ANNA MARIA – A familiar face has returned to the Anna Maria City Commission on a temporary basis.
On Thursday, July 8, the four-member commission unanimously appointed former Commissioner Doug Copeland to serve the remaining months of former Commissioner Joe Muscatello’s current term. Muscatello vacated his seat on Thursday, June 24 because he and his wife, Melissa, were relocating to his home state to operate a bed and breakfast they purchased in West Virginia.
Copeland was the only applicant who sought to fill the vacant seat on a short-term basis. He did not address the commission before the appointment was made, but he did include a brief statement in the application he submitted on Friday, June 25.
Copeland’s statement read as follows: “Dear Mayor and Anna Maria City commissioners, As important as I feel that commissioners should be elected by the voters, I am convinced it is critical to have a full commission. This not only prevents ties but brings another voice to the discussion. I believe I’m in a unique position to fill the vacant seat. I have over 20 years’ experience as a member and chairman of P&Z (Planning and Zoning Board). In the past, I have been elected to the commission and have served multiple terms as commissioner and chairman. This experience will allow me on day one to be a fully functioning member of the commission. I hope that you will select me to fill this interim position.”
Copeland decided not to seek reelection in 2019.
Before Thursday’s appointment was made, Mayor Dan Murphy told the commission they had two choices: appoint Copeland or allow the commission seat to remain vacant until the results of the November elections are certified. Commissioners Carol Carter, Jon Crane, Deanie Sebring and Mark Short unanimously supported Copeland’s appointment.
“Congratulations Doug. You’re now considered a repeat offender,” Murphy joked after the votes were cast.
After being sworn in by City Clerk LeAnne Addy, Copeland took his seat on the dais and participated in the remainder of the commission meeting.
Not seeking election
Before Thursday’s meeting began, Copeland told the attending media members that he would not seek election to a full two-year term in the November city elections. Copeland said he wanted that known now so those considering seeking a two-year term were aware of his long-term intentions. He encourages those interested in serving on the commission to run for office in the fall elections.
Doug Copeland will serve on the commission until the next commissioner is elected and seated. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Anna Maria’s two-week candidate qualifying period begins at noon on Monday, Aug. 16, and ends at noon on Friday, Aug. 27. Candidate packages can be obtained from the city clerk’s office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office in Bradenton.
The commission seats currently held by Carter and Crane will also be filled as a result of this year’s city elections. Carter and Crane have both indicated they will seek reelection.
ANNA MARIA – Country roads are taking City Commissioner Joe Muscatello home.
“I’m going back,” Muscatello said as he presented the mayor and commissioners with parting gifts bearing the likeness of his home state, West Virginia, during his final commission meeting on Thursday, June 24.
“First of all, I want to say I’m not dying and Missy and I are not getting a divorce,” he quipped. Muscatello and his wife, Mellissa, have bought a bed and breakfast in Shepherdstown – a university town located about 75 miles northwest of Washington D.C.
“I don’t drink coffee, I hate eggs and I don’t get up early either, so it may be a bed and lunch,” Muscatello joked.
City officials affectionately said farewell to Muscatello, whose term was scheduled to expire after the November city elections are certified until he announced his early departure.
After good-heartedly teasing Muscatello about his abbreviated 18-month term in office, Mayor Dan Murphy presented him with a commemorative wooden plaque and thanked him for his service to the city.
“We’re sad to see you go, but I understand life transitions are important,” Commission Chair Carol Carter added.
“It’s been a great 18 months,” said Muscatello, before asking Administrative Assistant Stephanie Janney to play a recording of John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads” – a song that references West Virginia, where he was born and raised.
“It’s a beautiful state and I do hope you’ll visit,” Muscatello said before asking those in the room to join him in singing the familiar chorus: “Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain mama, take me home, country roads…”
“I love all of you,” he said. “Thank you all.”
Applications open for vacant seat
The city of Anna Maria is now accepting applications to fill the vacant seat.
Tuesday, July 6 is the deadline to apply to serve the remainder of Muscatello’s current term. The commission plans to appoint his short-term successor on Thursday, July 8. The application form is available at the city website or the city clerk’s office.
