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Tag: stormwater fee

Public works supervisor provides rainfall, flooding update

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

This story was updated at 7 p.m. on May 29 regarding Dan Diggin’s suggested stormwater fee calculation method.

HOLMES BEACH – On Thursday, May 28, Holmes Beach Public Works Director Herb Raybourn distributed an email to the mayor and city commissioners regarding the heavy rainfall and flooding that occurred earlier that morning. 

“At about 2:40 a.m. this morning, it started raining with an intensity of about 2.4 inches per hour and stopped at about 4:40 a.m.,” Raybourn stated in his email.

Raybourn’s email referenced the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). NAVD 88 is the official vertical datum of the United States and it serves as a reference system for surveyors, engineers and mapping professionals to measure and relate elevations to the Earth’s surface. A tidal datum is a standard elevation framework used to track local water levels as measured by a tidal gauging station. 

“The tide measured at the Key Royale Bridge was between about 0.54 ft and 0.26 ft (NAVD 88). The low tide measured at the Key Royale Bridge was about 0.21 ft (NAVD 88) at 5 a.m. The peak tide since this morning was about 1.39 ft (NAVD 88) at 10:20 a.m. This led to flooding in various areas around Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island, causing road and facility closures, including Manatee County closing the southern parking at Coquina Beach,” Raybourn wrote.

“Public Works responded to the flooding and was onsite at about 5 a.m., working with the police department to implement safety measures, assess flooding around the city and begin recovery efforts,” Raybourn wrote. 

A “Slow Speed – No Wake” sign was placed along 56th Street, near Marina Drive. – Margie Motzer | Submitted

“I would like to provide an update to the situation along Marina Drive,” Raybourn wrote. “The stormwater infrastructure improvement project under construction has not been completed. Therefore, the existing stormwater system provides the only available drainage capacity along Marina Drive in the area of the library. While the existing system has been connected to the new outfall constructed as part of the aforementioned improvements, the undersized pipes and their condition (e.g., fouled with barnacles, sediments, etc.) limit the ability of the system to discharge.

“Flooding at the intersection of 56th Street and Marina Drive was exacerbated by the rainfall intensity, high tide and limited discharge, as well as the area low, about 1.75 ft (NAVD 88). The stormwater infrastructure improvement contractor, Harris McBurney, has a pump at the discharge point to help with the discharge. Unfortunately, it could not discharge the volume of water experienced this morning,” Raybourn wrote.

A trolley passenger stood on the trolley stop bench in front of the Island Branch Library while waiting for the trolley to arrive. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“To help alleviate the flooding along Marina Drive, Public Works contacted Manatee County to request an additional pump. Because of the expected rain over the next few days, the county was not comfortable lending Holmes Beach a pump. So, this morning Public Works rented a pump and it is expected to be delivered by the close of business today. Our plan is to keep the rental pump through the next two weeks as they are expected to bring large volumes of high-intensity rainfall to the city,” Raybourn wrote.

Stormwater fees

The not-uncommon localized flooding occurred two days after Raybourn and the city commission continued their ongoing discussion about potentially increasing the annual stormwater assessment fee, which is currently $2.95 per 100 square feet of property. The annual stormwater fee is currently applied equally to all properties in Holmes Beach. The fee revenues are used to maintain and improve the existing stormwater system. The stormwater fee revenues also provide the matching funds the city must contribute when pursuing and receiving state grants for stormwater-related projects.  

Raybourn recently proposed a 40-cent per 100 square foot rate increase per year for the next 10 years, beginning with a 40-cent increase for the 2026-27 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.

During the commission’s May 26 meeting, Commissioner Terry Schaefer proposed a $1 to $2 per hundred square foot increase for the coming 2026-27 fiscal year.

Commissioner Dan Diggins said he would support a fee increase of some sort. He also said he would be in favor of eventually switching to an impervious surface-based stormwater fee calculation method similar to what the city of Anna Maria expects to implement for the coming fiscal year.

Commissioner Steve Oelfke said he’s open to a stormwater fee increase, but he would like to eventually switch to a stormwater fee calculation method that takes into account vehicle trip counts for residential properties used as vacation rentals and/or the impervious surface calculation method Diggins mentioned.  

Commissioners Carol Whitmore and Jessica Patel currently oppose enacting a stormwater fee increase for the coming fiscal year.

Patel supports eventually switching to an impervious surface-based calculation method that takes into account a property’s impervious surface area. Schaefer also supports changing the current calculation method before the 2027-28 fiscal year fees are established during the 2027 calendar year.

Thursday’s rains flooded several residential properties on 56th and 57th street, near Marina Drive. – Margie Motzer | Submitted

Holmes Beach millage rate increasing, stormwater fee remains same

Holmes Beach millage rate increasing, stormwater fee remains same

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

HOLMES BEACH – Divided and passionate about both critical funding decisions, city commis­sioners voted to increase the property tax millage rate and not increase the annual stormwater utility fee.

The millage increase decision was made during the commis­sion’s July 25 special meeting, when the 2.1812 maximum millage rate was adopted for the 2025-26 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1. The stormwater fee decision was made during the regular commission meeting that followed.

Millage rate

The proposed 2025-26 fiscal year budget prepared by City Treasurer Julie Marcotte antici­pates $23.9 million in matching city expenditures and revenues – a $1.3 million decrease from the $25.2 million listed in the current fiscal year budget.

Applying the 2.1812 maximum millage rate, Marcotte anticipates the city receiving $6.73 million in ad valorem property tax revenues in the coming fiscal year – a slight increase from the $6.7 million in the current fiscal year.

Increasing the millage rate from the current 1.99 mills to 2.1812 mills will offset the 8.33% decline in aggregate property values experienced in Holmes Beach. Property owners will pay $2.18 per every $1,000 of assessed property value and due to lower property values, most property owners will pay about the same next year as they did this year.

During public input, resident Margie Motzer said the city budget increased 212% between 2012 and 2024.

Holmes Beach millage rate increasing, stormwater fee remains same
Resident Nancy Deal encouraged the mayor and commissioners to listen to the residents’ desires. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Resident Nancy Deal said the city of Bradenton Beach isn’t raising its current 2.3329 millage rate and is delaying projects and personnel hirings to help offset the decreased property values and property tax revenues. Deal said she lost a car during the 2024 hurricanes and would like to buy a new one but that purchase must wait. She suggested the mayor and commission take a similar approach to their budgetary decisions.

“I hope you can listen to what the residents have to say about how hard it is right now,” she said.

Holmes Beach millage rate increasing, stormwater fee remains same
Resident Renee Ferguson said the mayor and city commissioners need to tighten their belts when managing the city’s finances. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Resident Renee Ferguson said, “As far as the millage is concerned, it just doesn’t seem appropriate to raise it now. People are suffering. A lot of us had to go into our pensions and our savings because the insurance companies didn’t cover a lot of the expenses we incurred. Asking the people to tighten their belts seems unfair. I think the city really has to think about tightening theirs.”

Holmes Beach millage rate increasing, stormwater fee remains same
Commissioner Carol Whitmore opposed both proposed increases. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Regarding the proposed millage increase, Commissioner Carol Whit­more said, “The citizens can’t handle it. I can’t handle it. I had to break into my IRA to get an air conditioner. I don’t have insurance because I can’t afford it. We’ve all been through hell. We can’t do this to our citizens this year. We have to be more conservative.”

Commissioners Dan Diggins, Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek noted the maximum millage rate could still be lowered before the final budget adoption occurs in September, but Mayor Judy Titsworth said the proposed budget is based on the 2.1812 millage rate.

Soustek, Schaefer and Commissioner Steve Oelfke voted in favor of setting the maximum millage rate at 2.1812 mills and Whitmore and Diggins opposed it.

Stormwater fee

Schaefer and Diggins supported the proposed $2 stormwater fee increase and Oelfke, Soustek and Whitmore opposed it.

In June, Public Works Director Sage Kamiya proposed increasing the annual stormwater fee from $2.95 per 100 square feet of property to $4.95 or $9 per 100 square feet. He said the $9 rate would help fund $21.9 million in complaint-driven drainage and stormwater projects over the next five years, with matching grants provided by other agencies cover­ing a significant share of those costs.

Holmes Beach millage rate increasing, stormwater fee remains same
Public Works Director Sage Kamiya sought a $2 stormwater fee rate increase for the coming fiscal year. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

During the July 25 commission meet­ing, Kamiya proposed tiered annual increases that would begin with an increase of $2 per 100 square feet in the coming fiscal year, potentially followed by additional $2 increases during the next two fiscal years and $1-per-year increases during the two years after that.

According to Kamiya, the current $2.95 rate will generate an estimated $862,453 in stormwater fee revenues during the coming fiscal year and a signification portion of that money will be used to maintain the existing stormwater system. Not increasing the fee will limit the city’s pursuit of drainage and stormwater improvements and matching grants and some projects included in Kamiya’s $21.9 million potential projects list will be delayed or discarded.

“Stormwater management is impor­tant when you live on a barrier island,” Titsworth said. “That $800,000 isn’t going to buy you very much.”

Oelfke said the city needs to do what it can to support and retain the perma­nent residents that help create the city’s heritage and culture.

“If it saves one homeowner from moving, it’s worth holding off,” he said of the proposed increase.

Schaefer said the owner of a 5,000-square-foot property currently pays a $147 annual stormwater fee. He said a $2 increase would result in a $247 stormwater fee; and the owner of a 7,500-square-foot property would see their stormwater fee increase from $221 to $371.

Regarding the stormwater-related recommendations made by Kamiya and the city’s contracted stormwater engineer, Herb Raybourn, Schafer said, “I believe we’d be remiss if we didn’t pay attention to these warnings.”

Schaefer said the city should stop spending money on consultants if the commission isn’t going to follow their advice.

After saying she respects Kamiya’s expertise and understands the impor­tance of the city’s stormwater system, Soustek said, “This year, I have had a very hard time, along with everybody else. It’s taken a tremendous amount of insurance money and private money and I can’t, right now, give any more money.”

When expressing his opposition to the stormwater fee increase, resident Win Bishop said the mayor and com­missioners need to be more financially responsible by decreasing expenditures and using reserve funds to pay for stormwater improvements.

“There isn’t that many of us that still live on the Island, but you might want to consider what we want,” he said.

Related coverage:
Holmes Beach considering millage increase
Significant stormwater fee increase proposed

 

Anna Maria millage rate maintained, stormwater fee increase proposed

Anna Maria millage rate maintained, stormwater fee increase proposed

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

ANNA MARIA – The mayor and city commissioners plan to maintain the current 1.65 property tax millage rate for the 2025-26 fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1 and they’re leaning toward increasing the annual stormwater utility assessment fee from $2 per 100 square feet of property to $4.

Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short presented these budget consider­ations to city commissioners on July 24. Commissioners Kathy Morgan-Johnson, John Lynch (participating by phone), Gary McMullen and Charlie Salem unanimously supported Short’s recommendation to adopt a tentative maximum millage rate of 1.65 mills for the coming fiscal year. Commissioner Chris Arendt was vacationing and didn’t attend the meeting.

The adopted tentative maximum millage rate can be lowered before the final millage rate is adopted during two budget hearings in September, but the 2025-26 fiscal year budget being crafted by the mayor and city staff is based on maintaining the current 1.65 millage rate for another year.

At 1.65 mills, Anna Maria property owners will again pay $1.65 per every thousand dollars of assessed property value – after homestead exemptions and other tax-reducing exemptions are applied. Because the total assessed property values in Anna Maria increased cumulatively by 3%, most Anna Maria property owners will experience a slight property tax increase at the same millage rate.

Stormwater fee

When proposing increasing the stormwater utility fee from $2 to $4 per 100 square feet of property, Short said it would result in the stormwater fee for a 7,500-square-foot residential property increasing from $150 to $300, with the city’s anticipated stormwater utility fee revenues in­creasing from $328,000 to $656,000. Stormwater fee revenues are used to maintain and improve the city’s drainage and stormwater systems and they also provide matching funds for the stormwater grants that help fund those projects.

Short said Public Works Manager Dean Jones has identified more than $15 million in stormwater and drain­age projects and improvements that need to be done.

“We have significant stormwater work we need to do, just like every other city on this Island. Some of that needs to be done now, some of that can be done later,” Short said.

A formal vote was not taken on the stormwater fee increase, but commissioners Johnson, Lynch and McMullen voted in favor of directing City Clerk Amber LaRowe to use a third-party firm to distribute letters to all potentially impacted Anna Maria property owners informing them of the proposed increase. Salem opposes increasing the stormwater fee when many residents and property owners are still recovering from the 2024 hurricanes. A formal vote on the proposed increase will occur later in the budgeting process.

Revenues, debt

Short presented a one-page sum­mary of the city’s total projected revenues of $27.2 million for the coming fiscal year – an increase of nearly $10 million from the $17.8 million listed for the 2024-25 fiscal year that ends on Sept. 30.

Anna Maria millage rate maintained, stormwater fee increase proposed
Mayor Mark Short is preparing his first city budget. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Maintaining the 1.65 millage rate is expected to generate $3.96 million in ad valorem city property tax revenues in the coming fiscal year, a slight increase from the $3.85 million listed for the current fiscal year.

Short anticipates the city receiving $8.6 million in FEMA reimburse­ments, but he’s noted on several occasions that those federal funds are not guaranteed and it’s not known when they’ll be received.

Short, a retired accounting executive, noted the projected revenue summary includes $4 million in anticipated debt fi­nancing needed to cover the city’s up-front costs while waiting for reimbursement from federal and state agencies. The an­ticipated reimbursements include FEMA reimbursement for the money the city spent recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, future FEMA assistance to help rebuild the hurricane-damaged City Pier and FEMA reimbursement for some emergency stormwater work the mayor and staff felt was desperately needed. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reimbursement is anticipated to help complete the Pine Avenue sidewalk installation project.

“To accomplish what I hope we will accomplish in this next year, we’re going to need to float some cash to pay for it while we are waiting on reimbursement. The city is in process of setting up $4 million to be available to help us fund the cash flow for these projects while we wait on the reimbursements,” Short said.

The projected revenues include $5.9 million in various grant funds.

After being elected last fall, Short is lead­ing the city’s budget creation process for the first time and Jones and City Treasurer LeAnne Addy thanked him for seeking staff input in the creation of the budget.

Lower stormwater fee increase preferable

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Archives.

In the aftermath of the devastating 2024 hurricane season, our initial thought was that the suggested increase in Holmes Beach stormwater fees is a small price to pay. However, research suggests that more time is needed to study the issue.

First, increased rates do not necessarily guarantee the most effective stormwater mitigation. Land acquisition for pumps and reservoirs has been identified as a major component of stormwater management and has been skillfully managed by other Florida cities. Cape Canaveral is a role model for stormwater planning and grant utilization. St. Petersburg has the Shore Acres Resiliency Infrastructure Project where they are currently using a $1 million state grant towards another pump construction.

While Holmes Beach had a $12 million reserve, there were available properties on the market in the $1-2 million range that could have provided the needed space.

Second, in 2020, former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash wrote “Proposed Stormwater Utility Fee Would Be an Unfair Tax.” He explained that the fair way of calculation is by usage. Holmes Beach calculates using lot area, while many Florida municipalities calculate using impervious coverage. It is the impervious surfaces which displace the water and more fairly represent the impact.

In Holmes Beach, commercial properties are allowed 70% impervious coverage; residential properties are allowed 40%, yet the fees are calculated at the same rate for all “real property.”

We have properties which have maxed out their impervious area, elevated their lots and pools and installed walls. All impacts are not created equal.

Third, Mr. McClash mentioned how governments themselves contribute when they make special exceptions such as rezones which increase densities. Holmes Beach has honored multiple rezones despite resident opposition. We know firsthand that, despite code, excessive landfill is sometimes brought in and required swales are omitted. The City Center project elevated parts of Marina Drive by a foot, and now, property owners are being charged to remedy the additional flooding that it most assuredly created.

Fourth, contrary to the thought that this is the perfect time for presenting this increase, it may contribute one more layer to the litany of reasons for the exodus of residents.

Urgency does not necessarily make the most productive outcomes. Now may be the opportunity to make fees more appropriately “user based.” Perhaps approving the 4.95% rather than 9% now would be a modification that would allow the city time to address the need for calculations based on impervious coverage rather than lot area.

Dick and Margie Motzer

Holmes Beach

 

All share the burden

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

This letter was originally sent to the Holmes Beach Mayor and City Commission.

Mayor & Commissioners,

I read in the paper there is discussion regarding increasing your stormwater fees. I was the mayor when this was implemented. It was a long year-long study, public hearings, etc. that was very painful. I am sure your staff has gotten an updated study per the laws to justify that this increase is necessary.

When we implemented it, we had the same people that want a decrease in the fees as you are hearing now. The school, churches (they don’t pay taxes), etc… All of the groups that are complaining about the increase today are the ones we told that ALL contribute to our stormwater runoff. Golf courses and fertilizer, churches, large businesses all have impervious surfaces that run stormwater or irrigation into our drains and then into the bay.

If you’re going to give discounts to some, then don’t increase your fees, as it appears you may not need it even though I know you do. Stay strong on behalf of our city and the pollution we run into the bay and Gulf and the need of improving our swales and drainage.

ALL should pay, even though it is rough for all of us. The residential property owners should not foot the bill, we all should.

Carol Whitmore

Holmes Beach