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Anna Maria officials outline $7–$9 million pier rebuild plan; TDC approved $2 million, FEMA and state aid uncertain
Summary
The City of Anna Maria estimates $7–$9 million to rebuild its damaged pier walkway and T-end; the Tourist Development Council approved $2 million pending county approval, Representative Robinson included $1.25 million in the state budget (pending July 1 actions), and FEMA’s reimbursement is uncertain.
City of Anna Maria officials told the joint meeting they estimate replacing the damaged pier walkway and repairing the pier’s T-end will cost between $7 million and $9 million, with short-term demo and remediation work beginning within weeks.
Mayor Short said engineers estimate “it’s going to cost between 7 to $9,000,000” to replace the walkway and remediate the T-end, and he described a very aggressive goal to complete the rebuild by late fall 2026 if everything falls into place.
The city reported $223,000 in design and inspection costs to date and estimated up to $1.1 million in demo and near-term remediation costs over the next three months. The city also expects about $2 million of infrastructure costs in the October–December period if piles and other work are underway.
The Tourist Development Council (TDC) approved a $2 million contribution on Monday that the city said now needs the county board’s approval. Mayor Short said Representative Robinson put a $1,250,000 appropriation in the state budget; the city will know on July 1 whether that survives the budget and any line-item veto process.
The city is working with FEMA; officials noted FEMA’s process is reimbursement-based and timing for any award is uncertain. Mayor Short said, “We don’t have an indication from [FEMA] yet in terms of what their evaluation or assessment will be … we just don’t know at this point in time.”
City and county officials discussed whether a water-ferry landing should be bolted onto the rebuilt pier or built as a separate facility. The Army Corps of Engineers issued an emergency permit that requires the rebuilt pier to stay within the former pier’s footprint; the city said that condition requires the water-ferry landing project to proceed separately in permitting if it is added.
County staff member Charlie Hunsicker estimated a bolt-on ferry landing would cost roughly $1 million to $1.5 million in addition to the rebuilt pier work. City officials said the 7–9 million estimate does not include costs that would be required if ADA compliance changes (for example, railings) are required to accommodate a bolt-on ferry landing.
City officials said they will meet with Mote Marine Laboratory about displaced education-center equipment and use of the building as a queuing area for ferry passengers; Mote staff recently inspected the site and a meeting was being scheduled.
No formal county appropriation was taken at the meeting. Commissioners urged the city and county finance staff to meet and prepare short-term and longer-term capital proposals so the county board could consider options when it returns from recess.
