VOLUME 28, NO. 43
#aMItogether
the Best News on Anna Maria Island since 1992 astheworldterns look for new normal. 6 Beach renourishment crews on the move. 3 Island polling places. 4 BB approves ballot questions. 4
Meetings. 4 Budget talks. 4-5
Opinions. 6 10-20 YEARS looking back. 7AGO stilt house remains against court orders. 8
StreetLife. 8 Motel defends against HB lawsuit. 9
Happenings
Announcements. 10-11 farewell to Roser pastor. 11
islander.org
AM mayor fields questions from city pier hopefuls By ChrisAnn Allen Islander Reporter
Cerveza, please. “The biggest thing people are saying today is, ‘Where can I get a beer and something to eat?’� Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said Aug. 13 about the new city pier. A city meeting that day invited questions from business owners interested in bidding on a lease to operate a grill and bait shop on the T-end of the new pier. People attending the meeting remotely or in-person included Jason Suzor, owner of the Waterfront Restaurant, across from Store; Nicholas Graham of Pine Avenue Bait the pier; former Commissioner Brian Sey- and Tackle; Vic Mattay, owner of Dips Ice mour, owner of the Pine Avenue General Cream, all in Anna Maria; Patrick Coleman, People gather Aug. 13 in the chamber, including some attendees by teleconference, at Anna Maria City Hall for a meeting to review proposals for a grill and bait shop on the city pier.
AmE NEWS
Back-to-school. 12 AM explores impact fees. 13
Gathering. 14
AUG. 19, 2020 FREE
Top Notch
Obituaries. 14 former mayor reflects, shares vision. 17 lBK, DeP await final report on bay spill. 19
NESTING NOTES. turtle volunteers roll with tide. 20
Covering up. 21 soccer, golf, horseshoes. 22 time to hook up. 23 CLASSIFIEDS. 24
NYT puzzle.
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Week 6: Royal peep Angie Blunt of Bradenton is the sixth top Notch finalist for her photo of a â&#x20AC;&#x153;happy royal ternâ&#x20AC;? on the shore in Holmes Beach. she wins an Islander â&#x20AC;&#x153;More-than-a-mullet wrapperâ&#x20AC;? t-shirt and entry into the contest finals, which offers a grand prize of $100 from the Islander and gift certificates from Islander advertisers, including slimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Place, Island Coffee Haus, Restless Natives, Mr. Bones BBQ, Cremesh european Restaurant, Cupcake Delights, the feast and Minnieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beach Cafe. look to the Aug. 26 issue for the grand winner of the top Notch contest.
Anna Maria Commissioner Joe Muscatello watches from the dais Aug. 13 as Mayor Dan Murphy reviews the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request for proposals for a grill and bait shop on the new Anna Maria City Pier. Islander Photos: ChrisAnn Allen
an officer in FP Growth Partners and Poppoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Taqueria, based in Anna Maria; and Karen Bell, owner of A.P. Bell Fish Co. and Star Fish Co. Market and Restaurant in Cortez. Commissioners Carol Carter, Jonathan Crane and Joe Muscatello also attended as the mayor led a discussion on the updated request for proposals for pier space. The RFP is for a small grill to offer beverages, takeout food and bait on the north side of the T-end and was issued after the city ceased negotiations with the Ugly Grouper restaurant in Holmes Beach to lease the restaurant on the south side of the T-end. The larger area will remain vacant until the city determines a use for the space. The pier opened Friday-Sunday with limited hours June 19 due to concerns over the novel coronavirus and lack of a pier tenant to maintain the space. The original pier, 101 Bay Blvd., had been in operation since 1911, but was closed due to damages by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The city demolished the pier and construction on the new pier began in 2018. At the meeting, Suzor asked how long the city would allow the tenant to finish a buildout of the space for the grill and bait shop. Murphy said the city wants to move â&#x20AC;&#x153;as quickly as possibleâ&#x20AC;? and would work with a potential lessee on the specs and contract negotiations. The mayor said he would meet once or twice with a possible tenant to agree on the contract. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are in a hurry. We would like to get it up and flying before season, maybe November or December,â&#x20AC;? Murphy said. Graham asked about expectations for the bait shop. Murphy said the options are left to the bidder. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We would make that negotiable,â&#x20AC;? Murphy said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Some people have a grandiose idea about bait, while others just sell frozen squid.â&#x20AC;? Murphy said questions and answers from the meeting would be posted at cityofannamaria.com. The deadline to submit bids and the opening will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. Murphy said the details of the bids would remain confidential for up to 30 days or until a shortlist or a single bidder is selected and presented to the city commission.