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Floating dock installation begins

Floating dock installation begins

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The long-delayed floating dock is now in the initial stages of being installed alongside the Bridge Street Pier.

A four-man crew from the Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company drove the first fiberglass composite dock pilings on Wednesday, July 10. The crew is using a pile-driving mechanism connected to a mobile crane that sits atop the floating work barge.

The new dock will replace the storm-damaged dock that was removed in 2016.

Co-funded by the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and Manatee County, the new floating dock will provide short-term dockage on a first-come, first-serve basis for recreational boaters visiting the pier and the Bridge Street business district.

The floating dock will also provide limited, short-term dockage for tour boats, water taxis and other commercial vessels for loading and unloading passengers.

“They’re out there working on it,” CRA chair Ralph Cole said at the July 10 meeting. “I’m excited.”

Without providing a specific completion date, Cole said Hecker’s Operations Manager, Eric Shaffer, told him the company’s goal is to get the dock installed as soon as possible.

The Hecker bid proposal, approved by the CRA members in early May and finalized in June, includes agreement language drafted by City Attorney Ricinda Perry that gave Hecker six weeks to complete the project once the dock pilings were delivered. The agreement includes a $500 per day penalty if the project is not completed on time.

The pilings arrived at the county barge dock near the Coquina South Boat Ramp during the last week of June.

“I’m really happy to see this project coming to completion. We had some unfortunate circumstances and delays, but we overcame that through the efforts of our city staff and our city officials. I can’t wait to use it,” CRA member and Vice Mayor Jake Spooner said later in the week.

Bradenton Beach floating dock workers
These construction crew members helped guide the pilings into place. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Anna Maria Oyster Bar leases the city-owned restaurant space and two smaller city-owned spaces at the foot of the Historic Bridge Street Pier.

“A gorgeous view for sure,” Oyster Bar president John Horne said of the work underway. “I can’t wait to see boats rafted off that dock with visitors and patrons of Bridge Street and the Anna Maria Oyster Bar.”

Sherman Baldwin is the general manager of Paradise Boat Tours. The company’s on land terminal is located in space subleased from the Oyster Bar. Baldwin also serves as the vice president of the Bridge Street Merchants Association.

“The long wait is over. Thanks to the persistence of the CRA for making this project happen after facing every challenge imaginable. This will be an economic boost for all of Bridge Street,” Baldwin said.

Project timeline

In early 2017, the CRA entered into a $119,980 contract with the North Palm Beach-based Technomarine Group to provide the materials and install a new floating dock alongside the pier.

In the CRA’s 2016-17 fiscal year budget, CRA members budgeted up to $250,000 for the dock project. And Manatee County commissioners agreed to reimburse the CRA for up to $125,000 of the project costs.

In August 2018, Spain-based Ronautica Marinas shipped the premanufactured floating dock decking sections to Port Everglades. After some additional delays, Technomarine later delivered the dock sections to Hecker’s construction yard in Gibsonton, so the floats could be attached to the decking.

In early 2019, the CRA ended its contractual relationship with Technomarine due to the ongoing delays and began dealing directly with Shaffer and Hecker Construction. According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, the CRA had paid Technomarine $83,682 of the $119,980 contracted amount at that time – and to date, the county has reimbursed the CRA $26,995 of the $83,682 paid to Technomarine.

In May, the CRA members approved Hecker’s $52,400 revised bid proposal to attach the floats to the decking dock sections and install the dock.

The CRA members also decided the CRA would purchase the pilings directly to receive the sale tax exemption given to governmental agencies. According to Perry’s May 15 project update, the pilings cost $45,704 when ordered.

The Hecker contract, the piling purchases and other additional expenses bring the anticipated final cost of the dock project to approximately $184,000.

During past CRA meetings, Cole has expressed his belief that despite these additional costs the final product will be superior to the dock originally envisioned.

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Speciale steps down as dock facilitator

Speciale steps down as dock facilitator

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief Sam Speciale will no longer serve as the facilitator and city liaison for the Community Redevelopment Agency’s (CRA) yet-to-be completed floating dock project.

Speciale made the announcement in an email sent to Mayor John Chappie and the city commissioners at 1:29 p.m. on Thursday, April 18.

“With the sending of this email, I am officially stepping down as facilitator for the floating dock project. A recent shift in the duties of individuals has put the direction of this project in a direction I do not agree with, and it is for these reasons I am stepping down. I will forward any correspondence to date with any and all of the parties involved and will advise all parties to forward any further correspondence to the city attorney and to the city treasurer,” Speciale’s email said in its entirety.

Speciale’s email did not specify which duties had changed and when contacted later in the week he declined additional comment. Speciale is not retiring as the city’s police chief.

