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Tag: Anna Maria pier

Rod & Reel Pier closes but quickly reopens

Rod & Reel Pier closes but quickly reopens

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria reopened Saturday morning, Nov. 23, after being closed for two days to make repairs to the pier walkway.

The Rod & Reel Pier was closed on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 20, due to a portion of the pier walkway slowly collapsing and sagging toward the southeastern edge of the pier due to a broken piling.

The impacted section of the pier was cordoned off with safety tape Wednesday morning, but the pier and the pier restaurant remained open. Rod & Reel Pier manager Dave Cochran said the repairs that would include replacing the broken piling, and that would require a barge that wasn’t available until later in the week.

Wednesday night, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “The Rod & Reel Pier agreed to a voluntary shutdown this evening due to the public safety hazard. The pier walkway stringer and support collapsed on the walkway. An emergency permit to repair the pier will be issued in the morning.”

On Thursday, Murphy said the city’s primary concern was public safety. He said he was pleased that the Rod & Reel management took it upon themselves to close their pier while making the repairs.

Late Friday afternoon, Building Official Luke Curtis provided Murphy with a status update via email.

“I have given the OK for the Rod & Reel Pier to open. An inspection was performed earlier and the structure is safe. They may still be putting the final touches on the work, but it is structurally sound. David, the Rod & Reel Pier manager, said he would be opening back up in the morning,” Curtis said in his email to the mayor.

Privately-owned pier

Mario Schoenfelder owns the Rod & Reel Pier and the restaurant and bar at the end of it. The city is not responsible for the maintenance and repair of that pier or its structures, but a city-issued permit was needed for the repairs, as was the post-repair inspection by Curtis.

Schoenfelder has also long served as the pier tenant of the nearby city-owned Anna Maria City Pier. The already-aging city pier was closed in 2017 due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma.

Schoenfelder has until Dec. 13 submit to the city his final offer for a new long-term lease that would allow him to continue as the city pier’s tenant for the foreseeable future. Schoenfelder’s current lease expires in Dec. 2020.

The new city pier currently under construction is expected to open in Feb. 2020. The interior build-out of the new restaurant and bait shop buildings is expected to take place after the public is allowed to return to the main pier walkway and the T-end decking.

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Pier design conflict being addressed

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Barge strikes new Anna Maria City Pier

Pier design conflict being addressed

Pier design conflict being addressed

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is working to resolve the design conflicts recently discovered between the architect, Barron Schimberg, who designed the new pier buildings and the engineering firm, Ayres Associates, that designed and engineered the new city pier.

The design conflict pertains to the pitch of the new pier’s T-end decking for drainage purposes.

I+iconSoutheast built the pier walkway and support structure for the T-end decking, restaurant and bait shop.

Mason Martin Builders is building the exterior shells of the new pier buildings.

On Thursday, Oct. 31, Murphy met with several representatives to address the design conflict issues

The following day, Murphy sent an e-mail update to city commissioners bringing them up to speed on the results of the meeting. His email stated those who met with the mayor included Lisa Fleming from Ayres Associates, Schimberg, Mason Martin Builders owner Frank Agnelli, Building Official Luke Curtis and Eddie Miller from Infrastructure Solution Services, one of the city’s new city engineering firms.

“All proposed solutions associated with correcting this issue were identified and discussed. Some of the solutions require further details prior to implementation and any changes will be reviewed by our building official to ensure they meet code,” Murphy wrote.

“Another meeting will be held next week to nail down these details and a plan formulated to move forward. I will update you next week at the conclusion of that meeting,” Murphy’s email stated.

When contacted Friday afternoon, Murphy provided additional details.

“Schimberg designed it to be flat and Ayres designed it to be pitched, so there’s a difference of six or seven inches and that has to be compensated for,” Murphy said.

“It’s not a huge problem, but it’s a problem. So, they’re going to have to make some changes to buildings. It doesn’t look like it going be anything astronomical. They need to raise some of the door frames and probably pour concrete and drill a few holes in the platform to enhance the drainage,” Murphy explained.

“The city is not going to pay for any of that since it’s a problem between the design and the plans,” he added.

Murphy noted the new decking to be installed at the T-end of the pier will sit elevated above the concrete platform that serves as the base for the T-end buildings and decking.

