ANNA MARIA – Duncan Real Estate and former mayor Dan Murphy are the city of Anna Maria’s Distinguished Citizens of the Year for 2024.
Murphy and Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan received the awards during the Feb. 13 city commission meeting. Other nominees were gRub Tropical BBQ owner Ben Sato for the free meals he provided during the hurricane recovery process and The Sun’s loveable cartoon character, Foster Dribbles.
The co-winners were determined by a three-member selection committee consisting of Jim Hall, Annamaria Laszlo and Warren Collins.
“It is an honor to present these awards today, and to Dan Murphy, thank you very much for your service,” Hall said when presenting Duncan and Murphy with their plaques.
Mayor Mark Short then read aloud one of the nomination forms received for Duncan Real Estate.
“Darcie Duncan and her team at Duncan Real Estate were instrumental in organizing and providing provisions and assistance following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The staff gave unselfishly of their time, energy and resources for relief efforts to the Island community. The team assisted with organizing, obtaining donations and serving to make the community Thanksgiving dinner (“Let’s Give Thanks Together”) a huge success. Staff continues to support community members as they rebuild and relocate, as well as welcoming new visitors and homeowners to the city of Anna Maria,” the nomination form said.
When accepting the award, Duncan said, “We wouldn’t have this award without my team, some of which are here. I wanted them here because it’s not about me, it’s about all of them.”
Duncan Real Estate was honored for its post-hurricane service to the community. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Duncan praised Murphy for guiding the city through the back-to-back hurricanes she described as the most challenging time the Island has faced during her lifetime.
“Dan Murphy is a rock star. You were an amazing leader through everything,” she said.
When reading aloud one of Murphy’s nomination forms, Short said, “Dan led the city through an unprecedented hurricane season. His quick action helped the city recover faster than any other affected municipality in the region. Dan paired quick action with his considerable experience as an executive to restore a sense of normalcy to the Island in the wake of the hurricanes.
“Through his leadership, the residents of the city were able to focus on the recovery while the city handled the difficult task of damage assessment, debris and building material removal and the restoration of city services. Dan’s commitment to the city over his 10 years of service has never been more on display than during this time of crisis. We all owe him a huge debt of gratitude. In his trademark humble form, Dan would say he was just doing his job, but he did it better than anyone, and it showed.”
Murphy mentioned the plaque hanging near the commission chamber doors that bears the names of the past Distinguished Citizen of the Year winners. He said it was humbling to be on the same plaque as former mayor Ernie Cagnini, past winners Ed Chiles, Pat Copeland, Doug Copeland, his own wife, Barbara, and many more individuals and organizations.
“It’s an honor to be considered in the same league with the people that have shaped this city,” he said.
Murphy praised Short for the hurricane preparation and recovery assistance he provided while serving as city commission chair before taking over as mayor in November.
“Mark and I were a team. Mark was always right there by my side and I could not have done that alone. And we had a remarkable staff. It was quite an ordeal,” Murphy said.
Short also presented Murphy with an encased United States flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. on Dec. 20 at the request of Sen. Rick Scott. The flag flew in honor of Murphy’s 80th birthday, his service to the city and his past service with the U.S. Army.
Mayor Mark Short, left, presented former mayor Dan Murphy with a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol in his honor. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It’s been an honor to work with you throughout your time as mayor and witness your selfless work to help families recover from unimaginable storms,” said the letter from Scott that accompanied the encased flag. The letter also notes Murphy received the Viet Nam Service Medal, two bronze stars and the Vietnam Campaign medal.
“You truly represent the best of what it means to be an American and a Floridian,” the letter says.
Mayor Dan Murphy, City Commission Chair Mark Short, General Manager Dean Jones and City Clerk LeAnne all played vital roles in the city of Anna Maria’s privately-contracted hurricane debris removal efforts that earned praise from residents and state officials. Agnelli’s Pools & Construction owner Frank Agnelli and his crew also played a significant role in the debris removal efforts.
Bayfront Park served as the city of Anna Maria’s debris collection and processing center. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
PIERS DAMAGED
Hurricane Helene badly damaged the Rod & Reel Pier’s wooden walkway. Hurricane Milton then finished the destruction of the iconic pier and restaurant/bar owned by Germany-based brewer and restaurateur Oliver Lemke, who hopes to rebuild the pier and restaurant. As of Dec. 27, the “Help Us Rebuild Rod and Reel Pier” GoFundMe page received $86,702 in donations.
This was all that was left of the Rod & Reel Pier after Hurricane Milton. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After Hurricane Milton, Ross Built Construction co-owner Lee Ross reunited United Kingdom residents Shira and David Schiller with a memorial plaque recovered from the pier wreckage. The plaque honors the Schiller’s deceased 10-year-old son, Max.
United Kingdom residents David and Shira Schiller were reunited with their son’s memorial plaque, which Hurricane Milton displaced from the Rod & Reel Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city-owned Anna Maria City Pier survived Hurricane Helene with minimal damage but Hurricane Milton then destroyed a 75- to 100-yard section of the pier walkway completed in 2020 as part of the pier replacement project necessitated by the pier damage that Hurricane Irma inflicted in 2017.
The Anna Maria City Pier walkway sustained heavy damage during Hurricane Milton. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe Anna Maria City Pier and pier buildings will remain closed until the needed repairs are completed.
The City Pier will remain closed until the repairs are completed. Mayor Dan Murphy initially estimated the repair costs might be in the $3 million range. In November, the city commission approved a $347,660 contract for the inspection, engineering, permitting and project oversight services to be provided by the George F. Young engineering firm. The city has not yet solicited bid proposals from contractors seeking the pier repair contract.
FERRY SERVICE
Manatee County’s Gulf Islands Ferry service began in January with stops at the Riverwalk Day Dock and the Anna Maria City Pier. Service to the Bradenton Beach Pier began in February.
In January, 8-year-old Marlon Haoui was the first Gulf Islands Ferry passenger to disembark on the Anna Maria City Pier, assisted by crew member Mike Pollard. – Joe Hendricks | SunManatee County had a temporary ferry landing installed near the hurricane-damaged Anna Maria City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After being disrupted by hurricanes Helene and Milton, ferry service between Bradenton and Bradenton Beach resumed on Nov. 1. Ferry service resumed at the recently installed temporary ferry landing near the hurricane-damaged City Pier on Dec 26.
RENTAL REGULATIONS OPPOSED
Assisted by a Tallahassee-based lobbyist, and using the city-owned Home Rule Florida website that generated more than 20,000 opposition letters and emails sent to state legislators and Gov. Ron DeSantis, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and City Clerk LeAnne Addy were at the forefront of the successful campaign waged statewide in opposition to the Florida Legislature’s latest attempt to preempt short-term vacation rental regulation to the state and strip Florida cities of their local regulatory rights. In late June, DeSantis vetoed the proposed vacation rental legislation.
Mayor Dan Murphy led the city of Anna Maria’s vacation rental legislation opposition campaign. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
COMMISSION RECONFIGURED
In January, Kathy Morgan-Johnson and Gary McMullen were appointed to fill two vacancies on the Anna Maria City Commission. In November, Dan Murphy ended his 10-year tenure as Anna Maria’s mayor.
Dan Murphy served five consecutive two-year terms as Anna Maria’s mayor. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After defeating former commissioner Brian Seymour in the mayoral election, former City Commission Chair Mark Short became Anna Maria’s new mayor. Running unopposed, McMullen and first-time candidate Chris Arendt also earned two-year terms in office.
Mark Short is Anna Maria’s new mayor. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In November, citing hurricane displacement, damage and a desire to leave the Island, Commissioner Jon Crane tendered his immediate resignation and vacated the remaining year of his current commission term. In late-December, Seymour and John Lynch submitted applications seeking the commission appointment to be made in early January.
MILLAGE REDUCED
In June, Mayor Dan Murphy proposed reducing the city of Anna Maria’s ad valorem property tax millage rate from 2.05 to 1.82 mills. When discussed again in late July, Murphy proposed lowering the millage rate to 1.75 mills. The city commission majority later adopted an even lower 1.65 millage rate – the largest known millage reduction to ever occur on Anna Maria Island, according to Murphy.
COMMISSION ACTIONS
In 2024, the Anna Maria City Commission supported allowing leashed dogs in City Pier Park (except during city-hosted special events), temporarily allowing business owners to use two sandwich boards signs and one flag or banner to promote their businesses during the ongoing hurricane recovery period, allowing three Anna Maria businesses to continue selling otherwise prohibited CBD and hemp products and supporting the yet-to-be-installed shade sails over the children’s playground at City Pier Park.
Dogs are now allowed in City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In response to concerns expressed by some business owners, the city commission in March pledged that the city would not impact the existing parking spaces along Gulf Drive by extending to the north the multi-use path that currently ends at Willow Avenue.
