The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper


Vol. 17 No. 31 - May 17, 2017

headlines

UPS Store likely a no-go in Holmes Beach

Carol Whitmore

Kristin Swain | kswain@amisun.com

UPS Store franchisee Bob Wright addresses Holmes Beach commissioners
May 9, asking them to consider allowing a UPS Store to open
in the city despite its current block on formula businesses.

HOLMES BEACH — Despite the rumors swirling across the Island, a UPS Store is unlikely to open in Holmes Beach any time soon.

The issue wasn't on the city commission's May 9 agenda, but several Island residents and business owners, along with UPS Store franchisee Bob Wright, appealed to commissioners during public comment.

Owners of Holmes Beach shipping and mailbox store, Island Mail and More, Rebecca and Eric St. Jean expressed concern that a UPS Store could potentially put them out of business and reduce shipping options for Islanders.

Island Mail and More offers shipping through FedEx, DHL, the United States Postal Service and UPS.

Other residents plead with commissioners to uphold an ongoing formula business moratorium which blocks franchise businesses from opening in the city until commissioners hash out a permanent regulations. The moratorium expires October 31.

"I don't want to lose the mom and pop feeling on the Island," resident and business owner John Clark said.

Wright had a different opinion.

"I think there's enough room on this Island for more than one concept," he said.

Wright argued a UPS Store would be a small business with a franchise concept, not a company-owned store.

City attorney Patricia Petruff said without the city's formula business moratorium on the agenda for discussion, there was no action for commissioners to take.

With no exceptions allowed by the moratorium, a UPS Store cannot open in the city while it's in effect. Current formula businesses are not affected by the moratorium. Whether additional formula or franchise businesses are allowed to open in the city will depend on what commissioners vote for at a later date.

Petruff suggested concerned citizens approach the commission during public comment when the moratorium is on a meeting agenda.

Though Wright sent an informal inquiry to Mayor Bob Johnson concerning potentially opening a UPS Store, no formal applications or variance requests have been registered with the city.

Holmes Beach isn't the only Island city to address formula businesses. Anna Maria also has a moratorium in effect blocking formula businesses until permanent legislation can be determined. No legislation blocking formula businesses is in effect in Bradenton Beach.

Noise ordinance extension proposed
Carol Whitmore

joe hendricks | SUN

Police Chief Sam Speciale has proposed that outdoor and
open-air venues be allowed to have live music until midnight on weekends.

BRADENTON BEACH – City Commissioners are considering Police Chief Sam Speciale's suggestion to extend the 75-decibel noise limit until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays on a trial basis.

The noise ordinance adopted in 2014 currently allows 85 decibels until 7 p.m., 75 db. from 7 to 10 p.m. and no outdoor or open-air music after 10 p.m. Indoor venues are allowed to operate within the 65 db. limit until 1 a.m.

The noise ordinance was the topic of discussion at the Tuesday, May 9, commission workshop. The workshop was a follow-up to the noise ordinance discussion at the April 20 regular commission meeting that was triggered by Freckled Fin owner Scott Lubore getting arrested on April 5 for a noise violation.

If commissioners move forward with the live music extension on a trial basis, they would prefer it apply only to the Bridge Street business district and not north of Cortez Road, where many permanent residents live near the Gulf Drive Café, Wicked Cantina and Tommy Knockers Saloon. A legal opinion is still needed as to whether the weekend music extension would have to be applied equally to all establishments located in the city's commercial districts.

Speciale said his suggestion was inspired by a recent noise ordinance amendment adopted in Bradenton that allows Motorworks Brewing in Bradenton to have live music outside until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Speciale also proposed that decibel readings taken by an officer that is not responding directly to a noise complaint be taken 100 feet from the center of the stage instead of at the business establishment's property line. He reiterated that sound measurements taken in response to a complaint are supposed to be taken at the complainant's location, which does include using a cell phone to call in a complaint while standing at the establishment's property line.

No formal decisions were made at last week's meeting. Commissioners agreed to give further consideration to Speciale's proposal and discuss it with their constituents and the members of the business community. An 11 p.m. compromise also might be considered.

