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Tag: Hurricane Ian

State restricts local land use regulations

State restricts local land use regulations

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

ANNA MARIA – The three city governments on Anna Maria Island are among the Florida cities now temporarily prohibited from adopting comprehensive plan or land development code amendments that are more restrictive or burdensome than their existing land use regulations.

On June 28, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into new law the committee substitute version of Senate Bill 250 and its matching companion bill, House Bill 7057. The temporary land use regulation restrictions created by the Florida Legislature and placed on local governments are just one component of the state legislation that provides approximately $61 million in state-supervised loans as part of Florida’s continuing recovery efforts from Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole.

In May in anticipation of the new state law, the Anna Maria City Commission discontinued the short-lived pursuit of an ordinance proposed by city staff that would have placed greater local restrictions on multiple non-conforming lots located on a single property. City Attorney Becky Vose advised the commission to withhold any further action on the proposed ordinance until the final fate of SB 250 was known.

She also advised the commission that the proposed ordinance would subject the city to Bert Harris claims filed by some or all of the 37 impacted residential property owners. The Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Protection Act provides relief, including financial relief, for property owners aggrieved or inordinately burdened by the actions of a state, county or local government.

The new law created by SB 250 is set forth in section 553.80 of Florida Statutes and says: “A county or municipality located entirely or partially within 100 miles of where either Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole made landfall shall not propose or adopt any moratorium on construction, reconstruction or redevelopment of any property damaged by Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole; propose or adopt more restrictive or burdensome amendments to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations; or propose or adopt more restrictive or burdensome procedures concerning review, approval or issuance of a site plan, development permit or development order before October 1, 2024. Any such moratorium or restrictive or burdensome comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation or procedure shall be null and void ab initio. This applies retroactively to September 28, 2022.”

During that May discussion, Vose said she believes Anna Maria is located within 100 miles of where Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida in September 2022.

“Jurisdictions within that distance on both the east coast and the west coast have to put a pause on changes to their comp plan and land development regulations if they result in something more restrictive or burdensome,” Vose said.

Additional research conducted by Vose and Mayor Dan Murphy confirmed Anna Maria is located within 100 miles of Hurricane Ian’s landfall. Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach also fall within that 100-mile range.

The new state law still allows comp plan and land development code amendments pursued through a local government but initiated by a private property owner.

Inspection fees

The state law also addresses building inspection fees and says, “local governments located in areas designated in the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declarations for Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole may not raise building inspection fees before Oct. 1, 2024. This expires June 30, 2025.”

According to Vose, the inspection fee restriction applies to all Florida cities because FEMA issued disaster declarations in every county in Florida because of Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole.

Temporary shelter

The new state law declares a municipality may not prohibit the placement of one temporary shelter on a residential property for up to 36 months after the date of the declaration if the property’s permanent residential structure was damaged and rendered uninhabitable. The resident must make a good-faith effort to rebuild or renovate the damaged permanent residential structure. Additionally, the temporary shelter is required to be connected to water and electric utilities, must not present a safety threat and the resident must live in the temporary structure.

Join in the cleanup

Reel Time: Join in the cleanup

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Have you been looking for a way to meet new friends who share your passion for the environment and work to keep it healthy? An upcoming event will provide you with that opportunity. Join Sarasota Bay Watch, Suncoast Aqua Ventures and Suncoast Waterkeeper on Saturday, Feb. 25 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Harbor Cove Community, 499 Imperial Drive in North Port. Hurricane Ian blew a tremendous amount of debris into the Myakka River, our area’s premier wild and scenic river. Join the effort in removing debris and restoring this natural treasure.

You can sign up at the Sarasota Bay Watch website. The event starts at 8:15 a.m. with a safety meeting followed by the cleanup, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided at noon at the end of the cleanup. Fourteen kayaks will be provided for those who want to participate but don’t own a kayak. Sign up early to reserve a seat. Participants can, of course, bring their own kayak or shallow draft boat. Work gloves, trash bags, maps and equipment will be provided. Non-boaters are needed to retrieve trash or clean areas from land. Parking is limited, so carpool if possible. If you have questions, contact Ronda Ryan at 941-232-2363. Other sponsors include North Port Friends of Wildlife and the Harbor Cove Community.

As you may be aware, Hurricane Ian had a huge impact over a wide swath of waterways across the state. While the news has moved on to more immediate stories, the debris left by the storm remains in some of the Suncoast’s most important natural areas. On their first event held on Dec. 11, 2022, the organizations cleaned up the waterways in the community of Holiday Estates. A particularly hard-hit area on the Suncoast, Lemon Bay sits at the southern end of the watershed monitored by Suncoast Aqua Ventures, Sarasota Bay Watch and Suncoast Waterkeeper. With the assistance of Lemon Bay Conservancy and the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Program, they worked to clean up the canals of Ainger Creek, a major tributary of Lemon Bay.

This is a great opportunity to learn about and participate in the important work of these organizations, as well as an opportunity to spend a day making a difference and meeting new friends. Join in to keep the Suncoast the special place it is for this and future generations.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review

Anna Maria: The Year in Review

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Special Sections, Year in Review.

ANNA MARIA – Reimagining Pine Avenue, Mote Marine, food trucks and noise violations were among the top new stories in Anna Maria in 2022.

