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Library Advisory Board awaits commission decision

Library Advisory Board awaits commission decision

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

MANATEE COUNTY – County commissioners left the county’s eight libraries without an advisory board when they voted 6-1 to table seven appointments to the nine-seat board in January, despite having 13 candidates step up to volunteer.

Two of those candidates were seeking reappointment to the board.

The move was initiated by Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who said that he didn’t feel any of the candidates, including the two seeking reappointment, shared the same viewpoint as the county commissioners.

Commissioner George Kruse was the lone dissenting vote.

In April 2023, commissioners voted to expand the library board from five to nine seats. With the four new seats vacant and three of the five existing seats expired as of Jan. 31, that leaves only two members sitting on the board.

The 2023 county ordinance governing the Library Advisory Board, ordinance 23-105, which replaced a previous ordinance from 1984, states that the board must be ruled by a simple majority. Without a majority, the board can’t meet. The county’s webpage dedicated to the advisory board notes that meetings, usually held once a month, are now to be determined. As of press time for The Sun, no county commission agendas had been released listing the appointments to the advisory board as an agenda item.

According to the ordinance, board members are tasked with several responsibilities, among them, working with the library services manager to review and purchase new books and other materials, making recommendations on available and new resources and providing recommendations on the Manatee County Collection Development Policy.

They are also in charge of receiving grants, payments and other monies designated for the library and turning them over to county commissioners; advising the library services manager on public needs that can be served by the library and giving input on programs and services; reviewing and recommending library policies to the county board of commissioners; reviewing and recommending a long-range plan for library services to the county commission; ensuring that the library collection meets the needs of the public; and annually presenting a report to Manatee County commissioners on the state of the library system.

Speaking during the Jan. 23 county commission meeting, Manatee County Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott said that she was pleased with the candidates who had put their names forth for consideration to the Library Advisory Board and said it was “the most robust” pool of candidates she’d seen in her time with the county.

All nine seats on the Library Advisory Board are appointed by Manatee County commissioners. Each person appointed to the board serves a four-year term unless filling an unexpired term vacancy on the board.

Condominium disclosures a different animal

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

There are loads of different animal species in the world and although some are part of the same group, like mammals, they still have differences within their group. This is the same with real estate. Family homes are one subset of the real estate group and condominiums are quite another.

Last week we talked about stigmatized properties and when and if disclosing certain information to a potential buyer is critical. Now we’ll talk about all the other typical elements of selling a condominium property that may require disclosure.

The seller’s property disclosure form outlines and questions many areas of the property. For example, condition and brand of appliances, water heaters, heating and air conditioning systems, anything permanently affixed to doors and windows like mirrors, window hardware, mounted speakers, water softener, pool and hot tub condition and many more. In addition, the seller needs to disclose any ongoing plumbing issues, roof leaks, water intrusion and wood-destroying organisms.

Homeowners’ associations have additional restrictions that must be disclosed, primarily the fees and assessments and if these items are up to date. Potential buyers will be provided with a copy of the current Declaration of Condominium and Articles of Incorporation. Buyers have three business days from the date the documents were delivered to review them and cancel the transaction if necessary.

Whether you sign a property disclosure form or not, the seller is still responsible for disclosing all items contained within the disclosure form. Since condominiums are a complex entity with a board of directors, there are discussions at board meetings that might not become a change for several months. This could involve special assessments, use-of-property rules or leasing regulations for the property.

If one of these is imposed before the effective date of the contract for sale, then of course any change must be disclosed to the buyer. However, if there is a discussion at a board meeting, a mailing, an agenda item, a note in the board meeting minutes, or even a discussion by a board member that involves a future assessment or a future material change, the best course of action is to disclose the possibility. As an additional step, researching the previous 12 months of meeting notes adds another layer of protection for the seller. By being as transparent as possible, the seller eliminates any possibility that a buyer could seek legal recourse against the seller for a post-closing assessment or material change.

While a seller’s property disclosure form is not required under Florida law, Florida does require sellers and their realtors to disclose any significant property defects that may not be easily visible to the buyer. Buyers still have the responsibility to have the property inspected.

Disclosure is a thorny thing to maneuver through when selling since there are no perfect properties. In my opinion, the best thing is always to disclose. That said, as I’ve stated many times in this space, I am not an attorney so if there is a question in your mind about disclosing, an attorney would be your best source of confirmation.

Think of selling a condominium as a subset of the real estate animal world, understand what’s unique about it and how to protect yourself in the wild real estate kingdom.

Letter to the Editor: Commissioners stall library board appointments

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

On Jan. 23, I listened to the Manatee County Commission meeting. It has been about a year of discussion to expand the current “volunteer” Library Citizen’s Advisory Board. After the ordinance passed, people within the community came out, adhering to the specific demographic requirements. Sure, some positions only had one candidate, but others had multiple. As Tammy Parrott stated, she was happy with the candidates.

