29 minute read
CALENDAR
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130 City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofannamaria.com or contact city hall for more information. April 2, all day – City offices closed for Good Friday April 5, 2:30 p.m. – Planning and Zoning board meeting April 8, 2 p.m. – City Commission meeting April 22, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005 City hall is open to the public with limited capacity and safety protocols in place. Please visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information. March 31, 9:15 a.m. – City Commission emergency meeting April 7, 9:15 a.m. – City Commission emergency meeting April 7, 9:30 a.m. – Community Redevelopment Agency meeting April 7, 2 p.m. – Scenic WAVES meeting April 8, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting April 13, 9 a.m. – City Commission work meeting
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800 City hall is open to the public by appointment only. Please visit www.holmesbeachfl. org or contact city hall for more information. April 7, 10 a.m. – Parks and Beautification committee meeting April 7, 6 p.m. – Planning Commission meeting April 13, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting followed by work session April 22, 11:30 a.m. – Police pension board meeting April 27, 6 p.m. – City Commission meeting followed by work session
ISLAND-WIDE
April 20, 4:30 p.m. – West Manatee Fire Rescue board budget workshop with regular meeting to follow at 6 p.m., administration offices and on Zoom, 6510 Third Ave. W., Bradenton. For more information, visit www.wmfr.org.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
The Island Branch Library is open at 40% capacity. Please wear a face mask/covering. The Tingley Memorial Library is open. The Center of Anna Maria Island is open with social distancing and face masks required. The Holmes Beach dog park (Scentral Park), skate park, basketball courts, pickleball courts and tennis courts are open. Local preserves are open, including Grassy Point Preserve, Neal Preserve, Perico Preserve and Robinson Preserve. Local beaches are open.
WEDNESDAY
MARCH 31 Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
THURSDAY
APRIL 1 Farmer’s Market, Holmes Beach city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.
APRIL 2 Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SATURDAY
APRIL 3 Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 8-9 a.m. No reservations required. Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Face masks required.
SUNDAY
APRIL 4 Easter sunrise service, Manatee Beach, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, 6:30 a.m. Masks and social distancing required.
TUESDAY
APRIL 6 Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 101 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
APRIL 7 Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
THURSDAY
APRIL 8 Farmer’s Market, Holmes Beach city field, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays in Paradise Stroll featuring local art, music and food, Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, 5 to 8 p.m.
APRIL 9 Beach market, Coquina Beach, 2650 Gulf Drive S., Bradenton Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prevention Plus stroke and vascular screening, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave. Call 1-888-667-7587 or visit www.stroketesting.com for more information.
SATURDAY
APRIL 10 Robinson Runners, Robinson Preserve, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 8-9 a.m. No reservations required. Saturday mornings at the NEST, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 9 a.m. to noon. Face masks required.
SUNDAY
APRIL 11 Rise and Shine Power Flow Yoga, Robinson Preserve Mosaic Nest, 840 Ninth Ave. N.W., Bradenton, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., $10 fee payable online. Bring your own yoga mat. Register at https://parks.mymanatee.org/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search. html?primarycode=110006 or call 941-7425923 ext. 6042 for more information.
TUESDAY
APRIL 13 Farmer’s Market, City Pier Park, 101 N. Bay Blvd., Anna Maria, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MONDAY
APRIL 19 Red Cup Kickball League, The Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, 6 p.m.
HB mayor: Include the chief or no meeting
During his first day in office, County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge threatened to withhold future beach renourishment funds.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth declined Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge’s request to meet and discuss the city’s past elimination of street-side parking spaces.
Titsworth rejected Van Ostenbridge’s request to meet in part because Van Ostenbridge’s invitation did not extend to Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer.
As the District 3 county commissioner, Van Ostenbridge represents all three Anna Maria Island cities. Van Ostenbridge was sworn into office on Nov. 17. During the county commission work meeting held later that day, Van Ostenbridge threatened to withhold future beach renourishment funding from the city of Holmes Beach because of the city's parking reductions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Mayor Titsworth and the Holmes Beach City Commission have jeopardized future beach renourishment projects in their city. I will not support county participation in beach renourishment projects in Holmes Beach until on-street parking levels are returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. I am drawing a line in the sand,” Van Ostenbridge said, during his first county meeting.
