Anna Maria commissioners know how to cut a deal close to deadline.
At a special commission meeting Nov. 3, commissioners voted 3-2 to approve a pay raise for the mayor from $9,600 per annum to $19,600 a year.
The raise was based on the increasing amount of work involved in administering the city.
The ordinance raising the stipend to something more of a salary had to be completed prior to the Nov. 4 election, according to the Anna Maria charter. Commissioners made the deadline with a few hours to spare.
Incumbent Mayor SueLynn was defeated by challenger Dan Murphy in the Nov. 4 balloting.
Commission Chair Chuck Webb and Commissioners Carol Carter and Doug Copeland approved the raise, while Commissioners Dale Woodland and Nancy Yetter were opposed.
In other business at the special meeting, Copeland said the commission is lagging behind in getting its moratorium ordinance passed.
The moratorium is on the issuance or acceptance of building permit applications, but Copeland said it’s been seven weeks since the commission vote and no ordinance has come before the commission.
“We need to get this on track because a lot of innocent people out there with good intentions are being held up and I don’t believe it’s fair to them,” Copeland said.
Webb agreed and called a special work session on the moratorium and vacation rentals for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13.
Dye said the deed restriction allowing someone to build a residence if it’s not going to be a vacation rental is in place.
According to the deed restriction, the property owner will be required to agree the new structure will not become a rental for five years in order for a building permit to be issued.
Regarding Bert Harris claims against the city, Dye said he’s asked independent appraiser Shawn Wilson of Lakeland to present her proposal for a scope of services to the commission.
Dye said Wilson will not only “fact-check” what Bert Harris claimants present, she will perform original research to determine and explain the extent to which the city’s actions affect a property value.”
The city’s action, Dye said, was the living-area-ratio ordinance adopted in early 2014 that limited new homes to 50 percent of lot coverage, with only 40 percent under air-conditioning.
Woodland said he didn’t want to wait until the last minute to get moving on defending the seven Bert Harris claims against the city, but Dye said the commission needs to review a scope of services from Wilson.
Additionally, Dye said, the city must send each property owner with a Bert Harris claim a letter outlining the uses allowed on their property.
A Bert Harris claim contends that an action by a local government contributed to a decline in the value of property owned by the claimant.
Dye said six of the seven Bert Harris claimants have agreed to give the city until Jan. 22 to respond to their claims. The seventh claimant will wait until Dec. 15, Dye said.
Copeland also asked Webb for an update on the city’s judicial review of rental homes as commercial property. Sarasota attorney David Levin is examining the issue to determine if the city has a case. If so, a judge will be asked for a declaratory judgment providing that the city’s zoning ordinance does not permit vacation rentals in the residential zone.
Webb said he’d have an answer for the 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, meeting.
The commission’s organizational meeting will be held before the Nov. 20 meeting.