Placement: New Business
Action Requested: Discussion
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Update on River Speed Zones
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Submitted By: Jennifer Davis, Director, Community Redevelopment Agency
Executive Summary (General Business): Since the activation of The Port District, City staff have been working with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ("FFWC") on the establishment of reduced speed zones along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. Additional focus has been placed on the recently modified speed zone area along the C-24 Canal near the Boat Ramp.
Presentation Information: Russ Blackburn, Special Assistant to the City Manager, will provide a brief presentation.
Background: Similar to cars driving on a roadway, there are waterway hazards which require boat operators to slow down under certain conditions, and there are stretches of waterway where many boaters go too fast. There are two major justifications to impose speed restrictions on the waterway:
1) Boats are moving at an unsafe speed endangering all boaters; and
2) A public hazard is present which requires slowing down to maintain safety for the operator and other boaters. Examples of public hazards include: a public fueling station, kayak launch, public boat ramp, bridge fenders or abutments.
Florida Statute provides that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission ("FFWC") administers laws which determine if boater safety (speed) zones may be adopted by local government. Florida law requires a local government contemplating applying to impose speed zones on a section of waterway, to demonstrate over a long period of time that boat operators are moving at unsafe speeds.
Port St. Lucie must provide data and analysis to FFWC through a Marker application. The data required would be multiple citations and / or accident reports for specific stretches of a waterway. Port St. Lucie Police Department's Marine Patrol Unit ("Marine Patrol") is monitoring and recording data for the North Fork stretches of waterway whe...
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