Newport could learn a thing or two from Florida

Ahoy.

Boating access in Newport Harbor, and throughout Southern

California in general, is a hot topic as the skyrocketing price of

real estate is changing the waterfront.

It seems that in the near future, new condos will consume the

commercial districts, and marinas will be converted to private slips

for the condo owners.

However, as I watch another state across the country, I can see

that their governor is taking a proactive approach to boating. What

an inspiration for the boating community and civic leaders.

Those in the boating community should climb aboard this boat. We

do not want to be left behind, teak surfing and just sucking in the

fumes.

Florida took two major steps to maintain and improve access for

boating when Gov. Jeb Bush signed two legislative bills into law.

Florida residents realize how important the marine industry is to

their state and that boating and fishing are the No. 1 activity in

the United States for families to spend time together.

The marine industry in Florida produces $14.1 billion -- that’s

billion with a B -- of total economic output. Did you know that the

economic effect of Florida’s recreational boating industry is twice

as great as its citrus industry? Now, you can stop imagining oranges

when you think about Florida; picture boats cruising on the

waterways.

Gov. Bush signed bills that specifically start to address the

problem of shrinking public access to waterfronts and marinas.

One bill creates the Waterfronts Florida Program, which will

provide technical assistance and support for local communities to

maintain, revitalize and develop commercial waterfront areas in the

state. Comprehensive land-use plans will now have to include an

attempt to preserve recreational and commercial working waterfronts.

The second bill requires the Florida Department of Environmental

Protection to adopt a rule for general permits allowing local

governments to construct and operate public marinas, guest docks,

upland parking and public boat ramps.

Additionally, the bill requires that public marinas must comply

with the local government’s comprehensive plan for local communities

to maintain, revitalize and develop commercial waterfront areas.

We should all look to what is transpiring in Florida, especially

as Newport Beach struggles with how to develop the Marinapark

property.

I am very curious to see what will happen to the floating barge

and parking lot area when the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum leaves

for its new home.

The City of Newport Beach Planning Commission approved the

floating restaurant on May 16, 1963, and the barge become known as

the Reuben E. Lee Restaurant. In 1995, the barge became the home for

the nautical museum and was renamed Pride of Newport.

My tip of week is to come to the middle of the brick street at

Lido Marina Village on Saturday and join in the excitement of my live

radio broadcast from the Lido Yacht Expo.

It is free where we will be and, once again, the Mojitos will

start playing at 11:30 am. The California Department of Boating and

Waterways and BoatUS and Vessel Assist will present the live

“Boathouse Radio Show” broadcast from noon to 1 p.m.

After that, you can see the boating lifestyle by exploring the

hundreds of boats and yachts at the show.

You can take an Internet peek at the show by visiting Seaside

Financial’s website. Tony Shaw, owner of Seaside, has a Web cam from

his office pointed toward the harbor at

o7www.seasidefinancial.com/webcam.htmlf7.

You can go to o7www.lidoyachtexpo.comf7, or call (949) 757-5959

to find out the Lido Yacht Expo hours. For the live remote, go to

o7www.boathouseradio.comf7.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and

Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit

o7https://www.boathousetv.comf7.