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TDC members consider Mote funding request

TDC members consider Mote funding request

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Longboat Key, Manatee County.

MANATEE COUNTY – Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s leadership is hoping for some funds from the Manatee County Tourist Development Council but TDC members are unsure that they can meet the $5 million request.

Dan Bebak, vice president of Aquarium, Education and Outreach at Mote, appeared before TDC members during a Sept. 16 meeting to ask for $5 million in funding spread over three years. The request includes $2 million in fiscal year 2020, $1.75 million in fiscal year 2021 and $1.25 million in fiscal year 2022.

If TDC members vote to approve the funding, followed by a vote of approval from Manatee County Commissioners and the potential approval of a budget amendment for the TDC, Bebak said the funds would go toward proposed expenditures at the Mote City Island campus. The City Island campus is expected to become a science and learning center when the new Mote aquarium is built adjacent to Nathan Benderson Park near the University Town Center Mall in Sarasota.

Proposed expenditures include estuary excursions, environmental kayaking experiences, behind-the-scenes science education opportunities, classroom technology, digital learning access, the development of an augmented reality aquarium tour, animal and exhibit care, guest experience enhancement and other upgrades at Mote.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she doesn’t believe that Manatee County has ever had much of a brand or advertising presence with Mote and it’s something that she’d like to see happen in the future. Before it does though, she said she’d like to see more detail from Mote concerning where the funds would be going. She also said that she’d like to see Manatee County represented in both the City Island science center on Longboat Key and in the new aquarium when it’s built.

TDC funds must be spent on specific endeavors to encourage tourism to Manatee County. One way in which funds can be spent is to buy advertising and another is to create an exhibit or event that drives people to the area. Either way, the TDC needs to see a return on the funds in the form of economic impact to Manatee County.

TDC member and Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland said he questions spending $5 million on advertising to a group of people who are already in the area.

Bebak said that of Mote’s annual memberships, 58% come from Manatee and Sarasota counties with the remainder from other areas. Of the total attendance numbers, 13% come from Manatee County, 18% come from Sarasota County and 69% come from other areas. Of that 69%, 12% come from a drivable range of eight surrounding counties and 88% come from outside of that drivable area.

“In my heart, I support the cause,” Whitmore said, adding that she needs to see how the funds will benefit Manatee County to help her and other county commissioners to justify the expense to residents.

Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston said he was also not prepared to vote on the funding request at the Sept. 16 meeting.

“I love the concept. We have a lot of asks right now,” he said. “The devil’s in the details and we need the details. Convince me.”

TDC members voted to have representatives from Mote come back at a future meeting to present a budget of how funds would be used and ideas on how those funds would benefit Manatee County tourism.

Local first responders offer Hurricane Dorian assistance

Local first responders offer Hurricane Dorian assistance

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

ORLANDO – Anna Maria Island didn’t feel the effects of Hurricane Dorian, but Manatee County’s first responders didn’t take it easy as the storm swept by Florida’s east coast. First responders from around the state gathered supplies and equipment and journeyed to Orlando to gather at a staging area and await deployment to any areas hit hard by the storm.

Manatee County sent 28 first responder volunteers along with fire engines and other equipment to Orlando to await deployment. Participating departments include East Manatee Fire Rescue, North River Fire Rescue, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue, Bradenton Fire Rescue, Longboat Key Fire Rescue, Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue and West Manatee Fire Rescue which sent fire engine 131 along with firefighters Clayton Lease and Paul Hopkins.

Strike teams gathered for staging Sept. 3. With Florida being spared the hurricane’s wrath, the strike teams were not needed for hurricane relief efforts in Florida, and Manatee County’s team returned to the west coast Sept. 5.

In the event of a natural disaster, strike teams are formed with first responder volunteers to go into badly affected areas of the state and provide relief by helping in recovery efforts, assisting local first responders with rescue and fire response efforts and distributing supplies to local residents, among other assistance efforts.

Related coverage

Dorian continues to steer clear of AMI

Dorian prompts local state of emergency

Holmes Beach holds off on emergency declaration

Castles in the Sand

The fun and not-so-fun of selling a home

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

Last week we talked about the fun and not-so-much fun of buying a home. This week we’ll talk a little about selling your home, choosing the perfect realtor and not necessarily one you’re related to. But before we do that, let’s review the June and July Manatee County sales statistics as reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

In June, Manatee County closed 2.2% fewer homes than last year, not surprising for this time of year. In spite of that the median sale price, half above and half below, increased by 5% from last year to $315,000. The average sale price was $397,987, up 8.8%, and the month’s supply of properties is down to 3.6 months.

June’s condo sales increased for the number of sales by 6.1%, the median sale price was $210,000, up 14.3%, and the average sale price was $246,381, up 5.2%, all impressive numbers. The month’s supply of properties was 4.2%.

July single-family sales were down slightly by 1.8%, but the median sale price broke a record at $325,000 up 5% from last year. This is the highest median price since the housing crisis more than a decade ago and near historic levels. The average single-family home price was $391,049, up 2%, and the month’s supply of properties was down to 3.4%.

Condo sales were up by 8.7% with a median sale price of $191,000, down 4.1%. The average sale price for condos was $216,523, down 6.6% from last year and the month’s supply of properties was 3.7%.

Do these numbers give you incentive to find that perfect realtor and consider selling? Maybe, but remember statistics are only a snapshot in time and, although our sales and appreciation rates continue to go up every month, it could change in a heartbeat.

But just in case you’re ready to cash in, here are a few tips for choosing a realtor:

Although there are many questions you should ask a real estate professional before you turn over what may be your biggest asset to them, the two that are most important to me are how long have you been in residential real estate sales and what is your specific marketing plan?

Much of real estate experience is an on-the-job learning experience but choosing an agent who has accumulated a few designations or certifications shows a commitment to his/her profession. Certainly, you should ask if real estate sales are their full-time job. There are sales agents who get into the field thinking it’s a part-time job they can fit around their children’s school schedule. Trust me you don’t want this person.

As far as a marketing plan, the agent should be prepared to show you a written plan involving print advertising, open houses and digital participation. They may also include a pricing schedule suggesting a step-down pricing recommendation for 30, 60 or 90 days in the event offers are not coming in. As part of this plan, your agent should advise how frequently he/she will be in touch with you regarding showings and feedback.

It is also important for you to know how long homes in your area are taking to sell and the variation between the listing and final sales prices. I frequently note these statistics in my monthly updates for Manatee County because they are so important to the overall picture of the market.

Finally, giving your listing to a relative may look appealing since you already have a relationship and he/she may offer to reduce commission for you. However, it takes away the business aspect of the transaction and gets into the emotional aspect. My advice is don’t do it.

I’m looking forward to receiving the August Manatee County real estate numbers and hope you have a fun selling experience with a qualified broker.

More Castles in the Sand:

The fun and not-so-fun of buying a home

The challenges of inheriting a house

Uncovering a home’s defects

Dorian continues to steer clear of AMI

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Community News, Weather.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Manatee County remains clear of Hurricane Dorian’s “cone of uncertainty” today, with lighter-than-normal Labor Day beach crowds, in part due to holiday plans that changed days ago when the forecast was less certain.

County emergency management officials de-escalated the Emergency Operations Center Saturday as forecasters predicted the category 4 storm would stay east of Florida and turn north.

https://www.facebook.com/AnnaMariaIslandSun/videos/1123388031189379/

Tonight’s sunset shows no sign of Hurricane Dorian on Anna Maria Island.

But with change being the only thing certain about tropical weather, officials advise residents to continue to keep watch on the storm, which clocked 145-mph winds today after stalling over the Bahamas with up to 185-mph winds.Dorian continues to steer clear of AMI

“It’s been an unpredictable storm and it could take a left turn just like it took a right turn, so our residents should continue to monitor the forecast by watching reliable news sources and following the county’s social media accounts,” Emergency Chief Steve Litschauer said.

A 10% chance of tropical-storm-force winds remains in Manatee County through Saturday, Sept. 7, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.

Officials canceled their plan to open shelters for those living in mobile and manufactured homes and RVs today, and announced that school and government operations are scheduled to continue normally on Tuesday following the Labor Day holiday. No changes are expected to the county’s holiday waste collection schedule.

Expectations of Dorian’s winds and rains curtailed Labor Day weekend crowds today on Anna Maria Island, where beachgoers experienced the typical summer mix of sun and rain.

Related coverage

Holmes Beach holds off on emergency declaration

Anna Maria prepares for Hurricane Dorian and beyond

Bradenton Beach readies for Dorian

Dorian prompts local state of emergency

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Archives.

Updated Aug. 30, 2019 at 1:15 p.m. | BRADENTON – The Manatee County Commission declared a local state of emergency this morning as Hurricane Dorian approaches, following the statewide emergency declared yesterday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“Don’t panic. Get your plan in place and start planning for what’s looking to be a rain event, but could possibly turn into wind as well,” said Jacob Saur, acting director of the public safety department.

Dorian, now approaching Category 3 strength, has a taken a turn for the south, according to forecasters, who estimate West Palm Beach as the place of impact.

Locally, storm effects will be worst from the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 1 through the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 4, Saur said, with a potential 3-6 feet of storm surge along the Gulf coast, 4-5 inches of rain, and seas 3-8 feet above normal.

If Dorian makes an expected northward turn in the center of Florida, Saur said there are no local storm surge worries, but if it waits to make the northward turn until it reaches the west coast, storm surge will be a concern.

NOAA forecasters currently show the “cone of uncertainty” as covering the entire Florida peninsula, and predict that the storm will slow after its makes landfall.

“As the storm slows down, it has an opportunity to expand its eyewall,” Saur said.

The arrival of storm-force winds locally are predicted from Monday, Sept. 2 through Wednesday, Sept. 4.

Winds are expected to be equal to or greater than Hurricane Irma in 2017, said Steve Litschauer, chief of the county’s emergency management department. Ground already saturated with rainwater then inundated with Dorian’s rain could lead to canals and rivers flooding, he said.

Residents of mobile homes and RVs should plan on evacuating Sunday, when county officials expect to declare mandatory mobile home and RV evacuations. Three to four shelters, three of which are pet-friendly, will be opened, along with the special needs shelter, also pet-friendly, he said, adding that shelter openings will be announced Saturday.

The homeless transportation plan likely will be put into effect to transport homeless persons to shelters, Litschauer said.

