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VOL 26 No. 47
August 19, 2026
Anna Maria revising beach cabana regulations The revised cabana regulations are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN REPORTER | jhendricks@amisun.com
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
These free parking spaces along Pine Avenue might become paid parking spaces.
Anna Maria parking study recommends permit and paid parking A parking study-related public meeting will be held at The Center on Monday, Aug. 31. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN REPORTER | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – The mayor and city commissioners are considering implementing a citywide parking plan in March that could potentially include 1,119 paid parking spaces located throughout the city. The study also proposes a resident permit parking program that provides free parking for Anna Maria residents. Seeking public input on the proposed citywide parking programs, the city will host a public meeting at The Center of Anna Maria Island at 407 Magnolia Ave. on Monday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m. Public input can also be emailed to cityclerk@cityofannamaria.com. During the Tuesday, Aug. 11, informational meeting, WSP
Senior Planner Christine Fanchi presented to the mayor and city commissioners the results of the parking study she began working on in May. Fanchi suggested a $4.50-perhour parking rate that she said would generate an estimated $25,000 per day and $11 million per year in paid parking revenue. The study proposes three parking components. The permit parking component for Anna Maria residents would allow them to park in areas restricted to residents and their guests. The license plate reader-based permit parking system would also allow Anna Maria residents to park for free in the city's paid parking spaces. The resident permit parking component would require online registration using the Passport portal, and Fanchi suggested a potential $5 registration fee. The paid parking component would include hourly fees and three-to-four-hour time limits.
SEE CABANA, PAGE 5 JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
These free parking spaces along Gulf Drive might become paid parking spaces. The paid parking component would include special permits for resident events, parades, farmers markets, Center concerts, Island Players theater performances and more, and those details have not yet been fully worked out. If implemented, the paid parking program would include special parking permits for employees
SEE AM PARKING, PAGE 4
PALMA SOLA BAY doesn't meet bacteria standards. 15 Page 16 Anna Maria Island, Florida
ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria's previously enacted beach cabana rental regulations are undergoing significant revisions. On Thursday, Aug. 13, city commissioners unanimously approved the proposed revisions presented during the first reading of an amended version of the city's parks and recreation ordinance, Ordinance 26-961. The commission-supported revisions will be finalized when adopted on second and final reading during a future meeting. The proposed revisions are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The previously adopted version of the ordinance established the commercial activity and beach cabana rental regulations that took effect March 1. The proposed revisions will include the city entering into franchise agreements with three beach cabana rental vendors. "No more than three franchise agreements will be effective at any time. City commission may change this limit by resolution," the revised ordinance says. Those without franchise agreements will not be allowed to operate in the city's limited commercial activity area. The revised ordinance will establish a numerical limit on how many rental cabanas can be set up per block in the six-block area between Magnolia and Oak avenues.
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
There will soon be a limit on how many rented cabanas can occupy the designated rental area.
BRADENTON BEACH hires new building official. 8
HOLMES BEACH DOG PARK
renovations being completed. 9
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Great-grandson’s mural pays tribute to Sports Lounge’s Chicago roots Tattoo artist Camden Hammacker recently painted his first mural. BY LESLIE LAKE SUN REPORTER | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The Sports Lounge has had a connection with Chicago since John and Helen Brown, both formerly of Illinois, bought the Purple Porpoise in 1988 and renamed it. John and Helen’s great-grandson, Camden Hammacker, paid tribute to the family’s history and connections to Chicago by recently painting a large mural of four Chicago sports stars on the west side of the building. Hammacker spent about three weeks completing the mural that features Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Báez, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, basketball legend Michael Jordan and Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews. "These are all Chicago players," Hammacker said. "My great-grandpa John Brown was from Illinois, so in making the design I already knew there would be Chicago players in it. Honestly, I picked random players. I thought that looked pretty cool."
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
Butch Brown, Camden Hammacker and Shannon Smith in front of the new mural. The Sports Lounge mural features Chicago sports figures. While wearing a Chicago Cubs hat, Sports Lounge owner John "Butch" Brown said his parents ran the business from 1988 until July 1990, when he and his two sisters took over. He’s run the bar on his own for the past 10 years. Butch Brown gave his grandson the opportunity to paint the mural, and he said he’s pleased with the results. Hammacker, a tattoo artist, said he took a break from tattooing for about two months following a car accident. During that time, he experimented with spray paint on a smaller scale. “I experimented on fences and then I felt like I could go for the actual wall,” he said.
He said he used ChatGPT to help structure his design before sketching the figures in chalk and creating a stencil. The mural background is painted in latex, with the player portraits done in spray paint. Because he had resumed tattooing by the time he started painting, he said he worked on the mural late at night when he had time. "The biggest thing for me was experimenting with it," Hammacker said. "I wanted to do murals, and this is my first one. I kind of jumped into it, and I think the whole process has been fun." Hammacker’s mother, Shannon Smith, is Butch’s daughter and she’s a
longtime Sports Lounge bartender. She said art comes naturally to her son. "The funny thing is, he never took an art class," she said. "I tried to get him in art and they put him in theater." The mural faces the Bradenton Beach Post Office, and Hammacker said a postal worker from Illinois recently stopped by to compliment the mural. Hammacker used to work across the street at The Fish Hole mini-golf course. He said he and the business owner, Jake Spooner, have discussed possibly painting a mural there. Samples of Hammacker’s tattoo work can be found on Instagram at @ camden.tattoos.
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ISLAND NEWS
Visit our website, www.amisun.com. Scan this code with your smartphone to go there. AUGUST 19, 2026
AM PARKING: study recommends permit
IN BRIEF
and paid parking FROM PAGE 1
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
City Pier walkway completed
The installation of the Kebony decking atop the new City Pier walkway was recently completed, and as of last week, city officials were still reviewing three revised bid proposals for the repair and remediation of the hurricane-damaged buildings at the T-end of the pier. The reconstructed City Pier is expected to open at some point this fall.
Stormwater fee calculation ordinance delayed The first reading of an ordinance that would change how the city of Anna Maria calculates its annual stormwater assessment fee has been delayed. The ordinance was scheduled to be presented to the city commission for first reading on Aug. 13. After the meeting began, the ordinance discussion was removed from the agenda without further explanation or an estimated return date. According to the draft ordinance included in the meeting packet, a property will be placed into one of six base fee tiers based on lot size, as provided by the Manatee County Property Appraiser’s Office, with each tier assigned a base rate. The ordinance contains six lot size categories, ranging from 5,000 square feet or less to more than 15,000 square feet. Developed properties will also be assessed an additional fee if the property exceeds the city's current maximum impervious surface percentage of 40%. The city currently assesses $4 per 100 square feet of property, regardless of the property's impervious surface area. When adopted, the new calculation method would result in properties with greater impervious surface areas paying a higher annual stormwater fee.
Donut Experiment welcomes children’s author The Donut Experiment in Anna Maria recently hosted a free family appreciation event that featured local children’s author Theresa Borst, author of “I Love You Like a Donut.” Families enjoyed an interactive reading and musical movement, a book signing and The Donut Experiment’s fresh, handmade THERESA BORST | SUBMITTED donuts. Borst’s book tells the tale of a Mama Bear and Little Cub and uses the familiar shape of a donut to share a message children can easily understand: Mama Bear’s love goes round and round and it never ends. Borst, a former preschool owner and educator, created “I Love You Like a Donut” to celebrate the never-ending love shared between children and the people who love them.
who work in Anna Maria but don't live in the city. Fanchi said the Passport online portal would be used to apply for the various types of special parking permits. She said the city would assign a yet-to-be-determined fee for parking permits issued to landscapers, construction workers and other contractors, restaurant and retail employees and others. Fanchi said each special parking permit would require city approval. Fanchi did not propose any specific rates for the special parking permit fees. Fanchi proposed launching the parking program in March, in time for peak tourist season. During the Aug. 11 discussion, Mayor Mark Short noted that the proposed citywide parking plan, and the parking maps contained within it, remain a work in progress and that no final decisions have been made to implement the proposed parking program.
PARKING INVENTORY
According to the WSP study, there are currently 4,573 parking spaces in Anna Maria. Short said he was shocked to learn there are that many parking spaces in the city. There are currently 3,309 on-street or streetside parking spaces and 265 parking spaces located in the city-owned public parking lots that include the Bayfront Park parking lot, the parking lot near the Island Players theater and the city hall parking lot. The study also identified 113 parking spaces already located in privately owned parking lots that would not be part of the city's paid parking program.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
WSP Senior Planner Christine Fanchi presented the parking study results and recommendations. The study notes up to 130 additional parking spaces could be utilized via shared parking agreements with Roser Memorial Community Church on Pine Avenue and the CrossPointe Fellowship church along Gulf Drive at the entrance to the city. The WSP study proposes designating 1,119 paid parking spaces, with 825 on-street and 294 in parking lots. The study references 52 spaces for Pine Avenue business parking and 26 for Gulf Drive business parking, all with time limits. The study proposes the future reconfiguration of the Bayfront Park parking lot in a manner that would result in 120 90-degree parking spaces or 104 45-degree parking spaces. The study proposes reconfiguring Palm Avenue to create 29 new parking spaces in addition to The Center's 32 existing parking spaces.
RESIDENT PARKING
"The permit parking, as I mentioned, would be open to all residents," Fanchi said. Fanchi said internal, study-related discussion about vacation rental guest parking concluded that it would be hard to regulate. She said
the vacation rental owner could get a parking permit, but their rental guests would not receive permits that provide them with free parking when not parked on the rental property or when parking near restaurants, businesses and other destinations in Anna Maria. Regarding the resident permit parking, Short said, "If someone that lives on South Bay wants to go on the Gulf side to watch sunset, or go there for the day, they should be able to know that they're gonna be able to go over there and have a very good chance of having a place to park because of not competing with every spot being a park spot. Right now, they are competing with every one of those spots being free to anybody." City Clerk Amber LaRowe said, "My goal is residents should never pay, nor should their guests if it's a day, party, weekend stay."
PAID PARKING
"Paid parking encourages users to be more mindful of the time they occupy a parking space, resulting in greater turnover and more parking opportunities for visitors, customers, and patrons of local businesses," the 18-page draft version of the parking study presentation says. Fanchi said the city already uses a system provided by Passport Labs Inc. to issue parking tickets and collect parking fines. She recommends using Passport for the proposed resident permit and paid parking programs. She said the paid parking would include 1,119 paid spaces, with approximately 825 streetside spaces and 294 public parking lot spaces.
SEE AM PARKING, PAGE 23
AUGUST 19, 2026
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CABANA: Anna Maria revising beach cabana regulations FROM PAGE 1 "No more than 36 commercial rental areas are permitted on any given day where permitted on the beach," the ordinance now says. "No more than six commercial rental areas are permitted in each geographic location (block) on any given day." The six blocks referenced in the ordinance are Magnolia to Palm; Palm to Palmetto; Palmetto to Willow; Willow to Cedar; Cedar to Mangrove; and Mangrove to Oak avenues. The ordinance notes the city commission can change the numerical limits via the adoption of a city resolution. The numerical limits will help address concerns previously expressed by residents about the large number of rental cabanas being set up daily on the beach areas between Magnolia and Oak avenues. The revised ordinance does not expand the existing cabana rental zone. Commercial cabana rentals will remain prohibited in front of the Sandbar Seafood & Spirits restau-
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
Some beachgoers go to great lengths to shade themselves from the sun. rant and along the public beach that extends to and includes Bean Point. Personally owned tents and cabanas are allowed in those areas. "No commercial rental areas are permitted landward of the erosion control line, dune system or beach vegetation, whichever is most seaward," the ordinance says. The ordinance maintains the previously adopted size and space limits that include temporary shade structures not exceeding 169 square feet of total ground coverage and no more than two commercial rental areas being placed within 50 linear feet of each other in any direction. "Beach access must be unobstructed at all times," the
ordinance now says. The ordinance will require a trash bag or trash receptacle to be placed in the cabana rental area. The revisions include changing the allowed morning setup time from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. The removal of the rental beach equipment is to be completed by 6 p.m. or one hour prior to sunset, whichever is earlier – with a provision for equipment removals delayed by bad weather.
