TO: Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Kylie Yanchula, Natural Resources Director
FROM: Melissa Meisenburg, Sr. Lagoon Environmental Specialist
DATE: June 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Amending the Code of Indian River County, Title IX, Land Development
Regulations, Chapter 932 "Coastal Management" to Establish Anchoring
Limitation areas in the City of Vero Beach and the Town of Indian River
Shores in Accordance with Florida statute 327.4108
__________________________________________________________________
BACKGROUND
Florida Statute 327.4108 grants counties the right to establish Anchoring Limitation Areas (ALA) prohibiting the anchoring of a vessel for more than 45 consecutive days in a six-month period. Anchoring limitation areas must be adjacent to urban areas with residential docking facilities and significant recreational boating traffic. Each designated area must be less than 100 acres with the cumulative ALA not to exceed ten percent of the county’s delineated navigable-in-fact waterway (1,648 acres) and may not include a mooring field or marina.
Under Statute 327.4108, only counties are authorized to establish ALAs. Therefore, the City of Vero Beach and the Town of Indian River Shores passed resolutions in 2023, requesting the Board of County Commissioners to adopt the areas set forth in the proposed ordinance as areas of limited local anchoring. The County and the requesting municipalities executed Interlocal Agreements (ILA) to coordinate the permitting, installation, and maintenance of the uniform waterway markers and buoys, and enforcement of the ALAs.
ANALYSIS
N/A
BUDGETARY IMPACT
Funding for the implementation of the ALAs will require approximately $42,500.00 to $75,000.00 for the design, permitting, and bid package. Construction costs are estimated to be $213,000.00 to $254,000.00, with the municipalities agreeing to reimburse the County 50% of the costs within their respective jurisdictions. Funds will be made available via a budget amendment in the Florida Boating Fund/Lagoon/Other Contractual Services account, number 13328337-033490.
|
Account Description |
Account Number |
Amount |
|
Florida Boating Fund/Lagoon/Other Contractual Services |
13328337-033490 |
$255,500.00-$329,000.00 |
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
On May 21, 2024, the Board approved implementing option III in the development of the Interlocal Agreement between Indian River County and the requesting municipalities. On July 9, 2024, the Board approved the execution of the Interlocal Agreement for the establishment of the Anchoring Limitation Areas.
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Consent approval of the work order with a consulting firm for permitting and construction oversight. Consent approval of the selected bid for the installation of the markers and buoys.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Environmental
OTHER PLAN ALIGNMENT
Derelict vessels were identified as a key factor under Marinas, Boats, and Boat Ramps in the Lagoon Management Plan. The establishment of an ALA was proposed to aid in derelict vessel removal efficiency.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Board adopt the proposed ordinance to establish Anchoring Limitation Areas on behalf of the City of Vero Beach and the Town of Indian River Shores.