‘No wake’ law in effect for motorists
Created by the Florida Legislature’s recent adoption of Senate Bill 462, a new state law took effect on July 1 that prohibits a vehicle or vessel traveling at a speed that creates an excessive wake on a flooded or inundated street or highway. The new law allows local law enforcement agencies to establish and enforce temporary no wake zones on flooded streets and issue citations and fines to violators. The new law was enacted to protect property owners from floodwater intrusion created by motorists driving too fast on flooded roadways.
Bradenton Beach businesses, residents to see increased fees
City leaders plan to raise short-term rental license fees, building department fees and parking ticket fines.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – To offset a budget shortfall of $350,000 from post-hurricane tax exemptions, city commissioners have voted to add revenue sources that include increases to short-term rental license fees, building department fees and parking ticket fines.
“As a result of the storms, our ad valorem revenue has gone down about 14% this year. To put a dollar figure on that, that’s $350,000 give or take,” City Treasurer Shayne Thompson told commissioners. “That’s driven mainly because of a Florida Statute that allows
for a property owner who can’t inhabit their home for 30 days or more to request an exemption on property tax.”
He said Manatee County has 11,000 people who have requested such exemptions this year.
“What the decrease has done is leave the city in a position to have to replace $350,000 in addition to put some in reserves. As we’ve all seen, having a healthy reserve allowed us to weather this storm better than most,” Thompson said.
He presented a plan that he said was multi-pronged and would raise revenue but not raise taxes.
“One of the prongs is our TPLE (Transient Public Lodging Establishment) license. We’ve had the same fee structures since 2017,” Thompson said. “The reality is we need to raise it.
Bradenton Beach commissioners consider beach cabanas
Commissioners ask City Attorney Ricinda Perry to review legal options for private companies doing business on public beaches.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – Following city commissioners’ discussion on July 10 about commercial beach cabana companies doing business on public beaches, commissioners asked City Attorney Ricinda Perry to look at legal options and possible modifications to regulations.
“I looked at our existing code and in Article 2 - conduct in public parks – ‘park’ is defined as the beach, and there is an enforcement provision,” Perry said. “When you get down to Section 46-37, it says no person in
a park shall construct or erect any building or structure whether of permanent or temporary character.”
She noted another section, 46-44, which states that no person in a park shall erect, maintain, use or occupy on or in any beach any tents, shelter or structure of any kind without a special written permit.
“What that says to me is there can be no tents of any kind or sun shelter on any part of the beaches because they are covered under that code,” she said.
Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said her concern would not be to prevent beachgoers from using personal shelters to stay out of the sun, but was opposed to having private cabana companies using the public beach for financial gain.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Commissioners considering changes to trash schedule
The commission’s primary concern is Waste Management improving its side-door retrieval and return service.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City commissioners want to see improvements to Waste Management’s current side-door trash and recycling collection services while still considering the company’s request to switch Anna Maria’s trash collection days from Mondays and Thursdays to Tuesdays and Fridays.
Waste Management also wants to change recyclable collections to half of the city on Tuesdays and half of the city on Fridays, with yard waste still collected on Mondays.
On July 10, Waste Management representatives Brenna Haggar, Luigi Pace and Chris
Sawallich presented the company’s request to Mayor Mark Short and the city commissioners. No final decisions were made and the commissioners stressed the need for Waste Management to first improve its side-door trash and recycling collection efforts that have fallen far short of the city’s expectations and have been the subject of several commission discussions.
Side-door service entails a Waste Management employee retrieving the trash and recyclable receptacles from the side of a home, emptying them and returning them to the side of the home rather than leaving them at the end of the driveway or alongside the street, where they sometimes sit for days. All non-homesteaded residential properties in Anna Maria, including short-term vacation rentals, are required to use side-door service, which comes at an additional cost.
Haggar serves as Waste
Management’s government affairs manager.
“I’m not saying we’re perfect. We know that. With the side-door service, there’s always opportunities for improvement,” she said during her opening remarks.
She noted the company now provides the city with weekly Saturday beach access point dumpster and receptacle collections at no additional cost to the city, rather than
the five holiday weekend collections set forth the company’s current contract with the city. That exclusive contract and revenue sharing franchise agreement expires next June.
Haggar told commissioners Manatee County is switching to carted, automated solid waste collections on Oct. 6. Automated collections utilize trucks equipped with mechanical arms that grab
CHE AP EATS .DELICIOUS FOOD.We’
and empty the receptacle carts placed curbside while the driver remains in the truck. This eliminates the need for a second employee to manually empty the receptacles.
Haggar said the county wants all its contracted solid waste service providers to operate on the same days when that October change occurs. She said the county’s request will require a significant change in Waste Management’s current route planning and staffing assignments.
“If we don’t make these changes, on Mondays we would need twice the number of trucks, twice the number of drivers only on Mondays. And then those drivers and trucks would be sitting idle the rest of the week. It’s not sustainable for us,” Haggar said.
The Waste Management team did not propose automated collections for Anna Maria.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The majority of residential properties in Anna Maria are supposed to receive side-door trash and recycling service.
ISLAND NEWS
IN BRIEF
Construction company fined for flooding Gulf Drive
Non-approved dewatering activities at a residential construction site in Holmes Beach on July 7 flooded a portion of Gulf Drive that afternoon and evening. According to Holmes Beach Code Compliance Officer Sandy Olson, “The city received complaints about a large amount of water in the 2800/2900 block of Gulf Drive and found that the contractor at 2812 Gulf Drive was dewatering without an approved dewatering plan. A citation was issued to an employee of the contractor, Vertical Design+Build, and a stop work order was issued on the property.” The citation carries a $2,500 fine. Grant Castilow serves as president of the Sarasota-based custom home building company and the property is owned by the Holmes Beach A LLC that lists Martin Damm as its registered agent and Michaela Damm as an authorized member.
