Holmes Beach mayor's veto of parking by permit upheld

HOLMES BEACH -- Plans for parking by permit crumbled Tuesday night after the Holmes Beach Commission failed to override an ordinance vetoed in late January by Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson.

Officials voted 3-2 during a city commission meeting to override Johnson's veto of ordinance 16-01, which would have created parking by permit for a roughly 15-block area along Manatee Public Beach.

Holmes Beach Commission Chairwoman Judy Titsworth and Commissioner Pat Morton dissented.

A supermajority -- four of five votes -- was needed to override Johnson's veto and adopt the ordinance.

"I wanted this vote on re

cord for sure because I think this is a vote about listening to our residents and who is listening and who is not listening," Commission Vice Chairwoman Jean Peelen said before officials voted. "The committee came to us first wanting this parking plan for the whole city, and we directed them to limit it to one area, and then we accused them of elitism for keeping it to that area. It is totally unfair."

In a Jan. 29 letter addressed to the Holmes Beach Commission, Johnson said the ordinance is "contrary to what has been the nature of this island coastal space through its history to date."

The ordinance would have established a parking by permit only zone in the rights-of-way of the blocks closest to the beach between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., including the area between Manatee Avenue and 52nd Street West of Gulf Drive, from Manatee Avenue north to 43rd Street from 74th Street to 81st Street and Aqua Lane.

The trial program was worked on by the Holmes Beach Island Congestion Committee for some time. Those qualifying for a parking permit would include property owners, individuals who have a vehicle registered to a Holmes Beach property and individuals with a lease longer than 30 days.

Hours before the vote, Committee Chairwoman Jayne Christenson said she hoped they would override Johnson's veto and praised Peelen and commissioners Marvin Grossman and Carol Soustek for their dedication to residents. She also called out Morton, saying he doesn't respond to emails. Morton later defended himself.

"It's not about what you want or what you think," Christenson said. "It's about your constituents, the voters."

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 11:58 PM with the headline "Holmes Beach mayor's veto of parking by permit upheld ."