States Coast Guard, the Florida Wildlife Commission, Manatee County Marine Sheriff’s deputies and Bradenton Beach officials. All without incident or infraction. Two years ago we were asked to elaborate in writing our refueling protocols by the city of Bradenton Beach prompted by the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department, specifically Alan Lai Hipp. All seemed good,” Baldwin stated in his email.
The fuel travels through a hose from the storage tank in the bed of a pickup truck and into the tour boat’s two 44-gallon fuel tanks. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“However, six weeks ago sheriff’s deputies informed us that they have been instructed to prevent us from refueling there anymore, and that it was Alan Lai Hipp who they received their instructions from. In fact, if we refueled there again, we would be subject to arrest,” Baldwin wrote.
“We invested over $10,000 in modifications to a Ford F150 to be in compliance with federal regulations and now we are told to cease fueling operations without hearing or recourse. Marina fuel is over $2 more per gallon than the street price. This additional cost will force us to terminate at least one employee due to an increased fuel cost of over 65%, representing almost $650 per week loss. We were informed that our only option is to attend and speak at public comment at a commission meeting,” Baldwin wrote.
His email then stated his intent to refuel at the county dock at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17 – even at the risk of arrest.
On Tuesday, Dec. 15, Coryea sent the commissioners the response she received from Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker and his staff.
“This vendor was observed using this facility without permission in reports we received from Property Management Parks Maintenance and Public Safety Marine Patrol staff over several months – prior to our department issue of written notice to discontinue unauthorized use in 2019,” Hunsicker stated in his email to Coryea.
“In February of 2020, we engaged in several written exchanges with the vendor in response to letters of concern posted by this vendor to the board of county commissioners which asked for permission to continue private vessel refueling operations at this location. This operator refuses to accept our recommendations as manager of this dock space which have been clearly and repeatedly communicated with him,” Hunsicker wrote.
“Despite claims to the contrary, this private business operator never received permission from our department to operate a private vessel fueling operation at this location; nor does the city of Bradenton Beach have any record of approval.
“Despite the operator’s assurance that he has the capability to safely operate his private business from this facility, there are substantial risks to the county unique to marine operations to continue to allow this operation from an unstaffed public facility without extensive provisions for release of liability waiver, environmental damage insurance and other risk management driven considerations,” Hunsicker wrote.
“Use of this dock previously has been limited to and allowed for heavy construction vendors under contract to the city of Bradenton Beach for public pier and dock repairs, the State of Florida for maintenance activities for the Longboat Pass Bridge and Longboat Pass maintenance, and to Manatee County for deployment of material for offshore artificial reef sites and beach renourishment related construction activities.
“Moreover, if a private vendor of any size or complexity were to request to be allowed to operate at this county public facility, any business proposition would have to be thoroughly vetted through a competitive process to open this opportunity to any prospective vendor who would likewise enjoy the benefit of using this public facility without the charges invoked at many private marinas in Manatee County that offer commercial fueling capabilities,” Hunsicker wrote.
Commission discussion
During public comment at the Tuesday, Dec. 15 county commission meeting, Baldwin read his email aloud to county commissioners.
During the discussion that followed, commissioners Vanessa Baugh and Kevin Van Ostenbridge were among those who expressed strong opposition to a business owner being arrested for refueling his boat.
County Attorney Mickey Palmer told the commission the loading dock is located in a county-owned public park and trespassing someone from that public space is not advised.
Palmer also said he’s not aware of any county code or regulation that currently prohibits refueling at the county dock. Palmer recommended the county “stand down” and take no action until this matter is further researched and sorted out.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore expressed concerns about other commercial boat owners, operators and fishermen engaging in similar fueling activities if Baldwin is allowed to do so.
The commission was in unanimous agreement that boat fueling is not a desired activity at that location.
Van Ostenbridge made a motion directing the county attorney’s office to prepare a document that formally prohibits refueling activities at the loading dock – and potentially at county boat ramps as well. That document is expected to be discussed and potentially adopted in January.
Refueling resumes
On Thursday, Dec. 17, Baldwin and Capt. Justin Jones resumed their refueling operations at the county dock.
Captain Justin Jones assisted with last Thursday’s refueling activities. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Baldwin said he realizes a county prohibition is likely forthcoming, but he can still experience at least one month’s worth of fuel cost savings until then. Baldwin said he’s looked for alternative locations to continue refueling in this manner and has not found one.
Baldwin said one refueling operation provides enough fuel for 10-12 boat tours, and Paradise Boat Tours operates as many as six tours per day.
