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FWC is proposing changes to manatee speed zones in Indian River County. A formal request from FWC was <br />mailed on May 131 to the Board of County Commissioners. Per the letter, the County has 60 days to form a <br />LRRC. Per the requirements outlined by FWC, the committee must include an equal number of waterway users <br />and environmental/marine mammal experts. The LRRC should include the local biologist from the Save the <br />Manatee Club but may not include FWC biologists or government staff. In addition to the formation of the <br />LRRC, County staff will assist FWC by scheduling and hosting the LRRC meetings. FWC will lead all <br />meetings and facilitate the rule review process. <br />Staff propose an LRRC of 14 members with each District Commissioner appointing two (2) members, of the <br />two members one (1) shall be a waterway user (such as fishers, boaters, water skiers, etc.) and one (1) shall be a <br />manatee advocate or other environmental advocate. The remaining 4 members shall be based upon applications <br />submitted directly to the Lagoon Division and reviewed and approved by staff. The final composition of the <br />committee shall be comprised of fifty percent waterway users and fifty percent manatee advocates or other <br />environmental advocates as governed by §379.2431 (2)(f), FS. <br />ANALYSIS <br />N/A <br />BUDGETARYIMPACT <br />Staff time, currently budgeted and funded from the Lagoon Division in the General Fund, would be the only cost incurred in relation <br />to formation of the Local Rule Review Committee. <br />PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS <br />Between 1989 and 1992, the County in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Marine <br />Resources, Bureau of Protected Species Management (now FWC) established manatee protection speed zones. The speed zones were <br />adopted in July of 1992 and sign posting was completed in July 1993. <br />POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS <br />N/A <br />STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT <br />N/A <br />OTHER PLAN ALIGNMENT <br />Manatee Protection Plan <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff recommends the Board of County Commissioners authorize staff to form a Local Rule Review Committee for the proposed <br />FWC rule changing manatee speed zones within the Indian River County section of the Indian River Lagoon. Staff recommends each <br />Board member appoint two (2) members to the LRRC consisting of one (1) waterway user and (1) manatee/environmental advocate. <br />Staff recommends the Board authorize staff to solicit applications for and approve the remaining 4 members. Staff also recommends <br />the Board authorize staff to be the liaison between FWC and the Local Rule Review Committee to facilitate the local rule review <br />process. <br />Indian River County, Florida Page 2 of 2 Printed on 7/10/2025 <br />powered by LegistarTM 87 <br />