ANNA MARIA – Current City Commission Chairman and Vice-Mayor Mark Short will serve as Anna Maria’s next mayor.
Running unopposed, incumbent city commissioner Gary McMullen and former charter review committee chairman Chris Arendt also earned two-year terms on the Anna Maria City Commission.
Anna Maria voters also approved four charter amendments proposed by the charter review committee and supported by the city commission.
Mayor’s race
In the mayor’s race, Short received 378 votes (60.58%) and Seymour received 246 votes (39.42%),” according to the unofficial results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website Tuesday evening.
“I would like to thank the voters of the city of Anna Maria for supporting my candidacy for mayor and I look forward to serving the citizens as we go forward,” Short said of his victory.
Short will be sworn into the mayor’s office on Tuesday, Nov. 19. He will succeed Dan Murphy, who served five-consecutive two-year terms as Anna Maria’s mayor.
Short is a retired former partner of the Ernst & Young financial services and consulting firm. He has been a member of the Anna Maria City Commission for the past five years and he’s served as the commission-elected chairman and vice-mayor for the past two years. During the past two months, Short gained hurricane preparation and response experience while assisting Murphy with the city’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Former city commissioner Brian Seymour also sought the Anna Maria mayor’s seat. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Seymour was an Anna Maria commissioner from 2018 to 2020 before resigning for personal reasons. He owns the Anna Maria General Store, Pine Avenue Bait & Tackle and the City Pier Grill which operates in pier space leased from the city. The City Pier Grill is currently closed due to Hurricane Milton wiping out a significant portion of the pier walkway. The City Pier will remain closed until the missing walkway is replaced.
City charter amendments
During the general election, Anna Maria voters overwhelmingly supported four proposed amendments to the city charter.
Anna Maria voters supported proposed city charter amendment 1, which appeared on the ballot as: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to provide a definition for administrative officers of the city?” On this proposed amendment, 498 voters (82.59%) supported it and 105 voters (17.41%) opposed it.
Anna Maria voters overwhelmingly supported proposed city charter amendment 2, which appeared on the ballot as this: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to add a height limitation for all structures within the City limits to be no more than two residential/habitable floors and 37 feet above the crown of the abutting road, and include a provision for obtaining a variance?” On this proposed amendment, 531 voters (84.29%) supported it and 99 voters (15.71%) opposed it.
Anna Maria voters supported proposed city charter amendment 3, which appeared on the ballot as: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to add language regarding removal of non-qualifying city commissioners and prohibiting city commissioners from holding concurrent municipal or other public office or employment by the city of Anna Maria?” On this proposed amendment, 536 voters (86.59%) supported it and 83 voters (13.41%) opposed it.
Anna Maria voters supported proposed city charter amendment 4, which appeared on the ballot like this: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to change the way a special meeting of the city commission may be called, from a call of a single member of the city commission to a call of the majority of the city commission, the chair of the city commission or the city mayor?” On this proposed amendment, 450 voters (74.14 %) supported it and 157 voters (25.86%) opposed it.
ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have been presented with separate ordinances containing ballot language and summary language for five proposed charter amendments.
City Attorney Becky Vose presented the first reading of the five proposed charter amendment ordinances to the city commission on May 23. The commission will vote on each separate proposed charter amendment on a second and final reading during a June 13 meeting.
The proposed amendment ordinances that receive the majority support of the commission will be transmitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office for inclusion on the general election ballot this fall.
The city charter can only be amended (changed) with the majority support of the city’s registered voters. Anna Maria voters will be asked to vote yes or no on the amendments proposed by the charter review committee and supported by the city commission majority.
HOME RULE
The city commission is divided on a proposed amendment that would add new language to the city charter regarding the protection of the city’s home rule rights.
The ballot question for the proposed home rule amendment reads as follows: Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to provide for the city to take steps to maintain and protect the city’s residential character and home rule, supporting commercial land use, maximizing the enjoyment of natural and man-made resources and minimizing the threat to health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, posed by hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses, and any environmental degradation?
Commissioners Kathy Morgan, Gary McMullen, Charlie Salem and Mark Short have expressed preliminary support for the proposed home rule amendment.
“I really like us putting before the voters something that confirms our desire to have home rule, to try to retain the residential character of the city and give them a clear opportunity to express their will on this one way or another,” Salem said.
Commissioner Jon Crane and Mayor Dan Murphy oppose the proposed amendment.
