St. Pete Beach commission directs staff to seek new bids for micro-transit after Freebee review
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Summary
After a staff presentation on ridership and costs, the commission directed staff to go back out for a request for proposals for the city—s micro-transit service, rather than immediately ending the subsidy. Residents urged keeping the service; commissioners asked staff to seek cheaper or partnership alternatives.
Mandy Edmonds, the city—s resident services director, told the commission the on-demand micro-transit program operated by Freebee averages about 2,300 rides and 4,200 passengers per month and costs the city roughly $34,000 to $35,000 a month after revenue offsets. The current contract expires Sept. 30 and the annual contract cost is about $536,000, Edmonds said. "This program provides a valued service for some users, particularly in high-traffic areas," Edmonds said, noting a net per-ride cost of $13 to $17 and that the city implements nonresident fares and advertising revenue to offset costs.
The presentation prompted questions about who uses the service and how it is funded. Commissioners asked for clearer data on how many rides were by residents versus visitors and how much of the monthly revenue came from advertising versus nonresident fares. Edmonds said Freebee has not been able to provide an exact resident-versus-visitor breakdown; she estimated advertising revenue at roughly $9,000 per month and said nonresident fares contributed significantly less.
Commissioners pressed for alternatives and partnerships. One commissioner said hotels should be asked to help subsidize the service where it primarily benefits tourists; others urged issuing a request for proposals that would allow different vendors and models to propose lower-cost options. The commission ultimately directed staff to update the scope and issue an RFP for FY27 funding rather than immediately sunsetting the program.
Several residents addressed the commission during public comment. "We call for Freebee. It—s seamless," said Sylvia Gabe, who described quick pickup times, professional drivers and the service—s importance for attending local events. Other commenters who use the service described longer waits for purely private providers and urged the city to explore hotel partnerships or other funding sources.
Commission discussion also touched on operational issues: one commissioner warned that Freebee had used the city—s email list to solicit support, calling that a security concern and a potential contract breach; Edmonds said staff would follow up on contractual concerns. Commissioners asked staff to include minimum service-level requirements, app reliability, marketing expectations and partnership options in any RFP. The commission provided direction to pursue an RFP and refine the FY27 budget assumptions so the program can either continue in a revised form or be sunset after the current contract expires.
