The following is an extract from the St. Augustine Record, regarding proposed new regulations regarding boaters wishing to anchor out. Other cities I believe have and have had similar issues. Even as their vast mooring fields on the ICW remain almost completely empty the push is on to further restrict anchoring.
Please, those of you with the knowledge and background of how best to handle these issues, do come forward and be heard. It seems that the City Of St. Augustine is determined to drive out everything that doesn't fit their business model.
This seems to be: Welcome if you bring lots of spending cash, ride our trolley bus tour and dine and shop in our St. George St. businesses. Please do not loiter on the sidewalks to impede the other shoppers but do go inside the shops and spend. We aim to remove the horse-drawn carriages, street vendors or artists to not distract you from your spending. Please stay focused and spend in our establishments. Remember, that is what you are here for.
If you are coming by boat, use our high-priced marinas. We have diligently attempted to make any anchoring out a non-viable option for you. After a stay of 10 days we should have sufficiently fleeced your cash reserves to make any further combing out not cost-effective or meeting with our stay/benefit goals. Currently we are working on all manner of regulations under color of law to scare you out of even attempting such a rash act as anchoring. To further our end the S.S.R. of St. Augustine will decree to enact the following:
(The text from the Record follows below)
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday approved the text of an ordinance implementing St. Augustine’s mooring ball pilot program and adding additional elements to regulation of the busy harbor.
The approval is a blow to those mariners who believe the city’s mooring field restrictions are too controlling of what they believe should be unregulated water.
A boycott of St. Augustine harbor was an idea proposed by some.
As a result of the FWC approval, the current program will remain in force until 2014 and could be an example of what the Legislature might consider for statewide adoption, according to a city news release.
The regulations added include:
â–* Guidelines on how close a vessel may anchor to a marine structure.
â–* Restrictions on anchoring in Salt Run to preserve shellfish beds.
â–* How close to a mooring field a vessel may anchor.
â–* Preventing vessels from blocking the channels of the San Sebastian River.
â–* Requiring that a vessel anchored outside a mooring field be able to get underway.
â–* Specifies how long an occupied vessel may be anchored in the city but outside a mooring field.
The FWC changed the city’s rule of limiting a vessel outside a mooring field to 10 consecutive days in each 30-day period and expanded that to 30 consecutive days in any 45 consecutive day period.
The city’s first ordinance on this will be changed to reflect these additional requirements.
A revised ordinance is expected to be adopted at the City Commission’s Dec. 19 meeting.
It will go into effect 10 days later.
The shorter anchoring period was one of the main objections of the boating community.
(end of copy )
As I often stay longer than a month and do spend money in the town or at businesses it galls me how the city wants to impose on what are completely my own choices. Can they not understand some people do things by choice? Hanging off a buoy or a dock may not be one of them so just get over it.
Ivo S/V LinnuPesa ( currently full of piss and vinegar and with the rant toggle on )
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