As he’s done previously, Crane said, “I don’t think aspirational statements should be put before the voters.”
He referred to the proposed amendment as a “non-action item.”
Mayor Dan Murphy noted he doesn’t vote in city commission decisions but he still shared his opposition to the proposed amendment.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to have it here. I happen to agree with Commissioner Crane that it’s aspirational,” Murphy said.
“I have concerns about taking anything out for a vote that’s not necessary. I think actions speak louder than words. I think our track record as a city has been one of a staunch supporter of home rule. I don’t need a preamble to march to that tune and I don’t think any of you do either. It’s something that’s not necessary. So, therefore, I would caution you about putting something unnecessary before the public for a vote. You already are what this stipulates,” Murphy said.
“I’d be more than happy, as a compromise, to post a mission statement on our website, or even on the wall of city hall, that states that we are staunch supporters of home rule. People already know that. The public knows it. The voters know,” Murphy said.
The mayor and commissioners expressed no preliminary opposition to four additional proposed charter amendments.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to provide a definition for administrative officers of the City?
This amendment would better define which city staff members are considered to be officers of the city.
BUILDING HEIGHT LIMITS
Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to add a height limitation for all structures within the city limits to be no more than two residential/habitable floors and 37 feet above the crown of the abutting road, and include a provision for obtaining a variance?
Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would add the city’s existing height limits to the city charter. Any future modification or abolishment of the city’s long-standing height limits would require the majority support of Anna Maria voters. The similar height limits already contained in Anna Maria’s comprehensive plan and building codes can currently be changed by a simple majority vote of the city commission.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to add language regarding removal of non-qualifying city commissioners and prohibiting city commissioners from holding concurrent municipal or other public office or employment by the city of Anna Maria?
Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would establish residency requirements for elected city officials once they take office. The charter currently sets forth residency requirements for candidates seeking elected office, but it doesn’t currently address residency requirements for those elected to office.
SPECIAL MEETINGS
Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to change the way a special meeting of the city commission may be called, from a call of a single member of the city commission to a call of the majority of the city commission, the chair of the city commission or the city mayor?
Voter adoption of this proposed amendment would prevent a single commissioner from calling for a special city commission meeting.
ANNA MARIA – City commissioners are still considering six charter amendments recently proposed by the charter review committee.
On April 25, the commission engaged in its second informal discussion on the proposed charter amendments presented on April 11. No decisions have been made regarding any of the proposed amendments to the city charter that establishes how the city is structured and governed.
The commission will eventually formally vote to reject, accept or modify each of the proposed amendments and any additional amendments proposed by the commission.
The commission-supported amendments will be placed before Anna Maria voters in the upcoming general election. The city charter can only be amended with the majority support of the city’s registered voters.
HOME RULE
Much of the April 25 discussion pertained to the proposed insertion of charter language that would address the desire to preserve Anna Maria’s home rule rights and residential character.
The committee proposes the following language be inserted into the charter: “The city of Anna Maria will ensure that the single-family detached residential character and home rule of the city is maintained and protected while supporting commercial uses within the commercial and ROR land use categories, while maximizing the enjoyment of natural and man-made resources by the citizens and minimizing the threat to health, safety and welfare posed by hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses and environmental degradation.”
As he did on April 11, Commissioner Jon Crane again questioned the use of the word “ensure” and the city’s ability to do so.
“I think this is aspirational change and not an action change. It’s a nice statement, but I don’t think it should be something we put before the electorate,” Crane said.
Commissioner Charlie Salem disagreed and said, “I actually like this statement, especially given the time we’re in, where home rule is under threat. I think this is the type of thing that would be good for the electorate to weigh in on.”
Commissioner Gary McMullen agreed with Crane and said, “What do we do to ensure it?”
Regarding the ongoing OPPAGA consolidation study requested by state legislators, McMullen said, “We can’t control our destiny. We’ve got no control over OPPAGA.”
Commissioners Mark Short and Jon Crane expressed their views on a proposed charter statement. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Mark Short addressed the potential legal ramifications of the proposed statement.
“Does this put the city at some type of legal risk if say we’re going to ensure these things and then something happens and we can’t?” he asked. “We continue to be attacked at the state level for home rule. Unfortunately, we don’t control our own destiny as well as we used to.”
Short suggested eliminating the word “ensure” and inserting language that says the city will strive to protect home rule and the city’s residential character.
Salem asked City Attorney Becky Vose if there’s any legal benefit to placing such a statement in the charter.
In response, Vose said, “I don’t know how something like this would be viewed by the electorate. As a very practical matter, more than half of the residential structures in Anna Maria are vacation rentals, so in some respect the ship has sailed.”
Mayor Dan Murphy has previously stated more than 70% of Anna Maria’s residential structures are short-term vacation rentals.
BUILDING HEIGHTS
Anna Maria’s comp plan and building codes already restrict building heights to three stories but the comp plan and the building code could be easily amended by a simple majority vote of the city commission.
The charter review committee recommends building heights be limited to 37 feet at the highest point of the structure. The proposed charter language also lists several exceptions for air conditioning equipment, elevator shafts and other elements and accessories. The commissioners tentatively support the 37-foot height limit but agree that more discussion and specific details are needed.
Other proposed charter amendments pertain to the sale or long-term lease of city properties, clarifying who’s considered an officer of the city, residency requirements for elected officials while in office and who can schedule a special city commission meeting. The committee also recommends replacing gender-specific pronouns with non-gender-specific nouns.
More charter discussion is expected on Thursday, May 9.
BRADENTON BEACH – With mail voting now underway, Bradenton Beach voters have begun deciding the fate of five proposed amendments to the city charter.
The five charter amendment questions that appear on the Bradenton Beach ballot were proposed and supported by the majority of the city commission-appointed charter review committee and supported unanimously by the city commission.
The decisions made by Bradenton Beach voters regarding term limits and the filling of commission vacancies will impact the configuration of the Bradenton Beach City Commission for years to come.
The general election concludes with in-person voting on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Forfeiture of office
Ballot question 1 pertains to the forfeiture of office provisions that apply to the city’s elected officials and reads as follows: “Currently the city charter vests authority in three arbitrators to hold forfeiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitrator-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?”
Voter approval of this proposed amendment would eliminate the current charter requirement that requires a three-person arbitration panel in order to initiate the process of removing an elected mayor or commissioner from office before their term expires. Approval of this proposed amendment would allow the city commission to initiate forfeiture of office proceedings on its own.
Commission vacancies
Ballot question 2 pertains to the filling of commission vacancies and reads as follows: “The current city charter requires a ward commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an at-large commissioner if no ward resident is available or willing to run for office?”
Approval of this proposed amendment would allow the commission to fill a vacant commission seat with a qualified candidate who resides in any area of Bradenton Beach. The charter currently requires the appointee to live in the specific commission ward for which the commission vacancy exists.
This proposed amendment could come into play if incumbent Commissioner Marilyn Maro’s commission seat is to be vacated in November because city voters again vote to retain term limits. This matter is addressed in ballot question 4.
Ballot question 3 pertains to the length of a commission vacancy that can be filled by commission appointment rather than a special election.
Ballot question 3 reads as follows: “The current city charter requires the city to provide a special election to fill a vacancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statues. Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission?”
Voter approval of this proposed charter amendment would eliminate the current charter provision that requires a special election to fill any commission seat to be vacated for more than six months. This would allow the city commission to fill all vacant commission seats by appointment rather than allowing the city’s registered voters to make that decision in a special election.
Term limits
Ballot question 4 may be the most significant charter amendment question to be decided by Bradenton Beach voters. It pertains to the qualifications and terms of elected office and reads as follows: “Should the city amend its charter to remove term limits and maintain two-year terms for all elected positions with an effective date of June 16, 2022, in order to allow currently seated elected officials the ability to run for office, if otherwise termed out?”
Although she’s currently running unopposed as the Ward 2 commissioner, Maro is scheduled to term limit out of office in November after serving three consecutive two-year terms in office. Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner are currently scheduled to term limit out of office in November 2023. Incumbent Ward 4 commissioner Ralph Cole is also running unopposed this year and at some point, in or after 2024, he too would term limit out of office if term limits are retained.
Voter approval of the proposed term limit amendment would allow Maro to serve another two-year term and would allow Chappie and Spooner to seek reelection in 2023 if they so desire. If city voters reject this proposed charter amendment, Maro would leave office in November and that vacant seat would be filled by commission appointment or a special election, depending on the outcome of ballot question 2.
In recent years, Bradenton Beach voters have twice, by close margins, supported the retention of the city’s term limits.
Employee benefits
Ballot question 5 is logistical in nature and pertains to commission actions that require a city ordinance. Ballot question 5 reads as follows: “Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and procedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee personnel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?”
