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Proposed water taxi service produces no formal proposals

Proposed water taxi service attracts no formal proposals

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Water taxi operators aren’t expressing interest in operating a water taxi service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.

Wednesday, March 30 was the deadline to submit a proposal to the Manatee County Procurement Division in response to the invitation to negotiate (ITN). No proposals were received.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione is among the staff members Manatee County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes tasked with bringing a long-anticipated water taxi system to the county.

“As of yesterday, at the end of the day, the Manatee County procurement office did not receive a proposal,” Falcione said. “So, how are they handling it from this point moving forward? They’ve sent an email request to the vendors we previously sent the invitation to negotiate to. We hope to see where we can improve the solicitation process using any feedback they may have. That process has begun.”

“We’re still optimistic that we’re going to pursue a water taxi operation. We have to pursue this for the greater good of enhancing multi-modal transportation in our community. We’re going to interact with vendors who have done charters or similar types of businesses in our community to see what they need to move this thing forward,” he said.

“I don’t look at this as a negative. It’s part of a process and we’re going to do our best to make this happen. The Tourist Development Council embraces this, the board of county commissioners wants to move this forward and we know the municipalities in the county want enhanced multi-modal transportation. This is the best, first step we can take as part of that process,” Falcione said.

The opportunity to submit a proposal ended last Wednesday and has not been extended.

“That process is closed,” Falcione said. “Based on the feedback we receive, we’ll come up with plan B. The procurement office is looking at the law to see if now that we’ve gone out to solicitation with no bids do we have the opportunity to negotiate with vendors who have interest? We want to keep this moving forward. I’m sure I’ll know a lot more next week as to what we can and can’t do, but I know we’re going after feedback from the vendors we know who received the invitation to bid.”

The Sun asked Falcione if he was surprised that no proposals were submitted.

“This is new to me, so I can’t say whether I’m surprised or not. I’m a positive kind of guy and I’m not going to look at this as a negative. We’ve just got to keep on the pedal, communicate well, continue to work for the greater good and do all we can to meet the objective of getting a water taxi system going sooner than later,” he replied.

Does the lack of proposals signal concerns from the private sector about the financial feasibility of a water taxi operation between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island?

“No, because the invitation to negotiate was so open-ended. It was pretty much an opportunity for them to tell us what we need to get an operation going. There weren’t any specifics related to a water taxi operation. We’ll see if we missed something as we try to get feedback from the vendors that are licensed to do what we’re asking them to do and who really know this community. We’re going to take it one step at a time,” he said.

The initial lack of proposals may suggest a water taxi system may need to be operated by Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) as a county-funded public transportation service that is similar to the bus system.

“I think that’s an obvious option as we go through the process of finding out if this is a public/private partnership or is this a public operation? I think that could be a question at some point, but we’re still looking at this as being a public/private partnership,” he said.

Falcione invites interested people to contact Purchasing Official Jacob Erickson at 941-749-3053 or by email at jacob.erickson@mymanatee.org. Erickson is a member of the Manatee County Procurement Division.

Vendor feedback

Paradise Boat Tours General Manager Sherman Baldwin was among the tour boat operators Erickson spoke with on Thursday.

Paradise Boat Tours operates in a small terminal subleased from the city of Bradenton Beach and uses the public day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier to load and unload passengers.

Baldwin previously served as a first officer for Hy-Line Cruises – a Massachusetts-based company that operates a high-speed ferry service with destinations that include Hyannis, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

“I worked with them on the logistics of high-speed ferry travel and I was part of the team that helped make that transportation model viable,” Baldwin said.

After moving to Florida, Baldwin was part of a group that contemplated operating a high-speed ferry service between Sarasota, Bradenton Beach and downtown Bradenton. Those plans were never fully pursued due to a number of contributing factors, including delays with the Bradenton Beach dock replacement project, red tide and the coronavirus pandemic.

“The invitation to negotiate did not accurately reflect the challenges an operator would face in making this a viable commuter option, which is ultimately the goal for this. In my opinion, this looked like a glorified tour boat operation without solving any problems we face with our land-based transportation model that is being squeezed to the limit,” Baldwin said.

“This is a go big or go home venture. You’ve got to change the hearts and minds of people as to how they move around this region and that’s going to take time, money and investment. I talked to Jacob and said we’re talking about big dollars, but let’s not forget a single MCAT bus costs about a million dollars. We’re talking two $3 million boats that operate long hours, seven days a week, plus approximately $4 million a year in operating costs. Then you’re really talking about a program that could take some pressure off our land-based transportation system.”

Baldwin thinks a water taxi service might be even more feasible if pursued collectively by Manatee County and Sarasota County.

Anna Maria discussion

On Thursday, March 24 Falcione provided the Anna Maria City Commission and Mayor Dan Murphy with an update on the county’s efforts. He mentioned the March 30 submission deadline and said the county hoped to have a water taxi service operational by Memorial Day weekend, if possible.

“Let’s do all we can to get cars off the roads,” he said.

Falcione said the ITN process allowed the county to negotiate with multiple potential water taxi operators at the same time. He said the general nature of the process allowed interested people to develop their own plans regarding the types and number of vessels used, trip frequencies, operational hours, costs and more.

“It’s wide open,” he said. “We’re not going to lock ourselves into anything. We believe that maybe the low-hanging fruit is hop-on, hop-off, up and down the Island. When they come off the water, they hopefully either walk, bike or get on the trolley. The other part is downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island.”

Falcione said water taxi service between downtown Bradenton and the Island requires connectivity with the free trolley service MCAT already provides on AMI. He said he believes hospitality industry workers who work on the Island and live on the mainland will use the water taxi system if it satisfies their commuting needs.

“What is the cost associated with that? Might somebody need to subsidize a water taxi system? Manatee County knows it would probably need to be subsidized,” Falcione said.

He noted that tourism tax dollars collected from hotels, resorts, vacation rentals and other lodging accommodations cannot be used for transportation, but there may be other ways to use those tax dollars to help sustain a water taxi service.

Potential landing spots

Falcione said Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie has already expressed interest in a water taxi stop at the floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier that is slated for expansion.

Proposed water taxi service produces no formal proposals
City leaders in Bradenton Beach would welcome a water taxi service on the day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

He also said that Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown has already expressed interest in a water taxi stop at the city-owned day dock along the Riverwalk, just east of the Green Bridge. Falcione said the city of Bradenton’s dock is located near a city-owned parking garage that has plenty of space for water taxi users.

Falcione said the Anna Maria City Pier could be another potential landing area, but it would be up to the water taxi operator to initiate that request.

“I know you would have to approve an ordinance or a resolution to be able to utilize your pier for a water taxi,” he told Anna Maria commissioners.

