R97-019RESOLUTION ,~,~ ~"-/,~'
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA,
URGING THE 1997 FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO
CREATE A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE
FOR STATEWlDE BEACH MANAGEMENT AND
SUPPORTING HOUSE BILL 103; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE:
WHEREAS, beaches are Florida's number one tourist
attraction, generating more than $16 billion annually to the state's
economy; and
WHEREAS, wide sandy beaches are the first line of protection
against hurricanes and can reduce damage to coastal properties by
more than 50%; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Environmental Protection
estimates that at least 276 miles of Florida's sandy beaches are
experiencing critical erosion, a situation which is hurting both tourism
and storm protection along both coasts; and
WHEREAS, when the state's beach management program was
enacted in 1986, the Legislature declared an intent to "appropriate at
least $35 million annually" to implement this program, an amount
reinforced by DEP's FY 1997-98 legislative budget request; and
WHEREAS, average appropriations over the last five years
have been less than $9 million, resulting in long delays in urgently
needed beach preservation projects; and
WHEREAS, House Bill 103 in the 1997 Legislature will create a
dedicated funding source for statewide beach management of
approximately $30 million annually from cruise ship passengers
embarking and debarking in Florida;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA,
THAT:
Section 1. This Commission strongly urges the F~orida
Legislature to enact HB 103 or any other legislative efforts to provide
long-term dedicated funding for Florida's beaches.
Section 2. A copy of this Resolution shall be provided to all
members of our local delegation in the Florida Legislature and to the
Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association.
Section3. That this Resolution shall become effective
immediately u pon passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this .//6 day of February, 1997.
CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
Vice May~r / ~,~
Commissioner
Commissioner
~Commi~sioner
ATTEST: /,×
Cit~' Clerk
HB 103, Representative Dennis Jones
SB
1. Levies a stat~
debark from Florida
on cruise ship passengers when they embark or
Fee schedule is:
cruises over 24 hours: $5.00
-- cruises under 24 hours: $1.00
2. Estimated annual income to the state is $27 million. (based on 1994-95
figures.)
-- 5 mi11Ion embarkations/debarkations over 24 hours = $25 million
-- 2 million embarkations/debarkations under 24 hours = $2 million
Fee would be put in the state Ecosystem Management and Restoration
Trust Fund for repair and maintenance of Florida's beaches and for
enhancements to the beach environment by Florida's deep water ports.
4. This bill would free up generai, revenue funds currently allocated to the
state's beach management program.
IMPORTANCE OF BEACHES TO FLORIDA'S ECONOMY
1. Beaches are Florida*s number one tourist "attraction." Beach-related sales
generato moro than $16 b/l[ion to the state's economy. (On average,
beach tourists stay four days longer and spend more per capita than those
going to other Florida destinations)
2. DEP estimates that at least 276 miles of Florida's 787 miles of sandy
beaches fronting the Atlantic or Gulf are experiencing critical erosion.
This is negatively impacting tourism, which has been relatively stagnant
for t.he past five years. Hotel owners say eroded beaches'drive away
tourists to other dest~ations, including the Caribbean and Mexico'.
3. When the state's beach management program was enacted in 1986, the
Legislature declared an intent to "appropriate at least $35 million
zvnnually' t~o impleme~zt the p.r. ogram. (Average appropriations for the last
o years have boon $8.6 million, making it impossible to adequately
restore and maintain Florida's beaches.}
4. DEP estimates that to restore and maintain Florida's +276 miles of
critically-eroding beaches over 'the next-twenty years will have a total
annual, cost of $95 mfllton., i'~ current federal and local cost-sharing
formulas are maintained, ihs' State's. annual cost will be between $30 and
$35 million, reinforcing the vision of 1986 Beach Management Act. (Only
105 of the' state's 276 miles of critically-erodin~ beaches are currently
being addressed by the state's beach management program.)
o
For FY1997-98, local governments have requested $27.3 million in state
matching funds for beach projects. (These projects entailed $30 million
in federal matching money plus $30.6 mill/on in local matcKing money, or
a total of more than $2' for every state dollar spent.!
6. Another
strip-
d properties by more than 50%.
7. Beaches are the first line of from storm.,
is storm
b. ~ ~e
1. Navigation inlets, are a significant cause of beach erosion
in Florida by blocking the
_ es~,, .
nourishment.' It is appropriate , natural beach
ports help support
remedies to the beach erosion problem·
2. Caribbean cruise destinations tvnicallv ~ ..... ,,-- - - . - -
on U.S. tourists While the ~._.-_J._r; ~, ~.~.-.--~. ~ ~eaa ~u ana other fees
oLaLU ox p.-lorxaa gets nothing. Following are
~.i0ridaP,Ort. andports:passenger fees cOlleCted by cruise lines on passengers from
Bahamas 4 night cruise $84.50
Jamaica 7 night cruise $118.$0
Mexico 7 night cruise $126,50
3..Nearly all the cruise ships doing business 'in Florida are registered abr~ad
~l~c_..o~u_n.tr_i.e_s_suc..h.a.s .Pan. ama a_nd Liberia: They pay virtually no U.S..
.-.v..u.-.a~e~. ~-_Li snlppLug related income, such as cruise fares, is ta~
exempt.
PROJECTED IMPACTS ON FLORIDIANS & THE CRUISE LINF.~
1. The overwhelming, majority of cruise passengers departing from Florida.
~u~, rare;;~:~tes o_f_th.~ .other 49 states .of the U.S. or from canada.
· . y w Flondians will be subject to the proposed surchar e.
(Florida, with the w°rld,s three bUsiest c.~.a ..... .- .__-- ; ..... g .
~LL z~orcn ~2xerlcan home port passenger movements.!
2. The big majority of these out-o.f~state cruise p,a,.ssengers d_o. not vacation in
Florida** Rath. er, they use Florida as merely a way station to and from
the cruise ship.
3. The average c.r.u. ?e passenger pays more than $1,000 for his/her trip and
spends an additional $12g at each port of call.