City threatens shutdown of Bridge Street parking lot
Non-compliance with
city commission stipulations, absence of a site plan and a leaky artesian well are some issues cited by the Bradenton Beach building official.
BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN
CORRESPONDENT
| llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – A city-threatened shutdown of the paid parking lot at 101 Bridge St. prompted its management to begin to fix one long-standing issue, but due to non-compliance with other city requirements, a temporary closure of the lot may still be imminent, according to the city’s building official.
The property, owned by developer Shawn Kaleta, has been operational
since earning commission approval in February for temporary use as a paid parking lot. That approval by the commission was conditional on stipulations, including the submission of a site plan, that have not been fulfilled, according to city officials.
“I gave them until last Friday, July 12 to get things tightened up, or we would barricade off the lot and not allow it to be used for parking until there was progress being made to rectify these issues,” Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing wrote in a July 15 email to The Sun. “The representative immediately responded and began working toward resolution and has been in daily contact with myself and the code enforcement officer, therefore we did not shut them down.”
Chiles Hospitality selling Sandbar, Beach House, Mar Vista
The sale of the three restaurants is expected to be finalized on July 29.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Ed Chiles, the owner of Chiles Hospitality, is selling the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits restaurant in Anna Maria, the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach and the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub in Longboat Key to the Pinellas County-based Beachside Hospitality group.
Beachside Hospitality is also buying the Anna Maria Bake House and Chiles Hospitality’s events department. No sales price was disclosed.
Beachside Hospitality owns and operates Crabby’s Bar & Grill, Crabby’s Hideaway, Crabby’s On The Pass, Crabby’s Dockside, The Salty Crab Bar & Grill and Salty’s Island Bar & Grille in Pinellas County. The group also owns and operates
SEE CHILES, PAGE 15
Anna Maria budget preparations continue
The Anna Maria mayor and city commission plan to reduce the current 2.05 millage rate.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The fiscal year 2024-25 city budget being crafted by Mayor Dan Murphy and city commissioners proposes $5.82 million in operating and general expenses during the new fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.
Presented by Murphy during the city commission’s second budget meeting on July 18, the projected expenses include employee salaries and wages and represent a $296,979 increase over the $5.53 million in similar estimated year-end expenses for the current fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.
The $5.82 million does not include the capital projects and infrastructure improvements to be decided
during the third and final budget meeting on Thursday, July 25. That meeting begins at 5 p.m. and will include the setting of the tentative millage rate.
During the commission’s initial budget meeting on June 27, Murphy proposed, and the commission tentatively supported, reducing the city’s longstanding 2.05 millage rate to the rollback rate of 1.8245 mills, or possibly lower.
Murphy said due to increased property values, the rollback rate would generate $4.24 million in ad valorem property tax revenues during the 2024-25 fiscal year. The proposed budget anticipates $18.2 million in total revenues that also include previously approved state appropriations, unused funds carried over from the current fiscal year and other funding sources.
On July 18, Murphy said the 1.8245 rollback rate would result in
SEE BUDGET, PAGE 12
CINDY LANE | SUN
Sandbar Seafood & Spirits (top) in Anna Maria, Beach House Waterfront Restaurant (left) in Bradenton Beach and Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub (right) in Longboat Key are changing hands.
Candidates report campaign contributions
It’s early in the campaign, but Holmes Beach candidates are already earning the financial support of backers.
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – The race to fill two commission seats and the mayoral seat on the dais is underway in Anna Maria Island’s largest city. Though the election is still months away on Nov. 5, candidates are already raising money for their campaigns.
COMMISSION CANDIDATES
In the race to fill the two city commission seats up for grabs, former Holmes Beach commissioner and mayor and former Manatee County commissioner Carol Whitmore is leading the pack in fundraising with a total of $3,355.80 raised as of press time
for The Sun. Some of her notable backers include former Manatee County Supervisor of Elections
Michael Bennett, former Manatee County Administrator Cheri Coryea, Manatee County District 3 Commission candidate Tal Siddique, Island Realtor Darcie Duncan, and long-time Anna Maria former resident and philanthropist Bob Carter. Whitmore is her own largest contributor, loaning $1,200 to her campaign fund with $823.86 in expenditures, the bulk of that for signs.
Holmes Beach Planning Commissioner and city commission candidate Steve Oelfke comes in second in fundraising with $725 in financial contributions and $3 inkind contributions. In addition to the $600 he loaned his campaign, Oelfke has received the financial support of Holmes Beach Commissioners Terry Schaefer and Carol Soustek. His $83.80 in expenses went to qualifying and bank fees.
Incumbent candidate Commissioner Dan Diggins has raised $400 with support from Schaefer and resident Richard Motzer, along with a $200 loan from himself. His $80.80 expenditures all went to the qualifying fee to run for office.
Candidate Bill Romberger’s $300 in contributions come solely from a loan to his campaign with the only expenditure being the $80.80 qualifying fee.
MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Incumbent Mayor Judy Titsworth has raised $6,150 for her campaign with $1,598.33 in expenditures. Her campaign financial reports show significant support from Holmes Beach Commissioner Greg Kerchner, Commissioner Pat Morton and local veterinarian William Bystrom, as well as a $1,000 loan to her campaign.
Her strongest supporters with a combined $3,000 in donations
are Island businesses Island Bazaar, Fish Hole and Bridge Street Bazaar, all owned by former Bradenton Beach Commissioner Jake Spooner and his family. In a talk with The Sun, Titsworth said that while Spooner hasn’t financially supported her campaigns in the past, she’s grateful for the monetary support to help further her campaign on the platforms of fighting against overdevelopment and government overreach on the Island. Her primary expenditures have been for a campaign website and signs.
Her opponent, political newcomer Mike Roth, has raised $2,958.50 in campaign contributions with $377.06 in expenditures, primarily for website services and door tags. His primary contributors are Holmes Beach resident and consultant John Reed, Tampa marketing business owner James Hug and Holmes Beach resident Thomas Rushmore.
Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
Commission terminates parking talks with Kaleta
City leaders cite lack of a site plan and non-compliance with stipulations at other parking lots as reasons for the termination.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners voted unanimously on July 18 to terminate parking lot management agreement discussions with Beach to Bay Investments Inc. for a paid parking lot between Church and Highland Avenues.
Beach to Bay, with Shawn Kaleta as president, was the sole bidder in the city’s Request for Proposal 2024-03 to improve the city parking lot and begin charging for parking. The lot is located directly across from the city’s Public Works department.
At the beginning of the July 18 city commission meeting, Mayor John Chappie showed a PowerPoint presentation with pictures he had taken of the 101 Bridge St. lot showing flooding caused by a leaking artesian well.
The Bridge Street parking lot is owned by Kaleta and was approved for temporary use by the city in February, subject to stipulations that have not been met, Chappie said.
“I would like to start out with some things. In my reviewing of the information and from past meetings and documentation and materials that have been provided, I continue to have concerns with the proposed agreement,” Chappie said.
Chappie read from the proposed parking lot management agreement.
