Bean Point Swimming Ban Halted After Mayor’s Veto

Posted signs continue to prohibit swimming at Bean Point in Anna Maria, but the city’s attempt to formally establish the restriction through an emergency ordinance has been blocked.

Mayor Mark Short vetoed the ordinance on September 15, just days after city commissioners voted unanimously on September 11 to approve the measure. The 60-day ordinance would have prohibited swimming in the waters off Bean Point, except for owners and guests at homes with riparian rights in the area.

The action followed two drownings in August and the city’s decision to install “No Swimming” signs along the shoreline in early September. In response to resident concerns, commissioners added a residential exemption before passing the ordinance.

Short determined that the exemption created inconsistent enforcement and made the measure impractical to apply.

The commission is scheduled to revisit the issue during its meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 25, at City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.