Murphy was asked if the issues identified impact the work Mason Martin Builders has already done according to the plans they were provided with.

“Yes, he’s got door frames he’s probably going to have to move. There are other details that are going to have to be worked out. He’s probably going to have to level the flooring in the restaurant. It doesn’t appear to impact the walls at this point. There’s no plan to move any of the walls,” Murphy said.

Murphy was asked if these issues could further delay the anticipated pier opening in early 2020.

“That’s what we’re going to finalize next week. It depends upon the details of some of these things need to be done. I’m going to guess there might be some delay, but at this point, that’s pure speculation on my part,” Murphy said.

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Pier issues present additional challenges

Pier issues present additional challenges

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy will seek city commission authorization to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for the potential lease of the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings being built on the new City Pier.

On Oct. 24, Murphy told the city commission that on Nov. 14 he would formally request authorization to prepare a pier lease RFP as part of the city’s ongoing efforts to secure a pier tenant.

In late September, Murphy emailed current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder two options for a new 10-year lease.

Murphy proposed either an initial base rent of $21,600 per month or an initial base rent of $18,900 per month with an additional $250,000 up-front payment due upon signing.

Schoenfelder rejected those proposed terms and referred to his own previous offer to pay the city a base rent of $12,000 per month. Schoenfelder’s current lease expires in December 2020.

“His final offer is due to the city by December 13,” Murphy told the commission. “In case Mr. Schoenfelder’s offer is in fact rejected, I want to be prepared to quickly issue this RFP.”

Later in the week, Murphy was asked about the RFP process that could ensue if the commission rejects Schoenfelder’s final pier lease offer.

“Mario could bid it on it, as well as anyone else interested in having a restaurant on our pier if the commission authorizes putting it out for bid if Mario’s final offer doesn’t meet the needs of the city,” Murphy said.

“If it’s not in the best interest of the city, the commission could decide not to open a restaurant and use the space for other purposes. The city needs to get some sort of return on its investment over a 10-year span,” Murphy said.

Design conflict

During last week’s meeting, Murphy said a design conflict has arisen between the architect, Barron Schimberg, who designed the new pier buildings and the engineering firm, Ayres Associates, that designed and engineered the new pier.

“I have a meeting tomorrow to get to the bottom of all of that, to see exactly where the responsibility lies, as well as the scope of any delay it may cause us,” Murphy told the commission.

“Hopefully it will be a minor issue,” he added, noting that he would not publicly speculate on the exact nature of the design conflict.

On Friday, Oct. 25, Murphy issued an email stating his meeting with the architect and the engineers was delayed until Thursday, Oct. 31 because one of the parties was unavailable.

“We’ve got a plan to address any issues and I’m still investigating this,” Murphy said on Friday.

Interior build-out

During last week’s meeting, Murphy announced that Mason Martin Builders, the firm constructing the new pier buildings, has retracted its option to complete the interior build-out of those structures.

That decision came in the wake of a recent email exchange between Murphy and Schoenfelder in which Schoenfelder said he felt he was being forced to use the city’s contractor of choice to complete the interior build-outs of the spaces he hoped to lease.

Murphy told Schoenfelder he would not be obligated to use the city’s contractor for the interior build-outs and was free to get estimates from other contractors even though that could further delay the opening of the restaurant and bait shop in 2020.

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Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – City Pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder has rejected Mayor Dan Murphy’s proposed rental rates for the new pier-based restaurant and bait shop currently under construction.

On Sept. 30, Murphy emailed Schoenfelder two options for a new 10-year lease with two five-year extensions. Option 1 proposes a base rent of $21,600 per month, with either a 3% annual increase or an annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Option 2 proposes a base rent of $18,900 per month, a $250,000 up-front payment due upon signing and the same annual 3% increase or CPI adjustment.

Neither base rent option includes the still-undetermined additional rent the tenant will pay for the shared maintenance of the new pier facilities.

On Oct. 4, Schoenfelder sent Murphy an email response that said, “I am sorry, but neither a base rent of $21,600 nor of $18,900 is acceptable for me. Amounts like this would eat up almost my whole expected income and there would be absolutely no room to build financial reserves, which are a must.”

Schoenfelder’s email referenced the lease agreement the Anna Maria Oyster Bar (AMOB) has with the city of Bradenton Beach for the restaurant space at the foot of the Bridge Street Pier. His calculations also took into account two additional spaces AMOB leases from the city and subleases to other tenants.