In 2021, 3.4 million visitors came to Manatee County, including those who came for a day to visit family or friends, Falcione said, adding that 900,000 of those visitors stayed in short-term vacation rentals and 400,000 of those stayed on the Island. That equates to 1,100 rental guests per day or more than 7,600 short-term rental guests per week.

“One thousand one hundred people per day. Is that the problem? I don’t think so. What’s the problem? It’s the people coming on and off the Island for the day,” Falcione said, noting that about 60% of the people who stay in the downtown Bradenton area take a day trip to the Island.

Commission feedback

Commissioner John Crane mentioned the labor shortage on the Island and said he’d like to see subsidized ridership for those who work in the hospitality industry.

Commission Chair Carol Carter said she talked to one business owner who has 90 employees and none of them live on the Island. Carter also questioned whether beachbound “day-trippers” with families and beach gear would use a water taxi.

Commissioner Mark Short said it’s critical to get workers to and from the Island and some need to arrive early in the morning while others work well into the evening. Short said someone making $15 an hour is not going to spend $30 a day to commute by water taxi.

County or city business owners would have difficulty subsidizing the service, Falcione said.

“We’re going to lean on the proposers to see what they present to us,” he said. “I’m sure the county administrator is figuring out options and I think it’s important to interact with the corporate community and the hospitality industry.”

Proposed water taxi service produces no formal proposals
The Anna Maria City Pier has a landing area that could accommodate water taxis. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Most water taxis would be 35 feet or larger, he said. Murphy noted the city pier already features a landing area near its T-end. He said the water there is 12 feet deep and the pier can accommodate vessels up to 75 feet long.

Murphy said he hopes that the water taxi service providers focus first and foremost on transporting the Island’s workforce.

Related coverage

 

Water taxi dock space problematic in Holmes Beach

 

County pursuing water taxi service to AMI

Bringing awareness to a silent killer

Bringing awareness to a silent killer

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

HOLMES BEACH – “Do you hear that silence? That is the sound of drowning,” West Manatee Fire Rescue Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski said, opening a discussion on the threats posed by not remaining vigilant around water.

Kwiatkowski was joined by Chief Ben Rigney, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, Manatee County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Carol Whitmore, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, Manatee County Marine Patrol Chief Joe Westerman and Manatee County Assistant Chief of Special Operations Sean Dwyer, among others, to speak at the event held March 10 at Kingfish Boat Ramp.

Of all of the people who spoke during the event, the most powerful and heart-wrenching testimony came from the Bardwell family who lost their two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Lylah in 2021 due to drowning.

Tom and Courtney Bardwell recounted the events leading up to their child drowning in their backyard pool. Tom Bardwell, Lylah’s father, who was home with the toddler at the time of the accident, said that with all of the safety precautions in place to prevent the child from accessing their pool, including a pool fence, he stepped away to take a phone call. In that short amount of time, he said Lylah had apparently tossed a favorite toy over the pool fence and somehow made her way past all of the barriers to keep her out of the water without supervision.

Lylah Bardwell was one of 19 drowning or near-drowning victims under the age of 18 in Manatee County in the past 12 months.

Speaking from her experience, Titsworth said that she nearly lost one of her nephews to drowning when he was a child. Thankfully, she said the boy was found in time and able to be resuscitated. She encouraged everyone to make sure that there is a responsible adult keeping a close watch on everyone in their family or group when in the water, whether at a backyard pool or at the beach.

Dwyer echoed Titsworth’s recommendation, stating that drowning can happen quickly and in just a few inches of water. He said that in addition to making sure that there is an adult watching children swim, to swim near a lifeguard, if possible. He also recommended having someone who is CPR certified nearby. Additionally, he recommended making sure that all children are properly instructed on how to swim, a sentiment repeated by several of the speakers.

Westerman said that for anyone bringing children to the beach for spring break, make sure you swim where a trained lifeguard can observe and respond if an accident happens. He also encouraged beachgoers to learn about rip currents and how to avoid being sucked under and potentially drowning when encountering one.

He said the first thing to do when you realize you’re caught in a rip current is to not try to fight against it to get to shore. Instead, swim out or allow the current to pull you out, maintaining your head above water, and then swim to the side then back to shore once released from the current. Fighting against the rip current will sap your energy reserves and could increase the chance of drowning.

With spring break fully underway in Manatee County, Kwiatkowski said that there will be volunteers stationed in the mornings along Manatee Avenue leading to Manatee Beach waving signs to alert passersby about the initiative to prevent drowning and raise public awareness.

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Commissioners plan next steps with county

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

HOLMES BEACH – In the aftermath of a joint meeting with Manatee County commissioners, Holmes Beach city leaders are trying to figure out their next steps toward building a better relationship with county leaders.

During a March 8 work session, Holmes Beach commissioners went over their notes from the joint meeting, held March 1. They also took public comment on the meeting to help gauge public opinion following the discussion, which primarily revolved around beach parking.

Holmes Beach resident Izzy Skye, representing a group of residents attending the meeting, thanked commissioners for holding firm to their stance on not reopening residential streets near the beach to public parking.

“You cannot pave our paradise to put up your parking lot,” Skye said, speaking about the discussion where Manatee County commissioners suggested building a large parking garage at Manatee Beach. “Visitors are coming to see a preserve. This is no place for a concrete jungle.”

About the March 1 meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said, “I think it was a good opportunity to look the county commissioners in the eye and see the kind of people they are.” He added that it was “obvious” that the primary objective of Manatee County commissioners was to discuss parking, something that Holmes Beach commissioners weren’t willing to change their stance on. But Schaefer said he feels there is still room for more discussions with county leaders, a sentiment echoed by his fellow commissioners.

“It was a beginning,” he said. “I’m not discouraged.”

While Holmes Beach commissioners understand that there are a growing number of Manatee County residents and visitors every year who want to go to the beaches on Anna Maria Island, they also feel that it’s the issue of county leaders to provide parking and facilities for the people wishing to access county beaches. Mayor Judy Titsworth said that she doesn’t have a problem with visitors to the Island – she said she welcomes them – however, there is only so much space available on the 7-mile island, about three of which are occupied by the city of Holmes Beach.

HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer said that, using the city’s license plate reader cameras, he counted 9 million cars coming into Holmes Beach across Manatee Avenue in 2020, increasing to 9.6 million in 2021.

In an effort to work with the county to find solutions to parking problems, and hopefully address some of the city’s concerns in a future joint meeting, she said she’s having City Attorney Erica Augello look at the lease for the land where the Island Branch Library sits to see if that parking lot can be used for overflow beach parking while the library is closed without violating the land grant from the Holmes family, which donated the property to the city.

