HOLMES BEACH – On May 5, Holmes Beach Public Works Director Sage Kamiya received a project update from Manatee County on the water main replacement project that’s been underway for several months along 62nd through 65th streets between Marina Drive and Holmes Boulevard.
Dated March 31, the AMI Water Main Replacement PH 42 43 schedule that Kamiya received from the county and shared with the mayor and city commissioners calls for the current portion of the county project to be completed by mid-to-late June.
Kamiya’s email update included the May 2 email that Manatee County Public Works Infrastructure Inspection Officer Scott Burnard sent Holmes Beach Public Works Project Manager Matt Gorman.
“Currently connecting water services to new water main. Still need to tie-in the water main at 62nd and 63rd at Marina,” Burnard stated in his email. “Dewater is still in place at the end of 62nd and Marina and 63rd and Marina for tie-ins. Hoping to do these next week but not confirmed as of today. As part of this overall project there are three other streets to be done. These have not been scheduled at this time. They are 54th, 55th and 65th.”
On April 8, city Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Dan Diggins asked Kamiya to provide a project update and both commissioners said they received inquiries from impacted residents.
“I think we’ve all driven by it and there’s an odor that’s coming from it,” Schaefer said.
“You’re smelling the sulfur that is naturally occurring,” Kamiya said of the odor created by the dewatering process needed to accommodate the pipe installations.
Kamiya also noted that the city has no control over a county project.
A visit to the worksite on May 8 indicated the dewatering process remained ongoing, the odor was still present and barricades and other project-related items were still in place in some areas within the project area.
AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange and Anna Maria Island Historical Society Pat Copeland Scholarship Awards, Anna Maria Island Historical Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, 5-7 p.m., $5 for members, $10 for prospective members.
Friday, April 25
Arbor Day tree plantings:
Bradenton Beach at Bridge Street west roundabout and Gulf Drive; ribbon cutting of sabal palm, native shrubs and ground cover. 10 a.m.
Holmes Beach at 34th and Sixth Avenues; planting of Jamaican caper tree or fiddlewood. 11 a.m.
Anna Maria at Villa Rosa Park, South Bay Boulevard; planting of green buttonwood. Noon.
Annie Silver Community Center at 103 23rd N. Bradenton Beach; planting of mahogany tree, sabal palm and silver buttonwood; meet your county forester with hot dogs, brats and refreshments. 12:30-1 p.m.
Saturday, April 26
Reel for Rotary fishing tournament. Benefit for disaster relief efforts in Cortez village, support of “Learn to Swim” program and programs at Anna Maria Elementary School. Registration at ianglertournament.com.
HOLMES BEACH – Gloria Dei Lutheran Church has closed and city officials hope to purchase the building and property if financially feasible.
On Jan. 18, the church hosted a Holy Closure service as its final service. The church and its 3-acre property will be put on the market and the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America is handling the sale.
According to a message shared at the Gloria Dei website, “On Jan. 1, the Synod Council assumed responsibility for all decisions related to the property, its contents and the transition process. The congregation of Gloria Dei will no longer be an active congregation. Continued worship at Gloria Dei for any additional time is not feasible.”
The message includes a statement from Tampa-based Bishop’s Assistant Rev. Ron Rose: “We were warmly invited to attend and participate in worship at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bradenton. This congregation is dealing with similar issues affecting small congregations everywhere. They look forward to getting to know us and to exploring future possibilities. We want to maintain the close bonds and support we have as a church family. We can continue to worship together at Redeemer as we plan for a successful transition to a new congregation.”
Video of the final service is posted at the church’s Facebook page, accompanied by a single comment from Elle Orr that says, “A sad day for sure.”
City interest
When discussing the pursuit of resiliency grants and other state and federal funds with city commissioners on Jan. 14, Mayor Judy Titsworth mentioned the church closure and the future sale of the building and property at 6608 Marina Drive.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church recently hosted its Holy Closure farewell service. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Titsworth wants to pursue the financial assistance needed to purchase the property for use as city-owned green space. The potential funding sources include a federal FEMA grant, a state appropriation or revenues from the county commission-controlled tourist development tax fund. Titsworth said Congressman Vern Buchanan already offered his assistance.
Titsworth said the city might have to put some “ skin in the game” as well and that could entail taking out a loan or dipping into the city’s reserve fund.
“Three acres? This is our one chance to get a great place like that. That’s what I think reserves are for,” she said.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore said that Sen. Jim Boyd told her that Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to reduce the state appropriations given to local governments this year.
City Director of Development Services Chad Minor said he recently spoke with Rose about the pending sale.
“I expressed our interest in having a seat at the table as they consider future plans for that property,” Minor said. “Once they get their appraisal, they will be putting it on the market. They have a responsibility to their group and they’re going to get the highest and best price they can for that property; and we’re more than welcome to throw our hat in the ring.”
Titsworth said the green space could be used for art festivals, a farmers market and other public uses.
“It’s something that could be a treasure for the people that live out here,” she said, noting the property could also be used as a temporary hurricane debris staging area if needed.
The School For Constructive Play preschool is displaced by the church closure. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Whitmore said the School For Constructive Play is displaced from the church building and is temporarily operating at The Center of Anna Maria Island and pursuing the licensing needed to operate a preschool there.
