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Tag: Dusty Crane

Hurricane damage prompts commissioner’s resignation

Hurricane damage prompts commissioner’s resignation

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

ANNA MARIA – Jon Crane has resigned from the Anna Maria City Commission. He announced his resignation during the city commission’s Nov.14 hurricane recovery-related emergency meeting.

“ ‘I come here today with a heavy heart,’ as Lyndon Johnson used to say,” Crane said. “I’m resigning. I can’t live on the Island anymore, as much as I love it.”

Later that day, he tendered his formal resignation letter to City Clerk LeAnne Addy.

Crane said he and his wife are under contract to sell their hurricane-damaged home on the 800 block of North Shore Drive and the sale is expected to close in early December.

“I’m going to make this my last meeting because I’m busy with other things too,” Crane said. “I’ve been honored to work with the mayor and fellow commissioners that live in this piece of paradise. It’s been a good thing to be part of the com­munity, working on the commission, considering items of importance to the community. I hope I’ve served the community well. I’m going to miss everybody, but life moves on,” Crane said.

Before joining the city commission in 2019, Crane served as a Planning and Zoning Board member and plan­ning board chairman. His wife, Dusty, is currently a Planning and Zoning Board member and her pending resignation will create another plan­ning board vacancy.

Mayor Dan Murphy, Mayor-elect Mark Short and Commissioner Charlie Salem were among those who thanked Crane for his service to the community.

“Thank you, not just for what you’ve done as a commissioner, but with planning and zoning and all the other things you’ve been actively involved in,” Short said. “We very much appreciate all that and thank you for what you’ve done.”

Audience member Barbara Murphy said, “I want to personally thank Jon and Dusty. They have been huge in the community. Dusty’s involved with the garden club and Jon and Dusty were instrumental with the museum. Jon was docent and vice president (of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society) for a long time and we’re going to miss you so much.”

The Cranes were longtime California residents before they bought their Anna Maria home in late 2011. They discovered Anna Maria during a year-long retirement tour that included a swing through southwest Florida and a visit with friends who lived in Anna Maria.

Hurricane damage prompts commissioner’s resignation
The Crane’s home was damaged during the two hurricanes that struck Anna Maria Island this year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

After Thursday’s meeting, Crane was asked if they’re moving because of the hurricane damage their home sustained.

“Yes. Our home was decimated,” he said.

“And the weather’s not getting any better,” he added, regarding the increased frequency and intensity of the severe weather and tidal events that impact Anna Maria property owners.

Crane said he and Dusty still like the area and they might relocate to Bradenton.

In his resignation letter, Crane wrote: “As I announced at the commission meeting today, I am resigning from my position as commissioner on the Anna Maria City Commission. It is with a great deal of regret but it is unavoidable. I feel like I can no longer safely reside on Anna Maria Island. I haven’t lived in my home since Sept. 26 and my property is under a contract of sale. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve alongside the mayor and other commission­ers and you and your staff have been terrific.”

Replacement process

Crane is in the first year of another two-year term in office and his sudden resignation creates an unexpected vacancy on the city commission. The city is now accepting appli­cations from those interested in serving the remaining year of Crane’s term. Applications can be downloaded at the city website.

Dec. 20 is the deadline to submit an application. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the city will host a public forum at city hall during which the commission applicants will answer questions submitted in advance by the public and the media. The four sitting commissioners will then appoint Crane’s successor on Jan. 9.

City Pier Park will soon be dog-friendly

City Pier Park will soon be dog-friendly

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

ANNA MARIA – Leashed dogs will soon be allowed in City Pier Park, including during some special events held in the park.

The city of Anna Maria’s code of ordinances currently prohibits dogs and other domestic animals on beaches and in city parks.

“It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow or permit any such domestic animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits,” the current ordinance says.

On March 28, City Attorney Becky Vose presented the city commission with the first reading of Ordinance 24-924, which contained the proposed addition of the following language: “Provided, however, dogs on leashes shall be allowed in parks that are not on the beach or which have coastal barrier sand dunes, as long as no special event is occurring at such park, and as long as the person accompany­ing such dog shall promptly remove any feces deposited by such dog and properly dispose of such feces.”

When discussing the proposed ordinance, Commission Chair Mark Short said, “I do not agree that we should not allow dogs in the park when there’s a special event.”

He noted that leashed dogs are al­lowed at the Sarasota farmer’s market and at many other markets and public spaces in the area.

“I don’t see an issue with allowing dogs in the park at any time,” Short said. “We have had them at some of our events, Veterans Day and so on, where there have been people there with their dogs sitting beside them. I think they should be allowed at City Pier Park even if there is a special event.”

Short noted a different city ordi­nance prohibits dogs on the City Pier and that prohibition will remain in effect.

