ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County Assistant Supervisor of Elections Sharon Stief provided an update on the number of vote-by-mail ballots sent to Anna Maria Island voters for the primary election that concludes with in-person voting on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Stief said 478 ballots were sent to Holmes Beach voters, 136 ballots were sent to Anna Maria voters and 88 ballots were sent to Bradenton Beach voters, as of Friday, Aug. 7.
The deadline to request a vote-by-mail ballot was Aug. 6. The deadline to return a vote-by-mail ballot is 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
In-person early voting began at various locations on Aug. 8 and continues daily through Sunday, Aug. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
G.T. Bray Park, at 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West in Bradenton, is the closest early voting location to Anna Maria Island. Early voting locations also include the John Marble Recreation Center at 3675 53rd Ave. E in Bradenton and the supervisor of elections office at 600 301 Blvd. W in Bradenton.
On primary election day, Tuesday, Aug. 18, Anna Maria voters will vote at the Roser Memorial Community Church. Bradenton Beach voters will vote at the Annie Silver Community Center. Holmes Beach voters will vote at the Island Branch Library.
PRIMARY RACES
Island voters will help determine the winner of the county-wide Manatee County Commission At-Large District 6 Republican primary race between Tony Barrett, John Calovich, Ed Ference and Tara Poulton. The winner of the primary race will face Democratic candidate and former county commissioner Reggie Bellamy in the general election that will conclude on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Republican voters will help determine the winner of the District 71 Florida House of Representatives primary race that includes Melton Little, Dylan Paul Modarelli and Jordan Varnadore. Democratic voters will help determine the winner of the District 20 State Senate primary.
Primary voters will also help decide the winners of the gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives primary races, including the race to fill the congressional seat being vacated by Vern Buchanan.
Primary voters will also help determine the winners of the Florida Chief Financial Officer and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture primaries.
MANATEE COUNTY – Two years ago, in early August, Tropical Storm Debby passed offshore of Anna Maria Island and Manatee County on its way to becoming a Category 1 hurricane as it traveled north.
According to the Florida Climate Center, the tropical storm dropped more than 18 inches of rain in some portions of eastern Manatee County during a five-day period and caused significant flooding. According to city officials, 10 to 12 inches of rain fell on Anna Maria during a two-day period, which also created localized flooding.
Manatee County’s newly purchased Peregrine emergency data integration system was not yet operational during Tropical Storm Debby, but it was operational by the time Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic storm surge struck the Island on Sept. 26, 2024.
Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske oversees the Public Safety Department, which includes the Emergency Communications Division (911), the Emergency Management Division and the Emergency Medical Services Division (EMS).
Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske points to lift station data displayed on the Emergency Operations Center’s display wall. – Ernie Vanderwalt | Sun
When speaking to The Sun during a recent July 29 visit to the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center in Bradenton, Fiske said the county signed the purchase order for the Peregrine system three days before Tropical Storm Debby, and the vendor team was still on-site setting the new system up when the tropical storm arrived.
Fiske said the Peregrine system pulls data from about a dozen sources, including gauges, cameras, dispatch records and property files, and integrates it into a real-time digital display map. Fiske said Manatee County paid $140,000 for the Peregrine system that was purchased in 2024, and the total cost to expand the system to its current capacity is more than $400,000.
While Hurricane Helene was still offshore, the storm surge was already approaching Anna Maria Island. Inside the Emergency Operations Center, Fiske and the emergency management staff watched the Peregrine system operate in real time as the green dots on the electronic county map turned into red dots when the Island’s sewage lift stations lost power as the storm surge came ashore.
Fiske said there’s a difference between flooding and storm surge – a distinction she wants Island residents to clearly understand.
“People really underestimate storm surge,” she said. “Imagine standing up, and I push you. And as soon as you start to get your bearings back, I push you again. It’s the force of the ocean, powered by wind. It’s relentless, and it will go on for hours.”
Hurricane Helene’s predicted storm surge for the coastal areas of Manatee County was 7 to 9 feet. Fiske said the actual storm surge reached nearly 9.5 feet in some areas.
Fiske said the county always plans for a category above whatever strength hurricane is forecast. A predicted Category 1 hurricane is treated like a Category 2. A predicted 9-foot storm surge is planned for as an 18-foot surge.
Hurricane Milton then struck the Island and Manatee County less than two weeks after Helene. Fiske said the county’s coastal areas could have faced a 17-foot surge had Milton not wobbled during its final approach.
Fiske said slightly less than 1,000 people and approximately 60 pets headed to the county shelters before Hurricane Helene arrived. After seeing what Hurricane Helene’s storm surge and flooding did to the Island, residents evacuated with more urgency ahead of Hurricane Milton, when more than 11,000 people and 1,500 pets utilized the county shelters.
“The lesson stuck,” she said.
Fiske said before the Peregrine system was in place, checking a gauge that measures the height of a river’s water meant refreshing a browser tab on the National Weather Service website, which she said gets updated approximately every six hours. Now, the county’s river gauge data is refreshed every one to five minutes during a hurricane or major storm.
Using the Peregrine system allowed damage assessments to be completed faster. The county sent assessment teams to the neighborhoods where lift stations failed and pulled the affected property values directly from the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office website. This allowed Manatee County to deliver its damage estimates to the state within 12 hours after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. That turnaround time was 24 to 36 hours without the Peregrine system.
The Manatee County Emergency Operations Center is located inside the Public Safety Center in Bradenton. – Ernie Vanderwalt | Sun
The county’s use of the Peregrine system has been expanded beyond tropical storms and hurricanes. The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Bradenton Police, Palmetto Police and the county’s fire districts are being added to the county’s Peregrine platform. The Peregrine system is also used in nearby Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
COUNTY TASK FORCE
During large-scale emergencies, Manatee County is assisted by the Tampa Bay Regional Search and Rescue Task Force 3, which includes St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and Tampa Fire Rescue. During and after Hurricane Helene, Task Force 3 personnel assisted Manatee County while also assisting their own impacted counties.
