6/16/1992 (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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DESCRIPTION & CONDITIONS At a public discussion on May 26, 1992, the Board of County Commissioners considered the state Department of Natural Resources (FDNR) manatee protection speed zone proposal. At that meeting, the Board received recommendations from the Marine Advisory/Narrows Watershed Action Committee (MANWAC) regarding comments to transmit to the state. The Board voted unanimously to transmit the recommended comments to the state. Following are the five (5) recommendations: 1. Revise the seasonal recreation use areas so that the 35 m.p.h. speed allowance time frame extends from April 15th to October 31st each year. 2. Eliminate all slow speed restrictions in the Intracoastal Waterway channel (and adjacent 100' buffers), including the elimination of seasonal slow speed within the, channel of the Jungle Trail narrows, EXCEPT FOR recommended slow speed under bridges and between channel markers 137 and 143 (Riomar Cut). 3. Revise the configuration of the unregulated recreation use area in the south portion of the county, east of channel markers 153-156, so that the unregulated area is 300 yards wide extending from the south tip of Prang Island to Porpoise Point, whereby the eastern boundary of the 300 yard width is the barrier island shoreline. Moreover, revise the unregulated area to include a 100 yard wide access corridor from the Intracoastal Waterway channel to "Martin Cove", along the south side of the existing east -west powerline (near channel marker 153). 4. Leave all residential canals (e.g., Vero Shores canals) open to public access, even if at idle speeds. 5. [FDNB] dredge the flats at the confluence of the south fork of the St. Sebastian River, to an appropriate depth to allow for safe passage of both manatees and boats. Subsequently, on May 27, 1992, the state held a public hearing in the Vero Beach High School auditorium to receive comments from the general public. Approximately 150 people attended the hearing, some of which voiced a concern there was insufficient notice to the public to provide comment to the Board of County Commissioners and to the state concerning the manatee protection proposal. At their regular meeting on June 2, 1992, the Board voted to hold a county -sponsored public hearing on the proposed rule to provide more opportunity for public input prior to the Board finalizing comments to the state. ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS The official 21 day comment period following publication of the proposed manatee protection rule in the Florida Administrative Weekly has passed. However, the Board of County Commissioners has the opportunity to submit comments to the state up to the day of the final public hearing before the Governor and Cabinet, and may present any Board recommendations at the final hearing. FDNR staff have indicated that they are tentatively planning to present the matter before the Governor and Cabinet on July 8, 1992. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Board consider public comments and make finalized recommendations to the state regarding the proposed manatee protection plan. 3