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Mote Marine submits City Pier plans

Mote Marine submits City Pier plans

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

ANNA MARIA – Mote Marine met its Oct. 13 deadline to present the city with detailed plans for the marine education outreach center to be installed on the City Pier, averting the possibility of the city commission terminating the project.

Mayor Dan Murphy mentioned the plans during the Anna Maria City Com- mission’s Oct. 13 meeting, saying he picked up digital copies of the plans that morning and forwarded copies to the city commissioners about an hour before that afternoon’s commission meeting began. He also provided copies to the city’s building official and city planner.

Mote Marine submits City Pier plans
The plans received from Mote Marine include this architectural drawing. – city of Anna Maria | Submitted

The plans were created by Mote Marine’s contracted architect, Barron Schimberg. Murphy said the plans are technical in nature, contain a lot of verbiage and address architectural elements, electrical elements, fire suppression elements and more.

Murphy requested a special city commission meeting to be held on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m., at which he and the commission will discuss three primary objectives.

The first objective is to receive the building official and city planner’s analysis of the plans. The second objective is to pro- vide the commissioners the opportunity to pose questions to the building official and city planner and to also relay any commission questions to Mote representatives. Murphy said it wasn’t necessary for Mote Marine representatives to attend the special meeting.

“This is our chance to review those plans collectively and put together our concerns, comments or questions both for our building official and for Mote,” he told the commission.

The third objective is to establish the timelines to move forward with the completion of the project. Murphy said this would include holding another meeting during which Mote representatives can directly respond to any lingering questions posed by the commissioners. Permitting and installation schedules must also be formulated for the completion of the pier-based Mote Marine facility.

The initial concept for the Mote Marine educational outreach center was first presented to city commissioners in February 2021. The commission later voted 4-1 to move forward with the outreach center as its preferred use for the vacant city-owned pier building. Commissioner Mark Short opposed that use of the city building for that purpose and expressed his preference that it be used for an open-air cantina or a full-service restaurant.

In response to ongoing planning delays experienced by Mote Marine, the city commission, on April 22, gave Mote until Oct. 13 to submit its completed plans for the facility or face the possibility of the project being terminated by the commission. During that meeting, the commission also established a March 1, 2023 deadline for the Mote facility to be completed and opened to the public.

Conceptual plans

During the April meeting, the commission also reached a majority consensus in support of the latest conceptual plans presented that day by Mote Marine representative Kevin Cooper. The conceptual plans Cooper presented were in the form of colored renderings that illustrated four live exhibits, with the centerpiece being an invertebrate touch exhibit that includes horseshoe crabs, starfish and other marine life.

Mote Marine submits City Pier plans
The Mote Marine facility will feature an invertebrate touch tank. – city of Anna Maria | Submitted

The mangrove exhibit will include a mangrove tree and marine species inhabiting the mangrove’s submerged root system. The grass flats exhibit will feature marine species found near the City Pier. A fourth exhibit will employ live cameras and a hydrophone to provide real-time sights and sounds of the marine life and environment underneath the City Pier.

Mote Marine submits City Pier plans
Presented in April, this rendering illustrates the conceptual plans for the Mote facility. – city of Anna Maria | Submitted

Additional interactive and educational exhibits will include microscopes, a game fish identification exhibit, a “Draw Alive” exhibit that allows visitors to create digital marine life images and an exhibit that allows visitors to create textured rubbings of fish and other marine life.

Funding

Using tourist development tax revenues, Manatee County will provide the city with $500,000 to cover the majority of the initial costs incurred during the installation of the Mote Marine facility. Mote Marine will cover any additional installation expenses. Mote Marine will not pay the city rent for the use of the pier building but will staff and operate the pier-based facility at its own expense. The city will cover the facility’s ongoing utility expenses.

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait

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

ANNA MARIA – Dr. Michael Crosby and his Mote Marine Laboratory associates have until Friday to present the final conceptual plans for an educational outreach center on the City Pier.

Mote’s latest plans are expected to be presented during a special Anna Maria City Commission meeting on Friday, April 22 at 2 p.m. The commission is willing to abandon the project if Friday’s deadline is missed.

On Sept. 30, Mote and the city of Anna Maria entered into a five-year, rent-free lease agreement that would allow Mote to occupy the larger city-owned building at the T-end of the City Pier. The smaller pier building is occupied by the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop.

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait
The pier building’s bayside windows provide a view of Tampa Bay. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In September, Mote Marine staff member Kevin Cooper said he expected Mote to complete its interior buildout and exhibit installation by March and open the facility soon thereafter.

As of Thursday, April 14, Mote officials and their contracted architect, Barron Schimberg, had not yet submitted their final plans for the long-delayed facility. Schimberg previously served as the city’s contracted architect for the pier replacement project completed in 2020.

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait
The original plans presented in early 2021 included live marine exhibits. – Mote Marine | Submitted

The original plans that Mote presented in early 2021 featured live marine exhibits. In January, Mote provided the city with an alternate plan that featured virtual exhibits instead. Murphy said then that the city commission would ultimately decide whether the Mote facility includes live exhibits, virtual exhibits or both.