Fiske said Manatee County is now in the process of developing its own search and rescue task force, and she credits North River Fire District Assistant Chief Joel Baker and West Manatee Fire District Deputy Chief Jay Johnson for suggesting it. In June, Manatee County commissioners approved spending $500,000 for task force training and equipment.
ISLAND CONCERNS
When asked what worries her most about Anna Maria Island before, during and after a hurricane, Fiske said her biggest fear is complacency and Island residents not taking hurricane warnings and evacuation orders seriously.
“People not taking the message seriously, that’s always the fear,” Fiske said. “I would rather you be uncomfortable for 12 hours in a shelter than be dead.”
MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County commissioners are considering imposing stricter vacation rental regulations in the unincorporated areas of Manatee County that include Cortez and portions of west Bradenton.
The three Anna Maria Island cities – Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach – adopted their respective short-term vacation rental regulations more than 10 years ago.
The West Manatee Fire and Rescue District (WMFR) recently provided a map on which every dot represents a property that is being used as a transient public lodging establishment (short-term vacation rental) within the fire district. According to the map, there are more than 4,500.
At first glance, the map is just a collection of dots. But when you step back, a different story emerges. Entire neighborhoods that were once exclusively occupied by permanent residents are now a blend of full-time homes and short-term lodging. In some areas, vacation rentals now exist on nearly every street, and there are some streets where every home on them is a short-term rental.
This isn’t a statement against vacation rentals. Tourism is essential to our local economy. Thousands of responsible property owners provide exceptional accommodations and millions of visitors enjoy everything our community has to offer.
But the scale matters. And when more than one out of every five residential properties functions as a short-term vacation rental, the public safety environment changes dramatically. Guests are unfamiliar with the homes they’re staying in. Emergency responders encounter constantly changing occupants. Fire protection systems, smoke alarms, exits, address identification, water safety and emergency planning become increasingly important.
At the same time, many longtime residents are expressing concerns about preserving the character of their neighborhoods. Questions about occupancy loads, parking, noise, garbage and the emergence of “party houses” have become common topics of conversation throughout Manatee County. These are not simply zoning or neighborhood issues. They are community issues that deserve balanced, thoughtful discussion.
The map is revealing, but it doesn’t argue for or against vacation rentals. It simply illustrates reality. The presence of thousands of short-term vacation rentals throughout traditional neighborhoods creates new challenges, but it also creates opportunities. Through education, fire and life safety inspections, partnerships and collaboration with property owners, managers, local governments and residents, we can improve safety while supporting a thriving tourism economy.
As our community continues to evolve, one thing is certain: Understanding the magnitude of the issue is the first step toward developing solutions that protect visitors, respect residents, support responsible property owners and preserve the quality of life that makes Manatee County such a special place.
Sometimes the most important story isn’t what a map shows. It’s what it reveals.
MANATEE COUNTY – On May 5, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously directed county staff to negotiate a plan with the city of Bradenton Beach for county contributions to help support the city-owned Tingley Memorial Library.
The Tingley Library is not part of the Manatee County Library system and the potential county support was proposed by BOCC Chair Tal Siddique.
“If you’re not familiar with the Tingley Library, it’s a very cute little city library. It was built in 1994 after a bequeath from Buelah Tingley to the city of Bradenton Beach in the amount of $500,000 to create a private library,” Siddique said during the May 5 county commission meeting. “At that time, the Island Branch (library) was already there (in Holmes Beach) and there was a need identified in Bradenton Beach for what was then called a reading room – a library today.”
County Commission Chair Tal Siddique proposed county support for the city library. – Submitted
In March, Bradenton Beach Police Chief/Public Works Director John Cosby told the mayor and city commissioners the city-owned library building requires $230,000 to $250,000 for repairs that include the replacement of front and back stairs and the replacement of the air conditioning system.
In April, Cosby estimated the repairs might cost $350,000, including the replacement of the air conditioning duct work. The mayor and city commissioners – who also serve as the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency members – have also discussed tearing the library building down and replacing it with a paid parking lot.
Siddique attended the April 16 city commission meeting and mentioned the possibility of the county providing financial support for the library repairs. He said the county (or the county library system) could also possibly enter into an interlocal agreement with the city to augment library programming and possibly provide additional staffing and operational support.
“After speaking to the librarian and the community, my suggestion would be this remain a city property,” Siddique said during the April 16 city meeting.
On May 5, Siddique asked the other county commissioners if they would be open to providing financial support for the city library.
Regarding the cost of the needed repairs, Siddique said, “That’s a substantial ask from us, when it’s not a county library.”
“I’d like to see the numbers and the options,” Commissioner George Kruse said.
Kruse asked if an engineering study had been done to determine the structural integrity of the library building.
County Commissioner George Kruse is in favor of assisting the city library, but he needs more details. – Submitted
“They had a building inspector look at the building. The core concrete structure is in good shape and the roof has been replaced recently,” Siddique said.
“We need to know what the real costs are to move that forward,” Kruse said. “We also need to understand some of the options. Does it become a county library? Does it become some sort of interlocal (agreement) situation? Are we going to be paying the staff and operating expenses? If so, we need to factor that in. There are a lot of open questions.”
Kruse said he’s in favor of the county assisting the city library, in part because it’s a way to return county-controlled property tax revenues to the city of Bradenton Beach and the Bradenton Beach taxpayers.
“They pay a lot of property taxes and they almost become ‘donor property tax’ situations – where they pay a lot more taxes than they get back,” Kruse said. “We always look for opportunities where we can give some of those tax dollars back in good faith and make sure that our municipalities are being taken care of by the county.”
Kruse mentioned the county’s support for a community center in Longboat Key as an example.
Kruse said he supports the idea of the library remaining in Bradenton Beach but he would like more information. Kruse made a motion to direct county staff to negotiate with city officials to determine the amount and nature of the county’s potential contributions for the Tingley Library repairs and operations.
City Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce addressed the county commission. – Submitted
When addressing the county commissioners during public input, Bradenton Beach Vice Mayor Debbie Scaccianoce said, “I want to thank you for considering this. This is very important to our community. I have provided the recent quotes and I’m happy to say it’s much less than what was discussed in our previous meeting, so I am very encouraged by that.”
During the Thursday, May 7, city commission meeting, Scaccianoce and Cosby were directed to represent the city in the library negotiations with the county.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Gulf Islands Ferry service’s new and larger $3 million Manatee Belle ferry boat is now in service between Bradenton and Bradenton Beach.
Manatee County’s new 91-seat ferry boat made its passenger-carrying maiden voyage from the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier in downtown Bradenton to the Bradenton Beach Pier in Bradenton Beach on the morning of Saturday, April 11.
These passengers made the second trip to Bradenton Beach aboard the new Manatee Belle. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Shortly before 1 p.m., a second group of passengers arrived at the Riverwalk Pier and began boarding the Manatee Belle for its second official trip to Bradenton Beach.
These folks were happy to be traveling aboard the new ferry boat. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At approximately 1:25 p.m., the Manatee Belle pulled out of its slip and passed under the “Green Bridge” as it headed toward Bradenton Beach Pier, traveling along the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway.
The county did not announce the new boat’s Saturday morning entry into service and one of the afternoon passengers said they didn’t know when they purchased their tickets in advance that they’d be among the first to ride the new ferry boat.
The Manatee Belle has an enclosed, heated and air-conditioned mid-section for passenger seating and an open-air seating section at the back of the boat. The new boat also features public restrooms
The mid-section of the Manatee Belle is fully enclosed, with air-conditioning, heat and a public restroom. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Manatee Belle is much larger, heavier, wave-resistant and weather-resistant than the 49-passenger, open-air pontoon boats that comprised the Gulf Islands Ferry fleet when the county-contracted ferry service to the Anna Maria City Pier and the Bradenton Beach Pier began in early 2024.
The Gulf Islands Ferry service currently operates as a two-point transportation system between downtown Bradenton and Bradenton Beach. The ferry service provides easy access to the dining, drinking and shopping establishments and businesses on and around Bridge Street.
Ferry service to Anna Maria has been suspended since Hurricane Milton destroyed most of the City Pier walkway in October 2024. After the construction of the new pier walkway pier is completed and additional repairs and potential modifications are made to the buildings at the T-end of the pier, the pier is expected to fully reopen later this year.
At some point after the City Pier is fully reopened, Manatee County officials expect to install a county-funded Gulf Islands Ferry landing alongside the City Pier.
COUNTY ANNOUNCEMENT
On Monday, April 13, Manatee County issued a press release about the new boat joining the ferry fleet.
“The new vessel adds 91 seats to the existing fleet and its increased size and enclosed, climate-controlled cabin design will improve dependability, delivering a comfortable and safe passenger experience. This debut further affirms Manatee County’s commitment to its residents and visitors with reliable, scenic and convenient alternate travel options,” the press release says.
The Manatee Belle headed toward the Green Bridge on its way to Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The addition of the Manatee Belle will help maintain consistent scheduling, enhance service reliability due to weather concerns and reduce the need for personal vehicles while travelling between the mainland and the seven miles of coastline on Anna Maria Island.
“Funded by the tourist development tax, the Gulf Islands Ferry now features three vessels, connecting downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island via the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway,” the press release says.
Depending on the day of the week and the weather, and subject to daily and seasonal change, the Gulf Islands Ferry service is currently operating Wednesday through Sunday.
According to the Gulf Islands Ferry website, first ferry boat of the day departs from Bradenton Riverwalk Pier in downtown Bradenton at 7:30 a.m. and the last trip of the day to Bradenton Beach departs at 7 p.m.
According to the website, the first ferry boat traveling to downtown Bradenton departs from the Bradenton Beach Pier at 9 a.m. and the last trip of the day to downtown Bradenton departs from the Bradenton Beach Pier at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased and the schedule can be viewed at the Gulf Islands Ferry website.
LEON COUNTY – Manatee County is among several municipal plaintiffs filing suit seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from a controversial hurricane recovery-related state law enacted earlier this year.
Signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 26, the new law created by the Florida Legislature’s adoption of Senate Bill 180 and its matching bill in the House of Representatives prohibits city and county governments from adopting land development regulations that are more cumbersome or restrictive than the regulations in place as of Aug. 1, 2024.
Fort Lauderdale-based Weiss, Serota, Helfman, Cole and Bierman attorney Jamie Cole filed the lawsuit on Sept. 29 in the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County.
The lawsuit seeks a court order declaring that the enactment of SB 180 violates the Florida Constitution and the Florida Statutes that codify local home rule powers, deems the preemptions in the new state law to be impermissibly vague and invalid and prohibits the state from enforcing the new law.
On Sept. 2, Manatee County commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of the county joining the lawsuit.
In addition to Manatee County, the named plaintiffs include city of Destin, the city of Lake Alfred, the town of Windermere, the city of Delray Beach, the city of Deltona, the city of Weston, the city of Alachua, the city of Stuart, Orange County, the town of Mulberry, the city of Naples, Miami Shores Village, the town of Lake Park, the city of Fort Lauderdale, the town of Jupiter, the city of Edgewater, the city of Pompano Beach, the town of Dundee, the town of Cutler Bay, the village of North Palm Beach, the village of Pinecrest, the city of Margate, the town of Palm Beach and the city of Homestead.
The lawsuit names as defendants Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly, Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management Kevin Guthrie, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Florida Department of Revenue Executive Director Jim Zingale and Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia.
The complaint cites Section 28 of the new Florida Statute that states, “Each county listed in the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton, and each municipality within one of those counties, may not propose or adopt any moratorium on construction, reconstruction or redevelopment of any property damaged by such hurricanes; 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, 2027, and any such moratorium or restrictive or burdensome comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure shall be null and void ab initio. This subsection applies retroactively to August 1, 2024.”
A case overview provided on page two of the 46-page complaint says, “This is an action by a large number of
Florida municipalities and counties challenging Senate Bill 180, a law that was enacted in the 2025 legislative session that represents the largest incursion into local home rule authority in the history of Florida since the adoption of the Florida Constitution in 1968. SB 180 purports to be ‘an act relating to emergencies’ supposedly designed to assist people rebuild properties that were damaged in hurricanes. But, as the result of a last minute amendment, and in a classic example of log rolling and stealth legislating, SB 180 goes much further, freezing all local land development regulations and comprehensive plans in place on August 1, 2024, declaring that any ‘more restrictive or burdensome’ amendments to such regulations that were enacted by any of the 67 counties or 411 municipalities in Florida between August 1, 2024, and October 1, 2027, are ‘void ab initio.’”
The complaint says, “SB 180 should be declared invalid and the defendants should be enjoined from enforcing it.”
Manatee County referenced
Earlier this year, due to concerns about potentially violating the new state law, Manatee County commissioners delayed voting on reverting back to the county’s previous and more restrictive wetland buffering regulations.
The complaint notes some local governments received letters from Florida Department of Commerce advising them that certain planning and zoning regulations are in direct conflict with Section 28 of the new state law.
The complaint says, “Manatee County received such a letter on April 15 regarding two proposed comprehensive plan amendments, in which Florida Commerce states it previously declared the proposed comprehensive plan amendments ‘null and void’ and that Manatee County, nonetheless, thereafter continued to move toward final adoption. The letter states the proposed ordinances may be violative of Section 28 for being a ‘restrictive or burdensome’ procedure for obtaining a development permit after a disaster – without purporting to identify what it was more restrictive or burdensome than, or to whom it was more restrictive or burdensome. The letter also states the proposed amendments may violate Section 3 of SB 180 regarding impact fees.”
Although the Island cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach are not plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Holmes Beach city attorney Erica Augello recently said the outcome of the SB 180 lawsuit will impact every Florida city and county one way or another.
HOLMES BEACH – The city is not joining the Senate Bill 180 lawsuit but city officials appreciate the Manatee County Commission’s recent decision to do so.
On Sept. 2, county commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of paying an initial $10,000 fee to join the lawsuit that will challenge a new state law created earlier this year by the Florida Legislature and supported by Gov. Ron DeSantis with the adoption of Senate Bill 180.
Originally intended to ensure property owners’ ability to repair and rebuild their homes after a hurricane, the far-reaching legislation prohibits city and county governments from adopting and enforcing any new development regulations that are more restrictive or cumbersome than those in place on Aug. 1, 2024.
The local regulatory restrictions imposed by the state law are scheduled to expire on Oct. 1, 2027, but would be extended in any jurisdiction located within 100 miles of a federally declared natural disaster area.
Fort Lauderdale-based attorney Jamie Cole is leading the legal challenge. When contacted on Sept. 12, he said 20 Florida cities and counties have joined the lawsuit and no decision has been made yet as to where it will be filed.
As a follow up to their Aug. 26 discussion, Holmes Beach officials revisited the lawsuit discussion on Sept. 11.
“My position hasn’t changed,” City Attorney Erica Augello said. “Whatever the determination on this is, it’s going to affect everybody in the state. It’s up to you if you want to join, but they have enough to move it forward. That’s the consensus in my office as well, with all the jurisdictions that we represent.”
Commissioner Dan Diggins said the only reason he’d vote to join the lawsuit would be to show the city’s support for the county commission’s decision.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said he discussed the pending lawsuit with the city’s contracted lobbyist, Andrew Kalel. Schaefer said Kalel also believes an eventual court ruling would impact the city with or without joining the lawsuit and joining the lawsuit could impact the city’s relations with state leaders.
Commissioner Steve Oelfke said he discussed the lawsuit with District 3 County Commissioner Tal Siddique and expressed the city’s appreciation and support for the county commission’s decision. Oelfke said Siddique understands the city’s position on not joining the lawsuit.
Commissioner Carol Soustek hopes the lawsuit pressures the Florida Legislature into revising the new law during the 2026 legislative session.
“I support the county for doing this,” she added.
“I agree with everyone up here,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said. “I’m so proud of the county for deciding to join that lawsuit. And we are the county; they’re representing us in this lawsuit.”
Referencing the Florida Legislature’s past support for the previous county commission’s now-abandoned efforts to force the construction of a county-funded parking garage at Manatee Beach, Titsworth said, “We know what it feels like when we get trampled on by the state.”
Regarding the county commission’s decision, the mayor said, “I really support their efforts to try to protect home rule and I do feel they’re doing this to protect us.”
Titsworth said she’d support the city joining the lawsuit if the city commissioners wanted to. Augello said the city commission could revisit that decision later if the law firm handling the case needs more parties to join the lawsuit to help fund the legal challenge.
MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County is joining a soon to be filed lawsuit that will challenge the new state law created by the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis’s adoption and enactment of Senate Bill 180 earlier this year.
On Sept. 2, county commissioners voted 6-1 in fav or of joining legal challenge at an initial cost of $10,000, which additional costs anticipated if a judge’s order is issued and then appealed.