When contacted by The Sun, The Center’s Executive Director Chris Culhane said the School For Constructive Play obtained a temporary displacement permit from the state Department of Children and Families and they are working with DCF to obtain the permits and licensing needed to keep the preschool there if needed.
Titsworth said she will work with Minor, Public Works Superintendent Sage Kamiya and the city’s lobbyist to identify the most favorable uses of the building and property in terms of pursuing federal, state or county funding.
“Things like green space, soccer fields, a public-private partnership with an art league, allowing the school back in. Something where it can still be used for the community,” Titsworth said.
Regarding the church’s architecture and unique roof structure, she said, “It’s a landmark. I’d like to rehab the building and get it back to its glory. It’s a gorgeous building.”
Minor noted the property carries public/semi-public zoning and future land use designations. Commissioner Dan Diggins asked if the property could be used for commercial purposes. Minor said that would require a comprehensive plan amendment, a future land use map amendment and a rezoning amendment.
Titsworth noted that about six years ago, the church leaders sought to rezone a portion of the property to allow the construction of residential duplexes. Those efforts failed because the commission wanted that property to retain its public/semi-public land use and zoning designations.
Bringing the informal discussion to a close, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said, “We need to be prepared when we get the nod to sit at the table. I’m also working on other sources of funding this. If we get that chance, we don’t want to be in a position to say we’re interested but we don’t know how to fund it.”
The Holmes Beach Commission is working diligently on the Island Bazaar site plan for the old Wells Fargo location in addressing the noise issue, the discussion of which was initiated by the mayor. We learned long ago that noise is a difficult issue to understand unless you have actually experienced it. It is an issue that has been greatly researched, and the mayor’s dialogue touched on some of what is deeply rooted in that research, and that is that there can be negative impacts. The reduction to 50 decibels during the day in this resolution was noteworthy; it will be great for the mayor and her family, who live nearby.
We all know that we have lost many residents, and for some, noise was a contributing factor. Sometimes the sustained shouting, yelling and screaming in our neighborhoods is what forced people out. For years, noise was mischaracterized, and residential zones were misreferenced as vacation rental districts, resort zones or commercial zones, although the zone should have no bearing since the noise control ordinance is citywide. It took seven years for reprieve for us, and although the situation is better, it is not 50 decibels during the day.
That level of protection is now only in this one geographic region, at the old Wells Fargo location. It may not have been the intent to deny equal protection to others within the city, but it is reasonable that all residents should be protected equally regardless of where they live. Many residents have been exposed to similar levels of sustained and repetitive noise; we are not seeing any reason that others should be treated differently. It is reasonable that equal protection, both literally and figuratively, should be provided to everyone in the city and that there should be even enforcement.
Considering that the 14th Amendment grants equal protection, we think the city needs to take action to apply that same daytime 50 decibel level citywide.
After more than a decade in court, Holmes Beach treehouse owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen waived the white flag in July, removing their beloved treehouse from the beach side of Angelinos Sea Lodge. The treehouse was built in 2011 without permits and became the subject of several court cases, ultimately leading to a judicial order to remove the structure. Fans said goodbye to the treehouse over the July 4 holiday. Demolition was completed on Aug. 30.
ELECTION PRODUCES TIGHT RACE
TitsworthRoth
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth has two more years in office, winning by a thin margin over political newcomer Mike Roth. Titsworth took home the win by 41 votes. Joining Titsworth on the Holmes Beach dais are re-elected Commissioner Dan Diggins and returning Commissioner Carol Whitmore.
RESIDENTS FIGHT CONSOLIDATION, PARKING GARAGE
Plans by former Manatee County commissioners to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach and consolidate the three Anna Maria Island cities were thwarted by voters. Residents, business owners and visitors all came together to fight against both measures, holding a rally in Holmes Beach in May and a Hands Across the Sand event in April.
PARKING GARAGE PLANS STRUCK DOWN
While Manatee County officials still have permission in the form of a bill approved by the Florida Legislature to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach, those plans are currently on an indefinite hiatus. Voters fought against the parking garage, a project of former county commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, at the polls on Nov. 4. Van Ostenbridge was ousted as the District 3 commissioner and new Commissioner Tal Siddique has pledged to abandon the project.
OPPAGA STUDY RESULTS PENDING
The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study by the state concluded in 2024, but the results have not yet been released. Ordered in 2023 by members of the Manatee County state legislative delegation, the study looked at possible alternatives to having three city governments on Anna Maria Island, including consolidation of the three cities into one and annexation into unincorporated Manatee County or the city of Bradenton. The study was met with much criticism by the public. Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer says he plans to review the results of the study with Rep. Will Robinson Jr. in the new year.
MILLAGE RATE LOWERED, TAXES UP
Holmes Beach commissioners voted to lower the millage rate from 2.05 to 1.99 mills, a 2.5% reduction for taxpayers. Despite the lowered millage rate, property taxes still went up by 7.63% for owners due to an increase in property values as assessed by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office.
HURRICANE DEBRIS REMOVAL QUESTIONED
After hurricanes blew through the area in September and October, many residents questioned how well the city was handling debris removal along city streets. Hurricane Helene flooded the Island, leaving mountains of sand behind and Hurricane Milton downed trees and fences and caused widespread wind damage, leaving hundreds of tons of debris in its wake. Debris removal has been completed on the Island.