Commissioners to discuss commercial activity on public property
Bradenton Beach city commissioners are scheduled to discuss commercial activity on public property at a Thursday, July 17 meeting at noon. Also on the agenda is an amended and restated easement agreement with Drift-In, CDBG Urban Block Grant amendment two, and updates on hurricane recovery, code enforcement and the Tingley Library. The meeting will be at the Katie Pierola Commission Chambers, 107 Gulf Drive N.
CRA to discuss tree removal proposal
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will discuss a proposal to remove 42 Washingtonian palm trees from the CRA district on Thursday, July 17 at 9:30 a.m. Also on the agenda is a proposal from Coastal Engineering Consultants Inc. for mitigation monitoring, a quote from Suncoast Auto Equipment for a vehicle lift for Public Works and solar lighting in the CRA district.
Scan this code with your smartphone to go there.
Holmes Beach considering millage increase
A town hall meeting is scheduled at the Island Branch Library on Tuesday, July 15 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the Holmes Beach 2025-26 budget.
BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH
– Mayor
Judy Titsworth and city staff presented a proposed $23.7 million 2025-26 fiscal year city budget that’s currently based on increasing the current millage rate from 1.99 mills to 2.1812 mills.
At 2.1812 mills, Holmes Beach property owners would pay an ad valorem city property tax rate of $2.18 per every thousand dollars of assessed taxable property value. City commissioners are expected to formally adopt this year’s maximum millage rate during their Monday, July 22 meeting that starts at 2 p.m. The adopted maximum millage rate can then be lowered, but not increased, before two budget adoption hearings are held in September. The 2025-26 fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.
When presenting the proposed budget during the city commission’s July 8 budget work session, City Treasurer Julie Marcotte said the millage rate increase is proposed to offset the 8.33% decline in Holmes Beach property values, as established by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office.
According to the property appraiser’s 2025 Taxing Authority Report, the 4,759 parcels in Holmes Beach have a total taxable value of $3.26 billion. Development Services Director Chad Minor said 1,671 of those parcels are being used as vacation
rentals. According to the 2024 report, 4,762 parcels in Holmes Beach had a total taxable value of $3.54 billion.
Marcotte said the lower property values would produce a $590,000 decrease in the city’s ad valorem property tax revenues if the 1.99 millage rate is maintained. The proposed millage rate increase would result in the city receiving about the same amount of city property tax revenues as it did this year at the 1.99 rate.
An increased millage rate combined with lower appraised property values would result in most property owners paying about the same amount of city property taxes in the coming fiscal year. Property owners are also subjected to the taxes and fees levied by the county, school board, fire district and other taxing authorities that account for a significant portion of a property owner’s total annual tax bill.
BUDGET SPECIFICS
State law requires cities to operate with balanced budgets where projected revenues match the projected expenditures.
The $23.7 million in projected 2025-26 revenues includes $7.46 million in reserve funds to be carried over from the current 2024-25 fiscal year budget, which is $25.2 million.
The proposed budget for the general operations of the city that includes employee salaries and benefits is $1.77 million – a decrease from the $1.94 million budgeted this year.
The current fiscal year police department budget is $5.49 million. Marcotte and Police Chief Bill Tokajer propose increasing it to $5.52 million for the coming fiscal year. The proposed increase includes Tokajer’s yet-to-beapproved request to hire an additional officer with a starting pay range between $68,000$72,000.
The building department budget Marcotte and Minor proposed would increase from $1.37 million to $1.6 million, but increased building permit revenues and other development fees are expected to cover the additional expenses incurred by the one department that generates as much or more money than it spends.
The public works department budget proposed by Marcotte and Public Works Director Sage Kamiya anticipates expenditures decreasing from $4.08 million to $3.58 million in the coming fiscal year. Kamiya said his department is currently three employees short of being fully staffed and he’d
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN City commissioners are considering a millage rate increase to offset decreased property values.
SUBMITTED
De-watering activities at 2812 Gulf Drive flooded the street on July 7.
Stayterra launch includes Prime Vacations
AMI Locals, AMI
Accommodations and Anna Maria Vacations operated under the Prime Vacations umbrella.
BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Prime Vacations vacation rental management company is now part of Garnett Station Partners’ (GSP) new Stayterra collection of vacation rental management companies.
Developer Shawn Kaleta founded Prime Vacations LLC in 2021 and was listed as the corporation’s manager, with attorney Louis Najmy listed as its registered agent. When filed in 2024, an amendment to the articles of organization named the Plantation, Floridabased CT Corporation System as the corporation’s new registered agent and New York City-based GSP Prime Buyer LLC as the corporation’s new manager. With that amendment, Kaleta’s status as manager was listed as “removed.”
The GSP investment firm announced the formation of Stayterra and the inclusion of the Bradenton-based Prime Vacations company that manages over
PRIME
VACATIONS | SUBMITTED
The Prime Vacations team continues to oversee business operations conducted in affiliation with Stayterra.
1,000 vacation rental properties across multiple independent brands on Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, Lido Key and Sarasota in April.
In the written announcement, newly-named Stayterra Chief Executive Officer Mary Lynn Clark said, “We are fortunate to have developed a great partnership with Prime Vacations and we look forward to leveraging our growth capital and strategic resources to welcome future partners to the collection and realize the strong potential
we see in Stayterra.”
