City Commission Regular Meeting

1 MINUTES City of Holmes Beach City Commission Regular Meeting May 26, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Patricia A. Geyer Commission Chambers 5801 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach FL 34217 Present: Commissioner Diggins, Commissioner Oelfke, Commissioner Patel, Commissioner Schaefer, Chair Whitmore Staff Present: Mayor Titsworth, City Attorney Mora, Chief Tokajer, Director of Development Services Minor, Public Works Director/City Engineer Raybourn, City Clerk Hovious, Code Compliance Chief Thomas & Code Compliance Staff _____________________________________________________________________ 1. Call to Order; Pledge of Allegiance; Moment of Silence Chair Whitmore called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes 3.a Regular Meeting - May 12, 2026 Moved by Commissioner Diggins Seconded by Commissioner Schaefer The May 12, 2026 minutes were unanimously approved as submitted. Motion Approved 4. Commission Reports Commissioner Patel joined the meeting at 2:03 p.m. Commissioner Schaefer Commissioner Schaefer noted that the Clean Water Committee report is attached to the agenda packet. He encouraged all Commissioners to read it and provided a brief summary of it's contents. He next shared that he spoke with City Lobbyist Kalel, who reported that the City had a recommendation for State funding of $1.3 million, but the legislative budget halved this amount to approximately $650 to $670,000. Lobbyist Kalel also indicated he is available to attend a meeting next month to provide an annual legislative update. Commissioner Schaefer also shared that he was able to meet with Public Works Director/City Engineer Raybourn to discuss the stormwater assessment. Commissioner Oelfke None.

2 Commissioner Patel None. Commissioner Diggins Commissioner Diggins shared that he met with Director Raybourn and Director of Development Services Minor regarding the items on today's agendas and found the discussions helpful. Chair Whitmore Chair Whitmore commended the Center of Anna Maria Island for hosting good events and meetings for the public. Commissioner Patel agreed that the Center is doing a great job. She added that tonight is the last night of youth soccer, and adult soccer also wraps up this week. She shared that her son's team is in the finals. Commissioner Schaefer shared that Terri Kinder, AMI Chamber President, is retiring after 15 years of service. He requested that the Commission recognize her contribution to the Chamber, business community, and City at a future City Commission meeting. 5. Mayor's Report 5.a Proclamation - Code Enforcement Officers' Appreciation Week Mayor Titsworth read and presented the Proclamation to Code Compliance Chief Thomas and his staff in attendance. Code Compliance Chief Thomas gave thanks to his team for their hard work. 6. Comments by the Public Moved by Commissioner Schaefer Seconded by Commissioner Patel Unanimously approved to allow up to four minutes per person for public comment. Motion Approved No non-agenda public comments were made. 7. Unfinished Business Chair Whitmore requested that item 8.a, Addition of Dog Agility Equipment to Dog Park, be considered before item 7.a to accommodate members of the public in attendance. 7.a Stormwater Assessment Update Director Raybourn gave a summary of the supplemental memorandum, acknowledged speaking with several of the Commissioners since the last meeting, and invited the Commissioners to ask questions. Chair Whitmore expressed her continued preference to send the matter to a referendum. City Attorney Mora clarified that assessments are usually handled by elected officials, not referendum. Chair Whitmore acknowledged that she understood, but still preferred it go to referendum. Commissioner Schaefer asked if this decision had to be made by a certain date.

3 Director Raybourn explained that the non-ad valorem assessment information must be submitted to the Manatee County Property Appraiser for inclusion on the TRIM notices in September, so the City should make a decision in August. Commissioner Schaefer suggested a one year increase of $1.50, to provide Director Raybourn and the Mayor an opportunity to evaluate the practicality of utilizing an alternative assessment model in the future. He expressed a preference for the Commission to decide the matter with public input rather than sending it to a referendum. He noted that establishing an appropriate budget for the current time is the responsibility of the Commission, the Mayor, and staff. Mayor Titsworth discussed the current matching requirements for State grants, noting that local match has risen to 50%. She noted that a $1.50 assessment increase would only yield roughly $400,000, which would fall short of the matching funds needed to secure over $600,000 in state grants. She stated that the fee increase was necessary to protect property value and upgrade aging infrastructure against climate change and flooding risks. Commissioner Oelfke asked how the condominiums are assessed. Director Raybourn responded that the rate is $2.95 per 100 square feet. For condo common areas, the billing is not always the same, some condo assessments are sent directly to the association landowner, while others are split up and billed to each individual unit. Commissioner Oelfke stated that the assessment is basically a tax and should be thought of that way. He agreed with the Mayor and wanted to move forward quickly, but pointed out that the current assessment puts too much of the financial burden on fulltime residents who do not rent out their homes. He suggested using a traffic trip analysis instead, so businesses that generate more traffic and make a profit pay a different rate. He noted that Ft. Lauderdale utilizes this model and offered to reach out to them for more information. City Attorney Mora requested that Commissioner Oelfke share this information with him when he receives it. Commissioner Schaefer noted that non-homesteaded properties pay higher property taxes and rental properties also pay an extra 6% to Manatee County. Commissioner Diggins explained that a $2.00 increase would only be an extra $100 a year for a 5,000 square foot lot and $150 a year for a 7,500 square foot lot. He noted that this small change would bring in around $500,000 to $600,000, which could be matched with grants to give the city $1 million for storm projects. He also shared that the City of Anna Maria is changing its system to charge based on impervious surface area, which he noted would be the most appropriate long-term solution, but since the City has budget calendar constraints, the flat increase should be approved in the interim. The Commission discussed researching alternative assessment models for evaluation during next fiscal year's budget cycle. Mayor Titsworth added that residents are looking to the City for a decision on this issue. Commissioner Patel expressed support for maintaining the assessment rate at $2.95, opposing an immediate increase because a solution could have been reached last year. She favored researching alternatives, noting that it could ultimately generate more revenue than a small flat rate increase. Chair Whitmore stated that she agreed with Commissioner Patel.

4 Director Raybourn noted that changing the assessment methodology requires passing an Ordinance, which takes time for first and second readings. He stated he will look into this timeline to see if it is possible to get the changes done in time. Mark Hebden, 4605 2nd Ave, stated that the City needs to communicate with the public, since most individuals are not able to attend Commission meetings. He suggested sending out a simple letter instructing property owners how they can figure out their exact costs, and explaining to them that the City needs matching money to get State grants. He also pointed out that short-term rentals bring in most of the County's tourism tax money, so the City should ask the State to let them use some of those tourism funds to fix aging stormwater infrastructure. Chair Whitmore directed that this item be brought back for discussion at the next meeting. 8. New Business 8.a Addition of Dog Agility Equipment to Dog Park Mayor Titsworth explained that this item was brought directly before the City Commission to act as an advisory body because the Parks and Beautification (P&B) Committee didn't have a quorum to hold their last meeting before they recessed for the summer, as scheduled. Director Raybourn shared that Public Works was approached by local dog park users to install dog agility equipment within the City's dog park. Funding for the work was received from the Anna Maria Island Garden Club. He confirmed that Public Works would be able to procure the materials and construct the agility equipment. He shared concepts provided by the dog park users, including some agility tables and a ramp. The tables would be placed in both the little and big portions of the dog park, but the ramp would only be in the large dog portion of the park. He believed this to a doable and maintainable project that is in the scope of Public Work's duties. Chair Whitmore raised several concerns, including lack of P&B review, how many users would utilize the equipment, cost, and the liability to the City. She stated that she wasn't ready to make a decision today. Commissioner Schaefer asked whether the Garden Club's funding covers the entire cost of the materials and if the only cost to the City is the labor to install and maintain in the future. Director Raybourn clarified that Public Works had not yet finalized project costs and the initial estimate was done by dog park users. He expressed that the City could likely secure more competitive prices for materials than listed in the estimate. He noted that there would be additional maintenance and at some point, the equipment would need to be replaced, which would probably default to the City as a cost, if the City chose to replace it. Commissioner Schaefer asked if this addition was a consensus from those who are regular users of the dog park. Director Raybourn responded that he didn't have enough information to make that determination. Commissioner Schaefer shared that he had only received feedback from one resident to date, who was opposed to the addition. In response to Chair Whitmore's concerns regarding park review, he explained that due to a three month delay before the next P&B Committee meeting, he felt presenting the item directly to the City Commission was appropriate to avoid stalling the project.

5 Chair Whitmore responded that she respectfully disagreed. Commissioner Oelfke asked whether the concrete slab would be at dirt level so the grass would be above the slab, or would it be a raised slab that the dogs would have to climb up first before climbing the equipment. Director Raybourn responded that it would be a level slab, but there would be a small elevation difference. Commissioner Oelfke asked whether a slab is required. Director Raybourn responded that there are a variety of ways to install the equipment, but the proposal included a concrete slab and fits within the funding. He said that it's a more permanent type of foundation which is beneficial for long-term maintenance. Commissioner Oelfke expressed support for the additions as providing enrichment to the park, but raised safety concerns regarding the concrete slab posing a potential tripping hazard. Commissioner Patel agreed with Commissioner Oelfke's concern regarding the concrete slab and questioned whether this proposed equipment would expose the City to liability in the event of an injury. She requested a map showing the proposed placement of the equipment and suggested locating it away from the park’s main area. She suggested making a full enclosure around the equipment to prevent local wildlife from hiding underneath, as well as to keep dogs or toys from becoming trapped beneath. Commissioner Schaefer asked if the slab had to be elevated. Director Raybourn responded that it doesn't need to be elevated, but noted that the slab will never be perfectly leveled, but could be within a quarter to three quarters of an inch. Commissioner Diggins and Director Raybourn discussed alternative installation methods to eliminate the concrete slab. It was noted that while the slab was proposed for ease of maintenance, the equipment could alternatively be secured using standard ground anchors or posts without a concrete foundation, as the structures will not support heavy loads. The surface beneath could then remain natural grass or be covered with mulch or rubber safety surfacing. Commissioner Diggins expressed that he didn't believe he had enough user input for a decision. He asked City Attorney Mora whether this structure would increase the City's exposure to liability. City Attorney Mora responded that installation of this equipment would not significantly increase the City's liability risk. He added that dogs are categorized as property under the law and dog owners are legally responsible for the actions of their dogs. Commissioner Diggins voiced concern about the ramp being made from composite board, which he noted gets hot. Mayor Titsworth suggested that if the proposed concrete foundation is eliminated, it be replaced with a mulched area. She also proposed fencing off a section of the park for this equipment to address safety and user preference concerns. Roger Hartzell shared his personal experience in building a dog agility field. He advised against using concrete, and suggested grass instead. He estimated that a regulation dog walk ramp costs about $4,000, a full set of equipment like jumps and tunnels costs around $15,000 to $20,000, and a full setup with proper turf can reach up to $80,000. He stated that putting this equipment in a general dog park area isn't advisable, as training requires a separately fenced area and should be done one dog at a time. He noted that agility training is a specialized hobby that is time consuming and expensive.

6 Renee Ferguson shared concerns about the proposed location on the south side of the park due to lack of shade. She also voiced concern about the concrete base and the placement of the equipment inside the main, unfenced area, noting that the parks gets crowded with up to 30 dogs during peak season. She suggested that to avoid liability, the equipment shouldn't be installed by Public Works. She requested that the project be halted until these concerns are addressed. Sara Calhoun, 509 58th St, thanked the Commission for the recent improvements made to the dog park. She raised several safety concerns regarding the proposed agility equipment, which she explained is a specialized fitness activity and not casual play, and incorrect use could lead to injury. She advised against the concrete base and recommended any equipment be installed in a separate section away from the main park. Tracey Edwards, 717 Jacaranda Rd, shared that she has a service dog and has experience with dog training equipment. She emphasized that it's intended for professional training, rather than casual play use. She expressed concern about safety, design, and location in an unfenced widely used area. Mike Deal, 203 56th St, spoke in favor of the proposal, suggesting that the equipment should be viewed as casual play structures, instead of specialized training equipment. He noted that the City already has liability risk with existing benches, uneven sod, and dugouts. He concluded that the project should move forward without delays. Chair Whitmore noted that perhaps the misunderstanding stems from terminology regarding whether the equipment is agility equipment versus play features. Kim Bowersox, 309 61st St, clarified that the proposed project isn't for professional agility training, it's intended as a safer alternative to the current benches that dogs jump on. She noted that the selected location provides afternoon shade and is out of the way. She emphasized that the low grade composite wood is low heat and that regular wood would degrade and cause splinters. She explained that the concrete foundation will extend six inches beyond the equipment, allow for easier maintenance, and will prevent dogs from digging up the new sod. She mentioned that she shared a video with the Commission of 20 residents who speak in support of this project. Nikki Hunt, City of Anna Maria resident, explained that professionals usually advise against putting agility equipment in public, off-leash dog parks due to untrained owners misusing the equipment. Additionally, she noted that children visiting the park might climb on the structures and fall. She concluded that professional agility training is already available nearby in Sarasota, and thanked the City for the park improvements made over the last six months and the Garden Club for their donation. She added that she would prefer the donation be used for larger trees to provide more shade. She concluded that if installed, it should be in a fenced off area and not on concrete. Commissioner Diggins thanked everyone who provided public comment and noted that the consensus favors placing the structures in a separate space and addressing the concerns regarding the concrete. Commissioner Oelfke disagreed with placing the equipment in a separate area due to concerns it would lower usage. He stated that the structures are meant for dog enrichment rather than agility training, and noted that dropping the "agility" label would resolve misunderstandings over terminology. Commissioner Patel suggested calling it "enrichment" equipment, instead of agility. She noted that more clarity on location, timeline, and pricing would be helpful. Commissioner Schaefer thanked everyone for their public comment but stated that he was not in a position to vote for or against the proposal today. He requested more

7 detailed specifications regarding the equipment itself, its cost, and its exact installation location, emphasizing the need to consider where it would be most functional and safe. Chair Whitmore suggesting bringing this item up under Unfinished Business at the next Commission meeting and not rushing to make a decision today. Moved by Commissioner Schaefer Seconded by Commissioner Oelfke Unanimously approved tabling the discussion to the June 9, 2026 meeting, where it will be considered under Unfinished Business. Motion Approved 8.b 2nd Avenue Traffic Adjustments Chief Tokajer spoke to the excessive volume and speed of traffic cutting through 2nd Avenue during peaks seasons and hours, noting that residents along 2nd Avenue have voiced concerns about safety and negative impacts on the neighborhood. Director Raybourn discussed four potential traffic calming techniques to be implemented on a temporary trial basis to determine success before final implementation: 1. Cut-Through Reduction: Modify 2nd and 5th Avenues at 52nd Street to divert southbound traffic and allow only northbound traffic, replace a portion of west lane with landscape islands. Cost is approximately $69,000. 2. Raised Crosswalks: Implementing 4-way stops, a 15 mph speed limit, and raised crosswalks with flashing beacons along 2nd Avenue. Cost is approximately $97,000. 3. Speed Tables: Installing mid-block speed tables on alternating blocks of 2nd Avenue. Cost is approximately $65,000, and while it will provide some level of improvement to safety, it will offer little to no quality-of-life benefits. 4. Lane Narrowing: Constructing four mid-block rain gardens on alternating sides of 2nd Avenue to narrow the road to improve neighborhood quality of life and safety at an estimated cost of $61,000. Director Raybourn added that a fifth option would be to do a professional traffic study. He explained he lacks traffic engineering credentials, so an independent study would cost money, but would be a good way to analyze traffic patterns and align 2nd Avenue with the City's Comprehensive Plan. Chair Whitmore noted that permanent residents use these back streets during busy seasons to avoid heavy tourist traffic and cautioned that restricting this route would hurt the quality of life for locals. Chief Tokajer pointed out that the primary issue is the excessive volume of vehicles utilizing 2nd Avenue, emphasizing that even though it is a public road, it is a residential street, not a major road like Gulf or Marina Drive. Commissioner Oelfke added that he doesn't use 2nd Avenue out of principle, as he doesn't believe a neighborhood should be a thoroughfare. Mayor Titsworth stated that the City needs to find a solution to protect the quality of life along 2nd Avenue. She noted that it is unfair to residents that tourists, workers, and commuters constantly use this residential street as a shortcut, which causes bad exhaust fumes and loud engine noise right next to people's homes. She suggested doing a temporary trial of the traffic plan to see how it works before making permanent changes.

8 Referring to Option 1, Commissioner Patel asked about the logistics of school pickup. Chief Tokajer clarified that it's only northbound from 51st to 52nd. Individuals can still go southbound, they just can't go southbound at the intersection of 52nd and 2nd Avenue. He emphasized that Option 1 is the only one that takes care of all public and pedestrian safety and the quality of life for the neighborhood. Chair Whitmore noted that the City of Anna Maria should be notified for their input, as all traffic traveling to and from their municipality must pass through Holmes Beach. Commissioners discussed the impact of the traffic merge on Gulf Drive traffic from 2nd Avenue, questioning whether the configuration serves to delay or improve flow. Mayor Titsworth spoke to the benefit of launching a trial of one of the options and Commissioner Patel spoke in favor of an outside study. Commissioner Diggins shared personal experience as a Gulf Drive resident, prefacing that he chooses to live on a main road, unlike the residents of 2nd Avenue. He supported conducting a trial, but opposed spending money on a formal study. He emphasized the importance of public input. Commissioner Patel asked when the testing would be done and how long it would take. Director Raybourn responded that it would be over a couple of different time periods, including when school is open, during snowbird season, and the summer. Mayor Titsworth emphasized that to avoid confusing drivers, the plan should be to choose one option after getting public input and leave it in place as a test. If the temporary barriers cause problems, they will be removed. If they work, they will stay until permanent barriers are built. Commissioner Patel noted that any test must collect data during peak tourist season, rather than just the quieter summer months, to ensure accurate results. She recognized the safety concerns, but noted the importance of not negatively impacting the daily lives of residents. Commissioner Schaefer shared that he asked resident, Sara Calhoun, a professional traffic engineer, to give the Commission a quick review of her professional suggestions under public comment. Sara Calhoun, 509 58th St, recommended conducting a formal study, noting that current traffic data is relatively minor for a residential roadway. She acknowledged that Option 1 is the easiest to try quickly and suggested increased police enforcement as a simple, immediate solution. Commissioner Schaefer questioned if the City could legally restrict trucks from using the residential streets during the trial period. Chief Tokajer said this would be difficult to enforce. Nancy Deal, 203 56th St, thanked the committee for their hard work and shared traffic observations from 56th Street. She noted that a zipper merge works well and cautioned that restricting 2nd Avenue would worsen congestion on Gulf Drive. She reported heavy afternoon traffic from workers speeding through local routes and business parking lots, creating safety issues for residents. Rather than blocking 2nd Avenue entirely, she advocated for slowing traffic down using methods like multi-way stop signs. Mark Hebden, 4605 2nd Ave, urged Commissioners to consider the quality life of 2nd Ave residents. He noted that he submitted 30 videos and photos documenting the evening gridlock between 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. He stated that the heavy cut-through traffic traps residents in their driveways and devalues property. He argued that a zipper merge does not work in this area because vehicles re-entering Gulf Drive cause traffic to stack

9 up past 47th Street, making the shortcut slower than remaining on Gulf Drive. He stated that Option 1 is the only resolution to the issue and a traffic study would delay action. Commissioner Schaefer suggested comparing travel times on both roads to prove that cutting through 2nd Avenue does not save time. He noted that drivers only feel like they are saving time because they are moving. Kim Gargiule, 107 47th St, noted that most residents she knows are traveling and will be out of town in June. She expressed preference for implementing Option 1 right away. Mayor Titsworth recommended that residents email the Commission with their comments. She also reminded that tourist season is year-round, except for October and November. Chair Whitmore directed that this item be brough back for discussion at the next meeting. 8.c Authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement between the School Board of Manatee County and the City of Holmes Beach for the purpose of establishing a School Resource Officer Program. Chief Tokajer presented the annual contract renewal with the school board, which covers 70% of the School Resource Officer's salary and benefits, alongside a portion of the supervisor's salary. He noted that yearly raises are already built into the final figures and the current Officer has been doing a great job. Moved by Commissioner Patel Seconded by Commissioner Schaefer Unanimously approved authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement. Motion Approved 8.d Planning Commission Appointments City Clerk Hovious reported that three Full Member terms and one Alternate Member term on the Planning Commission will expire on July 1, 2026. Applications for reappointment were received from all four current members: Gale Tedhams, James Harrison, Lisa Pierce (Full Members), and Joseph Ireland (1st Alternate Member). She recommended reappointing all four individuals to new three-year terms expiring July 1, 2029. Nancy Deal, 203 56th St, shared comments on behalf of Gale Tedhams to support the reappointment. Moved by Commissioner Schaefer Seconded by Commissioner Diggins Unanimously approved the Planning Commission re-appointments. Motion Approved 9. Announcements Thursday, May 28, 2026 - 9:30 a.m. - ManaSota League of Cities Meeting in Longboat Key Monday, June 1, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talks - Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring Monday, June 8, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talks - Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring

10 Tuesday, June 9, 2026 - 2:00 p.m. - City Commission Regular Meeting w/Work Session to Follow Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 9:00 a.m. - Clean Water Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Wednesday, June 10, 2026 - 3:30 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting Friday, June 19, 2026 – Office Closed in Observance of Juneteenth Monday, June 22, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talks - Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring Tuesday, June 23, 2026 - 2:00 p.m. - City Commission Regular Meeting w/Work Session to Follow Monday, June 29, 2026 - 10:00 a.m. - Summer Turtle Talks - Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch & Shorebird Monitoring 10. Questions and Comments 10.a Questions and Comments from Mayor and City Commission None. 10.b Questions and Comments from City Attorney None. 10.c Questions and Comments from Staff Chief Tokajer provided vehicle counts for the recent holiday weekend: Saturday: 35,723 vehicles; Sunday: 34,522 vehicles; Monday: 32,115 vehicles. Director Minor shared that Waste Pro Appreciation Day will be on Tuesday, June 16th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Pavilion. Additionally, Code Compliance has installed new electronic scrap recycling bins in front of City Hall and the Code office. This free service allows residents to drop off old electronic items, such as phones and tablets, to keep them out of landfills. In response to Commissioner Schaefer's inquiry, Director Minor confirmed that Waste Pro and the City don't do paint removal and it's the homeowner's responsibility. Individuals can take paint to the Lena Road Landfill. Mayor Titsworth clarified that individuals can also let the paint dry out to dispose of it, they just can't put wet paint in the trash bins. Chair Whitmore recognized Mayor Titsworth’s recent retirement announcement, offering congratulations for her extensive years of service and noting that more celebrations will be held to honor her contributions. 10.d Questions and Comments from the Public and Press 11. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:22 p.m. _________________________ Marina Hovious, CMC, City Clerk

11 Minutes Approved: June 9, 2026