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The results are in for Holmes Beach

The results are in for Holmes Beach

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The results are in and the voters have spoken. Holmes Beach has three commissioners elect and all eight charter amendments passed.

About 30% of the city’s 2,751 active voters showed up either at St. Bernard Catholic Church to vote in person or by mail to help choose among four commission candidates vying for three seats on the dais and determine what changes to make to the city’s charter.

Commission incumbents Rick Hurst, Jim Kihm and Carol Soustek all petitioned voters for another two years on the dais while newcomer Terry Schaefer hoped for his first term as commissioner. Kihm and Soustek succeeded, each winning another two years on the dais. Schaefer will join them as a commissioner, meaning that Hurst’s time on the dais has come to an end.

Kihm received the top votes at 658, with Schaefer coming in second with 606 votes. The third and final commission seat goes to Soustek who received 546 votes. Shut out of the top three spots was Hurst who received 471 votes.

The three commission-elect candidates will be sworn into office for two-year terms during the city’s organizational meeting on Monday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.

There were eight questions posed to the city’s voters, answered with a simple yes or no, to amend the Holmes Beach charter. The questions were devised by the charter review commission whose members were voted into office in November 2018 by the city’s residents. Voters passed all eight charter amendments.

Question 1, a revision of the city’s legal description, bringing the description of the city’s boundaries in line with the description in other city documents, passed with 767 votes in favor of the amendment and 90 votes against it.

Question 2, governing how city leaders can transfer ownership of or long-term lease city-owned property, passed with 704 votes in favor of the amendment and 152 votes against it.

Question 3, changing how budget amendments of less than $100,000 are adopted by commissioners, passed with 638 votes in favor of the amendment and 218 votes against it.

Question 4, amending how department heads are fired, by the concurrence of city commissioners, not just by the mayor, passed with 616 votes in favor of the amendment and 224 votes against its adoption.

Question 5, changing the job description of the city treasurer to allow for the city’s annual financial statements to be audited by an independent accountant, passed with 790 votes for the measure and 119 against its adoption.

Question 6, removing the building and public works department as a charter department, passed with 493 votes for and 345 votes against the measure.

Question 7, removing human resources as a charter department, passed with 557 votes in favor of and 282 votes against the amendment.

Question 8, transferring the filing of written notices of candidacy from the city clerk’s office to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, passed with 627 votes for and 228 votes against the amendment.

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Questions on the ballot in Holmes Beach

Meet the candidate: Jim Kihm

Meet the candidate: Terry Schaefer

Meet the candidate: Rick Hurst

Meet the candidate: Carol Soustek

Holmes Beach logo OLD

Meet the candidate: Rick Hurst

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioner Rick Hurst has his eyes set on a second term after the November election and is hopeful that the city’s voters agree.

Rick Hurst
Commissioner Rick Hurst waves a campaign sign at the intersection of Gulf and Marina drives while running for his first term in office in 2017. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Hurst first took the dais as a commissioner in November 2017. With only three commission seats available and four candidates, Hurst is squaring off at the polls with incumbents Jim Kihm and Carol Soustek and newcomer Terry Schaefer. To help the voters get to know each candidate, The Sun sat down with Hurst to find out where he stands on the issues facing Holmes Beach. Here are his answers.

What should the voters know about you?

“I’m heavily involved in the community, I have kids, I’m hardworking. I think I’ve been a good commissioner. I take the job seriously and I do it because I want to serve my community and I intend to live here for the rest of my life.”

What has been your greatest accomplishment for the city?

“My greatest accomplishment for the city has been reversing the three-year waiting period between permits for ground-level properties… That would’ve been huge for these ground-level people. I don’t think anyone realizes how big that was. When I found out about that and started talking to real estate agents, even builders, and they said you’re basically going to just kill the ground level homes (with the three-year waiting period for 50% rule FEMA-compliant renovations). I think that would’ve been devastating. I also feel I bring my ability to see all sides of an issue and understand how it can impact the city both positively and negatively.”

What would you hope to accomplish in a new term as commissioner?

“Continue to focus on infrastructure issues and figure out how we can roll back or lower the millage rate. I was very disappointed when that didn’t happen this year. And continue to focus on community, bringing the community together.”

What is the biggest problem facing Holmes Beach?