RESTAURANTS SOLD
In July, Ed Chiles sold his Sandbar, BeachHouse and Mar Vista restaurants to the Pinellas County-based Beachside Hospitality Group. The Manatee County Property Appraiser’s website lists the Daytona Beach-based Pine24 Oceanside SB LLC as the property owner for the Sandbar property in Anna Maria that sold for $16.4 million, the BeachHouse property in Bradenton Beach that sold for $9.6 million and the Mar Vista property in Longboat Key that sold for $5.4 million.
Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged the Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria, after it was sold earlier in the year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
OPPAGA STUDY
2024 came and went without Anna Maria Island officials and residents being provided copies of the OPPAGA consolidation study requested in late 2023 by state legislators Jim Boyd, Will Robinson Jr. and others.
PASSINGS
In March, Bradenton Beach and Pines Trailer Park resident Ellen Scott passed away at 85. In May, Holmes Beach resident and Nautilus condominium complex manager Fritz Dahlquist passed away at 70. In June, LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air co-founder Mike LaPensee passed away at 79. In August, former City Pier bait shop bartender and longtime Bradenton resident Brian Blaine passed away at 51. In May, drummer John “Duncan” Edgar passed away in his early 60s. In July, lead singer, lead guitarist and bass player Zack Yoder passed away at 32.
Mike LaPensee was among the notable Anna Maria Island community members who passed away in 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
BEYOND ANNA MARIA ISLAND…
COUNTY ELECTIONS
2,316 Manatee County voters switched their party affiliations to be eligible to vote in the Republican primary races that were decided in August. In the primary election, Island voters helped Tal Siddique defeat April Culbreath in the District 3 Manatee County Commission race. Island voters helped incumbent District 7 at-large County Commissioner George Kruse defeat then-District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge in the countywide District 7 race.
George Kruse, Tal Siddique and Scott Farrington won their primary and general election races. – George Kruse | Submitted
Island voters also helped former Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office Chief of Staff Scott Farrington defeat Gov. Ron. DeSantis’ appointee, James Satcher, in the supervisor of elections race. After his primary defeat, Satcher had four elections office employees terminated. In November, Siddique, Kruse and Farrington won their general election races.
SEWAGE DISCHARGES
In August, during and after Tropical Storm Debby, the city of Bradenton’s water reclamation facility discharged an estimated 25 million gallons of partially treated or raw sewage into the Manatee River. During that same period, the city of Sarasota discharged an estimated 18 million gallons of partially treated or raw sewage into Sarasota Bay.
The city of Bradenton’s water reclamation facility discharged millions of gallons of partially treated or untreated wastewater into the Manatee River in 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In November, the city of Bradenton Beach discharged an additional 825,000 gallons of partially treated or raw sewage into the Manatee River and 2,000 gallons of raw sewage into Wares Creek.
In November, a 66-year-old Bradenton man had his leg amputated after contracting vibrio vulnificus (flesh eating bacteria) while fishing in Sarasota Bay near the El Conquistador Parkway.
Throughout the year, the Florida Department of Health issued multiple no-swim advisories for the Palma Sola Causeway area in west Bradenton and the Bayfront Park area in Anna Maria.
FORM 6 CHALLENGED
In February, the South Florida-based Weiss Serota law firm filed federal and state lawsuits challenging a new Florida law that required Florida mayors and city commissioners to file Form 6 financial disclosure forms that include the disclosure of one’s net worth, tangible assets and debts. Mayors and city commissioners were previously required to file the less intrusive Form 1 disclosure form and approximately 100 city officials statewide resigned before the new law took effect on Jan. 1, 2024. In June, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction suspending the Form 6 disclosure requirements for mayors and city commissioners. As of Dec. 31, the Form 6 disclosure requirements remained suspended pending a final verdict.
ANNA MARIA – Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells and other members of the sheriff’s office expressed their appreciation for former Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and his 10 years in office.
During the Dec. 12 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Capt. Lou Licata presented Murphy with a plaque on Wells’ behalf, accompanied by Lt. John Belt and Sgt. Brett Getman from the sheriff’s office Anna Maria Unit.
“This is in recognition of Mayor Murphy’s service to the city of Anna Maria,” Getman said.
Licata then said, “We wanted to make sure you got the proper recognition that you deserve from the sheriff’s office. You’ve always been a huge advocate for us and for the unit out here. It doesn’t go unnoticed or unappreciated. I definitely appreciate it and I know Sgt. Getman does, as well as Lt. Belt and all the way up to the sheriff.”
Licata read aloud the inscription on the plaque presented to Murphy for his exemplary leadership that began in November 2014 and ended on Nov. 19.
“His commitment, vision and tireless support profoundly impacted our community,” the plaque says, noting Murphy’s partnership with the sheriff’s office strengthened public safety and created a safer city for its residents and visitors. The plaque expresses Wells’ and his office’s gratitude and offers best wishes for Murphy in his retirement.
“Thank you very much. I am enjoying my retirement. I’m honored that I received such a beautiful plaque,” Murphy said.
Murphy then thanked Mayor Mark Short and the reconfigured city commission for the farewell ceremony that took place on Nov. 19. Murphy couldn’t attend the ceremony because he was hospitalized at the time, but he was able to later watch it in its entirety via Facebook video. During the ceremony, Short proclaimed Dec. 20, 2024 (Murphy’s 80th birthday) to be “Mayor Dan Murphy Day” in Anna Maria.
“I emotionally probably couldn’t have handled it had I been here,” Murphy said. “But laying in that bed, I only could think of how grateful I was to have worked with each one of you and how much we accomplished over the years – you and the staff.”
Referencing the mythical King Arthur and his court while expressing gratitude for his own decade in office, Murphy said, “It was just remarkable. It was a piece of Camelot.”
Murphy mentioned the strong alliance the city and the sheriff’s office have forged during the many years the sheriff’s office has served as the city’s contracted law enforcement agency, which he noted was the only such alliance in Manatee County.
“It has worked so well and it’s proven itself time and time again,” Murphy said, noting the sheriff’s office helped the city through six hurricanes and a pandemic during his time as mayor.
He said contracting the sheriff’s office continues to be a cost-effective means to provide the city with a law enforcement agency that offers a wide array of services and resources.
“I hope you’re able to keep that alliance live and well,” he told the new mayor and commission.
In conclusion, Murphy said, “Without any further ado, I’m going to boogie out of here,” which he did, shaking hands with many in attendance as he exited the commission chambers.
ANNA MARIA – Newly-elected Mayor Mark Short presided over an emotional farewell ceremony for longtime Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy.
Due to a health issue, Murphy did not attend the ceremony that occurred during the city’s commission’s Nov. 19 swearing-in ceremony and organizational meeting.
Dan Murphy occupied the mayor’s seat for a decade. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy’s wife, Barb, read a statement from her husband that said, “I want to thank the residents of our beautiful city for giving me the privilege of serving as your mayor for 10 challenging years. I also give special thanks to my staff, the commission, the county and our state for your help through ‘thick and thin,’ six hurricanes and a pandemic. It has all been a rewarding experience. Thank you.”
Mayor Mark Short presided over the Nov. 19 farewell ceremony. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When he began the ceremony, Short said, “I’d like to start by thanking Dan for his 10 years of dedicated service. He always was there and it was always about what’s in the best interest of the city. And Barbara, I want to thank you for allowing him to do that.”
He also said, “It’s not often that someone who’s over 60 years old can say that he found a new mentor and a new advisor and I just want to thank Dan for everything he did for me and everything he did for this city.”
Amanda Romant spoke on behalf of State Sen. Jim Boyd. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Sen. Jim Boyd’s legislative aide, Amanda Romant, read a letter from the state senator that praised Murphy for being a leader and a steward of one of the most beautiful destinations in Florida. His letter said that Murphy understood the importance of community, responsible management of resources and the protection of natural surroundings and he valued the partnerships between local and state government that provide an enhanced quality of life for residents and memorable vacation experiences for visitors.
“You also safeguarded the Island and its residents during this extraordinary storm season. Your leadership and focus have been critical to the timely recovery of Anna Maria. I applaud your commitment to the residents and business owners who contribute to this unique and beautiful beach community,” Boyd stated in his letter.
Barb Murphy accepted an appreciation plaque presented by Dean Jones. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Anna Maria General Manager Dean Jones presented Barb with a plaque expressing the city’s gratitude.
He then said, “Dan Murphy came to the city of Anna Maria with a vision. He wanted to make the city better for its citizens and those that would visit in the future. First came the projects. City Pier Park was his first goal. Taking a park with very little use and making it a place where people could gather, children could play and events could be held to bring this small community together.”
