The city of Anna Maria is beginning negotiations on the Anna Maria City Pier rebuild with leaseholder Mario Schoenfelder.
Mayor Dan Murphy told commissioners that he met March 19 with Schoenfelder, who was visiting Anna Maria Island from his home in Germany, to review architectural plans for the city pier.
Murphy said March 22 that during two meetings he and Schoenfelder reviewed blueprints, floor plans and equipment plans in detail. He asked commissioners for approval to continue fact-finding and begin negotiations over what role the tenant would play in the rebuild, including funding.
Commissioners approved Murphy’s request for negotiations with Schoenfelder.
Commissioner Dale Woodland asked Murphy to consider the city’s responsibility part of the lease renegotiation. “That’s our pier and we need to be fully responsible for everything out there,” he said.
Under the terms of the lease, Schoenfelder is required to maintain the facility and carry some insurance, among other requirements.
Murphy said the city is in a better place to negotiate than it was when the lease with Schoenfelder was signed in August 2000. “We have enough money to do the project, we don’t have to be hat in hand.”
The current project timeline anticipates the pier will reopen in early 2020. It leaves Schoenfelder with about 10 operational months on his lease, which expires in December 2020, Murphy said.
Murphy said he expects Schoenfelder to be available for discussion through May.
In May 2016, commissioners voted 3-2 to halt negotiations with Schoenfelder over how much he would contribute to a pier rehabilitation project.
The majority decided his offer was too low, claiming he had previously failed to maintain some requirements stipulated in the lease. Commissioners Dale Woodland and Doug Copeland voted against discontinuing negotiations.
Schoenfelder did not respond March 23 to an emailed request for comment.
Mayer Dan Murphy would ‘t even return my calls to discuss my concerns about rebuilding too expensive pier with a lengthy building process . The pier is THE landmark of the city. Makes me sad! Surely isomething else going on here… I suspect the stronger fake pier model they are going with is so they can eventually bring tourists in from across the bay. If that’s true… Bye Bye Anna Maria as a throwback, peaceful, quiet getaway. I have a house there. It’s hard for me to believe the residents want this. How can 6 or so City Commissioners (who have not used good judgement in the past) hold so much power over what we all want.- they will change the scope and beauty of this island. STOP THE FAKE PIER!!!
Why does the city lease to someone who lives out of the country. There must be people in the USA that would be suitable to running the pier business, someone who would live locally to oversee the day to day operations.
Can someone please tell me what has been decided about the planks on the pier? My email is william. rosar@yahoo.com
Thank you