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Proposed charter amendments debated

Proposed charter amendments debated

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

ANNA MARIA – City com­missioners are still considering six charter amendments recently proposed by the charter review committee.

On April 25, the commission engaged in its second informal discussion on the proposed charter amendments presented on April 11. No decisions have been made regarding any of the proposed amendments to the city charter that establishes how the city is structured and governed.

The commission will eventually formally vote to reject, accept or modify each of the proposed amendments and any additional amendments proposed by the commission.

The commission-supported amendments will be placed before Anna Maria voters in the upcoming general election. The city charter can only be amended with the majority support of the city’s registered voters.

HOME RULE

Much of the April 25 discus­sion pertained to the proposed insertion of charter language that would address the desire to preserve Anna Maria’s home rule rights and residential character.

The committee proposes the following language be inserted into the charter: “The city of Anna Maria will ensure that the single-family detached residential character and home rule of the city is maintained and protected while supporting commercial uses within the commercial and ROR land use categories, while maximizing the enjoyment of natural and man-made resources by the citizens and minimizing the threat to health, safety and welfare posed by hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses and environmental degradation.”

As he did on April 11, Com­missioner Jon Crane again questioned the use of the word “ensure” and the city’s ability to do so.

“I think this is aspira­tional change and not an action change. It’s a nice statement, but I don’t think it should be something we put before the electorate,” Crane said.

Commissioner Charlie Salem disagreed and said, “I actually like this statement, especially given the time we’re in, where home rule is under threat. I think this is the type of thing that would be good for the electorate to weigh in on.”

Commissioner Gary McMullen agreed with Crane and said, “What do we do to ensure it?”

Regarding the ongoing OPPAGA consolidation study requested by state legislators, McMullen said, “We can’t control our destiny. We’ve got no control over OPPAGA.”

Proposed charter amendments debated
Commissioners Mark Short and Jon Crane expressed their views on a proposed charter statement. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Commissioner Mark Short addressed the potential legal ramifications of the proposed statement.

“Does this put the city at some type of legal risk if say we’re going to ensure these things and then something happens and we can’t?” he asked. “We continue to be attacked at the state level for home rule. Unfortunately, we don’t control our own destiny as well as we used to.”

Short suggested eliminat­ing the word “ensure” and inserting language that says the city will strive to protect home rule and the city’s residential character.

Salem asked City Attorney Becky Vose if there’s any legal benefit to placing such a state­ment in the charter.

In response, Vose said, “I don’t know how something like this would be viewed by the elector­ate. As a very practical matter, more than half of the residential structures in Anna Maria are vacation rentals, so in some respect the ship has sailed.”

Mayor Dan Murphy has previously stated more than 70% of Anna Maria’s residential structures are short-term vacation rentals.

BUILDING HEIGHTS

Anna Maria’s comp plan and build­ing codes already restrict building heights to three stories but the comp plan and the building code could be easily amended by a simple majority vote of the city commission.

The charter review committee recommends building heights be limited to 37 feet at the highest point of the structure. The proposed charter language also lists several exceptions for air conditioning equipment, elevator shafts and other elements and accessories. The commissioners tentatively support the 37-foot height limit but agree that more discussion and specific details are needed.

Other proposed charter amendments pertain to the sale or long-term lease of city properties, clarifying who’s con­sidered an officer of the city, residency requirements for elected officials while in office and who can schedule a special city commission meeting. The committee also recommends replacing gender-specific pronouns with non-gender-specific nouns.

More charter discussion is expected on Thursday, May 9.

Related coverage: Commission receives proposed charter amendments

Six charter amendments proposed

Six charter amendments proposed

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News.

ANNA MARIA –The Anna Maria Charter Review Committee is propos­ing six potential charter amendments for city commission consideration.

The five-member volunteer com­mittee completed its comprehensive review of the city charter on March 21 after the members voted unanimously in favor of each of the six proposed amendments to be included in a final report prepared by City Attorney Becky Vose.