The motion to table was made by Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, stating, “I’m not satisfied with the applicants on the list… the individuals on the list are not like-minded to this board.” Not one of you asked him to define what like-minded means to him. So, I ask, what is the definition? Without an answer, I can only conclude Commissioner Van Ostenbridge only wants Republican-registered applicants to apply for advisory board positions. If this is true, we live in a democracy and this attitude is discrimination.

Your continuing disregard and disrespect for the professionals who lead this county, not only in the Library Department, but other departments, shows a lack of good conduct on your part as an elected leader, and inappropriate means for change.

Thank you to Commissioner Kruse, the only one of you who had the resolve to question and dissent from the motion set forth.

Now you have tabled the appointments and because of this decision, the advisory board does not have a quorum and can’t meet! There was no reason why the two returning members should have been restricted from approval and no reason why the positions with multiple applicants could not have moved forward. How did you vet the process?

Your residents came out to volunteer, several are college educated (with masters), extensive employment backgrounds and volunteer experience. What a letdown for them.

I respect the work of the County Library Department leaders and staff, and they have responded positively to all your requests for library changes and improvement. What a letdown for the staff!

As a resident of Manatee County, I am very disappointed with the rhetoric I heard and the silence from this Board of Commissioners. Remember, in the United States we live in a democracy.

Julie Perry

Friends of the Island Library

Holmes Beach logo

Commissioners reach out for community support

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

HOLMES BEACH – City commissioners are fighting to maintain home rule and they’re seeking community support to make that happen.

During a Jan. 23 meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that he hopes members of the community will reach out to their state legislators by writing letters expressing their opinions on the proposed parking garage at Manatee Beach, approved by the Legislature in 2023. He also requested public input on the ongoing Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) state study looking at the consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities and on HB 1537/SB 280, which would assign control of vacation rentals to the state instead of allowing local municipalities to regulate that industry in their locations.

Schaefer added that while city leaders are sending letters to Tallahassee, he said the city’s lobbyist advised him to not send every bit of correspondence to Sen. Jim Boyd and Rep. Will Robinson Jr. While those two men represent Manatee County at the state level, Schaefer said the lobbyist is trying to repair the relationship between the city and the two state legislators and too much correspondence could “put salt in the wound.”

“They know where we stand and we know where they stand,” Schaefer said.

During comments, Commissioner Greg Kerchner said he’s concerned that the OPPAGA study will state that there is a cost savings in consolidating the three Island cities and that it will come down to a public relations move by the state to try and convince residents that consolidation or elimination of the three cities is good for them. He encouraged his fellow city leaders to direct staff to create a financial analysis to get ahead of what he feels is an inevitable discussion between the city and state.

Commissioners reach out for community support
Mayor Judy Titsworth visits with Congressman Vern Buchanan on Jan. 23. – Submitted | COHB

Mayor Judy Titsworth said she met earlier that day with Congressman Vern Buchanan to discuss issues facing the city, potential appropriations requests and what city leaders and staff are doing to improve the area for residents and visitors.

“He’s a great friend to the city and our community,” Titsworth said of Buchanan.

Manatee County makes strides in improving water quality

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors, Water Quality.

Manatee County – Local water quality is improving through the efforts of Manatee County environmental staff, according to the county’s Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker.

“Our people in water quality and environmental protection are working hard every day,” Hunsicker told commissioners on Jan. 23. “And with our utility partners and public works partners, we are working to protect the water quality in Manatee County.”

Hunsicker said water is monitored at more than 80 sites around the county, with more than 11,000 samples being tested annually.

“Manatee County is working hard to always observe where we are in our water-quality picture,” he said.

Hunsicker presented numerous charts showing county efforts to maintain water quality that include:

• Wastewater treatment upgrades ($600 million invested over the next five years);

• Increased street sweeping;

• 5,000 seagrass plugs planted;

• 25,000 trees planted in 2023;

• 15,000 acres of habitat restored; and

• 1,500 vertical oyster gardens installed.

“More than 18 million gallons of water were saved last year alone in water irrigation efficiencies (through the IFAS University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences),” he said.

Hunsicker said 114,262 acres of seagrass off the coast of Manatee County in Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are dependent on water quality.

“We also have storm sampling for bacteria,” Hunsicker said. “Last year and the years before we were faced with possible closures of our recreational beaches along the Gulf because of bacteriological readings that were taken around Palma Sola Bay and assumptions made by the health department that contamination extended throughout the entire county. We were able to respond to them and keep our beaches open and to prove and demonstrate with our own sampling efforts that bacteria were not affecting the Gulf beaches of Anna Maria Island.”

“This is really important, and it is of major concern to our residents,” Manatee County District 5 Commissioner Ray Turner said.

Commissioners praised the Natural Resources staff for being stewards of voter-supported efforts to purchase more preservation land through the County’s Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC).

“I hope the board hears that the investments the county is making into natural resources is bearing fruit,” District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said.

