‘Our constituents are outraged.’ Galvano, Robinson slam Holmes Beach for parking cuts

A Holmes Beach plan to eliminate up to 1,000 beach parking spots has drawn the attention of Florida legislators.

Florida Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and state Rep. Will Robinson, R-Bradenton — both whom represent Anna Maria Island in the Legislature — penned a letter to Mayor Judy Titsworth on Thursday suggesting the city reevaluate the plan.

“It has come to our attention that on-street parking has recently been reduced by at least 45 percent, impacting the ability of residents and visitors to patronize local businesses and participate in recreational activities on our beaches,” states the letter dated Thursday. “As you know, tourism is vital to our coastal community.”

Galvano and Robinson go on to point out that local businesses have suffered enough through the novel coronavirus pandemic. Business owners did their part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and local government should not hinder their recovery, the legislators said.

“Florida’s Legislature has invested significant taxpayer dollars to support long-term health of our local beaches, yet local government is now eliminating parking,” the letter states. “While social distancing and other precautions are a responsible and important of safely re-opening our state, our constituents are outraged that such measures are not being used as an excuse to impose long-sought restrictions on public parking.”

Indeed, the city has long sought a solution to overflow parking.

Titsworth recently told the Bradenton Herald that Holmes Beach residents have had to battle trash being thrown on their property and cars parking on their lawns for far too long.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer told the Herald in May that the plan would be implemented for the health and welfare of the city’s residents. The plan also drew the ire of Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy.

Murphy said the resulting restrictions in parking spaces in Holmes Beach have led to an overflow parking crisis in his city, which in turn, forced his hand to significantly raise the fees for parking tickets.

Holmes Beach said the move is to protect its own residents. Tokajer said too often, visitors go onto people’s properties to use their hoses or in some cases, urinate on their property.

“We’ve had a problem for years throughout the entire city with people coming and inundating residential areas with parking in front of their homes, on their lawns and on their shrubbery,” Tokajer said in May.

But not all residents agree with the city’s move.

“Everyone has a story, but the good far outweighs the bad,” said Nicole Quigley during a protest earlier this week.

Quigley, a lifelong Holmes Beach resident, said most visitors don’t cause problems.

“Now more than ever, we need to offer our hospitality and beautiful beaches to the residents of Manatee County. We’re all neighbors,” she said.

Galvano and Robinson said economists warn international tourism is unlikely to recover by this summer and that portion of the economy will be replaced by Floridians choosing in-state vacations.

Now, more than ever, is not the time to initiate plans that could harm the recovery efforts of local businesses, the legislators said.

“Our coastal communities should plan accordingly and seize this opportunity to showcase the beauty of Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast,” the letter states. “We respectfully request that you reevaluate plans to reduce on-street parking.”