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Anna Maria responds to county consolidation option

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has responded to a March 5 request for information from OPPAGA regarding the potential consolidation and annexation of the city into Manatee County.

The cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach received similar requests from the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability that conducts research for the Florida Legislature.

Last year, OPPAGA initiated a consolidation study at the request of Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) and the other state legislators who are members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation.

OPPAGA’s Island consolidation study originally included three possible options: Consolidating the three Island cities into one new city, consolidating and annexing all three cities into the city of Braden­ton or not consolidating the cities but consolidating similar services provided by each Island city.

In November, the three cities submitted separate written re­sponses to OPPAGA that addressed the benefits and challenges of each consolidation scenario.

On March 15, the city of Anna Maria submitted a written response to OPPAGA that addresses the additional option of consolidating Anna Maria into Manatee County and placing it under the control of the county and the Manatee County Commission.

BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

Regarding the benefits of the county consolidation option, the city response notes the city prop­erty taxes currently levied at a 2.05 millage rate would be eliminated. County consolidation would also eliminate the need for city-funded public works departments, building departments and law enforcement agencies.

Regarding the challenges posed by county consolidation, the Anna Maria response notes there would be an increased financial and administrative placed burden on the county, which last year only provided the city with $15,000 as part of the city’s $11.4 million annual budget.

County consolidation would result in the county assuming own­ership and responsibility for the roads, the stormwater and drainage system and other infrastructure elements currently funded by the city and its taxpayers. The county would assume ownership and maintenance responsibilities associated with the city-owned City Pier and the city-owned property that provides rent-free space for The Center of Anna Maria Island.

The Anna Maria response claims county consolidation would result in the loss of existing environmen­tal safeguards and the loss of the diversity and atmosphere the three distinctly different Island cities currently provide.

“This is what makes Anna Maria Island unique from any other bar­rier island in the state of Florida,” the response notes.

The response also notes the county consolidation option would result in the elimination of each of the three cities’ city charters and comprehensive plans – docu­ments that currently limit building heights to three stories Island-wide.

“Loss of these plans has the potential to create a huge negative impact on the entire Island com­munity,” the response notes.

The city response also notes consolidation would result in job losses for those currently employed by the city.

The response states many Anna Maria property owners, an­nual visitors, tourists and elected officials oppose consolidation and forced consolidation would be likely be met with strong and costly legal opposition.

McMullen, Morgan participate in candidate forum

McMullen, Morgan participate in candidate forum

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – City Commission applicants Gary McMullen and Kathleen Morgan participated in a candidate forum at city hall on Jan. 11.

McMullen and Morgan hope to be appointed to fill the two vacant seats on the Anna Maria Commission.

With Mayor Dan Murphy serving as moderator and city commissioners Jon Crane, Charlie Salem and Mark Short in attendance, McMullen and Morgan answered all 30 questions provided in advance and an ad­ditional audience question posed during the forum. The candidates took turns answering five questions at a time and alternating who answered first.

The two candidates hold similar views on most of the issues. Both displayed a strong knowledge of the issues and neither has ever served before as an elected government official.

The candidates

McMullen spent much of his life living in Anna Maria at least part-time and has lived in Anna Maria full-time for about 15 years.

Morgan bought her first Anna Maria Island home in 2000. She and her husband, David Johnson, bought their current home in Anna Maria in 2006.

McMullen retired after a career with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that included office management.

Morgan works part-time as a legal assistant for her husband’s Sarasota-based law firm. She also holds a real estate broker’s license. For 24 years, she owned and operated a retail/wholesale business in New York.

As for why he wants to serve, McMullen said, “I want to improve the quality of life for the residents and make this a better place to live.”

Morgan said, “I would like to serve as a commissioner to help make positive changes and reinforce current policies that reflect our city’s heritage. Anna Maria is a beautiful place to live and I am committed to improving it.”

Regarding the skill sets they’d bring to the commission, Morgan said, “I have an ability to bring people together in a cooperative fashion. I am a person that people respect and trust. I’m an effective communicator, a good follower and a good leader when needed. If appointed, I will work collaboratively with others.”

McMullen cited his historical perspective, managerial experience and the knowledge of government operations he acquired while working in and with governments at the city, county, state and federal levels.

“I know how government operations work,” he said.