County commissioners reject library board applicants

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Despite having candidates to fill seven vacancies on the nine-seat county Library Advisory Board, county commissioners declined to make any appointments or reappoint two candidates to the board.

Library Services Manager Tammy Parrott presented the applications to the county board of commissioners during a Jan. 23 meeting. While she said it was nice that there were multiple applicants for some of the vacant seats, including the one designated for an Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key resident, some of the seats had only one applicant. Parrott asked commissioners if they were ready to make an appointment to those seats or if they would like to open it back up to see if any more applicants put their hats in the ring for consideration.

Of the seven open seats, one is for a city of Bradenton resident, one for a city of Palmetto resident, one representing the Island communities, one for a Lakewood Ranch/Myakka resident, one for a librarian with a Master of Library Science degree, one for a parent/guardian of a child currently enrolled in Manatee County schools and one for a parent/guardian of a child that is homeschooled in Manatee County.

Only the seats representing the Island communities, Lakewood Ranch/Myakka and the librarian received multiple applications. The applicants for the city of Bradenton and Palmetto seats were seeking reappointment to the board. Putting their names up for consideration for the Island communities’ seat were Ashley Dawson, Nancy Deal, Karen Moss and Corey Wright.

Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said he was “not satisfied with any of the applicants on the list” and recommended reopening the application process.

“This is the most robust applicant pool I’ve seen since I started working at the county,” Parrott said. “I was very pleased with the response.”

She noted that the current Library Advisory Board expires at the end of January and she was planning for the new appointees to be in place and begin work in February. She said she was happy with the applications received.

“I don’t see many individuals on this list who are like-minded with this board,” Van Ostenbridge said.

Parrott said three seats are expiring at the end of the month. Currently, there are five people on the board, which is planned to be expanded to nine in 2024. She added that with three seats expiring on the current board, the advisory board would be left with only two members in February with commissioners not making any appointments.

Rather than amending his motion to table the entire discussion until new applicants could be found for all of the seats, Van Ostenbridge said, “I’m not willing to amend my motion. Some may consider it hostile if they like but I would rather the board not meet at all than have a board that’s going to meet and make decisions that are not in line with this county commission.”

In a Jan. 23 email, President of Friends of the Lakewood Ranch Library Sue Ann Miller said that she felt Van Ostenbridge’s comments could possibly be seen as discrimination since no board member asked him to define “like-minded.”

“I applied for the AMI position on the county’s Library Advisory Board,” Holmes Beach resident Nancy Deal said. “I would not be upset if someone more qualified than I was considered but none of the AMI applicants were considered.”

“I have no idea what I could have written on my application form that indicated any kind of ‘minded,’ let alone ‘not like-minded’ with BOCC,” Deal said, questioning if the decision made by the board was a form of bias against Island residents.

Commissioner George Kruse, who gave the lone dissenting vote on Van Ostenbridge’s motion to table the discussion, said that he felt the application process was well-advertised and the applications were well-received with one of the applicants for reinstatement on the board serving since 2017.

“These are people who clearly care,” Kruse said.

He also noted that the advisory board is tied to a millage rate being collected by the county and he worries that the county cannot collect millage due to failure of the board to meet. He advised that the commissioners should have the county attorney look at the ordinance governing the board before making a decision. County commissioners voted 6-1 to table the discussion.

The re-making of Perico Preserve

Reel Time: The re-making of Perico Preserve

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

Perico Preserve is a Manatee County jewel. But this gem wouldn’t have become a reality without the vision and determination of a few key individuals who captured the attention of and created opportunities for the citizens to make it a reality. In 2007, Manatee County purchased the property and, under the leadership and direction of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, the Parks and Natural Resources Department began the process of restoring ecological function and making improvements to the site for passive public recreation. After an intense process involving numerous local partners, the Perico Preserve Restoration Project showcases the high-quality results that can be achieved when local leadership and restoration practitioners commit to implementing a state-of-the-art restoration plan.

The original historic habitats at Perico Preserve were a mixture of wetland and upland habitats including mangrove swamps, pine flatwoods and coastal scrub. It might be hard for a recent resident to appreciate such a habitat since so much of it has been lost to development. In documents that preceded the development of Perico Island, it is revealing how much was lost, including over 100 acres of grass flats. This kind of environmental loss highlights why preserving places like the Perico Preserve is so important.

Manatee County Parks and Recreation staff, led by Director Charlie Hunsicker and then-Division Manager for Ecological and Marine Resources Damon Moore, did extensive research on the historic nature of the site to determine restoration goals.

This coastal property provided all the necessities for early inhabitants of the area and there is evidence of a once-existing Native American mound. As the population of Manatee County grew, natural resources on the site provided timber and the once dense forest of pines was harvested. Farming began almost a century ago, intensified over time, and resulted in the loss of rich native plant and animal diversity.

