ANNA MARIA – Mote Marine is another step closer to opening its education center at the end of the City Pier.
Mayor Dan Murphy and Mote Marine Laboratory President Dr. Michael Crosby signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Friday morning regarding the proposed City Pier Marine Educational Outreach Center to be located in the vacant city-owned building on the pier.
Built as part of the pier replacement project completed last year, the 1,800-square-foot building sits across the breezeway from a smaller city-owned building leased to the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop.
During Friday’s meeting, the city commission voted 5-0 in favor of entering into the memo of understanding with Mote Marine.
“This particular document is to show what our intent is. It’s not to really illustrate all of the details of how a contract would look for construction or how a lease would look,” Murphy told the commission. “There are some details included in here, but there’s a lot of details that would need to be worked out both for the construction and for the lease itself.”
The memo proposes two consecutive five-year lease terms.
According to the three-page document, “The purpose of this MOU is to set forth terms and conditions under which the city and Mote can cooperate in fulfilling common goals of both entities.”
The memo calls for the city to raise the initial $500,000 needed to transform the vacant pier building into a marine educational outreach center to be operated at Mote Marine’s expense.
On Feb. 17, the commission voted 4-1 to explore the Mote Marine option as its first choice for the use of that building. Commissioner Mark Short cast the opposition vote because he felt it was too soon to limit the choices to one option. Other potential options included a full-service restaurant, a special events venue, a retail shop and an open-air cantina.
Murphy recently spoke with Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione in an effort to gauge whether the Tourist Development Council and the Manatee County Commission are interested in using revenues generated by the 5% tourist tax to cover some or all of the city’s $500,000 up-front costs.
Murphy and Public Works Manager Dean Jones also engaged in two fact-finding meetings with Crosby and his staff which provided the groundwork for the memo.
Commission questions
Short asked if the city or Mote Marine would be responsible for any cost overages beyond the initial $500,000. Murphy said Mote would be responsible for any additional costs beyond that amount. Murphy expressed his confidence that Mote representatives had done their due diligence and relied on past experience when estimating the start-up costs.
Short asked who would own the assets that result from the $500,000 expenditure. Murphy said the city would own those assets.
Commissioner Joe Muscatello said he’d like language added to the memo stating that no admission fees will be charged for the Mote Marine facility on the City Pier. Crosby said the intent is to not charge a fee to enter and access the facility, but some additional classes, nature tours, after-hours lectures and other activities would require a fee.
Muscatello asked for Manatee County schools to be added to the educational partnerships with The Center, the Anna Maria Historical Museum and the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization referenced in the memo.
“We already partner with them. Obviously, the school system, both public and private, is a natural,” Crosby said.
Muscatello suggested taking out a loan if needed to cover the city’s up-front costs. Murphy said he’s confident the $500,000 can be raised, but he acknowledged a loan could be sought as a last resort.
Commissioner Jon Crane said he’s reluctant to put the city in debt for this project. Although he fully supports the project, Crane said he’s heard from residents who question why Mote isn’t being asked to pay rent to the city. In response, Crosby said Mote anticipates spending approximately $440,000 a year to operate the facility.
“That’s their skin in the game,” Murphy added.
Commission Chair Carol Carter expressed confidence that private philanthropists would also help support the initial fundraising efforts if needed.
During public comment, Murphy’s wife, Barbara, suggested placing a donation box on the pier, similar to the one at the nearby historical museum.
“We need to make sure that the general public has an opportunity to contribute,” she said.
Murphy said he’d be meeting soon with someone from the School District of Manatee County to discuss the possibility of using federal funds to help support the environmental education activities to be provided by the City Pier facility.
The memo notes the city and Mote share common goals that include educating visitors and residents about the importance of preserving natural resources and marine life, promoting conservation and encouraging ecotourism.
The memo states that Mote will be responsible for hiring an architect and engineer, subject to the approval of the city. Mote is to develop the plans, hire the needed subcontractors, supervise the construction project and submit those bills for city review and payment.
In closing, Crosby said, “I just want to express Mote’s excitement about the potential to partner with the city on this and be on this historic pier. It’s an incredible opportunity for all of us in the community here. This is an MOU that enables you to go forward and us to help you.”
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