ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission have established the timeline that will be used to fill two vacant city commission seats.
In late September, Commissioner Deanie Sebring vacated the remaining 14 months of her two-year commission term. The commission seat held by Commissioner Robert Kingan will be vacant in December after his current two-year term expires. Kingan chose not to seek reelection and no other candidate chose to run in this year’s race, which also sees commissioners Jon Crane and Charlie Salem running unopposed for additional two-year terms in office.
The person appointed to fill Sebring’s vacant seat will serve the remainder of a term that expires in December 2024. The person appointed to fill Kingan’s vacant seat will serve a term that expires in December 2025.
The commission generally meets two Thursdays a month (once in the afternoon and once in the evening), with additional meetings scheduled as needed. Commissioners earn $400 per month for their service.
On Oct. 19, Murphy and the four sitting commissioners made slight revisions to the previously discussed appointment timeline.
The city will begin soliciting candidate applications on Nov. 1, with applications available from the city clerk’s office or online at www.cityofannamaria.com. The application period closes on Friday, Dec. 15.
From Nov. 1 to Dec. 27, the city clerk’s office will accept candidate questions submitted by the public, the media, the mayor and the sitting commissioners. Questions can be emailed to amclerk@cityofannamaria.com. On Dec. 29, the compiled questions will be provided to the commission applicants who will then present their answers during a public forum at city hall on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 at 6 p.m. Forum attendees will be allowed to pose follow-up questions to the written questions addressed or not addressed by the candidates.
The two vacant commission seats will then be filled by commission appointment on Thursday, Jan. 25. The appointments will be based on the individual candidate rankings made by sitting commissioners Mark Short, Jon Crane and Charlie Salem. The two top-ranked candidates will be appointed.
During Thursday’s meeting, Crane questioned whether Kingan might be willing to serve a one-year appointment and then vacate that seat with one year remaining. Murphy said he would discuss that possibility with Kingan. After the meeting, Kingan was asked about his interest in serving one more year. He said at this time he has no intention of doing so.
ANNA MARIA – City Commissioner Deanie Sebring has vacated her city commission seat.
Sebring participated in her final commission meeting on Sept. 21. In October, she and her husband, Tripp, are moving to France. The remaining months of Sebring’s two-year term will be filled by a commission appointment to be made in January. Her term expires in December 2024.
Thursday evening’s regular city commission meeting was preceded by a budget adoption hearing. Before the budget meeting began, Sebring shared some thoughts on her departure and her next adventure.
“I am following my intuition. I am moving to Biron, France. I looked at a map and something made me say I was moving to France, and that was it. That day, we started putting the wheels in motion,” she said.
In the small commune/domicile of Biron, Sebring will pursue artistic interests that include working with
Angélique de Labarre and creating paintings of the late American-born French entertainer Josephine Baker. She will also continue her efforts to expand universalism.
Sebring moved from Tampa to Anna Maria in 2017. In December 2020, she was appointed to fill the city commission seat vacated by Amy Tripp. Running unopposed in 2022, Sebring was elected to serve another two-year term.
When asked what she learned as a commissioner, Sebring noted a commissioner doesn’t always get what they want because commission decisions are made by consensus. Sebring was alone in her past support for the elimination of the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue as part of the pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project. She believes eliminating those streetside parking spaces would make Pine Avenue safer for pedestrians.
Referring to the potential consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities, Sebring said, “I think more people need to put their name in the hat to become a commissioner, especially if they want Anna Maria to continue to be a city.”
Regarding the commission as a whole, Sebring said, “I love the fact that it’s people who truly care about the community. I think this commission does a wonderful job. We have people with different backgrounds and it’s nice that we all have different ideas about different things. Dan Murphy is an incredible mayor and I very much respect him.”
When the budget meeting began, Murphy presented Sebring with a plaque containing a ceremonial key to the city. He described Sebring as “a bundle of energy” who got involved with the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society, the city commission and the community.
Deanie Sebring received a key to the city from Mayor Dan Murphy. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“You’ve left your imprint here in the city of Anna Maria and we are so appreciative to have had you as a citizen of our city. It’s going to be difficult to replace you and we’re going to miss you. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the city,” Murphy said.
Sebring then said, “I will definitely miss everyone here. I’ve never felt I would have so many friends and meet so many people. It’s actually been the most incredible experience of my entire life. This little town was a safe haven for me and my husband for many different reasons. Anna Maria’s probably the most spectacular city I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of.”