“The Pier’s not a park,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.

As for allowing dogs during special events, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “I’m not certain about this because you get too many dogs in an area together and they fight. We have an elderly population and that concerns me a little bit.”

Commissioner Gary McMullen said he sees dogs in City Pier Park during the weekly farmers markets held on Tuesdays. He asked if the market events are considered special events or reoccurring events. Murphy said the farmers markets are considered special events.

Murphy said more than 1,000 people attend the city’s annual Memo­rial Day and Veterans Day events and allowing dogs during those events could be disruptive.

Commissioner Charlie Salem asked if the commission could prohibit dogs during certain special events. Murphy suggested the ordinance be crafted in a manner that would allow the commission to prohibit dogs during certain special events while allowing them in general and during other special events. The commission agreed and directed Vose to rewrite the ordinance to reflect that desired revision.

Commissioner Jon Crane recom­mended installing dog waste stations in the park.

“It’s a small investment and I think we need to do it,” he said, noting the dog owners sometimes forget to bring their own dog waste bags.

PUBLIC INPUT

The efforts to make City Pier Park dog-friendly date back to last September when the Planning and Zoning Board members unanimously supported board member Dusty Crane’s request to recommend to the city commission that dogs be allowed in the city-owned park located across the street from the City Pier.

When Crane (Commissioner Jon Crane’s wife) presented the planning board’s request to the city commission in October, Murphy suggested dogs remain prohibited during special events held at the park, including those offering food service.

As an alternative, Commissioner Robert Kingan proposed installing a small dog park within City Pier Park and designating that as the only area dogs would be allowed. Commissioner Charlie Salem suggested the space between the children’s playground and the Lake La Vista canal might be a good location for a dog park and the commission took no further action that day.

During the October meeting, Anna Maria resident and dog owner John Kolojeski expressed his support for allowing dogs in the park and for creating a dog park within the park.

City Pier Park will soon be dog-friendly
Anna Maria resident John Kolojeski supports allowing dogs in City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

During the March 28 meeting, Kolojeski said, “I agree with Commis­sioner Short. I think dogs on leashes should be allowed at city events. I also think we should have a dog park. What’s happening with that? I think that was fairly well-received.”

The mayor and commission did not respond to Kolojeski’s dog park comment and no further discussion ensued.

The commission doesn’t vote on the first reading of a proposed ordinance. The revised dog allowance ordinance will be presented on second and final reading and a commission vote on Thursday, April 11.

Commission discusses dogs at City Pier Park

Commission discusses dogs at City Pier Park

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

ANNA MARIA – Leashed dogs may soon be allowed in City Pier Park, but not during special events or holiday events, and not in the children’s playground.

The city commission may also consider installing a dog park at the city-owned park.

Commissioners discussed dog-related matters on Oct. 19 at the request of the Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z).

On Sept. 21, P&Z member Dusty Crane initiated a discussion about the City Pier Park dog prohibition that many residents were unaware of. In recent months, “No Dogs Allowed” signs appeared around the perimeter of the park. Similar signs are affixed to the City Pier Park children’s playground fence.

The signs reference city Ordinance 38-28, which states, “It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow or permit any such domestic animal on any beaches, coastal barrier, sand dunes or parks located within the city limits.”

The P&Z members unanimously directed Crane, a dog owner, to appear before the commission to request the ordinance be amended to allow dogs in City Pier Park while maintaining the pet prohibitions elsewhere.

Commission discusses dogs at City Pier Park
P&Z member Dusty Crane presented the planning board’s dog-related request. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When addressing the commission, Crane said, “Many residents and visitors were not aware of the prohibition of dogs in the park until the new signage was installed.”

She said dog owners would be responsible for keeping their leashed dogs under control when visiting the park and must pick up their dog’s waste. She said providing a dog waste station at the park would help keep the park clean. She added that those who don’t clean up after their dogs could be ticketed and fined under another city ordinance.

Crane said allowing dogs would improve the park experience for residents and visitors.

Commissioner Robert Kingan, a dog owner, asked Crane if nearby Bayfront Park was also part of the request. Crane said the board’s request pertained only to City Pier Park.

Mayor Dan Murphy asked if the dog allowance would remain in effect during the farmers market and other special and holiday events held at the park, some of which feature food being served.

“That’s a concern I have, especially the food,” he said.

Crane said she’d be okay if dogs remained prohibited during certain events and activities.

“If you want to put that into the amendment, that would be fine,” she said.

Kingan said it might be confusing to allow dogs in the park but prohibit them during certain events. He suggested installing a designated dog run or a fenced-in dog park that limits dogs to a specific area of the park.