Jones said Murphy initiated several road and drainage projects that made Anna Maria a safer place to live and that he was also a great steward of the city’s finances.
He said Murphy always had a plan, he taught city staff how to be better at their jobs, he knew the strengths and weaknesses of his team and he served as a mentor to many.
“Mayor Murphy could be demanding. He could challenge you and test your limits of being able to complete what seemed like a monumental task. His attention to detail always amazed the staff, along with his endless knowledge. He’s been one of the most influential forces the city’s ever seen. As the page turns, you can rest assured that the city will be in good hands,” Jones said.
Mayor Mark Short presented Barb Murphy with a letter of appreciation from Gov. Ron DeSantis. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short presented Barb a framed letter from Gov. Ron DeSantis that said, “Dear Mayor Murphy, it is with sincere gratitude that I send my best wishes to you as you depart from your position as the mayor of the city of Anna Maria. The first lady and I appreciate your years of commitment, dedication and public service to the residents and visitors of Anna Maria. You should be very proud of your accomplishments during your tenure, especially the rebuilding of the City Pier and hosting the annual ‘Old Soldiers & Sailors’ Veterans Day parade.”
Semi-retired city employee Debby Haynes presented Barb with a bouquet of roses and thanked her for being the city’s first lady and for always standing by her husband.
Short presented Barb with a painting of the City Pier that hung inside city hall for many years.
“The mayor always loved this and we have requisitioned it to the Murphy household,” he said.
He then read aloud a city proclamation that notes Murphy was raised in St. Petersburg, served in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars and the Vietnam Campaign Medal and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and pre-law from the University of South Florida. The proclamation notes that Dan and Barb have been married for 57 years and have four adult children, seven grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
The proclamation notes Murphy was a longtime Verizon executive whose career took him to various locations in the U.S. and the Caribbean, but he commuted for work rather than uprooting his family from Anna Maria Island.
“Dan provided steady and unwavering leadership while guiding the city through multiple hurricanes and tropical storms, the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier, the COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented reduction of the city’s property tax millage rate. Dan guided the city commission’s adoption of the city’s short-term vacation rental regulations in 2015 and since then he has the led the city’s successful annual opposition to the state legislature’s attempts to further preempt local vacation rental regulation to the state,” the proclamation says.
“One of Mayor Dan Murphy’s proudest accomplishments is transforming the vacant and under-utilized ‘six lots’ property into City Pier Park, where the city has hosted the seasonal farmer’s market, free movies in the park and two of Dan’s favorite and most meaningful events: the annual ‘Old Soldiers & Sailors’ Parade and Veterans Day recognition ceremony and the annual Memorial Day recognition ceremony honoring those who gave their lives in service to their country.”
The proclamation praises Murphy’s dedication, creative mind, visionary thinking, likeability and integrity and says, “We hope he never underestimates the difference he has made for the city of Anna Maria and the lives that he has touched and made better. Therefore, be it proclaimed by the Anna Maria commission and mayor that Dec. 20, 2024, shall be known as Mayor Dan Murphy Day.”
Murphy will celebrate his 80th birthday on that date.
Luis Laracuente spoke on behalf U.S. Senator Rick Scott. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Speaking last, Sen. Rick Scott’s District Director Luis Laracuente said, “We just wanted to thank the mayor for everything he’s done for the city of Anna Maria, in his role as a veteran and also his friendship and kindness with the senator. We truly appreciate everything he’s done and his leadership through the hurricanes, which does not go unnoticed. He will be receiving a flag that will be flown on top of the capitol on his birthday; and along with it will be a letter from the senator and a certificate from the capitol. We send our congratulations and our appreciation.”
The Nov. 19 appreciation ceremony video is archived at the Anna Maria Island Sun Facebook page.
ANNA MARIA – Current City Commission Chairman and Vice-Mayor Mark Short will serve as Anna Maria’s next mayor.
Running unopposed, incumbent city commissioner Gary McMullen and former charter review committee chairman Chris Arendt also earned two-year terms on the Anna Maria City Commission.
Anna Maria voters also approved four charter amendments proposed by the charter review committee and supported by the city commission.
Mayor’s race
In the mayor’s race, Short received 378 votes (60.58%) and Seymour received 246 votes (39.42%),” according to the unofficial results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections website Tuesday evening.
“I would like to thank the voters of the city of Anna Maria for supporting my candidacy for mayor and I look forward to serving the citizens as we go forward,” Short said of his victory.
Short will be sworn into the mayor’s office on Tuesday, Nov. 19. He will succeed Dan Murphy, who served five-consecutive two-year terms as Anna Maria’s mayor.
Short is a retired former partner of the Ernst & Young financial services and consulting firm. He has been a member of the Anna Maria City Commission for the past five years and he’s served as the commission-elected chairman and vice-mayor for the past two years. During the past two months, Short gained hurricane preparation and response experience while assisting Murphy with the city’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Former city commissioner Brian Seymour also sought the Anna Maria mayor’s seat. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Seymour was an Anna Maria commissioner from 2018 to 2020 before resigning for personal reasons. He owns the Anna Maria General Store, Pine Avenue Bait & Tackle and the City Pier Grill which operates in pier space leased from the city. The City Pier Grill is currently closed due to Hurricane Milton wiping out a significant portion of the pier walkway. The City Pier will remain closed until the missing walkway is replaced.
City charter amendments
During the general election, Anna Maria voters overwhelmingly supported four proposed amendments to the city charter.
Anna Maria voters supported proposed city charter amendment 1, which appeared on the ballot as: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to provide a definition for administrative officers of the city?” On this proposed amendment, 498 voters (82.59%) supported it and 105 voters (17.41%) opposed it.
Anna Maria voters overwhelmingly supported proposed city charter amendment 2, which appeared on the ballot as this: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to add a height limitation for all structures within the City limits to be no more than two residential/habitable floors and 37 feet above the crown of the abutting road, and include a provision for obtaining a variance?” On this proposed amendment, 531 voters (84.29%) supported it and 99 voters (15.71%) opposed it.
Anna Maria voters supported proposed city charter amendment 3, which appeared on the ballot as: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to add language regarding removal of non-qualifying city commissioners and prohibiting city commissioners from holding concurrent municipal or other public office or employment by the city of Anna Maria?” On this proposed amendment, 536 voters (86.59%) supported it and 83 voters (13.41%) opposed it.
Anna Maria voters supported proposed city charter amendment 4, which appeared on the ballot like this: “Shall the Anna Maria City Charter be amended to change the way a special meeting of the city commission may be called, from a call of a single member of the city commission to a call of the majority of the city commission, the chair of the city commission or the city mayor?” On this proposed amendment, 450 voters (74.14 %) supported it and 157 voters (25.86%) opposed it.
ANNA MARIA – The deadlines have passed to place hurricane-related household and landscaping debris streetside to be removed by the city. But both types of debris piles can still be found alongside city streets even though debris removal is now the responsibility of the property owner.
Oct. 24 was the city’s deadline to place hurricane-damaged household goods curbside to be removed by Oct. 27. Oct. 31 was the deadline to place landscaping debris curbside to be removed by Nov. 3.
On Nov. 1, Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission discussed hurricane-related debris removal, street damage, swimming pool dewatering and FEMA damage assessments.
Debris removal
Murphy said city staff had already identified approximately 150 new household debris piles placed curbside since the Oct. 24 deadline.
After acknowledging that number will probably grow, Murphy said city staff is recording the debris pile locations that include non-hurricane-related debris placed in front of vacation rental homes and construction sites. He said Waste Management picked up some of the post-deadline debris piles even though they’re not obligated to do so.
Murphy said the city will continue assessing post-deadline debris placement and he and the commission will decide how to proceed during their next emergency meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Murphy said the city will probably have to address post-deadline landscaping debris, too.
Sunday was the deadline for landscaping debris removal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Although he doesn’t want the city to be taken advantage of, Murphy doesn’t want to see debris piles littering the city streets.
“Nobody wants that stuff sitting around,” he said. “It attracts rats. It’s ugly and it’s depressing to look at. Seeing your life out on the curb’s not good psychologically, and it’s not good morale-wise.”
On Oct. 24, Murphy estimated the city’s reimbursable debris removal costs to be approximately $1.5 million at that time. On Friday, he estimated it would cost an additional $80,000-$100,000 in reimbursable costs to remove the remaining household debris piles.
During the Oct. 24 meeting, longtime resident and former city Commissioner Doug Copeland said, “I want to commend and thank the commission, the staff and all the private partners who have done an amazing job cleaning up the city under the leadership of Mayor Murphy. It’s a prime example of how city government should work and I thank you.”