Mayor Bill Shearon was asked to schedule a future work meeting to allow for additional discussion and some preliminary decision making that could result in direction being given to city staff. Any changes to the existing noise ordinance would then be made during regular commission meeting. Commissioners John Chappie and Jake Spooner said they would like to have those decisions made by the end of June if possible. Speciale said the trial period, if approved, should occur before the slower summer months arrive.

Chappie, Speciale and Spooner were among those who acknowledged that Bridge Street has changed and continues to change, and the days of Bridge Street getting quiet at 10 p.m. on a Friday or Saturday night are long gone. It was also noted that there are more open-air and outdoor music venues than there were in the past.

"As Bridge Street grows, the city is going to have to grow with it," Speciale said.

Commissioner Ralph Cole noted that families still visit Bridge Street resorts and that must also be factored into any decisions about live music being allowed to continue later.

Pier design firm dismissed

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

joe hendricks | SUN

The Historic Anna Maria City Pier needs to be replaced.

ANNA MARIA – The West Palm Beach-based WGI engineering firm has been discarded as the city's top choice to serve as the design and engineering firm for the rehabilitation of the Anna Maria City Pier.

The Sarasota-based Taylor Engineering and its local partners, Sweet Sparkman Architects, will now get a chance to design and assist in the acquisition of the permits needed for the anticipated $2 million replacement of the decaying wooden pier.

On Thursday, May 11, the, City Commission unanimously supported Mayor Dan Murphy's request to terminate discussions with WGI and initiate discussions with Taylor Engineering. Murphy laid the groundwork for this possible change when he voiced growing frustration with WGI at the April 27 meeting.

In February, WGI, Taylor and the New York-based McLaren Engineering Group answered the city's request for proposals (RFP) for the initial design and permitting phases. The actual replacement of the pier and the restaurant and bait shop spaces at the T-end will be addressed in a separate RFP after the design and engineering is done.

With assistance from city staff, Murphy reviewed and ranked the three proposals. WGI came out on top, followed by Taylor and McLaren. With the commission's blessing, Murphy engaged in preliminary fact-finding discussions with WGI regarding costs, completion timetables and other deliverables, including the Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) charts he repeatedly requested.

Murphy had not yet sought commission authorization to move into actual contract negotiations with WGI.

"They have finally met the original specifications after two months," Murphy told the commission last week. "The price tag's come in at $310,697, which is extremely high to start negotiations."

He said WGI's latest estimate included $25,000 for utility services planning and permitting, $12,091 for an electrical engineer and $38,000 for potential seagrass abatement.

City Planner Robin Meyer participated in some of the meetings and phone discussions with WGI, and he shared his insight with the commission.

"You look at the list the city provided them, and it's a very straight-forward, bulleted list. It took them two months to finally answer the questions. To me, it's not very professional. It doesn't make sense, so I concur with the mayor," he said.

Commission Chair Doug Copeland asked if the city would be required to negotiate with McLaren if things don't work out with Taylor Engineering.

"The third vendor was pretty much unacceptable to the city planner and myself. They really didn't have experience in this area," Murphy added.

"If the second one doesn't work, you're supposed to negotiate with each one," City Attorney Becky Vose said in reference to the state's Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act.

"Even if they're proposal wasn't satisfactory?" Copeland asked.

"It can be a very short negotiation," Vose replied.

"If we do go to the potential second vendor, I would put a tight timeframe on that. It shouldn't take two months to come up with a response," Commissioner Carol Carter said.

"I concur," Copeland said.

"I agree. In a couple weeks they should be able to have a decent response. It just doesn't take that much time to answer those questions," Meyer said.

"I'm in favor of moving on," Commissioner Brian Seymour said.

When he asked about WGI's original cost estimate, Murphy said it was in the $200,000 to $225,000 range.

"I'm ready to move on," Copeland said.

"The company's shown a total lack of professionalism and obviously they don't need the business that much. I think we would be much better off finding another firm," Commissioner Nancy Yetter said before the vote took place.

