From WZEP AM 1460
WC BCC Beach Ordinance Meeting
It is Spring break now and summer visitors will be here soon. Walton County’s population swells and this means more work for the local government, emergency responders and businesses. As the county grows the number of residents and visitors, there is less room and the need for more support.
The Walton County Beaches host a number of people each year. With public areas, should private companies be able to set up rental chairs on the beach, taking space away from other public who want to use the beach? The question brings possible changes to the beach vending ordinance.
The beaches in Walton County provides for the largest economic generator. As more and more people come to Walton as guests, as new residents and as the county grows, the use of the beach and protection becomes a greater responsibility. This includes preserving the beach as a recreational area and preserving the natural aspects of the beach. With this in mind, Walton has ordinances covering the use of the beach, protecting wildlife, allowing for storm damage mitigation and providing for public access. The commissioners met to discuss revisions to the ordinance covering use.
Brian Killenberg, with the Walton TDC, presented a review of the current ordinances, possible management plan and uses. This also includes the vendors who sell and rent on the beach and allowing access to them while protecting wildlife such as turtles. There have been meetings and time for public input and Killenberg reviewed possible changes in the proposed ordinance to address what the public said and what staff determined.
Commissioner Cecilia Jones said her opinion is that if it is working and not broken, then don’t mess with it. This was met with a round of applause by many in the audience. Commissioner Bill Imfeld said he has concerns the county is going too fast on any changes.
Some of the proposed language concerns where the vendors can set up. This can depend on if the area is in front of private property and how much distance is between the wet sand and the toe of the dune or property.
Jones talked about the fines. She said leaving a chair out does not seem like it should be a $300 fine. Killenberg said they do use discretion and often call the vendor to see if the items were accidently left out. Jones said the fine should be for times when someone is intentionally breaking the rules. She said the staff should have an attitude of serving. Killenberg said they do understand this and understand many are simply small businesses who are trying to make a living.
Another proposal is to make the area part vendor and part public only. This is due to the vendors setting up chairs in the morning, setting them close to the water and thus preventing the rest of the public from being able to use the area. One complaint is the chairs are there and remain empty while the other users of the beach do not have room. The change would make it 50/50 on where the vendors can set up. It was asked if the public can also use the area where vendors are set up. The answer is, it is public beach and if you allow the vendors to use it, you need to allow the public to use it. It was noted the vendors do pay a $500 permit fee, but the county does not make any other money off the businesses using public areas for a private business.
In the discussion on changes in the beach ordinance, Walton Commissioner Bill Chapman warned the vendor businesses need to train their employees and take responsibility for the setup and takedown. He said not knowing should not be an excuse for not following the rules. Commissioner Cindy Meadows called this a lucrative business and said the fine needs to be enough they take notice. She said there have been problems where tourists have encountered problems and said they will not return. Commissioner Cecilia Jones said she wanted to make sure a simple mistake, like leaving a chair out, is not fined like a more serious crime. Staff said they are aware and use discretion.
Commissioner Jones said there are nine accesses the county has problems with and they should start with those and add more if needed in the future. She said the vendors do not need to place chairs and umbrellas out if they are not rented. Jones said Spring Break is here and they need to take action.
During public comment time, the discussions were overwhelmingly against making changes. Several property owners said there were problems with designating some of the accesses as public. Others said the there were only 16 documented complaints and that is an insignificant problem with the millions who visit. Several of the vendors said the changes would be a burden and affect their businesses. A business owner said he supports beach vendors, refering his guests to use their equipment. He said the vendors setting up and taking space that might not even be used, is not just taking space, but taking public space. Another residents agreed, saying the problem is the vendors taking space beachgoers can use by playing chairs that might be rented.
Commissioners said there are more complaints than just the 16. Commissioner Bill Imfeld said his office is further away than any other and he gets at least 16 complaints.
Imfeld made a motion to accept a 7:30am start time and a 50% setup area and make other changes later. He made the motion for all public access beaches. Chapman made the second. He asked to add the safety corridor and requirements for CPR and Water Safety Certification for the vendors with water sports. Imfeld amended his motion. Jones, who has a relative in the business abstained from the vote. The motion passed 4-0. The changes are in the current ordinance and are not all inclusive of the rules.