Street damage
General Manager Dean Jones said five city streets sustained significant hurricane-related erosion and deterioration: Sycamore, Coconut, Beach, Peppertree and Maple. Jones said the Woodruff & Sons construction company placed #57 stone in the washed-out areas as a temporary safety measure. He estimates it will cost $825,000 to repair the five streets, which he hopes to have completed by the end of November.
The hurricanes eroded the southwest end of Maple Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Pool dewatering
Jones said the city is now allowing pool dewatering to take place in a controlled and city-permitted manner, with as many as 1,100 pools requiring hurricane-related dewatering. Jones said contractors must submit a dewatering permit for each impacted property. He then approves those permits in a manner that doesn’t allow any city street to become flooded and impassable.
Commissioner Gary McMullen noted many pool areas are now missing the fences required by city code. Murphy said that’s another matter to eventually be addressed by the code enforcement department.
FEMA Assessments
Commissioner Mark Short said FEMA’s 16-person site assessment team was expected to complete the initial damage assessments that day for the 1,173 Anna Maria properties requiring a damage assessment.
This beachfront home in Anna Maria was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“In a little over two weeks, they assessed almost 1,200 properties,” Short said.
During the Oct. 24 meeting, Short said the FEMA assessment teams are collecting information but are not telling property owners what percentage of their property is considered to be hurricane damaged.
ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria is done removing hurricane-related household debris and the removal of any remaining household debris is now the responsibility of the property owner.
Thursday, Oct. 31 is the deadline for landscaping debris to be placed streetside for removal by the city.
Mayor Dan Murphy provided a recap of the city’s debris removal efforts during the Anna Maria City Commission’s Oct. 24 meeting. He also addressed the return of mail service and the dewatering of hurricane- impacted swimming pools. Commissioner Chair Mark Short provided an update on the FEMA assessment teams working their way through the city.
Debris removal
Before Murphy provided his update, longtime resident and former city commissioner Doug Copeland said, “I want to commend and thank the commission, the staff and all the private partners who have done an amazing job cleaning up the city under the leadership of Mayor Murphy. It’s a prime example of how city government should work and I thank you.”
Murphy said 1,130 truckloads and 4,798 tons of debris had been taken to the county landfill to date. He said hurricanes Helene and Milton have cost the city an estimated $3 million to date and the city used $1.5 million of its $3 million reserve fund to cover the initial debris removal costs.
“We expect to be reimbursed by the state next week,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he met with Sen. Jim Boyd and Florida Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie earlier in the week and they congratulated the city on its debris removal efforts.
“He (Guthrie) said we were far ahead of anybody else in the county, maybe the rest of the state,” Murphy said. “I know there have been rumors to the contrary coming from another city that we have not done things according to the book. We’ve done things according to the book. It bothers me that you’ve got to take hits for doing what’s right and be ambushed with false reports.”
Mayor Dan Murphy helped guide the city’s debris removal efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said the debris removal trucks would make one more pass through every city street on Friday or Saturday and that would end the city’s household debris removal efforts.
“Anything after that is going to be the responsibility of the homeowner,” Murphy said.
Any remaining household debris removal issues will be addressed by the city’s code enforcement and public works departments.
“Landscaping debris a different story,” Murphy said. “We have mounds of landscaping debris. It was far greater than we expected, so we’re extending that landscaping debris removal for an extra week. That has to be on the street by midnight on Thursday (Oct. 31). We’ll divide the city into five sectors and pick it up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”
Murphy then said, “I want to thank Dean Jones, the rest of the city staff and the contractors we’ve had working for us. People have gone out of their way to get this debris out. I know we still have a way to go, but through your coordination efforts Dean we’ve come a great distance.”
Pool dewatering
Murphy also addressed dewatering swimming pools. He said it didn’t make sense to begin dewatering pools until the household debris was removed and the dewatering allowances would start on Monday, Oct. 28.
“So many pools were destroyed. My own was loaded with mud. My wife found fish in it,” Murphy said. “We’re going to regulate that street-by-street so we don’t have everybody dewatering at one time.”
Regarding Gulf Drive, Pine Avenue, North Shore Drive, North Bay Boulevard and South Bay Boulevard, Murphy said, “The main arteries of the city need to be passable for emergency vehicles and our own traffic. If we had everybody dewatering at once, it would create impassable streets and we can’t have that.”
Mail service
Murphy expressed his gratitude for the assistance U.S. Sen. Rick Scott provided in getting a temporary post office established at City Pier Park. Murphy said he texted Scott on Friday night and told him Anna Maria needed mail service restored. The following day, Murphy received a call from a vice president of the U.S. Postal Service and on Monday three mail trucks were stationed at City Pier Park for mail retrieval.
A temporary post office was established at City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
FEMA assessments
Commissioner Mark Short said FEMA’s 16-person site assessment team arrived in Anna Maria the previous week and are going door-to-door conducting site assessments. Short said the FEMA teams are filling out forms to be used for informational purposes but they are not telling property owners what percentage of their property is considered to be hurricane damaged.
Short said the FEMA teams will attempt to assess 1,173 properties in Anna Maria. As of the previous day, they had assessed 415 properties. Short said each assessment takes 20 to 30 minutes. The FEMA teams are assessing approximately 80 properties per day and are expected to finish their work on Friday, Nov. 1.
ANNA MARIA – Brian Seymour and Mark Short both want to succeed Dan Murphy as Anna Maria’s next mayor, with the winner to be determined in the upcoming election. On Sept. 12, they participated in a candidate forum hosted by The Anna Maria Island Sun at city hall.
Opening remarks
Seymour thanked Murphy for his 10-year tenure as mayor, including during the three years Seymour served as a commissioner. Seymour spent the first 38 years of his life in the Washinton D.C. area and 20 years working for Marriott hotels and resorts at many levels, from banquets to general manager.
“I decided after 20 years in the corporate world I was going to go find a new life. I couldn’t have been luckier to find this little city of Anna Maria. I own three businesses (City Pier Grill, Anna Maria General Store and Pine Avenue Bait and Tackle) and I’m eager to get back involved in city government and help the city continue to move forward,” Seymour said.
Short and his wife, Pat, bought their Anna Maria home almost 13 years ago. They’ve been married 40 years and have three daughters and four granddaughters. In 2017, Short retired as a partner and CPA after 38 years with the Ernst & Young accounting and consultancy firm. Three months later, he joined The Center of Anna Maria Island’s finance committee. In 2019, he was appointed to the city’s Charter Review Committee and then to the city’s Planning and Zoning Board.
“I served on that (the planning board) for several months until I was appointed to the city commission. I actually replaced you, Brian, when you resigned,” Short said, noting he’s been a commissioner for five years and commission chair and vice-mayor for two years.
When asked why he wants to serve as mayor, Short said, “I’ve been actively involved in the city and I’m vested in the city. I know it’s a thankless job and it is certainly not for the money. The city has come a long way. We have a long way to go and some things the city needs to focus on are things I can help with,” Short said.
“It’s definitely not for the $19,000 and change,” Seymour said of the mayor’s salary. “When I was a commissioner, it was $4,800 a year. It’s about having a place in this city and wanting to help the city continue to grow. I’m a good leader. I have good relationships with city staff and the different departments within the city.”
The candidates agree the mayor’s job is a full-time job.
“The residents have come to expect the mayor to be here,” Short said. “I am viewing this as a full-time job. If I’m elected mayor, you’ll see me here.”
“It’s about balance,” Seymour said. “I would be in and out of city hall every day. I have good leadership at my two bigger businesses and the ability to extract myself from those two businesses and implement myself here at city hall.”
The issues
A recent independent investigation of the city workplace cited a “pervasive lack of trust and collegiality amongst co-workers.”
Short said he was required to participate in annual workplace training during his career and he’d require the same of city staff. He’d also consider outsourcing the city’s human resource needs to outside specialists so city employees can express their concerns to unbiased, non-city personnel.
“With regards to managing the staff, it’s the mayor’s job and you have to be hands-on with everybody,” Short said.
“I’ve had a lot of dealings with staff issues and different personalities that maybe don’t work well together,” Seymour said. “It comes down to consistent training. There needs to be accountability and a review of the entire city staff, from the top down, to make sure people are in the right positions, given the tools they need and have proper working relationships.”
Seymour and Short disagree on hiring a full-time city administrator or city manager to assist the mayor.
Brian Seymour previously served on the city commission for three years. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I’m very much in favor of a city administrator-type position to help oversee the city,” Seymour said, noting he’d like the administrator to have human resources experience. “It has become such a large city with so many departments and so many employees. I really believe that would be beneficial.”
“I do not believe the city needs a city manager or a city administrator,” Short countered. “If you read the city charter, that is the job of the mayor. You’re electing someone to do exactly what a city administrator or manager would do.”