Citizens voice their choices for Cortez Road changes

 

TOM VAUGHT | SUN

Dave Gwynn, Florida Department of Transportation district transportation
director, talks with West Manatee Fire Rescue Chief Tom Sousa about Sousa's
preference for low medians because fire trucks sometime have to go into
oncoming lanes while responding to emergencies during heavy traffic.
Former Manatee County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann, of Cortez, watches.

Approximately 130 people attended a public hearing at Cortez Road Baptist Church on May 9 on changes to make Cortez Road West safer and more efficient. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted the hearing, and officials gave four suggested solutions to the road as it goes through Cortez Village. That area turns into a bottleneck during rush hours and on beach days during season. The stoplight at 119th Street with a staggered intersection is blamed for a lot of the slow-downs as westbound motorists turn right before those turning left and stoplight cycle takes longer. The same is true for eastbound motorists.

FDOT listed 77 collisions between January 2011 and December 2015. Four resulted in fatalities, and 29 produced injuries. There were 32 rear-end crashes, 11 angle crashes and sideswipe crashes, eight left turn crashes, nine run-off-road crashes, four bicycle related crashes and two involving pedestrians.

The four choices offered by FDOT were:

• Option A: leave the turn signal at 119th Street as it is;

• Option B: remove the stoplight altogether and prohibit eastbound left turns and lengthen the westbound to southbound turn lane;

• Option C: eliminate eastbound left turns north on 119th Street and eliminate northbound left turns from 119th Street to westbound Cortez Road, provide a left turn lane for westbound Cortez Road onto southbound 119th Street and make an extended acceleration lane for southbound 119th motorists turning onto eastbound Cortez Road;

• Option D: realign the south leg of 119th Street intersection to match the north leg.

Option D was the one favored by many off the attendees, but there is a caveat. The land needed to realign the intersection is administered by the Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court's office, which operates the old Cortez School, now known as the Florida Maritime Museum, and the property owners would have to give their approval.

Keep medians low

The preliminary plans also call for a new median from West Manatee Fire Rescue's Fire Station 2 at 10350 Cortez Road to Royal Palm Drive West. Before the public spoke, West Manatee Fire Chief Tom Sousa was seen speaking to FDOT District Transportation Director Dave Gwynn about medians. He said firefighters don't like tall medians because fire trucks sometimes have to go into the oncoming lanes when traffic is stopped, and they can't drive over tall medians.

Comments

Some of the public comment came from Cortezians, but Longboat Key residents also spoke about how long it takes them to get on and off their island.

Swordfish restaurant manager Bob Slicker voiced his preference for Option D and how important is to not restrict traffic to 119th Street, where trucks supply his restaurant and distribute seafood to other areas from the fisheries. Option C would have forced those trucks to drive narrow residential roads in the village.

"Maybe you should build another bridge to the islands," he said. Causing to audience to applaud.

Sharon France, of Sunny Shores, lobbied for a light for 119th Street.

"We have 303 homes north of Cortez Road and I am asking you for a light," she said.

Longboat Key Town Manager Dave Bullock called for a continuous lane eastbound to keep the traffic moving.

Former County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann, who is vice chair of the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage, talked about the need for efficient roads for the fishing industry.

"When mullet season comes, fishermen come from all around, and they launch from Coquina Gulfside and unload to trucks there," she said. "We need to be able to get that fish to Cortez for processing. Correcting this situation is important to Cortez."

Visit Florida chief comes to town

CINDY LANE | SUN

Visit Florida Executive Director Ken Lawson addresses
members of the local tourism industry.

PALMETTO – Despite this month's budget cut from $78 million to $25 million, the state's tourism agency will continue to make Florida number one, Visit Florida Executive Director Ken Lawson told about 150 members of the local tourism industry on Friday at the Bradenton Area Convention Center.

The Legislature rejected Gov. Rick Scott's request for $100 million for the agency in the state budget, passed last week. Scott could veto the budget, but the Legislature could override his veto in a special session.

The cut will cause Lawson to make hard decisions about reducing staff and programs, he said during the local celebration of National Tourism Week.

"They put handcuffs on us" at the same time that California and Texas are coming after Florida's tourists, he said, adding that marketing efforts in emerging markets like China will have to be scaled back.