Project update

On Thursday, April 14, Murphy provided commissioners with a project update.

“We’ve had numerous false starts. I anticipated having a proposal for you today. I also anticipated having a proposal for you two weeks ago and a month ago. None of those have happened. For various reasons, the goal post has been moved several times. We’re now at the point where there’s no more moving the goal post. I had a conversation with Dr. Crosby last night. I told Dr. Crosby how disappointed I was that we didn’t have a proposal ready. They have all the information necessary to put together a proposal. This latest delay was caused by the architect. He had all the information, but didn’t have the time to put it together,” Murphy said.

“We have a lease contract that we signed back in September and that lease contract gave them 180 days to produce and/or request an extension. I’m here today to give you two options. You can enforce the contract as it is and decide to not extend it any further. This is the end of it and we tell Mote farewell and move on. The other option is that they have a proposal to us by Friday of next week. I propose to you that we’ve gone this far and that we go one more week,” Murphy said.

Murphy expects Friday’s presentation to include visuals, live exhibit examples and non-negotiable start and completion dates.

Commission feedback

In September, Commissioner Mark Short opposed the commission’s 4-1 decision to pursue an educational outreach center rather than a full-service restaurant or open-air cantina.

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait
Commissioner Mark Short expressed his frustration during the April 14 meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

During the April 14 meeting, Short said, “This Mote exhibit was supposed to be done now and we don’t even have the final plans yet. There’s been delay after delay. There’s nothing to show a year after the commission agreed to move forward with Mote and 180 days after the lease was signed. I’m fine giving them another week, but I just don’t think this is the right path to go down.”

“It’s been an extreme disappointment,” Commissioner Deanie Sebring said.

Sebring said the proposed shift to virtual exhibits seems to be an attempt by Mote to use the City Pier to advertise the new Mote Science Education Aquarium being built in Sarasota.

“What they offered us was something that was going to be quite unique and incredible and it’s turned into nothing. It’s disheartening. I’m getting a bad taste in my mouth thinking they’re not going have any live exhibits,” Sebring said.

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait
The alternate plans provided in January proposed virtual exhibits. – Mote Marine | Submitted

Commissioner Robert Kingan said, “I completely agree. I think we should give them one more week, but that’s it. They’ve had ample time to make preparations.”

“I kind of agree, but my vision is a little longer-range. I think this project has the potential to be fabulous. I’m happy to give them another week,” Commissioner Jon Crane said.

“I agree with all of you. I’m disappointed that it’s taking so long, but I do think it will be a good project,” Commissioner Carol Carter said.

Murphy told Mote officials the city doesn’t want virtual exhibits.

“What we signed up for was live exhibits,” he said.

“The commission has to decide: Do you fish or cut bait?” he added.

The commission unanimously agreed to give Mote until Friday to present its final plans.

County support

In June 2021, the Manatee County Commission agreed to provide $500,000 for the design, interior buildout and installation of the Mote facility, with Mote covering the remaining $40,000-$50,000 in estimated start-up costs. Mote also agreed to staff the facility at its own expense for the duration of the lease, with the city covering the utility expenses.

County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge attended Thursday’s meeting. He left before the Mote discussion ensued, but he addressed the commission before departing.

Murphy to Mote: Fish or cut bait
County Commission Chair Kevin Van Ostenbridge encouraged city officials to continue supporting the proposed Mote Marine facility. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“I know there have been a significant number of delays. I share your frustration, but I think the project is a great project. I advocated strongly for the project and I was able to get our board to unanimously approve a half-million dollars for the project. I think it will be worth the wait,” Van Ostenbridge said.

“I did speak with Dr. Crosby this morning and he assured me that Mote now has all the information they need to move forward with the engineering. They want to make sure the pier can hold what they put out there and withstand the weight of the exhibits. There will be aquariums. There will be live exhibits. It sounds like things are headed in the right direction,” he said.

Bradenton Beach officials want Australian pines removed

Bradenton Beach officials want Australian pines removed

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials would like to remove the Australian pines along the west side of the Cortez Road/Gulf Drive intersection.

The pines appear to be primarily located on residential property at 402 Gulf Drive N., owned by Michael and Nadya Kelly. The Kellys live in Canada and are longtime seasonal visitors to Bradenton Beach since purchasing the beachfront property in 1989. Some of the Australian pines in question may be located in the state-owned Gulf Drive right of way.

City Commissioner Jan Vosburgh requested the issue be addressed during the Wednesday, June 2 Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting. Vosburgh is concerned the pines could topple during a major storm and block the primary evacuation and re-entry route for the city.

“I think those Australian pine trees, as you come down Cortez Bridge, are a real eyesore. Most importantly, I think it’s very dangerous. I’ve been talking about this for quite a few years. They should be removed,” Vosburgh said.

Vosburgh again suggested seeking state condemnation of the residential structure or invoking eminent domain rights.

“I am familiar with the condemnation of property. I think we should work very hard at getting rid of that house because that is a terrible eyesore and it doesn’t look like it’s getting any better,” Vosburgh said.

Bradenton Beach officials want Australian pines removed
Michael and Nadya Kelly own the residential property at 402 Gulf Drive N. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Commissioner Jake Spooner asked if anyone with the city has looked into what could possibly be done regarding the removal of the Australian pines. He also asked whether anyone from the city has researched how far the state right of way extends westward toward the Kellys’ property.

CRA member Ed Chiles owns the Beach House restaurant property directly south of the Kellys’ property. For his Mar Vista Dockside restaurant in Longboat Key, he previously purchased Australian pine benches designed by Sarasota architect Barron Schimberg and manufactured from fallen Australian pines. Earlier this year, the CRA paid for four Australian pine benches to installed in the pocket park in front of the Bradenton Beach Post Office.

“Australian pines are invasive. They have been designated by the state as invasive – that they shall be taken out, not can be. They have an acid mass that kills all the bio-diversity underneath them. Jan could not be more right. Those trees are a tremendous hazard right at the most important intersection in the city of Bradenton Beach. When the big storm hits, they’re going over and that’s going to be a real impediment when our public service people are the only people out here trying to saw through all of that,” Chiles said.

Bradenton Beach officials want Australian pines removed
City officials believe these Australian pines at the Cortez Road/Gulf Drive intersection pose a threat to public safety. – Joe Hendricks

“Conversely, there is tremendous opportunity there. That is the gateway to Bradenton Beach. Whether it’s condemnation, a (traffic) circle there or an icon there, it’s a tremendous opportunity and I thank you for bringing it up,” Chiles said.

“I know somebody that will take those trees, dry them out and make furniture out of them,” he added.

In October 2019, City Engineer Lynn Burnett told the city commission the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) intends to construct a roundabout at the intersection in conjunction with the construction of the new Cortez Bridge that’s expected to begin in 2026.

In April, Burnett presented the commission with her final plans for an FDOT-funded beautification and landscaping project that calls for the future removal of several Australian pines along Gulf Drive North. Those plans do not include the Kelly property.

Wednesday’s discussion concluded with the commission directing Public Works Manager Tom Woodard to get cost estimates for the removal of the Australian pines located on the Kellys’ property and/or the state right of way.

The Sun was unable to reach the Kellys, who have not been able to return to Bradenton Beach from Canada due to the pandemic, according to Mayor John Chappie.

Pier Rendering

Kebony decking selected for new pier

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

ANNA MARIA – Commissioners decided on the look and feel of the decking for the new Anna Maria City Pier today.

On Tuesday, City Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of Kebony hardwood being the material of choice for the new pier’s decking.

At an estimated cost of $3.24 per linear foot, the Kebony decking will be placed atop the concrete spun pilings and concrete support frames approved at the commission’s previous pier meeting.

Kebony is a modified wood product made of 25- to 30-year-old pine that is then modified to give it characteristics similar to tropical hardwoods. It will eventually fade to a shade of gray that resembles the existing wooden pier.

The Kebony is touted as being more stable than natural wood, splinter-free, barefoot-friendly and cooler to the touch. It comes with a 30-year warranty and a life expectancy of 50-75 years.

After Commissioner Carol Carter made the motion, the commission voted in favor of the Kebony decking, with Commissioner Dale Woodland casting the lone opposition vote. Woodland again expressed his preference that the existing pier be rebuilt as it was instead of completely replaced.

Carter made her motion after Commissioner Brian Seymour’s motion to go with IPE Brazilian hardwood decking at $3.91 per foot failed to garner any support from the other commissioners.

The commission did not give any serious consideration to the Azek composite product offered as a third decking option.

With these material selections made, Ayres Associates Vice President Jay Saxena told the commission the design firm now has the direction it needs to proceed with the design of the primary pier structure and decking.

Architect Barron Schimberg then presented preliminary plans and a 360-degree rendering of the proposed restaurant space, bar and bait shop to be built at the end of the pier.

No final decisions were made at the meeting regarding the preliminary restaurant and bait shop designs for the wood buildings that will resemble the appearance of the current buildings.

Schimberg’s design included metal roofs and a roof covering the space between the restaurant and the bait shop.

Schimberg recommends a trellised and skewered shade structure above most of the tables to be placed in the open space behind the bait shop.

He suggested that the commission consider sliding windows and doors in the restaurant space in order to allow for more of an open-air feel, when weather permits.

He also suggested installing solar panels atop the restaurant and bait shop.

Seymour suggested the solar panels and shade structure might be decisions that require some input from the pier tenant, whoever that turns out to be. Current tenant Mario Schoenfelder’s pier lease expires in December 2020 and the new pier would most likely open some time in 2019.

Mayor Dan Murphy said he planned to meet with Schoenfelder soon to discuss the tenant’s role and potential contributions to the construction project. The city and Schoenfelder must at some point determine whether he will remain the pier tenant after his lease expires.

During public comment, Anna Maria resident Dennis Ellsworth said the design presented by Schimberg made it look like the whole pier was a restaurant. Holmes Beach resident and frequent pier patron Mike Deal said the shade structure on the backside of the bait shop would ruin the pier for him, because he prefers the existing open space where a larger group of people can congregate. The existing pier will remain closed until it is demolished and replaced by a new pier.