Projects

Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission spent much time in 2022 discussing the pending Reimaging Pine Avenue safety improvements planned to include new sidewalks along both sides of the street, new and improved crosswalks and possibly some new streetlights. The safety improvements to be made in 2023 will be partially funded by a $1.28 million state appropriation received in 2022. In September, the commission decided not to pursue a project-related roundabout and delivery truck turnaround at end of Pine Avenue near the trolley stop and the city pier.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
Mote Marine’s educational outreach center is expected to open in late March. – Mote Marine | Submitted

In April, the commission granted Mote Marine Laboratory a lease extension to complete the long-delayed installation of an educational outreach center on the city pier that was originally expected to open in March 2022. The extension gives Mote Marine until March 2023 to complete the interior buildout and exhibit installation in the city-owned pier building. According to Murphy, that work is now underway.

Adopted in September, the city’s $11.4 million 2022-23 fiscal year budget maintained the existing 2.05 millage rate and included $1.75 million for stormwater and drainage improvements and maintenance and $799,000 for street paving.

Issues & actions

In July, the mayor, commission and city attorney began working on a proposed ordinance intended to establish a designated food truck zone that would limit where food trucks can operate in Anna Maria in response to a state law enacted in 2020 that prevents local governments from prohibiting food truck operations.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
This map illustrates the proposed, and later rejected, designated food truck zone. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

In August, Murphy proposed, and the commission supported, locating the food truck zone at the far end of Bayfront Park, near the Hibiscus Street and North Shore Drive intersection. Due to concerns voiced by the public, the commission and the mayor, the proposed food truck ordinance was rejected and discussions have not yet resumed.

In May, at the city’s request, Special Magistrate Gerald Buhr deemed a vacation rental home at 313 Magnolia Ave. to be a public nuisance because three noise violation citations were to guests staying there during a 12-month period. In June, the city filed a lawsuit against the Mangoes on Magnolia LLC ownership group seeking a court ruling that would prohibit the home from being operated as a short-term vacation rental for one year.

Several legal filings have ensued, but a hearing before Manatee County Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas has not yet been scheduled.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
Guests staying at this vacation rental home at 313 Magnolia Ave. received three noise violation citations in a 12-month period. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In July, Buhr deemed a vacation rental home at 205 South Bay Blvd. to be a public nuisance due to three noise violation citations being issued to guests staying there within in a 12-month period. The property is owned by Shawn Kaleta’s Beach to Bay Investments LLC and managed by his AMI Locals real estate firm. A $313 lien was later placed on the property for the administrative fees and costs incurred by the city. Kaleta’s legal team is appealing the special magistrate’s ruling.

Also in July, the commission authorized the issuance of building permits for the construction of a new beachfront home on a previously vacant lot at 105 Elm Ave. The commission authorization was contingent on property owner Fedora Campbell providing additional drainage elements at her expense and FDEP reviewing the proposed plans, both of which occurred.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
The vacant beachfront lot in the foreground is now being developed. The existing home in the background was recently sold. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

At the time, Wendy and Robert Jordan owned the adjacent home at 107 Elm and opposed the permitting request because the construction of Campbell’s new home seaward of their home would obstruct their view of the beach. The Jordans’ opposition efforts included the Preserve AMI publicity campaign launched in 2021. The Jordans purchased their home in 2021 for $4 million and in December sold it to the Ohio-based DePalma Corporation for $4.15 million, according to the warranty deed.

Politics

In 2022, the city of Anna Maria and lobbyist Chip Case led the statewide efforts to defeat the Florida legislature’s annual attempt to preempt vacation rental regulation to the state and take away the city’s ability to regulate vacation rentals at the local level. Those efforts were aided by citizen participation and the city-owned Home Rule Florida website. In August, the mayor and commission decided to switch lobbyists and entered into a contract with the Tallahassee-based Corcoran Partners lobbying firm for the 2023 legislative session that begins March 7.

Running unopposed in the November election, Murphy and incumbent city commissioners Deanie Sebring and Mark Short earned additional two-year terms in office. In December, the commission selected Short to serve as the new commission chair for the coming year. On Dec. 15, longtime commissioner Carol Carter vacated the remaining 10 months of her two-year commission term because she and her husband, Bob, relocated to Sarasota County. The commission will appoint her successor on Jan. 26.

Passings

On Aug. 1, longtime Anna Maria resident and former Anna Maria Elementary School Principal Jack Dietrich passed away at the age of 92.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
Jack Dietrich passed away in August. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On Aug. 14. Anna Maria resident, businessman and Pine Avenue Restoration co-founder Mike Coleman passed away at the age of 74.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
Mike Coleman passed away in August. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Special events

In May, the city hosted its annual Memorial Day Patriotic Symphony Salute at City Pier Park. In October, the city’s seasonal farmers market resumed weekly operations. Around that time, the city-sponsored Movies in the Park film screenings resumed.

In November, the city hosted its annual “Old Soldiers & Sailors” Veterans Day parade post-parade recognition ceremony. In December, the city hosted its annual Holiday Bright Lights decorating contest and Santa Stops event at City Pier Park, followed that evening by the merchant-sponsored Holiday of Treasures open house along Pine Avenue.

Hurricanes

In late September, Hurricane Ian left many Anna Maria residents and businesses without electrical and water service for varied lengths of time, but the physical damage was mostly limited to downed trees, downed power lines, downed fences and downed street signs. In November, Hurricane Nicole had no significant impact in Anna Maria.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
Hurricane Ian toppled street signs in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Arrivals & Departures

In January, Building Official David Gilson departed after accepting a similar position with the city of New Port Richey. In May, he reversed course and returned as the city’s building official.

High school graduate Destin Gollamudi served as the city’s summer intern before heading to Gainesville in August to start his freshman year of college at the University of Florida.