Sandbags are available today, Friday, Aug. 30, and tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 31 at G.T. Bray Park parking lot, Bennet Park, Lakewood Ranch Park and the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

Free sandbags also are available from the City of Anna Maria at the corner of North Shore Drive and North Bay Boulevard at the far north end of Bayfront Park.

The county’s Citizen Information Center line, 941-749-3547, will field calls from the public today and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Paid parking may be coming to county boat ramps

Paid parking may be coming to county boat ramps

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

MANATEE COUNTY – A user fee is being proposed for boaters using any of the Manatee County managed boat ramps.

There are 10 county-managed boat ramps in Manatee County with three on Anna Maria Island, Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach and the Coquina North and South Boat Ramps in Bradenton Beach, and one, the Palma Sola Boat Ramp, on the Palma Sola Causeway near Flamingo Cay. With renovations needed at Kingfish, Coquina South and Palma Sola, along with a planned parking expansion at the Highland Shores Boat Ramp, county leaders are looking for a way to help pay for repairs, management and ongoing maintenance. During an Aug. 15 work session, Parks and Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker presented a plan – charge the boat ramp users a fee.

The proposal from the Parks and Natural Resources staff is to charge $5 per day for boat trailer parking spaces. If the fee is charged, it’s estimated that each parking space would generate $500 in revenue each year, equaling $146,500 in annual revenue for 293 trailer parking spaces. The estimate to install solar-powered parking machines at the boat ramps is $65,000 with $5,400 in annual data costs.

Commissioner Carol Whitmore said that with the amount of money that would be raised with paid parking, she doesn’t feel that it’s worth it.

“I don’t support them, 100%,” she said. “I just don’t support charging to park our boats.” She added that she hopes her fellow commissioners won’t support paid parking at boat ramps either.

Commissioner Vanessa Baugh said she is more in favor of charging for paid parking at the boat ramps due to the use of the ramps for commercial businesses.

“I don’t think it’s right that a commercial fisherman should be able to use our ramps to run their business,” she said.

Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace said that she believes that fishermen would be willing to pay to park if it gave them access to the county’s busy boat ramps. She added that she hopes the county finds a way to expand its boat ramps and maybe a way to provide preferential treatment for boaters who live in Manatee County.

“It only makes sense to charge user fees,” Commissioner Besty Benac said.

Kingfish boat ramp
The Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach is planned to undergo a minimum of a $4.5 million renovation. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

With the number of registered vessels in Manatee County jumping from 17,940 in 2015 to 20,931 in 2018, the county’s boat ramps are operating over capacity on a regular basis, according to Hunsicker. Adding in the approximately 395,000 Manatee County residents, the presentation notes that there should be 52 boat ramp lanes in the county to adequately accommodate everyone according to standards outlined in the county’s comprehensive plan. There are currently 18 boat ramp lanes in use in Manatee County in the nine improved boat ramps, not including the Lake Manatee Boat Ramp. In the nine boat ramps, there are 293 trailer parking spaces, not including those available to other vehicles.

Hunsicker also proposed creating a public-private partnership to create new boat ramps in the area, specifically one with Pen Bay 1 LLC to create a new four-lane boat ramp with access to Palma Sola Bay and 80 parking spaces in Cortez at the site of the proposed Peninsula Bay residential subdivision project. He said that the project as proposed would not change the shoreline of Palma Sola Bay.

He said the developer estimated in 2018 that the construction costs for the project, including cutting a channel to the bay, would be $10-15 million with the costs shared between the county and the developer. If county leaders opt to move forward with the project, Hunsicker said the developer is ready to go into design for the project as early as fiscal year 2020.

Whitmore said she feels “very good” about the possibilities of the project and applauded the developer for wanting to commit land to a public boat ramp that could be developed into more housing.

Currently, funds for boat ramp projects and renovations come from either matching funds with the West Coast Inland Navigation District or the Florida Boating Improvement Program from vessel registration fees. Without finding additional funding sources, Hunsicker said the county won’t meet their goals over the next five years to renovate existing boat ramps.

No decisions were made by commissioners due to the discussion taking place during a work session.

Related coverage

Palma Sola Boat Ramp remains closed

Paid Island parking rejected by local leaders

County fast-tracks Kingfish improvements

Castles in the Sand

Calming waters

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

It’s the end of July, and most of the country is hot, really hot. But if you live near the water as we do, it doesn’t seem so bad. Imagine living in a landlocked state and it’s 95 degrees day after day. Aside from keeping cool, living near the water has many other benefits, according to a book called “Blue Mind.”

Sitting on a beach has always been one of my favorite things to do and I have been fortunate enough my entire life to have quick access to wonderful beaches. It gives me a sense of well being and just staring at the water puts me in a mildly meditative state, a blue mind.

This is exactly what Wallace Nichols a marine biologist talks about in his book “Blue Mind.” He says that merely being close to a body of water, sea, river, ocean or lake can promote mental health and happiness. Further, water lowers stress and anxiety, lowers heart and breathing rate and improves creativity. Sometimes even dreaming or daydreaming about a beautiful beach and crystal water can calm down anxiety.