“In starting with the parking lot management agreement itself in particular it states, ‘whereas the parties hereto being of like mind and intent believe that the provision of quality, attractive, landscaped and paid parking facilities will advance their common goal,’ ” he read. “I don’t believe we are of like mind or intent and I say that after going through and looking at the four previously approved temporary use parking that have been made by the city of Bradenton Beach.”
Chappie was referring to parking lots at 102 Third St., 206 Bay Drive, 207 Church St., and 101 Bridge St. “All four of these temporary use permits that have been previously approved are operating right now but none of the properties have followed through with or completed the
required stipulations,” Chappie said.
He concluded his presentation with pictures of the flooding at the Bridge Street parking lot caused by a leaking artesian well.
“Again, the pictures clearly show they haven’t followed through at any of the places with the stipulations and guidelines we put forward in making that approval,” Chappie said. “All these properties are owned by the same corporation or individual. I’m not satisfied at all with the management of the properties. On this basis, I’ve come to the conclusion I don’t see how we can possibly go through with this agreement with someone who I don’t consider to be qualified from past experiences.”
Chappie also noted a discussion from a previous meeting about a cap on parking rates at the public works lot.
“I listened to the tape again and Sam (Sam Negrin of Beach to Bay) did make a statement which I took to offer up about the cost that would be charged per hour,” Chappie said.
“I think Jan (Commissioner Jan Vosburgh) mentioned it and Ralph (Commissioner Ralph Cole) mentioned it as well that Sam stated that the $5-$10 range that Beach House is charging, somewhere in that range would be fair.”
NO SITE PLAN, NO DEAL
Chappie said that Building Official Darin Cushing had not received a requested site plan for the parking lot.
“The normal everyday operations of public works and the police depart-
ment are a top priority. With the drawing we did have I know it would negatively impact the operations of public works and PD to some degree as well,” he said. “These are the reasons I don’t feel comfortable with the management choice, I was okay with it at first, but looking back at the examples of their operations in the city, I don’t think we should enter into an agreement for the cell lot.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole, who moved to terminate discussions with Beach to Bay, agreed with Chappie.
“I have to agree with you about the other parking lots and the fact that the same company hasn’t done what they said they were going to do,” Cole said. “What’s to prevent them from putting food trucks in other parking lots?“
A food truck has been parked at the Bridge Street lot for about the past week.
“We still don’t have a site plan, so we really don’t know what we’re looking at in a permanent way and I’m really not comfortable with the pricing,” Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said.
Vosburgh said she’s always felt uncomfortable about approving the agreement.
During public comment, Ingrid McClellan, vice chair of the Scenic WAVES committee, spoke.
“I had a concern with the parking lot on Gulf Drive. That’s on the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway and that does not look scenic at all,” she said.
In response to a question from Scaccianoce as to whether the commission could terminate the discussion,
City Attorney Ricinda Perry advised the commissioners.
“Under the RFP process, it puts the city in a position of we have to negotiate in good faith, so then the question becomes has the city negotiated in good faith up to this point? Part of negotiations is the city doing its homework and making sure whatever it is purchasing and contracting for, it meets your expectations,” she said. Perry commented on the photo of the flooded lot on Bridge Street.
“I would note that the image before you that is not after a rain, that is an existing concern that the city has put in writing and asked to have that remediated a number of times,” she said. “The artesian well has not been fixed and water continues to go down the public streets. Also, you can see the overgrowth, the haphazard poles, the lack of appropriate ground cover and there were other stipulations that have not been met.”
She said she and the mayor have had discussions about other uses that are coming onto the site.
“When you see that your expectations are not being met, on not one thing, not two, not three, but more than four, it does raise the question can they meet your expectations? One of the CRA goals is to beautify the district and, as Ingrid said, this certainly is not scenic. This is not beautification that meets the expectations of this board.”
“With (the city’s) appropriate due diligence and that there has not been appropriate follow through with site plans, and with the existing parking lots, I believe that we have negotiated in good faith,” she said. “I believe that you’re in a position now where you could essentially terminate negotiations that have failed and you could articulate what those reasons are.”
She said the three reasons are that expectations have not been met, the requirements of a site plan and the requirements established and articulated by the building official have not been met, and commissioners do not feel that they could come to terms with the amount charged.
“I feel very comfortable that the city is in a good position to terminate the negotiations based off the discussion today,” Perry said.
Kaleta and Negrin were not at the meeting and did not respond to requests for comment by The Sun.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
From left, Commissioner Jan Vosburgh, Mayor John Chappie and Commissioners Ralph Cole and Deborah Scaccianoce review Chappie’s photos of a flooded 101 Bridge St. parking lot caused by an artesian well leak before voting at the July 18 meeting to terminate discussions with Shawn Kaleta-owned Beach to Bay Investments for management of another parking lot near the public works department.
Primary may decide school board races
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
The primary election that concludes on Aug. 20 may determine the winners of the District 1 and District 3 Manatee County School Board races.
Both non-partisan school board primary races have three candidates in the running. According to Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Office Chief Deputy Sharon Stief, school board races are determined by geographical districts and only registered voters, regardless of party affiliation, within those respective districts are allowed to vote.
If a school board race features more than two candidates and one candidate does not receive 50% of the vote plus at least one additional vote, the top two vote-getters in each race will face each other in the general election that concludes on Nov. 5.
School board District 3, which includes Anna Maria Island, Cortez and por tions of Longboat Key, Bradenton and unincorporated Manatee County, features Anna Maria resident Perri Ann Parkman, Bradenton resident and former eight-year school board member Charlie Kennedy and Bradenton resident Jonathan Lynch.
Three Pine Avenue bids received
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MANATEE COUNTY | SUBMITTED
School Board District 1 includes Anna Maria Island, Cortez and portions of Longboat Key, Bradenton and unincorporated Manatee County.
The District 1 school board race features Ellenton resident Heather Felton, Parrish resident Alex Garner and Bradenton resident Mark Stanoch. According to Stief, the first wave of vote-by-mail ballots were mailed out on July 12 and daily mailings began on July 18. Early in-person voting for the Aug. 20 primary will take place daily Saturday, Aug. 10 through Saturday, Aug. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The early voting locations are posted at www.votemanatee.com.
The city of Anna Maria received three bids for the Reimagining Pine Avenue phase 1 installation of brick paver sidewalks along Pine Avenue, between Gulf Drive and North Shore Drive, where no paved sidewalks currently exist. According to Mayor Dan Murphy, bids were received from the Longboat Key-based Eason Building Group, the Tampa-based Mali Contracting Corp. and the Sarasota-based C-Squared CGC Inc. Murphy plans to present the three bids for city commission consideration on July 25 while seeking commission authorization to begin contract negotiations with the firm to be recommended by himself and Building Department General Manager Dean Jones. “I’d like to get this off the table next week so we can move forward with the project and getting a contract,” Murphy told the commission on July 18. Phase 2 bids for similar sidewalk installation between North Shore Drive and Crescent Drive are due at the end of July.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Anna Maria officials hope to soon replace the unpaved pedestrian paths along Pine Avenue with brick paver sidewalks.
OPINION
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Preserve our neighborhoods
We inadvertently became involved with city issues a decade ago. We attended almost every Holmes Beach Commission meeting and work session for several years. We have attended some Anna Maria, Manatee County and WMFD meetings as well and continue to stay educated. With this ever-evolving landscape of quality of island life, our mantra has evolved into “Preservation of Neighborhoods.”
We recently Googled Holmes Beach zoning and discovered a highly prioritized real estate website. A section specifically referencing HB R-2 to R-4 zones perked our interest: "The typical buyer for these zones is someone who would like to rent the property weekly for most of the time. Warning! If you plan on living in the property or visiting for multiple months be aware that it can be noisy."
Until recently our immediate block in an R-2 zone consisted of
100% permanent residents; even with new construction, we remain predominantly permanent, full-time residents with a strong neighborhood watch. This may be a rarity, however, we had never seen documented numbers for the percentage of residences versus TPLEs (commercial rentals) per zone. (Transient Public Lodging Establishments are clearly defined in state statute.)
We proceeded with public records requests from the county appraiser, city, and WMFD. Curiously, none has a count of the number of TPLEs per zone.
After re-reading our entire Comprehensive Plan and Municode Zoning sections multiple times, we know without reservation that the intent is for preservation of residential character. It is not mentioned just casually; it is staunchly entrenched repeatedly.
Many people locally and statewide have worked diligently towards preservation of residential character. Home Rule initiatives, neighborhood initiatives,
and initiatives with city, county and state governments have sought to protect our neighborhoods.
We are not naive. We have followed numbers and trends as well as the imminent prospects of consolidation or dissolution of the island cities. However, there are coastal cities which have successfully preserved their character. These cities properly reference their residential zones, respect their guiding documents, enforce prescribed ordinances and encourage resident input. We encourage upholding guiding documents in efforts to preserve intended residential character and hope that others respect that initiative by encouraging permanent residents as well. Our communities, our beloved AME, our churches, our quality of life, and even retention of our island cities depend on it.
Correction
Roser Church member Dale Powers spoke at the Mike LaPensee celebration of life on July 14. An incorrect last name appeared in last week’s edition. Also, charcuterie boards were part of the refreshments.
Dick and Margie Motzer Holmes Beach
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
One-on-one tech help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2-4 p.m.
THURSDAY, JULY 25
Marine Archaeology for Kids with the Florida Maritime Museum, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Sunshine Stitchers Knit and Crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m. AMI Chamber Business Card Exchange with Slicker’s Eatery and the Monkey Bus, Slicker’s Eatery, 12012 Cortez Road W., Cortez, 5 p.m., $5 for members or $10 for prospective members
FRIDAY, JULY 26
Forty Carrots infant and toddler playtime, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 27
Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon Book sale and potluck lunch, Annie Silver Community Center, 103 23rd St. N., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring a side dish to share if you like. Lunch served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 30
Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31
One-on-one Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 2 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUG. 1
AMI Chamber Sunrise Breakfast, Cool Beans AMI, 101 S. Bay Blvd. Unit A4, Anna Maria, $15
One-on-one Tech Help, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Sunshine Stitchers knit and crochet, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 1 p.m.
FRIDAY, AUG. 2
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
Mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 99th St. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon
TUESDAY, AUG. 6
Family story time, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Turtle Tracks and Shorebird Facts, Holmes Beach City Hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m.
Mah-jongg for experienced players, Island Branch Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 11:30 a.m.
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information.
July 24, 9 a.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting
July 25, 5 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting
July 25, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting
Aug. 8, 1 p.m. – City Commission budget meeting Aug. 8, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.
Aug. 1, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting
Aug. 7, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Aug. 7, 1 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Please visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.
July 24, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting July 31, 10 a.m. – Code Compliance special magistrate hearing July 31, 2 p.m. – Comprehensive Safety Action Plan public workshop Aug. 7, 5 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting
First Sundown Get Down a success
The family-friendly street party on Historic Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach drew a crowd.
BY JASON SCHAFFER SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH - It was a Retro Beach Party from Gulf Drive to the Bradenton Beach Pier on July 18, as the Bradenton Beach Merchant’s Association (BBMA) in partnership with The Big Idea Strategic Events and McGarry Marketing kicked off the firstever Sundown Get Down street party. The event is scheduled the third Thursday of every month through at least Dec. 19. The goal is to stimulate business for Bradenton Beach merchants and give the public a chance to try out the unique offerings of the city’s diverse array of businesses.
“We’re here from Rhode Island spending time with our nieces, and we’re having a blast,” said Tom Reilly, who was visiting with his wife, Heather, and nieces, Nina and Ruby Rodrigues. “We love this Island and always have a blast; this is just great.”
Information tents at both the west and east ends of Bridge Street
explained discounts and freebies being offered by local businesses, and a unique photo scavenger hunt offered up big prizes for a lucky winner who could snap the pictures required to complete the challenge. Prizes at the first event included a Yeti cooler filled with gift certificates and other prizes from Bradenton Beach merchants.
“This is a little bit of a flip on traditional street festivals, where you have a lot of vendors on the street,” event planner Leah Brown said. “Our main focus was to drive business
and get some excitement inside the merchant’s existing establishments.”
Brown said the event came together with about two months of planning, thanks to the enthusiasm of the BBMA and the willingness of merchants to get it going as soon as possible.
“We’ve been working with the BBMA for several months to come up with this idea, but hard planning for this event has come in the last couple of months,” Marketing Manager Jill McGarry said.
For each Sundown Get Down event, Bridge Street will be closed to auto
• Aug. 15: Pirate Powerboat Plunder
• Sept. 19: Under the Sea Back to School Bash
• Oct. 17: Pumpkins & Palms in Paradise
• Nov. 21: Coastal Harvest Hoedown
• Dec. 19: Sandy Clause Beach Celebration
traffic and open alcohol is permitted. Although alcohol is allowed, this is very much a family-friendly event, with both young and old enjoying sporting competitions such as the watermelon seed spitting contest and a chance to fish in a kiddie pool for prizes.
SUNDOWN GET DOWN THEMES:
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
People coming out for the first-ever Sundown Get Down on Bridge Street enjoyed a Corvette show featuring both classic and modern Corvettes.
Judge denies dismissal in fire department case
BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – West Manatee Fire Rescue has lost its motion to dismiss a legal challenge to its 2023 decision to tax vacation rental properties as commercial rather than residential uses.
The lawsuit was filed on Feb. 27 by C&D Properties of AMI LLC concerning two vacation rental properties at 101 67th St. in Holmes Beach. The property owner seeks a refund of the non-ad valorem taxes paid in 2023 to the district, an order preventing the fire department from taxing vacation rentals in residential areas as commercial businesses, and attorney fees and court costs.