If so desired, the commission appointee can seek election to a full two-year term during the upcoming city elections. The two-week qualifying period for the Anna Maria elections opens at noon on Monday, Aug. 16 and closes at noon on Friday, Aug. 27. Qualifying paperwork can be obtained from the city clerk’s office or the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections office.
During Thursday’s meeting, the commission discussed whether to fill the short-term vacancy or allow the vacant seat to remain vacant until after the city elections. Murphy recommended filling the vacancy as soon as possible and the commission voted 5-0 to do so.
“We have some very heavy duty topics and issues to solve between now and November and the (elected) commissioner would not be seated until December,” Murphy said.
The mayor noted the commission must soon discuss and make decisions regarding the “Reimagining Pine Avenue” study and the proposed solutions that stem from that study. The commission must also engage in further discussion regarding the planned expenditure of approximately $370,000 in American Rescue Plan funds, and the commission must soon help develop the city budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year that begins Oct 1.
Murphy said he’s concerned that a four-member commission could potentially lead to 2-2 tie votes.
“There’s a potential for deadlocks. Deadlocks would lead to gridlock,” he said. “If we fill this vacancy through an appointment, then you’d have to have an election in November anyway.”
Former City Commissioner Doug Copeland attended Thursday’s meeting and his presence was noted during the commission discussion.
Former Commissioner Doug Copeland appears to be the leading candidate to serve the remainder of Joe Muscatello’s commission term. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I’m aware of a very good, experienced, competent candidate who’s actually in the chamber today. I think it would help us address the weighty issues on the table. I can’t imagine someone in our populace more capable of stepping in immediately,” Commissioner Jon Crane said without mentioning Copeland by name.
Crane asked City Attorney Becky Vose if an appointment could be made without first advertising the vacancy and allowing others to apply.
In response, Vose said, “I would highly recommend that you have a public announcement. That person (Copeland) can respond and probably would get picked, but I would not shortcut the process. You could decide tonight to have an announcement made tomorrow. I’m uncomfortable recommending that you subvert the process completely.”
As he’s done previously, Muscatello, who was appointed himself, reiterated his overall desire that commissioners be elected rather than appointed whenever possible. Last year, Deanie Sebring was appointed to fulfill the commission seat vacated by Amy Tripp. Crane ran unopposed for his current term and Commissioner Mark Short was appointed to his first term in office before running unopposed last year.
After the meeting, Copeland said he would submit his application Friday morning. He feels his past experience as a commissioner and a Planning and Zoning Board member would benefit the city in the short term, but he was non-committal about running for a full two-year term later this year. Copeland did not seek reelection in 2019.
ANNA MARIA – The city’s pursuit of a proposed Mote Marine educational outreach center on the City Pier continues.
During the Thursday, Feb. 25 city commission meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said he planned to meet privately with Mote Marine President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby and some additional Mote Marine staff members on Wednesday, March 3.
Topics to be discussed during the preliminary fact-finding meeting were to include financial and operational responsibilities and potential lease terms for Mote Marine’s use of the still-vacant city-owned pier building located next to the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop. Based on that meeting, Murphy will then develop a more detailed plan to present for commission consideration later this month.
This rendering illustrates what the inside of the currently vacant City Pier building would look like if used as a marine educational outreach center. – Mote Marine | Submitted
Murphy said he spoke to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione and submitted a funding application for possible consideration by the Tourist Development Council (TDC) and the Manatee County Commission.
Murphy said he’s trying to gauge the county’s interest in providing some or all of the $500,000 the city would need to raise to establish a marine educational outreach center that would then be operated at Mote Marine’s expense. The Mote Marine proposal does not call for Mote Marine to make monthly lease payments or compensate the city for the use of the pier building.
Additional potential uses discussed on Feb. 10 and Feb. 17 included a full-service restaurant, a special events venue or a retail shop. During those meetings, no public opposition was expressed regarding the proposed Mote Marine facility.
On Feb. 17, the commission voted 4-1 to explore the Mote Marine option first. Commissioner Mark Short opposed limiting the city’s options to a single choice at this time.
