District 4 March 2012 Newsletter - Santa Rosa County

March 2012Santa Rosa CountyDistrict 4 NewsletterA MessageFrom Your CommissionerDistrict 4CommissionerJim MelvinContact6495 Caroline StreetSuite MMilton, FL 32570Phone:(850) 983-1877 WKSeveral very exciting projects are taking shapein district 4!! The permits for the Navarre MarineSanctuary reef projects have been issued by the ArmyCorps of Engineers! Santa Rosa County’s EngineeringDepartment received the permits for both the gulfreef and the two sound reefs in the last few days. Thecontractor that will install the reef systems has beenissued a notice to proceed, and construction will beginvery soon. This wonderful project has been many yearsin the making, and is the result of many, many hours ofhard work by a core of dedicated volunteers in Navarre. Funding for this project comes from a mixof district 4 recreation funds, as well as bed tax funds and many, many fund raisers sponsored bythe Navarre Marine Sanctuary Committee. This project has the potential to greatly increase tourismto the Navarre area. It will be a natural fit as a partner to the educational efforts of the ScienceStation on the beach.E-mail:comm-melvin@santarosa.fl.govFax:(850) 983-1856Cathy Holmes, also known as the turtle lady, has shared someexciting ideas with me that she has regarding a turtle rescuestation and educational exhibit to be located in the park. Theproject is still in the early planning stages. I’ll share moredetails as they become available.More good news, the individuals who owned and operatedthe old Holiday Inn on Navarre Beach have contacted meregarding the possibility of building a new hotel on the oldsite. No definite time line has been established, but they areinterested in coming back to Navarre Beach. This is a very bigfirst step towards having a hotel on the beach once again!!Also on the beach, a contract has been awarded to SamMarshall Architects for the architectural servicesto design and oversee the building of a beachamphitheater. This project located sound side inNavarre Beach Park, will be moving forward in thenear future.Artist renderingof proposeddesign andlocation of thenew NavarreBeach ParkAmphitheaterTo receive this orother Santa RosaCounty publicationsautomatically via e-mail,please sign up at:www.santarosa.fl.govFor those withoutinternet access, call(850) 983-1877to receive a copy throughthe mail.With spring upon us, the NYSA park is gearing upfor baseball, tee ball, and soft ball with almost 1,200children participating in their programs this season.If you have never been to the park (behind Navarre High School, on High School Blvd.), you oweit to yourselves to attend. Come out and be part of the fun. We are a truly blessed community.We have a wonderful group of parents and young people who take part in the various programsevery year. Our programs offer age appropriate sports opportunities for all of the youth of Navarre.Vendors offer a wide variety of “ball park” foods. The atmosphere is open and friendly, and thechildren have a wonderful time in the park. I am happy to announce that on Mar. 22, the boardapproved my request to replace the park’s eight scoreboards using district 4 recreation funds. Thecurrent scoreboards are over 15 years old and are not fully functional. Opening day is Saturday,Mar. 24, at 8 a.m. I have been invited to throw out the first pitch again this year. This is my mostfavorite event of all things I get to do as your commissioner.- Jim MelvinDistrict 4 Commissioner

Santa Rosa District 4 NewsNew Reefs Available Soon!The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary reefs, boththe gulf side and the two sound side reefs, havebeen permitted and deployment of the reefingmaterials for the Gulf of Mexico reef will take placeas soon as weather permits. Once the seas are onefoot or less for one week, the county’s contractor –Walter Marine- will begin installing the tiered reefmodules, also known as Walter Eco-System ReefModules. Two sound side snorkel reefs have alsobeen approved and deployment is expected totake place after the installation of the gulf reef as weather permits. Thenew reefs will be open to the public upon completion and all threeare expected to be ready for the summer tourist season.West Snorkel ReefBLUE HERON CTGULF BLVDEast Snorkel ReefNAVARRE BEACH CSWY ENTRANCE RDThe reefs are the result of the Navarre community working togethersince 1999. The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee, acommittee of the Navarre Beach Area Chamber of CommerceFoundation, Inc., was formed to administer the project. Hundredsof people and businesses have been involved over the years byvolunteering for events, attending meetings, writing grants, designingbrochures and advertising, sponsoring events, and fundraising.The community was able to raise $20,000 to fund the project withthe Santa Rosa Board of County Commissioners approving thecontribution of $149,160 in district 4 recreation funds and $100,000in Tourist Development Council funds.Gulf Snorkel ReefAll three reef modules will be attached to pilings driven into the gulfor sound floor. The gulf side reef system will consist of 30 individualreef structures totaling 22,550 square feet. This Eco-System reef willmeasure 275 feet (north/south) by 82 feet (east/west) and will belocated at approximately 30 degrees 23 minutes north latitude, 86degrees 51 minutes west longitude. The sound side Eco-System reefstructure will consist of 105 individual reefs, with the west reef locatedapproximately at 30 degrees 23 minutes north latitude, 86 degrees52 minutes west longitude and the east reef