Category: SWFMIA News

SWFMIA local government agenda items for the week of May 22, 2017

• Lee County No Meetings

   

• City of Cape Coral No Meetings

   

• City of Fort Myers No Meetings

   

• Town of Fort Myers Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Sanibel No Meetings

   

• City of Bonita Springs No Meetings

   

• Village of Estero No Meetings

   

• Charlotte County Tuesday the 23^rd @ 9:00am

  Vacancies
  Northwest Port Charlotte Waterway Unit is seeking one member to fill a vacant unexpired term through October 31, 2019.

  Marine Advisory Committee FY2018 Funding Recommendation

1. a) Approve the Resolution which accepts the Marine Advisory Committee (MAC) recommendations for West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) and Boater Improvement Fund (BIF) expenditures for fiscal year 2018 in the amount of $941,539; and 
2. b) Authorize the County Administrator to sign all necessary grant documents and subrecipient agreements.|Funding will be budgeted in the Boater Revolving Fund in the FY2018 budget process. Matching requirements for WCIND projects are provided using applicant matching funds.MSBU Assessment Rate Notices

1. a) Approve and authorize the mailing of the required first-class notification of proposed Municipal Services Benefit Unit (MSBU) assessment rates for FY17/18 for those units with a proposed rate increase above the previously established maximum or a change in purpose or properties assessed for the first time; and
2. b) Approve a proposed rate increase below the previously established maximum rate for Charlotte County Fire Rescue Dept. and Gulf Cove Waterway Unit.WCIND Meeting Agenda – June 2, 2017
   Discussion and direction on the WCIND agenda for the upcoming June 2, 2017 meeting.

• City of Punta Gorda No Meetings

   

• Sarasota County Tuesday and Wednesday the 23^rd & 24^th @ 9:00am

  Tuesday
  To ratify the previously issued proclamation for Safe Boating Week – May 20 through May 26, 2017.

  Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates, Inc. (SANCA) update on the 2017 World Rowing Championships;||

  Wednesday
  To adopt a resolution awarding the Fiscal Year 2018 West Coast Inland Navigation District funding requests, in the amount of $1,972,834.00;

  To authorize the County Administrator or designee, to execute the West Coast Inland Navigation District project agreements and third-party grant agreements for the 23 projects listed in the Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Applications Table, in the amount of $1,972,834.00.

  (Public hearing) To adopt a resolution regarding WNCA Major Work Permit Application No. 2016-162000-RW for the construction of a dock and boat lift at 601 Lotus Lane, Siesta Key.

• City of North Port Tuesday the 23^rd @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Sarasota No Meetings

   

• City of Venice Tuesday the 23^rd @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Town of Longboat Key No Meetings

   

• Manatee County Tuesday the 23^rd @ 9:00am

  2:00 P.M. – ITEM #46 – West Coast Inland Navigation District FY 2018 Applications
  WCINDR-17-053.pdf
  WCIND 2017-18 apps.pdf
  WCIND Police Boat app.pdf
  WCIND CINF 2017.pdf

  FY 2017 Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Funding Agreement
  CHNEP Funding Agreement FY 2017.pdf
  Charlotte Harbor FY 2017 Workplan.pdf
  

• City of Anna Maria Thursday the 25^th @ 6:0pm

  City Pier RFP Update – Mayor

• City of Bradenton Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Bradenton Wednesday the 24^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Holmes Beach Tuesday the 23^rd @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Palmetto No Meetings

   

• Hillsborough County No Meetings

   

• Plant City Monday the 22^nd @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• City of Tampa Thursday the 25^th @ 5:01pm

  No issues

• City of Temple Terrace No Meetings

   

• Pinellas County No Meetings

   

• Town of Belleair No Meetings

   

• City of Belleair Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Belleair Bluffs No Meetings

   

• City of Clearwater No Meetings

   

• City of Gulfport No Meetings

   

• City of Indian Rocks Beach Wednesday the 24^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Town of Indian Shores No Meetings

   

• City of Largo Monday the 16^th @ 6:00pm (Last Week)

  No issues

• City of Madeira Beach Tuesday the 23^rd @ 2:00pm

  DISCUSSION ON PUMP OUT BOAT
  Dave Marsicano, Public Works/Marina Director

• Town of North Redington Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Oldsmar No Meetings

