ANNA MARIA – The City Pier decking will be stained again in November, with the work taking place at night while the pier is closed as usual.
On Thursday, Oct. 13, the Anna Maria City Commission authorized Mayor Dan Murphy to enter into a $29,970 contract with Equity Painting to stain the pier.
“If you’ve taken a look at the pier lately it is somewhat faded and it is time for us to do some staining,” Murphy told the city commission members, who were previously made aware of the pending need to stain the pier.
Murphy noted the pier’s Ipe hardwood decking was originally stained for approximately $16,000 during the pier replacement project completed in mid-2020. Murphy said the original staining did not require the pressure washing that will be needed when the decking is stained again. Murphy said the pressure washing is especially needed near the fish cleaning stations.
Murphy said the city solicited three bids for the staining work. Coastal Painting Professionals bid $18,900, Equity Painting bid $29,970 and Jay Pros bid $38,475. Murphy noted Equity Painting was not the lowest bidder but had the best references and the best plan to stain the pier.
Murphy said Equity’s plan calls for minimal disruption to the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop that’s operated on the pier by Brian Seymour and his business partners. Seymour attended Thursday’s meeting and thanked the mayor and commission for requesting the staining work be done overnight after the pier closes as usual at 10 p.m.
Murphy said Equity’s staining plan also calls for minimal impact on the installation of Mote Marine’s pier-based educational outreach center if that work is underway during the November timeframe.
“We want it done at night. We want it done over several days so we’re not blocking off the whole pier,” Murphy told the commission.
Commissioner Jon Crane asked if an olive oil-based stain would again be used. Murphy said yes, the same stain would be used that was originally used to stain the new pier.
“That stain is environmentally friendly. It’s meant for docks over water. It’s going to fade, but this might be the last time for several years that we’ll have to stain it,” Murphy said.
The mayor said the city was aware that the pier would need to be stained a second time within a few years of being built and may not require another staining for another 10 years.
Commissioner Mark Short asked about an estimated timeline. Murphy said the work is expected to occur at some point in November and take approximately one week to complete, weather permitting.