The case was assigned to Judge Edward Nicholas in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court for Manatee County. Nicholas submitted an order on July 8 denying the fire district’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
WMFR Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski maintains that the Florida Fire Prevention Code classifies vacation rentals, even those in residential areas, as transient public lodging establishments (TPLEs), which allows them to be taxed at the commercial rather than residential rate. The rate change coincides with an effort by Kwiatkowski and the district’s fire prevention bureau to inspect vacation rentals for fire safety. Currently, the lawsuit is the only official challenge received by the district to the policy change. Kwiatkowski and other members of the fire department’s staff have noted that the inspection program has been well received by members of the vacation rental community and that once fire officials explained the reason for the tax status change, they’ve had little pushback on the increase. At press time for The Sun, both parties had entered the discovery phase of the case and no other hearings had been scheduled.
Least tern chicks fitted with tracking bands
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Four
least tern chicks in a local nesting colony have been outfitted with color-coded bands to help researchers study their migration patterns along with population and breeding success.
On July 15, Dr. Elizabeth Forys of Eckerd College fitted the four chicks with tracking bands under her master band permit #25258 and additional state permits. The chicks ranged in age from three to four weeks and had not yet begun to fly.
During the banding process, each bird was weighed, the length of their bill and wing were measured, and all data recorded in a state and federal database. The tracking bands include a
BIRD TIPS
During bird nesting season, February to September, please follow these tips:
• Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area.
• Teach kids not to chase birds – if they’re disturbed, bird parents may abandon nests.
• Don’t feed birds – our food is not good for their health, and it encourages them to fly at people aggressively.
• If birds are screeching and flying at you, you’re too close.
• Avoid posted bird nesting
ANNA MARIA ISLAND TURTLE WATCH AND SHOREBIRD MONITORING | SUBMITTED
Tagged least tern chicks will help researchers study migration and breeding patterns.
silver, pre-stamped federal band along with a white band on the left leg and two colored bands on the left leg which are specific to the individual bird.
The chicks are identified as follows: Chick 11A – Blue-Blue/ White Silver; Chick 11B – Blue-
areas and use designated walkways to the beach.
• Keep pets away from bird nesting areas. Dogs are not allowed on the beach by law; keep cats indoors.
• Keep the beach clean; food scraps attract bird predators such as raccoons and crows to the beach, and litter can entangle birds and other wildlife.
• If you see people disturbing nesting birds, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).
Red/White Silver; Chick 12 “Marilyn” – Blue-Green/White Silver and Chick 15 “StumbleBum”
– Blue-Orange/White Silver
If you see a banded bird, report it to reportband.gov, noting
• Date, time and location;
• Species;
• Which leg or legs have bands;
• Color and order of bands; and
• Whether the band has an alphanumeric code, and, if so, the code.
Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring first reported the colony of least terns the week of May 6. Since then, the colony has grown to 45 birds. Of the 22 nests, there are still two birds sitting on eggs which are expected to hatch by the end of July.
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 664 (Previous record: 543 in 2019) False crawls: 825 (Record: 831 in 2010) Nests hatched: 96 (Record: 453 in 2022)
Hatchlings produced: 6,079 (Record: 35,850 in 2022) Hatchling disorientations: 28 Adult disorientations: 35
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
KRISTEN MAZZARELLA | SUBMITTED A hatchling heads to the Gulf of Mexico from AMI.
Nesting slows, hatching picks up
Sea turtle nesting slowed down last week on local beaches, but more nests are hatching. “Turtles have been keeping us very busy as we are now marking new crawls, documenting hatches and disorientations and conducting nest inventories on hatched nests,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said.
SUBMITTED
Henrietta nests a third time on AMI
Henrietta, a loggerhead sea turtle that was outfitted with a satellite tracking device and released at Coquina Beach on June 24, came back to nest on Anna Maria Island last week for a third time. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella speculated that after her nesting marathon, Henrietta may be on her way to her foraging grounds, where turtles spend a couple of years in between nesting. Beginning on Aug. 1, Henrietta will be participating in another marathon, the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which tracks how far and where the tagged turtles swim. She is swimming to draw attention to the negative impact that light pollution has on nesting and hatching turtles. She is sponsored by Hurricane Hank’s and Turtle Watch.
BUDGET: Anna Maria budget preparations continue
Anna Maria property owners not experiencing a tax increase. And if there’s enough money left after the July 25 capital improvements decisions, the millage rate could be lowered further and provide property owners with the first property tax reduction in Anna Maria that Murphy is aware of.
The millage rate and fiscal year budget will be finalized during two public hearings in September.
“I want to leave the city in good shape when I walk out the door,” Murphy said regarding his recent decision to not seek reelection in November after 10 years in office.
DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSES
The largest proposed operating expense is $1.54 million for public safety, which includes $1.52 million for contracted law enforcement services provided by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit. Murphy anticipates a $184,042 (14%) increase for MCSO services in the coming year and is scheduled to meet with sheriff’s office representa-
tives this week in hopes of reducing those anticipated costs.
The 2024-25 budget also currently proposes:
• $777,984 for public works department expenses, a $26,267 (3%) increase;
• $1.02 million for the administration department expenses that include the city clerk’s office, a $22,693 (2%) increase;
• $1.01 million for building department expenses, a $32,788 (3%) increase;
• $723,671 for code enforcement expenses, a $22,906 (3%) increase;
• $461,345 for parks and recreation-
I want to leave the city in good shape when I walk out the door.”
Dan
Murphy, Anna Maria mayor
related expenses, a $8,154 (2%) increase; and
• $81,880 for city commission expenses that include the mayor and commissioner’s salaries, a $52 increase.
Commissioner Jon Crane asked the commission to consider for future discussion increasing the mayor and commissioners’ salaries to help attract more city candidates in future election cycles.
The Anna Maria mayor earns $19,500 a year and commissioners make $4,800. The Bradenton Beach mayor earns $9,600 a year, while commissioners earn $$4,800 a year. It was stated the Holmes Beach mayor earns $28,160 a year and Holmes Beach commissioners earn $8,080.
Commissioners Gary McMullen
and Kathy Morgan said they’d only support pay increases for the mayor and commissioners if it can be accomplished while reducing property taxes.
WAGE INCREASES
Murphy proposes 5% salary and wage increases for city employees in the coming fiscal year. Murphy said the city recently conducted a city government wage survey that indicated city government employees are receiving pay increases in the 4% to 6.5% range, with 5% being the “sweet spot” in the middle of that range. Murphy said the wage increases will help the city retain current employees, attract new employees and help offset the impacts of inflation.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Mayor Dan Murphy wants to provide a tax break for Anna Maria property owners.
Teens plant 2,500 mangrove seedlings at FISH Preserve
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
CORTEZ – The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage FISH Preserve was recently the beneficiary of more than 2,500 red mangrove seedlings, all gathered, cultivated and planted by a group of teens from Fort Myers.
The high school students formed a group called the Green Shore Initiative and were looking for a spot to conduct an environmental planting project. They reached out to the Environmental
Protection Agency, which put them in touch with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP).
SBEP Executive Director Dr. Dave Tomasko and Staff Scientist Dr. Jay Leverone knew just the place to send the teens – the FISH Preserve in Cortez.
“We gathered the seeds and put them in plastic bags with a wet napkin,” Luke Scrabbis, one of the teens, said. “They sprouted. So, then we emailed a lot of people until we were referred to the FISH Preserve.”
“We wanted to find a way to give back,” Ben O’Brien said. On July 17, the teens spent several hours in the hot sun planting the seedlings around the FISH Preserve’s pond.
“These red mangroves will be an attachment site for oysters and a habitat for birds in about 10 years,” Tomasko said.
“We’re very grateful,” FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann said. “It’s great to see kids this young interested in doing this.”
SUBMITTED | SBEP
Teens from Fort Myers planted more than 2,500 red mangrove seedlings at the FISH Preserve on July 17.
Team Positive Ways undefeated
BY MONICA SIMPSON SPECIAL TO THE SUN
ANNA MARIA – The summer heat was matched by the heat on The Center's indoor soccer floor as Island area youth finished the fifth week of play this week. In the six-game regular season, last week’s action brought the teams in the two age group leagues closer to the playoffs and the championship game.
On top for the 8- to 10-year-old league is team Positive Ways, remaining undefeated after week 4. With one win each, Gulf Drive Café, Shady Lady Horticultural Services and Solid Rock Construction continue to vie for the big win and title at the end of the season. Team Progressive Cabinetry is still seeking its first win of the season. In last Wednesday night’s games, Sebastian Cordova had the hot foot with four goals and an assist for the Positive Waves team. Teammate Ryan Greenberg added two points to the scoreboard for his team. Defensively, Silas Whitehead made seven critical stops to help with the win. Shady Lady’s solo goal was scored by Harbor Smoljanovich.
Scoring by Leo Burns and Joseph
Cabinetry. Protecting his team’s goal, Easton Freeman is credited with 14 saves against the Gulf Drive offense.
In the 11- to 14-year-old league, team AMI Outfitters entered week five play with a 3-0-1 record, topping the ranks for the older age group. Jiffy Lube is short one win over the leader with Solid Rock Construction hot on their heels.
The Cloud Pest Control team continues to work hard on the indoor soccer pitch to earn their first win of the season.
Ending the game in a 4-4 tie, Solid Rock Construction and Cloud Pest Control met up on the indoor pitch in the first match-up of the week in the older age group. Team AMI Outfitters won against Jiffy Lube by a single goal, closing out the scoring at 7-6.
With playoffs one week away, the summer heat pales to fast-paced action at The Center in the youth indoor soccer leagues.
On July 20, Tom Farrington, left, and Bob Heiger teamed up to beat the heat and the competition at AMI Horseshoes after they posted the only 3-0 record during pool play and ended up in the winner's circle. On July 18, Farrington and Dom Livedoti won the final 22-6 over Tim Sofran and Norm Good and were crowned champs for the day, keeping Farrington perfect for the week.
MONICA SIMPSON | SUN
In the 3- to 4-year-old league, AMI Dolphin Tours’ Jackson Romero, Milan Cordova and Harper Latessa, along with The Porch’s Noah Skipper and Ky’ori Crawford, have fun with another game of indoor soccer at The Center.
Talucci, back row center, in black, watches Braylen Briggs' technique at a skimboard camp offered by The Center of Anna Maria Island.
CHILES: Selling Sandbar, Beach House, Mar Vista
similarly-themed restaurants in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, St. Cloud, St. Augustine, Fort Pierce and Fort Myers Beach.
Chiles Hospitality announced the pending sale in a July 17 press release. The sale is scheduled to close on July 29, with Colliers International representing Chiles Hospitality in the sale.
“This has been a difficult decision, but I know it’s time for me to move on. I am passing the torch to new owners who understand the value of our employees and who will carry on the legacy that our team has built together,” Chiles said in the press release. “I leave knowing that the work our team has done together is one of the greatest experiences of my life and we have made a measurable and positive impact in our community.”
Chiles founded Chiles Hospitality in 1979 when he, his father – former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles – and two partners bought the Sandbar restaurant in Anna Maria. Chiles Hospitality acquired and later renovated the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant in Longboat Key in 1989 and the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach in 1993. Chiles Hospital-
ity established the Anna Maria Bake House scratch-artisan bakery within the Beach House in 2018.
The press release notes the majority of Chiles Hospitality’s 350 restaurant employees have been asked to continue in their current roles.
Chiles Hospitality itself is not being sold and the press release notes Chiles Hospitality will continue to operate the 26-acre Gamble Creek Farms organic farming operations in Parrish.
BEACHSIDE HOSPITALITY’S PLANS
The press release notes Beachside Hospitality has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant business and currently oversees 13 restaurants in eight Florida cities. This is the group’s first business venture in Manatee County.
Julia Cassino serves as the Beachside Hospitality’s director of marketing and events. When contacted by The Sun on July 18, she said Beachside Hospitality has not yet issued a press release or an official statement regarding the pending purchase and plans to do so after the sale is finalized on July 29.
“We are excited about this amazing new venture and coming into Manatee County, Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key,” she said.
“We do not have any current plans to change anything regarding the names or the styles of the restaurants. They are each established entities and each have their own feel. We have no plans to change that. Ed has done a fantastic job building these businesses into what they are today and we have no plans to change any of that. We want to continue the legacy he’s created,” Cassino said.
“We’re keeping the staffs and we have two long-tenured members of our team who are currently overseeing locations in Pinellas and Volusia counties who are moving to the area to oversee the transition,” she added.
“We’re looking forward to seeing what we can continue on with Ed’s brand and how we can possibly elevate it into something even better. We do not plan to make any drastic changes. The guests will not notice the changes and it should be a smooth transition,” Cassino said.
CHILES SPEAKS
Chiles was 25 when he, his dad and two partners bought the Sandbar. Forty-five years later, he’s moving on.
During a July 18 phone interview with The Sun, Chiles addressed his decision to sell and his future plans.
“Forty-five years of being in this business feels about right. I started thinking about this seriously about a year and a half ago and I came to the realization that I shouldn’t try for 50. I have my health. I’m really proud of what we’ve done. I’ve got a new grandson who’s 2 1/2 years old that I want to spend more time with. It’s just time,” Chiles said.
“I know it’s the right thing to do. I will miss it terribly. I will miss the people, the staff, our teams and I will miss the guests and the generations of families we’ve served and formed friendships with.
SEE CHILES, PAGE 17
CHILES HOSPITALITY | SUBMITTED
Ed Chiles has spent 45 years operating waterfront restaurants on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.
Vote water to ensure fishing future
Reel Time
ikipedia defines the term “enlightened self-interest” as a philosophy in ethics when persons who act to further the interests of others ultimately serve their interests. It has often been simply expressed by the belief that an individual, group or even a commercial entity will do well by doing good.