Sebring’s last action as a city commissioner was to join the rest of the commission in approving the interlocal agreement that allows the county to use the City Pier as a Gulf Island Ferry stop. She then departed the regular commission meeting still in progress to attend a previously planned social gathering.
Appointment timeline
After Sebring departed, the mayor and remaining commissioners discussed the process and timeline that would be used to appoint someone to serve the remainder of Sebring’s term. At the same time, the commission will appoint someone to fill the two-year vacancy created when Commissioner Robert Kingan’s two-year term expires in December because he decided not to seek reelection.
Commissioner Robert Kingan’s commission term expires in December. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In November, the city clerk’s office will begin accepting applications from Anna Maria residents interested in serving on the commission. The commission appointments will be made in early January, with each sitting commissioner numerically ranking the applicants in order of their personal preference. One applicant will be selected to serve the remaining months of Sebring’s current term and one applicant will be selected to serve the two-year term as Kingan’s successor. Applicants can state their preference for a one or two-year appointment.
A week before appointments are made, the applicants will participate in a public question and answer session at city hall answering questions posed by the sitting commissioners, the public and the media.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Bradenton Beach voters have eliminated the term limits that previously applied to the city’s mayor and city commissioners.
Bradenton Beach’s registered voters supported three other amendments to the city charter and rejected one proposed amendment.
Election results
U.S. Senator – Marco Rubio
U.S. House District 16 – Vern Buchanan
Florida Governor – Ron DeSantis
Attorney General – Ashley Moody
Chief Financial Officer – Jimmy Patronis
Commissioner of Agriculture – Wilton Simpson
State House District 70 – Mike Beltran
State House District 72 – Tommy Gregory
Manatee County Commissioner District 2 – Amanda Ballard
Manatee County Commissioner District 4 – Michael Rahn
Manatee County Commissioner At-Large – Jason Bearden
According to the unofficial election results posted at the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office website Tuesday evening, 213 voters (51.08%) supported eliminating term limits and 204 voters (49.92 %) opposed doing so.
The term limits previously set forth in the city charter limited elected officials to serving three consecutive two-year terms in the same elected office.
Eliminating term limits allows incumbent Ward 2 City Commissioner Marilyn Maro, who ran unopposed in the election, to serve a fourth consecutive term in office. Had voters retained term limits, Maro would not have been allowed to serve another consecutive term and would have term-limited out of office.
The election results allow incumbent Commissioner Marilyn Maro (shown here with her husband Ed) to serve another term in office. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Running unopposed, and not impacted by the term limit vote, Ward 4 Commissioner Ralph Cole also earned another two-year term in office.
Running unopposed, incumbent Commissioner Ralph Cole earned another term in office. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Eliminating term limits would have also resulted in Mayor John Chappie and Ward 1 Commissioner Jake Spooner term-limiting out of office in November 2023 after the completion of their current terms.
Bradenton Beach was the only city on Anna Maria Island that had term limits.
Maro and Cole will be sworn in to their next terms on Monday, Nov. 21 at 10 a.m.
Additional charter questions
Bradenton Beach voters supported charter amendment question 2, which read as follows: “The current city charter requires a ward commissioner to reside in the ward they represent. Should the city amend its charter to establish a procedure to temporarily fill the ward seat for one term with an at-large commissioner if no ward resident is available or willing to run for office?”
According to the unofficial election results, 226 voters ( 54.46%) supported charter amendment 2 and 189 voters (45.54 %) opposed it.
The election results now allow the commission to fill a short-term vacancy with an appointee that lives anywhere in the city.
Voters rejected ballot question 3, which read as follows: “The current city charter requires the city to provide a special election to fill a vacancy that results in more than six months from a resignation required by Section 99.012, Florida Statutes. Should the charter be amended to allow for all vacancies to be appointed by the city commission?”
According to the unofficial election results, 253 voters (61.26%) opposed this proposed charter amendment and 160 voters (38.74%) supported it.
Retaining this charter provision means the city must continue to hold a special election to fill any commission seat being vacated for more than six months.
By a one-vote margin, Bradenton Beach voters supported charter amendment question 1, which read as follows: “Currently the city charter vests authority in three arbitrators to hold forfeiture of office proceedings against an elected official with costs to be borne by the city. Should the city revise its charter to eliminate the three arbitrator-panel procedure and replace it with the former forfeiture provision utilizing the city commission to conduct the proceedings?”
According to the unofficial election results, 206 voters (50.12%) voters supported this charter amendment and 205 voters (49.88 %) opposed it.
The results mean the city commission can now initiate forfeiture of office proceedings against a sitting commission member without using outside arbitrators. Removing an elected official from office still requires the majority support of the city’s registered voters.
Logistical in nature, charter amendment 5 pertained to commission actions that require a city ordinance. The ballot question read as follows: “Currently the city charter sets forth actions requiring an ordinance. Should the city amend the charter to remove employee personnel benefits and procedures from this section and require actions of the city regarding employee personnel benefits and procedures to be adopted in a public meeting through a resolution of the commission?”
According to the unofficial election results, 237 voters (59.10%) voters this charter amendment and 164 voters (40.9%) opposed it. Approval of this amendment streamlines the manner in which city employee benefits and employee procedures are addressed by the commission.
The charter amendments were proposed earlier this summer by the city commission-appointed charter review committee that was guided in its review process by City Attorney Ricinda Perry. The city commission then unanimously supported placing the five committee-recommended charter amendment questions on the ballot.
Anna Maria
Running unopposed, incumbent Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and incumbent city commissioners Deanie Sebring and Mark Short earned additional two-year terms in office. The trio will be sworn in during the commission’s organization meeting on Thursday, Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m.
Holmes Beach
Running unopposed, first-time candidates Dan Diggins and Greg Kerchner won seats on the Holmes Beach City Commission. Incumbent Commissioner Kim Rash did not seek reelection and incumbent Commissioner Jayne Christenson withdrew from the race after she qualified to seek reelection. Diggins and Kerchner are to be sworn in Wednesday morning, Nov. 9.
ANNA MARIA – The City Commission is considering committing $50,000 in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for a nutrient removal project.
At the request of Commissioner Robert Kingan, a potential nutrient removal project was discussed in general terms on Feb. 23. Kingan previously suggested the commission hear from the city’s contracted engineers about alternatives to the $50,000 clam and seagrass restoration project proposed by restaurateur and businessman Ed Chiles and his restoration project associates.
The commission has not made any final decisions regarding how the $55,000 in ARP funds earmarked for an environmental/water quality project will be spent.
Wednesday’s discussion began with Mayor Dan Murphy noting the city has spent millions of dollars in the last several years installing vertical infiltration trenches – many of which are located in city rights of way alongside the streets of Anna Maria.
Murphy said the infiltration trenches help improve drainage, but their primary purpose is to filter nutrients and other pollutants from rainwater eventually discharged into Tampa Bay, Anna Maria’s residential canals and other bodies of water.
The limestone-covered trenches are filled with granite rocks and man-made filtration mesh that help filter the rainwater that passes through the trenches and into the city’s stormwater system and the soil and groundwater below.
Murphy noted that in addition to the cost of installing the trenches, there’s also the ongoing cost to maintain them – which he believes is a good investment, even though the periodic maintenance needs increase as more trenches are installed.
Engineering insight
Participating in Wednesday’s meeting by phone was Quinn Duffy, project engineer with Infrastructure Solution Services. He provided the commission with his insight on the effectiveness and value of infiltration trenches.
Duffy said the city’s past two phases of infiltration trench projects, and a current third phase, have been paid for by equal cost-sharing funding cooperatives with the Southwest Florida Water Management District at a total shared cost of slightly more than $2 million.
Duffy said the city has installed tens of thousands of linear feet of infiltration trenches. He said the trenches collectively remove about 600 pounds of nitrates per year, 107 pounds of phosphorus per year and have removed about 9.3 tons of suspended sediments. He said infiltration trenches remove 50-60% of the nutrients that pass through them, which he feels is a good return on the city’s investment.
Infiltration trenches cost an average of $63 per linear foot, he said, which are a cost-efficient means of treating stormwater on an Island that, in some places, has an elevation of three feet above sea level. He also said there are more costly and complicated stormwater treatment and drainage methods the city could explore.
Commissioner Jon Crane opposes the proposed clam restoration project because he’s not convinced clams filter red tide organisms and other harmful elements from the natural waters to the degree that Chiles and others claim.
“We’re charged with spending federal taxpayer money to do something good. The clams may or may not be good, but right now there’s no proof. I would rather put money into something we know works,” Crane said.
Commissioner Jon Crane opposes the proposed clam restoration project. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Crane asked Duffy if he had any insight on the effectiveness of clams in terms of water filtration.
Duffy said he’s aware of studies conducted around the state, especially those conducted by the University of Florida. He said it would be possible to use those studies to compare the costs and benefits of a clam restoration project versus an infiltration trench project. He said the number and size of the clams would need to be factored into that comparison.
Duffy said infiltration trenches filter the water before it reaches the bay and other natural waters, while clams help filter the water they live in. Without doing more research, Duffy would not speculate as to the effectiveness of clams versus infiltration trenches.
Commissioner Mark Short noted the commission recently doubled the annual stormwater fees assessed to Anna Maria property owners. Those fees help fund stormwater and drainage improvements and maintenance.
Kingan made a motion to use $50,000 in ARP funds for a project that uses methods proven to remove nutrients, but his motion fell by the wayside without a vote as the discussion continued.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring supports the proposed clam restoration project. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Deanie Sebring expressed continued support for the clam restoration project. She said $50,000 is a “drop in the bucket” and the city should do something to help clean the local waters, even if the proposed project is experimental in terms of proven results.
Jim McDaniel serves as The Center of Anna Maria’s director of development. In recent years, The Center has embarked on environmental efforts that included mini-reef installations as part of its ongoing “Go Green” campaign. During public input, McDaniel said he is on a clean water committee in Holmes Beach and he encouraged the commission to consider all options.
Jim McDaniel encouraged the commission to consider all options. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Doing the ditches is so important, but I don’t see it as binary. I don’t think it’s one or the other. I stopped using ‘but’ when I write and I change it to ‘and.’ Try it. I think we need to do this and this and this. Together, we come up with better solutions,” McDaniel said.
Wednesday’s discussion concluded without any decisions being made and Murphy said the ARP project funding discussions would continue at a future meeting or meetings.
ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria Island Garden Club raised more than $10,000 during its annual fundraising fashion show and luncheon on Jan. 19.
The fashion show at The Center of Anna Maria Island featured community members as models, and some canine models too.
The featured fashions were provided by The Island Cabana, Pink & Navy, Island Charms, AMI Beach & Dog Supply and howluckyami.
AMI Garden Club member Deanie Sebring was in charge of this year’s event.
The AMI Garden Club fashion show took to the runway at The Center in Anna Maria. – Deanie Sebring | Submitted
“The addition of many small stores rather than highlighting just one really brought the community together, and the addition of men and dogs to the show added a comedic factor,” she said.
“I thought it was a spectacular event. Everyone seemed to be so happy to be together again. We had over $7,000 in basket merchandise and gift certificates given to us by the stores and businesses on the Island. The vendors stepped up and gave so much, along with 11 local artists donating their art. The attendees had a fabulous time, enjoyed the lunch, aggressively bid on the art and purchased an immense amount of raffle tickets. The Center made it all possible by giving the Garden Club the space and the use of the tables and chairs,” Sebring said.
Led by Zan Fuller, Garden Club members prepared the luncheon that included chicken salad served on a croissant. Tickets were $30 per person, with an additional $3 donation from those who enjoyed the wine provided by The Sandbar restaurant.
ANNA MARIA – Dogs on the beach are a growing concern in Anna Maria.
City officials believe the steady stream of tourists, the lack of verification requirements for service dogs and dog-friendly sheriff’s deputies are contributing factors.
Mayor Dan Murphy initiated discussion on these topics during the Thursday, Jan. 28 city commission meeting. He told the commission he started getting more complaints about dogs on beaches in October and asked the Anna Maria Unit of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to increase its enforcement efforts.
“We get complaints, and the complaints are escalating,” Murphy said, noting they’re not all coming from the same people.
As a result of Thursday’s discussion, the city commission informally asked Murphy to put together a proposal detailing the potential cost of using code enforcement officers employed directly by the city to enforce the city’s dog-related regulations.
City ordinances
According to Sec. 38-28 of the city ordinances, “It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow such animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits.”
According to Murphy, this includes the beach at Bayfront Park and the public beach areas near the City Pier.
The ordinance does not prohibit keeping a domestic animal on private beach property, as long as it isn’t allowed to stray onto public beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks.
According to Sec. 14-61, “The owner or custodian of a dog or cat must have direct control of such animal at all times.”
According to Sec. 14-62, “Any feces deposited by a dog or cat on public property, public walks, recreation areas or the private property of others must be immediately removed by the person who has custody or control of the animal, unless otherwise authorized by the property owner.”
Service dogs and photographs
When addressing the commission, Murphy said, “Part of the problem with this is if it’s a service dog there’s nothing that can be done about a dog on the beach. Under the law, the only thing that’s required is for the person to say it’s a service dog. It doesn’t have to have a license. You don’t have to have a little jacket on it. You don’t have to have anything. The word has gotten out, so everything’s a service dog.”
He then deferred to Commissioner Deanie Sebring, whose diabetic alert dog, Humphrey, she carries in a pouch worn around her chest and torso.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring has a diabetic alert dog with her at all times. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Sebring said the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require the dog owner to carry a card or the dog to wear a vest that designates it as a service dog.
