DEP clarifies murky questions on dock usage for Bradenton Beach officials
BRADENTON BEACH -- The Florida Department of Environmental Protection this week delivered some highly anticipated clarifications regarding the usage of a day dock parallel to the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.
The city's submerged land lease for the day dock allows for temporary mooring of vessels on a first-come, first-served basis, which includes vessels offering services to public users that do not generate venue within the lease area, according to an April 18 letter to Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale from DEP Southwest District Director Mary E. Yeargan.
According to Speciale, the city's submerged land lease with the DEP covers the area a few feet outside the pier, day dock and Anna Maria Oyster Bar, 200 Bridge St. He sent an email Tuesday to Bradenton Beach Mayor William Shearon and the Bradenton Beach Commission after speaking to DEP official Gerald "J.J." Loesch for clarification.
"Mr. Loesch stated that we were in compliance with the use of the day dock, that it is to be used by private and commercial vessels for the temporary mooring on a first-come first-serve basis," the police chief's email read.
On whether the city could restrict mooring time on the day dock, the DEP letter states the lease does not prohibit such restrictions and "the department is not opposed to the city establishing them in order to ensure compliance with the first-come, first-served nature of the day dock."
The letter comes after some boaters raised concerns about congestion on the dock and regulations surrounding it.
"What the city has been doing forever is correct. That's what the letter proved to me," Shearon said Tuesday night.
Shearon said he and Speciale will bring the information to the City Pier Team.
"As stated by the DEP, it's first come, first served and if time restrictions are going to be necessary, then we'll do that," he added. "Hopefully they will not be necessary."
Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter@AmarisCastillo.
This story was originally published April 19, 2016 at 11:17 PM with the headline "DEP clarifies murky questions on dock usage for Bradenton Beach officials ."