Mark Short has served on the city commission for five years. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Both candidates adamantly oppose the consolidation of the three Island cities or annexing them into Manatee County or Bradenton.
Both candidates strongly support the commission’s recent decision to reduce the property tax millage rate from 2.05 to 1.65 mills and maintaining or lowering that rate in the future.
Short and Seymour agree that improving the city’s drainage system to reduce flooding is a top priority and they support Murphy’ pursuit of a resiliency grant to fund a study for the future installation of drainage pumps and pipes.
Both candidates agree the city should use Facebook and other social media platforms to communicate more immediately with residents and business owners, especially regarding weather events and other emergencies.
The candidates agree the $1.3 million budgeted for law enforcement services by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is a wise and prudent expenditure. They both believe the code enforcement department should focus on a wider range of enforcement issues beyond writing parking tickets.
Both candidates would continue Murphy’s use of a lobbyist and the Home Rule Florida website to help preserve Anna Maria’s home rule rights and the city’s ability to regulate vacation rentals.
Seymour and Short support the Reimagining Pine Avenue project and oppose eliminating the existing parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue. They both oppose making Pine Avenue a one-way street and Seymour opposes making Spring or Magnolia a one-way street. Short said he’d at least look at making Spring or Magnolia a one-way street to create space for a bike path.
Seymour and his business partners operate the City Pier Grill in space leased from the city. The initial five-year pier lease expires on Dec. 31, 2025, and Seymour’s group has the option to renew the lease for five more years.
When asked if this could create a potential conflict of interest, Short noted the mayor’s duties include negotiating the city contracts that require the city commission’s final approval.
“I would be concerned if that contract came up and it was effectively the mayor negotiating with himself,” Short said.
“I have partners in the business,” Seymour said. “That negotiation would need to be pushed out of my hands to the vice-mayor and maybe to the city attorney and then let the city commission decide. I would not be involved with those negotiations.”
Regarding the quality of the natural waters surrounding the city, Seymour said, “It’s a shame what’s happening around us. Yes, we’ve had some significant rainfalls but for Bradenton to still be discharging (sewage) is just uncalled for. I’m tired of seeing Bayfront Park end up on the no-swim advisory. I’m not going to throw a fellow business under the bus at this moment, but there’s one that’s constantly putting sewage into the Bayfront Park area. It’s not acceptable and it needs to be fixed.”
“Water quality starts with us,” Short said. “We need to make sure our infrastructure can handle these 4-, 5-, 6-inch rains we get with minimal impact on the environment. I think we, the Island, need to collectively have our voice heard in Bradenton, in Manatee County, at the DEP and in Tallahassee about our concerns about what’s happening on the mainland. At the end of the day, that water ends up out here.”
Both candidates would support the city regulating and enforcing mangrove protections at the local level.
Closing statements
“I feel confident my friend Mark Short or I would both make excellent mayors,” Seymour said. “I am also a resident here, not just a business owner, and there are times when I do believe enough is enough. I hope you all vote for me. I look forward to potentially serving the residents.”
Short said, “I feel like I have a pretty good pulse as to what is going on with the city, the people working for the city and the concerns of you, the residents. I’ve been committed on this commission and I believe I would be just as committed should you elect me mayor.”
TALLAHASSEE – Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed proposed state legislation that would have significantly hindered city and county governments’ ability to regulate short-term vacation rentals locally.
The Florida Legislature proposed the vetoed legislation earlier as Senate Bill 280 and House Bill 1537. Legislators sought to preempt short-term vacation rental regulation and vacation rental advertising to the state, with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation serving as the statewide administrative and enforcement entity.
Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) sponsored SB 280 and State Rep. Philip Griffitts Jr. (R-Panama City Beach) sponsored House Bill 1537. Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) supported the vacation rental preemptions sought in the matching bills.
The proposed legislation also included a controversial carve-out that would have allowed Flagler County to continue enforcing its existing vacation rental regulations.
Veto letter
At approximately 6:30 p.m. on June 27, DeSantis sent Secretary of State Cord Byrd a letter informing him of the veto.
“Beyond creating new bureaucratic red tape that locals must comply with, CS/SB 280 prevents local governments from enforcing existing ordinances or passing any new local measure that would exclusively apply to vacation rentals. Under the bill, any such measure must apply to all residential properties. The effect of this provision will prevent virtually all local regulation of vacation rentals even though the vacation rental markets are far from uniform across the various regions of the state,” DeSantis stated in his letter.
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed CS/SB 280. – www.FlGov.com
“Going forward, I encourage the Florida Legislature and all key stakeholders to work together with the understanding that vacation rentals should not be approached as a one-size-fits-all issue. For these reasons, I withhold my approval of CS/SB 280 and do hereby veto the same,” DeSantis wrote.
Anna Maria discussion
Around the same time DeSantis vetoed the legislation, Mayor Dan Murphy told Anna Maria City Commissioners the city’s lobbyist, Matthew Blair, remained optimistic the governor would veto the bill.
Murphy said seven opposition campaigns recently initiated through the city-owned HomeRuleFl.com website resulted in approximately 3,000 letters, emails and phone calls being directed to DeSantis and his staff.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy actively opposed the proposed vacation rental legislation. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The raw nerve was the Flagler County carve-out. There’s no logical explanation for the carve-out of Flagler County other than it’s the home of the speaker of the house (Paul Renner) and home to a relatively powerful senator (Travis Hutson),” Murphy said.
He also addressed the “pork chop” legislation references contained in the emails sent to DeSantis. He noted the Tampa Tribune newspaper coined the phrase “pork chop politics” many years ago while covering the patronizing and self-serving actions of Florida politicians who made laws that excluded certain people while impacting most others.
“It’s a lousy way to do politics,” Murphy said.
Island reaction
Later that evening, after learning of DeSantis’ veto, Murphy sent an email to city commissioners and others that said, “Congratulations commissioners and staff. Our governor vetoed the vacation rental bill tonight. I so much appreciate all of your support with our campaigns and efforts to stop this poorly thought-out piece of ‘pork chop’ legislation.”
Friday morning, Home Rule Florida distributed an email thanking subscribers for their efforts.
“Thanks to you and your thousands of letters and phone calls made to the governor, he saw that this was ‘pork chop’ legislation and simply bad policy. It’s amazing what we can do when we all pull together. The ‘pork chop’ has been chopped,” the email said.
When contacted Friday morning, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said, “I was out of town when I received the news. I am eternally grateful to the governor for allowing us to continue to self-govern and retain our ability to regulate our vacation rental industry accordingly.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth appreciates Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The ability to regulate with daily fines allows us to bring all into compliance. The bill that was passed would have circumvented all regulations we have been able to use to restore the balance in our residential districts,” she said.
“Regulating this commercial industry in our neighborhoods is crucial in maintaining quality of life for our residents and to maintain our full-time population. This is crucial for our churches, our commercial and professional economy and our schools. The ability to enforce occupancy and length of stay would have been the biggest concern of this bill. It pretty much took all the tools out of our toolbox,” she said.
“I thank all those who wrote letters and participated in the Save Home Rule campaign. We are gaining residents in our city and it has everything to do with our ability to self-govern on quality-of-life issues. There is a lot to be said about being on the right side of history. I wish more leaders would figure that out,” Titsworth said.
The city of Holmes Beach can continue inspecting and regulating short-term vacation rentals. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “The mayor and I are ecstatic that the governor vetoed this bill and left it to the local governments. We, as a city, are doing a tremendous job at monitoring our vacation rentals for safety for our visitors and residents alike. We also want to thank all the citizens from Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island that reached out to the governor asking for the veto of this bill. A village came together on this and it is much appreciated.”
When contacted late Friday morning, Murphy said, “I was elated that we were able to once again stop this legislation from going forward. It shows that when we all work together, we can accomplish great things. This is an illustration of the power of the people and getting the message up to the governor. I’m extremely grateful to the governor for having vetoed it and for listening to the people who would have been impacted by this legislation. This was a statewide effort and HomeRuleFl.com played a large part in getting that message out.”
Regarding the proposed legislation, Murphy said, “The heaviest impact would have been pulling away the occupancy limits. For us, that would be an overnight increase of approximately 30% in terms of occupancy in our city. We don’t have the infrastructure for it. We don’t have the parking, the police, the sewer, or the water to cover a 30% increase. You could absorb it over time, but to pull the plug on us overnight is wrong. That was poorly thought out by Sen. DiCeglie,” Murphy said.
The proposed legislation would have allowed local governments to still conduct an initial inspection of a vacation rental property but would not have allowed annual follow-up inspections.