located at approximately30 degrees 23 minutes north latitude, 86 degrees 51 minutes west longitude. Both the gulf and sound side reef systems willbe covered by about 6 feet of water. For diver safety, both areas will be clearly marked with the internationally recognized divemarkers. These areas will be off limits to watercraft.The reefs are expected to impact the community on several levels. Economically, as a recreation and eco-tourism site the reefsare expected to bring a minimum 25 percent increase in tourism dollars. John Dodrill of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission has said the near-shore reefs in the Florida Panhandle would have an overall economic impact of $138 for everydollar spent. Educational benefits include providing a convenient study area for the Marine Science Station at the park, increasedopportunities for reef studies by area educational institutions, and educational information for park visitors. Environmentally,the reefs will help provide cleaner water, increased biodiversity, and the creation of 124,480 square feet of new marine habitat.For more information visit www.navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com.Navarre Library ReplantingThe replanting of the Navarre Library landscaping was completed in February. Working closelywith the Friends of the Navarre Library and the Navarre Garden Club, the landscaping was notonly replanted, but improved. The new landscaping is both attractive and very low maintenance.Improvements included the installation of a drip irrigation system, the use of native plants, trimmingof the existing holly hedges and large crape myrtles, and re-mulching of the parking lot flower beds.The previous landscaping was mistakenly removed by a contractor in June 2011. The replantingwas held off until spring to ensure coordination and communication with the volunteer groups andoptimal weather conditions. Many thanks for the volunteer efforts of both the Friends of the Libraryand the Navarre Garden Club. Their dedication to our local library system and service to the citizensof Santa Rosa County is to be commended.March 2012

Santa Rosa District 4 NewsDistrict 4 Paving and Resurfacing ProjectsSanta Rosa County has an ongoing program to pave county maintaineddirt roads and resurface county maintained paved roads. New pavementis constructed by a contractor, but Santa Rosa County Road and Bridgeemployees are involved in the preparation prior to paving and shoulderwork after paving in order to reduce the cost of paving projects. Residentswith questions are encouraged to call the Road and Bridge Departmentat (850) 626-0191 or email at public-works@santarosa.fl.gov.The following dirt roads were recentlypaved in working district 4:Red Barn Road (Hay Meadow Road toCotton Patch Ln.)Cotton Patch Lane (Red Barn Road towest end)Hay Meadow Road (Buggy Drive towest end)Buggy Drive (Hay Meadow Rd. toSingle Tree Dr.)Single Tree DriveThe following roads were recently resurfaced in working district 4Green RoadSouth Airport RoadAmos Cabaniss RoadLast Chance RoadRadio RoadWhitfield RoadThe following dirt roads have been approved for paving in workingdistrict 4 and are expected to be completed by the end of September:Stakley LaneBernice Road (off Short Trail Rd.)Michelle LaneSix Pack RoadCalypso LaneFarrier RoadJohn Mathews RoadErnie Newton RoadFloridale DriveArabian RoadRuth AvenueProjects to Improve Safetyon U.S. Hwy. 98Two projects are underway to improve safety forthose who face the challenges of walking andbicycling along U.S. Hwy. 98 or trying to crossit to attend activities in Navarre Park. The firstwill be the expansion of paved shoulders on thenorth and south sides of the highway from theGulf Breeze Zoo to the Navarre Beach Causeway.The shoulders, currently four or five feet, willbe expanded to eight feet. The county workedwith the Florida Department of Transportation topiggyback the project with its resurfacing of U.S.Hwy. 98, which is scheduled to start in spring 2013.Through a local funding agreement approved onFeb. 23, the county will provide $1.35 million toFDOT, and the amount will also include expandedpaved shoulders westward from the Gulf BreezeZoo to Gondolier Boulevard. The wider pavedshoulders will provide an extra margin of safetyand will be constructed more cost effectively aspart of the larger FDOT resurfacing project.The second project is a submittal to the FederalTransportation Enhancement grant program forfunding to design and construct a pedestrianoverpass in the vicinity of Navarre Park, whichwas approved by the Santa Rosa Board of CountyCommissioners on Mar. 22. The applicationwill be submitted to the Florida – AlabamaTransportation Planning Organization in Aprilfor ranking with other candidate projects. InSeptember, we should know if the project madeit to the TPO’s priority list and how it ranks forfunding. The estimated cost for design andconstruction is $2.5 million.How to Report a Code Compliance IssueSanta Rosa County Code Compliance, under the board of county commissioners, works to enforce the land development codelike zoning violations, guidelines for home occupations (business within a residence), noise, addressing, and signs; and toensure that dilapidated buildings are repaired or demolished. Garbage, junk, litter and debris issues are not under the directionof code compliance; they are addressed by the environmental office of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The county alsoenforces permit and contractor licensing requirements. However, unlicensed contracting is a state issue and in most casescannot be enforced by Santa Rosa County.A new web-based code compliance management program, called GoCompliance, whichallows greater staff and citizen access to compliance records is now available. The softwarecreated in-house by the county’s computer staff gives staff enhanced ability to track andmaintain compliance cases from complaint to resolution. Citizens can now also submit acomplaint form online anonymously, track active compliant cases and search current andpast compliance case history.If you would like to report a possible zoning, signage, noise, or addressing violation, contactcode compliance at (850) 981-7000, codecompliance@santarosa.fl.gov, or online atwww.santarosa.fl.gov/developmentservices/compliance.cfm.For litter, garbage, junk or other debris violations, call the sheriff’s office at (850) 981-2109.March 2012