HURRICANE HELENE FLOODS ISLAND
Hurricane Helene swept past Anna Maria Island in the Gulf of Mexico on Sept. 26, but that doesn’t mean the Island was spared from the storm’s wrath. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that at one point during the storm, his officers measured 2 feet of water standing in the center of Gulf Drive near city hall. The storm caused major flooding and displaced tons of sand from Island beaches.
HURRICANE MILTON CAUSES WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
Anna Maria Island was evacuated for a second time in 2024 when Hurricane Milton approached, making landfall near Siesta Key overnight on Oct. 9. While Hurricane Helene brought the water, Milton brought the wind, downing trees and power lines and causing widespread damage. Milton hit just two weeks after Helene impacted the area. While debris removal has been completed, recovery efforts are still ongoing.
CITY ENACTS VACATION RENTAL MORATORIUM
After a second major hurricane swept through the area in as many weeks, Holmes Beach city leaders voted to enact a vacation rental moratorium in an effort to keep tourists away while recovery efforts were in their early days. Rental agents and owners opposed the moratorium, which initially banned vacation rentals in the city for 45 days. Commissioners revisited the moratorium in 30 days and opted to end it two weeks early.
LIGHTNING STRIKES TWO HOLMES BEACH BUSINESSES
A thunderstorm on Aug. 22 resulted in a two-alarm fire when lightning struck the Holmes Beach Business Center, damaging two local businesses. The lightning strike hit the roof of the west side of the complex, damaging West Coast Air Conditioning and Heating and Fun and More Rentals. Firefighters from West Manatee Fire Rescue and three other local districts quickly extinguished the fire. No one was injured but the building sustained major damage.
WATER TAXI STOP DISCUSSED
Manatee County and Holmes Beach leaders argued over the potential for a water taxi stop in the Island’s biggest city over the summer. In July and August, county officials made it clear that they want a stop for the Gulf Islands Ferry service in Holmes Beach, preferably somewhere near city center. Holmes Beach city leaders were divided on the idea with some favoring a stop at Kingfish Boat Ramp. Discussions were derailed by the arrival of hurricanes Helene and Milton.
BEACH PARKING BY THE NUMBERS
Public parking for beach access was a hot topic of conversation early in 2024 with Manatee County commissioners vowing to build a three-story paid parking garage at Manatee Beach to create more spaces. City leaders contended that there are more than enough parking spaces available in Holmes Beach for the number of people who can comfortably be accommodated on the beach.
We would like to extend a special thank you to all who spoke during public comment at the public hearing for the extensive site plan application for the former Wells Fargo property in Holmes Beach City Center.
What was previously a “sleepy” bank at an already tenuous intersection where there was a recent fatality, there will now be retail, indoor and outdoor dining, miniature golf, an arcade, a tour boat, an ice cream shop and storage facilities. It will have 125 seats, 93 parking spaces, six golf cart spaces, and 36 bicycle spaces.
There were multiple knowledgeable speakers addressing obvious issues – traffic, safety, noise, parking, exodus of residents from overdevelopment, etc. We were pleased to even have a speaker from Anna Maria, an articulate one we might add, just like the others. Thanks to all!
Regardless, the application passed unanimously. It was reminiscent of the county’s Aqua by the Bay hearings, or the county meeting where wetland barrier protections were rolled back. We will be forthright in adding that all of this has been on the heels of buzz about the applicant’s contributions to the recent mayoral campaign.
When is intensity too much intensity? Commercial zoning is not an unlimited license for special exceptions for development. One speaker said succinctly, “Is there any weight for the residents? The city needs to please the residents, not the developers, tourists and contractors.”
So residents, please hang on. Bridge Street is “coming soon to a theater near you,” smack dab in the middle of Holmes Beach City Center. You might want to heed a bit of advice from a former city commissioner: “Never underestimate how far a 5-year-old can hit a golf ball!”
HOLMES BEACH – The hurricane-related substantial damage assessments have been completed in Holmes Beach and the debris removal efforts continue.
On Nov. 15, Superintendent of Public Works and City Engineer Sage Kamiya and Director of Development Services and Planning and Zoning Administrator Chad Minor shared a statistical update of the efforts completed and still taking place in Holmes Beach.
According to Minor, the substantial damage assessments were completed on Nov. 12 by 20 two-person teams provided by a mission request fulfilled by the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM). The damage assessment team was contracted by FDEM using AC Disaster Consulting. The Crisis Track damage assessment software application used by Manatee County was used to collect and record the residential and commercial damage in Holmes Beach.
The damage assessment team assessed 3,331 structures. Four structures were deemed destroyed, 243 structures were deemed to have major damage, 217 were deemed to have minor damage and 2,867 structures were deemed affected by Hurricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton.
The assessed damage to residential structures totaled approximately $334 million and assessed damage to commercial structures totaled $17.6 million.
According to Minor, the AC Disaster Consulting firm is now moving to Bradenton Beach to assist with the damage assessments to be done there. He noted Holmes Beach’s building department staff has been working with the Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing to help train and set up the Crisis Track users that will assist with that damage assessment data collection.
“Holmes Beach staff will continue to support Bradenton Beach as needed,” Minor stated.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT
Since Sept. 27, the day after Hurricane Helene, the building department has issued 544 permits, 433 for hurricane recovery work. The building department has been open for extended hours, including on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to help residents and businesses apply for and obtain the building permits needed for their recovery work. That work must be permitted and documented to ensure the city remains in compliance with FEMA National Flood Insurance Program requirements and maintains the city’s Community Rating System rating that provides property owners with discounted flood insurance rates.