As a stop-gap measure, Manatee County commissioners voted unanimously on March 8 to enter into an agreement with the Manatee County School Board to use the more than 60 spaces at Anna Maria Elementary School in Holmes Beach as overflow beach parking. During the joint meeting, Titsworth said that if the county wants to use the school for excess beach parking, they need to provide trash and restroom facilities along with a flashing beacon or crossing guard for the crosswalk. While county commissioners were amenable to providing portable restrooms and trash cans, they balked at providing a crossing guard or flashing beacon for the crosswalk traversing Gulf Drive.

“I think the dialogue is open and that’s good,” Commissioner Jayne Christenson said, adding that she thinks Holmes Beach commissioners need to step back and assess what they can do to address some of the issues. She suggested rebranding the city as a community across social media and the internet rather than as a vacation destination.

Commissioners agreed to have another work session to discuss potential action items before scheduling another meeting with county commissioners.

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All roads lead to parking

 

No solutions found to parking issues

All roads lead to parking

All roads lead to parking

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Despite having 12 items on the agenda for a joint meeting, the recent discussion between Holmes Beach and Manatee County commissioners kept coming back to one contentious topic – beach parking.

It may have only been March 1, but the lengthy meeting produced as many fireworks as any Fourth of July display.

Though the parking item had a time-certain discussion planned for 11 a.m. during the two-and-a-half-hour session, the topic was the proverbial elephant in the room from the start.

The meeting kicked off with public comment, during which several east county residents stated their resentment of Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth concerning traffic and an inability for some beachgoers to find parking in Holmes Beach. The onslaught of comments prompted Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge to remind speakers to remain civil in their comments and Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek to note that while Titsworth is the face of the city’s leadership, it’s the commissioners who vote to accept or deny proposed changes, including those related to parking.

Beachgoers driving into Holmes Beach have had issues finding parking spaces for years. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Beach patrol

During a discussion on beach patrol funding, Titsworth said she’d like the county to step up their financial support of the Holmes Beach Police Department, which is tasked with policing the county-owned beach, public beaches in Holmes Beach and Kingfish Boat Ramp, along with the rest of the city. While the county currently reimburses the city $46,612 for beach patrol services, Titsworth said the city pays about $150,000-160,000 per year to adequately patrol the beaches, boat ramp and beach parking.

The mayor said she’d like to see the county increase its financial support, working up to a minimum of $90,000 per year to be more in line with the amount offered to the Bradenton Beach Police Department annually for similar services, and ideally $115,000 or more to cover the entire cost of one HBPD officer.

While Titsworth acknowledged that the city of Bradenton Beach has a longer stretch of county-owned beach, she noted that Holmes Beach is a larger city and provides more public parking for beachgoers than the Anna Maria Island city to the south.

Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse said that while he appreciates Titsworth’s request for more beach patrol funding, he wanted to know what city leaders are prepared to do for the county in exchange for additional funding, a sentiment echoed by Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.

All roads lead to parking
Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer gives his opinion on parking issues in the Anna Maria Island city while Commission Chair Carol Soustek looks on. – Kristin Swain | Sun

Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer said Holmes Beach city leaders had come to the meeting to discuss items of concern, not to try and leverage one item for another.

County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, a Holmes Beach resident, said she thinks the stretch of beach in Holmes Beach is too small to necessitate the spending of more funds to police it. County Administrator Scott Hopes said he thinks the county’s funding to Holmes Beach is complimentary to the amount given to Bradenton Beach, $125,000, given the size of the city versus the size of the county park, Manatee Beach and Kingfish Boat Ramp, within the city.

Accusations fly

When 11 a.m. finally rolled around and leaders could get to the discussion they really wanted to have, beach parking, accusations began to fly around the room on both sides.

Van Ostenbridge accused Holmes Beach leaders of having less than 1% of the population of Manatee County and closing its beaches to 99% of Manatee County residents to save its own residents.

Titsworth called out Van Ostenbridge for “weaponizing funding” in a bid to try and force city leaders’ hands to allow beach parking to go unrestricted in the small city to the detriment of Holmes Beach residents, who she pointed out, are also Manatee County residents who pay county taxes. She accused Manatee County commissioners of being unwilling to work with the city and learn the facts about what happens in the Island city and how issues affect residents and tourists alike.

At the crux of the discussion was the status of about 480 parking spaces located solely on the sides of residential streets in neighborhoods near beach accesses. Those residential streets are maintained by the city of Holmes Beach and are funded by tax dollars paid to the city, not the county. Public parking also has long been a headache for nearby residents, who often find trash and litter in their yards, people vandalizing their property, some trespassing and using their private pools and water hoses as public facilities and others defecating in their yards.

After more than a decade of discussion, 124 of those 480 spaces were designated in 2021 as Holmes Beach resident permit parking only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily after being closed to public access since 2020. Ever since that decision was made by Holmes Beach commissioners, it’s been a sore spot between city and county leaders.

Van Ostenbridge demanded that city leaders reopen all city streets to public parking.

“You want 400 spaces?” Soustek countered. “480 parking spaces is a spit in the ocean,” she said, noting that the number of people trying to find parking in Holmes Beach regularly exceeds that amount. She added that opening residential streets to the onslaught of beach parking wouldn’t guarantee Manatee County residents a space to park, that they would still need to get up early to drive out to the Island and avoid traffic and parking stresses.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Jayne Christenson suggested county commissioners designate some of the spaces at Manatee Beach as Manatee County resident-only parking, a suggestion dismissed by county commissioners without comment.

All roads lead to parking
Manatee County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge, James Satcher and Reggie Bellamy listen as Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth addresses beach parking issues. – Kristin Swain | Sun

“You’ll never have enough spaces and the people will never all be able to get out to the beach,” Titsworth said, noting all of the housing developments currently planned for Manatee County and the increase of people expected to travel to Anna Maria Island’s beaches. At about seven miles long, with about three miles of that being Holmes Beach, she said Anna Maria Island only has so much room to fit people and vehicles on.

Commissioner Terry Schaefer said residential street parking wasn’t going to be used as a bargaining chip between the city and county.

Whitmore said that while she wants to work with city leaders, she’s opposed to the permit parking system and refuses to pay for one herself. She also said she feels that Holmes Beach has too many rules, including the newly instituted city-wide 25 mph speed limit.

Getting down to business

With tensions already flaring between the two groups, Manatee County Director of Parks and Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker offered the results of a parking study conducted by APTIM/CPE, an independent group. The field study was completed in 2020 with the report from that study dated September 2021. The study area was limited to the city of Holmes Beach and conducted on parking spaces located within a quarter-mile of beach access points and compared to a similar report from 2013.