Before 2007, the site was poised for development and sat fallow for nearly a decade, giving way to invasive exotic plant species. With the county’s acquisition and decision to restore the site for ecological values, water quality and recreational purposes, the landscape of Perico Preserve was put on a course back to its original state. A visit to this restored habitat will give you a taste of the real Florida and demonstrate why projects like this are so important to present and particularly future generations.

Bring a sense of wonder, but don’t bring your dog. The preserve was planned as a bird sanctuary and pets are not allowed in an effort to protect native birds.

To learn more about this special place consult the following links:

The original proposal for the development of Perico Island: https://books.google.com/books?id=ruE0AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Manatee County presentation on the creation of Perico Preserve:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EBe_scptNKeCjYjTTtn-lQ4n7418xQz8/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=105714907940315022296&rtpof=true&sd=true

Holmes Beach logo

Commissioners oppose bill, hire new lobbyist

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

HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are hoping to reinforce their position in the battle against state politicians infringing on the city’s home rule.

During a Jan. 11 meeting, commissioners agreed to draft a letter opposing Florida Senate Bill 280, which would take away local municipalities’ ability to regulate vacation rentals and give the sole rights to the state.

Local regulations that would be removed if the bill passes the state Legislature and earns the approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis include the Holmes Beach vacation rental ordinance, all locally-enforced vacation rental safety regulations – including those mandated by West Manatee Fire Rescue under the Florida State Fire Code – and all local occupancy requirements.

While the bill mandates occupancy by the number of sleeping areas in a rental, City Attorney Erica Augello said it doesn’t specify that those sleeping areas be bedrooms, as required by the Holmes Beach vacation rental ordinance, which specifies two people per bedroom or six per unit, whichever is greater, is maximum occupancy.

Augello said she feels the bill is well-written enough that it may have a better chance of passing where vacation rental pre-emption bills have failed at the state level in the past.

Commissioners also decided to enter into an agreement with Sunrise Consulting Group for legislative consulting services at a cost of $4,500 per month.

Rather than replacing the city’s current lobbyist firm in Tallahassee, Mayor Judy Titsworth said the city’s team at Sunrise would work with the city’s lobbyist at the state level. One of their main tasks, she said, would be to represent the city’s interests at the local level with Manatee County representatives for project funding and other issues affecting the city.

Ferry service launches Friday

Ferry service launches Friday

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

ANNA MARIA – Manatee County’s Gulf Island Ferry service is scheduled to launch and make its first stop at the Anna Maria City Pier on Friday, Jan. 12. The first ferry trip to Bradenton Beach remains on hold.

The county announced the new launch date in a press release issued on Dec. 29. The county and its contracted ferry operator, Gulf Coast Water Taxi, previously hoped to begin service on Dec. 8. That launch date was delayed because the ferry service had not yet received U.S. Coast Guard certification and the modifications needed at the Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach docking facilities had not been completed.

“The initial route of the two 50-foot open-air catamarans, Miss Anna Maria and Downtown Duchess, will take riders from the day dock in downtown Bradenton to the Anna Maria City Pier. The historic city pier at Bradenton Beach will be added to the route system as soon as some minor enhancements are completed,” according to the press release.

Ferry service launches Friday
The boat landing at the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier will also serve as a ferry stop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Visitors and residents can catch a ride on the water Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Ride times between stops will range from 25-40 minutes. The two catamarans hold 49 passengers and will have two crew aboard to ensure smooth transport to and from each port,” the press release states.

According to the Gulf Island Ferry website, one-way ticket prices are $6 for adults 18 and older, $4 for seniors, active military members and youths aged 4 to 18. Children 3 years old and younger ride free. Round trip ticket prices are $10 for adults 18 and up, $6 for seniors, active military members and youths 4 to 18 years of age, and children 3 and younger ride free.

Bradenton Beach stops

According to Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the floating dock at the Bradenton Beach Pier and the nearby public dinghy dock at the foot of the pier boardwalk are both being made available for the county ferry service.

Perry said engineering plans are still needed for the installation of a ramp that will provide passenger access between the ferry boats and the dinghy dock. In the meantime, the county and its contracted ferry operator plan to initially use the floating dock once it’s equipped with a temporary lift for ferry passengers.

Perry said the temporary lift will be installed at the boat slip closest to the police boat lift at the west end of the floating dock. That slip is located closest to the Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramp that provides access between the floating dock and the elevated pier. Perry did not provide an estimated completion date for the dock modifications.

During past ferry service discussions, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione said the ferries would also stop at one of the county-owned Coquina boat ramps at the south end of Bradenton Beach, across the street from Coquina Beach. The Dec. 29 press release does not mention a Coquina boat ramp ferry stop.

MCAT buses, the MCAT-affiliated free Island trolley service and various other privately operated shuttle services will provide additional ground transportation for ferry passengers traveling to destinations not located within walking distance from the Island ferry stops.

For more information, visit https://www.bradentongulfislands.com/gulf-islands-ferry.