Nichols’s theory would explain the popularity of Anna Maria Island and the accompanying increase in real estate values. Coastal Living Magazine had a recent list of the happiest seaside towns in the country. Anna Maria came in fifth and the only picture the magazine used in their piece was one of Anna Maria’s iconic cottages on Pine Avenue.

Now it’s time to take a look at the June Manatee County sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:

Single-family homes closed 2.2% fewer properties, however, the median sale price was up 5% to $315,000 and the average sale price was $397,987, which is 8.8% higher than last June. The median percentage of original list price to the final sale price was 96%, about the same as last year. The median time to sell was 102 days this June. Last year it was 90 days and the month’s supply of properties is 3.6 months compared to 4.1 last June.

Condos closed 12.2% fewer properties this June compared to last. Like single-family homes, the median sale price for condos was also up by 3.9% to $199,000. The average sale price was also up 1.6% to $236,307. The median percentage of original list price to the final sale price was 95%, up 1.3 percent from last year. The median time to sell was 101 days this year compared to 111 days last year and the month’s supply of properties is 4.1 months, the same as last June.

With the exception of fewer closings, June’s numbers are all in the green for both single-family and condos. If you have a smaller supply of properties to sell, chances are you will have fewer closings – the good and bad of a great real estate market. In addition, the median percentage of listing to sale price is a good indicator of the health of the market. When you’re getting close to 100% of listing to sale, you know things are good.

This time of year, it’s not easy to find a state that is naturally cool, believe me, I’ve tried. It’s also not easy to find a place where people are not over-connected and over-stimulated, creating a red mind the opposite of a blue mind.

However, we have it right here on Anna Maria and the surrounding areas. Is it worth the extra money for a home on or near the water? Just ask anyone who has one. “Blue Mind,” a perfect name for a cottage on the beach.

More Castles in the Sand:

The condo dance

The suburbs and the millennials

Are you as smart as a private equity firm?

Force main replacement comes to Bradenton Beach

Force main replacement comes to Bradenton Beach

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County’s force main sewer pipe replacement project is going to soon impact residents and business owners south of the Cortez Bridge.

Bradenton Beach officials hope to avoid the delays, disturbances and inconveniences that plagued Avenue C property owners for nearly two years while similar work took place at the north end of the city.

City Engineer Lynn Burnett presented the county’s plans to city commissioners on Thursday, July 18, and commissioners unanimously directed Burnett and city staff to approve the county plans as presented and discussed that night.

Burnett said the county project will impact property owners on Fifth Street South, Sixth Street South, Gulf Drive, Bay Drive South and Church Street North.

Burnett and Mayor John Chappie clarified the term force main applies to sewage pipes, but not to water pipes.

“It’s not going to be fun as far as what they’re going to be doing to our streets and neighborhood in the CRA area,” Chappie said.

He was referencing the Community Redevelopment Agency district that extends from the Cortez Bridge to Fifth Street South.

“We all know what it looks like when the county comes in and does a complete end of service life main replacement. We lived with that for a good couple years on Avenue C,” Burnett said.

Burnett said the Harris McBurney Company won the construction bid for this portion of the county project. The company recently completed similar work in Holmes Beach.

“They did a good job, they were very conscientious, they worked well with the neighbors,” Burnett said.

Westra Construction did the force main work along Avenue C.

Burnett said the county’s design documents and contract with Harris McBurney for the Bradenton Beach project also include a county project near Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and a county project along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.

Burnett said the three-project documents list a project timetable of 227 days, which is seven and a half months.

Burnett expects the county projects to get underway within the next 30 to 60 days but she did not know last week when the work would begin in Bradenton Beach. She expects the Bradenton Beach project to take more than two months once started.

Chappie and Vice Mayor Spooner emphasized the need to begin as soon as possible to avoid working into the tourist season that begins to peak in February.

“Get it over with as quickly as possible and be done with it. Don’t end up down here in the middle of tourist season,” Chappie said.

Spooner said September through January would be the best time to do the work.

“That’s our slowest time,” he said.

“The bottom line is it needs to be done before we get into season,” Chappie reiterated.

Project path

Burnett said the work will begin near the lift station along Bay Drive South and the properties along the north side of Sixth Street South will be the first impacted. This work will require a 14-foot deep, open-cut trench along the north side of the street and will displace half of the travel lane for most of the street.

Burnett said an open cut trench will also be dug down the center of Fifth Street South. She said access to all properties will be maintained, but some mailboxes and landscaping may need to be moved.

Chappie suggested the county block off a portion of the nearby Cortez Beach parking area to serve as a parking area for construction employees and a staging area for equipment and materials.

Chappie wants to ensure that the shoreline mangroves at the east end of Fifth Street South be kept as healthy as possible. He also noted there will be water removal pumps running around the clock for four or five days in a row and this could create some noise issues.

The project will push north with an open cut trench along Bay Drive South, where Burnett said it could temporarily impact business operations at and near the Bridge Tender Inn.

The project will then continue with an open cut trench north along Church Street North and proceed and stop just short of First Street North.

Directional boring will then be used to run the sewer pipe under the concrete surface at the Bradenton Beach Marina and connect it to an existing lift station near the Cortez Bridge.

City Attorney Ricinda Perry stressed the need for the county to notify all impacted property owners in advance. She also stressed that this is a county project that the city has no control over.

