Anna Maria officials are getting down to the nuts and bolts for a marine educational center on the city pier.
In addition to those nuts and bolts, they’re focused on ceiling tiles, electrical panels, backup generators and other details as they review preliminary technical plans from Mote Marine Laboratory.
Earlier this month, Mote met the deadline imposed by the city and submitted plans to renovate a space on the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier for an educational outreach center.
Mayor Dan Murphy said Mote’s plans include multiple attractions, including a microscope station, a touch-tank, a coloring and crafts section and a fish ID exhibit where a pier angler might check their catch.
A week after Mote met the city’s Oct. 13 deadline for the preliminary plans, Anna Maria building official David Gilson and city planner Ashley Austin had reviewed the documents created by the Schimberg Group.
They presented their findings Oct. 20 to city commissioners and the mayor. No action was taken at the meeting.
“They’re very, very close to what would be acceptable and permittable,” Gilson said of Mote’s plans.
He said he was sending notes to Mote with a focus on materials. For example, the city, as the owner of the property, wants stainless steel hardware used not just “corrosion-resistant” materials.
Another change would involve installing a drywall ceiling instead of standard ceiling tile.
“We want to ensure quality,” Murphy said.
The next steps involve Mote creating final plans, followed by a staff review, a vote by the commission and the issuance of a permit for the build-out.
“Once that permit is issued, a set of deadlines kicks in,” Murphy said. “We will hold them to that.”
Deadlines for the project require a construction start within seven days of permitting and an application for a certificate of occupancy within 12 weeks of receiving permits.
An opening of the center would be within four weeks of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
The city wants an opening by next March.
Mote agreed in September 2021 to lease the empty 1,800-square-foot shell on the pier after the city shifted away from leasing the space for a restaurant.
The installation of the center, will be funded with $500,000 in county tourist development money and Mote paying any extra expenses.
Mote will pay the operating costs for the center.
The next commission meeting will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
The agenda and meeting materials can be found online at cityofannamaria.com.