Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 01-22-05 — reading text

Pursue the of a public marina at Fort Walton Landing. development a public awareness campaign be The committee also made recommendations that in the paper and Beach Bits and develop an developed that includes educational articles that protects the ordinance, after reviewing ordinances from other jurisdictions wetlands. that individual members of the Below is a consolidated list of all the recommendations Committee presented: 1) Recommend that the City Council support the grant proposal by the Park Water Shed Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance ( CBA) for the Liza Jackson for the Ecosystem Restoration and Project. CBA has generated a grant proposal Reduction in storm water Impacts into Santa Rosa Sound at Liza Jackson Park. for mooring fields for 2) Recommend that the City Council submit an application transient boaters to the FDEP office. active stance in sponsoring 3) Recommend that the City Council take a pro- educational programs: of Fort Walton Beach. o To protect water quality in and around the City To inform boaters about safe boating and other information which could o be included in the City Bits publication. I o That use the free information and public information from the FDEP. bulletin These informational materials could be made available through the city. This would be I boards or display cases at the launch sites within and other information part of the recreation program of the city. Maps for the boaters. could be displayed for the general public as well as School I o To educate school children by including the Okaloosa County conduct biology System in the loop on information and let local students other environmental and science projects related to flowing water and I issues. of Choctawhatchee Bay is o To educate the public on why the water quality in the Daily News. The steadily declining by placing a series of articles I articles should address dumping of sewage, storm water runoff, habitat destruction, trash dumping, effects of fertilizers/ insecticides, etc. Articles the front of a page in should be in a well read place in the newspaper - I Section A. Articles should appear in the newspaper at least once a month.. I Page 30 of 32 12/ 15/ 2004  I o To educate the public on the problem that storm water runoff presents and how their input can reduce the problem. a To educate waterfront property owners whose properties drain directly into wetlands, ponds, lakes, creeks, the Sound and the Bay of the importance of preventing pollution entering the waterways. 4) The City of FWB needs to ensure an adequate supply of marine sewage pump out facilities. The City should provide at least one pump out facility that is open to all boaters at nominal cost and could be at a private marina, or leased from a marina if the city chooses to not own its own facility. Pump out stations should be low- cost and readily accessible seven days a week. The use of public funds should be considered to minimize costs. 5) The City needs to define formally its jurisdiction over watervJays contiguous to the City. The City needs to have police authority over the use of these waterways either by defining the jurisdiction with Sheriff and State patrols or undertaking to policethe waterways through City Police. This would include littering in the waterways, dumping, anchoring and living in the waterways on boats with no holding tanks for sewage or water, Boating Under the Influence and other unsafe practices which take away the important assets of our area - our waterways and beaches and parks. The City also needs to establish No Wake Zones for boats and wave runners near its public areas on the water including Garniers Beach and public boat launches. 6) The City needs to have a program to encourage planting native plants on waterfront developments. Plants which encourage the wildlife of this area as well as migratory birds and butterflies should be part of a developer's plans when the City approves the plans. Our waterways cannot remain healthy with the fertilizer and chemical run off from lawns. Current waterfront homeowners should be encouraged to plant native grasses and plants and to encourage wetland preservation. Niceville, 7) Encourage all communities on or near Choctawhatchee Bay ( Shalimar, Valparaiso, Destin, South Walton County and the Freeport area) to establish committees that will address water quality. 8) Protect wetlands because they provide habitat for wildlife and marine life, provide a storage basin.for excess rainfall, provide a filter to remove pollutants, an area for native plants and enhance our overall quality of life. provide Protection should also include means to prevent encroachment, dumping, life is allowed. unnecessary disturbance and assurance that only necessary plant Wetlands should be defined in the strictest sense to minimize any loop holes in the regulations. 9) The boardwalk plans pnd progress of this important item should be publicized and that completion of this program be vigorously pursued. 10) AII city parks and city owned property adjoining the Sound and the Bay be will surveyed for use as swimming areas. The addition of more beach areas enforce the idea that Fort Walton Beach actually has beaches. Inventory existingë Page 31 of 32 12/ 15/ 2004  public access. Then determine how much and what type of public access is needed. Then develop a plan to meet the need. Beautify existing parks with exceptional landscaping. 11) AII marinas should be certified by Florida' s Clean Marina program and request Council to pursue q joint agreement with county to mirror the city' s plan. 12) Recommend the location of the Bridge. 13) Regulate construction of objects on the water. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Page 32 of 32 12/ 15/ 2004