According to the announcement, Prime Vacations’ independent brands include AMI Locals, Anna Maria Island Accommodations, Anna Maria Vacations, Siesta Key Luxury Rental Properties, Lido Key Vacations and Tropical Sands Accommodations. Prime Vacations will continue to oversee the daily operations of those companies now affiliated with Stayterra and Stayterra will provide growth capital and operational support.
MANATEE COUNTY PROPERTY APPRAISER | SUBMITTED A lot split application has been submitted for the residential property at 102 Tuna St.
Tuna Street lot split requested
On Wednesday, July 16 at 9 a.m., the Anna Maria Planning and Zoning Board will review a lot-split application submitted for the residential property at 102 Tuna St. owned by Charles Webster Jr., who bought the property in 2021 and the neighboring 105 Tuna St. property in 2022. He combined those properties into a single lot identified as 102 Tuna St. Webster now wants to split his property into two parcels to be identified as 102 Tuna St. and 104 Tuna St. on the west side of North Shore Drive, north of Spruce Avenue. If approved by city commissioners after the planning board’s preliminary review, the resulting Paradise Found subdivision would create two buildable lots, each measuring approximately 50’ x 450’ and over a half-acre. The lot split would allow for the development of a single-family home on each lot. The area is designated and zoned R-1 (single-family residential) and CON-1 (conservation) and city staff recommends future city commission approval of the application.
OPINION
The Anna Maria Island Sun Staff
Owner | CEO
Mike Field
Editor
Cindy Lane
General Manager
Bob Alexander
Reporters | Photographers
Joe Hendricks
Leslie Lake
Columnists
Louise Bolger
Rusty Chinnis
Contributors
Steve Borggren
Capt. Rick Grassett
Layout Ricardo Fonseca
Advertising Director
Shona Otto
Classified Ads
Bob Alexander
Graphics
Elaine Stroili
Ricardo Fonseca
Distribution
Bob Alexander
Tony McNulty
Brian Smith
Accounting
Leslie Ketchum
Co-founding publishers
Mike Field
Maggie McGinley Field
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Lower stormwater fee increase preferable
In the aftermath of the devastating 2024 hurricane season, our initial thought was that the suggested increase in Holmes Beach stormwater fees is a small price to pay. However, research suggests that more time is needed to study the issue.
First, increased rates do not necessarily guarantee the most effective stormwater mitigation. Land acquisition for pumps and reservoirs has been identified as a major component of stormwater management and has been skillfully managed by other Florida cities. Cape Canaveral is a role model for stormwater planning and grant utilization. St. Petersburg has the Shore Acres Resiliency Infrastructure Project where they are currently using a $1 million state grant towards another pump construction.
While Holmes Beach had a $12 million reserve, there were available properties on the market in the $1-2 million range that could
have provided the needed space.
Second, in 2020, former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash wrote “Proposed Stormwater Utility Fee Would Be an Unfair Tax.” He explained that the fair way of calculation is by usage. Holmes Beach calculates using lot area, while many Florida municipalities calculate using impervious coverage. It is the impervious surfaces which displace the water and more fairly represent the impact.
In Holmes Beach, commercial properties are allowed 70% impervious coverage; residential properties are allowed 40%, yet the fees are calculated at the same rate for all “real property.”
We have properties which have maxed out their impervious area, elevated their lots and pools and installed walls. All impacts are not created equal.
Third, Mr. McClash mentioned how governments themselves contribute when they make special exceptions such as rezones which increase densities. Holmes Beach has honored
multiple rezones despite resident opposition. We know firsthand that, despite code, excessive landfill is sometimes brought in and required swales are omitted. The City Center project elevated parts of Marina Drive by a foot, and now, property owners are being charged to remedy the additional flooding that it most assuredly created.
Fourth, contrary to the thought that this is the perfect time for presenting this increase, it may contribute one more layer to the litany of reasons for the exodus of residents.
Urgency does not necessarily make the most productive outcomes. Now may be the opportunity to make fees more appropriately “user based." Perhaps approving the 4.95% rather than 9% now would be a modification that would allow the city time to address the need for calculations based on impervious coverage rather than lot area.
Dick and Margie Motzer Holmes Beach
ON THE AGENDA
ANNA MARIA
10005 GULF DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Visit www.cityofannamaria. com or contact city hall for more information.
Wednesday, July 16, 9 a.m., Planning and Zoning Board meeting Thursday, July 24, 10 a.m., City Commission meeting
BRADENTON BEACH
107 GULF DRIVE N.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com or contact city hall for more information.
Tuesday, July 15, 9 a.m., City Commission workshop meeting Tuesday, July 15, 9:45 a.m., City Commission work meeting Wednesday, July 23, 10 a.m., Pier Team meeting
HOLMES BEACH
5801 MARINA DRIVE
FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org or contact city hall for more information.
Tuesday, July 22, 2 p.m., City Commission meeting and work session Thursday, July 24, 11:30 a.m., Police Pension Board meeting.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND CHURCH SCHEDULES
CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION EPISCOPAL CHURCH
4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Sunday service 9:15 a.m.
CROSSPOINTE FELLOWSHIP
8605 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Sunday service 9 a.m.
HARVEY MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CHURCH
300 Church Ave., Bradenton Beach, Sunday service 9:15 a.m.
ROSER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CHURCH
512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria, Sunday services 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
ST. BERNARD CATHOLIC CHURCH
248 South Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach, Masses: Saturday, 4 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m.
