Another wave of Bert Harris claims has rolled into Anna Maria.
Six more claims were delivered to city hall, adding $1,725,000 of claimed property losses.
The city now has 51 claims against it totaling $14,369,000.
Under Florida’s Bert Harris Jr. Private Property Protection Act of 1995, property owners can seek monetary relief from the government if they believe government actions have devalued their property.
Once a claim is delivered, the government in question has 150 days to respond with one of three actions: Agree to the claim and pay the lost value; agree to the claim and provide an exemption; and disagree to the claim, which could result in further legal action.
Last year, interim city attorney Ricinda Perry recommended the city settle three other Bert Harris claims. Perry said the city would lose if it went to court. The city settled those claims with no cost, allowing each of the property owners to build their homes according to past codes.
Now, city attorney Becky Vose and her firm are investigating each of the claims, which has cost the city $14,180 to date in attorney’s fees.
The claims come from vacation rental homeowners around the city. The property owners are claiming the city’s eight-person occupancy limit set by the short-term vacation rental ordinance is creating a financial burden.
Private property appraisers Bass & Associates of Sarasota claim lowering the number of allowed occupants decreases the homes’ rental value.
Bass & Associates appraised all 51 of the properties involved in the Bert Harris claims.
The six newest claims are: 211 Willow Ave., owned by Allen Weinstein and Allison Boak; 827 N. Shore Drive, owned by Jeffrey Rodencal and Wendy Blumenthal; 891 N. Shore Drive, owned by Andrea Jones and Daniel Scanlan; 505 S. Bay Blvd., owned by Marie Ann McCaughan and Christine Hatch; 210 Sycamore Ave., owned by Moberger LTD; and 211 Chilson Ave., owned by O&S Holdings LLC.