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Mayor Titsworth's Parking & OPPAGA Study Update
Please see the following update by City of Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth in regards to parking and the OPPAGA study being conducted as it relates to the City of Holmes Beach and Anna Maria Island.
In the past three years, the City of Holmes Beach has become known for its conflicts with county leaders and more recently, being in the cross hairs of threatening legislation by state leaders. It is believed the city’s decision to limit the number of secondary beach parking in residential neighborhoods contributed to this conflict. Although the city continued to greatly exceed the number of beach parking for compliance with an interlocal agreement with the county, this conflict quickly grew into a county-initiated state law mandating a 4-story parking garage and an impending decision by state leaders on whether cities are even needed on the island anymore.
Beach Parking:
The city is responsible for the public health, safety, and welfare of all who live, work, and play in the community. The City of Holmes Beach is one of the last coastal cities in the region to institute limits on the number of cars that could be accommodated for beach access on neighboring streets. This process was done by examining existing conditions, reviewing neighborhood development trends and ten years of public safety and health concerns, while at the same time understanding the importance of providing adequate and free parking within proximity to the beaches.
In these past years, the city has made great strides in addressing the concerns of the public and of the county and state leaders. For example:
· Secondary parking was reduced in some residential neighborhoods and relocated closer to the public beach to provide restrooms, refreshments, and lifeguard stands.
· Maps were created online to help people find available parking.
· Improvements were made by clearly marking where it is permitted to park.
· Surveys continue to be taken during peak hours to make certain adequate parking is provided.
· Drone footage is taken at the public beach and is posted online providing “parking at a glance” to identify parking trends.
· The city has and will continue to be a part of the solution in making certain people can safely enjoy a day or a stay on the beach and currently accommodates over 12,000 visitors in vehicles on any given day.
With the tremendous growth in the county and state, solutions providing alternative modes of transportation to the beach will need to be a priority of county and state leaders. With traffic congestion, constrained right of ways and narrow 2 lane roads originally designed to accommodate residential single-family neighborhoods, accommodating growth by adding parking garages in the cities of Anna Maria Island is not the answer.
Future of Cities:
The threat of a parking garage pales in comparison to forced consolidation or the elimination of coastal cities.
The Florida Legislature has initiated a study by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to review the potential benefits of consolidating municipal services and government structures for Anna Maria Island. This scope was then revised to include the benefits of a merger into the City of Bradenton and the benefits of dissolving the 3 cities and merging them into unincorporated Manatee County.
The citizens of the island cities reside in chartered cities that afford them the opportunity to have a voice on how the city is governed and developed, which on Anna Maria Island includes building height and density maximums. Any change to this charter requires a referendum of the voters. It stems from the idea that communities should be governed by the people who live in them and is enshrined in Florida’s constitution and is essential to American democracy today. State leaders’ successful elimination of chartered cities would afford them the ability to centralize their control and override the decisions currently made by local voters.
The City of Holmes Beach has created balance in a community that attracts many competing elements. Carefully crafted local legislation has given the city the ability to prosper in many ways. The City of Holmes Beach is a prime example of what can be done when emphasis on quality of life is at the forefront and decisions are made at the local level. These qualities include:
· Preserving the environment through its comprehensive plan and clean water initiatives.
· Awarded as one of the top 10 coastal communities to live in the nation, and the residential population in the city of Holmes Beach is on the rise.
· As a top bed tax contributor in the county for transient housing (over $40M from Holmes Beach alone), the city is known for being one of the 5 top vacation destinations in the world for its small coastal charm.
· Retained the ability to regulate occupancy and transient housing length of stay in residential districts and preserved the residential character of the community.
· Increased property value, this small city has an impressive $3 billion in taxable value.
Governance at the local level is why people choose to live in cities across the state as responsiveness to the needs of the communities is attainable as government closest to the people is generally more accountable, and effective. Cities help protect the quality of life in the community and citizens can directly see and respond to how their tax dollars are spent, knowing their tax dollars are staying in their community.
If the incorporation of a city expresses an upward arc of development and growth, the disincorporation of a city marks decline. The shutting down of municipal government signals that a community can no longer sustain the cost and institutional responsibility of cityhood. This is simply not the case with the City of Holmes Beach. The question remains, is there anything city leaders can do to stop this threat, or will cities continue to be victimized by punitive special acts of the legislature?
Why Citizens Should Care:
Thomas Jefferson said, “government closets to the people serves the people best.” If a city wants to install a crosswalk, add a stop sign, or hold a parade, it shouldn’t have to ask the State for permission. City leaders are entrusted to enforce laws “at home” and to make necessary changes as a city grows. More than 50 years ago, Floridians voted to include municipal Home Rule powers in the Constitution. Home Rule gives each city the flexibility to craft its laws specifically to its own unique needs. In today’s political climate, this home rule conflicts with
special interests, and they use their money and power to lobby state leaders to enact laws aimed at greatly diluting city’s ability to self-govern.
Over the past years we have seen a growing trend of one-size-fits all bills filed on behalf of corporate special interests. 80+ bills have been signed into law in the past 3 years alone. These legislative policies suggest that each community has the same needs and circumstances, whether you live in a big metropolitan area or a small town.
I urge all citizens to pay attention and to stay informed. Our future is at stake as is your voice. Please reach out to your county commissioners and more importantly, your state leaders and speak up in support of local self-government.
Please register and vote and let your voice be heard this election year.
Register to vote at: https://registertovoteflorida.gov/home
Local State Legislators-
Senator (District 20)
Jim Boyd
(941) 742-6445
Senator (District 22)
Joe Grueter
(941) 378-6309
Representative (District 70)
Mike Beltran
(813) 653-7097
Representative (District 71)
Will Robinson
(941) 708-4968
Representative (District 72)
Tommy Gregory
(941) 893-5434
Manatee County Commission Contacts:
Commission Chair/District 4:
Mike Rahn
mike.rahn@mymanatee.org
(941) 745-3713
District 2
Amanda Ballard
amanda.ballard@mymanatee.org
(941) 745-3702
District 3
Kevin Van Ostenbridge
kevin.vanostenbridge@mymanatee.org
(941) 745-3705
District 5
Ray Turner
raymond.turner@mymanatee.org
(941) 745-3708
District 6 (At Large)
Jason Bearden
jason.bearden@mymanatee.org
(941) 745-3704
District 7 (At Large)
George Kruse
george.kruse@mymanatee.org
(941) 745-3714