BRADENTON BEACH – It’s easy to get distracted by the beauty of the beaches and surrounding areas when visiting Anna Maria Island, but four vehicle break-ins on July 30 are a reminder that even paradise can have problems.
Two vehicles were broken into at Coquina Beach and two at Cortez Beach, according to reports filed by two Bradenton Beach police officers. The crimes all took place within an hour or two of each other.
According to a report filed by Officer Roy Joslin III, he was dispatched to a vehicle burglary on June 30 at 7:04 p.m. in the 1000 block of the Cortez Beach parking area. Two female adult victims said they had their purses stolen from their car after they parked and took a walk to the beach. They said they were only gone for about 15 minutes, but believed they had left the car unlocked with the purses in plain view in the back seat. There were no witnesses and no video footage available for the area.
At 8:18 p.m., shortly after Joslin was investigating the first break-in, Officer Devon Straight was dispatched to another vehicle burglary in the 2650 block of the Coquina Beach parking lot. When Straight arrived, he spoke to a female victim who said she left her vehicle around 5:30 p.m., returning at 8:15 p.m. to find her rear window broken out and her purse missing. The victim said the purse was in plain sight laying in the back seat. In his report, Straight said this burglary, the burglary investigated by Joslin and two others that happened during the same time frame were possibly related.
Straight found another vehicle with a broken rear window at Coquina Beach as he was completing his investigation of the first vehicle. He waited for the owners of the second vehicle to return, which they did about 15 minutes later. The owner reported a purse that had been located in the back seat was missing.
The fourth vehicle at the Cortez Beach parking lot had an iPad taken during a break-in that closely resembled the others during the same time frame.
The four burglaries were referred to a detective for further investigation. No suspects have been identified and the investigation remains open.
“It’s hard to catch these guys, they can easily gather around a vehicle and look like beachgoers,” Bradenton Beach Lt. Lenard Diaz said. “This happens every now and then on busy holiday weekends. They come from out of town and blend in. It doesn’t take long to bust out a window and grab a purse or an iPad.”
Diaz says the best deterrent is to always lock your doors and keep valuable items hidden out of sight. Leaving valuable items in plain view is an invitation to thieves. They want to get in and out fast, so if they don’t see anything valuable, they’re likely to move on to another vehicle.
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
BRADENTON BEACH – Beachgoers will be vying for limited parking spaces at Coquina Beach all summer with the next phase of drainage and parking lot improvements expected to be completed no sooner than October.
As was the case with Phase I improvements, previously completed at the south end of the parking lot, the county has contracted the Woodruff & Sons construction firm to install the Phase II drainage elements and pervious concrete parking spaces in the central and northern portions of the Coquina Beach Parking lot.
The pervious concrete previously installed at the south end of the parking lot allows rainwater to drain through it and into the improved drainage system below.
The previously installed pervious concrete parking spaces allow water to drain through them. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to the updated project schedule provided by Manatee County, miscellaneous cleanup and demolition work was scheduled to take place in the central portion of the Coquina Beach parking lot through early this month, followed by the installation of new curbs and new underdrains scheduled to be completed by early September, with the installation of the pervious concrete parking surfaces scheduled for the same time frame.
The pavement striping and parking space wheel stops are scheduled to be installed in October, with the currently closed central portion of the beach parking lot to then be reopened to the public.
This updated project schedule was provided by Manatee County. – Manatee County | Submitted
Around that same time in October, clean up and demolition work is scheduled to begin at the north end of the parking lot where similar drainage and parking improvements will be made. The anticipated completion date and reopening of the north parking area is anticipated in March 2023.
A crowd gathered on south Coquina Beach Monday morning to cheer on Esther the loggerhead sea turtle as she made her way back to the Gulf of Mexico after being tagged with a satellite transmitter by volunteers from Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring and the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
The tagging helps the organizations gather valuable data about sea turtle migration habits. The oldest sea turtle conservation organization in the world, the Sea Turtle Conservancy has tagged hundreds of turtles. According to the organization, being tagged and sur- rounded by people for a few minutes has no negative impact on their health.
Esther swims into the Gulf of Mexico after being tagged. – Submitted
The Sun will share weekly updates on Esther’s whereabouts and whether she returns to AMI to nest. For more information on sea turtle conservation, visit Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Sea Turtle Conservancy online.
BRADENTON BEACH – The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members want the CRA-funded Old Town Trams to serve more people who park in the Manatee County-owned parking spaces at Cortez Beach and Coquina Beach.
The unpaved Cortez Beach parking spaces are located along the west side of Gulf Drive South, just south of Bridge Street, from Fourth Street South to 13th Street South. The recently paved and soon-to-be-paved parking spaces at Coquina Beach are located at the south end of the city.
The Old Town Tram shuttle service pilot program is now in its second year and the current one-year contract with Joshua LaRose’s EASYParking Group expires in or around November. Before that contract expires, CRA members must decide whether to continue the experimental pilot program, enter into a permanent contract with LaRose, seek another private operator to provide similar services at no expense to the CRA or simply abandon the publicly-funded tram shuttle concept.
The CRA members’ long-term goal is to install a dedicated tram path along the Cortez Beach parking lot to alleviate the need for the trams to travel in the heavy traffic along Gulf Drive.
County officials have expressed preliminary support for a dedicated path and other tram-related amenities, but those plans can’t be pursued until an extensive utility improvement project that includes the Cortez Beach parking lot is completed. According to CRA member John Chappie, county officials have a definitive timetable as to when that project will start and end.
The other long-term goal is for tram advertising revenues to provide all or most of the funds needed to cover the monthly operating costs.
Concerns and solutions
Each month, LaRose provides a report that details ridership, routes traveled and advertising revenues generated.
During the April 6 CRA meeting, LaRose said the trams generated $5,475 in advertising revenues in March, which equates to 57% of the $9,665 monthly costs, with the CRA paying the remaining $4,190 balance.
LaRose said 5,632 passengers rode the two electric trams in March, with tram drivers picking up 169 passengers at the south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot and 1,102 passengers along Cortez Beach.
City attorney and CRA liaison Ricinda Perry noted the 169 passengers picked up from Coquina Beach equaled about five people per day.
“I certainly wouldn’t recommend this board invest more funds into it if it’s not being used,” she said.
Perry said there are more than 1,300 parking spaces available at the nearby county beaches compared to the dozen or so parking spaces near the Bradenton Beach Police Department where the trams frequently travel.
“The objective is to flip those numbers around. I need to know why that’s not happening on the beachside,” she said.
LaRose said his drivers tell him the heavy traffic presents challenges when traveling to the southern beach parking areas and a dedicated tram path would help. He committed to asking his drivers to get feedback from passengers as to why they don’t utilize the beach parking spaces.
Chappie noted the Cortez Beach parking area is three-quarters of a mile long and could be divided into three primary points to load and unload tram passengers. Chappie said the tram drivers should be driving through the Cortez Beach parking lot rather than on Gulf Drive and be looking for additional passengers along the way.
“The last thing the (tram) driver wants to do is get in that traffic,” CRA member Ed Chiles added.
The Old Town Trams operate seven days a week. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Perry asked LaRose what else can be done to encourage people to utilize the Cortez Beach and Coquina Beach parking spaces as originally intended.
LaRose said he could conduct a test run in late April or early May with one of the two carts only traveling between Bridge Street and the beach parking areas. The operating hours have been added to banners that promote the free service and he suggested placing another banner at or near Coquina Beach.
He also said digital QR codes have been created to share with the businesses in the CRA district. Accessed by cell phone, the QR codes will provide instant information about the tram service and how to hail a ride. To request a ride, call 941-404-6240.
The Old Town Trams operate daily between the Cortez Bridge and Coquina Beach from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5-10 p.m.
BRADENTON BEACH – It was a terrifying ordeal for Louise Augustin and her three young children after a drive to Coquina Beach quickly turned into an armed carjacking.
The mother and her three children were sitting in her car when a man armed with a knife approached the vehicle and demanded the keys.
The suspect, later identified as Bradenton resident Steven Lewter, 43, got in the car with his belongings while waving a knife, according to the police report. He attempted to drive away but realized that Augustin didn’t have the car keys, which were with her husband, who had already left the car. The three children were still in the back seat, causing the victim to fear for her family’s life. According to the victim’s statement to Bradenton Beach police, she began screaming and the suspect took off running.
Further down the road, Lewter approached a second victim, Zachary Peel, as he was sitting alone in his car on Coquina Beach. Lewter allegedly pointed his knife at Peel and said, “This is a carjacking” while trying to pull the vehicle’s door open. According to police, Peel got out of the car and prepared to defend himself at which time Lewter swung the knife at him, cutting Peel’s finger in the process. Peel was able to subdue Lewter until officers arrived and took him into custody. The cut on Peel’s hand was minor and didn’t require medical attention.
Coquina Beach, the scene of the recent attempted carjacking.
According to Bradenton Beach Det. Sgt. Lenard Diaz, the suspect appeared to be intoxicated at the time of his arrest and was upset about going through a break-up with his girlfriend.
“We’re really not sure what the motivation was to steal the car, where he was going to go with it, or anything like that,” said Diaz.
Lewter has an extensive criminal record and was on probation at the time of the crime, according to police. Because of the severity of the crimes and the probation violations, he is being held at the Manatee County Jail without bond pending his trial. Lewter has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery, assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill and two counts of carjacking with a weapon. His trial is set for Oct. 25 with Judge Frederick Mercurio presiding.
Diaz said this was the first carjacking since a man jacked a Corvette about five years ago, crashing it moments later on the Longboat drawbridge. While incidents such as these are rare on Anna Maria Island, police remind everyone to be aware of their surroundings and remember that anywhere a great number of relaxed tourists are present, there is always the possibility of criminals taking advantage of people letting their guard down.
COQUINA BEACH – If you head to Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach, you may be surprised to find something entirely different than the lifeguard towers you’re used to seeing on American beaches.
For decades, there has been little change to the traditional lifeguard tower. A simple structure elevated around 14 feet from the beach surface with an observation deck and a couple of windows overlooking the beachfront on which the guard or guards inside are tasked with keeping safe. If you’ve ever seen an episode of Baywatch, that’s pretty much the industry standard in the United States. A good view of beachgoers, a place to store lifesaving gear, and a bit of shade for lifeguards.
After recently being invited to tour lifeguard tower #9 on Coquina Beach, it’s evident the 21st century has made its mark on beach safety. This is not a 14-foot observation post. Instead, the tower rises more than 25 feet above the white sand of Coquina Beach and features technology that not only makes the beach safer but also more efficient.
Manatee County Beach Patrol Chief Joe Westerman was on hand to discuss what makes this beach state of the art in terms of safety and technology.
“Each one of our new lifeguard towers has a public address (PA) system that will make announcements to the entire beach,” Westerman said, explaining how the PA system makes the beach safer for the public. The system can send messages to entire zones such as all of Cortez Beach or all of Coquina Beach. It can also send individual messages from each lifeguard tower independently. This is useful for announcing dangers in the immediate area, such as rip currents or dangerous marine life.
