Beach Vendor Meeting

[John G]

This is from the "draft minutes" of the March 10th Special Meeting.

Commissioner Jones stated that she would recuse herself from voting due to her being related to a vendor on private beaches. (Form 8B)

Attorney Davis stated that he had advised Commissioner Jones regarding her conflict of interest and what she could and could not do. He said that the issue was researched and that it appears participating, with certain limitations, is the choice of the official. Recusal must be made prior to the vote.

1. Notice the word "appears" and the "within certain limits" statement.
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Question: What are those limitations? Did she exceed them ?

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2. Her statement was that her recusal was based on her being related to a vendor on "private beaches".

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Her son holds a permit for vending on three (3) locations, plus a delivery permit which allows delivery to all "public Beach Accesses".​

Question: Does her son deliver to "public beach accesses"​

Attached is her form 8B where she legally attests to her reason for recusal and the list of all permitted vendors for 2014.

Seems the issue is not cut & dried and further research is required.

View attachment 40162

View attachment 40163

Obvious issue.

State will have a lot to explain and will set massive precedent if they excuse this.

It will allow many relatives to walk through an open door.

Sounds trivial on surface but its not.

 

[Beach Buggys]

Beach Buggys:

It is obvious you support C. Jones, even though it is even more obvious that she violated policy in the most recent meeting. I am sure it was just an oversight and the fact that her son is a vendor will not have anything to do with the outcome of any of this debate...

You stated that people "expect" beach chairs which are a "luxury". I have to disagree. I find that most people don't want to spend the high dollar amount for uncomfortable wooden chairs and an umbrella. Now maybe at a higher end resort (Ally's Beach, Watercolor, etc.) but those are all PRIVATE facilities. We are talking about a PUBLIC beach. There's a big difference.

Additionally, your suggestion of a "study" is interesting. Who is going to pay for the "study" and what is the quantifiable question that will be answered by such an undertaking? If the beach vendors want to contract with someone to do a study ($$$), that would be great. Just look at how successful the County's "Traffic Study" has been...

Where I think you have a good point is that of the Ghost Chairs. Isn't this an issue that the vendors can all solve themselves? Yes it is and they have been given a chance to do this, yet they have not been able to solve the problem and it has escalated to the County (damn Socialists...) getting involved.

Let us all not forget what happened to the golf cart / LSV industry last year or the year before...

A few bad apples ruined the business for all. Some of the rental companies didn't play by the rules and had the same arrogant attitude that has befallen the beach vendors. The result was communities banning golf carts all together with some then contracting with the most professional vendor exclusively, pushing out more of the smaller companies.

I'd suggest beach chair vendors start to change their attitudes and come up with proactive ways to preserve their business before it goes the way of the golf carts...

Well said, very valid points. I do agree the beach vendors should take a pro active in solving this problem. Its no secret that many on here strongly oppose the street legal golf cart/LSV business as well, and you are correct, there were/are companies renting substandard vehicles and breaking community rules which has lead to a negative outlook on the business. I have always taken a proactive stance in making sure our business is a part of the solution and not the problem. I like to think our outlook has helped us to weather the storm and continue to run a good business. Looking at this Beach Vendor situation, I guess the companies more willing to be a part of the solution will weather the storm as well.

 

[Beach Buggys]

But similar to the golf cart issue, i have many, many repeat customers that have always stayed in communities like watercolor or rosemary beach that banned or restricted LSV's. These customers have decided to rent elsewhere, so they could still have the luxury of a golf cart. I do believe the same will apply to beach chairs, if you make the luxuries inaccessible, there will definitely be people who decide to go where they can be catered too. My stance on the issue is lets not make vacationing in South Walton more trouble than its worth to our guests. Keep the luxuries readily available.

 

[Teresa]

When staying in a resort the guest is provided every luxury they desire including Beach set up. Those resort towns regulate the set ups so that their beaches remain beautiful and accessible to guests. The same needs to happen on every Beach.

Grayton Beach has always had a chair vendor. In years past, that vendor was respectful of beachgoers and only provided what was needed or wanted without taking over the beautiful beach, and without an obvious presence. Was never a problem. Not sure what happened. Beach vendors started coming out of the woodwork. Last year so many locals and visitors were complaining about chair set ups everywhere. The set ups ruin the beauty of a public beach that was once open and natural, they take over our public space on the beach, and they are now out of control.

Other Florida beaches control and regulate beach vendors out of necessity. It's our responsibility to do the same to protect our beaches and keep them beautiful and accessible. Most of us bring our own chairs and umbrellas. If you want to rent a set up, then rent in a resort or call a vendor ahead of time.

 

[Misty]

It's no secret that I don't like C Jones or her overbearing, mouthy spouse but....IMO I think this ones a stretch Mr. Hudson.

If it turns out you're correct...KUDOS on you.

 

[steel1man]

Saturday 3/14/15. Reserved Wed-Fri. Which Wed.? Blue Mt.

 

[John G]

Saturday 3/14/15. Reserved Wed-Fri. Which Wed.? Blue Mt.

View attachment 40173

Just saw something similar...

This will be the new way to get around "Ghost Chairs". Put up a reserved sign...

You could created a fictitious name, put up a card and there's your advertising and not so much a Ghost Chair any more...

I know this is the way chairs are reserved, well aware of it. But now what stops someone from creating a fake reservation?

For years there were never these problems on any public beach, why now?

I sincerely hope the Beach Chair Vendors get some good leadership to be pro-active about resolving these issues. Beach Buggys sounds like they have a good head on their shoulders, although we don't agree 100%.

Solutions are pretty simple, who's going to lead by example and who's going to buck the system?

 

[steel1man]

Word around here , over heard by a local, beach boys saying ,"they will put their chairs where ever they want and NO one can stop them"....... we will see...

 

[Bob Hudson]

It's no secret that I don't like C Jones or her overbearing, mouthy spouse but....IMO I think this ones a stretch Mr. Hudson. If it turns out you're correct...KUDOS on you.

We shall see

 

[Teresa]

Saturday 3/14/15. Reserved Wed-Fri. Which Wed.? Blue Mt.

View attachment 40173

I hope that gets removed from the beach. Awful.