ANNA MARIA ISLAND – As you browse the shops, dine in the restaurants and check into the resorts of Anna Maria Island, you may notice what’s becoming a familiar sight not just on the Island, but in cities and towns across the U.S.; the “help wanted” sign.
The problem? Not enough workers to fill all the jobs.
According to statistics from ZipRecruiter, even though job postings on the site have surged, participation rates among users remain sluggish at best. There are currently 5 million more job postings on the site than there were at the start of the pandemic, but businesses posting the openings are getting record low responses.
Island businesses seem to be seeing similar results.
“I probably spent $800 to $1,000 on Indeed and didn’t even get a phone call,” said Shawn Waters, owner of Solo’s Pizza in Holmes Beach. “Now I’m going to the high schools because they’re about to get out for summer break. Those kids aren’t on unemployment, because they haven’t had jobs yet.
“When the big crowds come for Memorial Day and the weeks following, I’m just going to have to take the phone off the hook after take-out times get to 45 minutes and focus on the business inside the restaurant,” Waters added. “I don’t want to do this, it costs me a lot of money, but I have no choice. I just don’t have the staff to do both.”
Solo’s isn’t the only Island business struggling to find help in the service industry. There are a lot of rental units on Anna Maria Island, and it takes an army of housekeepers to meet the demand of the record-breaking booking rates at area condos and resorts. Unfortunately for many of these properties, what was once a job for many, is now being done by a few.
“The service industry has suffered during COVID because they’re in a pay scale where they make more money with the unemployment that they’re getting now. Anything between $12 and $17 an hour, in that pay range, you can’t find what you need, but once that ends, there will be a lot of people looking for work,” said Kathy Wooten, general manager of Queen’s Gate Resort in Bradenton Beach.
Nervousness about returning to a safe work environment has also been cited as a reason for not returning to work, as well as the fact that many job seekers may not have yet realized just how much the job market has heated up. No matter the reason for hesitation, the reality is that there are currently more positions available on Anna Maria Island than there were before the start of the pandemic, and filling them is priority #1 for many Island businesses.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – For the first time since March 17, restaurants and bars on and around Anna Maria Island and throughout Florida can operate at 100% capacity.
During Friday’s press conference in St. Petersburg, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida was immediately entering Phase 3 of his “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery.” DeSantis’ announcement was accompanied by Executive Order 20-244, which also suspends locally imposed fines or penalties for violations of COVID-19 regulations or restrictions, including face-coverings mandates.
“This order suspends the collection of fines and penalties associated with COVID-19 enforced upon individuals,” DeSantis states in the order. “Nothing in this order preempts or supersedes a non-COVID-19 municipal or county order.”
During Friday’s press conference, DeSantis said, “For restaurants, there will not be limitations from the state of Florida. There have been some local closures and other types of restrictions. The order I’m signing today will guarantee restaurants can operate a minimum of 50% regardless of local rule.”
There have been no local restaurant or bar capacity regulations imposed on Anna Maria Island or in Manatee County beyond those previously imposed by DeSantis and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
DeSantis said the restaurant industry has worked hard to provide safe environments for patrons.
“They take this obligation seriously. They want customers to have confidence, so they have every incentive to do that going forward,” he said.
“In the state of Florida, every business has an opportunity and the right to work. You can’t say no after six months and just have people twisting in the wind,” DeSantis said, noting there may be instances where “reasonable” local restrictions remain.
“No COVID-19 emergency ordinance may prevent an individual from working or from operating a business,” his order says.
“The beginning of July was the peak of infections – between July 7th and July 14th – and it’s kind of gone down ever since. The hospitalizations peaked on July 21st. COVID-positive hospitalizations are down 76% since the July peak,” DeSantis said.
He said sports and entertainment venues can operate without state-imposed COVID restrictions.
Regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DeSantis said, “I very much support the Bucs having fans. Outdoor transmission has not been a major factor. I also want to show we’re going to be able to host a Super Bowl in February. We expect to do a full Super Bowl.”
On Saturday, the Bucs announced a limited number of fans would be allowed to attend home games beginning with a soft opening on Oct. 4 and increasing to approximately 25% capacity on Oct. 18.
DeSantis also mentioned the music industry.
“We have musicians. They should be able to play, particularly these outdoor venues. You can do it and you can do it safely. We want to make sure they have an opportunity. I think you can get to yes on all of this stuff and there’s certainly no legal prohibition for them doing fans,” DeSantis said.
When asked about mask mandates, DeSantis said, “As an act of executive grace, all outstanding fines and penalties that have been applied against individuals are suspended. I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people and just work with people constructively.”