Five prerecorded messages can be played at the push of a button. These include a welcome to the beach message, rip currents, missing or lost child, lightning, and a message letting beachgoers know the lifeguards are leaving for the day. Beach officials can also get on the system live and make any necessary announcement as a situation arises. Westerman said this has been very effective in reuniting lost children that have wandered away from their families to be quickly reunited. Any beach official can simply get on their handheld radio and connect to the towers and call for the parents.
Anyone who’s spent a summer in southwest Florida knows that lightning is an almost daily event, and this area is often referred to as the lightning capital of America. Storms will suddenly pop up on a beautiful sunny summer day and offer little time for beachgoers to pack up and leave the beach before heavy rain and extreme lightning begin. Simply put; lightning is dangerous. Knowing the seriousness of lightning strikes on the Island, the new lifeguard towers have been equipped with lightning suppression systems.
“It blocks the area of lightning, to not be able to strike. It breaks up the ions between the cloud and the ground.” Said Westerman, pointing to the top of the tower’s flagpole where the suppressors are located. Incredibly, each one of these has a 300-meter range on the large towers. That’s three football field lengths in every direction from each tower. The smaller lifeguard towers have a smaller unit mounted that still offers an impressive 25-meter range of protection.
“It’s based off a Tesla concept,” said Westerman, who stressed the importance of not only protecting the public but also the guards. Lifeguards stay on duty during inclement weather and are subject to risks involved with serious summer lightning storms that can see hundreds of strikes during a single meteorological event.
Regardless of this new technology, Westerman said nothing is a guarantee. The weather will always surprise us and often doesn’t follow the rules. If you are on the beach and severe weather is coming, get off the beach and seek shelter indoors. While safety nets are great, nobody would recommend you rely on them to continue your day as if nothing were happening. “If the thunder roars, stay indoors” is a great reminder of just how serious Florida storms can be. If you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning, even if it seems to be miles off in the distance. A few simple precautions will ensure many more days on the sunny beaches of Anna Maria Island.
COQUINA BEACH – This weekend marks the start of the busy holiday beach season that runs through Memorial Day weekend, and local public safety agencies say they are ready.
Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies held a press conference on March 29 to discuss the measures they will take to keep the public safe.
Beach patrol, law enforcement and EMS will be facing new and unique challenges this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur said.
“It’s critical for Manatee County to work in unison with our Island partners and local law enforcement agencies to keep all beachgoers safe so that they have a safe place to enjoy this Island and this community while they’re on break or taking some much-needed downtime from their hectic schedules,” Saur said, reminding residents to expect large crowds during this busy season.
Manatee County Beach Patrol Chief Joe Westerman spoke about the challenges facing lifeguards and first responders as the busy spring and summer holiday season begins.
“We ask a few things of everyone that comes out here. One is to always swim in front of a lifeguard, and check with your lifeguard about what the surf and beach conditions are that day. Also, there is no alcohol allowed on any of our beaches. Also, this isn’t a place to bring pets, we don’t allow any pets on our beaches unless it’s a service animal,” Westerman said, adding that a little planning ahead of time will make for a successful day at the beach.
It takes coordination between multiple agencies to keep the public safe at area beaches. Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer said 13 different agencies or departments are working together, including all law enforcement agencies on the Island, EMS, Code Enforcement, Property Management and Public Works. Litschauer said communication is essential, and the fact that all 13 agencies are able to communicate effectively is a key factor in the event of an emergency.
Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer took to the podium to reiterate the Island’s zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol on the beach.
“No alcohol, no pets, no glass bottles, no fires and no grills unless you’re in a grilling area that’s assigned. It’s important to remember that you’re vacationing in a residential area, so keep the noise down to a respectable level, and remember that we still have a mask order in place and social distancing,” Tokajer said, stressing that these laws would be enforced. Tokajer also said that anyone caught drinking alcohol would be issued a fine, and anyone underage caught consuming alcohol would be removed from the beach and their parents would be contacted, regardless of their location.
Chief Tokajer also shared some numbers on just how busy the spring season has been so far this year.
“Between March 1st and March 26th, we have had 650,000 vehicles come to Holmes Beach alone, which is 24,700 cars a day. We have limited parking, so if you want a space, you should come early.”
Parking can often be an issue during the busy spring season, but Longboat Key Police Lieutenant Chris Skinner said his department, as well as others, would strictly enforce parking regulations, and if you park outside designated areas, you should expect a citation. Skinner said his department will increase patrol not only on the streets, but on the beaches as well during this busy season.
Almost exactly a year ago, the agencies were working together to close the beaches because they didn’t know what to expect from the pandemic. Now the same agencies are once again working together to prepare for what will likely be larger-than-normal crowds at area beaches. As more and more people are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and positivity numbers continue to slowly go down, many have their eyes on Gulf beaches for a much-needed getaway. It’s important to remember, however, that COVID-19 is still a genuine threat, and if you can’t social distance – or wish to visit businesses on the Island – masks are still required.
MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County has a FEMA-funded, county-managed beach renourishment project planned for Coquina Beach in early 2021.
The county is also partnering with the Town of Longboat Key on a beach renourishment project that includes the construction of five permeable rock groins.
The Town of Longboat Key also plans to conduct an emergency dredging operation on Greer Island, also known as Beer Can Island, at the northern tip of the key.
These projects were presented and discussed at the Tuesday, Dec. 15 Manatee County Commission meeting.
Coquina Beach renourishment
Tom Pierro, principal engineer with Coastal Planning and Engineering, presented the county’s Coquina Beach renourishment plan.
