Florida SB 2288

[GeoL]

The Manatee lover's are hoping for a No vote on Senate Bill 2288, they are against 50 slip marinas. What a pity.
Please ask your Florida Senator for a Yes vote on SB 2288.

The vote is May 2, Monday.

Thank you.
Geo

[stokernick]

business 1,fish 0

[Tom Foley]

Business ! Fish ? This has nothing to do with fish , the manatee is not endangered , only masses of humanity have been brainwashed by the save the m club to believe so .The club is driven to always keep the manatee listed or else they are out of a job . They call themselves a not for profit org , just the opposite . This group is the most destructive element to boating as we know it that exists today !!! Dont be misled by this furry creature BS , its all about the money , nothing else !Tom. :eek:

[Capt.Doug Metko]

Tom is right,Save the Manatee club's only agenda is to take us off the water.
There are 243,000 acres of waterways that are now slow speed zones in the state of Florida thanks to their efforts.They have been responsible for boat ramps being closed and new ones being blocked,(the Tampa Bay area has lost 7 ramps in the last 3 years).They have sued the state and federal government to hold up dock permiting.In 2003 they took in 1.5 million dollars in donations and spent 750,000 of it on employee benefits and salaries.They don't sound like a non-profit do they?
They are not alone,the Ocean Conservancy,the Defenders of Wildlife,Sierra club,Audubon Society,PETA all want to stop all forms of motorized recreation,and their doing a pretty good job because they are well funded and well organized.
Other states have their own problems with access,speed limits,and noise rules too and I applaud the efforts of the people who are involved in trying to protect our rights,We are the last line of defence!
If you enjoy boating,get involved,send an email to your local Senator or Representitive tell them that you are a responsible boater and you support these bills.How do you know what is happening in Florida? Check out these web sites; www.standing-watch.org and www.F-R-A-N.org There are many more but these are the leaders.
I am going to ask Greg to maybe set up a section devoted to issues that affect us,and I hope people from other places will post their own so we all can get a better understanding of the threats to boating.I also hope people will read it...

[GeoL]

someone said there was plenty of room for the manatees.......
right next to the mashed potatoes !!!
Yummy.
Here's where you can find the Senators to write to:
http://www.flsenate.gov/Legislators/index.cfm?Tab=legislators

Thx, Geo

[Capt.Doug Metko]

SUPPORT SB 2288 and HB 989!

Please take a moment and write Governor Bush and your elected House and Senate members to support SB 2288 and HB 989, These bills provide the answer to providing more water access and getting more boat ramps built throughout the state.

What do they do:

They simply provide that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection SHALL, within 60 days, begin rulemaking to provide for a general permit for marinas less than 50,000 square feet in size, or boat ramps to be owned, operated and maintained by local governments. Who would be opposed to this? Save the Manatee of course, because they don’t want anything that will allow boating access on the water! Who else? DEP of course! It takes away some of their power to deny a marina or boat ramp for no reason.

Why would we want to give local governments this ability? DEP has constantly mingled in the business decisions of privately owned marinas ? look at Whitley Bay.. This is another tool in the permit process to add ADDITIONAL boating access points, and the law would require that these marinas and boat ramps stay in public ownership.

You should thank Representative Stan Mayfield Vero Beach and Senator Mike Bennett Bradenton for sponsoring these bills. They have passed UNANIMOUSLY through all of their committees in the House, and has just one remaining Committee in the Senate. The House bill could be heard on the Floor as early as this week!

DEP will be trying to stop this bill, and will be trying to get the Governor to veto it as well. Let you legislators know you support this bill, and email the Governor as well at [email protected]!

Let your voice be heard!

[Capt.Doug Metko]

This is real important to the Florida members of Scream and Fly.
I'll post the result of Monday's senate vote.

[GeoL]

I fired my letters off and joined FRAN.
I wish the other Florida boaters would realize how important this is.
Thx, Geo

[neveredge]

Accorrding to some scientific reports recently the manatee is actually over populated for the amout of available habitat here in Florida. This is causing some die offs and in some places the destruction of much needed seagrass beds. Florida is outside of the manatees natural range. They are not endangered at all. There are many many of them in their natural range which is Cuba on down. I say we send them home!

[GeoL]

Send them back? Great idea ! And with a DEP member under each arm.
Geo

[Maureen M]

This is real important to the Florida members of Scream and Fly.
I'll post the result of Monday's senate vote.

Capt., any news yet? And Geo, thanks for the info and heads up.


Maureen

[Capt.Doug Metko]

SB2288 was withdrawn and it's companion,HB989 was subsituted by the senate.It was voted on in the house and passed 113 to 0.
Now we need Jeb Bush to sign it! We are worried that his ties to the Secretary of the DEP,Colleen Castille, could cause him to veto this bill.
We need everyone to pressure Jeb to sign this bill.

[GeoL]

Thanks Doug,
That is good news. I hope Gov Bush signs the Bill.
Geo

[bulldogdaddy]

i remember back in the 70's they said alligators were endangered!you could find them in any hotel swimming pool,lmao
hope everything works out.keep us posted capt.

