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Tag: Manatee County

BACVB first in Florida to partner with Leave No Trace

BACVB first in Florida to partner with Leave No Trace

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

SARASOTA – The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (BACVB) Love it Like a Local campaign, launched in 2022, has helped visitors to Anna Maria Island and other area destinations understand the importance of protecting nature, waterways, wildlife, local businesses and beaches so future generations can enjoy unspoiled beauty for years to come. The latest evolution to this effort is a recently formed partnership with Leave No Trace, making Manatee County and the BACVB the first in Florida to partner with this organization.

According to the BACVB, Leave No Trace is an international non-profit organization that uses the powers of science, education and stewardship to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet.

“With our Love it Like a Local campaign, we set out to educate visitors to the Bradenton area of simple actions they can take to leave less of a footprint. Through partnering with Leave No Trace, it gives us the opportunity to take our commitment to sustainable travel from a campaign to an integral part of who we are as a travel destination,” said Elliott Falcione, the executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “I urge our community to join us in working together to showcase this incredibly important message that will ultimately enhance the quality of life for our residents.”

On May 4, the BACVB invited local business owners and managers, conservationists, media and the public to join community leaders at a luncheon at the historic Powel Crosley estate in Sarasota in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week. At this luncheon, the BACVB introduced a promotional five-minute video showcasing the Leave No Trace approach to sustainability and conservation. The video features commercial fishermen, business owners, members of the BACVB and others sharing a message about not only the history of the Manatee County coastal community but ways to ensure its future.

The video is available on the BACVB’s YouTube page or by searching “Leave No Trace guide to the Bradenton area” on YouTube. To learn more about the Love it Like a Local campaign.

Garage bill rolls through House, next stop Senate

Garage bill rolls through House, next stop Senate

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

TALLAHASSEE – With unanimous approval from 116 Florida state representatives, a local bill to build a parking garage at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach has moved to the Florida Senate for consideration. The Senate is the final stop for the bill before going to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk for final approval or veto.

The bill, presented by Manatee County Rep. Will Robinson Jr., sped through three House committees before going to the floor for a vote on April 27, despite opposition from local elected officials and residents. After passing the House, it has now been referred to the Senate rules committee for consideration.

The bill, which received unanimous support from the Manatee County legislative delegation when it was first proposed in January, has been a controversial topic on Anna Maria Island. If it becomes law, it will allow Manatee County officials to construct a three-story parking garage at Manatee Beach without seeking approval or permits from Holmes Beach officials, where the beach is located. It also would supersede the city’s land development code and building ordinances, which do not allow parking garages without a special exception. Capping the structure at three stories does maintain the city’s current height limitations.

The parking garage is a pet project of Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge and came as a result of tension between county and city elected officials stemming from streetside parking reductions in Holmes Beach.

To help protect the quality of life of city residents, Holmes Beach leaders enacted a long-planned residential permit parking-only zone on residential streets near beach accesses, with some streets closed to parking entirely due to the narrowness of the lanes. City leaders also recently adopted a four tires off the pavement parking rule to come in line with the parking regulations in Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria. These actions reduced available public parking by about 400 spaces with another 600 available until 5 p.m. daily for city residents only. Van Ostenbridge said the parking changes were a disservice to Manatee County residents and beachgoers.

The plan outlined by Van Ostenbridge would remove the 400-plus spaces currently available at the public beach along with the existing facilities including retail, restrooms and concessions, replacing them with a three-story garage with an estimated 1,500-1,700 parking spaces, new retail and concession areas and new restroom facilities.

The garage is estimated to cost around $45 million to build with construction taking at least two years to complete during which parking would not be available at the site.

To fund the ongoing maintenance of the garage, Van Ostenbridge said the parking spaces provided at the public beach would be paid parking. He estimated a fee of $2 per hour per vehicle. Titsworth said if that happens, the city will likely have to make street and public parking paid as well to avoid those areas being overrun by drivers looking for a free parking space.

In a final effort to get Robinson to pull the bill from consideration prior to the House floor vote, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she tried contacting him and sent him statistics showing parking remained available during spring break, along with a proposal to designate 220 parking spaces for Manatee County residents only. She said Robinson declined to consider any additional arguments or proposals until after the current legislative session ends.

City attorney: No reserved spaces for water taxi

City attorney: No reserved spaces for water taxi

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City Attorney Ricinda Perry told commissioners last week that they cannot promise to designate a reserved space for the proposed water taxi on the floating day dock next to the Bradenton Beach Pier.

Manatee County’s long-planned water taxi service includes proposed stops in downtown Bradenton, the City Pier in Anna Maria, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the county-owned South Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach. The county has not yet announced an anticipated start date for its initial Friday, Saturday and Sunday water taxi operations.

Perry said she made a few changes to a proposed interlocal agreement recently received from the county. One significant change notes that the water taxi operations must comply with the state-issued sovereign submerged land lease for the existing floating dock and the nine additional perpendicular finger piers that will be connected to the south side of the floating dock later this month, or soon thereafter.

Bradenton Beach Commission reviews water taxi agreement
Perpendicular finger piers will soon be attached to the existing floating dock. – City of Bradenton Beach | Submitted

Perry noted the submerged land lease requires the free public dockage offered at the floating day dock to be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. She said the city can’t provide the county with a reserved water taxi landing area.

