ANNA MARIA – Mote Marine Laboratory was given an additional two weeks to obtain a city-issued certificate of occupancy for the education outreach center being installed on the City Pier.
On March 9, Anna Maria City Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of granting the two-week extension. Commission Chair Mark Short opposed the extension. Mote now has until March 24 to obtain from the city’s building official a temporary or regular certificate of occupancy.
The discussion began with Mayor Dan Murphy stating that March 10 was the deadline for Mote to apply for a certificate, according to a lease addendum the city and Mote agreed to on April 29, 2022. The addendum gave Mote an additional year to complete the interior buildout of the city-owned building and the installation of the marine exhibits that were originally supposed to be completed by March 2022.
Vice President of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Kevin Cooper represented Mote Marine at the commission meeting and he acknowledged Mote was going to fall short of its March 10 deadline. He attributed the latest delays to supply chain shortages regarding the air conditioning system and also the Square D stainless steel electrical components required by the city. Cooper said the alternative air conditioning system also required some additional engineering.
Cooper thanked Anna Maria Building Official David Gilson for his assistance in securing a different air conditioning system and the non-Square D stainless steel electrical components that still meet the city’s requirements.
Cooper said the marine life requires an onsite acclimation period before the outreach center can open to the public. He said a temporary certificate of occupancy would allow the marine life, and the marine exhibits built offsite, to be transported to the pier building. It would also allow outreach center manager Jessica Rhodes to occupy the building while awaiting the final certificate of occupancy that’s needed before the outreach center can open to the public.
Cooper said the fire marshal is willing to sign off on the fire suppression component of a temporary certificate if the work completed by March 24 doesn’t warrant a regular certificate of occupancy.
According to the 2022 lease addendum, the outreach center was supposed to open this month. Cooper said Mote now envisions a public opening in late April.
Questions posed
Short asked Cooper why Mote waited until the day before the certificate of occupancy was due before seeking an extension. Cooper said those conversations began about a month ago and a March 7 onsite meeting with Gilson confirmed the need for an extension.
Short said he visited the pier building on March 6 and saw construction workers “mudding” the drywall and the ceiling. Short said it looked like a lot of work was still needed. He asked Cooper how much of the $500,000 in county commission-approved tourist development tax revenues Mote had spent thus far. Cooper said Mote expects to exceed the $500,000 allotted by the county but he did not say by how much. Mote’s rent-free lease with the city requires Mote to absorb any additional startup costs beyond the $500,000 approved by the county. Cooper also noted Mote will staff the facility at its own expense, with volunteers assisting with ongoing staffing needs.
Short asked if Mote had submitted any invoices to the city seeking reimbursement for costs incurred thus far.
Murphy said the city received a $96,000 invoice that morning and City Clerk/Treasurer LeAnne would review it and forward it to the county. The county will reimburse the city and the city will reimburse Mote as the invoices are received.
