- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 23 No. 21
March 1, 2023
ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN
From left, Lilly Guth, June Moore, Tess Bolognone, Miss Sheila (Sheila Zink), Charlie Maize, Siena Suzor, Lexi Baugher and Alba Larson strike a pose at the Princess Ball at Anna Maria Elementary.
Princess Ball an evening to remember ANNE YARBROUGH | SUN
The Anna Maria Elementary PTO hosted kindergarten through 5th-grade girls for an evening of dancing and treats on Feb. 24. Young ladies wore dresses worthy of any princess and parents dressed to impress, accompanying their girls to the event, an annual favorite at AME. The PTO also hosted a dress drive to ensure all princesses had a dress for their special night out.
City officials prepare to defend local vacation rental regulations As currently written, new House and Senate bills would allow multiple vacation rental units to be registered for a single $100 fee. BY JOE HENDRICKS SUN CORRESPONDENT | jhendricks@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA – City officials and their allies are gearing up to oppose the newest attempts by the Florida Legislature to preempt more local short-term vacation rental regulations to the state. This year, the Legislature is considering Senate Bill 714 and House Bill 833. Senator Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) sponsored SB 714 and State Rep. Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) sponsored HB 833.
Page 27
In addition to limiting local government’s ability to register, inspect and regulate short-term vacation rentals, the proposed legislation seeks to give the state the exclusive regulation of online advertising platforms such as Vrbo and Airbnb. The proposed legislation would also impact Florida cities financially by capping the annual vacation rental registration fee that can be charged. “Local governments may charge a fee of no more than $50 for processing an individual registration application or $100 for processing a collective registration application,” according to SB 714. SEE RENTALS, PAGE 12
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
Bernie McDermott and his daughter, Erin, paused at the Cinderella carriage at Anna Maria Elementary’s Princess Ball on Feb. 24.
Fire department plans vacation rental changes Changes are coming for owners and operators of short-term vacation rentals, but it’s the fire department, not the state, that’s making them. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
MANATEE COUNTY – At the urging of members of the district’s fire prevention bureau, West Manatee Fire Rescue’s board has approved changing the status of short-term rentals in the district from residential to commercial. Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski first presented the idea to the district’s commissioners during a January meeting. He said that under the
Florida Fire Code, the district has the ability to reclassify the properties for assessment and enforcement purposes. Under the code, short-term rental properties are known as transient lodging, a commercial classification. Changing the classification of the properties is estimated to bring in an additional $1 million annually in assessment revenue. The funds will be used to implement an inspection program. All short-term rental properties in the district will be inspected for fire safety, including where smoke alarms are placed throughout the property, availability and location of fire extinguishers, an easily visible floorplan of the structure with exits clearly identified and SEE WMFR, PAGE 10
THE FLORIDA
MUSEUMS celebrate Heritage
Legislature proposes an open-carry law, and local officials react. 4
Day in Anna Maria and Cortez. 9
Anna Maria Island, Florida
RED TIDE causes patchy
respiratory irritation and fish kills. 8
The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com