   

• City of Pinellas Park Thursday the 25^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• Town of Redington Shores No Meetings

   

• City of Safety Harbor No Meetings

   

• City of Seminole Tuesday the 23^rd @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City South Pasadena No Meetings

   

• City of St. Pete Beach Tuesday the 23^rd @ 6:00pm

  Proclamation – National Safe Boating Week

• City of St. Petersburg No Meetings

   

• City of Tarpon Springs No Meetings

   

• City of Treasure Island No Meetings

   

• Southwest Florida Water Management District Tuesday the 23^rd @ 9:00am

  No issues

• South Florida Water Management No Meetings

   

• WCIND No Meetings

SWFMIA local government agenda items for the week of May 15, 2017

• Lee County Tuesday the 16^th @ 9:30am

  Approve Agreement for the Deposit of Sand from the New Pass Dredge Project onto Big Hickory Island

  (No funding required. Construction funding is 100% from West Coast Inland Navigation District.):

  Approval of the Agreement for the Deposit of Sand onto Big Hickory Island will allow for beneficial placement of dredge sand from New Pass channel onto Big Hickory Island in an area owned by Pelican Landing Community Association (PLCA) and designated by the state as critically eroded. Traditional public uses of the beach will continue, but in recognition of the special benefit to PLCA, they have offered to make a financial contribution to the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) to offset sand placement costs and conduct certain monitoring activities thereby reducing the effective cost to WCIND and allow for redirection of the saved funds for future Lee County dredging activities.

  (#20170235-NATURAL RESOURCES)

• City of Cape Coral Monday the 15^th @ 4:30pm

  No issues

• City of Fort Myers Monday the 15^th @ 4:30pm

  Proclamation proclaiming May 20 through May 26, 2017, as National Safe Boating Week

• Town of Fort Myers Beach Monday the 15^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of Sanibel Wednesday the 17^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of Bonita Springs Wednesday the 17^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Village of Estero Wednesday the 17^th @ 9:30am

  No issues

• Charlotte County No Meetings

   

• City of Punta Gorda Wednesday the 17^th @ 9:00am

  Proclamation
  National Safe Boating Week

  Agreement award to Brance Diversified, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL for maintenance dredging of the perimeter channel located in the Burnt Store Isles (BSI) subdivision to Brance Diversified, Inc. of Jacksonville, FL

  Vacancies
  Punta Gorda Isles Canal Advisory Committee

• Sarasota County No Meetings

   

• City of North Port No Meetings

   

• City of Sarasota Monday the 15^th @ 2:30pm

  No issues

• City of Venice No Meetings

   

• Town of Longboat Key Monday the 15^th @ 1:00pm

  No issues

• Manatee County Tuesday the 9^th @ 9:00am (Last Week)

  Lease Agreement with the State of Florida, Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Manatee County for North Coquina Boat Ramp Improvements and Parking Lot Expansion located at 1343 Gulf Drive South, Bradenton Beach, Florida

  Resolution R-17-016 and Lease Agreement with FDOT.pdf

• City of Anna Maria No Meetings

   

• City of Bradenton Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Bradenton No Meetings

   

• City of Holmes Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Palmetto Monday the 15^th @ 7:00pm
  

  ORD 2017-08 Lost/Abandoned Vessels
  http://docsonline.palmettofl.org/palmetto/agendas/city/2017/05152017htmlfiles/TAB07.pdf

• Hillsborough County Wednesday the 17^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Plant City No Meetings
  
  

• City of Tampa Thursday the 18^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of Temple Terrace Tuesday the 16^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• Pinellas County Tuesday the 9^th @ 9:30am

  No issues

• Town of Belleair Tuesday the 16^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Belleair Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Belleair Bluffs Monday the 15^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Clearwater Monday the 15^th @ 1:00pm

  Safe Boating Week Proclamation
  http://clearwater.legistar.com/gateway.aspx?m=l&id=/matter.aspx?key=4696

• City of Gulfport Tuesday the 16^th @ 7:00pm

  No issues

• City of Indian Rocks Beach No Meetings

   

• Town of Indian Shores No Meetings

   

• City of Largo Monday May 9^th @ 4:00pm (Last Week)

