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Tag: interlocal agreement

City Pier ferry stop approved

Ferry will stop at Anna Maria

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA – The city commission has approved an interlocal agreement that allows Manatee County to use the City Pier as a Gulf Island Ferry stop.

The unanimous approval granted on Sept. 21 ends a lengthy negotiation process that included the mayor and city commissioners recently rejecting the county’s request to make $300,000 in modifications to the City Pier. The rejected modifications included a floating perpendicular dock and a gated, exclusive ferry landing area at the existing boat landing at the T-end of the pier.

The county previously entered into an interlocal agreement with the city of Bradenton Beach to use the Bradenton Beach Pier as a ferry stop. The county also entered into an interlocal agreement with the city of Bradenton to use the Riverwalk Day Dock as a ferry stop.

City Pier ferry stop approved
Two composite pilings will be attached to the existing City Pier boat landing. – City of Anna Maria | Submitted

On Thursday, the Anna Maria City Commission approved the county’s request to attach two composite bumper pilings to the existing boat landing. Mayor Dan Murphy said pilings will be attached to the existing landing area but will not extend downward into the state-owned submerged land below the Tampa Bay waters. Murphy noted driving pilings into the state-owned land would require approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

City Pier ferry stop approved
The Gulf Island Ferry boats will use the boat landing at the T-end of the pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy said the piling installation will cost the county about $10,000. The city will pay for the ongoing maintenance of the pilings. If the city decides later to opt out of the interlocal agreement, the city must reimburse the county for the initial piling installation expenditure.

Ramps carried on the ferries will provide pier access for arriving and departing passengers. Other boats docked at the public landing area must yield to arriving ferries.

City Pier ferry stop approved
A Gulf Island Ferry visited the City Pier on Sept. 7. – Amy Stanley/Facebook | Submitted

Commissioner Charlie Salem thanked Murphy for the time and effort he put into the interlocal agreement negotiations that ultimately saved the county and its taxpayers $290,000.

Expected to begin service at some point this year, the Gulf Island Ferry service between downtown Bradenton, Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach will initially operate on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The fare will be $8 for a one-way trip, $5 for children making a one-way trip and $6 for seniors making a one-way trip.

Commissioner Jon Crane doesn’t expect the limited ferry service to have much impact on reducing automobile traffic and congestion to and from the Island. Nor does he expect the ferry service to be heavily utilized by employees who commute to the Island for work. Crane said he hopes the city and the county have ongoing conversations about increasing and expanding the limited ferry service.

Murphy agreed and said the initial offering is at least a starting point that hopefully leads to increased service and a greater emphasis being placed on transporting Island employees.

Anna Maria revises proposed water taxi agreement

Anna Maria revises proposed water taxi agreement

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – The city’s proposed interlocal agreement for the use of the City Pier as a water taxi stop is ready for review by Manatee County officials.

The county’s proposed round-trip water service would begin in downtown Bradenton, stop at the City Pier, the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and then at the City Pier again en route back to downtown Bradenton.

The city’s proposed interlocal agreement was first discussed on Aug. 25 and the city commission-requested revisions were presented by Mayor Dan Murphy on Sept. 8.

“These are the conditions that we find important for the water taxi to be servicing the city of Anna Maria. We strongly believe this should be focused on service workers and eliminating traffic coming back and forth across the bridge. Anything going astray of that is OK, as long as the focus is on bringing people back and forth between downtown Bradenton,” Murphy told the commission.

Commission Chair Carol Carter noted many of the commission’s suggested revisions pertained to the section of the agreement that sets forth the city’s proposed terms and conditions.

The revised agreement proposed that the water taxi operations must include service between downtown Bradenton and the Anna Maria City Pier on every regularly scheduled day of operation, and each round-trip journey must include two stops at the City Pier.

The agreement proposes the county and/or the water taxi company shall be responsible for the costs of creating and maintaining water taxi dockage City Pier, including any needed pier improvements, permits or studies. The agreement also proposes that the county provide the city commission with a detailed plan for the proposed landing area at the City Pier and that all ridership fares between Anna Maria and downtown Bradenton shall be subject to city commission approval.