Originally intended to prevent city and county governments from making it more difficult for property owners to repair, rehabilitate and rebuild their hurricane-damaged structures, the far-reaching state law prohibits city and county governments from adopting land use regulations that are more restrictive or cumbersome than those that existed on Aug. 1, 2024.
The new law’s potential implications recently caused county commissioners to delay voting on returning the county’s wetland setback requirements to the more stringent requirements that were in place before the previous county commission weakened them in a manner more favorable to developers.
A memo included in the Sept. 2 county commission meeting packet says, “SB180 is overbroad and overreaching. It has been used by developers to put a choke hold on Manatee County and on home rule. Manatee County looks to challenge SB180 in the court of law in order to remove the section that prevents Manatee County from taking necessary steps to mitigate flooding and damage. The section should only apply to property damaged in an emergency caused by the emergency.”
When providing public input before the commissioners discussed joining the lawsuit, county resident Dalton Nelson said the new law undermines home rule authority and strips local gov ernments of the flexibility needed to respond to overdevelopment, flooding, infrastructure planning, environmental protections and other challenges.
“To the make matters worse, Mr. DeSantis has gone so far as to threaten removing commissioners who do not fall in line with these laws. That is not democracy. That is intimidation. When commissioners govern out of fear of removal instead of in the best interests of the residents the entire system of local government is weakened,” Nelson said.
County resident Anthony Shulo said the new law fails to make distinctions between disaster recovery and future land use decisions, which he said are two very different scenarios: “Without official clarification, the door is already open misapplication and misinterpretation – something that should concern every resident of this county.”
County resident Glen Gibellina noted every state legislator in the Manatee County Legislative Delegation voted in favor of the new law, including Sen. Jim Boyd and state representatives Will Robinson Jr. and Bill Conerly.
District 3 commissioner Tal Siddique doesn’t oppose all the provisions set forth in SB 180 but he said it contains some “bad language” and some developers are already actively looking to litigate in court the definitions of “more restrictive” and “burdensome.”
“That’s operating in bad faith,” Siddique said.
“This notion that we’re restricting homeowners from rebuilding is just ridiculous. It’s false. I welcome us joining this lawsuit. I think it’s the only way to make our voices heard,” Siddique said. “I’ve yet to receive one call from any builder about how we can make it easier to let property owners rebuild their homes – and I represent the most hurricane-damaged part of the county (Anna Maria Island).”
Commissioner Carol Ann Felts said, “It’s not easy to convince someone that they’ve made a mistake by hitting them over the head. This is just part of the American way. We have a law that is made, we abide by that law and then we legally find ways to change that law if they don’t work or us. This is how our democratic republic works. I don’t want the lawsuit being seen as antagonistic. It’s just not a good law.”
Mike Rahn was the only commissioner who opposed joining the lawsuit at this time.
“Why do we need to join now?” he said. “We took a breather on moving forward with the wetland rollback and repealing (land use policy) 2.1.2.8. We’re poking a pretty big bear here. We’ve already felt appropriations get withdrawn or vetoed.”
Rahn said the lawsuit could take 3-4 years to resolve and he prefers to instead work with state legislature in hopes of amending the law during the state legislators’ 2026 legislative session.
“I’d rather build consensus with other counties and say this is what we want, rather than slapping a lawsuit on the state of Florida. There will be retribution, I’m telling you. We’re feeling it now over 2.1.2.8. and the wetlands,” he said.
If you don’t know about Senate Bill 180 and its implications to anglers who fish Sarasota Bay and Anna Maria Sound, let me explain. The bill prohibits counties and municipalities (including Manatee County and the three Anna Maria Island cities) from adopting new, more restrictive land use or zoning regulations, or imposing development moratoriums, within certain timeframes after a hurricane.
This applies even if the changes aren’t related to recovery from the storm, which is the original intent of the law. It becomes draconian because the new state law allows anyone to sue local governments if they violate this provision – creating a chilling effect on local planning and resilience efforts.
As mentioned, this law was originally conceived to protect homeowners affected by the twin hurricanes: Helene and Milton. The law extends the life of existing development permits, streamlines the permitting process for rebuilding, waives or reduces certain fees for like-kind reconstruction and allows temporary accommodations for displaced residents. It would also provide clarity and uniformity throughout the state so property owners and builders have foreseeable rules to rely on after disasters and it will help keep homeowners from getting bogged down in permitting or zoning delays during recovery.
Unfortunately, as the bill moved through the state legislature, additional land use restrictions placed on local governments were added. These changes prevent counties and cities from adopting new development regulations or moratoriums after a disaster (unless directly tied to recovery) and give “any person” the right to sue local governments that try to impose stricter restrictions.
The additions went well beyond the original disaster-recovery intent and shifted the law into the realm of limiting local control of overgrowth, zoning and environmental protections.
So how might that affect anglers? In the last election, Manatee County residents made it clear that the wetland protections removed by the former commissioners were not popular. That was evidenced by the voters’ removal of the county commissioners seeking reelection who voted to remove the county’s setbacks requirements that were more restrictive than those allowed by state statutes.
When the current commission recently considered voting to reinstate the more restrictive wetland setback requirements, they were threatened by the implications of Senate Bill 180 – which State Sen. Jim Boyd and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. both voted for earlier this year.
I’ve heard from a number of sources that Manatee County developer Pat Neal may have been an influential and key figure behind the more restrictive land use provisions included in SB 180. I contacted Neal to give him a chance to respond but he did not reply.
In response to this change, a coalition of local governments that includes Manatee County, Orange County and the cities of Alachua, Deltona, Stuart, Weston, Windermere, Naples, Delray Beach and others are joining in the lawsuit that will challenge the law created by SB 180.
On Sept. 2, county commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of joining the lawsuit, with Commissioner Mike Rahn voting no. I was at the meeting and numerous citizens showed up to support the commission in joining the suit. No one spoke in opposition to joining the suit.
Political maneuvers like this hit at the very heart of the democratic process and threaten to negate the votes of citizens working to protect the environment in their region by encouraging sustainable building practices. Unfortunately, it appears that greed is attempting to prevent citizens from enacting common sense rules and regulations at the expense of future generations.
I would encourage everyone who wants to protect the integrity of our local marine environment to write letters to elected officials demanding common sense laws.
Contact Senator Boyd by email at boyd.jim.web@flsenate.gov, by letters sent to his Bradenton district office at 717 Manatee Ave. W., Suite 100, Bradenton, Fl. 34205, or by phone at 941-742-6445.
Contact Representative Robinson by email at will.robinson@flhouse.gov, by regular mail sent to his Bradenton district office at 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Suite 305, Bradenton, Fl. 34205-7801 or by phone at 6941-242-8430.
I’ll continue to update readers on the progress of the lawsuit as it unfolds.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is auditing Manatee County’s finances.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the audit during his July 24 visit to Bradenton, during which he mentioned the steep property tax increases in Manatee County in recent years.
The same day, Manatee County Commission Chairman George Kruse received a letter from DOGE that began by saying, “The Florida DOGE team, in partnership with Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and the Office of Policy and Budget, have identified Manatee County for further review and an on-site visit. Although Manatee County has taken steps to reduce the county-wide millage rate in recent years, rising property values have pushed annual property tax collections up by over $200 million since 2019, according to your published budgets. This increased burden on property owners has helped Manatee County increase the county’s net annual budget by almost $600 million since 2020 – an increase in spending of 80% during that period.”
County Administrator Charlie Bishop was copied as a recipient of the DOGE letters. Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, the city of Orlando and the city of Jacksonville are among the other Florida counties and cities that recently received similar DOGE letters.
In addition to paying county property taxes, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach property owners also pay annual city property taxes at a much lower millage rate than the county’s millage rate. Property owners in Bradenton, Palmetto and the northern portion of Longboat Key also pay city and county property taxes. Property owners in unincorporated areas, including Cortez, don’t pay city property taxes.
“Having entrusted their governments with the power to tax, the citizens of Florida have a right to expect that their elected officials will spend the collected funds responsibly, not recklessly, and on truly necessary programs,” the DOGE letter says. “Through the DOGE effort, Gov. DeSantis has charged us to identify and report on this type of excessive spending at the county and municipal level.”
The letter also says, “We hereby request access to your county’s physical premises, data systems and responsive personnel on Aug. 5 and Aug. 6, at the county administration building and such other locations that you identify as necessary to comply with these requests. You should note that financial penalties may accrue for your failure to comply with each of the following requests for access on those dates.”
The letter is signed by Ingoglia, DOGE Team Leader Eric Soskin and Office of Policy and Budget Director Leda Kelly.
On July 31, county commissioners voted 5-1 in favor of setting the county’s tentative millage rate at the same 6.0826 mills in effect for the current fiscal year. Subject to revision before final adoption in September, Manatee County’s $2.54 billion 2026 fiscal year budget currently includes $1.38 billion in newly generated revenues, including property tax revenues. The $2.54 billion total also includes debts and other financial obligations being carried over from the 2025 fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.
DOGE requests
The two-page DOGE letter was accompanied by six pages of specific requests for detailed financial information, including capital expenditures, operating costs and funding sources for the county-contracted Gulf Islands Ferry service that operates between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton and the Bradenton Beach Pier in Bradenton Beach that currently serve as ferry stops. Because of the hurricane damage that Hurricane Milton inflicted on the City Pier in 2024, ferry service in Anna Maria remains suspended until a new City Pier walkway is built.
The DOGE letter also requests information about the county’s property management efforts and the purchase or sale of any public-owned property, specifically, the county’s recently announced $24 million purchase of an existing building in Lakewood Ranch to be used for expanded county government operations. The July 24 letter was received before county commissioners’ unanimous July 29 decision to buy the 39-acre Mixon Fruit Farms property and wedding venue in east Bradenton for $13.5 million.
DOGE also seeks detailed information about:
county procurement processes and policies;
contracts awarded in excess of $10,000 and the vendors awarded those contracts;
compensation paid to county employees;
the county utilities system;
the county’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs and efforts;
county expenditures related to climate change, emissions reduction or carbon reduction, including the purchase of battery-powered electric vehicles;
grants and matching grants received by the county;
the county’s rules and policies regarding government vehicle allowances, including a list of all county personnel making use of a take-home vehicle;
the county’s Government Relations department, including job descriptions and departmental expenditures to date;
project descriptions, budgeted costs, actual costs and cost overruns or savings for county transportation-related capital projects that began, remain ongoing or have been completed since Jan. 1, 2023;
the installation, initial costs and maintenance costs and estimated life cycle for all traffic calming devices, included but not limited to speed tables, speed humps, raised intersections, curb extensions and chokers; and
homeless services provided by the county, the effectiveness of those efforts and any grant funds provided to other agencies that assist the homeless.
Manatee County’s 6% tourist development tax (resort tax) is collected from hotel, motel, resort, condo and other short-term vacation accommodations rented for six months or less.
The amounts shown were collected for May and paid to the Manatee County Tax Collector’s Office in June. A third of the tax revenues are spent on marketing the county as a tourist destination and almost 17% is spent on beach renourishment.
In Anna Maria, May tourist tax revenues increased from $318,188 in 2024 to $406,297 in 2025 – an $88,109 (27.6%) increase.
In Bradenton Beach, May tourist tax revenues decreased from $112,803 in 2024 to $93,365 in 2025 – a $19,438 (17.23%) decrease.
In Holmes Beach, May tourist tax revenues increased from $660,167 in 2024 to $620,641 in 2025 – a $20,474 (3.41%) increase.
