Ready for summer season?

C-Squared.

The addendum contains two parts, including:

• $16,680.75 to install a pervious brick sidewalk along 56th Street from Marina Drive to replace some sidewalk removed during city center construction;

• $54,858.50 to improve the alley behind the Island proof of delay from a manufacturer or product delivery is presented to the city for evaluation.”

Another question asks, “On Gulf/Pine Avenue, do we want the pavers with names on them?”

The city responded, “This will be discussed with the city once the contract is awarded.”

Other answers addressed choosing subgrade filler, erosion control and whether a contractor needs to be qualified with the Florida Department of Transportation.

There was no public comment at the April 13 meeting.

The commission will meet next at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.

Directions to attend via Zoom can be found at cityofannamaria.com.

Motorists make their way April 12 through the intersection of Gulf and Marina drives in Holmes Beach, parts of which have been closed since construction on city center improvements began last September.

Shopping Center and the Shell gas station by resurfacing, adding defined parallel parking spaces and landscaping.

The commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.

Directions to attend via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, holmesbeachfl.org.

Check the list

The island cities are united to mark Earth Day 2023 with a campaign — Islanders 4 Clean Water.

Islanders! That’s you.

Clean water! What can be more important to an island community?

The cities issued a call to action that The Islander can get behind, asking people to take 10 actions to “help keep our waterways clean” because “it starts with us.”

Consider taking the pledge on 10 actions:

Action 1: Conserve fresh water.

2: reduce and eliminate use of chemical fertilizers.

3: landscape with Florida-friendly plants and trees.

4: Use only ecofriendly and safe pesticides.

5: Properly dispose of hazardous household items.

6: reduce polluted stormwater runoff.

7: reduce usage of single-use plastics.

8: Be informed and report problems.

9: Work, live and play responsibly in our waterways.

10: Share these tips and challenge a friend.

To make a pledge to unite for clean water — and get entered for some prizes — go to islanders4cleanwater.com, check the action boxes and send the pledge sheet to Holmes Beach City Hall via email at deputyclerk@holmesbeachfl.org.

There’s also an option to drop off pledges at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach — but hey, why use printer, ink and paper when email is more eco-friendly?

We also encourage people to read this week’s special “GoodDeeds” listings of groups committed to eco-themed missions.

Find an organization or two — or 10 — to support with your time or dollars.

The late U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson, credited with founding Earth Day and driving the organization for the first Earth Day in 1970, encouraged us to recognize our place in the web of life in the world.

And he defined our goal: “Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human beings and all other living creatures.”

And aren’t we all lucky to strive for those objectives in paradise? Happy Earth Day!

Unwelcome plan

As board members of 5400 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, we are writing to express opposition to the proposed plan to build a parking garage at Manatee Public Beach.

A parking garage is not an appropriate expenditure of taxpayer funding. The state should be trying to solve our growing insurance crisis, not a manufactured parking crisis.

There is not a parking problem. There is a traffic issue.

Skimming online

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The construction of a parking garage is completely out of character for this island. Anna Maria Island is distinct from many other beachfront communities because of its low-rise policies.

While residents welcome visitors and renters, we must face the fact that at some point we will reach maximum human capacity. The city cannot provide services to an ever-expanding population.

Along with more people comes the demand for more services — water, fire, safety, police, etc. Our community is stressed, if not maxed.

Residents do not want a parking garage on our island.

And renters do not need a parking garage.

Please, respect our wishes and do not further disrupt the tranquility of Anna Maria Island, our home.

5400 Gulf Drive, condominium board of directors

Tackle traffic, resolve parking

The relaxed beach lifestyle of Anna Maria Island is in danger from the Florida Legislature. The parking garage bill threatens the ability of local communities to make their own decisions about growth and development.

From what I can see this bill is a direct assault on

HB 947 was introduced as a solution for parking at Manatee Public Beach.

However, the problem is traffic, not parking. This barrier island is overwhelmed by traffic on its two-lane roads. Long delays leave beachgoers stuck in lines at the bridges, unable to access the restaurants and businesses up and down the island. A parking garage will not alleviate the delays as the road can still only handle a finite volume of cars.

Local governments should be looking for creative solutions that improve access to the beaches and businesses and at the same time decrease the number of cars on the island: Water taxis, reliable and fast beach shuttles, designated bus lanes on the bridges and accessible off-island parking are only some of the proposed solutions.

It is unreasonable to spend $45 million for an unwanted and unnecessary building.

Rosemary Means, Bradenton Beach

Baffled by Rep. Robinson

We are writing to express not only our disapproval but our actual shock at the plan to build a parking garage in Holmes Beach.

We are visitors to the island. We chose Anna Maria