According to that report, the city of Holmes Beach has 775 public parking spots located within a quarter-mile of public beach access points, with an additional 480 spaces that are either without signs or reserved/permit only. According to the 2013 report, there were 1,255 public parking spaces with the only change being 480 spaces converted to unsigned/reserved status. Of those 480 spaces, 124 were observed to be reserved for resident permit-only parking from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the other 356 “lost” spaces being attributed to parking obstructions and a potential increase in no parking signed areas. Signed public parking spaces in the study area actually increased by 12, with the number of unsigned spaces decreasing by 492 from 2013 to 2020, reducing driver uncertainty on where parking is allowed.

To receive beach renourishment funding, Holmes Beach is required by the state of Florida to have 364 public parking spaces located within a quarter-mile of the beach. In the city’s interlocal agreement with the county regarding beach renourishment funding, Holmes Beach is committed to having about 500 spaces within a quarter-mile of the beach. Currently, there are more than 1,200 public parking spaces, not including resident permit parking spaces, located within a quarter-mile of public beach access with more available throughout the city but located outside of the quarter-mile area.

Titsworth said she’s not only concerned with the issues residents see in neighborhoods but how those issues could also affect the city’s tourism, with more than 1,500 short-term rental properties located in residential neighborhoods. She added that for people just coming to the beach for the day, there need to be adequate restroom, trash and food facilities as well as crosswalks to get safely from parking areas to the beach.

She suggested that county leaders meet with her to work on a renegotiation of the lease for the Island Branch Library land to allow for public parking at that facility when the library is closed. She also noted that public parking is allowed at Holmes Beach City Hall. In addition, if county leaders want to use Anna Maria Elementary School’s parking spaces as public parking when the school isn’t open, she said they should go through proper permitting with the city and provide portable restroom facilities, trash cans and either a crossing guard or lighted beacon for the crosswalk across Gulf Drive.

Van Ostenbridge said he expects people to know how to cross the road when coming to the Island, dismissing the idea of having either a crossing guard or flashing beacon to alert drivers at the location.

Parking garage

Another idea floated around during the meeting was the construction of a parking garage in Holmes Beach to provide more public parking.

Titsworth suggested commissioners consider the purchase of additional property in the city to build a garage on, such as the old Bank of America building on the southeast corner of East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue. The site is located about two blocks from the entrance to Manatee Beach.

That idea was shot down by Manatee County commissioners. Whitmore said it wasn’t worth it to the county to build a parking garage limited to the city’s 36-foot building height limitations. Titsworth said that with the height limitations in the city’s charter, it would take Holmes Beach voters casting their ballots in favor of changing it to allow for a larger garage to be built. Van Ostenbridge said he opposes purchasing additional property in Holmes Beach and if commissioners decide to build a parking garage in the city, he’d want it to be at Manatee Beach.

Another meeting between Manatee County commissioners and Holmes Beach city leaders is planned to take place in the future to continue discussions.

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Seeking a dock space in Holmes Beach

Water taxi dock space problematic in Holmes Beach

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Holmes Beach city leaders and Manatee County commissioners came together March 1 for a long-awaited meeting spotlighting dock space for a proposed Anna Maria Island water taxi.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said that while she and other city leaders are in support of a water taxi coming to the Island, they haven’t yet been approached by anyone to discuss a potential docking site in the Island’s largest city.

County Commissioner George Kruse said that he feels it’s up to the city’s leaders to come to county leaders with potential solutions for where a water taxi could dock, not rely on Manatee County leaders to tell the city where a water taxi could go.

County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh added that the county isn’t looking at building a place to dock a water taxi in Holmes Beach, but that she’d like to see it eventually have a place to stop in each of the three Anna Maria Island cities. Creating those stops would be up to the leaders of the three cities, working with the county to create solutions to existing issues.

Titsworth said that the place in Holmes Beach with the largest amount of parking for a water taxi isn’t the one that would be the best central location for tourists or locals taking the alternative form of transportation – Kingfish Boat Ramp.

The Manatee County-owned and maintained boat ramp is already planned to undergo renovations, including restrooms and the addition of a long dock for day boats to park at. Unfortunately for a water taxi, the planned renovations don’t include a place to park a water taxi and the location is about three blocks from Manatee Beach, which some beachgoers might see as a hindrance to taking a boat to the beach instead of driving.

Titsworth added that the boat ramp also doesn’t have a trolley stop, which would be a way to move people from Kingfish to the rest of the Island.

County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge suggested the marina basin located in the heart of Holmes Beach’s commercial district as a potential docking location for the water taxi. Centrally located near shops, restaurants and within a few blocks of public beach accesses, the marina, owned and managed by the adjacent Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club, sounds ideal – except for parking, Titsworth pointed out.

She told county commissioners that Waterline lost at least 25 to 30 required parking spaces for the marina when the adjacent Wells Fargo Bank was closed in 2020. Though the marina’s management had a lease with the bank for those spaces, they have been scrambling since the building was put up for sale to find other off-site parking spaces to lease, an effort that had, as of the joint meeting, not produced any viable results, according to Titsworth. This leaves no parking spaces available for water taxi usage.

She added that the boat basin is small and used by local fishing captains and tour boats, whose operation she wouldn’t want to hinder by trying to get a water taxi in and out of the basin multiple times per day, assuming the channel leading to the basin and the basin itself are even navigable for what could potentially be a large boat.

The only other public boat access to the water is a small Holmes Beach-owned and maintained boat launch located next to the city field park complex which has limited parking, is bordered on three sides by residential areas, is the launch point for emergency response boats for West Manatee Fire Rescue and the Holmes Beach Police Department and is fairly shallow during low tide, which could hinder the operation of a large water taxi vessel.

All in all, Titsworth said she just didn’t see where in Holmes Beach a water taxi could be docked where it would be beneficial to visitors, locals and service workers.

“I think it is a worthy way to reduce traffic, even if Holmes Beach doesn’t have a spot to utilize,” Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer said of the water taxi.

When some Manatee County commissioners accused city leaders of being unwilling to work with them to find a solution for water taxi issues, Holmes Beach Commission Chair Carol Soustek fired back: “If you think the cities haven’t been working to find a way to solve problems, then you haven’t been paying attention.”

Soustek said that she’d been participating in conversations about how to get a water taxi up and working on Anna Maria Island since 2005. She added that “just putting people on a boat” wasn’t the end of the process. To achieve a working water taxi, Soustek said it requires parking on both sides of the water taxi route, a way to move people to and from the docking station on both sides and money to make it all happen. And those issues all exist in addition to having an operator to run the water taxi, water taxi boats and a place to dock the boats at each stop.

In a bid to find common ground, County Commissioner Reggie Bellamy suggested that Soustek and other Island leaders who’ve worked on trying to get a water taxi for the Island share the roadblocks they’ve encountered in that endeavor with county commissioners as a way to begin collaborating on finding a workable solution to getting a water taxi launched.

Related coverage

 

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Castles in the Sand

When will the real estate market return to normal?