In unincorporated Manatee County (the areas located outside of the six chartered municipalities), May tourist tax revenues increased from $770,194 in 2024 to $917,906 in 2025 – a $147,712 (19.17%) increase.
In Manatee County as a whole, May tourist tax revenues increased from $2,520,318 in 2024 to $2,520,318 in 2025 – a $349,445 (16.09%) increase.
Tourist development taxes are also collected in Bradenton, Palmetto and the Manatee County portion of Longboat Key. The revenues are controlled by the Manatee County Commission and can be shared with local municipalities to help fund tourism-related projects and enhancements.
BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County and Bradenton Beach officials discussed lengthening the eastbound merge lane on Cortez Road to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Cortez Road and Gulf Drive at a June 18 joint meeting.
“The state owns the property and from informal discussions we’ve had with FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation), they don’t have the money for it, but if the city, county, private people could work together to at least acquire the land or easements, the state could allow the city or county to work on improvements in that right of way or accept it for maintenance later,” Manatee County Deputy Director of Public Works Clarke Davis said.
“If the city were receptive to trying to make that right turn lane longer, leading up to that point, it would need a little bit of frontage of all the properties leading up to it on Gulf Drive,” he said. “If all the pieces fell the right way, there should be a way to lengthen that turn lane by at least a couple hundred feet which might provide some relief for traffic at that intersection.”
Davis said such a project would require the city’s support.
“I would like to comment on the intersection of Cortez and Gulf and the idea of possible eminent domain or condemnation,” Mayor John Chappie said. “The city commission discussed this at our last meeting and we’re not commenting with regard to that until the Complete Streets Project is complete and also the Anna Maria Island Barrier Island Study to see what they come up with and we’ll decide our position.”
Chappie added, “I will tell you over the decades I’ve been around, the city commission has always been in opposition to eminent domain on anybody’s property.”
Chappie said growth on the mainland is contributing to traffic congestion on Anna Maria Island.
“I think we need to pay more attention not just what’s happening on the Island, but on the mainland, in particular with what we’re going to be facing pretty quick at the corner of 75th and Cortez Road and the 8,000 units, there’s a lot going in there and a lot of people are going to want to be coming down Cortez Road to go to the beach,” he said. “I’m hopeful that someone will come up with some ideas to reduce some of the traffic and the ability for those people that live there to be able to come out to the Island.”
Bradenton Beach Commissioner Ralph Cole suggested adding slow-speed vehicle lanes to Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue to accommodate those on golf carts and electric bikes.
“Cortez Road is wide enough that you could have a slow-speed vehicle lane going all the way up to 75th Street so that people could come from in town in their low speed vehicles and make it all the way down to the Island,” Cole said. “You could also incorporate pull-over spots if we really thought about it, if you’re driving down Gulf and holding traffic up and the bike lane is perfectly clear you could slide over and let traffic pass you.”
“Everybody is always trying to come up with a traffic solution for the island,” he said. “It’s probably one of the best ones and you could do it on Manatee Avenue too. Electric vehicles are evolving and we need to adapt. We’ve got the opportunity right now. You’re building a bridge and you’re widening the road. Now’s the time.”
The following hurricane shelters in Manatee County may be open depending on the direction and size of the storm. There are no assigned shelters, and few are furnished, so bring lawn chairs, cots, bedding and folding tables.
ANNA MARIA – Manatee County officials are developing scenarios to install a permanent, county-funded landing between the Anna Maria City Pier and the Lake La Vista jetty for the Gulf Islands Ferry.
On Feb. 27, Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short informed city commissioners of the county’s efforts to develop and install a new stand-alone ferry landing to accommodate the new, larger and partially enclosed ferry boat the county plans to put in service later this summer.
The new ferry boat will have nearly twice the capacity of the two 49-foot pontoon boats that currently operate between the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton and the Bradenton Beach Pier three to four days per week.
In mid-2024, county officials released this illustration that represents what the new ferry boat will look like. – Manatee County | Submitted
Using the now-destroyed boat landing at the T-end of the City Pier, the downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Gulf Islands Ferry service began in January 2024 and a month later was expanded to include Bradenton Beach. Anna Maria ferry service was discontinued after Hurricane Milton wiped out a 75- to 100-yard section of the City Pier walkway in early October. The City Pier remains closed for the foreseeable future and will not reopen until the missing walkway that connects to the T-end of the pier is replaced.
Hurricane Milton destroyed a significant portion of the City Pier walkway. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
When the new boat joins the Gulf Islands Ferry fleet, it will be used to make the Manatee River run between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. The two original pontoon boats will then be used exclusively to shuttle passengers between the Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach ferry landings; and maybe someday to the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach as well.
In late October, the state provided the county with a temporary ferry landing that consisted of a spud barge and a walkway that connected to the Anna Maria shoreline, but the wind, waves, water depth and weather conditions left the ferry captains leery of using the temporary landing even after additional spud barges were installed. In January, the state demobilized the privately-owned spud barges provided as part of the state’s hurricane response.
New scenario
Due to the size of the new ferry boat, the idea of a stand-alone ferry landing in Anna Maria predates the 2024 hurricanes. During the Feb. 27 meeting, Short said when the City Pier is repaired and reopened it will not be able to accommodate the larger ferry boat.
This diagram represents one possible scenario for a new ferry landing in Anna Maria. – Manatee County | Submitted
The agenda packet for that day’s meeting contained a single-page diagram of the ferry landing concept being developed by county officials and those assisting them.
“What you see is one scenario,” Short said. “They are working on other scenarios. This is not the only thing they’re looking at but this is one scenario they have actually taken to a point of putting on paper. They want to be able to land this boat near the city of Anna Maria.”
Short said the county hired a third-party firm to study the wave action, wave heights, currents and sand movement in that area. He noted the scenario presented includes extending the rock jetty further out into Tampa Bay and installing a wall-like wave attenuator that protects the landing area from the waves and currents that present navigational challenges in those waters.
The proposed ferry landing would be located between the Lake La Vista jetty and the City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short told county officials they must appear at a city meeting and present their proposed plans to the commission and the public before the commission will consider approving the county’s request to build a stand-alone ferry landing that connects to the Anna Maria shoreline.
Short said he would share additional details with the commission as they become available.
The first Gulf Islands Ferry landing in Anna Maria was in January 2024. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Chris Arendt asked Short if the county would assume the city’s current financial responsibility to periodically dredge the channel the connects Lake La Vista and Tampa Bay. Short said the county is studying the dredging needs that might exist in that area and dredging may be needed where the ferry landing would be built.
Short also noted the city previously received a $75,000 resiliency grant and is seeking additional grant funds for a yet-to-be-initiated study that would help identify a long-term solution that eliminates the need to dredge the channel every four years or so.
HOLMES BEACH – The Manatee County Development Services department has received more than 11,000 building permit applications in recent months, many of them hurricane-related.
The ongoing delays in obtaining county-issued building permits were discussed during District 3 Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique’s town hall meeting held on Feb. 13 at the Island Branch Library in Holmes Beach. During his opening remarks, Siddique briefly addressed the county’s struggle to keep up with the current permitting demands.
“We are very behind. Permits have been a big topic for me,” he said. “We can’t hire enough people. I keep telling the board (of county commissioners) to find some solutions. We need to get people back in their homes, get their roofs fixed, get their houses fixed and get back on track.”
According to the FEMA website, “Every part of a building – from roofs, walls and siding to plumbing, septic systems and heating/air conditioning systems – may require a permit before you start to rebuild. A permit may also be needed for demolition.”
After Siddique’s opening remarks, Flamingo Cay resident Darren Horesh initiated a longer discussion about the county’s permitting challenges.
“Those of us who had our homes affected are being tortured by the insurance companies, by the mortgage companies and then by the county who won’t give us permits. They won’t let us fix our homes,” Horesh said.
More than 30 people attended the town hall meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Flamingo Cay community is located along Manatee Avenue in unincorporated Manatee County, near Anna Maria Island. Unincorporated areas are those located outside the city limits of one of the six Manatee County municipalities. Hurricane repairs made to properties located in unincorporated areas are permitted and inspected by county staff. The properties in Cortez, Sunny Shores and along Cortez Road west of 75th Street West are all in unincorporated Manatee County.
“We’re all sitting pretending like we’re all fine and we’re building back and we’re not,” Horesh said.
He said the county only has two employees working on permit applications. He later clarified that he was referring specifically to permits needed for hurricane-related repairs, including flood damage – a claim the county later addressed.
“It just goes on day after day. Nothing’s happening. No permits are being issued, so what are we going to do?” Horesh said.
“It’s getting hot out. All these homes you’re not letting us fix are going to fill with mold in the next few months. Is the county go to pay to remediate that? The citizens of the county are suffering and nothing’s happened,” he said.
Siddique said he doesn’t get involved in the day-to-day operations of the building department but he has been contacted by a dozen county residents regarding their permitting delays. He said he asked the department directors to submit proposed budget amendments seeking funds for additional staffing. He noted Manatee County is currently competing with several other counties, from Sarasota to Naples, in its efforts to hire more staff. Siddique, who was elected in November, said the county lost 1,100 employees during the past four years.
Horesh asked why Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state aren’t providing more assistance.
“This is a national disaster. This is an emergency. We’re not some third-world country. We deserve to get back in our homes. We deserve to not be worried about having our homes red-tagged and us being penalized for fixing our own home. Do something and stop acting like everything’s fine. It’s not,” Horesh said.
After noting that hurricanes are not new to this area, Susanne Arbanas said, “Why weren’t we prepared for something like this? We were not ready. You don’t get ready after it happens, you get ready before it occurs. It wasn’t done appropriately beforehand and now we’re suffering. I’m a renter, but I lost everything I own. Why weren’t people in place to take care of a situation like this? Who was responsible? Who can we talk to about that?”
Siddique said the blame ultimately falls on himself and the other county commissioners.
“I’m putting real public pressure on staff to get after that problem,” Siddique said, noting he’s also reached out to State Sen. Jim Boyd and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. for assistance.
County response
On Feb. 14, The Sun emailed Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan, County Administrator Charlie Bishop and County Commission Chair George Kruse seeking clarification on some of the statements and assertions made at the town hall meeting.
In his email response, Logan wrote, “We have approximately 11,000 properties that received substantial damage and this is directly contributing to the increased levels in permit applications we receive. In October and November, we saw a 50% increase in permit applications compared to pre-storms – approximately 6,200 compared to 4,000. In January, we saw another increase with over 6,500 applications.”
According to Logan, the county currently has approximately 12 permitting technicians, approximately four floodplain review specialists, 20 additional permitting employees contracted from the Florida Department of Emergency Management, approximately five plan review officers and the contractual services of two private companies assisting the county with plan reviews and floodplain reviews and approximately 29 building inspection officers.
According to state law, only one person per county or city can be designated as the building official. Logan said Matthew Rush is currently serving as the county’s interim building official.
When asked when and why former Manatee County Building Official Bill Palmer recently vacated that position, Logan referred The Sun to the county’s human resource department. Kruse confirmed Palmer’s recent departure, but he didn’t know Palmer’s departure date or the reason for his departure.
On Feb. 14, Bradenton Beach Commissioners approved hiring Palmer to serve as the city’s new city-employed building official and former county employee Sandy Tudor to serve as the city’s floodplain manager.
Palmer will replace former third-party-contracted building official Darin Cushing, who was suspended in late January and later terminated.
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