Three candidates — incumbents Chuck Webb and Nancy Yetter and challenger Brian Seymour — are vying for two spots on the Anna Maria City Commission.
The candidates have differing stances on how best to tackle issues facing the commission, including traffic congestion and a perceived parking shortage in the city, complaints about short-term vacation rentals and Bert Harris claims filed against the city and the threat of overdevelopment.
Nancy Yetter
Yetter, who is running for a third term in office, has in recent months voted against settlement negotiations for Bert Harris claims filed by short-term rental owners over the city’s vacation rental ordinance, which went into effect April 1.
More than $20 million in claims have been filed against the city. Each claim requires some manner of settlement offer within 150 days from the city. Some of the offers the city has made include purchase offers, which Yetter opposes.
“The city has no business entering the real estate business,” she said. “I wish the commission had been more willing to negotiate the settlements rather than giving into the demands of the litigants.”
“I respect the rights of people wanting to earn extra income with rental properties, but I do not believe these rental properties should be able to pose undue burdens on the full-time residents and city,” Yetter said. “Too often greed takes over and prevents doing what is fair to others.”
On parking and traffic, she said, “I would follow the recommendations of the Urban Land Institute study, which said the only way to reduce the traffic congestion would be to limit or reduce the amount of parking spaces available. We only need to ensure we have enough spaces to qualify for beach renourishment and to provide adequate parking for residents at beach access points.”
A parking permit system, she said, could be a potential solution.
As for development, Yetter said the city needs to strictly enforce existing codes.
“Certain developers are constantly looking at ways to sneak around our laws, and we need to clamp down with harsher penalties and enforcement,” she said, adding that the city needs to control excessive lot coverage to protect the local environment.
Yetter said she supports prohibiting formula retail businesses in Anna Maria. “We need to help our local businesses survive in order to maintain the ‘old Florida’ atmosphere that everyone says they come to the island to enjoy.”
Chuck Webb
Webb is running for a fourth consecutive term in office and a fifth term overall. He has voted against recent settlement offers for Bert Harris claimants.
Webb said the commission needs to seek a “determination of the meaning of the comprehensive plan and zoning code by a judge.”
“My interpretation is that vacation rentals are not allowed in the residential district for Anna Maria is a residential community, not a tourist destination,” he said.
If a judge agrees, Webb said the city could begin the process of phasing out vacation rentals and setting a cap on rental licenses.
As for traffic, Webb said the city should determine the causes, which he believes are vacation rentals and day visitors.
If the city finds vacation rentals are responsible for the traffic, he said, “I would prohibit parking in front of vacation rentals and limit the parking on the vacation rental property.… As to the day visitors, limit the number of beach parking spaces with open parking for residents, much like Key West does.”
Webb concurred with Yetter in that the city needs to re-examine lot coverage to prevent overdevelopment.
He also said the city should enforce codes to ensure sufficient infrastructure exists during development and to limit bedrooms in a structure based on the size of the property.
Webb also suggested the city buy vacant lots to use as stormwater retention and for parks. “This takes a lot off the market so that it’s not developed,” he said.
“Anna Maria was always a town of cottages,” Webb said. “We need to get back to that.”
As for formula retail businesses, Webb said, “The city should adopt an ordinance prohibiting or limiting the number of chain businesses in order to protect our local businesses.”
Brian Seymour
Anna Maria resident Brian Seymour has operated the Anna Maria General Store for eight years.
He said he was motivated to run by a “stagnant commission” that is overly focused on vacation rentals.
Seymour said the commission could begin to address vacation rental concerns through stricter code enforcement, a requirement for a minimum number of off-street parking spaces per bedroom and the introduction of impact fees.
In addition, he said, “I would like the commission to analyze the last several months with the ordinance, to see if there has been any positive quality of life changes for our neighbors of the bigger rental houses.”
To reduce traffic, he said the city needs to expand alternative transportation options and increase the bike-friendliness of the city.
In addition, the city should work with the other island cities. “A lot of our traffic issues happen south of Anna Maria in Holmes Beach,” Seymour said.
Parking issues appear to have been alleviated by a strong code enforcement patrol, Seymour said. “The new code enforcement team has been very helpful,” he said.
To control overdevelopment, the city could “do more to support and incent our property owners to keep their homes,” he said.
He added that the city should look for more green spaces.
“Designated green spaces are a great way to prevent 100 percent development of our city, and they’re essential to providing a healthy environment,” he said.
“They can also be utilized as a flood control zone,” Seymour added.
Seymour said he does not support a moratorium on formula retail businesses. “If you look at statistics, most of your franchised chain businesses are owned by small business people who are locals to the area,” he said. “That being said, I think our city needs to have some healthy discussions on setting some stipulations on size, quantity, local ownership, etc. of chain businesses that could be permitted in the future.”
The top two vote-getters of the three candidates will take office after the election.
Commissioners hold a two-year term and receive a $500 monthly stipend.
Anna Maria voters poll at Roser Memorial Community Church, 512 Pine Ave. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.