Beach Vendor Meeting

[John G]

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...

 

[Teresa]

NOTICE of PUBLIC HEARING

You are hereby notified of a Public Hearing to be held April 14, 2015 at 4:00 PM, or soon thereafter, to consider:

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING WALTON CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION 22-60; FINDING THAT THE COUNTY HAS THE POWER TO REGULATE THE PROVISION OF GOODS AND SERVICES BY PRIVATE VENDORS MAKING USE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST ON THE BEACH; AMENDING THE RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO PRIVATE VENDORS ON THE BEACH

The Meeting will be held at the Walton County Courthouse Annex located at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

If anyone decides to appeal a decision of the Board with respect to this meeting that person must ensure that a verbatim record of the meeting is made.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact the Board of County Commissioners of Walton County no later than seven days prior to the proceeding at the address given in this notice or phone (850) 892-8155.

 

[Misty]

In the infamous words of the Zac Brown band this is what I expect when I go to a PUBLIC BEACH..

I got my toes in the water, a$$ in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today. Life is good today.​

 

[steel1man]

In the infamous words of the Zac Brown band this is what I expect when I go to a PUBLIC BEACH.. I got my toes in the water, a$$ in the sand Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand Life is good today. Life is good today.

my only problem is " the sky is to blue and the beer is to cold ", & the darn
Beach vendors

 

[Bob Hudson]

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.
​

Question: What are those limitations? Did she exceed them ?

​

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

​

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 20130310 SPECIAL MEETING.pdf

View attachment 2014 Beach Vendor Permit List.pdf

 

[Bob Hudson]

 

[steel1man]

"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."

 

[Geo]

Beach buggys:

I think that it would be a waste of time and money to conduct a study to determine what percentage of users of public beaches rents chairs. Decisions being made right now have nothing to do with how many people use them vs not. It has to do with the wall of commercial chairs (often empty one) mucking up the view from the wee early morning hours.

Are u being serious when u say that people who come here would stop coming because changes would be made with respect to beach chair rentals on public beaches? Do u really believe that? Just a reminder- anyone who feels that strongly about beach chairs has no shortage of places to rent with private beaches that offer beach setups.


No one wants to hurt small business owners. But look- it seems changes are likely to be made. And the perception shared by many is that the changes are coming because beach vendors didn't seem willing to address the issues voluntarily. I wish beach chair vendors would jump in and say otherwise if such is the case.

 

[m1a1mg]

Geo, I can just hear it now.

"I've been coming to 30A for years, but I heard this year it may be harder to get a rental chair. So, I've decided to go to Panama City Beach instead."

Best fiction you'll read today.

 

[John G]

Geo, I can just hear it now.

"I've been coming to 30A for years, but I heard this year it may be harder to get a rental chair. So, I've decided to go to Panama City Beach instead."

Best fiction you'll read today.

It will be more like this;

"We've been coming here for years and years, but the beach chair vendors have become rude, pushy and make us feel like we have to rent their chairs to enjoy the beach." "We have simply decided to vacation elsewhere next time, it was nice, but time to say goodbye to 30A."