“You are asking for $259,200/$226,800, that is three to four times the AMOB rent and both restaurants are comparable in size/number of seats. And that’s just the base rent. I am referring to my offer which is $12,000 monthly that is still more than twice what AMOB pays. It does not make sense, at least for me, to offer a rent that cannot be realized by sufficient revenue and income on a sustained basis,” Schoenfelder wrote.

According to the 2015 lease, AMOB agreed to pay the city of Bradenton Beach $32,000 in base rent for the first year, plus 2% of gross revenues. In years two through five, the base rent is $42,000 ($3,500 per month), plus 2% of gross revenues. In 2021, AMOB’s annual base rent will begin increasing by 3% per year.

Current lease

In 2000, Schoenfelder signed the pier lease that required him to pay an initial base rent of $5,000 per month and included pre-determined rent increases every two or three years.

According to that lease, Schoenfelder was paying $9,240 per month in September 2017 when the hurricane-damaged pier and pier buildings were closed. Schoenfelder’s rent payments were then suspended and remain suspended until the new pier facilities are available.

Schoenfelder’s current lease calls for him to pay $10,080 per month from Dec. 16, 2018, until Dec. 15, 2020, when his lease expires.

Murphy recently told the commission he expects the exterior shells of the new bait shop and restaurant buildings to be completed by Mason Martin Builders in January or early February, with the interior build-out of those spaces to follow.

If Schoenfelder and the city cannot agree to a new lease, this could create a potential scenario in which the pier buildings would be available for interior build-out by a tenant who would only have 10 months remaining on his existing lease.

Additional concerns

On Oct. 16, 17 and 18, Murphy and Schoenfelder participated in an email exchange that addressed Schoenfelder’s desire to use a contractor other than Mason Martin Builders for the interior build-outs.

In that exchange, Schoenfelder suggested he was being forced to use the city’s chosen contractor. Murphy countered by stating that Mason Martin is contracted to build the exterior building shells and is not contracted to do the interior build-outs. Both men agreed that using a different contractor for the interior build-out could result in at least four more weeks of additional delays.

In his Oct. 17 email to Murphy, Schoenfelder wrote, “I don’t want to be pushed to make an offer that is not based on reliable facts and I don’t want to be made accountable for the delay created by a contractor the city has chosen. At this point, I cannot provide a new date for presenting my offer.”

In his Oct. 18 response, Murphy wrote, “I strongly recommend that you secure other contractor (or contractors) immediately to provide their estimates as to the costs involved so that you are comfortable with the financials. Accordingly, I would recommend you plan to tender your final offer in eight weeks, by December 13.”

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Pier repairs resume

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The i+iconSoutheast construction crane has returned to the Anna Maria City Pier construction site and repairs to the accident-damaged pier resumed late last week.

The barge upon which the crane sits crashed into the pier walkway on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The accident damaged the pier walkway about two-thirds of the way out.

Two concrete pilings damaged in the accident were removed on Sept. 19 so new pilings could be driven in their place.

On Sept 20, i+iconSoutheast Project Director Paul Johnson told Mayor Dan Murphy a damaged boom line was discovered on the crane. The crane was then demobilized and repaired. It returned to the pier construction site on Thursday, Sept. 26.

During the Sept. 26 city commission meeting, Murphy said he expected the new pilings to be driven the following day. He also said he was told the construction crew would be working on Saturday as well.

“Once the piles are driven, the beam has to be put on top and then they have to do the stringer work and then the conduits,” Murphy said of the repairs to be made. “The downside of this accident is we’re unable to start the construction on the restaurant and the bait shop.”

Murphy said those construction materials have been delivered to the pier’s T-end, but the construction of the new restaurant and bait shop cannot begin until the breach in the damaged pier walkway is repaired.

Murphy said the barge accident and subsequent repairs will push back the originally anticipated late December-early January pier opening.

“I would estimate late January, early February for an opening date of the shell of the pier, where people can return to the pier, fish and things of that nature. That would be the earliest date,” Murphy said.

It was stated at a previous meeting that the interior buildout of the restaurant and bait shop can take place while the completed pier walkway and T-end decking are open to the public.