“The building department, building official and city planner will continue to meet daily with homeowners and businesses to assist them in navigating the FEMA 50% rule, and to ensure they are aware and understand their options as they move forward and begin the recovery/mitigation process,” Minor stated.
DEBRIS REMOVAL
Significant progress has been made and the debris removal efforts continue throughout the city. According to Kamiya, the city and its contracted debris haulers removed 19,786 cubic yards (784 truckloads) of vegetative debris, 58,423 cubic yards (2,384 loads) of construction and demolition debris and 27,265 cubic yards (1,152 loads) of sand as of Nov. 14. According to Kamiya, 105,475 cubic yards of debris have been removed from city roadways and rights of ways.
“This is nearly 20 football fields 3 feet deep of debris,” he noted.
City Field is being used as the city’s debris management site. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The collected debris is first moved to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection-approved debris management site at City Field, where it’s crushed, loaded on to tractor trailers and hauled to the county landfill.
Sand is being hauled to the county-approved debris management site in the Coquina Beach parking lot, where the county is sifting out the debris before the sand is returned to the Island beaches.
City personnel have been hand-clearing the small debris left behind by the removal trucks. They are also straightening and replacing traffic signs and signals, sweeping streets, picking up city parks, vacuuming stormwater pipes and working with local fishermen to remove canal debris.
“The final day for moving storm-related debris to the roadside is Nov. 25. Anything moved out after that will need to meet the non-emergency, regular waste pickup requirements which can be found on the city’s website or by contacting code compliance,” Kamiya stated. “This entire removal process is expected to be completed by the end of December.”
ANNA MARIA – Prior to the approach of Hurricane Milton, Mayor Dan Murphy and city commissioners decided they would not enact a vacation rental moratorium.
Unlike the city of Holmes Beach, the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach are not enacting short-term vacation rental moratoriums. At the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has issued an executive order pertaining to short-term rentals.
On Wednesday, the Holmes Beach City Commission enacted a 45-day vacation rental moratorium ordinance that took effect immediately regarding current and pending vacation rental stays. The moratorium does not prevent vacation rental owners and management companies from renting their properties to displaced residents and other Hurricane Helene victims, and city officials encourage doing so.
On Monday, the Anna Maria City Commission reached a unanimous consensus not to enact a vacation rental moratorium. On Thursday, the Bradenton Beach Commission reached a similar decision.
Anna Maria discussion
On Sept. 30, Murphy told city commissioners he received a call from Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer earlier that day informing him the city of Holmes Beach was considering enacting a vacation rental moratorium and inquiring whether the city of Anna Maria had similar intentions.
“I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” Murphy said. “If we were to pass such an ordinance, the state of Florida will call up all the abuses of power like they did after COVID, and they could potentially take away our ability to pass emergency ordinances in the future.”
He also said, “We would be meddling in the real estate business by forbidding vacation rentals.”
Murphy said he discussed a potential moratorium with Sen. Jim Boyd and Boyd suggested contacting the attorney general’s office first.
“If you pass something like that, forbidding vacation rentals, you’re going to get second-guessed all the way to the courthouse, not only by the state but by the realtors,” Murphy said when recapping his conversation with Boyd.
Participating by phone, City Attorney Becky Vose said, “I think it is wrought with all kinds of perils. Probably the biggest one that jumped out at me was the liability of the city for lawsuits for damages because cities, under the Florida Statutes, are not allowed to prohibit vacation rentals. You can do some regulation of them but not outright prohibit them. It’s one thing if the Island were closed, but if the Island’s open and you prohibit people from renting a vacation rental, I think we’d have a really good chance of losing in court; and there might be some serious financial consequences.”
Continuing, Vose said, “If it were to be construed as overreaching by the city, then it’s going to come back and bite us through the legislature. They have a history of coming back and biting us when they perceive we’re doing something that impinges upon vacation rentals, or businesses in general. From a legal standpoint, I think it’s a really bad idea.”
Participating by phone, Commissioner Kathy Johnson said, “I think it would expose us to Bert Harris lawsuits.”
Participating by phone, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “We just can’t put an iron curtain around the city.”
The cleanup and restoration work has begun at these vacation rental properties in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Charlie Salem agreed and expressed additional concerns about hampering the economic recovery of Anna Maria’s tourist-reliant business and vacation rental community.
“Maybe a prohibition isn’t the best way to do that. I understand the sentiment behind it and I understand the risk as well,” he said.
Instead, Salem suggested using the city website and Facebook page to inform potential tourists of the realities they may encounter during the ongoing recovery process.
Salem, whose home was damaged, said, “It is not a fun place to be right now. Anybody thinking about a vacation here should consider that.”
Hurricane debris lines the Anna Maria streets as the exhaustive debris removal efforts continue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Salem said it’s important to provide potential vacationers with credible information about what to expect when visiting Anna Maria during the recovery process.
Commissioner Mark Short agreed and said, “As long as we stick to the facts of what’s going on no one can accuse us of chasing people away. We’re simply stating here’s what it is.”
Short said it’s counterintuitive to allow someone from Bradenton to visit Anna Maria while prohibiting someone from New York, or any other destination, from doing the same thing.