MEETING SOUGHT
Vida Gordon is the executive administrative assistant to the county commission. On Tuesday, March 23, Gordon sent Titsworth an email on behalf of Van Ostenbridge which said, “Commissioner Van Ostenbridge would like to meet with you and staff regarding: Public parking on city streets in the city of Holmes Beach. Manatee County participation in future beach renourishment projects.”
Within 30 minutes, Titsworth sent Gordon her response.
“Please ask the commissioner to take the time to witness the high traffic in our city on our many sunny weekends prior to scheduling this meeting. I see no reason to have a meeting until he takes the time to see it for himself. Saturdays would be a great time, as our rather large resort housing industry turns over each Saturday and traffic is at a standstill. If we are going to have real discussions with real solutions, I find it important that he witness this first-hand,” Titsworth stated in her email.
“I would also ask that he drive through the residential neighborhoods to take note of the beach access parking we currently provide so that he can more easily understand the issues. This may allow him a better perspective to see the limits the city is facing in accommodating all our county residents and tourists who want to arrive by car,” Titsworth wrote.
“As for the Manatee County participation in beach nourishment, I am well advised as to the interlocal agreement we have with the county and the city’s continued participation to provide beach access public parking. If he would like to discuss any proposed changes to this agreement at this meeting, please advise prior, as I
Titsworth Tokajer
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN On Nov. 17, new county commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge took issue with the pandemic-related parking restrictions imposed in Holmes Beach. Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth will not meet to discuss parking concerns without the police chief present. Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer played a significant role in the development of the city’s current parking plan.
SEE MAYOR, PAGE 9
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MAYOR: Declines meeting request
FROM PAGE 8 would ask that Charlie Hunsicker be present to inform us of any changes in requirements at the state level. The chief and I are available on April 12. Please ask him to come to city hall,” Titsworth wrote.
A short time later, Gordon sent Titsworth Van Ostenbridge’s response.
“I have seen first-hand the traffic challenges on AMI at peak hours. I look forward to hearing from the mayor in our meeting. I am hoping for a constructive meeting that will enable the mayor and myself to lay out our respective positions. The end goal I have in mind is to create a more welcoming environment on AMI and increase accessibility to our public beaches. My hope is that this meeting will be a productive first step,” Van Ostenbridge wrote.
“Mr. Hunsicker has been invited to the meeting as well as county attorney (Bill) Clague. If she would like to remove either of those invitees from the meeting, I will oblige her request. That said, my invitation does not extend to the Holmes Beach Police Chief,” Van Ostenbridge wrote.
Upon receipt of that message, Titsworth informed Gordan that she would not be meeting with Van Ostenbridge.
“If the meeting does not extend to the police chief who has first-hand knowledge on why parking was eliminated on certain streets, then I see no reason to have the meeting. Per the commissioner’s email, he feels he has all the experience he needs on the traffic, congestion and parking constraints. Unfortunately, he does not have the credentials to determine where parking works and where it does not. If I am to accept a meeting with the commissioner to discuss parking in the neighborhoods, I will expect the chief to attend. As for the county attorney, I see no reason why his services would be needed at this time,” Titsworth wrote.
“With all due respect, any comments made by the commissioner up to this point have been threatening in nature. I understand his position, as he does mine. There is no reason to take up any additional time in laying out our positions. Any proposed additional parking in Holmes Beach will require a traffic study by FDOT, including a viable plan for bringing additional cars on and off the Island. Any additional parking will need to include restroom facilities,” Titsworth wrote.
“If a meeting cannot be agreed to, I would suggest the commissioner attend a city meeting so he can express his concerns regarding the ‘unwelcoming environment’ and the accessibility to the beaches. I am certain the board would welcome hearing his suggestions, being that he is our new district representative,” Titsworth wrote.
Titsworth then received an email from Gordon that stated Van Ostenbridge would be happy to meet with the mayor in the county commissioners’ conference room or in his office in downtown Bradenton.
In response, Titsworth wrote, “If he is unwilling to come visit the city he represents, I will have to decline to attend the meeting. I can already see where it is heading. Commissioner Kruse was happy to meet me and the chief at our city. My door is always open.”
CHIEF’S COMMENTS
When contacted Friday, Tokajer said, “For Commissioner Van Ostenbridge to invite the mayor to a meeting that dictates which staff is allowed to attend is another example of his abuse of the perceived power of his position. I do not see our mayor and commission being bullied by empty threats about future beach renourishment.”
Judy Titsworth Holmes Beach Mayor
SEE MAYOR, PAGE 15
Cold wind, warm hearts
A cold wind did not keep music lovers from two churches from filling the Roser Memorial Community Church grounds at Music on the Water on March 21. The masked crowd was delighted to hear the Praise Team from CrossPointe Fellowship in Holmes Beach joined on the stage by Roser Pastor Neil Crowell, Roser facilities manager Charles Wade and others.
ROSER CHURCH | SUBMITTED Charles Wade, Roser’s facilities manager, was the soloist at Music on the Water on March 21. Roser Pastor Neil Crowell, left, performed with the CrossPointe Praise Team.
ROSER CHURCH | SUBMITTED
ROSER CHURCH | SUBMITTED Above, soloist Charles Wade with his family at Music on the Water at Roser. Left, Roser Pastor Neil Crowell, left, with CrossPointe Pastor Ed Moss.
5346 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach (941) 778-5788 | hurricanehanks.com Visit us for a cold one!
We’ve installed 5 Fresh-Aire UV units to provide
Students receive AMI Chamber scholarships
Hunter Raley, Alexandra Rankin and Kimberly Recancoj have received $1,000 scholarships from the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce. The recipients were honored during the Chamber’s Business Card Exchange on Thursday, March 25 at LaPensee Plumbing, Pools and Air in Holmes Beach. Each year, the AMI Chamber of Commerce offers scholarships to selected graduating high school seniors in Manatee County. After graduating from Palmetto High School with top honors, Raley plans to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech. After graduating from Manatee High School, Rankin will continue her education at State College of Florida, where she has been dual enrolled in the pursuit of degrees in education and social work. After graduating from Bayshore High School in the top 10% of her class, Recancoj plans to attend the University of South Florida to obtain a nursing degree.
SHONA OTTO | SUN Hunter Raley, Alexandra Rankin and Kimberly Recancoj have lofty plans for their futures.
WHERE‛S YOUR COMFORT ZONE?
Holmes Beach parking permit discussion gets complicated
BY JASON SCHAFFER
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH - City commissioners may have more questions than ever after a lengthy discussion about charging residents a $15 fee for parking decals allowing them to park on designated “permit-only” streets in residential neighborhoods.
Since the Island hosts thousands of visitors each month, and the majority arrive by motor vehicle, the parking of these vehicles on residential streets to gain access to Gulf beaches is a concern for residents, especially now, during spring break and the busy spring tourist season.
Holmes Beach Ordinance No. 20-10 was established to provide controlled parking in residential areas by permit.
Commissioner Jayne Christenson proposed the adoption of a resolution to eliminate the $15 fee currently in place to obtain a parking decal from the city.
“I would like to propose two things,” Christenson said: “That we either do away with the fee completely; I don’t believe that residents should be charged a fee to be able to park in front of their own homes. If we can’t compromise on that, possibly what an alternative could be, if you live on a permit-only street, you shouldn’t have to pay.”
Personally affected by this fee, Christenson noted that she has four vehicles, which means $60 to her.
“I refuse to pay $15; it’s the principle of the matter,” she said.
Commissioner Christenson also suggested that money from a $1.8 million grant that the city is getting from either the county or state could be moved around to offset the permit fee for residents. She was not specific on the grant, its intended use, or how this movement of money would take place.
Chairperson Jim Kihm joined the discussion saying, “If we didn’t charge a permit fee, everybody would want a permit, and the administration cost would be very expensive for the city.” Kihm offered a compromise, suggesting the first parking decal could be free to residents, and subsequent decals would remain $15.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer pointed out that very few of the permits had been issued in the six months since they began, and that based on the number of permits obtained (171), there didn’t seem to be a lot of interest from residents. He also said he supported the $15 fee and it was a “nominal cost.” The fact that the fee was low was echoed by most of the commissioners, as well as by Mayor Judy Titsworth and Police Chief William Tokajer. Commissioner Christenson seemed to be the lone holdout on the amount of money.
“Since March 1, the city has issued 267 tickets, and only 13 of those tickets were for parking without a permit in permitted areas, which means the system is working well,” Tokajer said.
Speaking about Chairperson Kihm’s suggestion to offer the first permit free, Tokajer said, “If you give one permit free, you give the permit to residents who live on a permit parking road, not the entirety of the city, because that would give 4,000 residents the opportunity to come to city hall and get a permit without paying anything. That would be costly in generated time and work from the city.”
While it seemed a compromise on the matter was soon to come, the debate had just begun.
The mayor took to the podium multiple times during the lengthy discussion, pushing to keep the fee in place.
“People do not like taxes, so we’re trying to base fees on who is using them. There is a perk for people who live on permit parking-only streets. They don’t have off-Island people parking on their streets,” Titsworth said.
Commissioners Carol Soustek and Kim Rash didn’t seem to have a problem with the fee either but were on board with the idea of the first permit being free.
Once the majority of commissioners were in agreement that one free permit per residence was a plausible compromise, it remains for them to decide if this will apply to only full-time residents or all homeowners, which would include those who own property, but who mostly use that property as a vacation rental.
Jayne Christenson Holmes Beach commissioner
SHONA OTTO | SUN Company representatives Rudy Prouty, Shannon Prouty, Logan Prouty, Miranda Prouty, Laura Duffy and Andrew Prouty were among those on hand for last week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Factory Offlease Autos celebrates grand opening
Members of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce helped Factory Offlease Autos celebrate their grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, March 23. Now headquartered at 5917 Manatee Ave. W., Unit 101, Factory Offlease Auto Brokers offers an online car buying experience that allows clients to choose from 1,500 off-lease, late model, low-mileage vehicles – many of which still have factory warranties. According to the company website, www.FactoryOffleaseAutos.com, vehicles previously leased in Florida are now available at 10% over dealer cost. Factory Offlease Auto Brokers can also handle all trades.
MAYOR: Declines meeting request Sebastiano joins Sato Real Estate
FROM PAGE 9
“As a city, we’ve more than upheld our requirements set forth in the interlocal agreement with Manatee County on parking. Do you really think the county is going to stop receiving federal funds for beach renourishment for the largest tourist destination in Manatee County? Are they going to stop advertising Anna Maria Island as a tourist destination? If the county is not going to do beach renourishment, they can give the city back the millions of dollars in the tourist tax revenues they collect from the Holmes Beach community,” Tokajer said.
“The city’s residential areas should not be made into a parking lot. The county needs to come up with some other ideas as to where people can park – and the places they come up with need to have facilities such as bathrooms, changing stations and lifeguards. We need to do something to balance the amount of people coming into our residential areas,” Tokajer said.
“Right now, there are 1,264 parking spaces that are open to the public, and 500 of those are dedicated to meeting beach renourishment parking requirements. We have an additional 645 spaces for residential parking by permit. The city’s parking plan is truly working in the manner in which we thought it would,” he added.
Tokajer doesn’t anticipate the city restoring its parking capacity to pre-pandemic levels.
“The commission has already voted numerous times on this parking plan and they unanimously support the plan we have now. No matter what this commissioner does, I don’t see them going back to that,” he said.
Citing data collected by license plate readers positioned along the city’s main thoroughfares, Tokajer said, “From March 1 through noon today, March 26, we had 621,569 vehicles that came on and off Island in Holmes Beach during that 26-day period. That’s an average of 24,675 vehicles per day. Even if we opened up the 2,400 parking spaces we had before COVID, that’s still leaves another 22,000 cars a day that have nowhere to park.