“That shows you how little the author of this bill knows about the vacation rental business. It doesn’t make sense,” Murphy said. “These homes experience constant turnover week after week. Things wear out. Things get broken. People will cram as many people as they can into a home. We find rooms with no egress, with smoke detectors underneath fans, with pool alarms and pool fences missing and those types of things. That’s not safe. This is not one-size-fits-all. Anna Maria, Orlando, St. Augustine and the panhandle attract different types of visitors.”
Despite this year’s success, Murphy expects the legislative battle to continue.
“It’s going to be back next year and the year after that,” he said. “They’re not going to go away, but fortunately the governor and his staff have enough wisdom to see this is not in the best interest of the State of Florida. It’s not in the best interest of the visitors and it’s not in the best interest of the voters. It’s in the best interest of out-of-state corporations like Airbnb and VRBO.”
Murphy will not seek reelection this fall and this was his final vacation rental battle with state legislators. During his 10 years as mayor, he repeatedly led Anna Maria’s annual efforts to defeat the Florida Legislature’s failed preemption attempts. He will soon turn those duties over to Anna Maria’s next mayor, Mark Short or Brian Seymour.
“I feel good that we have two candidates for mayor that are qualified to carry this fight on. We’ve got a good staff that’s trained and knows how to use these tools and we’ve got a good lobbyist. That’s what it’s going to take,” he said.
I was saddened to hear that Mayor Dan Murphy had decided not to run for reelection. But only for a minute, because I quickly realized how fortunate Anna Maria has been to have him as mayor for the past 10 years. He has not only been honest but also strong in his attempt to keep Anna Maria, Anna Maria in the face of powerful forces. His accomplishments are many but none greater than the rebuilding of the City Pier. With his vision and hard work, it should be in place for the world to enjoy for many decades to come.
I have witnessed Anna Maria mayors for the last 50 years and it is not a stretch to say he has been the best I’ve seen. So, I thank Dan and his wife, Barbara, for what they have given the city. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement.
ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth are not on the same page when it comes to the potential consolidation of law enforcement services, with each mayor preferring their city’s law enforcement agency take over policing in both cities.
As is the case in most cities, law enforcement on Anna Maria Island is the most expensive public service provided to residents, visitors and businesses. With the looming threat of state-imposed consolidation facing the three Island cities, the three Island mayors continue to look for cost-cutting measures that would save taxpayers’ dollars and potentially appease state legislators who requested the consolidation study being conducted by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA).
Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have their own police depart ments and police chiefs. Anna Maria does not, and instead contracts law enforcement services from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). Led by Sgt. Brett Getman, with additional supervision provided by Lt. John Belt, the MCSO Anna Maria Unit is headquartered in the former city annex building on Pine Avenue.
On April 23, Titsworth met with State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. to discuss consolidation and the concerns associated with that state-imposed scenario. Titsworth then told The Sun that she and Police Chief Bill Tokajer were in preliminary talks with Murphy about the Holmes Beach Police Department taking over law enforcement in Anna Maria.
Titsworth told The Sun the two cities would research the financial numbers associated with the potential consolidation of law enforcement services, and also the potential drafting of an interlocal agreement between the two cities.
Mayor Dan Murphy supports the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office providing primary law enforcement services to all three Island cities. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy addressed then these matters during the May 9 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.
“The article said Mayor Titsworth and I were working together on looking at having Holmes Beach provide police services for the city of Anna Maria and that we were preparing an interlocal agreement to do just that. That’s not the case,” Murphy said.
“Mayor Titsworth and I had a phone conversation shortly after she met with Representative Robinson. I said the elephant in the room is public safety. We’re operating with three separate police forces,” Murphy said.
Murphy noted Anna Maria is paying $1.3 million for contracted MCSO law enforcement services for the current 2023-24 fiscal year, the lowest of the three Island cities.
For the current fiscal year, Holmes Beach budgeted $4.63 million for its police department and Bradenton Beach budgeted $1.77 million. Combined, the three cities budgeted $7.7 million for law enforcement.
“If you really wanted to save the taxpayers’ money, which has always been the caveat in consolidating, that’s what should be looked at,” Murphy said.
Murphy said Titsworth did tell him that she would look into Holmes Beach providing police services to Anna Maria, but he favors a different approach – eliminating the Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach police departments and contracting the sheriff’s office to provide Island-wide law enforcement services.
“I’m very pleased with the services the sheriff is providing us. We have far more scope of services with the sheriff’s department than we could ever have with an Island-wide police force,” Murphy said, noting the sheriff’s office has a helicopter, K-9 officers, detectives, marine patrol officers and more.
“The array of services are almost endless from a public safety standpoint and they’re economical. To me, that would be significant savings,” Murphy said.
When contacted by The Sun the following day, Titsworth confirmed that she and Murphy discussed the two cities sharing a police force.
She then noted Holmes Beach has mutual aid agreements with the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement agencies in Manatee County regarding the sharing of technology, equipment and services. She also said the sheriff’s office provides Holmes Beach with additional assistance during high-volume holiday weekends.
ANNA MARIA – City leaders have pledged not to eliminate parking places to accommodate the potential extension of the existing multi-use path along Gulf Drive.
On March 28, the Anna Maria City Commission reached a 4-1 consensus to preserve the existing parallel parking spaces along Gulf Drive if and when the multi-use path is extended from Willow Avenue to Magnolia Avenue. Commissioner Gary McMullen opposed the consensus and supports the elimination of those parking spaces if needed.
Mayor Dan Murphy said it’s never been the city’s intent to eliminate parking spaces. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mayor Dan Murphy initiated Thursday’s discussion after learning that a group of potentially impacted business owners recently sent a petition to Gov. Ron DeSantis asking him to veto the city’s $250,000 funding request for the path extension project. The petition was also sent to Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Manatee) and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, accompanied by a letter written by petition initiator and Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café owner Paul Foster.
Concerned business owners attended the March 28 city commission meeting.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
Foster’s letter expressed concern that 13 parallel parking spaces in the vicinity of Palm, Magnolia and Spring avenues would be eliminated if the multi-use path is extended along the same side of the street as the existing path. Accommodating pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists, strollers and more, the path currently extends from the entrance of the city to Willow Avenue and connects to a multi-use path in Holmes Beach.
The multi-use path currently extends from the city entrance to Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe multi-use path currently ends at Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In November, the city’s $250,000 funding request was submitted to the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives via Senate local funding initiative request #1512, sponsored by Boyd, and House funding request form, HSE form #2599, sponsored by Robinson.
“The funds will be spent to complete the multi-use path and drainage facility along Gulf Drive,” the Senate funding request form says. The Senate request form says the city plans to contribute $250,000 in city funds to the proposed project that is in the “construction” phase and “shovel-ready,” with an estimated fall 2024 start date and a summer 2025 completion date.
The House funding request form poses the following question: “Is there any documented show of support for the requested project in the community including public hearings, letters of support, major organizational backing or other expressions of support?”
The city’s response is: “Yes. Businesses, visitors and residents have all expressed a desire to see the current multi-use path expanded on Gulf Drive, from Willow Avenue to Magnolia.”
The House request form also poses this question: “Has the need for the funds been documented by a study, completed by an independent third party, for the area to be served?
The city’s response says, “Yes. George F. Young, Inc. has done a study on this as the engineering firm that is working on the project.”
Neither funding request form references parking or eliminating parking.
The commission has previously discussed extending the multi-use path as a desired future project, but to date no formal plans or completed studies have been presented to the city commission or the public.
As part of the still-pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project, the commission previously discussed but took no action on the potential elimination of 50 or so parallel parking spaces located along Pine Avenue. Former commissioner Deanie Sebring and current commissioners Kathy Morgan and Gary McMullen have expressed support for eliminating those Pine Avenue parking spaces and that support contributed to the Gulf Drive business owners’ concerns.
COMMISSION DISCUSSION
On March 28, Murphy addressed the petition and the business owners’ concerns previously reported by The Sun. He sought, and later received, commission consensus in support of not eliminating parking spaces to accommodate an expanded multi-use path and to possibly create more parking if possible.
“It has never been the city’s intent, nor is it now our intent, to eliminate parking spaces,” Murphy told the commission. “The author of this petition seems to think there’s no way to run the multi-use path to Magnolia unless you eliminate parking spaces. That simply isn’t true.”
Murphy mentioned three potential options that would preserve those parking spaces: extend the path along the other side of Gulf Drive from Willow to Magnolia, shift Gulf Drive over to create enough space to extend the path along the same of the street or relocate the existing parking spaces to the other side of Gulf Drive.
Foster recently told The Sun that Reimagining Pine Avenue project engineer Gerry Traverso told him in 2021 that due to the limited amount of available space in that area, extending the multi-use path would eliminate those existing Gulf Drive parking spaces. At the time, Traverso was contracted by the city through the George F. Young engineering firm referenced on the House funding request form.
