HOW THE STEM TO STERN II CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE BUILT THE AGENDA FOR

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Walter Hamilton
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1 HOW THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE BUILT THE AGENDA FOR STEM TO STERN II Using results from strategic planning sessions held at four regional boating and waterways workshops to gather stakeholder input.

2 OBJECTIVES OF THE CONFERENCE & THE WORKSHOPS To provide state, regional, county, and local entities the opportunity to showcase innovative and timely efforts related to boating and waterways management. To provide attendees an opportunity to network with others who are involved in the same types of professional issues and, together, develop strategies, timelines, funding sources, and regional alliances to address them. To provide an opportunity for attendees to obtain training on topics of relevance.

3 What entities comprise the Stem to Stern II organizing committee?

5 SANTA ROSA COUNTY TAYLOR COUNTY BREVARD COUNTY PINELLAS COUNTY CHARLOTTE COUNTY LEE COUNTY COLLIER COUNTY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

8 Four Regional Boating and Waterways Workshops

9 September 9-10, 2010 Punta Gorda

10 March 14-15, 2011 West Palm Beach

11 August 16-17, 2011 Milton

12 November 30 & December 1, 2011 St. Augustine

13 How Participants Identified Themselves

14 Strategic Planning Process Summary of topics from previous day s presentations and Q&A sessions Write down most pressing boating & waterways issues Stand by groups deemed most important Participants then grouped issues

16 Boater Safety & Education: Issues Need for boater education and resources Boater safety (on the water communication; boater inexperience; PWC safety; large vessel wake management) Identifying best method of communicating with the boating public Easy access to boating information Mandatory boating safety class Boater s license law Statistics on effects of vessel inspections and boating education to evaluate effectiveness

17 Boater Safety & Education: Actions State-regulated boater education and safety course (book and inwater operation); also for PWCs, boat renters, and rental vendors/employees; refresher course w/ law changes Develop Boater s license system with exam Permanent and Temporary (visitor) licenses; Additional boat licenses by size and endorsement Better/more creative marketing of boater education and information Develop resource personnel directory (educators, planners, DVs, etc.) so know who to contact with question City, County, State, Federal (USCG) collaboration on boating safety & education

18 Planning: Issues Disjointed flow of information (top down; bottom up) Need for public engagement techniques and user conflict resolution Lack of planning Counties lack dedicated marine planner Planning for artificial reef placement Placement of marinas; sufficient distance from channels Balancing Local and State Interests in Waterways Management (surface water use policy) Need a forum to share information and stay connected among boating and waterways practitioners

19 Planning: Actions Provide marine and waterway planning workshops/ trainings/ education (general, databases, current technology, how to create boating zones, who to talk to, artificial reef placement) Waterway and Access planning and research (use patterns; prioritize access sites; want vs. need a boating restricted area; master plan for waterways, future use; Repair/replacement of existing facilities) Outreach to user groups (understand target audience; workshop attendance; conflict resolution) Web host to keep boating and waterway stakeholders connected State Summit/Regional Workshops to keep boating and waterway stakeholders connected (frequency?) Each county should have a marine resource planner

20 Funding: Issues Communication of available/future funding sources Restrictions or limitations on how funding is used; Use funding or lose it Funding for artificial reefs Funding for public access, deep water access Secure/protected funding mechanisms for waterway management Canoe and kayak launches cannot be funded with federal dollars; don t want to pay fees Canoe and kayak registration - Pay for improved infrastructure and access

21 Funding: Actions Central repository of available funding (i.e., access, working waterfronts, enforcement) Workshops (education) for the ABCs of funding and where to find funding (refer them to repository) Dedicated Marine Funding Sources (ex: fees from exam or boat license) Canoe/Kayak Registration - Same process as boater registration; Minimal fee; Temporary registrations available at facilities where fishing licenses are sold for transients; Tax at purchase; Education Increase spending flexibility (Reduce artificial limitations on how/where to spend; Give field staff spending authority) Establish roll over accounts for unused allocated funds Pressure on law makers to introduce model legislation to prevent raiding of trust funds (Constitutional amendments/ballot reform)

22 Environmental: Issues Resource Protection (Education; Data management; Monitoring; Permitting) Better valuation of natural resources as related to boating site economic studies (Environmental, recreational, social, and aesthetic values)

23 Environmental: Actions Annual dissemination of actual economic, recreational, environmental value of marine infrastructure and waterways (disseminate to politicians to use in decision making process) Reduce impacts to natural resources (seagrass, mangroves, Derelict Vessel damage, manatees, water quality) (ex: Prop scars; mooring and pump outs; docks, marinas, trimming, and dredging) Address natural resource protection via educational campaigns Evaluate effectiveness of resource protection/ restoration plans (seagrass, fishing populations; Feasibility, Socio-economic benefit/asset, and Boater Access) Increase enforcement of existing regulations to protect natural resources (seagrass, mangroves, manatees, fishing regulations) Determine carry capacity as related to environmental, recreational and aesthetic sectors factoring in balance between environmental and human valued goods and services

24 Derelict Vessels: Issues Derelict Vessel Removal Stronger enforcement and prosecution of violators Different agencies managing Derelict Vessels on the waterway Lack of funding for Derelict Vessel removal Lack of education for boat owners regarding disposal options (to prevent becoming DVs) Environmental impact of Derelict Vessels (i.e. seagrass, chemicals, hazardous waste, dredging, marine life, removal and disposal) Lack of financial means to maintain the boat (boat owner)

25 Derelict Vessels: Actions Derelict Vessel Education/awareness for public, boaters, nonexperienced law enforcement, legislature, prosecutors, and State attorney Project collaboration between agencies (federal, state, and local, volunteer groups) to remove DVs and marine debris (illegal moorings, unauthorized nav. aids) Create fee to cover costs associated with Derelict Vessel removal (require DV insurance to operate on state waters; use vessel registration funds; additional fee on vessel registration; ask boaters what willing to pay; transferable disposal fee; DV license plate) Increased penalties for Derelict Vessel offenders (Any community service hours must be in an environmental service capacity)

26 Regulations: Issues Issues with the Permitting Process Regulatory Discrepancies / Unapproved ordinances Enforcement - On the water enforcement; Regulation enforcement Clear and standardized waterway channel and restriction markings

27 Regulations: Actions Streamline Permitting Process (Eliminate duplicative permitting rules; Expedite permits for projects with resource protection benefits or previously approved projects (maintenance)) Better Interagency coordination of the permitting process Increase Uniformity of Waterway regulations (speed zones; improve channel markings; manatee zones) Pre-application process meetings with permitting agencies (Checklist of what permits are needed, from whom and when) Develop annual update sheet with any regulation changes (i.e., boating, planning) Develop reasonable anchoring time limits for enforcement

28 Access: Issues Public Access & amenities (pump out; ramp capacity; parking; Clean Marinas) Physical navigational hazards; Unauthorized navigation aids; Illegal moorings Dredging to keep waterways passable (including ICW)

29 FIRST BOAT RIDE! THANK YOU SEE YOU AT STEM TO STERN III

1. Name of business. 15. Renewal month of your policy:

1. Name of business. 15. Renewal month of your policy: Florida Commercial Property Insurance Survey The Office of Insurance Regulation has received reports that some insurers are sending notices of cancellation or non-renewal of commercial insurance coverage.