Hurricane debris was piling up at the makeshift collection center at Bayfront Park. – Joe Hendricks | SunOn Thursday, a Manatee County Sherrif’s Office deputy told these vacationing beachgoers they had to leave what remains of the Bean Point beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city of Anna Maria’s Facebook page now contains a status update that notes the city is still under a state of emergency and several factors need to be taken into consideration before traveling to Anna Maria at this time.
The beach at Bean Point suffered significant storm erosion. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Those factors include limited access to the city due to a nightly curfew that remains in effect in Holmes Beach, traffic delays when entering the Island, restaurant and business closures, contaminated swimming pools, closed beaches and congested and debris-laden roadways.
“We hope to have our city back to normal soon!” the Facebook message says.
State order
Late Thursday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Anna Maria in front of the heavily damaged Rod & Reel Pier. During the press conference, he announced the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) was issuing an executive order pertaining to short-term vacation rentals.
“We understand that housing is a challenge. If you had four feet of water in your house, even if it’s not a total loss, you’ve got to gut that drywall and there’s a rehab process,” DeSantis said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed vacation rentals during his visit to Anna Maria on Thursday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Today, I am announcing that I am taking executive action to temporarily lift time restrictions on rentals and we’re directing municipalities and counties to do the same. We have regulations – some of them local, some of them state – that require rentals to be greater than or less than 30 days depending on the locality. The bottom line is you may need less than 30 days if you’re rehabbing your home. Maybe you need a little bit more. If you are a victim of Hurricane Helene, those stipulations are lifted and you can rent what you need regardless of any arbitrary rules. This will help provide immediate housing for those who need it,” DeSantis said of the executive order applicable to all counties declared to be in a state of emergency due to Hurricane Helene.
In response to a question posed by The Sun regarding the Holmes Beach moratorium, DeSantis said, “If someone’s got a rental in Holmes Beach and you lost your home you have a right to enter into that agreement and do a 15-day rental or a 30-day rental or whatever you need. But it is limited to the people that were displaced from their homes. Obviously, these local municipalities have certain authority to do it how they want to do it for the general public, but for our storm victims, we want to give them as many options as possible.”
Another media member asked DeSantis what message should be sent to vacationers still planning or considering a visit to the Island.
“We want the economy to get back going,” DeSantis said. “We want people to be able to come. There may be some areas where it may be a little more challenging, but the goal needs to be to get people back up and get the tourism flowing again. There was a lot of storm surge and there’s been a lot of damage and they’re cleaning it up, but this is a beautiful part of the state. There are local issues I think they can work that out however they see fit. The state of Florida’s open for business.”
The Anna Maria General Store and Deli on Pine Avenue is open again. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe gRub Tropical Barbeque restaurant on Pine Avenue is open again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Holmes Beach curfew
When speaking to the Sun Thursday afternoon, Tokajer noted the city of Holmes Beach still has a nightly curfew in effect and a curfew checkpoint at the entry to the city via Manatee Avenue. The curfew is expected to remain in effect until the moratorium is lifted.
Tokajer said vacation rental guests headed to Anna Maria or Bradenton Beach are free to enter through Holmes Beach between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. but if they leave the Island and try to return after the curfew takes effect at 7 p.m. they will not be allowed through the Holmes Beach curfew checkpoint without a re-entry tag issued by one of the Island cites.
HOLMES BEACH – Residents and business owners began returning to Holmes Beach on Saturday to assess the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene.
At 10 a.m. Saturday morning, Mayor Judy Titsworth and Police Chief Bill Tokajer greeted the first wave of arrivals, some of whom passed through Holmes Beach on their way to Anna Maria, with law enforcement personnel checking for re-entry tags or other forms of proof of residency or business ownership.
“The chief and mayor have met and the mayor has asked to let residents and business owners to be allowed to enter the city to start their cleanup efforts,” said the reopening notice posted at the Holmes Beach Police Department Facebook page earlier that day.
With Cortez Bridge vehicular access still restricted, a law enforcement-monitored barricade was deployed at the south end of the city to prevent motorists from entering Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach.
A Holmes Beach police officer was stationed near the barricaded Bradenton Beach border Saturday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As Sunday unfolded, Tokajer decided to eliminate the checkpoint and he explained his decision in another Facebook message.
“Today, we were allowing the residents, employees and contracted cleaning crews to enter the Island. In the first three hours of the checkpoint, we did not have to turn anyone away and the line of cars was backed up past 75th Street causing huge delays. I decided it would be more helpful to the residents to get them, their cleaning crews and employees onto the Island faster so they are not sitting in traffic for hours…The curfew is still in place from dusk to dawn and it will remain in place until the police chiefs decide it is no longer necessary. We will still be closing access to the Island at 7 p.m.”
DAMAGE AND RECOVERY
A late Saturday afternoon tour of Holmes Beach revealed the damage done and the recovery efforts underway.
The stretch of Gulf Drive between Walgreens pharmacy and Skinny’s restaurant was limited to a single lane carved out of the sand by a front-end loader.
Gulf Drive began with a single lane in the sand. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At the five-unit, ground-level Bamboo Apartments vacation rental complex, St. Petersburg-based owners Alice and Stephen Sutton and their sons had already removed the carpeting and other items damaged by the floodwaters that they said could have been much worse.
