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Senate Panel Approves Two Coastal Measures

Pensacola Beach
Blankfaze via wikimedia commons

Lawmakers seem to agree Florida’s coastline is a vital part of the state’s economy.  But one Senate panel highlights the lack of agreement on how to protect it.

Sen. Jack Latvala (R-Clearwater) wants to give beach projects a guaranteed stream of revenue.  He argues Florida’s coastline is key to tourism, and investing in them yields a return of five to one.

“However we haven’t addressed beaches in any way in over five years,” Latvala says, “and over half our beaches are considered eroded, and only half of those eroded beaches are part of project solutions.”

The measure would make a number of changes to the Department of Environmental Protection’s scoring criteria for projects.

“Specifically it requires consideration of economic benefits,” Latvala says, “federal and local matching funds, recreational benefits, project significance, readiness to proceed habitat protection and strategies to conserve sand resources.”

Put simply, the changes place greater emphasis on dollars and cents.  Regulators would begin considering a project’s tourism-related return on investment, and questions of cost-effectiveness, federal matching dollars and value of upland property are given higher priority. 

Riviera Beach Councilwoman Dawn Pardo says guaranteed funding and a three-year plan is a lifeline for many communities.

“It is much needed,” she says, “for too many years the coastal cities throughout the state of Florida have been asking for a long term comprehensive plan to manage our beaches and this is finally a step in the right direction.”

Latvala’s proposal passed unanimously. 

Meanwhile, Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez is pushing a bill allowing some local governments to regulate or ban plastic bags.  State law currently pre-empts cities and counties from passing plastic bag ordinances.

“We pull them from sand dunes, we untangle them from mangrove roots and we fish them from storm drains,” Davey Connor of the Surfrider Foundation says.  “Our chapters collaborate with local governments to find solutions we organize cleanups promote ocean friendly businesses and support municipal efforts to establish local controls.” 

“But no matter how enthusiastic a city government is about protecting their beaches and waterways,” he says, “the existing preemption leaves their hands tied.”

The provision is a boon to retailers and Samantha Padgett from the Florida Retail Federation argues state lawmakers don’t need to do anything.

“All those materials, whatever you use, they need to be disposed of properly and the retailers have embraced their role in this,” Padgett says, “providing receptacles to allow customers to bring back plastic, paper and all different types of material so that we can be part of the solution.”

But after a recent court ruling the state’s preemption is in limbo.  Some lawmakers are hoping to seize the initiative.  Rodriguez’ bill would allow coastal communities with fewer than 100,000 people to establish a 2 and a half year pilot program placing restrictions on bags.  Connor points out the bill would help the same beaches Latvala’s measure would, but GOP support is scarce.  The measure passed with one Republican supporter.

Nick Evans came to Tallahassee to pursue a masters in communications at Florida State University. He graduated in 2014, but not before picking up an internship at WFSU. While he worked on his degree Nick moved from intern, to part-timer, to full-time reporter. Before moving to Tallahassee, Nick lived in and around the San Francisco Bay Area for 15 years. He listens to far too many podcasts and is a die-hard 49ers football fan. When Nick’s not at work he likes to cook, play music and read.