Okaloosa County BOCC — April 21, 2015 — Matt Gaetz letter on emergency corridor to Crab Island

B Florida House of Representatives Representative Matt Gaetz District 4 District Office: Tallahassee Office: 1188 Eglin Parkway 317 The Capitol Shalimar, FL. 32579 402 South Monroe Street (850) 833-9328 ‘ Tallahassve, FL 32399 (850) 833-9342 (fax) (850) 717-5004 Email: Matt.Gaetz@my floridahouse.gov March 13, 2015 Commissioner Charles K. Windes Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite 100 Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 Dear Commissioner Windes, As you will recall, you and 1 recently attended a town hall meeting at Destin City Hall regarding the current jurisdictional and public safety status of Crab Island. My primary take aways from that meeting were as follows: (1) people generally do not wat to see excessive govermnent regulation on the “island,” and (2) people generally were supportive of a buoyed corridor into the center of Crab Island for emergency response vessels, . To that end, this week I met with officials from Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Comniission, including Jackie Fauls, Steve Shea and Major Richard Moore. FWC has reported that it entirely within the jurisdiction of Okaloosa County, if it so chooses, to pass an ordinance creating an emergency vessel corridor. Such a corridor would require a FWC permit, which FWC reporis 10 me they would issue promptly. I trust you will use your best judgment to determine whether to ask the Commission to enact such an ordinance. If 1 can facilitate any communication with FWC or any other state entity regarding this issué, please do not hesitate to ask. [ have included below the names and contact information of the FWC officials who stand ready and willing to be of assistance to Okaloosa County in this matter: s Jackie Fauls ‘ Legislative Affairs Director Committees: Finance & Tax, Chair Regulatory Affairs State Affaire Heatth Quality Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (850) 487-3795 — Office number {850) 251-2817 — Cell number Jackie.fauls@myfive.com + Steve Shea Regional Director; Northwest Region Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission {850) 265-3676 — Office nummber (850) 227-8455 — Cell number Steve.shea@myfwe.com e Major Richard Moore Section Leader, Boating and Waterways Section Division of Law Enforcement Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (850) 488-5600 — Office number (850) 2510264 — Cell number Richard.moore@myfwe.com Matt Gaetz District 4 ce: - Jackie Fauls, FWC Sheriff Larry Ashley Commissioner Wayne Harris Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel Commissioner Nathan Boyles Commissioner Trey Goodwin Mayor Mel Ponder Councilman Rodney Braden Councilman Tuffy Dixon Councilman Jim Foreman Councilman Cyron Marter Councilwoman Prebble Ramswell Councilwoman Sandy Trammell Councilman Jim Wood