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

The definition of “normal” is conforming to a standard; usual, typical or expected. This statement in no way resembles the real estate market we find ourselves in, and even economists whose job it is to know these things have no real clear idea of when “normal” will resume.

Last week, we published the January Manatee County real estate sales and, of course, we had another record-breaking month for both Sarasota and Manatee counties. For the third straight month, median prices have increased month over month in the two-county region. Single-family home prices increased year over year by 36.6% to a median of $464,500 in Sarasota County and an increase of 29.7% in Manatee County to $480,000. Condos also had large increases; Sarasota’s condo median sale price was $350,000, up 15.8%, and Manatee County’s median condo sales price was $301,000, an increase of 30.3%.

In addition, according to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, the Sarasota and Manatee housing market starts off the year with the lowest level of inventory reported in January. Nevertheless, January had more new listings than closed sales in both counties. Sarasota had 811 new listings and 553 sales, and Manatee had 712 new listings and 539 sales.

It remains to be seen if this trend will continue. And, as prices and interest rates go up, there should be additional supply. Homeowners are likely watching the market carefully, trying to determine the best time to put their home on the market before the leveling off begins, if that, indeed, ever happens.

Nationally, the median existing-home sale price for January was $350,300, an increase of 15.4%. This is well below what we’re experiencing in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Generally, all over the country, the housing market continues to be booming, with an 18.8% increase for the 12 months ending in December, according to the annual S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, which measures average home prices around the country. Phoenix had the fastest home-price growth in the country for the 31st straight month at 32.5%. Tampa posted the second-fastest growth rate at 29.4%.

First-time buyers are having a terrible time trying to compete with cash buyers and investors. The share of first-time buyers in the market fell to 27% in January from 33% a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors. If we are ever to return to normal, we need those first-time buyers. They are the engine of the real estate market, buying the homes of established homeowners who either want to move up or retire. Without them, we’re stuck in a real estate fantasy land that won’t end well.

These are a lot of statistics to wrap your brain around, and we are in a kind of time warp that we know is going to end, but we just don’t know when. Ideally, there will be a slow leveling-off, but based on the beach and road activity this past month, there are many out-of-state visitors here and a good percentage of them are interested in buying property.

Normal may be in our future – but not just yet.

Castles in the Sand

Feng shui your entry

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

Eight thousand years ago, the Chinese philosophy of feng shui became part of everyday Chinese living. Their belief that everything in the environment is connected extends to your home and even the colors your home is painted.

The energy known as chi must be allowed to move freely within your home by removing clutter and useless items to create more open space. Whether you believe in the flow of chi or not, every real estate professional will tell you to declutter your home before putting it up for sale, opening up the space and removing any distractions a potential buyer may encounter.

In addition, color is a very important part of feng shui. The Chinese philosophers believed the color a room is painted will influence behavior and mood. Green will avoid arguments in the family, pink and white could encourage romance, blue or black will enhance intelligence. This belief extends to the color of your front door, which feng shui advocates believe should be red lacquer, inviting prosperity into your home.

The idea of setting the tone of your home by the color of your front door is also a belief of most designers. Choosing a color for the primary portal to your home should be a well-thought-out decision since it is the first impression your house will make to visitors and potential buyers.

Glossy black front doors are still popular, and designers recommend it for many of their clients who want to make a statement, but not too much of a statement. However, if you want your front door to pop, especially in island homes, there are many tropical colors to choose from. Lime, melon, aqua, pale red, chartreuse, all of which are available to view on the major paint manufacturers’ websites.

Many designers go so far as painting the outside door a color that would blend in or replicate the inside colors. I personally love this idea, especially on an island where you can introduce lush paint colors both inside and out. It reminds me of a story I once read about Barbra Streisand’s homes. She would only have outdoor flowering plants that would complement her interior colors so there would no interruption in the color flow from outside to inside. Not sure if that qualifies as feng shui, but it sure qualifies as creative.

The one thing we can be sure of is the Manatee County real estate market. These are the January sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:

January single-family homes broke another record, with the median sale price clocking in at $480,000, and the average single-family sale price recorded at $614,630. The median time for properties to go into contract was seven days and the month’s supply is 0.6 months.

Condos’ median sale price was $301,000 and the average sale price was $379,451. The median number of days to contract was six days and the month’s supply of properties was 0.4 months.

As far as median time to contract, remember it could take several days to actually record a contract of sale, meaning that it is likely all properties in the county are selling within days of coming on the market. January recorded more new listings than closed sales, but it remains to be seen if this is a trend for the coming year.

Good luck with your feng shui; my guess is that no matter what you paint your front door, there will be plenty of prosperity flowing through it in this market.

Beach umbrella

Tourist tax collections 2021

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

2021 tourist tax collections compared to 2020

January

Anna Maria ↑ 24%

Bradenton Beach ↓ 25%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 32%

Manatee County ↑ 1%

February

Anna Maria ↓ 5%

Bradenton Beach ↓ 21%

Holmes Beach ↓ 5 %

Manatee County ↓ 9 %

March

Anna Maria ↑ 36%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 35%

Holmes Beach ↑ 51%

Manatee County ↑ 44%

April

Anna Maria ↑ 92%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 88%

Holmes Beach ↑ 93%

Manatee County ↑ 72%

May

Anna Maria ↑ 81%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 70%

Holmes Beach ↑ 72%

Manatee County ↑ 70%

June

Anna Maria ↑ 66%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 109%

Holmes Beach ↑ 91%

Manatee County ↑ 95%

July

Anna Maria ↑ 34%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 39%

Holmes Beach ↑ 46%

Manatee County ↑ 44%

August

Anna Maria ↓ 1%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 8%

Holmes Beach ↑ 12%

Manatee County ↑ 35%

September

Anna Maria ↑ 9%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 29%

Holmes Beach ↑ 19%

Manatee County ↑ 21%

October

Anna Maria ↑ 33%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 75%

Holmes Beach ↑ 46%

Manatee County ↑ 56%

November

Anna Maria ↓ 24%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 61%

Holmes Beach ↑ 68%

Manatee County ↑ 50%

December

Anna Maria ↓ 2%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 47%

Holmes Beach ↑ 24%

Manatee County ↑ 59%

Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bishop Museum and the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Resort tax increases reflect both increased visitation and improved tax collection efforts. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809.
Source: Manatee County Tax Collector
County pursuing water taxi service to AMI

County pursuing water taxi service to AMI

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

MANATEE COUNTY – The county hopes to provide water taxi service between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island as early as Memorial Day weekend.

Possible water taxi landing stops on the Island include the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and the City Pier in Anna Maria; both would require the support of those city governments. A potential landing area has not yet been identified in Holmes Beach.

The long-debated water taxi service was discussed during the Feb. 1 Council of Governments meeting and the county is now in the process of issuing an Invitation to Negotiate for water taxi operators to use in crafting their proposals.