Regarding community service, McMullen said he currently serves as the vice-chair of the city’s Historic Preservation Board and was one of Anna Maria’s first code enforcement and parking officers. Morgan serves as president of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club and as a board member and secretary for The Center of Anna Maria Island’s board of directors.

Neither candidate owns a business or vacation rental property in Anna Maria.

The issues

McMullen said that “Keeping our residential base” is the most important issue facing the city in 2024.

Morgan agreed that residents are the most important component of the community and she supports Commis­sioner Charlie Salem’s desire to conduct a feasibility study to help determine what more can be done to incentivize permanent residents.

Morgan views the ongoing OPPAGA consolidation study and the potential consolidation of the three Island cities as the biggest challenge facing the city in 2024.

“I am only for consolidation of services,” she said. “I am also concerned that we only get charged for our portion of the service and not an equal share of the total charge.”

Regarding consolidation, McMullen said, “I’m against it. We would have negligible savings if we consolidated services and I’m not for consolidating the cities.”

McMullen and Morgan both oppose the proposed county parking garage in Holmes Beach.

McMullen, Morgan participate in candidate forum
Gary McMullen believes the retention of permanent residents is the most important issue facing the city in 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

McMullen is also concerned about pedestrian and bicyclist safety, particularly on Pine Avenue.

“I see people walking on the streets, I see bicycles on the streets and people coming out between the cars. I don’t believe it’s safe,” he said.

McMullen and Morgan both support the still pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project that includes Magnolia and Spring avenues. McMullen supports eliminating the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue and installing sidewalks and bike lanes along both sides of the street. Morgan supports eliminating the parallel parking spaces along one side of Pine Avenue and replacing them with a multi-use path.

McMullen said the opening of the Mote Marine Science Education and Outreach Center on the City Pier was the commis­sion’s most significant accomplishment in 2023.

McMullen, Morgan participate in candidate forum
Kathleen Morgan sees the OPPAGA consolidation study as the biggest issue facing the city in 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Morgan cited the opening of the Mote facility, planning for the Pine Avenue project and the city-spon­sored events and celebrations that take place at City Pier Park and said, “Perhaps the best thing was reaching a cooperative yet united front against those who desire to consolidate the Island’s three governments and build a parking garage.”

If appointed, McMullen said his top three priorities would be making Pine Avenue safer, retaining full-time residents and expanding the Gulf Islands Ferry operations to better serve Island employees, including a Holmes Beach ferry stop if possible.

Morgan cited vacation rental regulation, street paving, stormwater/drainage improvements and the Pine Avenue safety improvements as ongoing top priorities and she’d also like to see more sidewalks and bike paths installed throughout the city.

If he could initiate one city project, McMullen would extend to Pine Avenue the multi-use trail along Gulf Drive that currently ends at Willow Avenue. Morgan again mentioned installing more sidewalks.

Both candidates support strong enforcement of the city’s vacation rental and noise ordinances.

Both candidates support maintain­ing the city’s 2.05 millage rate for the collection of property taxes and McMullen would like to see the millage rate reduced as property values and property taxes continue to increase.

Both candidates support allowing leashed dogs in City Pier Park, but not during city-sponsored special events.

The appointments

On Jan. 25, the three sitting commission­ers will rank the two candidates in order of their personal preference. A commis­sioner’s first choice will receive a ranking of 1 and his second choice will receive a ranking of 2. The candidate with the lowest total score will be appointed to serve the longer term that expires in 2025. The candidate with the second-lowest score will be appointed to serve the term that expires in December. A candidate that receives at least two zero rankings will no longer be considered a candidate.

Anna Maria officials discuss consolidation study

Anna Maria officials discuss consolidation study

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – On Nov. 16, each of the three Anna Maria Island mayors received a letter requesting information from the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OP­PAGA), which is conducting a study on consolidating city services and governments.

The study was requested in Janu­ary by the Manatee County Legisla­tive Delegation that consists of Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton), Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), Rep. Tommy Gregory (R-Lakewood Ranch) and Rep. Mike Beltran (R-Apollo Beach).

On Nov. 16, Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commis­sion discussed the OPPAGA study, the request for information received earlier that day and the initial Zoom meeting that Murphy and Com­mission Chair Mark Short had with OPPAGA representatives on Nov. 7.

Speaking first, Short said he learned during the Zoom meeting that OP­PAGA Staff Director Emily Leventhal is overseeing the three-person team assigned to conduct the study.