The county-owned beach is located in Bradenton Beach at the southern end of Anna Maria Island. Pierro said the Coquina Beach renourishment project pertains to a mile-and-a-half stretch of beach in that area.
Pierro said the beach area is managed locally by the county and does not contain the required infrastructure elements to have been included in the recently-completed Anna Maria Island beach renourishment project that received significant federal funding.
Pierro said the beach sand lost during Hurricane Hermine in 2016 and Hurricane Irma in 2017 qualified the Coquina Beach renourishment project for FEMA funds.
About 200,000 cubic yards of sand can be removed from Longboat Pass, he said, adding that the county plans to use about 70,000 cubic yards of that available sand for the Coquina Beach renourishment project. He said the rest could possibly be made available to the Town of Longboat Key to renourish the beach at the end of Gulfside Road.
Pierro estimated the Coquina Beach renourishment project will cost approximately $3 million. He said the project plans are complete, and expects the contract to be awarded in January and the work to begin in February or March. Pierro said the project must be completed by the end of May to preserve the FEMA funds.
Greer Island dredging
Representing the Town of Longboat Key, Senior Project Manager Charlie Mopps presented the Greer Island emergency dredging plan.
Mopps said the purpose of the dredging operation is to improve and restore boat and kayak access to Greer Island lagoon near the Longboat Pass Bridge. Mopps said the emergency dredging project calls for the removal of about 1,000 cubic yards of sand in a 30-foot stretch of the lagoon.
The Greer Island lagoon will be dredged to improve accessibility for boaters and kayakers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mopps said the dredging contract has been awarded to Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift. The dredging project is expected to begin soon and take only a few days to complete once started. Mopps said the sand removed from the lagoon will be stored for later use with the Longboat Key beach renourishment project.
This photographic comparison illustrates how the Greer Island channel opening has narrowed over the past two decades. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Beach renourishment and groins
On behalf of the Town of Longboat Key, Al Browder, vice president of the Olsen Associates firm, provided county commissioners with an overview of the Longboat Key beach renourishment project.
The project is divided into three segments. Occurring first, segment 1 will include the north end of the key and Greer Island. The segment 1 plans call for the installation of five permeable groins and the addition of approximately 200,000 cubic yards of beach sand.
Browder said the beach renourishment sand will come from the town’s permitted borrow areas more than a mile offshore of Passage Key.
Browder said the low-crested permeable rock groins will complement two existing concrete groins located near the street end at North Shore Road. He said the goal is to slow the rate of sand flow and erosion in that area.
The existing concrete groins near the north end of Longboat Key will be joined by five new permeable rock groins.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The purpose here is to maintain sandy beach conditions along the Gulf. It has been a running battle to protect the north tip of Longboat Key and maintain the recreational value and the environmental habitat in the lagoon itself,” Browder said.
Browder said the segment 1 project is anticipated to start in February or March and take about 180 days to complete. When the segment 1 work is complete, some additional dune vegetation and mangrove restoration will take place along the Greer Island lagoon.
The segment 2 plan calls for 350,000 cubic yards of beach sand to be placed in the center section of the key’s Gulfside beach areas.
Listed in the Town of Longboat Key’s presentation as optional and dependent on available funds, the segment 3 plans call for 160,000 cubic yards of beach sand to potentially be placed at the south end of the key.
These discussions resulted in the county commission authorizing the county administrator to execute an interlocal agreement with the Town of Longboat Key that provides $2.69 million as the county’s contribution to the town’s renourishment project.
The accompanying adoption of Resolution 20-199 authorized a short-term loan not to exceed $1.99 million from the county’s general fund to its beach erosion control fund. The remaining $700,000 of the county’s contribution to the town project will come from the county’s beach renourishment reserve fund.
The commission also approved the town’s request for the easements needed for groin installations.
BRADENTON BEACH – The parking tram pilot program in Bradenton Beach is expected to begin service on Sunday, Nov. 1.
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) members unanimously approved a one-year contract on Wednesday, Sept. 2 with Easy Parking Group owner Joshua LaRose, who in June was selected as the CRA’s top choice over two other bidders.
Easy Parking Group already provides daily tram service for the Daiquiri Deck and the Bridge Street Bazaar businesses that operate in the building owned by CRA member and City Commissioner Jake Spooner.
Utilizing two electric, golf-cart-like trams, the pilot program will be funded by the CRA. The trams will be owned, operated, maintained and insured by the Easy Parking Group and one of the trams will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The rides will be free for passengers, but tram drivers will gladly accept tips.
The one-year contract provides LaRose with exclusive rights for five one-year renewals.
When service begins, the trams will provide park-and-ride shuttle services in and around the CRA district that extends from the Cortez Bridge to Fifth Street South. The county-owned parking spaces at Cortez Beach – along Gulf Drive and south of Bridge Street – will be among the locations where motorists can park for free and catch a free ride to various destinations in and around the CRA district. The county-owned parking spaces further south at Coquina Beach may also be used.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry said there’s “absolutely no need to go to the county” regarding the use of the county-owned beach parking spaces currently used by Island residents, county residents, non-residents, the Monkey Bus and others. Perry said there’s nothing that prohibits or prevents the CRA from running trams to those public parking areas.
The city-owned parking lot behind the BridgeWalk resort and the city lot next to the public works department building may also serve as park-and-ride destinations, as could the after-hours parking spaces at city hall.
The trams will also provide park-and-ride service to employees who work in and around the CRA district.
“It will move them to the Coquina and Cortez beach areas if the owners of the establishments tell their people they need to park elsewhere and open up more spaces closer to the businesses we have in the Bridge Street/CRA area,” CRA member and Mayor John Chappie said.
