It’s not just talk.
New signage regulations are coming to Anna Maria.
City commissioners Feb. 13 took a first pass at the 17-page sign ordinance drawn up by city attorney Becky Vose.
Part of the reason for the new ordinance is a U.S. Supreme Court decision that changed the landscape for sign ordinances in the country, Vose said.
In Reed v. Town of Gilbert in 2015, the court clarified when municipalities may impose content-based restrictions on signage.
Commissioners discussed the ordinance language, which included keeping business and residential regulations separate, defining flag rules, ensuring police and code enforcement secure potentially dangerous signs and keeping signage out of rights of way.
Vose said she would incorporate commissioners’ suggestions, remove redundancies and address turtle lighting for the second pass on the ordinance.
Mayor Dan Murphy recommended the ordinance be enforced by formal complaint. “We can’t afford to have city staff out looking for things,” he said.
A second reading of the sign ordinance will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27 at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.
At the meeting, prior to the signage work session, commissioners voted to terminate Imagine Manatee, an agreement established in 2003 between Manatee County, the School Board of Manatee County, the town of Longboat Key and the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Palmetto.
The accord was created to improve the quality of life in Manatee County.
According to Murphy, part of the Imagine Manatee process involved a consulting company conducting thousands of interviews with officials and residents to create a unified vision document.
The idea was to avoid, reduce and minimize duplication of services between municipalities, the school board and the county.
“The good news is everybody signed off,” Murphy said. “The bad news is nothing ever materialized and all the other cities have pulled out.”
Vose recommended a vote to dissolve the agreement.
Commissioner Mark Short motioned to terminate the accord and, with a second from Commissioner Jonathan Crane, the motion unanimously passed.
Now, about those dragon boats.
The city agreed to participate in the Anna Maria Island Dragon Boat Festival Saturday, March 7, at the east end of the Palma Sola Causeway in Bradenton.
Dragon boating, which originated from the Pearl River Delta region of China’s southern Shanghai Province, has been popular on Anna Maria Island for several years, with the AMI Paddlers from Paradise team competing in various contests.
The Palma Sola event is being hosted by the island paddlers and Pan Am Dragon Boat to benefit the Food Bank of Manatee. And the paddles, life vests, dragon boat and steerperson will be provided by the sponsors.
The city was invited to field a team of 10 paddlers and contribute $500 to the food bank.
“We don’t have 10 people on staff,” joked Murphy, who opted out of participating because, he said, he will be out of town.
City planner Chad Minor volunteered to assemble a team and the commissioners unanimously agreed to donate $500.
Commission Chair Carol Carter also declined because she will be involved in the Anna Maria Island Historical Society’s Heritage Day Festival March 7, “but the Food Bank of Manatee is a worthwhile cause,” she said.
“Is there anyone who wants to be a boat captain?” Murphy quipped.
In other news, commissioners discussed a safety hazard associated with the Vintage Flea, an outdoor market that opens once a month November-April in the vacant lot at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Gulf
Drive opposite Ginny’s and Jane E’s Cafe and Coastal Store.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees law enforcement in Anna Maria, deemed the current location a potential hazard. Each event requires approval from the city of a special event application.
“It’s a safety issue,” said Murphy, who recommended moving the event to City Pier Park at the corner of Pine Avenue and North Bay Boulevard. “It’s much bigger, we have more parking and restrooms.”
Michelle Brunone, Vintage Flea owner, told the commission she understands the safety issue and would “embrace moving to the park, if you’ll have us.”
“So this will be an experiment for March,” Commissioner Joe Muscatello noted.
Crane motioned to approve the move for the March flea market. Commissioner Amy Tripp seconded and it carried unanimously.
The Vintage Flea will open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 8.
The next meeting of the city commission is 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.
“We can’t afford to have city staff out looking for things,” Murphy, but we can afford to have parking enforcement drive up and down every street all day every day to give everyone including residents tickets for tires being 1/2″ on the asphalt.