Okaloosa County BOCC — February 21, 2017 — OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL TO EXPAND FEES AND REGISTRATION FOR MOTORLESS WATER CRAFTS - LINED 02.21.2017

1 RESOLUTION NO. 17-______ 2 3 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY 4 COMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA; 5 OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL TO EXPAND FEES AND 6 REGISTRATION FOR KAYAKS, CANOES, 7 PADDLEBOARDS AND OTHER MOTORLESS CRAFTS; 8 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 9 10 WHEREAS, a statewide advisory committee to the Florida Fish and Wildlife 11 Conservation Commission has recently proposed the establishment of registration and fees to 12 apply to kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and other motorless crafts; and 13 14 WHEREAS, the establishment of such a system of registration and fees would adversely 15 impact those recreational activities in the State of Florida and unnecessarily increase the cost; 16 and would harm coastal business interests in our community, and 17 18 WHEREAS, there is uncertainty as to whether this proposal may be adopted either by 19 legislation or through rule making; and 20 21 WHEREAS, Okaloosa County believes that such a proposal would be adverse to its 22 tourist industry in our area, further tax our local residents, and expand governmental regulation 23 in an unnecessary manner; and 24 WHEREAS, the Board of County Commission of Okaloosa County desires to state its 25 opposition to such a proposal. 26 27 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF 28 COUNTYCOMMISSIONERS OF OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA AS FOLLOWS: 29 30 1. The above recitals are true and are incorporated herein as if fully set forth. 31 32 2. The Board of County Commissioners of Okaloosa County hereby opposes the expansion 33 of fees and registration requirements for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and other motor-less 34 crafts. 35 36 3. The Board urges that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the 37 Florida Legislature to not adopt any new policy regarding this tax that will negatively impact our 38 economy and the enjoyment of our natural resources. 39 40 4. This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption. 41 42 1 43 DULY ADOPTED this 21st day of February, 2017. 44 45 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 46 OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA 47 48 49 ________________________________ 50 CAROLYN N. KETCHEL, CHAIRMAN 51 52 ATTEST: 53 J. D. PEACOCK, II 54 Clerk of the Circuit Court 55 56 57 By: __________________________ 58 Deputy Clerk 59 (Seal) 60 61 62 63 APPROVED AS TO FORM: 64 65 66 By: ______________________________ 67 Gregory T. Stewart 68 County Attorney 69 70 71 72 73 2