“The scope of their project is to look at the possibility of consolidat­ing services across the three Island cities; and separately, to do an analysis of the consolidation of government structure (the three city governments),” he said.

Short said that each city will be analyzed separately, but the analysis and data pertaining to all three cities will likely be combined into a single report.

“Their goal is to provide options with respect to what could be done and provide both pros and cons with respect to each of those options. They told us they are not making recommendations about what to do. It is unlikely they will recommend any specific course of action,” Short said.

Short said the first step for the city is to provide OPPAGA with the requested information by Dec. 8, if possible. He said OPPAGA representa­tives will also interview city officials as the study continues.

“They will then prepare a report that will be made available to the state Legislature. That report will be made available to them, not to us. Their goal is to have this analysis done by July of 2024. Probably the most surprising thing I heard on this call was that they are not obligated to share their report with us,” Short said.

After noting that OPPAGA is exempt from public records requests, Short said, “They will share it if the Legisla­ture authorizes them to share it with us. Otherwise, they have no obligation to share with us whatever’s in this report, which, personally, I found to be extremely disappointing.”

Anna Maria officials discuss consolidation study
Mayor Dan Murphy hopes the OPPAGA study can help reduce property taxes. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy provided an overview of the questions posed and information requests made in the letter. Most of them pertain to city services, but there’s also a three-part question about the potential consolidation of the three Island cities and their governments, he said.

The information request period spans from 2018-23. OPPAGA re­quested a list of current services the city provides, including, but not lim­ited to, law enforcement, public works projects, public safety, elections, solid and liquid waste disposal treatment, code enforcement and building and planning services. OPPAGA wants email addresses and contact informa­tion for the appropriate city official to contact for each service listed, and the total budgeted amounts and actual expenditures for each service.

OPPAGA also wants a description of how the city services provided by Anna Maria could be consolidated with the other two Island cities.

Commissioner Robert Kingan said he doesn’t see how the projected cost savings for the consolidation of services between three cities can accurately be estimated.

Regarding the potential consolida­tion of the three city governments, the OPPAGA request letter says, “Please provide the following information on government consolidation: A descrip­tion of the benefits and challenges to individual citizens as well as to government operations related to the following potential options for local governance on Anna Maria Island.

“Option 1: All three cities on Anna Maria Island are consolidated into one new city on the island.

“Option 2: All three cities on Anna Maria Island were incorporated as part of the city of Bradenton.

“Option 3: All three cities on Anna Maria Island remain as incorporated municipalities on the island and work to consolidate existing services where that makes sense,” the request letter says.

OPPAGA’s request for information does not mention Manatee County as a possible consolidation/annexation option.

Commission discussion

Murphy said he received a phone call from Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown the previous day and Brown told him he had not received any consolidated study-related correspon­dence from Boyd or Robinson.

According to Bradenton Public Records Liaison Bill Ackles, as of Nov. 18, Brown and the city of Bradenton had not received any correspondence from OPPAGA.

In the consolidation study-related letter that Boyd and Robinson sent to the three Island mayors in August, the state legislators stated their goal was to reduce property taxes by consolidating similar services provided by each Island city.

“If the purpose of this study is to reduce taxes, which is what they said at the very beginning, there might be some good in this,” Murphy said.

However, noting that Anna Maria’s property tax millage rate is 2.05 mills and Bradenton’s millage rate is 5.8 mills, he added, “Can you imagine what that would do to your taxes?”

Short noted the two biggest tax levies on an Anna Maria property owner’s tax bill are the taxes levied by Manatee County and the taxes levied by the Manatee County school district. Short said property taxes levied by the city of Anna Maria only account for approximately 10% of a property owner’s total tax bill.

“I think this is something we can embrace and we might get some good out of it and we might be able to shave people’s tax bills,” Murphy said. “I met with a couple yesterday who showed me their tax bill of $50,000 for their home. They’re not homesteaded. They’re retirees from Atlanta. They built a house and didn’t take into consideration the tax implications. Granted, a lot of that is the school board and Manatee County, but a portion of it is ours. I think the push in the next budget year is to reduce our ad valorem taxes. If OPPAGA can help us do that, let’s do it. If we can reduce taxes, we can attract more people to live here,” Murphy said.

Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I’m going to exercise my right to be a little skeptical.”

During public input, Anna Maria resident John Kolojeski suggested the city do some legal research on annexa­tion and whether the state Legislature can force a community to be annexed into another community.

