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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Confused? Of course you are, if you’re a potential buyer. We are living through a very dysfunctional housing market and the maze doesn’t look like it’s ending any time soon. Should you buy, should you rent or should you find a tiny accessory home? The answer is different for everyone.
Buying has almost always been favored over renting when it comes to housing. For some, renting is considered “throwing money away” while buying is an “investment.” The truth is the answer is much more nuanced and really depends on what is the right fit for you.
Renting is a short-term solution as opposed to homeownership, which is much more of a commitment in terms of finances, time and labor than renting. Nevertheless, the argument for home ownership has always been building equity and doing as you please with your property.
In today’s real estate world, homeownership is very elusive to first-time buyers. Inventory is in short supply, interest rates are rising and particularly in Florida, insurance is totally unpredictable from one renewal to the next. Right now, the cost of buying a home versus renting one is at the most extreme since at least 1996. The average monthly new mortgage payment is 52% higher than the average apartment rent, according to CBRE, a global commercial real estate services company.
A person buying a home today will pay 60% more for monthly repayment costs than if they had bought the same house three years ago. As a comparison, rents rose by 22% over the same period, a little ahead of the inflation rate but far below the cost of purchasing on a monthly basis.
If the home you’re considering buying is a long-term investment and you can scrape up the monthly costs with a little extra for inevitable repairs, then in the long run you’re better off. But this decision is an individual one based on job security, family needs and the desire to grow equity.
Trying to fill the lack of the affordable property gap are tiny homes or ADUs (accessory dwelling units). These are typically small apartments tucked away in the backyard, over garages or extended out from the main house. They are getting a second look from buyers who are building, and contractors are providing options for these units as part of new construction. This is a growing trend to keep an eye on.
Finally, I feel that in the best interest of homebuyers, I must mention this last item. Realtors – specifically The National Association of Realtors (NAR) – are facing two federal antitrust trials relative to commissions charged. Realtor commissions are typically 6% shared between the listing and the selling agents, creating a potential conflict of interest. Keep in mind this is not set in stone and sellers can ask for a lower rate before they enter into a listing contract.
The first of these two antitrust cases was decided by a jury against the NAR on Oct. 31. The decision will be appealed, and it could take years before there is any final conclusion. The second case has not gone to trial yet, but we can assume there will be more antitrust cases going forward.
This ruling and others that may be coming can possibly change the way business is done in the real estate community. I know how hard most real estate professionals work and how much experience they offer their clients; therefore, I’m staying neutral.
Well, if you were confused before, I just made it a little more confusing. However, renting or buying should not be confusing, it should be well thought out before moving forward.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she was told the city of Bradenton will be included in the Anna Maria Island consolidation study being conducted by the Florida Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA).
On Nov. 8, Titsworth had her first study-related virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. Later that day, she contacted The Sun and said OPPAGA Staff Director of Government Operations Emily Leventhal told her the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and will be considered as one of several potential annexation options if the three Island cities and city governments are to be eliminated by the state.
Titsworth said she was told that Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown would soon receive a letter from OPPAGA informing him that the city of Bradenton will be included in the consolidation study and may be considered as an annexation option. Titsworth said there were two other witnesses in the room with her during her meeting with OPPAGA representatives.
The following day, Titsworth posted a lengthy consolidation study-related statement at the city of Holmes Beach’s Facebook page titled “The Future of Anna Maria Island: The Fate of Our Cities Are at Stake.”
“In continuing to keep our Holmes Beach residents, property owners and friends informed on issues facing our city, it is important to share with you updated information on the OPPAGA study initiated by our state leaders, and specifically what I learned during yesterday’s OPPAGA Entrance Conference,” Titsworth stated.
“Legislative leadership has tasked this research team, with the support of the entire Manatee Delegation, to conduct an immediate study and to review the potential benefits of consolidation of municipal services and/or government structures for Anna Maria Island.
“During the conference, it was revealed that the city of Bradenton and Manatee County are also included in this study, though they have not yet received correspondence from the research team. There will be large record requests starting next week that the cities will need to respond to, along with more tailored follow-up requests, interviews and potential site visits that will be conducted along the way.
Titsworth
“The research team is anticipating a completion date for July 2024 to present their results to legislative leadership. These recommendations will then be presented to the senior leadership person, most likely (state Representatives) Will Robinson or Jim Boyd. If leadership decides that the report should be published, it will then be available to the cities and the public. Otherwise, the findings and recommendations remain confidential and exempt from public disclosure. It is anticipated that the data gathered and analyzed will provide state leaders with the information needed to determine the fate of our cities,” Titsworth stated.