[Capt.Doug Metko]

2288,1316,and several other bills were rolled into 2 bills,HB955 and HB989.
These 2 bills address many boating issues in Florida such as construction and funding of ramps and marinas.They were passed by the legislature and have gone to the Govenor to be signed.The environmental extremists are fighting this signing and we ALL need to take the time to write him in support of these bills.Time is short! Here is more info and an easy way to respond;

http://ga1.org/campaign/HB989/

http://ga1.org/campaign/HB955SB1316/

This is from the Marine Industries Association of Florida.

Urge Governor Jeb Bush to sign HB955
Working Waterfront Legislation


House Bill 955 addresses a major issue facing Florida today, preserving public access to Florida’s waterways. This bill is important to the State of Florida to protect the $15.7 billion generated by marine industries in this state and its 180,000 jobs. This bill has been a work in progress for two years and is the first step in protecting public access for future generations. House Bill 955 includes the following provisions relating to Working Waterfronts:

1. The bill prioritizes the need to recognize the benefits generated by marinas and other working public waterfront businesses before they are lost to future generations.

2. House Bill 955 defines “recreational and commercial working waterfronts”.

3. While requiring coastal communities to encourage the preservation of recreational and commercial working waterfronts in their comprehensive plan. It also encourages expanding the Waterfront Florida Program within the Department of Community Affairs and providing funding.

4. HB 955 requires the Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to study the current uses of state parks and identify possible opportunities for recreational boating within those parks.

5. The bill also recognizes the importance of our waterways for engaging in commerce.

6. Establishes a tax deferral program for qualified recreational and commercial working waterfronts by providing much needed relief for escalating waterfront property values.

Please take a few moments of your time and fill out the following email to Governor Jeb Bush asking him to please sign House Bill 955 into law!

Urge Governor Jeb Bush to sign
HB989,
Marinas & Boat Ramps Legislation


House Bill 989 relating to Public Marinas/Boat Ramps/DEP
is going to Governor Bush for his approval and needs your support! Please take time to read this message and email the Governor to let him know that you support this very important piece of legislation!

House Bill 989, Public Marinas/Boat Ramps/DEP, by Representative Stan Mayfield is a very important piece of legislation dealing with public access to Florida’s waterways and does the following.

• The bill amends Florida Statute 373.118 relating to General Permits.

• Requires the department to adopt by rule one or more general permits for local governments to construct, operate, and maintain public marina facilities, public mooring fields, public boat ramps, including associated courtesy docks and associated parking facilities located in uplands.

• Exempts a facility authorized under this permit from the development of regional impact if it complies with the comprehensive plan.

• The facility must comply with manatee protection plan and must obtain Clean Marina Program status.

• Limits the marina or mooring field not to exceed 50,000square feet over wetlands and other surface waters.

• Facilities permitted under this law must be constructed, maintained and operated in perpetuity for the exclusive use of the general public.

• The effective date is July 1, 2005.

• The bill also contains the FWCC legislative package for 2005 including changes to the Boating Advisory Council. The other FWCC changes of interest to MIAF are the additions of “boat access” and “working waterfronts” to the responsibilities of the Council for recommendations to FWCC.

Please take time to email Governor Bush the following letter respectfully requesting his favorable approval of House Bill 989!

[Capt.Doug Metko]

This is from Standing Watch;

Ask Governor Jeb Bush to sign HB 989

Posted Monday, May 16, 2005


HB 0989 Relating to Public Marinas/Boat Ramps/DEP Mayfield
Public Marinas/Boat Ramps/DEP; directs DEP to adopt rules to authorize local governments to construct & maintain all facilities, including public marinas & boat ramps; exempts certain facilities from development-of-regional-impact review; provides for regulatory criteria & for use of submerged lands; revises permit exemption requirements for floating vessel platforms or floating boat lifts. Amends 373.118, 403.183. EFFECTIVE DATE: 07/01/2005.





THE GOVERNOR IS STILL THREATENING TO VETO HB 989!
WE MUST GET CARDS AND LETTERS AND/OR EMAILS TO HIM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.




Here is the message:


I AM A FLORIDA BOATER. I SUPPORT HB 989. THIS BILL HAD UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS EVERYTIME IT WAS VOTED UPON ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR.



WE ARE LOSING WATER ACCESS EVERY DAY AND THIS BILL WILL HELP US GET THE BOAT RAMPS AND PARKING LOTS WE SO DESPERATELY NEED. IT KEEPS THESE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WHICH WE ALSO NEED.


PLEASE SIGN HB 989.

Jeb Bush, Governor

[email protected]

850 / 488-4441
850 / 487-0801 (fax)
Executive Office of the Governor
400 S. Monroe Street
The Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001

[Capt.Doug Metko]

I've attached the actual bills for anyone who is interested.

[GeoL]

I got mine to Gov Bush, hope he signs the bill.
Regards, Geo

[Capt.Doug Metko]

Jeb signed HB 955 this afternoon,thank you to all that took time to respond!!! :D

[Kevin from FL®]

Good to hear, thanks all for the heads up :)

[Capt.Doug Metko]

Jeb signed HB 989 today! GOOD JOB ALL!!! Now let's get him to sign HB 759.Keep up the pressure.it's working!

[Capt.Doug Metko]

The Gov signed 759, it's been a good session for boating.
Thanks to all!!!

[Capt.Doug Metko]

The signage of these three bills was a crushing defeat for $MC and a huge victory for boating! :D :D :D