A loggerhead sea turtle hatchling found in one of the season’s first nest excavations makes its long trek to the water. Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers dig up hatched nests to count shell fragments and estimate hatching numbers, and occasionally find a hatched turtle that did not make its way out of the nest. Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said volunteers are seeing a seasonal decline in nesting activity and an increase in hatchings, and are hopeful that there will be more than 500 nests this year.
NESTING NEWS
Turtle nests laid: 459 (450 loggerhead, 9 green)
Record: 543 in 2019
False crawls: 740 (715 loggerhead, 25 green)
Record: 831 in 2010
Nests hatched: 16 (16 loggerhead, 0 green)
Record: 453 in 2022
Hatchlings produced: 548 (548 loggerhead, 0 green)
Record: 35,850 in 2022
Hatchling disorientations: 2 (2 loggerhead, 0 green)
Adult disorientations: 24 (23 loggerhead, 1 green)
Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
Sea turtle nest tampering reported
Beachgoers tampered with a sea turtle nest that was hatching, and possibly tampered with the hatchlings, using white flashlights on the beach, according to Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella.
Tampering with sea turtles, their nests, eggs or hatchlings is against the law, she said.
“We remind everyone that sea turtles are listed under the Endangered Species Act and protected by both state and federal laws,” she wrote in a July 11 email.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is
handling the reported incident.
“Signs are posted on all nests to identify them as sea turtle nests and clearly state, ‘Do Not Disturb.’ Please respect all posted nests and keep a distance from them,” she wrote.
Turtle Watch staff and volunteers must go through extensive training to be listed on an FWC Marine Turtle Permit that allows them to work with sea turtles and their nests.
If you see someone tampering with a nest, call FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or the local police department. If you see a sea turtle in distress, call the Turtle Watch 24/7 hotline at 941-301-8434.
Where’s Winnie?
Winnie, a female loggerhead sea turtle, has traveled 42 miles in the Gulf of Mexico since she was satellite-tagged and released after nesting on Coquina Beach on June 23. She will compete in the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles Race that begins on Aug. 1. Winnie will swim to raise awareness about the threat of light pollution and how lighting near shore can negatively impact nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. Her participation in the 2025 Tour de Turtles is sponsored by Hurricane Hanks and Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring. Visit The Sun’s Facebook page for weekly “Where’s Winnie?” updates and visit amisun.com for weekly updates on turtle nesting activity in “Nesting News.” SUBMITTED
BEACH BEAT
HOLMES BEACH
July 1, 2:30 a.m., 600 block of Manatee Avenue. Vehicle crash. Police responded to a vehicle crash and found an unoccupied, disabled Chevrolet pickup truck on top of a boulder and crashed into a tree. Police reported there was an empty beer bottle on the ground next to the truck and a drink container from a local bar. The interior of the windshield indicated driver impact. Officers checked the area and located the co-registered owner of the truck, “half naked and moaning” in the wooded area about 100 yards from the crash. Police said
the man had visible injuries and appeared to be intoxicated. The man denied having driven the truck. Police said he had lacerations on his head and face. He was placed in custody under the Marchman Act and transported to HCA Florida Blake Hospital. Police said there were 22.7 grams of marijuana in the truck. Officers followed up the next day with the bar staff, who confirmed that the man had been there. A Monkey Bus driver confirmed to police that the man had been picked up and driven to two bars. Police requested video footage from the bar and will make a final decision on criminal charges pending that review. Representatives from Westbay Cove Condos stated that there was property damage to landscape lighting, irrigation, tree and pavement totaling an estimated $5,000.
John M Campora, ChFC®, CRPC™ Financial
Advisor
6400 Manatee Ave West, Suite B
Bradenton, FL 34209
941-779-2499
941-778-0414 • 512 Pine Ave, Anna Maria
Artists' Guild welcomes Gary Green
The Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island (AGAMI) welcomes new gallery artist member Gary Green to its gallery at 5414 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach.
Green is an active artist member of several prestigious art groups, both regional and national. Over the past four decades, his work has received numerous awards, has been exhibited in juried shows and has been added to many private collections. His paintings often reflect a sense of casual storytelling, interwoven with unexpected elements that invite reflection and conversation. Gary's mediums of choice are watercolor, acrylic, oil and mixed media. Hand-drawn digital painting also keeps his talents fresh and contemporary. Gary's work is now on view in the AGAMI Gallery.
The Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island, an all-volunteer, 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, was formed in 1989 to promote and support creative processes by bringing together all artists to share experiences, expertise and work together to develop and promote the artistic community. AGAMI membership - approximately 150 artists and supporters of the arts - arrange exhibits, shows, online classes, and other means to further local art in the community. AGAMI’s art gallery, the Guild’s largest program, has 50-plus displaying artists who collectively show, sell, run the
gallery and serve as ambassadors for art in the community. See more information about The Artists' Guild of Anna Maria Island at www.amiartistsguildgallery.com.
AGAMI | SUBMITTED Artwork by new Artists' Guild member Gary Green.
Bradenton Beach approves business tax increase
City commissioners approved a 5% business tax increase in Bradenton Beach.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners unanimously approved the second reading of a business tax increase ordinance on July 10.
Ordinance 25-564 will provide for levying and imposing a 5% increase to the local business tax receipt fees. Florida law allows the city to increase the rates of business taxes up to 5% every other year.
“If you’re operating a business in the city, you need to have a business tax receipt. It’s allowed
by state statute,” Perry said.