“He never did work on this project because we’ve never had a study to address it. Traverso knew nothing about the multi-use path,” Murphy said.
“I would have appreciated at least a phone call before all these businesses signed a petition, so that I could clarify what the city’s policy is – not eliminating parking. When we submitted a document requesting a quarter million dollars to Sen. Boyd and Rep. Robinson in January, it said this project would be parking neutral, meaning we’re not eliminating any parking,” Murphy said.
The mayor was referring to a Jan. 8 email from City Clerk LeAnne Addy to the city’s lobbyist, Bethany McAlister, in response to a follow-up question about parking neutrality.
Commissioner Gary McMullen supports the elimination of streetside parking spaces. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
McMullen asked Murphy why the multi-use path wouldn’t be extended to Pine Avenue and said, “It just doesn’t make any sense to me to stop at Magnolia when everyone wants to go to Pine.”
“It’s a matter of resources and money, so we take it a piece at a time,” Murphy responded.
Commissioner Mark Short acknowledged differing opinions have been previously expressed about eliminating the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue, but he said it’s always been the commission’s intent to preserve those spaces.
“The last thing I want to see happen is the city lose any parking spots, especially in the commercial area,” Short said.
“I’m opposed to parallel parking on Pine because you can’t see around those cars,” McMullen countered.
PETITIONERS SPEAK
When addressing the commission, Foster said, “I’m the one that started the petition. It wasn’t my intention to catch you guys off guard. It was my intention though to stop the funding for this funding request. The request is very black and white. It says, ‘businesses, visitors, residents have all expressed a desire to see the current multi-use path expanded from Willow Avenue to Magnolia.’”
Ginny’s and Jane E’s owner Paul Foster addressed the city commission. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Foster said he and the other business owners who signed the petition and attended Thursday’s meeting never expressed a desire to extend the multi-use path: “I just want to run my business and be a good citizen. This scared me because I do know the impact those parking spaces have.”
Commercial property owner John Cagnina suggests rerouting bicyclists down Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
John Cagnina is one of the owners of the building leased to Ginny’s and Jane E’s, Body & Sol Spa & Wellness and Snips Hair Salon, three of the seven businesses whose owners signed the petition. Cagnina also signed the petition.
He said eliminating those 13 spaces along Gulf Drive would be a catastrophe.
“Those parking spaces turn over two, three, four times a day,” he said, noting this can amount to more than 300 people using those spaces per day.
Cagnina requested the commission instead direct bicyclists down Willow Avenue and away from the heavily-congested commercial district that lies ahead along Gulf Drive. He said it’s nerve-racking to drive through that area when bicyclists and pedestrians are coming from every direction.
In response, McMullen said, “The people won’t go down Willow and make a detour. They’re going to keep going right down Gulf with their bicycles.”
Cagnina said a designated bike path down Willow Avenue would be more inviting to bicyclists and might encourage more of them to use that alternate route.
“Right now, it’s just a road,” Cagnina said.
Before the commission reached its 4-1 consensus, McMullen said, “I’m against saying you can’t do anything to the parking spaces.”
Available space is limited in front of Jane E’s and Ginny’s Cafe. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After leaving city hall, Foster said, “I feel a tremendous amount of relief. All but one of them agreed they would not touch that parking. I’m happy with the outcome and I’m going to let the state know as well. This is not about politics, it’s about our livelihoods.”
Body & Sol owner Amanda Escobio agreed and said, “I’m relieved.”
ANNA MARIA – While celebrating Anna Maria Island’s historic past, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society’s annual Heritage Day celebration raised more than $3,000.
Taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 26 at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum and Historical Park, Heritage Day featured free tours of the museum and the historic Belle Haven cottage, a yarn maker, a basket weaver, other crafters and vendors, face painting and other kid’s activities, live music by the Anna Maria String Band, strawberry shortcake sales by historical society members, food sales by Poppo’s Taquerias and the Anna Maria Island Privateers’ capture, confinement and ransom-inspired release of Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth.
Basket and hat weaver David Rhone traveled from Salt Lake City, Utah to participate in his second Heritage Day event. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe Anna Maria String Band provided the live music. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At noon, the Privateers captured Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and held them hostage in “The Old City Jail” until more than $1,000 was raised in ransom to secure their release. The ransom donations included $350 from Titsworth’s husband, Steve, and donations Murphy secured using his cell phone while held captive.
AMI Privateers Jane “Sleeping Beauty” Hyatt and Terry “Colonel” Kilpatrick held Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy captive until they raised enough ransom to secure their release. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After being released, Murphy said, “It was a lot of fun and it’s always a good cause to help the Anna Maria Island Historical Society. I’m pleased that we were able to do so much in terms of raising money.”
Titsworth said, “That was a lot of fun and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. I love the historical society. We’ve got so much history here and I just love the fact that’s there’s so many citizens who are willing to contribute to the success of the historical society.”
Sold and served by historical society members Barbara Murphy and Karen Gardner, the strawberry shortcake sales featured fresh Plant City strawberries provided by Ed Chiles and shortcake provided by Hometown Desserts.
Barbara Murphy and Karen Gardner sold fresh strawberry shortcake.- Joe Hendricks | Sun
After displaying her old-fashioned methods to young Hattie Neaton, traditional yarn maker Donna Stansbury said, “It’s fun to show the kids and that little girl learned quick.”
Illinois resident Axel Darby got her face painted by Winter Kelly. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Historical Society president and museum docent Liz Hager said, “We’ve been doing Heritage Day now for a long time at the museum and Heritage Day is better today than it’s ever been. We have unbelievable vendors selling beautiful things, people enjoying strawberry shortcake, a face painter, live music and so much more.”
Local artist Corine Finnie painted a sea turtle on a small, oval-shaped canvas. – Joe Hendricks | SunInvited last-minute when another vendor cancelled, Love’s Parden boutique owner Adrienne Lerfald displayed her jewelry, crystals, sage sticks and other mystical offerings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In addition to being an important annual fundraiser, Hager said Heritage Day is also a great way to attract new visitors and passersby to the museum and museum grounds as they wander in to see what’s going on.
AMI Historical Society President Liz Hager said Heritage Day is an important annual fundraiser for the museum and the historical society. – Joe Hendricks | SunMuseum docent Eileen Jellison shared the history of the Belle Haven cottage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“People are walking through Belle Haven and walking through the museum. We hope it teaches them about our Island’s history. The museum is free and completely volunteer-run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in season, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside of season,” she said.
See additional photos below:
Representing the UF/IFAS Extension’s Florida Master Gardener Program, Kathy Oliver shared info about the historic use of native vegetation. – Joe Hendricks | SunParticipating for the first time, Jill Allen sold seagrass art and more at her Tide’s Porch tent. – Joe Hendricks | SunAnna Maria resident Doug Copeland provided incumbent at-large Manatee County Commission candidate George Kruse with one of the 2,800 petition signatures he needs to get on this year’s ballot. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
ANNA MARIA – Some business owners are concerned about the city’s desire to extend the multi-use path along Gulf Drive that runs from the entrance of the city to Willow Avenue.
They say that extending the path to Magnolia or Pine avenues would eliminate the parallel parking spaces located along that side of Gulf Drive.
The multi-use path currently extends from the entrance to the city to Willow Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
City officials are still awaiting word as to whether Gov. Ron DeSantis will approve or veto a $250,000 state appropriation supported by the Florida House and Senate for Anna Maria’s multi-use path extension project. The funding request is included in the proposed 2024-25 state budget not yet finalized by DeSantis.
The business owners’ concerns are expressed in a petition initiated by Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café owner Paul Foster. The petition was sent to DeSantis, Sen. Jim Boyd, State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
Several Anna Maria businesses are supported by the free parking spaces along Gulf Drive. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The petition was signed by the owners of Body & Sol Spa and Wellness, Snips Hair Design, Harry’s Grill, AMI Beach Hut, Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café, The Porch restaurant, Robinhood Rentals and John Cagnina, the owner of the Ginny’s and Jane E’s property leased to Foster, which includes a rear parking lot.
The Porch restaurant is among the businesses listed on the petition. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In part, the petition says: “There is a bill going to your desk that will hurt small businesses in the city of Anna Maria. We have, over the last number of years, seen a rapid decline in free public parking. Private lots turned into paid parking and projects like this extension of a multi-use path from a residential area into a commercial area, removed free parking in front of many small businesses. It not only hurts business, but it is dangerous to bring traffic like this into a busy corner. We have options that keep bikers (bicyclists) safe and keep businesses prospering.
AMI Beach Hut customers and Harry’s Grill patrons are among those who utilize the free parking spaces along Gulf Drive. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I implore you to use your veto authority and put a stop to the funding of this project. I am asking for a more thorough study on the impacts to health and safety, and to businesses directly impacted,” the petition says.
When speaking to The Sun on March 22, Foster said the concerns addressed in the petition stem in part from previous city commission discussions regarding the potential elimination of the streetside parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue as part of the yet-to-be-constructed Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project.
Eliminating the Pine Avenue parking spaces has been discussed by the city commission and supported by some current and past commissioners, but that idea has never garnered the majority support of the commission. City Commission Chair Mark Short and Mayor Dan Murphy are among those who’ve expressed concerns about the negative impact eliminating the Pine Avenue parking spaces would have on those businesses.
Eliminating parking spaces along Gulf Drive to accommodate an extended multi-use path has never been publicly discussed by the city commission or presented to the commission in a planning document.
Foster was asked if anyone representing the city ever mentioned to him the possibility of eliminating Gulf Drive parking spaces to accommodate an extended multi-use path.
Foster referenced a wide-ranging conversation he had with Reimagining Pine Avenue project engineer Gerry Traverso in 2021. Traverso is employed by the George F. Young Inc. engineering firm.
“Gerry never told me they were going to do this, but he did say the extension of the multi-use path would eliminate the parking,” Foster said.
There does not appear to be enough space along Gulf Drive to extend the multi-use path while also preserving the existing parking spaces. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“It would be devastating. If people are coming to a restaurant, they’re not going to use paid parking. They’re going to want to park for free. Up here, free parking is definitely limited and these 13 spaces in front of these businesses are their lifeblood,” he added.
When asked why he didn’t approach the mayor before petitioning the governor, Foster said he felt this was the most effective means to address these concerns.
FUNDING REQUESTS
The city’s $250,000 funding request is addressed in Florida Senate local funding initiative request 1512, sponsored by Boyd, and House of Representatives HSE form 2599, sponsored by Robinson. Anna Maria City Clerk LeAnne Addy said the city’s contracted lobbyist submitted the funding requests on the city’s behalf.
The Senate form asks the applicant to state the purpose to be achieved with the desired state funds.
The city’s response says, “The goal is to improve safety and accessibility along the city’s main artery for the key stakeholders – residents, businesses, and visitors – while addressing the impact of seasonal traffic. The project will make the city’s main street corridor more user-friendly by addressing safety concerns, access issues and aesthetic deficiencies resulting from the currently antiquated infrastructure along the street that doesn’t account for increased tourism.”
The House request form asks if the need for funds is documented in a study completed by an independent third party.
The city’s response says, “Yes. George F. Young Inc. has done a study on this as the engineering firm that is working on the project.”
The city response refers to the initial Reimagining Pine Avenue research Traverso conducted. Neither funding request form includes any drawings or plans of the proposed multi-use path extension area, nor do they mention the removal of existing parking spaces.
When contacted by The Sun on March 22, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said no specific plans for the proposed path extension have been created or presented to the city commission; and Addy said she wasn’t aware of any such planning documents.
FOSTER’S LETTER
The petition sent to DeSantis and others was accompanied by a letter written by Foster.
“We are very concerned with the city’s push forward with a multi-use path into a busy commercial area. All businesses along this strip will be affected negatively,” his letter says.
The letter claims the path extension would eliminate 13 parking spaces that currently serve more than 200 people per day.
“Yes, health and safety must be the number one priority, but this must be done with an eye out for our community of ‘Ma and Pop’ businesses that need to survive there. I think it’s important that everyone’s interests are looked after,” Foster stated in his letter.
Ginny’s and Jane E’s owner doesn’t support a multi-use path located in front of his businesses. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After acknowledging that city officials have a tough job and their overall efforts are appreciated, Foster’s letter says, “I’m afraid they missed their mark on this one. There is still time if protecting businesses is as important to them.”
MAYOR’S RESPONSE
On March 22, Murphy provided a written statement regarding the petition and the business owners’ concerns.
“The problem we are trying to address is that people are opening their car doors into oncoming traffic on Gulf Drive and then walking in the road to go to the restaurants and stores,” Murphy stated. “We want to develop some ideas, and then plans, on how to best address that if possible. So, we submitted a funding request for $250,000 to help defray some of the costs of addressing the problem and then work on a plan. We want to find out if anything can be done to make Gulf Drive safer to walk and drive, more people-friendly and easier to shop and eat, not to eliminate the number of parking spaces serving that area.”
The multi-use path ends at Willow Avenue, with no sidewalk on that side of the street for pedestrians. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
He noted the path extension planning process would include the solicitation of public input, similar to what occurred during the initial Reimagining Pine Avenue planning process.
“I’m not sure why Mr. Foster wouldn’t have called me about his concerns prior to launching into a petition campaign, but that’s his prerogative. I’m hoping the appropriation doesn’t get stalled and goes through so we can quickly get started on addressing this issue,” Murphy stated.
When asked if there’s enough available space along that side of Gulf Drive to extend the multi-use path and preserve the existing parking spaces, Murphy said, “Not currently.”
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy proposes creating a one-block Reimagining Pine Avenue test corridor along Pine Avenue, between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive.
Murphy presented his one-block prototype idea to the City Commission on Nov. 16.
He noted the city already has a set of previously approved plans for the Pine Avenue portion of the expanded Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project that now includes Spring and Magnolia avenues. The mayor and City Commission recently had a preliminary discussion on the potential safety improvements that could be made along Spring and Magnolia avenues. Those discussions remain ongoing.
The commission-approved Pine Avenue plans call for the installation of new brick paver sidewalks along the entire length of both sides of the street, new and improved crosswalks and new streetlights.
The city’s current 2023-24 fiscal year budget includes $3.3 million for the expanded Pine Avenue project, including $2.69 million in previously approved state appropriations and $283,412 in American Rescue Plan funds. To avoid being subjected to Florida Department of Transportation lighting standards, the city will self-fund the street light installation portion of the project.
Mayor Dan Murphy proposed his preliminary prototype concept to city commissioners on Nov. 16. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When presenting his preliminary one-block prototype concept, Murphy said, “This is a much-needed improvement. Pine Avenue has got to be improved. It just can’t go on the way it is with dirt sidewalks and people in the street. We all know that, but we can at least get a start on Pine Avenue.”
He said the proposed prototype area contains all the various nuances and potential challenges that exist at various points along Pine Avenue.
“It has meandering sidewalks. It has straight sidewalks. It has a lack of lighting and it has a lack of crosswalks. All of those things are improvements that we wanted to make,” he said of the proposed prototype area and the safety improvement project as a whole.
Murphy said the prototype would serve as a “test drive” for the rest of the street and allow the public to share their likes and dislikes with the initial improvements made while disrupting a smaller portion of the street.
“We fix that one block, and you can take a look at it and our constituents can take a look at it. Everybody can see the possibility for the rest of the street,” Murphy said. “The downside of doing what I just suggested is it’s going to cost us a little bit more. I’d have to get FDOT’s approval to do this because they control the pile of money the state has given us.”
Murphy said he’d try to get FDOT approval before the commission’s Dec. 7 meeting. If the approval is granted, he’ll present his prototype plan. If approved by the commission, the city would then issue a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids from construction companies interested in taking on the prototype project. If Murphy doesn’t obtain FDOT approval by Dec. 7, he’ll delay his prototype plan presentation.
Commissioner Robert Kingan asked Murphy if his plan would include cost estimates. Murphy said it would.
Commissioners Mark Short and Jon Crane support the mayor’s prototype approach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Jon Crane said the Reimagining Pine Avenue project designed by contracted project engineer Gerry Traverso may not have been designed the same way a construction firm would design it. Crane said he’d like prototype project bidders to be given the flexibility to propose alternative design methods if so desired.
“With this small block, we get an opportunity to see if their vision might be better than ours,” Crane said.
Murphy agreed that some additional insight might be beneficial.
Commissioner Charlie Salem suggested including language in the RFP that states bidders have some design flexibility. Salem noted the city only received one bid proposal from the same company for the first three RFPs previously issued for the Pine Avenue portion of the project. The commission rejected all three of those bid proposals before later deciding to expand the project to include Spring and Magnolia avenues in hopes of creating a larger, more lucrative project that garners more interest from construction companies.
Salem asked Murphy if he was confident the city would receive an acceptable bid proposal for the prototype block only.
“I don’t know,” Murphy replied.
The mayor said some potential bidders may feel a one-block area is too small to garner their interest while other bidders may feel doing the entire street at one time is too large of a project for them.
Commission Chair Mark Short said, “I see a lot of advantages to heading down that path. It’s not as disruptive. It gives the city a chance to feel out the contractor.”
Short said the biggest risks he sees with the prototype approach are the prototype project being too small to garner interest from construction companies and the prototype approach being more expensive.
