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Tag: Manatee County

Letter to the Editor: Parking garage won’t solve problems

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

On March 1, I attended a Town Hall Meeting in Holmes Beach conducted by County Commissioner George Kruse. The main topic of the meeting was the traffic issues on Anna Maria Island and the proposed parking garage. Kruse listened politely, but he had obviously made up his mind that a parking garage should be built in Holmes Beach.

His decision was made with no input from any residents of Anna Maria Island, the people who will be most affected by the building of the parking garage. It’s disappointing that all the county commissioners, Rep. Robinson and Rep. Boyd did not take the time to meet with their Anna Maria Island constituents to gather additional input on a decision of this magnitude. What Kruse did not tell the audience is that the day before the Town Hall Meeting he had voted, along with the other County Commissioners, to endorse the parking garage. He has subsequently stated he is in favor of House Bill 947, legislation that would authorize a parking garage in county-managed public parks such as at Manatee Beach.

Kruse did admit that Anna Maria Island does not have a “visitor” problem, but rather has a traffic problem. His solution to reducing traffic on Anna Maria Island is to build a parking garage that Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge has stated could add 1,500 additional parking spaces.  How does the building of a 1,500-stall parking garage reduce traffic coming onto Anna Maria Island? Won’t providing 1,500 additional parking spaces only add to the traffic problem? Why aren’t the county commissioners, Rep. Robinson and Rep. Boyd pursuing other options that would allow visitors to Anna Maria Island while reducing traffic as actively as they are pursuing a parking garage? Why aren’t they moving more quickly to find other solutions such as off-island parking facilities, shuttle services or other mass transit options to reduce the number of cars coming onto Anna Maria Island?

Jeff Dentz

Holmes Beach

Local crews keeping beaches clean

Local crews keeping beaches clean

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – After more than three weeks of west winds pushing red tide and subsequent dead fish toward local Gulf of Mexico beaches, an easterly wind shift on Thursday gave some beachgoers a slight respite.

“We’ve been fighting the west wind for weeks,” said Mark Taylor, Manatee County Natural Resources employee and the operator of a mechanical beach-cleaning rake. “We appreciate a little break, the east wind is our friend.”

The beach rake that Taylor drives along the beaches has a spring-loaded conveyer with stainless steel tines that scratch the surface of the sand and pick up debris, including dead fish.

“We try to do the public beaches first,” he said. “That’s our priority always. They populate early with fish and it’s been a heavy amount of them.”

The fish go up the belt and are dumped into a 2-yard hopper on the back of the apparatus.   When the hopper is full, Taylor backs up the vehicle to dumpsters at Manatee Beach, Coquina Beach and Bayfront Park and empties the load.

Rather than doing his normal run along Manatee and Coquina beaches, Taylor was sent to the northwest end of Anna Maria Island on Thursday, where the beaches were littered with dead fish.

“The wind is pushing it in today to Bean Point from the rocks and to Bayfront Park,” he said Thursday.

The predominant types of fish Taylor is seeing on the shore are catfish, pinfish and baitfish.

“The eels, the catfish and the baitfish come first,” Taylor said. “I’m seeing Spanish mackerel, pelagic, and grouper. Today I dumped a load of fish and one large grouper was in there, probably about 3-foot long.”

At Bean Point on Thursday, dead fish were scattered from the shore to the dune lines more than 60 feet away.

“The full moon we had recently and the huge tides washed the fished up to about a 100-foot span,” said Liza Click, supervisor of the Manatee County Property Management Grounds Division. “We’re seeing sheepshead, trout, catfish, dogfish, a lot of mullet and an occasional big grouper washed up on the sand.”

The county has four rakes to cover the local beaches and has been operating three of them recently.

“This past Sunday we had three beach rakes going off,” Click said on Thursday. “Winds play a big part in our day. Today was a great day.”

Click, who operates a beach rake, said her day begins at 4:30-5 a.m.

“The good thing is, we’re not in turtle season so I can get out there early,” she said. “I start at Coquina and once I get to Cortez, I’m closer to the buildings and I can get done by 6 or so.”

Click said the dumpsters where the fish are disposed of are emptied three times a week, and the county is getting ready to put down lime under the dumpsters to alleviate the odors of dead fish.

Taylor said that so far the fish kills are less than he saw during the heavy red tide of 2018.

“It’s not as bad as ’18 was,” he said. “In ’18 we had much larger quantities of fish on the beach.  We’re able to manage right now. We had to bring everybody out in ’18. I worked 28 12-hour nights and days then.”

In 2018, Taylor said there was a run of dead horseshoe crabs along with the fish.

“What’s interesting is at Bayfront is primarily bay species. It’ll be mullet and trout and sheepshead,” he said. “And then out front (in the Gulf), you’ll get the grouper and the mackerel and maybe a pompano even.”

Taylor said thus far, the fish cleanups have been manageable for county crews.

“At some point, we have the beach clean each day right now,” he said.

Red tide intensifies

For the first time this year, some local waters are showing high levels of red tide.

Water samples taken on March 10 at Longboat Pass showed high concentrations of the red tide organism Karenia brevis, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). High levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, probable fish kills, water discoloration and detection by satellite.

Red tide levels were reported as medium at Kingfish Boat Ramp on Anna Maria Sound just east of Anna Maria Island and at the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria. Medium levels can cause respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, probable fish kills and detection by satellite.

Palma Sola Bay registered low levels of red tide.

According to the FWC, red tide was observed at low to high concentrations in 12 samples collected in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in 38 samples collected in Pinellas County and background to high concentrations in 51 samples collected in Sarasota County.

For updated information on red tide, visit the Red Tide Respiratory Forecast at RedTideForecast.com, which tells beachgoers what red tide impacts are expected to be at individual beaches at different times of the day. The forecast is also available in Spanish at PronosticoMareaRoja.com.

Beachgoers also can get updates at visitbeaches.org, the Mote Marine Laboratory beach conditions reporting system, which documents respiratory irritation and fish kills at local beaches.

Call 866-300-9399 from anywhere in Florida to hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state.

One proposed bill would pave way for parking garage at Manatee Beach

One proposed bill would pave way for parking garage at Manatee Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – There’s a bill in the Florida House of Representatives that would allow a three-story parking garage to cover the entire parking lot at the Manatee County-owned Manatee Beach.

If HB 947 passes both houses and is signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Island visitors and residents could be facing at least two years of construction, according to Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge.

The possibility of a parking garage first came up during a 2022 meeting between county and city leaders to discuss issues related to beachgoer parking in Anna Maria Island’s largest city. Later in the year, city leaders passed an ordinance banning parking garages in Holmes Beach, though a special exception for the use could still be sought with approval of the city commission. In a talk with The Sun last week, Van Ostenbridge said he’d planned to move forward with a proposal for a parking garage on the county-owned beach property but felt that city leaders “kept moving the goalpost.” So, he posed the issue to state legislators.

If the parking garage is approved at the state level, the proposed structure would be three stories tall, remaining within the city’s height restrictions – unlike previous garage plans of four stories – but still two stories higher than the existing concession stand. The exception to the height restriction would be the elevator shaft, which would extend above the top level of the garage to allow beachgoers to access rooftop parking.

The structure would only require building permits from the county, not from the city where it would be located, according to the bill.

Van Ostenbridge said the proposed structure would stretch across the entirety of the parcel –  from the 10-foot required setback on the south side at West Coast Surf Shop to the northern boundary of Gulf Drive – and house between 1,500-1,700 parking spaces along with new restroom, concession and retail facilities. The cost of the project is estimated at $45 million.

Van Ostenbridge said construction would take about two years. During those two years, the currently existing 427 parking spaces at the public beach would be unavailable, so he said all of the residential streets on the Island would have to be opened to public parking to accommodate beachgoers. Currently, all three Island cities have limited public parking available on residential streets, requiring all four tires of a vehicle parked street-side to be off the pavement.

Once the garage is completed, Van Ostenbridge said that parkers would have to pay a nominal fee to use the garage spaces, such as $2 per hour, to help the county recoup the money spent to build the structure.

Holmes Beach mayor’s response

In a letter last week to county commissioners, Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth reiterated her opposition to the proposed parking garage and urged state and county leaders to come to the Island to see the currently available parking and how it’s used by beachgoers.

“As mayor of one of the many cities in Manatee County, I once again welcome each of you on a tour,” Titsworth said in the letter. “I understand decisions have and will continue to be made by your board, many of which will have a profound effect on the quality of life for our citizens, guests and business owners. I hope that you will each be able to gain valuable knowledge as to why Holmes Beach is not only one of the most special places on earth to live but also an extremely popular tourist destination to which people come from all over the world each year to visit.

“For the past three years now, Holmes Beach citizens have found to be on our heels defending against false narratives by county leaders,” she wrote. “These stem from city leaders finally putting a limit on the number of secondary beach parking that could safely be accommodated in residential neighborhoods. I hope that you will accept my offer for a visit as this will not only provide you with the needed insights in making sound decisions but will allow you to see that as citizens of Manatee County, we have always been and continue to be part of the solution. The lack of available parking for county residents is not a result of parking limitations at the beaches. It is a result of growth in our county which is evidenced by the hours spent sitting in traffic trying to get to and from work on weekdays and to get to and from the beach on weekends and holidays.”

On March 3, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that over the previous seven days, Holmes Beach had an average of 31,099 cars per day coming into the city. Titsworth said there are 4,783 parking spaces available in Holmes Beach for beachgoers, including those at vacation rental properties. Over 2,000 of those are public parking spaces.

Van Ostenbridge said that he doesn’t feel that Holmes Beach is at maximum capacity for beachgoers on average, with the exception being the highest points of tourist season, which is typically the most crowded in mid-March. Titsworth disagrees.

“There will never be enough,” she said in a Feb. 28 commission meeting. “There will never be enough parking spaces to accommodate everyone who wants to come to the beach.”

Editorial: Paving paradise

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.

Anna Maria Island is changing and it has been for years. Our little Island has turned into a popular tourist destination and, while we love our visitors, especially the ones who come year after year and participate in the community, it’s hard not to feel like residents are getting pushed out in favor of beachgoers.

A bill is being considered at the state level that would have a parking garage built on the entire parking lot at Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach to overrule local regulations and allow Manatee County commissioners to issue their own building permit instead of going through a special exception request process with the Holmes Beach Commission.

The garage would hold 1,500-1,700 parking spaces after it’s built. What happens to all of the cars that are usually parked at the beach during the proposed two years of construction? Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge suggests opening all residential streets on AMI to beach parking for the duration of construction. If all residential streets are open to parking, and the four tires off the road street side parking regulations are lifted in the three Island cities, it has the very real potential to be a free-for-all where residents are severely outnumbered and have little to no chance of winning or preserving their quality of life.

Once the garage is built, it would be difficult to impossible to take back residential streets from parking and the garage will have a pay-per-hour system which would either have drivers circling residential streets looking for a free parking place or result in city leaders installing parking meters on the side of every road.

Imagine driving across the Anna Maria Island Bridge and instead of being greeted by a view of the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, you see a wall of concrete? Why not compromise and let the county build its parking garage on a different parcel, say the former Bank of America lot that’s only a block from the beach? The county would have to compromise by purchasing another piece of land and the city would have to compromise by allowing the garage to be built, but the existing parking at the public beach would remain open and there would be no need to open more residential streets to public parking for the beach without facilities, such as restrooms, concessions or adequate trash receptacles. If another garage is needed after the first one is built and open, put one up at the south end of the Manatee Beach parking lot. With 30,000-plus cars coming across the Anna Maria Island Bridge every day, it becomes a question of reasonableness and thinking about just how much a 7-mile island can take. We can only hope that our elected officials see reason before it’s too late.

Castles in the Sand

When old is too old

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

Last week we talked about interest rates and the effect they may be having on the national and local real estate markets. But what if you’re a senior citizen, retired and want to buy another home? There may be barriers to obtaining that loan you never considered.

No secret that lots of real estate is sold to seniors in the state of Florida, and not just Florida. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reports that 13% of all mortgages originated in 2021 were by people 65 years of age and older; that is over 1.9 million mortgages.

Nevertheless, older borrowers who no longer draw a paycheck and rely on investments and the interest they generate may have a problem proving to a lender that they have sufficient income and assets to qualify for a mortgage. This is especially true now as housing prices have gone up substantially over the past couple of years.

In addition, widows and widowers could have another problem qualifying if they have lost income after their spouse has passed. Frequently pension benefits are lost or reduced and Social Security benefits will also be reduced. A woman I met told me that after the loss of her husband, she couldn’t afford to stay in her house and didn’t qualify for a home equity loan to help with expenses even though there was adequate equity in the property.

Seniors who are depending on investments to cover living expenses will qualify if they are taking regular distributions from IRA accounts, which are considered income. However, if they are just withdrawing funds as needed, lenders may not consider that as income. Every lender is different, so finding one that has worked with seniors in similar positions is helpful. And of course, keeping your credit score up is essential, so be prudent when considering cosigning a car loan for your grandson.

Last week, we also reported on the sales statistics for Manatee County and the national sales statistics came out right around the same time. The National Association of Realtors said the number of closed sales fell 36.9% from last January; this is in line with our statistics that single-family closings were down by 31.7% in Manatee from last year.

Not similar, however, were the national median existing-home prices, which rose 1.3% in January from a year earlier. Manatee County’s median sale price for single-family homes was up 5.4% compared to last January. This should be expected when you see the selling prices on Island homes and other coastal areas in Manatee County.

Also, according to the National Association of Realtors, seven of the top 10 cities with the largest year-over-year increases are in Florida or the Carolinas. Sarasota is up 19.5%, Naples is up 17.2%, Punta Gorda is up 15.2% and Daytona Beach is up 14.5% – the Florida hot spots. Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist for the National Association of Realtors, says, “Even with a projected reduction in home sales this year, prices are expected to remain stable in the vast majority of the markets due to extremely limited supply.” I would add that supply is gradually improving with the possibility of it impacting sales values.

If you’re a senior and are experiencing a problem getting financing, remember that it is against the law to discriminate because of age. But it’s not against the law to discriminate because of a lack of income. Use the tools available to get that mortgage done before the prices go up again.

Reel Time: Suncoast Waterkeeper launches ‘Eyes on the Suncoast’

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

The waters on the Suncoast need the protection of those who love them. You can help Suncoast Waterkeeper (SCWK) do that with a new program the nonprofit launched recently by keeping your “Eyes on the Suncoast” and reporting what you see.

Whether you’re boating, biking, swimming, fishing or walking, everyone on or near the water can help SCWK remind residents and visitors why the Suncoast’s marine ecosystem is worth protecting. Suncoast Waterkeeper can’t be everywhere at once, that’s why your contributions are vital to their efforts.

Suncoast Waterkeeper launches 'Eyes on the Suncoast'
You can help Suncoast Waterkeeper by report- ing conditions such as this light-colored plume in area waters. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

SCWK has designed a platform that makes it easy for you to submit and share what you see. Sharing what you see using your phone, social media and the hashtag #eyesonthesuncoast can be invaluable in efforts to preserve water quality and habitat.

Here are two ways you can report what you see:

1. Use the form on their website for bad conditions or pollution reports only. The form will let you post an image, add a description and give the location of the report.

2. Post to Facebook or Instagram. Here is the perfect place to post what you love about the Suncoast and why it’s important to help organizations like SCWK keep it sustainable. A YouTube video walks you through the process on the webpage. Follow these four easy steps to post to your social media platform:

• Upload a picture;

• Include a description of what you’re reporting;

• Provide the latitude and longitude for your location using your phone’s compass or by dropping a pin on a map app; and

• Add #eyesonthesuncoast.

Need a couple of tips on what to report?

Post the things that inspire and amaze you – wildlife sightings, clear/clean water, a special sunrise and/or sunset, healthy seagrass or marine scenery.

Post the things we need to be aware of like trash/debris, excessive mangrove trimming, including dead mangroves, fish kills, dead or sick aquatic animals, discolored, foamy
or foul-smelling water, sewage spills, algae blooms, gas, oil or grease spills, runoff from construction sites, direct pollution or chemical spills, invasive species as well as other concerns.

If you have questions, visit Suncoast Waterkeeper online.

Don’t underestimate the impact that your contributions can make.

As Margaret Mead, the famous cultural anthropologist said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Castles in the Sand

Real estate market warming up

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

It’s winter in Florida and it can be a little chilly in the morning, but, if you pay close attention, you may feel a slight warming breeze. However, the breeze I’m talking about is not in the air, but in the real estate market, and it’s starting to stir demand among buyers.

Mortgage rates have fallen by about a full percentage point for a 30-year fixed-rate loan, signaling that the Federal Reserve may be nearly finished lifting interest rates. As of this writing, the average 30-year fixed-rate loan is averaging about 6.79%, but there are loans out there that are as low as 6.46%, and a 15-year fixed-rate loan is averaging about 6.22%.

The last time we saw mortgage rates in the 6% range was for several years between 2003 and 2008 after which the rates started dropping. Understandably, new buyers to the market were appalled when the rates went over 7% from a low of 3% since they had never seen rates this high.

Redfin reports that the number of people contacting real estate agents to start their buying process has increased from a November low. In addition, real estate contracts rose in December and mortgage applications are up by about a quarter nationally since the end of last year.

The real estate market has always been a barometer of how the economy is doing in general because so much of a successful economy is driven by a successful housing market. Goldman Sachs Group economists said this past month “they expect the worst of the downturn has passed and housing is poised to exert less of a drag on economic growth going forward.”

And buyers are hearing the message and getting accustomed to their monthly housing costs being higher if they plan on buying a home. It’s a correction in their thinking which has finally taken hold.

Let’s see if Manatee County residents are also getting the message. These are the January sales statistics reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

Single-family homes closed 31.7% fewer homes than January of last year. The median sale price was $505,710, up 5.4%, and the average sale price was $650,544, up 5.8%. Median time to contract was 32 days, compared to 7 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.

Condos closed 24.4% fewer properties than last January. The median sale price was $345,000, up 14.4%, and the average sale price was $392,332, up 3.4%. Median time to contract was 26 days, compared to 6 days last year, and the month’s supply of properties is 3.2 months.

Cash sales continue to drop 31.6% for single-family and 34.6% for condos. However, inventory is increasing and the median and average sale prices are still in positive territory compared to last year. The combination of increased inventory and values that are holding is a great thing. There are regions around the country that would love to be in our position.

In addition, historically, 6% interest rates are not unusual. What was unusual was when they got down to 3%. We as a country have always survived high-interest rates frequently much higher than 6%. Buyers continued to buy even then because owning a home is ultimately the goal of most Americans. So, enjoy the warming trend and be patient it you haven’t felt it yet, it’s coming.

Tourist tax collections 2022

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

2022 tourist tax collections compared to 2021

January

Anna Maria ↓ 6%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 37%

Holmes Beach ↑ 40%

Manatee County ↑ 34%

February

Anna Maria ↓ 18%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 23%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 42%

Manatee County ↑ 39%

March

Anna Maria ↓ 16%

Bradenton Beach ↑ 21%

Holmes Beach ↑ 33%

Manatee County ↑ 33%

May

Anna Maria  ↓ 42%

Bradenton Beach  ↓ 11%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 17%

Manatee County ↑ 4%

June

Anna Maria  ↓ 24%

Bradenton Beach  ↓ 9%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 9%

Manatee County ↑ 7%

July

Anna Maria  ↓ 42%

Bradenton Beach  ↑ .01%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 12%

Manatee County  ↑ 8%

August

Anna Maria  ↓ 84%

Bradenton Beach  ↑ .03%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 22%

Manatee County  ↑ 12%

September

Anna Maria  ↓ 17%

Bradenton Beach  ↓ .006%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 12%

Manatee County  ↑ 18%

November

Anna Maria  ↑ 8%

Bradenton Beach  ↑ 5%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 3%

Manatee County  ↑ 33%

December

Anna Maria  ↑ 21%

Bradenton Beach  ↑ 2%

Holmes Beach  ↑ 14%

Manatee County  ↑ 32%

Manatee County’s 5% resort tax, or tourist tax, is collected from owners of accommodations rented for six months or less who charge the tax to their renters, in most cases, tourists. About 50% of the tax proceeds are allocated to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau tourism marketing efforts, with 20% allocated to beach renourishment. The tax also partially funds tourism-related attractions such as the Bradenton Beach and Anna Maria piers. Manatee County totals include Anna Maria Island cities, Bradenton, the portion of Longboat Key within Manatee County, unincorporated Manatee County and Palmetto. To anonymously report a rental owner who may not be paying the tax, call 941-741-4809 or visit https://www.taxcollector.com/tdt-evader.cfm.

Source: Manatee County Tax Collector

Castles in the Sand

An island in the sun

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

I clearly remember traveling to the Caribbean islands when I was still living in the cold northeast and wondering what it would be like to live and work in such a beautiful place. Do high heel shoes become a thing of the past, to be replaced by flip flops, and do you immediately discard anything that says 100% wool, not to mention pantyhose? I did all of this and never looked back except to be grateful that I found this particular Island when I did.

Don’t misunderstand; I am very pro-real estate and most of the homes on Anna Maria Island are tasteful, new and built to current hurricane building codes, making them safer than their one-level ranch ancestors. Nevertheless, these days if I visit a small island, I can’t help comparing it to Anna Maria Island and can’t even imagine what the next 10 years will bring.

For now, let’s see what the December sales statistics for Manatee County have to say, reported by the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee:

Single-family homes closed 29.7% fewer properties from December of last year. The median selling price was $507,000, up 10.2% from last year, but the average selling price was $610,237, down 0.6% from last year. The median time to contract was 27 days this December compared to six days last December, and the month’s supply of available properties is three months this year compared to 0.6 last year.

Condos closed 24.2% fewer properties from December of last year. The median selling price was $344,475, up 13.7% from last year, but the average selling price was $364,057, down 3.6% from last year. The median time to contract was 19 days compared to six days last year, and the month’s supply of available properties was 2.7 months this December compared to 0.5 last year.

The consensus of opinion is that 2022 has been a change or shift in the market and we are seeing that as well. Dr. Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, indicates that inflation has been dropping and consumers can expect mortgage rates will likely fall as well.

In addition, although there are fewer sales, we have a significant increase in listings, making more properties available. Our market is still, however, considered a seller’s market per the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee.

An island – really just a spit of sand in the Atlantic Ocean – that made all these feelings come roaring back was a one-day stop at a totally undeveloped island called Half Moon Cay, a private island owned by one of the major cruise companies. The actual name for this dot of paradise is Little San Salvador Island 100 miles southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas. Half Moon Cay’s size is close to Anna Maria Island’s, but you would never know it driving around. There are only a handful of homes, a beautiful lagoon, a tourist center with shops and a spectacular unspoiled beach.

That said, based on a recent profile of Anna Maria in the Wall Street Journal, Anna Maria, “a tropical oasis,” is Florida’s second-most expensive zip code (34216) as ranked by median listing price, according to realtor.com. Anna Maria city is topped by Miami’s Fisher Island, pretty good company.

As Anna Maria keeps growing and property values keep going up, I wonder what would happen to lovely Little San Salvador if civilization invaded their beach. Every time I read a profile of Anna Maria in a national publication it leaves me shaking in my flip-flops, but that’s progress and this is an island in the sun.

Whitmore

Whitmore accepts new role with Help to Home

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

MANATEE COUNTY – Holmes Beach resident and former Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore is the new development administrator for Help to Home, Inc.

The non-profit organization seeks to provide low-rent housing and other assistance to parents and children threatened by homelessness.

“I am honored that Help to Home has chosen me for this worthy cause,” Whitmore said in a press release the nonprofit issued on Dec. 31.

“My goal in life is to make a positive difference in people’s lives and this position will help me do just that. I’ve been going around meeting with Goodwill and other organizations,” she said of her new part-time paid position.

The press release notes Whitmore helped low-income family members find jobs and obtain vocational assistance during her 16 years as a county commissioner.

Help to Home has purchased land on 30th Avenue, just west of 14th Street West in Bradenton, and plans to build Hope Village – a community of housing units with below-market rental rates.

“It is an unusual program because it requires each tenant to work with case managers, the local school system and community services to get vocational ‘up-skilling’ to stop the generational cycle of homelessness,” the press release states.

Help to Home board member Steve Wilson said, “As our development administrator, Carol Whitmore offers vast knowledge, great experience and many talents to help us reach our goals. Her understanding of homelessness and the impact it has on the entire family make her the best possible choice to ensure that Hope Village becomes a reality in 2023.”

Help to Home’s fundraising efforts will focus on private donations rather than government funding.

“The absence of government funds will avoid any restrictions on how it helps its tenants get better jobs and become financially independent. It also is not borrowing any money. Hope Village will be economically sustainable when fully built out and occupied, even at below-market rental rates,” Wilson said.

Whitmore said former Anna Maria resident Bob Carter had been assisting Help to Home with its fundraising efforts and he suggested they talk to her.

“I have to thank Bob Carter and I knew Steve Wilson from my time as a county commissioner. We just got approved for 53 units and we’re working hard on it,” she said.

Help To Home also recently added Jerry Marlar, Mike McCoy, Margie Genter and Matt McSwain to the board that already included Rod Urban, April Childers, Bill Hawthorne and Archie Smith.

Year in Review: Beyond the Island

Year in Review: Beyond the Island

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Manatee County, Special Sections, Year in Review.

MANATEE COUNTY – Beyond the confines of Anna Maria Island, a canal dispute, mangrove trimmings and a proposed water taxi service were among The Sun’s top news stories in 2022.

Hunters Point

In Cortez, the construction of 86 Hunters Point homes continued while a hearing was conducted and completed regarding a dock permitting dispute.

The permitting dispute involves Hunters Point developer Marshall Gobuty’s Cortez Road Investments and Finance Inc. ownership group and the Cortez Village Marina’s MHC Cortez Village LLC ownership group.

In 2021, the Southwest Florida Water Management District gave Cortez Road Investments the environmental resource permit needed to construct the docks. That permit was then challenged by MHC Cortez Village.

The multi-day hearing began in June 2022 and concluded in September. Attorneys representing Cortez Village Marina argued the proposed docks would impede navigation along the canal and negatively impact their clients who have larger boats.

The attorney representing Gobuty argued the new docks would not significantly impede navigation and she repeatedly noted the man-made canal in question is privately owned by Cortez Road Investments and MHC Cortez Village LLC has no existing usage agreements for the canal.

The parties involved in the permitting dispute are still awaiting a recommended order from administrative law judge Bruce Culpepper, to then be followed by a final order issued by the water management district’s governing board.

In separate but related actions that took place in 2022, Cortez Road Investments filed a civil lawsuit seeking a court order that would prohibit Cortez Village Marina clients from using the privately-owned canal.

Cortez Road Investments also filed lawsuits against several canal-side property owners requesting that their docks and other structures be made fully compliant with the county’s dock regulations that prohibit any docks, boat lifts and other structures from extending more than 25% into the canal which is approximately 65 feet wide in those areas.

To date, several legal filings have been made but no hearings have been held regarding the canal-related lawsuits.

Aqua mangroves

In late April and early May, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) personnel inspected the mangrove trimming activities that occurred along the shoreline of the Aqua development (formerly known as Long Bar Pointe) located between Sarasota Bay and El Conquistador Parkway in unincorporated Manatee County.

Year in Review: Beyond the Island
The mangroves to the left were not trimmed, the mangroves to the right were trimmed to create better views for those who will occupy Aqua’s multi-family residential units. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In mid-May, FDEP issued an inspection report that stated, “Unauthorized trimming activity was not evident at time of the inspections. However, no pre- or post-photographs, pre-trimming notification or post-trimming notification was provided to the department.”

In late August, in response to additional complaints about the mangrove trimmings not being properly removed,

FDEP Southwest District Director Kelley Boatwright issued a warning letter to Medallion Home representative Rob Bosarge and Aqua developer and Medallion Home CEO and president Carlos Beruff.

“During the inspection, department personnel noted the following: All trimmings over 3 feet long or over 3 inches in diameter were not properly removed and disposed of offsite. Remaining trimmings were not evenly distributed. A portion of mangroves appeared to be reduced more than 25% of foliage annually. Adequate pre and post photo documentation of the trimming event was not provided,” Boatwright said in the letter.

In the letter, she went on to say, “On July 12, department personnel notified you that potential violations existed at the site and you were requested to take corrective actions within 30 days. On August 25, a follow-up site visit was conducted and violations did not appear to be adequately addressed. To date, the potential violations have not been resolved.”

Water taxis

In October, Manatee County Commissioners authorized County Administrator Scott Hopes to spend up to $700,000 to design and build two pontoon boats to be used as water taxis for the downtown Bradenton to Anna Maria Island water taxi service the county plans to launch in early 2023.

In November, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommended the Manatee County Commission allocate $950,000 in resort tax revenues to help fund the county-initiated water taxi to be operated and managed by the Clearwater Ferry Company.

Initially operating Friday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., the water taxis are expected to travel between downtown Bradenton, the Anna Maria City Pier, the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and the Coquina South boat ramp. An exact launch date has not yet been provided.

Commission chair

District 3 County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge served as the Manatee County Commission Chairperson in 2022 and he will serve in that role again in 2023.

Year in Review: Beyond the Island
Kevin Van Ostenbridge served as the Manatee County Commission chairperson in 2022. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Passing

Longtime Anna Maria Island resident Brian Haddix passed away at Tidewell Hospice in Bradenton on June 21.

Year in Review: Beyond the Island
Longtime Island resident Brian Haddix passed away in 2022. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

 

Coquina Beach drainage project still impacting parking

Drainage project still impacting beach parking

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Portions of the Coquina Beach parking lot remain closed to beachgoers as work on the second phase of Manatee County’s extensive drainage improvement project continues.

The project’s primary goal is to improve drainage at the county-owned beach park in Bradenton Beach. The scope of work includes the installation of new underground stormwater collection and drainage components that are then covered with pervious pavement that allows water to drain downward and into the drainage systems below. The paved and striped parking spaces also create better-delineated parking spaces than the previously unpaved, un-striped parking areas.

The first phase of the project which took place at the south end of the beach park was completed in 2020. Work on the second phase began in February 2021 and the ongoing work continues to temporarily reduce the number of available parking spaces.

On Dec. 27, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan provided The Sun with a project update that included a project map he received from the county public works department.

Coquina Beach drainage project, parking impacts continue
This project map highlights the various sub-phases of the drainage and parking improvements taking place at Coquina Beach. – Manatee County | Submitted

According to the map, construction in the parking area just south of the main entrance and bus loop – highlighted in blue on map and referred to as sub-phase 4 – is nearly complete and those 221 parking spaces should be available in early January.

A visit to the Coquina Beach parking lot on Wednesday confirmed the pervious concrete paving has been installed atop the previously installed stormwater and drainage components, but that parking area was not yet open to the public.

Coquina Beach drainage project, parking impacts continue
As of Tuesday, Dec. 27, the Coquina Beach parking area south of the bus loop was paved and awaiting car stops and striping. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Woodruff & Sons is off until Tuesday of next week. They still need to pin the car stops and stripe the area before it can be opened,” Logan told The Sun. “They will then move north of the bus loop to work on sub-phase 3. This is the last of the second project phase.”

According to the project map, the sub-phase 3 area (highlighted in yellow) contains approximately 170 parking spaces that will be closed to the public in early 2023. Logan noted some additional tree removals will be needed as part of the work taking place in that area.

The map also shows an overflow parking area (highlighted in red) south of the soon-to-be-completed sub-phase 4 area that will contain an additional 140 parking spaces and is expected to open in late 2022/early 2023. As of Wednesday, that area remained closed, had not yet been paved and appeared to need quite a bit of work yet.

Coquina Beach drainage project, parking impacts continue
The overflow parking area remains a work in progress. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Logan noted the county’s contract with Woodruff & Sons is scheduled to end in March, but the overflow parking area and the parking area at the north end of the beach park were added to the project. He said that it’s not yet known if more time will be needed to complete the additional work.

Sewer project will soon impact Bradenton Beach traffic

Sewer project impacts Bradenton Beach traffic

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Manatee County’s sewer rehabilitation project is expected to cause traffic interruptions and parking challenges in Bradenton Beach beginning in late January.

On Dec. 15, Project Manager Alex Gonzalez sent a letter to city officials and others regarding the Bradenton Beach sewer rehabilitation project and a project-related public information meeting taking place at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Dr. N., on Thursday, Jan. 12, from 6-8 p.m.

Sewer project will soon impact Bradenton Beach traffic
A public information meeting will be held at Bradenton Beach City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 12. – Manatee County | Submitted

“The purpose of the meeting is to provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the Bradenton Beach sewer rehabilitation project on Gulf Drive, from 6th Street South to 13th Street South,” Gonzalez stated in the letter.

“There will be no formal presentation and guests are invited to stop by anytime between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to view project boards and design plans. Project staff will also be available to answer questions and provide additional project-related information,” he said.

“This project will replace and relocate a portion of the gravity collection system in south Bradenton Beach to new locations within the public right of way. The replacement of aging sewer infrastructure will improve the resiliency of the Bradenton Beach sewer system by increasing capacity and reducing the risk of pipe failures and leaks,” the letter states.

When contacted via email on Dec. 22, Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan said the Woodruff & Sons construction firm is expected to begin its work during the third week of January – the week after the Jan. 12 public information meeting.

“That would be the work on Gulf Drive and they expect it to last through summertime. Then they will begin work on the side streets,” Logan told The Sun.

Project website

Additional information and project updates can be found at the project-related website. According to the website, construction is expected to be completed in September 2024.

“The project includes the installation of approximately one mile of 10-inch and 8-inch gravity main along Gulf Drive South as well as 21 manholes and approximately 100 new 6-inch laterals. Lateral service connections will extend from the gravity main on Gulf Drive South down each side street from 6th Street South to 13th Street South. The project will also require road repair and restoration,” according to the website. “This project will replace and relocate a portion of the gravity collection system in south Bradenton Beach to new locations within the public right of way. The contractor is currently developing a construction schedule and procuring project materials.”

Chief’s concerns

During recent city meetings, Police Chief John Cosby has expressed concerns about the traffic and parking impacts that will occur along Gulf Drive South.

Sewer project will soon impact Bradenton Beach traffic
Police Chief John Cosby expects the rehabilitation project to significantly impact traffic and parking along Gulf Drive South. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

At a Dec. 7 Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting, Cosby referenced the sewer rehabilitation project and its anticipated impacts on the Cortez Beach parking lots south of Bridge Street – which in addition to providing beach parking also provide public parking for CRA’s Old Town Tram parking shuttle service.

“They are cutting holes across Gulf Drive at every street, from 6th Street down to 13th. Because it’s gravity fed, they cannot do (underground) boring, so it’s physically cutting holes about 15 feet deep and the width of the road in order to put the pipe in,” Cosby said.

He said Gulf Drive South traffic will be diverted through the unpaved Cortez Beach parking lots which will also be used to store construction equipment and materials.

“Cortez Beach parking for the next 18 months is non-existent. And as you know, the parking is still not finished at Coquina (Beach). There’s still one more section to do at Coquina once they’re done with the middle section that is not completed yet. You’re about to lose all that parking space at Cortez Beach,” Cosby said.

Sewer project will soon impact Bradenton Beach traffic
The county project will temporarily reduce parking at Cortez Beach, south of Bridge Street. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“We’re looking at 18 months if everything goes perfect. When’s the last time that happened?” he added.

During the Nov. 2 CRA meeting, Cosby said he and Mayor John Chappie had already met with county staff twice to discuss the pending project.

“It is going to be a nightmare,” Cosby said of the project’s anticipated impact on traffic and parking.

Castles in the Sand

Do you need a mortgage button?

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

The tradition of a mortgage button is a little scrimshaw button mounted atop a stairway’s newel post, as a symbol the mortgage was paid off. This is something I saw for the first time on Nantucket Island where my uncle and his wife retired many years ago. Ever since then, I’ve been fascinated with the concept of a mortgage button. Now, however, paying off your mortgage may not be as impressive as in times gone by for every homeowner.

In today’s world, there are many forms of retirement, or not retiring at all. Because of Zoom, inflation and interest rates, many individuals who would have retired even 10 years ago are postponing retiring. If your choice is to retire, are you planning to pay off your home’s mortgage with other assets or will you keep your mortgage in place? Retiring with your home “free and clear” was a goal of previous generations and many homeowners still strive for this, but financial managers may want to have a further discussion about the real benefits.

Even if you decide to give up work or work part-time, many have calculated that carrying a mortgage is a better choice. This is especially true if you have a low-rate mortgage because of either owning your home only a few years or, like many people, having refinanced your existing mortgage when rates were ultra-low. According to the Federal Reserve, nearly 58% of those ages 65-74 had mortgages or home-equity lines of credit on a primary residence in 2019. This is up 22% from 1989 based on available statistics.

Even if you can afford to pay off your mortgage before retiring, does it make sense to deplete your cash or investments for this use? A financial advisor will look at all of your income and assets and make a recommendation designed specifically for you, including safe, low-risk investments.

In addition, your tax consultant needs to be in the loop since tax ramifications must be considered. Although the 2017 tax overhaul significantly raised the standard deduction, there are still homeowners who will benefit from a home mortgage interest deduction.

Finally, keeping a low-rate mortgage frees up equity that you otherwise would not have access to. After retirement or switching to part-time work, your family income is obviously reduced, which would make it difficult to qualify for a new mort-

gage or home equity loan should you need it for a health emergency or other reason. Or just having the money available for a new car, dream vacation or to help out a family member may be enough of a reason not to pay off your mortgage.

Paying off your mortgage and retiring with no debt certainly gives you peace of mind, and that’s something to be proud of and a reason to get a mortgage button. The mortgage button can also be called a brag button indicating there is no lien on the property. Part of the mortgage button’s myth or fact is also another little-known aspect that the mortgage, when paid off, is stored in the newel post at the base of the home’s stairway before the mortgage button is installed.

Historians have debated the truth about the mortgage button for over a century. As for me, it’s a great story, true or not, and a special memory from my first trip to a magical island. Happy holidays!

Farm-City Week honors local farmers and ranchers

Farm-City Week honors local farmers, ranchers

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Thanksgiving meals recently enjoyed and holiday meals yet to come this season wouldn’t be possible without the farmers and ranchers that provide our food.

Each year, Farm-City Week is celebrated in recognition and appreciation of the farmers, ranchers and support personnel that are the backbone of Manatee County’s agricultural industry.

Celebrated this year from Nov. 7-19, Manatee County Farm-City Week 2022 honored the Bradenton Kiwanis Club in celebration of that organization’s 100th anniversary.

The Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach city commissions each issued their annual Farm-City Week proclamations. According to those proclamations, the first Farm-

City Week celebrations were established by Kiwanis International and Manatee County Farm-City Week was first sponsored by the Bradenton Kiwanis Club in 1955.

The Bradenton Kiwanis Club began recognizing its local Outstanding Agriculturalist of the Year in 1967 and was instrumental in establishing the 4-H Education Center, the Manatee County Agricultural Museum and the Master Gardeners Horticulture Learning Center. The Bradenton Kiwanis Club also sponsors 4-H, Future Farmers of America and Farm Bureau programs for Manatee County youth.

“Farm-City Week and the agriculture community are thankful for the 100 years of service and support provided by the Bradenton Kiwanis Club and urges the public to celebrate agriculture in Manatee County while appreciating the contributions the Bradenton Kiwanis Club has made to agriculture education in our community,” the proclamations read.

The countywide Farm-City Week celebrations included approximately 1,000 third-grade students participating in the AgVenture program conducted by the University of Florida IFAS extension staff at the Manatee County Fairgrounds in Palmetto on Nov. 17. The AgVenture program provided local students with up close and personal learning experiences that included beekeeping, growing vegetables, milking cows, making orange juice, protecting local water resources and more.

Island presentations

In recognition of Farm-City Week, Manatee County native and Suncoast Nursery owner Ralph Garrison visited the Bradenton Beach City Commission on Nov. 17.

“This is something I always look forward to because it’s important to remember that Manatee County is a big agri- cultural community,” Mayor John Chappie said before Garrison spoke.

After noting this was the 67th year that Manatee County has celebrated Farm-City Week, Garrison said, “It brings awareness between the city folk and the farmers and ranchers of Manatee County. There’s no unity in the community that doesn’t know its past.”

Garrison said past generations of Manatee County farmers used to grow their crops in west Bradenton and load them onto boats on the Manatee River that then traveled north on the Gulf of Mexico to Cedar Key to be shipped further up north.

“Why Cedar Key? That’s where the railroad stopped at the time. It hadn’t made its way down to Tampa yet,” Garrison explained.

Garrison said Manatee County’s sandy, loamy soil base is conducive to the farming that helps make agriculture one of Manatee County’s primary economic engines, along with tourism and construction.

“Manatee County still farms, even though we get pushed farther and farther to the east,” Garrison said in reference to the increased development in east Manatee County.

He said multiple generations of Manatee County farmers, ranchers and fishermen have provided local citizens with food, employment, a love of the land and the raw materials needed to make clothing, housing, medicine, fuel and other products, and they’ve been assisted by the processors, brokers, truckers, shippers, wholesalers and retailers that are also crucial to the agricultural industry.

Regarding the Thanksgiving holiday, Garrison said, “As we gather with friends and families, we want to count our blessings and give thanks for the bountiful amount of food that we have. Safe, simple food that’s available to us.”

Garrison presented each commission member with a commemorative coffee mug containing an heirloom radish plant, which he encouraged them to replant.

“They’re a purple radish and they taste wonderful,” he said.

Farm-City Week honors local farmers and ranchers
Ralph Garrison gave commemorative coffee cups containing heirloom radish plants to the Bradenton Beach commission members. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Garrison addressed the impacts that Hurricane Ian had on Manatee County farmers, including his own plant nursery.

“It was a difficult end to a year for Manatee County farmers and ranchers. Hurricane Ian tore up crops and blew down sheds. Packing houses got blown down and ripped up. Cattle were drowning because of the flood of the Myakka River. But farmers have always found a way to work through these adversities. We’ve been through recessions, hurricanes, a pandemic and market loss. Farmers are resilient and bounce back,” he said.

In closing, Garrison said, “I’ll leave you with one statement Benjamin Franklin made: ‘Unstable is the future of a country which has lost its taste for agriculture.’ ”

He then offered this final piece of advice: “Don’t speak poorly about the farmer if your mouth is full of food.”

The Anna Maria City Commission issued its Farm-City Week proclamation on Nov. 10, joined by John Hamilton, who in 2018 was named the Kiwanis Club’s Outstanding Agriculturist of the Year.

Farm-City Week honors local farmers and ranchers
Mayor Dan Murphy presented John Hamilton with a framed copy of Anna Maria’s Farm-City Week proclamation. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hamilton made some brief remarks and presented the mayor and commissioners with commemorative coffee cups, pencils and agricultural fact sheets.

In response, Mayor Dan Murphy said, “You’re always welcome here in the city of Anna Maria. You’re doing a great job. You contribute a lot to our community.”