PALMETTO – During his first day as a Manatee County commissioner, Kevin Van Ostenbridge warned that the city of Holmes Beach risks losing beach renourishment funding if they don’t restore recently-reduced public beach parking.
Tuesday morning, Van Ostenbridge, James Satcher and George Kruse were sworn in to four-year terms as the newest county commissioners. Returning Commissioner Vanessa Baugh was also sworn in. Joined by commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore, the reconfigured commission then engaged in a work session at the Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto.
The afternoon session included discussion about beach parking on Anna Maria Island and the importance of maintaining an adequate number of beach access parking spaces to remain eligible for state and federal funding for future beach renourishment projects.
Earlier this year, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Holmes Beach Commission eliminated parking spaces to reduce crowding in the city and on the beaches.
Van Ostenbridge, who represents Anna Maria Island and much of west Bradenton as the District 3 commissioner, said, “Mayor Titsworth and the Holmes Beach City Commission have jeopardized future beach renourishment projects in their city. I will not support county participation in beach renourishment projects in Holmes Beach until on-street parking levels are returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. I am drawing a line in the sand.”
Baugh, Satcher and Whitmore later expressed support for Van Ostenbridge’s position.
Tuesday’s discussion included a presentation by Deputy County Administrator John Osborne, with additional insight provided by Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker and county consultant Erica Carr-Betts.
A PowerPoint slide contained in Osborne’s presentation stated on-street neighborhood parking in Holmes Beach has been reduced by 45%.
Whitmore, a Holmes Beach resident and the city’s former mayor, said, “The city of Holmes Beach had 2,500 parking spaces before COVID. Today, they have maybe 500. They eliminated 2,000.”
Whitmore also mentioned a vacant bank property near Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach as the possible parking garage location.
At-large Commissioner Carol Whitmore expressed appreciation for Van Ostenbridge’s comments. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Thatcher, the new District 1 commissioner, later repeated the parking figures cited by Whitmore.
While Tuesday’s work session was in progress, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer provided The Sun with parking figures that differed from those being stated by county officials. Tokajer reconfirmed those figures by phone this morning.
With Tokajer’s support, the Holmes Beach commission permanently eliminated 497 on-street parking spaces, he said. As a result, there are currently 1,261 on-street parking spaces available in Holmes Beach that do not require a city-issued parking permit and 642 permit-only parking spaces that become available to the public after 5 p.m., seven days a week, according to Tokajer.
Regarding claims that 2,500 parking spaces were reduced to 500, Tokajer said, “That’s false. We started with 2,400 spots. The 500 number, which has been explained, is merely the number of spaces designated for beach renourishment. We have a lot more spots than that available. The numbers I provided are accurate as of today. Those are the same numbers we provided to Charlie Hunsicker, Cheri Coryea (county administrator) and Erica Betts.”
Renourishment funding
During the work session, Hunsicker said state and federal grants that help fund beach renourishment projects are based on the number of parking spaces located within a quarter-mile of the beach access points that extend the length of the Island.
“Everything happening between the water and that quarter-mile, that’s where we focus on maintaining a minimum number of parking spaces for each access point out to that beach. Beyond the quarter-mile, it doesn’t count, no matter how many spaces we have,” Hunsicker said.
“As cities change their allowances, if it’s happening outside of a quarter-mile it doesn’t affect our federal grant availability or our state grant availability. If we mess up inside that quarter-mile zone, it means millions of dollars of local cost. It doesn’t prevent you from having a beach renourishment program. It just increases your local share proportionate to the loss of public parking spaces,” Hunsicker explained.
Hunsicker said the per-quarter mile parking requirements are not offset by the large parking lots at Coquina Beach, Manatee Beach and elsewhere on the Island.
“The state and the federal governments believe access within a reasonable walking distance is important. So, it’s not maintaining the maximum total spaces along your length of shoreline, but a minimum of 50 spaces within a quarter-mile of each access point. If you have 40 spaces within a quarter-mile, you’re not going to meet the public access requirements to maintain full grant funding,” Hunsicker said.
Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker explained in detail the beach renourishment parking requirements. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Kruse, the new District 7 at-large commissioner, asked how many designated parking spaces for beach renourishment currently exist in Holmes Beach. Carr-Betts estimated that number to be approximately 460.
“We worked with the chief of police in Holmes Beach and we were right on the cusp of not having full eligibility. He worked with me and we were able to get full eligibility for that portion of the shoreline. With spaces being taken away, we have to be very careful at this point to make sure the spaces are adequately distributed along the shoreline,” Carr-Betts said.
“Literally, on a street-by-street basis. That’s why I’m very concerned,” Hunsicker added.
