HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-10-06 Handouts
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P~'~"~' ~~ F`C'1N~~'~Ii~~Q."f~ 0~' the clt~7 .a~1d Cotlllt~r OfflClalS„ ;aR their["
~i ~„ ~ ~~1t"iG~ 'V(9]~t` 5 :~~ili'~, preparations, presentations and gene~,aJ.
cotmnitn~eiit were con~iendabi.e. Some
€~1:~6'il~y ~'1~1~ ~!b ~c)lll~~~~oS~~ dozen of the citizeit~T drove.to Tallahassee
~'es, 1 adtt~ri to being ~t ielative'i'tewcon~- and stayedrovet°nbht at their own expense
and those voices were'
to add theu~ voices
er to intense civic activity:'But iLr the five ,
heard
~ e~~rs since ] became invdlved with St. LLt- .
Cargo has become so mechanized that i:t
ce (,aunty, 1 have never seen a better ca- no longer ,creates much ita the w~}r of Jobs;
ordinated, :more well-inforanecl.and cooper- 'theproposed vacYit tnanutactur>YS.g facil.i-
zt9~~re offor-t'thar~ 1;witnes~ed .last month in ~; .which l~ u,. Bill refused, would have
'1'all~ahassee..Tl-le issue was the hloyd Hell created high Jrl~ririg Jobs; -not tc~ naentioi
(Dentin Beach lnc;) submerged land lease a'ttracth~~ the r~~~es of people .who woul.ra
application; the city, coLtnty, °etJ.virori- continue t>> ~:t ~~°ade this aovely area...
1
Mental atLCI Ha.rl~or l-~.dvisor~~ con~7~itl:Pes~, s~llf~ of'traY fatla:er's 4'~voritF~ s~Yin~ tnras
ncit to ;me'iiton a huge maiorit~ (~f the voa (:la.n~,crnrtr.' rr d~,serto atad ii7 this catasc~
eiectorate, °opposed :the app.ltcattoll, '~'L7_iS .those "V01Ce5 CrVlr]:C ll"1 the wll.d21'L1PS~~,.,
was f'o(• goo(1 reason. None of t:he appropr:i- were genuinely heard.
atr~ site pl:arls. usage platzs. etc., had ever fUdaa;F~ ~ttaparxtr.
been filec.'t. ~a;m~oaa~' A~uisea~°~r ~azmmN~e~
'1'l~F. Iaepai~f7~aen1; of 'Btlv~ronrnetzlal T'r,.(?.. ~t.'E~uci~ Cow~t~~°
tection i~aad clerd°.1~~ trot ehanltzecl ttt(, ,,ii(,.
tential environmental impact:s. thott:~l'~
f'tte~,r 11ar. rt~ceivecl:a ~~eat deal of scictttifc
data. It also seemed .tl~ai. 1\rit~. Bell. lieu;.
changul~, lain n~Lin. d as to the. type of c~~>ga
ensrisioned: m1e day it wa.s ii~iit~= and vc~g(:~:
ta11]es. Gulotherxta~~ at was build:ink; naafi:eri-
~ilsrand, `during a radio it7tez~ie~n~, lie n~err
tinned licluefted. natlaral. has.
7 remain caxtremel:,~ proud a th~~ efl`ort:-.
Destin Beach, Inc, Submerged Land Lease for Berth 4
At this time, in preparation for our next visits to Tallahassee, we should begin to prioritize the
issues at hand. Those dates are:
Cabinet Aides Meeting -Wednesday, November 8, at 9 a.m.
Cabinet Meeting Meeting -Tuesday, November 14, at 9 a.m.
The following are a few suggestions of the issues, however, not in necessarily in order of
importance. Room has been left for you to add your thinking and additional items should be
indicated as well.
St Lucie County Comprehensive Plan /Port lpmpnt -being ignored? DEP ignoring DCA's
Letter as well.
Environmental Issue -being ignored and brushed aside stating: We have already had damage.
Weak for a supposed environmental protection department.
DEP is claiming the Application is not "contrary to the public interest". To date the following
have requested this application be denied: City of Fort Pierce, Saint Lucie County, City of Port St.
Lucie, Marine Resources Council, 1000 Friends of Florida, Audubon, Sierra Club, Conservation
Alliance, St. Lucie Waterfront Council, Surfrider's Organization, Fort Pierce Sports Fishing Club,
Scenic America, Florida Wildlife Federation, as well as several homeowners groups, and vast
majority of our citizens. Probably some have been left off this list. What more will it take to be
"contrary to the public interest"?
Proper Rights of Property Owner -what about Property Rights of adjoining property as well as
our communities property rights?
Full description of activitie to come under lease - to date the only information we have is
average 225' ship size, however, occasionally 625'. Products stated in application "various
cargoes, principally rock and aggregates. Note words in bold are of concern. Frequency of
shipments (important due to increase in rail and truck traffic and damage to lagoon.
Who will have enforcement power, if approved DEP or St. Lucie County? With previous
violations of Code Enforcement and DEP violations it could prove extremely difficult to control?
Page 1 or 3
Destin Beach, Inc, Submerged Land Lease for Berth 4
Historical and Continual Use DEP now claims, Continual Use is not a consideration. Historical
Use needs to be proven by business records not hearsay.