“They don’t want a disabled person to be singled out by your dog actually having a vest or a card,” Sebring said, noting that she carries such a card.
“The only way a service dog can be asked to leave is if it’s behaving in a manner that’s not acceptable. If the dog is behaving, there really is nothing that anyone can do about it. As far as comfort dogs, I believe that’s a whole different situation. But there again, it’s someone’s word the police officer has to take,” Sebring said.
Murphy said a new and additional complaint has also recently surfaced: He’s now getting complaints about sheriff’s deputies posing for photos with dogs on the beach, and he’s been asked what signal that sends to others.
“They must come to a conclusion that it’s OK to have a dog on the beach because they’re taking a picture with the deputy,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he discussed this with Anna Maria Unit leader Sgt. Brett Getman.
“He feels very strongly that the people are doing nothing wrong because it’s a service dog. And if they ask for a picture on the beach with a dog that’s just good public relations. My perspective is different than that. Perception becomes reality. If the perception is that we’re allowing dogs on the beach because we have a deputy having their picture taken with a dog, then to me that exacerbates it. I can pursue this further with the sheriff and see if we can have a change of heart in that regard, if that’s what the commission is interested in,” Murphy said.
Canine concerns
“There’s no bad dogs, there’s only bad people. And bad people don’t pick up their dog feces.” Commissioner Jon Crane said. “Dog feces is one of the two reasons you don’t want dogs on the beach. The other is they might bite people.”
Crane said he’s not in favor of deputies posing for photos with dogs on the beach, and he’d like to see the sheriff’s office take this entire matter more seriously, but he doesn’t want to pick a fight with the city’s contracted law enforcement agency.
“I wouldn’t mind tripling the fines for people that don’t pick up their dog poop,” he added.
Later in the discussion, Crane said, “I had an experience walking my dogs across the roadside edge of Bayfront Park, which I guess is wrong – I was told it is wrong by a sheriff’s deputy. They didn’t take a picture with me and they shooed me off of Bayfront Park. So, I don’t know how widespread this is, but they handled me appropriately.”
Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked about the fines for having a dog on the beach or not cleaning up after it. Murphy said he thought those fines were $500 and he noted the fine for not cleaning up after your dog applies anywhere in the city.
Commissioner Joe Muscatello believes the city must defend its beaches. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Muscatello noted Anna Maria beaches are considered bird and turtle sanctuaries: “If that’s what we’re going to be, then we need to stay true to that. We’re a special beach here and we need to maintain that.”
Crane said he’d like to see more enforcement of the city’s leash law, because a dog on a leash isn’t going to chase down a turtle or a seabird.
Raising another concern, Sebring said she often sees dogs “running amok” on the beach after coming off a boat: “I see them pulling up and they don’t put them on leashes. The dogs run up into the dunes and do whatever.”
Muscatello acknowledged it’s difficult to enforce dogs coming off boats, but he still expects the sheriff’s deputies to enforce the laws: “We need to make sure we’re not opening this up to be a kennel on the beach.”
COVID and costs
“We have some special issues this year with COVID,” Commission Chair Carol Carter said.
Carter said she’s seen social media posts about vacation rental guests bringing four dogs with them. She believes there are more dogs in Anna Maria now due to travelers driving instead of flying. She also said she hears more dogs barking and sees more dog feces on the ground when she’s out walking.
“I don’t think these are owners or residents with their dogs. I think these are visitors who don’t understand our rules. I would like to see us create a little more awareness than what’s being done by the sheriff,” Carter said.
“If the sheriff doesn’t want to take any further action, I think we ought to consider code enforcement helping with some of this. I’m really concerned about the number of dogs running around on the beach.” Carter said, noting that she loves dogs and has had one most of her life.
Muscatello asked if the vacation rental companies make their guests aware of the city regulations regarding dogs on the beach. Murphy said some do and some don’t. Murphy said that information could be added to the list of best practices already provided to vacation rental guests regarding sea turtle protections, beach lighting restrictions and other local regulations.
Sebring noted the only public beach near Anna Maria Island that allows dogs is off-Island, along the Palma Sola Causeway.
Murphy said if the commission wants to use code enforcement officers to patrol beaches, he could come back with a proposal that details the estimated costs.
“It’s going to take vehicles and it’s going to take more bodies – as long as you understand that up front. We’re going to need a vehicle that can go on the beach,” Murphy said.
“We have to defend this beach. If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes,” Muscatello said.