Commissioner Charlie Salem said there’s enough space between the playground and the Lake La Vista canal for a dog park that would help attract more people to the park.

Dusty’s husband, Jon, is a member of the city commission. He said allowing dogs in the park would be good for the residents who walk their dogs in that area. He suggested asking the city attorney to draft an amended version of Ordinance 38-28 for future consideration.

Commission Chair Mark Short noted the commission was dealing with two separate issues – allowing dogs in the park and creating a dog park. Short suggested separating the two issues by first amending the ordinance to allow dogs in the park and then continuing the dog park discussion. He suggested the dog park could be included in the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.

The commission reached an informal consensus to move forward with amending the ordinance in a manner that would still prohibit dogs during certain park events and in the children’s playground.

Commission discusses dogs at City Pier Park
Dogs are not allowed in the City Pier Park children’s playground. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

During public input, city resident and dog owner John Kolojeski said, “I love your idea about a dog park.” He noted the nearest dog park is in Holmes Beach.

“It would be wonderfully convenient, but you’re going to have to appropriate for a fence and offer doggie bags and a repository for their waste. Thank you for thinking of it and thank you to our presenter,” Kolojeski said.

Murphy said more public input is needed before any final decisions are made.

“I think this requires a degree of public input as well. There are a lot of people that are totally opposed to this and they need to be heard from. And there are others who are totally in favor of it. We’ve only heard one side of it,” he said.

 

Related coverage

 

Board suggests allowing dogs at City Pier Park

Board suggests allowing dogs in City Pier Park

Board suggests allowing dogs at City Pier Park

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

ANNA MARIA – Efforts are afoot to allow leashed dogs at City Pier Park.

Section 38-28 of Anna Maria’s code of ordinances addresses domestic animals and currently prohibits dogs and other domestic animals in city parks and other public spaces.

“It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow or permit any such domestic animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits,” the ordinance states.

During the Sept. 21 city commission meeting, Commissioner Jon Crane foreshadowed the pending efforts to allow dogs in City Pier Park while still prohibiting them in other city-owned parks.

During the city’s Sept. 10 centennial celebration at City Pier Park, some event attendees told Crane they didn’t know dogs weren’t allowed in the park.

Crane, a dog owner himself, said to the commission, “Since when can’t we have dogs at City Pier Park?”

Board suggests allowing dogs in City Pier Park
City Commissioner Jon Crane is among those who recently noticed the “No Dogs Allowed” signs at City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Crane said Mayor Dan Murphy provided him with a copy of the ordinance that prohibits dogs in the park.

“I think there’s going to be some movement in this regard, having dogs allowed in City Pier Park. I think it might come from Planning and Zoning, but I’m not sure. It might be something we ought to think about,” Crane told the commission.

Crane said allowing dogs in City Pier Park would be different than allowing them in Bayfront Park, which abuts Tampa Bay and provides space where children and adults can play in and along the water. He noted that if dogs are allowed in City Pier Park, their owners must clean up after them.

“I’m not proposing it this second, but I think it’s going to be coming down the pike. Everyone should think about it,” Crane said.

None of the other commissioners commented on his remarks.

The city ordinance has been in place for a long time but no one seems to know exactly when the “No Dogs Allowed” signs first appeared at City Pier Park. Crane said he and several others first noticed them during the September centennial celebration.

Board discussion

During the Sept. 27 Planning and Zoning Board meeting, board member Dusty Crane, Commissioner Crane’s wife, initiated an impromptu discussion on allowing dogs in City Pier Park.

Board suggests allowing dogs in City Pier Park
Planning and Zoning Board member Dusty Crane will present the board’s request to the city commission. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I think it’s over-restrictive for residents and visitors. Along with that, I’d like to institute two things. One would be a poop station. The other would be a fine if the owner of the dog does not clean up its waste,” she said.

“And of course, no pets in the play area,” she said about the City Pier Park children’s playground. “And they all have to be leashed and under control.”

Board suggests allowing dogs in City Pier Park
Dogs would still remain prohibited in the City Pier Park children’s playground. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Crane said she’d like to see language added to the existing ordinance that would create an exception that allows dogs in City Pier Park.

“I’ve had a lot of people surprised to see the signs go up,” she said.

Board suggests allowing dogs in City Pier Park

Planning board Chairman Jose Erbella said he doesn’t own a dog and he didn’t know dogs weren’t allowed in the park. He asked how the Planning and Zoning Board would proceed with such a request.

City Planner Ashley Austin and City Attorney Becky Vose said the board should direct one of its members to attend a city commission meeting and ask the city commission to direct city staff to address the matter.

Board member David Haddox made a motion to delegate Crane to address the city commission on the issue, including leash and clean-up requirements. The board voted 4-0 in support of Haddox’s motion.