City Hall was closed on Friday due to the Easter holiday and no formal discussion had taken place yet as to who would replace Speciale as the dock project facilitator.

Until last week, Speciale served as point man for the CRA-funded efforts to install a floating public day dock along the south side of the Bridge Street Pier. The new dock will replace the storm-damaged floating dock removed in 2017.

The dock project began in early 2017 when the CRA contracted the Technomarine Group to manufacture and install the floating dock for $119,980. Due to circumstances beyond the control of Speciale and the CRA, the yet-to-be-completed project has dragged on for nearly two years.

In mid-2017, Technomarine representative Ben Talbert predicted the dock would be installed that September or October. After that potential deadline was missed, Technomarine CEO Erik Sanderson promised subsequent completion deadlines that were also missed. Earlier this year the CRA severed its working relationship with Technomarine.

On April 10, the CRA members directed City Attorney Ricinda Perry to draft a contract to enter into with the Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company to install the pilings and the pre-manufactured deck sections alongside the pier for $105,754. This will bring the estimated final cost of the floating dock project to between $190,000 and $195,000.

During the April 18 city commission meeting, Perry said she was still working on those contract terms. The CRA members want the contract to include a specific completion date, but that request is complicated by a separate permitting process with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The CRA needs an updated submerged land lease before the new floating dock can be installed.

Until last week, Speciale also served as the CRA liaison with the Environmental Science Associates (ESA) consulting firm that is assisting the CRA with the submerged land lease update. The update is required not only for the floating dock but also for the pending installation of a police department boatlift and the proposed installation of additional finger docks that would expand the public dockage provided by the floating dock.

On April 10, ESA representative Dianne Rosensweig told CRA members she would submit the needed documents to FDEP and the Army Corps by mid-May. She said she does not anticipate any more delays with the submerged land lease update, but she said she couldn’t promise when those two agencies would sign off on the lease update that is needed before the floating dock can be installed.

When the dock project started, FDEP considered it to be a standalone project, but the state agency now wants all three pier area projects combined into a single submerged land lease update.

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Day dock project pushed back again

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

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials expect Technomarine to miss its July 4 deadline to install a new floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier.

On April 5, Technomarine President Jat Talton sent Pier Team facilitator Sam Speciale an email that said, “Technomarine’s plan is to have the day dock open prior to this Fourth of July weekend.”

The revised project schedule called for Technomarine to obtain city-issued building permits by May 11 and complete the project by June 29.

After the permitting deadline was missed, the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) convened on Monday, May 21 to discuss the CRA-funded project. CRA member John Horne was authorized to hand-deliver a letter to Technomarine’s North Palm Beach office.

Written by Horne and reviewed by City Attorney Ricinda Perry, the letter expressed a lack of confidence in Technomarine’s ability to meet its June 29 deadline, noted that a previous letter from CRA chair Ralph Cole went unanswered and acknowledged Horne’s dual interests as president of the Anna Maria Oyster Bar that leases pier-based restaurant space from the city.

“You, the CRA, local businesses and the city have every right to be both frustrated and disappointed with the lack of communication and our missed dates.” Ryan Miller, Technomarine Chief Operating Officer

On Thursday, May 24, Horne met with Technomarine Chief Operating Officer Ryan Miller and attorney Roger Stanton.

Horne received an email from Miller the following morning that said, “Attached you will find what will be the final, worst case, schedule. Our intention is to see this project through to its completion and deliver a docking system for the use of your residents and tourists by September 12.

“You, the CRA, local businesses and the city have every right to be both frustrated and disappointed with the lack of communication and our missed dates. Technomarine USA experienced a series of inexcusable delays in manufacturing which have now finally been resolved,” Miller’s email said.

Talton sent Speciale a similarly-worded email.

When contacted Monday, Horne said, “They hired Ryan Miller and he’s digging them out of a hole they got into. They’ve got two projects – one in Leesburg and ours – that are way behind. We actually have a mutual acquaintance who speaks very highly of Ryan and his ability to get things done. I feel a lot better.”

Technomarine office
CRA member John Horne paid a visit to Technomarine’s North Palm Beach office last week. – Sam Speciale | Submitted

CRA discussion

Last week, Cole asked the CRA members what they wanted to do if Technomarine missed its June 29 deadline.

“Are they in default of their contract?” Horne asked.

“Yes, they’re in breach because their delivery date was set forth in the contract which stated it had to be completed within six months from the date of full execution. However, given that the city has been attempting to work with Technomarine and has not objected to the extended deadlines, I think the city would be hard-pressed to state they are in full breach. To seek any kind of damages would be a challenge,” Perry said.

The CRA entered into its contract with Technomarine in April 2017 and has paid the company $53,990 of the $119,980 contract price. Per its agreement to provide matching funds, Manatee County has reimbursed the CRA for 50 percent of the amount paid.

“How’s this affect our agreement with the county if we were to pull the plug on this? Does the county come back and say we want that $27,000 back?” CRA member Jake Spooner asked.

“I believe they would have the right to request that,” Perry said.

“What do you think the chances are of us getting the $54,000 back,” Spooner asked.

“It never seems to work out that way,” Perry said.

Speciale read aloud a story from the Belle Glade Sun about the city of Pahokee’s decision to cancel a design/build contract with Technomarine due to delays encountered with the renovation of that city’s marina and campground.

During the April 24 Pahokee City Commission meeting, which is available online, City Attorney Gary Brandenburg was directed to relay the commission’s request that Technomarine refund within two weeks $125,000 of the $150,000 paid to the company.

“They have not agreed to repay the $$. I will be filing a lawsuit for the return of the $$ next week,” Brandenburg wrote in his May 26 email response to a Sun inquiry.

Horne said he and Miller discussed the Pahokee contract and Miller didn’t place much blame on Technomarine.

CRA chair Ralph Cole and CRA member John Horne reviewed the Technomarine contract during last week’s CRA meeting. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Day dock delivery

Day dock to open in early 2018

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The $119,980 floating public day dock is now scheduled to arrive in late January and be installed in February.

Prefabricated off-site in sections, the new dock will be installed alongside the historic Bridge Street Pier by North Palm Beach-based Technomarine Construction Inc. (TCI).

During the Wednesday, Dec. 6 Pier Team meeting, Bradenton Beach Police Chief and Pier Team Facilitator Sam Speciale was asked about the arrival of the new dock and City Commissioner Jake Spooner asked if the contract with Technomarine included a delivery deadline.

Speciale said the last update he received from Technomarine came before Thanksgiving. He noted that Ben Talbert was no longer the city’s primary contact with Technomarine. He said he’d established communications with Technomarine Director of Operations Anna Bennett and was awaiting an update.

During the November Pier Team meeting, Speciale referenced an Oct. 27 email from Talbert that said, “The docks are in production and will ship in a few weeks.”

“Right now, the dock is in fabrication. It is scheduled to be delivered to the site toward the end of January and installed in February.”
Erik Sanderson, Technomarine CEO

On Dec. 7, Speciale sent an email to Bennett seeking a project update. She wrote back that she was working on it and would get back to him Friday morning.

On Dec. 8, Technomarine CEO Erik Sanderson promptly responded by phone to an inquiry about the update that The Sun emailed Bennett.

Regarding Speciale’s request for a project update, Sanderson said, “We checked with our plant and our subcontractors and we told him we’d have it to him today. If I’m not mistaken, it was just sent to him. Right now, the dock is in fabrication. It is scheduled to be delivered to the site toward the end of January and installed in February. I’ll make sure on Monday that they have a final construction schedule with hard dates in front of them. Due to three hurricanes, the plants and suppliers in the marine industry are backed up. Now that this has been brought to my attention, the communication will be better, I can assure you.”

Speciale received an email from Bennett around that same time updating him on the schedule Sanderson provided The Sun.

“Sorry for the delay. I just heard from Erik that the docks will arrive in January. I will make sure we communicate with you often and give you updates going forward,” Bennett wrote.

In June 2016, damage sustained during Tropical Storm Colin caused the public dock to be temporarily closed. What remained was reopened in time for the Fourth of July weekend.

In July 2017, Tropical Storm Emily dealt the dock its final blow and the rest of it was removed.

The dock project is being funded and overseen by the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Chaired by City Commissioner Ralph Cole, the CRA selected Technomarine as its preferred contractor in January.

Dated Jan. 19, the original construction agreement with Technomarine stated, “Time is of the essence in all respects under this contract. Services shall commence upon the full execution of this contract and all work shall be completed within six months.”

The agreement also said, “TCI shall not be considered in default if such failure arises out of causes reasonably beyond the control of TCI or its subcontractors. Such causes include, but are not limited to: acts of God; natural or public health emergencies; labor disputes; freight embargoes; and abnormally severe and unusual weather conditions.”

The CRA approved a revised construction agreement with Technomarine in March. According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson the city has paid Technomarine approximately $60,000 to date. Using resort tax revenues, Manatee County will reimburse the CRA for 50 percent of the contracted project costs.

The CRA has proposed a second phase of dock construction that would entail finger docks extending south to provide additional public docking.