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Tag: Jayne Christenson

City leaders recognize commissioners’ contributions

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

HOLMES BEACH – With two commissioners’ terms up and an uncontested election scheduled for Nov. 8, city leaders recognized Commissioners Jayne Christenson and Kim Rash as they officially stepped down from the dais.

City leaders recognize commissioners’ contributions
City Clerk Stacey Johnston presents Commissioners Kim Rash and Jayne Christenson with a plaque honoring their service to the city of Holmes Beach. – Submitted | Jayne Christenson

Mayor Judy Titsworth recognized the two for their hard work over the years for the city and its residents while City Clerk Stacey Johnston presented them with plaques. Rash served two two-year terms as commissioner while this was Christenson’s first term.

Rash said that while he chose not to run for re-election this year due to familial commitments, he added “there’s always next year.”

Christenson said she wished she could have continued on as a city commissioner but with a demanding full-time job she didn’t feel that she could give the residents the time and attention they deserved.

During public comment, resident Nancy Deal stepped up to the podium to express her sadness that the two were leaving elected office.

“I am sad because Holmes Beach is soon to lose two commissioners who not only sacrificed their time and energies to serve Holmes Beach residents as all commissioners are supposed to do, but these two commissioners were also forced to sacrifice their honor and their reputations,” Deal said, referencing the scrutiny that Rash and Christenson both faced over their tenures as commissioners.

Resident Barbara Hines also spoke, complimenting Christenson on her work as a commissioner and how prepared she always was for discussions during meetings. “I just think she’s so special,” Hines said. “When I heard she was leaving the commission, I was devastated.”

The Oct. 25 commission meeting and work session were the last official meetings for the two whose terms expire with the November election. Rash announced over the summer that he would not be seeking re-election and Christenson removed herself from the race in October, leaving new- comers Dan Diggins and Greg Kerchner running uncontested races for their first terms on the city commission. A swearing-in ceremony and organizational meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 8 a.m. at Holmes Beach City Hall.

The Doctor’s Office plans to expand

The Doctor’s Office plans to expand

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

HOLMES BEACH – The doctor is in at The Doctor’s Office, a local cocktail bar, and he may soon be serving up an expanded menu in a larger space.

Commissioners voted 4-1, with Commissioner Kim Rash dissenting, to approve the first public hearing of a proposed site plan amendment to turn the local bar into a restaurant.

Owner Sean Murphy, formerly of the Beach Bistro, presented a plan to Holmes Beach commissioners during an Oct. 11 work session asking for consideration to add a full-service restaurant to The Doctor’s Office operation in the adjacent event space known as The Doctor’s Garden. If approved by commissioners at a final public hearing, the new restaurant will have 66 seats, 50 inside and 16 outside, serving dinner nightly after 5 p.m. with lunch service available on Saturdays and Sundays.

Police Chief Bill Tokajer said during the Oct. 25 initial public hearing on the proposed site plan amendment that he’s spoken with representatives at West Manatee Fire Rescue who have given their approval of the requested number of seats for indoor and outdoor dining at the proposed restaurant space.

Rash was absent from the work session discussion but was present for the first public hearing on the site plan amendment.

Margie Motzer, a resident who lives near the bar, said she’s concerned about the impact on the neighborhood if the bar is allowed to expand into a restaurant. She said the increased indoor and outdoor seating added to the other nearby restaurants, bars and vacation rental properties could increase the noise and traffic through adjacent residential neighborhoods. Citing a section of the city’s comprehensive plan, she noted that city leaders are tasked with preventing the encroachment of commercial businesses in residential neighborhoods and she fears the restaurant could negatively impact nearby property values.

Resident Barbara Hines, a former member of the city’s planning commission, also spoke against allowing the bar to transition to a restaurant, noting the possibility of increases in traffic and noise.

Nancy Deal said she was concerned about parking for the restaurant, noting that she’s observed patrons and employees of the bar parking in inappropriate areas, such as across the street at a nearby laundromat.

Commissioner Jayne Christenson also expressed concern about parking because of the Doctor’s Office need for off-site parking contracts due to there not being enough dedicated parking onsite. She said that city leaders allowed off-site parking with the Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club at the adjacent former

Wells Fargo site and, when the bank closed, the resort lost the ability to use that parking area. Murphy said that the off-site parking contracts have a 90- day cancellation notice clause that would give him time to find additional parking for patrons.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that he could see parking being a problem at the site.

Rash said he hasn’t had one resident call and tell him that they favored approval of the site plan amendment but that he’s had several calls from people who don’t want the bar to turn into a restaurant. He added that he feels it would create too much of an impact on an already congested area.

Murphy said his intent with the restaurant is to keep it as a small, intimate venue for patrons to enjoy a meal.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said that the site plan amendment application met every requirement laid out in the comprehensive plan. “I see nothing wrong with approving this site plan,” she said, noting that Murphy had met every requirement set out by the city.

The site plan will be scheduled for a final public hearing by commissioners.

Christenson withdraws from commission race

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

HOLMES BEACH – The commission race has come to an unexpectedly early end with Commissioner Jayne Christen- son announcing her withdrawal ahead of the Nov. 8 election.

Christenson was running for re-election against political newcomers Dan Diggins and Greg Kerchner. She was first elected to the city commission in November 2020. She announced her intent to withdraw her candidacy during commission comments at the end of an Oct. 11 meeting.

Jayne Christenson
Christenson

“With the support of my family and friends, I have made the decision to not seek re-election as a city commissioner in Holmes Beach in the election on Nov. 8, 2022,” she said, reading from a prepared statement.

