THE WAILERS jumpstart new Center concert series

from Anna Maria Island Sun December 29, 2021

ISLAND to say goodbye to Greg LaPensee

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

ANNA MARIA – A new concert series has kicked off at The Center of Anna Maria Island just in time for the holidays.

The first show in the five-part series featured the Grammynominated reggae group The Wailers. Led by Aston Barrett Jr., the group took to the Island stage on Dec. 11 as a part of their 2021 One World Tour.

Performing to a packed crowd on the field, the group played the hits of the original Wailers, led by the legendary Bob Marley and featuring Barrett’s father, Aston “Family man” Barrett, as well as some of their own original songs. A standout of the performance was “One World, One Prayer,” the first single off The Wailers 2020 album of the same name.

The next show taking The Center’s stage will be Lou Gramm, former lead singer of award-winning rock band Foreigner, on Saturday, Jan. 22, followed by Don Felder on Sunday, Feb. 20, Richard Marx on Wednesday, March 23 and Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals on Saturday, April 2. Tickets for all shows are on sale at www.centerami.org/ events.

The Bradenton Gulf Islands Concert Series at The Center is presented by Bradenton Area Arts & Culture, the Sandbar restaurant and Cedar Cove Resort and Cottages.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN The Wailers perform to a packed house at The Center of Anna Maria Island. Right, Aston Barrett Jr. leads The Wailers as the reggae group takes the stage at The Center for their One World Tour show on Dec. 11.

Special magistrate hearing recordings discussion put on pause

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Commissioners had a discussion about adding a provision to the city code concerning the recording of code compliance special magistrate hearings, but City Attorney Patricia Petruff wasn’t sure legally why it was a discussion.

Petruff, who is retiring as city attorney at the end of the calendar year, said she was approached by attorney Erica Augello about the proposed ordinance after an error with the city’s recording system caused a special magistrate hearing to not be properly recorded. As a result, Augello, serving as the city’s code compliance attorney, requested that decisions made in cases by special magistrate Michael Connolly resulting in fines be vacated with the option to rehear the cases at a later date.

Though Petruff did draft the requested ordinance for consideration by city commissioners, she said she doesn’t understand why it would be needed as she doesn’t feel it’s too difficult or taxing for city employees to have a representative from the city clerk’s office present to start and end the hearing recordings.

Petruff encouraged commissioners to table the discussion, which they agreed to, until more information could be presented by Augello, who will be stepping in as city attorney beginning in January.

SUBMITTED | PEGGY NASH

Roser Guild gives The Center a holiday gift

Roser Guild co-presidents Cherrie Birkman and Nancian Hall deliver check for $1,100 to Executive Director Chris Culhane at The Center of Anna Maria Island. The Center is one of 16 local organizations sponsored by the ladies of the Guild at Roser Memorial Community Church.

Public weighs in on comprehensive plan changes

If you missed out on the comprehensive plan town hall meeting, it’s not too late to give your input on the future of Holmes Beach.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Work on proposed revisions to the city’s comprehensive plan are almost complete and planning commissioners are seeking the public's input.

About 30 members of the public along with city staff, Mayor Judy Titsworth and Commissioner Terry Schaefer gathered on Dec. 8 at City Hall for a town hall meeting on the comprehensive plan held by the city’s planning commissioners. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss proposed changes to the plan and get get the public's feedback. From residents to business owners and visitors, everyone was invited to come and have their opinions heard.

Planning commissioners will discuss the information they received at an upcoming public meeting. However, those who were unable to attend may submit public comment by email through the middle of January at cityclerk@holmesbeachfl.org.

The comprehensive plan is a document that is adopted by city commissioners to provide a guide for the future of Holmes Beach and what types of policies they should implement in the city. There are 10 elements to the comprehensive plan: Future Land Use; Property Rights; Infrastructure; Capital Improvements; Coastal Management and Conservation; Recreation, Open Space, Arts and Culture; Transportation; Housing; Intergovernmental Coordination; and Public School Facilities. Here are the primary proposed changes to each element:

FUTURE LAND USE - Added objective relating to the city’s desire to promote arts, culture and creative design. - Added language which reinforces the city’s stated vision and values.

PROPERTY RIGHTS • New element being added to comply with recent legislation enacted by the Florida Legislature. • Four statements of rights that require the city to consider private property rights in all local decision-making.

INFRASTRUCTURE • Continue to urge Manatee County to eliminate all septic tanks and to hook up to the central sewer system when available. • Incorporate drainage projects within the five-year schedule of capital projects. • Pursue mitigation efforts associated with stormwater, drainage and floodplain management.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS • Language added to reinforce the city’s stated vision and values

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN Around 30 stakeholders gathered on Dec. 8 at Holmes Beach City Hall to learn more about the changes planned for the city’s comprehensive plan.

to fund strong safety programs, such as police, fire and emergency personnel. • Emphasis on sharing of school recreation facilities, including funding, if appropriate. • The five-year schedule of capital improvement projects has been updated.

REMOVAL OF: • Rigid and poorly-worded guidelines for prioritization of capital improvement projects • Rigid levels of service for recreational facilities • Outdated lists of capital improvement projects • Outdated concurrency management section so that provisions in the Land Development Code can be updated as needed.

COASTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION • Reorganization of elements. • Objective added to address energy efficiency, waste reduction and other sustainability measures. • Objective added regarding the protection of habitat and endangered/threatened species. • Objective added to address the city’s desire to promote ecotourism. • Objective added to reduce impervious surfaces.

RECREATION, OPEN SPACE, ARTS AND CULTURE • Incorporation of arts and culture as a part of recreation activities. • Maximize and continue improvement of municipal recreation facilities. • Protection of Grassy Point Preserve as a conservation asset while providing passive access. • Emphasis on linking transportation generators and attractors with bicycle and pedestrian paths.

TRANSPORTATION • Added policies to improve transit routes, options and facilities. • Added objective related to the city’s mission to improve the resiliency of transportation facilities.

HOUSING • Policies added to maintain and encourage affordable and workforce housing. • Objective added to address the city’s desire to encourage energy efficiency and sustainability. • Objective added to encourage resilient building practices. • Objective added to address the city’s desire to encourage development within the mixeduse overlay district to promote the live, work, play lifestyle within the city.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION • Objective added to emphasize the city’s position that home rule and local authority be preserved.

PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES • Language added to reinforce the city’s position that Anna Maria Elementary should be retained as a community school. • Re-establishment of the Manatee County School District’s responsibility to adequately fund capital improvements for public schools.

REMOVAL OF REDUNDANT POLICIES

To learn more about the proposed changes to the comprehensive plan and how they can affect the future of Holmes Beach, visit the LaRue Planning website.