Voter approval of this proposed amendment would have minimal impact on city residents and city operations and would simply streamline the manner in which employee benefits and employee procedures are addressed.
Vote by mail
Hurricane Ian slightly delayed the mailing of the vote-by-mail ballots sent to county voters who previously requested them, according to Sharon Stief, chief deputy for the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office.
“Vote by Mail ballots for the Nov. 8 general election were mailed out on Monday, Oct. 3. We had originally planned to mail them on Friday, Sept. 30. We had no hurricane impacts regarding our early voting and/or polling locations,” Stief told The Sun.
According to Stief, 356 vote-by-mail ballots were mailed to Anna Maria voters, 297 ballots were mailed to Bradenton Beach voters and 1,147 ballots were mailed to Holmes Beach voters.
BRADENTON BEACH – Registered voters will see five charter amendment questions on their city ballots this fall.
Two proposed charter amendments pertain to filling vacant commission seats and one pertains to eliminating term limits for elected officials.
Similar to a state or federal constitution, the city charter sets forth how the city is governed and structured. The Bradenton Beach charter also includes language that restricts building heights and requires voter approval to vacate city rights of ways. The city charter can only be amended with the majority support of the city’s registered voters.
On June 2, the city commission adopted on first reading a city ordinance containing five of the six charter amendment ballot questions previously recommended by the commission-appointed charter review committee and drafted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
The commission rejected Perry’s final effort to include a sixth ballot question that could have potentially weakened the existing four-fifths supra-majority vote required for certain city commission actions.
The five commission-supported charter amendment ballot questions are slated for final adoption on Thursday, June 16. The adopted ballot questions will then be submitted to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections for inclusion on the fall ballot.
Vacancies and term limits
Working somewhat in unison, proposed charter amendments 2 and 3 address filling vacant city commission seats, while proposed charter amendment 4 addresses term limits.
If approved by city voters, proposed charter amendment 2 would allow the commission to appoint someone from outside of a specific commission ward to serve on the commission if no resident of that ward is willing to run or be appointed to that seat.
Proposed charter amendment 3 would allow the commission to appoint someone to fill a commission vacancy of more than six months created by a sitting commission member’s mid-term resignation. The charter currently requires a special election to fill such a vacancy of more than six months.
In 2021, city voters narrowly voted in favor of retaining the existing term-limits set forth in the charter. Proposed charter amendment 4 seeks to eliminate the term limits that result in an elected official term-limiting out of office after serving three consecutive two-year terms.
During Thursday’s meeting, Perry explained how voter approval of proposed charter amendment 4 would allow incumbent commissioner Marilyn Maro to serve another term even though her term expires in November.
Commissioner Marilyn Maro’s term is scheduled to expire in November. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Perry said Maro can run for the Ward 2 seat, and if she wins that race, and city voters eliminate term limits, she can then serve another term. If Maro runs and wins but voters retain term limits, that seat would be filled by person receiving the second highest number of votes.
If no other candidate runs against Maro, the two-year vacancy would be filled by commission appointment. If city voters adopt charter amendment 2, the commission could appoint someone from outside of Ward 2 to serve that full two-year term if no one from that ward applies to fill the vacancy.
After Thursday’s meeting, Maro said she had not yet decided if she’s running again. Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner’s terms expire in November 2023.
Supra-majority retained
The commission directed Perry to draft an ordinance containing five of the six charter amendment questions recommended by the charter review committee on May 19, rejecting a sixth proposed ballot question pertaining to supra-majority votes.
The charter currently says an affirmative supra-majority vote of at least four of the five commission members shall be required to approve any comprehensive plan amendment (including map or text amendments), rezoning, special exception, variance or the vacation of any city right of way.
During Thursday’s meeting, Perry proposed new charter language that said, “The commission shall clarify and define supra-majority in the city of Bradenton Beach Land Development Code, as well as establish the number of elected officials required for a supra-majority vote.”
Perry said she included the supra-majority question in the first reading of the ordinance because it could be removed during first reading but could not be added to the ordinance if not publicly noticed as such.
Perry suggested retaining the fourth-fifths supra-majority commission vote – and subsequent city voter approval – to vacate any city-owned right of ways, while allowing the commission to decide if a supra-majority or simple majority vote is required for other actions that currently require the supra-majority support of the commission.
Perry questioned what would happen if one commission member had to recuse themselves from such a vote. The commission agreed that the applicant would then need the approval of all four remaining commission members.
Commissioner Ralph Cole said amending the charter as the charter review committee and Perry proposed could result in three or fewer votes being needed to approve a comprehensive plan amendment that would allow a stand-alone parking garage.
Chappie said he likes the higher four-fifths standard for certain commission actions, even though it makes the approval process tougher for developers.
During public input, city resident and Planning and Zoning Board member John Burns asked why the supra-majority question was included in the ordinance after the commission rejected it on May 19. Burns said he likes the higher threshold for certain commission actions and he wants it to be harder, not easier, for the commission to govern when addressing issues of this nature.
Proposed charter amendments
The charter amendment questions will appear on the ballot seeking from the city’s registered voters a “yes” vote for approval or a “no” vote for rejection.
The ballot questions are:
FORFEITURE OF OFFICE
Currently the city charter vests authority in three arbitrators to hold forfeiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitrator-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?
TEMPORARY AT-LARGE FILLING OF VACANCIES
The current city charter requires a ward commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an at-large commissioner if no ward resident is available or willing to run for office?
FILLING OF VACANCIES BY APPOINTMENT
The current city charter requires the city to provide a special election to fill a vacancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statues. Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission?
QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE
Should the city amend its charter to remove term limits and maintain two-year terms for all elected positions with an effective date of June 16, 2022, in order to allow currently seated elected officials the ability to run for office, if otherwise termed out?
ACTIONS REQUIRING AN ORDINANCE
Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and procedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee personnel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?
BRADENTON BEACH – With vote-by-mail ballots already being cast, Bradenton Beach voters have begun deciding whether the city charter will prohibit or allow parking garages.
The Bradenton Beach ballot for the general election that concludes Tuesday, Nov. 3 includes two separate charter amendment questions pertaining to parking garages. City voters are being asked to vote yes or no on each proposed parking garage-related amendment to the city charter.
In August 2018, the city commission amended the city’s comprehensive plan and land development code in a manner that currently prohibits the construction of stand-alone or multi-level parking garages anywhere in the city. Those existing prohibitions could be lifted by a future city commission.
Amending the city’s comprehensive plan to allow for a parking garage would require the four-fifths supermajority support of a five-member city commission. Amending the land development code would require the simple-majority support of at least three commissioners. Both documents would have to be amended to allow for the construction of a parking garage. Currently, there are no plans or proposals to build a parking garage in Bradenton Beach.
Ballot Question 1
After a two-year legal battle, Bradenton Beach Ballot Question 1 was placed on the ballot at the request of the Keep Our Residential Neighborhoods (KORN) political action committee formed in 2018 by Reed Mapes and John Metz. Mapes has since moved and is no longer a Bradenton Beach resident.
The ballot language for Bradenton Beach Ballot Question 1 reads as follows:
“Amendment 1 to city of Bradenton Beach charter.
“Prohibition of multi-level parking garages only.
“Should the charter of Bradenton Beach be amended to prohibit the building of any multi-level parking garages within the city of Bradenton Beach? All other parking garages, facilities and structures are allowed as permitted by local law.”
According to City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the adoption of Ballot Question 1 would add language to the city charter that would prohibit the future construction of a multi-level parking garage anywhere within the city limits. Perry has previously stated the adoption of this proposed charter amendment would not prohibit the construction of single-level parking garages or parking facilities.
Similar to the existing height restriction placed in the charter many years ago, a parking garage prohibition added to the city charter could only be reversed by a future charter amendment approved by Bradenton Beach voters. If this amendment is adopted, the city commission would not have the authority to allow for the construction of a multi-level parking garage. That authority would lie solely with a future vote of Bradenton Beach voters.
Ballot Question 2
Suggested by Perry in response to KORN’s proposed amendment, and supported by the city commission earlier this year, Bradenton Beach Ballot Question 2 reads as follows:
“Amendment 1 to city of Bradenton Beach Charter.
“Prohibition of multi-level parking garages and mandated citywide voter referendum to increase its density.
“Should the city amend its charter to: (1) Prohibit the approval, development and building of any stand-alone parking garage structures in all residential zoning districts; (2) Prohibit any multi-level parking garage, structure, or facility exceeding a total density of one multi-level parking garage within the entire municipal limits; and (3) Establish a mandatory citywide voter referendum to increase the multi-level parking garage density?
Voter approval of this amendment would allow for the potential construction of a single multi-level parking garage in Bradenton Beach should any government and private entity choose to pursue such an endeavor.
