Ramping Up Those Tourism Dollars

Ramping Up Those Tourism Dollars

The development of Florida’s coastline is a topic that generates a great deal of interest from all sides of the issue. Many will argue that Florida’s economic foundation is the tourism industry and it is important to make sure there are sufficient infrastructure and amenities in place to continue to draw those tourism dollars to the sunshine state.

Others will argue that constant growth destroys the very thing that tourists come to admire, Florida’s natural beauty.

Recently, Taylor County seems to have come up with a solution that both preserves the the natural wonder of its coastline but also ensures that it capitalizes on that resource.

Its Solution? Boat Ramps.

Through a grant from the National Sea Grant College Program and a partnership with the University of Florida, the County Commission discovered some very interesting information about the economic impact of its boat ramps. These results are something that every coastal county should consider when trying to diversify and increase tourism revenue.

The County was considering an ordinance that would, among other things, establish guidelines for boat ramp operations and fees for use. That ordinance was eventually adopted in July, 2011. Many residents were concerned about the state of ramp access in the community and were also concerned about what the expansion and improvement of boat ramps along the coast would mean in terms of increased traffic and congestion. The Sea Grant report summed up why improvements and expansion would work.

The following are significant findings from the report:

• The average total in-county trip expenditure of visiting boaters who were day trippers is estimated at $138.89 per trip. The average total in-county trip expenditure of visiting boaters who stayed overnight is estimated at $377.52 per trip. When multiplied by the number of estimated boating trips for visitor groups, this translates to $1.73 million for day-trip visitors and $4.39 million for overnight visitors, annually.2
• Total impacts for all users, including regional multiplier effects, were 158 full-time and part-time jobs, $4.11 million in labor income (earnings), $6.44 million in value added, and $10.07 million in output or revenues, with these values expressed in 2011 dollars.3
• Total economic impacts were highest for overnight visitors, with employment impacts of 103 jobs, labor income impacts of $2.66 million, value added impacts of $4.16 million, and output impacts of $6.62 million. Total economic impacts for daytrip visitors were 39 jobs, $1.09 million in labor income, $1.70 million in value added, and $2.58 million in output. Direct economic impacts for county residents were 16 jobs, $366,254 in labor income, $575,710 in value added, and $865,527 in output.4

With about 30% of the visiting boaters staying for two to three days, there is an opportunity to provide increased lodging and other amenities to induce the travelers to stay longer. With planning that takes into consideration that the draw to this region is the natural beauty and nautical resources, a balance could surely be achieved that would continue to grow the tourism economy.

Applying this approach to the hundreds of miles of undeveloped coastline around the state of Florida would help struggling local economies by generating tourism dollars and employing Floridians.

^{1. Taylor County, FL Adopts Boat Ramp Ordinance}

2. Planning for Waterway Access in Taylor County, Florida: Residence and Users Speak, 2011. pg. 19

3. Planning for Waterway Access in Taylor County, Florida: Residence and Users Speak, 2011. pg. 19

4. Planning for Waterway Access in Taylor County, Florida: Residence and Users Speak, 2011. pg. 20

Local Governments Preempted from Adopting Parking Security Camera Ordinances in Florida

On June 1, 2009 Governor Crist approved SB 360, which included language to preempt Local Governments from adopting security camera ordinances that require retail establishments to provide 24 hour surveillance of their parking lots and make the footage available to law enforcement officers in an attempt to expedite capturing perpetrators.  Retailers were glad to hear the final bill was signed because it relieved them of this expensive unfunded mandate.  In light of these developments, the conversation now turns to how local governments and businesses work together to achieve the mutually desired end, to ensure that people are adequately protected against crime in retail parking lots.

Local Governments Preempted from Adopting Parking Security Camera Ordinances in Florida

The County Commission of Broward County, FL first proposed an ordinance in August 2008.  At that time, the County had approximately 10,000 retailers that did not meet those standards.¹ A Task Force was formed and many public hearings were held over the next year, and other cities and counties began to initiate the same measures.  The Town Council of Cutler Bay in Miami-Dade, FL adopted an ordinance in January 2009 to regulate malls and businesses with parking lots containing 25 or more spaces.² However, the ordinance was made null and void by SB 360.³

So how can Local Governments protect their citizens that support local retailers?  Samantha Hunter Padgett, Deputy General Counsel of Governmental Affairs with the Florida Retail Federation, says Local Governments can “adopt model standards and recognize good examples” of retailers with high safety standards in their parking lots.  “Partnering with successful businesses and creating best practices” can be beneficial to the retailers and to the general public.  She says a good solution for Local Governments is to have a “comprehensive approach, to increase prosecution and punishment and to educate citizens on safety solutions in their community”.

To view the Broward County and Cutler Bay activity tracked by OrdinancWatch™ see the following links:

• Broward County, FL Will Not Adopt Ordinance Affecting Retail Establishment Parking Security

• Cutler Bay, FL Parking Security Camera Ordinance Affected by SB 360

<sup>1. Www.broward.org/commission. June 2008. Broward County Commission. 10 June 2009 <1. http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm>.
2. Www.cutlerbay-fl.gov. January 2009. Cutler Bay Town Council. 10 June 2009 <http://www.cutlerbay-fl.gov/agenda.php>.
3. Www.flsenate.gov. 10 June 2009 <http://www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&ElementID=JumpToBox&SubMenu=1&Year=2009&billnum=360>.</sup>