 

Related coverage

 

Gulf Island Ferry service delayed

 

Gulf Island Ferries take inaugural cruise

 

Reel Time: New Year’s resolutions

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

New Year’s resolutions are an annual ritual. It’s a time to look back and reflect on what matters most, how we feel about our lives, and what changes might improve our situation. It’s also a time to consider what positive actions and fresh adventures might be planned for the new year. Anglers can glean some valuable insight by reviewing their year in fishing, examining what they learned from their days on the water, what their experiences revealed and assessing how this knowledge might lead to improved success and enjoyment in 2024.

I’m not suggesting that we write down hard and fast resolutions that don’t give any wiggle room. Instead, think back on even the small things that when done differently might have had a bigger impact than you ever imagined. An example might be remembering when you hooked a nice fish only to lose it to a failed knot, that tell-tale squiggle on the end of your line where the hook used to be attached. This resolution might read, “Always remember to carefully tie my knots, inspecting and testing them before I start fishing.” The same applies to sharpening hooks, checking the drag, and inspecting the line for nicks and abrasions. Reflections like this can be the start of a general review of all your rigging, the state of your tackle and lures and the condition of the line you have on your reels.

Tackle and organization are certainly places to start but extend that same thinking to other equipment like your boat and motor, waders, push pole and trolling motor. Experience teaches us that it’s the little things that we overlook that come back to haunt us. On the water, consider thinking out of the proverbial box by altering your routine strategy. Many anglers go fishing with a plan and never deviate from it. They start at one spot and hit all the usual holes during the day. A different option is to try planning to fish in places you’ve never explored before. I’ve done this and been amazed at how many areas there are that have proven to be productive. Looking at the same place with new eyes can be revealing.

New Year's resolutions
A concerned Anna Maria resident reported this illegal, after-hours mangrove destruction at 111 Gull Drive, now under investigation by city, state and federal agencies. – Submitted

Also, consider trying a new destination. There are lots of beautiful and productive fishing adventures within a few hours’ drive of Anna Maria Island, both north and south. Drive two hours north and you can explore the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge and, just north of there, Homosassa, Crystal River and Withlacoochee Bay. Less than two hours south and you can discover Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. Don’t want to go that far? Anyone with a boat can leave Anna Maria Island and be fishing in fresh water in less than an hour. The Manatee River and Braden River provide anglers with a variety of fish from tarpon to catfish, redfish to bass. Both rivers also have numerous launch sites for boats, kayaks and paddleboards.

It might even prove useful to review how you approach fishing. If you’re a fly caster, look at ways you might improve your casting and consider learning how to cast with your non-dominant hand. Anglers who use conventional tackle might want to try artificial lures instead of always relying on live bait. No matter how long you’ve been fishing or what your level of competency there’s always room for improvement. A general review of tackle, techniques and the opportunities available to you can only improve your enjoyment of fishing moving into 2024.

Lastly and even more important, consider getting involved in protecting the resource that determines our fishing today and in the future. Fishermen have the most to lose by not addressing the degradation of our local waters and habitat. There are so many ways to make a difference no matter your circumstance. Keep an eye out and report illegal mangrove trimming and pick up trash on the water. Employ enlightened self-interest by vetting your local, state and national politicians on how they voted on matters that affect the water we drink and swim in and the fish we pursue. If we vote party line rather than on the issues that affect our fishing, we’re working against our self-interest. Write letters, attend commission meetings and join and donate to organizations like Sarasota Bay Watch, Vote Water and Suncoast Waterkeeper who work to protect our watery world. A resolution to act this year will protect what we value most for today and future generations. Happy New Year!

Year in Review: Tourism

Year in Review: Tourism

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Special Sections, Tourism, Year in Review.

Journal featured a full-page article about Anna Maria’s 34216 zip code being the second most expensive in Florida. It ranked second only to the ultra-exclusive Fisher Island in Miami, which is home to residents like Oprah Winfrey, Andre Agassi, Robert Herjavec and other high-net-worth individuals and celebrities. The City of Anna Maria had a current median list price of $3.6 million, a median $1,695 price per square foot, an average of 75 days on the market before a home is sold and 42 active listings, which was up 133.33% year-over-year. Tourism is known to drive home sales on Anna Maria Island.

SPRING BREAK BOOSTS NUMBERS

In March, thousands of students, many with their families, flocked to AMI to escape the still-freezing temperatures farther north, trading quizzes and tests for beach volleyball and fun in the sun. Due to different regions of the country having spring break on different weeks, spring break season on the Island runs from the first week of March through the middle of April, more than a month long. According to the Holmes Beach Police Department, which has license plate readers that count how many cars enter the city each day, the first week of March saw 214,740 cars for an average of 30,677 per day. The numbers continued to grow as the month went on.