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor Bureau Director Elliott Falcione led the recent discussion, saying the county commission directed County Administrator Scott Hopes to initiate a water taxi system. Hopes then assigned those responsibilities to Falcione and Manatee County Public Works Director Chad Butzow, with Manatee County Transit Manager Bill Steele, MCAT Planning Manager Jonathan Roberson and others assisting with the efforts.

“It’s time to take advantage of the waterways in our beautiful community,” Falcione said.

Falcione said the goal is to have a water taxi pilot program operational by Memorial Day weekend and he’s already had preliminary discussions with all the mayors in Manatee County except Longboat Key.

“Each city’s going to have some suggestions, they’re going to have some concerns. I urge the cities to find balance. We have to swiftly and effectively come up with a plan as Bill Steele and the county go through an invitation to negotiate for procurement,” Falcione said, noting the procurement process will provide additional insight from water taxi operators regarding efficiency, frequency of the service and the initial landing spots.

He also said past surveys of Anna Maria Island beachgoers and hospitality workers indicate support for a water taxi system.

Speaking next, Steele said Roberson has been researching water taxi programs in other parts of the state and country. During his presentation, Steele referenced the Water Taxi Feasibility Study completed by the Metropolitan Planning Organization in 2005. He said that study is dated but still provides relevant conclusions regarding funding, service needs and key destinations.

County pursuing water taxi service to Anna Maria Island
This slide included in Bill Steele’s presentation illustrates one of the reasons for a water taxi system. – Manatee County | Submitted

Steele said it’s important for the areas served by water taxis to be connected to the ground transit system that includes MCAT buses and the free Island Trolleys.

“Initially we need to go from downtown Bradenton to AMI. As this service progresses and gets more productive in terms of ridership, there are always opportunities to expand,” Steele said.

Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier said, “We may not be the first point of entry, but we’d like to be in the loop.”

Falcione agreed and said the Sarasota area could also play a future role in the water taxi system, with a potential landing spot at the county-owned Powel Crosley Estate near the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.

County Commissioner Misty Servia said she’s excited to see a water taxi program finally moving forward but she doesn’t want the downtown Bradenton businesses to lose their existing parking spaces to water taxi users.

Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown said a water taxi system would bring more visitors from Anna Maria Island to downtown Bradenton, which would benefit the downtown businesses.

Regarding downtown parking, Brown said, “Right now we have a parking garage with 400 spaces that I would say isn’t 25% utilized.”

Mayor John Chappie noted the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will soon expand the floating dock near the Bridge Street Pier, using matching funds provided by the county. That project will include perpendicular finger docks and a designated docking space for water taxis, ferries and other commercial vessels. Chappie said public restrooms and other amenities are already in place, including the Old Town Trams that transport visitors to their destinations within the greater Bridge Street area.

Butzow said securing the landing spots will be a major point of emphasis in the procurement process and the county seeks partnerships with public entities and private businesses for landing areas that provide walkability and access to buses, trolleys, trams and other means of ground transportation.

As of Friday, the requisition to draft an Invitation to Negotiate had been submitted and, once completed, will be posted at the Manatee County bids and proposals website and the Periscope S2G government bidding website.

Anna Maria mayor’s input

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy did not attend the COG meeting but he addressed the proposed water taxi service during the city commission’s Thursday, Feb. 10 meeting.

Reiterating statements he’s made in the past, and has communicated to Falcione, Murphy said, “I am not in favor of a tourist taxi. I don’t think we need more parking congestion at the pier because we’re running a shuttle service, or restaurant shuttles going down the Island. A benefit would be a water taxi that is focused on employees coming to and from work from downtown Bradenton to the Island.”

County pursuing water taxi service to Anna Maria Island
The Anna Maria City Pier will be considered as a potential water taxi landing area. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy said carpenters and others who work in trades that require tools and equipment are unlikely to use a water taxi for work purposes, but some hospitality, retail and service industry employees would likely use the service if it’s affordable, fast, convenient and reliable.

“I think it should be part of the county transit system and I believe it probably should be subsidized so it’s affordable,” Murphy said.

County pursuing water taxi service to Anna Maria Island
This graphic from the 2015 Urban Land Institute study illustrates who uses the bridges that connect Anna Maria Island to the mainland. – ULI | Submitted

Murphy said the City Pier’s existing landing area can accommodate a water taxi, but the city commission will decide whether that use is allowed.

“This is really the most logical place to put it. I do believe it would be a benefit under these conditions but it’s going to be your call,” Murphy told the commission.

When contacted, Mayor Judy Titsworth said she doesn’t currently envision a water taxi stop in Holmes Beach and the county’s planned improvements to the Kingfish boat ramp don’t currently include a water taxi stop.

Castles in the Sand

Sense of urgency, you think?

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

One of the biggest understatements I’ve heard recently is that buyers are starting to feel a sense of urgency. If they’re just starting to feel a sense of urgency, where have they been for the last year? The urgency isn’t going to get any better.

With the recent rapid rise in interest rates, economists are forecasting a frenzied first half of the buying year and a somewhat calmer second half. I’m not sure that’s going to make buyers feel any better. U.S. home sales surged to a 15-year high in 2021 and with the leftover, pent-up desire for homes, 2022 could just be a redo of the previous year.

Although it’s true rates are going up, they are still very low compared to other times in history, as I pointed out last week. Some buyers will feel it, but many will just absorb the extra monthly carrying costs as part of the new reality.

In our neck of the woods, the 2021 Sarasota and Manatee housing market was a record-breaking year of sales. The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee reported that December ended “in line with the upward trend that has been visible throughout the last quarter: higher prices, lower inventory and fewer sales than the same month in the previous year.” Most months during the year ended with increased median sales prices, including December, which broke the previous record set in November.

Although prices in the last month of 2021 broke previous records, the combined closed sales of all property types in both counties decreased by 14.3%. For single-family homes in Sarasota County, sales were down 19.4% and in Manatee County down by 8.1%. Condo sales were also down by 17.3% in Sarasota and down by 9.5% in Manatee.

In both counties, 100% of homes sold at or above the original list price. They also sold fast, with the median time from listing date to contract date reported at seven days for single-family homes and condos combined for the two counties. Also, comparing 2020 to 2021, the total number of closed sales increased by 14.9% for the combined counties.

Finally, cash sales were the way to go in 2021 for both counties, accounting for 57.3% of all single-family sales for the year. For all condo sales in the two counties, 40.2% were closed with cash.

Since the Sarasota/Manatee housing region is frequently looked at as one entity, it’s important to report what is going on in Sarasota, since it does influence Manatee, as well.

It’s undeniable that Sarasota and Manatee counties are two of the areas at the top of the real estate heap in Florida. All of the state is doing well, and the Tampa Bay region, as previously reported, is slated to be number one in the country in 2022, according to Zillow.