Pier lease update

During last week’s meeting, Murphy told the commission that he and commission candidate Mark Short – a retired certified public accountant – recently spent time together exploring options on the amount of rent to be charged for the lease of the new city pier.

“The numbers have to be fine-tuned. We’re close,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he planned to communicate that information to current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder within five days. Murphy said it would be premature to disclose the proposed rent figures discussed, but he expects to provide the commission with that information soon.

Schoenfelder hopes to enter into a new long-term lease with the city and maintain his presence on the city pier that began in 2000. Murphy and Schoenfelder recently exchanged emails in which they discussed parking considerations and insurance responsibilities for the city’s pier tenant.

Schoenfelder estimated he will have 100 to 115 seats inside and outside of the new restaurant and bait shop and he needs to know how many pier parking spaces the city will lease to its pier tenant. He also asked whether the city would consider installing some form of gated parking to restrict the use of those designated parking spaces.

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Pier opening discussed

Pier opening discussed

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Commission Chairman Brian Seymour asked Mayor Dan Murphy if the new City Pier will be opened to the public before the interior buildout of the T-end buildings is complete.

“I’ve been getting a lot of questions about it,” Seymour said during the City Commission’s Thursday, Aug. 8, meeting.

“When can they actually, physically walk on the pier?” Seymour asked.

“That’s a complex question,” Murphy responded. “As soon as we possibly can.”

Murphy said the pier opening depends on who the city’s pier tenant is, what the tenant’s plans are and how much of the city-owned pier is leased to current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder or some other pier tenant.

“As soon as that shell’s finished it would be great to open it up – that’s what’s in the back of my mind,” Murphy said.

“The buildout can go on inside the building. It shouldn’t be too disruptive to have people on the pier fishing and doing whatever. That would be the ideal situation, but it would only be fair to let the tenant weigh in on that,” he added.

Seymour asked if the city’s position was to allow people back on the pier once the main construction of pier-end buildings is complete.

Murphy said if he can reach an agreement with Schoenfelder this week, the city would like to allow people back on the pier while the interior buildout takes place – a process Murphy said could take 60 to 90 days to complete once the exterior shell is finished.

“We want access to the pier,” Murphy said.

Murphy said the public restrooms for the pier-end buildings must be completed before the pier can be opened to the public and the pier tenant is responsible for the bathroom fixtures.

The main pier structure is scheduled for completion during the first week of September. Frank Agnelli’s Mason Martin Builders will then begin constructing the restaurant and bait shop buildings. That work is expected to be completed by year’s end.

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Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The construction of the new city pier remains on schedule, and the city has identified $74,000 in anticipated savings regarding the construction of the pier-based restaurant and bait shop buildings.

On Aug. 1, Mayor Dan Murphy sent a pier status update to Monica Luff. Luff is the executive assistant to the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). The CVB is affiliated with the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) that makes funding recommendations to the Manatee County Commission regarding the use of the county’s 5 percent tourist tax revenues.

In 2018, the TDC and the County Commission supported the city’s request for $1.5 million in tourist tax revenues for the estimated $5 million pier project. The county commission also approved an additional $333,000 in surplus beach concession revenues. The city now seeks an additional $435,000 in tourist tax revenues and that request will be heard by county commissioners on Aug. 20.

The city seeks the additional county funds to help offset the funding shortfall created when Federal Emergency Management Agency reduced the federal funding the city was to receive due to damage the old pier sustained during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Status update

“Below is the status of the pier as of today,” Murphy wrote the following in his most recent status update:

  • The bent frames (piles, supports and stringers) for the pier walkway are complete and covered temporarily with plywood so that workers have access to the T-end;
  • The concrete top platform base for the T-end is complete;
  • The conduits carrying the utilities are partially in place, and a portion is being rearranged to meet code;
  • The electrical lines for the lighting are being installed this week and will be completed next week;
  • Light post installation on the walkway will begin.

“Beginning Aug. 12, and through the rest of August the following steps are scheduled, weather permitting,” Murphy wrote the following:

  • The small boat landing will be framed;
  • The Ipe decking will be placed on the walkway;
  • The Ipe fascia around the T-end will be installed;
  • The open issue of the fire line to be resolved.

“The pier platform is on schedule for substantial completion by the first week of September. Construction of the restaurant and bait shop is scheduled to begin Sept. 1. We remain on schedule for substantial completion of the restaurant and bait shop building shell by late December,” Murphy’s update concluded.