“The biggest concern I have with this study is that neither the residents nor city officials asked for it. They were not consulted about the development of the scope and remain unaware of the motivations behind this emboldened act of the Legislature. It is my understanding that we are the only coastal cities in Florida being threatened by consolidation, though we may not be the last as there have been more than 80 bills passed by the state Legislature in recent years that have greatly diluted home rule.
“It is unclear what the path forward looks like if state leaders move to consolidate, especially when it is an act not supported by the cities and citizens which are directly impacted. Is a referendum by the people even necessary when the decision is made at the state level? Is the governor tasked to appoint a board to write a new charter, zoning districts, comprehensive plan and land development codes? Is a new charter even needed, or will one city absorb the others; and if so, which city?
“Will the new board respect current density and height restrictions? If there is a new charter, are the grandfathered minimum length of stay restrictions for resort housing to be preserved or will they be removed, turning neighborhoods into motels?
“I urge all citizens to pay attention to decisions being made at the local and state level. Do these leaders have your best interests at heart? These decisions will have a profound effect on quality-of-life issues. Our unique small-town identities and a century of history could soon be lost to consolidation and to the neighboring city of Bradenton,” Titsworth stated.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and City Commission Chair Mark Short participated in their first virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives on Nov. 7.
When asked about that meeting later in the week, Murphy said, “Commissioner Mark Short and I did indeed meet with OPPAGA representatives this week. I feel obligated to first inform our city commissioners as to the status of the study. I will discuss what was covered at our next city commission meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16.”
Last week, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie also participated in his first virtual meeting with OPPAGA representatives. As of Monday afternoon, Chappie had not responded to The Sun’s requests for comment on his meeting with OPPAGA officials.
Study requested
OPPAGA serves as the research and analysis arm of the Florida Legislature and supports the Legislature by providing data, evaluation, research and objective analyses used to make legislative decisions.
Since the AMI consolidation study was first requested in January by the Manatee County legislative delegation, the general assumption was if the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach were consolidated by the Florida Legislature, the three Island cities would either be consolidated into one Island city and city government, or the three cities would be annexed into Manatee County and the three existing city governments would be eliminated. The possibility of the three Island cities being annexed into the city of Bradenton adds a new twist to the ongoing consolidation discussions.
The delegation consists of Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton), Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), State Rep. Tommy Gregory (R-Lakewood Ranch) and State Rep. Mike Beltran (R-Apollo Beach).
Boyd
Touted in part as a means to reduce property taxes for Anna Maria Island property owners, the study pertains to the potential consolidation of the similar services currently provided separately by all three Island cities and/or the possible consolidation of the three cities or the elimination of the three cities and their respective city governments.
The delegation put the study request on temporary hold to provide the three Island mayors time to discuss and devise potential areas of consolidation services with potential cost savings to be identified with law enforcement, code enforcement, public works, building departments and permitting and other services currently provided by all three cities. Those mayoral consolidation discussions produced no tangible results.
On Aug. 21, Boyd and Robinson sent letters to three Island mayors informing them of the delegation’s renewed pursuit of the OPPAGA consolidation study.
On Oct. 31, Murphy and Short received a letter from OPPAGA Coordinator P.K. Jameson; Titsworth and Chappie received similar letters.
In her letter to Murphy and Short, Jameson wrote, “As directed by the Legislature, the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability is reviewing the potential benefits of consolidating municipal services and government structures for Anna Maria Island.
“OPPAGA expects to begin this review immediately. To assure the least disruption to your agency, OPPAGA staff would like to meet with you or your representative to discuss the procedures for this review. Your office will be contacted in the near future to establish an appropriate time and place for the meeting. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact Emily Leventhal.”
Additional responses
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Leventhal seeking confirmation that she told Titsworth the city of Bradenton would be included in the study and considered as a potential annexation option. That email also contained questions about the actual implementation of any consolidation or annexation actions.
Later that day, The Sun received a phone call from OPPAGA General Counsel Janet Tashner.
“Unfortunately, we’re not able to comment; and I can tell you it’s a little early for these questions. The study just began,” Tashner said.
Tashner was asked if she could at least confirm whether the city of Bradenton will be considered as one possible annexation option.
“They’re not going to know what those possibilities are until the study’s complete,” Tashner said.
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown and Public Information Officer Jeannie Roberts inquiring as to whether Brown had yet received any correspondence from OPPAGA, Boyd or Robinson regarding the consolidation study.
Roberts responded with an email that said, “The city of Bradenton is advising media to contact the offices of Rep. Will Robinson or Sen. Jim Boyd, as this is a state initiative.” The Sun again asked Roberts or Brown to provide a copy of any OPPAGA-related correspondence Brown received or receives.