Unfortunately, buyers are still in the untenable position of having to make quick decisions about one of the biggest investments and purchases in their lives. And sellers are hesitant to sell because they fear having trouble finding a new home because of short supply and higher interest rates associated with a new mortgage.

Call it a sense of urgency or just call it what it really is – a new normal, at least for this year. But then we’ve had a lot of new normal recently, haven’t we?

Reel Time: The bridges of Manatee County

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

Bridges provide anglers who don’t have a boat or don’t want to bother with one some excellent fishing opportunities.

Their structure provides the perfect habitat for fish. Besides the plethora of small baitfish, crabs and other crustaceans that call these places home, bridges provide gamefish a refuge and an ambush point for feeding. The bridges that span the local passes are also natural pathways for fish like pompano, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish. These fish migrate from the Gulf to the local bays and feed around the bridge pilings and fenders. Winter and early spring are particularly good times to find action around the local bridges.  If you happen to have a boat, you’ll find them a great place to fish too.

Reel Time: The bridges of Manatee County
Dave Sparks caught this nice Spanish mackerel on the Longboat Pass Bridge fishing a jig. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

This winter has been, thankfully, a bit cooler than past years, and fishing for sheepshead, a perennial winter favorite, has been strong around local bridges. If you wonder when the best time to fish bridges might be, I’d refer to the old saying that the best time to go fishing is any time you can. Having said that, if you have the luxury of picking your time and tide, a morning incoming tide is hard to beat. The second-best time would be a late outgoing tide. Timing your trip to coincide with the beginning or end of the tide cycle will make it easier to deal with the often-strong currents that course through the passes. That doesn’t mean you’re restricted to those times and there are ways to rig that will allow you to deal with any tide stage.

A medium-weight spinning outfit is perfect for fishing the bridges. I prefer a 10- to 12-pound outfit since you’ll have to hoist your catch from the water to the bridge. There are special nets available that can be lowered to help with this operation, but it is one more piece of equipment you’ll have to transport. With most catches, a careful hand-over-hand retrieve will work just fine and your mobility will not be restricted. Gloves are recommended. Depending on what is running, a few lure choices will suffice. One of the most effective lures for fishing the passes is the jig. When the current isn’t particularly strong, a jig tied directly to a 30-pound section of leader will work perfectly. If the tide is strong, a weight will help get the offering down in the water column where most of the action often occurs. To keep the weight from interfering with the jig, tie a section of 40-pound leader with a sliding egg sinker between two small swivels. Then add your leader and jig below. This rig can be used with lures or live bait. Another advantage of this rig is that as it is being worked across the bottom, it sends up a small puff of sand that attracts predators like pompano. One of the advantages to fishing from a bridge is the ability to easily move from one spot to another. This allows the angler to try near the pilings, on the edges of the channel and areas where striking fish might be found. If the action is slow or you’re exploring a bridge and pass for the first time, work both sides of the bridge. Vary your retrieve, working the lure fast and slow, exploring the water column.

Spanish mackerel and bluefish, two common species that frequent local bridges, have sharp teeth and can cut through monofilament leader. There are two options to protect your lure. One is to use a short strand of wire leader or heavy monofilament line. The other is to use long-shanked hooks. Wire leaders can make fish leader-shy if the water is clear.  I most often just take my chances. You’ll lose a few lures but, in the end, I’d rather get hits and risk a cutoff than get no hits at all. All things considered, I think you’ll catch more fish without wire. If you do use wire, check out the brands that can be tied like fishing line and use a smaller test (30-pound) leader. The exception to this rule is if you’re fishing turbid water or early and late in the day when the sun is low.

Whatever your fishing style, don’t pass up a trip to the local bridges. The action can be spectacular and the effort required is far less than an outing in a boat.

Commissioners plan for county meeting

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

HOLMES BEACH – City and county commissioners are preparing for a face-to-face meeting tentatively scheduled for March, and Holmes Beach commissioners are getting their talking points in order for discussion on several topics.

At a Jan. 25 work session, Mayor Judy Titsworth and city commissioners discussed coming up with a game plan for how to approach the meeting. Commissioners decided they need to present a united front to the county representatives, however, rather than appointing Titsworth to speak on behalf of the city, she asked that all commissioners be prepared to lead and participate in the discussions that they’re passionate about.

Titsworth said she is hoping for a productive dialogue with county commissioners and wants to make sure Holmes Beach city leaders take full advantage of the opportunity. The joint meeting will be open to the public.

Some items for discussion proposed by Titsworth and Holmes Beach commissioners include:

  • Increasing the amount of funding offered by the county for Holmes Beach police officers to patrol county-maintained beaches, beach parking and boat ramps.
  • Expanding the use of tourist development tax funds, a large majority of which is collected from vacation rentals on Anna Maria Island, to include money for bike lanes, sidewalks, street lighting, landscape, pedestrian accesses, stormwater improvements and other projects to make Holmes Beach a safer, more welcoming place for both tourists and residents.
  • Stemming the effects of red tide, blue-green algae and other issues that adversely affect the water quality in and around Holmes Beach and the aquatic ecosystem.
  • Reviewing the improvements planned to take place at the Kingfish Boat Ramp and how they affect parking and picnic facilities at the park. Specifically, Titsworth said she’d like to see the removal of some parking spaces on the south side of Manatee Avenue delayed until construction on the new Anna Maria Island Bridge begins. Removal of the spaces, she said, would adversely affect the boaters who come to Kingfish to launch their boats. Also, the addition of parallel parking spaces by the existing picnic area would remove trees needed for shade and trees used by great blue herons for nesting.
  • Creating a better flow of communication between city and county officials concerning events and additional parking planned at Manatee Beach and the Island Branch Library.
  • Examining unchecked development and growth in Manatee County as it pertains to the increase in the number of potential users for Island beaches. Titsworth suggested speaking with county commissioners about the beach carrying capacity for the Island and asking county officials to fund a beach carrying capacity study, as meets the Florida Department of Environmental Protection beach carrying capacity standard, to determine if the number of people regularly coming to Island beaches is too much for the beach, natural resources and existing infrastructure to handle.

One of the major items anticipated to be discussed is beach parking.

Titsworth said she believes county leaders will push for Holmes Beach commissioners to open more residential street parking during the day for beachgoers, and she reminded commissioners the city provides more than the number of public parking spaces required to receive beach renourishment funding from the state of Florida.

Though required to only provide 324 spaces to receive beach renourishment funding, the city’s interlocal agreement with Manatee County requires just over 500 spaces to be made available for beach parking. Currently, the city of Holmes Beach provides more than 1,200 public parking spaces for beach access.

