ANNA MARIA – The grand opening celebration for Mote Marine Laboratory’s education outreach center on the City Pier is scheduled for Friday, May 5 at 10 a.m.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy made the announcement during the March 23 city commission meeting, noting that a special event permit for the grand opening celebration was included in that day’s consent agenda.
The celebration will take place at City Pier Park, across the street from the City Pier, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned at the pier. Murphy said a jazz combo will provide the music but, other than bottled water, no food, refreshments or champagne will be served. Manatee County commissioners and other local officials will be invited to the ceremony, which is also open to the public.
After the grand opening, the marine education outreach center will be open to residents and visitors on a daily basis free of charge. The hours of operation have not yet been announced.
Moving forward
When contacted Friday afternoon, Murphy said Mote met its recently extended deadline to submit by Friday an application for a permanent city-issued certificate of occupancy. Building Official David Gilson was expected to review the application and issue Mote its certificate of occupancy on Monday, or soon thereafter.
The certificate of occupancy allows Mote Marine to transport the marine exhibits built offsite and install them in the city-owned pier building. When appearing before the city commission on March 9, Mote Marine representative Kevin Cooper said the marine life will require a little time to acclimate to its new environment before the facility can be opened to the public.
A visit to the pier worksite on March 9 revealed much remaining work to be done. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The Manatee County Commission is providing up to $500,000 in tourist development tax revenues for the interior buildout of the city-owned pier building and the installation of the marine exhibits. The city is managing the disbursement of the county funds as invoices are received and reviewed. Any upfront costs that exceed the $500,000 provided by the county will be paid by Mote.
In September 2021, the city and Mote Marine entered into a lease agreement that provides Mote with five years of rent-free use of the pier building, with an additional five-year extension possible if so desired. In April 2022, the city commission approved a one-year extension because of the delays Mote experienced in getting the facility designed and the pier building transformed into an educational outreach center.
According to the lease, Mote’s buildout responsibilities included but were not limited to design, permitting and interior construction that included plumbing, flooring, ceilings, air conditioning, electrical components and more. The county funds also cover the costs to design, build and install the live and virtual exhibits.
Mote Marine’s education outreach center will include live and virtual exhibits. – Mote Marine | Submitted
Once the outreach center opens, Mote will pay for the ongoing staffing and operational costs and volunteers will provide facility manager Jessica Rhodes with additional free labor.
ANNA MARIA – Mote Marine’s contracted architect, Barron Schimberg, has begun work on the plans for a marine educational outreach center on the City Pier.
The center was originally expected to open in early 2022. In late April, the Anna Maria City Commission gave Mote Marine a lengthy extension that now anticipates the facility opening by March 2023.
During that April meeting, the commission gave Mote Marine until Aug. 13 to begin the long-delayed design and architectural work on the center, to be located in a city-owned building at the end of the City Pier and operated by Mote Marine. The commission also set an October deadline for those architectural plans to be completed and submitted to the city.
Mayor Dan Murphy provided the commission with a brief status update during the commission’s July 14 meeting.
“We have an assurance from Mote Marine that we’re on track. In fact, just yesterday, Mote Marine, along with the architect, were out on the pier taking measurements and doing reviews. That architectural process has already started. They have a signed agreement with the architect. October 10th is the delivery date back to the commission and that has been reinforced as well. I wanted to give you an assurance that we’re on track this time and things look good. If there’s any variance to that I’ll let you know. I feel comfortable that they’ll meet the deadline of October 10, maybe sooner,” Murphy told the commission.
ANNA MARIA – The Manatee County Commission supports the city of Anna Maria’s request to use $500,000 in tourist tax funds to create a Mote Marine Education Outreach Center on the City Pier.
On Tuesday, June 8, county commissioners voted 7-0 in favor of the city using up to $500,000 in tourist tax funds to pay for the interior buildout and installation of a Mote Marine facility inside a currently vacant city-owned pier building.
The outreach center will be located in the larger pier building originally intended for use as a full-service restaurant. In the smaller pier building and the surrounding tables and benches, the City Pier Grill already offers casual outdoor dining on the pier.
The Mote Marine facility will be located inside this city-owned pier building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Mote Marine will pay the additional $50,000 estimated to be needed to complete the interior buildout and install the exhibits. Mote will then spend approximately $440,000 per year to staff and operate the facility at minimal cost to the city, with free admission for the public.
County support
When addressing the county commission, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy first thanked the commission for the financial support previously provided for the pier replacement project.
“We look at it as a tremendous opportunity for us,” Murphy said of the Mote Marine facility and the latest city-county funding partnership.
County Commissioner Misty Servia chairs the Tourist Development Council that recommended approval of the funding request. Servia said she’s excited about the educational and tourist development opportunities the Mote Marine facility will provide, and she later made the motion to approve the request.
Mote Marine provided the city with this rendering of the proposed education outreach center. – City of Anna Maria/Mote Marine | Submitted
“I’m a huge supporter and proponent of this project,” Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said. “My family spent a lot of time out at the City Pier. It’s something everyone in the county can enjoy. There’s no admission and it’s really specific to that location. This is exactly what we should be using the bed tax dollars for.”
“This is tourist related, so I support it 100%,” Commissioner Carol Whitmore said, noting she used to hang out on the old pier with Van Ostenbridge’s relatives.
“Is there going to be any issues with parking?” she asked.
“There’s going to be issues with parking no matter what we do. But we are looking into consideration of a water taxi,” Murphy said in reference to a discussion that took place a few minutes earlier regarding a dock expansion project in Bradenton Beach.
“Is your commission supportive of a water taxi?” Whitmore asked.
Murphy said the city commission has not yet weighed in on that issue.
Van Ostenbridge asked if the city has a parking agreement with Roser Memorial Community Church. Murphy said the city does not, but Mote Marine might enter into an agreement with the church for a valet parking program.
“This is a great project, a very good use of space,” Commissioner George Kruse said.
Commission Chair Vanessa Baugh said she recently had coffee with Mote Marine President and CEO Michael Crosby.
“He is very excited about this project and so am I,” she said.
Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione said the Mote Marine facility aligns well with the county’s recently launched “Love It Like a Local” campaign that encourages visitors to respect Anna Maria Island’s residents and natural resources. He also said restaurant owner Ed Chiles plans to partner with Mote Marine on seagrass restoration and clam restoration projects at the City Pier.
Falcione said County Administrator Scott Hopes recently tasked him and Public Works Director Chad Butzow to work on a water taxi program, which among other things would transport local students to the Island for field trips.
“To think a water taxi might happen soon is exciting,” Baugh said of that long-desired service.
City discussion
When addressing the Anna Maria Commission Thursday afternoon, Murphy said, “There are a few pieces that have to fall in place before we can actually start construction.”
Murphy said the city and county still need to enter into an interlocal agreement that formalizes the financial support. That agreement will require county commission approval when those commissioners return from their annual summer break on July 27.
In February, the city commission met inside the vacant pier building and agreed to pursue the Mote Marine proposal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Based upon a previous memorandum of understanding, Murphy said the city and Mote Marine still need to create a construction contract and a separate lease contract for the city building.
In response to a question from Commissioner Mark Short, Murphy said the city will not have to make a $500,000 lump sum payment to cover the buildout costs. As the work is completed incrementally, the city will pay the contractors and invoice the county for reimbursement.
Murphy said he could not yet provide an estimated start date.
Water taxi proponent
During Thursday’s meeting, Murphy said he’s a proponent of a specific type of water taxi.
“I’m not a proponent of tour boats. I’m not a proponent of somebody charging $30 to take people down to Bradenton Beach on a sightseeing tour. That’s not solving a traffic problem. The water taxi I’m in favor of would bring service workers from downtown Bradenton or Palmetto to our pier, where they then can catch a trolley and go to wherever they work,” he said.
Mayor Dan Murphy would like to see a specific type of water taxi service at or near the City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said the water taxi service he envisions would need to be subsidized by the county, similar to MCAT bus services. He said support from local businesses could provide additional revenues.
“It should be part of the public transit system. It has to be affordable. I think that would be a positive step for this Island, to start bringing service workers across by water taxi,” Murphy said.
Commission Chair Carol Carter questioned whether beachgoers from the mainland who bring tents, coolers and other beach supplies would use a water taxi.
“They’re not going to put that on a water taxi and then unload it and try to get to the beach,” she said.
After Thursday’s meeting, Murphy said, “Commissioners Whitmore and Van Ostenbridge have been huge supporters of our Mote Marine project and they opened doors for us in getting the project where it is today. Both are true friends to our city.”
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy is one step closer to securing the $500,000 needed to design and install the Mote Marine Education Outreach Center on the Anna Maria City Pier.
Today, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) unanimously supported the city of Anna Maria’s request to use $500,000 in county commission-controlled tourist development tax revenues to fund the city’s share of the anticipated $555,600 start-up costs.
Serving as a recommending body only, the TDC now recommends county commission approval of the city’s funding request.
Murphy told TDC members Mote Marine would cover the remaining $55,600 in initial design and installation costs, as well as any Mote-related cost overages. Murphy said Mote will then spend about $444,000 per year to staff and operate the marine-themed education outreach center.
If the funding is approved by county commissioners, Murphy estimates it will take five to seven months to transform the vacant 1,800 square foot, city-owned pier building into the proposed education outreach center.
Murphy said the center will consist of three primary elements: exhibits, educational components and community partnerships.
He said the live marine life exhibits will include an invertebrate touching pool containing horseshoe crabs, starfish, lobster and other species. There will also be live baitfish and live sport fish exhibits that reflect the area’s strong ties to fishing, and an interactive kiosk that will help people identify the fish they catch from the pier. There will also be a “sounds of the sea” component that allows visitors to hear the marine life living under and around the pier.
This rendering illustrates the vision for the Mote Marine Education Outreach Center. – Mote Marine | Submitted
The educational components will include seminars, storytelling events, fishing workshops, field trips, science tours, beach exploration and more.
TDC member Ed Chiles said he hopes the education components also address the vital importance of protecting the quality of the waters that surround Anna Maria Island and Manatee County.
When discussing potential partnerships, Murphy mentioned Anna Maria Elementary school, The Center of Anna Maria Island, the Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring organization, The Anna Maria Island Historical Society and possibly the Manatee County School District.
This side of the pier building to be used by Mote Marine faces Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Murphy said admission to the education outreach center will be free. However, it was noted at previous city meetings that fees may be charged for some of the special programs and activities that take place outside the education outreach center, or inside the facility after normal business hours.
Water taxi connection?
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director and TDC staff liaison Elliott Falcione mentioned the possibility of a water taxi service potentially playing a role in transporting area students to the Mote Marine facility.
“There may be a way that the city of Bradenton and the city of Anna Maria can procure a water taxi company that we may be able to sponsor through wrapping it with brand elements that gets a pilot program going from downtown Bradenton to the Anna Maria Pier. How cool would it be for the kids to get an educational exploration of the river, get to the pier and learn about Mote’s education endeavors? They can picnic up there. They can walk Pine Avenue and get back on the boat and go back,” Falcione said.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown alluded to a possible water taxi service earlier in the meeting when discussing a TDC-supported funding request for up to $850,000 in matching funds made by the city of Bradenton Beach for the expansion of the public dockage next to the Bridge Street Pier and a new dinghy dock near the Bridge Tender Inn.
“We have the pier already and we have the parking in place. Now it’s just getting that vendor that wants to do it,” Brown said.
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