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MAY 0 5 1992 u F� TO: James E. Chandler County Administrator DEPARTMENT READ CONCURRENCE: obert M.ttpmejW g, Community DevelDirector FROM: Roland DeBlois, AICP Chief, Environmental Planning DATE: April 27, 1992 RE: FDNR Manatee Protection Speed Zones It is requested that the data presented herein be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at their regular meeting of May 5, 1992. DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS Recently, the State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) notified county staff that DNR had drafted their recommendations for manatee protection speed zones in Indian River County. Now that the state has drafted its proposal, the county has the opportunity to provide the state with comments and recommendations regarding the DNR plan. Background In October 1989, FDNR made recommendations to the Governor and Cabinet regarding needed boating safety and manatee protection strategies for 13 "key" manatee protection counties,_ including Indian River County. As a result, the Governor and Cabinet voted to allow the 13 counties to choose among three alternatives regarding local speed zone regulations, these alternatives being: 1)� a 300' wide shoreline buffer slow -speed zone (marked navigation channels exempt); 2) a maximum 30 m.p.h. speed limit within marked channels, 20 m.p.h. elsewhere; or 3) a locally developed site-specific interim speed zone plan. In choosing the alternative of preparing a locally developed site- specific interim speed zone plan, the Board of County Commissioners appointed an ad hoc manatee protection and boating safety committee. The ad hoc committee made recommendations to the Board, and at a public hearing on February 6 1990, the Board adopted an interim manatee protection speed zone plan (Resolution 90-20) which was forwarded to FDNR for consideration. FDNR Marine Resource Division staff reviewed Resolution 90-20 and concluded that the plan did not provide adequate protection for manatees. Consequently, FDNR submitted a proposal to the Board requesting that its proposal be adopted in lieu of Resolution 90- 20. At a public hearing on May 8, 1990, the Board adopted the FDNR Proposal with modifications, and submitted the modified proposal (Resolution 90-58) to FDNR for incorporation into state rules. Now$ approximately two years after the Board's adoption of Resolution 90-58, FDNR staff are finalizing their recommendations on manatee protection speed zones in Indian River County and are soon to make recommendations to the Governor and Cabinet on the matter for incorporation into state rules. FDNB staff will be holding a local public hearing on their proposed zones -within the coming month. 14