Tram routing
The initial tram plans envisioned trams running back and forth between Cortez Beach and the public works parking lot, using Fifth Street South, Bay Drive South, Church Street North, First Street North and Bridge Street as the proposed travel routes.
This led to some public resistance from residents who live along Fifth Street South and Bay Drive South, which led to additional CRA discussions about potentially using a route that relies more on Gulf Drive and Bridge Street.
The initial tram route was proposed to the follow the route highlighted in red, with Cortez Beach shown to the right. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted
During Wednesday’s meeting, resident Terry Gephardt again expressed her concerns about the potential tram route.
“I want to make the same comment I’ve made all along: Please do not run the tram down Fifth Street South. We are a neighborhood. We want to be a community, we don’t want to be a commercial endeavor,” she said.
The exact tram routes and operating hours will be subject to ongoing review and revision.
“This is a pilot project. We need to decide where it runs, where it will be best suited, how often it will be used and what the peak seasonal needs and demands are,” Perry said.
Chappie also addressed the routing concerns.
“The routing is going to be flexible. I’ve heard what the concerns are on Fifth Street and there’s a lot of good points there. I think we need to look at these other areas, along with the Fifth Street area. I think we need to move forward with it and see how this shakes out,” Chappie said.
Perry said LaRose is willing to treat the pilot program as a fluid situation as long as the CRA commits to two trams.
The contract calls for LaRose to provide the CRA with ridership and route data that can be used to continually evaluate the program’s impact and success.
That data may also be used to support the CRA’s potential future efforts to install a dedicated tram path in the Cortez Beach parking area, running parallel to Gulf Drive. City Engineer Lynn Burnett has already discussed with county staff the possibility of a tram path and reconfiguring the Cortez Beach parking lots using diagonal parking and ropes and bollards to separate the parking areas from the tram path.
Anticipated costs
Perry said the trams will run seven days a week, 365 days a year and the initial hours of operation will be Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The city’s contract with the Easy Parking Group is based on daily rates. Perry said the rates will be $155 per day for the regular shuttle cart and $165 per day for the ADA-compliant cart. This equates to $320 per day, approximately $9,731 per month and $116,800 per year.
As he has done during previous discussions, CRA Chair Ralph Cole again expressed concerns about dedicating more than $100,000 per year in annual CRA revenues to a parking tram program. In recent years, CRA’s annual tax revenues have averaged between $500,000 and $600,000, according to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson.
During Wednesday’s meeting, Cole questioned whether the proposed annual tram expenditure might be better used to pursue other CRA projects instead, including the additional undergrounding of utility lines. Despite his reservations, Cole agreed to give the pilot program a try.
Tram-based advertising opportunities are expected to help offset the CRA’s tram expenditures. – Easy Parking Group | Submitted
Perry said advertising revenue generated by signs affixed to the trams would help offset some of the CRA expenses. Perry said the ad revenues will be noted on the monthly invoices and deducted from the CRA’s monthly payments to the Easy Parking Group. Perry said she’s already been contacted by six business owners interested in advertising.
“If the pilot program’s not successful, we can cancel it. If we decide we can’t appropriate the funds for it, we can get out of it,” Perry said.
Additional comments
Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the road construction taking place in and around the CRA district, member David Bell questioned whether Nov. 1 was the best time to launch the program and begin collecting ridership data.
CRA member and Beach House restaurant owner Ed Chiles said, “It seems like we’re on the precipice here of success, and that gives me goosebumps. We’ve been working on this for years and years.”
Bridge Street will be a primary destination for the CRA parking trams when service begins. – Easy Parking Group | Submitted
Chiles noted parking has historically been the biggest problem in the Bradenton Beach business district.
“I think it’s a great overall Bradenton Beach project. We’re going to have something fresh and new as we hopefully come out of this pandemic. I think it’s universally supported by the businesses. Ricinda, thank you for your perseverance. It looks like we’re about to make this thing happen,” Chiles said.
BRADENTON BEACH – Folks flocked to Bradenton Beach and the south end of Anna Maria Island to celebrate the Fourth of July.
At 9:30 a.m., a short line of vehicles towing personal watercraft and boats waited to put in at the Coquina South boat ramp. The recently fire-damaged dock along the north side of the ramp was closed but the ramp itself remains open. In orderly fashion, boats, personal watercraft and kayaks entered and exited the water as a sunny Saturday morning unfolded.
Several personal watercraft entered the water at the Coquina South boat ramp. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At the south end of the Coquina South boat ramp property, families and friends set up tents along the Sarasota Bay/Intracoastal Waterway shoreline, while others enjoyed the solitude of fishing from the seawall near the Longboat Pass Bridge.
By 10 a.m., the South Coquina boat ramp parking lot was nearly full, as was the North Coquina boat ramp just up the street.
These Coquina Beach beachgoers kept closer company than others. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Across the street at Coquina Gulfside Beach, beachgoers were setting up tents and settling in for a day at the beach. Social distancing was practiced to varying degrees. Some groups and individuals maintained greater distances and others preferred to be in closer proximity to one another.
Social distancing was possible at Coquina Beach and practiced by many. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Just offshore, a pair of parasailers took to the sky and a Coast Guard plane flew along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Under the shade of the Australian pines, several groups gathered with family and friends for Fourth of July picnics.
Parasails and personal watercraft dotted the Coquina Beach shoreline. – Joe Hendricks | SunThis trio found solace in the shallow water at Coquina Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
To the east, several boats gathered offshore of Jewfish Key, with several boats flying American flags in honor of Independence Day. Other boaters preferred to beach their boats at nearby Beer Can Island.
The sandbar off Jewfish Key was a popular Independence Day destination for boaters. – Joe Hendricks | SunSome boaters spent the day at Beer Can Island. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
To the north, the scene was similar on a smaller scale at Cortez Beach. Beachgoers and beach accessories lined the beach and sightseers and fishermen stood upon the nearby groin the extends out into the Gulf of Mexico.
Holiday beachgoers lined the Cortez Beach shoreline. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
A little further north, more beachgoers gathered near the Anna Maria Island Moose Lodge and the BeachHouse restaurant.
On Bridge Street, restaurant patrons enjoyed lunch and adult beverages, pedestrians walked the sidewalks, some wearing masks and some not, shoppers perused the retail shops and the Drift In bar was open for takeout and package service only in accordance with the governor’s current restrictions.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar shuttle driver Harry Miller and his dog Tully enjoyed a day off on Bridge Street. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At 12:30 p.m., a trio of tow trucks passed by Cortez headed south, possibly awaiting calls for their services as legal parking spaces became more difficult to find.
BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County commissioners have approved the phase two Coquina Beach drainage improvement plans that call for the removal of 87 additional Australian pine trees.
Native trees will be planted on a one-to-one ratio as replacements for the removed Australian pines, as was the case with phase one of the county project, and in accordance with the city of Bradenton Beach’s land development code. The replacement trees will consist of shady lady black olive trees, gumbo limbos and green buttonwoods.
The replacement trees for the 103 Australian pines removed from the south end of the beach parking lot during the phase one project last year were planted last week.
The new phase one replacement trees were planted at Coquina Beach last week. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Public Works Project Manager Michael Sturm presented the phase two plans to county commissioners on Tuesday, June 16.
The phase two drainage and parking improvements will take place in the center and north parking areas of the county-owned beach in Bradenton Beach. The drainage improvements will include new stormwater pipes and paving the remaining unpaved parking areas with pervious pavement that allows rainwater to drain through it.
The map illustrates where the phase two drainage improvements will be made. – Manatee County | Submitted
Sturm’s presentation noted the completion of phase two would result in more than 900 striped and paved parking spaces at Coquina Beach. Approximately 700 of those paved parking spaces will be created in phase two. Sturm’s presentation notes the previous number of parking spaces was unknown because there was no formal layout for the unpaved spaces.
The estimated phase one cost was $3.36 million. The estimated phase two cost is $3.62 million.
Commission feedback
Holmes Beach resident and County Commissioner Carol Whitmore voiced the only opposition to the phase two plans.
“Now’s probably not even a good time for this to be coming up,” she said in reference to other parking issues that have surfaced on Anna Maria Island.
“Use that $3.6 million on something else we desperately need,” she said.
Commissioner Misty Servia felt differently.
“I am excited about the phase two project, especially when we consider the lack of parking out on the Island. The removal of the Australian pines in favor of native trees that are going to provide shade and canopy to the beach area is a great thing in my opinion. I am ready to make the motion for approval,” she said.
Commissioner Steve Jonsson seconded Servia’s motion and said, “I was certainly in favor of doing phase one first and seeing how that came out. I was out the visiting the site three weeks ago and it came out really well. It was a huge improvement.”
Jonsson said he was skeptical at first of the pervious pavement but seeing the phase one improvements changed his mind.
“I’m looking forward to getting the second phase done. We’ll have those 900 spaces,” he said.
This is an aerial view of the completed phase one drainage improvements. – Manatee County | Submitted
Commissioner Vanessa Baugh referenced a summary of facts included in Sturm’s presentation.
“Originally there were 990-plus Australian pines. In phase one, we only removed 103 of those 990-plus. Then in phase two it would be 87,” she noted.
Commission Chair Betsy Benac asked Sturm if the phase one and phase two improvements would produce more usable parking spaces at Coquina Beach. Sturm said they would.
Benac asked if the Australian pines along the multi-use path would remain in place. Sturm said they would.
Benac said she has not received any negative feedback since the phase one tree removals occurred and the phase one work ensued, and during Tuesday’s meeting, no one provided public comment on the matter.
“I am going to support this due to the fact that we’re going to have more usable spaces with these improvements,” Benac said.
Benac noted the paved parking spaces will provide beach access for all Manatee County residents and visitors.
“I think that’s a good thing,” she said.
The commission voted 6-1 in favor of moving forward with phase two, with Whitmore casting the only opposition vote.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach and Manatee Beach are open again.
By order of the Manatee County Commission, the county beaches and beach parking lots on Anna Maria Island reopened at 10 a.m. this morning.
Public Safety Director Jake Saur closed the county beaches and beach parking lots on March 20 in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But the beaches were never totally off-limits to Island residents, vacationers and those who found parking spaces.
The Bridge Street Bazaar in Bradenton Beach reopened with new plexiglass shields to protect the employees. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Monday also marked the return of outdoor dining, with tables spaced at least 6 feet apart and indoor dining at 25% capacity according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ phase one reopening plans, which took effect Monday.
These masked friends from Tampa – Caroline, Abby and Lesley – enjoyed lunch at Ginny’s and Jane E’s in Anna Maria on Monday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Many of the Island’s retail businesses also reopened Monday in accordance with the 25% capacity set forth in DeSantis’ executive order.
The Ugly Grouper in Holmes Beach was open for lunch on Monday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The entryways to Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach and Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach are now staffed by county workers who hand drivers 5 by 7 cards with COVID-19 safety tips on one side and the handwritten date and arrival time on the other.
The dashboard cards provide county code enforcement officers the information they need to issue $25 parking citations to those who linger too long – with no tires chalked.
“If you’re away from people and keeping your distance, you can be out in the open air enjoying the sunshine, water and sand.” – Tina Miller, Bradenton resident
“Our goal today is to be courteous and helpful to the people who want to enjoy the beach,” Manatee County Code Enforcement Officer Zach Stiscak said, noting the goal is to educate beachgoers, not ticket them.
Construction projects at Manatee Beach and Coquina Beach have reduced parking capacity at both beaches. When a parking lot becomes full, entry will be delayed until cars leave and make room for others.
The main entrance at Coquina Beach is open. Drivers can also pull through the Coquina South boat ramp parking lot and under the Longboat Pass Bridge to access the south parking lot.
The beach restrooms are open, but the concession stands are not.
With no gated entryways, enforcement of the two-hour parking limit at Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach was minimal.
The parking lot at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria remains closed.
Back to the beach
Amanda Daughtry and her two sons were among the first to arrive at Manatee Beach Monday morning.
“We are out of the house and so excited,” she said, noting she didn’t think their beach visit would expose them to greater risk.
Bradenton resident Tina Miller sat on the beach with two friends from Michigan.
“Opening the largest playground in Manatee County for large gatherings sends the wrong message.” – Bill Tokajer, Holmes Beach Police Chief
“I am so happy they reopened the beaches. If you’re away from people and keeping your distance, you can be out in the open air enjoying the sunshine, water and sand. Thank you, Manatee County,” Miller said.
Manatee Beach was busy but not packed, and for the most part beachgoers practiced social distancing. The same was true at Cortez Beach and at Coquina Beach, where Bradenton residents Judy and Dennis Schultz enjoyed beach time with seasonal Cortez residents Deb and Bob Bates.
“We missed it a lot,” Judy Schultz said.
“We’re snowbirds and we haven’t been able to come to the beach. I’m thrilled that I get to spend a couple days here before we go back to Michigan,” Deb Bates said.
Police perspective
The Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach police departments are not assisting with the enforcement of the two-hour parking rule. And Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer doesn’t think the beaches should be open yet.
Tokajer said that message was conveyed to county commissioners last week before they made their decision.
“Opening the largest playground in Manatee County for large gatherings sends the wrong message. The commissioners need to listen to the medical professionals who are telling everybody the numbers in Manatee County are still too high. Opening the beach indicates the virus is over and everything’s OK, but there’s still the opportunity for this virus to be spread to our workers at Publix, CVS, Walgreens and at our restaurants. That puts our residents, workers and officers in harm’s way.
“Holmes Beach will continue to have no parking on our streets, right of ways and beach accesses and violators will be ticketed and possibly towed,” Tokajer said.
Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale is concerned about the lack of parking at Coquina Beach.
“You’re going to get people from across the state who decide to go to the beach and they’re going to get here and find out there’s no parking because of the construction,” Speciale said.
Lt. John Cosby said, “People are ready to get out, they’re tired of being locked down. But the more people that come out, the more interaction they’ll have with all the Island’s law enforcement officers, and that puts our people at risk,” Cosby said.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County’s public beaches will reopen Monday morning.
During today’s emergency county commission meeting, Manatee County Commissioners voted 7-0 in favor of reopening the county beaches on Monday, May 4.
The commission decision means Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach and Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach will reopen Monday morning. It also means the public beach parking lots that were closed on March 20 will be reopened Monday morning.
Parking at the public beaches will be limited to two hours. County Administrator Cheri Coryea said some portions of the beach parking lots will remain closed to limit the number of available parking spaces.
Local law enforcement and county code enforcement officers will have the authority and the ability to issue parking citations to those who extend their beach stays beyond two hours.
Coolers, umbrellas, beach chairs and items of that nature will be allowed. Social distancing guidelines are to be maintained and the public restrooms will be open.
The opening of the beach concession stands will depend on what Gov. Ron DeSantis has in mind for Florida restaurants. His executive order limiting restaurants to takeout and delivery service only expires on Thursday. DeSantis is expected to announce his reopening plans on Wednesday.
During the commission meeting, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie sent Commissioner Carol Whitmore an email expressing his concerns about enforcing the two-hour parking limit. Chappie questioned the demands the two-hour limit will place on the Bradenton Beach Police Department and law enforcement officers.
Coryea said she and her administration would be working out additional details on Wednesday.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County’s public beaches on Anna Maria Island are closed until further notice as of Friday, March 20.
Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach March 21-22. - Troy Morgan | PhotosFromTheAir.com
Bean Point in Anna Maria March 21-22. - Troy Morgan | PhotosFromTheAir.com
Anna Maria beach March 21-22. - Troy Morgan | PhotosFromTheAir.com
Bradenton Beach March 21-22. - Troy Morgan | PhotosFromTheAir.com
Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach March 21-22. - Troy Morgan | PhotosFromTheAir.com
Anna Maria Island beaches March 21-22. - Troy Morgan | PhotosFromTheAir.com
Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach March 21-22. - Troy Morgan | PhotosFromTheAir.com
The beach closures are a precautionary measure being taken because of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Thursday, March 19, Manatee County issued a press release that said, “County and municipal officials today announced that the beaches of Anna Maria Island will close tomorrow, March 20, at 6 a.m.”
“Resort guests, those who live on the Island and those who can find a legal public parking space outside of those areas that are closed will still have access to the beach at this time. We still want you to keep the six-foot distance and no groups larger than 10.” – Lt. John Cosby, BBPD
The press release also said, “Manatee County lifeguards will remain on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily to ensure the safety of those who disregard the closure. A double red flag indicating no swimming will fly from lifeguard stands.”
