Skip to main content

Tag: pier

Ugly Grouper and Sean Murphy submit pier lease bids

Ugly Grouper and Sean Murphy submit pier lease bids

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

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria received two bids from parties interested in leasing the restaurant and bait shop buildings on the new Anna Maria City Pier.

Thad Treadwell and Mike Ross from the Ugly Grouper in Holmes Beach submitted a bid, as did Sean Murphy, owner of the Beach Bistro, Eat Here and The Doctor’s Office in Holmes Beach.

Current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder did not submit a bid proposal in response to the RFP the city issued in January. Nor did any other restaurateurs or restaurant groups.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy opened the sealed bids during a public pier bid opening at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8. That date and time also served as the deadline to submit a bid proposal.

The public pier bid opening was conducted as a virtual meeting with most meeting attendees participating by phone, including city commissioners Carol Carter and Amy Tripp

The proposed monthly base rent amounts and all other details contained in the RFP proposals received are not currently available to the media or the public.

Ugly Grouper and Sean Murphy submit pier lease bids
Two parties have submitted proposals to lease the city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings at the end of the new Anna Maria City Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

After opening the sealed bids in the presence of City Clerk LeAnne Addy, Murphy said, “Those are the two bids we’ve received. The way this process works is we’ll have 30 days to do an analysis of these bids. I don’t suppose it will take 30 days. It is my anticipation that I would be able to report on these bids, back the commission, by the April 23 meeting at 6 p.m.” Murphy said.

“These bids are confidential for 30 days – or they’re not confidential once I release them back to the commission and make a report on the bids. If we give a report back on April 23, they would then become public record,” Murphy said.

After Murphy presents his report to the city commission, the commissioners will decide whether to accept or reject the proposals. If the commission accepts the proposals, the commission will then rank the proposals and authorize Murphy to discuss and negotiate lease terms with the top ranked bidder.

If the discussions and negotiations with the top-ranked bidder do not produce a suitable lease agreement, the mayor will seek commission authorization to discontinue those discussions and begin a similar process with the second-highest ranked bidder.

According to the RFP, “The city reserves the right to reject any or all proposals with or without cause; to waive any or all irregularities with regard to the specifications and to make the award to the proposer offering the greatest advantage to the city. All bids must be sealed and will be rejected if received after the submission date and time.”

Ugly Grouper and Sean Murphy submit pier lease bids
The opening date for the new pier walkway and T-end platform for fishing and sightseeing remains unknown. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The opening date for the new pier walkway and T-end platform for fishing and sightseeing remains unknown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Murphy has previously stated that he intends to make the new pier and pier restrooms open to the public while the pier tenant completes the interior buildouts of the city-owned buildings.

Related coverage

New City Pier expected to open in April

Potential tenants attend City Pier pre-bid meeting

Mayor provides pier lease update

Mayor provides pier lease update

Mayor provides pier lease update

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Archives.

ANNA MARIA – On Wednesday, Feb. 19, Mayor Dan Murphy provided city commissioners with an e-mail update regarding the request for proposals (RFP) the city issued in January seeking a new city pier tenant.

The new tenant will occupy the new city-owned restaurant and bait shop buildings at the T-end of the new pier.

“We don’t anticipate receiving any responses to the RFP until we are close to, or most likely on, the due date. This is the norm for any RFP process. Serious bidders take as much time as possible to perform their due diligence, evaluate the market and prepare a business case,” Murphy’s email update said.

“As of today, 10 restauranteurs have expressed interest in our outstanding RFP. That is not to say that all 10 will submit a bid, but a significant level of interest exists in the local hospitality community. We have received inquiries from St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Lakeland, Bradenton/Sarasota and Anna Maria Island,” Murphy wrote.

An optional meeting for interested bidders was scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 10:30 a.m.

“Interested parties who may have open questions remaining would probably attend,” Murphy wrote.

“The final submission date for the RFP is Tuesday, March 10 at 1 p.m. The bids will be opened at that time, but only the name of the bidders will be disclosed. We will have 30 days to evaluate and rank the bids. Details of the bid contents are confidential during that evaluation process,” Murphy wrote.