Cost savings

On July 25, Murphy and the City Commission discussed the cost savings for the construction of the pier buildings.

Murphy said Frank Agnelli’s original bid for his Mason Martin Builders to construct the new pier buildings was $1,041,000. The contract approved by the commission later that night is for $967,000

Murphy noted the commission recently supported Agnelli’s recommendation to use HardiePlank siding instead of Kebony siding on the new buildings, which saves the city $18,000.

Murphy said subsequent discussions with Agnelli and representatives from the i+iconSoutheast construction firm that is building the main pier structure and walkway produced $56,000 in additional savings.

Murphy said the bulk of that $56,000 is the result of a change in Agnelli’s construction deployment plan that originally called for him to rent a barge for a significant period of time. Instead, Murphy and Agnelli worked out an arrangement to transport the construction materials on a barge provided by i+iconSoutheast.

Murphy said that $56,000 also includes savings produced by the sales tax exemption the city receives when purchasing its construction materials directly.

“We’re comfortable with the price. Mr. Agnelli’s comfortable with it,” Murphy said of the contract he sought commission authorization to sign.

“We have a good agreement here,” he added.

Commission Chair Brian Seymour said he appreciated the mayor’s efforts to reduce the Mason Martin Builders’ contract by 7 percent.

“Great job,” Seymour said.

Participating by phone, Commissioner Amy Tripp agreed and she too thanked Murphy. The commission then unanimously authorized Murphy to enter into a contract with Mason Martin Builders.

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Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy and current city pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder recently reviewed a draft document that includes several potential options for the lease of the new pier.

The construction of the pier walkway and T-end platform are to be completed by the end of August. The new restaurant and bait shop buildings at the new pier’s T-end are expected to open to the public by year’s end.

Schoenfelder’s current pier lease expires in December 2020 and he has expressed interest in entering into a new long-term lease.

The recently developed draft document is not a formal and binding agreement. It merely reflects some of the terms, conditions and options to be considered by the city and Schoenfelder.

The draft lease document presents three options regarding which portions of the new pier could be leased to Schoenfelder or another pier tenant.

Option one is to lease the T-end restaurant, bait shop, bathrooms and breezeway only. Option two is for the entire T-end of the pier, not including the pier walkway and boat landing. Option three is for the entire pier.

Parking option one proposes the city provide adequate marked parking based upon an approved number of seats. Option two proposes the pier tenant lease adequate parking from the city and/or private sources.

The draft lease language states the leased premises will be used solely to operate a restaurant and bait, tackle and gift shop that also serves snacks and beverages.

The lease terms require the tenant’s business operations to be seven days a week 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the tenant having the option to extend, but not decrease, the hours of operation. The proposed lease language states that the tenant shall serve breakfast, lunch and dinner unless otherwise specified by the city.

The proposed lease language states all open areas of the pier, including the breezeway and bathrooms, shall be accessible to the public at all times.

Lease terms

The proposed lease term options include a 10-year lease with two five-year extensions or a seven-year lease with two seven-year extensions.

The draft language proposes the pier tenant contribute $250,000 toward the city’s construction of the new buildings that will house the restaurant, bait shop and restrooms. The language also proposes that the tenant is responsible for interior build-out of those buildings at the tenant’s expense.

“All improvements made to the premises shall become the property of the landlord upon installation,” the draft lease language says.

Maintenance

Pier maintenance options include the tenant being responsible for all maintenance of pier premises, or the city being responsible for all maintenance of premises – except for the maintenance of the operational fixtures purchased by the tenant to operate their businesses.

The lease language proposes the tenant pay an unspecified amount per quarter toward the maintenance of the pier, the approach area and the parking lot.

The draft language includes options for either the tenant or the city to insure the pier and pay the annual property taxes.

The possible lease options include an absolute net lease where the tenant pays the maintenance, insurance, tax, improvements and is responsible for all expenses of the facility rented; a triple net lease where the tenant pays for maintenance, insurance and taxes; a double net lease where the tenant pays the taxes and the insurance or a modified net lease where the tenant pays the taxes only.

The language proposes the tenant pay an unspecified, monthly base rent that includes an annual 3% increase – or a base rent that increases or decreases each year based on the Consumer Price Index.

Another option would be a percentage-based rent that requires the tenant to the pay the city 8% of the total revenues generated by the pier-based business operations.

