ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria and Mote Marine Laboratory have entered into a 10-year lease agreement for the installation and operation of the Mote Educational Outreach Center on the City Pier.
The city commission approved the lease agreement by a 4-1 vote during a special commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 30, with Commissioner Mark Short casting the only opposition vote.
The Mote facility will be located inside the larger of two city-owned buildings at the T-end of the City Pier; and next to the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop that operates in city-owned space leased to business partners Brian Seymour, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham.
Earlier this year, the Manatee County Commission supported the Tourist Development Council’s recommendation that the county contribute $500,000 toward the initial buildout and exhibit installation costs. With the lease agreement now signed, the city must still finalize the $500,000 funding agreement with a county commission-approved interlocal agreement. The city will reimburse Mote Marine for its initial buildout and installation costs and then be reimbursed by the county.
Lease negotiations
Thursday’s discussion began with Mayor Dan Murphy stating he and Mote Marine Vice President of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Kevin Cooper engaged in “lengthy and productive” discussions that led to the final lease agreement presented.
“This is something we have been working on since Feb. 10th – the first time we made a formal presentation of a proposal to put Mote Marine out on the City Pier. We’ve had an incredible amount of public input over this issue of what should be out on the pier. I believe this is in fact – for the city, the residents and the visitors – the very best choice to put on that pier,” Murphy told the commission.
Murphy noted each commissioner was previously provided an earlier version of a proposed lease agreement that was then modified based on that initial input received from the individual commissioners.
“Kevin and I worked diligently to put together the best product we could,” Murphy said.
Commission comments
Commission Chair Carol Carter said she spent many years working with large research universities and she noted lease agreements with large research institutions usually present additional challenges.
“I know the mayor and our attorney and our treasurer/clerk have worked really hard because this is a different animal to deal with. I would just like to acknowledge all the work they’ve done,” Carter said.
Short then shared his views on the proposed lease agreement.
“On behalf of the city, I want to thank the TDC and the Manatee County Commission for approving the $500,000 that will be used for the buildout of the education outreach center. A lot of energy and effort went into this and I wanted to thank the mayor and staff for everything they did. I want to thank Mote for their interest and willingness to operate this educational outreach center for the pier,” Short said.
“I recognize – I think we all do – that this is not going to improve the bottom line of Mote. Based on the preliminary operating budget they provided us back in February, to operate this center is going to cost Mote somewhere between $200,000 and $400,000 a year. I don’t think having Mote on the pier is a bad thing. Although, to be honest, I’m not necessarily convinced it’s the best thing,” Short said.
“The $500,000 estimated cost has been funded. Any costs incurred above that will be paid by Mote unless the city decides there are certain things it wants done outside the scope of what Mote will do. The city will pay for all the utilities to operate the outreach center and the city will not receive any rent for the use of this facility for a period which could be up to 10 years based on the agreement,” Short said of the pier building originally offered for lease for the operation of a full-service restaurant.
“In spite of what we all believe is the educational benefit of operating this center on the pier, the fact remains that there will be no rent the city will receive,” Short reiterated.
He also expressed concerns about the potential 10-year agreement providing Mote Marine, and not the city, with the option to extend the lease for an additional five years.
With no more commission or public comment offered, Carter sought and received from Commissioner Jon Crane a motion to accept the lease agreement. Commissioners Deanie Sebring, Doug Copeland and Carter supported Crane’s motion.
“I very much appreciate the partnership growing between Mote and the city of Anna Maria,” Cooper told the commission.
Copeland asked Cooper when he expects the buildout and exhibit installation to begin and be completed.
“Because we deal with multiple campuses across the state of Florida, we do maintain an internal team for facilities, exhibit design (and) habitat maintenance. With labor shortages and supply chain shortages, we still maintain that we’ll do a six-month buildout. We expect to wrap up construction in March,” Cooper said.
Post-meeting comments
After the meeting, Murphy signed the approved lease agreement, which Cooper took to Mote Marine President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby, who signed the agreement that afternoon.
When contacted Thursday afternoon, Cooper said, “We’re excited to grow the partnership with the city of Anna Maria. It aligns very well with our mission to educate the public on the importance of coastal conservation and marine habitat resource management; and I think it aligns with what Anna Maria wants to do with the pier.”
Cooper said Mote Marine will select any additional contractors or subcontractors needed to supplement the work done by Mote’s in-house staff.
“Mote is operating as the contractor. We’ll be doing the conceptual design elements and also some of the installation. When subcontractors are necessary, we will be sending them out. The first phase for us is concept and design, and that has to be approved by the city before we’re able to start construction. We’ll start on that almost immediately. We will open the facility in close proximity to the completion of construction, assuming there’s no other challenges or issues that arise. We can make a pretty quick turnaround from the completion of construction to the opening of the facility itself,” Cooper said.
According to Cooper, the current working title for the facility is the Mote Educational Outreach Center at the city of Anna Maria Pier, but that could change.
“That’s been the name in theory, but that’s a mouthful, so I don’t know if that’s going to be the name of the facility once it opens. As we begin to build out the design and go through the approvals with the city that may very well change,” Cooper said.
When contacted Thursday afternoon, Murphy said, “I’m very excited that we came to an agreement with Mote on the lease and can move forward with bringing this important addition to our city. The Mote outreach center will be both educational and entertaining for people of all ages and our pier provides the perfect backdrop for this facility. I thank our commission for having the foresight and good judgment to recognize the value of having this type of venue right here in our own backyard.”