"I will make the hard decisions," Lawson said. "I believe in this state. I'm going to find a way to win."

Lawson asked those in the tourism industry for help by contacting state representatives and senators beginning now, nearly a year before next year's Legislative session begins.

"We are going to every district to regain the trust we lost," Lawson said, referring to a secret contract between Visit Florida and rapper Pitbull for a music video promoting the state. The agency now posts contracts and salaries online.

"There were questions about who we are and how we handle our money, but we all know our value," he said. "I'm going to get our money back and make sure this community is able to market itself.

"We're going to work hard to serve this state, we're not going to back down from any challenge and make sure we're the number one tourist destination in the world," Lawson said to cheers.

Dr. Larry Thompson, president of Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, told industry representatives that in the future, creativity will be the most important and valuable commodity in the workplace, with design differentiating businesses from each other.

State of tourism

Earlier in the afternoon, Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), told a smaller group that 2016 tourism in Manatee County was a record-breaking success.

A record 3.09 million people visited the area last year, paying a record-high average room rate of $168 a night, he said.

First-time visitors come back 94 percent of the time for another vacation, and many buy homes or businesses, he said.

Tourism is the number one industry "that helps sustain quality of life," Falcione said.

The top 10 domestic feeder markets are Tampa/St. Petersburg, followed by Orlando, New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Detroit and Cleveland.

Marketing the destination to Canadians is decreasing, as Canadian visitors spend less per day than any other visitor, he said, adding that Europeans and UK visitors spend more and stay longer.

"We have to target the right person," he said. The CVB is aiming at the $130,000 to $135,000 annual household income bracket this year. Last year, average visitor income was $125,000.

In the next five years, visitors will shift from baby boomers to GenXers, Falcione predicted.

Challenges for 2017 include the Visit Florida budget cut and the weakened exchange rate of the Euro against the dollar, Falcione said, adding, "We target a demographic usually not affected."

Another concern is traffic on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.

"We're cognizant of it. We're careful how we market in spring," avoiding spring break ads, he said.

"The challenge is when the industry is doing a great job marketing," he said. "Multimodal transportation is the answer to the challenge."

Visitation in the first quarter of 2017 is flat after several years of growth, Falcione said.

Wildfires that continue to burn around Florida are a "public relations nightmare," he said, as visitors tend to think that all of Florida is affected and go elsewhere.

Visitors also saw a video rendering of the planned convention center hotel, which is scheduled to break ground this fall for a November 2019 opening.

Tourism Ambassador Awards

The CVB presented its inaugural Hospitality Leadership Award to Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker. The award reflects the character, ideals and leadership of the recipient.

While Manatee County is a vacation destination, "We get to live here year around," Hunzeker said. "We have a lot of people that want to make this a better place. It truly is a great place to be. It's been an honor to be the county administrator."

The CVB also recognized Pier 22 Chef Greg Campbell with a Tourism Ambassador Award.

Food is the way to everyone's heart, Campbell said. On Thanksgiving, the restaurant in downtown Bradenton served between 1300 and 1500 people, he said, adding, "It's about feeding people and coming together and celebrating. It's about making an experience for them they don't forget."

Holmes Beach commissioners undaunted by Bert Harris

HOLMES BEACH — The number of Bert Harris claims in Holmes Beach is continuing to grow while commissioners are electing to stay the course, sticking by the city's ordinances.

During the May 9 commission meeting, City Attorney Patricia Petruff asked commissioners how they would like to proceed, if they'd like to consider offering a settlement to Bert Harris petitioners.

Commissioners opted to continue standing by their existing ordinances and treat every Bert Harris case as it goes to court on an individual basis.

"This was not brought up as a matter of urgency," Mayor Bob Johnson said. "The course we're on is fine right now given the time horizon, and I think that's where we need to stay."

"I prefer to take each case on an individual basis," Commissioner Carol Soustek said. "I'm more comfortable with that."

The problem with staying the course lies is if all 54 Bert Harris claims against the city go to court and the city loses all of them. The 54 cases represent more than $20 million in alleged property value loss.