  No issues

• City of Madeira Beach No Meetings

   

• Town of North Redington Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Oldsmar Tuesday the 16^th @ 7:00pm

  No issues

• City of Pinellas Park No Meetings

   

• Town of Redington Shores No Meetings

   

• City of Safety Harbor Monday the 15^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• City of Seminole No Meetings

   

• City South Pasadena No Meetings

   

• City of St. Pete Beach No Meetings

   

• City of St. Petersburg Thursday the 18^th @ 3:00pm

  Budget to provide for removal of sunken vessels
  http://www.stpete.org/agenda%20packets/2017-05-18%20Council%20Agenda.pdf#%5B%7B%22num%22%3A62%2C%22gen%22%3A0%7D%2C%7B%22name%22%3A%22XYZ%22%7D%2C69%2C735%2C0%5D

• City of Tarpon Springs Tuesday the 16^th @ 6:30pm

  National Safe Boating Campaign
  https://www.ctsfl.us/index_htm_files/National%20Safe%20Boating%20Campaign.pdf

• City of Treasure Island Tuesday the 16^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• Southwest Florida Water Management District No Meetings

   

• South Florida Water Management No Meetings

   

• WCIND No Meetings

SWFMIA local government agenda items for the week of May 8, 2017

• Lee County No Meetings

• City of Cape Coral No Meetings

• City of Fort Myers No Meetings

• Town of Fort Myers Beach No Meetings

• City of Sanibel No Meetings

• City of Bonita Springs No Meetings

• Village of Estero No Meetings

• Charlotte County Tuesday the 9^th @ 9:00am

  National Safe Boating Week – “Partner with a Life Jacket and Personal Locator Beacon”
  
  Water Safety Month

  Vacancies
  Northwest Port Charlotte Waterway Unit is seeking one member to fill a vacant unexpired term through October 31, 2019.

• City of Punta Gorda No Meetings

• Sarasota County Tuesday the 9^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of North Port Wednesday the 10^th @ 1:00pm

  No issues

• City of Sarasota No Meetings

• City of Venice Tuesday the 9^th @ 9:00am

  Proclaim May 20 through May 26, 2017 as National Safe Boating Week,
  Presented to Commander Susan Perish, Venice Sail and Power
  Squadron
  Proclamation

• Town of Longboat Key No Meetings

• Manatee County No Meetings

• City of Anna Maria Thursday the 11^th @ 6:00pm

  City Pier RFP Update – Mayor

• City of Bradenton Beach No Meetings

• City of Bradenton Wednesday the 10^th @ 8:30am

  No issues

• City of Holmes Beach Tuesday the 9^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Palmetto No Meetings

• Hillsborough County Tuesday the 9^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Plant City Monday the 8^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• City of Tampa No Meetings

• City of Temple Terrace No Meetings

• Pinellas County Tuesday the 9^th @ 9:30am

  No issues

• Town of Belleair No Meetings

• City of Belleair Beach No Meetings

• City of Belleair Bluffs No Meetings

• City of Clearwater No Meetings

• City of Gulfport No Meetings

• City of Indian Rocks Beach Tuesday the 9^th @ 4:00pm

  Discuss the IRB Manatee Zones as established by action of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

• Town of Indian Shores Tuesday the 9^th @ 5:00pm

  No issues

• City of Largo Monday May 2^nd @ 6:00pm (Last Week)

  No issues

• City of Madeira Beach No Meetings

• Town of North Redington Beach Thursday the 11^th @ 6:00pm

  Agenda not posted will check back next week

• City of Oldsmar No Meetings

• City of Pinellas Park Thursday the 11^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• Town of Redington Shores Wednesday the 10^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Safety Harbor No Meetings

• City of Seminole Tuesday the 9^th @ 6:00pm

  Agenda not posted will check back next week

• City South Pasadena Tuesday the 9^th @ 7:00pm

  No issues

• City of St. Pete Beach Tuesday th e9th @ 6:00pm

  Powerboat USA June race update

• City of St. Petersburg Thursday the 11^th @ 8:30am

  Agenda not posted will check back next week

• City of Tarpon Springs No Meetings

   

• City of Treasure Island No Meetings

• Southwest Florida Water Management District No Meetings

• South Florida Water Management Thursday the 11^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• WCIND No Meetings

SWFMIA local government agenda items for the week of April 24, 2017

• Lee County No Meetings

   

• City of Cape Coral No Meetings

   

• City of Fort Myers No Meetings

   

• Town of Fort Myers Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Sanibel No Meetings

   

• City of Bonita Springs No Meetings

   

• Village of Estero No Meetings

   

• Charlotte County Tuesday the 25^th @ 9:00am

  Vacancies
  Northwest Port Charlotte Waterway Unit is seeking one member to fill a vacant unexpired term through October 31, 2019.

  12-050, Amendment #5, Stump Pass Ten-Year Management Plan (Public Works – Engineering)
  Approve Amendment #5 to Contract #12-050 Stump Pass Ten-Year Management Plan with Coastal Engineering Consultants, Inc. of Naples, FL for a change in tasks only; and
  Authorize the Chairman to sign associated amendment.

  17-291, Award, Boat Fire/EMS (Public Safety)
  Approve Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) of the Florida Sheriffs Contract 1122 Program and authorize the Chairman to sign; and

  Approve award of ‘Piggyback’ purchase File #17-291, Boat Fire/EMS from Florida Sheriffs Association – 1122 Program of Tallahassee, FL (‘Piggyback’ of the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Association of Counties and Florida Fire Chiefs Association Contract 1122 Program) for a total cost of $435,113.89; and

  Approve the property deletion of Asset #28550 to be sold via an on-line auction service with Gov-Deals, Inc.  

  No action needed.  This is budgeted for replacement in the Heavy Equipment Replacement Plan, as approved in the FY17 budget process.  Funding of $425,000 comes from an approved Boater Improvement Project, with funding split equally between WCIND and Local funds. The balance of $10,113.89 will come from Fire Rescue assessments – equipment.

• City of Punta Gorda No Meetings

   

• Sarasota County Tuesday the 35^th and Wednesday the 36^th @ 9:00am

  Tuesday
  To approve a construction contract with Spectrum Underground, Inc. for improvements to the boat ramp parking lot at Manasota Beach Park, in an amount not to exceed $715,557.89.

  To approve an agreement with Stacey James to allow the construction and maintenance of a private dock with a single mooring area within the public right-of-way along the canal shoreline adjacent to the property located at 348 Canal Road, Sarasota.

  Wednesday
  (Sitting as the Water and Navigation Control Authority)
  (Public hearing) To adopt a resolution regarding WNCA Major Work Permit Application No. 2016-163795-RW for the construction of two floating docks and six associated boat slips for the Sarasota Crew rowing team at 120 Bayview Lane, Osprey.

• City of North Port Tuesday the 25^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Sarasota No Meetings

   

• City of Venice Tuesday the 25^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Town of Longboat Key No Meetings

   

• Manatee County No Meetings

   

• City of Anna Maria Thursday the 27^th @ 6:00pm

  City Pier RFP Update – Mayor

• City of Bradenton Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Bradenton Wednesday the 26^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Holmes Beach Tuesday the 25^th @ 6:00pm  

  No issues

• City of Palmetto No Meetings

   

• Hillsborough County Wednesday the 26^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Plant City Monday the 24^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• City of Tampa Thursday No Meetings

   

• City of Temple Terrace No Meetings

   

• Pinellas County Tuesday the 25^th @ 2:00pm

  Partner Presentation:

  U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater – Capt. Edward W. Sandlin, Commanding Officer.

  Dock Fee Report for the month of March 2017.

  Quarterly Report of Routine Dock and Dredge/Fill Permits issued from January 1 to March 31, 2017.

• Town of Belleair No Meetings

   

• City of Belleair Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Belleair Bluffs No Meetings

   

• City of Clearwater No Meetings

   

• City of Gulfport No Meetings

   

• City of Indian Rocks No Meetings

   

• Town of Indian Shores No Meetings

   

• City of Largo Tuesday the 18^th @ 6:00pm (Last Week)

  No issues

• City of Madeira Beach No Meetings

   

• Town of North Redington Beach Wednesday the 26^th @ 11:00am

  No issues

• City of Oldsmar No Meetings

   

• City of Pinellas Park Thursday the 27^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• Town of Redington Shores Wednesday the 26^th @ 7:00pm

