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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-056 RESOLUTION NO. 11-056 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR HORSEBACK RIDING SEAWARD OF THE PRIMARY DUNE DURING THE TURTLE NESTING SEASON AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, (the "Board") has made the following determinations: 1. On or about December 1, 1986, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 86-02 creating regulations for the protection of sea turtles in St. Lucie County (the "County"). 2. On or about March 8,1988, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 88-14 providing that horses are permitted on beach areas if authorized by permit and subject to further restrictions during turtle nesting season. 3. On November 7, 1991, the Board adopted Ordinance No. 91-21 amending the St. lucie County Land Development Code and adopting Section 6.04.02 Sea Turtle Protection with Subsection D prohibiting activities disruptive to sea turtles. The ordinance provides that during the nesting season (March 1 through November 15), horseback riding shall be prohibited on or seaward of the primary dune duringthe nesting season, except when a special permit is issued by the Community Development Administrator (later amended to Growth Management Director) in accordance with regulations adopted by resolution of the Board. 4. Section 1-15-25 of the St. Lucie County Code and Compiled Laws authorizes horseback riding activities on the beach, if authorized by permit from the Director of Recreation and Parks of St. Lucie County (now known as Parks, Recreation and Facility Services Director). 5. Currently in St. Lucie County, horseback riding on the beach is only permitted at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park. 6. It is in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of St. Lucie County to adopt regulations for horseback riding on the beach, seaward of the primary dune, during nesting season. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida: 1. The Board adopts the following regulations for horseback riding on the beach: A. Horseback riding will only be permitted on beach areas authorized by the Parks, Recreation and Facility Services Director or designee. B. The Parks, Recreation and Facility Services Director, or designee, in conjunction with the Planning & Development Services Director, or designee, will develop a permit for horseback riding on authorized beach(es), includingthe regulations for riding seaward ofthe primary dune during nesting season. At a minimum, the regulations will address the following: 1. the maximum number of horses allowed on the designated area at the same time; and 2. the requirements for manure removal; and 3. the fees; and 4. the allowable hours for the activities; and 5. an acknowledgment by the Permittee of receiving literature of sea turtle nests and allowable location(s) on the beach for riding; and 6. an acknowledgment by the Permittee of receiving the specific and general conditions for this beach activity. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida: 1. This resolution shall be effective on the date of adoption. After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows: Chairman Chris Craft AYE Vice Chairman Chris Dzadovsky AYE Commissioner Tod Mowery AYE Commissioner Paula A. Lewis AYE Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYE PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 19T" day of April 2011. ATTEST• n~,~ BOAR F UNTY MISSIONERS • ST. CIE UN F RID ~ t~r y . r ; ~ a~ ~ ~ ~ ? ' +yv~;:o ~ } YS N D PUTY CLER s ~ ~ ~~rv' ~ ; CHAI A ~.,E~,~{}~~,; ti~; rar~ ~ ~ r , 'Ta"'!; ~ ~ 6'~fi.."CN~ ~ ~ .'~Jrl~~,. 4' ' ) 'J~ J~ ~'~k A~i APPROU D AS TO LEGAL FORM AND k ,t~ ~ ~~~'~``f`~, ~ : ~ CORRECT ESS: ~~t'C ~ , ,a~, p , y~ - . ~ / y /1 .y.._~.~,.>:. V. COUNTY A EY St. Lucie County Horseback Riding on the Beach at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park Rules & Re~ulations The St. Lucie County Tourism Office and the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control division is responsible for managing and monitoring horseback riding on the beach at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park in St. Lucie County. If you have any questions on the following rules and regulations, please call the Tourism office at 1-800-344-8443. Cost: •$50 for St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2} horses. Each additional permit is $50 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person. •$200 for non St. Lucie County residents for up to two (2) horses. Each additional permit is $100 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person. Terms of Permit: • The program will operate on St. Lucie County's fiscal year - October 1- September 30. Permits issued are good until the end of the County's fiscal year of the year issued. For example, if a permit is issued on December 1, 2011, it is good until September 30, 2012. • The first permit issued is good for two horses. Each additional permit issued is for one horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses) per person. • Permit holders are permitted to ride their horse(s) one (1) Saturday and one (1) Sunday along with two (2) weekdays per month. • Permit holders can only ride their horses after sunrise and before sunset on their scheduled day(s). ` • All permit holders must call the Tourism office at least 48 hours in advance to schedule their riding reservation. • Permit holders are NOT permitted to accept money or charge participants to ride horses on their permit. • When a ride is scheduled through the Tourism office, permit holders are required to be present and keep the permit form on hand during the entire period of the permitted activity. Permit cannot transfer from one person to another. • Persons must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a permit(s). Permit Stickers and Gate Keys: ~ All permit holders will be given a permit sticker indicating the permit holders permit number and expiration date. All permit holders are requested to place this sticker in a conspicuous place on their vehicle or horse trailer (i.e. back bumper, back window, etc.). • Permit holders will be charged a duplicate fee if stickers are lost or stolen. • All permit holders will be issued a gate key which will provide access to the designated vehicle and horse trailer parking for permit holders only. Please be sure to lock the gate when entering and leaving. All permit holders are required to park in the designated horseback riding parking area when participating in the horseback riding activity. • Permit holders will be charged a duplicate fee if keys are lost or stolen. Riding Horses on the Beach: • All horses must be equipped with a tail bag and/or riders must clean up manure deposited by their horse(s) in the parking area and on the beach. • Pursuant to Section 773.06 Florida Statutes a child who is younger than 16 years of age must wear a helmet that meets the current applicable standards of the American Society of Testing and Materials for headgear used in horseback riding and is properly fitted and fastened securely upon the child's head by a strap. • All riding is limited to the area south of the designated beach access. • Riders are to follow the beach access trail from the parking lot down to the water's edge; from there, riders ride south up to a distance of approximately one and one-half miles (1 %z) until they reach the end-of-trail marker that indicates the turnaround point. • Horseback riding is limited to the water's edge and NEVER ON THE DUNE. Riders are only to ride on the wet hard packed sand surface in and near the watertine. Horses are permitted to ride in the water. • All riders are strictly forbidden to ride on the vegetated dunes so as not to disturb the dune plants and endangered species of sea turtles that nest on the beach. • Riders are to respect the sunbathers, swimmers and others by maintaining clearance when riding. • Riders are to observe and obey all signage instructions and conditions along the beach, in the parking area and along the beach access. • Under Florida Law, an equine activity sponsor or equine professional is not liable for an injury to, or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities. VIOLATION OF ANY OF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY RESULT IN REVOCATION OF YOUR PERMIT WITHOUT REFUND.