By Marvin G. Cortner

Editor

The process for allowing commercial airboat companies engaged in eco-tourism to use two publicly-owned boat docks and ramps – at Whaley's Landing on Lake Tohopekaliga and the other at Lake Marian – is moving forward following action by the Osceola County Commission Monday.

Commissioners authorized staff to continue developing a request for proposal whereby commercial airboat operators essentially would bid for use of the ramps and docks. The request will be issued Feb. 13 in anticipation of an ordinance set to go into effect June 1 restricting commercial use of public ramps and docks. Commercial fishing guides would be exempt from the ordinance.

Staff had recommended the commission consider five public facilities out of the 12 the county maintains: Partin Triangle Neighborhood Park and Whaley's Landing (both on Lake Tohopekaliga), Lake Cypress, Ralph V. Chisholm Regional Park (on East Lake Tohopekaliga) and Lake Marian. Commissioners rejected three of the sites due mainly to the potential noise impact on nearby residential areas or because the site's current use would be incompatible with a commercial airboat operation.

Staff also had recommended contracts be for five years but the commission wants one-year contracts. In addition, commissioners want reduced Sunday operating hours:  noon to 5 p.m. instead of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours for Monday through Saturday would still be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as recommended by staff. Commissioners Monday did not set a limit on the number of airboat trips that could be launched on a given day.

For the first year, the county would not be expecting the commercial airboat operations to make any large investments in amenities at the two ramps, given that it would be a trial period. The county also would consider the number of noise or other complaints coming from the public about specific airboat operations during the first year before making any contract extensions.

The county in March and April will review and rank proposals, with contracts agreements finalized in April and May. Smaller operators could combine their efforts into one proposal and more than one contract could be approved for a given site.

Commissioners previously had considered two other options for dealing with the issue of commercial airboaters using public facilities for free:

• Require operating permits for commercial airboats carrying four or more people, with an application similar to a vehicle-for-hire business. This option would have allowed commercial airboaters to use any public boat ramp. This option was similar to the process the county now has in place.

• Prohibit all commercial uses of public boat ramps.

Commissioner Michael Harford said he is still concerned about the use of any public facilities by private enterprise.

“Do we want to get into this?” he asked. “The ramps and docks are for use of our residents – is it fair to them?”

Harford also said there is nothing other than cost stopping commercial airboat businesses from operating out of private facilities on any of the lakes in the county.

“We got to this point because small airboat operators were operating from out ramps without restrictions,” Harford said.

Commissioner Fred Hawkins Jr. wanted Chisholm Park removed from the list because he said this area is now heavily used by families for such things as reunions and that having an airboat operation there was not compatible. He also said St. Cloud residents likely would be complaining about the noise once such an operation started up if airboats went toward the city instead of to the north.

Chisholm Park, Hawkins said, is geared toward recreational use and that “there wouldn't be much interest in eco-tourism” on the lake anyway.

Responding to a suggestion from Commissioner Frank Attkisson that the county limit where airboats could go on the lake once they are launched, Hawkins said it is the state that controls navigable waters, not the county.

Commissioner John Quiñones supported moving forward with allowing commercial airboat operations on county property but in an organized, controlled manner.

“This is Florida – if fits into the eco-tourism mold,” he said.

Quiñones was critical of the current method of operations for small airboat businesses.

“Now, it's meet me (the operator) at the ramp and they (customers) exchange money; that is not an image we want to portray,” Quiñones said.  “There is a benefit to allowing some businesses to join forces and compete – this would be an alternative to the theme parks. Let's look at the experience it could present to tourists. If we don't do this, we'll expend resources on enforcing what we have now.”

County staff also said that because any revenue derived from the contracts would be plowed back into improvements at the public boat docks and ramps, the state would not require fees from the county for making money off state-owned property. Staff also said that any other costs imposed by the state would be passed along to the contract holders.

According to City Commissioner Jerry Gemskie, Kissimmee had considered having commercial operators bid to use public facilities at the downtown lakefront but dropped that plan after it was determined the city would have to pay the state approximately $42,000 for that use.