Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short told The Islander in a July 25 email that the city, at its July 24 meeting, issued a proclamation honoring Sheila Brunger, who served as the city’s postmaster for 12 years and retired that day after a long career with the postal service.
“Sheila will be missed by the residents of the city and we thanked her for her years of service to the city,” Short said.
Also at the city meeting, Waste Management presented an update to its request to amend the waste removal schedule and offer side-door service citywide without an extra charge. (See story, p. 5.)
The commission is expected to discuss the waste removal proposal at the next meeting.
Commissioners also discussed commercial activity on the beaches. Short said beaches in the city are zoned either coastal conservation or recreation, and a significant portion of the beaches are private property to the mean high-tide mark.
He said the commission discussed commercial activities on the beach and heard feedback from property owners, cabana rental companies and the city attorney. (See story, p. 1.)
Short said, “No actions were taken and this matter will be discussed further at the next city meeting.”
Short also noted that the commission approved a maximum millage rate of 1.65 mills.
Commissioners will set the final millage in September, according to Short. (Story, page 3.)
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said she
appreciates “the great discussion” with the commissioners July 25 on millage and stormwater fees.
At their direction, “We will hold off on some stormwater improvements, while moving forward on our $1M DEP Resiliency Project,” she said. The grant is already committed, adding, “We’re nearly ready to break ground.
“Carol Whitmore asked to push this to future years but that is not an option due to grant deadlines. This important improvement will address flooding concerns on Gulf Drive and will add infrastructure to allow drainage to the east-side outfalls, relieving some flooding along Holmes Boulevard.”
City engineer Sage Kamiya will develop a citywide stormwater plan.
“With 50- to 75-year-old infrastructure throughout the city, I had hoped to replace, upsize and add storm drains and inlets for some critical complaint-driven areas, but we will accomplish as much as we are able at the current funding.”
Another hot topic was a request by Whitmore to consider revising the sign code to allow commercial signage on the beach.
Titsworth’s response to Whitmore and the other commissioners is, “I stand strong in my belief that opening the shoreline to signage would destroy the ambiance of our beaches and commercialization would be unenforceable.”
— Bonner Joy