Beach Restoration Halted

[yippie]

The Destin Chamber sent this out. I don't like Crist. I am sure this is affecting Walton County as well as you guys are slotted for beach renourishment on parts of 30-A aren't you?

Please take the time to send and e-mail to the people listed below. There is a form type letter available here and you can add your personal comments to it.

http://www.destinchamber.com/docs/BeachRestorationLetter.doc

Also, I would imagine that Board of Realtors are up in arms about this as well.

_______________________________

Beach Restoration Call to Action

Dear Chamber Members:
As you know, beach restoration has been a major initiative of the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce for many years. We?ve worked hard, created beneficial partnerships, and helped implement project plans and funding to ensure that Destin?s and Okaloosa Island?s beaches are restored. It is a major issue in maintaining our economy.
Recently, the Okaloosa County Commissioners gave final approval to the upcoming beach restoration project funding mechanism, passing the Municipal Services Benefit Unit plan. In addition to this funding, a portion of the project would be paid for by the state of Florida.
However, when Governor Charlie Crist submitted his proposed budget for 2008-2009, he eliminated $10 million from the $30 million state-mandated fund for beach restoration projects. There is also a proposal to change State Chapter 201 F.S., which now requires that $30 million be put in the state budget each year for beach restoration. If the proposed change is passed, Chapter 201 F.S. would then be funded with only $20 million each year.
In addition, and because of Governor Crist?s elimination of $10 million from this portion of the budget, the Destin ? Okaloosa Island beach restoration project has now been moved from the approved list of projects and put on the alternate list of projects. This will result in NO BEACH RESTORATION for Destin ? Okaloosa Island. This is unacceptable.
The Destin Area Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution requesting that no changes be made to the state budget or state mandate of $30 million annually for beach restoration. The resolution also requests that the DEP keep Destin on the approved project list and not place it on the alternate project list.
WE NEED YOU! Please contact Governor Charlie Crist, Speaker Designate Ray Sansom, and Senator Don Gaetz and tell them:
1) You want the Destin ? Okaloosa Island beach restoration project to remain on the approved list.
2) You want the funding mandated in Chapter 201 F.S. to remain at $30 million.
3) You want the $10 million the Governor cut from his proposed budget added back to the beach restoration fund.

The economic stability of our community is dependent on this.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD. We have listed their contact information below:

Speaker Designate Ray Sansom
Tallahassee: (850) 488-1170
Local Office: (850) 833-9328
Ray.sansom@myfloridahouse.gov

Senator Don Gaetz
Tallahassee: (850) 487-5009
Local Office: (850) 897-5747
gaetz.don.web@flsenate.gov

Governor Charlie Crist
(850) 488-4441
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com

 

[yippie]

Bump this up

 

[Smiling JOe]

Yes, the Board of Realtors are a bit upset. I, on the other hand really don't feel that we need to pump sand on the beach just so another storm can wash it out to sea, so that FEMA can step in and pay to do it all again. Some people just don't get it. They are probably some of the very ones *****ing about the Fed budget, deficit, and dept, being outrageous. HELLO, people! It isn't free money!

 

[Matt J]

Why is it when a Republican is CONSERVATIVE with money everyone get excited and acts shocked?

 

[jodiFL]

I have to agree with SJ on this one. And after the false email sent out by another of our neighboring CoCs recently, I am not at all sure if I want to believe this one. But if you want to email them about budget deficits maybe start with the double-dipping retirees and once the take care of that they will have enough money to fund those projects like beach restoration. Also take into account they have put this in the email ..."Destin – Okaloosa Island" and that since Eglin AFB owns Okaloosa Island that they might not WANT it to be restored. Since they recently fenced off a good portion of it.

 

[yippie]

I have to agree with SJ on this one. And after the false email sent out by another of our neighboring CoCs recently, I am not at all sure if I want to believe this one. But if you want to email them about budget deficits maybe start with the double-dipping retirees and once the take care of that they will have enough money to fund those projects like beach restoration. Also take into account they have put this in the email ..."Destin ? Okaloosa Island" and that since Eglin AFB owns Okaloosa Island that they might not WANT it to be restored. Since they recently fenced off a good portion of it.

I believe the part of Okaloosa Island referring to is not the part Eglin owns. They do you own from Santa Rosa Blvd, south where all the condos are.

 

[yippie]

Yes, the Board of Realtors are a bit upset. I, on the other hand really don't feel that we need to pump sand on the beach just so another storm can wash it out to sea, so that FEMA can step in and pay to do it all again. Some people just don't get it. They are probably some of the very ones *****ing about the Fed budget, deficit, and dept, being outrageous. HELLO, people! It isn't free money!

So, Smiling Joe, are you saying the Board of Realtors does not blame the conditions of some of the beaches in the are on part of the shape the real estate market is in?

I would think twice about purchasing a house where there is either no beach or a greatly eroded beach for two reasons. Rental income, after the first visit, renters will find other locations with bigger beaches and secondly, eroded beaches would make me wonder about any protection on my investment.

"FEMA can step in and pay to do it all again." I don't think FEMA pays for the renourishment, only emergency repairs. At least, the beaches we had renourished from Sandestin to Henderson State Park were no paid by FEMA.

Also, as we all know, it is hard enough to find insurance, seems like it would be even harded when your home is sitting 100 feet or so closer to the beach because of erosion.

Our livelihood in this entire area depends on visitors coming to the beach. Without it, the economy would not be nearly as strong as it it. In fact, what industry would we have if we didn't have the beach. Really folks, think about it.

 

[jodiFL]

Also, as we all know, it is hard enough to find insurance, seems like it would be even harded when your home is sitting 100 feet or so closer to the beach because of erosion.

personally...I think thats just one of the risks you take when you build your house on an notoriously unstable area like a SAND DUNE. Kinda akin to complaining because the water got in your houseboat.

 

[TooFarTampa]

I am unfamiliar with the beach in that area, and I would guess many others here are too. It doesn't sound that Destin-Okaloosa Island will never be restored, it just sounds like it will have to wait. In my very general opinion the longer you can wait to restore a beach, the better. I read recently that Miami Beach has restored its beaches so many times it is running out of sand and will probably have to import it. The more you restore the beach, the worse the sand quality is going to get.

Is there money in the budget for more dune fencing?

 

[Smiling JOe]

I have no idea what the Board of Realtors blames the beach/housing market on. I could care less what they think. Often, I think to the contrary of that which FAR or NAR think.

As for the funds to renourish beaches, I believe that the County and State pick up the tab on the first go around and any future renourishment comes mostly from FEMA, but I'm no expert on that. Regarding a lack of beach, if people will stop building homes on the ever-changing dune system, we will always have beaches. Currently, with people erecting seawalls, which will undermine the beaches, we are going to have major beach erosion when we get major storms hit at high tide -- basic science. If you want to have beaches, rather than pumping sand onto the existing beach, start the removal of seawalls and Gulf Front homes. (I realize that this is a touchy situation, but if everyone can stand back from their own personal interest, I think it is easy to see.)