HB seeks county support for traffic issues and vendors at Causeway Beach.

Motorists pass by vendors and sandwich board signs on September 1 along the Palma Sola Causeway, where business signage is actually prohibited. On that day, 11 vendor signs could be seen along the south side of the causeway. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy

Commercial activity on and around Anna Maria Island is surging, prompting the city of Holmes Beach to seek support from Manatee County for regulation.

During a joint meeting on September 3 with the Manatee Board of County Commissioners, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer highlighted the increased commerce along the Palma Sola Causeway, which runs between Bradenton and Holmes Beach.

Vendors now offer not just kayak rentals and horseback rides but a variety of services, including personal watercraft and motorcycle rentals, with the busiest areas near Palma Sola Boulevard and Flamingo Cay.

Although the Florida Department of Transportation maintains the roadway, jurisdiction over the rights of way remains complex. While Bradenton oversees waterway activities, a 2024 interlocal agreement transferred beach maintenance to the county, covering everything from raking to signage.

Tokajer presented images of vendors flouting signage prohibitions and urged the county to enforce these regulations. He noted that the influx of commerce contributes to traffic congestion and raises safety concerns, as some vendors operate without licenses and lack proper training for watercraft rentals.

County Commissioner Tal Siddique emphasized that Bradenton establishes the ordinance while the county is responsible for enforcement. He suggested collaborating with Bradenton for a regulatory remedy.

Tokajer also raised concerns about commercial operations in the waters off the city’s Gulf shoreline, where vendors have been observed selling ice cream and pizza from boats while using loudspeakers to attract beachgoers.

Another vendor was reported using a personal watercraft to offer rides on a banana boat, but these transactions often occur further offshore, outside the city’s regulatory reach.

The loud disturbances and safety risks posed by these vendors have become a point of contention for both beachgoers and residents. County Commissioner Mike Rahn recognized the safety hazards of unlicensed PWC commercial use along the causeway and shoreline.

While Tokajer requested the county’s assistance to establish enforceable regulations, county natural resources director Charlie Hunsicker noted that the county’s authority only extends to city boundaries and that the waters are state property.

Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer proposed that regulating commerce in these waterways could be prioritized in future legislative discussions among the island cities.

Key Information

• Location: Palma Sola Causeway, Anna Maria Island
• Date of Meeting: September 3
• Key Speaker: Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer
• Concerns Raised: Traffic congestion, lack of licensed vendors, safety risks from watercraft rentals
• Current Jurisdiction: City of Bradenton oversees waterway activities; maintenance rights transferred to Manatee County in 2024
• Potential Actions: Regulation of commercial vendor activities in waters off the Gulf and collaboration with Bradenton for enforcement