A couple of Anna Maria properties are set for upgrades.
City commissioners unanimously voted June 13 to approve a $50,000 contribution to the Center of Anna Maria Island for new air conditioning units at its facility, 407 Magnolia Ave.
In May, the nonprofit requested $78,000 from the municipality, including a previously pledged $50,000 donation that the center failed to collect.
The donation was requested for the labor costs associated with installing new air conditioning units but the center could not find enough money to back up the city’s funds before the end of fiscal 2022-23.
The city only budgeted the donation for that fiscal year, so the funds expired last September.
This time, the community center found matching funds with a $90,000 grant from the Bradenton-based Bishop-Parker Foundation for 12 new air conditioning units.
Mayor Dan Murphy, who asked for time to review the budget following the nonprofit’s request in May, recommended commissioners approve a $50,000 contribution to the center with money from the city’s contingency fund.
He said the municipality had other capital improvement costs to consider on the near horizon, such as a new roof for the Island Players building, which the city leases to the theater, and a shade sail over the City Pier Park playground.
If the city pursues all three projects, its contingency fund will fall to $66,483 ahead of hurricane season.
Murphy said storms could result in the city having to pay for emergency debris removal and he did not want to dip into municipal reserves unless necessary.
He recommended the $50,000 contribution, as well as to waive permit fees for the air conditioning work since the facility is on city property.
Murphy also said he had seen the community center’s American flag had looked a little rugged, so he handed a new one to executive director Christopher Culhane at the meeting.
Commissioner Gary McMullen moved to approve the $50,000 contribution.
Commissioner Charlie Salem seconded the motion, which passed.
Culhane thanked city officials for their support and said work installing the new air conditioning units would begin in the next couple of weeks.
Island Players’ roof
Commissioners also unanimously voted to approve up to $65,000 in funding toward a new asphalt roof for the Island Players building at 10009 Gulf Drive.
The property is owned by the city and leased to the Island Players. According to the lease, the municipality is obligated to pay for outside maintenance costs.
Murphy said the building has a roofing issue that prevents getting the building’s wind mitigation
insurance reinstated, but a repair would resolve the issue.
He said the Island Players preferred asphalt roofing due to acoustic issues with metal roofing.
The Island Players and the city both collected bids for the installation of a new roof, resulting in five bids ranging from $39,000-$60,000, but varying on material and labor costs, according to Murphy.
He said he had yet to select a bid but asked commissioners to approve up to $65,000 in funding for a new roof.
Commissioner Jonathan Crane moved to approve Murphy’s recommendation.
Salem seconded the motion, which passed.
The commission will meet next at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 27, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Directions to attend the meeting via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, cityofannamaria.com.