Public Workshops/Meetings/Notices

County Boating Restricted Areas

None at this time

Local Boating Safety Zones Proposed

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on April 15, 2020, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) received a complete application from the City of Miami Beach requesting approval of a draft ordinance to establish a Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating-restricted area within Meloy Channel pursuant to Section 327.46(1)(c), Florida Statutes (F.S.) and Rule 68D-21.004, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.).

The Slow Speed Minimum Wake boating-restricted area would be within Meloy Channel to include the waters south of the MacArthur Causeway Bridge adjacent to the Miami Beach Marina (see attached map for details). The City of Miami Beach contends that the boating safety zone is needed to protect public safety from hazards such as vessel traffic entering and exiting Meloy Channel from the Miami Beach Marina for the use of public fuel pumps and vessel traffic around the bridge fender systems associated with the MacArthur Causeway Bridge. The City of Miami Beach is required to provide competent substantial evidence that the ordinance establishing the boating-restricted area is necessary to protect the safety of the public.

As a part of the City of Miami Beach’s ordinance review application, they have provided evidence in support of the proposed zone to the Commission. At this time the draft ordinance has been approved by the Commission based upon the evidence submitted.

As required by Rule 68D-21.001(3), F.A.C., the City of Miami Beach will publish as provided by Sections 50.011-.031, F.S., once a week for two consecutive weeks, notice of the public hearing on their ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected by the ordinance. The City of Miami Beach is required to adopt the Commission approved draft ordinance without amendment.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Pursuant to Rules 68D-21.002, and 68D-21.003, F.A.C., comments regarding this request will be accepted no more than 21 calendar days from the date of publication/distribution of this public notice. Public may provide written comments, recommendations, requests, inquiries, or other correspondence to the Boating and Waterways Section at 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600; or by email at waterway.management@myfwc.com. The Commission will conduct a public hearing within the City of Miami Beach if a written request for such a hearing is received within 21 days following this notice.

DUE DATE: Monday, June 8, 2020 (5:00 PM EST)

ATTACHMENT: Meloy Channel Proposed Zone Map

A COPY OF THE APPLICATION CAN BE OBTAINED BY EMAIL (IN PDF FORMAT) OR BY US MAIL. Please submit your request directly to waterway.management@myfwc.com or contact Boating and Waterways Section at (850) 488-5600.