Commissioner Mark Short noted the revised agreement addresses Commissioner Jon Crane’s request to strengthen the language pertaining to the liability responsibilities and the city being indemnified against any harm caused by the water taxi service. The agreement proposes the county’s contracted water taxi operator be required to carry a $2 million insurance policy.

Murphy told the commission he hopes to present the proposed interlocal agreement to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione within the next week or so. Murphy will then await feedback from Falcione and the county commission regarding the city’s proposed agreement and any modifications sought by the county.

Previous discussion

When appearing before the Anna Maria Commission on Aug. 11, Falcione said he hoped to present a water taxi proposal to county commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 13. When contacted Saturday, Falcione said some of those details were still being finalized and the presentation would be delayed.

“We are really close,” he said.

During the Aug. 11 meeting, Falcione said the county hopes to contract a Florida-based water taxi company to begin water taxi service to and from the Island in February. Falcione said the initial service would initially feature two pontoon boat-like water taxis operating on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Falcione said the fare might be in the $8 to $10 range, but those details were still being worked out at that time.

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Water taxi agreement discussed

Water taxi agreement discussed

Water taxi agreement discussed

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Manatee County.

ANNA MARIA – City officials are working on an interlocal agreement that would allow for a water taxi stop at the Anna Maria City Pier.

Manatee County is proposing a county-contracted water taxi service from downtown Bradenton to the City Pier in Anna Maria, the Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach and back to downtown Bradenton.

An interlocal agreement between the city of Anna Maria and Manatee County is needed in order for the City Pier to be used as a water taxi landing spot. A proposed interlocal agreement was discussed, but not finalized, during the Aug. 25, Anna Maria City Commission meeting.

Revisions suggested by the mayor and city commissioners will be made before the agreement is discussed again at the commission’s Sept. 8 meeting. If the commission supports the revised interlocal agreement at that time, it will then be sent to Manatee County officials for their review. Mayor Dan Murphy said additional negotiations between the city and the county may then be needed before the agreement is finalized.

Representing Manatee County, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione appeared before the Anna Maria Commission on Aug. 11. Falcione told the mayor and commissioners the county plans to contract a Florida-based water taxi company to operate two pontoon boat-like water taxis from 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

According to Falcione, each water taxi could carry 35 to 45 passengers at a time. He said the service days and service routes could, and likely would, be expanded if there’s a need for additional service.

Falcione plans to present the proposed water taxi plan and contractor to Manatee County commissioners on Sept. 13 in hopes of the proposed water taxi service beginning in February.

Falcione said the round-trip fare could be in the $8-$10 range, but those details were still being worked out with the private contractor. Falcione said the plan is for the Island’s restaurant and service industry workers to ride for free.

During the Aug. 25 meeting, Murphy noted one of the “whereas” clauses contained in the proposed agreement states the two main purposes of the water taxi service are to relieve automobile congestion coming to and from the Island and to provide an affordable means of public transportation to and from the Island for visitors, residents and service workers.

“It’s not going to be a $50 ride to come to work,” Murphy said when noting service workers are a critical component of the proposed water taxi endeavor.

The terms and conditions addressed in the proposed agreement call for the county and its contractor to cover the costs of any pier improvements, permits, studies or maintenance required for the use of the City Pier as a water taxi stop. The proposed agreement states the county shall assume all legal liability for the water taxi service. It also states the county must provide the city with a detailed plan before the city commission is asked to approve the City Pier as a water taxi stop.

To better protect the city, Commissioner Jon Crane, a former California attorney, suggested strengthening the language that pertains to the county’s liability and indemnification responsibilities.

Commissioner Deanie Sebring suggested including a commission-recommended fare amount in the proposed interlocal agreement. Murphy advised against including a specific fare and suggested instead the inclusion of language that says the proposed fee for passengers traveling between Anna Maria and downtown Bradenton must be approved by the city commission.

Commissioners Carol Carter and Mark Short suggested adding language to the agreement that specifies the water taxis must stop at the City Pier twice during each round trip from downtown Bradenton to Bradenton Beach and back.

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Water taxi plan headed to county commissioners