FWC approves ordinance for anchoring/mooring pilot program in Sarasota

6/28/2012

FWC approves ordinance for anchoring/mooring pilot program in Sarasota



Meeting Thursday in Palm Beach Gardens, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) approved, with one contingency, the city of Sarasota's proposed
boating ordinance for the anchoring and mooring pilot program coordinated by the
FWC.

"The goal of the anchoring and mooring pilot program is to explore potential options
for regulating the anchoring or mooring of non-live-aboard vessels outside the
boundaries of public mooring fields," said Maj. Jack Daugherty, leader of the FWC's
Boating and Waterways Section. "The FWC's role is to provide consultation and
technical assistance on the issues."

Local governments for the five communities participating in the pilot program are
responsible for soliciting public input and adopting local ordinances within their
jurisdictions. These ordinances must be approved by the FWC and will continue to be
evaluated by the FWC and the Legislature. Since June 2011, when the final
participant was selected for the program, FWC staff members have been attending the
sites' public-input meetings to provide information on the pilot program.

"The city of Sarasota's ordinance provides time and distance restrictions on
anchoring and mooring outside of the mooring field currently being constructed,"
Daugherty said. "By addressing these local issues, the goal is to improve
navigational safety, protect marine infrastructure, promote public access and deter
improperly stored, abandoned or derelict vessels."

Specifically, the ordinance prohibits anchoring and mooring of vessels outside of
mooring fields for more than 90 consecutive days. Vessels also must be at least 150
feet from the mooring field or any waterfront property.

"There is an exception to the time and distance restrictions for mechanical and
weather issues. Also, the rules can be suspended due to a lack of space in the
mooring fields, and during special events," Daugherty said.

It will also be illegal to anchor, moor or tie-off a vessel to city property except
when loading and unloading dinghies will also be allowed to anchor, moor or tie-off
for periods of 12 hours or less. The ordinance specifies enforcement duties, which
will be undertaken by local law enforcement and the FWC, and penalties for violating
the regulations.

Commissioners discussed the ordinance, asked questions and heard public comment,
ultimately approving it with the contingency suggested by staff that it not go into
effect until the first phase of the mooring field's construction is completed. This
will include 35 moorings available for use by the public.

With this approval, the city can adopt the ordinance to make it effective. All
ordinances adopted under the pilot program expire on July 1, 2014, unless re-enacted
by the Legislature.

Public meetings have also been held in the other four participant sites: Monroe
County, in coordination with the cities of Marathon and Key West Stuart, in
coordination with Martin County St. Petersburg and St. Augustine. The ordinances
for St. Augustine and St. Petersburg have already been approved, and the developing
ordinances from the remaining areas will be presented at future Commission meetings.