COQUINA BEACH TRAIL IMPROVED

At the April 24 meeting of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC), Chad Butzow, public works director for Manatee County, presented a proposal to the TDC requesting the approval of $1.5 million for improvements to the Coquina Beach Trail, a paved path popular with visitors and locals about the width of a city sidewalk that begins at the Longboat Pass parking lot and runs 1 1/2 miles along the beach north to Fifth Street South. The trail is estimated to cost $1.5 million, including the removal of 96 Australian pine trees whose roots are damaging the pavement, to be replaced by native tree species. The money was later approved by Manatee County commissioners and work began in September. The project is currently delayed due to supply chain issues, but is scheduled to resume in January 2024.

BEACH CLOSING TIMES CHANGE

Manatee County had the full support of the Bradenton Beach Police Department and Mayor John Chappie when officials changed the closing time of beaches and beach parking from midnight to 10 p.m. Anna Maria and Holmes Beach had the 10 p.m. closing time for many years, with Bradenton Beach being the only city remaining with the midnight closing time. The county said the reasons for the earlier closing time were reports of numerous after-hours issues with drugs, homeless persons, vandalism and the safety of workers who clean common areas, bathrooms and other duties that can’t be completed until beach visitors have left the area.

MEMORIAL DAY BUSIEST EVER

In the days following Memorial Day, Island officials said this year may have been the busiest Memorial Day weekend ever. Traffic was backed up all weekend long, and parking was chaos in many areas. Bradenton Beach Police Lieutenant Lenard Diaz said while he had nothing official to back up his claims, it felt to him like it was the busiest weekend he had ever seen, a sentiment echoed by Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, who said his department wrote more than 400 tickets for illegal parking over the weekend. Visitors reported wait times of more than two hours to get onto the Island on both Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue.

HURRICANE IDALIA IMPACTS TOURISM

As news of approaching Hurricane Idalia dominated the days leading up to Aug. 29, tourism came to a screeching halt on Anna Maria Island. Rooms were canceled and eventually, a forced evacuation was mandated for AMI as, at the time, forecasters said the Island could sustain a direct hit from the category 3 storm. Fortunately, the Island was spared the worst of the surge, suffering flooding but not much structural damage. However, hundreds of thousands of tourism dollars were lost and many local businesses took some time to recover from water damage.

AIRBNB USES AI

In November, Airbnb announced they had been using artificial intelligence (AI) to crack down on people renting houses and condos for the sole purpose of having parties. Airbnb launched the AI-driven anti-party system ahead of the Halloween holiday weekend in both the U.S. and Canada. The purpose of the technology is to help owners of houses rented through Airbnb to avoid the hassle of dealing with renters whose sole purpose of renting is to have a disruptive party. On Anna Maria Island, this is especially problematic, as noise ordinances are in place in Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Police in all three cities respond to multiple potential noise violations every week. Airbnb’s AI can learn patterns of renters that may be potential party risks and block them from renting.

Year in Review: Holmes Beach

Year in Review: Holmes Beach

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach, Special Sections, Year in Review.

HOLMES BEACH – The bang that kicked off 2023 in Anna Maria Island’s largest city wasn’t the fireworks. The year that was had a lot of ups and downs for both city leaders and residents along with a few surprise loops along the rollercoaster of a year.

TREE HOUSE OWNERS MARK DECADE OF LEGAL WRANGLING

In January, the year started the same way that it ended, with the city and tree house owners Lynn Tran and Richard Hazen facing off in court over the beachfront tree house structure at Angelinos Sea Lodge. As the legal fight passed the decade mark in Manatee County courtrooms, the tree house owners received another blow as cases against the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the city were found in favor of the government entities. Despite the setbacks, the fight for the owners to keep the two-story tree house aloft and for the city to have the unpermitted structure removed continues.

Year in Review: Holmes Beach
Plans for the state-approved parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach would see the current parking and connected facilities demolished to make way for a new three-story structure. Construction on the garage is estimated to take at least two years to complete. – Submitted | Manatee County

PARKING GARAGE PURSUED

One of the twists that took city leaders for a loop in 2023 started in January with Manatee County Legislative Delegation members deciding to push a bill forward to allow Manatee County commissioners to construct a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach. The fight over the parking garage began more than a year earlier with Manatee County commissioners, spearheaded by Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge, arguing with city leaders over some street-side parking in residential neighborhoods being designated as resident-only until 5 p.m. daily. Though the plan to change the parking in some residential neighborhoods was almost 10 years in the making, Van Ostenbridge claimed that city leaders took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to close side of street parking in residential neighborhoods in a bid to keep visitors away from the beach. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer provided county leaders with personally collected numbers demonstrating the abundance of open beach parking in the city, even during high-volume holidays such as Easter and spring break. Despite the data provided to county commissioners, they pushed for state legislators to introduce a parking garage bill in violation of the city’s land development code and comprehensive plan. The bill passed and at the end of the year city leaders are considering their legal options to continue the parking garage fight.