Related coverage

 

County commissioner proposes beach parking garage

 

Tensions mount in city-county parking debate

 

County commissioners refuse Holmes Beach funding request

County opens new COVID-19 testing site

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

MANATEE COUNTY – A new COVID-19 testing site is now available at the SUNZ insurance building, 1301 Eighth Ave. in downtown Bradenton.

The new location offers free PCR and rapid testing at a walk-up site open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anyone wishing to be tested is asked to provide a form of government-issued photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.

No appointments are necessary, though you can save time and pre-register by going online.

Another county-run COVID-19 test site is located at the Bradenton Area Convention Center at 1 Haben Blvd. in Palmetto, which is also open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For anyone who wants a more convenient, free COVID-19 testing option, you can submit a form to receive one set of four free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests are available online and are limited to one order per residential address. Each order contains four individual rapid antigen tests and will begin shipping in late January.

If you’re one of the people who have managed to find a rapid COVID-19 test in stores, check with your insurance company; they might be able to provide you a refund for the cost of the tests.

Under guidance released Jan. 10 from the Biden administration, private insurers are required to begin covering the cost of up to eight FDA-authorized rapid at-home COVID-19 tests per month beginning Jan. 15.

The coverage requirement does not apply to Medicaid managed care or Medicare Advantage plans.

Reimbursement is capped at $12 per test, though some insured individuals may qualify for direct cost coverage where the in-store test would be free. Check with your insurance company to determine how to apply for reimbursement.

Related coverage

 

Myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines

 

COVID-19 booster shot available

Castles in the Sand

Price, commissions and marketing

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

What’s the common denominator in the real estate market? The sale price, the commission you pay to brokers and the marketing techniques. All three of these topics are creating headlines in the new year.

Starting with the price of real estate, it’s almost redundant to say that existing home sales are on track for their strongest year since 2006, and this is expected to continue with low mortgage interest rates. Currently, mortgage interest rates for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage are just over 3%. However, the Federal Reserve has indicated they could move to raise the federal funds rate, which could influence the long-term mortgage rates. Nevertheless, the rates are still low for most buyers and won’t have a major impact on the market.

As reported at the end of December, Manatee County hit another record high in November with the median sale price of single-family homes at $450,411, 28.5% higher than last November. Nationally, as reported by the National Association of Realtors, the median single-family home sold for $353,900, up 13.9% from last November. Note that this is about $100,000 less than Manatee County’s median.

Realtor commissions have always been a source of constant conversation among home sellers, and with selling prices sky-high, the conversation is not about to change. Now, the Justice Department is investigating home sales commissions, which are typically in the 5% to 6% range. Previously, the Justice Department and the National Association of Realtors reached an agreement to provide more disclosure on broker fees and make them more competitive. This agreement was withdrawn last summer so the government can pursue a broader investigation into broker commissions.

The National Association of Realtors indicates that in a tight sales market with rising prices, the job of the real estate agent has become more important than ever to sellers and buyers trying to navigate an unpredictable market. In addition, real estate commissions are fully negotiable and have declined slightly to a national average of about 4.9%.

Finally, since every seller is looking for the best deal they can get, many, especially those who need a degree of privacy, are choosing off-market transactions. Off-market transactions are those that do not go through the local Multiple Listing Service to market the property. This frequently happens when brokers approach homeowners directly with the promise of a buyer for their property, which is technically not on the market. Some homeowners may be thinking of selling but don’t really know the true value and are overwhelmed when they are told what the value actually is.

This may or may not work out for the homeowner, or it can be the old adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it may be too good to be true. There are lots of pros and cons to off-market, with the top con being not hearing offers from other potential buyers and eliminating the “bidding war” that is happening in most transactions in this market.

The National Association of Realtors does allow brokers to market homes through its agency in certain circumstances without sharing with other brokers in the community. This is called an office exclusive or pocket listing and again may be advantageous for certain sellers.

If these types of marketing techniques appeal to you as a seller, do your homework first. Get the comps independently of the broker by checking tax records and online comparable sales, and make sure your home is located in a desirable area.

Every property has its own unique qualities, and every property also shares similar marketing options. It’s up to you to choose what’s the best way to market your property. Sale prices up, inventory down; nothing appears to be changing in the new year.

Castles in the Sand

Did you get a 3D printer for Christmas?

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

If you’re old enough, you may remember the 1970 book by Alvin Toffler with the title, “Future Shock.” In the book, Toffler explained that future shock was too much change in too short a period of time. In other words, our culture and scientific discoveries are changing so quickly that your brain can’t assimilate it all, and this was before most people even heard of a computer.

Additive manufacturing or additive layer manufacturing is the industrial production name for 3D printing. This is a controlled process that creates three-dimensional objects by depositing material, usually in layers, and is quickly infiltrating the home building market in the country. Now I’m not saying that you’ll find a 3D manufactured home being built on the beach in Anna Maria, but what I am saying is we’ll all start hearing more about this technology not too many years in the future.

Lennar Corp., one of the country’s major builders, is ready to start building 3D homes on a site in Austin, Texas. Another company, Mighty Buildings, in Oakland, California, plans to start construction of a 3D printed home community on 15 lots next year. Both of these companies are attempting to fill the chronic shortage of homes for sale nationwide. They may certainly be onto something since Freddie Mac estimated that the national deficit of single-family homes stood at 3.8 million units at the end of 2020. They say that 3D homes can fill the loss of skilled tradesmen for starters as well as open up the supply chain of affordable homes.

So how does this technology work? I can tell you what I researched, but don’t expect to fully understand it – I certainly didn’t. My understanding is a 15.5-foot-tall printer will be on site and require only three workers when printing a wall system, replacing as many as six to 12 framers and drywall installers needed for conventional construction. The printer and its three workers can build an exterior and interior wall system for a 2,000-square-foot, one-story house in a week. The printer squeezes out concrete in layers like toothpaste and has the ability to program creative house designs.

Some buyers may not like the look of a 3D printed home since they have horizontal ridges in the exterior and some interior walls from the layered printing technique. There is, however, less waste, more cost savings and environmental benefits. The technology is already being used in Amsterdam to create small bridges and other non-residential projects.

If 3D printed homes are just a 3D bridge too far, you can opt for a factory-built home, which is having a big revival because of the shortage of homes. Factory-built homes could be the answer for older people downsizing as well as young families. According to government data, a new single-family home not including land sold for $309,000 in 2020 as opposed to a manufactured home costing $87,000. Financing can be a challenge, usually requiring a personal loan, however, in recent years Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have approved conventional financing on certain manufactured homes.

If you’re on information overload like me, get used to it. It’s easy to wrap your brain around manufactured homes, but a home created with a 3D printer boggles the brain. Technology is changing the world faster than we can keep up; just look how remote work has changed the real estate market in less than two years, and we’re not done yet.