Holmes Beach vacation rental owner Alice Torres Sutton shows how high the storm surge rose. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Alice, the third-generation owner, said, “This is the only time we’ve ever flooded.”
With some drywall replacement potentially looming, Alice had already cancelled their guest reservations for the coming week and possibly until the end of October.
At Manatee Beach, a heavy equipment operator was removing sand piled up on Anna Maria Island Beach Café’s beachfront patio.
A heavy equipment operator spent Saturday afternoon removing sand from the patio at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café at Manatee Beach.
A large puddle covered much of the Gulf Drive S-curve near the beach parking lot and some traffic signals worked and some did not. Throughout the city, water, sand and mud were common sights and many property owners had already hauled their damaged furnishings and belongings to the curb.
Hurricane-damaged furniture and home goods sat in front of this Holmes Beach home. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Along Avenue F, Hurricane Helene demolished two beachfront homes, severely damaged others and partially buried an SUV.
Hurricane Helene tore apart this house along Avenue F. – Joe Hendricks | SunThis beachfront home in Holmes Beach sustained heavy damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On Sunday evening, Titsworth said, “Holmes Beach was totally devastated from the flood waters. The Holmes Beach police, public works, building and code enforcement departments have been working non-stop and we were able to quickly get property owners back on the Island to assess their damage and begin cleaning up. I had 3 feet of water in my home and lost most everything. I have much empathy for our property owners as to the magnitude of the devastation. I can’t thank FPL enough for getting our power back on so quickly and the county’s rapid response in getting our lift stations back in operation was commendable. We will get through this recovery together.”
Approximately two feet of stand washed up against this auxiliary building at the Bamboo Apartments in Holmes Beach . - Joe Hendricks | Sun
One of the Martinique condo buildings was missing some roofing material. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Floodwaters rearranged the inventory at the Holmes Beach Ace Hardware store. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This vehicle was partially buried along Avenue F in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Helene pushed a lot of stand up this beachfront home in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The deck on this beachfront home in Holmes Beach is now tilted. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Damaged belongings are common sight in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A buoy washed ashore in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The storm surge left sand piled high against the Anna Maria Island Beach Café tiki-bar. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
We inadvertently became involved with city issues a decade ago. We attended almost every Holmes Beach Commission meeting and work session for several years. We have attended some Anna Maria, Manatee County and WMFD meetings as well and continue to stay educated. With this ever-evolving landscape of quality of island life, our mantra has evolved into “Preservation of Neighborhoods.”
We recently Googled Holmes Beach zoning and discovered a highly prioritized real estate website. A section specifically referencing HB R-2 to R-4 zones perked our interest: “The typical buyer for these zones is someone who would like to rent the property weekly for most of the time. Warning! If you plan on living in the property or visiting for multiple months be aware that it can be noisy.”
Until recently our immediate block in an R-2 zone consisted of 100% permanent residents; even with new construction, we remain predominantly permanent, full-time residents with a strong neighborhood watch. This may be a rarity, however, we had never seen documented numbers for the percentage of residences versus TPLEs (commercial rentals) per zone. (Transient Public Lodging Establishments are clearly defined in state statute.) We proceeded with public records requests from the county appraiser, city, and WMFD. Curiously, none has a count of the number of TPLEs per zone.
After re-reading our entire Comprehensive Plan and Municode Zoning sections multiple times, we know without reservation that the intent is for preservation of residential character. It is not mentioned just casually; it is staunchly entrenched repeatedly.
Many people locally and statewide have worked diligently towards preservation of residential character. Home Rule initiatives, neighborhood initiatives, and initiatives with city, county and state governments have sought to protect our neighborhoods.
We are not naive. We have followed numbers and trends as well as the imminent prospects of consolidation or dissolution of the island cities. However, there are coastal cities which have successfully preserved their character. These cities properly reference their residential zones, respect their guiding documents, enforce prescribed ordinances and encourage resident input.
We encourage upholding guiding documents in efforts to preserve intended residential character and hope that others respect that initiative by encouraging permanent residents as well. Our communities, our beloved AME, our churches, our quality of life, and even retention of our island cities depend on it.
HOLMES BEACH – The bells are tolling their last for the beachfront treehouse at Angelinos Sea Lodge as an attorney for the owners has confirmed in court that the structure will be demolished by the end of July.
Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas met with attorneys for both the city and the owners of the structure via a Zoom hearing on June 26 to hear how compliance with his February order mandating the removal of the treehouse was progressing. Attorney Fred Moore, speaking on behalf of owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen, said that permits were being filed with the city’s building department for the removal of the structure, a contractor has been hired and a permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has been issued for the demolition of the treehouse. With the FDEP permit expiring on July 31, Moore said the couple will move forward with demolition as soon as the city permit is granted.
“The demolition of the treehouse will take place,” Moore said.
Chad Minor, Holmes Beach city planner, said during the hearing that the treehouse owners’ contractor had not supplied all the required permit application documents as of the time of the hearing. Moore said that the contractor and the couple are working to comply with all the permit requirements. No permits for demolition were issued by the city as of press time for The Sun.
Sanctions in the amount of $4,040 also were paid by the couple, the city’s attorney, Randy Mora, confirmed.
Nicholas agreed to a final case status conference to be held by Zoom in mid-August to make sure that the treehouse has been removed in compliance with his Feb. 12 order. Initially, the order set a deadline of July 3 for removal, though he agreed to allow Tran and Hazen 45 more days to obtain the necessary permits and remove the contested structure. As of July 3, city leaders legally have the option to provide written notice to the owners to enter the property and remove the treehouse with the bill for removal going to Tran and Hazen for reimbursement. Mora said that with the owners actively working on getting the permits and planning for demolition he doesn’t believe city leaders are planning to take that route and instead are still hoping for compliance from Tran and Hazen.
The treehouse has been a point of contention for more than a decade since it was first dreamed up by the couple in 2009.
Tran and Hazen state that they contacted the city’s building department at the time to see if they needed a permit for a treehouse and were told they did not. Once the two-story treehouse was built in an Australian pine with additional wooden pillar supports westward of the couple’s home, which also is home to their four-unit vacation rental business, issues with the city began.
Code enforcement notified the couple that they needed a permit for the structure, though they were unable to meet the requirements for an after-the-fact permit, according to city leaders, due to the treehouse’s proximity to the erosion control line.
The treehouse became the subject of code enforcement special magistrate hearings and court cases in 2011, continuing until this past May when an appeal to Nicholas’s February ruling was abandoned by the couple in Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal.
Superintendent of Public Works Sage Kamiya was back in front of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) at its June 10 meeting. He was there to answer questions and concerns previously brought up by TDC members after his initial presentation requesting tourist tax funding for a city-long multimodal path at an Aug. 21, 2023 meeting.
Kamiya noted that there is a path for walkers and bicyclists that runs along a portion of Marina Drive, but it needs improvement. The proposed new path would begin around the 2800 block of Gulf Drive and continue almost the entire length of the city to where Gulf Drive and Marina Drive merge in the 8000 block. The proposal calls for the path to be separated from the road by a grassy buffer area to keep people using the path separated from the road, improving safety.
At their last presentation to the TDC, city officials estimated the budget for the entire project was $2,436,727 with half of the money going to the Gulf Drive path improvements ($1,293,238) and the remainder designated for Marina Drive path improvements, engineering design, flashing crosswalks and educational signage. Kamiya told the TDC that the path improvement plan would be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on the city center area on both Gulf Drive and Marina Drive. The phase 1 estimate is $1,133,401, with $399,460 coming from the city of Holmes Beach and the remaining $733,948 being requested from the TDC.
Rather than approve or deny the funding at the Aug. 21 meeting, the TDC unanimously chose to have the matter brought to a future meeting in hopes of getting answers to questions multiple board members had, such as whether or not the path would eliminate public parking spots, which side of the street the path would be built on and a more specific timeline, among other concerns and questions. The TDC discussed the request at both the Oct. 16, 2023 and Dec. 4, 2023 meetings, but still had questions.
According to Kamiya, because of the delay, Holmes Beach decided to use funds set aside for phase one of the project for other city projects, so the numbers have changed since it was last discussed. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has recently started the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Barrier Islands Complete Streets Improvements Study. This study includes the evaluation of multimodal alternatives for State Road 789, County Road 789, Marina Drive and Palm Drive in Holmes Beach.
Kamiya told the TDC that his hope is the PD&E study will provide funding that will take some of the financial weight off the amount the city is requesting from the county’s tourist tax dollars.
“We did get an FDOT letter to support the project,” Kamiya said. “This makes sense from their perspective because they do want to improve safety. There’s been several fatalities along the roadway, so that’s been our push for this.”
Kamiya went on to ask the council if they would back a portion of the proposal that would not be funded by the PD&E study. He said that amount would be around $500,000. Kamiya also noted that the study doesn’t initially carry construction money with it. The funds would be for design and planning, and when it is time for construction, funding through the study as well as the county would have to be discussed further.
TDC member and Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown had concerns about this project at each of the previous two meetings in which this was discussed and was the first to speak up with more questions this time around.
“I’ve been one that’s said all along that it’s important to do the whole Island if we’re going to do anything,” Brown said. “I do have a question; you’ve asked Rep. Buchanan for $2.24 million dollars for a multimodal path along Gulf Drive and Marina Drive. What is that money to be slated for?”
Kamiya responded saying the actual amount requested was $2.9 million and, because the PD&E study does not include construction money, those funds requested would be used for just the multimodal path along Gulf Drive. He added that the $2.9 million would only pay for part of the project and further funds would have to be found to complete the entire project. Kamiya also made it clear that the study funds would only be for the Gulf Drive portion of the project, not Marina Drive or any remaining portions.
Mayor Brown countered, saying he still did not support the request because too many questions remained and he thought the proposal was confusing and incomplete without solid details. Brown also said he was not pleased that Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth was not in attendance for what he saw as a very important meeting. He believed it was not in the best interest of the city to request such a large sum of money without a mayor or vice-mayor in attendance.
Minutes before the TDC took a vote on the request, the discussion took a turn toward the Gulf Island Ferry having a docking place in Holmes Beach. TDC members discussed whether an existing docking location could be improved to support the ferry or the possibility of a new dock being built somewhere in the city. With the stipulation that the possibility of the ferry landing in Holmes Beach be added to the request, the TDC voted unanimously to send the recommendation for $500,000 to Manatee County commissioners.
HOLMES BEACH – Qualifying is over, and the race has officially begun for two city commission seats and the position of mayor. With challengers in each race, no incumbent is safe this year.
