Port Authority Questions Additional Tariff for Security

PALMETTO – At Thursday's Manatee Port Authority meeting, members first passed the Consent Agenda that included a Port Manatee Tariff increase (item D) based on security measures observed by the U.S. Coastguard. Two of the Port's clients were attending and commented on consequences, should the increase prevail.

It was during citizen comments when Chris Shields, General Manager of Gearbulk Inc. and Michel Tosini, Executive Vice President of Federal Marine Terminals (FMT), stepped up to the podium to tell members why they shouldn't increase the proposed Port Tariff.

Shields said he wasn't happy with the increase that was said to come from security costs and reminded board members that any increase may cause some of their clients to go elsewhere. Shields said he wasn't sure how his company would respond. He added, "Port Manatee is already higher then their competing ports."

Shields reminded members, "This is a highly competitive business," telling the board that some of their costs are twice as much as elsewhere.

Manatee County's Director of Seaport Security, David St. Pierre, said the proposed Tariff increase is due to security procedure changes that were suggested by the U.S. Coast Guard.

St. Pierre said many of the clients occupying the buildings on Port property supply some security―specialized to their operations―and in many cases it may be duplicating services. He said the Coast Guard would prefer a single plan, not a custom fit. St. Pierre said there would be an additional cost to put the port on a single plan.

Most of the board members were caught by surprise, and though they voted for it, they said they weren't sure as to the implications.

Commissioner Charles Smith said, "I would not have voted for it if I had known. The law firm should have explained to us what we were doing."

Commissioner Betsy Benac told Smith, "The information was there days ago for anyone to look at." But Benac admitted she too didn't understand the implications of passing the tariff changes.

All of the members, except for Commissioner Robin DiSabatino, appealed to the clients and questioned the liberty of the Coast Guard, and Benac asked St. Pierre if it was a Coast Guard mandate.

St. Pierre said that it was not so much a mandate, but a procedural request, and that any other way to circumvent the request could be even more difficult and costly.

Commission Vanessa Baugh suggested the board would make the decision, not the Coast Guard.

Later, DiSabatino said, "I am not about to tell the Coast Guard what to do. We will have to work it out and do what is best for security."

Commissioner John Chappie said he wanted to make a motion to take a re-vote on the Consent Agenda and get rid of Item D (the Tariff change).

Chappie motioned to rehear the Consent Agenda, which was approved 6-0 with Commissioner Larry Bustle absent.

Chappie again motioned to approve the Consent Agenda without item D. The motion was also approved 6-0. Chappie then motioned to have the Tariff item put on the next agenda, also approved 6-0.