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VOL 20 No. 3
October 30, 2019
Charter amendments explained Almost two dozen people attended a town hall in Holmes Beach where the discussion focused on the proposed charter amendments up for a vote in November. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
Farmer’s market returns JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Flower power: Dominga’s Flowers is a new addition to the market. Story and photos on Page16.
HOLMES BEACH – Voters in Holmes Beach have more than their candidates for commissioner to choose from when they go to the polls. Also on the November ballot are eight proposed charter amendments styled as yes or no questions. To help voters decide how to cast their ballots, city leaders asked Charter Review Commission Chair Ed Upshaw to host a town hall meeting where the ballot questions were explained and residents could ask questions about the proposed amendments. About two dozen people attended the Oct. 23 town hall meeting where Upshaw presented the eight questions along with the reasoning behind each one and answered questions from community members. SEE CHARTER, PAGE 32
Pier issues present additional challenges In addition to the stalled lease negotiations, a conflict has arisen between the architect and the engineering firm. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy will seek city commission authorization to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for the potential lease of the cityowned restaurant and bait shop buildings being built on the new City Pier. On Oct. 24, Murphy told the city commission that on Nov. 7 he would formally request authorization to prepare a pier lease RFP as part of
INSIDE NEWS 4 CALENDAR 7 OUTDOORS 24-25 ENTERTAINMENT 26 REAL ESTATE 30-33 SPORTS 34 CROSSWORD 36
the city’s ongoing efforts to secure a pier tenant. In late September, Murphy emailed current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder two options for a new 10-year lease. Murphy proposed either an initial base rent of $21,600 per month or an initial base rent of $18,900 per month with an additional $250,000 up-front payment due upon signing. Schoenfelder rejected those proposed terms and referred to his own previous offer to pay the city a base rent of $12,000 per month. Schoenfelder’s current lease expires in December 2020. “His final offer is due to the city by December 13,” Murphy told the commission. SEE PIER, PAGE 33
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
It is not yet known who will occupy these new buildings being built at the T-end of Anna Maria’s new City Pier.
STONE Crab Festival
SYMPHONY ON the Sand tickets
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10. 3
now available. 9
Anna Maria Island, Florida
LUNCHEON concludes turtle
nesting season. 22 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com