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Walton County Beaches Opening May 1

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Kurt

Kurt

Admin
At today's BCC meeting, the following language is expected to be approved:

As of 12:01 a.m. May 1, 2020, the beaches within Walton County, Florida are open with the following restrictions:

a.All permits for vending on the beach shall be suspended and no vending on the beach shall be permitted while this Local State of Emergency remains in effect;

b.All special events on the beach shall be suspended and no special events on the beach shall be permitted while this Local State of Emergency remains in effect;

c.Individuals on the beach shall limit their activities to those authorized by or reasonably related to the essential recreational activities contained in Executive Order 20-91;

d.Groups of more than ten (10) people are prohibited, and a minimum of six (6) foot social distancing shall apply...

Full agenda...
https://walton.civicweb.net/document/67744
 
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 20-68 which states that the Governor “support beach closures at the discretion of local authorities.”

WHEREAS, on March 27, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 20-87 which ordered the suspension of vacation rental operations, and on April 10, 2020, the Governor extended Executive Order 20-87 through Executive Order 20-103;

WHEREAS, on April 1, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 20-91 which ordered all persons in Florida to limit their movements and personal interactions outside of their home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities;

WHEREAS, Executive Order 20-91 and 20-103 are both set to expire on April 30, 2020;

WHEREAS, Emergency Ordinance 2020-09, which closed the beaches in Walton County,is set to expire on April 30, 2020;

WHEREAS, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners finds and determines that adoption of Emergency Ordinance 2020-09 and the suspension of vacation rental operations through Executive Orders 20-87 & 20-103were successful in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Walton County, resulting in two several day periods in the month of April with no new cases.
 
Kurt Lischka said:
WHEREAS, on March 27, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 20-87 which ordered the suspension of vacation rental operations, and on April 10, 2020, the Governor extended Executive Order 20-87 through Executive Order 20-103;
Click to expand...

Note that if the rental suspension is not extended beyond Thursday, Florida beach communities like SoWal will get crowded very quickly.
 
Not sure why the county and beaches will be open for business but beach vendors will still not be allowed to operate? I know there are VASTLY different opinions on beach vending in general in this forum and am not trying to make this post about those deep rooted opinions. Just wondering what the justification is? Our grocery stores, gas stations, greens, restaurants and even beaches can be overrun with potentially infected outsiders but not setting up some chairs and umbrellas or renting some paddle boards will keep us safe? If I were in the beach vending business I would be feeling particularly singled out. Again, not going into the personal opinions on the industry, but it is a legitimate industry with legitimate businesses that employ locals who are out of work and hurting just like many of us. If the county feels short term rentals are safe again, opening us up to people from all over the country with no screening, how can they say ANYTHING else is still not allowed and thus implying ANYTHING else is more dangerous right now than short term rentals?
 
S-dubOg said:
Not sure why the county and beaches will be open for business but beach vendors will still not be allowed to operate? I know there are VASTLY different opinions on beach vending in general in this forum and am not trying to make this post about those deep rooted opinions. Just wondering what the justification is? Our grocery stores, gas stations, greens, restaurants and even beaches can be overrun with potentially infected outsiders but not setting up some chairs and umbrellas or renting some paddle boards will keep us safe? If I were in the beach vending business I would be feeling particularly singled out. Again, not going into the personal opinions on the industry, but it is a legitimate industry with legitimate businesses that employ locals who are out of work and hurting just like many of us. If the county feels short term rentals are safe again, opening us up to people from all over the country with no screening, how can they say ANYTHING else is still not allowed and thus implying ANYTHING else is more dangerous right now than short term rentals?
Click to expand...
The county doesn't have any control over the short term rentals or bars or restaurants. The state controls those with the governor's executive order that expires on Apr 30.

Regarding the vending, not sure what the county's logic is there.
 
Kurt Lischka said:

Note that if the rental suspension is not extended beyond Thursday, Florida beach communities like SoWal will get crowded very quickly.
Click to expand...

Hard to know what DeSantis is going to do here; he's saying things like "moving forward in baby steps", "opening up responsibly", which would lead you to believe he understands what a mistake opening up short term rentals at this time would be, but something tells me he is going to let the rental ban expire.
 
He and POTUS are scheduled for a joint press conference soon in Dc - that can't have be a positive sign of things to come..
 
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