Res. No. 45-20RESOLUTION NO. 45-20
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA,
URGING THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
COMMISSION TO ENTER INTO RULEMAKING TO ADOPT AN "IDLE
SPEED - NO WAKE" ZONE WITHIN THE INTRACOASTAL
WATERWAY SYSTEM BETWEEN ATLANTIC AVENUE AND GEORGE
BUSH BOULEVARD; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, residents of the City of Delray Beach have petitioned the City to limit the speed of vessels
on the Intracoastal Waterway between the Atlantic Avenue Bridge and the George Bush Boulevard Bridge
(hereinafter referred to as the "Zone"); and
WHEREAS, the City Commission heard the concerns of its residents during its Commission Meeting
held on January 16, 2020; and
WHEREAS, the residents expressed that the owners of properties along this segment of the Intracoastal
Waterway are experiencing degradation of their seawalls and landscaping due to increased boater traffic in the
Zone along with increasing issues related to rising tides; and
WHEREAS, the current manatee protections along this narrow stretch of the intracoastal are limited to
a theoretical no wake area within 50 feet of the seawalls from October to April but the ineffective signage, lack
of enforcement, and unrealistic potential for boaters to understand and follow, means that a high number of high
speed boaters regularly violate this protection zone, putting manatees at risk at a time of increased manatee deaths
state wide; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of an "Idle Speed- No Wake" Zone will decrease the degradation and
provide protection to the property owners adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that Florida Statute 327.60 delegates the power to regulate vessels on
the Florida Intracoastal Waterway solely to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and
WHEREAS, the City urges the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to consider the
concerns of the resident and establish an "Idle Speed-No Wake" Zone within the intracoastal waterway system
between Atlantic Avenue and George Bush Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, the City is respectfully requesting that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission enter into Rulemaking to adopt an "Idle Speed - No Wake" Zone in the requested zone; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission deems approval of this resolution to be in the best interest of the
health, safety, and welfare of the residents and citizens of the City of Delray Beach and the public at large.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are hereby affirmed and ratified.
Section 2. The City Commi ssion of the City of Delray Beach hereby urges the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commi ssion to adopt an "Idle Speed-No Wake" Zone within the Intracoastal Waterway
system between Atlantic Avenue and George Bush Boulevard, as depicted in Exhibit "A".
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to forward copies of this Resolution to the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commi ssion.
Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on the l.té_ day
A~
Katerri Johnson,~
2
RES. NO. XX-20