“Infrastructure. Dealing with potential sea level rise, the cost of the infrastructure changes that are necessary for Holmes Beach, and that includes widening the sidewalks, bike paths, you have crumbling curbs in Key Royale. Dealing with potential sea level rise is very expensive and we have to make sure that we address those needs while trying to reduce the costs to the city… The other one I always look at is the people who live in the R-2 zone who want to live a quiet, happy life and then people who own properties that are trying to make money off those properties. That balance, finding the balance that is justifiable, fair, enforceable and can make the R-2 residents in those zones as happy as possible and that is a challenge.”

How would you fix it?

“The infrastructure has to be dealt with and we have to do it in a systematic manner that minimizes the cost to the residents and that means doing it in a way that we can maximize outside funding as much as possible, which we have been doing… As a commissioner, you try to deal with what’s fair and what’s right. And people do have a right to go to sleep and it be quiet but people spend a lot of money for a place and have a right to come and enjoy themselves and not be hassled by the police unless they’re totally out of hand… To me, it’s an educational thing… Infrastructure’s easy to solve. You just put money at it. The challenge is finding the money. But for this situation (noise issues in residential areas) it’s almost an impossible solution. We’ve just got to find the right solution.”

Do you think the residents have enough of a voice in city government?

“It’s so different than any other government. They vote, they can show up at the commission meetings. I believe that when people do speak at the commission meetings, we do hear what they say. I can’t think of many situations, if any, where people have spoken that has not made me think of how we can smartly accommodate them. Sometimes we don’t always accommodate but that’s because there are other factors.”

What is the most important part of being a Holmes Beach commissioner?

“Understanding the impact of every word of every piece of legislation on the entire city, every resident and the community around us. That’s what I try to do.”

Is there anything else you’d like the voters to know?

“I am raising a 12-year-old daughter. I am a managing partner of The Freckled Fin which makes me a Holmes Beach business owner. That provides me a unique perspective that none of the other commissioners or candidates have. And I’ve worked hard and done my best to do a good job for the city and I believe that I have.”

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Meet the candidate: Carol Soustek

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Holmes Beach logo OLD

Meet the candidate: Carol Soustek

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioner Carol Soustek is seeking a third full term in November when she runs for re-election to one of the city’s three available commission seats.

Carol Soustek
Carol Soustek

Soustek was first appointed to the city commission in November 2014 to fill the unexpired term of former Commissioner David Zaccagnino.

Including Soustek, there are four commission candidates in Holmes Beach – incumbents Jim Kihm and Rick Hurst, and newcomer Terry Schaefer. To help the voters get to know each one better, The Sun is conducting an interview with each candidate to find out where they stand on the issues. Here are Soustek’s answers.

What should the voters know about you?

“I am very dedicated. I take it seriously and I try my honest best to do what is best for the community.”

What has been your greatest accomplishment for the city?

“The VRC (vacation rental certificate program) and the downsizing of bedrooms, control of the number of bedrooms in the building. By controlling that, you’re kind of giving direction to the development community and we can better direct how we want the community to go.”

What would you hope to accomplish in a new term as commissioner?

“I hope to accomplish the solar conversion, not only for city hall but try to find a company that will offer discounts by gathering a number of residents who would want to do solar together. I think that faced with the threats that we have of the sea rise, we have to do our part. Even though it’s small, it would count toward the overall if we put solar and fossil-fuel-free equipment in the city.”

What is the biggest problem facing Holmes Beach?

“There is more than one. I have three problems that I look at constantly. One is the sea rise because there’ll come a point where I’m not sure we can financially stop it. Second is greed. Neighbors suing neighbors, that upsets me quite a bit. And then I worry about the apathy of the community not paying attention to their government. I was guilty of that way back. That’s why I got into this because my apathy led to the proliferation of all of the vacation houses because I thought everything was fine and it wasn’t, but I wasn’t paying attention and the present commission wasn’t paying attention. The community must monitor their government. They must pay attention to what’s going on and speak up if they’re not happy with what the commissioners are doing. That scares me, that they don’t care.”

How would you fix it?

“By bringing more town hall meetings that are open to the public. By appealing through the paper. By explaining some of the actions that we do, like we tried to explain some of the budget items by each department, making people aware of why we’re doing it. You have to explain it… I would love to be able to broadcast the meetings. People are reluctant to come to city hall. I don’t know why. It’s a nice place… I would like us to be able to go out to them… You have to pay attention to your local government. That’s your control. If you don’t pay attention to what’s going on up there before you know it you’re in a very bad situation and it takes years to get out of it.”

Do you think the residents have enough of a voice in city government?