During the Feb. 25 meeting, city resident and current Mote Marine board member Bob Carter clarified his role in the pursuit of a Mote Marine facility on the City Pier.
“There’s been some question about my motives in suggesting that Mote be out there,” he said.
Carter said serving as a volunteer Mote Marine board member provides him no financial gain. He also noted that he previously chaired the National Aquarium Board.
Mote Marine board member Bob Carter helped spur Mote Marine’s interest in the use of the vacant City Pier building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“People on the Island know that I, as well as my spouse (Commissioner Carol Carter), am very interested in the environment. We helped bring Philippe Cousteau here to talk about clean oceans. We helped bring John Englander here to talk about sea level rise. I don’t make any apologies for financially supporting and advocating for these causes in education, conservation, environment and global health. That’s why I suggested to Dr. Crosby that he might want to do something out here, and I’m delighted the commission has seen fit to give them a chance to do this. It will set this pier apart from a commercial-only enterprise and it will become a landmark of a different kind,” Carter said.
Comprehensive plan considerations
Carol Carter then referenced the city’s comprehensive plan – the document that establishes the overall vision for the city’s development and future growth. She noted the comp plan includes elements that address recreational, environmental and educational components.
“I think that’s an important thing for us to consider,” she said.
“I’m just astounded some people are still demanding a restaurant,” Commissioner Joe Muscatello added.
Anna Maria Commissioner Joe Muscatello doesn’t understand the continued pleas for another pier restaurant. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Nowhere in the comprehensive plan does it say that we should be renting property for profit. But it does say we should be providing recreational facilities and we should be endorsing environmental education,” Murphy said. “We don’t get any revenue from the (Island) Players. We don’t get any revenue from the historical museum. We don’t get any money from the community center. This is not a new concept to this city, to take city space and use it to fulfill what’s in the comprehensive plan. I truly believe government fulfills a space that private enterprise cannot fill. That’s our mission.”
Carol Carter thanked Murphy for his preliminary efforts and said, “It’s not a done deal. We understand that.”
ANNA MARIA – Dogs on the beach are a growing concern in Anna Maria.
City officials believe the steady stream of tourists, the lack of verification requirements for service dogs and dog-friendly sheriff’s deputies are contributing factors.
Mayor Dan Murphy initiated discussion on these topics during the Thursday, Jan. 28 city commission meeting. He told the commission he started getting more complaints about dogs on beaches in October and asked the Anna Maria Unit of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to increase its enforcement efforts.
“We get complaints, and the complaints are escalating,” Murphy said, noting they’re not all coming from the same people.
As a result of Thursday’s discussion, the city commission informally asked Murphy to put together a proposal detailing the potential cost of using code enforcement officers employed directly by the city to enforce the city’s dog-related regulations.
City ordinances
According to Sec. 38-28 of the city ordinances, “It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow such animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits.”
According to Murphy, this includes the beach at Bayfront Park and the public beach areas near the City Pier.
The ordinance does not prohibit keeping a domestic animal on private beach property, as long as it isn’t allowed to stray onto public beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks.
According to Sec. 14-61, “The owner or custodian of a dog or cat must have direct control of such animal at all times.”
According to Sec. 14-62, “Any feces deposited by a dog or cat on public property, public walks, recreation areas or the private property of others must be immediately removed by the person who has custody or control of the animal, unless otherwise authorized by the property owner.”
Service dogs and photographs
When addressing the commission, Murphy said, “Part of the problem with this is if it’s a service dog there’s nothing that can be done about a dog on the beach. Under the law, the only thing that’s required is for the person to say it’s a service dog. It doesn’t have to have a license. You don’t have to have a little jacket on it. You don’t have to have anything. The word has gotten out, so everything’s a service dog.”
He then deferred to Commissioner Deanie Sebring, whose diabetic alert dog, Humphrey, she carries in a pouch worn around her chest and torso.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring has a diabetic alert dog with her at all times. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Sebring said the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require the dog owner to carry a card or the dog to wear a vest that designates it as a service dog.
“They don’t want a disabled person to be singled out by your dog actually having a vest or a card,” Sebring said, noting that she carries such a card.