Hunsicker said there were instances when Tokajer was told a street with five proposed public parking spaces needed six.
“We used to have hundreds of spaces of leeway before the COVID actions happened, but now we’re tight, so we have to pay much more attention to it,” Hunsicker said.
Tuesday evening, Hunsicker provided The Sun with some additional information pertaining to beach renourishment parking requirements.
“In Holmes Beach, 479 is the bare minimum number of public parking spaces and equivalent public spaces provided by public trolley stops and bicycle racks, as provided by state statute to maintain 100% grant eligibility for state and federal renourishment,” Hunsicker said.
“Due to the opportunities for a small number of eligible spaces to change frequently, we ask each Island city to also provide a buffer of 10-20% of additional spaces within a quarter-mile of each public access point if at all possible. In our discussion with the Holmes Beach mayor and police chief, 500 spaces were offered, translating to 21 additional spaces. While this was short of the buffer desired, we accepted this offer as a good faith effort to provide buffer where needed,” Hunsicker said.
“The cities of Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria each have their own different and unique equivalent minimum parking space requirements covering their respective shoreline lengths of renourished beachfront as well,” he noted.
During the work session, Chief Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague also commented on the parking requirements.
“This is driven by the public purpose requirements of state and federal law. We’re supposed to use public dollars for public purposes. The tourist development tax statute we use for beach renourishment says it’s for beaches that have public access and public use. The reason it’s such a big issue for the county is that we take responsibility for the entire shoreline of Anna Maria Island. There’s a lot of private properties along that Island. It’s great that they have beaches, but it’s questionable whether we can use public dollars to renourish beaches in front of private homes. There has to be a public use there as well,” Clague said.
Van Ostenbridge opines
“I’ve spoken to many residents of Holmes Beach. A lot of them are embarrassed by the actions of their city. It’s extremely unwelcoming. It’s very disappointing,” Van Ostenbridge told the commission, noting his family’s roots on the Island date back to the 1930s.
Van Ostenbridge said many District 3 residents don’t live in Holmes Beach but work or own businesses there.
“I ran on a pro-business platform. I support those workers and those businesses, and I know this hurts them,” he said.
“The beach belongs to everyone. It’s the gem of the entire county. It belongs to every county taxpayer. If you want us to participate in renourishing that beach and caring for it and maintaining it, you have to provide them access to it,” Van Ostenbridge said.
“The state has minimum required levels of parking for the state and the feds to participate in beach renourishment funding. I would like this county to set much higher standards. I would like us to set pre-COVID levels of parking. If you’re looking for a number, 2,500 parking spaces is the minimum in Holmes Beach if they want us to participate in beach renourishment funding. I’m going to take a very aggressive approach with this,” Van Ostenbridge said.
“The vast majority of residents and business owners in Holmes Beach, they’re kind, welcoming people. They know they live in a destination city and they want people to come to their city. And those who are staunchly against this, you knew you moved to a destination city when you moved there. It is not a private Island. It is open to the public. It’s open to everyone in this community regardless of whether they live in Samoset or Palmetto or west Bradenton. The beach belongs to everyone,” Van Ostenbridge said.
He also alluded to the 5% tourist development tax collected on hotel, motel and vacation rental stays in Manatee County, most of which occurs on Anna Maria Island.
All three Island cities have utilized county commission-approved tourist development tax funds in recent years to help fund city projects, including the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.
Van Ostenbridge suggested the future use of tourist tax funds – spent on the advice of the Tourist Development Council (TDC) and the approval of the county commission – could be jeopardized by parking reductions.
“There are many other areas in this county that would love TDC funding – millions and millions of dollars,” he said.
Van Ostenbridge said he’d like to see Coryea enter into negotiations with some of the Island churches regarding the possible weekend and holiday use of their parking lots. He suggested reimbursing participating churches with tourist tax funds or some other funding source. He also asked Coryea to reach out to the school district regarding the possible weekend and holiday use of the parking spaces at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach.
Additional commission comments
Whitmore, an at-large commissioner who lives in District 3, thanked Van Ostenbridge for his comments about the Holmes Beach parking reductions.
“I am so happy that you’ve done what you’re doing. I don’t have it in me to be as direct as you, but you’re my commissioner and I’m happy that somebody in the leadership of Manatee County that represents that district has actually said it publicly,” Whitmore said.
She suggested Van Ostenbridge meet with Tokajer and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth.
“I know Judy. She’s a very good person,” Van Ostenbridge said. “We disagree politically on this issue.”