  Agenda not posted will check back next week

• City of Safety Harbor No Meetings

   

• City of Seminole Tuesday the 25^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City South Pasadena No Meetings

   

• City of St. Pete Beach Tuesday the 25^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of St. Petersburg No Meetings

   

• City of Tarpon Springs No Meetings

   

• City of Treasure Island No Meetings

   

• Southwest Florida Water Management District Tuesday the 25^th @ 10:00am

  No issues

• South Florida Water Management No Meetings

   

• WCIND No Meetings

SWFMIA local government agenda items for the week of April 17, 2017

• Lee County Tuesday the 18^th @ 9:30am

  Approve Creation of Marina/Coral Circle Canal Dredge CIP Municipal Services Benefit Unit

  ($385,279 estimated project cost; all short and long term loans to finance this project will be reimbursed by the Marina/Coral Circle Property Owners through an MSBU assessment.):

  Authorizes staff to set up a Municipal Service Benefit Unit for the purpose of managing a capital improvement project for dredging of canal.  This project is located in North Ft Myers and involves dredging of an access channel in the Caloosahatchee River for the Canal located between Coral Circle and Marina Circle in the Gulf Acres subdivision. (#20170140-COUNTY MANAGER)

• City of Cape Coral Monday the 17^th @ 4:30pm

  No issues

• City of Fort Myers Monday the 17^th @ 4:30pm

  No issues

• Town of Fort Myers Beach Monday the 17^th@ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of Sanibel No Meetings

• City of Bonita Springs Wednesday the 19^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Village of Estero Wednesday the 19^th @ 9:30am

  Estero River Boating Committee Reimbursement Request

  Recommended Action:

  Motion to approve the request for reimbursement in the amount of $2,869.47 to Pelican Sound Golf & River Club, for the Estero River safety signage project, as requested by Peggy Phillips, College of Life Foundation.

  https://estero-fl.gov/wp-content/uploads/library/Agenda%20Attachments/Estero%20River%20Boating%20Committee%20Reimbursement%20Request%20-%207b.pdf

• Charlotte County No Meetings

• City of Punta Gorda Wednesday the 19^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Sarasota County Wednesday the 19^th @ 2:00pm

  No issues

• City of North Port No Meetings

• City of Sarasota Monday the 17^th @ 2:30pm

  No issues

• City of Venice @ No Meetings

• Town of Longboat Key Monday the 17^th @ 1:00pm

  Canal Dredging Feasibility Study Update

  At the October 17, 2016 Regular Workshop Meeting, representatives of Taylor Engineering presented the preliminary results of the Canal Dredging Feasibility Study. At that meeting, there was consensus to move forward on action items outlined by the Town Manager which included discussion on how to fund future projects, development of options and methodologies.

  Recommended Action: Pending discussion, provide direction to Manager.

• Manatee County Tuesday the 18^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of Anna Maria No Meetings

• City of Bradenton Beach Thursday the 20^th @ 12:00ppm

  Request for a 6ft. high fence enclosure for the storage and dumpster area at the North Coquina Boat Ramp and an Extension of Construction Hours for the development of the North Coquina Boat Ramp

• City of Bradenton Mo Meetings

• City of Holmes Beach No Meetings  

• City of Palmetto Monday the 17^th @ 7:00pm

  No issues

• Hillsborough County Wednesday the 19^th @ 9:00am

  Receive an update from St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman on the Cross-Bay Ferry pilot project.

  http://agenda-app.hillsboroughcounty.org/cache/00003/867/E-1.pdf

  Execute the Memorandum of Agreement between Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the United States Coast Guard for the purpose of shipboard firefighting. There is no financial impact associated with this Memorandum of Agreement.

  http://agenda-app.hillsboroughcounty.org/cache/00003/867/A-23.pdf

• Plant City Monday No Meetings

• City of Tampa Thursday the 20^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of Temple Terrace Tuesday the 18^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• Pinellas County No Meetings

• Town of Belleair Tuesday the 18^th @ 6:00pm

  Agenda not posted will check back next week

• City of Belleair Beach No Meetings

• City of Belleair Bluffs Monday the 17^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Clearwater Thursday the 20^th @ 6:00pm

