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Home My WebLink About25-085 RESOLUTION NO. 25-085 A RESOLUTION REPEALING AND SUPERSEDING RESOLUTION NO. 2011-056 AND RESOLUTION NO. 2024-115 AND 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 during the 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. On April 19, 2011, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2011-056 adopting regulations for horseback riding seaward of the primary dune during the turtle nesting season only permitted at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park south of the designated beach access. 5. On June 4, 2024, the Board adopted Resolution No. 24-115 to amend Resolution No. 2011-056 to include John Brooks Beach Park as an additional site for horseback riding. 6. Section 32-96 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). 7. Currently in St. Lucie County, horseback riding on the beach is only permitted at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park and John Brooks Beach Park. 8. St. Lucie County shall continue to permit horseback riding on the beach only at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park and John Brooks Beach Park north until reaching the end-of- trail marker that indicates the turnaround point. 9. It is in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of St. Lucie Page 1 of 5 County to repeal Resolution No. 2011-056 and Resolution No. 2024-115 and adopting regulations for horseback riding on the beach, seaward of the primary dune, during nesting season north of the designated beach access at Frederick Douglass Memorial Park and John Brooks Beach Park. 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), including the regulations for riding seaward of the 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. 7. All riding is limited to the area north of the designated beach access. 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: Commissioner Jamie Fowler, Chair AYE Commissioner Larry Leet,Vice-Chair AYE Commissioner James Clasby AYE Commissioner Erin Lowry AYE Commissioner Cathy Townsend AYE PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 22nd day of April 2025. Page 2 of 5 ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS liVieST. \CIE COUNT, , FLQRIDA d4,41 BY: �t/Il ��Zr . DEPUTY CL OMIN��, C AIR s V J` jam; ti AP' I. 1 PED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND * •� * CORRECTNESS: /� �� :7.r ;:?; oe 1 �G°/F couHri.*v- ASS}'• CO ATTORNEY Page 3 of 5 St. Lucie County Horseback Riding on the Beach Rules & Regulations The St. Lucie County Parks & Recreation Department and the St. Lucie County Tourism Office are responsible for managing and monitoring the horseback riding on the beach program at Frederick Douglass Memorial Beach Park. If you have any questions on the following rules and regulations,please call 772.462.1521 or 800.344.8443. Annual Permits: • An annual riding permit is$200 for non-St.Lucie County residents for up to two(2)horses. Each additional annual permit is $100 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses)per person. • An annual riding permit is$50 for St.Lucie County residents for up to two(2)horses. Each additional annual permit is $50 per horse. Limit 3 permits(4 horses)per person. Weekly Permits: • A weekly riding permit is$100 for non-St. Lucie County residents for up to two(2)horses. Each additional weekly permit is $50 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses)per person. • A weekly riding permit is$35 for St. Lucie County residents for up to two(2)horses. Each additional weekly permit is $25 per horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses)per person. Terms of Permit: • The first permit issued is good for two horses. Each additional permit issued is for one horse. Limit 3 permits (4 horses)per person. • Annual permit holders are permitted to ride their horse(s) 4 times per month — one (1) Saturday and one(1) Sunday along with two (2)weekdays. • Weekly permit holders can ride an unlimited number of times during their designated permit dates. • All permit holders can ride their horses from 8am to 5pm on their scheduled day(s). • All permit holders must call 772.462.1521 at least 48 hours in advance to schedule their riding reservation. The office is open Monday— Friday, 8am—5pm. Closed on holidays. • Permit holders are NOT permitted to accept money or charge participants to ride horses on their permit. • When a ride is scheduled, 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 & Combination Lock Code: • All annual permit holders will be given a permit sticker indicating the permit holder's permit number and expiration date. All permit holders are requested to place this sticker in Page 4 of 5 a conspicuous place on their vehicle or horse trailer(i.e.back bumper,back window,inside windshield, etc.). • Permit holders may be charged a duplicate fee if stickers are lost or stolen. • All annual permit holders will be given a combination lock code that 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. Riding Horses on the Beach: • All horses must be equipped with a manure catch bag and/or riders must clean up manure deposited by their horse(s)on the beach,on the paths leading to the beach and in the parking area during and after each ride. Manure is not to be discarded into the ocean, in County trash receptacles, etc. All manure is to be removed from the park's premises by the permit holder. • Pursuant to Section 773.06, Florida Statute, 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 north 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 north up to a distance of approximately one mile 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 waterline. 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. • Permit holders must have documentation of a negative Coggins test for all horses. VIOLATION OF ANY OF THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS MAY RESULT IN REVOCATION OF YOUR PERMIT WITHOUT REFUND. Page 5 of 5