ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Manatee County Commission approved an interlocal agreement that allows the Anna Maria City Pier to serve as a Gulf Island Ferry stop.
Approved on Oct. 10, the agreement requires the county to pay for any ferry-related pier improvements needed to accommodate the county-funded ferries.
In September, the Anna Maria Commission approved the county’s request to attach two, non-submerged composite pilings to the pier’s existing boat landing area to accommodate the ferries, at an estimated cost of $10,000.
County commissioners also approved an amendment to an interlocal agreement reached with the city of Bradenton Beach in 2021. That agreement pertains to the recently completed dock expansion project that included attaching 13 perpendicular finger docks to the floating day dock by the Bradenton Beach Pier and also replacing the nearby dinghy dock.
In 2021, the county agreed to reimburse the Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for 50% of the dock expansion project costs, not to exceed $850,000 in matching county funds. The amended agreement allows the CRA to construct a $403,900 ferry waiting area near the dinghy dock, where a stormwater cistern was removed. That expenditure will count toward the matching funds limit but the county will reimburse the CRA for 100% of the waiting area costs.
Duncan Seawall will construct the waiting area that includes decking, a canvas-covered pergola and some covered tables. On Oct. 19, the city commission approved the new CRA project.
According to City Treasurer Shayne Thompson, $534,398 remains of the $850,000 matching funds limit, from which $403,900 will be deducted. The extended agreement gives the CRA until Sept. 30, 2024 to finish the waiting area and any additional pier and dock improvement projects eligible for reimbursement.
Dock discovery
During a recent visit to the floating dock, the county’s contracted engineer and contracted ferry operator concluded the dock is too low to accommodate a ramp that provides ADA-compliant access for passengers.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione serves as point man for the long-desired ferry service. He told The Sun that the county now plans to use the dinghy dock as an alternative ferry landing. The dinghy dock is stationary and higher than the floating dock. Falcione said the ferries will not carry the previously discussed boat-mounted access ramps but portable or dock-mounted ramps could be used where needed.
“There will be safe access and ADA compliance,” Falcione said of the ferry stops that also include the Riverwalk Day Dock in downtown Bradenton and the county-owned Coquina South boat ramp.
Falcione expects service to begin around Thanksgiving and initially operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays. Saturdays and Sundays. He said the schedule can then be adjusted based on consumer demand.
“I’m excited that we’re as close as we’ve been,” he said. “Once we get this running, we work on how we transport the service workers.”
Falcione said one of the two ferries was recently damaged when its roof came in contact with a dock piling while docked in Cortez.
“That’s in repair but it doesn’t delay this operation,” he said.
JOE HENDRICKS | SUN
The floating dock in Bradenton Beach, above, is too low to be used as a ferry landing. The Bradenton Beach dinghy dock, right, will serve as an alternative ferry landing