The committee will meet for the final time on March 28 at 11 a.m. to review the final report compiled by Vose. At least one committee member will then present the recommended charter amendments to the city commission during its April 11 meeting. The commission will then accept, reject or modify any or all of the proposed amendments. Any proposed amend­ments supported by the commission, including those introduced by the commission, will be placed on the November ballot for Anna Maria’s registered voters to accept or reject.

HOME RULE

The committee spent much time debating a proposed charter amend­ment that would further establish the city’s desire to preserve its home rule rights. The proposed amendment is sought in response to state legislators Jim Boyd and Will Robinson Jr. requesting a study by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Govern­ment Accountability that could result in the Florida Legislature imposing the forced consolidation of the three Island cities.

When lobbying for the proposed amendment, committee member Chuck Wolfe said, “There’s no hiding from the fact that as residents on the Island the biggest question facing us is whether we’ll continue to be residents of a town. We like being self-managed and we’ve proven that by having the mayor manage the city. This is an extension of that.”

The committee members ultimately agreed to propose the insertion of the words “home rule” into existing language already contained in the city’s comprehensive plan.

With the insertion of the words “home rule,” the committee proposes adding the following language to the charter: “Ensure that the single-family detached residential character and home rule of the city of Anna Maria is maintained and protected while supporting commercial uses in the commercial and ROR land use catego­ries, while maximizing the enjoyment of natural and man-made resources by the citizens and minimizing the threat to health, safety and welfare posed by hazards, nuisances, incompatible land uses and environmental degradation.”

Mayor Dan Murphy and City At­torney Becky Vose said they do not support placing such an amendment before the city’s voters. Vose questions the point of the proposed amendment and she and Murphy cautioned the committee that 73% of the residential properties in Anna Maria are used as short-term vacation rentals and some of those property owners who are currently registered to vote elsewhere might register to vote in Anna Maria instead to oppose the proposed home rule statement.

Murphy said that could poten­tially result in the proposed charter amendment being rejected by city voters or garnering enough support to further encourage state legislators’ consolidation efforts. Murphy noted the proposed charter amendment would be abolished with the rest of the charter if the state Legislature imposes the forced consolidation of the city.

BUILDING HEIGHTS

Unlike the Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach charters, the Anna Maria charter does not restrict building heights. The city’s comprehensive plan and building code currently restrict building heights to 37 feet above the crown of the road, with no more than two habitable residential floors.

The height restrictions set forth in the comp plan can currently be elimi­nated or modified with the support of at least four city commissioners. The height restrictions set forth in the city code of ordinances can be modified or eliminated with the simple majority support of the commission, which could be as few as two votes.

The committee proposes a charter amendment that includes the follow­ing code language: “No building or structure or part thereof shall exceed 37 feet as measured from the crown of the road to the highest point of the roof.” The adoption of the proposed amendment would then require the future approval by the city’s registered voters to modify or eliminate the height restrictions established in the charter.

CITY PROPERTY

The charter currently requires a city commission-approved ordinance to sell, abandon ownership or lease city-owned land and real property. The adoption of a city ordinance requires the simple majority support of the commission.

The committee proposes a charter amendment language that would require 100% support of the sitting commissioners at that time to sell, abandon or enter into a long-term lease for the use of a city-owned property. The proposed amendment would allow the city commission to grant with simple majority support a short-term lease of less than five years.

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

The charter currently addresses the qualifications and the two-year residency requirement for candidates qualifying to run for the mayor’s seat or a city commission seat, but the charter is silent regarding those actu­ally holding elected office. The com­mittee proposes a charter amendment that would better define the residency requirements for the mayor and city commissioners once in office. The proposed amendment would provide that once in office if a mayor or city commissioner ceases to reside in the city, the commission shall remove that elected official.

ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS

The charter currently allows a single city commissioner to call for a special city commission meeting. The committee proposes an amendment that would only allow the mayor, the commissioner chair or the commission majority to call for a special meeting.

The committee also proposes an amendment that would replace gender-specific pronouns such as “he” and “she” with proper nouns such as “mayor,” “commissioner” and “clerk.”