The gates at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach remain locked. – Joe Hendricks
The county-owned parking lots at Coquina Beach and Cortez Beach in Bradenton Beach closed Friday morning as announced. So did the parking lot at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach. The gates at Coquina Beach and Manatee Beach are locked and signs affixed to the gates say, “Beach closed.”
The ungated Cortez Beach parking areas along Gulf Drive South are closed and blocked by barricades, plastic tape and “Beach closed” signs.
The Cortez Beach parking lots in Bradenton Beach are closed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Intended enforcement
Thursday afternoon, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer issued a press release in response to the county’s announcement.
“The Holmes Beach Police Department and Code Compliance Department are enforcing this policy by eliminating public parking. We will continue to proactively patrol the beach to be sure our residents and guests are following the guidance of social distancing. Many additional parking areas will be changed to no parking zones. The enforcement guidelines will change based on the daily observations,” according to Tokajer’s press release.
These Bradenton Beach police officers were stationed at the main Coquina Beach entrance Friday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Lt. John Cosby, of the Bradenton Beach Police Department, said, “Resort guests, those who live on the Island and those who can find a legal public parking space outside of those areas that are closed will still have access to the beach at this time. We still want you to keep the six-foot distance and no groups larger than 10.”
Cosby and Tokajer said they had no plans to close the street-end beach accesses.
The beach accesses in Holmes Beach remain open. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On Friday morning, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy issued an email addressing the city of Anna Maria’s beach closures.
“Although our beaches remain closed to the general public, they are open to residents and their guests while practicing safe social distancing. There are sheriff deputies as well as city and county code enforcement officers posted at many beach access points to enforce and clarify this position,” according to Murphy’s email.
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells addressed the beach closures during a county press conference Friday afternoon.
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said law enforcement does not want to arrest people who enter the closed beaches. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“First and foremost, I want to assure the citizens of Manatee County that we are not out on the beaches trying to arrest people who do show up there and maybe have not received the message. We are asking for voluntary compliance. We are not there trying to incarcerate people for walking on the beach. That is not the goal,” Wells said.
When asked for further clarification on the extent of the beach closures, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Nick Azzara said, “In the announcement we sent yesterday, when we closed the beaches, we tried to make clear that this was largely a self-policing exercise and that we were relying on our residents and visitors to make a good faith effort in heeding those warnings. We’re asking people to avoid the beaches.”
Manatee County Public Safety Director Jake Saur said there were no plans to close the county boat ramps.
The parking lots at the Coquina boat ramps are supposed to be used by boaters only. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Tour of the beaches
The Sun made a tour of the Island beaches on Friday.
At Coquina Beach late Friday morning, two officers and two vehicles from the Bradenton Beach Police Department were stationed at the main entrance where the gate was open so the free Island trolley could continue making its regular stops.
The beach concession stand was closed and there were only two people walking the shoreline of the otherwise empty beach.
Across the street, the North and South Coquina boat ramps were open to boaters. Manatee Beach Patrol personnel were stationed at the entrances to both boat ramp parking lots and they turned away those who sought to park there for non-boating purposes.
To the north along Cortez Beach, there were people on the beach, but not in large numbers.
The beach between the Moose Lodge and the BeachHouse restaurant in Bradenton Beach had a moderate number of beachgoers. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Slightly north of that, there were people on the beach between the Moose Lodge and the BeachHouse restaurant, some in the water.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., there were fewer than a dozen people at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach and the central part of the beach was empty. The beach areas south of Manatee Beach were much busier.
The central section of Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach was empty Friday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Because of the executive order that Gov. Ron DeSantis issued Friday afternoon limiting Florida restaurants to takeout service only, the tiki bar was already closed. The AMI Beach Café and gift shop closed later that day and remains closed until further notice.
Two blocks north of Manatee Beach, the 45th Street beach access was open as usual. There were people on the beach, but not in large numbers. The beach areas north of the 45th Street beach access were much busier.
The beach north of the 45th Street beach access in Holmes Beach was very busy Friday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Those entering the city of Anna Maria at the north end of the Island are now greeted by a digital sign that says, “Beaches closed.” A similar sign stands near the new City Pier.
The Bayfront Park parking lot is closed and blocked by “Beach closed” signs and plastic tape.
There are two new mounted “Beach closed” signs at the entrance to the North Bay Boulevard beach access that leads to Bean Point.
“Beach closed” signs are now posted at beach accesses in Anna Maria.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy told The Sun he plans to add additional signs that say, “Residents only.” He said city residents may be asked to provide identification and rental guests may be asked to show proof of rental when accessing Anna Maria’s beaches.
Vacationing Wisconsin residents Mary and Ralph Cornell were parking their bikes by the dune walkover before taking a walk on the Bean Point beach.
Wisconsin residents Ralph and Mary Cornell want to continue visiting the beaches while vacationing in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding the beach closings, Mary Cornell said, “I think it’s the wise thing to do. They’re just trying to keep the number of people down, but it allows the local residents and people like us who stay for a long period of time to walk the beach. We don’t gather in big groups. We just want to be able to see the beach and the sunsets. You have great sunsets here and we really don’t want to miss those.”
There were about 20 people on that stretch of the Bean Point beach, including a few families.
These folks enjoyed the beach at Bean Point Friday late Friday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Just after sunset, there were still many cars parked at the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue despite the presence of several “Beach closed” signs.
At 10:30 Saturday morning, an occupied police car from the Bradenton Police Department was parked at the east end of the non-barricaded causeway parking area. There was no one on the beach and no other cars parked on either side of the causeway.
The Bradenton Police Department patrolled the causeway beaches on Saturday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When contacted Saturday afternoon, Lt. Cosby said everything was going fine and they had not had any problems.
