Skip to main content

Tag: Holmes Beach

Deborah Wing

Wing child abuse charge dropped

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The child abuse charge levied against former Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce President Deb Wing has been dropped.

The charge stemmed from an April 4 arrest by the Holmes Beach Police Department. The arrest occurred after officers responded to a call from Wing, who was concerned that her teenage daughter left during a family disagreement and had not returned. In their police reports, the arresting officers alleged Wing repeatedly slapped her daughter on the arm and leg.

The dismissed charge was formalized during a Friday, May 4, hearing at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton.

Later that day, Wing’s attorney, Brett McIntosh, said, “The notice of case action has been filed, which means the charges are formally dropped. Or to be more accurate, the prosecutor has completed his review of the case and declined to file any charges. It is over; it’s done. I think it was unfortunate that she was ever arrested. I don’t think she should have been arrested, but I’m glad that it’s over and the correct decision was ultimately made.”

Wing did not appear at Friday’s hearing, but she discussed the matter when contacted Saturday.

“I saw someone from DCF (Florida Department of Children and Families) who was visiting on another case, not mine. While he was there, he heard my case and said in his 12 years he’d never heard of an arrest being made for something like that. He said it should have never happened. When DCF came to interview me, the woman who had nine years’ experience said this would never happen in Bradenton when a parent calls to protect a child. There are no physical marks on the child, and it is not illegal if you did slap her more than once – and I’m not saying that I did,” Wing said.

“My daughter got up before the judge, and he asked what she thought was going on and whether she was worried about it. My daughter said, ‘I love my mom, I’m not afraid of my mom, and this should have never happened,’ ” Wing said.

“This has caused a horrible mess for her amongst her peers and for me amongst my peers,” she added. “It changes lives. I knew this was going to go away. I was told from the beginning nothing illegal had been done. It was a night of a mother and a daughter going through something very trying – a daughter wanting to leave the house and a mother not wanting her to leave under those circumstances and trying to keep her safe. She left anyway, and after 40 minutes, when my boyfriend couldn’t find her, I called the police and said please find her.”

“My daughter had already called my boyfriend and said please bring me home,” Wing said. “She wasn’t afraid to come home. For whatever reason, I believe those officers were determined to make an arrest. They never read me my Miranda rights. They never told me why I was being arrested. They didn’t tell me while I sat in the car, and they didn’t tell me while I sat at the police station. I had to ask three times. The D.A. (district attorney) doesn’t think an arrest should have been made. Nobody thinks an arrest should have been made.”

“I think there’s an issue going on there, and I feel bad about the message this sends out to other people who might want to protect a family member,” Wing said. “It’s a shame. I can tell you I won’t call them again if my daughter’s missing for an hour, or if someone else calls me about their kid missing. I’m in a very close group of mothers, and anyone who knows me knows I have never hit anything or anyone in my life.”

“Kids do have problems. This was not drug-related or anything, and they do feel the need sometimes to run out the door to express their feelings, and it can be very scary. I hope this case doesn’t deter someone from keeping their children safe,” Wing said.

Wing resigned as Chamber president in December.

Waterline fishing tournament group

Waterline hosts Kings for Kids Fishing Tournament

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors.

The Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club in Holmes Beach hosted its first Kings for Kids Fishing Tournament April 21 in Holmes Beach. The event was held in conjunction with the Marriott Business Council. Winners include team Chasin’ Tail members Chad Grimmer, Kenny Grimmer, Adam Ray and Gregg Rodier for largest Spanish mackerel catch. The largest king mackerel was caught by Chad Grimmer. Aaron Berger and Russel Jones won for the highest total combined weight of king and Spanish mackerel caught. Sponsors for the event were the Waterline Marina Resort, Marriott, Coppertail Brewing, AMI Outfitters and Boars Head.

Waterline fishing tournament boat
A fishing boat comes back into the marina at Waterline. – David Rano | Submitted
Holmes Beach noise

Commissioners to revisit noise ordinance

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners aren’t sure how they’re going to amend the city’s noise ordinance to help residents with ongoing issues, but they all agree that something needs to be done.

After a lengthy discussion with legal counsel and suggestions offered by residents, Commissioner Judy Titsworth said she’d place discussion for amending the noise ordinance and public nuisance ordinance on an upcoming work session agenda.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer agreed with commissioners. While he said officers are seeing some progress in reduction of noise complaints, none of the department’s efforts are working as well as he’d like.

Some of the HBPD’s efforts to quiet residential noise, particularly at vacation rental homes, including speaking with tenants and rental agents, handing out pamphlets on city regulations and placing window clings noticing renters of the city’s noise ordinance on doors leading out to pool areas.

A new program where Tokajer said the most positive impact is being had is where code enforcement officers greet renters when they arrive at one of seven identified problem houses. The officers welcome the renters, advise them of the city’s noise ordinance and remind them to be respectful of their residential neighbors while visiting. Tokajer said the program is working and has reduced calls at those houses to minimal levels.