Florida State Seal

Florida Legislature convenes 2024 session

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

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Legislature’s 2024 regular legislative session is underway and the city of Anna Maria already is opposing lawmakers’ latest attempt to preempt vacation rental regulation to the state.

The Legislature’s 60-day regular session began on Jan. 9 and noon of that day was the deadline to file bills for introduction. Feb. 27 will be the final day for regularly scheduled committee meetings and the 60-day legislative session is scheduled to end on March 8.

In addition to proposing and debating new state laws, the Legislature will help craft the annual state budget to be presented to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

VACATION RENTALS

Utilizing the city-owned, city-managed Home Rule Florida website, https://www.homerulefl.com/, the city of Anna Maria has already launched an opposition campaign regarding Senate Bill 280.

SB 280 is the Legislature’s latest attempt to preempt vacation rental regulation to the state and strip Florida cities and counties of those home rule regulatory rights. The Home Rule Florida website provides information concerning legislation and provides already-written opposition letters that can be emailed to several legislators at a time.

Sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, (R-St. Petersburg), SB 280 passed through the Senate’s Regulated Industries Committee on Dec. 13 by a 4-0 vote. Committee Chair Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), Committee Vice-Chair Ed Hooper (R-Palm Harbor) and Senators Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) and Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) voted in favor of forwarding SB 280 to the Senate’s Fiscal Policy Committee.

As of Friday afternoon, Jan. 5, a House of Representatives companion bill to SB 280 had not yet been filed. For new state legislation to be enacted, matching bills must successfully pass through the Senate and House and be signed into law by the governor.

LEGAL ANALYSIS

On Dec. 11, City Attorney Becky Vose provided Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission with her six-page legal analysis of SB 280.

“To a person not heavily involved in the regulation of vacation rentals, a review of SB 280 could possibly appear to be a reasonable and well-thought-out statutory scheme to standardize the regulation of vacation rentals throughout the state. However, the devil is in the details. As proposed, SB 280 would have devastating results in Anna Maria, and similarly destructive results in other municipalities and counties that have adopted vacation rental regulations similar to those currently in effect in Anna Maria,” Vose stated in her analysis.

“SB 280, in another devastating blow to home rule in Florida, would allow local governments to only impose certain specific regulations on vacation rentals, thereby eliminating the well-thought-out and well-accepted provisions of the currently existing vacation rental ordinance in Anna Maria, as well as similar ordinances in other Florida locations,” Vose stated.

“SB 280 would:

• “Allow virtually unlimited occupancy in vacation rentals due to the provision that allows local governments to cap occupancy only based on the number of ‘sleeping accommodations’ in the vacation rental. This occupancy ‘cap’ is purely illusory since it could allow up to 16 persons to sleep in a 14’ x 14’ bedroom, and who knows how many people in other parts of the vacation rental;

• “Eliminate the ability of the city to conduct annual inspections of vacation rentals for compliance with the Florida Building Code and the Florida Fire and Life Safety Codes. Such inspections would only be allowed upon the initial application for registration, or when a registration is changed;

• “Cap the cost of the initial application for registration of a vacation rental at $150, and cap all subsequent renewal fees at $50, thereby transferring the bulk of the cost of regulation and registrations of vacation rentals to the taxpayers of the city;

• “Eliminate the regulation of the number of vehicles at vacation rentals. Since occupancy would essentially be unlimited, parking would likely be a serious problem;

• “Eliminate the ability to require rental agreements and postings at vacation rentals to inform guests of a variety of local issues such as where to park vehicles, sea turtle regulations, solid waste pick up regulations, noise regulations, location of the nearest hospital and what to do in the event of an evacuation order due to a storm;

• “Make illusory the enforcement power of the State of Florida as to cease and desist orders by the state to enforce state requirements,” Vose stated in her analysis.

City officials prepare to defend local vacation rental regulations

City officials prepare to defend local vacation rental regulations

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

ANNA MARIA – City officials and their allies are gearing up to oppose the newest attempts by the Florida Legislature to preempt more local short-term vacation rental regulations to the state.