“There’s really nothing the city can do to give an exclusive spot to Manatee County or any entity on the floating dock. It’s got to stay first-come, first-served,” she said.

City commissioners unanimously approved the draft version of the city’s proposed interlocal agreement presented by Perry on April 6 establishing the city’s requests and requirements pertaining to the use of the pier area as a water taxi stop. The agreement addresses any improvements the county or its contracted water taxi operator, Clearwater Ferry, wish to make to the pier area.

According to the proposed agreement, “The county shall only be responsible for the costs of creating ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) -compliant dockage at the pier for water taxi use. Subsequent maintenance of the pier shall remain the responsibility of the city.”

The city of Anna Maria’s proposed interlocal agreement with the county calls for the county or its contractor to cover the cost of any ongoing maintenance and repairs associated with any water taxi-related improvements or enhancements made to the Anna Maria City Pier.

Mayor John Chappie and Commissioner Jake Spooner said covering the ongoing maintenance costs would be Bradenton Beach’s contribution to the county’s water taxi service. Chappie also said he’s more comfortable with the city’s Public Works Department overseeing any maintenance or repairs needed on the pier or floating dock.

At this point, it’s not known what, if any, improvements the county might request. One potential safety improvement discussed was the installation of safety railings on the floating dock. The floating day dock doesn’t currently feature safety railings running along the length of the dock, but there are railings along the ramp area that leads from the floating dock to the elevated pier.

City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said she’s shocked that the floating dock doesn’t have safety railings.

Spooner noted it would be difficult to access the floating dock by boat if railings existed along the southern edge of the dock that boaters tie up to. He also questioned the logic of installing railings on the backside of the floating dock, which is not accessible by boat.

Chappie said he doesn’t see the need for safety railings on the floating dock, but if the county installs them, the city will maintain them.

Perry told commission members they didn’t need to worry too much at this point about the specific improvements the county might want to make.

The proposed Bradenton Beach agreement notes, “The county agrees to provide a detailed plan in advance to the Bradenton Beach City Commission for approval showing the proposed landing area on the pier and any ADA-related modifications or improvements required.”

The commission-approved interlocal agreement is to be returned to the county for further review, which could result in additional revisions requested by the county.

Related coverage

 

City commission revises water taxi agreement

Abandoned boat at Robinson Preserve

Abandoned boat at Robinson Preserve

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Manatee County.

BRADENTON – Adding to the many abandoned boats littering local waters is a cabin cruiser that has run aground at Robinson Preserve.

A local resident who asked not to be identified contacted The Sun to express concern about the vessel in the hopes that its owner could be found and would take action toward its removal. The resident said the boat has been in that location since January and has not shown any activity except for the disappearance of four marine batteries that had been set on the stern.

At low tide recently, the hull and swim platform were sunk deep in the mud next to the mangroves in the Anna Maria Sound end of the preserve at the far northwest corner of the walking trail. The stern door was open, a bicycle was laying on the bow and a tattered windsock flew above the vessel.

The Can Do III out of Siesta Key/Sarasota, a 34-foot Californian, was likely built in the late 1970s or early 1980s. From the shore, the hull identification number is not visible.

“Derelict vessels are a priority for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The Division of Law Enforcement’s Boating and Waterways Section is spearheading a multi-year effort to dramatically reduce the backlog of derelict vessels currently on the waters of the state,” said Ashlee Sklute, public information coordinator for the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement. “Unfortunately, derelict vessels continue to be documented by law enforcement on an ongoing basis. These vessels cause the destruction of valuable seagrass resources and endanger marine life. They also threaten human life, safety and property as they drift on or beneath the surface of the water or block navigable waterways, posing a navigational hazard to the boating public.”

The removal process for an at-risk vessel is typically different from that of a derelict vessel, Sklute said.

“It is significantly less expensive to remove an at-risk vessel than a derelict vessel, primarily because an at-risk vessel, by definition, is still floating,” she said.

To help boat owners dispose of unwanted at-risk vessels before they become derelict, the FWC is accepting applications for a Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP). The program went into effect in 2022.

“The program is still active and staff have received numerous applications from at-risk vessel owners who wish to participate in this innovative program,” Sklute said.

In order to qualify for VTIP, a vessel must be floating upon waters of the state of Florida and cannot be determined derelict by law enforcement. The owner must have received at least one written at-risk warning or citation and possess a clear title to the vessel. To apply for or view program guidelines, visit FWC online or call the FWC Boating and Waterways Division at 850-488-5600 for more information or to report an abandoned or potentially derelict vessel.

Piney Point well to begin operations

Piney Point well to begin operations

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County.

PALMETTO – Two years after an intentional discharge of contaminated water stored in ponds atop the Piney Point phosphogypsum stacks, Manatee County utilities crews will begin disposing of the remaining wastewater in a new deepwater injection well.

Operations will begin next week, according to a March 28 statement from Manatee County Information Officer Bill Logan.

The well will hold Piney Point’s process water in a confined saltwater aquifer over a half mile below the surface under the Floridan aquifer, the state’s drinking water source. The phosphate process water, which will be drained from the reservoirs atop nearby phosphogypsum stacks, will be pre-treated before injection. Work on the pre-treatment facility has been underway since earlier this year, according to Logan.

Local environmental group ManaSota-88 opposes the deep injection well on several grounds, including that wells are subject to failure, and that leaks of the contaminated water – which is also slightly radioactive – could poison the state’s drinking water.

ManaSota-88 is among five environmental groups, including Sarasota-based Suncoast Waterkeeper, that sued the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC on June 24, 2021 seeking to hold both responsible for negligence in managing the site. A pretrial conference is scheduled on July 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa; a trial is scheduled for Aug. 7.

In a separate lawsuit, HRK Holdings was sued by FDEP in Manatee County Circuit Court in 2021, a case that remains open with no hearings scheduled.
In 2021, FDEP authorized the emergency discharge of 215 million gallons of wastewater from the former phosphate plant into Tampa Bay to avoid a potential flood after a leak was discovered in the waste storage system. Surrounding homes and businesses were evacuated.

From March 30 to April 9, 2021, 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 a report released by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. The nitrogen worsened 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, according to the report.

The well, drilled to a depth of 3,300 feet, was completed by Fort Myers-based Youngquist Brothers Inc., working with consultants ASRus of Tampa and Manatee County utilities staff. By working with FDEP, crews were able to expedite the well project.

“The cooperation and collaboration with the DEP have been key in getting this project fast-tracked,” Manatee County Utilities Director Evan Pilachowski said. “We are so pleased that we are to this point in the process already.”
“We are excited to write the final chapter of this Piney Point story,” Manatee County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “The teamwork involved in this important project – from the receiver to the DEP, to the consultants and our hard-working staff – have brought this to fruition.”

Castles in the Sand

Real estate potpourri

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

Think of the real estate market as one big pot. Into the pot you throw in the asking price of a property, selling price, availability of properties, mortgage interest rate and your personal credit score. When you analyze all these ingredients, you’ve got a pretty good idea of the active real estate market and your ability to purchase.

Last week we discussed the Manatee County sales for the month of February, in which closed sales were down and the median selling price was up for both condos and single-family properties compared to last year.

Nationally, however, sales of single-family homes were down over twice what ours were, 22.6% compared to 10%, according to the National Association of Realtors. Nationally, the median single-family sales price fell 0.2% compared to last year to $363,000. Manatee County’s median single-family selling price was up 2.5% to $490,000 compared to last year. So far, our local market, although slowly adjusting, is outpacing the national market.

As for interest rates, as of this writing, the average 30-year fixed rate is just below 7%, which generally gives a boost to the number of sales. Remember last week we talked about buyers being “rate sensitive” – this may wake them up. However, the Federal Reserve at a March meeting raised the baseline rate by a quarter percent, hinting that they may be slowing down these regular increases. Every time there is a rate increase, we hold our breath to see what, if any, impact there will be on the home mortgage market.

I also noticed the number of cash buyers is gradually going down every month. In February, cash buyers for single-family homes were down 20.5% from a year ago and cash buyers for condos are down 23.9% from last year. It’s hard to say how much impact interest rates have on cash buyers. Buyers with cash frequently offer an all-cash contract, which enhances their negotiating ability, and then take a mortgage on the property after closing. With higher and fluctuating interest rates, that will likely change the cash buyer’s thinking on this strategy.

Finally, with interest rates higher than a year ago, credit scores are more important than ever. A small boost to your credit score can make a big impact on the cost of buying a home. Raising your credit scores in the time before applying for a mortgage is the most tangible way to reduce costs related to purchasing a home. You may not have any control over the increase in prices or lack of inventory, but credit scores are totally in your control.

The object is to get that credit score at or over 760 to obtain the most advantageous interest rate. The first thing to do is look at your credit report from all three of the credit reporting agencies. Check for errors, such as someone who has fraudulently attempted to get credit under your name, if a loan is not recorded as paid or a credit card you dropped is still showing as active.

Don’t apply for any new credit or financing until your home shopping and mortgage application is completed. If possible, pay down your debts or ask for a higher limit on your credit cards. Lenders consider how much debt you have compared to how much your line of credit is. It’s always better to have more credit available even if you don’t need it.

I never said it wasn’t complicated to buy a home and a potpourri of knowledge is essential. Shakespeare’s witches may say that the real estate market is all trouble and toil, but in the end, it’s all worth it.

Letter to the Editor: The good fight

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

If there is anything positive that comes from the recent attacks on home rule, it is how this threat has brought people from all over the world together in a fight to save Anna Maria Island and the three cities responsible for creating and retaining its character.

Anna Maria Island continues to receive recognition for being one of the best small coastal towns with its old Florida charm. I am proud of past policymakers and thank them for preserving our cities and creating a great destination for families to enjoy a day at the beach and the best place to live on Earth.

With numerous bills threatening our cities each year, our responsibility as engaged citizens and leaders has become much more essential. Detrimental decisions made today may not be able to be undone. Once paradise is lost, only a hurricane can wash away the many mistakes made by man. We have not listened to alternatives presented by transportation experts such as the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and FDOT. The ULI study suggested using shuttles or regional transit from the mainland to transport visitors to the Island. A 1,500- to 1,700-space parking garage doesn’t even come close to being a solution. The county and state’s unwillingness to take heed of studies paid for by county and state funding is unfathomable.

I truly appreciate all citizens for keeping up efforts in opposing big government and the continued attacks that these bills inflict on our cities.

“A hundred years after we are gone and forgotten, those who never heard of us will be living with the results of our actions.” – Oliver Wendell Homes

 

Judy Holmes Titsworth

Mayor, Holmes Beach

Parking garage bill speeds through committees

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

TALLAHASSEE – A bill proposing to build a three-story, 1,500-plus-space parking garage in Holmes Beach is speeding toward approval.

House Bill 947, proposed by Manatee County Rep. Will Robinson Jr., passed the Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee on March 22 with the unanimous approval of all members present at the Florida House of Representatives with a change to line 15, submitted by Robinson, addressing the enforcement of the bill. The line states that the parking garage can be constructed within the “territorial boundaries of the city of Holmes Beach, without obtaining any permit, approval, consent, or letter of no objection from the city of Holmes Beach.”

The bill is now in the State Affairs Committee for consideration before moving to the House floor for a vote. If the bill passes those two votes, it moves on to the Florida Senate for consideration. If approved there, it would go to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk on July 1 to be vetoed or signed into law.

Though not in Tallahassee this week, Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse appeared before the Local Administration, Federal Affairs and Special Districts Subcommittee on March 15 to voice his support for the bill.

In a talk with The Sun, Kruse said he was in the state capitol for another matter, but the trip coincided with the first committee hearing on the parking garage bill and he wanted to lend support to Robinson.

The hearing was also attended by Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth along with several members of city staff. Titsworth, along with many Island residents and property owners, opposes the construction of a parking garage at Manatee Beach, which is owned by Manatee County but located in Holmes Beach. City leaders passed an ordinance in 2022 banning the construction of multi-level parking garages in the city except by special exception. Though parking garages were previously not an allowable land use in the city without a special exception, the passage of the ordinance bolstered the prohibition after county commissioners began discussing the possibility of building a parking garage in the city as an answer to beachgoer parking constraints.

Kruse said that while he understands that a special exception hearing before city commissioners could have been undertaken by the county, he thinks it would have been a waste of time, effort and taxpayer money due to city commissioners’ passage of the parking garage ban, resulting in county commissioners pushing the matter to the state level.

As of press time for The Sun, Kruse is the only Manatee County commissioner to have taken Titsworth up on her offer to tour the city’s available beach parking. Kruse said he embarked on the parking tour following a town hall meeting he held at the Island Branch Library, and said he spent more than two hours touring city streets and talking with the mayor about parking.

“We looked at probably 100% of the parking spaces,” Kruse said. “I said it when I was up in Tallahassee, I 100% gave Holmes Beach credit. What they’re working on right now is great. What they’re working on is going to be much more hospitable, much more welcoming to residents of Manatee County, staycationers and tourists.”

Holmes Beach city leaders are working to remove sign pollution, placing green numbered parking spot indicators near beach access points and working on an interactive app, with the installation of parking sensors, that can alert visitors to where available parking is located in real-time. The city also provides a map on its website that identifies public parking areas.

“I think everything that Holmes Beach is doing is amazing. It’s great. It’s going to make a world of difference,” Kruse said, adding that he feels that the bill at the state level may be pushing city leaders to work to resolve parking issues.

And though he said the city is addressing parking in as much as they have the capacity to do so, he doesn’t feel the solutions or even the proposed parking garage will fix all of the parking and traffic issues on Anna Maria Island. Even with the loss of the 400-plus parking spaces currently available at Manatee Beach, the parking garage would net 1,000 or more parking spaces, which Kruse said could potentially help provide more spaces for Manatee County residents and visitors.

“I do not think putting a parking garage there is going to fix our parking problem,” he said. “I support the concept of the parking garage. I support Rep. Robinson’s bill.”

“At the end of the day this is a large project in a large CIP within the county that has hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars of projects,” Kruse said. “So, I need numbers first. I need financials first. I’m a realist and I’m somebody who assesses everything with facts. So, I, at the end of the day, need to see where is $30-45 million coming from? What is the timeline for completion? What are we going to do with 400-plus parking spots in the interim during construction? That’s information I don’t have yet because the bill hasn’t passed yet, so we haven’t gone through it. We get to our CIP discussions in the summer when we go through budget, so this hasn’t come up specifically. I support the concept of allowing the county a very reasonable height and reasonable footprint to build additional parking for citizens of the county. Is it 100% guaranteed it’s going to get built? Probably. I know my board. ButamI100%soldonit?Ineedtosee where those numbers are coming from. Is that the best use of $45 million? And maybe it is. I support the concept. I support the idea of giving us the option. And I think that’s the heart and soul of it.”

Kruse added that he feels there could be better answers to the parking and traffic congestion issues on the Island, primarily the installation of a third lane on the Anna Maria Island Bridge along Manatee Avenue to allow for a dedicated first responder and transit lane. With a dedicated transit lane, he said he feels people would be more likely to ride a shuttle service to the beach with their gear if it allowed them to bypass traffic. The reconstruction of the Anna Maria Island Bridge is on the Florida Department of Transportation’s project priorities list but is unfunded.

City commission revises water taxi agreement

City commission revises water taxi agreement

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

ANNA MARIA – The city commission has returned a revised interlocal agreement regarding the City Pier being used as a water taxi stop to Manatee County officials for further consideration.

The proposed agreement establishes the city and county’s proposed conditions for the use of the City Pier.

County officials could reject or revise some of the revisions made by the Anna Maria Commission, but at some point, an interlocal agreement must be finalized and approved by the city commission before the City Pier can be used as a water taxi stop.

The pier-based water taxi stop would be part of a county-funded water taxi service that would travel between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, with stops at the City Pier, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach.

The latest version of the proposed agreement includes revisions sought by the city commission during its March 9 and March 23 discussions, when commissioners authorized Mayor Dan Murphy to return the revised agreement to the county.

“The purposes of the water taxi are to relieve automobile congestion coming to and from the Island and to provide an affordable means of public transportation to and from the Island for visitors, residents and workers,” the agreement says.

Terms & conditions

The revised agreement drafted by City Attorney Becky Vose includes several terms and conditions requested by the city commission.

The mayor and commissioners have repeatedly stressed their desire that Island employees be allowed to ride the water taxis for free or at a reduced rate. The proposed agreement does not specifically say Island employees will ride for free, but during Thursday’s meeting the commission requested the following language be added to the agreement: “All workers’ fares between Anna Maria and Bradenton shall be subject to the approval of the city to ensure that fares for workers are affordable.”

The city does not seek input on the fares to be charged to other users.

City commission revises water taxi agreement
Manatee County wants to use the City Pier in Anna Maria as a water taxi stop. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The agreement proposes, and the city commission insists, that the county be responsible for all water taxi-related improvements made to the existing boat landing area and/or any other part of the pier. The improvements could include the installation of safety railings at the landing area only. They may also include other enhancements needed for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The agreement also proposes the county, or its contractor, be fully responsible for any costs associated with the ongoing maintenance of any water taxi dockage components located on the pier.

The agreement says the county must assume all legal liability associated with the operation of the water taxi service.

The revised agreement says: “The water taxi route must include service between downtown Bradenton and the City Pier on every regularly scheduled day of operation, weather permitting. Any scheduled route for the water taxi must include the city of Anna Maria both coming and going to and from downtown Bradenton. No route shall return to Bradenton without having Anna Maria as its last stop before Bradenton. Elimination of this route negates this interlocal agreement.”

The revised agreement says, “The county agrees to provide a detailed plan in advance to the Anna Maria City Commission for approval showing the proposed landing area on the pier and any modifications or improvements required for the dockage and the pier. The city has the right to cancel this agreement if it finds that such modifications or improvements are unsatisfactory to the city.”

Murphy said he did not yet know if the county plans to use the existing boat landing or some other part of the pier as a water taxi landing.

Additional details

Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione is one of the county staff members tasked with bringing the long-desired water taxi service to fruition.

In October, the Manatee County Commission authorized the county administrator to spend up to $700,000 to build two water taxis to initially be owned by the county and to be managed and operated by the Clearwater Ferry company.

When addressing the city and county commissions in the past, Falcione said the water taxis will initially operate from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Additional service days and/or expanded operating hours will be considered if the ridership demand exists.

On Friday, The Sun sought and received some additional information from Falcione. Falcione said each water taxi will be 50 feet long and accommodate 49 passengers.

When asked about free fares for Island employees, he said, “We do plan to have a no-charge service for employees, but it’s complicated, so we do not have a defined plan at this time. We do plan to work with the hospitality owners on the Island to help bring their employees to work via ferry. It’s a program that may not start until the fall.”

In the past, Falcione has mentioned the possibility of Island businesses providing their employees with water taxi passes.

As for when the water taxi service might begin, Falcione said, “We are hoping for a July startup.”

Castles in the Sand

Rate sensitive

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

Mortgage rates appear to be controlling the real estate market across the country. My new favorite term is “rate sensitive.” This means that a buyer who would have been happy at 6.75% ran for the hills when the rates rose to 7%, about where they are as of this writing for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage.

I’m not dismissing the importance of rate increases in real money to buyers’ budgets, but nevertheless, a lot of them are walking for not a lot of money. To be fair, a one-point increase in a mortgage rate would have the same effect on affordability as a 10% increase in home prices, per First American Financial Corp. This could eliminate the buyer from qualifying for the home they are currently considering, lower their home buying expectations or cause them to disappear completely from the marketplace.

Earlier in the year when the rates were solidly in the 6% or a little over range, buyers were on the move. This may explain why our Manatee County statistics this

month show more pending properties in February 2023 compared to January 2023 even though the annual trend has been going down monthly. This was a surprise to many professionals in the housing market who now think that gain may be given back. The general consensus is that buyers now are much more cautious and are paying more attention than the people that were buying last year.

Here are the February sales statistics for Manatee County reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:

Single-family homes closed 10% fewer properties than last year. The median selling price was $490,000, up 2.5% from last year, and the average selling price was $639,562, down 7.7% from last year. The median time to contract was 39 days compared to six days and the month’s supply of properties is 3.1 months compared to 0.6 months last year.

Condos closed 21.1% fewer properties than last year. The median selling price was $369,900, up 13.8%, and the average selling price was $435,748, up 17.3% from last year. The median time to contract was 29 days compared to 5 days and the month’s supply of properties was 3.4 months compared to 0.5 months last year.

March and April generally are busy months for closings in Florida before buy- ers return north. The next two months may tell a slightly different story, but there is no doubt that higher interest rates are having an effect.

One quick note about your home’s as- sessed value. Property taxes across the country have risen in recent years based on the increased value of your home. When you receive the new assessment and tax bill, don’t just file it in one of those folders that you’ll never look at again. Read it over for errors that could be anything from the size of your lot to the size of your home and the size of your new pool. Don’t be afraid to contact the assessor’s office and review this with them.

It’s also a good idea to stay on top of the recent sales in your neighborhood. Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com will give you just about anything you need to know in addition to the Manatee County public records. If you really feel your home has been appraised higher than it should be, you can ask a licensed Realtor for an evaluation or a licensed appraiser. A Realtor may prepare an evaluation as a goodwill measure, but a licensed appraiser will charge a fee, however, an appraiser’s evaluation may hold more weight. And don’t forget to apply for any exemptions you may be entitled to.

We are living through a sensitive time for just about anything related to finances. Keep the tissues handy and your head on straight.

Reel Time: Oyster River Ecology moving restoration forward

Reel Time: Oyster River Ecology moving restoration forward

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

I first met Damon Moore at a Sister Keys Cleanup in 2010 when we were introduced by Ann Hodgson of Audubon. Moore worked in environmental consulting for seven years at Stantec before joining Manatee County. In his words, “I loved challenging habitat restoration projects where good problem-solving and project design skills would result in high-quality, cost-effective projects. I was blessed to have the opportunity to work on Manatee County projects like Perico Preserve, Ungarelli Preserve, the Robinson Preserve expansion and Tom Bennett Park as a consultant charged with designing the restoration plans for those properties. I found my niche.”

Moore has high praise for his mentor Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County’s director of natural resources. “As a consultant, I saw something in him that I was drawn to; Charlie always found a way to move high quality environmental enhancement projects forward, regardless of the challenges. He’s creative and pragmatic and I knew he had big plans for the next 10 years. I wanted to play a direct role managing the implementation of those projects. I joined Charlie’s department and spent the next decade working on some of the most impactful projects in the region.”

When the Robinson Preserve expansion was functionally complete, Moore wanted to branch out and sharpen his skillset by taking on a more diverse geographic range of projects. He found that at Environmental Science Associates, but during a brief tenure there, he said, “I realized the area I call home needed more environmental benefit projects.” That was challenging to facilitate as a consultant, so Moore decided to form a non-profit he would call Oyster River Ecology (ORE) to bring more projects to the Suncoast.

The name ORE is an homage to the Manatee River, historically known as the “Oyster River.” Moore’s understanding of the concept of shifting baselines is a loss of perception of change that occurs when each generation redefines what is “natural.” Moore explains, “To the detriment of residents today and all generations to follow, the prolific oyster beds of the Oyster River were harvested to depletion, but the good news is that restoration projects combined with wise management practices can bring some of that abundance back.” Ultimately, that is Moore’s passion, and his extensive knowledge of restoration practices and proven performance combine to provide hope to all who value the amazing flora and fauna of the Suncoast. ORE recently received its 501(c)(3) designation from the state. Moore is now finalizing the organization’s website and reaching out to the many philanthropic organizations with which the Suncoast is blessed.

Moore currently serves as president of the Manatee Fish and Game Association, where, among many other environmental initiatives, he helped shepherd the passage of the Manatee County land and water referendum, which passed with a 71% vote. The referendum will result in $50 million worth of funding for conservation projects in the county. I and many other anglers and citizens who have seen first-hand the decline of water quality, habitat, and bird and fish populations are excited at the prospect of ORE. Its focus on restoration projects is essential to a region whose baselines are a foundation of the local economy and are critically endangered.

Parking garage bill in high gear

Parking garage bill in high gear

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

TALLAHASSEE – A bill in the Florida House of Representatives to circumvent Holmes Beach ordinances and build a three-story, 1,500-plus space parking garage has passed its first roadblock on the way to becoming a reality.

HB 947, proposed by Manatee County Rep. Will Robinson Jr., passed the Federal Affairs and Special Districts subcommittee with a unanimous vote on March 15 despite Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, City Attorney Erica Augello and other city staff members making a trip to the Florida Capitol to speak in person during the meeting.

After the subcommittee meeting, Titsworth said she was disappointed but not surprised at the outcome.

“We knew ahead of time that they had the vote,” Titsworth said in a statement to The Sun. “We still went so we could at least and on record state our position. The staff did great. This is Florida government at its finest, unfortunately, and an exercise on what to expect when a city takes a stance on quality of life issues. We will continue to fight for home rule and to save our public beach.”

During a March 14 city commission meeting, Augello and Titsworth both spoke about the hearing. The required economic impact statement filed with the bill and signed by Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione states that the proposed garage with a minimum of 1,500 parking spaces is forecast to bring in $4,698,900 in the first fiscal year after its completion and $4,823,300 in the second fiscal year. The garage is expected to cost $45 million to build with $400,000 in annual maintenance afterwards. Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said the garage’s parking spaces would have to be paid parking, around $2 per hour, to help pay for the construction and maintenance. The reasons for building the garage include providing additional public parking spaces for beachgoers and giving visitors more places to park to visit local businesses.

During the March 14 meeting, Titsworth said that she doesn’t think the ultimate goal of Manatee County commissioners, who first proposed the garage, is to provide beach parking for locals but to provide parking for businesses in Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria.

“It could turn into a bus depot to get other people to other parts of the Island,” Titsworth said of the garage. While Holmes Beach city leaders require businesses to absorb their own parking onsite or at an adjacent site, that isn’t the case in Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach, where businesses often have limited dedicated parking.

The bill becomes effective if it passes three committees in the House along with a floor vote and passes the same process in the Senate and is signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis. If that happens, Manatee County commissioners can skip all city approvals and permits to issue their own permits for the construction of the parking garage on the county-owned property at Manatee Beach, located in the city at 4000 Gulf Drive. Van Ostenbridge previously said the new garage would include new bathroom, concession and retail facilities at the public beach. The garage is planned to cover the majority of the county-owned parcel, from the setback on the south next to West Coast Surf Shop to Gulf Drive. According to the bill, the garage is anticipated to not break the city’s three-story height restriction except for the elevator shaft going to the top floor of parking.

City leaders passed an ordinance in 2022 specifying that parking garages are not an allowable land use in the city. The ordinance was a clarification as parking garages historically have not been a use in Holmes Beach except by special exception.

Van Ostenbridge, who said he’d planned to propose a parking garage on the county-owned parcel before city commissioners passed the ordinance, said he felt like city leaders “kept moving the goalpost” so he broached the issue with the Manatee County legislative delegation, who voiced their support of the project during a January meeting. The proposed bill was born from there.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that he patrolled the city over a busy spring break weekend March 10-12 and found that parking wasn’t completely gone despite more than 35,000 cars coming into Holmes Beach each day.

On Saturday, Tokajer said the public beach parking lot was filled by 11 a.m. with 79 public parking spaces empty citywide at noon and 52 available at 3 p.m. On Sunday, he said the beach lot filled at 10:30 a.m. but there were still 88 spaces near the beach open at 11:50 a.m. He said those numbers didn’t include any of the available spaces in city lots or open church lots that welcome visitor parking.

Titsworth said that Robinson and Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse both took her up on an invitation to view the city’s available parking first-hand and that both were impressed with the amount of available parking. By the time Robinson toured the city, the bill had already been submitted for consideration. Kruse was noted during the March 15 hearing as lending his support to the proposed parking garage bill despite not appearing in person in Tallahassee.

Since the first approval, the parking garage bill has moved to the Regulatory Reform and Economic Development subcommittee. If it passes there, it goes to the State Affairs Committee before a House floor vote.

Castles in the Sand

Condo ownership and Florida law

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

I have a condo personality. Not everyone does, but I do. Down through the years, I’ve written quite a bit about condo ownership, culture and personality. I have very happily been living in a condo for over 20 years; it suits me. I despise gardening, cleaning the pool and worrying about the roof, all of which were part of my previous everyday life. But there is one aspect of condo ownership that frankly I haven’t thought much about until the last few years.

After the collapse of the residential condo building in Surfside, there were developers hovering around older condo buildings, especially those with Florida’s most precious commodity, waterfront locations. The interest in these buildings became more intense after the subsequent passage of a Florida law that requires most condo buildings over 30 years old to undergo structural inspections and correct structural failures. Owners and their boards of directors were approached by developers and started conversations about condominium termination rather than perform expensive repairs many long-time owners couldn’t afford.

Florida condominiums are by definition considered legal entities, just like corporations. They have boards of directors, owners, financial budgets and reserves and creditors. It’s different from single-family homes in that once you become an owner, you become part of this legal entity as just one of its unit owners. And that, of course, is where the condo personality or lack thereof comes in. If you don’t like making decisions by committee, better keep looking for the single-family home.

Condo terminations have been more prevalent in Florida than in other parts of the country because of the large number of aging condo units in South Florida and the lack of developable land near the water. According to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, over the past decade there have been at least 400 buildings that have undergone condo termination.

So how do you actually achieve a condo termination? All condominiums have bylaws that address condo termination and what the required number of owners must agree to in order to take this action. Some are 80%, some are less, and some are 100%. Realistically, under the best of circumstances, getting 100% of anything is virtually impossible.

In 2007, the state of Florida stepped in and passed legislation that essentially contradicted some condo bylaws by allowing 80% of the condo unit owners to agree to dissolve or terminate the condo regardless of what was written in the original bylaws. The state decided it was to the advantage of current owners who were considering condo termination but were stuck. This was also during the period of foreclosure fraud and the real estate crisis impacting the country. The statute goes on to say that once a developer acquires 80% of the units, it can terminate the condo.

Granted, it appears the law was decided in favor of developers, but individual owners are also benefiting. Some of the buildings being terminated would be staring down the barrel of major special assessments in order to bring the property up to code, making it unaffordable for owners and downgrading the value of their units. Developers state they are offering market value to owners, eliminating structural risks to the building and its owners and enhancing the aesthetics of the area.

Could this happen in Manatee County? Of course it could, but because we have height restrictions in many areas of the county, our waterfront condos may not be as tempting to developers. Nevertheless, all condo owners need to be aware of the change in legislation and the reality that termination of condos is happening in Florida.

In the meantime, my condo personality will help me overcome whatever happens.

Water taxi agreement revisions continue

Water taxi agreement revisions continue

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

ANNA MARIA – City and county officials continue to work on an interlocal agreement that would allow the Anna Maria City Pier to be used as a landing area for Manatee County’s pending water taxi service.

On March 9, Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission discussed but took no formal action on the revised interlocal agreement recently received from the county. That document includes the revisions county staff made to the original agreement the city proposed several months ago.

The discussion resulted in additional revisions being requested by the city commission. Those revisions will be included in an updated agreement to be presented during the commission’s Thursday, March 23 meeting or soon thereafter. If the commission deems those revisions acceptable, the city-revised agreement will be returned to county officials for their consideration.

Waiting for the taxi

The water taxi service was originally expected to begin in March or April. In October, Manatee County commissioners authorized then-County Administrator Scott Hopes to spend up to $700,000 to design and build two pontoon boats to be used as water taxis. Manatee County will initially own the boats to be managed and operated by the Clearwater-based Clearwater Ferry company.

According to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione, the water taxis will travel to and from downtown Bradenton with anticipated stops at the Anna Maria City Pier, the Bradenton Beach Pier and the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach, operating from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only. Extended hours and/or additional service days are possible depending on demand.

When asked about a starting date for the water taxi service, Murphy told the commission that Falcione would not commit to a specific date but said it would be “right around the corner.”

City revisions

The county-revised agreement says the purposes of the water taxi program are “to relieve

automobile congestion coming to and from the Island, and to provide an alternative and affordable means of public transportation to and from the Island for Manatee County visitors, residents and service workers.”

City Commissioner Charlie Salem suggested removing the word “service” and making the reference inclusive to all who work on the Island.

Commission Chair Mark Short referenced the proposed agreement language that says the cost of any Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-related improvements, permits or studies required for water taxi dockage at the pier would be the financial responsibility of Manatee County or its water taxi contractor.

Short said those ADA improvements could potentially include safety rails being added to the existing boat landing area near the T-end of the pier. He noted the proposed language doesn’t address who would cover the costs of any water taxi-related ADA improvements needed elsewhere on the pier in order to serve as a water taxi stop. According to Murphy, the commission would have to approve any changes or improvements made to the pier.

Short also referenced the agreement language that says, “Subsequent maintenance and the cost thereof for the pier shall remain the responsibility of the city.” He suggested the ongoing maintenance remain the responsibility of the county.

Short noted the county-revised version of the agreement references Exhibits A and B, but those exhibits were not included with the document. City Attorney Becky Vose said the city can’t formally enter into the interlocal agreement without being provided with the documents.

Castles in the Sand

Navigating the real estate market

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

I recently read a very extensive and well-researched piece in The Wall Street Journal regarding how foreign buyers are back in the United States to buy real estate and relocate their families. As expected, the majority of these buyers are wealthy individuals who are ready to make a move they may have been thinking about and weren’t able to do during COVID-19 lockdowns in their own countries. Well, they’re here now and buying in Florida and other sunbelt states and, naturally, New York City.

Obviously, if you come across a buyer from another country with a pocket full of cash considering your home, it could be your lucky day. That doesn’t mean you still don’t need to adhere to common sense. No one wants to overpay just because they can.

Everyone knows that cleaning, decluttering and making obvious repairs or paint touch-ups is essential in selling your home, however, that isn’t the most important thing to take care of. The most important decision a seller makes is pricing their property correctly and, in a fluctuating market, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

The old real estate adage that all real estate is local should not be ignored. Since anyone reading this will likely be selling a property on the Island or coastline of Manatee County, what you’re really selling is the Gulf of Mexico. Our region has an abundance of waterfront, water view, water peek, canal front, sailboat water, direct access to the Gulf and I’m sure other descriptive wording I haven’t thought of. Every single one of these “water” possibilities changes the value of your home. Reviewing recently closed properties as close to yours and as recent as possible is a good start. Manatee County’s property website provides access to the public and has every closing available and can be sorted in a variety of ways.

You may have the best waterfront on Anna Maria Island, but if you overprice the property with the assumption that you’ll have plenty of leeway to negotiate, it could be a mistake. You may be missing an entire block of buyers who won’t even look above a certain price point. Pricing a home correctly when it first lists is a much better strategy. Remember there are buyers out there who have been actively looking for just the right thing and have educated themselves in the value of the area. They or their agents are aware of anything new on the market and will know instantly if this property is priced right and worth looking at.

Likewise, pricing a property high because of improvements you have made and perceive to be valuable could be another mistake. What you value is not always what buyers are looking for, especially if the improvements are dark or not neutral or specific to your tastes.

During the pandemic frenzy you could sell just about anything that had four walls and a door. No one cared if your 10-year-old daughter glued almost impossible to get off stars on her bedroom walls or if your husband insisted on a black guest bath, but now they do. According to Zillow, in December 2021, about 44% of homes sold above list price; in December 2022, only 25% sold above list price. Today’s buyers now have a more critical eye and are calculating how much those stars are going to cost to remove.

Whatever market adjustment we’re going through in the country, remember there are always foreign buyers who want to move here. It’s a confidence in our country and our markets we may take for granted, but others don’t. If they have the confidence, certainly we should also.