In July, Public Works Manager Dean Jones departed after accepting a position with the city of Bradenton’s Public Works Department. Ryan Wieland was promoted from within to serve as Jones’ successor.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
Ryan Wieland became the new Public Works Department Manager in 2022. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

In August, City Planner Chad Minor departed after accepting the city planner’s job in Holmes Beach. After relocating from Texas, Ashley Austin succeeded Minor in Anna Maria.

Anna Maria: The Year in Review
Ashley Austin became the new city planner in 2022. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In November, Deputy Patrick Manning left the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s Anna Maria Unit and was reassigned to the Manatee County Judicial Center in downtown Bradenton en route to his anticipated retirement.

In December, Administrative Assistant Kristin Olsen left the city’s employment for personal reasons.

Reel Time: Suncoast Waterkeepers lead post-Ian cleanup

Reel Time: Suncoast Waterkeepers lead post-Ian cleanup

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

Hurricane Ian left a wake of debris in a wide swath of waterways across the state. One particularly hard-hit area on the Suncoast was Lemon Bay at the southern end of the watershed monitored by Suncoast Waterkeeper. That’s why board members and volunteers from Suncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Suncoast Aqua Ventures, Sarasota Bay Watch, Lemon Bay Conservancy and the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Program on Dec. 11 to conduct a waterway cleanup in the canals of Ainger Creek, a major tributary of Lemon Bay. Holiday Estates, one of the many communities devastated by the storm, was built on a series of these canals that drain into Lemon Bay.

“We love the volunteers that supported this community and our local waters. Together we made a real difference,” said Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper and the organizer of the event. “While we didn’t collect all the debris, our efforts to remove debris from our waterways was a positive one.”

I was particularly struck by the spirit of determination and camaraderie displayed by community members that day as I explored the area. Five weeks after the storm tore through their neighborhood, energy and determination were on full display as boats drug debris, including whole roofs, to ramps where others cut the debris into manageable pieces and placed it on massive piles. The immense amount of debris left from Ian throughout southwest Florida has been the subject of national headlines. There are many areas of the state where debris removal might take years, a poignant reminder why the mission of Suncoast Waterkeeper is so urgent. But from the canals of Ainger Creek, volunteers from Suncoast Waterkeeper and partners were able to help remove over 50 cubic yards of debris that day with kayaks and jon boats. Whatever could not be picked up was geotagged and will be sent to Charlotte County government for future removal by professionals.

“The number of people who showed up to help (over 50) touched our hearts. Hurricane Ian has taken so much from this community. It is wonderful to know that people care,” said Carol Powell, president of Holiday Estates Corporation.

If you would like to join in the effort to keep Suncoast waters sustainable for this and future generations, you can join Suncoast Waterkeeper, donate and have your contribution matched by the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust. Watch a video of the cleanup online.

Help victims of Hurricane Ian

Help victims of Hurricane Ian

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Though the Island didn’t suffer major damage due to Hurricane Ian, some of its southern neighbors weren’t so lucky. While many want to help victims of the storm in Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva and other affected areas, some good intentions may not be the best intentions logistically.

“Whenever they have a catastrophe, about six to eight weeks later they have something they call the second catastrophe,” said Bob Slicker, owner of Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez. Slicker is working to find effective ways for locals to help hurricane victims that will do the most good. “The needs change as the catastrophe is being dealt with. Initially, everybody emotionally wants to help, so they gather a bunch of stuff that may not be needed yet and they send it down. All the sudden there’s people that shouldn’t be down there driving up and down the streets that are not ready for the traffic. There have to be distribution points.”

Slicker stresses the importance of getting in contact with local volunteers or agencies in affected areas to make sure it is safe to travel and that a good-faith effort won’t get in the way of an organized plan to address known needs and ongoing relief efforts. Arriving in a severely storm-affected area too soon could unintentionally do more harm than good.

“I would definitely recommend reaching out to the local Salvation Army down there. They are always taking donations,” Kelli Spring of ServPro of West Bradenton/Anna Maria said. “Also, the Moose Lodges are doing some things. The workers had mentioned many of them were able to provide some help as well.” Spring had some friends and coworkers that were affected, and she began collecting some things at her office. She announced at a Chamber of Commerce event that she was making a trip south and, if anyone had anything they wanted to donate, she would try her best to get it down there. She said Hurricane Nicole came at the time they were taking supplies south, hindering some of their efforts. They were still able to get some needed supplies to the area.

Spring’s advice echoes that of Slicker, saying the best course of action is to do some research online and contact groups and organizations who are on the ground in the area to see what they need, how and where they need it delivered, and when they need it.

Both Spring and Slicker also stress that it’s not just food and cleaning supplies that are needed. Many people who lost everything need beds, furniture, dishes and other items needed to get back to a normal life. They encourage anyone who might have a storage unit that contains household goods that are going unused to donate those items.

Ian didn’t stop tourism, it’s boosting it

Ian didn’t stop tourism, it’s boosting it

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Tourism.

BRADENTON – The latest tourism statistics shatter the numbers from pre-COVID 2019, according to Anne Wittine, of Tampa-based Research Data Services, Manatee County’s tourism consultant.

Wittine presented her tourism update to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council on Nov. 4 with the latest available statistics related to the tourism industry from September. The number of visitors and room nights and the overall economic impact of tourism on the county’s economy are up from pre-pandemic levels, she said.

“Compared to our benchmark in 2019, pre-COVID, our visitors are up 38.3%, room nights are up 36.7% and economic impact is up 51.4%,” Wittine said. “That’s also considering that most properties lost three days that month due to (Hurricane) Ian.”

Room occupancy for September was down slightly at 57.7% compared to 59.3% in September of last year, however, it is higher than September 2019 when it stood at 54% pre-COVID. The average daily room rate is up at $174.82 per day this September compared to $168.04 in September 2021.

