The Orange County Board of County Commissioners initiated a Boat Ramp Ordinance to solve some conflict at the Christmas Boat Ramp. I have many families in the Airboat industry that make their living on this boat ramp. To ensure a balance of public safety and protection of a free market for small businesses, I worked diligently with staff on an ordinance that will work for everyone. While not everyone is getting what they want, I feel that it is a success because staff and I made sure we heard everyone’s concerns. Also, we implemented evidence-based policymaking in the process of the creation of the ordinance.

Some items we worked on:

• The appropriate level of insurance coverage – Risk management researched and provided their professional opinion on the amount of coverage that should be required.
• Making sure the public is not kept from enjoying the public boat ramp – We conducted a parking study and found that there were no issues with the number of parking spaces available.
• Affordable usage fee for the businesses that also covers their amount of usage – We conducted an analysis by the Office of Budget Management to calculate what the share of costs would be for the businesses.
• The ability to share customers among approved businesses – This would be allowed among businesses that have already been approved and permitted.
• Accountability and transparency for future amendments to the guidelines and ordinance to require board approval – In the past, there were issues with rules being changed by staff and to prevent those again, we would have a transparent process for amendments open to the public.

These items were based on concerns that I heard from the community of Airboat businesses through meeting with them multiple times, including in my office, at an off-site meeting and at a stakeholder meeting at the administration building.