District 1 Commissioner James Satcherr expressed support for pursuing the construction of a parking garage on Anna Maria Island. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I don’t feel like we picked a fight,” Satcher said. “I feel this issue should not be put upon us, but it has, so I’m looking at other options to solve the problem. The one that I can see is to build a parking deck within that quarter-mile if we can get it.”
That prompted Van Ostenbridge to say, “Mr. Satcher, I would just caution you on moving too quickly on a parking garage. That would be detrimental to the character of the Island.”
Regarding the Holmes Beach parking reductions, Baugh said, “I totally agree with Commissioner Van Ostenbridge. I feel like it’s gotten out of hand in Holmes Beach. I think they have forgotten that we all work together as a team.”
Baugh said she, too, would like to see more communication between the county and the Holmes Beach mayor and police chief.
“We need to get back to the way things were. If not, they’re going to look real funny if their beaches don’t continue to be renourished. I don’t know if they realize that or not, but they certainly can’t afford to pay for the dredging. Hopefully, they’ll remember that and try to meet us halfway,” Baugh said.
Commissioner Vanessa Baugh also opposes Holmes Beach’s parking reductions. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
No formal votes were taken during the work session, but Van Ostenbridge offered his assessment of the commission majority’s position on potentially withholding future funds.
“I know we’re not counting heads here, but I think it’s pretty obvious that multiple commissioners are entertaining the idea. You might want to relay that message,” he said.
Holmes Beach responds
During the county work session, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth texted Whitmore. She later shared that text with The Sun.
In part, Titsworth’s text said, “Why are you allowing your commissioners to state untruths? You also should have invited me to attend. I was not aware of this work session.”
Speaking by phone after the work session ended, Titsworth said when she learned about the discussion taking place, she tuned in in time to hear Van Ostenbridge threatening to withhold future beach renourishment funds.
“No one called me to make sure they had the latest numbers. They didn’t make sure they had the correct information to give their commissioners. We offer more parking places than what’s required for beach renourishment. It’s surprising to me how they can speak about an issue and give strong opinions about an issue without trying to get educated on an issue,” Titsworth said.
“We had a meeting with Charlie. He was comfortable with the 500 spaces. We have it in our interlocal agreement. We adhere to the requirement for beach renourishment and will not jeopardize that,” Titsworth said.
“If he (Van Ostenbridge) wants to withhold funding, he should base it on us not upholding agreements that we have, and not just some fictional number,” she added.
Titsworth disputed the PowerPoint slide that said, “All on-street right of way and beach access parking in residential areas will close.”
“That’s not true. It looks like they were given bad information,” she said.
“Commissioner Van Ostenbridge has never reached out to me except for the one time he asked me if I’d support him if he ran for office. He has not called me since. If he has any concerns about anything, I have an open-door policy and he can see me any time.”
Tokajer also disputed the claim that 45% of Holmes Beach’s public parking spaces were eliminated.
“That is false, it has not been reduced by 45%. The parking numbers you have are the true and accurate numbers of today – which are the same numbers that were provided to Charlie Hunsicker in the meeting we had with Cheri Coryea and Erica Betts. It was not an adversarial meeting and every parking space they requested was given. The numbers given to them for beach renourishment were approved by them, as well as the state. We in no way would jeopardize the parking required for beach renourishment. It would have been nice for the commissioner, who is new, to have reached out to get the facts,” Tokajer said.
He also mentioned the figures cited by Whitmore and Satcher.
“We started with 2,400 spots, not 2,500. With the regular parking, the open parking and the permit parking, we have at least 1,903 spots. That shows a reduction of just under 500 spots total,” Tokajer said.
According to Tokajer’s statement, the city eliminated 21% of its pre-COVID parking spaces.
“That does not mean that in that quarter-mile area that we only have 500 spots. We have 1,261 spaces within that quarter-mile area. If the state and the feds were to come back and say for beach renourishment we need 600 spots designated, we already have them. They’re just not designated,” Tokajer said.
“We are not picking a fight. We are trying to weigh the needs of our residents and bring things back to some semblance of normalcy for them. The beach is for everyone, we’re in total agreement with that. But Holmes Beach’s residential areas should not be made into the county parking lot as if it was the UTC mall just because they want people to come to the beach. The county needs to come up with some other scenario where there is available parking without ruining the character and the residential areas of Holmes Beach,” Tokajer said.
Updated Nov. 23, 2020 – ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Before the arrival of Tropical Storm Eta, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker shared his thoughts on the anticipated loss of the sand that would occur on Anna Maria Island’s recently renourished beaches.