This year, the Legislature is considering Senate Bill 714 and House Bill 833. Senator Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) sponsored SB 714 and State Rep. Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) sponsored HB 833.

In addition to limiting local government’s ability to register, inspect and regulate short-term vacation rentals, the proposed legislation seeks to give the state the exclusive regulation of online advertising platforms such as Vrbo and Airbnb.

The proposed legislation would also impact Florida cities financially by cap- ping the annual vacation rental registration fee that can be charged.

“Local governments may charge a fee of no more than $50 for processing an individual registration application or $100 for processing a collective registration application,” according to SB 714.

Commission reaction

Commissioners discussed SB 714 at the Feb. 23 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

“It pretty much makes us a gatekeeper for people to register a vacation rental,” Mayor Dan Murphy said. “Even with that, you could do blanket registrations. If you’ve got 75 homes in our city, you can just do one blanket registration. It takes away the registration fee we use to enforce our (vacation rental) ordinance. It takes away our being able to regulate the advertising program, which is key to enforcing occupancy.”

This year, the city of Anna Maria is charging an annual registration fee of $84.17 per occupant allowed in accordance with the city’s vacation rental ordinance. This year’s annual fee for four-occupant vacation rentals is $336, with a six-occupant vacation rental fee of $505 and a 12-occupant vacation rental fee of $1,010. The registration fees are projected to generate approximately $415,000 for vacation rental enforcement during the 2022-23 fiscal year.

“It totally guts everything,” City Attorney Becky Vose said. “It’s a horrendous statute. Hopefully, it won’t pass.”

“What this amounts to for people who live in Anna Maria is a tax increase be- cause the money that’s collected through these registration fees is only collected
in order to enforce these regulations. It’s going to have to be made up somewhere else,” Commissioner Charlie Salem said. “This problem stretches over the bridge. We hear more stories about vacation rentals popping up in Palma Sola, west Bradenton and Bradenton. So, this problem, while it’s been acute on the Island, is coming to a neighborhood in Manatee County. The residents of Manatee County and their representatives should be really concerned. It basically amounts to residents funding vacationers’ activities, and I don’t think that’s what their intent is.”

Murphy noted the city has been fighting this annual legislative battle for the past six years. To combat these latest efforts, the city will again rely on its contracted lobbyist and the city-owned www.Hom- eRuleFl.com website that provides concerned citizens with issue-specific form letters that target key state legislators.

BB seal

Proposed consolidation study concerns city officials

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners continue to express concerns about legislative actions recently proposed by State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. and other state legislators.

On Jan. 12, Robinson (R-Bradenton) and his fellow Republican members of the Manatee County legislative delegation announced their intent to pursue state legislation that could potentially allow Manatee County to preempt the city of Holmes Beach’s land development code in order to build a multi-story parking garage on county property to provide more parking for beachgoers and other visitors. Robinson and his fellow state legislators also announced their desire for a state-funded study regarding the possible consolidation or elimination of the three Island cities and city governments.

Led by Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), the Manatee County legislative delegation also includes Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. Tommy Gregory and Rep. Mike Beltran. State legislators began a special 12-day legislative session on Monday, and their regular annual 60-day legislative session begins on March 7.

Bradenton Beach concerns

On Feb. 2, the Bradenton Beach Commission again discussed these legislative matters. Mayor John Chappie noted that City Attorney Ricinda Perry referenced the state legislators’ efforts in a letter she sent to the accounting firm that annually audits the city’s finances. In that letter, Perry identified current or potential legal actions or litigation that could impact the city’s finances.

“The city of Bradenton Beach has been placed on notice that Representative Robinson may propose a study funded by the Florida Legislature to determine if the three Anna Maria Island Cities – Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Anna Maria – should be consolidated or dissolved,” Perry stated in her Jan. 31 letter.

“The impacts of this would impair all existing contracts, leases, franchise agreements, employment agreements, endowments and retirement accounts. There has been real property gifted to the city that may have reverter clauses. The city would cease to exist if the special act creating the municipality would be repealed and the city was dissolved by the Florida Legislature,” Perry’s letter said.

“To date, the city has not received notice that the study has been authorized, nor has the city received notice that Representative Robinson has filed a local house bill to dissolve the city,” Perry’s letter said in closing.

Perry noted eliminating the city would also eliminate the city charter. Among other things, the city charter includes height restrictions that prohibit the construction of high-rise structures.

Perry receives legislative updates from the city’s contracted lobbyist, Dave Ramba. Ramba believes Robinson will push for the consolidation study during this year’s legislative session and wait until the 2024 session to decide what to do with the recommendations made in the study. Perry said the study is one of Robinson’s top legislative priorities.

Perry also spoke with Florida League of Cities attorney David Cruz and was told the League will be part of the efforts to defeat the legislative actions sought by the Manatee County delegation.

“This is a new attack on home rule,” Perry said.

Perry said she spoke with Robinson, too. She said he’s concerned about the tax burdens placed on the Island’s taxpayers and wants to know whether consolidating some or all of the services provided by each of the Island cities would reduce those tax burdens.

After noting that people voluntarily chose to live and own property on Anna Maria Island, Perry said, “If the extra (property) tax is the concern, then by virtue of his claim every municipality in the state is an overtax on people and every county should be a county with no municipalities in it.”

Chappie noted the city only receives a small percentage of the tax revenues Manatee County collects in Bradenton Beach.

Perry said Robinson also feels the three Island cities, in general, need to find or create more parking for beachgoers and visitors, but one city in particular (Holmes Beach) is the state legislators’ main concern.

On Jan. 30, Chappie, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy met with Robinson and Boyd at Anna Maria City Hall in a private meeting arranged by Murphy.

During Thursday’s commission meeting, Chappie shared some of what was discussed during that meeting, and also during his previous meetings with Titsworth and Murphy. Chappie said the three mayors have had some preliminary discussion about possibly consolidating some of the services provided by each of the three cities, including flood plain management, the flood insurance-related Community Rating System, code enforcement and things of that nature.

“We’re looking at that and that was part of the request from our legislators,” Chappie said.

Commissioner Ralph Cole addressed the potential consolidation or elimination of the city’s police department.

“It’s good to have your own police department. They know the people, how the area works and what’s going on in each neighborhood,” he said.

“Look at the amount of crime out here on the Island and tell us we haven’t done a good job,” Cole said in comparison to crime rates experienced elsewhere in the county.

Regarding consolidation in general, Chappie said, “I don’t think the numbers actually work. We’re going to look at all that.”

“It would be a disaster for this area,” Cole said.

Vacation rental bills appear to be dead

Vacation rental bills appear to be dead

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

TALLAHASSEE – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and City Commission Chair Carol Carter flew to Tallahassee Monday morning, March 2, planning to address the Florida Senate Rules Committee regarding proposed vacation rental legislation.

Murphy and Carter planned to speak about Senate Bill 1128, a bill originally filed by Sen. Manny Diaz Jr., R-Miami/Dade, in an attempt to preempt to the state all regulation of short-term vacation rentals and vacation rental advertising.

The House companion bill, HB 1011, co-sponsored by Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, and Rep. Mike LaRosa, R-St. Cloud, aligned with Diaz’s efforts to also require all vacation rentals advertised at online advertising platforms like Airbnb and VRBO to be registered with the state.

If adopted as proposed, that state legislation would eliminate the local vacation rental regulations and registration programs that currently exist in Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach.

The House bill already successfully passed through its three committee stops and was awaiting potential advancement to the House floor for a final vote.

The Senate bill passed through two committee stops and was scheduled to make its third and final committee stop with the Rules Committee on Monday.

Legislation derailed?

Upon their arrival Monday morning, Murphy and Carter learned from the city’s lobbyist, Chip Case, that Sen. David Simmons, R-Longwood, filed a proposed amendment that morning that sought to protect the local vacation rental ordinances and regulations already in place.

Murphy, Carter and Case were present when the Rules Committee meeting began at noon.

To their surprise, the anticipated discussion on SB 1128 was postponed with no explanation after the committee held a short opening discussion about a shark fin harvesting prohibition.

When contacted at 12:17 p.m., Murphy said, “This means they don’t intend to hear the bill today, but they could bring it back up before 6 p.m. We’re sitting tight lest they try to sneak this in.”

A short time later, Murphy said Case and others were trying to figure out if the postponement meant the Senate bill and this year’s legislative efforts regarding vacation rentals were dead.

At 12:56 p.m., Murphy said, “It appears to be dead. Today provides brief relief in defending our rights to home rule, but it’s too soon to let our guard down.”

At 4:15 p.m., Murphy said, “They could have another meeting on Thursday and put that legislation back on the docket. We don’t think that’s probable, but it’s possible. Our lobbyist is on top of it and he’ll let us know what happens. If it’s not on Thursday’s agenda, it’s not likely to be heard,” Murphy said.

The 2020 legislative session is scheduled to end on Friday, March 13 and committee meetings are expected to conclude this week.

Murphy said he and Carter were headed home Monday night and would return Thursday if needed, and if given enough advance notice.

“They could schedule the meeting with four hours’ notice, which would preclude our participation, but our lobbyist would be there. It’s a wait and see situation,” Murphy said.

At 4:33 p.m. Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ricinda Perry received a text message from Bradenton Beach’s lobbyist, David Ramba.

“It looks dead as of today,” Ramba told Perry regarding SB 1128.

Governor’s concerns

To become state law, matching Senate and House bills must be adopted by their respective legislative branches and then supported and signed by the Florida Governor.

On Feb. 24, Gov. Ron DeSantis was interviewed by Jim Turner of the News Service of Florida and asked about preempting vacation rental regulations to the state.

According to the video of that interview, DeSantis said, “I haven’t made a final decision. I’ve expressed privately to some members of the legislature I have concerns about that. We’re going to be in charge of this as a state? For us to be micro-managing vacation rentals, I’m not sure that’s the right thing to do. My view would be, probably, that should be determined locally. That’s where I’m leaning now. I’m going to listen to some more arguments if the bill passes, but I do have some concerns about that.”

Beach Smoking ban

Gruters proposes statewide beach smoking ban

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

SARASOTA – If Florida Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) has his way, Anna Maria Island’s beaches and those throughout Florida would become no-smoking zones.

Filed on Jan. 2, Gruters’ Senate Bill 218 seeks to prohibit tobacco use on public beaches and issue citations and $25 fines to first-time violators.

Gruters’ proposed legislation seeks to create a new state law that says: “Smoking prohibited on public beaches… It is unlawful for any person to smoke tobacco on a public beach.”

The legislation does not specifically address vaping.

Gruters was among those who attended Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press conference in Sarasota last week. When asked afterward about his proposed beach smoking legislation, Gruters said he thinks it’s “disgusting” to see someone throw a cigarette butt on the beach or to stick your hand in the sand and come up with a cigarette butt.

“This is basically the result of me having discussions with constituents. People kept telling me they didn’t like sitting next to people who smoked. People have the right to smoke and hopefully, we can provide them designated smoking areas on the sidewalks.

“But the bottom line is we need to make sure we protect peoples’ rights to have quiet enjoyment of the natural resource, which is the beaches, and protect our residents and tourists so they can come enjoy them without having to experience secondhand smoke,” Gruters said.

In 2013, Sarasota County’s beach-smoking ban was deemed unconstitutional after being enacted by the Sarasota County Commission in 2007. State law, however, grants the state Legislature the sole authority to ban smoking at public beaches statewide.

Vacation rental regulation

The Sun also asked Gruters if he anticipates the state Legislature repeating its past unsuccessful efforts to repeal or further restrict local governments’ ability to regulate vacation rentals.

“My predecessor had those bills the last two years, and I don’t know if there’s as much energy towards pushing that forward now that he’s gone. Only time will tell,” Gruters said.

Gruters now holds the senate seat vacated by former Florida Sen. Greg Steube. Steube and State Rep. Mike LaRosa led those past legislative efforts, but Steube is now a U.S. Congressman.

Florida’s 2019 legislative session will begin March 5 and continue for at least 60 days.