“Commissioner Kruse was willing to come here to Holmes Beach and sit down with the mayor and I to discuss things and learn why we did what we did. If Commissioner Van Ostenbridge wants to dictate who the mayor’s going to bring to a meeting, then I guess we’re not going to have it,” Tokajer said.
2021
Holmes Beach native Jordan Sebastiano has returned to the Island area and is now serving as Sato Real Estate’s newest agent. After earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of South Florida, Sebastiano immersed himself within the real estate industry and gained exposure to the international vacation rental market while using his marketing and photography skills to work with developers in Bali, Indonesia. Sebastiano then made his way to Boulder, Colorado where he worked as a broker associate. When not assisting clients at Sato Real Estate, he can now be found enjoying the Florida weather with his dog, Brady.
SATO REAL ESTATE | SUBMITTED Jordan Sebastiano is now an agent for Sato Real Estate.
Single mom laments chicken-keeping prohibition
Holmes Beach is the only city on Anna Maria Island that allows chicken keeping under a city ordinance.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria resident Jennifer Kaleta recently discovered the hard way that city code prohibits live chickens and chicken coops.
During public comment at the March 25 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Kaleta asked the commission to consider revising the city’s existing chicken coop prohibitions.
Sec. 114-417 of the Anna Maria code of ordinances states: “No livestock, fowl or domestic animals other than ordinary household pets shall be kept or maintained in any district.”
When addressing the commission, Kaleta said, “I’m a single mom with three kids,” and she noted her children are 5, 7, and 10 years old.
“A year ago, in February, when the world shut down due to the pandemic, I was home with three kids. I looked at the possibility of getting chickens. I found a city code that stated we could have them. Fast forward a year and I get the dreaded call: ‘Jen, you cannot have chickens.’ When I went back to find the code that I had read, it was for Holmes Beach. Needless to say, we’re devastated,” Kaleta told the commission.
“The chickens taught my kids a huge sense of responsibility and we had farm fresh eggs that we ate almost every day. They fed them, played with them, cleaned their coop and every night made sure the coop was closed up tight so they were safe. As crazy as it sounds, they became a part of our family and we are completely devastated,” she said.
“Had I known, I would have come to you a year ago to see if the code could be adjusted. Holmes Beach, Manatee County, the city of Bradenton, and the city of Palmetto all allow chickens with strict guidelines. I am here today in hope that you will consider changing the code to allow the kids and I to have our chickens – and mirror the code that Holmes Beach put into place back in 2014,” Kaleta said.
After speaking, Kaleta provided the clerk with copies of the Holmes Beach code to share with the commissioners. Neither the mayor nor any of the commissioners commented on her request to reconsider the city’s existing chicken-keeping prohibition.
Before leaving the commission chambers, Kaleta told The Sun the family's chickens are currently living at her brother’s house.
HOLMES BEACH CODES
Sec. 10-4 of the Holmes Beach code of ordinances is titled: “Keeping of chickens within the city limits.”
According to the Holmes Beach code of ordinances: • No more than four chickens may be kept, with roosters prohibited. • No person shall slaughter any chickens. • The chickens shall be provided with a movable covered enclosure, i.e. ‘henhouse/coop,’ and must be kept in the covered enclosure or a fenced enclosure at all times. • Chickens must be secured within the movable henhouse/coop during non-daylight hours. • No covered enclosure or fenced enclosure shall be located in the front yard, nor shall the henhouse/ coop be closer than 10 feet to any property line of an adjacent property, nor within 25 feet of any adjacent residential structure. • Odors from chickens, chicken manure, or other chicken-related substances shall not be detectable at the property boundaries. • The henhouse/coop must be impermeable to rodents, wild birds, and predators, including dogs and cats. • Enclosures shall be kept in neat condition, including provision of clean, dry bedding materials and regular removal of waste materials. • All feed and other items associated with the keeping of chickens that are likely to attract or to become infested with or infected by rodents or other pests shall be kept in secure containers or otherwise protected. • The sale of eggs or any other chicken products generated in the city is prohibited.
According to the Holmes Beach ordinance, “Nothing herein shall affect the ability of private property owners and/or neighborhoods to create and/or enforce private restrictions – which may provide more stringent regulation of chicken keeping than provided for herein, including the prohibition of chicken keeping.”