State Comp Plan 187 b5 (20) Transportation "Ensure that existing port facilities and airports art
eing used to the maximum ex Pnt possible before encn,~rag~g hP expansion or development of
new port facilities and airports to support economic growth." It is my understanding our port is far
from being used to the maximum extent possible and I have heard it is actually for sale at this time.
DEP fears Law Suit by Applicant if permit is denied.
Recent quotes b~loyd Bell (Tribune)
"I doubt I'll even be using it, but it is my right." Should DEP issue a permit that might not
be used?
Threats: "Bell said he plans to attend the August 1 meeting and would sue anyone who
stands in his way," "I'm keeping record of who's doing this so I can sue them." I'm going
after them as individuals. They better mind their own business, and stay out of free trade
enterprise."
Bell said the city and county can't stop him from developing what he wants on his property."
"I own that," he said. "They have no way to tell me what I can and cannot do with it."
Homeland Security Ports, Airports, Nuclear Power Plants (high risk)
Should DEP require background checks for applicants and users of Submerged Land Leases?
List Other Issues /Concerns
Page 2 of 3
Destin Beach, Inc, Submerged Land Lease for Berth 4
Considerations and Suggestions:
Request the County and/or City obtain additional Counsel who specializes in Land Use for
interpretation of Comprehensive Plan /Port Master Plan as well as State Comp Plan 187.
Also interpret DEP's claim not "contrary to the public interest," 18-21.004 (1)(a), F.A.C.
Request the County have the 1991 study, Environmental Survey Relative to the Expansion
and development of The Port of Fort Pierce updated on the seagrass inventory as well as a
study of the area showing the effects to the Aquatic Preserve which is located north and
south of the port area. The study was done for St. Lucie County Port and Airport Authority
by Harbor Branch Oceanographic by R. Grant Gilmore, Ph.D. and M. Dennis Hanisak, Ph.D.
We cannot afford to just accept the applicant and/or his consultant's evaluation of this
important issue.
Request consideration of a legal challenge by City and/or County following the next Aides
Meeting if DEP does not recommend denial of this application. The challenge could be
based on the DEP's position of Recommendation of Approval despite clear and concise
evidence that the application is "contrary to the public interest," pursuant to 18-21.004(1)
(a), F.A.C.
This is only aworksheet - it is important that all ideas be considered on this important issue.
Page 3 or 3
~.,.:.:. ~ PORT OF FORT PIERCE, INC.
~'~ D/B/A INDIAN RIVER TERMINAL COMPANY ~'"'~~~~
18 Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Pierce, Florida 34950 %~
(772) 465-7700 Fax (772) 465-7731
Information regarding the "current" operations at the Port of Fort Pierce
Q. Is the Port of Fort Pierce publicly or privately owned?
A. The Port is privately owned and non-government subsidized. The Port of Fort Pierce has been a
commercial cargo port since the early 1930's.
Q. How many people work at the Port?
A. 35 full-time employees, all of which are residents of the Treasure Coast.
Q. How are salaries compared to the local area and State of Florida?
A. The average hourly rate is 7% more than the county and 14% more than the state for non-management
and 44% more than the state average for management. In addition to normal wages, all employees are
provided with many other benefits as well as 100% employer paid health insurance.
Q. How many minority and/or woman workers are at the Port?
A 69% of the workforce at the Port are minority and/or woman.
Q. How many ships come to/from the Port?
A. On a 2 year average there are over 200 vessel arrivals and over 200 vessel departures. The forecast for
2006 is over 250 arrivals and over 250 departures.
Q. How many tons of cargo move through the Port annually?
A. Annually, approximately 250,000 tons of cargo and 10,000 teu's (20' equivalent units) move through
the Port of Fort Pierce.
Q. How often does Customs or Immigration visit the Port?
A. Every time a ship enters or departs from the Port. To date, there have been no seizures of any vessels at
the Port of Fort Pierce.
Q. Is the Port compliant with the US Government Homeland Security Guidelines for Terrorism?
A. The Port is fully compliant and has all United States Coast Guard & Department of Homeland Security
approval and authority to operate as an international cargo port.
Q. How many oil or gasoline accidents have occurred at the Port of Fort Pierce?
A. The Port of Fort Pierce has experienced Zero (0) spills and/or environmental accidents.
Q. What is the economic impact of the Port to the Treasure Coast?
A. The impact of trade through the Port of Fort Pierce is estimated at $15 million annually as stated in the
St. Lucie-Martin Counties' MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) 2030 long-range plan.
Q. What other purposes could the Port provide?
A. 1) Hurricane relief for the Treasure Coast and Caribbean Islands in case of disasters. This was proven
in 2004.
2) Staging area & receiving terminal for large projects on the Treasure Coast, such as the new power
plant being developed in St. Lucie County. This type of demand will increase as the region continues to
develop.
3) The Port of Fort Pierce has been the basis for Federal support of the maintenance & servicing of the
Fort Pierce inlet, which is a vital & unique component of the City of Fort Pierce.
4) Facilitate growth of local business by providing an international market for products and services.
5) In the future, with the proposed FDOT east -west corridor, The Port of Fort Pierce could be an
international gateway from Florida's east coast.
The Port of Fort Pierce is a significant economic engine for the Treasure Coast