When a noise complaint is called in, HBPD officers or code enforcement officers respond immediately. Upon arrival, an officer takes a reading using a noise meter from multiple areas on the property. If the noise rises above 65 decibels during the day or 50 decibels at night, it’s an automatic violation. Officers also can use seven standards defined in the noise ordinance to determine if the noise is too loud above the usual noise for the neighborhood and issue a warning or a citation.

“Noise is a very difficult thing to regulate,” Attorney Jim Dye said. He said he stands behind the city’s current noise ordinance, which has been found to be legally defensible if challenged in court.

One of the ongoing issues residents are having is with loud noise during daytime hours from children in pools at vacation rental properties.

“Kids in pools is a tough argument to make,” Dye said, adding it would be easier if the issue occurred in a 55 and older restricted community. “Kids in the pool may be part of the package with the caveat of if they’re louder than the surrounding noise.”

Tokajer said one of the issues facing officers responding to complaints is that the noise from the pools isn’t registering over the 65-decibel limit on the noise meter. He said while some loud noises, such as screams, last for only a few seconds unless the screaming is continuous, the ambient sounds in the neighborhood often register louder than the sounds of children playing. He said his officers do go to the home and ask the occupants to be mindful of the residential neighborhood and keep the noise down.

Some ideas commissioners are considering include lowering the decibel limits and altering nighttime and daytime hours. In a group statement, residents of Holmes Boulevard suggested decreasing daytime hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Currently, the city’s daytime hours are from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. which Dye said is in line with most other communities. In Manatee County daytime hours are observed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 7 a.m. to midnight on weekends.

Another suggestion is to amend the city’s public nuisance ordinance to allow for enforcement at repeat problem vacation rentals even if the occupants change weekly.

A third suggestion is to raise the fines given for noise violations. Several people spoke in favor of raising fine amounts, something commissioners were open to considering. Commissioner Jim Kihm thanked everyone who spoke and for providing commissioners not only with complaints but with possible solutions to the problems facing residents.

“We want to be a welcoming city,” he said, adding that he also hopes visitors will be respectful of their temporary neighbors in residential areas.

Commissioner Rick Hurst said he feels more education is necessary to make visitors aware of the city’s regulations.

“Ninety-five percent of people are good, they just don’t know,” he said.

Natalie Almeter

Island daughter a future diva

Written by Tom Vaught on . Posted in Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – Natalie Almeter has always loved music. A few years ago, she sang in front of her mother’s store, Irene’s Resort Wear, during a holiday walk around with her boyfriend who played guitar, and she attracted a group of admirers.

Since then, she has turned her attention to classical music and is studying opera at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

“I listened to opera, and I really loved it,” she said. “Their voices sing with such power and emotion.”

She did two recitals on April 20 and 22 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church to raise money to go to Germany for a month for the German Voice Competition. She’s also known for singing at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach and some St. Bernard people attended the recitals, including Fr. Michael Mullen, who retired on May 1.

“I exceeded my monetary goal, so I won’t have to worry about that,” she said.

Almeter, who has sung French and Italian opera, said she has a tie to German opera.

“My family has Bavarian roots,” she said. “My grandfather was in Germany in the military.”

As for the opportunity before her, she said she is very excited. She thanks her teacher, Beverly Rinaldi, and wants to do her best.

Her mother, Nanette Almeter, credits her daughter for her efforts, and she thinks Natalie is definitely going places.

“She’s going to college full time and had two part-time jobs, but she gave up one job to prepare for her trip,” she said. “It’s nice to have a profession, but if you do what you truly want to do, it’s very special.”

Holmes Beach Skate Park plans

Skate park plans scrapped by users

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Skateboarding, Sports.

HOLMES BEACH – Members of the local skateboarding community aren’t happy with designs for the rehabilitation of the city’s skate park, but they’re willing to help city leaders get it right.

“This design is really bad,” Jack Coleman said after seeing the proposed layout and equipment for the park at a City Commission work session April 26.

Corey Wash said the material used for pre-fabricated pieces for the park is outdated and would make more noise than a concrete skate park. He said using concrete could be more cost-efficient for the city and require less upkeep than a pre-fabricated park.

“Pre-fab parks become prehistoric in the world of skateboarding,” he said.

Wash suggested expanding the skate park and relocating the adjacent toddler park.

“I’ve never liked the toddler park there,” Commissioner Judy Titsworth said of the small playground’s current location bordering Marina Drive.

Casey Coleman said he feels if the skate park was updated to allow the inclusion of skaters at all levels it would help build the skateboarding community on the Island and keep children from traveling into downtown Bradenton to skate.

In addition to building the park out of concrete, expanding it and possibly including a skate bowl, another suggestion was to add lights to the park to allow for skating after sunset, especially during the hot summer months.

Wash volunteered to help Burnett come up with a better design for the redevelopment of the park.

Titsworth said she’d like Burnett to look at “the bigger picture” of the entire park complex, including the skate park, toddler park, baseball diamond and city field when making her next recommendations for the skate park.

“The Island park means a lot to us,” Matt Bower said.

“Thank you for even looking into this again,” Roberto Rodriguez said.

Burnett thanked all the skaters for attending the meeting and speaking up about what they’d like to see in the park. She said she would be following up with them on suggestions and hopes they’ll all be back to offer input when a new design is presented to commissioners.