“The only way a service dog can be asked to leave is if it’s behaving in a manner that’s not acceptable. If the dog is behaving, there really is nothing that anyone can do about it. As far as comfort dogs, I believe that’s a whole different situation. But there again, it’s someone’s word the police officer has to take,” Sebring said.
Murphy said a new and additional complaint has also recently surfaced: He’s now getting complaints about sheriff’s deputies posing for photos with dogs on the beach, and he’s been asked what signal that sends to others.
“They must come to a conclusion that it’s OK to have a dog on the beach because they’re taking a picture with the deputy,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he discussed this with Anna Maria Unit leader Sgt. Brett Getman.
“He feels very strongly that the people are doing nothing wrong because it’s a service dog. And if they ask for a picture on the beach with a dog that’s just good public relations. My perspective is different than that. Perception becomes reality. If the perception is that we’re allowing dogs on the beach because we have a deputy having their picture taken with a dog, then to me that exacerbates it. I can pursue this further with the sheriff and see if we can have a change of heart in that regard, if that’s what the commission is interested in,” Murphy said.
Canine concerns
“There’s no bad dogs, there’s only bad people. And bad people don’t pick up their dog feces.” Commissioner Jon Crane said. “Dog feces is one of the two reasons you don’t want dogs on the beach. The other is they might bite people.”
Crane said he’s not in favor of deputies posing for photos with dogs on the beach, and he’d like to see the sheriff’s office take this entire matter more seriously, but he doesn’t want to pick a fight with the city’s contracted law enforcement agency.
“I wouldn’t mind tripling the fines for people that don’t pick up their dog poop,” he added.
Later in the discussion, Crane said, “I had an experience walking my dogs across the roadside edge of Bayfront Park, which I guess is wrong – I was told it is wrong by a sheriff’s deputy. They didn’t take a picture with me and they shooed me off of Bayfront Park. So, I don’t know how widespread this is, but they handled me appropriately.”
Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked about the fines for having a dog on the beach or not cleaning up after it. Murphy said he thought those fines were $500 and he noted the fine for not cleaning up after your dog applies anywhere in the city.
Commissioner Joe Muscatello believes the city must defend its beaches. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Muscatello noted Anna Maria beaches are considered bird and turtle sanctuaries: “If that’s what we’re going to be, then we need to stay true to that. We’re a special beach here and we need to maintain that.”
Crane said he’d like to see more enforcement of the city’s leash law, because a dog on a leash isn’t going to chase down a turtle or a seabird.
Raising another concern, Sebring said she often sees dogs “running amok” on the beach after coming off a boat: “I see them pulling up and they don’t put them on leashes. The dogs run up into the dunes and do whatever.”
Muscatello acknowledged it’s difficult to enforce dogs coming off boats, but he still expects the sheriff’s deputies to enforce the laws: “We need to make sure we’re not opening this up to be a kennel on the beach.”
COVID and costs
“We have some special issues this year with COVID,” Commission Chair Carol Carter said.
Carter said she’s seen social media posts about vacation rental guests bringing four dogs with them. She believes there are more dogs in Anna Maria now due to travelers driving instead of flying. She also said she hears more dogs barking and sees more dog feces on the ground when she’s out walking.
“I don’t think these are owners or residents with their dogs. I think these are visitors who don’t understand our rules. I would like to see us create a little more awareness than what’s being done by the sheriff,” Carter said.
“If the sheriff doesn’t want to take any further action, I think we ought to consider code enforcement helping with some of this. I’m really concerned about the number of dogs running around on the beach.” Carter said, noting that she loves dogs and has had one most of her life.
Muscatello asked if the vacation rental companies make their guests aware of the city regulations regarding dogs on the beach. Murphy said some do and some don’t. Murphy said that information could be added to the list of best practices already provided to vacation rental guests regarding sea turtle protections, beach lighting restrictions and other local regulations.
Sebring noted the only public beach near Anna Maria Island that allows dogs is off-Island, along the Palma Sola Causeway.
Murphy said if the commission wants to use code enforcement officers to patrol beaches, he could come back with a proposal that details the estimated costs.
“It’s going to take vehicles and it’s going to take more bodies – as long as you understand that up front. We’re going to need a vehicle that can go on the beach,” Murphy said.
