Causeway watercraft launch ban

Opposed; argued jet skis don't damage seagrass, blamed herbicide spraying, and said all Floridians deserve water access.

Opposed turning the Causeway into a boat ramp; a user since 1969, he says trailer traffic makes walks and bike rides dangerous, but wants another solution.

Opposed; said the Causeway has always worked for everyone and jet skis don't tear up grass — banning is not what Dunedin wants.

Opposed the ban, saying it punishes many for the behavior of a few and takes affordable water access away from people who can't afford boats.

Opposed; jet skiing is his joy and stress relief, and he wants shared use with more safety regulations rather than a ban.

Opposed; lifelong resident with stage-four cancer says the Causeway is her escape and access shouldn't be limited to the wealthy; wants more enforcement and trash cans instead.

Supported the ban on behalf of the Dunedin Boat Club paddling group, citing seagrass recovery, safety, and quality-of-life gains since the closure.

Opposed; proposed a launch fee and lot attendant like Sunset Beach, criticized enforcement gaps, and blamed county herbicide spraying for seagrass harm.

Supported the ban; a former jet ski owner says many current users are not respectful.

Opposed; called the area manmade and small, questioned why jet skis are singled out when other activities and a commercial kayak rental business have similar impacts.

Supported the ban on behalf of the Suncoast Sierra Club, citing seagrass and manatee recovery, safety conflicts, and protection of the taxpayer-funded renourishment.

Opposed; questioned seagrass recovery claims, cited a Hernando County study, and pushed education and enforcement over a ban.

Opposed the blanket ban; wants targeting of takeover-event organizers, commercial rentals, resident permits, and consistent enforcement instead.

Spoke twice — first on off-agenda sovereign-citizen-style water jurisdiction claims, then on the future bridge replacement reshaping Causeway access and launch capacity.

Opposed; says the manmade causeway did more damage than any jet ski and the ordinance singles out one user group.

Supported the ban but criticized city management, saying lack of enforcement, speed zones, and repaving runoff are bigger problems than jet skis.

Supported the ban for the Suncoast Sierra Club and urged creating a living shoreline with mangroves and oyster beds.

Opposed; a veteran who once rescued two swimmers there, he asked for compromise over a shutdown and more trash cans.

Questioned the evidence, asking why the ban wasn't proposed before the hurricane closure and urging a slower, data-driven review with alternatives.

Supported the ban, citing 15+ city meetings on resiliency and arguing a living shoreline matters more than jet ski access.

Opposed; says the launch area is just 5-7 acres of 2,000 protected acres nearby, environmental impact is minimal, and safety is individual responsibility.

Opposed; asks the Commission to consider people who can't safely use boat ramps, including family members with dementia for whom the Causeway enabled treasured outings.

Supported the ban as chair of the Causeway & Coastal Waterways Committee, documenting safety conflicts, unlicensed rentals, and lower maintenance costs since closure.

Opposed; learned of the ordinance from the news, argued the environment rebounds when people leave, and defended users' rights.

Supported the ban for Clearwater Audubon Society, citing SWFMWD seagrass data, FWC citations, and the rare Reddish Egret that forages at the Causeway.

Opposed; said the ordinance won't stop jet skis from riding near shore, sees no hard facts, and questioned the $20 million bridge project.

Opposed; lifelong waterman says seagrass has rebounded overall and suggested an exclusive launch area near the drawbridge instead.

Supported the ban, citing the 80 jet-ski-related sheriff incidents and criticizing outside special-interest groups rallying opposition.

Opposed; five-generation Floridian says boat traffic 50 yards offshore causes the erosion, not jet skis, and calls it an education problem.

Supported the ban; witnessed jet skis dangerously close to swimmers and says the Causeway is no longer peaceful.

Opposed; GM of Cycle Springs PowerSports cited community cleanup rides, economic benefits ($9.6M in PWC sales), and asked for individual accountability over a ban.

Supported the ban, drawing on her preservation work at Hammock Park and Gladys Douglas and the Causeway's value as a peaceful refuge.

Opposed; learned to jet ski there as a teen, says users are respectful, and would accept a registration/permit process instead.

Supported the ban; Mediterranean Manors board area spends $89,000/year maintaining shoreline and suffers jet ski noise at sundown.

Supported the ban as VP of Royal Stewart Arms condominiums, citing less trailer traffic, cleaner water, and safety.

Supported the ban, praising the Commission's fact-based, non-rubber-stamp approach.

Opposed; called for compromise — a toll or fee like Sunset Beach — saying cutting off access to a manmade causeway isn't right.

Supported the ban, citing seagrass damage, safety, congestion, and the principle of the common good.