FRANCHISE AGREEMENTS
The revised ordinance says operators conducting the commercial rental of beach equipment activity must be franchised by the city, and after Jan. 1, no commercial
rental activity shall occur without a franchise agreement with the city. Franchise agreements will be limited to 24 months. The ordinance now says each commercial rental operator with a franchise agreement will be limited in the total number of commercial rental areas per day. The ordinance says all commercially rented temporary shade structures must have the approved operator's easily identifiable name, logo and/or website permanently affixed to the cabana canopy. The ordinance says the city will conduct a franchise agreement application process every two years and applications will be accepted from Sept. 1 through Sept. 15 while the application process is open. All applications will be evaluated by a committee appointed by the mayor. The committee would use evaluation criteria that includes the applicants' experience and qualifications; the ability to comply with operational requirements; staffing and supervision; past regulatory or contractual performance; financial responsibility
and insurance; equipment quality and maintenance; and proposed franchise compensation. The ordinance says, "The city commission may accept or reject any or all applications, may negotiate with one or more applicants and may determine not to award any franchise if it finds that an award would not be in the city's best interests."
PUBLIC INPUT
A handful of beach cabana rental company owners and representatives attended the Aug. 13 meeting, but My Beach Concierge co-owner Peery Heldreth was the only operator who addressed the commission. Heldreth sought clarification on several items of interest to potential vendors. Heldreth again expressed his previous concerns about pushing the setup time back to 9 a.m. – in part because it gets hotter as the day progresses. After the discussion ended, a few other cabana company representatives told The Sun they were OK with the proposed revisions.
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OPINION
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10005 GULF DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-6130
Visit www.cityofannamaria.com Wednesday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m., Planning and Zoning Board meeting Thursday, Aug. 27, 11 a.m., City Commission meeting Monday, Aug. 31, 4 p.m., Parking Study public meeting, at The Center
BRADENTON BEACH
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107 GULF DRIVE N. FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-778-1005
5801 MARINA DRIVE FOR INFORMATION, CALL 941-708-5800
Visit www.cityofbradentonbeach.com Thursday, Aug. 20, 9:30 a.m., Community Redevelopment Agency meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, noon, City Commission meeting
Visit www.holmesbeachfl.org Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2 p.m., City Commission meeting
Commission to consider extending temporary use for paid parking lot On Thursday, Aug. 20, the Bradenton Beach City Commission will consider extending the temporary use authorizations for the paid public parking lot that utilizes the properties at 101 Bridge St., 105 Bridge St., 219 Gulf Drive S. and 106 Third St. S., owned and managed by four different LLCs associated with Shawn Kaleta. The commission will consider Coastal Engineering Consultants' proposal for a 48-month mitigation monitoring survey of the North Coquina Channel that extends from the North Coquina boat ramp to the Bradenton Beach Pier. Those services would include conducting the required monitoring of seagrass and mangrove mitigation sites.
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The commission will discuss the renewal of an existing line of credit with Seacoast Bank. The city obtained a $5 million line of credit following the 2024 hurricanes but has not used the line of credit, according to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson. The consent agenda seeks commission approval to pay two invoices received from the Trask Daigneault law firm totaling $9,870; a $31,680 invoice from Tew & Taylor for building department services; and a $2,881 invoice from Integrated Solutions Consulting. Thursday's meeting will start at noon and be held at City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
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Bradenton Beach hires in-house building official Benjamin Carr is currently the building official in Avondale, Arizona. BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN REPORTER | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON BEACH – The city commission unanimously approved hiring Benjamin Carr to serve as Bradenton Beach's new in-house building official. Carr currently serves as the building official for the city of Avondale, Arizona. The city’s previous building officials were provided by thirdparty contractors. Carr will be a full-time city employee. The commission approved Carr's hiring after a public interview was conducted remotely via Zoom on Friday, Aug. 14. Carr’s start date will be Sept. 14 and his starting annual salary will be $140,000. “As per our city charter, it's the mayor's job to make the nominations for department heads,”
Mayor John Chappie said. “But I want the commission to be part of the process, which is why we’re having this hearing.” Commissioners questioned Carr for nearly an hour on topics ranging from disaster recovery and floodplain management to code enforcement, budgeting and his long-term commitment to a small barrier island community. “Currently I'm the chief building official for a city in the metropolitan Phoenix area with a population of around 100,000,” Carr said. “We do roughly about 3,000 permits annually. I think the challenge of the city of Bradenton Beach is going to be a really neat opportunity for me because yes, the population is smaller, but it's also much more involved when it comes to the coastline barrier island requirements for floodplain and floodplain mitigation and disaster recovery. This is just an amazing opportunity.” Carr said he would be 100%
CITY OF BRADENTON BEACH | SUBMITTED
Benjamin Carr will begin serving as the Bradenton Beach building official on Sept. 14. active and involved in the event of disaster recovery. “I am not a sit back type of individual,” he said. Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce said the challenges can amplify tremendously during a storm event and recovery process, especially when significant flooding has occurred. “With that comes with boots on the ground mentality,” she said. “You're going to be out there in that 100-degree heat
walking around doing your job and after a storm. It's a dirty, sweaty, messy job.” Commissioner Ralph Cole said Carr's qualifications matched what the city was looking for. Carr discussed his experience with the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System. He said improving the city's CRS rating to further lower flood insurance premiums for Bradenton Beach property owners would be a top priority, along with implementing Florida's updated building code, which takes effect Dec. 31. Commissioners asked Carr about his experience with FEMA disaster recovery requirements, stormwater management and working with a contracted planning staff. Carr said he has not worked directly with FEMA in the field but has experience navigating related compliance and grant processes. While serving as the city’s
in-house building official, Carr will also serve as the department head for the building and planning department. His responsibilities will include coordinating the functions of the city’s third-party contracted planning services provider. Carr will also supervise code enforcement. The city’s lone code enforcement officer, Evan Harbus, works out of the city hall building, but under the supervision of Police Chief John Cosby. Carr will become the code enforcement department supervisor. “You were kind of the missing piece to the puzzle that Bradenton Beach has been looking for a while,” Commissioner Scott Bear said. “We've subbed out the building official for so long and a lot of people don't even know what it was like when we had our own building official and our own department head. I’m seeing energy and someone that can get out and do the things that need to be done.”