“We have to defend this beach. If that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes,” Muscatello said.
ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria City Commissioner Joe Muscatello has recovered from his recent COVID-19 infection.
During the Tuesday, Nov. 24 city commission meeting, Muscatello discussed his COVID experience after thanking Mayor Dan Murphy and city staff for checking on his well-being.
“I’m one of the people in Anna Maria that had COVID. You don’t want it. It was horrible. I’ve gone through stage 4 cancer and this was worse than that for three weeks. I couldn’t move for three weeks. I had to quarantine away from my wife, in my room,” Muscatello said.
Muscatello, who’s retired, said he was fortunate that he didn’t have to miss work, get children off to school or deal with the other concerns working people have to contend with while recovering from the illness.
2020 COVID-19 cases on Anna Maria Island
Source: Florida Department of Health
Muscatello said he had a 102-degree fever for three weeks, but was fortunate that he didn’t have to be hospitalized or be placed on a ventilator.
“And I’m not one of the 250,000 people who are now dead. My heart goes out to all those families,” he said.
“These damn people who won’t wear a mask… it’s personal to me now. I was worried about it before. Now that I’ve had it, I’m even more worried,” Muscatello said. “I picked it up from an extended family member. I let my guard down for one day. That’s all it takes.”
Muscatello said his main concern is the 1,500 residents who live in Anna Maria, but he’s also concerned about “the 20,000 that come here every week to have a good time.”
Commission’s COVID concerns
Muscatello discussed his personal experience after Commissioner Jon Crane expressed concerns about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You already know my feeling about the governor’s approach to relaxing COVID measures. I disagree with him,” Crane said.
“I’m been ruminating on this for a while and the other day I saw a number of mayors had written a letter to the governor saying, ‘Let us have our powers back so we can protect our city.’ I think we might want to consider some sort of resolution supporting those mayors and our own need to exercise our home rule in protecting our citizens,” Crane said.
Commissioner Jon Crane disagrees with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 response. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In September, DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-244, an order that prohibits city and county governments from imposing fines or other penalties on individuals who violate local COVID-19 orders or mandates.
That order also prevents local and county governments from limiting establishments with a food service license to less than 100% indoor capacity without quantifying the economic impact of each limitation or requirement placed on those restaurants and explaining why each limitation or requirement is necessary to protect public health.
On Nov. 24, DeSantis extended EO 20-244 with the issuance of EO 20-297.
“We’re not able to enforce our mask ordinance,” Crane said.
“Because we can’t fine,” Mayor Dan Murphy added.
Crane said it was noted earlier during the meeting that Anna Maria businesses are, for the most part, doing a good job of enforcing their own mask requirements.
“I just think we ought to protect our people from visitors who are mask-defiant,” Crane said.
Murphy referenced the local emergency order he issued on Sept. 30 in response to DeSantis’ order – an order that reiterates a business owner’s right to have a patron trespassed for refusing to wear a mask. At that time, Murphy issued a second order that requires masks or face coverings inside city hall, the city annex and at city events held at City Pier Park.
“The trespass order is actually more effective than the fines because nobody wants to be trespassed. We’ve had incidents down at the farmers market and they’re quickly solved with the mention of trespassing,” Murphy said.
Muscatello asked Murphy if he was aware of any Anna Maria businesses trespassing a patron for not wearing a mask.
Murphy said he was not aware of that happening, but he is aware of customers being made cognizant that they could be trespassed.
Code Enforcement Manager Debbie Haynes mentioned an incident involving a patron who refused to wear a mask at the farmers market.
“A deputy came to address the situation,” Haynes said, noting it wasn’t a vendor who requested that action, but a member of the code enforcement department who was present at the time.
Murphy said a lady recently wanted to use the restroom inside city hall but didn’t want to wear a mask.
“She told me all the reasons I couldn’t make her put a mask on. I told her that I could, and I would, and she wasn’t going to use the bathroom. She yelled at me a little bit and I said you’ll have to use the bathroom somewhere else,” Murphy said.
“I’ll maintain my outrage. but I’ll withdraw my motion,” Crane said in regard to a city resolution.