West Coast Surf Shop fire

Repairs underway at West Coast Surf Shop

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Business, Featured.

HOLMES BEACH – Jim and Ronee Brady are already speeding down the road to recovery after an April 15 electrical fire devastated their business at the West Coast Surf Shop.

And now, the community is reaching out a helping hand.

As of April 23, a GoFundMe page began by Janae Rudacille has collected more than $7,000 to help rebuild the oldest surf shop on Florida’s Gulf Coast and help both the owners and staff members recover from the tragedy. The fundraiser’s goal is listed as $75,000.

The store, opened by Jim Brady in 1964, has become iconic on Anna Maria Island. When a transformer on a neon sign malfunctioned, it started an electrical fire that damaged the exterior of the building, the second floor, attic space, and destroyed the Bradys’ merchandise stock.

West Manatee Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Ben Rigney said though the fire was put out within a matter of minutes, damage to the building is estimated at $250,000. The quick response of the store’s staff and firefighters meant no injuries were reported, and the fire was put out with minimal damage to the structure.

Jim Brady said he and his wife hope to have the surf shop repaired and up and running in three to six months.

WMFR commissioners agreed unanimously to invite the store’s staff working at the time of the fire to the May commission meeting for a presentation of an award for their quick response and bravery in the situation. During the fire, two store clerks escorted an estimated 30 patrons safely out of the burning building.

“The staff was very proactive,” WMFR Chief Tom Sousa said.

Though Rudacille notes on the fundraiser page that the Bradys have insurance, she said her goal is to give the community a way to rally around the business owners and help support them with unexpected expenses and lost income that insurance may not cover.

Donate to the fundraising campaign.

Related coverage

Fire hits West Coast Surf Shop

assault jessies store Holmes Beach

Suspect arrested in Island assault case

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

HOLMES BEACH – Officers have a suspect in custody for the March 22 assault of a clerk at Jessie’s Island Store.

Holmes Beach police officers arrested 44-year-old Jason Rawlings Bounds April 17 after the clerk positively identified him as her attacker. The clerk was identified in a police report as April Gonzalez. The incident was captured on the store’s surveillance system. 

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

 

Bounds is facing one count of battery as a second or subsequent offense, a third-degree felony, and one count of resisting a merchant, a first-degree misdemeanor. A third-degree felony is punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine if convicted. A first-degree misdemeanor carries a possible sentence of up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. The arrest warrant says Bounds is being held at the Port Manatee Jail.

assault arrest bounds mug shot 0425
The suspect arrested in the March assault of a store clerk at Jessie’s Island Store has been identified as Jason Rawlings Bounds. – Submitted | HBPD

A report attached to the arrest warrant, completed by Holmes Beach Police Department Det. Sgt. Brian Hall, states the incident occurred at the Island store when Gonzalez confronted Bounds for concealing beer, milk, and beef and cheese sticks in his jacket. Bounds returned the items to the clerk when approached but punched her in the side of the head and abdomen when she threatened to call the police if he didn’t immediately leave the premises. The punch left Gonzalez with minor injuries to the side of her face and earlobe. After the attack, the clerk and two customers attempted to restrain Bounds but he escaped on foot. Gonzalez was able to positively identify Bounds as her attacker from a photo lineup. He was later located and arrested by law enforcement officers.

This is not Bounds’ first tangle with the law. Hall’s report says Bounds was previously convicted several times for battery and battery-related crimes including one as late as Dec. 7, 2017, in Putnam County, West Virginia. His history of battery-related offenses dates back as far as January 1993.

Kaleta noise lawsuit

Property owners file lawsuit, injunction against neighbors

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

HOLMES BEACH – Neighbors of vacation rental homes in this Island city are seeing one of their worst fears coming to pass.

Owners of two vacation rental properties have filed a lawsuit and injunction against their neighbors over noise complaints those neighbors have made.

When the city adopted a noise ordinance to help combat issues arising from neighboring noise interrupting the “peaceful enjoyment” of property, some property owners feared that calling in complaints to police could result in retaliation.

That retaliation occurred on April 6 when vacation rental owners Shawn and Jennifer Kaleta filed a lawsuit and injunction against neighboring property owners Richard and Marjorie Motzer.

The lawsuit alleges stalking and tortious interference based on a log of calls concerning noise complaints.

In the lawsuit, the Kaletas’ attorney, Aaron Thomas, alleges that the Motzers made 42 “unfounded” noise complaints to the HBPD concerning the Kaletas’ vacation rental property at 302 55th St. from April to December 2017. As a result of the calls, one guest of the property was given a citation from the police. While most of the calls were made anonymously to the police, the lawsuit contends that all of the calls were made by the Motzers. The suit also claims the Motzers are “aggressive” toward the Kaletas and guests at the property.

Kaleta noise lawsuit
A vacation rental home at 302 55th Street, owned by the Kaletas, backs into the property of full-time residents Richard and Marjorie Motzer. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The lawsuit states that due to an increased police presence at the property prompted by noise complaints, the Motzers are stalking guests by harassment. The suit requests a temporary injunction to prevent the Motzers from calling in noise complaints or approaching guests at the neighboring property.

