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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1683 |
| Public Coastal Boat Ramps |
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| Requester: |
J.W. Dickson, Chair |
Organization: |
Escambia County Board of County Commissioner |
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| Project Title: |
Public Coastal Boat Ramps |
Date Submitted |
1/14/2005 3:06:10 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Peaden |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| Boating is a favorite recreation activity enjoyed by many Floridians and a major attraction for visiting tourist. Providing public access to waterways has been a priority of the Fish and Wildlife Commission to support sport fishing, as well as local governments throughout the state which benefit from the positive economic impact boating activities provide. |
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| Recipient: |
Neighborhood and Environmental Services Department - Marine |
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Contact: |
Captain Robert K. Turpin |
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1190 W. Leonard Street |
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Contact Phone: |
(850) 595-4395 |
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Pensacola 32501 |
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Contact email: |
robert_turpin@co.escambia.fl.us |
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| Counties: |
Escambia |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| Escambia County lacks sufficient coastal boat ramps and capacity to provide access for resident and visiting boaters. There are 18,462 registered boats in Escambia County (2003 data) and a total of 3 coastal boat ramps with approximately 181 parking spaces. For the registered boats in Escambia County that are "trailer-able", less than two percent capacity exists at Escambia County public boat ramps. Moreover, this lack of capacity is further exacerbated due to increased (not quantified) demand by visiting boaters. Boaters have decried this lack of boating facilities in numerous newspaper, radio, and television venues.
Costs for waterfront property have skyrocketed while county portions of Florida vessel registration fees has remained small (see 328.72 Florida Statues).Thus Escambia County Marine Resources Division (ECMRD) is faced with the dilemma of locating and acquiring suitable waterfront property at an affordable cost. The waterfront real estate market operates on fast time scales that prevent Escambia County's participation. Typically, a piece of property comes on the market at a price higher than the county can afford, or is purchased before ECMRD can react.Therefore, ECMRD is seeking allocated funds so that waterfront property suitable for public boat ramps can be identified and acquired. Proposed properties include:
1. Approx. 3 acres on Pensacola Bay tributary ($850,000+/-)
2. Escambia Bay parcel with 140 feet ($217,000+/-)
3. Parcel next to existing playground on Lower Pensacola Bay tributary ($185,000+/-)
4. Unidentified parcel(s) on Perdido Bay and/or Perdido Key ($248,000)
This project request is for funds in the amount of $1.5M to be used for the acquisition of properties suitable for boat ramp construction on the following water bodies in Escambia County: Perdido Bay, Old River/Big Lagoon, Pensacola Bay, Escambia Bay, and associated tributaries. Upon acquisition, Escambia County will pursue other avenues of funding for the construction of ramp and parking facilities.
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| Is this a project related to 2004 hurricane damage? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Purchase of coastal property suitable for boat ramps to provide public access to waterways for residents and visitors of Escambia County. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$1,500,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$1,500,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
None |
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Cash Amount |
$ |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Minutes of Board of County Comm. |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Escambia County Board of County Commissioners |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
11/09/2004 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