“Jon, I’m right behind you on what we can do to convince this crazy-ass governor of ours to help us out,” Muscatello said before sharing his own COVID experience.
Updated July 3, 2020 – ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission have extended the city’s mandatory mask order for another seven days.
The emergency mask order originally enacted on June 25 as City Order #33 was amended during a special commission meeting Thursday morning. The amended order, City Order #36, is now posted at the city website.
Similar to the original mask order, the amended and extended order only applies to certain indoor places. But City Order #36 also includes new recommendations regarding outdoor waiting areas and vacation rentals.
“Every person working, living, visiting or doing business in the city of Anna Maria shall wear a face covering in any indoor location, other than their home or residence, when not maintaining social distancing from other persons, excluding family members or companions,” the amended order says.
The order lists the following exceptions:
Children under the age of two years;
People for whom a face covering would cause impairment due to an existing health condition;
People working in a business or profession who do not have interactions with other people;
People working in an office when all interactions with others are done with social distancing as recommended by the CDC;
People eating and/or drinking at a restaurant; provided, however, that face coverings must otherwise be worn in restaurants.
City Order #36 includes new language that says, “Businesses are requested to strongly encourage face coverings and social distancing for customers and persons waiting in line outdoors for service. Also, vacation rental owners and management companies are requested to give out informational material, such as a copy of this order, to each of their vacation rental customers upon check-in.”
A violation of the mask order is punishable by a code enforcement citation that carries a $50 fine per violation. During Thursday’s meeting, Murphy said no citations had been issued for mask violations to date and the city had not received any complaints about non-compliance.
When Thursday’s discussion began, Murphy addressed expanding the order to include outdoor public spaces.
“It’s very difficult for me to tell you that you have to stay 6 feet away from your husband or your wife or your child while you’re on vacation outdoors in the state of Florida. I think it would be nice if everybody wore face masks, but I don’t think we can infringe upon people’s personal rights that much. And I know we can’t enforce it. I think it’s going too far,” Murphy said.
Outdoor waiting areas
The new language regarding outdoor waiting areas arose from concerns raised by commissioners Jon Crane and Mark Short, based on what they’ve seen outside some restaurants and other food establishments, including ice cream shops.
Crane suggested expanding the mask order to include outdoor waiting areas, but the commission did not go that far.
Commissioner Jon Crane expressed concerns about outdoor waiting areas at restaurants. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Joe Muscatello asked if the city was going to encourage that masks be worn on the City Pier. The commission did not address the pier in its amended mask order, but Murphy said free masks are available at the pier entryway when the pier is open.
Commissioner Amy Tripp agreed with Crane and Short, but said enforcement of the outdoor waiting areas would be challenging. She recommended calling on business owners and patrons to use common sense instead.
Muscatello shared feedback he received from business owners.
“They don’t want to see a shutdown and they would go along with anything we came up with that was helpful,” he said.
Muscatello also provided personal perspective as a city resident.
“We seem to be so focused on the tourists. I think our first priority ought to be the residents. I pay a hell of a lot of property taxes to live here and I’m afraid to go to my own beach. We are here to serve the 1,500 people who live here and not the 40,000 people who come here to visit. I feel like a prisoner in my own home,” he said.
Commissioner Joe Muscatello said residents need to be the city’s first priority. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commission Chair Carol Carter suggested the non-binding language regarding outdoor waiting areas. She said face coverings in waiting areas not only protect patrons, but they protect the employees too.
“When we heard about places that closed, it’s been because an employee has shown signs of being infected with COVID,” Short added.
Regarding outdoor waiting areas, Murphy said, “The message should be we don’t want to legislate something – and that we will if we have to. The onus is at the point of contact at the restaurant itself to make sure this is done, not city hall.”
Under the local state of emergency, Murphy has the authority to extend the mask order every seven days without calling a special commission meeting to do so.
Murphy said the updated mask order would be emailed to business owners and vacation rental owners and agents.
To assist businesses, the city is offering free signs that reference the mask order. To request those signs email depclerk@cityofannamaria.com.
These signs now appear at the Waterfront Restaurant & Craft Bar and other restaurants and businesses in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