According to Perry, if city voters approve both proposed charter amendments, neither amendment would be adopted and neither would be placed in the city charter because they would be in conflict with one another.
If city voters reject both proposed amendments, parking garages will remain prohibited according to the comp plan and land development code.
ANNA MARIA – In the city elections that concluded Tuesday, Nov. 5, Anna Maria voters adopted three charter amendments proposed by the Charter Review Commission.
Running with no opposition, incumbent Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter and former Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Jonathan Crane won city commission seats. A third commission seat will be filled by commission appointment in January.
Former Planning and Zoning Board Chairman Jonathan Crane will soon be sworn in as a city commissioner. – Jonathan Crane | Submitted
Charter amendments
According to the unofficial results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website, 242 Anna Maria voters (91.32 percent) supported Anna Maria Amendment 1 and 23 voters (8.68 percent) opposed it. Anna Maria Amendment 1 said: “Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to provide that any city commission member or the mayor shall forfeit such office if he or she is found by the Florida Commission on Ethics to have violated any portion of the Code of Ethics for public officials and employees found in Chapter 112, Florida Statutes?”
A total of 228 voters (86.36 percent) supported Anna Maria Amendment 2 and 36 voters (13.64 percent) opposed it. Anna Maria Amendment 2 said: “Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to provide that the mayor’s appointment of a city treasurer shall be subject to the approval of the city commission?”
A total of 235 voters (89.02 percent) supported Anna Maria Amendment 3 and 29 voters 10.98 percent) opposed it. Anna Maria Amendment 3 said: “Shall the Anna Maria city charter be amended to make technical, corrective and conforming changes to the charter to correct scrivener’s and grammatical errors, conform city investment activity, the enactment of emergency ordinances, and certain referendum requirements to current state law, and add clarifications to make the charter easier to read and understand?”
As of August, the city of Anna Maria had 1,076 registered voters.
These are the unofficial results for the charter amendment question votes. – Manatee County Supervisor of Elections | Submitted
Commission seats
Carter will serve a fourth consecutive term and Crane will join a commission that also includes Commissioners Amy Tripp and Mark Short.
City Clerk LeAnne Addy said Carter and Crane will be sworn in at the city commission’s Dec. 5 organizational meeting. At that time, the newly-reconfigured commission will select a chair and a vice-chair. As vice-chair, Carter became the commission chair after Commissioner Brian Seymour resigned in August.
Looking ahead to her next term, Carter said, “I’m honored to serve the residents of Anna Maria for the fourth time. There’s much I want to do to help my neighbors:
Present sea-level rise town hall meeting with John Englander on Dec 10;
Continued lobbying for home rule with Florida legislators;
Complete flash drive video for state legislators to illustrate the progress in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach on how well local home rule is working by inspecting and certifying vacation rentals for the health and safety of both visitors and residents;
Present Love Anna Maria Island community programs starting with our Thanks-Living community dinner on Nov. 27;
Continue representing Anna Maria with the Manasota League of Cities;
and continue to support Mayor Dan Murphy’s efforts to get the new City Pier open and operating,” Carter said.
Crane recently resigned from his position as the Planning and Zoning Board chair in order to transition into his new role as a city commissioner.
“I’m very happy to be able to serve the people of Anna Maria in this new way,” Crane said.
Vacant seat
The soon-to-be-vacated commission seat that was not filled during this election cycle is currently held by multi-term Commissioner Dale Woodland. Woodland will vacate that seat in early December because he failed to qualify for the 2019 city elections.
Long-time Commissioner Dale Woodland hopes to get appointed to another term in office. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office disqualified Woodland after the qualifying period close because he paid his qualifying fee with a personal check instead of using a check drawn from a campaign account.
Woodland and Commissioner Doug Copeland will remain on the commission until the organizational meeting takes place on Dec. 5, and they will still participate in the Thursday, Nov. 14 commission meeting as voting members.
Commissioner Doug Copeland’s time in office will end in December. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Addy said the seat being vacated by Woodland would be filled by commission appointment in early January. Woodland already said he will apply for the seat in hopes of getting appointed to the commission seat he’s been elected to several times in the past.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners and commission candidates have weighed in on three charter amendments proposed by the Concerned Neighbors of Bradenton Beach (CNOBB).
CNOBB used a petition initiative and the threat of a lawsuit rather than the standard charter review process to get their amendment questions on the ballot.
Amendment 1 looks to eliminate the four commission wards designated in the city charter. Amendment 2 looks to reduce commission candidates’ residency requirement from two years to one, and to remove the requirement that candidates must also be registered to vote in Bradenton Beach. Amendment 3 looks to limit the commission’s ability to interpret the charter with ordinances and resolutions.
Mayor Bill Shearon and Vice Mayor John Chappie are competing for the mayor’s seat. Randy White is challenging incumbent Commissioner Ralph Cole for the Ward 3 seat. Ward 1 Commissioner Jake Spooner is running unopposed, and Chappie’s soon-to-be-vacated ward 4 seat will be filled by appointment.
Shearon and White shared their positions during a CNOBB forum last week at the Annie Silver Community Center. Chappie and Cole did not participate due to concerns about Sunshine Law compliance and a Sunshine lawsuit involving CNOBB members. Spooner was not invited because he’s running unopposed. Ward 2 Commissioner Marilyn Maro is not up for reelection, but her input was also sought during separate interviews conducted last week.
Ward elimination
CNOBB claims replacing commission wards with citywide at-large seats would produce more candidates and result in fewer seats being filled by commission appointment.
“By eliminating the wards, that increases the chances for more people to run. There should always be two people running for office. I’m a strong proponent of eliminating the wards,” Shearon said.
“The criticism is we can’t have four people from the same city block, but I’d rather have four people elected from the same city block than four people appointed from the same voting bloc,” White said.
Earlier that day, Chappie said, “It creates an interesting discussion as to whether you’d get more people to run. I’m not convinced it would. I like the wards. What concerns me most is certain areas would dominate representation in the city and there’s a difference between the north and south end neighborhoods.”
“You have a representative from each part of the city who knows what’s going on,” Cole said. “Without wards you could have all your commissioners living on one street. Sometimes you don’t have more candidates because people are happy with their commissioner.”
“I like the neighborhood form of government,” Spooner said. “I wish more people would run, but what they’re proposing doesn’t seem to remedy anything.”
“I want the wards kept because you know more people in your ward, and they know you. If the commissioners all come from one part of town, it could create problems,” Maro said.
Residency and registration
Amendment 2 is inspired by 1993 case law that supported a Sarasota County candidate’s challenge to a two-year residency requirement. Bradenton Beach voters adopted a two-year residency requirement in 2015 and reaffirmed it in 2016.
“Somebody wouldn’t have to necessarily be a registered voter. As long as he’s a resident and can prove his residency, I feel he’s a candidate. We need to make that as easy as possible,” Shearon said.
“Whether or not they voted in the past, why should that come into play when you’re running for office?” White said.
“You need to know the community before running for office, and if you want to take part in determining the future of the community, you should also be a registered voter in the community,” Chappie said.
“There’s case law that says two years is too long, but that’s what our voters wanted,” Cole said. “They want someone who’s been here for a while; and I think you should be a registered voter to serve on the commission.”
“Residency should go to 12 months, but this shouldn’t pass the way it’s worded because it says you don’t need to be a registered voter,” Spooner said.
“I’m for two years, and I think they should be registered to vote in Bradenton Beach,” Maro said.
Charter interpretation
In 2014, commissioners adopted a resolution they felt clarified Mayor Shearon’s duties and supervisory authority as a weak mayor. In 2016, commissioners adopted an ordinance they felt provided additional clarification. CNOBB members claim these interpretive actions changed the charter, but the charter can only be changed by city voters.
“I have some real concerns, especially when it’s a resolution. An ordinance requires two public readings, the resolution doesn’t. Before, it was the charter was the charter, but now there seems to be these gray areas. I strongly support this,” Shearon said of amendment 3.
“The charter is kind of like the constitution. Why get in the way of that?” White added.
“I’m a firm believer that our city charter is the bottom line,” Chappie said. “The resolution 2014 and the ordinance in 2016 didn’t have to happen because the charter provides a simple description of authority and who does what. A lot of people don’t understand this initiative the way it’s written, and it should be turned down for that alone.”
Cole maintained his support for the ordinance he requested in 2016 and said, “There is a charter review process to get the charter changed. Just getting a certain number of signatures to put it on the ballot puts all our laws in jeopardy.”
“You can’t interpret the charter in a way that is totally different from what it says; that’s a moot point,” Spooner said.
“I think they should leave the charter alone unless they have a charter review committee,” Maro said.
