Cooperation between Anna Maria Island's three cities strengthening toward common goals
ANNA MARIA ISLAND -- In late February, land-use experts stood one by one before a thick crowd of Anna Maria Island officials and residents with a recommended road map for the future.
Each panelist from the Urban Land Institute, a nonprofit education-and-research organization focused on land use, brought forth professional insight and advice addressing the pressures facing the 7-mile barrier island and its position as an "Old Florida," family oriented beach community.
The many recommendations included an emphasis on the three island cities -- Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach -- to work together toward common goals. Suggestions included development of a unified position on bridges and mass transit options.
Since then, new groups have sprung up on the island with individuals from all cities invested. One such group is Anna Maria Island: Home, Sweet Home, led by Anna Maria Commissioner Carol Carter, Holmes Beach Commission Vice Chairwoman Jean Peelen and Bradenton Beach Commissioner Janie Robertson.
The organization, which aims to attract permanent residents to the island, will be holding an island-wide meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach.
"A few years ago, the cities had nothing to do with each other. Nothing," Peelen said. "Holmes Beach was suing Bradenton Beach over a Bradenton Beach street on the border of Holmes Beach, which I found absurd. That was sort of how it was."
A good trend developing
Officials throughout the island have noted a recent trend of greater cooperation between all cities. According to Peelen, the change began even before the week-long ULI study was conducted.
"It was the preparing for the ULI study, which did a lot in bringing the cities to work with each other. There was a committee from all three cities that began to work together and compile information," she said. "So really, by the time of the results of the ULI study, I think people were already starting to see the benefits of working together."
This gives Peelen hope.
"There's something about just being responsible for your own future," she said. "It's something I live by and it's something I want our whole island to live by."
Bradenton Beach Commissioner Jan Vosburgh said the cities should absolutely be working together.
"We have different problems. We certainly don't have the parking problems that Holmes Beach and the city of Anna Maria do since we have Coquina Beach. ... But parking is always going to be an issue on the island," she said. "This is a good place to live and we have to realize that we have to share this with the tourists. There's got to be a good compromise and we're on our way."
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson and Bradenton Beach Mayor Jack Clarke often meet informally to discuss island matters.
"We talk about issues and are always looking for ways. ... What can we do for each other that will make things better? What can we do to make the island better? How can we reduce costs?" Murphy said. "We meet probably four to five times a month. ... There's a lot more that has strengthened the island relationships."
Murphy is involved in the new Anna Maria Island Historic Preservation Group. The group, which has yet to meet officially, wants to preserve AMI's historic bungalows.
"When people call here and they want to rent a house, they would prefer to rent a little beach bungalow -- a two- or three-bedroom bungalow with some style and history behind it," the Anna Maria mayor said. "Everybody likes something like that. Who wants to walk into a plastic, three-story, nine-bedroom pre-manufactured home? That's what this is all about."
Rules and regulations
Though Bradenton Beach Commissioner John Shaughnessy said despite increased cooperation between Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach there's a problem with all three.
"They're complaining about overcrowding and kids in the swimming pools at 10 at night. ... If you're going to make all these rules and regulations, how do you expect people to come down and live here?" he asked.
Shaughnessy said it is his personal opinion there are too many rules and regulations within city-level government and beyond. He said there should be a backpedal on having so many rules on Anna Maria Island.
"People aren't going to come live here if there are a lot of rules and regulations," he said. "It just doesn't sound right to me."
Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson described what's been happening on the island as a good change.
"All three cities have the same engineering firm as their city engineer, which is fantastic because it allows us to gain efficiency in addressing the kinds of issues that are public works oriented and infrastructure oriented," he said. "We ought to be able to do more. ... at least sharing ideas and looking at approaches. That's key, I think."
Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.
This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Cooperation between Anna Maria Island's three cities strengthening toward common goals ."