  Agenda not posted will check back next week

• City of Gulfport Tuesday the 18^th @ 7:00pm

  No issues

• City of Indian Rocks No Meetings

• Town of Indian Shores No Meetings

• City of Largo Tuesday the 11^th @ 4:00pm (Last Week)

  No issues

• City of Madeira Beach No Meetings

• Town of North Redington Beach No Meetings

• City of Oldsmar Tuesday the 18^th @ 7:00pm  

  No issues

• City of Pinellas Park No Meetings

• Town of Redington Shores No Meetings

• City of Safety Harbor Monday the 17^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• City of Seminole No Meetings

• City South Pasadena No Meetings

• City of St. Pete Beach No Meetings

• City of St. Petersburg Thursday the 20^th @ 3:00pm

  No issues

• City of Tarpon Springs Tuesday the 18^th @ 6:30pm

  Possible project for Penny for Pinellas – Craig Park Boat Ramp Expansion

• City of Treasure Island Tuesday the 18^th @ 6:00pm

  Consideration of Res. 17-38, Request to Purchase New Marine Patrol Vessel

• Southwest Florida Water Management District No Meetings

• South Florida Water Management No Meetings

• WCIND No Meetings

Press Release Published in Florida Sportsman

Bob Atkins is proud to announce that the Citizens For Florida’s Waterways (CFFW) press release on the manatee’s downlisting from endangered to threatened has been recently picked up and featured in the April Issue of Florida Sportsman. Also featured in the April Issue, on page 78, is a feature article written by David and Mary Gayle Sartwell that focuses on the October 2016 Manatee Forum meeting. The features in this publication, both print and digital, have greatly contributed to bringing attention to the real problem we are facing with manatees. Thank you to Karl and Jeff from Florida Sportsman for publishing these articles to help spread awareness of the manatee population and for teaching others about CFFW’s primary objective.

The print publication with the full articles is on stands now but the quick article can be read here.

To learn more about CFFW’s efforts, visit their website.

Federal agency reclassifies manatee from ‘endangered’ to ‘threatened’

By Bruce Ritchie
03/30/2017 05:41 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE — The West Indian manatee is being downgraded from endangered to threatened under federal law, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Thursday.

The lumbering sea cow, Florida’s state marine mammal, is the focus of disputes over boating speed zones and in areas where people flock to see or swim with them.

The federal agency said the manatee is being downgraded because it no longer is on the brink of extinction. And any protections now in place now will remain with the reclassification, agency officials said.

“The protection under the status of threatened are no less than under the status of endangered,” said Larry Williams, the ecological services program manager for the federal agency in Florida.

But some environmentalists say the change isn’t warranted because the species remains at risk.

The agency said in January 2016 that a variety of protective measures had helped increased populations by 500 percent in the past 25 years. The Florida manatee population had increased from an estimated 1,267 in 1991 to more than 6,620 now.

Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said in response to the announcement that manatees remain in danger.

“Thanks to the safety net of the Endangered Species Act, broad public support and conservation efforts by the state, manatee numbers have improved over the past few decades,” Lopez said in a statement. “With ongoing threats posed by boat strikes and habitat loss, we don’t support reducing protections through down-listing yet.”

Patrick Rose, executive director of the Save the Manatee Club, said the reclassification is premature because of massive die-offs and potential loss of habitat, including sea grass areas, springs and warm-water power plant discharges.

“Florida continues to not deal with its environmental problems to keep up with the impact of growth and development,” said Rose, an aquatic biologist.

But federal officials pointed to a number of steps taken by state officials including manatee speed zones, retrofitting water control structures to reduce manatees being caught or crushed and increasing manatee access to springs.

Manatee boating zones remain an issue of contention with some boat owners questioning their necessity as the number of manatees increase. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said boats killed a record 104 manatees in 2016, according to news reports.

Last year, House Bill 1273 would have required the state agency to conduct a study of the effectiveness of manatee speed zones including the extent the risk to manatees are reduced. The bill died after passing one committee stop.

Federal officials suggested the species reclassification would not allow speed zones to be repealed automatically. Those zones must be reviewed periodically in the 13 counties where they are required and can be changed based on available data.

