Sarasota Moorings Being Discussed

[dropanchorfor3]

While living close to the Sarasota area I have just heard the city if Sarasota had a meeting on the 3rd of Nov to discuss anchoring on moorings and anchoring away from the mooring field. Does anybody have any info on this. I have been looking on line but have not seen what was discussed.

[Waterway Guide]

There's a good article from the Sarasota Patch that covered the meeting, and the plans are to draft an ordinance, or not. If the ordinance is drafted, it will come back for a public hearing Jan 12.
Mike – Waterway Guide

[GordMay]

See ➥ http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...eld-10260.html
for what's been discussed, in the past.

[svHyLyte]

Originally Posted by dropanchorfor3

While living close to the Sarasota area I have just heard the city if Sarasota had a meeting on the 3rd of Nov to discuss anchoring on moorings and anchoring away from the mooring field. Does anybody have any info on this. I have been looking on line but have not seen what was discussed.

Don't hold your breath. This BS has been going on for years. One contractor actually tried placing some moorings but they were worthless and the effort was abandoned. The City and contractor are now fighting over compensation. The mooring field is viewed as a means of prohibiting anchoring in the remainder of Sarasota Bay. The real intention--expressed by the Condo owners overlooking the Bay Front Park--is to force the "derelicts" out of the basin on the south side of the park. They are "unsightly" and many routinely wash up in the beach in any major storm. The Herald Tribune has some of the stories on the matter available on its web-site.

FWIW...

[denverd0n]

A good source for information about this...
Cruiser's Net

[denverd0n]

Originally Posted by svHyLyte

The real intention--expressed by the Condo owners overlooking the Bay Front Park--is to force the "derelicts" out of the basin...

That's what they say, but if that is their intention then current law provides ample means for achieving that end. There is no need to create a mooring field in order to deal with derelicts.

I suspect the real issue here is the same as all political issues--power and money. As in, they don't like the idea that anyone who wants to can anchor out there without asking for permission, and without paying any fees. They want control, and most important of all, they want the people who anchor out there to acknowledge their control.

Is my well-justified cynicism about bureaucrats and politicians showing through?

[dropanchorfor3]

I can understand if some of these boats are truly an eye sore and should be removed from the water. But to those who keep up there vessels should not be punished because of others. These people who build these huge homes on the water to only visit Florida for a few months out of a year need to come off there high horse.
Just because they can afford a house to only show off in doesn't make it write. I guess if you want to get technical, maybe they should be find so much a sq ft for leaving a big carbon foot print. Ohh yeah they don't care about anybody but themselves. Screw the boaters right... Thanks everybody for the feedback

[bella]

Go visit the FB group MarinersBARR
lots of info there Captain Charmaine Smith-Ladd has been fairly involved in this issue.
Log In | Facebook

[bella]

Drop Anchor, in truth this is not about "derelict" boats.. that is just a convenient excuse.. This is about revenue. By forcing boats to a mooring and making them pay a fee to stay there, then the city, in theory makes out like a bandit.. In the case of Sarasota this is about revenue for the owner of Marina Jack. The man has a sweetheart deal with the city paying them a fraction of what he should be. As I recall the City's cut is around 30% or much lesss.. please note that is not an accurate amt. am trying to remember what it was but I honestly forget.. it is real low though. He makes millions on that marina and wants to make more on a mooring field. He is the impetus behind this whole pilot program.

[dropanchorfor3]

It's all politics and greed...