ANNA MARIA – The Anna Maria City Pier fared well during Hurricane Helene, but Hurricane Milton erased a large chunk of the pier walkway.
According to Mayor Dan Murphy, the remaining portion of the pier walkway will remain closed until the pier is fully restored, which could take several months. The T-end pier buildings occupied by the City Pier Grill and the Mote Marine Science Education and Outreach Center will also remain closed until the restored pier reopens.
Gone too is the T-end boat landing utilized by Manatee County’s Gulf Island Ferry service, but a temporary floating dock and ferry landing has already been installed near the Lake La Vista jetty entrance.
This is the second time in seven years that the City Pier has been badly damaged by a hurricane. In 2017, Hurricane Irma inflicted major damage on the old City Pier, which included ripping the roof off the old bait shop building. The pier remained closed until the new City Pier opened in 2020 at a cost of $7.3 million. Four years later, the city finds itself in a somewhat similar situation.
During an emergency meeting on Oct. 17, Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria commission discussed the City Pier damage, restoration efforts and the temporary ferry landing.
Pier damage
Murphy said 75-100 yards of the pier walkway and dozens of concrete pilings are missing, as are the utility lines and conduits that service the pier buildings. He noted many of the concrete pilings which were driven 40 feet deep snapped off during Hurricane Milton. He suspects this was the work of a waterspout or a tornado. He bases his theory partially on the circular debris field in which some of the pier walkway landed north of the pier and some landed south of the pier. Hurricane Milton also destroyed what remained of the nearby Rod & Reel Pier after Hurricane Helene.
Murphy said the pier walkway is the weak point of the pier because it’s supported by wood bents and support beams, whereas the T-end of the pier features a concrete deck and concrete support bents. Murphy said the T-end of the pier weathered both storms virtually unscathed other than some water intrusion and some minor damage to the exterior siding of the pier buildings.
Murphy said the city is already in the process of getting damage and repair assessments from engineering firms with pier expertise.
Murphy estimated the repair costs could be in the $3 million range. He did not venture a guess as to how long the repairs might take because the repair and restoration efforts will be partially dependent on the availability of the needed materials and contractors. Murphy expects to receive a combination of federal, state and/or county funds to help pay for the pier repairs.
Pier tenant
During the Oct. 17 meeting, pier tenant and City Pier Grill operator Brian Seymour said he’s already laid off all 15 of his City Pier employees. His monthly lease payments to the city are suspended until the pier reopens. His original five-year lease with the city expires Dec. 31, 2025. He and his business partners have the option to renew the lease for five more years.
In addition to the temporary ferry landing, Seymour suggested the city commission give future consideration to assisting the nearby business that will be impacted by another lengthy pier closure – and that might possibly include a City Pier Grill food truck operating in the pier parking lot.
Ferry landing
During the Oct. 17 meeting, the city commission adopted a resolution that approves and establishes the parameters for the county’s temporary floating dock operations near the entrance to the La Lake Vista jetty, just north of the City Pier.
The resolution allows the county to operate a temporary ferry landing for six months with further extensions possible pending additional city commission approval. At the request of the commission, the resolution allows other vessels to access the floating dock. Those vessels cannot impede the ferry service or be left at the dock unattended.
The temporary ferry landing consists of a large barge held in place by metal spud poles that extend downward from the barge, 20-30 feet into the submerged land below. The barge arrived Monday. By late Tuesday afternoon, the positioning of the barge and the installation of the wooden walkway and metal gangway that connect to the shoreline was nearly complete.
The temporary ferry landing is located within walking distance of the restaurants, retail shops and other businesses on and around Pine Avenue. It’s also close to an Island Trolley stop from which ferry passengers can travel to other Anna Maria Island destinations free of charge.
Speaking by phone Tuesday afternoon, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione discussed the temporary dock and the resumption of the Gulf Island Ferry service.
“The objective is to start service sometime next week (Friday, Nov. 1) for the residents that live on the Island and the employees that work on the Island. We’re aware that some people lost their cars in the hurricanes and we’re going to waive the ferry fees until further notice because of the situation. We feel this is a good opportunity to serve our community until people get back on their feet. I don’t know if there’s going to be demand for this, so we’re going to take it one week at a time,” Falcione said.
Falcione said he’s also been in contact with Bradenton Beach officials who plan to get the floating dock next to the Bradenton Beach City Pier operational to resume ferry service as soon as possible.
On Oct. 17, the city-affiliated Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency authorized spending up to $350,000 to repair the hurricane-damaged floating dock and finger docks. City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the hope is to have the floating dock repaired by the end of October.
For ferry service updates and scheduling information, please visit the Gulf Island Ferry website.
Related coverage:
City Pier Grill operator discusses pier damage
Parents reunited with Rod & Reel Pier memorial plaque
Rod and Reel Pier owner hopes to rebuild
