Manatee County’s beach renourishment account cannot fund construction of a recreational pier at the Manatee Public Beach.

That’s the word from Charlie Hunsicker, the county’s natural resources department director, although it’s not likely to please thos people who were expecting the 2014-15 beach renourishment project could provide a new pier.

Even if studies show a new pier would slow beach erosion, the pier would have to be built as an erosion control groin.

And even then, it could only be funded from the county’s beach renourishment account, not by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is funding the 2014-15 project.

Hunsicker said he has sought funding sources for a new recreational pier since it was demolished in 2009-10.

The renourishment funding is included in the 5 percent tourist development tax — often called the resort tax or bed tax — charged by Manatee County on all accommodation rentals of six months or less.

Legislation enabling beach renourishment funds limits spending to beach renourishment.

“A recreational pier could not be funded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or fully funded from the 1 cent out of every 5 cents of resort tax” collected for beach renourishment, he said.

“We would be on our own” to find the estimated $1.6 million to build a recreational pier similar to the 312-foot former pier at the Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach.

If a structure such as a flat-top groin were built, it could be funded from the beach renourishment account because it would be for beach renourishment purposes, he said. But a survey required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to authorize a groin would come after the county survey, and could take another two-three years to complete.

A groin, yes, but a recreational fishing pier, no, Hunsicker said. He emphasized that’s not his decision, that’s the law.

He did have a slim ray of hope for some funding for a recreational pier from the renourishment account, if the county didn’t mind waiting for another erosion survey of the beaches.

“We might be able to get a maximum of 20 percent of the renourishment fund for a recreational fishing pier if a new study shows the old pier helped retain some sand, but that’s about the max,” Hunsicker said.

Because the previous beach erosion study done by Coastal Planning and Engineering was inconclusive as to whether the old pier helped keep sand on the beach, the DEP will require a new study before authorizing an erosion control structure.

Rick Spadoni of Coastal Planning said if the county wants a groin at Manatee Public Beach, it should conduct beach erosion studies in late spring or early summer of 2012 after the current Coquina Beach renourishment project is completed.

Upon conclusion of that project, Coastal would then resurvey the same area over a two-year period for comparison to the mid-2012 study, Spadoni said.

However, he added, “Such a pier would not be accessible by the public,” because erosion control would be its primary purpose, similar to the groins at Coquina Beach.

Hunsicker said, however, it would be almost impossible to keep people off a flat-top groin, but the county could not state it’s availability for public use.

Presently, he said, there is no county money available for even a matching grant from the state to build a 312-foot-long recreational pier, the same length as the previous pier.

Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore, however, said she wants a recreational pier and will continue to search for funding.

An Island resident and former Holmes Beach mayor and city commissioner, Whitmore said the Island “was promised a new pier when the old one was torn down. It’s (been) almost three years now.”

In 2009, Hunsicker presented a plan for a 700-foot-long replacement pier with handicap access built on pilings about 18 feet above the water. Such a pier would have cost about $2.5 million, he estimated at that time.

The county commission approved the 700-foot-pier plan in 2009, but has not included the project in any budget cycle.

Spadoni said the county should hold off on making a quick decision for a recreational pier or erosion control groin.

“Wait until the results of the 2012 (erosion) study are obtained and evaluated,” he said, although he agreed the final decision is up to the county commission.

“If the county wishes to replace the pier at this time for recreational value, (it) has the regulatory approvals and the plans for the 312-foot-long pier and could proceed forward with the construction,” Spadoni said.

Although she favors a recreational pier, Whitmore suggested if the county approves a groin, it might later be remodeled for public use.

Hunsicker said the only state source he knows for recreational pier construction funding is a matching grant program. He said he is unaware of any available federal funds for a recreational pier.

Pier attraction

Would a recreational pier at Manatee Public Beach attract anglers and visitors?

While some county commissioners and members of the public might wonder if a new pier is worth the cost, people — visitors and locals — appear to enjoy the area piers.

Visitors to the area ranked the Anna Maria City Pier as Manatee County’s No. 1 tourist attraction in the December 2010 tourism survey by the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the most recent BACVB survey to rank area attractions.

In the same survey, the Rod & Reel Pier in Anna Maria was ranked as the No. 3 county attraction — following shopping at the Ellenton outlet mall — and the Historic Bridge Street Pier was No. 9.

In the December 2010 survey, which included an overview of fourth quarter tourism, 35 percent of visitors rated the Anna Maria City Pier the best county attraction. Based on the number of visitors to the area during the fourth quarter, an estimated 40,000 people would have visited the pier during the three-month period.

The BACVB has since discontinued the practice of surveying visitors on their favorite attractions.