“They’re looking for the modest increase of 5% to the existing fee structure.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole asked if those with a boat charter business who use the Bradenton Beach pier would need to have a business tax receipt.
“If your business activities are utilizing the public infrastructure in the city of Bradenton Beach, then it is my opinion that it is a requirement,” Perry said.
Mayor John Chappie asked if beach cabana rental companies using public beaches would be subject to a business tax.
“Any business that fits within a category is required to have a business tax receipt,” Perry said.
“The beaches are within the city’s jurisdiction and, as such, people who are operating a business on the beach are required to get a tax receipt.”
Entities that are subject to the business tax include marinas, charters, contractors, eating and drinking establishments, itinerant street vendors, laundromats, merchants, mobile home parks, professionals such as accountants, realtors, beauty salons, massage therapists, appraisers and architects, rental and property managers and service companies such as barber shops, beauty salons, lawn or tree services, daycare and cleaning services.
Bradenton Beach approves business tax increase
FISH Preserve grant improvements nearly complete
FISH Preserve plant and animal life is thriving after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
BY LESLIE LAKE SUN CORRESPONDENT | llake@amisun.com
CORTEZ - Improvements at the FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) Preserve paid for by a $165,000 Barancik Foundation grant are nearly complete.
Landscape architect Allen Garner, who conducted the work at the 98-acre preserve, gave FISH board members a report at the July 7 meeting.
“One of the things that’s always interesting is whenever there’s a natural disaster like a forest fire or hurricane, it’s always destructive at first but then life rebounds,” Garner said. “That’s been the case in the preserve; we were very bare after the hurricanes but the flora and fauna are just blossoming. Mangroves have come back very bountiful, probably our biggest single year mangrove sprout I’ve ever seen.”
Animal life is thriving as well, he said.
“Fiddler crabs are as abundant as I’ve ever seen them,” Garner said. “One of the things I’ve noticed is they like disturbed areas and where we’ve turned dirt around and the lagoons were dug and we’re building bridges, they seem to like those areas. it’s probably the microorganisms in the soil that are
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
The 98-acre FISH Preserve has undergone improvements using a $165,000 Barancik Foundation grant.
getting turned up to the surface that probably feeds the food chain.”
Garner said rabbits are doing well with all the fresh vegetation, and bird life is abundant.
“The trails are all walkable now, we finished up all the dirt rearranging that we needed to do,” he said. “The trails are not quite golf cart-ready yet, but they’re certainly walkable. The kayak trails are complete and open and flowing well.”
The preserve is not yet open to the public.
Now that the work is close to being completed, the next step will be to create signage.
“We’re going to do very large boards, which is a full sheet of composite board which is about 40 by 80 inches,” Garner said. “They’ll basically be an aerial view of the preserve and show where people can see the different paths and bridges. Wherever we put those signs, we’ll add a little piece that says ‘you are here.’ ” Garner said there will be additional smaller signs at the forks of the kayak trails and signs labeling the different structures, such as the two bridges.
“My original intent was to do some sort of educational signs, like the mangroves and the tidal lagoon, but
the historical society (Cortez Village Historical Society) has a project now where they got funding for doing those signs,” he said. “They have four signs coming in and those are telling the environmental story pretty well.”
Garner suggested to the board that trees are needed and offered some options, which included sabal palms.
“There’s so much open area that we’ll probably be looking at doing a planting project every year for several years,” Garner said.
He suggested 25-gallon trees with developed root balls that can go several days without water and will grow up to 10 feet or more.
“The rains are not predictable, and we’ll have to use the water wagon to go out and water,” he said. “We ought to do it real soon, this month, because then we get into the dry season.”
He said the $15,000 allocated as FISH’s matching share of the grant would be enough to get 20 trees, but for an additional $8,000, that number could tremendously increase.
FISH President Kim McVey suggested looking at nurseries in Homestead, Florida.
“The price of the trees down there is so cheap,” FISH board member David Cadmus said. “I’ve got a big trailer, and I could go get them.”
The board unanimously approved up to $24,000 for tree plantings.
Waterkeepers guide hurricane recovery grants
he waters on Florida’s Gulf Coast are more than the scenery, wildlife and beaches, they are also a lifeline for fishing guides. Following the 2024 hurricane season, which brought widespread damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many who depend on healthy waters for their livelihoods are still struggling to recover.
In response, Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper are teaming up to provide much-needed financial aid to local recreational fishing professionals impacted by these storms. Thanks to a grant from the International Game Fish
Association’s Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund, eligible captains and guides can apply for competitive grants of up to $1,000 to help cover lost income and recovery expenses.
“The recreational fishing industry plays a vital role in safeguarding our local waters, often serving as the first line of defense by reporting pollution incidents,” said Dr. Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper. “We’re proud to support this community and give back to those who faced economic hardship during the 2024 hurricane season.”
Application details:
● Open: July 26 – Aug. 2;
● Who’s eligible: Recreational fishing industry professionals impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, including charter captains, operating within the Suncoast and Tampa Bay regions. Priority will be given to
SUBMITTED
those who work full-time in the recreational fishing industry;
● Required documentation:
- A valid U.S. Coast Guard captain’s license;
- Proof of insurance;
- Completed W-9 form; and
- Verified proof of trip cancellations or revenue loss (booking
records, customer statements).
Apply at https://bit.ly/ WARF_grant beginning July 26.
“Charter captains are the tip of the spear when it comes to our coalition of water quality advocates in Tampa Bay,” said Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.
“This industry took a significant and unfortunate hit during last season’s historic hurricane season. We are honored to stand with our partners to support our community.”