The proposed lease language requires the tenant to maintain a blanket saltwater fishing license that allows anyone to fish from the pier, including those who do not hold their own fishing licenses.

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Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – City commissioners have decided the exteriors of the new pier restaurant and bait shop buildings will be covered with HardiePlank lap siding instead of Kebony hardwood siding.

HardiePlank is a non-wood material made with cement fibers.

The commission’s unanimous decision on June 27 reverses a previous 3-2 decision made in April 2018 in favor of Kebony siding. At that time, commissioners Carol Carter, Amy Tripp and Dale Woodland voted in favor of Kebony siding. Commissioners Doug Copeland and Brian Seymour opposed the Kebony and expressed their preferences for HardiePlank instead.

The pier walkway is being built with Ipe decking made of Brazilian hardwood.

After noting the commission previously favored Kebony, Mayor Dan Murphy said the city’s contractor for the new pier buildings, Frank Agnelli, recommends HardiePlank.

Murphy said using HardiePlank would reduce the pier project costs by $18,000. He also said HardiePlank is fireproof, has a very long life and he concurs with the contractor’s recommendation.

Copeland said HardiePlank comes with a 30-year warranty and is available in different colors, which will also save the city the expense of painting it. The commission did not discuss color choices last week. During past discussions, it’s been stated that the pier and pier buildings would have greyish tone that fades over time and resembles the old pier.

“I didn’t vote for the Kebony to begin with,” Commission chair Brian Seymour noted.

“I didn’t either,” Copeland added.

Tripp made the motion to use HardiePlank and the commission unanimously supported that motion.

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Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – City officials are grateful for the continued support the city’s receiving from the county and the state for the construction of the new Anna Maria City Pier.

On Monday, June 17, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommended county commission approval of the city’s request for $435,000 in additional pier funding. The funding request still needs county commission approval, which is expected.

Anna Maria Commissioner Doug Copeland is a member of the TDC and he made the motion last week seeking the county commission’s support.

“I’m extremely pleased that the TDC has recommended to the county commission another $435,000. We’re grateful for what they’ve done in the past and this will go a long way toward completing the pier,” Copeland recently said.

“This is a big deal. Our residents will appreciate that this is $435,000 that doesn’t have to come out of the city’s general fund,” he added.

Mayor Dan Murphy is also happy.

“We’re very pleased. This helps us finish the pier project. We had a funding gap and the county helped fill half of that gap. The gap was created by FEMA not giving us the full amount they originally promised us,” Murphy said last week.

“I want to thank Elliott Falcione, County Commissioner Carol Whitmore and all the members of the TDC and the county commission for their support,” Murphy added.

Commissioner Carol Carter agrees.

“I’m thrilled with the additional support. We had to find additional funds after FEMA reduced what they planned to give us. I’m thrilled that the TDC and the county commission are stepping up with this additional assistance,” she said.

“We also appreciate the original funding the county provided. That was really important to us. Thanks to the TDC and Commissioner Carol Whitmore for their support. And hats off to our mayor, who’s pursued all these funding sources for the city – and for Doug’s good work as our TDC representative,” Carter said.

Funding snapshot

In previous budget years, Manatee County Commissioners pledged $1.5 million in TDC-recommended tourist tax revenue funds and $333,000 in surplus beach concession fund revenues for the pier project.

County Commission approval of the city’s latest request would bring the county’s total pier project contribution to more than $2.26 million.

On Friday, city officials learned Gov. Ron DeSantis approved the city’s $285,000 funding request supported by the Florida Legislature earlier this year. Last year, the Florida Legislature approved $750,000 in state funds for the pier.

Murphy and Carter previously expressed gratitude for the support and assistance provided this year by Senate President Bill Galvano, Senator Joe Gruters and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr.

FEMA is providing 810,000 in federal funds and an additional $135,000 in state funds.

According to Murphy, the city anticipates contributing approximately $712,000 to the project – and the contribution of the current and/or future pier tenant has not yet been determined.

Headed by city resident Sissy Quinn, the Anna Maria Island Preservation Trust is contributing $1,100 to the efforts.

According to Murphy, the latest estimated cost of the pier project is $4.97 million. The pier and the new restaurant and bait shop at the pier’s T-end are on track to reopen by year’s end.

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