“They have a voice, but they don’t use it. City hall is open to anybody, all the records, all the people in there, they talk to you, they’ll help you, but you have to come through the front door. A lot of people just don’t want to do it. City hall has to reach out into the community and make contact in any way that we can… I don’t think there’s a commissioner up there that says, ‘Don’t talk to me.’ ”

Some say the city’s budget needs to be cut. Do you agree? How would you address this issue?

“We were trying very hard to keep it at a low rollback rate but when the Bert Harris cases came forward, the city has to protect itself because it only has a limited amount of insurance to protect itself. I feel very confident that we did the right thing and the court will uphold it, but you never know how a judge is going to rule so we have to put money back and that’s what we’ve done. If we win all of the Bert Harris cases, look at the jackpot we have back there. Maybe we’ll hold a town hall and ask everyone ‘How do you want to spend the money?.’ ”

What is the most important part of being a Holmes Beach commissioner?

“There’s a lot of important parts. I guess caring. If you care about how you do your job, if you care about your community and the people in it, you can be a good commissioner. And caring what happens. That’s the most important thing to me.”

Is there anything else you’d like the voters to know?

“I love what I do. I really love directing the way our community is going into the future and safeguarding it. That’s two very important things for me. I love a challenge and this city is certainly a challenge.”

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Commissioners reject salary increase

Commissioners reject salary increase

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – With Commissioner Pat Morton absent, a motion to give city commissioners a $250 per month stipend raise failed on a tie.

At the suggestion of the 2019 Charter Review Commission, city Commissioner Carol Soustek brought up the idea of giving the city’s commissioners a small raise, bringing their monthly stipend up from $500 to $750. The stipend amount was last raised in 2007. Any change in the stipend amount wouldn’t affect what the sitting commissioners are compensated for the elected position. A current commissioner’s stipend would only be changed after he or she is re-elected. It would also affect any newly elected commissioners.

If the change in stipend amount had been accepted by commissioners, it would have resulted in an annual raise of $3,000 to $9,000 annually or $750 per month. Commissioners currently receive a monthly stipend of $500 for their service to the city.

“I think this is very warranted to those who take their job very seriously,” Soustek said. “It’s not a small job anymore; it’s a big job.” She added that increasing the stipend would show more respect for the hours commissioners spend researching and preparing for city meetings in order to make the best decisions they can for the residents.

“Commissioners are not just a face anymore,” she said. “It’s a job, and you have to do it if you really want to fulfill your promise as a commissioner.”

Commissioner Jim Kihm agreed with Soustek, adding that he felt the city should keep up with what other cities of their size are offering commissioners and that raising the amount of the stipend could encourage more people to run for a seat on the dais.

Commissioner Rick Hurst disagreed with the idea of increasing the stipend to encourage future commission candidates to run for elected office.

“My opinion on this is that I didn’t run for the money,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want to encourage future candidates to run based on the compensation they would receive if elected.

“I’m doing it strictly to serve the residents of Holmes Beach,” Commissioner Kim Rash said, agreeing with Hurst that he didn’t want people to run for office because of a financial incentive. “I just do it because I love Holmes Beach,” he said.

With Soustek and Kihm voting for the raise and Rash and Hurst voting against it, the motion to raise the commissioners’ stipend failed on a tie without Morton there to break it.

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Four qualify in Holmes Beach

Commissioners approve election changes

Commissioners approve election changes

Commissioners approve election changes

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners had a full agenda when they met June 11.

The first thing commissioners tackled was the second and final reading of an ordinance altering the city’s election procedures. They voted unanimously to pass the ordinance which changes how candidates are validated to run for office. Now, rather than applying with the city clerk’s office and turning in paperwork to City Clerk Stacey Johnston, candidates will have to submit their candidate paperwork to the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office. While Johnston will still serve as the Holmes Beach election official, she will no longer qualify candidates.

Commissioners also took a first vote on the ballot questions recommended by members of the city’s elected Charter Review Commission. The questions passed their first reading with a unanimous vote. Commissioners said they were considering either a workshop for residents to help them better understand the ballot language or sending out a letter explaining the ballot questions in more detail.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve the extension of two moratoriums currently in place.

A moratorium preventing permit-to-permit construction on non-FEMA compliant homes, those built below the base flood elevation and including ground-level homes, will now end on Sept. 11.

While the moratorium doesn’t prevent applying for a permit to improve a structure, it does require homeowners to adhere to the FEMA 50 percent rule which allows for improvements up to 50 percent of the property’s assessed value. Once the 50 percent is reached, homeowners must wait to apply for another permit. City officials are considering a one year waiting period from receipt of a certificate of completion. The moratorium does not apply to involuntary damage to a home that needs to be repaired, such as damage from a storm.

The second moratorium extension approved applies to the alternative transportation share moratorium which prevents business owners from coming to the city and setting up bicycle, scooter and other docked and dockless sharing services. The mobility services moratorium is now set to expire on Sept. 30. Commissioners are considering implementing a carefully controlled pilot program with a single docked bicycle share service with the docks placed on private property.

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Holmes Beach swearing in commission

New Holmes Beach elected officials sworn in

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Nov. 29 was a day of celebration in the city commission chambers at city hall as the city’s new mayor, commissioners and charter review commission members took the oaths of their offices.

The chamber was packed with cheering friends, family members, supporters and city hall staff as each person stepped up to take the oath, administered by City Clerk Stacey Johnston.

Holmes Beach swearing in charter
City Clerk Stacey Johnston swears in members of the city’s new charter review commission, David Zaccagnino, Sean Murphy, Edward Upshaw, Claudia Carlson and Nancy Deal. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Elected to the charter review commission are Claudia Carlson, Nancy Deal, Sean Murphy, Edward Upshaw and David Zaccagnino. The charter review commission is expected to begin meeting in January.

Commissioner Pat Morton stepped up to take the oath for the ninth time, having first been elected to the city commission in 2003.

Holmes Beach swearing in pat
City Clerk Stacey Johnston congratulates Commissioner Pat Morton on his re-election. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The new commissioner on the dais this year is Commissioner Kim Rash, who received the most votes in the November election. This is Rash’s first term as commissioner.

Holmes Beach swearing in kim
Commissioner Kim Rash takes the oath of office. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Commissioner turned Mayor Judy Titsworth also took the oath of office, making her the fifth female mayor of Holmes Beach.

After the formalities were completed and the elected officials had a moment to be congratulated by their family and friends, the commissioners and mayor took to the dais for the city’s annual organizational meeting.

Holmes Beach swearing in judy
Mayor Judy Titsworth is sworn in as the fifth female mayor of Holmes Beach. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Commissioner Jim Kihm was elected as the new chair in a 4-1 vote with Morton dissenting. Morton was elected as vice-chair for the city commission in a 3-2 vote with Kihm and Rash dissenting.

At the end of the meeting, Rash took the opportunity to thank his friends, family and supporters who helped him make his way to a commission seat. “We had a real uphill battle,” he said.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer greeted the newly elected officials by saying, “Welcome to all and good luck.” Building Official Jim McGuinness also offered his congratulations.

As the meeting concluded, Titsworth said she’s feeling good about her new position and is “ready to get going.”

Kihm said he was happy to be elected as commission chair and said he’s looking forward to working with the new commission and hopes the coming year will be a good one for the city.

Also attending the meeting was former Mayor Bob Johnson, who said he’s feeling good about sitting on the other side of the dais and is looking forward to political retirement to spend more time with his wife and family.

The newly seated commission is scheduled to have its first regular meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at city hall.

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Holmes Beach mike norman rezone

Real estate office rezone approved

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Despite some concerns from the public, city commissioners voted unanimously to allow an increase in intensity of use at the 3101 Gulf Drive office of Michael Norman Realty, rezoning the C-1 commercial property to a C-2.

As a C-1 commercial property, the location could primarily only house an office. With a C-2 designation, future generations of the Norman family may choose to turn it into a coffee shop, café, or retail space. The use of the building will be held back primarily by the lack of onsite parking and lack of space to expand the 1,200 square-foot building, according to city planner Bill Brisson.

Though a majority of planning commissioners voted that the rezoning project is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan, the decision wasn’t reached without some serious discussion. Planning Commissioner Barbara Hines appeared at the Nov. 13 city commission meeting where the rezone was undergoing a final public hearing and vote to voice her concerns as a resident.

Hines said her concerns are that allowing an increase of intensity at the property will cause problems for an already clogged intersection at East Bay and Gulf drives. She also expressed concern that allowing more than an office in the spot could compromise the adjacent conservation lands which are a part of Grassy Point Preserve. Hines encouraged commissioners to deny the request for rezoning at this point and reconsider it when the property owner has plans for how to utilize the property.

