ANNA MARIA – The Manatee County Commission has officially authorized an interlocal agreement that provides the city of Anna Maria with $500,000 for the buildout and installation of the Mote Educational Outreach Center on the City Pier.
The county commission authorized the interlocal agreement on Tuesday, Oct. 12, after the Anna Maria City Commission approved the Mote Marine lease agreement by a 4-1 vote on Sept. 30.
The $500,000 in county funds is expected to cover the majority of the costs associated with the interior buildout of the city-owned building and the installation of the Mote Marine exhibits. Mote Marine will be responsible for any buildout and installation costs that exceed the $500,000 being provided by the county – with the exception of any additional costs associated with design elements or facility features sought by the city commission beyond those proposed by Mote Marine. The city will reimburse Mote Marine for the buildout and installation costs incurred and then be reimbursed by the county.
The lease agreement reached with Mote Marine in September will not generate monthly or annual rent revenues for the city, and the city will be responsible for the utilities and maintenance costs associated with the educational outreach center that will be staffed and operated at Mote Marine’s expense.
On Thursday, Oct. 14, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy told city commissioners the next step in the process will be the presentation of Mote Marine’s buildout and installation plans. Murphy said those plans will require city commission approval. He also said those plans will be reviewed by the city’s building official and the city’s engineering firm before being presented to the city commission for acceptance or denial.
“If the plans are denied, the deal is off with Mote,” Murphy told the commission. “I chartered our building official and our city engineer with making sure that we’re getting a high-quality product.”
Murphy said he and Public Works Manager Dean Jones plan to meet with Mote Marine CEO and President Michael Crosby within the next 10 days or so to discuss the plans in progress.
“They are already actively developing their plans,” Murphy said.
Murphy said he hopes to bring the plan approval process to quick fruition, but as of last week he was unable to provide an estimated date as to when those plans will be presented to the city commission.
After the September meeting, Mote Marine Vice President of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Kevin Cooper said he expects the buildout and installation to be completed by March 2022, with the Mote Marine facility opening soon after that.
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