A count for tortious interference also is included in the lawsuit, alleging the Motzers knowingly sought to damage the Kaletas’ business endeavors at the property by making “unfounded noise complaints with the Holmes Beach Police Department knowing that the police department would send an officer to the property to make contact with the property owners or guests currently staying at the property to inform them of the city’s code/ordinances and provide guests with a brochure detailing the city’s code/ordinances, regardless of whether a noise violation was found to exist.”

In this matter, the Kaletas are seeking an award of damages along with repayment of court costs and attorney’s fees.

In the petition for a temporary injunction against stalking and tortious interference, Thomas claims the Motzers have given the same treatment to another neighboring vacation rental property owned by the Kaletas, 5501 Holmes Blvd., calling in 24 noise complaints with no violations issued by HBPD officers. Again, the calls were primarily made anonymously, however, the injunction asserts that it was the Motzers who made calls to the HBPD to intentionally harass guests at the property and interfere in the Kaletas’ business relations.

Kaleta noise lawsuit
Full-time residents Richard and Marjorie Motzer’s home backs into two large vacation rental properties owned by Shawn and Jennifer Kaleta. – Kristin Swain | Sun

“At this time I don’t want to say anything because we’re looking at litigation,” Richard Motzer said when asked for comment.

HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer said his officers would continue to respond to any complaints at the properties.

“We will always respond to calls for service,” he said. “That’s our job and we’ll continue to do so.”

Fire hits West Coast Surf Shop

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in First Place, Special Sections.

Updated April 16, 2018

HOLMES BEACH – A fire caused an estimated quarter million dollars in damage to the iconic West Coast Surf Shop, 3902 Gulf Drive, the afternoon of Sunday, April 15, but everyone got out safely with no injuries, according to fire officials.Florida Press Association logo - front

Three members of the sales staff on duty evacuated about 30 people from the store, West Manatee Fire Rescue Marshall Jim Davis said.

“The employees did a good job of getting everyone out safely,” WMFR Battalion Chief Ben Rigney said.

First Place

Online Breaking News Coverage

2019

While early observers suggested that lightning was the cause, since the fire occurred during a thunderstorm, an investigation later in the day showed that the fire was electrical and involved a neon light near a window at the front of the shop, he said.

Jim and Ronee Brady, who have owned the store for nearly 55 years, were on Florida’s east coast with their grandson, Giorgio Gomez, who was competing in a surf competition when they got the news.

“It was a shock,” Jim Brady said.

The rental apartment above the shop was vacant, Ronee Brady said, but the timing was especially bad – the store just got in its spring inventory and was fully stocked.

Contents and structural damage is estimated at $250,000, Davis said, adding, “Everything they had in there is gone between the heat and smoke damage.”

Holmes Beach Police Department officers responded quickly to the fire, but by the time they opened the door, the flames were already up to the ceiling, Davis said.

The call came in to WMFR at 2:43 p.m. Four engine companies responded – three from West Manatee Fire Rescue and one from Longboat Key.

“Engine #131 from the Holmes Beach station made a fantastic knock down of the fire because that whole place was ready to go,” he said.

After the smoke cleared, Jim Brady said they’re ready to rebuild the iconic surf shop. He said most of the damage is to the store’s inventory, which will have to be replaced. Contractors were on site Monday morning to assess the structural damage and begin the process of rebuilding.

“Time is the issue now,” he said. The Bradys hope to have the surf shop reopened within 60 to 90 days.

Island icon

The surf shop, next to Manatee beach, is an Island institution, rivaling Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach as the oldest surf shop in Florida.

Ron Jon’s opened in 1963. Brady started his shop in 1964, he thinks – he was only 16 – near the former Pete Reynard’s restaurant and the current Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach.

While he was in class at Manatee High School, his grandmother, Aida Brady, and his aunt, Carol Stevens, filled in for him. When the surf was up, he’d hang a sign on the door saying, “Gone surfing.”

He moved the shop to the present location in 1979, where the Brady’s grandchildren, Giorgio Gomez and Izzi Gomez – champion surfers and paddleboarders – learned their craft.

Facebook friends

Outpourings of sympathy and good wishes appeared immediately on The Sun’s Facebook page as details became available Sunday afternoon.

  • “So sad… the community will come together and help them rebuild and recoup I’m sure. I’m just glad no one was hurt.” – Tiffany An Parker
  • “Oh no… such an island treasure” – Janet Bethart Maze
  • “Dreams and prayers up in smoke, such a shock for the owners… One never knows what may happen, but they will have the tight community support from this wonderful island. They will rise up.” – Priscilla Rattray
  • “This is the best family and the best place. I am sooo sad to hear this. Prayers to the Bradys and their amazing crew.” Heidi Erickson-Kubes
  • “Praying for Mr. and Mrs. Brady – hopefully everyone is ok.” – Marion Young-Welles
  • “Nice shop and really nice people. Hope everyone is ok!” – Cathy Robbins
  • “Praying for the whole family and their business, that is so awful!” – LinVal Grant Price

And on the Surf Shop’s Facebook page, the Bradys wrote: “We just want to say thank you for the overwhelming response of thoughts and prayers! We are so blessed that everyone is ok! Thanks to our heroes, Kaitlin, Anna, & Benny for making sure our customers got out safe and sound! Not to mention the police and firefighters for their valiant efforts to save our livelihood! You don’t know how much it meant to come home to a parking lot full of amazing friends, family, customers, and kind strangers waiting with open arms. It made such a traumatic experience so much more bearable.”