Now more than ever it’s critically important to apply this concept when deciding on a political candidate to support. All too often, candidates lobby to get our vote and promise to represent us and our interests. Not to disparage all politicians, but it seems many who claim to represent their
How we vote has a direct effect on the quality of our local waters.
constituents instead end up serving a special interest group that doesn’t. We as voters seem fooled into voting party instead of vetting
the candidates to see how they’ve voted in the past. It’s especially important if you’re an angler, love to fish and value our coastal
habitat to do this homework before election day. Frequently candidates will tell voters what they want to hear, especially as an election approaches. If you really care about our coastal resources, don’t vote Democrat, Republican or No Party Affiliation. Check the candidate’s voting record on protecting the water we drink and the water the fish we pursue swim in. It’s a sad and self-defeating proposition when we elect people to represent us only because they put the most campaign signs out. If we vote for the waters and fishing we cherish, we’ll take the time to make an informed decision. Another avenue to determining whose interest a candidate will serve is by researching who is funding their campaigns. If we don’t vote or vet our candidates, we may well be voting against our own self-interest. The future of fishing in Florida and the economy hang in the balance.
VOTE WATER!
RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN
RUSTY CHINNIS
CHILES: Selling Sandbar, Beach House, Mar Vista
I’ll miss being there on the beach ‘conducting the orchestra,’ getting in the chef’s way, working with the food and developing recipes. There’s so many different aspects of this,” Chiles said.
“The Post-COVID era has made a tough business even tougher, but during the last six months our company has never run better, our leadership teams have never been stronger, our numbers have never been better and it feels great to go out on top.
“I’d love to be around to open the retail operation at the Sandbar, where we’re tripling the size, and the take-out section and the renovation we’re doing on the south side is going to be so exciting with the empanadas, the menu, and the drinks we’ll serve there, but it’s time. I love the idea of going out on top. It feels right, even though there’s a whole lot of emotions,” he said.
“I’m really going to miss the people, but a door shuts and another one opens. I want my last lap to be about building soil. I want to be working at the farm. I want to be working on the
environment, coastal resiliency, the bivalves (oysters and clams), seagrass and promoting sustainable seafood and I’ve got some new things I’m taking on in those regards.
“I don’t want to fret about the next hurricane, red tide or pandemic or election. It’ll be nice to have that weight off my shoulders. I don’t know what that will feel like because I’ve been so used to it. My step will be a little lighter. We’re on the edge of the world where we are and that comes with things that can bite you. I won’t have to worry about that anymore,”
Chiles said.
VARIED PLANS
Chiles remains involved with multiple cannabis businesses in Tennessee and with a group opening a restaurant in Nashville this week. He remains a partner in the Poppo’s Taqueria businesses originally founded in Anna Maria, he’s a partner in a mushroom business and he’s exploring other sustainability-related business endeavors.
Chiles Hospitality will still own and operate the paid parking lot along Gulf Drive in Anna Maria. Chiles will
continue to own and lease out the old post office plaza on Gulf Drive and he also has two commercial properties on Pine Avenue.
“There’s 17 properties that I’ll still own, not including the farm. There’s plenty of stuff to still look after,” he said. They’re not buying Chiles Hospitality. They’re buying the assets, the restaurants and the land. Chiles Hospitality will keep going with the farm and the other things we work on.”
Longtime Chiles Hospitality group CEO Chuck Wolfe will continue serving in that role.
“Chuck’s my CEO and he will stay with me. Chuck’s the guy that navigated all this (the sale). The new owners are taking virtually everybody else and I’m delighted. I think our folks can learn some things from the new owners and I hope they can learn some things from our team about our culture, our work with sustainable seafood and our work in the community. I’m optimistic about that.”
Chiles and his wife, Tina, will remain Anna Maria residents.
“I don’t have any plans to leave Anna Maria Island. I love it here. I don’t
remember ever not being in Anna Maria. I was here in utero. We came here every summer from Lakeland. I’ll spend parts of the summer in Montana, in August and September when it’s not fit to be in Florida. I’ll be hip-deep in a trout stream. I’ll be traveling, spending more time with my grandson and ‘Ms. Tina’ and pursuing the sustainable initiatives with bivalves, seagrass and with the farm, building soil,” Chiles said.
In closing, Chiles said, “I’m a lucky guy who got out of school with a political science degree and had to find a way to make a living. My dad approached me about putting a group together to buy a restaurant in Anna Maria, where we had always spent our summers.
“Before buying the Sandbar, I spent a season working in the kitchen at the legendary Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant in Miami Beach in 1978. A month later, we bought the Sandbar. I worked under a manager for six months and then I took over. Since then, I’ve been in paradise doing what I love - serving people.”
CENTER NOTES
Girls’ Volleyball Camp
The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, welcomes back Coach Evelyn Long for a one-week girls’ volleyball camp from July 29-Aug. 2. Beginners (5th-8th grade) will meet from 4-6 p.m. and intermediate players (9th-12th grade) will work on their skills from 6-8 p.m. Play level may be determined by the coaches. The cost is $10
for members and $125 for non-members. Preregistration by Thursday, July 25 is required.
Youth Fall Soccer
Youth fall soccer sign-ups are open. The deadline to register is Friday, Aug. 16 for kids 3-14 years old. The cost to play is $20 for members and $150 for non-members. Player evaluations and team drafts will be held for children 8 and older. Games will start on Monday, Sept. 16.
Adult Fall Soccer League
Adult fall soccer sign-ups are open. The deadline to register is Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. New player evaluations and team drafts will begin immediately at the close of registration. The cost to play is $20 for members and $150 for non-members. Games will start on Thursday, Sept. 19.
To register for Center programs or for more information, email The Center at customerservice@centerami.org or call 941-778-1908.
Special event permitting requirements revised
On July 18, the Anna Maria City Commission revised the city’s special event permitting process and fee schedule with the adoption of Ordinance 24-930 and Resolution 24-797. The adopted ordinance defines a “commercial vendor” as any person who engages in commerce, promotional activities or provides entertainment at a special event; and a “multi-vendor commercial vendor” as a commercial vendor who puts on a special event with more than one vendor, such as the art festivals and flea markets held at city-owned City Pier Park. The ordinance allows the mayor or mayor’s designee to grant administrative approval for a simple special event permit. It also sets forth the criteria for a non-administrative special event permit that now requires city commission approval for all
special events that result in street closures, take place on city property or take place on the beach utilizing amplified sound, furniture, tents, etc. The application fee will be based on the type, size and impact of the event, the number of vendors, the availability of the property and parking and the cost to provide security, traffic control and property clean-up during and after the event. To be recommended by the mayor on a case-by-case basis, the application fees will now range from $200 to $5,000 per day, subject to commission approval. Applicants must provide proof of a $1 million liability insurance policy and the mayor can recommend increased insurance requirements for higher risk events. The new requirements and fees don’t apply to special events previously approved by the commission.
REAL ESTATE
House swap to escape the heat
Are you hot yet? Are you always saying, “Next summer I’m going to a cooler climate?” Are you starting to feel like you’ll never see 60 degrees again? Well, maybe it’s time to log on to a house-swapping website.
House swapping has been around for a long, long time, even before it actually had a name. Friends and relatives frequently swapped their homes with other friends and family members without getting involved in a structured arrangement. With people you know well, leaving your pet, car, plants and a stocked refrigerator is easy. It’s when you’re swapping with perfect strangers that the anxiety level is elevated.
Castles in the Sand
The home-swapping platforms People Like Us and HomeExchange are just two of many other programs you can review. They boast a combined membership of almost 200,000 members and growing annually since the cost of travel has gone up during the past four years. These platforms charge annual fees starting at about $100.
Most swappers entering into this arrangement are not casual travelers. They are sophisticated and frequently worldly, making them flexible when something goes wrong. And this process can be a long-range commitment, giving both parties time to get to know each other and get comfortable with the property and firm up a date.
Most of the properties available for swapping are either primary homes or second homes, therefore, there will likely be personal items, family photos and collections left by the owners. Owners frequently will lock up valuables or more personal things including clothes for their return in a separate storage area.
it is essential to research this and make sure both sides of the transaction are adequately covered.
If your cousin, Sally, is offering you her 600-square-foot cottage in the woods in Vermont in exchange for your Gulf-front 1500-square-foot condo in Florida, it may not be exactly what you’re looking for. You do, however, have other options as long as you’re flexible and willing to take a chance.
Because of the advanced internet, Zoom and the worldwide availability of Facetime, you can actually get to know the people you’re swapping with. After all, if you can get a medical diagnosis on Zoom and find a date for your friend’s wedding why not meet new people and tour their home?
If you’re thinking of swapping your home and it includes your vehicle, boat, skimobile or other items not within the home you need to be alert that your current vacation rental insurance may not cover these extras. It is possible to get supplemental insurance that either you or the person coming in pays for, but
Finally, as we who live in Florida know, condominium rules strictly govern rental of units. These restrictions can be anything from the number of days you can rent, adequate insurance coverage and completion of an application with names of all individuals using the unit for a specific period of time in addition to a rental fee. All of this may sound complicated, but once you do it, it’s the same process every time. Most swappers love it, but it does require a fair amount of faith and flexibility. Starting slow and local before you venture around the world is probably the best advice I read in my research.
Humans are nothing if not creative, especially Americans who have been infused with entrepreneurial ideas and an independent spirit since this country began. Use your creativity to cool off during the long, hot summer and explore other countries. It’s the American way.
LOUISE BOLGER
PARKING: City threatens shutdown of Bridge Street parking lot
On July 8, Cushing sent Kaleta’s representative, Sam Negrin, the following email:
“The Temporary Use Parking Lot is getting out of hand, yet again. If several issues are not addressed ASAP, we will be forced to barricade and close off the parking lot until they are addressed.
“First and foremost, the artesian well onsite is once again leaking and spreading water all over the lot, and down the street toward the Bay. It needs to be PERMANENTLY capped off immediately, not just temporarily.
“Electronic pay station kiosks have recently been added without any permitting. We were supposed to have been provided with a final site plan for the entire lot months ago as a condition of the temporary use that was approved in February.
“Again, we need a true site plan, prepared by a civil engineer, showing all of the dimensions, number and location of parking spaces, location of the added slabs, location of the pay kiosks and other signage, ingress and egress (traffic circulation), the post and rope that was installed, and anything
else that has been added or modified since the lot(s) were vacant. A hand or computer-generated ‘sketch’ won't cut it, we need a site plan.
“This parking lot has been in operation for five months now, during which time we have had to continually address the well issue. We've also asked multiple times for a site plan to be prepared and turned in for the temporary use permit file.
“Please make these things happen. If
they have not, by close of business on Friday (7/12/24) of this week, the lot will be shut down, and the area barricaded permanently, and the temporary use permit revoked. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.”
“After I sent them the email, they did contract with someone to cap the artesian well. It’s been leaking for a long time,” Cushing said on July 16.
“I still don’t have a site plan and there are other issues that haven’t been
Above, a leaking artesian well is marked at the
ing lot at 101 Bridge St. Left, flooding is apparent from the leaking artesian well.
taken care of. I still may be shutting it down temporarily in the next few days until these things are done.”
Cushing said the artesian well is next to Florida Power and Light equipment and the repairs to the well need to be coordinated with the power company.
“That well needs to be dug deep,” he said.
SEE PARKING, PAGE 22
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
park-
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
PARKING: City threatens shutdown of Bridge Street parking lot
UNMET STIPULATIONS
On Feb. 15, the city commission voted unanimously to approve the one-year temporary use permit for paid parking at the lot which encompasses 101 Bridge St., 105 Bridge St., 219 Gulf Drive S., and 106 Third St. S. with the following conditions:
• No ingress or egress from Bridge Street;
• Parking layout in accordance with the city’s land development code for parking drive aisle, parking bumpers and directional arrows;
• Turtle-friendly lighting at the lot management’s discretion;
• Landscaping buffering around the perimeter;
• Installation of a sidewalk on the north side of Third Street to Gulf Drive and Bridge Street at the corner of Gulf Drive to the boundaries of the Daiquiri Deck property;
• Installation of a concrete slab for trolley benches;
• CRA black and white signage; and
• ADA requirements by state and federal law for any parking spaces with a detailed site plan to the satisfaction of the building official.
In addition to the site plan not having been produced to the city, there currently exists ingress and egress from the lot to and from Bridge Street, landscape buffering has not been installed, no directional arrows are in place and the required sidewalks and concrete slab have not been installed.
Despite a statement made by Negrin at the February meeting that there would be no overnight parking at the lot, a food truck
Despite non-compliance with conditions set in February by the city commission, ingress and egress from a paid parking lot to Bridge Street remains open.
has been parked there for at least the past week.
Neither Negrin nor Kaleta responded to The Sun’s request for comment.
CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT
The parking lot was, up until the past week, managed by Easy Parking Group of Sarasota before the contract was terminated by Kaleta and new kiosks were put in place.
The new kiosks, which now say “Island Parking” show a parking rate of $15 per hour.
Josh LaRose, owner of Easy Parking Group, declined to comment on details of the termination.
“We did not do anything to default the contract with Shawn,” LaRose wrote in a July 16 email to The Sun.
LaRose wrote he was not responsible for the maintenance of the parking lot.
“My contract states that I’m only responsible for parking
management, collecting payment and enforcement, which is what my company does,” he wrote.
During the February commission meeting, Negrin had stated that LaRose would hold the insurance on the property. With LaRose no longer affiliated with the management of the parking lot, it’s unclear who, if anyone, is carrying insurance.
CANCELED TAX SALE
A tax deed sale for past due property taxes on 101 Bridge St. was scheduled for Sept. 19 and according to the www.manatee. realforeclose.com website, the sale was canceled and the property was redeemed.
The assessed value of the property was listed at $1,086,406 and the opening bid for the tax sale was listed as $67,512.85 with 205 Sycamore LLC as the listed property owner. The manager of that LLC is Shawn Kaleta and the registered agent is Najmy Thompson, a Bradenton-based law firm.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
CINDY LANE | SUN
End of the rainbow
The rainbow ends in Holmes Beach on a sunny July day sprinkled with rain.
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: TINGLEY LIBRARY in Bradenton Beach is looking for volunteers. Fun and friendly atmosphere. Morning and afternoon shifts. If interested, please contact Library Clerk, Eveann Adams, @ 941779-1208.
THE BEST VOLUNTEER position on the island. The AMI Historical Museum needs docents and bread makers. Call Kathy Primeau at 989-560-6381.
ROSER FOOD BANK needs donations of cash and non-perishable food, PAPER & PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS. Donations boxes are located at the Church, Moose Club, and Walgreen’s.
HOSPITAL VOLUNTEERS WANTED to assist at our information desk, especially weekends. Great for teens needing volunteer hours (16yrs+). Other assignments available. Please call the Blake Volunteer Office at 941-798-6151.
BOATS FOR SALE
BOATS ARE SELLING VERY WELL. “Business On A Handshake” Your Local Trusted Boat Dealer For 24 Years. I also buy boats. Dave Struber 941-228-3489. Islandboatsales.net
COMMERCIAL SALES, RENT & LEASE
HAVE YOU BEEN thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! Duplexes, multi family, small resorts? Call BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
CLEANING SERVICE
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Rentals, VRBO. Professional and Reliable. Call 941-756-4570 or 941-565-3931
EMPLOYMENT
EXPERIENCED NAIL TECH, great personality to take over existing clients PT to FT. Tired of where you are come join our salon! Call 941-545-3305.
JOIN DUNCAN REAL ESTATE! Open positions: Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistant, Housekeeping Liaison Apply: Send resume to sybille@ teamduncan.com
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
RENOVATION SPECALIST ALL carpentry repairs, Wash Family Construction, locally owned and operated CBC 1258250 Call 941-725-0073.
KERN & GILDER CONSTRUCTION, INC New Homes & Remodel. Design/ Build. Since 1968. License # CBC 1261150. Call the Office. 941-778-1115
JSAN CORPORATION Renovations Construction & Handyman Services 941-243-0995 Lic# CRC1332505 jsancorporation@gmail. com Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Repairs, Kitchen and Bathrooms, Trim & Doors Free Estimates. Credit Cards Accepted.
ISLE TILE specializing in Custom Bath/Shower & Backsplash installation. Pressure washing available. Call 941-302-8759 isletileservices.com
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR, LLC. 15+ years of experience. Free Estimates. Let’s solve your Drywall problems together. Call 941-286-0607.
BMF INTERIORS Home repairs and more, No job too small. Please call 786318-8585
A.R.E. Renovation’s WHOLESALE KITCHEN CABINETS DIRECT., Remodeling, Bathrooms. Trim Flooring and Decks Tile and more Free quote, references available. Lic. # CRC.1334176 941-4653045.
LANDSCAPING & LAWN CARE
R. GAROFALO’S Interlocking brick pavers, driveways, patios, pool decks. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. Call Rafael 941-778-4823 or Veronik 941-526-7941
ISLAND RESIDENT. TREE/ BUSH Trimming, removal. Sweeping, blowing, and weeding. Weekly, bi-monthly or monthly schedule. Pressure washing. Call Bill Witaszek 941307-9315
MOVING & STORAGE
MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.
PAINTING & WALLCOVERING
PAINT! PAINT! AND MORE 28 years of experienced interior/exterior custom painting. Pressure cleaning, drywall repairs and texture finishes. Many Island references. Please call Neil for free estimates. 941-812-0507
“WIZARD OF WALLS” Established 1980
Prompt quality service. Wallpaper installation/ removal. Mary Bell Winegarden 941-794-0455
DONALD PERKINS ABRACADABRA PAINTING LLC fully insured. 30 years experience. Many Island references. Call 941-705-7096
PROFESSIONAL PAINTING SERVICES. Prompt & Reliable. Island Resident. Quality Workmanship. Interior/Exterior. Minor repairs & carpentry. Free estimates. Bill Witaszek 941-307-9315
POOL SERVICES
FOUR SEASONS POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657
COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
PRESSURE WASHING & WINDOWS
TOTAL HOME SERVICES CLEANING: Residential, Commercial, Construction, Vacation, VRBO Rentals . Also available Pressure Washing, Roof Cleaning, Paver Sealing and Windows. Call 941-5653931.
REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE
Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216
LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
HISTORICAL COTTAGE
409 Pine Ave. $2.2M 4BR/3BA pool. Brenda Boyd May Broker / Owner. All realtors welcome. 941-730-8589
MOUNT VERNON UPDATED VILLA for sale. 9407 Andover Circle. 2BR/2BA. 1246 sq ft. $309K. 55+ vibrant community, heated pool, clubhouse, pickleball, kayak launch, plus more!
Boat docks available $25 application $10 yearly. Keller Williams on the Water, Cathy Roberson, 239- 8989123
RENTALS: ANNUAL
ANNUAL RENTALS
WANTED! We have well qualified tenants for beach and mainland annual rentals, Full management or Finders fee. Call today for details. Ask for Paige DUNCAN REAL ESTATE 513-382-1992.
ANNUAL RENTAL 3BR/2BA Pebble Springs condo, upstairs, laundry, avail. 8/1 $2000 monthly. 941-778-4800
ANNUAL RENTAL: Imperial House Condo 2BR/1BA $2000/mo - Available Aug 1st. 208 A Magnolia Ave. 2BR/2BA $2800/moavailable June 1st. 208 B Magnolia Ave. 2BR/2BA $2800/mo- available Aug 1st. 407 76th St A Holmes Beach, FL 34216 3BR/2BA $5000/mo- available now with dock slip available for rent. Contact Sato Real Estate for more information. 941-778-7200
ANNUAL RENTAL, 2BR/1BA in Holmes Beach, 2 blocks to beach, $2150/month. Available now. Call Dolores Baker Real Estate for more details. 941-778-7500
2BR/2BA HOLMES BEACH
$2500/month 2 blocks to beach. Internet and basic cable included until March 2025. 920-763-2800
RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION
TIFFANY PLACE} Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455
SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941-201-2190
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CONDOS Large pool, beach access, free WiFi, 1&2 Bedroom $900 to $1200 per week redekercondosonami.com Tim 941-704-7525
CONDO TO RENT IN GATED COMMUNITY (5 mi from Anna Maria) available July till end Nov. - all included! www.floridarentals. com/10943/ 704-9930288
SEASONAL RENTAL IN HOLMES BEACH . Studio apartment Minimum 4 month rental, Available Dec 2024 - April 2025, $8700. 908-914-1282
ANNA MARIA ISLAND
CONDO Available July thru December. Great Value. Beautiful Upgraded 2BR/2BA Incredible water View! Waterfront Patio, Pool, tennis, pickle, walk to beach. Private carport. Excellent Rental terms. Owner/renter. Call/email for pics. Rentamiwaterview@aol.com or 570239-0431
TRANSPORTATION
ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $85. Sarasota $40. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095
Jessica Pierce Sales Associate