Mayor Alvin Brown is throwing the water taxi a financial life preserver.
A bill introduced Tuesday to City Council has the city contributing $240,000 over the next two years as part of a public-private partnership with the service’s operators, Lakeshore Marine.
For the company to receive quarterly disbursements, it must raise money in the private sector. The city will match what is raised up to $240,000.
The public support is something Heather Surface, Lakeshore Marine partner, said is important in order to receive help from the private sector.
The $240,000 over the two years would offset revenue lost due to low ridership numbers that have plagued the water taxi since Lakeshore Marine took over the service in August.
In the first eight months, there has been a 54 percent dip in ridership compared to 2012, the last time data was provided by the former service provider.
Surface said the company has come to an agreement with the Jacksonville Jaguars and The Florida Times-Union that would have each become “founding partners” and provide $30,000 a year in funds or in-kind services.
The city’s funding would help market the service as part of the “On Board Jax!” campaign seeking to promote the water taxis and their benefit to Downtown.
David DeCamp, Brown’s spokesman, said the mayor believes the service is “an essential part” of reactivating Downtown and is a valuable public service. The money would come from the city’s general fund.
The support is separate from the long-term agreement Lakeshore is close to signing with the city.
The company won a request for proposals for a five-year operator agreement, but has to show proof it has secured two vessels with seating capacity of at least 120.
Surface said two boats have been purchased, with one just needing last-minute paperwork finalized.
A required third vessel that would increase capacity for Jaguars games and special events would be bought closer to August. Surface said two boats have been identified for that.
In the meantime, the company and city have been using two vessels purchased by Harry Frisch, Beaver Street Fisheries chairman. Frisch spent almost $339,000 to buy two boats the city bought in a deal that was deemed unauthorized. The longtime businessman stepped up to ensure the service wouldn’t die.
The boats Lakeshore Marine purchased aren’t the Frisch boats, though — Surface said the numbers didn’t work on their side.
Instead, the boats are being returned to the Tavares-based dealer they were bought from to be sold, said Jeff Edwards, Beaver Street chief financial officer.
Edwards said the seller believes he can receive the same value that Frisch paid for the boats on the open market.
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