A possible launch for July 4 could finally float the boat.
Tourism officials showed enthusiasm April 24 for the prospect of launching a ferry service between Bradenton and Anna Maria Island for the July 4 weekend.
“We’re hoping to start a Friday-Saturday-Sunday service in the month of July,” Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said April 24. “”Would Fourth of July weekend be the perfect scenario? Absolutely.”
Falcione was addressing the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, an advisory committee to the county commission, at a meeting at the county administration building in Bradenton.
He also was asking the TDC to recommend commissioners approve a $400,000 subsidy — paid with tourist development tax revenues — for the ferry service’s first year, as well as $25,000 in TDT money for marketing.
The council unanimously approved the recommendation after Falcione described the funding situation: A former county administrator was exploring funding from two other sources — beach concession revenue, which traditionally has gone to the island cities, and beach market revenue, which doesn’t exist because no market has been established.
“The only option this year is subsidizing the operation with tourist tax proceeds,” Falcione said.
Falcione said a goal is to build a sustainable operation that pays for itself, one that eventually would be operated by the county transit agency but still marketed by the BACVB.
“Until we try,” he said, “we’re just not going to know the ridership.”
The planned westward route for the Gulf Islands Ferry is from downtown Bradenton to the city pier in Anna Maria and the Historic Bridge Street Pier and Coquina Boat Ramp in Bradenton Beach. The eastward route would be the reverse.
The cost will be $8 one way, $10 for a “hopper” and the county plans to offer a fare-free workforce pass.
Before the launch, some details need to be worked out, including adopting interlocal agreements between the county and the partner cities and finalizing an agreement with the ferry service operator, Gulf Coast Water Taxi LLC.
Also, the boats — each capable of carrying 49 passengers — are still under construction in a boat yard near Orlando. The TDC previously recommended spending $950,000 for the boats.
One vessel is the Downtown Duchess and the other is the Miss Anna Maria. Their port of call will be Bradenton.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Falcione, tapped by the county commission to steer the effort to launch the service.
TDC member Ed Chiles, an island resident and businessman, agreed: “We have been talking about this for 25 or 30 years.”
Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover-Bryant, who wants the ferry route eventually expanded to her side of the Manatee River, motioned to recommend the $425,000 subsidy using TDT money.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
County commissioners are expected to consider the recommendation this month and agreements with the cities and operator either this month or next.
The next TDC meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday, June 5, at the Center of Anna Maria Island, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
At the June meeting, the council will consider a recommendation on a two-year budget.