If built according to plan, the garage would cost Manatee County taxpayers more than an estimated $45 million to construct and $200,000 annually to maintain, remove the existing beach facilities including a historic building housing concessions, a bar and retail store, eliminate the existing more than 450 parking spots and facilities for more than two years during construction, and provide around 900 total parking spaces. Van Ostenbridge said the parking spaces in the garage would need to be paid for hourly by drivers in order to fund the garage’s maintenance. Though paid parking is not currently an allowable use in Holmes Beach, and neither are multi-story parking facilities, Mayor Judy Titsworth said that if county commissioners decide to go ahead with building the garage and charging for parking, the city will be forced to reconsider its stance on free beach parking for the public.

CONSOLIDATION STUDY BEGUN

After giving leaders in the three Anna Maria Island cities a few months to discuss how they could consolidate services to save taxpayers money, members of the state legislative delegation opted to go forward with an Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability study to look at consolidation of the three Anna Maria Island cities or annexation into Bradenton or unincorporated Manatee County. Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) and Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) sent the mayors of all three cities a notice in the fall that the OPPAGA study would be going forward with the intent of investigating if the three Island cities should be consolidated, annexed or left as three independent municipalities. While the mayors said they support the study in an effort to look at ways to save taxpayers money, they are all opposed to consolidation or elimination of the Island municipalities.

Year in Review: Holmes Beach
Local first responders take the plunge in Anna Maria Sound in support of the Holmes Beach Islanders 4 Clean Water campaign. – Kristin Swain | Sun

ISLANDERS 4 CLEAN WATER LAUNCHED

In the spring, Holmes Beach city leaders celebrated the launch of the Islanders 4 Clean Water campaign aimed at raising awareness of water quality issues in and around Anna Maria Island and how residents and visitors can reduce their negative impact on the environment. Dozens of people took the plunge in support of the campaign and city leaders are continuing to raise awareness for the campaign and environment into 2024.

NO ELECTION NEEDED

The sitting city commissioners escaped the need for an election in November as candidate qualifying ended in July with incumbent Commissioners Pat Morton, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek all running unopposed. Because only one person qualified to run for the charter review commission, which was set to convene in January 2024, City Attorney Erica Augello said that no additional members could be appointed to the charter review commission outside of the election process, meaning that this will be the first time since the city’s incorporation that the charter review commission will not meet as scheduled.

LIGHT IMPACTS FROM HURRICANE IDALIA

Anna Maria Island once again slipped through hurricane season virtually unscathed. The closest brush the Island had with a named storm was when Hurricane Idalia moved past about 100 miles in the Gulf of Mexico off Holmes Beach’s shoreline. While the Island missed taking a direct hit, the storm brought a day of rain and windy weather to the city, flooding and some minor damage to structures.

WATER MAIN REPAIR DELAYED ON BRIDGE

Due to delays in receiving materials, work to repair and relocate a water main along the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue was postponed. Crews are completing the last phase of the water main pipe repair, installing additional hangers to support the pipe on the east side of the bridge.

Former county commissioner files wetlands ruling challenge

Reel Time: Former county commissioner files wetlands ruling challenge

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

The decision to reduce local wetland buffers to Florida state minimum standards by the Manatee County Commission has been challenged by former commissioner Joe McClash.

The policy couched by commissioners as ending a “taking of public property” was approved in a 5-1 vote on Oct. 5 despite strong opposition from the citizens of Manatee County and a “no” vote from the Manatee County Planning Commission.

Commissioner George Kruse voted against the change.

The rules change allows construction to occur closer to wetlands and, despite the commission’s claim (since debunked) that the current rules negatively affect 66,000 property owners in Manatee County, only two people with ties to development interests spoke in favor of the change.

Previously, environmental groups would have immediately challenged the ruling except for the recent passage of Senate Bill 540, which would make litigants in a case pay court costs if they lose. In the past, the prevailing party could ask for court costs, but this bill makes that automatic. The bill in effect limits public access to the courts.

According to McClash, “Challenging the elimination of our wetland policy by our county commissioners is a huge undertaking that needs community support. The decision is so wrong in many ways. There was no science to support the decision. The disrespect shown by the commissioners to the public at the meetings could only be described as surreal. The biggest reason is the unknown impacts on our coastal environment. We know certain trends are evident. Our water quality trend is not great; with excessive fish kills, excessive Lyngbya (poopy algae), and even people getting severe infections from swimming in our waters. We know the sea level is rising. We know wetland buffers, especially in the coastal areas, are critical to mangrove adaptation and the so-called “engineering solution” can’t replace the value of the current 50 feet of land required for mangroves to survive. Without mangroves, our whole coastal ecosystem collapses.

“I did not want to challenge the county’s action,” McClash continued. “However, the state changed the rules last year to require if you don’t win, you have to pay all the cost of the challenge. The environmental groups that normally challenge the absurd actions of the government are now having to make a financial decision. We have our local state representatives Will Robinson and Jim Boyd to thank for this favor to the developers. However, this decision by the county was so egregious it needed to be challenged. If our citizens can’t afford to challenge the wrong decisions of our government then we become a dictatorship. The county’s decision to eliminate our wetland policies and wetland buffers was not done in the best interest of the public, it certainly was done in the best interest of the developers.”