While the Island is used to seeing a large number of tourists from Florida, those numbers have actually dipped 15.7% from September of 2021, but are up 61% from 2019, showing the effect that COVID-19 travel restrictions had on people who didn’t leave Florida during the height of COVID. The largest number of visitors to the county from outside Florida are coming from the Midwest, followed closely by the Northeast. Tourists from Europe and Canada are down slightly from 2019; there is no data from 2020 or 2021 since travel from those regions was restricted.

“In terms of the fiscal year, this is a major benchmark. For the very first time, we’ve got visitors staying in commercial lodgings numbering over a million,” Wittine said. “This is up 11% from last year; an all-time record. We have not seen this before. I’ve been saying to Elliott (Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau) that this is a bubble; you guys aren’t going to be able to keep it up, yet you’ve kept it up.”

Wittine also discussed some occupancy barometers related to Hurricane Ian. She said October sold out with people looking for long-term rentals due to the storm. Many of the occupants were from insurance companies, recovery workers and people with damaged homes farther south.

Castles in the Sand

The death of old Florida

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Florida’s changed a lot in the over 20 years I’ve lived on the Gulf coast, and it’s changed even more as a result of COVID-19. But the biggest change to southwest Florida and the entire coastline south of Tampa may come as a result of Hurricane Ian.

Now that the flood waters are receding and everyone is assessing the damage from the storm, we’re starting to get a feel for the damage to real estate values. Feedback from brokers is that the investors and buyers are now out in force looking for properties to buy in as-is condition. One broker from Englewood predicts that home prices will increase for at least another 12 to 18 months because of the additional demand.

Buyers from out of state have not changed their minds and are motivated to buy before prices increase further because of the anticipated additional shortage of properties to buy in the aftermath of the storm. In addition, they have not been discouraged by the increased costs associated with fortifying homes against wind and flooding.

The fallout from the insurance companies is still unknown, but anyone purchasing a coastal home now is calculating that additional cost into their affordability factor.

Of course, Anna Maria Island and other barrier islands on the coast that did not have major damage will be looked at by buyers and seasonal renters. This could prove to be an even busier rental season for Anna Maria Island with higher price tags for rentals and purchases alike.

Assuming all of the above, where does that leave the average buyer who wants to live on the coast? Unfortunately, many will be forever priced out of coastal living because of a combination of building codes and the increased costs of flood and homeowners’ insurance.

The most recent update to Florida building codes from 2020 includes provisions to seal roof decks, as well as longer standing requirements to install impact-resistant windows or shutters and an update to stronger connections between the roof, walls and foundation.

As previously stated, homeowner’s insurance companies are requiring condos and single-family homes to install new roofs before they will provide an insurance policy. This is happening even if there are currently no leaks or damage to existing roofs, if they are over a certain age.

According to a recent report by CoreLogic, there are nearly 33 million homes at risk of hurricane-force wind damage along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in Florida, so the amount of property updating required is substantial.

When Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle town of Mexico Beach, it didn’t take long for the area to recover with high-end homes, gated communities and beachfront condos supplanting the original old Florida cottage nature of the area. This is certainly going to happen in parts of southwest Florida where many homeowners do not have flood and/or homeowner’s insurance and are planning not to return. Just to prove that “deep pocket” money isn’t afraid of storms, The Ritz Carlton Residences on Estero Bay, located just south of Fort Myers Beach, is breaking ground next year with units starting at $2.8 million.

I still have my crystal ball handy from Halloween and it’s telling me Florida’s real estate values are strong and may actually get stronger because of Hurricane Ian. The downside is will “old Florida” be gone forever? The crystal ball is saying, “Why are you asking that question? You know the answer.” Unfortunately, I do.

Mayor provides ‘by the numbers’ hurricane report

Mayor provides ‘Ian by the numbers’ hurricane report

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

ANNA MARIA – Former Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland praised the city’s Hurricane Ian cleanup and recovery efforts, particularly the efforts of new Public Works Manager Ryan Wieland.

Wieland was promoted to the position in July, after then-manager Dean Jones accepted an assistant public works director’s position with the city of Bradenton.

Mayor provides ‘by the numbers’ hurricane report
Public Works Manager Ryan Wieland received praise for his efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I want to thank the mayor, the commission and the staff for the fine job they did getting Anna Maria back together after the storm. I particularly would like to thank Ryan for the job he did. He was here from sunup almost to sundown. I had contact with him several times. He always had time to deal with you in a professional way. He makes you feel like your problem is his problem and he’d do what he could to solve it. An excellent job,” Copeland said when providing public input during the Oct. 13 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

“Thank you, Ryan and your crew,” Commission Chair Carol Carter added.

Ian by the numbers

During the Oct. 13 meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy provided an “Ian by the numbers” recap of the hurricane’s impact in Anna Maria.

“Debris was the biggest issue we had as a result of Hurricane Ian. We will, by the end of this, have removed 85 truckloads of debris. That’s a huge amount,” Murphy said.

Murphy said the city’s hurricane-related communications efforts included emails sent to city commissioners and residents and business owners who previously provided their email addresses for inclusion in the city’s database. Over a seven-day period, the city sent out 65 email blasts that totaled 16,520 emails sent. We did 55 web updates, putting new information on the (city) website,” Murphy told the commission.

Murphy said city staff worked 150 overtime hours. Building department personnel visited 45 active construction sites. The most common storm-related occurrences they found were tipped-over portable toilets, storm debris and silt fences that had been knocked down.

Code enforcement personnel also made their rounds and identified 18 code infractions, including swimming pools where fences had been knocked down.

