City advances harbor management system

Historic City News local reporters have learned that, thanks to being selected as one of five Florida coastal cities for a pilot program, further development of the harbor management system will be accomplished in a way that is essentially “tailor-made” to meet the specific needs of the community.

The City of St. Augustine held the first public meeting on May 19th to listen to the community’s suggestions for policies that might be included in the future.

The second meeting will be held Thursday, June 30th at 5:00-6:00 p.m. in The Alcazar Room in City Hall located at 75 King Street. Please note that one or more members of the St. Augustine City Commission may be in attendance at the public meeting.

Jim Piggott, Director of General Services, told Historic City News, “So far, we’ve seen that the program has greatly reduced the derelict vessel problem that was created by boat owners abandoning their vessels.”

With vessels restricted to designated moorings, boats are anchored a safe distance from other vessels and owners must dispose of trash and sewage properly.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the agency responsible for the state’s waterways, is working with Piggott’s office to craft a more developed management system.

Ordinances passed during in the Pilot Program are good for a three year period. At the end of three years the Florida legislature will either adopt the ordinances into law or they will allow the ordinances to expire.

Piggott said, “Whether a boat owner or not, it is clear that the entire community has benefited from the implementation of an organized anchorage in the city’s waterways brought about by the mooring fields.”

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer