ANNA MARIA – The city commission will host a second and final public hearing for the adoption of the city’s $17.89 million 2023-24 fiscal year budget on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 5:01 p.m.
During the coming fiscal year, the city expects to receive $14.68 million in revenues, including $4.2 million in ad valorem property tax revenues generated by maintaining the current 2.05 millage rate. The budget includes $3.2 million in existing fund balances reserves, net and assets carried over from the 2022-23 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
The $14.68 million in budgeted expenditures includes $2.84 million for general government expenses, $1.36 million for law enforcement and public safety, $4.42 million for the public works department, $984,506 for the planning and development department, $454,525 for parks and recreation, $1.74 million for stormwater and drainage improvements and maintenance, $2.6 million for capital outlay projects, and $192,344 in debt service.
The budget includes 6% wage increases for all city employees, including 3% annual salary increases and 3% one-time lump sum wage payments due Oct. 1.
The proposed expenditures include $1.74 million for stormwater and drainage improvements and maintenance, and approximately $3.3 million for the expanded Reimagining Pine Avenue project that will include new sidewalks, crosswalks and streetlights.
The proposed capital expenditures include $306,000 to install shade sails above the children’s playground at City Pier Park, to expand the existing shade sail structure and to install shade sails at the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier.
The proposed capital expenditures also include $200,000 for city hall consolidation and improvements, $275,000 to study permanent alternatives to dredging the Lake La Vista channel entrance every two or three years, $500,000 to install a standalone public restroom facility on the city hall/city parking lot property, $21,200 to redesign the Island Players parking lot, $75,000 for a stormwater pumping station design study, and $500,000 to extend the existing multi-use path along Gulf Drive.
The 2023-24 budget also includes $75,000 to potentially study if and how incentives can be given to retain and attract full-term residents and long-term renters.
ANNA MARIA – The city commission will use $183,000 in remaining American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to help pay for the future installation of new streetlights along Pine Avenue.
On May 11, Mayor Dan Murphy presented the city commission with his proposed use of the remaining federal funds. The commission unanimously approved the mayor’s request.
The city previously received $882,500 in ARP funds as part of the federal government’s COVID-19 recovery efforts. A significant portion of those funds was earmarked and used for drainage improvements and maintenance of the city’s drainage system, including the recent maintenance work along North Bay Boulevard.
ARP funds also were used to fund the $50,000 Reimagining Pine Avenue study and some were earmarked for future use for Pine Avenue safety improvements that will include new sidewalks, new streetlights and new and improved crosswalks.
Murphy said the city has approximately $183,000 in ARP funds left to spend. He said he expects it will cost more than $200,000 to replace the existing Pine Avenue streetlights with the more decorative and aesthetically pleasing light poles and fixtures desired by city officials.
Commission Chair Mark Short said the $288,000 originally earmarked for the Reimagining Pine Avenue Project plus the additional $183,000 being proposed by Murphy would total approximately $460,000 in ARP funds dedicated to the Pine Avenue project.
Murphy noted that last year the city received a $1.6 million state appropriation for the Reimagining Pine Avenue project and this year they expect to receive an additional $1.4 million state appropriation that’s currently awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature. The additional $1.4 million would allow the project to be expanded to include Magnolia Avenue, Spring Avenue and portions of Gulf Drive. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) oversees the city’s expenditure of the state funds.
On April 27, the city commission voted 4-1 to reject the lone bid received in response to the city’s most recent request for proposals (RFP) to install brick paver sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue. For the third time, the Sarasota-based C-Squared construction firm was the only firm to bid on the project, with their latest bid being $1.38 million.
During the May 11 meeting, Murphy said streetlights weren’t included in the latest RFP because FDOT standards require streetlights that are larger and taller than what the mayor and commission envision for Pine Avenue. State funds can’t be used for non-FDOT-approved streetlights and an alternative funding source had not yet been identified when the RFP was issued. Using ARP funds resolves that problem.
Murphy said the next RFP will include sidewalks and streetlights and will specify the specific funding sources for each of those elements. The city’s public works department will tackle the crosswalk improvements.
Commissioner Charlie Salem asked Murphy if including streetlights in the next RFP would attract more bidders.
“I do believe that. I feel pretty confident or I wouldn’t make this proposal,” Murphy replied.
Regarding the use of ARP funds, Commissioner Deanie Sebring said, “I think it’s a great idea. I think the citizens and the visitors would appreciate that, especially since it’s quasi-free money.”
In April, Commissioner Jon Crane opposed rejecting C-Squared’s latest bid. During Thursday’s meeting, he said he remained skeptical that increasing the project scope would attract more bidders but he supported the mayor’s funding proposal.
ANNA MARIA – The City Commission rejected the latest single bid received to install new sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue on April 27.
The mayor and commissioners now hope to use state funds to enlarge the scope of the project in hopes of making it more attractive to more potential bidders.
C-Squared was the only company that submitted a bid proposal in response to the city’s latest revised request for proposals (RFP) for the Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project that at some point is also expected to include new and improved crosswalks and new street lighting.
During a special city commission meeting on April 24, Mayor Dan Murphy provided the commissioners with confidential copies of C-Squared’s latest bid. C-Squared was also the only firm to submit bid proposals in response to the city’s previous two Reimagining Pine Avenue-related RFPs.
The initial phase of the Reimagining Pine Avenue project is primarily funded by a $1.28 state appropriation the city secured last year. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is overseeing the city’s use of the state funds.
According to Murphy, FDOT considered C-Squared’s previous bid too high. The latest RFP incorporated additional FDOT suggestions and pertained only to the installation of the sidewalks. City officials hoped the revised RFP would attract more bidders but it didn’t.
Bid rejected
During Thursday’s meeting, Murphy said the commission could accept the C-Squared bid and direct him to enter into fact-finding discussions and subsequent contract negotiations with the lone bidder; or reject the bid and eventually issue another revised RFP.
The previous C-Squared bid proposal received last July proposed a $1.09 million price to install the new brick paver sidewalks. Murphy said C-Squared’s latest bid was approximately 30% and $418,000 higher than the previous bid. Murphy said the increase could be partially due to the latest RFP requesting that crushed granite, rather than crushed concrete, be used as fill material for the drainage trenches to be installed beneath the new sidewalks. Murphy also noted labor costs have increased since the previous bid was received last year. As of Friday afternoon, copies of the rejected bid proposal had not yet been made available to the media.
Murphy said the relatively small scope of the project may not be enough to attract bidders interested in larger, more lucrative projects.
Murphy said the city anticipates receiving an additional $1.4 million state appropriation this year. This would allow the scope of the project to be expanded to include additional safety improvements along Magnolia Avenue, Spring Avenue and a portion of Gulf Drive.
“We’re on the cusp of getting another $1.4 million. We could expand this project to make it more appealing to more bidders. But then again, we could move forward with the project so we can get started right away,” Murphy said.
Commissioner Robert Kingan noted FDOT considered C-Squared’s previous bid to be too high and their latest bid is even higher. Kingan said he doesn’t like choosing from a single bid and he agreed that the project’s smaller scope might make it less attractive to bidders.
Commissioners Jon Crane and Robert Kingan held differing views on accepting or rejecting the latest bid. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Jon Crane expressed an opposing view.
“This is probably the most significant project we have on our books. The change of the look and feel and efficiency of Pine Avenue would be greatly improved. We’re not getting the interest and I don’t think we’re going to get any more interest. Now’s a good time to do this,” Crane said.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring said she doesn’t feel comfortable with just one bid or the increased cost proposed in C-Squared’s latest bid. She agreed that increasing the scope of the project might attract more bidders.
“It seems unbelievable that we could only get one local bidder on this project,” she said.
Commissioner Charlie Salem said he understood Crane’s position, but he thinks competition among multiple bidders would benefit the city. He also noted the labor market has recently cooled a bit.
During Monday’s meeting, Commission Chair Mark Short said the city still has plenty of time to complete the state-funded project.
During Thursday’s meeting, Short said, “We’re making progress but not we’re not where we thought we’d be when we started this two years ago. But the possibility of combining projects equals economy of scale. Certain things only have to be done once with a larger project versus twice for two projects.”
Kingan then made a motion to reject the RFP. The commission voted 4-1 in favor of doing so, with Crane voting in opposition.
ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy has an update for the city commission on the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.
On Oct. 27, Murphy said the city’s plans to install brick paver sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue have been evaluated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). FDOT is overseeing the city’s anticipated use of a $1.28 state appropriation secured earlier this year to help fund the Pine Avenue safety improvements.
Murphy said FDOT won’t allow state funds to be used to install new streetlights unless the new lights meet FDOT’s standards that require 32-foot-tall light poles – a height that significantly exceeds the mayor and commission’s desires for the Pine Avenue lighting. FDOT also expressed concerns about the width of the street and the city’s sidewalk plans not including curbs and additional rights of way acquisition.
City officials hope to stick with the conceptual plans the commission approved earlier this year. Project engineer Gerry Traverso has prepared a follow-up report that further explains the city’s plans and hopefully addresses FDOT’s concerns.
Murphy anticipates FDOT responding to Traverso’s report in December. When FDOT approves the plans, the city and the state agency will enter into an interlocal agreement that allows the city’s use of the state funds. City leaders will then have two years to complete any portions of the project to be paid for using the state appropriation.
After the interlocal agreement is reached, a new request for proposals will be issued for the third time seeking a contractor to install the brick paver sidewalks. Commissioner Robert Kingan noted most recent lone proposal submitted by the C-Squared construction firm earlier this year was considered by FDOT to be twice as expensive as it should have been.
Murphy expects to select a commission-approved contractor in March. He expressed hope that construction costs may be lower at that time due to the current state of the economy lessening the demand for companies that install brick pavers.
Murphy anticipates the construction of the new sidewalks to begin in April.
ANNA MARIA – Sarasota-based C-Squared CGC Inc. is the only construction firm that submitted a bid proposal in response to the request for proposals (RFP) issued for the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.
The city’s recently-issued RFP sought bid proposals from construction firms interested in installing new sidewalks, crosswalks and streetlights along Pine Avenue. City officials believe the improvements will make Anna Maria’s main commercial corridor safer for pedestrians, motorists and other users.
On May 12, Mayor Dan Murphy provided the Anna Maria City Commission with an update on the RFP process. Murphy said the city received many inquiries from potential bidders but C-Squared was the only firm that actually submitted a bid proposal.
The C-Squared bid is for approximately $2 million and roughly 50% of those estimated costs pertain to streetlights, he said, adding that the C-Squared bid was received the previous week and he had not yet had time to thoroughly analyze the proposal.
Murphy said that he, the city staff and the city’s contracted engineering firm need to further analyze the proposal before presenting it to the city commission to accept, modify or reject.
The commission could choose to discard the C-Squared proposal and issue new RFPs that seek separate bid proposals for the sidewalks, crosswalks and streetlights, Murphy said. He doesn’t yet know which approach might work best for the city. He said he would provide the commission with a more detailed analysis and copies of the C-Squared proposal at the commission’s next meeting. The sealed bid proposal received from C-Squared has not yet been made available to the public or the media.
C-Squared recently entered into a multi-million-dollar contract with the city of Holmes Beach for its city center project, he said. During public comment, it was noted C-Squared previously completed a brick paver parking lot project and a crosswalk replacement project for the city of Bradenton Beach.
As part of a separate city project, new stormwater infiltration trenches are being installed along Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said the Woodruff & Sons construction company is currently installing new stormwater infiltration trenches along Pine Avenue as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to improve drainage and reduce localized flooding throughout the city.
The below-surface infiltration trenches are covered with white lime rock. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
ANNA MARIA – City officials are issuing a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids for the installation of new sidewalks, crosswalks and lights along Pine Avenue.
The proposed safety improvements are the cornerstone of the city’s Reimagining Pine Avenue efforts.
During the March 17 work meeting, the Anna Maria City Commission authorized the issuance of an RFP that provides interested construction firms with about 30 days to submit their sealed bids. After reviewing the submitted bids, the commission will select a preferred contractor and make some additional design decisions.
Sidewalks
The new sidewalks will either be constructed of pervious brick pavers or continuous stretches of rubberized Flexi-Pave material made from recycled tires.
The bid proposals are to include brick paver sidewalks and the Flexi-Pave alternative available in several colors. Drainage elements will be installed below and beside the new sidewalks regardless of which surface material is selected.
During Thursday’s meeting, the commission debated whether the new sidewalks would be 6 feet wide, or 5 feet wide as previously recommended by project engineer Gerry Traverso. As requested, Traverso provided the commission with diagrams that showed several areas where there is enough space to install 6-foot-wide sidewalks.
Commissioner Mark Short said installing 6-foot-wide sidewalks would eliminate about 50 parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue. Short noted each space must be at least 8 feet wide and there isn’t enough city-owned space to accommodate wider sidewalks and the existing spaces.
“By putting these 6-foot sidewalks in, we’ve taken off the table the ability to parallel park on Pine Avenue,” Short said.
“That would be a fair assessment,” Traverso replied.
Commissioner Robert Kingan previously expressed support for 6-foot-wide sidewalks, but he changed his mind after learning about the consequent elimination of the parallel parking spaces.
“That is a huge change,” he said.
Kingan said he recently counted 39 vehicles parked along Pine Avenue.
“That’s a lot of cars, and suddenly saying we’re eliminating that is a problem, so I’ve changed my tune,” he told the commission.
Kingan said the Pine Avenue business owners would be upset if those spaces are eliminated.
Traverso said due to sightline and visibility concerns, the installation of 5-foot-wide sidewalks will still require the elimination of a small number of spaces.
Short noted the new sidewalks will not eliminate any privately-owned perpendicular parking spaces associated with the Pine Avenue businesses. Where applicable, the new sidewalks will maintain the current meandering path configurations that lead to nearby businesses.
In some areas, the pedestrian paths meander toward nearby businesses. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Deanie Sebring noted that previous Reimagining Pine Avenue discussions included the potential removal of the parallel parking spaces in order to accommodate new sidewalks and bike paths.
Sebring said eliminating the parallel parking spaces would encourage people to use alternative modes of transportation to get to Pine Avenue. Commission Chair Carol Carter said eliminating the street-side parking spaces would result in more people parking in the surrounding residential areas.
The commission voted 4-1 in favor of 5-foot-wide sidewalks along the length of both sides of Pine Avenue, from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, with Sebring casting the only opposition vote. That vote preserved, for now at least, the majority of the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue.
There are currently no plans to install bike paths or eliminate the parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bike paths are not included in the RFP being issued for sidewalks, crosswalks and lights. Bike paths could be pursued later as a subsequent phase of the Reimagining Pine Avenue project, but there is not enough available space to install bike paths and preserve the existing street-side parking spaces. A commission decision on installing bike paths or preserving the existing parking spaces is not expected until after the new sidewalks, crosswalks and lights are installed and evaluated.
Crosswalks
The commission voted 5-0 in favor of three raised crosswalks with embedded flashers being installed across Pine Avenue. The crosswalks will be equipped with control buttons that allow pedestrians to activate the flashers.
Traverso recommended a raised crosswalk near Roser Memorial Community Church and another at the other end of the street near city hall, The Donut Experiment and Poppo’s Taqueria.
Short suggested, and the commission supported, the installation of a third raised crosswalk across Gulf Drive at the Los Cedros Drive intersection. Existing non-raised crosswalks will be enhanced with additional lighting, safety striping and new signage.
“I go up and down Pine every day and the problem I hoped we were going to solve is people walking in the street,” Commissioner Jon Crane said. “My biggest concern is getting people out of the street.”
Crane is concerned that even with the new sidewalks and crosswalks many pedestrians will continue to walk in the road and cross where there are no crosswalks.
“Rarely do I ever see a pedestrian use a crosswalk,” Crane said.
The Pine Avenue improvements are sought to improve safety for pedestrians and others. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mayor Dan Murphy said shrubs or other landscaping elements could possibly be used to create natural barriers that guide pedestrians to the designated crossing areas. He also said the commission could consider adopting a jaywalking ordinance that would result in violators being subjected to citations and fines. No formal actions were taken on either of those actions.
Lighting
The commission voted 5-0 in favor of installing up to 27 new solar lights along Pine Avenue. The new lights and poles will replace the existing ones previously installed by Florida Power & Light. The commission reviewed some lighting options provided by Traverso, but the appearance and aesthetics of the new lights and poles will be determined during or after the RFP review and selection process.
ANNA MARIA – As the Florida Legislature winds to a close, city officials are watching several bills closely.
The 60-day 2022 legislative session began on Jan. 11 and was scheduled to end its 3-day extension on Monday, March 14.
Anna Maria officials remain concerned about legislation that, if signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, would allow businesses to sue cities and counties for lost revenues incurred as a result of local governmental actions.
They’re pleased that legislation failed that would have capped vacation rental registration fees and legislation that would have required city and county governments to prepare a business impact analysis before adopting a new ordinance.
The Legislature also appears to support two state appropriations requested by the city of Anna Maria for a total of approximately $1.4 million.
State appropriations
During the March 10 city commission meeting, Mayor Dan Murphy said state legislators supported the city’s $1.28 million request for state funds to assist with the Reimagining Pine Avenue sidewalk, crosswalk and lighting improvements. Murphy said current and future funding requests for the Reimagining Pine Avenue project could eventually total $5 million, depending on what that project ultimately entails.
State legislators also supported the city’s $207,450 request to help develop a plan for a new and extended Lake La Vista jetty. Murphy said the jetty would extend further out into Tampa Bay and alleviate the need to dredge the channel entrance every two or three years at an average cost of $200,000-$300,000.
Murphy said the initial jetty funds would be used for design and engineering. Future funding requests for the construction of a new jetty could potentially bring the total project-related funding requests to about $3 million, he said.
Murphy noted both funding requests are subject to DeSantis’ budgetary approval.
“Nothing’s a done deal, but our lobbyist feels very confident the governor will sign them,” Murphy told the commission.
Commission Chair Carol Carter said two other legislative acts, if supported by DeSantis, would return more control to local municipalities regarding tree removals and tree protections and would also allow cities and counties to ban smoking on public beaches.
Local Business Protection Act
Senate Bill 620 and its matching bill in the House of Representatives were adopted by the majority vote of the respective legislative bodies. If signed into law by DeSantis, this legislation would allow businesses to sue city and county governments for lost revenues resulting from the adoption or amendment of local ordinances or charter provisions.
According to the matching bills adopted by the Senate and House, “A private, for-profit business may claim business damages from a county or municipality if the county or municipality enacts or amends an ordinance or charter provision that has or will cause a reduction of at least 15 percent of the business’ profit, as applied on a per location basis within the jurisdiction, and the business has engaged in lawful business in the jurisdiction for the three years preceding the enactment of or amendment to the ordinance or charter.”
The proposed Local Business Protection Act notes cities and counties would not be liable for business damages caused by an ordinance or charter provision that’s required to comply with state or federal law; local emergency ordinances or orders adopted under the State Emergency Management Act; a temporary emergency ordinance that remains in effect for no more than 90 days; an ordinance or charter provision relating to growth policies, county and municipal planning and land development regulation, or an ordinance or charter provision related to the adoption of a budget or budget amendment.
Representing Manatee County and a portion of Hillsborough County, Sen. Jim Boyd voted in favor of the legislation. Representing Manatee County, State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. also voted in favor of the legislation. If signed into state law, the legislation would take effect July 1.
Potential impacts
City Attorney Becky Vose said the proposed state law could make it more difficult for some cities and counties to regulate adult entertainment businesses and other less-desired business activities. She noted Anna Maria’s code of ordinances already prohibits adult entertainment establishments.
Regarding the legislation’s potential impacts, Murphy said, “The biggest potential impact is in the building department. We do all of our codes by ordinance. If we change an ordinance and a builder sees that it’s having an impact on his revenue, not only can the homeowner come after us on a Bert Harris claim but then the builder can come after us.”
Murphy noted the proposed law, if enacted, would only apply to new ordinances, ordinance amendments or charter provisions and would not apply to existing city ordinances and charter provisions.
Mayor Dan Murphy expressed some concerns about the Local Business Protection Act’s potential impacts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Carter said a reduction of hours in which landscapers and other service providers are allowed to operate within the city could result in a business owner suing the city for lost revenues.
Through its Home Rule Florida website, www.homerulefl.com, the city of Anna Maria encourages concerned citizens to send emails or letters to DeSantis requesting that he veto the proposed legislation.
“It’s going to go to the governor’s desk, so we’re going to ask him to veto it,” Carter said.
Commissioner Robert Kingan suggested the commission, at a future meeting, adopt a city resolution to be sent to DeSantis in opposition of the proposed law.
Failed legislation
Senate Bill 280 proposed cities and counties be required to prepare a business impact analysis before adopting a new local ordinance or amending an existing ordinance. This failed legislation would have potentially subjected local governments to the significant costs associated with preparing budget impact analyses or paying outside firms to prepare them. The Senate bill also proposed making local governments responsible for the suing entity’s attorney fees if the suing party prevailed in court.
Another piece of failed legislation, Senate Bill 512, proposed the annual registration fee for vacation rentals be limited to $50 for an individual or $100 for a collective vacation rental registration.
Bradenton Beach appropriation
According to Bradenton Beach City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the state Legislature supports Bradenton Beach’s $3 million appropriation request. If approved by DeSantis, the state funds will be used for the ongoing efforts to underground utility lines throughout the city.
ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have approved the conceptual plans for the new sidewalks and crosswalks to be installed or modified as part of the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.
Mayor Dan Murphy and contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso presented the conceptual plans to the commission on Feb. 10.
Brick paver sidewalks will be installed along the entire length of both sides of Pine Avenue. Where applicable, the paver sidewalks will follow the existing footprint of the meandering paths located in front of some of the businesses on both sides of the street.
Made of permeable pavers that allow water to drain through them, the new sidewalks will be constructed over underground infiltration trenches and other drainage elements.
The sidewalk plans highlighted in black were presented during the Feb. 10 city commission meeting. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
During Thursday’s meeting, there was some debate as to whether the new sidewalks should all be 5 feet wide or be 6 feet wide in areas where the extra width can be accommodated.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring lobbied for 6-foot sidewalks. For the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists, she also again expressed her support for eliminating more than 50 existing parallel parking spaces along Pine Avenue. No final decisions regarding the potential elimination of those spaces and/or the addition of buffered bike paths will be made until the other improvements are made.
Commissioners Jon Crane, Carol Carter and Robert Kingan were also in favor of installing 6-foot sidewalks where possible.
Commissioner Mark Short opposed the wider sidewalks and noted that the extra foot needed on both sides of Pine Avenue to accommodate the wider sidewalks would reduce the 50-foot-wide project area to 48 feet. He said he would hate to lose those extra 2 feet that might be needed later.
Contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso presented his sidewalk and crosswalk recommendations. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Traverso said 6-foot-wide sidewalks would be challenging in some areas already constricted by fire hydrants, drainage components and other obstructions. He said approximately 30% of the project area could accommodate 6-foot sidewalks, and that the meandering path areas would be the best places to include them. The commission ultimately reached a 4-1 consensus to install 6-foot-wide sidewalks wherever possible, with Short remaining in opposition.
Crosswalk improvements
The commission supported Traverso’s recommendation to install a new raised crosswalk with embedded flashing beacons across Pine Avenue near The Donut Experiment and Poppo’s Taqueria. That location was chosen because there is currently no mid-block crosswalk in that vicinity, which has a high volume of uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.
The existing crosswalk near the Roser Memorial Community Church will be replaced with a raised crosswalk that also features embedded flashing beacons. A third raised crosswalk with flashing beacons will also be installed at some point between North Shore and North Bay Boulevard across Pine Avenue and the existing crosswalks will also be improved without being raised. Traverso said raised crosswalks are not needed at the existing four-way intersections and Murphy said there are currently no plans to create any additional four-way stops.
As a result of Thursday’s discussions, a request for proposals will be issued seeking responses from construction firms interested in installing the new sidewalks and crosswalks.
Traverso also briefly presented some additional streetlighting recommendations but the commission agreed to postpone the street lighting discussion for a future meeting.
ANNA MARIA – The pending Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvements and the pending Mote Educational Outreach Center were among the projects initiated in Anna Maria in 2021.
The year was also marked by the return of several community events that were canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
January
In early January, a fishing trawler sank offshore of Anna Maria and littered the Bean Point beach area with debris that required a significant clean-up effort by the city and Manatee County.
This was among the shipwreck debris that washed ashore in Anna Maria in January 2021. – Kristin Swain | Sun
A Bradenton Beach resident sustained bruises and minor injuries after being struck by a car while crossing the street at the Gulf Drive/Spring Avenue intersection.
A large and long-abandoned sunken sailboat was finally removed from the waters near the City Pier.
February
The COVID Ribbon Memorial of Florida was unveiled along the beach near the Sandbar restaurant. Created by Anna Maria resident, photographer and artist Cathy Tobias and some of her friends, the colorful art installation consisted of a string of brightly colored plastic ribbons that stretched more than 250 yards and represented each of the more than 27,000 Florida residents who had died of COVID-19 at that point.
The COVID Ribbon Memorial of Florida was unveiled on the beach in February. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city commission adopted a new ordinance that prohibits hoverboards, OneWheels, scooters, skateboards and bicycles on Anna Maria’s beaches and inside city parks – with an exception made for bicycles in city parks.
The commission voted 4-1 in favor of Mote Marine’s proposed educational outreach center occupying the vacant City Pier building, originally built in 2020 with the expectation of being leased to the operator of a full-service restaurant.
This rendering illustrates the preliminary concept for the Mote Educational Outreach Center. – Mote Marine | Submitted
Longtime Anna Maria resident Margaret Jenkins passed away at the age of 90.
March
Anna Maria resident Jennifer Kaleta addressed the city commission regarding the notification she received from the city informing her that her outdoor chicken coop violated city ordinances and had to be removed, much to the chagrin of her and her children.
April
Commission Chair Carol Carter, Mayor Dan Murphy and lobbyist Chip Case played key roles in defeating the Florida Legislature’s latest attempts to preempt vacation rental regulations to the state. Utilizing the city-owned Home Rule Florida website, www.homerulefl.com, the city and its supporters helped defeat Senate Bill 522 and House Bill 219.
May
The commission authorized a $50,274 consulting fee for the Reimagining Pine Avenue study that later produced several recommended pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements to be made in 2022, including new sidewalks and new and improved crosswalks.
The Reimagining Pine Avenue study hopes to address pedestrian and bicyclist safety concerns along heavily-traveled Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city hosted its annual Memorial Day Salute at City Pier Park. The 2020 event was canceled due to the pandemic.
June
Anna Maria Commissioner Joe Muscatello announced he was leaving the commission later that month because he and his wife were moving back to West Virginia to operate a bed and breakfast.
The Manatee County Commission approved the city’s $500,000 funding request to help create a Mote Educational Outreach Center.
The city installed a new playground at City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city commission agreed to spend $30,909 to install a children’s playground at City Pier Park.
July
The Anna Maria Island Privateer’s Fourth of July parade scheduled for Sunday, July 4, was moved to Saturday, July 3, at the request of CrossPointe Fellowship church officials.
The Anna Maria Island community lost a beloved local figure when Bob “Coop” Cooper passed away on July 3.
Former commissioner Doug Copeland was appointed to serve the remaining months of Muscatello’s commission term.
Mayor Murphy enacted a precautionary local state of emergency as Tropical Storm Elsa approached Anna Maria Island. The tropical storm had little impact on the Island but disrupted the collection of trash that accumulated over the July 4 weekend, which prompted a meeting between the mayor and Waste Management officials.
Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan celebrated her company’s 20th anniversary.
Assisted by spokesperson Patrick Coyne, Anna Maria homeowners Wendy and Robert Jordan launched the Preserve AMI campaign in opposition to a Florida Department of Environmental permitting decision that could potentially result in a new home being built seaward of the Jordan’s beachfront home at the end of Elm Avenue.
The owners of the beachfront home hope to preserve their view and prevent the construction of a new home in front of it.
The mayor expressed his appreciation for the assistance that Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge and County Administrator Scott Hopes provided regarding the removal of dead fish and marine life that washed ashore as a result of red tide.
August
Holmes Beach resident Sandy Olson was hired as the assistant manager of the Code Enforcement department.
The Florida Department of Health and the city of Anna Maria hosted a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic at City Pier Park.
Bortell’s Lounge reopened after a three-year renovation project that was delayed in part by the pandemic.
Sea-level rise expert John Englander recommended the city create a “30-year Rising Seas Master Plan” as part of the efforts to prepare for the sea-level rise and higher tides anticipated in the coming decades.
Beach Bums, Robinhood Rentals and Lazy Turtle Beach Rentals agreed to place stickers in their rented golf carts. The stickers remind drivers and passengers of some state laws that apply to operating golf carts on public streets.
September
The city and Mote Marine Laboratory entered into a lease agreement for the Mote Educational Outreach Center. Mote Marine representative Kevin Cooper said he expected the interior buildout and installation to be finished in March, with the facility to open soon thereafter.
October
The city’s weekly farmers market resumed its seasonal operations and will continue each Tuesday through mid-May.
The Anna Maria Chamber of Commerce’s expanded two-day Bayfest celebration returned after being canceled in 2020.
November
Running unopposed, incumbent city commissioners Carol Carter and Jon Crane won additional two-year terms in office. The commission then appointed Robert Kingan to serve a full-two year term to fill the seat vacated by Muscatello and Copeland.
The city’s Old Soldiers & Sailors Veterans Day parade and recognition ceremony returned after being canceled in 2020.
Two Scoops ice cream celebrated its 15-year anniversary.
The second annual Thanks-Living community gathering took place at City Pier Park after being canceled in 2020.
Thanks-Living returned to City Pier Park in November.
Former longtime Anna Maria resident and tour boat operator George Glaser passed away at his Bradenton home at the age of 78.
Anna Maria resident Jana Samuels was seriously injured when the golf cart she was driving was struck by a car that crossed into her travel lane in Holmes Beach.
December
Deputy Clerk and Code Enforcement Manager Debbie Haynes retired after six years with the city.
The mayor and commission agreed to share $3,736 of about $850,000 in federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds the city will receive over the next two years. The AMI Historical Society, The Island Players and the Anna Maria Island Garden Club are the recipients of those shared funds. The remaining ARP funds will help fund stormwater, drainage and road improvements, and will also help fund the Reimagining Pine Avenue improvements.
Operating with a new name, Santa Stops Here, the city’s annual holiday event, returned to City Pier Park after being canceled in 2020. That evening, The Holiday of Treasures Open House holiday event took place at many participating businesses along Pine Avenue. The city also hosted its third annual Bright Holiday Lights decorating contest.
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is authorized to spend up to $125,000 for engineering and design services for the city’s Reimagining Pine Avenue safety improvement project.
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, Murphy presented Anna Maria city commissioners with a Reimagining Pine Avenue project timeline that spans 25 weeks and includes five project phases for the safety improvements to be made: sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, a delivery truck turnaround area near the City Pier and the possible installation of bike paths.
The color-coded timeline Murphy shared with the commission indicates when he anticipates the engineering and design work for each project phase to begin, when the completed engineering and design work will be brought back to the commission for approval, disapproval or modification, and when the anticipated construction period for each project phase will occur.
This project timeline was presented to city commissioners on Nov. 17. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
Murphy expects the engineering work for the sidewalks and crosswalks to begin by Dec. 13. According to the timeline, which does not include specific dates, construction of the new sidewalks and crosswalks is expected to occur during the tenth week of the project timeline, during the first few months of 2022.
The new sidewalks will be constructed of pervious pavers that allow for better drainage than regular concrete. The new crosswalks and the improved existing ones will result in raised crosswalks that also feature signal beacons and additional lighting.
Murphy noted the timeline represents the commission consensus reached in October, which was a 3-2 vote to install bike paths along both sides of Pine Avenue and eliminate 53 city-owned parallel parking spaces along that street. Listing the bike paths as the fifth and final project phase provides city commissioners more time to evaluate the need for bike paths and the elimination of those parking spaces.
Estimated costs
The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.36 million. The mayor said the city will seek a $1.29 million appropriation from the Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis to fund the majority of the project. The Florida Legislature convenes for its annual 60-day legislative session on Jan. 11. The city has already budgeted $73,000 in American Rescue Plan funds for the Pine Avenue improvements.
“This is a best-case timeline,” Murphy said. “This is an aggressive timeline. There’s caveats associated with it. The most obvious caveats are supply chain issues, labor availability and state funding.”
Murphy expects to know the status of the state funding around the ninth or tenth week of the project timeline.
The estimated engineering and design work will cost $125,000, Murphy added, which leaves about $1.23 million for the construction and installation of the Pine Avenue safety improvements.
“Before we begin heavy-duty construction, we would know if we got the state funding or not,” he said.
According to Murphy, State Sen. Jim Boyd has already expressed his support for the city’s appropriation request and State Rep. Will Robinson is also expected to lend his support.
Commissioner Mark Short asked about the risk associated with the city spending $125,000 for engineering and design services and potentially not receiving the requested state funds or receiving less than the $1.29 million requested.
Mayor Dan Murphy is confident the funding can be secured to make the desired safety improvements. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In response, Murphy said, “If the state doesn’t give us any money, what do we do then? We’ve got five shovel-ready projects and all we need to do is find funding.”
He said additional funding, if needed, could be sought from the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and the Manatee County Commission. He said funds could be taken from the city’s reserve funds or raised through ad valorem taxes. He also said a city staff member is researching the possibility of Pine Avenue being declared a historic site, which could make the city eligible for additional grants.
“There’s a lot of options. If the state says no, it’s not over. We can get money from other places,” Murphy told the commission.
Short asked if the engineering and design phases will include construction cost estimates, and Murphy said they would.
ANNA MARIA – City officials are reconsidering the elimination of 53 parallel parking spaces in the Reimagining Pine Avenue project.
During a special commission meeting on Monday, Oct. 25, the divided Anna Maria City Commission reached an initial 3-2 consensus in favor of eliminating 53 parallel parking spaces located in the city-owned rights of way along Pine Avenue. But during the commission’s regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 28, Mayor Dan Murphy recommended a step-by-step decision-making and implementation process that addresses sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting first and allows commissioners more time to reconsider the need for Pine Avenue bike paths and the potential elimination of the parallel parking spaces.
The city does not intend to eliminate nor significantly impact the privately-owned perpendicular parking spaces associated with the Pine Avenue businesses – as long as those parking areas do not infringe upon city-owned rights of way.
Consensus reached
During the Oct. 25 meeting, the commission reached a majority consensus regarding several Reimagining Pine Avenue design options. These included the locations of the sidewalks and bike paths as well as crosswalk and street lighting improvements and a delivery truck turnaround area near the City Pier.
Commissioners Carol Carter, Deanie Sebring and Mark Short supported the elimination of the parallel parking spaces. Commissioner Doug Copeland and Jon Crane did not.
“I do not believe there should be parallel parking on Pine. I think it’s very dangerous for strollers, bikers, walkers. There’s no space. It should never have been put there in the first place,” Sebring said.
“I’m not feeling good about parallel parking along Pine,” Carter added.
Copeland presented an alternative design option that included sidewalks on both sides of the street, two bike lanes on the same side of the street and parallel parking along the opposite side of the street. Copeland said the most important element for any of the design options is the installation of continuous sidewalks constructed of the same materials, but his overall design concept did not garner the majority support of the commission.
Short asked contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso if diagonal parking spaces could be installed along Pine Avenue. Traverso said that would provide fewer parking spaces than the parallel parking spaces and work better on a one-way street. Murphy noted the commission previously eliminated the design alternative Traverso proposed that called for Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue to become one-way streets.
When choosing between the two remaining design concepts previously proposed by Traverso, the totality of the commission’s Oct. 25 decision-making produced a design option that most resembles Traverso’s Alternative 2 option.
Alternative 2 proposes new sidewalks and bike paths along both sides of Gulf Drive. Alternative 3 proposes new sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue and a single multi-use trail along one side of the street only. Both alternatives propose eliminating the existing parallel parking spaces.
The commission unanimously agreed the new sidewalks and bike paths would be constructed of permeable pavers and be installed atop French drain systems that further enhance drainage.
Where applicable, the paver sidewalks will follow the existing footprints of the unpaved meandering paths that pass by several Pine Avenue businesses. Murphy said the sidewalks would extend the entire length of Pine Avenue, from Tampa Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.
Illustrated in gray, the new sidewalks will follow the footprints of the existing unpaved meandering paths. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
The commission unanimously supported the installation of raised crosswalks with flashing beacons that double as speed tables, with additional street lighting to also be installed at the existing and new crossing areas.
The commission unanimously agreed to create a delivery truck turnaround area by the trolley stop and parking lot near the City Pier in hopes of decreasing delivery truck traffic on nearby residential streets.
The Pine Avenue improvements are desired primarily to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and others, with improved traffic flow as a secondary consideration. The commission agreed to pursue the Pine Avenue improvements first and address Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue as future project phases. Murphy said Magnolia Avenue will still be repaved as currently planned and budgeted.
The commission made these decisions while facing a Wednesday, Oct. 27 deadline to apply for a state appropriation that, if approved, could provide state funding for the city project.
Consensus reconsidered
On Oct. 28, Murphy suggested the specific design decisions be made one at a time, beginning with the installation of sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue and the delivery truck turnaround area, to be followed by the crosswalk installations and street lighting improvements.
Using this approach, Murphy doesn’t envision the commission addressing bike paths and the potential elimination of the parallel parking spaces until June or July. He said the elimination of parking spaces to accommodate bike paths remains “a major bone of contention.”
“The consensus we took was 3-2. Let’s see what these first three things (sidewalks, crosswalks and lighting) are going to do for us and then we’ll go to the bike path. There might be other alternatives to the bike path, there might not. There might be other alternatives to run a bike path down Magnolia and not disturb any parking on Pine. I want you to have time to think about that and also be able see the improvements, if any, that the first three steps have made. By June or July, you’ll have been through a spring break season. Taking it in bites like this I think is a good approach,” Murphy told the commission.
He said he would bring some of these matters back for discussion at the commission’s next meeting.
City staff member Amy Moriarty told the commission the city has now submitted an initial application for a $1.2 million state appropriation from the state Legislature for the Pine Avenue improvements.
ANNA MARIA – One-way streets will not be part of the Reimagining Pine Avenue safety and traffic improvements being discussed by Anna Maria city commissioners.
The commission reached that 5-0 decision during a special meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The decision to eliminate the concept of the one-way streets was met with approval and relief by attending residents.
The commission also reduced from four to two the potential design alternatives that contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso first presented on Aug. 19. The commission selected Alternatives 2 and 3 as the choices they will continue discussing. Mayor Dan Murphy noted these two alternatives may include variations to be proposed later by commissioners Deanie Sebring and Doug Copeland.
The safety and traffic improvements discussed Wednesday pertain to Pine Avenue only. Potential improvements to Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue will be addressed later.
Preferred design alternatives
Alternative 2 proposes buffered bike paths and sidewalks along each side of Pine Avenue. Separated from vehicular travel lanes, the new sidewalks and bike paths would improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
Design Alternative 2 proposes a bike lane on each side of Pine Avenue. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
Alternative 3 proposes sidewalks along both sides of Pine Avenue and side-by-side bike paths running in opposite directions along one side of Pine Avenue.
Both alternatives include the potential for additional stormwater treatment and improved drainage through the use of an exfiltration trench or trenches with valley gutters and inlets.
Design Alternative 3 proposes two bike lanes along the same side of Pine Avenue. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
During previous discussions, Traverso said the sidewalks and bike paths could be constructed using permeable concrete or permeable pavers instead of standard concrete. This would allow for better drainage but would also significantly increase the project costs.
Traverso said the new sidewalks would be configured in a manner that maintains the existing locations of the meandering pathways in front of some Pine Avenue businesses.
Both alternatives propose the elimination of 33 public parking spaces currently located along Pine Avenue in city-owned rights of way, and that remains a subject of ongoing commission discussion.
Traffic study results
According to traffic studies that Traverso conducted in mid-June, 2,730 motor vehicles turned right from Gulf Drive onto Pine Avenue during a 24-hour weekday period and 2,639 vehicles made that turn during a 24-hour period on a Saturday.
To account for peak tourist season from February through May, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recommends increasing non-peak season traffic study figures by 16%. When adjusted for peak season, Traverso estimated 3,167 vehicles per day turn right from Gulf Drive onto Pine Avenue during a 24-hour weekday period in peak season and 3,061 vehicles do so during a 24-hour period on a Saturday.
According to the traffic study, 614 vehicles turned right onto Magnolia Avenue from Gulf Drive on a weekday and 704 vehicles did so on a Saturday. According to the study, 321 vehicles turned right from Gulf Drive onto Spring Avenue during the weekday and 415 vehicles did so on a Saturday.
One-way implications
Before the commission eliminated the concept of the one-way streets, Traverso said converting Pine Avenue into a one-way street with traffic traveling from the City Pier toward Gulf Drive would result in an estimated 3,774 vehicles turning onto Gulf Drive on a weekday and 4,067 vehicles making that turn on a Saturday.
Converting Magnolia Avenue into a one-way street with motorists traveling from Gulf Drive toward South Bay Boulevard would result in an estimated 2,525 vehicles turning right onto Magnolia from Gulf Drive on a weekday and 2,551 vehicles making that turn on a Saturday.
With Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue transformed into one-way streets and Spring Avenue remaining a two-way street, Traverso estimated 1,140 vehicles would turn right off Gulf Drive onto Spring Avenue on a weekday and 1,207 vehicles would make that turn on a Saturday. He estimated 1,283 vehicles would turn off Spring Avenue onto Gulf Drive during that same weekday period and an estimated 1,414 vehicles would make that turn on a Saturday.
After hearing those numbers, Copeland expressed strong opposition to the concept of the one-way streets.
“If we did the one-way pairs, you’re adding almost 5,000 cars to Spring and Magnolia. I find that totally unacceptable for those neighborhoods. I would be putting a for sale sign up if I lived on either one of those streets,” he said.
Commissioner Jon Crane suggested making Pine Avenue a one-way street while leaving Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue as two-way streets, but that suggestion received no support from the other commissioners.
Parallel parking spaces
Commissioners expressed differing opinions on the elimination of the parallel parking spaces located along Pine Avenue and no final decision has been made in that regard.
Copeland wants to preserve the existing parking spaces. He fears removing them would result in motorists parking in nearby residential neighborhoods and create a lack of public parking similar to what exists in the Bridge Street area of Bradenton Beach.
Sebring supports eliminating the public parking spaces along Pine Avenue. She fears preserving those parallel parking spaces could result in car doors being opened into the path of bicyclists using the new bike paths.
Traverso said the privately-owned parking spaces in front of the Pine Avenue businesses would not be eliminated or significantly impacted.
The question was again raised as to whether the privately-owned vacant lot at the corner of Pine Avenue and North Shore Drive could be used for parking. According to county records, the vacant lot was acquired by the 303 Pine LLC in June and the LLC secured a $1.3 million construction mortgage that could potentially be increased to $2.99 million.
Sebring briefly addressed the Pine Avenue parking again during Thursday’s regular city commission meeting. She expressed her hope that if the Pine Avenue parking spaces are eliminated, the Roser Memorial Community Church would provide some public parking spaces across the street from the church in exchange for the church’s continued use of the city-owned property at the west end of Tarpon Street.
Sebring also proposed using a gated area at the far end of the city-owned AMI Historical Museum property for public parking if the public parking spaces along Pine Avenue are eliminated.
ANNA MARIA – Traffic engineer Gerry Traverso has presented his findings and five proposed solutions associated with his Reimagining Pine Avenue study.
The study encompasses the Pine Avenue corridor that includes Magnolia Avenue, Spring Avenue and those connected portions of Gulf Drive and South Bay Boulevard.
Traverso addressed the Anna Maria City Commission and the public on Thursday, Aug. 19. Lasting nearly two hours, Thursday’s meeting did not result in the commission narrowing its choices down to it top two or three options as originally anticipated. The discussion will continue at future meetings and Traverso expects to provide the mayor and commission with his final report within a week or so.
The study’s two primary purposes are to improve safety and traffic flow for all those who share the streets and sidewalks within the study area. Traverso’s findings were based on traffic counts, accident reports, personal observations, public input and conversations with business owners. American Rescue Plan funds will be used to pay for the $50,274 study provided by Traverso and the George F. Young civil engineering firm.
Alternative 1
Traverso presented several alternatives for the commission to consider and each included pros, cons and estimated costs.
Alternative 1 proposes additional pavement markings, bike lane sharrow markings and the installation of rectangular rapid flashing beacons at new and existing pedestrian crosswalks on Pine Avenue for an estimated cost of $85,000. Four new crosswalks and upgrading an existing crosswalk on Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $45,000. Four new crosswalks and upgrading an existing crosswalk on Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $45,000.
Alternative 1 is the simplest and least expensive proposed solution. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
The Alternative 1 pros include less initial cost and less disruption to the Pine Avenue businesses and the simplest and fastest implementation.
However, this alterative would not solve streetside parking and delivery truck issues, does not address gaps in the existing sidewalk systems, does not address safety concerns for bicyclists and does not resolve sight distance issues at driveway entrances.
Alternative 2
Alternative 2 includes the Alternative 1 improvements in addition to buffered bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides of Pine Avenue.
Pros include buffered bike lanes, which would provide separation between motorists and bicyclists. The continuous sidewalks would increase pedestrian safety and the use of permeable concrete or pavers for those sidewalks and bike paths would increase water quality treatment and drainage. This alternative also addresses sight distance concerns by eliminating parking spaces located near driveway entrances.
Alternative 2 proposes sidewalks and buffered bike lanes. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
The cons include the elimination of existing parking spaces and a potential 40-60% increase in construction costs due to the use of permeable concrete or permeable pavers.
Installing bike lanes on both sides of Pine Avenue and new sidewalks would cost an estimated $524,630. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $152,353. Bike lanes and sidewalks along both sides of Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $832,646. Sharrow markings and sidewalks Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $391,424.
Alternative 3
Alternative 3 proposes installing a multi-use/bike path along one side of Pine Avenue, continuous sidewalks along both sides of the street, adding more crosswalks and improving existing crosswalks.
Alternative 3 proposes a multi-use trail/bike path along one side of Pine Avenue. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
Pros include the multi-use trail, which would separate bicyclists and motorists. The permeable sidewalks would improve pedestrian safety and drainage and placing the bike path on one side of the street only would reduce driveway sight distance conflicts.
Cons include eliminating some parking spaces along Pine Avenue and the use of permeable materials, which would increase costs by 40-60%.
Installing a multi-use trail and sidewalks along Pine Avenue would cost an estimated $433,895. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $152,353. A multi-use trail and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $741,911. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $391,424.
Alternative 4
Alternative 4 does not include a dedicated bike path. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted
The pros include additional parking spaces, designated parking space for delivery trucks, improved safety for pedestrians, improved drainage and improved sight distances.
However, this alternative would not provide a separate travel area for bicyclists.
Installing a multi-use trail and sidewalks along Pine Avenue would cost an estimated $645,610. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Spring Avenue would cost an estimated $152,353. A multi-use trail and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $829,240. Sharrow markings and sidewalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $391,424.
Alternatives 5A/5B
Alternatives 5A and 5B propose converting Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue into one-way streets, creating streetside parking spaces and delivery areas, creating a multi-use path/bike path and continuous sidewalks, adding new crosswalks and improving existing crosswalks. Alternatives 5A and 5B differ in the direction the one-way traffic would travel and Traverso said these alternatives might require a traffic signal at the Magnolia Avenue/Gulf Drive intersection.
Alternatives 5 propose transforming Pine Avenue and Magnolia into one-way streets. City of Anna Maria | Submitted
The pros include a separate travel area for bicyclists, improved safety for pedestrians, improved drainage and additional parking spaces.
The cons include the higher cost of permeable materials, a potential increase of traffic in the residential areas along Magnolia Avenue and Spring Avenue and motorists potentially driving faster on one-way streets.
A multi-use trail, sidewalks, crosswalks and parking spaces along Pine Avenue would cost an estimated $978,305. A multi-use trail, sidewalks and crosswalks along Magnolia Avenue would cost an estimated $1.28 million.
Traverso said the costs associated with the permeable surface materials could be reduced in areas where stormwater infiltration trenches exist because the subsurface fill materials are already in place. Traverso also said grants might provide additional funding sources.
The commission was in general agreement that the Pine Avenue improvements should be the first priority, with the Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue to be addressed later. Commissioner Doug Copeland said installing continuous sidewalks along Pine Avenue that drain well and have a consistent appearance should be the top priority.
ANNA MARIA – With the conclusion of the last Reimagining Pine Avenue public information meeting, traffic engineer Gerry Traverso is working on a report detailing potential safety and traffic efficiency improvements.
The report is expected to be presented to the city commission in mid-August, rather than on July 29 as originally planned.
The third and final public information meeting took place on Tuesday, July 20, drawing about 20 residents and business owners along with Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission.
The meeting provided a final opportunity for the public to provide initial input regarding the Pine Avenue corridor that also includes Spring Avenue and Magnolia Avenue and the connecting sections of Gulf Drive to South Bay Boulevard.
Coleman weighs in
Anna Maria resident and longtime local businessman Mike Coleman joined the public discussion during Tuesday’s meeting. Coleman, Ed Chiles and Ted LaRoche led the development of the Pine Avenue Restoration (PAR) mixed-use properties that began in 2007.
“I’m pretty sure I have more practical physical knowledge of Pine Avenue than anybody else, because we built it – and we built it with a single purpose in mind; to create a walkable community,” Coleman said.
Anna Maria resident Mike Coleman shared his input and suggestions during the July 20 meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The PAR development includes unpaved, meandering pathways that serve as alternatives to the straight-line concrete sidewalks that exist elsewhere in the corridor.
“Some people raised a concern that the existing sidewalks were behind the cars, so people were at risk walking down the sidewalk with cars backing out. It just seemed to be simpler to put the sidewalks (pathways) in front of the cars, which is what we did. I’ve heard them called ‘phantom sidewalks.’ Most people know they’re there. They’re marked a little bit, but not as good as they could be,” Coleman said.
“People my age don’t walk out into the street. The people I see walking out on the street are younger families. Once in a while, I’ll stop them and say, ‘We built a pathway right over there for you so you won’t get hit by a bus,’ ” he added.
This unpaved pathway meanders away from Pine Avenue and leads pedestrians in front of the parked cars. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“What I hope for is a rational solution that can be embraced by the community. If safety is the issue, then the separation of pedestrians and vehicles should be the first step,” Coleman said.
He said flooding where the concrete sidewalks don’t drain well forces pedestrians into the road. He suggested replacing the concrete sidewalks and unpaved pathways with pervious paver sidewalks that provide better drainage. He said the goal should be to create a wide, visible walkway that attracts pedestrians.
Coleman opposes transforming Pine Avenue and Magnolia Avenue into one-way streets, as previously discussed.
“That never made sense to me to take traffic off Pine Avenue where businesspeople want traffic and put it into the neighborhoods where people don’t want traffic,” he said.
Additional concerns
Holmes Beach resident Nancy Deal said she and her husband frequently ride their bikes to Anna Maria and often sit outside of Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café and observe the traffic at the corner of Gulf Drive and Magnolia Avenue.
Deal said the area along Gulf Drive where the mixed-use path and the bike path end near Slim’s Place is among the most dangerous on the Island to ride a bike because there’s no designated travel area for bicyclists. She suggested creating a bike path or bike lane from Slim’s Place to Magnolia Avenue. She also said there’s not much space along Pine Avenue for bicyclists.
Anna Maria resident Jean Murray said the parallel parking along Pine Avenue makes it more difficult for bicyclists.
Joining the discussion for the first time, AMI Outfitters owner Yetta Levitt said she opposes restricting delivery trucks to 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. only, as previously discussed. She said AMI Outfitters doesn’t open until 9 a.m. and she’s concerned that packages left earlier and unattended could get stolen. She said her daily UPS and FedEx deliveries are important to her business operations and the smaller delivery trucks do not block Pine Avenue.
“I would strongly encourage you not to restrict deliveries,” she said.
AMI Outfitters’ co-owner Yetta Levitt opposes placing restrictions on delivery trucks. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
City Commissioner Deanie Sebring said a resident told her two large delivery trucks recently parked side by side near The Waterfront restaurant and completely blocked that end of Spring Avenue for more than 10 minutes.
Longtime Anna Maria resident Peggy Sawe offered the most extreme suggestion when she proposed implementing certain times when motor vehicles are not allowed to enter Anna Maria Island. She also said the three Island cities need to be more unified in their efforts to address safety, traffic and congestion issues.
Pine Avenue business owner Janalee Gallagher said Pine Avenue is currently a “free for all” with all the different users and modes of transportation sharing that space.
As a teenager, Anna Maria resident Quinton Concilus learned to drive on the streets of Anna Maria. He said he recently took his teenage son out for a practice drive in Anna Maria which was quickly terminated due to the traffic and congestion. Concilus also suggested all crosswalks throughout the city be identical to create consistency for pedestrians and motorists.
Sgt. Brett Getman from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office responded to comments made at the previous meeting regarding the enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to pedestrians and other Pine Avenue corridor users.
Getman encouraged meeting attendees to take one of his business cards.
“Get a hold of me. Call us. We don’t see everything. We can’t be everywhere at once. If you see something, don’t hesitate to call. If you don’t say something, we can’t respond to it. Send me an email if you have any questions or issues. If you want to sit down and talk to me, I’ll be more than happy to,” he said.
To contact Getman and/or the Anna Maria Unit by phone call 941-708-6130 ext. 130, or email brett-getman@manateesheriff.com.
ANNA MARIA – The second Reimagining Pine Avenue meeting took place at city hall on Monday, July 12.
A third public information meeting is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20. The final study report and recommendations are tentatively scheduled to be presented to the city commission on Thursday, July 29, but according to Mayor Dan Murphy that date could change.
Once that final presentation is made, the city commission, with Murphy’s input, will decide which recommended safety and traffic solutions to pursue and include in the 2021-22 fiscal year budget that begins Oct. 1.
Contracted traffic engineer Gerry Traverso is conducting the $50,000 study of the expanded Pine Avenue corridor that also includes Spring Avenue, Magnolia Avenue and the connecting portions of Gulf Drive and South Bay Boulevard.
Unlike the first public meeting on July 1, the July 12 meeting featured no discussion about transforming Pine and Magnolia Avenues into one-way streets – an idea that raised concerns from many who attended the previous meeting.
“The purpose of this meeting is to gather data from you guys. You live here. You work here. You are the ones dealing with traffic, going to the businesses and driving around. I want to hear from you the things we might have missed,” Traverso said as Monday’s meeting began.
He then provided a quick recap of some of the observations and concerns previously discussed. These included intersection sightlines obscured by vegetation, parked cars and other obstacles; the lack of parking and people parking “anywhere and everywhere;” the lack of sidewalk continuity and delivery trucks stopping and blocking the Pine Avenue travel lanes.
This Spring Avenue sidewalk comes to an abrupt end. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Traverso again noted the study area is shared by a wide variety of users that includes automobiles, delivery trucks, construction vehicles, golf carts, scoot coupes, scooters, bicycles, pedestrians and more. And he again noted there’s a limited amount of space to implement improvements.
Public discussion
During the public discussion that ensued, Rick Lewis produced photos of a main street in Indianapolis that features two-way travel lanes and a wide sidewalk next to a protected bike lane.
“I think it could be modified to fit our needs. You have to have a bike lane that’s protected. Fix Pine and maybe that will fix the other roads,” Lewis said.
Several Anna Maria residents participated in the July 12 Reimagining Pine Avenue meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Robert Kinghan believes the area near The Center is the most dangerous in the study area. He noted the Magnolia Avenue sidewalk ends at The Center and there’s heavy vegetation at the corner of South Bay and Magnolia.
“When you get to the corner there at South Bay you cannot see. Something needs to be done about that corner,” he said.
Stacie Bulley said the presence of garbage cans, garbage trucks and landscaping vehicles make Magnolia Avenue more difficult to navigate.
“I’m not going to use Magnolia anymore. I’m just going to go up Pine,” she said.
Landscaping vehicles blocking city streets has been a frequently mentioned concern during the Reimagining Pine Avenue meetings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
In contrast, Shari Dowling said she tries to avoid Pine Avenue at all costs, but she’s now encountering more traffic on other nearby streets.
Janet Riley lives along Magnolia Avenue and she said, “That is exactly what’s happened. Traffic has increased immeasurably.”
Riley said the four-way stop signs installed at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Gulf Drive in the past were a “godsend,” but they also created more traffic on Magnolia. She, too, mentioned the congestion caused by parked landscaping vehicles.
Former City Commissioner Chuck Webb said, “Gulf Drive and Pine Avenue are thoroughfares. Magnolia and Spring were never designed to be thoroughfares and that impacts the residents in that area.”
Webb said about one-third of the vehicles that pass through the Magnolia Avenue/Tarpon Street intersection run those stop signs. He said a speed bump was installed in front of his home on Magnolia about 15 years ago and it worked well until it was removed due to complaints made by other residents.
Traverso said speed bumps are one of the few things that slow vehicles down. He said gradually sloped speed tables also accomplish the same objective.
Frannie Kaluza said she sees more people parking along Magnolia Avenue and walking to the beach.
“You have a good problem: you live in paradise,” Traverso said. “Everybody wants to come here to the beach.”
Kaluza implied that living in paradise is becoming less appealing and Kinghan said, “Milton had a poem called ‘Paradise Lost.’ ”
Jean Murray said she sees more parking taking place in the easements along Pine Avenue and she wondered whether the vacant lot at the corner of North Shore and Pine could be used for overflow parking.
When asked about parking in general, Traverso said the existing off-street parking can be maintained, but that may prevent the installation of additional bike lanes and sidewalks. He also said the business owners he spoke with don’t want their existing parking capacity reduced.
“There’s a 50-foot right of way and there’s a number of alternatives you can do. There are always tradeoffs,” he said.
Participating by phone, resident Bob Carter asked Traverso about the study priorities.
Traverso said safety is the number one priority, followed by traffic and operational efficiency.
Joe Richmond asked if the Sheriff’s Office is going to enforce pedestrian and bicyclist violations associated with any study-related safety improvements.
“No doubt enforcement has got to be a part of the solution. We’ve got some issues with enforcement. We’ve got a lot of room to improve,” Murphy responded.
Kinghan asked Traverso what impact paid parking has on traffic and congestion.
“If you have parking, you will have more cars coming,” Traverso said.
Nancy Gravely asked about the installation of mid-block pedestrian crossings to address pedestrians who randomly cross the street without paying attention to oncoming traffic. Traverso said managed mid-block crossings are part of the study.
Joan Voyles asked about shifting the Pine Avenue travel lanes. Traverso said shifting travel lanes slows traffic down, but speed is not the primary concern on Pine Avenue. The goal there is to make the traffic flow more efficiently.
Several different modes of transportation share Pine Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Pat Olesen said the solutions need to be convenient for residents. Barbara Zdravecky said the study results are not going to make everyone happy and the solutions will require a community effort.
