Clearance for the construction of a Gulf Islands Ferry landing at the Anna Maria City Pier may not be a given.
City commissioners unanimously voted Jan. 22 to reject a resolution that would have supported and agreed to the construction of a water ferry landing connected to the pier’s walkway, which is currently being rebuilt.
Manatee County launched the ferry service in January 2024 to provide an alternative mode of transportation between downtown Bradenton and the island. The AMCP was the service’s first stop on the island, but it has been closed since hurricanes Helene and Milton destroyed the walkway in October 2024.
The municipality hired Gibsonton-based Tampa Bay Marine Inc. last fall to rebuild the walkway. So far, most of the walkway pilings have been driven, but the pier is not expected to reopen until this fall.
The county tourist development council recommended county commission approval of the city’s $2 million request to help fund the rebuild project last June. However, while county commissioners have expressed support for the funding request, they have yet to vote on its approval.
In the meantime, the county has been seeking the city’s approval for its own plans to build a ferry landing off the pier.
County staff have presented multiple options for ferry landings to city officials, but a final design has not yet been presented or approved.
Nevertheless, the county requested the city “formally express its support for the potential construction” of the undetermined landing, according to background information included with the agenda item for the Jan. 22 city meeting.
A resolution to do so was included on the meeting’s consent agenda. The proposed resolution included provisions expressing that the city commission “supports and agrees to the construction of a water ferry landing … should Manatee County decide to construct such a water ferry landing.”
That support would be conditioned on a handful of stipulations, such as:
- The landing can be located on the east or west side of the pier walkway, but not adjacent to the T-end;
- The landing must be a separate structure from the pier, connected by a walkway or gangway;
- Construction of the landing can only occur after pier repairs from the 2024 storms are completed;
- The city must agree not to charge the county a maintenance fee for the pier in connection with the ferry landing’s construction and operation.
City commissioners pulled the resolution from the consent agenda for discussion.
Commissioner Christopher Arendt said the ferry service would bring tens of thousands of people to the pier, resulting in an “enormous burden” on the city to maintain the structure. He called for the county to “share that burden” by contributing to maintenance costs.
Arendt also noted that there was nothing in the resolution to prevent the county from moving forward with aspects of previously rejected landing designs, such as an extended gangway for passenger queueing.
Commissioner John Lynch, who attended the meeting via speakerphone, said the proposed resolution was not “acceptable” and agreed that the county needs to contribute to maintenance costs.
Commissioner Kathleen Morgan-Johnson asked Mayor Mark Short if the $2 million greenlighted by the TDC was contingent on the resolution’s approval.
Short said action on the resolution may impact the timing of that funding.
Regardless, Commission Chair Charlie Salem called the resolution “premature” and said the city would be best served by focusing on the pier rebuild for now.
Commissioner Gary McMullen moved to reject the proposed resolution. Arendt seconded the motion, which passed.
There was no public comment.
The city commission will meet next at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.