 

Related coverage:

Holmes Beach Commission weighs in on consolidation

Annexation into Bradenton a consolidation option

State orders immediate AMI consolidation study

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Mayors in the three Island cities received a trick on Halloween in the form of a letter from the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA). The Oct. 31 letter states that the Florida Legislature has directed the organization to begin reviewing the potential consolidation of services and government entities on Anna Maria Island.

The OPPAGA study is expected to begin immediately.

While Mayor Dan Murphy of Anna Maria declined to comment on the study and Mayor John Chappie of Bradenton Beach was unable to comment due to illness, Mayor Judy Titsworth of Holmes Beach spoke to The Sun concerning the pending study.

“I’m feeling really threatened,” Titsworth said. “I’m not concerned about the city of Holmes Beach’s worthiness to be a city. I feel the city will show when audited that we have every right to be a city. We’re thriving. We didn’t ask for this study and neither did the residents. It’s not supposed to be government from the top down, it’s supposed to be a government for the people, by the people and that’s not what’s happening in this case. We didn’t ask for this.”

The study into whether or not certain services among the three Island cities should be consolidated or the cities themselves merged into one came about as a result of a Manatee County legislative delegation meeting in January in which delegation members brought up consolidation without warning to the three Island governments.

Legislators have since demanded that the three mayors work to consolidate services themselves. In the past, Titsworth said she’s hosted regular meetings of the three Island mayors and that some efforts to standardize services across the Island have been made. During an October legislative delegation meeting, neither consolidation nor the pending study was mentioned.

As the study progresses, representatives from OPPAGA are expected to meet with city leaders and staff in each Island city. Items ranging from tax rates to expenses, staff numbers, services offered, utilities, infrastructure, number of voters and number of residents are all expected to be analyzed during the study.

While most OPPAGA studies are conducted at the request of a municipality’s residents or government leaders, this one was requested by state leaders. And though it’s not common, state leaders have the ability to present a bill to the Legislature for a vote to consolidate the three Island cities without the input of city leaders, property owners or voters.

Typically a municipality is only dissolved at the state level when the city is insolvent or the level of residents has dropped to such a small number that it can’t sustain the city’s government. Titsworth said that Holmes Beach doesn’t suffer from either problem. She added that she also believes the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach are still strong despite a recent lack of people running for office in those municipalities.

“No one wants to lose their incorporation,” she said, adding that she plans to show her city’s strengths at every turn during the auditing process. “The best thing we can do right now is work harder to prove them (state leaders) wrong and show the strength of the community and city.”

Mayor’s letter addresses consolidation study

Mayor’s letter addresses consolidation study

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy has sent State Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Manatee, Hillsborough) and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R- Manatee, Sarasota) a written response to their continued push for a state-funded Island consolidation study, expressing his and the city commission’s partial support.

“We endorse the study and wish to actively participate going forward in its development. We heartily welcome new ideas which can both reduce taxes as well as provide expanded and enhanced services to our community,” Murphy wrote in the Sept. 29 letter. “With that being the stated goal of the study, you have our whole-hearted support with this effort. Our city opposes both governmental consolidation or de-annexation (elimination) of the local governments on our Island.”

Murphy’s letter serves as the city’s formal response to the Aug. 21 letter that Boyd and Robinson sent to the three Anna Maria Island mayors informing them that the legislators’ pursuit of a consolidation study conducted by Florida’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) remains active. OPPAGA is a research arm of the Florida Legislature and provides data, evaluative research and objective analyses that assist legislators in their budget and policy deliberations.

STUDY DELAYED

Study requested

On Jan. 12, the Manatee County Legislative Delegation that consists of Boyd, Robinson, State Sen. Joe Gruters (R- Manatee, Sarasota), State Rep. Tommy Gregory (R- Manatee) and State Rep. Mike Beltran (R- Manatee, Hillsborough) unanimously supported requesting an OPPAGA consolidation study be conducted before the 2024 legislative session begins in January 2024.

Mayor’s letter addresses consolidation study
Sen. Jim Boyd supports a consolidation study. – Flsenate.gov | Submitted

On Jan. 19, the delegation members sent a letter to Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo requesting an OPPAGA study to be completed by Sept. 15.

“The study should focus on the potential benefits of combining the three municipalities of Anna Maria Island, which encompasses the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. The study should analyze the existing municipalities and present any and all options for future government structure on Anna Maria Island,” the delegation letter said.

