Operator of Caladesi Island ferry tells commission dock delays and storm damage threatened service; park service offers repair plan and contract extension

Janet Henderson, president of the Caladesi Island Connection, told the Dunedin City Commission during citizens’ input that her ferry service — running between Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island since 1986 — had faced a threatened suspension because National/State Park docks damaged in last autumn’s storms would not be available until April 2026.

Henderson said the private operator runs two boats daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and in bad weather), carries about 75,000 passengers per year, and pays the park service 20 percent of earnings — an amount she estimated at roughly $170,000 annually. She told the commission that storm damage last fall required an $80,000–$90,000 repair to one vessel; the operator also rebuilt an office interior at a cost of about $23,000 and had continued to pay two employees’ salaries after service paused.

Henderson said she recently spoke with park service staff and was told the park would allow a local repair person to fix docks and bring bathroom facilities online sooner than the original April 2026 timeline; she also said the park granted the operator an extension to its contract, enabling the business to attempt to resume service sooner.

Henderson asked the commission to note the economic role the ferry plays for Dunedin tourism and said the operator had daily inquiries from customers about reopening. Mayor Franey and other commissioners thanked Henderson for the update; no formal action was taken by the commission at the meeting.

Henderson identified herself for the record and gave her address during the public‑comment period as required by city rules.