On Monday morning, Bradenton Records Management Liaison Officer Bill Ackles acknowledged The Sun’s records request. As of Monday afternoon, no consolidation study-related correspondence was yet provided and Brown had not responded to The Sun’s inquiry.
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed Boyd seeking his insight on the city of Bradenton being included in the consolidation study. As of Monday afternoon, Boyd had not responded.
Robinson response
On Nov. 9, The Sun emailed a similar inquiry to Robinson. On Nov. 10, Robinson called The Sun and spoke briefly about the consolidation study. He said the city of Bradenton is one of many possible consolidation/annexation options. The other options could also include no consolidation or annexation at all, consolidating the Anna Maria Island cities into one Island city or annexing the Island cities into Manatee County.
“To make the most complete decision, the delegation has asked that the OPPAGA study analyze each and every option, including doing nothing,” Robinson said later via text message.
On Nov. 10, Robinson provided The Sun with a lengthy written statement regarding the OPPAGA study and what prompted it.
Robinson
“Growing up, my mom and dad would take me to Anna Maria Island a lot. We would visit for the day, go to the beach and bring a bagged lunch, as we didn’t have a lot of money. I still enjoy to this day going out there. It is paradise. My public battle on beach parking and access is solely focused on allowing all families the chance to enjoy our great beaches, including those that cannot afford to live on the Island or pay the high weekly vacation rental fee,” Robinson stated.
His statement addressed the state legislation adopted and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year which allows Manatee County to build a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach despite the city’s continued opposition.
“Unfortunately, roadblock after roadblock was put up by the city of Holmes Beach to reasonably solve this issue and the Legislature was forced to act. That (parking garage) bill passed unanimously – all Republicans and all Democrats in both the House, 116-0, and the Senate, 39-0. The mayor of Holmes Beach blamed the Legislature for not understanding the issue. Believe me, they did.
“Many members could not believe the restrictions put in place by Holmes Beach to take away parking that had existed for decades, with the goal of making it more difficult to allow anyone to visit the Island. In that battle, many residents on the Island reached out to ask that we look at the political structure of the Island. Because of the over-regulatory policies, traffic and ability to sell homes at a high price, residents are fleeing the Island.
“About a year ago, the Manatee County legislative delegation unanimously requested a study from OPPAGA to analyze all the political options for the Island. Senator Boyd and I met with the three Island mayors earlier this year and they asked for us to pause the OPPAGA study so they could work on coordinating services. The delegation paused the study, in good faith, to allow that important work to continue. Unfortunately, the mayor of Holmes Beach blocked any progress, fearing that would lead to consolidation. Senator Boyd and I sent another letter to the mayors asking them to work on coordination. Mayor Chappie outlined wonderful suggestions and Mayor Murphy committed to find ways to save taxpayer money. Unfortunately, the mayor of Holmes Beach once again offered no help or coordination. Left with no option, the independent state agency, OPPAGA, has begun work on the study. The Island cannot function long-term with residents fleeing, selling their homes and creating more vacation rentals, budgets souring with out-of-control regulation – like in Holmes Beach restricting reasonable beach parking.
“The study will look at all options available to make the Island stronger and more efficient. On a 7-mile stretch of land, do we really need three police departments? Do we need three building departments or public works departments all with different standards and ways of doing things? Do we need three city commissions and three mayors with never-ending rising revenues but a plummeting resident population?” Robinson stated.
“I don’t have all the answers to any of these questions because we don’t have the data, and I have not heard from all the residents. The OPPAGA study will look at all options, including doing nothing. The study will take several months to complete and it is my strong opinion that if a change is made, the (existing) building height on the Island should be 100% legally protected from going any higher, as that is critical to the charm and quality of life on the Island,” Robinson stated.
“Even though the mayor of Holmes Beach continues to block progress and any reasonable coordination, I urge the mayors to get back in a room and find ways to save taxpayer money. I am happy to play whatever role you need and offer any help. The Legislature is forced to proceed with this study because residents have asked us for help and some have told me they are scared to speak up for fear of repercussions from the city of Holmes Beach.
Robinson noted none of the 2023 city commission races on the Island were contested and all eight incumbent commissioners seeking reelection ran unopposed. He noted there hasn’t been a contested commission on the Island since 2021.
He noted that as of 2023, Bradenton Beach had 644 registered voters, Anna Maria had 925 and Holmes Beach had 2,638.
“As the voting population continues to dwindle, will there be enough eligible islanders to fill all of the mayor and commission seats? Overall, the Island has lost a significant amount of its voter population in 15 years, even as Florida has exploded in growth. Over the last 20 years, the Island has exploded in vacation rental growth, while the resident and voting population has plummeted. That trend does not seem to be ending. And, just to the north, the town of Longboat Key has more population than all three Island cities combined and is on a bigger island,” Robinson stated.
“Now, more than ever, we need to make the Island stronger and more efficient to bring down taxes, reduce unnecessary regulation and preserve our beautiful beaches for everyone. This study will provide invaluable data that will allow us to review every feasible option available for the Island. It is imperative the Island gets on a better path that reduces taxes, unnecessary and burdensome regulations and is more welcoming to all residents, most especially in greater Manatee County, who also pay taxes to support our beautiful beaches,” Robinson stated.
Titsworth has consistently maintained that her city government is not attempting to restrict parking.
Financial impacts
Consolidating the three Island cities into one Island city or annexing the three cities into the city of Bradenton or Manatee County would have significant financial impacts. If the three Island cities were consolidated into one Island city, the annual property tax revenues currently received by each respective city would be controlled by the Island’s newly-created governing body.
If the three cities were annexed into the city of Bradenton, that city would then receive those property tax revenues. If the three Island cities were annexed into Manatee County, the county would receive those property tax revenues.
For the current tax year, the taxable value of all properties in Holmes Beach is $3.14 billion. The total taxable value in Anna Maria is $2.03 billion and $981 million in Bradenton Beach.
A property owner’s tax bill is calculated using the annual millage rate established by each specific governing body. Anna Maria and Holmes Beach’s current 2.05 millage rates are the lowest in Manatee County. The millage rate in Bradenton Beach is 2.3329 mills. The millage rate in Bradenton is 5.8351 mills and Manatee County’s 2023-24 millage rate is 6.2326 mills.
One mill equals $1 in property taxes owed per $1,000 of assessed taxable property value.
The millage rate calculation formula is: Taxable value divided by 1,000 multiplied by the millage rate equals the property tax owed.
Once upon a time, there was a great tradition in real estate where sellers listed their homes, buyers made an offer and eventually, both parties met in the middle and, like magic, you had a sound transaction. We haven’t seen much of that tradition recently, but don’t give up, you may start to see more of it.
Sellers, if you can find one, are more receptive to certain requests than they had been previously. Despite hearing that homeowners don’t want to give up their ultra-low mortgages, there is always someone who needs to sell their home. Since the pool of buyers has dwindled recently because of higher interest rates and lack of inventory, motivated buyers need to find sellers out there who are also motivated and more flexible than they were two to three years ago.
The obvious buyer strategy is to ask for money or something that costs money. With mortgage interest rates getting close to 8%, every penny in the hands of a buyer is a valuable one. Offering or asking for help with closing costs isn’t a new concept. Buyers who may be short on cash but qualify for financing may ask sellers to provide a credit at closing to be used for closing costs unrelated to their mortgage rate. This amount can usually be rolled into the financing for qualified buyers and the seller could easily be netting the same.
Sellers know or certainly should know what the flaws in their homes are. They may not want to take on a renovation project but are faced with buyers who may again be short on cash for repairs or adverse to doing renovations. Sellers can agree to make specific improvements to the home before closing. This agreement can be negotiated between buyer and seller so that both feel they come out pretty much with what they want and can close the property.
The next concept is a little more complicated but again includes money passing from the seller to the buyer. Sellers can agree to lower a buyer’s mortgage interest rate, known as a rate buy-down, by offering to pay closing costs in the form of points. If a buyer can reduce points, their mortgage rate can be lowered, resulting in a lower monthly payment. Points are typically 1% of the loan amount, so if a seller gives two points to the buyer on a $300,000 loan, that’s $6,000 the buyer doesn’t have to come up with.
Finally, sellers need to consider capital gains in a conversation with their tax attorney or preparer. A seller who is in a position where they may have large capital gains on the sale of their property needs to know exactly what those gains could be in real money. Entering a negotiation with this knowledge is important since the seller and the buyer may not be that far apart on their offers and counter offers if you calculate what it may cost the seller in additional capital gains. Knowing ahead of time how much flexibility you have between the sale price and capital gains could save the transaction and still net the seller almost what he wants. Holding out for an exact number embedded in your brain could kill the deal and keep you from moving on.
Go out there and make magic. Beat the bushes to bring those sellers out from the scrub. An old high school friend of mine’s mother would say, “There’s a lid for every pot.” And even though she was talking about boyfriends, the principle is the same. Go find your pot.
WASHINGTON – Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research.
A press release from Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office announced that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two of his amendments to the Interior and Environment government funding bill.
The first proposal dedicates $1.15 million for the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees.
In October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) began the process to consider reclassifying manatees from “threatened” to the more critical “endangered” status under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Buchanan introduced the Manatee Protection Act to officially uplist the marine mammal in 2021.
According to the FWC, almost 2,400 manatees have died in Florida since 2021, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) estimates that there are approximately only 6,500 West Indian manatees in Southeastern U.S. waters.
The ESA defines a threatened species as “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Threatened species receive protection through separate regulations issued under Section 4(d) of the ESA.
The ESA defines an endangered species as “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.” Endangered species are automatically protected by prohibitions of several types of “take,” including harming, harassing, collecting or killing, under Section 9 of the ESA.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a species must be listed if it is threatened or endangered due to any of the following five factors:
1. Present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of its habitat or range;
2. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific or educational purposes;
3. Disease or predation;
4. Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms; and
5. Other natural or human-made factors affecting its continued existence.
In 2016, Buchanan objected to the FWS downgrading the manatee’s designation from endangered to threatened, saying the FWS may have been using outdated data to support the reduction in protection. The manatee had been listed as an endangered species since 1966.
The second proposal will provide $2.5 million to the National Water Quality Program to enhance research into harmful algal blooms, including red tide.
“Over the last several years, the Gulf Coast has experienced severe levels of red tide,” Buchanan said. “Red tide is caused by toxin-producing algae that is extremely deadly to fish and other marine life and adversely affects tourism in the Suncoast region.”
In 2022-23, Manatee County cleared nearly 5 tons of dead fish and debris from area beaches due to a red tide outbreak.
“These commonsense proposals will help ensure the survival of the iconic Florida manatee and combat red tide, which for too long has wreaked havoc on marine life, our waters and the many businesses that rely on Florida’s tourism-based economy,” Buchanan said. “I am very pleased to see these measures pass with broad bipartisan support and look forward to working to see them enacted into law.”
According to Buchanan’s office, he also introduced the Protecting Local Communities from Harmful Algal Blooms Act, which would amend the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to include algal blooms in the definition of a “major disaster.” This change would require the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to provide both technical and financial assistance to states suffering from outbreaks of harmful algal blooms like red tide.
CORTEZ – In the culmination of more than two decades of planning, fundraising and hard work, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the FISH Preserve on Nov. 3.
At nearly 100 acres, the preserve is on the south side of Cortez Road, an oasis of natural beauty in stark contrast to the multiple construction projects nearby. The preservation and non-development of the preserve, adjacent to the Cortez fishing village and bordering the waters of Sarasota Bay, was precisely the goal of FISH members in 2000 when they began fundraising to purchase the property.
“The FISH Preserve came close to getting paved over by developers, however, the community came together to purchase the property in the nick of time,” according to the FISH website.
The invitation-only ribbon-cutting featured speakers Dr. Dave Tomasko, director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP); Dr. Jay Leverone, staff scientist with SBEP; FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann; EPA Region 4 Regional Administrator Jeaneanne Gettle and Manatee County Commissioner and SBEP policy board member Kevin Van Ostenbridge.
A special guest at the ribbon cutting was Dr. Theresa Bert, the widow of John Stevely, who was instrumental in the planning and purchase of the preserve’s parcels, and of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival that funded it.
Tomasko applauded what he said was the perseverance and resilience of the FISH board in making the preserve a reality.
“That’s what it takes to succeed,” he said. “This is the light at the end of the tunnel to keep what they had.”
“This is a celebration,” Leverone said. “It’s really moving to have this actually done.”
His participation with the project goes back 10 years.
“We paid for the plans and the permits and we were shovel-ready,” he said. “We were just waiting for the money for the shovels to start. That was the last hurdle we had to overcome. I guess I was the conductor, but I had a great orchestra behind me.”
Leverone said the Biden Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding of $700,000 was critical in the completion of Phase IV.
“We talked about preserving this; what it looked like before I’m not sure we wanted to preserve it,” he said. “Over time, it really needed a facelift. The goals of what we wanted this property to look like have finally become realized.”
Leverone said 10,000 native plants have been planted recently.
Dr. Jay Leverone leads a tour of the FISH Preserve. – Leslie Lake | Sun
“We have committed the estuary program to one year of maintenance of the plants,” Leverone said.
“Finally, we’re not quite done. We have and we continue to look to foundation or public funding for bridges, trails, signage, kiosks,” he said. “We want to make this publicly friendly, publicly usable. We want people to come and enjoy this.”
Gettle said that the preserve is “an inspiring story for us all.”
Van Ostenbridge recalled his youth when the preserve land was a hangout for teens.
“I never thought at the time we’d ultimately be turning this into a wetland mitigation project; it was essentially a dump site and a hangout site in what we all assumed was going to a subdivision – a waterfront subdivision,” Van Ostenbridge said. “It’s thanks to the foresight of (former Manatee County) Commissioner von Hahmann and the FISH board that we ended up here and when EPA came up with the money, that we were shovel-ready.”