Anna Maria officials share hopes

Anna Maria officials share hopes

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

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and Anna Maria Commissioners Brian Seymour and Amy Tripp recently shared their hopes for the city in 2019.

Completing the pier project and continuing the city’s drainage and street paving improvements currently sit atop the mayor’s to-do list.

“I’d really like to see some progress on red tide, but that’s not on my agenda. Something needs to be done; resources need to be put toward that,” Murphy said.

Murphy said the section of the new mixed-use trail that opened along Gulf Drive in October is a good start but there’s more to do regarding the expansion of the trail.

Now in his second term, Seymour will serve as the commission chair this year.

“My wish for the new year is that we have a new city pier by the end of 2019,” Seymour said.

“I would like to see the commission continue to look forward and utilize our long-term plan to focus on things that directly impact our residents, such as increased flood control measures, paving, infrastructure and other things that will help to make the city more livable for all residents.

“I hope the mayor and city staff continue, and maybe even add to, the city events at City Pier Park that help build our community spirit: the farmer’s market, Movies in the Park, our holiday events and more,” Seymour said.

“I wish for 2019 to leave everyone, happy, healthy and better off than 2018 has. Hopefully, there’s no return of red tide to our beautiful beaches that truly showcase what a special place we all live in,” he concluded.

Also in her second term as a commissioner, Tripp said, “I believe we will see significant progress in the new pier, more drainage management and my fingers are crossed that we will have more multiple use paths. I am pleased with the city team: the mayor, the sitting commission, the city staff and our city’s volunteer base.

“We are fortunate that we were still able to retain our city’s home rule after last year’s state legislative session, however, that will be back again. Losing home rule is one of Anna Maria’s biggest threats to the quality of living we currently have. Without home rule and local regulations, local accountability and safety will be greatly reduced,” Tripp said.

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BIEO members begin fight for home rule

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

ANNA MARIA – The Island’s elected officials are beginning preparations for a Legislative fight.

During the Barrier Island Elected Officials October meeting, members discussed priorities for the upcoming state Legislative session, primarily attacks geared toward repealing home rule protections for municipalities.

“The attack being prepared is stronger than a lot of us realize,” Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek said.

One of Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson’s priorities is to draw legislative attention to the unequal distribution of tourist tax dollars.

“There’s an awful lot of stuff to encourage tourism here, which is good. But distribution of funds is disproportionate with the cities that have the highest tourism numbers,” he said.

With each Island city contracting its own lobbyist, Johnson said he feels having time to prepare before the session gets underway in January will be key to success.

“We’ve got to work through this whole session,” he said.

Soustek said she’s concerned with the misinformation concerning home rule being bandied about in Tallahassee. Some of the rumors she mentioned include claims of taking away the right to rent properties from owners, plus state claims of inspecting all vacation rental properties.

Commissioner Jean Peelen said she would like to be able to present state senators and representatives with hard numbers of how many vacation rental properties are owned by investors. Soustek agreed.

Johnson and Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon appeared the following day before the Manatee County Legislative delegation to discuss home rule.

“We on the Island don’t have any issue sharing our islands with people who come as tourists,” Johnson said, adding that issues arise with too many tourists being located in traditional residential neighborhoods. “Please reject the efforts to repeal home rule that will surely come again this session.”

Home Sweet Home

Peelen also gave a presentation during the meeting, updating her fellow elected officials on the progress made by the organization. The nonprofit’s purpose is to help bring more full-time residents back to the Island. One of the ways its members seek to do that is to provide affordable housing.

While the organization is attempting to build funds to purchase small Island homes to provide this affordable housing, Peelen said she’d also like each city to consider donating funds to the organization, if each city is considering providing any charitable contributions in the current fiscal year.

Soustek also suggested the organization reach out to elderly property owners on the Island who have no family to leave their properties to, in order to encourage legacy donations.

“It’s all negotiable,” Peelen said, adding that a life estate, in which the donor continues to live in the property for the rest of his or her life, is also an option. “We’re getting serious,” she said of the endeavor.