AUGUST 19, 2026
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Ribbon cuttings celebrate beach access beautification
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HOLMES BEACH – Ceremonial ribbon cuttings were recently held at three beach access points in Holmes Beach that were recently spruced up as part of the ongoing Holmes Beach Access Point Beautification Project. The project is being led by the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, carried out by the Holmes Beach Public Works Department and funded by sponsorships from local business owners, business people and Island residents. The first three beach access improvement projects were sponsored by Cindy Quinn (Sato Real Estate), Barbara Sato (Sato Real Estate) and Darcie Duncan (Duncan Real Estate). Sato sponsored the beach access at 77th Street. Quinn sponsored the beach access at 66th Street and Duncan sponsored the beach access at 52nd Street. AMI Garden Club President Renitia Bertoluzzi said, "The ribbon cuttings celebrated the successful partnership between the garden club, the city and the generous donors who helped make the project possible." Bertoluzzi said the funds used for the beach access beautification projects were raised through sponsorships offered in conjunction with the garden club's 75th anniversary fashion show earlier this year. "The garden club selected native plants for the beach access points and worked with the sponsors to create personalized sign dedications recognizing their support. The Holmes Beach Public Works Department helped bring the vision to life by constructing attractive cedar enclosures for the trash receptacles, creating and installing the dedication signs and planting the native landscaping," Bertoluzzi said. "Together, the AMI Garden Club, the city of Holmes Beach and community sponsors
AMI GARDEN CLUB | SUBMITTED
Barbara Sato sponsored the beach access enhancements at the 77th Street beach access.
AMI GARDEN CLUB | SUBMITTED
Cindy Quinn sponsored the enhancements made to the 66th Street beach access.
AMI GARDEN CLUB | SUBMITTED
Darcie Duncan sponsored the beach access enhancements at the 52nd Street beach access. are beautifying the Island's beach access points while incorporating native plants that contribute to a healthy, beautiful and resilient coastal environment," she added. The garden club hopes to complete a total of 17 beach access enhancements this year and the project may later be expanded to beach access points in Anna Maria. For more information about beach access sponsorships, email president@amigardenclub.com or projects@amigardenclub.com.
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Dog park improvements completed The resodding, plantings, renovations and other improvements made in recent months to the Scentral Park dog park in Holmes Beach are being completed this week. On Friday, Aug. 14, Public Works Director Herb Raybourn provided a dog park update. He said the small dog area is fully reopened and the large dog area is expected to fully reopen this week. "We have been monitoring the turf. Depending on weather, we are hoping to open up the closed portion of the big dog area next week," Raybourn said on Friday. Regarding additional future dog park improvements, he said, "We are planning on planting additional trees but extended closures will not be needed." Raybourn said the city plans to submit a request to Manatee County seeking the use of surplus beach concession revenues to help fund a dog park sidewalk. Frequent dog park user and dog park advocate Renee Ferguson said she's pleased with the improvements made to the park in recent months and she praised the public works department employees for their efforts. Featuring multiple entrances, Scentral Park is located near City Field and the pickleball courts, with a parking lot near the Flotilla Drive/62nd Street intersection.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The small dog area has fully reopened.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The temporary fencing in the large dog area is expected to be removed this week.
RENEE FERGUSON | SUBMITTED
Stanley and Honey Buns are happy with the dog park improvements.
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OUTDOORS
AUGUST 19, 2026
Beat the summer heat Reel Time RUSTY CHINNIS
T
he summer heat of August and September is always a challenge for local anglers. This year’s frequent heat domes have made fishing even more difficult. Temperatures that reach into the high 90s, with heat indexes over 100, add to the challenge due to the effect of the heat on anglers and fish. Some of the ways anglers deal with these conditions include fishing early in the day, when the water and air temperatures are more moderate, and fishing during the rising tides that bring cooler waters from the Gulf into our bays.
For those anglers who can carve out the time, the best fishing under these conditions is at night. Night fishing actually has two advantages. Besides the obvious advantage of cooler temperatures in the evening hours, many species of local gamefish are nocturnal feeders, especially snook and tarpon. While both species can be found in their daytime haunts, the best opportunities are found around lights where they concentrate to feed on the baitfish and shrimp that are attracted to the illumination. While anglers can catch fish under the lights with an array of methods that include live bait and artificial lures, one of the most effective is fly fishing. Whatever method you use, there are some approaches that increase your odds, and chief among them is stealth.