Plaques were presented to Leverone and Bert in recognition of their contributions to the preserve.
“In recognition of your outstanding dedication to the restoration of Sarasota Bay and the FISH Preserve and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage,” Tomasko read from Leverone’s plaque.
“There’s one person that could not be with us today,” von Hahmann said. “This is a gentleman who was part of the original purchase of this program, who was part of the original board that was FISH in 1992, he was part of Sea Grants and sat on the board. And we lost him last year to a battle with cancer.”
Von Hahmann then asked Theresa Bert to come to the podium to accept a plaque on behalf of her late husband.
“In memory of John Stevely, without his dedication to, and passion for, the FISH Preserve and the village of Cortez, the FISH Preserve restoration project never would have been accomplished. Gone but not forgotten,” von Hahmann read from the plaque.
“This is indeed a momentous day, because our only son’s wife is at this moment in the hospital having our first grandchild,” Bert said.
“I think I have a surprise for you guys perhaps,” Bert said. “In John’s and our will, we put $50,000 to be willed to the FISH Preserve. What I would like to do is donate that $50,000 to the FISH Preserve now, specifically for trails and bridges. So this will help build those.”
The preserve is fully restored, but public recreation is currently limited to a few foot trails.
“When you build things to make them more natural, you make the divisions. Water is so important,” von Hahmann said. “Because you can’t access the west side from the east side so now we have to do these bridges and connective trails, so people can use the entire property.”
ANNA MARIA – Hurricane Idalia caused many travelers to cancel their trips to Anna Maria Island in August, Research Data Services’ Ann Wittine told the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) on Oct. 16.
The Tampa-based consultant’s report featured the latest available statistics related to the tourism industry in Manatee County from August 2023 compared to August 2022. In August, the total number of visitors was down by 2% and economic impact was down slightly, by .01%. Room nights were also down slightly from August 2022, by .2%.
“The important thing to know is that even though visitors are down slightly, the economic impact remains flat, so the visitors that came, on an economic basis are leaving more of an economic impact on their destination,” Wittine said.
Room occupancy for August was down slightly by 3% after being down 2.6% in the last report, which quoted data from June 2023. The average daily room rate, was up 4.2%, at $183.63 per day in August 2023 compared to $176.22 in August 2022.
The consultant for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau also tracks where tourists are coming from when they visit the area. The largest increase in any visitor origin came from Canada, up 40% over the same period in 2022. Travel from Europe has risen 5.8%. The largest domestic visitor origin was the Northeast, which was up 5.3% over the same period in 2022.
“Opportunity markets, which are essentially markets west of the Mississippi, are seeing growth,” Wittine said. “The biggest of these markets is Texas, where we’re seeing a lot of growth.”
She said the number of visitors in fiscal year-to-date in Manatee County was 983,900 as of the end of August. The economic impact of those visitors was $1,579,797,500, up 6.4% from the same period in 2022.
BRADENTON – Holmes Beach Superintendent of Public Works and City Engineer Sage Kamiya was back in front of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) at its Oct. 16 meeting. Kamiya appeared to answer questions and concerns brought up by TDC members after his initial presentation requesting tourist tax funding for a city-long multimodal path at an Aug. 21 meeting.
Kamiya noted that there is a path for walkers and bicyclists that runs along a portion of Marina Drive, but it needs improvement. The proposed new path would begin around the 2800 block of Gulf Drive and continue almost the entire length of the city to where Gulf Drive and Marina Drive merge in the 8000 block. The proposal calls for the path to be separated from the road by a grassy buffer area to keep people using the path further separated from the road, improving safety.
Connecting the path to the city’s 30 beach access points is also part of the plan, which would begin with the 65th and 66th Street access points near the center of the city. The city would also like to see the installation of educational signs along the path, allowing users to learn about the wildlife they may encounter, such as shorebirds and sea turtles, as well as Island flora.
The budget estimate for the entire project totals $2,436,727 with half of the money going to the Gulf Drive path improvements, $1,293,238. The remainder would be designated for Marina Drive path improvements, engineering design, flashing crosswalks and educational signage. Although the plan is ambitious, Kamiya told the TDC that it would be implemented in phases, with the first phase focusing on the city center area on both Gulf Drive and Marina Drive. The phase one estimate is $1,133,401, with $399,460 coming from the city and the remaining $733,948 being requested from the TDC.
The TDC’s recommendation of whether or not to allocate funds collected through the 5% tourist “bed tax” on vacation rental units for projects such as this often leads to county commissioners’ approval.
Rather than approve or deny the funding at the Aug. 21 meeting, the TDC unanimously chose to have the matter brought to the Oct.16 meeting in hopes of getting answers to questions multiple board members had, such as whether or not the path would eliminate public parking spots, and more specific answers as to which side of the street the path would be and a more specific timeline, among other concerns and questions.
Kamiya confirmed that no part of the project would take away public parking spaces, something more than one TDC member showed concern about at the Aug. 21 presentation, nor would any future phases. He also assured the TDC that the city would seek other funding sources for future phases.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown echoed concerns he had at the Aug. 21 meeting regarding the multi-phase proposal.
“Sometimes I’m not in favor of projects being done in phases, because sometimes the next phase doesn’t get done,” Brown said. “I don’t think you addressed that. What was that million dollars you were talking about?”
“The city did receive a Resilient Florida grant to look at the entire Gulf Drive that could include funding a path,” Kamiya responded. “We are not just here holding our hands out asking for funds. We are looking at every case we can to get as much done as we can.”
After a lengthy discussion on the multimodal path project, a motion to defer to the Dec. 4 TDC meeting was passed unanimously.
MANATEE COUNTY – Following petitions from environmental groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says that reclassifying Florida manatees from a threatened to an endangered species may be justified.
In 2017, the status of manatees was changed from endangered to threatened following signs the species was recovering. Since then, seagrass destruction related to algae blooms on Florida’s east coast has spiked manatee mortality.
“Originally listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, manatees have never truly recovered,” according to a prepared statement from the Center for Biological Diversity. “The FWS announced its final rule downlisting the West Indian manatee from endangered to threatened on March 30, 2017, despite hundreds of manatees still dying each year from boat strikes, habitat loss and other causes.”
The ESA defines a threatened species as “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.”
An endangered species is “any species which is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range,” according to the act.
Due to the declining manatee population in recent years, two petitions were submitted to FWS by the Center for Biological Diversity, Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, Miami Waterkeeper, Save the Manatee Club and Frank S. Gonzalez Garcia to increase protections for the mammals.
“Pollution-fueled algae blooms sparked an ongoing mortality event that has contributed to unprecedented Florida manatee mortality approaching 2,000 deaths in 2021 and 2022 combined,” according to the Center for Biological Diversity. “This two-year record represents more than 20% of all manatees in Florida. Manatee experts predict more malnourished and starving manatees with fewer births for years to come.”
Unchecked pollution, wastewater treatment discharges, leaking septic systems, fertilizer runoff and resulting algae blooms and seagrass destruction led to the unprecedented manatee mortality event in the Indian River area in 2021-22.
As of Oct. 6, 476 known manatees died in Florida waters so far this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
One petition requested the reclassification of the West Indian manatee, including the Antillean and Florida manatee subspecies, as endangered species under the ESA. Another petition requested the Puerto Rico population of the Antillean manatee be listed as endangered. Both subspecies are currently classified under the ESA as threatened.
FWS announced on Oct. 11 that reclassifying the West Indian manatee from threatened to endangered may be justified.
“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed two 90-day findings on Endangered Species Act petitions to uplist the West Indian manatee and the Puerto Rican population of the Antillean manatee. Based on the Service’s review, both petitions present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted,” according to a statement from the FWS.
“Today’s decision, known as a 90-day finding, is the first procedural step toward providing much greater protections for the imperiled species. The Fish and Wildlife Service must now conduct a thorough review of the best available science before determining whether to increase protections under the Endangered Species Act,” according to a statement from the Center for Biological Diversity.
A decision is due by Nov. 21.
The environmental groups lauded the decision to review the manatee’s status.
“This is the right call for manatees and everyone who cares about these charming creatures,” said Ragan Whitlock, a Florida-based attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for taking the next step toward increased safeguards. Manatees need every ounce of protection they can get.”
“We are pleased that the Fish and Wildlife Service recognizes the need to reevaluate its ill-timed decision to downlist the Florida manatee,” said Patrick Rose, an aquatic biologist and executive director of Save the Manatee Club. “There can be no doubt that the service needs to immediately rebuild its manatee recovery program through increased staffing and funding. While the two remaining manatee recovery staff members are doing an incredible job in the face of unprecedented environmental assaults upon the manatees and their habitat, they must have more help right now to forestall this continuing emergency.”
The ESA allows citizens to petition the FWS to add species to the list of endangered and threatened wildlife, remove species from the list, and reclassify species on the list.
“The positive response is a welcome sign of hope for both subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Antillean manatee and the Florida manatee, to once again thrive and inspire future generations,” said Frank S. González García, a Puerto Rican engineer.
“The service has a long history of working to save the manatee from extinction since it was one of the first species listed under the 1967 precursor to the Endangered Species Act,” FWS Acting Southeast Regional Director Mike Oetker said. “We are committed to ensuring we are getting the most updated scientific information during this status review to protect and recover the species.”
Manatee tips
• Obey posted signs for manatee slow-speed zones;
• Wear polarized sunglasses to see manatees in your path;
• If you observe a manatee mating herd – several manatees gathered as males vie to mate with a female – watch from at least 100 feet away. Coming any closer might disrupt the mating or endanger you; adult manatees typically weigh more than 1,000 pounds;
• Never feed or water manatees as they will become habituated to people, which could put them at risk of injury;
• Stow trash and line when underway. Marine debris that blows overboard can become ingested by or entangled around manatees;
• Report stranded or dead manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Alert hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
HOLMES BEACH – Despite the recent Manatee County Commission vote to reduce wetland buffers, a city building official says it won’t be as easy as putting a shovel in the ground to build near wetlands.
Holmes Beach commissioners met on Oct. 10 to discuss the reduction in wetland buffers as part of a larger discussion on building standards and state legislative priorities.
Building Official Neal Schwartz kicked off the conversation by noting that just because the size of the protective buffer zones has been reduced by the county to lesser state levels, it doesn’t mean people can start building in wetland areas.
In Anna Maria Island’s largest city, he said that before any building near wetlands can begin, plans must first be approved by the city. In addition, he said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection also would have to approve the plans.
“Even though it’s allowed to be built on, it’s the Department of Environmental Protection that’s going to give us our final say so,” Schwartz said.
Because of the work that city leaders have done to help protect wetlands and reduce the flood risk to properties, he said the city is now rated a FEMA category five and should receive that flood plain designation within the next two months. Property owners can contact their flood insurance companies to get an added discount on their policies that he said could be retroactive to the date the designation was awarded. Once he receives more information, Schwartz said he would add it to the city’s website.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that in light of the recent county decision on wetland buffers, he added protection of wetlands to the list of state legislative priorities for the city. Unfortunately, he said, he’s seen no action on behalf of the five-member Manatee County Legislative Delegation to move on any of the city’s legislative priorities since he’s been on the city commission.
Other items on the list include protection of home rule, restrictions on vacation rentals and addressing water quality concerns.
PALMETTO – The environmentally unstable Piney Point phosphate processing site is moving towards closure with the completion of work on the first of four wastewater collection ponds, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The work on the pond, built to contain industrial wastewater from phosphate processing operations, is substantially complete, according to FDEP. A liner has been installed on top of the pond, which is located at the top of a phosphogypsum waste stack. A new stormwater control system has been installed and grass has been planted to reduce soil erosion.
On March 25, 2021, Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC notified FDEP of a possible leak in the lining of one of the other three ponds, which is now in the process of closure. Five days later, FDEP authorized the emergency discharge of 215 million gallons of industrial wastewater from the pond into Tampa Bay to maintain the integrity of the gypsum stack and avoid a potential flood. Surrounding homes and businesses were evacuated.
From March 30 to April 9, the wastewater poured into the bay, adding an estimated 186 metric tons of nitrogen, exceeding typical annual nitrogen loads in a matter of days, according to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. The nutrient exacerbated toxic cyanobacteria blooms that peaked in June, followed by a bloom of toxic red tide algae that caused fish kills, triggering the cleanup of more than 1,600 metric tons of dead fish.
On Aug. 5, 2021, FDEP filed a complaint in the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Manatee County, initiating enforcement action against Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC. In the complaint, the agency requested a judgment against HRK of $50,000 a day in civil penalties for each day that it failed to remove process water at Piney Point, and $15,000 per day for failure to provide FDEP with financial assurance. The total maximum penalties for all of HRK’s violations total $119,745,000, according to the complaint.
“This action enforces compliance with the state’s environmental laws and all of HRK’s existing authorizations, orders and agreements with the department. The department is seeking the maximum allowable penalties and recovery of costs and damages under existing laws and regulations,” according to FDEP.
On Jan. 3, 2023, FDEP filed a motion for a default final judgment against HRK claiming in part that HRK failed to remove groundwater from Feb. 15, 2019 to May 15, 2022, and failed to meet groundwater standards on 18 separate occasions, equating to $270,000 in penalties. The case remains open.
On Dec. 16, 2021, FDEP issued a permit to Manatee County to build an underground injection well on Buckeye Road to receive industrial wastewater from Piney Point. The well began receiving the wastewater from the site on April 4, 2023. To date, more than 97 million gallons of wastewater have been transferred to the well.
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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.