McClash is to be applauded for this decision and this action must be supported by members of the public who understand the importance of protecting the natural environment that brought us here, who love to fish and who support the economy. Stay tuned for more information as this process unfolds. McClash can be reached at joemcclash@gmail.com.

Coquina Beach Trail improvements delayed

Coquina Beach trail improvements delayed

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Improvements to the Coquina Beach multi-use trail have been delayed.

The trail is a paved path about the width of a city sidewalk that begins at the Longboat Pass parking lot and runs 1.5 miles along the beach north to Fifth Street South.

Manatee County commissioners approved $1.3 million in tourism funds for improvements to the trail at an Aug. 8 meeting. Under the scope of the new project, workers will resurface and widen the trail, but its location and length are planned to remain unchanged.

The project also includes the removal of 96 Australian pine trees whose roots are damaging the pavement.

The removal was scheduled to take about eight months to complete, but work was recently halted.

The Sun contacted Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan to find out why. Logan responded with an email statement from Manatee County Public Works Senior Project Engineer Michael Sturm.

“The trail restoration project began back in October, clearing the area around the trail of 20 trees,” Sturm said in his email. “We are currently installing root barriers in areas where the trees could impact the trail in the future. As for the actual removal and replacement of the trail, I received an update yesterday (Nov. 29). The asphalt plants are getting ready to shut down until the beginning of the new year. This supply issue will impact our schedule and push out the completion date. We plan to mill segments of the trail that can then be paved on the same day. So, the actual work on the path will start in early January, making it hard to provide project phasing and timeline estimates.”

Manatee County leaders are no strangers to delays due to supply chain issues. The drainage project at Coquina Beach, which caused the long-term closure of hundreds of parking spaces in 2021-22, also fell well short of the original completion timeline due to supply issues.

The county currently spends between $35,000 to $40,000 a year maintaining the trail and public works says that the steps being taken with the new trail will save that money because the tree roots will no longer be an issue. If this holds, about a third of the cost of the project would be covered by the nearly half a million in repair dollars that wouldn’t need to be spent over the next decade.

Bradenton contractor Woodruff & Sons has been retained for the trail project.

Is owning a home still the American dream?

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

Last week we talked about first-time buyers who are taking a pause in their house hunting and redirecting their savings. But is this the new permanent reality in a country that includes homeownership as part of the American dream?

According to a new Wall Street Journal/NORC survey, only 36% of voters in the new survey said the American dream still holds. When this same question was asked last year by the Wall Street Journal poll, 68% said yes, almost twice the share of the new poll. In addition, half of voters in the new poll said life in America is worse than it was 50 years ago compared with 30% who said it had gotten better. But the scary outcome of this survey is that among all respondents, 18% said the American dream never held, a very sad statistic.

As reported last week as well, the National Association of Realtor’s October sales statistics fell 14.6% from last year. Manatee County’s sales of single-family homes also fell by 12.8%. This reflects the ongoing low inventory available to buy and higher interest rates. Who could blame young people when they say the American dream doesn’t exist when one of the major components of that dream is the ability to purchase homes?

Even though according to recent data inflation has eased, there is still a disconnect in the way Americans perceive the economy. Since ownership of housing isn’t measured by the Bureau of Labor statistics, the increasing cost of purchasing a home isn’t reflected in the inflation rate, however, not being able to purchase a home matters more than the price of gas or food to home buyers. Since January 2021 home prices have risen 29%, according to the Case-Schiller national home price index. In addition, mortgage rates have nearly tripled.

If you already own a house and have no reason to move, you might not care or be affected by lower sales numbers and higher interest rates. Many long-term homeowners with low mortgage rates are sitting back and enjoying seeing their equity going up, which it has consistently for the most part.

Homeownership is still viewed as achieving the American dream, as remote as it may seem to first-time buyers in this market. So far, this hasn’t lowered homeownership rates, which are higher among almost all age groups than before the pandemic, according to the Census Bureau. That could, however, change if the unaffordability of housing remains high. Mortgage rates have dropped with the easing of inflation, but they are still historically high. The consensus is that home prices will likely not fall in 2024 but level off somewhat. Since so much depends on that assumption it’s almost impossible to know what’s down the road next year.

Since I was a full-grown adult 50 years ago owning my own home, I tend to agree that at least the economic life of people now is worse than 50 years ago. That doesn’t, however, mean that all life is worse. Certainly, medical progress is better, education is more available and better, and women and minorities have more opportunities, not to mention technology, which has made all our lives better.

I believe the housing market will eventually normalize and all the first-time buyers who are booking exotic vacations will start buying again. It’s nice to have wealth, but we shouldn’t measure our happiness by it when so many other things in life are more important.