“That’s a safety concern,” Murphy said.

Murphy said 126 street signs and stop signs were impacted by Hurricane Ian and he noted first responders often rely on street signs when responding to an emergency, as do visitors and others. Murphy said many signs were knocked over or displaced and others disappeared completely. He said some of the missing street signs may have been taken as souvenirs.

Murphy said Hurricane Ian’s total cost to the city to date was $190,000, a figure that includes debris removal, overtime pay, materials and supplies and more. City Clerk/Treasurer LeAnne Addy is now leading the city’s ef- forts to receive FEMA reimbursement for those hurricane-related expenses.

The property damage throughout the city to non-city-owned properties and businesses was estimated to be $300,000, which Murphy said pales in comparison to the damage suffered in the harder-hit areas to the south.

“We were so fortunate, and our staff really stepped up,” Murphy said.

Murphy and city staff engaged in post-hurricane debriefings in an attempt to learn what can be done better before, during and after the next hurricane.

Hurricane Ian brings surge of tourism

Hurricane Ian brings surge of tourism

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Ian may not have flooded the Island with water, but there has been a different kind of surge since the storm’s passing – tourism.

Island residents are accustomed to having a break this time of year from the busy summer and winter tourist seasons, which have been returning to normal since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in early 2021.

Pre-COVID, September through early December was the slowest time of year, with little traffic and a fraction of the visitors seen in peak seasons. This September followed that pattern, but after Hurricane Ian passed on Sept. 28, things changed.

“We come this time of year, every year for more than 20 years, except when we couldn’t travel during COVID. Are all these people here because of the hurricane, we wonder?” said Margaret Hatch, who is here with her husband from Brighton, England. “We don’t rent a car when we visit, but we’ve noticed that public transport takes much longer due to the increased volume of vehicles on the road.”

While data on how much of an increase the Island is experiencing since Ian hasn’t been aggregated yet by agencies such as Tampa-based Research Data Services, which gathers tourist and visitation data for Manatee County, traffic is an indicator. An Island resident told The Sun she sat through four traffic light cycles at the intersection of East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue last Saturday afternoon, the kind of traffic the Island normally doesn’t see outside of March and April at the peak of the winter tourist season.

Hurricane Ian brings surge of tourism
Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach was free of traffic on a Saturday night, just four days before Hurricane Ian. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“Some of the people coming here are from down south and have been displaced,” said Lisa Varano, property manager at Wagner Realty. “However, a lot of the calls from people who have been displaced are coming here around Christmas time.”

Most of these visitors are not residents of the affected area in Ian’s path, but rather people from north of the area and the rest of the U.S. who had planned trips to places like Fort Myers, Captiva, Sanibel Island and other areas hit hard by the storm, she said. Tens of thousands of rental units and hotel rooms are no longer available due to hurricane damage.

“We have definitely seen an uptick in bookings from this time next year, but we won’t have the data on where everyone’s coming from until the end of the year,” said Marianne Norman-Ellis of Mike Norman Realty in Holmes Beach. “We don’t know for sure, but we think the increase from last year is from people who were displaced from where they intended to travel.”

It’s not just casual vacationers coming to the Island after Ian. For two weeks following the storm, there were power trucks from around the country that had come to restore service to the Island, Cortez and Bradenton.

“There are 12 of us dirty, smelly guys staying in this house, so while it’s the fanciest and probably most expensive home I’ve ever slept in, we’re not exactly on vacation,” said Dale Miller, a power company line worker whose crew came here from New Jersey and was staying in a luxurious bayfront home in Holmes Beach. “We have it good though, a lot of these guys are sleeping in their trucks – at least we have beds. We have to say though, people down here are so friendly and appreciative. We get high fives, and more people driving by yelling thank you out of their car windows than we can count. I see why people want to live here, and I may bring my family down to enjoy it properly on vacation.”

Varano confirmed what Miller said, saying her office had not gotten calls for rental units for the line workers, but calls were coming in asking for places to park the trucks.

In addition to vacationers and workers, love is in the Island air.

Sally Dirbas, owner of the Monkey Bus, said she was told by some of her customers that weddings that had been planned south of the Island in places affected by Ian had been moved to AMI, and wedding planners were traveling here to fulfill their obligation to their customers despite the added distance.

“We have five wedding rides booked this weekend, this is crazy for this time of year,” she said. “Before the storm, things were really slow and we had a few charters, but nothing like we are seeing in the weeks following. This weekend it will be one wedding after another.”

Local fishermen help those devastated by Ian

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Cortez, Featured.

CORTEZ – The local commercial fishing community has mobilized to help their southern counterparts following the devastation from Hurricane Ian.

The Organized Fisherman of Florida (OFF) Cortez chapter has already made one boat trip to Pine Island to deliver supplies to fellow fishermen who lost everything, and more trips are planned.

OFF Executive Director Alexis Meschelle is spearheading the campaign with her husband, OFF President Nathan Meschelle.

“When our guys saw that fish houses down there that had been in existence for three generations were gone, their boats were gone, their traps were gone, we knew we had to help,” she said. “We couldn’t imagine what that would be like to lose all that. And we knew that they would do the same for us.”

Another boat will be going down in about a week, she said, adding that supplies also are being sent to Arcadia.

“Right now, there’s a high need for coolers, propane and non-perishable foods,” Alexis said. “We can slow down a little bit on clothing.

“This started off small, we thought maybe we would help 20 families,” she said. “But I was told that our donations have already helped over 4,000 people. I am honestly so impressed with our community.”

According to the OFF Facebook page, drop-off sites and needs are as follows:

Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, 4628 119th St. W. in Cortez. – Coolers and baby items. Additional supplies are needed, but these things are of high importance now. Please drop items off with the hostess.

A.P. Bell Fish Co., 4600 124th St. Court W. in Cortez – Everything, particularly non-perishable foods, dog food, cat food, horse feed, ice, gas, clothes, baby items and generators. Please drop items off with Savannah at the office.

P.J.’s Sandwich Shop, 12342 U.S. 301 in Parrish. Same as at A.P. Bell. Please drop items off with Theresa.

According to the A.P. Bell Fish Co. website, “We are looking for donations for Arcadia as they are still underwater and most people have no homes. We are looking for toilet paper, dog food, cat food, non-perishable food, fuel for generators, soap, feminine hygiene products, baby food, diapers and blankets. Please drop at A.P. Bell in Cortez or PJ’s Sandwich Shop in Parrish.”

Donations may also be made through Venmo to Organized Fisherman of Florida.

Wildlife Inc. cares for animals during, after hurricane

Wildlife Inc. cares for animals during, after hurricane

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors, Sea turtles.

BRADENTON BEACH – With crates full of hungry adult and baby rescue animals at Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Inc., it was business as usual following Hurricane Ian, despite the power outages.

The non-profit found itself with more than 140 new animals after the storm.

“Without power, we had generators going,” Wildlife Inc. volunteer Krista Carpenter said. “We were able to keep our refrigeration needed to keep the formulas cold and other items frozen.”

Carpenter said the microwave was used to heat rice bags, heating pads and bags full of water to keep the babies warm.

“We had several volunteers that stayed on the Island,” Carpenter said. “Gail (Wildlife Inc. co-director Gail Straight) kept vigil for the babies, keeping the generators running. Basically, she was a one-person show with some help from her husband, Ed.”

“We are working hard to do the very best we can for every single one of them, while still working with limited resources,” according to the Wildlife Inc. Facebook page, where donations are accepted.

Wildlife Inc. is a fully-equipped clinic with incubators and cages needed to house, feed and rehabilitate wildlife. Founded by Ed and Gail Straight in 1988, the operation is run out of their Bradenton Beach home.

“We have professional staff and volunteers who manage the feeding and care of the thousands of animals each year. Our ultimate goal is to release native wildlife back into the wild,” according to the Wildlife Inc. website. “We also receive calls from the public about injured animals and send trained staff out to assist and transport wildlife to our facility when necessary. This is currently a “free” service to the public and is supported, like all of our other services, through generous charitable donations.”

One animal, recently released after a three-month rehab at the facility, was a gopher tortoise that had been hit by a car in the Lakewood Ranch area.

“Shannon Warren called the facility on July 3 about an injured gopher tortoise that lived in the hedges near her house and it had been hit by a car,” Carpenter said. “Shannon arrived with the tortoise (nicknamed Trixie) and it had a rather large shell crack… the (shell) pieces were carefully and as closely matched as possible.”

After three months of treatment and healing at Wildlife Inc., Trixie was ready to be released.

“On Oct. 4, Trixie was ready,” Carpenter said. “Her shell was stable, her appetite good and her playfulness returned. Back to Lakewood Ranch she went to live out her life under the neighborhood hedges.”

Castles in the Sand

The Ian effect

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

My friend who lived near me in Cortez calls it the “Cortez Effect.” The legend is that the Native Americans who inhabited the Cortez peninsula put a curse on the storms so they wouldn’t come ashore in their homeland, keeping their burial grounds protected. She and I lived through many storms and almost-storms during the more than 20 years we both lived in Cortez, and we always seemed to dodge the bullet. Well, this time we dodged the biggest bullet of all, and we should all be grateful.

The other question is now that we’re all safe and comfortable, we can start to think about the economic impact of one of the most expensive storms to ever hit Florida. The economists are already addressing this and indicate that Ian will likely negatively affect the economic growth of the country through this year. Typically, when the rebuilding and recovery starts, the economic benefits will be spread out over the next few years. Unfortunately, because of the shortage of construction workers and materials, Florida’s economic comeback could take some time.

The economists’ consensus is that natural disasters have a relatively modest economic impact, especially short term once businesses start to rebuild and reopen. As far as real estate values, Florida’s worst hit regions were also the fastest growing in the state and indeed the country and won’t be permanently damaged. The unemployment rate in both Tampa and Fort Myers were 2.7% in August, lower than the national rate. Both of these regions have seen a rapid influx of new residents during the pandemic. In addition, Florida’s economic growth has outpaced the country’s every quarter since the beginning of 2021.

Long-term Florida residents are used to major storms, and they and the state have prepared for them. In May the state set aside $2 billion to help insurance companies handle claims. That said, you can be sure the fallout for insurance companies will be big. Underfunded companies may go out of business, homeowner’s policies will be dropped, and rates will go up. This is just what we don’t need at a time when attracting new insurance companies to the state has been a challenge. As always, my recommendation is if you have a good homeowner’s policy and you don’t get dropped, live with the possible premium increase and be happy, especially for the next few years.

Finally, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics say that the earnings of people affected by hurricanes outpaced other workers who weren’t affected within three years of the storm. As previously stated, this is all because of workers needed to help rebuild and get the economy rolling again.

There will be pain at the beginning a lot of it – just look at those awful pictures from our neighbors not too far south and try and imagine yourself in that situation. Help is needed, mostly donations – especially to the Red Cross – but anything you and your family can do to ease their pain even a little would certainly be appreciated.