He also said, “The fact that you continue to move forward with the economy doesn’t mean the virus disappears. It’s something we’re going to have to deal with. But doing that from a fetal position – where society flounders, people are out of work, kids aren’t in school – that is not going to work and that’s not the way forward for us.”
Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said the state of Florida’s revenue collections for the month of August were $177 million more than post-pandemic estimates.
“We are already on the path to recovery and what the governor’s doing here today is just going to continue that path, and perhaps accelerate it,” Galvano said.
Local mask mandates preempted by state
When contacted Friday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said DeSantis’ order renders the city’s emergency face-covering order unenforceable and the local order would be allowed to expire on Tuesday.
“What’s the purpose of having a mask order in place if there’s no penalty for a violation? There is no purpose,” Murphy said.
Anna Maria’s emergency face-covering order carries a $50 fine, but no fines had been issued in Anna Maria.
“I hope it’s the right thing to do. I truly support businesses reopening. The economy, and particularly the restaurant business, has taken a terrible hit as a result of COVID-19. People are out of work and businesses are failing. I don’t want this in our city, but on the other hand, it seemed reasonable to request people wear masks. Now it appears there’s nothing we can do if they refuse. I think the economy will determine whether this is the right move or the wrong move and people will decide whether they want to go to a restaurant or not,” he said.
Anna Maria resident Bob Carter expressed concerns about the reopening order.
“As a resident of Anna Maria – a resort town where 70% of the houses are rentals – the infection risks are elevated with thousands of tourists in and out every week. With no fines, restaurants at 100% capacity and unmasked bars and restaurants can quickly become infection centers. I hope each city and each establishment owner considers keeping precautions in place to protect employees and patrons,” Carter said.
When contacted Friday, County Administrator Cheri Coryea was asked what impact the governor’s order has on the county face-covering mandate – a mandate that currently applies in unincorporated areas of Manatee County, including Cortez, and in cities that did not enact their own face-covering mandates, including Bradenton Beach.
“Because face coverings in the county are only required if you are unable to social distance 6 feet apart or more, and not while dining, it shouldn’t have an impact,” Coryea said.
Enacted on July 27, the county’s face-covering mandate carries a written warning for a first offense, a $50 fine for a second offense, a $125 fine for a third offense and a $250 fine for subsequent offenses. Those fines are now suspended per DeSantis’ order.
The authority to extend or repeal the county’s face-covering mandate in the wake of DeSantis’ order lies with the county commission.
Regarding DeSantis’ reopening order, Coryea said, “This should be most impactful to laid-off employees of the restaurant industry. I’m glad to see these folks able to return to work. Manatee County’s COVID-19 cases appear to be in a leveling off period – not much movement up or down in the last 30 days. As seasonal residents begin to return, opening up the capacity of restaurants while still using smart social distancing and sanitizing brings employees back to work and supports a needed boost to the local economy. Today’s number of unemployment claims for Manatee County reached over 36,660. We will know in about two weeks how impactful this change was.”
Business community reacts
DeSantis’ decision produced mixed reactions from the business community.
When contacted Saturday, Island Time General Manager Michael Davis said the Bradenton Beach establishment was operating at 100% capacity again.
Island Time Bar and Grill in Bradenton Beach is operating at 100% capacity again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Business is picking up. We’re seeing more volume today and we’re getting the NFL Ticket back tomorrow,” Davis said.
The Drift In is also operating at 100% capacity.
“I feel better not having to be the mask police and sending customers away because we were at our full 50% capacity. Staff will continue to wear masks until the Manatee County mandate changes,” manager Doreen Flynn said.
Sports Lounge bartender Patrick Edwards said, “We still require you to wear a mask when you walk in the door. We are at full capacity now. We do encourage social distancing and no longer have to sell food. So far those are the only changes that have been made.”
This quartet enjoyed a game of foosball at the Sports Lounge Friday night. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Bridge Tender Inn owner and retired physician Fred Bartizal expressed mixed feelings.
“It is a mistake at this time. It is good as a businessman, but bad as a physician,” he said of DeSantis’ order.
In Anna Maria, Ginny’s and Jane E’s café and coastal store owner Paul Foster said, “We are still requiring masks and social distancing. No change there. We are still analyzing our occupancy – no changes outside; inside we are going to try to get to 75% capacity. We are going to hang more plexiglass dividers. Our focus is on our customer and staff safety first.”
Chuck Wolfe is the CEO of the Chiles Group that owns and operates The Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria, the Beach House restaurant in Bradenton Beach and the Mar Vista Dockside restaurant in Longboat Key.
“We have not changed any of our policies. We continue to do outdoor seating only and we still require guests to have masks on when inside the building,” Wolfe said, noting Chiles Group employees will continue wearing masks.
In Cortez, Swordfish Grill General Manager Bob Slicker said, “We are continuing safe social distancing to keep our guests and team safe.”
Phase 3
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery” calls for these measures in Phase 3.
Vulnerable populations older than 65 years of age and individuals with a serious underlying medical condition (such as chronic lung disease, moderate-to-severe asthma, serious heart conditions, immune-compromised status, cancer, diabetes, severe obesity, renal failure and liver disease) can resume public interactions, but should practice social distancing, minimizing exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical, unless precautionary measures are observed.
Non-vulnerable populations should consider minimizing time spent in crowded environments.
Non-essential travel may continue.
Employees should resume unrestricted staffing of worksites and implement the final phasing in of employees returning to work. Employers should take prudent and practical measures to ensure employees do not enter the premises if they believe they are infected with COVID-19 or show symptoms of influenza-like illness.
Employees should resume non-essential travel and adhere to CDC guidelines regarding isolation following travel.
Local government meetings should return to in-person quorum and public participation for local government bodies.
Bars, pubs, and nightclubs that derive more than 50% of sales from alcohol should operate at full capacity with limited social distancing protocols.
Restaurants and food service establishments may operate at full capacity with limited social distancing protocols. Businesses should maintain adequate sanitation practices among employees and patrons during all hours of operation. Menus, if laminated, should continue to be cleaned after each usage. Paper menus shall be designed for single use and then disposed of immediately after use.
Gyms and fitness centers should open to full capacity but should maintain adequate sanitation practices among employees and patrons during all hours of operation.
State parks should be fully opened, including overnight accommodations.
Public beaches: Beaches should remain fully opened.
Large venues: (i.e. movie theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, bowling alleys, arcades, playhouses, casinos) These venues should re-open fully with limited social distancing protocols.
Large spectator sporting events should consider reducing capacity with limited social distancing protocols.
Theme parks may return to normal operations with limited social distancing protocols.
Vacation rentals should resume normal operating procedures but should continue to thoroughly clean and disinfect the property between rentals.
Personal services businesses, such as cosmetology salons, barber shops and nail salons, should operate under full capacity but should consider the following mitigation measures: Continue to maintain adequate sanitation practices for employees and patrons. Remove all unnecessary, frequent-touch items such as magazines, newspapers, service menus, any other unnecessary paper products and décor from customer service areas.
Operators of retail businesses should operate at full capacity but should continue to maintain adequate sanitation practices for employees and patrons.
JACKSONVILLE – Florida restaurants can increase their indoor seating capacity from 25% to 50% beginning Monday.
Retail operations can increase their capacity from 25% to 50% and gyms and fitness centers can reopen Monday at 50% capacity.
Bars, movie theaters and vacation rental operations remain prohibited statewide, but Gov. Ron DeSantis is now allowing individual counties to submit vacation rental reopening plans.
DeSantis announced these additional phase one reopening steps during his Friday afternoon press conference in Jacksonville. He said Florida is now headed into a full-fledged phase one reopening as a continuation of the initial phase one reopening strategies that started on May 4.
DeSantis set forth these additional measures in Executive Order 20-123. The order notes restaurants are no longer required to maintain a 6-foot distance between tables when expanding to 50% capacity.
“Bar counters are to remain closed to seating, and outdoor seating remains available with social distancing,” the order says.
Vacation rentals
During Friday’s press conference, DeSantis did not mention short-term vacation rentals until a member of the media asked about them. In response, DeSantis said he was not reopening short-term vacation rentals statewide, but individual counties can request short-term vacation rental openings.
According to EO 20-123, “Counties may seek approval to operate vacation rentals with a written request from the county administrator and the county’s safety plan for vacation rental operations submitted to the DBPR (Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation) secretary.”
A pending lawsuit against DeSantis seeks to lift the vacation rental ban entirely.
On Saturday, Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea addressed the governor’s announcement in an email she sent to county commissioners, Anna Maria Island mayors and others.
“I am sure you have been receiving emails and telephone calls asking you to reopen vacation rentals in Manatee County based on the governor’s county-by-county directive on Friday afternoon. Tourism remains the top industry in Manatee County and vacation rentals are a critical part of the tourism industry network that runs so successfully in our county and your city,” Coryea wrote in her email.
“The governor’s directive gives local governments the ability to present a safety plan for vacation rental opening rules to the state for consideration. Local standards are to be guidelines which are both acceptable to the local community and that align with the governor’s ‘Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step Plan for Reopening Florida.’ The governor’s Reopen Florida Plan is a set of benchmarks and guidelines under which we have already followed to craft our own return to work plan for county operations,” Coryea wrote.
