Truman
Beach Fanatic
http://defuniakherald.com/walton-county-tourism-council-votes-recommendations-beach-vendingbusiness/
By DOTTY NIST
SANTA ROSA BEACH – Recommendations for revision of beach vending rules took up the majority of the Dec. 6 Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, with both vendors and members of the public in attendance to provide input.
The meeting took place at the South Walton Annex.
Brian Kellenberger, beach operations director for the TDC, told the council members that, upon coming on board with TDC staff almost three years ago, he had been tasked with “the elusive target of harmony on the beach.” Last year, he recalled, information on possible changes to vending regulations had been brought before the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with the result of the commissioners deciding not to make changes at that time.
Beach vending code revisions had been adopted in 2015, including the 50-percent space allotment for beach vendors at the public beach accesses, with the public still able to use the vendor-allotted space as well.
Post-season workshops were held this year specifically for vendors and also a general public workshop “on all things beach,” Kellenberger noted.
He recalled that recommendations in the wake of the workshops had been presented to the TDC in October, resulting in a directive for those to be taken before the TDC Beach Management Committee before being brought back before the TDC with input from the committee.
Kellenberger presented recommendations following the matter being considered at two Beach Management Committee meetings. Provided in writing were different options, and Kellenberger said staff was not advocating for any option over another.
TDC member Kurt Tape recalled that the TDC Destination Improvement Committee had also made specific recommendations when they had previously looked at vending. It was his opinion that “something needs to be done.”
New District 5 Commissioner/TDC vice chair Tony Anderson countered that complaints received about vending had been few, considering the 3.6 million visitors that the county beaches had gotten for the year. He questioned the need for a great deal of change to vending rules, although acknowledging that some minor changes might be needed. He expressed complete objection to “bidding out” the beaches to vendors, one of the options being considered.
Anderson called for slowing the revision process for the vending rules and getting the vendors involved.
Anderson gave the number of complaints as 90 for the year.
As public comment was taken, Phillip Poundstone, a beach vendor and member of the Beach Management Committee, said he did not feel his input had been reflected in the summary of the committee meetings at which vending was considered. Like Anderson, he emphasized that the number of complaints on vending had been relatively small and urged against broad changes to the vending rules. Poundstone identified “rogue vendors” as the cause of problems, adding, “I think enforcement is the way to go.”
Bob Murphy, a Grayton Beach resident, maintained that the number of official complaints was not reflective of the situation on the beach because most visitors do not know how to file a complaint with the county. He and other speakers suggested making this information available to visitors. Murphy also urged for changes to the vending rules.
Another resident, non-beachfront. agreed, saying that she did not think anyone who had been near a public beach in the county would not know that “there is a problem.”
SeaHighland property owners Maunsel White complained of “the complete takeover of the beach (by vendors) with ghost set-ups” that remain all day without anyone using them. Residents have a problem being able to enjoy the beach, he said, because unless they get there at “the crack of dawn” they are not able to find a spot on the beach due to it being occupied by vendor set-ups. White acknowledged that vendors did comply when he asked them not to set up on the beach in front of his property. (A clause in Walton County code requires property owner permission for vending on the beach south of private property.)
A vendor in attendance maintained that the public has better ability to “win the race to the beach” in the morning because vendors are required to wait until sea turtle beach surveys are concluded and face other restrictions on set up, in contrast with the general public. He reported that the 50-percent area that must be left at public beach accesses for the general public “sits empty.”
Chris Webb, also a beach vendor, called ghost set-ups “a myth.” Vendors would not pay for labor for set-ups that they will not make money on, he told the council members. He added that vendors must explain to their customers why they cannot set up chairs for them on the front row when it is full in the vendor section due to the 50-percent rule at the public beach accesses.
“Beach vending is good for the environment,” Webb said, explaining that it results in less beach equipment being bought from discount stores and thrown away by beachgoers.
......
By DOTTY NIST
SANTA ROSA BEACH – Recommendations for revision of beach vending rules took up the majority of the Dec. 6 Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) meeting, with both vendors and members of the public in attendance to provide input.
The meeting took place at the South Walton Annex.
Brian Kellenberger, beach operations director for the TDC, told the council members that, upon coming on board with TDC staff almost three years ago, he had been tasked with “the elusive target of harmony on the beach.” Last year, he recalled, information on possible changes to vending regulations had been brought before the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) with the result of the commissioners deciding not to make changes at that time.
Beach vending code revisions had been adopted in 2015, including the 50-percent space allotment for beach vendors at the public beach accesses, with the public still able to use the vendor-allotted space as well.
Post-season workshops were held this year specifically for vendors and also a general public workshop “on all things beach,” Kellenberger noted.
He recalled that recommendations in the wake of the workshops had been presented to the TDC in October, resulting in a directive for those to be taken before the TDC Beach Management Committee before being brought back before the TDC with input from the committee.
Kellenberger presented recommendations following the matter being considered at two Beach Management Committee meetings. Provided in writing were different options, and Kellenberger said staff was not advocating for any option over another.
TDC member Kurt Tape recalled that the TDC Destination Improvement Committee had also made specific recommendations when they had previously looked at vending. It was his opinion that “something needs to be done.”
New District 5 Commissioner/TDC vice chair Tony Anderson countered that complaints received about vending had been few, considering the 3.6 million visitors that the county beaches had gotten for the year. He questioned the need for a great deal of change to vending rules, although acknowledging that some minor changes might be needed. He expressed complete objection to “bidding out” the beaches to vendors, one of the options being considered.
Anderson called for slowing the revision process for the vending rules and getting the vendors involved.
Anderson gave the number of complaints as 90 for the year.
As public comment was taken, Phillip Poundstone, a beach vendor and member of the Beach Management Committee, said he did not feel his input had been reflected in the summary of the committee meetings at which vending was considered. Like Anderson, he emphasized that the number of complaints on vending had been relatively small and urged against broad changes to the vending rules. Poundstone identified “rogue vendors” as the cause of problems, adding, “I think enforcement is the way to go.”
Bob Murphy, a Grayton Beach resident, maintained that the number of official complaints was not reflective of the situation on the beach because most visitors do not know how to file a complaint with the county. He and other speakers suggested making this information available to visitors. Murphy also urged for changes to the vending rules.
Another resident, non-beachfront. agreed, saying that she did not think anyone who had been near a public beach in the county would not know that “there is a problem.”
SeaHighland property owners Maunsel White complained of “the complete takeover of the beach (by vendors) with ghost set-ups” that remain all day without anyone using them. Residents have a problem being able to enjoy the beach, he said, because unless they get there at “the crack of dawn” they are not able to find a spot on the beach due to it being occupied by vendor set-ups. White acknowledged that vendors did comply when he asked them not to set up on the beach in front of his property. (A clause in Walton County code requires property owner permission for vending on the beach south of private property.)
A vendor in attendance maintained that the public has better ability to “win the race to the beach” in the morning because vendors are required to wait until sea turtle beach surveys are concluded and face other restrictions on set up, in contrast with the general public. He reported that the 50-percent area that must be left at public beach accesses for the general public “sits empty.”
Chris Webb, also a beach vendor, called ghost set-ups “a myth.” Vendors would not pay for labor for set-ups that they will not make money on, he told the council members. He added that vendors must explain to their customers why they cannot set up chairs for them on the front row when it is full in the vendor section due to the 50-percent rule at the public beach accesses.
“Beach vending is good for the environment,” Webb said, explaining that it results in less beach equipment being bought from discount stores and thrown away by beachgoers.
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