– Joe Hendricks and Kristin Swain contributed to this report

Holmes Beach Right of Way

Alternate 57 stone used for right of way restoration

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – The 57 stone that Westra Construction is placing in Holmes Beach rights of way is not the same white, jagged lime rock previously used Island-wide for city-initiated drainage projects.

Instead, the construction firm Manatee County contracted for its force main replacement project is using a recycled concrete aggregate 57 stone that is darker in color and more resembles rounded river rock.

It’s likely that the same concrete aggregate will be installed along Avenue C and elsewhere in Bradenton Beach as Westra’s work proceeds along Gulf Drive toward Cortez Road.

Holmes Beach resident Dan Anderson lives in the Palm Gables condominium complex on Fourth Avenue, between 36th Street and Gulf Drive. As the result of Westra’s recently-completed work, both rights of way along that section of Fourth Avenue are now topped with concrete aggregate stones. Anderson does not like the changes made to Palm Gables’ eastern boundary.

“I’ve owned here for several years. I know they’re doing things to improve the drainage, but I’m very disappointed with the removal of what was a beautiful grass lawn on both sides of where we’re standing. And our paver driveway that went out to the asphalt, now we have this stone, which frankly is not attractive at all. It diminishes the appearance of the property, and I think it diminishes the appearance of the town,” he said.

Holmes Beach Driveway
The city right of way between Fourth Avenue and Palm Gables’ brick paver driveway is now covered with 57 stone. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Anderson said he was not notified of the work in advance.

“I knew nothing about it. I’ve asked our property manager and he didn’t seem to know all that much either. I got no formal notification. I assumed they were going to put the pavers back and restore the grass lawn, but it doesn’t appear that’s happening,” he said.

The removed pavers are stacked on pallets and sitting around the corner in the grassy area along 36th Street.

57 stone driveway
This brick paver driveway across the street from Palm Gables was also impacted by the recent right of way work. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Not set in stone

Lynn Burnett is the city engineer for all three Island cities. When asked about the new stones placed along Fourth Avenue, she said 57 stone pertains to the size of the stone, not the type of stone; and unless specified by the client, it’s up to the contractor to determine which type of stone is used.

Concrete aggregate 57 stone
A close up look at the recycled concrete aggregate show a rounder stone than the white lime rock used for city drainage project.

“Every contractor has their different vendors and suppliers, and some of them have their own machines and make their own product. Typically, they take recycled concrete materials – sidewalks and things like that – and run it through a machine that grinds it down to that stone size.

“It depends on who makes it and what their source of material is as to what color it comes out. It’s commercial grade 57 stone as defined by FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation). It meets the required specifications,” she said.

Burnett said the concrete aggregate will not produce the white dust that lime rock does.

She then mentioned complaints received when non-lime rock materials were originally used for the vertical infiltration drainage trenches installed in Anna Maria a few years ago.

“When Woodruff & Sons started, they had a huge amount of recycled concrete they were using, but the Anna Maria folks didn’t like it because it was darker. They wanted the white stones instead, so we changed the specs. We said Woodruff could use the other stuff below, but we wanted the white lime rock on top.”

Burnett also explained why the rights of way being disturbed by Westra are not being fully restored.

“They’re restoring with just the 57 stone because in October and November we’re coming right back in and doing drainage projects behind it. It didn’t make sense to put people’s driveways down just to have them taken out again. Eventually they’ll be allowed to put their driveways back in, but we have to finish the capital improvements first,” she said.

Those city-initiated drainage projects will take place in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Burnett said it has not yet been determined whether the Westra-installed concrete aggregate or newly-installed lime rock will serve as the surface materials for the cities’ drainage projects. She said the concrete aggregate would be used either for surface or subsurface purposes.

Anna Maria Island traffic

Traffic woes plague Island drivers

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Everyone who’s driven on the Island during winter season months knows that a little extra time and a lot of patience are needed to deal with traffic delays.

The Florida Department of Transportation’s Barrier Island Traffic Study recorded hourly numbers of motorists on Manatee Avenue as high as 40 percent over regular traffic volumes during peak season times, January through April 2017, with the traffic on Cortez Road noted as 15 percent over average volumes. That comes out to about 1,500-1,600 cars per hour on Manatee Avenue and 1,200-1,400 on Cortez Road.

Once they’re on the Island, there are only so many places for all those cars to go. During the same time, FDOT contractors recorded an average of 1,000 cars an hour on Marina Drive with the same number also driving down Gulf Drive to Bradenton Beach.

“It’s like taking 30 pounds of potatoes and trying to put it in a 5-pound sack,” said Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, who also serves as the city’s traffic engineer. “There’s no where to send the traffic. People are driving out to a dead end.”

Part of the issue is that for everyone coming onto the Island, they need somewhere to go, and everyone already on the Island is trying to get somewhere. Rather than merging, the two traffic streams are clashing as parking becomes more limited and streets fill with vehicles.

Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson referred to Queue Theory, a mathematical study of waiting lines, to explain it. He likened it to waiting in line to check in at the airport. He said waiting lines move faster because airlines open up more counters to serve guests. According to the theory, lines can only move as quickly as the person in front is being served.

If the person at the front of the line is a driver who’s stuck at a red light or can’t find a parking space, the line builds up and the wait time for other drivers increases. The issue, Johnson said, is there’s only so many gateways to the Island, three including access from Longboat Key, and potentially 1,000 people trying to use each one at the same time.

Anna Maria bridge
Every time the Anna Maria Island Bridge raises to allow a boat to pass it can take up to 15 minutes for traffic patterns to return to normal. – Kristin Swain| Sun

One long-term fix to help traffic coming from the mainland is the installation of high fixed-span bridges in place of the Anna Maria Island and Cortez bridges. Eliminating the 5-minute raising and lowering of the current drawbridges could save motorists up to 15 minutes of wait time.

In Holmes Beach, Tokajer also is working to optimize the timing of the red lights at East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive and Manatee Avenue to allow traffic to flow better once the bridge reopens.

Another short-term solution being considered in Holmes Beach is to extend the right turn lane for East Bay Drive to the merge lane from the Manatee Public Beach and extend the right turn lane on Manatee Avenue for Gulf Drive to allow motorists more freedom of movement.

One of the fixes proposed by the traffic study engineers at Stantec is to have a park and ride service from the mainland down Manatee Avenue to the county beach. Without a dedicated traffic lane, Tokajer doesn’t think that idea will be popular with beachgoers.

island traffic elongated roundabout
An elongated roundabout is proposed as a long-term solution for the busy intersection of Marina, Palm and Key Royale Drives near Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. – Submitted | Sun

“They’re still stuck in the same traffic but without the comfort of their own car,” he said, also expressing concern about what happens to all those people if a rainstorm blows up. “How will you get them off the Island?” he said.

Lynn Burnett, engineer to the three Island cities, thinks she may have some long-term solutions to help traffic, if not eliminate it, ideas the people behind the traffic study are getting behind.

One idea is to remove traffic lights and install roundabouts slightly larger than the one at Bridge Street and Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach. Burnett said the roundabouts will encourage free flow of traffic, if motorists obey the rules of the road. FDOT encourages the use of roundabouts. The department’s educational materials for the use of roundabouts say that all approaching traffic must yield to traffic already in the roundabout. Approaching motorists must slow down before entering the roundabout, yield to bicyclists entering the traffic lane and watch for pedestrians crossing the road at one of the roundabout entrance points. Burnett said with the right public education, she thinks roundabouts will help traffic move faster than red lights, hopefully lowering the wait time of drivers trying to enter and exit the Island. At busy intersections such as the Gulf Drive and Marina Drive intersection, it also would allow a safe way for pedestrians to cross the street. Due to several close calls at that intersection with cyclists and pedestrians crossing without a marked crosswalk, Tokajer said he hopes to install a sidewalk railing to prevent people from entering the intersection and signage to direct them to a safe, lighted crosswalk. The matter goes before city commissioners for a decision in April.

To truly make a difference in vehicular Island traffic, Burnett said people need alternate forms of transportation. While the Island trolley does move people around the Island, it still lands in the same vehicular traffic as a car. Burnett hopes to receive Island city support, along with local, state and federal funding, for a complete street project stretching the length of the Island from Anna Maria through Bradenton Beach to Longboat Pass.

If it materializes, the project would see vehicle lanes shrink to 11-feet wide with a designated bicycle lane on each side of the road and pedestrian sidewalks. The bicycle lanes would be brought up to current FDOT standards with a 3-foot clearance between the traffic lane and bicycle lane to help keep cyclists safe. The move also would remove some bicycles from sidewalks along the Island’s main corridor, helping to keep pedestrians safe.

For all the fixes proposed, three challenges remain – approval, time and money. Replacement of the Anna Maria Island and Cortez bridges is currently unfunded and expected to take at least another five years plus the time for construction. Intersection changes also need funding and approval from the state, county or local municipality, depending on whether the road is a local or state road.

In the meantime, all drivers can do is plan ahead, help out their fellow motorists by allowing people to turn across crowded traffic lanes and wait their turn rather than trying to use bicycle lanes as passing lanes, something that can cause a hefty fine from local law enforcement. Bicyclists should remember to travel only in the direction of vehicular traffic and use bicycle lanes whenever possible, yielding to pedestrians on sidewalks. Pedestrians need to remember to be aware of their surroundings and look both ways before crossing a street, even at a crosswalk.

“Just be kinder in traffic,” Tokajer said.

 

Holmes Beach dog park entrance

Progress slows on dog park renovation

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

HOLMES BEACH – It’s been months in the making, but users still aren’t much closer to seeing improvements at the city’s dog park.

Members of the Parks and Beautification Committee held a special meeting to discuss priority projects for the dog park renovation with the public. While decisions were confirmed on fencing, entrances and plantings, other ideas – including a slight enlargement of the park – were dismissed in favor of allowing city commissioners to make the final determination.

Committee members agreed to keep the fence separating the small and large dog parks where pets and pet parents can see through it. They also confirmed votes to change out the exterior fencing to vinyl-coated chain link, add two entries with pavers to each park with push button locking mechanisms and place pavers underneath benches to discourage digging.

They changed a vote from the previous month, favoring filtered water bottle fillers and raised bowl stands for dogs over an earlier decision to insert a water fountain in each side of the park.

Committee member Dennis Groh presented an updated landscaping plan with short cocoplum trees around the perimeter of the park and the addition of trees in the large dog park to allow more shade. Dog park user Don Anthony suggested planting the trees near the fence line to allow dogs to run freely.

Holmes Beach dog park
City Engineer Lynn Burnett addresses drainage concerns from committee members and dog park users. – Kristin Swain | Sun

With the addition of the trees, committee members voted out an earlier decision to add sun shades to the park. Instead, they agreed to reconsider the sun shades if it’s found more shade is needed. No firm decision was made concerning ground cover for the park.

Dog park users spoke out against planting the cocoplum trees along the fencing facing Flotilla Drive, citing a safety concern of not being able to see in or out of the park clearly. Committee members overruled the dog park users present during the meeting with Groh stating the plantings are needed to help block sound and soften the look for residential neighbors.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett was on hand to discuss drainage for the park. Before she can create a plan to help lessen water retention, she said a firm master design plan is needed to allow for any additional storm water runoff that may be created.

Holmes Beach dog park water source
Rather than just having a water hose, committee members agreed to install filtered water bottle fillers in both sides of the dog park. – Kristin Swain | Sun

One item dog park users and committee members agreed on is the reduction of sign pollution in the park. With new, large signs warning of the rules of the park recently installed, users asked if some signs could be removed, particularly from the interior of wooden shelters where the signs block airflow. Committee members agreed to find out what signs were legally required for dog park operation and see if some others could be removed.

Committee members agreed to move forward with the creation of a master plan for the park with the hope of presenting to city commissioners for approval in May.

Holmes Beach Tampa Bay ferry boat

Ferry to Holmes Beach doesn’t float with commissioners

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners have a lot of misgivings about a proposal from Corey Hubbard with Tampa Bay Ferry to offer service to the Island city, but they are willing to talk.

Commissioner Carol Soustek asked to have the issue placed on a future work session after a presentation by Hubbard during a recent commission meeting. This was the second time Hubbard has appeared before commissioners on the issue.

“I’m willing to talk about it,” Soustek said. “We need to look at alternatives to the traffic.”

Hubbard proposes bringing a ferry from Fort DeSoto to a dock at the Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach, carrying carless passengers to the commercial heart of the city. The primary stumbling block commissioners have with the idea is a lack of parking in an area where parking spaces are already at a premium. If Hubbard can secure formal parking agreements with local business owners, Soustek thinks some of the commissioners’ concerns could be alleviated.

Holmes Beach ferry Corey Hubbard
Corey Hubbard with Tampa Bay Ferry asks commissioners to consider allowing a passenger ferry service from Fort DeSoto to the Waterline Marina Resort in Holmes Beach. – Kristin Swain | Sun

For her part, Hubbard argues that parking is unnecessary for the ferry. She said her staff would make sure that ferry passengers didn’t park at surrounding businesses and would encourage people coming to the ferry on the Island to take public transportation, cycle to the site or walk.

“I think their concerns are legitimate,” Hubbard said, adding that she’s working to find solutions backed by research to help clarify the service she wants to offer.

She said Waterline management and surrounding businesses are supportive of the effort, but leasing parking spaces remains an issue. She suggested a trial run for the ferry service, an idea that intrigued commissioners.

One part of her presentation that didn’t sit well with city leaders was a statement that $1.5 million of the funds promised to the effort to rebuild the Anna Maria City Pier require the addition of a ferry terminal at that location. While the comment left Holmes Beach commissioners questioning two ferry terminals so close together, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy denied that one would be required at the city pier.

“There’s no reference to a ferry or a water taxi dock in our funding agreement with the county and the Tourist Development Council,” Murphy said. “And there’s no reference to a ferry or water taxi in our state appropriations request. What Ms. Hubbard said about our funding obligations is both untrue and ridiculous.”

Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson and Chief Bill Tokajer, the city’s traffic engineer, also weren’t thrilled by the idea of the ferry.

Johnson said he fears the ferry will add more traffic congestion to the Island than it takes away. He said he’d like the parking issues addressed by Hubbard along with a plan demonstrating who the service targets as passengers prior to further discussions.

Before city leaders seriously consider adding a ferry service, Tokajer suggested traveling to a nearby city that has a similar service to see what issues arose and if it does alleviate vehicular traffic.

For his part, Johnson said, “Not interested. Not now.”

holmes beach manatee concession

Commissioners consider concession fund projects

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

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners made a few changes to the list of projects approved by commissioners in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach requesting use of surplus concession funds from the county.

Surplus concession funds are held by Manatee County and controlled by the county board of commissioners. However, the funds can be made available to the Island cities for one-time projects if commissioners from all three cities agree on the project and the project is something that will benefit the whole Island.

While commissioners from Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach have already created and approved their lists and a tentative list of projects for funding in Holmes Beach, commissioners in that city got a first look at the list during a March 1 work session.

“This is a wish list,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said. “It’s not guaranteed money. The county has a right to turn us down for any reason.”

City Engineer Lynn Burnett, who helped Mayor Bob Johnson create the city’s portion of the list, said it was a way to stretch the city’s dollars while supporting projects already in this year’s budget if a monetary match is required. Some of the items on the list include sidewalk installation and repairs, bike and pedestrian path improvements, repairs to the city’s skate and dog parks, and a kayak launch at Grassy Point Preserve.

All in all, the city’s total request was for $292,290 of a total of $923,520 being requested.

Another request posed by Bradenton Beach to help fund The Center of Anna Maria Island to assist with structural repairs and maintenance amounts to $100,000 with each city being asked to petition the county for a third of that amount.

At the end of 2017, the surplus concession funds account has $1,144,307 in it. Commissioner Judy Titsworth estimates the balance grows by about $200,000 each year.

“There’s no advantage to saving this money,” Commissioner Rick Hurst said. “If the county approves everything on the list plus the Center, we’ll still have some money leftover with funds added in 2018.”

Burnett said if each city commission agreed to fund the Center’s capital projects through the concession funds and the county agreed, it would be a way to help the nonprofit financially without affecting each city’s own funds.

Commissioner Jim Kihm expressed some concern about using the funds for the Center. He said he’d like to have something on the list to help supplement the $10,000 a year the Holmes Beach Police Department receives for policing the county beach. Commissioners voted 3 to 2, with Kihm and Soustek dissenting, to support adding funding for the Center to the list.

While commissioners were in favor of asking for funding for the HBPD, Titsworth said it should be for a project, not for an ongoing expense like patrolling the beach. For that, she said commissioners need to be more resolute in their discussions with county commissioners about increasing the amount paid to the department for policing the public beach.

For a project, Chief Bill Tokajer suggested the installation and set up of a license plate recognition camera system like that on Longboat Key. The system would monitor vehicles going on and off the Island and share it with local law enforcement. Cameras would be placed at each of the three entry points to the Island.

Commissioners agreed to add a $50,000 line item for the HBPD to cover preliminary work on the acquisition and setup of the camera system, bringing the total requested up to $1,073,520 combined from the three cities.

If the other two cities agree to the addition of funds for the police department, the list of requests will move forward to seek approval from county commissioners.

 

holmes beach manatee pier man

Commissioners say ‘no’ to new beach pier

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

HOLMES BEACH – It didn’t take commissioners long to decide that a 15-foot tall pier isn’t something they want to see on the beach.

Commissioner Judy Titsworth presented two options given to Mayor Bob Johnson by the Manatee County Board of Commissioners. One option was for a 300-foot long pier with a small T-shaped end which would be in about the same footprint as the pier that was torn down in late 2009. One major change – the pier would have to be elevated 15 feet above the North American Vertical Datum line to meet new Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards.

holmes beach manatee pier short
An architectural drawing shows how a new pier would look at around the same size as the old one. This mock-up shows the pier at 300 feet long with a small T-shaped end. – Submitted | Sun
Holmes Beach Manatee pier long
This architectural drawing shows a new pier at 600 feet long, twice the length of the previous one. – Submitted | Sun

The letter from county commissioners said because of the height requirement, a shorter pier would look like “an upward elevated ramp.” The pier would be about eight feet taller than the previous structure. A 2013 cost estimate submitted to commissioners from the county puts construction at around $1,443,330.

A second option is a 600-foot long pier that would cost $2,432,120 to build according to the 2013 numbers. The letter noted that since work would have to be done by heavy machinery in the Gulf of Mexico, commissioners should expect those estimates to significantly rise if new construction bids are sought.

Titsworth said she hasn’t had any requests from residents to reconstruct a pier on the public beach, also commenting that she thinks the new pier designs are unattractive.

Commissioner Carol Soustek agreed, saying the cost is just too high for taxpayers with the county asking for a match from the city to cover construction costs.

“I’m totally against it,” Commissioner Rick Hurst said.

Holmes Beach Manatee pier underside
An underside shot of the old pier shows how close it was to the water. If constructed, a new pier would need to be 15 feet above the waterline to meet current standards. – Kristin Swain | Sun

The old pier was located on the sand extending to the Gulf in front of the concession area at the Manatee Public Beach. The concrete structure had metal guard rails placed on it late in its life to prevent people from jumping off the structure. It was deemed structurally unsafe and closed to the public in February 2009. Demolition of the pier took place later that same year, surpassing estimates of $670,000 and costing $1,441,130 to complete.

Soustek said with no way to get the old pier back, there’s no reason to build a higher structure on the beach.

“This is a want, not a need,” City Engineer Lynn Burnett said. “We’re at a critical point with monies that need to be spent on infrastructure.”

Commissioner Jim Kihm suggested if Manatee County Commissioners have funds they want to spend on a pier they should visit Anna Maria. “They have a pier that needs rebuilding,” he said.