Subject:
Title
Legislative Intent and Permission to Advertise an Ordinance, re: the County’s Optional Vessel Registration Fee
End
Fiscal Impact:
No fiscal impact for this action.
Dept/Office:
D3 Commission Office
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board:
1) Direct staff to prepare an RFP for a study reviewing the needs of the boating community and existing boating facilities in Brevard County.
2) Approve legislative intent and permission to advertise an ordinance imposing the county optional vessel registration fee and direct the County Attorney’s Office to draft said ordinance, to be brought back to the Board upon receipt of the boating study.
3) Direct that the ordinance be placed on the agenda for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Boards and Marine Advisory Council along with the results of the study for their recommendations.
End
Summary Explanation and Background:
Brevard County’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, Indian River Lagoon, and St. John’s river means that boating is prevalent in our community, both recreationally and commercially. Members of the boating community have contacted my office with concerns about the boating related infrastructure and accessibility of our bodies of water.
Brevard County currently receives funding from Vessel Registrations ($166,971.73 for FY24/25) for the Brevard Boating Improvement Program. Per F.S.S. 328.72(15) these funds can be used for “providing, maintaining, or operating recreational channel marking and other uniform waterway markers, public boat ramps, lifts, and hoists, marine railways, boat piers, docks, mooring buoys, and other public launching facilities; and removing derelict vessels, debris that specifically impedes boat access, not including the dredging of channels, and vessels and floating structures deemed a hazard to public safety and health…”
Florida State Statute Section 328.66 allows counties to impose an optional registration fee on vessels, sets the fee, and outlines the authorized uses of the revenue. The first $1 of the fee is remitted to the state for deposit in the Save the Manatee Trust Fund and the rest “shall be expended for the patrol, regulation, and maintenance of the lakes, rivers, and waters and for other boating-related activities.…” The optional county fee is in addition to the state vessel registration fee. The additional amount, minus the $1 for the manatee trust fund, is as follows:
|
Vessel Class |
Length |
County Fee |
|
Class A-1 |
Less than 12 feet |
$1.75 |
|
Class A-2 |
12 to less than 16 feet |
$7.13 |
|
Class 1 |
16 to less than 26 feet |
$13.38 |
|
Class 2 |
26 to less than 40 feet |
$38.13 |
|
Class 3 |
40 to less than 65 feet |
$62.88 |
|
Class 4 |
65 to less than 110 feet |
$75.38 |
|
Class 5 |
110 or more in length |
$93.88 |
|
Dealer Registration |
|
$11.75 |
A study related to the condition and capacity of county boating facilities would assist in determining the best use of the funds should the optional vessel registration fee be imposed. If the scope of the study is limited to the authorized uses in F.S.S. 328.72(15) then BBIP funding can be used to pay for the study. If the Board is interested in expanding the scope of the study to include other uses authorized under F.S.S. 328.66 additional funding sources would need to be identified.
Clerk to the Board Instructions: