Most of the Bert Harris claims filed in Holmes Beach are circling city hall in a holding pattern until after the holidays.
Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson said Dec. 13 the city is weighing its options and may hold a shade meeting to discuss settlement options before responding to the claims.
The city has 150 days from the submission date to respond to each Bert J. Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Protection Act claim. The earliest claim was filed in March, while most reach deadline Jan. 21, 2017.
Johnson said he, along with the city attorney and commission, would decide how to move forward with the claims in the new year.
As of Dec. 15, 18 Bert Harris claims had been filed against the city.
One claim, filed by Kathleen Morgan and Leah Marie Enterprises LLC, owners of 626 Key Royale Drive, awaits a judgment from the circuit court.
Another case, alleging $84,000 in losses for 306 Clark Drive, was first filed in March. City attorney Patty Petruff said the city sent a “ripeness” letter prior to the 150-day deadline in July stating the city had “no change of position and no settlement offer.”
She said 306 Clark filed its lawsuit in November and the Florida League of Cities as the city’s insurer is handling the case for the city.
The total value of Bert Harris claims remaining against the city is $4,618,600.
The Holmes Beach claims stem from an ordinance passed in September 2015 limiting occupancy in vacation rentals to two people per bedroom or six per unit, whichever is higher.
Some claims allege other issues, including a reduction of the living-area ratio, a ban on front-yard pools and limitations on the size of pools and hot tubs for duplex units. Four cases also listed the limit on the number of bedrooms, reduced to four per single-family home in new or largely renovated construction, as a reason for the claim.
Commissioners will next meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at city hall, 5801 Marina Drive.
Owner Address Claim Amount
306 Clark LLC 306 Clark Drive $ 84,600
Carter 128 49th St. $351,000
McCaffrey 7003 Holmes Blvd. $106,000
McCaffrey 7003 Holmes Blvd. $235,000
Lizzie Lu 214 54 St. Unit A&B $730,000
Rodisky 307 66th St. Unit A $345,000
VM Seaside 113 36th St. Unit B $275,000
Norton 309 65th St. Unit B $275,000
Swackhammer, 106 75th St. $225,000
Bmeehan, Kmeehan Inv. VI
Manatee AMI 205 N Harbor Drive $195,000
Cove AMI 206 N. Harbor Drive $345,000
Gutzwiller 316 63rd St. Unit 6B $105,000
Travill 301 74th St. $195,000
FL Gulf Coast 211 54th St. $395,000
Vacation Homes
FL Gulf Coast 4804 Gulf Drive $270,000
Vacation Homes
Hutchinson Trust 104 75th St. $552,000