That letter stated all three Island cities experienced significant population declines between 2000 and 2020, with Anna Maria’s population decreasing by 46%, Holmes Beach’s population decreasing by 39% and Bradenton Beach’s population decreasing by 39% during that 10-year period.

“If all three cities were combined, their population would bring the resident population to a state ranking of 478 out of 950,” the letter noted.

Study delayed

On Jan. 30, Boyd and Robinson met with Murphy, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and agreed to give the mayors some time to develop ideas on how to consolidate some of the similar services each city provides.

On Aug. 21, Boyd and Robinson sent a letter to the three mayors informing them that the delegation was resuming its pursuit of an OPPAGA study. That letter stated the ma

Mayor’s letter addresses consolidation study
Rep. Will Robinson Jr. supports a consolidation study. -Myfloridahouse.gov | Submitted

yors had not presented any “implementable concepts” regarding the potential consolidation of police, building department and public works department services in order to help lower the rising property taxes paid by Anna Maria Island property owners.

“We tabled the OPPAGA study in good faith to allow you the time to find better ways of coordination and present such to the delegation. Unfortunately, we have not received any major update so far,” Boyd and Robinson stated in their letter. “Please be assured that the delegation, and the authors of this letter, have not made a decision on consolidation or de-annexation while we await your response. We would like to receive your response prior to our delegation meeting scheduled for Oct. 5. Should we not hear back from you before the delegation meeting, we will move forward with our request to OPPAGA.”

The Manatee County Legislative Delegation meeting will take place at Bradenton City Hall in downtown Bradenton on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

City’s response

Murphy first addressed Boyd and Robinson’s letter during the Aug. 24 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

After noting that he met with Chappie and Titsworth earlier that day, he said, “Unanimously, we agreed that the right thing to do is to embrace this study. If this study can reduce our taxes, and if it could also enhance and improve the scope of services to the residents of this Island, we’re all in. The scope (of the study) should not be the consolidation or the elimination or the de-annexation of the three municipalities on this Island.”

According to Murphy, each of the three Island mayors are submitting their cities’ written responses to Boyd and Robinson.

In his Sept. 29 letter, Murphy addressed the loss of full-time residents referenced in the delegation’s letter to Passidomo.

“Even though our cities are small in permanent population, our actual population is six- and seven-fold higher in reality. With over 70% of our dwellings being upscale vacation rental homes, our real population continues to grow at a rapid exponential rate while our permanent resident population declines. We struggle to meet the demands and expectations for services to this growing upscale community and we feel this study will help us proactively meet those increased demands and expectations head-on,” Murphy wrote.

“On the other hand, our primary concern with governmental consolidation is a loss of our individuality. Each city on this Island presents a distinctly different environment to full-time residents and visitors alike. Speaking for the city of Anna Maria, we have long been, and we remain, a cultural and quiet residential bastion on the Island,” Murphy wrote.

His letter referenced the Island Players theater, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and historical museum, The Center of Anna Maria Island and the City Pier as Anna Maria-based entities. It also mentioned the city-sponsored Veterans Day Parade, the Memorial Day veterans’ recognition ceremony, the seasonal farmers market and the free movies at City Pier Park that are unique to Anna Maria.

“These differentiators make our city a cultural and residential jewel for locals and visitors. Our concern is that all of these cultural differentiators would become lost through a governmental consolidation process,” Murphy wrote.

“Combining these three unique and culturally diverse communities into one ‘vanilla community’ would result in the loss of the most valuable asset our Island offers, our diverse cultural differences. One size would not fit all in this instance,” he wrote.

Consolidation study for AMI cities won’t be pursued

Legislators change direction on consolidation of AMI cities

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – State legislators say they no longer intend to commission a state-funded feasibility study on the potential consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities and their respective city governments.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy made the announcement during this afternoon’s Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

Murphy returned to Anna Maria today after spending Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Tallahassee meeting privately with the five members of the Manatee County legislative delegation – Rep. Will Robinson Jr., Sen. Jim Boyd, Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. Tommy Gregory and Rep. Mike Beltran.