There’s a lot less activity at night, both on land and water, making fish you’ll encounter around lights wary. Cut your motor at least 200 yards from a light you intend to fish and close the gap with a trolling motor, push pole, paddle or drift. If possible, approach a light from down tide so you have better control of your approach. When working a light, you’ll know the fish have been disturbed when they slowly sink out of sight in the water column. When the fish become wary, it’s time to move, but if there was good action and lots of fish, come back after trying a few other spots. When choosing your bait, lure or fly consider the old adage “match the hatch.” Size your presentation and color to match the size of shrimp and baitfish that are around the lights. Start presentations short of the shadow line a light forms and work into the circle
RUSTY CHINNIS | SUN
Brent Wilson, of Sarasota, with a nice snook he recently caught while night fishing. of light. Many of the larger gamefish patrol the edges of a light looking for prey. Tackle should be stout enough to move fish from structure when hooked, but light enough to make the pinpoint presentations you’ll often encounter. If you’re on a boat, backing the boat away from the structure after a hookup gives you some additional space. If you’re land based and walking a dock to approach the
lights, move slowly and with a light step. Fish are sensitive to the vibrations, and you’ll know you’ve alerted them when they slowly sink out of sight. I enjoy night fishing most of the year but especially during the dog days of late summer. In addition to being more comfortable for you and the fish, you won’t have much competition from other anglers and the action just might surprise you.
AUGUST 19, 2026
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15
Palma Sola Bay doesn’t meet state bacteria standards A pollution reduction plan might be needed for Palma Sola Bay. BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN REPORTER | llake@amisun.com
BRADENTON – According to Suncoast Waterkeeper water quality specialist Pia Ronquillo-See, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has confirmed that Palma Sola Bay fails state bacteria standards and might require a plan to reduce pollution. Ronquillo-See presented those findings during the Aug. 12 meeting of the Palma Sola Scenic Byway organization. She said the FDEP notified Suncoast Waterkeeper by email in January that the bay does not meet water quality standards and needs a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollution cleanup plan. She said an impairment designation is driven by enterococci bacteria counts that have repeatedly exceeded state thresholds, according to the weekly sampling Suncoast Waterkeeper has conducted on the bay's northeast side since 2022.
“Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist states, territories and authorized tribes in listing impaired waters and developing total maximum daily loads for these waterbodies. A TMDL establishes the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed in a waterbody and serves as the starting point or planning tool for restoring water quality,” according to the FDEP website. The Florida Administrative Code sets two bacteria thresholds for Class II/III marine waters like Palma Sola Bay: a monthly geometric mean (average) of 35 enterococci and no more than 10% of samples exceeding a count of 130 enterococci over any 30-day period. “Since we’ve been monitoring, we’ve found the 10% value is constantly being exceeded,” Ronquillo-See said. Suncoast Waterkeeper’s data show exceedance rates above that threshold in recent years. Ronquillo-See said there were exceedances in Palma Sola in 23 of 46 samples taken in 2023, 20 of 47 samples taken in 2024 and 20 of 48 samples taken in 2025. “So far this year we have nine exceedances out of 26 samples,” she said.
LESLIE LAKE | SUN
The health department tests the water quality near the Palma Sola Causeway Park fishing pier. She said FDEP is finalizing a water quality assessment covering January 2019 through June 2026 and plans to submit it to the EPA between November 2026 and April 2027. “Suncoast does not know how long EPA review will take, and TMDL development will not begin until after the EPA accepts the assessment,” Ronquillo-See said. A dispute ensued during the meeting regarding the sampling done in January by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) near a fishing pier and pavilion at Palma Sola Causeway Park, on the bay's northwest side. FDOH's results showed zero exceedances in 19 samples, compared with Suncoast
Waterkeeper’s 9 of 26 rate during the same testing period. “The DOH results are mostly good and they haven’t had any swim advisories this year,” Ronquillo-See said. She questioned the validity of the comparison, saying the health department's testing site is in deeper water used for fishing rather than swimming. She said FDOH samples 18 inches below the surface. She said she wades above the knee and samples about 10 inches down in an area where people swim. Ronquillo-See said she asked FDOH if she could observe their sampling methods and her request was denied. She said an impairment designation could be reversed by three consecutive years of data that meets state standards. “I would question the credibility of their collection site,” board member Mike Meehan said. “That is not a swimming area, that is a fishing area. I never see anyone swimming off that pier.” Suncoast Waterkeeper water quality values can be found at suncoastwaterkeeper.org/safetoswim. FDOH testing values can be found at floridahealthybeaches.com/county/manatee.
16 THE SUN
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REAL ESTATE
AUGUST 19, 2026
Book covers and old Florida
e're always told not to judge a book by its cover, and I experienced this over the weekend when I went out of town to visit relatives. I was taken to, shall we say, an entry-level Italian restaurant with paper napkins, fans with either an on or off setting and nothing in between, and an owner, chef and waiter with an attitude all rolled into one. The point of the above story is that we have a lot of recent and future construction going on in Cortez and on Anna Maria Island, which could turn off potential buyers for this area. If this were a book, looking at the cover and not reading the inside would be a big mistake. The inside is where the value is, and buyers need to know that. Let's start with what is known as the old Seafood Shack property. On Sept. 5, 2024, the county commission approved purchasing the property for $13 million. The delayed real estate transaction officially closed on Dec. 31, 2024, after Hurricanes Helene
Castles in the Sand LOUISE BOLGER and Milton partially destroyed the Seafood Shack building. Manatee County purchased the property with the original intent of adding boat ramps and possibly some casual restaurant facilities. Residents of the Cortez peninsula organized and pointed out the negative and dangerous results of bringing boat ramps into a residential community and potentially impacting property values. Although the county has not officially announced its change of plans for the property, there has been more open discussion about creating a familyfriendly park with amenities and the possibility of a ferry stop. As of now, the property is an eyesore and it will be used
as a staging area by the construction company building the new Cortez Bridge, which brings me to the next topic. After years of discussion and multiple designs, the replacement of the 70-year-old Cortez Bridge will soon be underway. Currently, the infrastructure is being worked on along the western section of Cortez Road, with more large construction vehicles and cranes arriving almost daily. I live in Cortez, and I have not looked forward to the inevitable replacement of the bridge, but now that it's here, I'm glad. Not glad to live through what may be a daily intrusion of my life, but glad that a new bridge will eventually soar across Anna Maria Sound. The new bridge will increase safety in hurricanes and for emergency vehicles, improve traffic flow and make the boating public a lot happier and safer without a drawbridge to navigate. Another project on the books for this area is the redevelopment of Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach. The plans are in the preliminary stage but will likely include
condominiums, a hotel, shops, restaurants and a boardwalk with water access. Locals and visitors alike may mourn the loss of the "old Florida" vibe, but the new vibe will be more in keeping with a whole new generation of property owners and vacationers. The world moves on, and there is no doubt that Anna Maria Island and Cortez are moving along with it, like it or not. How are all of these improvements going to change the real estate market? I think we're looking at the tip of the real estate iceberg. Smart buyers and investors should think about what's inside the book and not what's on the cover and start moving their money before everyone has the same idea. Getting back to my culinary weekend experience: the food was good, served hot and all at the same time. The moral of the story is to think past what you're looking at on the cover and toward the future. Next time I'm in the neighborhood, I'll try this place again, but maybe takeout would work better.
