Okaloosa County BOCC — May 6, 2016 — I. h. Destin Fire Control District — reading text

 DESTIN FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT BEACH SAFETY DIVISION  “THE BEACH” JUNE 8, 2003 • In 2003 there were 100 rip current related drowning deaths in the US, 24 occurred between Pensacola and Panama City.  STATISTICS DESTIN BEACH SAFETY ACTIVITY ANALYSIS 2005-2015 Lost Persons Preventative Educational Attendance Minor First Major First Boat PWC Public Missing Persons Assists Marine Aids Aids Contacts Actions Persons Rescued Infractions Infractions Stings Pamphlets 2005 Yearly 1,512,218 150 21 132,264 68 22 113 12,929 788 868 411 2006 Yearly 2,181,230 237 32 122,799 20,231 96 42 33 295 2,118 2,729 266 2,547 2007 Yearly 1,838,954 381 68 182,018 59,951 158 80 80 495 1,461 1,373 2,443 11,495* 2008 Yearly 1,823,765 452 101 193,668 65,471 179 65 195 414 1,555 1,278 3,494 3,163 2009 Yearly 1,761,691 505 277 169,691 46,321 205 73 121 415 1,487 1,726 664 2,817 2010 Yearly 1,351,468 426 328 188,044 38,801 236 40 318 552 1,109 1,019 560 1,519 2011 Yearly 2,454,820 422 179 269,972 61,754 285 58 163 247 1,179 1,525 1,180 2,040 2012 Yearly 2,222,478 409 152 204,398 63,444 224 61 122 243 1,015 1,120 561 1,568 2013 Yearly 2,220,771 325 55 489,117 82,119 387 31 119 241 848 708 908 800 2014 Yearly 2,462,259 522 123 185,658 154,516 155 26 60 154 636 5,570 222 6,890 2015 Yearly 2,598,287 520 65 244,652 63,809 109 26 231 285 184 164 406 1,815 Average 2,038,904 395 127 216,571 65,642 191 48 141 1,479 1,125 1,644 1,010 2,573 * denotes a high number of educational material with use of flag color bracelets. Cut in 2008 due to budget restraints.  Is Destin getting it’s monies worth? Total TDC Dollars Spent from 2012-2015 Per Protected Visitor • Destin - $2,183,279 / $9,503,795 = $0.22 • Okaloosa - $2,103,279 / $4,124,500 = $0.50 • South Walton - $2,558,203 / $2,991,000 = $0.85  Is Destin getting it’s monies worth? • Destin full time staff – 1 (No Beach Facility) • Okaloosa full time staff – 5 (Beach Facility) • South Walton full time staff - 3 • If 66% of the revenue is generated from Destin AND If 66% of the visitors are in Destin; Why does Destin only receive 50% of the monies allocated?  Visitor increase versus revenue allocation • When the current projects of “The Henderson,” “1900”, etc. are completed, the Fire District, City, and County will see an increase in ad valorem tax dollars to service the new areas. • When TDC visitors and revenue increase, so should the revenue allocation for Beach Safety services.  66% of what ? • The Destin Fire Control District is requesting that for every TDC dollar spent on Beach Safety, that they receive $0.66 of it.  A New Danger • With space limited on the traditional coastal beach, visitors are finding other beach areas to recreate such as the East Pass and Crab Island. • DFCD has been stationing a lifeguard at the East Pass for 3 years for the 100 days of summer. The visitor numbers have gone from 57,181 in 2013 to 158,010 in 2015. • While no attendance statistics have been kept, the increase of the use at Crab Island is clear from the presences of the “floating main street” and the 911 calls.  Protection of Crab Island • Option 1 – 100 days of summer – Boat protection Friday thru Sunday – Cost of $49,289.53 • Option 2 – 100 days of summer – Boat protection Friday thru Sunday – Jet Ski protection Monday thru Thursday – Cost of $64,084.26 • Option 3 – Spring Break to Labor Day Weekend – Boat protection Friday thru Sunday – Cost of $82,149.21 * All service is from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day and includes holiday coverage