When contacted Friday, Murphy said 14 parties have expressed interest or posed questions about leasing the pier buildings.

“There’s lots of interest out there. That makes me feel good,” he said.

Questions and answers

Upon request, Murphy shared a document containing written questions posed by potential tenants and the responses provided by the city. That document is referred to as Pier RFP Addendum #2 and it does not reveal the names of any potential bidders that posed questions.

In response to one question, the RFP addendum says there is no draft lease for potential tenants to review, but they can obtain a copy of the previous pier lease.

Current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder’s lease expires in mid-December. In January, the commission rejected his final offer to pay $8,000 in initial monthly base rent as part of a new 10-year lease.

The addendum says it is negotiable as to whether the city will provide the pier tenant any allowance for the interior build-out of the city-owned pier buildings.

According to the questions posed and the answers given were:

  • The tenant will be required to obtain liability insurance for at least $2 million.
  • The tenant is allowed to sell retail items and merchandise.
  • Restaurant and bait shop patrons will have the shared use of the pier’s common areas.
  • Hours of operation are negotiable.
  • The bait shop can sell beer, the tenant’s ability to obtain a liquor license is negotiable and there is no city ordinance prohibiting liquor service on the pier.
  • Live music in the outside common area is negotiable, as is the tenant’s ability to place additional outdoor seating in the common area at the pier’s T-end.
  • Maintenance costs will be shared by the tenant and the city on a prorated basis, and those financial terms are negotiable.
  • Regarding menu expectations or requirements, the addendum says, “Good quality food.”
  • Regarding there being any city expectations or requirements for the restaurant’s name, the addendum says, “Yes – City Pier Restaurant, but negotiable.”
  • The city prefers that breakfast be served, but that is negotiable.
  • The number of parking spaces provided to the tenant will depend on how many seats the tenant proposes.
  • The city is unable to provide an estimate on the taxes and utilities to be paid by the tenant.
  • The city is unable to provide data regarding the average number of pier visitors in past years.
  • Potential bidders can request a tour of the pier and pier buildings with their own architect and/or builder.

Related coverage

Pier opening delayed by electrical issues

Commission rejects Schoenfelder’s pier lease offer

Pier lease offer to be discussed Friday

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.

Related coverage

Pier issues present additional challenges

Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Construction begins on pier buildings

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.

Related coverage

Pier lease negotiations remain in flux

Commission clarifies pier lease parameters

Pier lease talks gain momentum

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.”

Related coverage

Commission clarifies pier lease parameters

Pier lease talks gain momentum

Pier repairs resume

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.

Related coverage

Barge strikes new Anna Maria City Pier

Commission clarifies pier lease parameters

Pier opening discussed

Commission clarifies pier lease parameters

Commission clarifies pier lease parameters

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

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission have established which portions of the new Anna Maria City Pier will be leased to the current and/or future pier tenant.

On Thursday, Aug. 22, the commission unanimously agreed the city will only lease the new restaurant and bait shop buildings to current pier tenant Mario Schoenfelder – or to a new tenant if a new long-term lease can’t be negotiated with Schoenfelder.

The commission decided the pier’s T-end bathrooms and the T-end decking will be common area shared by the city and its tenant. A contracted property management company will maintain the new pier and the maintenance costs for the shared common areas will be shared by the city and the pier tenant on a pro-rated basis.

The commission also decided the new pier lease will be a triple-net lease that requires the tenant to pay rent, share maintenance costs and pay the insurance and taxes on the leased premises.

On Friday, Mayor Dan Murphy sent Schoenfelder a letter regarding the commission decisions. Schoenfelder has until Sept. 6 to respond as to whether he wishes to continue the lease negotiations based on these new parameters.

“There’s very little value moving forward with discussions on a new lease that would start in December 2020 if Mr. Schoenfelder’s not in agreement with these two issues. These two items are the foundation of a lease,” Murphy told the commission, regarding the premises to be leased and the maintenance of the pier.

Schoenfelder’s current lease expires in December 2020. His lease payments were suspended after the old pier was closed in 2017 due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma. Schoenfelder’s current lease required him to maintain the entire pier.

The construction of the new pier buildings will begin in September and be completed by year’s end. The interior buildout of the new buildings is expected to take an additional 60 to 90 days.

Murphy was asked later in the week if Schoenfelder can occupy the new buildings until his current lease expires if a new lease is not negotiated. Murphy said there are several possible options to consider, but he’s not ready to discuss them yet.

Schoenfelder lives in Germany and occasionally visits Anna Maria Island. He has not attended a city commission meeting since the old pier was closed.

Commission discussion

During last week’s meeting, Murphy and the commission discussed a July 17 letter Schoenfelder sent Murphy detailing his proposed lease terms. Schoenfelder’s letter was in response to a letter he received from Murphy.

“He feels he should pay $12,000 rent (per month). Secondly, he feels he should have the first six months free,” Murphy said. “He’d like to rent the entire T-end, including the boat landing, but he doesn’t feel he wants to maintain that. He feels parking should be included.”

Murphy noted the city has proposed a $500,000 contribution from the pier tenant, which includes the interior buildout of the restaurant and bait shop. Murphy said Schoenfelder proposes a $250,000 contribution toward the interior buildout.

“The other quarter-million he feels is for his equipment. Our offer does not include equipment. He already had equipment – we helped him carry it off the pier. The equipment is something the restauranteur takes with him if they leave, so I don’t believe the taxpayers should be purchasing $250,000 worth of restaurant equipment,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he needed commission decisions on which portions of the pier premises would be leased to the pier tenant and who would be responsible for the maintenance of the leased and non-leased premises.

“It’s fruitless to go on with conversations unless we can settle those two issues,” Murphy said. “Once you’ve defined the premises and who’s going to maintain the premises you can zero in on what the rent should be, you can zero in on the parking issue, you can come to an agreement on the insurance issues.”

When discussing whether the T-end bathrooms would be leased to the pier tenant, Commissioner Doug Copeland noted they need to remain open 24 hours day.

“I want the city to control as much of the space as possible,” Copeland said.

Murphy said the crew that cleans the City Pier Park restrooms could also clean the pier bathrooms, with the city and the tenant sharing those costs on a pro-rated basis.

In response a question city resident Alan Ward posed during public comment, Murphy said the old bathrooms were open 24 hours a day and maintained by the tenant.

Commissioner Amy Tripp said the past bathroom conditions were “terrible.”

“He failed miserably,” Copeland added.

Regarding maintenance of the pier in general, Copeland said, “I’m not here to bad-mouth Mario, but he’s proven in the past that he’s not good at maintenance.”

“That’s the beauty of the third-party property management; it’ll get done and it’ll be done right,” Murphy said.

Commissioner Dale Woodland agrees that a contracted property management company has the experience and expertise needed to properly maintain the pier and pier buildings – something he said the city and the pier tenant do not possess.

Related coverage

Pier opening discussed

Pier progressing as planned

Aubry files ADA complaint about pier railings

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.

Related coverage

Pier progressing as planned

Aubry files ADA complaint about pier railings

Pier lease talks gain momentum

HardiePlank selected for pier building exteriors

HardiePlank selected for pier building exteriors

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.

Related coverage

Anna Maria appreciates county, state pier support

Mason Martin Builders selected to build pier restaurant and bait shop

Pier building bids received but not revealed

Anna Maria City Pier

Second pier construction RFP being issued

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

ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy expects a new request for proposals (RFP) for the construction of a new city pier to be issued by the end of this week.

During the Aug. 23 City Commission meeting, Murphy said he expected to have those RFPs returned to the city by late September.

The mayor, the contracted pier engineer and some city staff members will review and rank the pier construction proposals received, and Murphy will then present the highest ranked firm for commission consideration. When contacted later, Murphy his goal was to present his recommendation to the commission in early October.

The commission can then direct Murphy to begin negotiations with the highest-ranked firm or it can reject all proposals received – as it did in late July regarding the two proposals received in response to the original construction RFP.

Largo-based Speeler & Associates, the firm that demolished the pier, submitted a bid for $3.72 million and Tampa-based i+iconSOUTHEAST bid $4.13 million to build the new pier platform. The original RFP did not seek bids for the construction of the restaurant and bait shop spaces at the T-end of the pier. Those items were to be addressed later in a separate bid.

The mayor and commission unanimously agreed those bids were higher than anticipated or desired and the decision was made to issue a new RFP based on modified construction specifications. Murphy said he had hoped the bids would be closer to $2.5 million for the construction of the pier platform.

Murphy is optimistic the revised RFP will generate interest from marine construction firms.

“We’ll get plenty of attention. This project is something that any company can put in their portfolio. It’s high-profile because of the age of the pier, the history of the pier and the importance of the pier to our community, our county and to the state for that matter. It’s a feather in anybody’s cap,” Murphy said.

FEMA permit

Murphy also told the commission the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has informed the city that it cannot start construction of the new pier until FEMA has reviewed and authorized all the pier plans.

Murphy said the city is not going to obtain any of the project funding requested from FEMA until FEMA approves the project. The building and decking at the T-end of the pier were damaged last September during Hurricane Irma.

“At this point, it’s around $1.8 million that we’ve requested,” Murphy said of the city’s funding request.

Murphy said he and city staff have sought assistance from the offices of U.S. Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, and he had a meeting scheduled with Congressman Vern Buchanan this week.

“It’s our understanding that when it comes to FEMA claims in the state of Florida we’re number one; we’re at the top of the list. Rubio’s staff guy called me and assured me that they were on top of it. They were putting on as much pressure as they can. The city clerk has spent a couple hours every day on the phone and using emails putting pressure on these people,” Murphy said.

“I feel comfortable this FEMA thing will come to resolution just about in time with the reception of the bids and we can then get started,” Murphy said.

He also said he hopes he and the commission don’t have to make a decision about proceeding with the pier project without FEMA funding.

“We can get more money from other sources, but I would prefer we do this the right way and we keep going on a straight and narrow. We’re entitled to the FEMA dollars, so we’re going to go after those first,” Murphy said.

Related coverage

Pier construction permits issued

Pier construction bids rejected

Pier demolition ahead of schedule

Editorial - tropical perspective

Editorial | Tropical perspective

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Feature, Opinion.

John Lennon and Paul McCartney once wrote a song that started with the line, “I read the news today, oh boy.”

One might feel the same way when viewing the local headlines here on the Island, which are often dominated by rental regulations, property rights, Bert Harris claims, political disputes, traffic, parking, congestion, noise, red tide and a multitude of other problems and inconveniences that take some off the shine off this tropical jewel. Yet, Anna Maria Island remains a unique and wonderful place to live, work and play for those who still believe the rewards outweigh the challenges that are also part of the deal.

We have 17 residents (some retirees, some still working) who are willing to take on the challenges and headaches (some self-inflicted) of elected office, getting paid a pittance to try to solve complex problems that would constitute a much higher pay grade elsewhere. We also have dozens of volunteer board and committee members who get paid nothing to work on these same issues.

The Island is blessed with a politically engaged citizenry that doesn’t always agree and doesn’t always get it right, but is never shy about voicing an opinion, pushing for change or standing firm on a strong-held belief. Yes, the numbers are shrinking, but the full-time residents who remain form a close-knit, community that cannot be duplicated up the street in Bradenton or across the bay in Sarasota.

Although they undoubtedly contribute to our topical and tropical dilemmas, the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come to the Island each year also provide a significant income stream for our local businesses, and tax revenues for our local governments. They also add color to the ever-changing palette of Island life, sharing insights and experiences with us and hopefully getting the same in return.

There’s public beaches every two miles and public access points in between. There’s public fishing piers at both ends of the Island and recreational opportunities everywhere you look. We have a free trolley system, low-cost shuttle services, and water taxis and a ferry service are looming on the horizon.

This over-saturated Island still offers a cornucopia of locally owned restaurants, bars, businesses, art galleries and shopping destinations that are as far-reaching and fascinating as the folks who run them.

Is the Island perfect? Nope. But we get to chase our personal versions of paradise with good people at our side, the sun on our face and tropical breezes at our back, while our compatriots up north slog through another winter watching the Weather Channel and saying, “Man, I wished I lived somewhere warm.”

Boat drinks anyone?