Incumbent Mayor Judy Titsworth will face off with newcomer to the Anna Maria Island political scene, Michael John Roth. Current Commissioner Dan Diggins will oppose Steven Oelfke, Bill Romberger and former Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore for one of two open spots on the city commission dais. In the commission race, the top two vote-getters will take the open seats. Commissioner Greg Kerchner opted not to run for re-election in November.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES
MICHAEL ROTH
Roth is a Tampa businessman and newcomer to Anna Maria Island politics. His political website, www. ILikeMikeForMayor.com, states that his attachment to Manatee County began with his family being members of the Bradenton Yacht Club since 1972. According to his website, he has been a property owner in Holmes Beach for over 20 years. Property records show that his property was homesteaded in 2021.
Roth’s residential property in Tampa is listed as the address for his business, Archangel Technologies, a commercial and government contractor dealing with healthcare staffing, oncology, medical physicists and business and financial consulting. His wife, Casey, is listed as his business partner. His political website also states that Roth is a veteran, having served 34 years in the U.S. Army.
According to his website, Roth is running for mayor because he feels the city is in need of strong leadership and experience in light of the state of Florida and Manatee County attacks on home rule in the city. His statements go on to note that he would work to interact with local and state leaders in the way they expect a mayor to respond.
JUDY TITSWORTH
Judy Titsworth
Titsworth is no stranger to Holmes Beach politics, having served as a city commissioner from 2012-18 and as mayor since November 2018. If re-elected, this would be her fourth term as mayor.
Titsworth said she feels being mayor of a city like Holmes Beach is a full-time job and gave up her position with Shoreline Builders to commit herself fully to working at the city. The city she serves was named for her grandfather, Jack Holmes. In addition to her work in the local political arena, Titsworth also volunteers as a wildlife rehabilitator. A lifelong Holmes Beach resident, Titsworth grew up on Anna Maria Island, leaving, she said, only to attend college before returning to raise her children in the Island city.
As mayor, she’s held the line against the encroachment of paid parking in Holmes Beach and actively works on initiatives to improve water quality and reduce overdevelopment.
COMMISSION CANDIDATES
DAN DIGGINS
Diggins was first elected to the city commission in 2022 and is seeking his second term on the dais. A Holmes Beach resident since 2011, Diggins previously worked as a commercial pilot, air traffic controller, airport/airspace designer and a worldwide aircraft accident investigator. Now Diggins says he enjoys working with his fellow commissioners and playing golf at least twice a week.
While on the commission, Diggins has served as the commission liaison for the Island Transportation Planning Organization, Manatee County Council of Governments and as an alternate for the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center.
STEVEN OELFKE
Oelfke is ready to take a leap in local politics and move to the city commission. Currently, he serves Holmes Beach on the city’s planning commission with a term expiring July 1, 2026. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been Holmes Beach residents since 2011.
BILL ROMBERGER
Romberger is a newcomer to the Holmes Beach political scene but has been an active community member as both a Realtor and member of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. He and his family owned and operated the Tropic Isle Inn in Bradenton Beach for over 12 years. Now he works as a Realtor and is seeking a first term in political office.
CAROL WHITMORE
Whitmore, a longtime political figure and Holmes Beach resident, is stepping back into the spotlight after 18 months in the private sector. Previously, she served as a Holmes Beach commissioner and mayor before being elected as a Manatee County at-large commissioner. Now Whitmore says she’s ready to come back to her community to serve as a commissioner, where she hopes she can use her political knowledge to help the city in its fight against government overreach from county and state officials.
After more than a decade in court, Holmes Beach treehouse owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen waived the white flag in July, removing their beloved treehouse from the beach side of Angelinos Sea Lodge. The treehouse was built in 2011 without permits and became the subject of several court cases, ultimately leading to a judicial order to remove the structure. Fans said goodbye to the treehouse over the July 4 holiday. Demolition was completed on Aug. 30.
After hurricanes blew through the area in September and October, many residents questioned how well the city was handling debris removal along city streets. Hurricane Helene flooded the Island, leaving mountains of sand behind and Hurricane Milton downed trees and fences and caused widespread wind damage, leaving hundreds of tons of debris in its wake. Debris removal has been completed on the Island.
A thunderstorm on Aug. 22 resulted in a two-alarm fire when lightning struck the Holmes Beach Business Center, damaging two local businesses. The lightning strike hit the roof of the west side of the complex, damaging West Coast Air Conditioning and Heating and Fun and More Rentals. Firefighters from West Manatee Fire Rescue and three other local districts quickly extinguished the fire. No one was injured but the building sustained major damage.
Diggins was first elected to the city commission in 2022 and is seeking his second term on the dais. A Holmes Beach resident since 2011, Diggins previously worked as a commercial pilot, air traffic controller, airport/airspace designer and a worldwide aircraft accident investigator. Now Diggins says he enjoys working with his fellow commissioners and playing golf at least twice a week.
Oelfke is ready to take a leap in local politics and move to the city commission. Currently, he serves Holmes Beach on the city’s planning commission with a term expiring July 1, 2026. He and his wife, Jennifer, have been Holmes Beach residents since 2011.
Romberger is a newcomer to the Holmes Beach political scene but has been an active community member as both a Realtor and member of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. He and his family owned and operated the Tropic Isle Inn in Bradenton Beach for over 12 years. Now he works as a Realtor and is seeking a first term in political office.