BRADENTON BEACH – The Bradenton Beach City Commission adopted on second and final reading an ordinance that allows the city to reserve docking spaces at the Bradenton Beach Pier exclusively for water taxi operators, particularly Manatee County’s Gulf Islands Ferry service.
During the Nov. 5 commission meeting, the mayor and commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the ordinance, with Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce absent.
The Gulf Islands Ferry service travels from the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton to the Bradenton Beach Pier, with a new connecting route from the Bradenton Beach Pier to the Coquina Boat Ramp, across the street from the county-owned Coquina Beach at the south end of the Island.
Now in effect, the adopted ordinance revises Chapter 27 of the city code and prohibits any vessel other than the authorized ferry or water taxi from docking, mooring, tying up or otherwise occupying a designated docking space.
The prohibition applies whether a boat is attended or unattended, and regardless of how long the violating boat stays in a designated water taxi space. The ordinance also prohibits operating or positioning a vessel in a way that prevents a ferry or water taxi from entering, leaving or using a designated dock space.
Violators face a $200 fine per violation, and each unauthorized use of a reserved docking space counts as a separate violation that is subject to a separate fine.
The city will post signs at each designated docking space stating that the space is reserved for water taxis, that unauthorized vessels are prohibited and what the fine is.
According to the ordinance, a missing or damaged sign does not excuse a violation if the space is otherwise reasonably identified as reserved for water taxis and ferries.
The city may move or remove an unauthorized vessel as Florida law permits, but the ordinance does not independently authorize the towing or impoundment of vessels.
The commission can designate additional docking spaces by city resolution – or authorize the police chief or another city official to do so.
The docking restrictions do not apply to law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency medical or other government vessels on official duty – or to boats experiencing a genuine emergency and using the space in a manner that is reasonably necessary to protect life or property. City vessels are allowed to temporarily use the reserved dock spaces if necessary.
For ferry ticket information visit the Gulf Islands Ferry website.
