HOLMES BEACH – City elected officials are discussing with Manatee County tourism officials whether to add a Gulf Island Ferry stop in Holmes Beach.
Currently, Manatee County’s contracted ferry service stops in downtown Bradenton, the Anna Maria City Pier and the Bradenton Beach Pier, with an additional stop in Palmetto being planned.
On June 10, the Manatee County Tourist Development Council (TDC) recommended county commission approval of the city of Holmes Beach’s $500,000 request to help fund the installation of multi-use paths along portions of Marina Drive and 65th Street. At the recommendation of Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione, the TDC members included in their recommendation a stipulation that to receive those funds, the city must also negotiate in good faith with the county regarding a Holmes Beach ferry stop.
Tying funding for improvements to public safety with adding a ferry stop in Holmes Beach “is disheartening,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said, noting that a pedestrian-vehicular accident on Marina Drive recently took the life of a pedestrian. “That alone warrants approval (of the funding request).”
At the request of Titsworth, Commissioner Dan Diggins attended the TDC meeting in place of Commissioner Greg Kerchner, who serves as the city commission’s TDC liaison.
When called upon by TDC member Gene Brown, Diggins expressed his support for a ferry stop in Holmes Beach.
Falcione and Diggins agree that the privately-owned bayside docking area at the Waterline Resort is the ideal spot for a ferry stop, but that would require the property owners’ support.
“We should have a landing in Holmes Beach. I think it’s absurd we don’t,” Diggins told the TDC members. “It’s common sense. We live on an Island. Why should we not have a ferry landing there?”
On June 17, Diggins and Falcione were present for a trial ferry docking session along the Waterline Resort’s bayside seawall. Diggins told The Sun the trial docking session went well.
On June 25, the Holmes Beach commission discussed a possible ferry stop and Diggins currently remains the only commission member fully supportive of that endeavor.
Diggins letter
The Sun’s reporting of the June 25 meeting mistakenly attributed to Diggins ferry-related safety concerns that were expressed by Commissioner Greg Kerchner, which prompted Diggins to send a letter to the editor that appeared in the July 10 issue.
In his letter, Diggins said, “I have never spoken to Elliott Falcione about my ‘concerns regarding the safety of the pontoon boats currently used for service.’ I want to make it clear that I support the county’s initiative to establish a robust water taxi service to the Island, including a Holmes Beach landing.
“The county has a long way to go to make that a functioning reality, but we have to start. And the current fleet of two pontoon boats gives us that start. It’s up to the county to shepherd through a viable plan that will provide another public transportation method for travel to/ from our city. We, as city leaders, have to be willing partners with the county on any water taxi initiative. I am committed to the water taxi initiative because I believe the future for travel to the island has to include a water option,” Diggins’s letter said, in part.
Mayor’s email
On July 11, Titsworth sent a ferry stop-related email to Diggins, Kerchner and Falcione.
Titsworth’s email first addressed Diggins’ letter to The Sun.
“I read your letter to the editor in the newspaper this week and I find it necessary to respond as I feel there could be some confusion as to your liaison role. Greg Kerchner is the acting liaison for the TDC. He had asked someone to cover for him at a meeting as he was going to be out of town and could not attend. This in no way means that you were to assume the liaison role for the TDC.
“Liaisons are merely to attend meetings and to inform the mayor and city commission of any pertinent information gained while attending these meetings. This attendance does not give liaisons the authority to speak on behalf of the mayor or city commission,” Titsworth stated in her email.
Titsworth’s email also included a statement addressed to Falcione. “Please feel free to reach out to our director of development services for assistance and in scheduling your pre-site plan application with the property owner and our city staff once you have established a proposed docking location. If there is anything I can do to help, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Additional comments
When commenting on Titsworth’s email, Diggins said, “My number one goal is to improve relations with the county. We really do need each other and it just seems we are a few agreements away from having a better relationship. A water taxi stop may be the first step. It means a lot to the county.”
On July 14, Titsworth emailed some additional comments to The Sun.
“For years, I have been accused by the city of Bradenton and the county that I am against a ferry stop in the city. This isn’t at all true. I have told Elliott (Falcione) for years to bring us a plan. We do not have a pier in our city; therefore, it won’t be as easy as adding stops in the other cities,” she wrote.
“I told them (the county) that if they find a property then the procedure is to have the owner make a site plan application to the city with the planning department and that I would make certain that it got to the commission for consideration. They have never brought a plan forward. Being that this site plan application may be coming before them, commissioners are to stay neutral on this application until staff has had a chance to report on the application and a public hearing is had.”
For information on Learn more about Gulf Island Ferry tickets, schedules and more, please visit the ferry service website.