“This has been a difficult decision based on many factors, most importantly being my work/life balance. I have a demanding job in the bio-pharmaceutical research and manufacturing industry and have recently taken on even more people management and multi-million dollar budget responsibility which requires extensive travel, limiting the time I have to dedicate to the city.”

With Commissioner Kim Rash also not seeking re-election, that leaves two seats open on the city commission and only two remaining candidates qualified by the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office, Diggins and Kerchner.

Greg Kerchner
Kerchner

Despite Christenson’s statement that she would contact the elections office to have her name removed from the ballot, mail-in ballots have already been distributed. The city is home to 2,685 registered voters. Of those, 138 have already cast their ballots as of Oct. 16, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office.

Dan Diggins
Diggins

Diggins retired to Holmes Beach with his wife in 2011 after a career in aviation. This will be his first time holding an office in the city.

Kerchner is no stranger to the inner workings of the city, having served for several years on the city’s planning commission. He’s currently the planning commission chair, a position he will have to resign before being sworn in as a city commissioner.

Mayor Judy Titsworth ran unopposed for her second and now third terms in office. She will be sworn in for another two-year term in November.

In-person voting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive

Letter to the Editor: Holmes Beach annual city budget high

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

Based on the population size (3,017) of Holmes Beach including the number of homes (2,538+), the city’s annual budget is not in proportion. Year over year the city budget goes up, from $15M to $18M. Up to $22M last year and now the commission is asked to approve a budget of over $25M. Keep in mind that the city of Holmes Beach is 1.9 square miles. There has been exhaustive analysis by concerned residents of the “expense per capita” for Holmes Beach and how we compare to similar “like cities.” When it comes to the budget, Holmes Beach is substantially above and significantly out of line from the norm.

I take pride in the job I am elected to do. I use every form of communication to listen to the voters and property owners alike to take a temperature on how people feel about topics of concern, including taxes.

Budgets go up for several reasons:

  • When property values increase.
  • When the city does not reduce the millage rate enough.
  • When the county does not pay its fair share.
  • Grants applied for.

The millage rate and the budget are what the city commission can control. Over the years we have heard promises of tax relief/tax savings and the commitment to lower the millage rate. The millage was reduced from 2.25 to 2.07. Yet, the budget still went from $22.2M to $25.4M. Up $3M, a 14.4% increase. A millage reduction but still a tax increase as our property values continue to go up. I guess that’s good if you are selling. Which is what some long-term residents who are on fixed incomes are doing. Our residents are being replaced by a different type of owner/investor. We are seeing a change in the diversity of our community. The tax increases are pushing people out, which is changing the face of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island.

Our property owners need tax relief. Our city can reduce the “nice to have” expenses, which continue to increase year over year. At each budget hearing, I asked for a more significant millage reduction, and I am staying consistent with that message.

 

Jayne Christenson

Holmes Beach city commissioner

Jayne Christenson

Meet the Candidate: Jayne Christenson

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

HOLMES BEACH – After years of volunteering with the city and local organizations, long-time resident Jayne Christenson is ready to take the plunge and is running for a city commission seat in November.

Christenson and her husband, Joe, have been making Holmes Beach their full-time home for more than a decade, though the couple’s roots in the community go back to 1989. She’s served as a planning commission member and vice-chair, chaired the Island Congestion Committee, been an active participant at Holmes Beach commission meetings, volunteered at Anna Maria Elementary School, The Center of Anna Maria Island, the Salvation Army, Christ Church and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School.

Along with the three other candidates for the two spots available on the Holmes Beach city commission – Rick Hurst, Pat Morton and Kim Rash – Christenson was asked to respond to four questions. Each candidate’s answers will be published in The Sun, beginning with Christenson.

What do voters need to know about your involvement in the community?

I have served for three years on the Holmes Beach Planning Commission, the last year as the Vice-Chair. I actively participate at Holmes Beach City Commission meetings and chaired the city committee on Parking and Congestion which was organized by the Mayor to study and develop suggestions and identify possible solutions. You can find my family and me at The Center of Anna Maria Island where we attend events and volunteer. I strongly believe in the mission of the Salvation Army of Bradenton where my family and I volunteer as servers during their annual Thanksgiving and Christmas Day dinners.

Why are you running for Holmes Beach City Commission?

When I moved to Holmes Beach with my family in 1989, I knew this was the community where we belonged. In 2007, my husband and I became permanent residents of Holmes Beach. It has been a wonderful community to raise our son, who attended AME and is now a teenager working at the island Publix. My goal is to continue making our island city an enjoyable place to live, work and visit.

If elected, what would be your priority to work on with your fellow commissioners?

As a commissioner, I will encourage Holmes Beach City Hall to be more proactive at positive engagement with residents and businesses. They are the eyes and ears of the city. The number of permanent residents has declined over the years which is detrimental to the viability of the city. We need to find ways to grow our resident base. Aligning our priorities of balance between residential properties and vacation rentals in our neighborhoods is critical. The entire island could benefit from better collaboration and partnership between the three island cities. We need to work as one voice when interacting with state and county officials. This is especially important when it comes to the excessive advertising by the Tourism Development Council (TDC), a limited return of the tax dollars that we generate, and maintaining our right to Home Rule versus the state dictating.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the city today?

Many are concerned that Holmes Beach continues to face pressures from increased tourism and population growth from on and off the island. Other concerns involve financial challenges and key environment issues facing our island city. Holmes Beach requires innovative, forward-thinking commissioners who are prepared to work towards consensus on the challenging issues facing our city today and into the future.