Vacation rental reopenings can now be addressed on a county-by-county basis. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“In the coming days we will apply the same Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step guidelines for the board to consider that allow vacation rentals to reopen safely for visitors, vacation rental owners and hospitality staff. Your observations and experience in your city are important in this endeavor and will be considered as a part of the plan. As with all our reopening strategies to the County Commission, public health and safety will be at the forefront of the deliberations to address the vacation rental sector in Manatee County,” Coryea wrote in conclusion.
Coryea also distributed copies of a DBPR document containing additional information and safety measures for vacation rentals pursuant to EO 20-123, effective May 18 for counties that decide to allow vacation rentals.
The DBPR document says, “Effective May 18, the following measures are recommended as minimum standards for vacation rentals that are accepting reservations and guests for any length of stay:
“Maintain adequate time between the conclusion of a guest stay and the check-in of the next guest stay for appropriate cleaning and sanitation;
Clean and disinfect all frequently-touched surfaces in the property between each guest stay;
Wash all linens, dishware, and other service items available for use by guests between each guest rental;
Provide sufficient soap and surface sanitation supplies for guests to utilize in the vacation rental property during the guest’s rental period;
Ensure adequate safety protocols are in place and publicly displayed, in line with CDC guidance, regarding shared or multi-residence amenities such as pools, gyms, and other communal spaces.”
Effective May 18, DBPR also recommends the following best practices for vacation rentals that are accepting reservations and guests for any length of stay:
“Use mobile platforms for customer service and communication with guests, including the acceptance of payments by mobile or electronic methods;
Minimize direct guest contact with property owners or managers through remote check-in and check-out procedures;
Post signage or other notices regarding the cleaning practices that are completed prior to each guest stay;
Display signage or notices to guests in the rental property to frequently remind guests to take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including the wiping and sanitation of touched surfaces.”
The county commission will meet on Tuesday, May 19 and the meeting agenda includes discussion of ongoing issues relative to the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.
Bar protest planned
Bar owners and members of the Association of Independent Bar Owners of Manatee met with an attorney Saturday who volunteered to draft a letter to send to DeSantis and state legislators requesting that Florida’s bars and nightclubs be allowed to reopen.
Anna Maria Island’s stand-alone bars remain closed as the governor’s reopening plan expands. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Via executive order that took effect on March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), DeSantis closed all Florida bars and nightclubs that generate more than 50% of their revenue from alcohol sales.
In conjunction with the attorney’s letter, an organized protest is scheduled to take place Tuesday afternoon and begin between 3:30 and 4 p.m. at the Wade Thompson law office at 1720 Manatee Ave W. in Bradenton.
Organizers encourage protest participants to wear masks and gloves and practice social distancing to display the industry’s willingness to comply with COVID-19 safety guidelines. Several Anna Maria Island bar owners and bartenders have indicated they plan to participate in Tuesday’s protest.
A petition to reopen Florida’s bars and nightclubs has also been initiated at www.MoveOn.org.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Local businesses are reaching out a helping hand to community members amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minnie’s Beach Café, at 5360 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, is offering free breakfasts and lunches to local kids in need. In addition, if anyone is having trouble finding fresh eggs, produce or any items other than paper goods, the staff at the café is willing to help. Call the restaurant with what you’re looking for and, if they have it, the staff is willing to sell supplies to the public. And if you need something but can’t get out and live locally, they’ll deliver your order to you. The restaurant also is offering freshly prepared food to-go. Minnie’s Beach Café can be reached at 941-778-4140. The restaurant is open for pick up from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
The Sandbar Restaurant and Mar Vista are both offering farm fresh organic produce boxes to the public. Each box of vegetables comes straight from Worden Farms and features an assortment of salad greens, root vegetables, culinary herbs, cooking greens and other organic veggies. Each box is $30 with orders delivered to The Sandbar on Thursdays for pick up after 1 p.m. and to Mar Vista on Thursdays for pick up after 2 p.m. The vegetable boxes are the farmer’s choice and cannot be customized.
Both restaurants also have a menu of freshly prepared dishes for pick up along with a selection of grocery items including eggs, cheese, fresh meat and seafood, pasta, fresh vegetables and bottles of wine, beer and liquor. For more information, or to place your order, visit Mar Vista online to order or The Sandbar online to order. Pickup from both locations is available daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mar Vista is located at 760 Broadway St. on Longboat Key. The Sandbar is at 100 Spring Ave. in Anna Maria.
Over in Cortez, the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar also is offering not only some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes to-go but groceries, bait, ice, deli supplies and sandwiches, beer, wine and liquor for pick up by land or by boat. The food menu and available groceries change daily as do the groceries available which range from fresh vegetables to milk and eggs, seafood, deli meats and cheeses, fresh bread and even a few paper goods. The restaurant, located at 4628 119th St. W. or at mile marker 49 by boat, is accepting orders online or by phone at 941-798-2035.
