25
Serving AMI 25 YEARS
WWII vet flies again. 18
Love fest. 20
Kids showcase talent. 22 MARCH 1, 2017 FREE
VOLUME 25, NO. 18 Florida’s Best Community Weekly 2010 AMI Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business of the Year
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992
www.islander.org
Holmes Beach speed limits change — again AsTheWorldTerns like the winner. 6 Bradenton Beach finalizes rental ordinance. 4
Meetings
On the government calendar. 4 Vacation rental owners anticipate legislative win. 5
Op-Ed
The Islander editorial, reader letters. 6
10-20 YEARS AGO
Looking back. 7
Sarasota sets terms for ferry to BB. 8 BB fine-tunes anchorage plan. 10
Happenings
Community announcements, activities, calendar. 12-15
Gathering. 16
Obituaries. 17 Scenic Waves seeks trail improvements. 21 Dog training embarks at center. 23 Ugly meets approval in Holmes Beach. 26 Beach manners. 27 Sand messages. 28 Spring results for anglers. 29
ISL BIZ Waterline gears up. 31
stated the dOt completed a study in 2016 and, while unable to justify a 25-mph speed limit “west of the bridge,” the study justified a lower, 35-mph limit, across the bridge. According to gwinn’s email, the dOt also considered the “context of the roadway” to justify lowering the limit to 25 mph. “We felt that the only way it would work is if the local law enforcement were to strictly enforce the speed limit as signing alone would not likely slow the traffic,” Gwinn wrote, adding Tokajer “was committed to enforcing the 25-mph speed limit as a precondition to the installation.” Gwinn said another study is not necessary, adding that the dOt is the only agency that can determine the speed limit on a state road. “We will work with locals and use their input in the process,” Gwinn wrote, adding commissioners “cannot simply vote to change a speed limit on a state road.” At a feb. 14 commission meeting, a public majority urged commissioners to return Manatee Avenue to its previous limits. Some people blamed the chief for the PLEASE SEE speeD PAGE 2
By Jennifer Sheppard Islander Reporter What goes down must come up? Despite lowering speed limits at the suggestion of Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, who was supported by Mayor Bob Johnson and some safety-concerned residents, the Florida Department of Transportation will return the 35-mph limit on Manatee Avenue. But what happens next remains unclear. In a Feb. 22 email to Keith Slater, traffic operations engineer for dOt district 1, including Manatee County, Johnson — as directed by city commissioners — requested the dOt reinstate the 35-mph speed limit on State Road 64/Manatee Avenue from milepost 0.000 to milepost 0.675 — from the Anna Maria Island Bridge west to the Manatee Public Beach — adding the city “concurs with all other changes made on SR 64.” Johnson told Slater the city’s request for an engineering and traffic investigation for “possibly lowering the speed limit entering the city” was not made in accordance with the city code that requires major traffic regulations be presented to the commission before becoming effective. “Such a request should have been vetted
prior to its submission,” Johnson wrote. According to a Feb. 22 email to Johnson from dOt’s david gwinn, district director of transportation operations, the dOt would not have lowered the speed limit “unless we were assured that the city would support and enforce the change.” “The chief explained to us that the area where the speed limit was being requested to be 25 mph was a dangerous location for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles entering the roadway uncontrolled, including vehicles towing boats,” Gwinn wrote. He also
By Bianca Benedí Islander Reporter The city of Anna Maria is pushing forward with its challenge to Florida Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 425. At their Feb. 23 meeting, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution declaring their opposition to legislation that would prohibit the city of Anna Maria from using home rule to regulate vacation rentals. The two bills would Murphy negate all ordinances regarding vacation rentals adopted after June 2011, including the city commission’s vacation rental ordinance. In January, the city Case commission approved a contract for lobbyist Chip Case. He is being paid $5,000 monthly to challenge the bills in Tallahassee.
Mayor Dan Murphy has been providing regular updates of Case’s work. At the Feb. 23 meeting, he said that Case had met with three new representatives and senators, including Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who sits on two of the three committees HB 425 could pass through in its review. Case also met with Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Nassau, who sits on the Senate Community Affairs Subcommittee, and with Sen. debbie Mayfield, R-indian River. Murphy said contact information for the three would be added to the city website, along with suggested content for correspondence. Murphy said Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, who sponsored SB 188, is getting support from out-of-state special interests. “California and texas firms are extremely interested in helping him get the bills passed,” Murphy said, adding any letters to senators and representatives should emphasize that point. Murphy was referring to California- Long Bar shoreline on Sarasota Bay. Story, PLEASE SEE Lobbyist PAGE 3 page 3. Islander File Photo: Jack Elka
A Holmes Beach patrol officer keeps watch on Manatee Avenue on the approach to East Bay Drive near the Kingfish Boat Ramp. Islander Photo: Jennifer Sheppard
Anna Maria steps up VRO legislative fight
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County wins Long Bar challenge
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