Holmes Beach resident Robin Rouse, who owns a condo overlooking the property at 3100 Gulf Drive, said she’s concerned about the future of the real estate office and wants her neighborhood to remain “calmer and more quiet.”

Commissioner Rick Hurst questioned Brisson’s approval of the rezone, asking if he would still be comfortable with it if the property was turned into a Starbucks or other popular café.

Brisson said he doesn’t envision a company like Starbucks wanting the property because of its small size and few parking spaces. He did say that he’s comfortable with the location having some intensity of use and that any future use of the property would need to be approved by the sitting commission at the time the site plan request comes up, not now when no plans have been made. Right now, he said the property owner meets all of the requirements for the rezone which is all commissioners should consider.

“Everything else is a later decision,” he said.

“If the applicant meets the requirements for a rezone and it is consistent with the comprehensive plan it should be approved,” city attorney Patricia Petruff said. She didn’t recommend waiting for future plans to consider rezoning the property.

Planner Darenda Marvin, speaking on behalf of the property owner, said her clients have no plans to change the use of the building at this time, they just want options for future generations who may not want a real estate office or for the day that having a physical location is no longer needed.

“I see C-2 as a viable request and support it wholeheartedly,” Commissioner Judy Titsworth said just before the vote was cast in favor of the rezoning project.

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Holmes Beach new commission

Holmes Beach commissioners sworn in

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Two newly-elected and two re-elected Holmes Beach commissioners, along with Commissioner Judy Titsworth and Mayor Bob Johnson, are ready to tackle city issues.

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Commissioners Rick Hurst, Jim Kihm, Pat Morton and Carol Soustek took the oath of office Nov. 20 during the city’s annual organizational meeting. They then took their places on the dais to make their first decisions as a new commission – electing a chair and vice-chair for the next 12 months.

In a unanimous vote, Titsworth was re-elected as commission chair with Morton joining her for the first time as vice-chair.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d1AXotfz84[/embedyt]

 

“Thank you, everyone,” she said. “It’s an honor to serve as chair.” Titsworth went on to say that before each meeting, during the moment of silence observed after the pledge of allegiance, she asks for strength, wisdom, empathy, and to not be a microphone “hog” to allow everyone a chance to speak up on the issues. She nominated Morton for vice-chair.

“He’s been a commissioner for a long, long time and I think he deserves to be vice-chair,” Titsworth said as a part of her nomination, which Soustek seconded.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86O_eTizqPU[/embedyt]

 

“I thank everybody for your vote of confidence with me,” Morton said. He also welcomed Kihm and Hurst to the city commission, adding his wishes that the new slate of commissioners will work well together.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BURyDL6E1nE[/embedyt][embedyt]

 

Soustek took the opportunity to thank all of the voters for coming out to have their say Nov. 7 at the polls. “Thanks for paying attention to what goes on in the city,” she said.

Holmes Beach election qualifying

Five qualify for Holmes Beach election

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH — It’s almost election time again, and for the first time in three years, Holmes Beach voters will get to voice their opinions in the race for commissioner.

At the close of candidate qualifying, noon Friday, Sept. 1, five candidates emerged, of which four will appear on the November ballot. Incumbents Pat Morton and Carol Soustek are vying for one of three open seats with residents Jim Kihm and Rick Hurst. Commissioner Marvin Grossman is the only candidate to qualify for a one-year term.

As the only candidate, Grossman automatically regains his seat on the commission for a single year. The seat is up for re-election in 2018. The quick turnaround corrects the seat’s two-year election cycle.

Previously, Grossman was up for re-election in 2016 but failed to qualify due to an application error. Instead of using a check from a campaign account, he used a personal one to pay the fees to qualify. His fellow commissioners reappointed him to the seat for a one-year term expiring in November.

With three two-year commission seats open and four candidates, voters must choose at the polls. The top three candidates after polls close receive the three seats.

Not joining the incumbents seeking re-election is Commissioner Jean Peelen. Due to health, personal and political issues, Peelen withdrew her candidacy. Instead, she’s supporting Jim Kihm as a potential successor.

“Jim is smart, ethical and totally committed to maintaining Holmes Beach as a residential community,” Peelen’s e-mail reads.

In addition to supporting Kihm’s candidacy, Peelen thanked the community for its support over the years.

“It has been an honor to serve over the last six years,” she said. “I will continue, as a civilian, to try to save this community we all love from becoming Disney West.”

Holmes Beach residents go to the polls Nov. 7. For more election information or to register to vote, visit the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections.