Got a parking ticket in Anna Maria?
Just ignore it.
For Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, an answer like that is unacceptable.
Murphy presented a plan for tougher enforcement of parking regulations to city commissioners at a special meeting and work session May 14 at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive. He said the plan is designed to bring in money and keep residents happy.
Murphy wants to train city staff and a few retired police officers to patrol the streets to report and write citations for parking violations.
“What we’re doing is getting more boots on the ground,” said Murphy. “More boots means more enforcement.”
Murphy said city staff will be compensated for any parking enforcement hours with either comp time or overtime pay.
The mayor said the city received $48,000 from parking citations issued in the past 14 months. That’s a source of income the city can’t ignore.
While the commissioners can talk about parking permits for residents and visitors, Murphy said enforcement is vital.
“I’ve gone through a lot of the complaints (residents) are making about parking and what I find is that the majority of them are enforcing issues,” he said. “It’s not that people are parking where they’re not supposed to be, it’s that when they get there they’re doing things they’re not allowed to.”
Murphy said he’s gotten complaints of people setting up grills and cooking on the beach, which is prohibited, as well as using outside showers at private homes and leaving trash and human waste.
“If we get more people on the streets to handle these things right then and there, I believe we’ll take care of the problem,” he said.
The next step after issuing citations is collecting the fees.
Anna Maria has an uncollected parking citation fee rate of 18 percent.
“Unacceptable,” said Murphy.
The city’s current course of action for parking citations is to issue the citation, wait for a few months and, if necessary, send the debt to a collection agency in California.
Holmes Beach on the other hand, said Murphy, has an extra step in its process and its uncollected rate is 3 percent.
Holmes Beach, two months after a citation is issued, sends a collection letter to the alleged transgressor. According to Murphy, the Holmes Beach collection letter has more bite than Anna Maria’s notice.
The letter threatens that if the fee is not paid the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of Licensing in the State of Florida will place a hold on the vehicle’s registration.
“There’s some work to be done, but I believe we can do the same thing here,” Murphy said.
The commissioners backed the plan.
Murphy said he still needs to train the staff, but the plan is to have more ticket-writers on the streets by the first week of June.
Murphy said he’s having uniforms made at J&J Graphics, 9701 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, for the parking officers. The cost is $1,000.
New enforcer starts May 26
Officials in Anna Maria found out in the past month just how many people want to work on Anna Maria Island.
More than 100 resumes flooded the email inbox of Anna Maria city clerk Diane Percycoe when the city started looking for a new manager for the code enforcement department — someone with experience in code enforcement, management and supervision.
After sifting through the mountain of emailed resumes, the city found someone.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy announced at the city commission’s special meeting May 14 his selection for code enforcement manager: Pamela Gibbs.
Her resume lists 28 years experience in code enforcement and she’s currently a code enforcement officer for Manatee County.
“She’ll be a great asset to the Anna Maria team,” Murphy said. “Her experience and knowledge are exactly what we’re looking for.”
He said her training and work experience in her previous jobs set her apart from the other candidates.
“I’m really looking forward to working here,” Gibbs said.
Her first day will be Tuesday, May 26.
The annual salary is $47,000.
Gibbs will supervise a full-time assistant and four part-time code enforcement officers — although those jobs also need to be filled.
Murphy said Gibbs will look for people to fill the other positions.
In other matters…
• Randy Dillingham, of CS&L CPAs, presented Anna Maria’s audit of the 2014 budget. The city’s ending fund balance was $1,861,654, a net increase of $331,263 from 2013.
• The commission unanimously approved revisions to the stormwater utility ordinance. New fees will be announced in June and go into effect July 1.
• Murphy proposed a city bicycle path to ease traffic on Pine Avenue and Gulf Drive. He introduced Anna Maria resident and avid cyclist Amy Tripp, who is researching possible routes.
• City attorney Becky Vose introduced a resolution that would require the commission approve building permits associated with the city’s leased properties. The measure passed unanimously and applies to properties such as the Anna Maria Island Community Center and Island Players theater.
• Murphy reported he’s working with the Florida League of Cities, a promoter of self-government and provider of products and services for municipal governments, on help with insurance for the Anna Maria City Pier. Commissioners encouraged him to determine if it’s less costly to rebuild the pier.
• The commission also authorized the mayor to sign an interlocal agreement with Manatee County to begin work on a city pier survey. No date has been set for the study, and the cost will be about $60,000, with the city paying half.
Gibbs code officer experience
• December 2011-present: Manatee County code enforcement officer.
• June 2010-September 2011: Port Saint Lucie, self-employed, created and implemented code enforcement training manuals.
• March 2008-March 2010: Port Saint Lucie code enforcement manager.
• June 1986-March 2008: Martin County code enforcement supervisor.
Get the code officer and the ten cops tow trucks and a tire boots.
Sounds like Anna Maria needs to start back at square 1. Go back to the AMPD where those boys enforced the law.