There is progress on a plan for the renovation of the Anna Maria City Pier.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy met with pier leaseholder-restaurant owner Mario Schoenfelder March 18 to discuss financial solutions to the estimated $1.4 million-$1.7 million pier repair price tag.
After the meeting, Murphy wouldn’t comment on the outcome, but said he and Schoenfelder had a “fruitful fact-finding discussion.”
According to the city, Schoenfelder’s contract puts responsibility for pier repairs on Schoenfelder, who pays the city $9,240 a month to lease the pier, restaurant and bait shop. The lease expires Dec. 15, 2020.
City Pier Restaurant general manager David Sork said March 30 he was unaware of the details of the meeting. Sork also oversees operations and contracting repairs for the pier.
On March 18, a few hours after meeting with Schoenfelder, Murphy received an email from CB&I engineer Michelle Pfeiffer outlining the upcoming permit process.
CB&I Engineering works with Manatee County on various projects around the area, including replacement of the Cortez Beach groins, part of the beach renourishment project.
Pfeiffer, who also oversees the Cortez Beach groin project, wrote that the rehabilitation work on the city pier could take 18-24 months to complete, after the necessary permits are obtained.
Pfeiffer added that permitting could take 12-18 months and the cost of getting the permits could be $225,000-$250,000 on top of the estimated rehab price tag.
Small, isolated or emergency repairs can still be completed as necessary, but permitting the entire rehab project will take more than a year.
Murphy said he also was looking into whether the city could obtain matching grants from the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and other funding opportunities for the pier renovation.
The city opted Feb. 23 to rehabilitate the pier and extend its life 20-25 years rather than rebuilding.
Rebuilding the pier would extend its life 50-75 years, but the iconic restaurant and bait shop on the T-end would have to be removed due to state regulations that came into effect since the pier was built. It also would cost an estimated $2.3 million-$2.8 million.
The decision was presented based on a July 2015 study by Bridge Design Associates. The study also concluded the city pier has a life expectancy of five years if no work is done.
The fishing pier, restaurant and bait shop are expected to close during the renovation.