Related coverage

Force main delays impacting Gulf Drive traffic

Castles in the Sand

The suburbs and the millennials

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

For several years, I wrote about how the millennials were moving into the cities. They didn’t want anything to do with the suburbs and their parents’ lifestyle. Well, in the space of two weeks I discovered that everything old is new again.

In the 1950’s families, including mine, were moving from the city to the suburbs, buying up new homes in what were once potato fields and family farms. This migration from the cities to the suburbs happened because of the demand for housing after World War II when the veterans could finally settle down and start their families.

When the grandchildren of those families grew up, they said, “No way,” and vowed not to return to the mundane lifestyle of backyard barbeques and Little League. But don’t ever say never since the millennials, many of whom are in their late 30s, are coming back with families in tow, only this time instead of moving to the suburbs outside of major Northern cities, they’re coming south. This reversal has a lot to do with the mobility of jobs and the growth of the South, which is benefitting from the real estate slow down and taxes of the Northeast.

Recently, a very extensive piece in the Wall Street Journal studied the reversal from city to suburban life. It reported that the growth rates of the suburbs are far outpacing metropolitan areas and the South is winning the race. This supports what I wrote about last week regarding investors buying up first-time buyer properties, hurting millennials who suddenly want to buy houses and raise families.

Some of the hot Sun Belt areas with good job opportunities that are benefitting from this influx of young families are Frisco, Texas, Nolensville, Tennessee, Scottsdale, Georgia and our very own Lakewood Ranch.

As fate will have it, the same day I read the story about the city to suburban reversal there was a report in the Bradenton Herald about 3,000 new homes that will be built in Lakewood Ranch. After a little research, I discovered a couple of interesting things about Lakewood Ranch that we who live surrounded by water probably haven’t paid attention to.

First of all, 74 percent of Lakewood Ranch residents are either between the ages of 25 – 44 or over 65. I also read that Massachusetts General Hospital is opening a Brain Health Initiative that will be based in Lakewood Ranch, kind of an achievement for the Bradenton area. Also, the median age in Lakewood Ranch is 49.4 compared to Anna Maria Island’s 64.3. There are not too many millennials with families moving here. Finally, Lakewood Ranch is 31,000 acres and 29 square miles with a population of over 11,000.

The reason I’m telling you this is two-fold. First of all, to keep everyone aware of changes in real estate trends both locally and nationally and second to help us sun and sand worshippers appreciate what’s going on east of our shoreline. We’re all part of the same region, so what happens in Lakewood Ranch can have a serious impact on us – traffic, parking, success of restaurants and shops just to name a few. The millennials may prefer to live in Lakewood Ranch, but for them visiting Anna Maria Island is one of the reasons they came here.

Well, once again, millennials are picking up where baby boomers left off. Now it’s their turn to influence all aspects of life in the country. Everything old is new again.

More Castles in the Sand:

Are you as smart as a private equity firm?

Real independence

The buyer’s best buddy

Shark dragging trial moved to September

Shark dragging trial moved to September

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

Updated July 23, 2019 – TAMPA – Robert “Bo” Benac is now scheduled to stand trial on Monday, Sept. 16 for his alleged role in a much-publicized shark dragging incident captured on video in 2017.

The trial will be held at the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa.

Benac faces two third-degree felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly using a spear gun to shoot a black-tipped shark and a second-degree misdemeanor charge of violating rules relating to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Benac was previously scheduled to stand trial in June, but his trial date was delayed. Benac was among a group of local men captured on self-shot video footage that showed the shark being dragged behind a powerboat at a high rate of speed on June 26, 2017.

The criminal affidavit report filed in December 2017 referenced additional video footage that alleged Michael Wentzel shot a shark with a .38 caliber handgun. The Florida Administrative Code prohibits harvesting a shark using any other means than a hook and a line.

Video footage of Benac’s alleged shark shooting incident recently appeared on several news organization websites and Facebook feeds.

In February, co-defendant Wenzel reached a plea deal with the State Attorney’s Office after he elected not to stand trial for his role in the alleged events.

Related coverage

Charges dropped against one shark dragging defendant

Shark dragging hearing scheduled

Shark dragging defendants plead not guilty

Castles in the Sand

Are you as smart as a private equity firm?

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

The phrase, “follow the money,” goes back to the Watergate era as a method to shed light on corrupt activities by looking at money transfers. But following the money does not always lead to corruption. It could lead to some really good business advice.

Last week we reported the May real estate sales statistics in both Manatee and Sarasota counties being up substantially to the point of registering the highest numbers post-recession. Manatee County’s median single-family home sale prices were up 4.9% from last year continuing the $300,000 or above median sales price for most of the past year and a half. How much of this increase in selling price is fueled by investors, we have no sure way of knowing. What we do know is investors are totally into the U.S. real estate market.

Based on data released by CoreLogic, Inc., last month more than 11% of U.S. home purchases in 2018 were made by investors. This is a record high of investors, the highest recorded and nearly twice the levels before the 2008 housing crash. Investors are purchasing to flip properties or turn them into single-family rentals. The investor profile is everything from big private-equity firms to real estate speculators and individuals who want to get in on the action.

Investors swooped into the housing market in 2011 and 2012, buying with all cash when prices were low and mortgage credit was difficult to get for the average buyer. Economists gave them credit for helping to stabilize the market but expected the investors to slow down when prices started climbing after everything returned to normal. However, that hasn’t happened, partly because of strong rental demand.

Unfortunately, much of the rental demand is coming from first-time buyers, specifically millennials who are competing with investors that are buying up the low end of the real estate market with all cash transactions. According to the CoreLogic survey, investors purchased one in five homes in the bottom third price range in 2018, exactly where first-time buyers generally start at.

Complicating things further for first-time buyers is technology. The internet has made it easier for smaller investors and foreign buyers to purchase properties sight unseen. A few weeks ago, I talked about iBuyer companies, such as Opendoor, Zillow and Redfin that offer cash to homeowners who want a quick deal, avoiding the stress of putting their homes on the market.

These properties are either flipped or sold to investors for potential rentals. CoreLogic further reported that investors bought about half of the starter homes in Philadelphia last year and about 40% of the lower end of the market in Detroit. Again, first-time buyers are being run over by cash investors and technology.

Investors are also banking on renting vs. buying being a double-edged sword. Owning their home has always been the goal of Americans and many feel that renting is inherently wrong and a waste of money. Now, however, first-time buyers are rethinking that calculation. Mobility for job advancement is important to millennials who understand that about five years is the break-even point between owning and renting and may opt to rent until their careers are stabilized.

Renting instead of buying is a conversation that doesn’t make me happy. I still believe that owning your own home has more benefits than renting and should not be entirely a business decision. My opinion – follow the money straight to your new home.

More Castles in the Sand:

Real independence

The buyer’s best buddy

Real estate selling for the smartphone generation

County submits Coquina Beach tree replacement plan

County submits Coquina Beach tree replacement plan

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County has provided the city with a landscape plan that shows where 103 new trees will be planted at Coquina Beach. The new trees will replace 103 Australian pines to be removed from the south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot.

Bradenton Beach Building Official Steve Gilbert met with county staff on Wednesday, June 26 and he now has the county’s 60 percent draft version of the county’s landscape plan.

According to the draft plan prepared by Kimley Horn and Associates, the city-required tree replacements will include 83 green buttonwoods, 10 gumbo limbos and 10 shady lady black olive trees.

“They weren’t quite finished with the plan yet. There may be some revisions still to come. The main goal was to all be on the same page and talking to each other throughout the process,” Gilbert said on Friday.

Gilbert said the receipt of the landscape plan alleviates the threat of a city-issued stop work order that could have temporarily halted the project and the tree removals.

The city’s Land Development Code (LDC) prohibits planting or replanting Australian pines and other non-native nuisance species. If existing Australian pines are removed as part of a development plan, each tree removed must be replaced with an allowed species on a one-to-one basis. City code requires the replacement trees to be at least five feet tall.

The county’s landscape plan does not include a cost estimate for the tree replacements. Gilbert said an irrigation plan is expected this week.

“The requirements of the Land Development Code are being met. Planting will be toward the end of the project after all concrete work is done and the irrigation system is installed and working,” Gilbert said.

The city commission and Gilbert discussed a potential temporary stop-work order on June 20. The commission supported the potential issuance of a stop work order if the county did not submit a landscaping plan in accordance with the LDC. That discussion took place in response to the Manatee County Commission’s 4-2 decision on June 18 to remove 97 Australian pines in addition to the six previously removed.

The approved phase one tree removals are part of the county’s two-phase Coquina Beach stormwater and drainage improvement project. The $3.1 million phase one project includes paving all unpaved access roads and parking areas in the south parking lots with pervious concrete that will allow rainwater to drain down through it.

County Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Steve Jonsson, Misty Servia and Priscilla Trace approved the removal of the additional 97 trees. Betsy Benac and Carol Whitmore opposed the decision and Commissioner Reggie Bellamy was not present during that discussion.

County commissioners have not yet approved the plans for a second and similar phase of the project that calls for the removal of approximately 130 Australian pines from the center and northern Coquina Beach parking lots. County staff said the phase two plans could be revised to eliminate the removal of 80-90 percent of the phase two trees currently slated for removal.

According to county staff, there were 991 Australian pines on the county-owned Coquina Beach property before the tree removals began and at least 75% of those pines will remain standing after the drainage project is completed.

Related coverage

City to county: ‘Not so fast’ on tree removal

County commission approves Coquina Beach tree removals

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Algae causes fish kill in Manatee River

Algae causes fish kill in Manatee River

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Algae, Environment, Featured, Fishing, Outdoors.

BRADENTON – Blue-green algae persists in Robinson and Perico Preserves, and has caused its first fish kill.

“Blue-green algae and brown algae have become pervasive in the Lower Manatee River, Perico Bayou and Perico Preserve, resulting in a modest fish kill, primarily mullet, as a result of heavy algae bloom concentrations,” according to the latest report from the Manatee County Environmental Protection Department.

Manatee County crews skimmed and contained floating blue-green algae mats near Robinson Preserve’s waterway connection to the Manatee River and directed it back into the river on an outgoing tide, according to a recent email update to county commissioners from Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources department.

Algae causes fish kill in Manatee River
From left, Will Robinson, for whose family Robinson Preserve is named, Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore and Congressional Rep. Vern Buchanan were among several officials at Robinson Preserve on Monday to see the algae bloom up close. Carol Whitmore | Submitted

“A floating turbidity boom, normally set in place to protect surface waters from turbidity and sedimentation, was deployed under the footbridge at that tidal connection to keep additional floating algae mats from coming back into the preserve on the incoming tides. This will not prevent all algae mats from entering the preserves from other Manatee River or Perico Bayou connection points, however, this will reduce the algae coverage in what the media has photographed to be the worst places where algae build-up has occurred,” according to Hunsicker.

“These efforts will have a positive effect on reducing the build-up of additional algae in the preserve and reduce, but not prevent, the accumulation of additional marine detritus which will continue to degrade at the bottom of many of Robinson’s internal waterways linked by tides to the outside bays and Manatee River,” according to Hunsicker.

Non-toxic algae blooms were detected in 18 water samples along the Manatee River in June, according to a Friday, June 28 Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) report.

Parts of the river, and Robinson Preserve, which borders it to the south, are “experiencing a large bloom of the cyanobacteria species Aphanizomenon flos-aquae,” which so far has tested non-toxic, according to the report. No samples were taken off Anna Maria Island this week.

Red tide did not show up in any water samples in Manatee County last week, according to the Friday, June 28 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) report.

Filamentous cyanobacteria (Lyngbya-like) was first detected in Holmes Beach waters on Thursday, May 9 in Anna Maria Sound at Key Royale and in the Intracoastal Waterway south of Grassy Point, and in Palma Sola Bay near San Remo Shores.

The algae found in Manatee County waters are not the same species that has plagued Lake Okeechobee, the toxic Microcystis aeruginosa, according to DEP.

Blue-green algae can be blue, green, brown or red and emit a foul, rotten egg odor caused by the production of hydrogen sulfide gas, according to DEP, which advises staying out of water where algae are visible as specks, mats or water is discolored pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red. Additionally, pets or livestock should not come into contact with the algal bloom-impacted water, or the algal bloom material or fish on the shoreline.

Even non-toxic blooms can harm the environment by depleting oxygen levels in the water column and reducing the amount of light that reaches submerged plants, according to DEP.

The growth of blue-green algae typically increases in the spring and summer months when water temperatures and daylight hours increase.

To help keep algae growth at bay, Florida law bans the use of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers during the rainy season, June 1 through Sept. 30.

Report algae blooms to DEP at 855-305-3903. Report fish kills to FWC at 800-636-0511.

Anna Maria appreciates county, state pier support

Anna Maria appreciates county, state pier support

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

ANNA MARIA – City officials are grateful for the continued support the city’s receiving from the county and the state for the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.

On Monday, June 17, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommended county commission approval of the city’s request for $435,000 in additional pier funding. The funding request still needs county commission approval, which is expected.

Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland is a member of the TDC and he made the motion last week seeking the county commission’s support.

“I’m extremely pleased that the TDC has recommended to the county commission another $435,000. We’re grateful for what they’ve done in the past and this will go a long way toward completing the pier,” Copeland recently said.

“This is a big deal. Our residents will appreciate that this is $435,000 that doesn’t have to come out of the city’s general fund,” he added.

Mayor Dan Murphy is also happy.

“We’re very pleased. This helps us finish the pier project. We had a funding gap and the county helped fill half of that gap. The gap was created by FEMA not giving us the full amount they originally promised us,” Murphy said last week.

“I want to thank Elliott Falcione, County Commissioner Carol Whitmore and all the members of the TDC and the county commission for their support,” Murphy added.

Commissioner Carol Carter agrees.

“I’m thrilled with the additional support. We had to find additional funds after FEMA reduced what they planned to give us. I’m thrilled that the TDC and the county commission are stepping up with this additional assistance,” she said.

“We also appreciate the original funding the county provided. That was really important to us. Thanks to the TDC and Commissioner Carol Whitmore for their support. And hats off to our mayor, who’s pursued all these funding sources for the city – and for Doug’s good work as our TDC representative,” Carter said.

Funding snapshot

In previous budget years, Manatee County Commissioners pledged $1.5 million in TDC-recommended tourist tax revenue funds and $333,000 in surplus beach concession fund revenues for the pier project.

County Commission approval of the city’s latest request would bring the county’s total pier project contribution to more than $2.26 million.

On Friday, city officials learned Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the city’s $285,000 funding request supported by the Florida Legislature earlier this year. Last year, the Florida Legislature approved $750,000 in state funds for the pier.

Murphy and Carter previously expressed gratitude for the support and assistance provided this year by Senate President Bill Galvano, Senator Joe Gruters and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr.

FEMA is providing 810,000 in federal funds and an additional $135,000 in state funds.

According to Murphy, the city anticipates contributing approximately $712,000 to the project – and the contribution of the current and/or future pier tenant has not yet been determined.

Headed by city resident Sissy Quinn, the Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust is contributing $1,100 to the efforts.

According to Murphy, the latest estimated cost of the pier project is $4.97 million. The pier and the new restaurant and bait shop at the pier’s T-end are on track to reopen by year’s end.