The beach widening portion of Anna Maria Island’s beach renourishment project is complete as of Nov. 18, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ contractor, Marinex Construction, began building dunes on Nov. 20 with an expected completion date of Nov. 30. The $17 million project began July 8 at 78th Street in Holmes Beach and ended at Longboat Pass in Bradenton Beach. Tropical Storm Eta and Hurricane Zeta delayed the project’s original Oct. 31 deadline, and pulled some newly-placed sand off the beach into the Gulf of Mexico (pictured) as anticipated by project engineers. Pipelines are off the beach except for a storage area at Coquina Beach. – Cindy Lane | Sun
“Many people who follow beach renourishment see the sand go away during a storm and say, ‘It all washes away. It’s a waste of money.’ I want everyone to understand the sands there are sacrificial. The beaches are intended to wash away. Mother Nature will come in with the energy she has and extract the sand, or take something from the Island. If it’s not the sand, it’s homes, roads and utilities,” Hunsicker said.After the Tuesday, Nov. 3 county commission meeting ended, Hunsicker discussed the public criticism that sometimes accompanies the storm-related loss of renourished beach sand.
“Many people look at that as a waste of money, but that’s exactly the plan. Sacrificial sand is what we put there. Recreation is an added attribute, but its first and foremost job is to protect the Island. That’s why it’s done and that’s what it does,” Hunsicker said.
“They were significant. But I want everyone to remember that the beach we build is titled theThe loss of beach renourishment sand was also discussed Thursday morning during the county’s post-Tropical Storm Eta virtual press conference, when Hunsicker was asked what losses were sustained in terms of beach sand.
‘Anna Maria Island Shore Protection Project’ by the (Army) Corps of Engineers. The primary purpose of our beaches is for coastal protection, to dissipate the energy of the storms. We also have very real recreation benefits and habitat benefits as well for nesting shorebirds and marine turtles,” Hunsicker said.
“We lost depth and width of beach to a near-shore and offshore sand bar. It did not wash away to the middle of the Gulf or Texas. It’s nestled below sea level about 50-60 yards offshore. It will stay that way over the winter, and in the summer, the gentler waves will slowly move it back on shore. Not all of it. We lost sand, and even under normal conditions, Anna Maria Island loses about 10 feet of width every single year,” Hunsicker said.“If a sandy beach washes away, it’s done its intended job. Without the beach, we’d be looking at Gulf-facing roads, utilities and ultimately homes that would absorb the brunt of the storm and be washed away. In this circumstance, we are quite pleased. The erosional losses we saw were the measured benefit of having the beach in place for storms just like this one,” Hunsicker said.
“I want everyone to understand the sands there are sacrificial. The beaches are intended to wash away.” – Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Director
“We fully expect the beach to respond the way it did. It’s the breaking tide that does most of the damage. When high tide rolls up over the beach it moves sand around, but it doesn’t drag it out like grabbing hold of a bedsheet and pulling it off a bed. Actually, high tides and flooding on the beach is a good thing. We lose the back berms and dunes, but that sand is pulled from the dunes and distributed across the beaches,” Hunsicker said.
“We’ve been asked to assess damages like any other tropical storm or hurricane, and to rough estimate the volume lost. If there is a congressional add to the budget to address damages from this hurricane season, our beaches there will be eligible for the Corps to return with a new contractor and put that sand back on the beach. That isn’t very often, but that’s how, after Hurricane Sandy (in 2012), we got relief. If you remember Hurricane Irma (in 2017), that is why the Corps is here now, to return the whole beach back to its starting elevations and widths that were there before the storm,” Hunsicker said.
“We may go through yet another episode if congressional money is available. We won’t be able to afford paying for it ourselves – or the state of Florida for that matter. But we’re always optimistic. Certainly, there were damages up and down the southwest coast of Florida and on the east coast – Miami and Key West. So, if there’s a hurricane relief bill coming to Congress, the Army Corps will make efforts to apply that funding to restore the lost sand we just suffered in the last three days,” Hunsicker said.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The beach renourishment project originally slated to begin in February has been pushed back to April, according to Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources Department.
The delay is necessitated by an Army Corps of Engineers requirement that Manatee County do a title search on the beach from the northernmost erosion control groin on Cortez Beach to the northern boundary of the county beach, he said.
The project will add sand to the beach in two phases, between 78th Street North in Holmes Beach to approximately Fifth Street South in Bradenton Beach, and to Coquina Beach beginning from Fifth Street South to Longboat Pass.
County funds for the project, estimated between $13-$16 million, come from the tourist tax; state and federal funds also are allocated to the project. Conducting the two projects back to back will save the cost of a second contractor mobilization, around $5 million, Hunsicker said.
The project is expected to take six months to complete, with Gulf-front properties being impacted no more than three days each, he said.