Santa Rosa District 4 NewsThursdays in the Park Summer Concert SeriesThe Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerceis excited to announce the dates for its popular,15-week Thursdays in the Park Summer ConcertSeries held in the county’s Navarre Park. Lastmonth, the board of commissioners approveduse of the park for the free concerts, which are copresentedby the Navarre Press.The summer concert season kicks-off on Thursday,May 24 with local favorites Emerald Gold takingthe stage at 6 p.m. The series continues everyThursday and closes on August 30 with aperformance by Calypso Nuts. All concerts areheld from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., but attendees shouldplan to arrive early with their chairs and blanketsto get the best spots. Additionally, the Chamberserves concessions starting at 5:30 p.m. Menuchoices include cheeseburgers, hamburgers,bratwursts and hotdogs, as well as sweet treats,soft drinks and bottled water.The chamber will soon release the complete concert line-up, and it will be posted online atwww.navarrechamber.com.- Bill Arnett, NBACC1. Know your risk of floodingEnter your address in GoMaps found at www.santarosa.fl.gov/gis and select the “flood zone”map layer, contact Karen Thornhill, FloodplainManager at karent@santarosa.fl.gov or (850)981-7029, or access the FEMA Map ServiceCenter at https://msc.fema.gov.2. Get the right insuranceThe National Flood Insurance Program canhelp protect you financially if you need floodinsurance. Visit www.floodsmart.gov for moreinformation.3. Get a kitCreate an emergency kit for home, work andauto to include three to five days of supply ofwater and non-perishable flood, NOAA weatherradio with battery back up, tools, maps, whistle,flashlight, batteries, medical supplies, etc. Visitwww.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency or www.ready.gov for an extensive list.Flood SafetyAccording to the National Weather Service, flooding causes more damage in theUnited States than any other severe weather related event, an average of $5 billiona year. Flooding is a serious concern in Florida since it can happen anywhere andat any time. Effects from flooding can be localized, impacting just a few streets, or very large,affecting multiple cities, counties and even whole states. Being prepared for a flood will not onlyhelp keep families safe, it also helps to minimize damage and reduces the cost of recovery. Thereare five simple rules to flood preparedness:4. Make a planCreate an emergency flood plan. Decide whereyour family will meet if separated. Designate oneperson as an out-of-state contact everyone willcall. Visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency orwww.ready.gov for more information.5. Stay informedKnow the weather terms and what each means:• Flood Watch- Flooding is possible in yourarea. Stay tuned to NOAA weather radio.• Flood Warning- Flooding is occurring orwill occur soon. Be ready to evacuate.• Flash Flood Watch- Flash flooding ispossible. Be ready to seek higher ground.• Flash Flood Warning- Flash flooding isoccurring. Seek higher ground. Whendriving, remember to "turn around, don'tdrown!"In any emergency, always listen to theinstructions given by local emergencymanagement officials. Learn more on howto stay informed, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency.Tourism Thriving inSanta Rosa CountyThe tourism industry is a majoremployer and tax generatorin Santa Rosa County and it isthriving. When a condominium,hotel room, campground, etc.is rented for less than 6 monthsa four percent “bed tax” is paidby the renter. These funds aregoverned by Florida Statutesand administered by the SantaRosa County Commission. Thecommission appoints membersto the Tourist DevelopmentCouncil to use the funds topromote tourism in Santa RosaCounty.We know tourism is flourishingbecause the bed tax figures forfiscal year Oct. 2010 throughSept. 2011 increased 34 percentover the previous year. Thefigures for this year are up andwe are hearing that reservationsfor spring and summer arelooking great!We have so much happeningthat will boost our image ofa family friendly, uncrowdeddestination with so many naturalattributes. The Marine ScienceStation on the beach is offeringamazing marine programs andcamps this summer for localsand tourists.Fishing the Gulf of Mexico’slongest fishing Pier and thebirth of the baby gorilla at theGulf Breeze Zoo continue toattract locals and tourists alike.Another exciting event whichwill bring tourists and publicityto our area is the Boo WeekleyCharity Golf Scramble July 26-29. The event will be held at theClub at Hidden Creek.Plans are already in progressfor the next Sand SculptorCompetition in Sept. and themany events and festivals in Oct.for the Beaches to WoodlandsTour.- Kate Wilkes, SRCTDCMarch 2012