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Orange County Work Session: Proposed Changes to Orange County Code, Chapter 8 – Boats and Water Safety Ordinance
Event Description
Revisions to Orange County Code Chapter 8 – Read the REVISED DRAFT here
As you may recall, on September 1, 2020, a District 1 Commissioner’s Report concerning Egret Island (aka Bird Island) in Lake Butler was presented to the Board. Based on safety concerns associated with certain activities near the island, EPD was directed do the necessary research and coordination to bring back proposed changes to the ordinance. EPD has coordinated with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), and other stakeholders to discuss proposed changes to the code. At the work session, staff will present background and status of a two-phase effort to update the ordinance. In Phase 1, a new section designating a swim area and vessel-exclusion zone in a portion of Lake Butler adjacent to Egret Island will be proposed. Staff will identify the process and timeline of the update effort, discuss stakeholder comments received during Phase 1, and proposed next steps. This work session will allow EPD to obtain Board direction prior to coming back to the Board for the Phase 1 adoption hearing later in spring 2022. Later this year, EPD anticipates that more extensive updates to Chapter 8 will be brought to the Board for consideration as Phase 2 of the code update. These changes are needed in order to bring the code up-to-date with current FWC requirements, which is required in order to make changes to existing boating safety zones throughout the county moving forward. EPD and OCSO have identified the need for modifications to some existing boating safety zones and to establish additional boating safety zones. Additionally, the majority of the existing language in the code has been superseded by state statute and is no longer enforceable by law enforcement, which occasionally leads to confusion for the boating public.
Next Steps:
The Orange County Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is scheduled to review the proposed changes to Orange County Code, Chapter 8 – Boats and Water Safety Ordinance with the Orange County Board of Commissioners:
Work Session:
Date: March 22, 2022 (rescheduled from 3/8)
Time: 900AM
Location: Orange County Administration Building, 201 South Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801, BCC Chambers
How to provide comments:
At the hearing: Interested parties can provide comment during the public comment portion at the beginning of the BCC Meeting.
Anytime: Via Email: Tara.Urbanik@ocfl.net
Anytime: Written: Send your comments to: OC Environmental Protection Division, 3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200, Orlando Fl 32803, Attn: Tara Urbanik.
Anytime: Tara Urbanik at 407-836-1545.
Once available, the agenda will be posted by Orange County, here
Adoption Hearing:
Date: Tentatively scheduled for April 5, 2022
Time: 200PM
Location: Orange County Administration Building, 201 South Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801, BCC Chambers
How to provide comments:
At the hearing: Interested parties can provide comment during the public comment portion at the beginning of the BCC Meeting.
Anytime: Via Email: Tara.Urbanik@ocfl.net
Anytime: Written: Send your comments to: OC Environmental Protection Division, 3165 McCrory Place, Suite 200, Orlando Fl 32803, Attn: Tara Urbanik.
Anytime: Tara Urbanik at 407-836-1545.
Once available, the agenda will be posted by Orange County, here
