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Dock expansion contract to be finalized soon

Dock expansion contract to be finalized soon

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The contract negotiations to expand the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier have entered the final stages.

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment (CRA) members unanimously authorized City Attorney Ricinda Perry to proceed with finalizing the proposed draft contract discussed that day with Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift General Manager Steve Porter. The CRA members directed Perry to bring back a finalized contract for approval in September.

The draft contract presented to the CRA members during Wednesday’s meeting did not include a final cost because the board still needed to make some design decisions that day regarding the dock expansion and the addition of fender pilings between the finger piers. Porter estimated the dock expansion project would cost about $561,000.

The draft contract also did not include an estimated completion date. Porter previously told the CRA members the installation will begin after the dock components are ordered, manufactured and received from North Port-based Golden Marine Systems – a process that will take several weeks. The order will be placed after the contract is finalized and authorized by the CRA board in September.

The scope of the project includes adding nine floating finger piers that will extend perpendicularly from the existing floating dock. The existing dock will also be expanded to the east in a manner that will provide space for three additional finger piers. The finger piers will create free, short-term, public docking for a total of 24 or 25 additional boats, with the easternmost slip possibly being designated in the future for use by independently operated water taxis and/or an often discussed, not-yet-pursued, county-operated ferry service from downtown Bradenton.

Dock expansion contract to be finalized soon
This diagram illustrates the configuration of the finger piers, the fender pilings and the expanded floating dock near the Bridge Street Pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Each finger pier will be connected at one end to the floating dock and at the other end to a piling. Two additional mooring/fender pilings will be placed between each set of finger piers. The fender pilings will provide additional points for the docked boats to tie off to. The space between each finger pier and pair of pilings will accommodate a boat that is up to 13.5 feet wide.

Porter told the CRA members the individual finger piers could later be adjusted and reconfigured to accommodate different-sized boats, at an additional cost.

The CRA-funded project also includes the replacement of the aging city-owned dinghy dock near the foot of the pier boardwalk. The existing wooden dinghy dock will be replaced by a new dinghy dock that features Trex decking.

Earlier this year, the Manatee County Commission agreed to provide the CRA with up to $850,000 in matching funds for the forthcoming dock expansion/dinghy dock project.

Other Duncan projects

In January 2017, North Palm Beach-based Technomarine was contracted to install a new floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier. The new dock was to replace the original floating dock rendered unuseable due to repeated storm damage and wave action.

After several prolonged delays created by Technomarine, the floating dock manufactured in Spain by Ronautica Marinas was installed alongside the pier by the Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company in late July/early August of 2019.

Due to ongoing structural and safety concerns, Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift was later contracted to make additional repairs and modifications to the work done by Hecker Construction. Manatee County reimbursed the CRA for $125,000 of the $283,000 in total dock replacement project costs.

Dock expansion contract to be finalized soon
Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift General Manager Steve Porter has guided several Bradenton Beach projects. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Manatee County also provided 50% matching funds for the replacement of the Bridge Street Pier that Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift completed at an approximate cost of $1.5 million in 2015.

As of Friday, Duncan was nearing the completion of a state-funded city dredging project in the navigable waters along the Bradenton Beach shoreline between the Bridge Street Pier and Leffis Key.

Police department boat lift back on track

Police department boat lift back on track

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift has repositioned and repaired the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier and expects to complete the installation of a boat lift for the Bradenton Beach Police Department next week.

The boat lift installation is expected to be completed well ahead of the Sept. 30 grant funding deadline for the boat lift project.

On Wednesday, Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift foreman Tom Schied said the boat lift installation would take two to three days to complete once that work started. On Friday, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said the Duncan crew planned to start driving the boat lift pilings on Saturday or Monday. The floating dock was open Friday afternoon and being used by boaters.

Duncan’s work crew, barge crane and other equipment arrived on Tuesday and made quick work of repositioning the floating dock 8 feet to the east, toward the T-end of the pier. That work included the installation of four new pilings.

Police department boat lift back on track
Duncan foreman Tom Scheid installed a cap on one of the new dock pilings Wednesday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The dock repairs also included the installation of new roller brackets that connect the floating dock to the dock pilings. The new roller brackets replaced some of the roller brackets that Gibsonton-based Hecker Construction Company used when installing the floating dock in July and early August of 2019. Some of the brackets installed in 2019 were later deemed unsuitable for that specific location and application.

Police department boat lift back on track
The Duncan crew also replaced some of the roller brackets that connect the floating dock to the pilings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Duncan was brought in to complete the dock repositioning and repairs as a result of discussions that occurred during the Sept. 2 and Sept. 14 Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meetings.

Grant deadline

During the Sept. 2 meeting, Perry and Lt. John Cosby told the CRA members the long-desired boat lift installation must be completed by Sept. 30 if a $50,000 West Coast Inland Navigation District Grant (WCIND) approved by Manatee County commissioners in May 2017 was to pay for the boat lift.

During that meeting, Duncan Seawall General Manager Steve Porter confirmed that the boat lift had to be connected to the west end of the floating dock after the repositioning and repairs were completed.

Police department boat lift back on track
The police department boat lift will be attached to the west end of the repositioned floating dock. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

During the Sept. 2 meeting, the CRA members reconfirmed their previous authorization for Hecker Construction Company to complete the dock repairs and repositioning for $11,600. The CRA members also authorized Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift to install a 10,000-pound-capacity boat lift for approximately $37,813 after Hecker completed its work – if that timetable could be met.

During a follow-up emergency CRA meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, the CRA members authorized Duncan to reposition and repair the premanufactured floating dock. CRA chairman Ralph Cole said a Hecker representative told him that company could not complete the dock repairs and repositioning in time to meet the Sept. 30 boat lift installation deadline.

“They couldn’t do it until October. We need this done right away,” Cole said. “I want to thank Duncan for stepping in and doing this. This has gone on long enough and we just need to get it across the finish line.”

During Monday’s meeting, Perry read aloud a written statement regarding Duncan’s offer to complete both projects before the boat lift grant money availability expires.

“Chairman Cole has dedicated significant time trying to work with Hecker and finalize the installation of the floating dock to no avail. It has been clear that Hecker is not in a position to accomplish this goal in a timely fashion. Fortunately, we have Duncan and Ronáutica who have understood the different challenges we have faced, and both have jumped in to bring this project across the line,” Perry said.

Regarding past events that also involved the Technomarine Group originally contracted to install the floating dock in 2017, Perry said, “Thank you to Oscar Saá and Ronáutica for providing the materials, shipping and releasing of them from U.S. customs to Bradenton Beach. Ronáutica had every right to retain possession over the floating dock; however, it looked out for the best interest of Bradenton Beach and made sure the city received the product it had paid for even at Ronáutica’s financial loss.

“We all know of the problems following the installation work of Hecker on the floating dock. Understanding the importance and needs of the city, Duncan Seawall has generously offered to undertake the work proposed by Hecker. They will also meet the critical deadlines of the WCIND grant so that our police department will have an essential resource for its marine patrol unit,” Perry said.

Police department boat lift back on track
Some of the previously installed roller brackets have been removed and replaced. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Thank you to Steve Porter, Steve Liebel and all of Duncan Seawall for your support of our law enforcement officers, the city and all of our visitors who will enjoy the Bridge Street Pier even more because of you. This project would have failed but for Duncan’s strong ties and commitment to our community,” Perry said.

She also noted CRA-contracted engineer Joe Foster had already produced the engineering documents needed to repair and position the floating dock and install the boat lift.

Related coverage

 

Police boat lift project may lose funding

Police boat lift project may lose funding

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

BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) finds itself in a race against time to complete the long-desired installation of a police department boat lift next to the Bridge Street Pier.

The boat lift project must be completed by Sept. 30 in order to take advantage of a $50,000 West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) grant approved by Manatee County commissioners in May 2017.

The police boat currently sits on a trailer parked near the police station and must be trailered to a boat ramp to be placed in the water.

Complicating matters is the necessity for the boat lift to be connected to the floating dock that must first be repositioned to the east by approximately 8 feet by Hecker Construction Company, which installed the pre-manufactured dock in mid-2019 for $11,600.

Police boat lift grant funds in potential peril
Before the boat lift can be installed, the floating dock must be repositioned approximately 8 feet to the east, toward the far end of the pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Further complicating the boat lift installation timetable is the need for contract engineer Joe Foster to separately engineer the dock repositioning and the boat lift installation.

During the Wednesday, Sept. 2 CRA meeting, City Attorney Ricinda Perry said Mayor John Chappie had sought an extension for the WCIND grant in vain.

“Moments ago, I received the information that we do not get an extension, so it must be completed by the end of the month,” Perry said.

Lt. John Cosby, of the Bradenton Beach Police Department, also addressed the growing sense of urgency.

“This WCIND money for this boat lift has to be expended by Sept. 30th, which means we have to approve this vendor and they have to get this boat lift installed. It has to be invoiced, it has to be paid and I need a canceled check by Sept. 30th in order for us to receive this money,” Cosby said.

If installed as planned, the boat lift will be placed perpendicular to the pier and floating dock in the open space between the west end of the dock and the corner of the pier walkway near the Anna Maria Oyster Bar’s outdoor seating area.

Police Chief Sam Speciale and the CRA members originally envisioned installing the boat lift on the north side of the pier. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection would not approve that location because it would infringe on the riparian rights of the neighboring Pines Trailer Park.

Police boat lift grant funds in potential peril
The proposed boat lift would be located at the west end of the repositioned floating dock. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

On Aug. 27, Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift General Manager Steve Porter submitted the only response to the city’s request for proposals to install the boat lift.

Duncan’s bid response proposed a $41,279 cost to install a 16,000-pound-capacity aluminum and stainless steel boat lift manufactured by Golden Boat Lifts and supported by four pressure-treated, marine-grade pilings driven into the bay bottom.

Before Wednesday’s CRA meeting began, Porter emailed Perry an additional quote for a 10,000-pound-capacity lift that would cost $37,813.

During the meeting, Porter said the cost estimates include the water and electrical lines and connections, the remote control, the security lighting and a walk-up catwalk. Porter said the lift, as currently designed, must be located at the west end of the floating dock.

Porter said the police boat weighs 3,000 pounds and he recommended a 10,000-pound-capacity lift.

“Give us two weeks after approval and it’s installed in a week,” he said.

Police boat lift grant funds in potential peril
This illustration shows the proposed boat lift configuration and location. – Duncan Seawall, Dock & Boat Lift | Submitted

CRA Chairman Ralph Cole said Hecker Construction needs a barge to reposition the floating dock and he did not know how much advance planning that would require. He said he would do his best to get that work done as soon as possible.

Perry said she would help coordinate the efforts to get all the needed work done in the remaining timeframe.

“If I cannot get this engineering done and I cannot get the dock moved in time, we’re probably not able to move forward and I don’t want to bind the city to expend $50,000 at this time. Truth be told, we don’t have it in our budget to do that,” Perry said of the boat lift project’s current reliance on WCIND funds.

The CRA members were divided on the need for Foster to engineer the boat lift installation but given the time constraints, they approved doing so.

The CRA members approved the installation of a 10,000-pound-capacity boat lift, contingent on the WCIND funds being available, and Porter said he understood the CRA’s position and time constraints regarding the grant money.