The Bradenton Beach code of city ordinances does not address chickens or chicken keeping.
JENNIFER KALETA | SUBMITTED The city of Anna Maria prohibits chicken keeping within the city limits.
Jennifer Kaleta, Anna Maria resident
Center concerts returning in May
The first two Center concerts will take place outdoors in May, with more indoor shows to follow later in the year.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The Marshall Tucker Band will mark the return of The Center of Anna Maria Island’s fundraising concert series.
Conducted in partnership with the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Bradenton Gulf Island Concert Series’ 2021 season will kick off with the southern rock sounds of The Marshall Tucker Band, whose hits include “Can’t You See,” “Fire on the Mountain,” and “Heard It in a Love Song.” The band will perform outside The Center on Thursday, May 13 and the outdoor concert will be held on the athletic fields between 5 and 9 p.m.
The concert series will continue with former Journey singer Steve Augeri on Friday, May 28. Augeri succeeded Steve Perry as Journey’s lead singer in 1998 when the rock group staged a comeback after the classic Journey lineup went on hiatus in the mid-1990s. Augeri remained with Journey until 2006 when he was replaced by Jeff Scott Soto, who held that role for a year before being giving way to current Journey singer Arnel Pineda.
COMMISSION APPROVAL
Both concerts were given the goahead by the Anna Maria City Commission in a 4-1 vote on Thursday, March 25. Due to his ongoing concerns about COVID-19 precautionary compliance, Commissioner Jon Crane opposed the issuance of the required special event permits.
Attendance at both outdoor concerts will be limited to 496 people and attendees will be required to sit in small groups within 10’ x 10’ pod areas marked out on the grassy surface. Barring a change in current COVID-19 safety protocols as vaccinations increase, those attending the Marshall Tucker Band and Steve Augeri concerts will be required to wear masks or face coverings when outside of their designated pod areas.
Executive Director Chris Culhane told the commission The Center hopes to return to indoor concerts after these two shows.
When discussing the special event permits, Crane said, “I’m still not at all certain that The Center can be trusted to run a COVID-safe concert, particularly with 500 people drinking. I don’t want a super-spreader in my city.”
Commission Chair Carol Carter said some people thought the outdoor concerts might be better suited if held during the afternoon, but she realizes that may not be possible – in part due to the performers’ availability.
Commissioner Deanie Sebring supports the return of concerts and other special events.
“I’m excited to start getting back to normal. I’ve gone to a number of events that had probably the same amount of people and thus far nothing tragic has happened. The only time we wore masks is when we did get up to order a drink. When we stayed in our areas, the people did not have their masks on. It’s impossible to wear a mask and enjoy a concert,” she said.
“Lots of people are getting vaccinated, lots of people have already had it. I haven’t got my shot yet but I’m very excited about getting life a little bit back to normal,” she added.
“We are also,” Culhane said.
In response to a question posed by Commissioner Joe Muscatello, Mayor Dan Murphy said the commission could later revoke the special event permits if such a need arose, but that would require a majority vote of the commission.
After noting that he serves as a volunteer on The Center’s finance committee, Commissioner Mark Short said, “I know how important these events are to The Center. The Center has been operating in the black for three consecutive years and that’s quite an accomplishment. These fundraisers are instrumental in The Center staying in that position.”
He also said, “This last year, it wasn’t the fundraisers that kept The Center in the black. It was the generosity of a lot of people in this community who went above and beyond with personal donations to make up for the shortfall in those revenue-generating events The Center had been able to do. I see this as a very important thing for The Center in terms of continuing to be viable. I also believe that if somebody is seriously concerned about the risk of getting COVID at an event like this they shouldn’t attend. There are no restrictions with respect to something like this, so I believe there’s no reason why these events should not be approved by this board.”
WWW.MARSHALLTUCKER.COM | SUBMITTED WWW.STEVEAUGERI.COM | SUBMITTED The Marshall Tucker Band will perform outside The Center on Thursday, May 13. Former Journey singer Steve Augeri will perform outside The Center on Friday, May 28.
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