AUGUST 19, 2026
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THE SUN
17
Turtle Watch reports fatal hatchling disorientations Hatchling disorientations have occurred at a higher rate this season. BY LESLIE LAKE
SUN REPORTER | llake@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Fifty-five loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings were found dead on Gulf Drive on Wednesday night, Aug. 12. The following day, the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization posted the following message on its Facebook page: "We are sad to report that 55 deceased loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings were found on Gulf Drive on Anna Maria Island last night. These baby turtles were only hours old and instead of following the light of the night sky reflecting on the water, they crawled towards artificial light shining from homes and businesses, straight into the road. We need your help to make sure the hatchlings from the rest of the nests on the beach make it safely to the water." When speaking to the Sun, Turtle Watch Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said 2026 has been a particularly bad year in terms of turtle hatchling disorientations.
DEBBIE HAYNES | SUBMITTED
Several hatchlings were rescued from disorientation and released near the Gulf. Mazzarella said in 2025 there was a 31% nest disorientation rate on the Island. This year, to date, there has been a 36% nest disorientation rate. Mazzarella said of the 148 nests that have hatched so far this year, 54 were disoriented. She said of the 8,722 hatchlings that have emerged so far this year on Anna Maria Island, an estimated 1,534 to 3,550 hatchlings became disoriented. “There are also adult disorientations which refer to when adults go the wrong way due to lights when they are leaving the beach after nesting,” she said. "I don't think people realize that shielding the light is as important as the light color. Even with an amber light, if
it lights up the wall, it's creating what looks like the night sky. There needs to be a shield and a dark background." Turtle Watch volunteers are taking a proactive approach toward educating those along the beach, including making reports to the city code enforcement officers about beach lighting. "We're doing everything we can to educate the public about lighting on the beach and disorientations," Mazzarella said. Property owners are urged to check for any lights that can be seen from the beach and make sure they are using turtle-friendly lighting. Rental property and resort owners are asked to educate their renters and patrons to keep blinds closed at night and to turn off any unnecessary lights. Call 941-301-8434 or email info@ islandturtlewatch.com to learn how you can make your home, vacation rental or property more turtle-friendly. Use the same contact information to request free educational materials to share with vacation rental guests. The phone number also serves as the 24-hour hotline to call if you find wayward hatchlings or adult sea turtles, dead or alive.
SEE TURTLE WATCH, PAGE 20
SUBMITTED
Where’s Krysta?
As of Sunday, Aug. 16, Krysta, a female loggerhead sea turtle, had traveled 483 miles since she was satellite-tagged and released on June 29 after nesting on Coquina Beach. She is participating in the Sea Turtle Conservancy's 2026 Tour de Turtles race, which began Aug. 1. She has traveled 62 miles since the race officially began and is currently in ninth place for miles traveled, in a field of 11 tracked sea turtles. Krysta is symbolically swimming to raise awareness about the threat of beach erosion. Her participation in the 2026 Tour de Turtles is sponsored by Hurricane Hanks. Source: Sea Turtle Conservancy (conserveturtles.org/ turtle/Krysta)
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OBITUARIES William Smith Moore William Smith Moore (“Bill Pete”), born Sept. 16, 1943, of Longmont, Colorado, formerly of Holmes Beach, Florida, passed away at home on Aug. 5, 2026. He was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, and moved to Tampa, Florida, as a teenager. He graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1961 and served in the U.S. Air Force. After the Air Force, he moved to Anna Maria Island, where he met Sharon Lee Duncan, and they married in 1968. Shortly after, they moved to Denver, Colorado, where Bill attended the University of Colorado Boulder and pursued his career. Their two daughters, Alanna and Alyssa, were born there. In 1982, they moved back to Holmes Beach. Sharon passed away in 1990. He is survived by his daughters, Alanna (Zack) and Alyssa (Nate); three grandchildren, Ariana, Kalen and Kyra; three fur-grandchildren, Dakota, Roxy and Lavender; a brother, Louis; and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A private visitation was held in Longmont, Colorado. A celebration of life will be held in Holmes Beach at a later date.
THE SUN
19
Final budget workshop addresses capital projects The 2026-27 fiscal year budget includes $400,000 for WaStop valves. BY JOE HENDRICKS
SUN REPORTER | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – Due to a decrease in anticipated revenues, what started out as an $18.1 million 2026-27 fiscal year budget has been reduced to $15.2 million for the new fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. City Treasurer Randy Maxson presented the initial $18.1 million budget to city commissioners during their first budget workshop on July 16. After making six passes through the proposed budget, Maxson presented the $15.2 million budget during the commission's fifth and final budget workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Capital projects and capital expenditures were the focus of the final budget workshop. The $4.6 million capital outlay budget Maxson presented includes $1.73 million for stormwater and drainage, with $983,000 of that listed as contingency funds/reserves. The stormwater budget includes $400,000 for WaStop tidal valves, $100,000 for infiltration repairs, $100,000 for coastal resiliency study and $77,000 for stormwater maintenance. The contingency/reserve funds can be carried over into future fiscal years as part of the city's five-year capital projects plan. The budget references $2.25 million for the eventual construction of the new public works department building. The current public works building located behind the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum was damaged
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The city is budgeting $2.25 million for the future replacement of the public works department building. during the 2024 hurricanes. The city's request for a $1.25 million state appropriation to help replace the public works building was approved earlier this year. The capital outlay budget includes $650,432 for City Pier refurbishments, using funds provided by Manatee County; $650,000 for Spring Avenue and Pine Avenue sidewalks and roads; $250,000 to dredge the Lake La Vista inlet and channel; $70,000 for city hall improvements; $173,000 to implement the recently presented WSP parking study; and $40,000 for playground equipment. In order to not conflict with budget hearings scheduled for any other local taxing authorities, the city of Anna Maria's first budget adoption hearing has been rescheduled to Saturday, Sept. 5, at 9 a.m. The second budget adoption hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 5:01 p.m.
20 THE SUN
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ISLAND SPORTS
ADULT FLAG FOOTBALL (WEEK 8)
The Fish Guy Aquarium Services 18 (6-1) Solid Rock Construction 13 (3-3) Luxury Services 33 (6-1) Moss Air 7 (3-4) USA Fence, win by forfeit (2-5) Fishing with Salty (4-3)
CENTER SCOREBOARD
ADULT SUMMER 5V5 SOCCER (WEEK 8)
USA Fence 7 (2-5-0) Salty Printing 1 (3-4-0)
82 West Home Inspections 7 (4-2-1) Moss Builders 7 (3-3-1)
Moss Builders 35 (3-4) Pavina Bros Windows Cleaning 33 (2-4) Salty Printing 41 (4-3) MI-Box 28 (1-6)
Solid Rock Construction 7 (5-2-0) Hampton Painting 5 (4-3-0)
AUGUST 19, 2026
KEY ROYALE CLUB GOLF SCORES
MONDAY, AUG. 10 – MIXED STABLEFORD AND SKINS GAME
First place: Matt White, +2 Second place: Mike Cusato, Tom Nelson, Bill Shuman, Quentin Talbert, +1 Skins: Tom Nelson, hole 6; Matt White, hole 2
TUESDAY, AUG. 11 – LADIES LOW SCORE
First place: Jana Samuels, 42 Second place: Terry Westby, 56 Third place: Anne Klein, 59 Anne Klein chipped in on holes 2 and 9
THURSDAY, AUG. 13 – MIXED SCRAMBLE
First-place teams: Janelle Clements, Tom Nelson and Quentin Talbert tied with Mike Clements, Ken Nagengast and Jana Samuels, 32, even par
Sato Real Estate 11 (6-1-0) Leading Edge Investments 3 (0-7-0)
AM HORSESHOES | SUBMITTED
Farrington has a winning week During the Wednesday, Aug. 12, Anna Maria Horseshoes competition two teams met in the final after each team went 3-0 during pool play. Tom Farrington, pictured, wasted no time throwing backto-back double ringers to jump out to a 12-0 lead. He earned the victory over Tim Sofran and Gersey Fernandes by a 23-2 score after ending the match with another double ringer. Farrington stayed hot on Saturday, Aug. 15, while teamed up with Steve Augustine. The duo was the only team to go 3-0 in pool play to win the day’s competition.
TURTLE WATCH: reports fatal hatchling disorientations FROM PAGE 17 Regarding the interactions between humans and nature, Mazzarella said, "I'm reminded of a quote from Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Natural Resources Director, who said, 'As we struggle with the business of life and with accommodating both our residents and tourists, we've
got to remember there is wildlife that depends on us.'"
TURTLE NESTING NEWS
As of Friday, Aug. 14: Total loggerhead turtle nests: 457 New nests last week (8/8 to 8/14): 1 False crawls last week: 1 Total false crawls: 569 Total nests hatched: 148 Total hatchlings produced: 8,722
Total adult turtle disorientations: 20 Nests inventoried: 137 Disoriented hatchlings: 1,534-3,550 Disoriented hatchlings found dead: 143 Source: Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring
AUGUST 19, 2026
FUN IN THE SUN
Across 1 Supports for crow's nests 6 In the company of 10 Half-__ latte 13 How ballerinas may stand 14 In the lead 16 R&B singer Lennox 17 Practical baby shower gift 19 Last leg of a triathlon 20 First responder certified in AED use 21 "Stranger Things" actress Hawke 22 Blacksmith's workshop 24 Praise 26 Sheer brilliance 29 Put emphasis on 31 Monopoly players? 32 Fish enjoyed on Unagi Day
Answers to 08-12-26 Crossword Puzzle
33 Back out (on) 35 "Barbie" actress Issa 36 Hidden nerdy side 40 TruTV sister station 43 Objectives 44 Shawarma bread 47 Craftsperson 50 Sides of a gem 52 Pumping device in a pub 55 Leafy vegetable rich in vitamin K 56 Boutonniere spot 57 Ladder crosspiece 59 PC hookup 60 Flight takeoff abbr. 61 Simple salad, or what 17-, 26-, 36-, and 52-Across all have 65 "It just clicked!" 66 Skirt with flare? 67 Colorful striped stone 68 Currency in MN and NM
THE SUN
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69 "None of that is true!" 70 Living room seats Down 1 Workers who strike poses 2 Bring to life 3 Level of importance 4 Blouse or turtleneck 5 Come across as 6 Pricey Japanese beef 7 "Rumor is ... " 8 Number of legs on a lobster 9 "Yes," in Osaka 10 Verizon or T-Mobile 11 Leafy vegetable also known as rocket 12 Delicate handling 15 Postpone 18 Sings like G-Dragon 23 Toronto's prov. 25 Place to order a Reuben 27 Vaping devices 28 Battering wind 30 Nine-digit ID that never begins with a nine 33 For the time __ 34 Blazer sleeve 37 Flatbread often enriched with yogurt 38 Org. that banned DDT 39 Punt or field goal 40 Picturesque scene 41 Gulps of air 42 Father in a blended family
45 Bit read by a fortune teller 46 City with the world's busiest airport 48 Furious state
49 Alabama city in civil rights history 50 __ shui 51 Gets the feeling 53 Adler who outwits Sherlock Holmes in "A
Scandal in Bohemia" 54 Some lipstick shades 58 Mardi __ 62 Down with a bug 63 Noon, on sundials 64 Self-image
22 THE SUN
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MOVING & STORAGE MARTIN’S MOVING YOUR Island movers! Offering dependable, competitive rates. No hidden costs. 941-8095777.
