Okaloosa County BOCC — December 4, 2012 — Ord 08-06 Letter to Lodging Partners — reading text

RE: Changes to County Recreation Areas Ordinance 08-06 To Our Valued Lodging Partners, In an effort to protect endangered wildlife species and the beaches of our beautiful emerald coast, the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) have approved measures to address abandoned/unattended personal items being left on the beaches overnight. We understand that the most important aspect of any change is educating the public. In order to inform our visitors and local residents, a cooperative effort by the Tourist Development Department (TDD), the Public Works Parks Divisions, and Beach Safety is in process. Beach Safety, who patrols County beaches daily and provides lifeguard services, will be interacting with and educating the public concerning the requirement to remove personal items between the hours of midnight and 7:30am. Together, Parks and Beach Safety personnel are developing a tagging system as a means to identify personal items left on the beaches overnight. This system will help personnel clearly identify those items which have been abandoned and left on the beaches overnight. These items will be collected by County personnel and transported to another location for disposal. The Parks Division will be placing informational signage at all County access points to the Gulf on Okaloosa Island and James Lee Park as a further effort to notify the public. These signs are intended to remind beach visitors of the need to remove personal property from the beach during the specified hours. The County’s intent with this program is to provide advanced education to citizens and visitors regarding the Ordinance changes in an effort to avoid confiscating abandoned personal property. The TDD will be developing additional literature explaining the positive environmental effects these new changes will present. This information will be provided to all lodging facility managers, condominium associations, sales managers and directors, and property management companies to assist in educating their patrons. Change is always better received by our citizens and visitors if thoroughly explained well in advance of implementation. On behalf of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners, we ask that you join us in this effort to communicate the recent changes to our County Recreation Areas Ordinance to those visiting our beautiful Emerald Coast this year.