Related coverage

Mason Martin Builders selected to build pier restaurant and bait shop

Pier building bids received but not revealed

Last pier piling driven

City to county: 'Not so fast' on tree removal

City to county: ‘Not so fast’ on tree removal

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – City Building Official Steve Gilbert has the city commission’s support to issue a stop work order on a county drainage project that would remove at least 103 and possibly up to 232 Australian pines from Coquina Beach.

This comes in response to the Manatee County Commission’s 4-2 decision on Tuesday, June 18 to remove 97 more Australian pines from the south end of the Coquina Beach parking lot as part of the county’s drainage and paving project. Six pines already were removed earlier this month.

“I think they knew they were going to have to take trees out, they just didn’t divulge it. They didn’t tell us there might be an impact to the trees.” – Steve Gilbert, Bradenton Beach building official

“This would not be ‘Stop, halt, desist and take everything out.’ It would be ‘Take a break and let’s talk about this,’ ” Gilbert told the commission on Thursday, June 20.

Gilbert, City Attorney Ricinda Perry and the commission agreed to first extend the courtesy of putting the county on notice before issuing a stop work order that would bring the county project to a temporary halt.

The city’s land development code prohibits planting Australian pines and other non-native nuisance species, but the code requires replacing each prohibited tree removed with an allowed species on a one-to-one basis. City code also requires the replacement trees to be at least five feet tall.

Memo issued

On Friday, Gilbert sent a memo to Manatee County Project Manager Michael Sturm.

“The city is hereby placing the applicant on notice that Manatee County must come into compliance with this Land Development Code. Please prepare and submit a plan showing the location of all trees to be removed in the project area, along with a signed/sealed landscaping plan to show the locations of the replacement trees, including a list of the tree species proposed. We will then amend the project application to include the landscaping plan,” Gilbert’s memo said.

“Please be advised that the Land Development Code authorizes the city of Bradenton Beach to stop work on a project when situations such as this arise, until sufficient information is provided to assure compliance with the code. Rather than take this action, my office would prefer that we collaborate on a solution. We ask that you take steps to prevent the removal of any trees until this matter is fully resolved. This is a matter of importance, and time is of the essence. We would like to meet with you as soon as possible to review the situation and the requirements,” Gilbert’s memo concludes.

“If you’re taking out 240 trees you will replace them with 240 trees,” Gilbert told the Sun earlier in the week.

He said county officials never mentioned tree removals when seeking the city-issued approvals and permits.

“I think they knew they were going to have to take trees out, they just didn’t divulge it. They didn’t tell us there might be an impact to the trees,” Gilbert said.

City permitting

The county-owned beach is within the city limits and the county project requires city approvals and permitting.

On March 1, 2018, the city commission unanimously approved the project’s proposed lot coverage that County Engineer Sia Mollanazar said would include 47,437 square yards of pervious concrete and 1,098 square yards of impervious pavement.

On June 13, 2018, Sturm sent City Engineer Lynn Burnett an email that said he and Mollanazar would appreciate the city waiving its permit fees.

The agenda item request that Burnett submitted for the June 21, 2018 commission meeting said the estimated permitting fees would exceed $100,000 and delay the project. The commission unanimously approved the county’s request, except for some minimal administrative costs.

During his two appearances in Bradenton Beach, Mollanazar never mentioned tree removals.

On April 10 of this year, Gilbert issued the county a zoning and land use permit that noted the county paid only $500 of the $48,190 that could have been charged in permitting fees, saving the county $47,690.

Commission discussion

During last week’s meeting, Mayor John Chappie said he talked to Manatee County Commission Chair Steve Jonsson. Chappie suggested the county money would be better spent addressing stormwater issues slightly to the north at Cortez Beach, where Gulf Drive and the adjacent bike lane are frequently flooded.

Vice Mayor Jake Spooner said the county project could have been designed with less impact on the trees had the county obtained a stormwater permit. Instead, county staff chose to place the drainage and paving improvements in the existing footprint of the parking areas and access roads. This alleviated the need for a state-issued stormwater permit.

City to county: 'Not so fast' on tree removal
Commissioners Randy White and Jake Spooner question the county’s proposed tree removal plans. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Spooner questioned the wisdom of completing the project’s first phase when there is now some doubt as to whether county commissioners will approve the project’s proposed second phase.

“The majority of the parking’s still going to be flooded down at the other end,” Spooner said of that potential scenario. “There’s a lot I don’t understand about this.”

Commissioner Ralph Cole said he supports the county efforts to discharge cleaner stormwater into the nearby natural waterways, but he said removing that many trees could negatively impact air quality.

Chappie and Commissioner Randy White said they didn’t recall hearing anything about tree removals when the county project was proposed to the commission.

City to county: 'Not so fast' on tree removal
Mayor John Chappie wishes the county would consider trimming and saving as many Australian pines as possible at Coquina Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

When contacted earlier in the week, Chappie and Spooner both said they were very disappointed by the county commission’s decision, but they thanked commissioners Betsy Benac and Carol Whitmore for opposing the project as currently planned.

“I had hoped that at the very least the county would have considered the option of cutting down 50 trees and trimming the others,” Chappie said.

https://amisun.com/2019/06/24/county-commission-approves-coquina-beach-tree-removals/

Related coverage:

County Commission authorizes removal of six Australian pines

Proposed tree removals delayed