Grant recipients will be announced on Aug. 15. Funds will be awarded based on the applicant’s primary service area, either the Tampa Bay or Suncoast region.
This effort is made possible by the Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund (WARF), established in 2017 in partnership with Costa Sunglasses. Since its inception, WARF has distributed over $305,000 to fishing communities impacted by natural disasters across the U.S., Caribbean and Central America, helping local guides recover and rebuild. Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper share a united mission to protect and restore regional waters to ensure fishable, swimmable and drinkable water.
From left, Jase Moore, Jenny Moore, Capt. Justin Moore, June Moore and Jordon Moore. Justin is a full-time guide who is a strong supporter of clean water.
RUSTY CHINNIS
TRASH: Commission considering changes to collection schedule
“Monday pickup is after the busy weekend. That’s when you have the most trash,” Commissioner Gary McMullen said. “That’s when I believe it should be picked up. It shouldn’t matter to me because I have side-door (service), but it does, because they don’t always do that.”
“We hear you loud and clear about the side-door service. That is something that needs a solution,” Haggar acknowledged.
“I think the difference between Thursday and Friday is fairly minimal. But there are probably a lot more (vacation rental) checkouts on a Monday than there are on a Tuesday,” Commissioner Charlie Salem said when noting the proposed Tuesday collections would result in trash accumulating over the weekend and sitting uncollected for an additional day.
Salem wants to see side-door service improved before he supports changing the collection schedule.
“A lot of this hinges on whether or not that gets solved, and it’s been a problem for quite a while. I don’t have a ton of confidence that
We hear you loud and clear about the side-door service. That is something that needs a solution.”
Brenna Haggar, Waste Management government affairs manager
there’s a magic bullet out there for that,” he said.
He also noted Waste Management recently imposed a 3% cost increase on its Anna Maria customers.
Commissioners Chris Arendt, John Lynch and Kathy Morgan-Johnson agreed with Salem and share those same concerns.
“We really need to understand the impact of the rental weekends, what that looks like and how that affects the trash pile going to Tuesday versus Monday,” Lynch said.
Lynch said it’s also important for side-door service customers to receive the service they’re paying for.
It was noted that 80% of the Anna Maria’s residential properties currently have side-door service and the Waste Management truck drivers are supposed to use their digital, in-truck tablets to identify which properties require that service.
McMullen suggested a simpler solution: Placing easily identifiable stickers on receptacles that require side-door service. As an alternative, he suggested requiring all residential properties to have side-door service. He said that would eliminate any confusion as to which properties require that service, but he also noted that some residents who bring their receptacles to the street and back themselves won’t want to pay the additional fee. The Waste Management team said they’d get back to the commission with an estimate on customer pricing for mandatory side-door service citywide.
“I think there’s a lot to discuss,” Salem said as the discussion ended with no final decisions proposed or voted on regarding the proposed change to the current collection days.
Pier demolition completed
The demolition of the hurricanedamaged Anna Maria City Pier is complete and all the debris above the waterline and submerged below has been removed by Quality Marine Construction. When making that announcement on July 10, Mayor Mark Short said the next step is to issue a request for proposals seeking bids from marine construction companies interested in building the new City Pier walkway. Short said the city’s proposed RFP is being reviewed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection before it can be issued.
7PM & 9P M
MAY 23-AUGUST 30
THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN The T-end buildings are all that remain of the City Pier built in 2020.
REAL ESTATE
Time to talk about Cortez again in view of the monumental changes being made on the Cortez peninsula and, by extension, within the fishing village. The changes will affect all Cortez residents and many residents of Manatee County as well, and likely some of it you won’t agree with. You would never know it now if you took a ride down 127th Street past the former Seafood Shack Restaurant site, but the property owned by Manatee County is slated for a major overhaul. As a matter of fact, you can’t even access 127th Street from Cortez Road since the county is working on infrastructure for the new Cortez Bridge scheduled to start construction late 2025 or early 2026, also a big change. At this moment, the Seafood Shack property is tentatively being renamed the future Cortez Marina. Plans for the best use of this property are still being worked on and the county commissioners
Look to the future Castles in the Sand
could be a landing area for a water taxi and possibly the Gulf Islands Ferry with vehicle parking provided for that purpose. Also discussed was a restaurant and hopefully some retail space, both of which would be a bonus to the community.
LOUISE BOLGER
are looking for input from residents. At a meeting held in Bradenton Beach on June 12, with residents from the peninsula, there were a lot of opinions. Mostly homeowners were concerned about traffic flow and boats on trailers accessing narrow roads on their way to a planned boat launch area. If you’re concerned about how the property is being developed - whether you live in Cortez or not - you should make your voice heard. Don’t wait for another meeting; you can email the commissioners, whose contact information is on the Manatee County website. In addition to boat ramps and parking for boat trailers it is suggested that the site
Will these changes give new life to the 8 acres? I believe it will, even though not everyone will be happy with the county’s plans. Some other positives are a fixed high-level new bridge to the Island with some pedestrian- and bike-friendly areas, providing quick access from the Island in the event of storms as well as access to the charm and seafood restaurants of one of the few remaining authentic fishing villages in Florida. Add to this a new active boating area on some of the best boating waters on the west coast of Florida and hopefully you will see a facility that will be a draw for more than just the boating community. What, if anything, does this mean for real estate values in Cortez? There’s
no surprise that values are down and available listings are more than available buyers. However, if you are a home or condo buyer considering waterfront and water access property, I would give Cortez a serious look. We’re in a buyer’s market and Cortez is not immune to that so it can be a very advantageous time to buy. Primarily I keep thinking about how things will look in a couple of years after everything is rebuilt and spanking new for an underused 8 acres of prime land. Property values can only go up in an area with spectacular water views and convenient water access.
Ask yourself why did you come to Florida in the first place? Was it to live in a master planned community or to live in a vibrant varied community on the water, where the dolphins are jumping every day? I’m optimistic for the first time since October. I believe little Cortez will come back better than ever and more valuable. Look to the future - not the past.
families became one.
OBITUARIES
Dean Garati
It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Dean Garati. His generosity knew no bounds. Dean was a loving father and husband.
Born on Sept. 18, 1979, in Richmond, Virginia to Dinah Shore and Gary Massengale, he lived in Australia for a year, traveling to Thailand and Singapore, among other countries, then moved to Bradenton, Florida.
He is survived by his wife, Annamarie Garati; daughters, Coral, Zalea, Zenna and Zoria Garati; stepdaughter, Mariana Carroll; mother, Dinah Shore; sister, Crystal (Scott) Perry; brother, Wayne (Dana) Garati; niece, Madison Perry; and nephew, Albert Garati. He was preceded in death by his father, Steve Garati; and sister, Nicole Garati. In 2012, Dean started Palmfish Communications, a high-end low voltage company. In 2016, he met his wife and together they grew the business stronger and the two
He was highly active throughout his entire life, from dirt biking racing, Frisbee golf, surfing, going to the beach, skateboarding, dancing and traveling. He was also passionate about the outdoors, spending a lot of time camping, kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking and visiting all the state parks where he enjoyed nature. Coral, Zalea, Zenna and Zoria were his entire world. His children gave him strength during the rough times, laughter and love all the time. He was so proud of the girls. Dean loved his family and would make a point to tell them that he loved and appreciated them as often as possible. His heart was bigger than him. He would never turn down a person in need. With his infectious personality and smile you couldn't help but be in a better mood when he was around. He will truly be missed every day!
Although Dean is gone, he will live in our hearts forever.
“Well, I am on my way to an island on the sea. I will escape and Lord, I will be free.”
His ashes will be buried at Holy Cross Church on Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life at 12:30 p.m. at Clancy's Irish Pub, Bradenton.
Community vigil scheduled for Feeney
A community vigil will be held for J.M. Feeney on Wednesday, July 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Manatee County Judicial Center Courthouse Square.
Jann Michael Feeney, known as J.M., 17, was a Manatee High School wrestler and employee of the Beach House Waterfront Restaurant in Bradenton Beach. He was killed in a March 8, 2024 shooting in Bradenton.
“The community will not forget J.M. Feeney, the outstanding young man taken from us too soon,” according to a July 11 press release from Nancy Ambrose. “We will come together and
ask for justice for J.M. Feeney.” Attendees are asked to bring LED candles and wear green - Feeney’s favorite color - to the vigil. Signs saying “Justice for J.M.” are welcome. The courthouse square is located at 1051 Manatee Ave. Carter Layne, 17 at the time of the shooting, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm in Feeney’s death. According to the Manatee County Clerk of Court website, he is scheduled for a jury trial on Monday, July 28 at 8:30 a.m.
Joe Ann Feeney is pictured with her son, Jann Michael (J.M.) Feeney, who was killed in a March 8, 2024 shooting in Bradenton.
REVENUE: Bradenton Beach businesses, residents to see increased fees
FROM PAGE 1
We’ve come up with a hybrid solution that doesn’t impact the mom and pop that has a duplex that lives in half and rents half.”
He proposed the same fee structure, $150 per year, for a home that has up to four occupants.
“Each occupant above the four would be an additional $100 per occupant. That would shift the burden to, I hate to say it, but party houses,” Thompson said. “The ones that have the largest occupancy are the ones that also cause the most burden on infrastructure and staff.”
He said the city currently has 561 TPLE licenses. Of that number, 192 have four occupants or less. He said the average occupant count is seven, and in applying the new fee structure, the average cost would be $450 for an annual license.
“In the opinion of staff, we don’t feel we’re burdening an investor,” Thompson said. “The reality is if you’re renting your property for $11,000, $450 or $600 per year won’t deter you from renting it.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole asked how this increase would affect hotels. Thompson said motels and hotels are exempt.
Commissioner Scott Bear asked how the fees compare to other Island cities.
“In Anna Maria they’re looking at redoing theirs right now,” Thompson said. “We’re about half of where they are right now. Looking at Holmes Beach’s model, theirs is current, and they charge $100 per occupant period.”
Thompson addressed the fee structure in the city’s building department.
“We last changed it in 2022. We now have more staff on board more than we had,” he said. “Bill (City Building Official Bill Palmer) made me aware that by statute we can have reserves for operations of the building department equal to two years of expenses. In that hiatus of fees, we’re waiving fees due to the hurricane, it wouldn’t have put the building department in a deficit position, and we could draw on that reserve.
Bill is looking at adding other fees that other cities have done.”
The moratorium on hurricane-related building fee waivers ends at the end of this month. Thompson said there are some fees in place in Holmes Beach that Bradenton Beach could implement.
“For example, a stop work order in Holmes Beach, if they put a red tag on a door is $500, it they do it twice it’s $1,000. That will be part of the new increased fee structure,” he said.
Thompson said the fees will help build up a reserve so if another storm event comes, the city is not waiting for FEMA reimbursement.
“To bring us competitive with parking lots, we’d be raising the parking ticket fines from $75 to $100,” Thompson said.
He summarized the city’s goal with the increased fees.
“The goal is to put us in a position to break even. The city must have a balanced budget by statute. And without raising taxes to get to that spot and put $300,000 give or take into reserves for next year. With those things it makes up for that shortfall and it keeps us in a healthy position.”
A motion to approve and direct staff to make changes as discussed for the 2025-26 budget was unanimously approved.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
City Treasurer Shayne Thompson speaks to city commissioners about ways to increase city revenue.
Farrington, Howcroft pitch to win
Three teams met in the knockout round on July 9 after each went 3-0 during pool play at Anna Maria Horseshoes. The bye went to Tom Farrington, left, and Gary Howcroft, right. Tim Sofran and Bob Hawks moved into the final after a 23-9 win over Gersey Fernandes and Tom Bunny. Farrington and Howcroft took out Sofran and Hawks by the same score of 23-9 to win the day’s championship. Two teams met in the final on July 12 after each went 3-0. Dom Livedoti and Fernandes powered their way to a 25-6 victory over Hawks to earn the day’s bragging rights.
ISLAND SPORTS
KEY ROYALE CLUB SCOREBOARD
Forty-four
Key Royale Club members and guests played in the annual Fourth of July tournament on Saturday, July 5. Playing a combination of a scramble/ramble with par of 64, the team of Sue and Bruce Christenson, Dale Miller and Ken Nagengast captured first place with 68, four over par. Winning the putting contest for the ladies was Jana Samuels while Charlie Porter won the event for the men. Samuels also won the long drive contest for the ladies. Jeff Jump won closest to the pin on hole #8. Straightest drive went to Lynn French for the ladies and Dan Turner for the men. After the event, everyone enjoyed a barbeque luncheon along with their favorite beverage.
JULY 7 - MODIFIED STABLEFORD
First Place - Greg Jump, +5 Second Place - Joe Coyne, +4 Third Place - Earl Ritchie and Terry Schaefer tied, +3
JULY 8 - LOW NET SCORE
First Place - Rene Chapman, 25 Second Place - Helen Pollock, 30
Third Place - Jana Samuels, 31
Helen Pollock had a birdie-chip in on Hole #2.
Joe Coyne, Rich Salzburg and Warren Stevens, 29, 3 under par
Second Place Team - Gary Razze, Deb and Dave Richardson and Quentin Talbert, 30, 2 under par
ANNA MARIA HORSESHOES | SUBMITTED
CABANAS: Commissioners discuss beach cabanas
“The concern is those concierge companies that don’t have a brick and mortar building, they just have a storage unit with a bunch of cabanas in it and they pull out their cabanas and chairs and set them up,” Scaccianoce said. “The bigger issue is concierge companies lining up 20 cabanas on prime spots on the beach. Nobody’s in them and they’re taking up space on the beach, in the hope that somebody is going to rent them.”
She noted that Holmes Beach has also recently expressed concern about private businesses advertising for financial gain on the beach.
“Holmes Beach is addressing it in a way that has code enforcement going out and watching these cabanas,” Scaccianoce said. “These cabana companies are advertising with their name, phone number, QR codes, and setting up empty tents with chairs that are not rented. If they’re set up in the morning and in the afternoon if they’re still empty they (Holmes Beach) are doing code enforcement.”
Commissioner Ralph Cole noted that resorts put out umbrellas for their guests.
“However that’s worded needs to be fixed so we can protect the businesses that were here for years and years,” Cole said. “The last thing we want to do is ruin our resorts and make people not want to come here because they have to sit on the beach with no umbrella.”
Cole compared the private cabana rental companies to many
other businesses on the Palma Sola Causeway.
“I have a problem with someone just showing up on a public beach and starting to rent out Jet Skis,” Cole said. “When I see people up on the causeway, they’ve got banners out and they pay no rent. That’s just what the cabanas are doing. It’s getting out of hand.”
Scaccianoce said she does not support taking opportunity away from resorts or from families coming to the beach with sun shades.
“The issue I’m talking about here is that I think we should be able to police the businesses,” she said.
Mayor John Chappie suggested directing Perry to look at the city’s legal options with the possibility of making modifications to the current code. A motion to that effect passed unanimously.
“I believe all of us want to try to address this and have some type of regulation,” Chappie said.
The Thursday, July 17 city commission meeting agenda includes an update on commercial activity on public property.
MILLAGE: Holmes Beach considering millage increase
FROM PAGE 4
like to hire at least one additional employee if approved by the city commission.
Commissioner Terry Schaefer said the proposed public works budget is about $500,000 lower than the current fiscal year and to him that justifies hiring an additional employee and adding about $63,000 to the city payroll.
The proposed budget doesn’t yet factor in a proposed stormwater fee increase from $2.95 per 100 square feet of property to $4.95 or $9 per 100 square feet. The proposed budget lists $1.88 million for anticipated stormwater drainage project expenses and Kamiya said that projection would change if additional revenues are to be generated by a stormwater fee increase.
The projected $765,236 for code compliance department expenditures is about $10,000 higher than the current fiscal year.
Commissioner Carol Whitmore opposes increasing the millage rate at a time when many property owners are still recovering from hurricane damage sustained in 2024. She opposes adding an additional police officer and an additional public works department employee to the city payroll and she opposes the proposed stormwater assessment fee increase to be determined during the commission’s July 22 meeting.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Bradenton Beach commissioners are discussing private beach cabana companies doing business on public beaches.
FUN IN THE SUN
CLASSIFIEDS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
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PAINTING & WALLCOVERING
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PEST CONTROL
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POOL SERVICES
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