Labor Day has passed and Manatee County’s Gulf Island Ferry has yet to launch.
The holdup? The county still must secure an interlocal agreement with the city of Anna Maria to use its city pier as a ferry stop.
Mayor Dan Murphy told city commissioners Sept. 7 that the county had not yet submitted the city’s requested changes to a plan that would allow the ferry service to use the pier dock as a stop.
The city and county have been negotiating for about a year over an interlocal agreement that would allow the ferry service to use the pier as a stop.
Despite reservations with previous versions of the county’s proposed agreement, Murphy has endorsed a revised version in recent months.
The county’s initial proposal included plans to install a floating dock perpendicular to the pier’s existing boat landing, with a railing on the T-end closest to the dock.
The proposed floating dock would be anchored with wooden piles and access would be gated.
Murphy called the plans “unacceptable” and requested the county return to the city with a new proposal.
However, a new proposal has yet to materialize.
Murphy said he was at the pier as one of the ferries visited earlier that day during a test run that also took the vessel to the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.
He said county staff asked him to observe and provide feedback on a dry run of the vessel pulling into the city pier’s existing dock.
The county proposed either driving 1-2 pilings or installing an “arm” along the dock to stabilize a ferry on its approach, according to Murphy.
Murphy said he asked county staff to submit two proposals, one for each option, for commissioners to consider alongside a revised interlocal agreement.
Commissioner Jonathan Crane asked if the county would hold the city responsible for maintenance costs involving the proposed improvements.
Murphy said the city would shoulder the cost of maintenance, so he wanted to keep it as low as possible and ensure any pilings would be concrete or composite instead of wood.
Murphy said he hoped to have an official proposal for commissioners to consider, but added that the county provided him “no indication” of its timeline for their plans.
“I don’t have a piece of paper for you,” he said. “But I will.”
The commission meets next at 5:01 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
The meeting will begin with a public hearing on the municipal budget ordinance for fiscal 2023-24, which will be followed by a regular meeting.
Directions to attend via Zoom can be found on the city’s website, cityofannamaria.com.
More about the upcoming Gulf Islands Ferry service…
Manatee County has been working on a water taxi service for years in an attempt to increase multi-modal access to the island, which struggles with roadway traffic.
The service will feature two 50-foot catamarans operated by Clearwater-based Gulf Coast Water Taxi, which will staff each of the 49-passenger vessels with two crew members.
The county plans for the service to initially operate 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday, ferrying passengers between downtown Bradenton and the Anna Maria City Pier.
Stops also are planned for Bradenton Beach, at Coquina Beach and the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
The initial trip — between Anna Maria and Bradenton — is estimated to take 35 minutes. A one-way trip will cost $5 for children ages 4-12 and $6 for seniors aged 55 and up. Children under the age of 3 ride free.
Everyone else will pay $8 for a one-way ticket.
Passengers will be allowed to bring beach gear on the ferries with them, as well as service animals and “leashed, well-behaved pets … as long as they do not bother other guests,” according to a Gulf Islands Ferry fact sheet.
The service can also accommodate groups, as long as arrangements are made at least two weeks ahead by emailing kristi@gulfcoastwatertaxi.com.
The ferry service was “anticipated” to launch this summer, but had not as of Sept. 8.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau director Elliott Falcione has not committed to a new timeline in recent communications with The Islander.
Falcione did not respond to a Sept. 8 call from The Islander.
— Ryan Paice