Bradenton Beach officials continue to float the idea of turning a public day dock at the Historic Bridge Street Pier into a standing dock with boat slips.
City officials are waiting for the OK from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agency to move forward.
Some hoops must be jumped through to get the DEP’s thumbs-up.
First is a meeting with the DEP. Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale said July 7 that he, Commissioner Jake Spooner and building official Steve Gilbert may have to take a road trip to Temple Terrace to present the city’s case. The trio must convince the DEP to modify the city’s submerged land lease to allow building a larger dock and commercial marina.
“Removing and replacing the old dock is OK, as long as we stay in the same footprint,” Speciale said July 7 at the city pier team meeting in city hall.
But the city just doesn’t want to replace the current day dock. City commissioners voted 4-1 June 16 to replace and double the day dock’s footprint with two standing docks — on both sides — including wet slips.
Mayor Bill Shearon is opposed to the concept. “The government doesn’t do well with commercial ventures,” he said.
“I’m more in favor with keeping the day dock recreational. We also have to consider that (the city) has an interlocal agreement with Manatee County to have a public fishing pier,” Shearon said.
At the June 16, meeting Spooner presented graphics of his proposal to the commission. He also sold them on the idea that the city could increase its revenue by $330,000 a year by renting 14 slips for $2,000 a month.
Spooner said June 28 that Duncan Seawall, Dock and Boat Lift estimated it would cost $130,000 to build one of the docks.
Speciale said the trio would take Spooner’s plans with them to the DEP offices. “If they say we can’t do one, then we’ll show them another,” he said.
Spooner created four plans: Two show the docks located at the west end of the pier — at the edge of the restaurant building. The other two plans show the north dock attached to the T-end of the pier and the south dock where the day dock is now located.
“Once we find out what we can and can’t do, then we’ll present something to the commission,” Speciale said.
If the DEP says OK and commissioners vote aye, then the city will have to locate funds and put out a request for engineering plans before the old dock can be replaced.
Shearon remains opposed to the project but said he would act as the commission directs. “There are still a lot of questions that still need to be answered,” he said. “Like, where’s the money to build it going to come from? What about additional parking? Are we going to be competing with the nearby marinas?”
“I really think we need a long-range thought-out plan before we move forward,” Shearon said.
Speciale said if all goes well, a new dock could be built in time for the autumn tourist season. “If we could get it done by then that’d be great,” he said.