Consolidation study for AMI cities won’t be pursued
State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. is no longer pursuing a consolidation study. – MyFloridaHouse.com | Submitted

On Jan. 12, Robinson announced that the delegation intended to seek during the upcoming 2023 legislative session a state-funded study on the feasibility of consolidating or dissolving the three Island cities. During that same meeting, the delegation also announced its intent to file state legislation that could potentially preempt the city of Holmes Beach’s land development code and city charter to allow Manatee County to build a multi-story parking garage on county property to provide more public parking for beachgoers and other visitors.

An outcry erupted from many elected officials and their constituents in the Island’s three cities, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, that state officials were attempting to destroy home rule, the ability of the Island cities to govern themselves. Concerns were voiced that consolidating or dissolving the Island cities would put them under Manatee County’s jurisdiction, eliminating local codes including building height restrictions and paving the way for a new set of rules for development.

Regarding the consolidation discussions he had with Robinson in Tallahassee, Murphy said during today’s meeting, “He has agreed to pull that from the table for this year. That won’t be an item this year. Sen. Boyd agreed.”

During a recent Anna Maria commission meeting, Murphy said that Robinson told him he sought the state-funded consolidation study because he’s received numerous complaints about taxes being too high on Anna Maria Island. The proposed consolidation study would have looked at whether consolidating some or all of the similar public services provided by each of the three Island cities might produce lower property taxes for the Island’s property owners.

Consolidating Island city services

However, Murphy said, “They would like the three Island mayors to have some formal discussions as to what can be consolidated because they are getting pressure from constituents about the tax rates here on the Island. What can we do from a service point of view? To that end, I asked the other two mayors to meet with me here at city hall this morning on my return from Tallahassee. We agreed that the three of us will work on what can be consolidated. What’s the low-hanging fruit that can quickly be captured? Long-term and short-term, what can we do here with the idea of saving taxpayers money?” he said.

Murphy said the three mayors will meet every two or three weeks to discuss what can be done regarding the consolidation of shared services. He said the mayors would likely address one potential point of consolidation at a time. He said the three mayors will also solicit input from their commissioners and city staff members and provide their commissions with regular updates.

“I feel comfortable that my fellow mayors will give it a fair and honest shot,” Murphy said.

When asked if he could provide any examples of services that might potentially be consolidated, Murphy said it was too early to do so. He said those details would be released when there’s a solid plan in place. Murphy said listing potential areas of consolidation now could cause city employees in all three cities to become apprehensive about the potential impacts consolidation might have on their jobs and livelihoods.

A few years ago, Murphy proposed consolidating the Anna Maria and Holmes Beach public works departments but those efforts proved unsuccessful.

“We need to have a serious effort on the consolidation. We’ve made efforts in the past and that went nowhere. This time it’s serious and we need to have a serious conversation. I have every confidence, after my meeting this morning with the other two mayors, that we’ll make progress with some form of consolidation,” Murphy said.

Murphy said if left to the state, the complete consolidation of the three Island cities is a possible scenario.

For his efforts, Murphy received a round of applause from the commissioners and others who attended today’s meeting.

Parking concerns

Murphy said the Legislature’s continued concern about parking in Holmes Beach is not an issue that directly impacts the city of Anna Maria.

“That’s an issue between Holmes Beach and the state. This is not a county issue anymore,” he said.

Murphy referenced the streetside parking spaces the city of Holmes Beach eliminated during its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Approximately 650 parking spaces were eliminated in Holmes Beach. The county, through the state, wants some reprimands for those. They’re gone and they’d like to have them back. I think everybody recognizes that a parking garage is not a panacea. You could put up a dozen and you still wouldn’t have enough, but 650 spots are 650 spots. They were taken and is there some way to get that back?” Murphy said.

He added that the parking reductions in Holmes Beach have “created a lot of angst” with people on the mainland who feel their ability to visit the public beaches has been negatively impacted by those actions.

“Was it the right thing to do or not? At this point, the ship has sailed,” Murphy said of that past decision.

He said Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth has reached an agreement with the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation in Holmes Beach to provide some additional public parking spaces in the church parking lot. Murphy said he was asked to meet with the priest at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach, where Murphy is a member, and there’s a willingness there to also provide some additional public parking spaces.

Related coverage

 

Merger or dissolution could erase local city regulations

 

Proposed consolidation study concerns city officials

 

Island officials unite to preserve home rule

 

Mayor proposes negotiation, not war, with state legislators

 

AMI fights back against state representatives

 

Bradenton Beach Commission opposes state attacks on home rule

 

State representatives suggest eliminating Island cities