Scuttlebutt: Boat Ramp and Parking Under Fire From City

Charter Captain Jesse Stubbs has been leading the way lately to bring light to the absurdity of the City's management (and lack thereof) of our ONLY City boat ramp. He's uncovered some conflicts that may leave the City legally vulnerable as they attempt to develop our once working waterfront into Disney 2.0..

 

Signs, Signs Everywhere a Sign!

Conflict Between 24-Hour Ramp Access and Parking Restrictions

The City’s Comprehensive Plan designates this site as a .01 Boat Ramp Facility, a classification that requires adequate parking to support public water access. Moreover, the ramp itself is open 24 hours a day a policy that implies continuous, unrestricted access for boaters at all hours.

Yet under Ordinance 78-77, the City imposes restrictive parking hours (5am–7pm) and bans overnight parking of trailers without a permit a permit process which is neither visible nor accessible to the public. This creates a legal and functional contradiction:

How can 24 hour ramp use be offered if trailer parking disappears after 7pm?

This inconsistency:

• Undermines safe and reasonable boat launching and retrieval well before sunset, night or early morning

• Potentially violates the Florida Boating Improvement Program or FIND access requirements (if funding was involved) the .01 boat ramp facility list “adequate parking”

• Creates the appearance of policy manipulation to favor certain users such as commercial tour buses over local residents and recreational boaters.

This is a critical red flag: you can’t claim 24-hour public access and simultaneously restrict the very infrastructure needed to use it.

recommend appending this paragraph to the earlier drafted request for action, under a new section:

The City’s own policy contradiction must be resolved:

• The .01 Boat Ramp Facility designation mandates adequate and compatible parking infrastructure

• The ramp is open 24/7, yet boat trailer parking is prohibited overnight;

• No clear overnight permit process exists despite Ordinance 78-77(d) allowing it.

This incompatibility results in de facto denial of late night access for boaters especially for offshore fishermen, nighttime gigging and emergency users despite the ramp being technically “open.” If parking isn’t available when the ramp is, the access is functionally denied.

This may constitute a violation of both local planning code and the public trust doctrine.

Capt. Jesse Clyde Stubbs

Boaters: It's On You To Step Up

 It appears that the City Commission will be moving forward with the Waterfront Park to be located at the City Marina. In addition to water guzzling grassy lawns and landscaping, there will be a "Pavillion" (note: not to be called a Band Shell) and a children's play area. What any of that has to do with a Working Waterfront is beyond me.  The architectural drawings look great with grassy lawns and beautiful trees, but you have to wonder what resources it's going to take to keep the area looking "Disney-like?"

City Commissioners are promising in social media posts and news articles "expanded" boat trailer parking with at least 12 spaces and maybe 15 depending how it all washes out. Even though the lot used to be wide open to boat trailers, and even though the area just across the railroad tracks used to be overflow for boat trailers, Commissioners boast that they've "expanded" boat trailer parking. Crazy huh? Crazy that they can look you in the eye and stretch that truth. 

The general public has bought it hook, line and sinker. Even most boaters, anglers and commercial fishermen THINK that their access to the boat ramp is safe. What they don't know is that Commissioners, Staff, the Tourism folks and Mainstreet folks are drooling at the thought of hosting events at the new park. I remind you that they close the parking lot for the annual Pentanque Tournament. They close the lot AND the ramp during the Shrimp Festival. 

What do you think is going to happen when the Farmers Market is moved to the Park? When Sounds on Centre is moved to the Park? When the Chili Cook-off is moved to the park?  When music events are held at the "pavilion"? Will Commissioners lean towards "public safety"  and close the parking lot or maintain boater access?

I've been aggravated, disgruntled, pissed, and even crest fallen about this issue. But almost at the same level, I've been more disappointed in the angling and boating community for their apathy towards their access to our public waters. When the vote for moving forward to fund the park was decided on there were 4 Captains that showed up at the meeting and spoke:  Capt Terry Lacosse (in his 70's).  Capt Scott Stewart (in his 70's). Myself (67), and Capt Allen Mills (in his mid 60's). These older Captains may still keep on fishing (as a livelihood) for years to come. but eventually some of the younger guys and the general boating public need to get involved and fight for access. Lack of access to the water will have a bigger effect on them, and you would think they may want their kids to have access to the water. 

Just my opinion, but boaters and anglers tend NOT to be activists. They want to get out on the water,
enjoy boating or fishing, and be left alone. But sometimes you gotta step up. YOUR access to the City Marina boat ramp is being threatened. Dee Dee Bartels boat ramp is dangerous with a strong west wind blowing, and damaging to your boat on any given day. Sawpit Creek boat ramp is falling apart with Park management seemingly ambivalent about it. Goffisnville park is a nightmare to use on an outgoing tide. ALL of those ramps have the bare minimum of dock space. You pay taxes. You deserve better. 

I don't know him. Never met him personally. But Commissioner David Sturges is the ONLY Commissioner that voted against the waterfront park. The City elections coming up will pit supposedly "conservative" incumbent candidates versus left leaning eco nuts. Unfortunately most of those incumbent candidates are pushing the waterfront park and squeezing your access to the water. It's going to be a tough pick for boaters. 

My Plan for Sawpit Redesign

It's just plain crazy how our public officials seem to disregard the tax paying boating public. City of Fernandina commissioners are moving ahead with a Waterfront Park that will severely limit boaters using the marina ramp. In the Nassau County, Dee Dee Bartels is dangerous to use when there is a west wind, and hazardous to your boat anytime you launch due to the disregard of the No Wake zone. Goffinsville Park is a nightmare to use when there is a swift outgoing current, and even those of us that launch and load everyday, our trailers take a beating there having to come in "hard" to beat the current. 

And then there is Sawpit Creek boat ramp, down at Big Talbot Island. The south dock was damaged by a storm 7-8 years ago has been abandoned. The north floating dock was damaged over a year ago and there seems to be no repairs in in the foreseeable future.  It appears the State is more interested in funding researchers and studies  rather than insuring public access to their waters. 

With all the taxes you pay, shouldn't we have better?  You have to wonder if those managing this boat ramp even want the general public using it. What happens when another storm really damages it? Will it ever be repaired? Or will it just "go away"?  Kinda like that south dock has been abandoned. I think we should all ask those officials that we pay to FIX the dang boat ramp. And while they are fixing it, improve it!  Here's my idea:

Click on image to enlarge

1) The north floating dock needs to be repaired

2) An extension floating dock should be placed north running parallel with the bank

3) A new south floating dock needs to be installed to replace the old pilings

4) An extension floating dock should be placed south running parallel with the bank

5) The temporary parking area needs to be extended a few feet to accommodate vehicles unloading. 

6)  The right angle area needs to be paved to facilitate boat trailer turning

7) The landing area needs to be repaved

8)  A No Wake zone needs to be instituted with signage installed.

Ask them to get it done!

Michelle Waterman, Big Talbot Island Park Manager   Michelle.Waterman@FloridaDEP.gov

Raymond Semanchik, Parks Manager  raymond.semanchik@floridadep.gov

Clay Yarborough, State Senator Contact - Clay Yarborough | Clay Yarborough

Dean Black, State Representative Contact Form