SEE RED TIDE

RED TIDE: Feds issue warning for AMI, county

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Four hoteliers keep their seats on the TDC

BY JASON SCHAFFER

SUN CORRESPONDENT | jschaffer@amisun.com

BRADENTON – Four hoteliers have been reappointed to the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC).

In a meeting July 27, county commissioners voted to retain the four TDC members for another four-year term.

The four members are: Ed Chiles, Juten Patel, Eric Cairns and Rahul Patel. Commissioners voted for each seat individually, meaning they could choose to keep the current member or replace them with an applicant who meets the criteria for membership and garners enough Board votes to take the seat.

The TDC is made up of nine volunteer members who make recommendations to the County Commission concerning the operation of projects set forth in the Tourist Development Plan. They also make recommendations on Tourist Development Tax revenue is spent. Members are appointed by the commission in the following categories: • Three elected officials; • Four owner/operators of hotels, motels or other short-term rental accommodations in Manatee County that are subject to the 5% resort tax; • Two citizens who are involved in the tourist industry and who have demonstrated an interest in tourism but are not subject to the 5% resort tax in Manatee County.

FROM PAGE 1 Medium levels were detected at Longboat Pass boat ramp on July 26, the Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria on July 26, the Seafood Shack Marina on July 22, and Key Royale on July 22.

Low levels were detected at the Skyway Fishing Pier on July 26.

Current forecasts are available at habforecast.gcoos.org and at visitbeaches.org.

Red tide-related fish kills were reported over the past week in Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.

Health officials warn against swimming near dead fish, and advise keeping pets away from dead fish and seafoam, which can contain high concentrations of algae. Pets are not allowed on Anna Maria Island’s beaches, but are allowed on the Palma Sola Causeway on Manatee Avenue.

Officials also warn that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Five conservation groups filed a lawsuit on June 24 against the owners of Piney Point and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, claiming that the discharge of 215 million gallons of nutrient-rich wastewater from the Piney Point phosphogypsum stack in Manatee County could be feeding the algae bloom. The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus act as fertilizer for the toxic red tide algae.

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For six months, no new lowspeed vehicle rental businesses are allowed to open in Holmes Beach under a newly passed moratorium.

BY KRISTIN SWAIN

SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com

HOLMES BEACH – Concern about the number of low-speed vehicles in the city and the potential for incoming additional rental companies has prompted Holmes Beach commissioners to enact a six-month moratorium.

The moratorium, approved in a 4-1 vote during a July 27 meeting with Commissioner Jim Kihm dissenting, blocks applications for new low-speed vehicle rental businesses coming into the Island city. It does not apply to current businesses or those with pending site plans, such as the pending application for The Toy Barn.

Kihm said he feels that some discussion on the number of low-speed vehicles in the city may merit some conversation but he felt that a moratorium would be premature at this point.

The issue was brought to the attention of commissioners by fellow Commissioner Jayne Christenson. She said she thinks the number of low-speed vehicles on city streets is dangerous, particularly with some people not wearing seat belts, piling more people in the vehicle than it safely seats and generally treating the vehicles as toys while on vacation. She suggested the moratorium as a way for city officials to research the problem and try to find a way to make city streets safer without allowing any new rental businesses to set up shop in Holmes Beach.

City Attorney Patricia Petruff warned commissioners they need to manage their expectations concerning the moratorium, noting that while it does prevent a business from opening a brick-and-mortar location in the city, it doesn’t stop one from bringing vehicles in on a trailer to deliver them.

When it was suggested the city require a business tax receipt (BTR) for anyone doing a business delivery in the city, it was quickly shot down because of the potential logistical and legal issues it would cause. Petruff said it wasn’t realistic for commissioners to require a BTR for anyone delivering in the city because it wouldn’t just apply to low-speed vehicle renters but also food delivery and other services.

Kihm said he would like to spend some time looking at what the issues are concerning the golf cart-like vehicles and mini cars rented by vacationers. And while he’s concerned about traffic, Kihm said moving vehicles through the Island cities is a multifaceted problem that’s going to need creative solutions.

Commissioner Carol Soustek said she’s unsure of what the city can do as the low-speed vehicles are considered legal vehicles and the city cannot regulate the number of vehicles on the road.

Christenson said she’s heard a lowspeed vehicle rental business, one that’s already bringing vehicles into the city for rent without having a brickand-mortar location, ZoomAround, is considering purchasing the former Wells Fargo location at the corner of Marina and Gulf Drives. This is just in front of the Shops at Waterline, where The Toy Barn is planning to relocate if its site plan is approved by city leaders.

Though the former Wells Fargo property is listed as off the market, no sales have been recorded according to Manatee County property appraiser records.

For a vehicle rental business to open in the space, City Planner Bill Brisson said it would require a special exception for the change in use at the property from commissioners. The sale of the property also could negatively impact the Waterline Marina Resort and Beach Club, which has a lease with Wells Fargo for the use of 20 parking spaces for the resort and adjacent marina.

Brisson said the parking spaces, which are part of the former bank property, are part of the required parking for the resort and marina.

Commissioners instructed staff to send a letter with approval from Mayor Judy Titsworth to management at the Waterline resort to see what their plans are for the required parking spaces for the resort and marina.

KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN The traffic caused by low-speed vehicle golf carts on main roads in Holmes Beach is one of the things being considered during the moratorium period.