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POOL SERVICES FOUR SEASONS{POOL SERVICE AND CHEMICAL SERVICES. Certified Pool Operator. 18 + Years Experience. Residential/commercial. Chemical Service Licensed & Insured. Call Dennis Clark 941-7375657 COLE'S TROPICAL POOL SERVICE Call Cole Bowers for all your pool maintenance needs! Affordable and Dependable!! 941-7131893
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REAL ESTATE HOMES & CONDOS FOR SALE Have you been thinking of selling? We NEED properties to List for SALE!!! GULF FRONT, CANAL FRONT, BAY FRONT CONDOS or HOMES ASK for BIG Alan Galletto of Island Real Estate to get it SOLD 941-232-2216 LOOKING FOR A highly motivated real estate broker to buy or sell your next home? Darcie Duncan, Broker Duncan Real Estate a lifelong island resident bringing success to her customers for 30 years. Proven track record brings you results! 941-725-1589
FOR SALE Stunning completely renovated home in the HISTORIC LONGBEACH VILLAGE single family home with garage, 2BR/2BA with option of a 3rd sleeping area. Walkable to the beach and restraints. $899,900 unbelievable price. Gorgeous! call Sharon Hightower RE/MAX Alliance Group 941-330-5054 today. 3BR/2BA SINGLE FAMILY HOME NW BRADENTON, COMPLETELY RENOVATED all new windows, doors, roof, bathrooms, flooring, new ac, fenced backyard, room for boat or jet ski parking. Gorgeous inside and outside NO Flood insurance required. Vacant move in ready. $769,900 call Sharon Hightower 941-3305054 direct RE/MAX Alliance Group
RENTALS: ANNUAL ANNUAL 12 MONTH MIN. Holmes Beach 2BR/2BA + office. Walk to beach, shops, restaurants & trolley. $2800/mo. Call 203223-1119.
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RENTALS: SEASONAL & VACATION TIFFANY PLACE Gulf Front Condo for Rent Incredible views from living room and master bedroom. 2BR/2BA Green Real Estate Call 941-778-0455 SEASONAL RENTAL in PALMA SOLA. 3BR/2BA weekly or monthly rates. Contact Barb Grace 941201-2190
TRANSPORTATION ANYTIME TRANSPORTATION to all Airports, Casino, etc. Tampa/St. Pete $90. Sarasota $45. Pets welcome. Very dependable. Reasonable rates. Contact Jeanne. 941-7795095
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AM PARKING: study recommends permit and paid parking "I'm not saying they will, but if they do that, we definitely have to have a plan in place," Short said. He said if people are being asked to pay $20 to $40 to park at a county beach, some beachgoers would come to Anna Maria instead. "So, part of this has to at least take into account the pay-to-park scenario to potentially react to what the county does. But also, it's our city. We can do whatever we want," Short said.
FROM PAGE 4 The proposed paid parking system would offer four payment methods: a phone app, a text-to-pay option, a call-to-pay option and a QR code option. The proposed paid parking system would use signs but would not use parking meters or self-pay kiosks. Fanchi said many Florida cities are moving away from meters and kiosks because they are hard to maintain in Florida's corrosive salt-air environment. Fanchi said the proposed $4.50-perhour rate would generate an estimated $25,000 per day and $11 million per year in parking revenues, most of which would go to the city. The city commission has not made a final decision on what the hourly fee would be if paid parking is implemented. "And $25,000 a day was on the conservative side," Fanchi noted. In addition to paying the hourly parking rate, users would also pay a 65-cent transaction fee each time they park. Fanchi said Passport would keep the 65-cent transaction fee. She said Passport would not receive a percentage of the hourly parking fee and would instead negotiate a flat fee to be paid by the city. She did not provide an estimated range for what that negotiated fee would be. Fanchi said the hourly parking rates
FUNDING AND PHASING
WSP | SUBMITTED
Subject to change, the areas highlighted in purple might become paid parking spaces and/or resident permit parking spaces. could easily be adjusted for weekdays, weekends, holidays, peak seasons and special events. Fanchi said she researched comparable municipal parking rates in St. Augustine, Clearwater, Key West, St. Pete Beach and Cocoa Beach. Those rates ranged from $2.50 per hour to $6 per hour, and the combined average was $4.50 per hour. Short said his daughter recently paid the $12 hourly rate to park in one of the privately owned paid parking lots in Anna Maria while grabbing a cup of coffee.
When asked if the streetside parking spaces along Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive would be paid parking spaces, Short said that has not been determined yet. Subject to change, the preliminary parking map included in the study presentation identifies those areas as paid parking or permit parking. Short said the parking study was conducted in anticipation of Manatee County eventually implementing paid parking at Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and Manatee Beach in Holmes Beach.
According to LaRowe, the city has spent $39,477 on the parking study to date. The study proposes completing the first implementation phase by March. For the first phase, the study proposes spending an estimated $292,000 for parking sign costs that include $64,000 for paid parking signs, $96,000 for resident permit parking signs and $132,000 for no-parking signs. The study calls for Phase 2 to be completed by August 2027. To create additional parking spaces, the Phase 2 recommendations include reconfiguring the Bayfront Park parking area for $39,200 and the Palm Avenue parking area near The Center for $2,000.
24 THE SUN
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AUGUST 19, 2026