Outside the United States, manatee population and abundance estimates are less certain, the Fish and Wildlife Service says. There are likely as many as 6,300 Antillean manatees spread over a much broader range, from the Mexican Gulf coast to northern Brazil and the Caribbean.

To view online:
http://www.politico.com/states/florida/whiteboard/2017/03/federal-agency-removes-manatee-from-endangered-species-act-110895

SWFMIA local government agenda items for the week of March 27, 2017

• Lee County No Meetings

   

• City of Cape Coral No Meetings

   

• City of Fort Myers No Meetings

   

• Town of Fort Myers Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Sanibel No Meetings

   

• City of Bonita Springs No Meetings

   

• Village of Estero No Meetings

   

• Charlotte County Tuesday the 28^th @ 9:00am

  Vacancies

  Gulf Cove Waterway Benefit Unit is seeking one member to fill a vacant unexpired term through October 31, 2018.

  Northwest Port Charlotte Waterway Unit is seeking one member to fill a vacant unexpired term through October 31, 2019.

• City of Punta Gorda No Meetings

   

• Sarasota County No Meetings

   

• City of North Port Tuesday the 28^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of Sarasota No Meetings

   

• City of Venice Tuesday the 28^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• Town of Longboat Key No Meetings

   

• Manatee County No Meetings

   

• City of Anna Maria No Meetings

   

• City of Bradenton Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Bradenton No Meetings

   

• City of Holmes Beach Tuesday the 28^th @ 6:00pm  

  No issues

• City of Palmetto No Meetings

   

• Hillsborough County No Meetings

   

• Plant City Monday the 27^th @ 7:30pm

  No issues

• City of Tampa No Meetings

   

• City of Temple Terrace No Meetings

   

• Pinellas County No Meetings

   

• Town of Belleair No Meetings

   

• City of Belleair Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Belleair Bluffs No Meetings

   

• City of Clearwater No Meetings

   

• City of Gulfport No Meetings

   

• City of Indian Rocks Beach Tuesday th e28th @ 7:00pm

  No issues

• Town of Indian Shores Tuesday the 28^th @ 5:00pm

• No issues

• City of Largo No Meetings

   

• City of Madeira Beach No Meetings

   

• Town of North Redington Beach No Meetings

   

• City of Oldsmar No Meetings

   

• City of Pinellas Park No Meetings

   

• Town of Redington Shores No Meetings

   

• City of Safety Harbor No Meetings

   

• City of Seminole Tuesday the 28^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City South Pasadena Tuesday the 28^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• City of St. Pete Beach Tuesday the 28^th @ 6:00pm

  No issues

• City of St. Petersburg No Meetings

   

• City of Tarpon Springs No Meetings

   

• City of Treasure Island No Meetings

   

• Southwest Florida Water Management District Tuesday the 28^th @ 9:00am

  No issues

• South Florida Water Management No Meetings

   

• WCIND No Meetings

Lake Okeechobee Levels Below 12 Feet Will Require Lock Closures

If dry conditions continue, several locks will be closed for safety reasons.

This map shows the locks that could be closed because of low water levels in Lake Okeechobee. Click on image to see a larger version.

West Palm Beach, FL – Boaters navigating to and from Lake Okeechobee, please be advised that if drier-than-average conditions persist and the levels of Lake Okeechobee are further reduced, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will close navigation locks on the north shore for safety reasons. Personal injury and lock damage could occur when boats pass through these structures at water levels below any of the designated safety limits.

Today, the water level in Lake Okeechobee is 12.77 feet. However, if the lake falls below 12 feet, locks along the north shore will be closed. The locks potentially affected are:
• Martin County: S-135 structure, J&S Fish Camp
• Okeechobee County: G-36 structure, Henry Creek
• Glades County: S-127 structure, Buckhead Ridge
• Glades County: S-131 structure, Lakeport
• ***Okeechobee County: S-193 structure, Taylor Creek, will close if lake levels fall below 11 feet.***
Despite these other possible closures, the S-310 lock on the south shore at Clewiston in Hendry County will remain open even as low lake levels continue. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the locks leading from the lake to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.

To get the latest information on Lake Okeechobee’s water volume, including daily levels, visit SFWMD’s website at www.sfwmd.gov/science-data/levels.

To get the latest information on navigation through SFWMD structures and waterways, visit www.sfwmd.gov/navigation.