I don’t hold a lot of belief in legends, and, as another friend pointed out, maybe the indigenous Native Americans actually studied weather patterns over a period of decades and never really cast spells. But legend or not, we in Cortez and on Anna Maria Island have been extraordinarily lucky, and we shouldn’t forget that eventually, luck runs out. Let’s remember that in 1921 the Cortez fishing village was all but destroyed by a major hurricane.

This is October, the month of Halloween, so let’s hope the Native Americans are still casting their magic spells if indeed that’s the reason. I for one want to believe whatever keeps those storms away, magic spells or the study of weather science. I’ll accept either one as long as it works.

Letter to the Editor: Setting the record straight

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Feature, Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

I’d like to set the record straight.

In the attached TikTok link you will see Dr. Hopes publicly shaming Holmes Beach residents and myself for asking for the water to be left on for our residents who wanted to remain on the island, accusing us of not taking Hurricane Ian seriously—stating that our residents were jeopardizing the water infrastructure for the entire county.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The county administrator is the one person the Island residents, county residents and municipal leaders should be able to look towards for the facts. Especially during a storm event.

I did call Dr. Hopes I asked that he revisit the order to turn off the water to the island on Tuesday at 6 pm for the Safety of First Responders. Dr. Hopes stated he was on the way to a meeting at the EOC and would discuss and call me back.

I did not make the request because I wanted water for our residents who refused to leave, but because our First Responders, the Holmes Beach Police, Manatee Sheriff’s Department,  West Manatee Fire and Bradenton Beach Police would not be leaving the island until the wind was too dangerous, which at the time of the phone call was not expected till mid-morning Wednesday.

Mayor Titsworth had the same conversation with Commissioner VanOstenbridge, telling him of the first responder, police and fire needs, telling him the island looks deserted because people are taking this seriously and evacuating.

When asked about the evacuation by Dr. Hopes, I advised him that we have clearly put out the message of the mandatory evacuation and the dangers of staying and that most of our residents had taken heed to the warnings, but we will always have a few hold outs that don’t leave.

As Island leaders we could not be prouder of our residents, business and property owners as they took Hurricane Ian very seriously, sandbagging, boarding up businesses and residences and coming to the city hall and police department to get over 1,100 re-entry tags for those who were evacuating to be able to return.

 

William L. Tokajer
Chief of Police
Holmes Beach Police Department

Anna Maria Island dodges Hurricane Ian’s bullets

Anna Maria Island dodges Hurricane Ian’s bullets

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Ian inflicted significant damage on some mobile homes in Bradenton Beach, but Anna Maria Island as a whole survived the hurricane without the widespread devastation many feared.

On Monday, Sept. 26, Manatee County ordered a mandatory evacuation of all three Island cities, to be effective the following evening. A drive around the Island just before sundown on Tuesday evening revealed many boarded-up businesses and homes and a mostly deserted and evacuated Island.

Residents, business owners and others were allowed to return to the Island at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning,

Manatee County restored water and sewer service to the Island on Friday morning, but as of late Saturday afternoon, most of the Island remained without electrical power.

In Bradenton Beach, power was restored to the Bridge Street area and the residential area south of Bridge Street on Friday night. The power in those areas went out again Saturday morning and was then restored to some locations.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said the power outage that occurred after the power was initially restored was due to a switching device catching fire and needing to be replaced.

With the power partially restored again, the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach was the first Bridge Street establishment to reopen late Saturday morning.

“With everything that’s happened in the past few years, including COVID, my team needs to work,” Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn said shortly after the reopening. “I feel sick thinking of all those people who were not as lucky as us.”

As of late Saturday afternoon, several other Bridge Street businesses remained without power or closed for other reasons.

Assistant General Manager Shannon Dunnan said the Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar had power and hoped to reopen early Sunday afternoon.

Island Time General Manager Michael Davis said they did not yet have power as of Saturday afternoon and hoped to have a soft reopening on Monday and be fully reopened on Tuesday.

Bridge Street Bazaar owner Jake Spooner said his business remained closed on Saturday afternoon because there was no power. The Daiquiri Deck also remained closed on Saturday.

Bradenton Beach

On Thursday morning, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby provided The Sun with a damage assessment.

“We started operations at 3 o’clock this morning and we had the team fully operational by 5 a.m. We did good. The only real damage we had to our city facilities was the police department roof was leaking. The worst damage is in the two trailer parks where some roofs and carports were blown off. We also had some damage to a condo on the 600 block,” Cosby said.

Unlike past storms, none of the live-aboard boats south of the Bridge Street Pier broke free and struck or damaged the pier or floating dock.

“The pier and floating dock did good,” Cosby said. “We’ve got two boats missing, one boat down and one boat – we don’t where it came from – leaning against the bridge. There’s no damage to the bridge and FDOT’s been notified.”

“The cell tower is damaged. It got hit by some flying debris that left some good-sized dents in it. I don’t know if it’s operational or not. Our cell service is terrible right now, so it may have been disrupted,” Cosby said.

Cosby said there was a lot of tree and landscaping debris to clean up, but the main roads had already been cleared by the city’s public works department.

“We had no major power lines down, so that should make it quicker to restore power. Right now, we do not have any power, water or sewer; and we have no idea when those are coming back,” he said Thursday morning.

Cosby noted the county and FPL were dealing with significantly worse damage in eastern Manatee County.

“The east side of the county got destroyed. When the storm went over that way, it was a Cat 2/Cat 3. They were rescuing people off roofs this morning,” he said. “The county’s got a lot to take care of. Hopefully, we can get the utilities up as fast as we can, but I think it’s going to be a while,” he said.

When asked about the city being reopened to those who wished to return, Cosby said, “We’re allowing them to come back. If they want to stay, they can, but there’s no power, no water and no sewer.”

Holmes Beach

When contacted later that morning, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We had minimal damage – some trees and limbs. Power’s out. We have no water yet. We have no Spectrum connectivity.”

He also said, “Full access to Holmes Beach through Manatee Avenue was opened at 10 o’clock this morning. Once the Island was deemed an evacuation zone, we limited the number of people that returned to public safety personnel, but we never raise the bridges and we never stop people from leaving the Island.”

Tokajer reflected on what could have been had Hurricane Ian not taken an unexpected turn to the south, including catastrophic damage to the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area.

“We were truly blessed. The damage and devastation we’re seeing to the south is what we were expecting as a direct hit to our area. It’s truly daunting to see the devastation that happened down there – and to see what a true storm surge looks like in real life, instead of just projections,” he said.

On Friday, traffic coming into Holmes Beach on Manatee Avenue was being detoured south on East Bay Drive because a fallen power pole was leaning on the metal pole that holds the traffic signal.

Anna Maria

When visited in his generator-powered city hall office early that afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “We did good. We didn’t take a direct hit. If we had, it would have been devastating for our city. We had a lot of trees down and several wires down, but we have most of that cleared. The city’s without power and water. I have no idea when utilities are being restored. People can come back but it’s not real comfortable without water and power.”

The exterior skin of the Anna Maria cell tower had a large tear in it, but Murphy said he wasn’t aware of any significant structural damage that occurred within the city, other than one home having its front door blown off.

“The only significant problem I see is turned over port-a-potties at construction sites. Several contractors picked theirs up, but one contractor didn’t bother to tie them down or pick them up. That’s a problem and a health hazard, and that’s something we put in our construction checklist,” Murphy said.

In 2017, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma led to the City Pier being closed and later replaced. When asked how the new pier fared during its first hurricane, Murphy said, “Our new pier held up fine. There’s no structural damage at all. It was built right. I was concerned – like a father whose daughter goes on her first date.”
Anna Maria residents JoAnn and Anthony Manali chose not to evacuate and rode the storm out at their home and business, Captain Anthony’s Stone Crab Store.
“I was scared and I’ll never do it again. It was worse than I could have ever imagined,” JoAnn Manali said of that experience.

On Friday morning, Murphy was advised that it could take another four or five days to restore power in Anna Maria.

On Saturday, Murphy said the storm debris removal efforts were already underway and storm recovery updates and information were available at the city website.

Hurricane Ian, a day at a time

Hurricane Ian, a day at a time

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

Hurricane Ian caused a burst of activity and emotion on and around Anna Maria Island last week.

On Tuesday, it was projected to make landfall here, but by that afternoon, new projections had it veering slightly south, where it made landfall the next day at Cayo Costa.

Local residents were left feeling both relief and distress over the misfortune of their southwest Florida neighbors, and more than a little apprehension about the next storm.

Here’s what happened while thousands prepared to either face or run from the disaster.

 

Sept. 25 – City leaders in Anna Maria declare a local state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Ian.

Sept. 26 – City leaders in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach declare a local state of emergency.

Sept. 26, noon – A mandatory evacuation of zone A, including Anna Maria Island, Cortez and sections of unincorporated Manatee County is issued, effective at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27.

Sept. 26, 2 p.m. – Manatee County schools, libraries and The Center of Anna Maria Island announce closures effective at the end of the day. Trash and yard waste collection cease.

Sept. 26, 5 p.m. – The latest Hurricane Ian update from the National Hurricane Center shows the storm taking a turn for Tampa Bay.

Sept. 27, 8 a.m. – Evacuation of zone A goes into effect. Manatee County shelters open at local schools. The projected track of Hurricane Ian takes a turn for a direct hit to Anna Maria Island.

Sept. 27, 11 a.m. – Manatee County leaders issue mandatory evacuation orders for zone A and B with a voluntary evacuation for zone C.

Sept. 27, 5 p.m. – Water and sewer services are turned off to Anna Maria Island. Traffic to the Island is limited with Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road traffic limited to eastbound only. Anna Maria Island is placed under a flash flood warning. The Island, Cortez, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and parts of coastal unincorporated Manatee County are placed under a storm surge warning. Manatee County is under a hurricane warning. Hurricane Ian is expected to come onshore near Port Charlotte and hit Manatee County around 2 a.m. Sept. 29 as a Category 1 storm.

Sept. 28, 10 a.m. – Hurricane Ian is upgraded to a Category 4 storm. Manatee County is already experiencing high winds and rain from the hurricane.

Sept. 28, 3:10 p.m. – Hurricane Ian makes landfall as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph at Cayo Costa, near Captiva Island and Sanibel. Manatee County is under a flash flood warning and storm surge warning.

Sept. 28, 5 p.m. – Manatee County lift stations have lost power and water treatment facilities are near capacity. Three potable water main breaks have been identified and two have been fixed. Residents are asked to limit water usage.

Sept. 29, 10 a.m. – Manatee County evacuation orders have been lifted and shelters are closing. Utility crews are assessing system damage. Access to Flamingo Cay and Perico Island is reopened.

Sept. 29, 10:20 a.m. – Holmes Beach police announce that Anna Maria Island is reopened to residents.

Sept. 30, 5 p.m. – Water and sewer utilities are returned to Anna Maria Island. The Island is under a 48-hour boil water notice. Some electrical utilities have been restored, then lost again.

Oct. 1, 5 p.m. – Electricity has been returned at 90% to Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and Cortez. The Center of Anna Maria Island is expected to reopen on Oct. 3 along with county beaches, parks, libraries and other amenities. The weather is sunny and cool, with no storm in sight.