Petruff said she'd received notice from the Florida League of Cities that while the city has insurance, it doesn't have enough to cover the potential losses. Without a time limit for filing Bert Harris claims, the influx of claims into city hall could potentially be ongoing.

Out of the 54 claims received by May 12, 41 of those dealt solely with occupancy. The first of those claims to turn into a court case, one for an eight bedroom property at 211 54th Street owned by Florida Gulf Coast Vacation Homes LLC, could cost the city $395,000 in alleged lost value to the home by enforcing two people per bedroom occupancy. The owners argue that before the city enacted its vacation rental ordinance, the property rented to groups of 19 people regularly.

Petruff suggested commissioners consider offering the same settlement Anna Maria did — occupancy of two people per bedroom plus two per unit. She said a condition of the settlement could be that it's only valid for a certain number of years to be determined by the commission. Another option is the settlement could "run with the land," meaning the right to have two additional renters in the unit could transfer if the property is sold.

Petruff said neither option would be a solution for all of the occupancy issues, but it could pacify some property owners.

Commissioners agreed to wait to see how things began to pan out in court before considering any potential settlement agreements.

Bringing one of the Island's first families together

Valerie Wilson | SUBMITTED

The descendents of George Emerson Bean gather for a family
reunion photo at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum.

ANNA MARIA — The family of one of Anna Maria Island's founders has come home, at least for the weekend.

More than 60 people gathered May 13 at the Anna Maria Island Historical Society Museum, 402 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, to celebrate their ties to each other and the Island's past courtesy of their relation to George Emerson Bean.

Bean was one of the Island's first settlers in 1894, residing on the northern end of the Island at what's now known as Bean Point. After 125 years, the branches of his family tree came together near the spot where Bean began homesteading on the Island.

Though some branches of the Bean family have gotten together over the years, organizer Lisa Mayfield said this is the first time all of the branches of the family tree had come together to meet each other and celebrate.

"It's been a wonderful day," Mayfield said.

Family members came in from around the country specifically for the event, including many from Mobile, Alabama, Jacksonville, Florida and Tennessee. Some family members came from as far as Sitka, Alaska.

Gayle Elsbury joined the event, traveling to the Island from New Hampshire to meet her family members for the first time. Elsbury met Mayfield online while searching through an ancestry website. The two corresponded for several years, meeting for the first time at the Saturday event. Elsbury had vacationed every summer on the Island for several years before she realized she was related to the Bean family.

"It's just been wonderful to meet everyone," she said.

Family genealogist Patti Bean Vickers said the festivities had given her the opportunity to meet "Beans I didn't even know about." Vickers took over the recording of the family's history from her father and was happy to have the opportunity to discover new relatives.

In addition to barbeque, chicken and other food provided by KCB BBQ Team and music from The Anna Maria Island String Band, the museum was opened to the family, allowing attendees to view the history of the Island, including photos of the ancestor who brought them all together.

"It's wonderful to have this family here," museum docent Nancy Deal said.

Post office relocation hits a roadblock

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN

The Holmes Beach Post Office will close June 30.

HOLMES BEACH — Plans to relocate the Holmes Beach Post Office have come to a halt, at least for now.

With the post office closing June 30 at its present location, 5354 Gulf Drive in the S&S Plaza, Mayor Bob Johnson is searching for another established business to take over the postal service contract. During the May 9 commission meeting, he said those plans hit a roadblock with the United States Postal Service.

Johnson had been hopeful that local mail service business, Island Mail and More, would be able to add the post office to its offerings. The move would allow residents with post office boxes to continue maintaining their service.

Unfortunately, Johnson said the business's application to take over the contract with the USPS had been denied because Island Mail and More offers other shipping options.

"USPS won't contract with a competitive service," Johnson said.

For Island Mail and More to obtain the postal service contract, the one-stop shipping shop would have to discontinue other shipping services including UPS, FedEx and DHL. The store already offers USPS shipping services and private mailbox rental.

In preparation for the Holmes Beach Post Office closing, a notice of potential closing has been posted at the location and mailings have been sent to postal box holders. In the meantime, Johnson is still scouting local businesses for a potential match with the postal service.

He said the talks with other businesses are "in early stages."


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