boat ramp

[JIm Smith]

does anyone have an idea of who would be a good contact for boat ramp fees that are being charged at a rate that is excessive. I have been told that the fees that are being charge at Cedar Key are far in excess of what they are suppose to be by the city and their lawer told them to keep charging it until someone did something . this came from two who work for the city in management. current annual pass is 190.00 for each trailer or 15.00 a day. it has gone up every year for the last 4 years . the money for the ramps came from the game and fish

[FishWithChris]

Jim - reach out to your local paper with a lot of information and get them to do a story on it so they can pressure the city.

Is it a public ramp or city owned ramp?

[Salty Gator]

I believe the cedar key ramps are city owned public ramps.

[Steve Stinson]

If FWC paid for the construction of the ramps, you may have answered your own question. I would start there. Also, look into who owns the property by checking the county property appraiser's office. Any easements, use agreements, etc. will likely be recorded there or in the local Clerk of Courts office.

[2Salty]

Managed by the City of Cedar Key. Contact the City Commissioners of Cedar Key. Or attend a Commission meeting.
http://www.cityofcedarkey.org/1/Home.html

Over time there's been many concerns about fees, parking, etc. expressed by boaters. Thus far, there's been little to no indications of change.

Seems to me what may be of greater influence would be some solid information (data, numbers, petition, etc.) presented to the Commission about those boaters that have "gone elsewhere" and its economic impact - if there be one. Don't know whether local Cedar Key merchants (bars, restaurants, shops and stores) have voiced concerns to the town's government that the ramp fees are running off business. Can't verify it but I've heard to the contrary that a few of the hotel/motel operators in closest proximity to the marina/ramps have been complaining to the city about the "overflow" parking of vehicles/boat trailers illegally parking on their properties and/or impeding their guests' access to their properties.

I'm sorry to say the situation will most likely get worse before it (ever?) gets better: when the work begins to improve/replace the bridge, the inside ramps will be temporarily (how long?) useless, leaving only the outside ramps. Maybe the City Commission sees that hand-writing on the wall and they're making hay (charging relatively high fees) while the sun is shining (before the inside ramps are shut down).

Depending on your boat of course, consider instead using the ramp at Channel 4 behind the FWC facility (granted, even boats capable of skinnier water may have troubles there depending on tides). Some boaters have abandoned Cedar Key and have gone north to Suwannee or south to Yankeetown.

But even with current fees, go by the marina/ramps now, especially on a weekend, and you'll see there continues to be more vehicles/boat trailers there than the area's parking can practically or realistically accommodate. As long as it's at or above capacity, the City Commission will continue to charge what the market will bear. So I don't know how/why Cedar Key Commissioners would be empathetic enough about concerns to reduce fees.

Now, if the MAJORITY of boaters just quit using the ramps, then THAT might get the City Commission's attention.

Good luck!

[2Salty]

According to the City of Cedar Key's Profit & Loss Budget Overview for the period October 2016 - September 2017 (see http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... ember-2016 )...

- Income from the marina $166,456 which is about 7% of the city's total income.
- Expenses for the marina/park $523,798, which is about 22% of the city's total expense.

With that said, and barring any legal action/court ruling that in fact finds the City of Cedar Key's boat ramp fees to be illegal, I'd say there's "a snowball's chance in hell" that Cedar Key City Commissioners are going to lower boat ramp fees any time in the near future.

[2Salty]

A Look at the Recent History of the Cedar Key City Commission and the Boat Ramps/Marina

[Note: each meeting of the Cedar Key City Commission includes a "Public Comment" segment on the agenda. Throughout a review of these meetings dating back to April, 2015 no mention was found of anyone voicing concerns about or objections to boat ramp fees.]

Launch Meter:
Commissioners approved payment of Invoice 135905 from Cale America, Inc. in the amount of $10,680 for the new Marina launch meter, its installation, and training on its use. Public Works Director Bill Crandley will see to it that the training takes place in a timely manner.
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... april-2015

CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Resolution 366 Passed:
Resolution 366 amends the current rate and charge schedule for the City Marina. The resolution creates an overnight parking fee that will be in effect for Art Festival and Seafood Festival events only, at $50. The resolution further increases the launch fee from $12 to $15 for cash and $16 for credit card payments.
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... tober-2015

Marina Policies:
As the Marina becomes increasingly busy and the revenues have greatly increased in the last quarter, the commissioners agreed to the rehiring parking lot manager/attendant/coordinator Debbie Franks. The rehiring will be handled administratively by Crandley.
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... nuary-2016

MARINA FEE STRUCTURE CHANGES:
Commissioners unanimously approved changes in the Marina fees. Changes include charging a fee for a given service and adding tax to that amount; currently, some fees include the tax and others do not. Consistency is the result
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... 7-may-2016

RESOLUTION 382 CHANGES MARINA RATES
RESOLUTIONS APPROVED
Commissioners unanimously approved the following four resolutions:
•Resolution 276 states the city’s agreement with the Department of Transportation to proceed with The C Street Bridge Option 8 A. This option raises the bridge approximately three feet and will take up to three years to complete.
•Resolution 378 amends the current schedule of rates for the city Marina changing a slip lease to $60 per month effective June 2016.
•Resolution 378 amends the current schedule of rates and charges for the city Marina effective June 2016.
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... -june-2016

CITY CONVENES MARINA WORKSHOP June 7, 2016
RBEG PLAN DESIGN
The bid opening for the construction of the marina restroom facilities and the outside vendor docks will be delayed about two weeks due to a larger number of qualified contractors than anticipated wanting to submit bids.
MARINA PROCEDURE REVIEW
Mayor Davis discussed some of the recent changes made by Public Works.
The launch pass machine has been moved closer to the ramp and will get a flag or light to make it easier to locate. Parking hours allowed for visitors, in the boat trailer areas, have been changed to start after 2:00 pm. The police department has working well with the marina attendant help to direct boaters to other locations around town for trailer parking.
Davis mentioned the previous workshops and noted the minutes of the meetings were in the agenda package for the commissioners to review and if they favored any items to bring them up for discussion. First marina workshop was April 2, 2009, last workshop was May 15, 2012.
DREDGE PERMIT REVIEW
The dredge permit has been submitted and should be approved shortly.
Crandley and Commissioner Nelson were charged with working together on a RFP and bring it back for the commission to review. Nelson agreed and said he would have something in a few weeks. If accepted by the commission it will be advertised and put out for bids.
PILOT PARKING PROGRAM
Mayor Heath Davis reminded the commissioners and the audience that three important, interruptive events would be soon be upon the city:
•the replacement of the C Street Bridge;
•the building of the marina restrooms and the revamping of the outside docks at the Marina;
•and the dredging of the Marina.
Davis explained that these activities will severely impact parking. He suggested commencing a pilot program of paid parking in the two Marina parking areas: the parking area where the boat ramps are located; the long parking area along First Street south of Marina Hardware and the Fire Station. No parking fees would be required on Dock Street or the Bridge.
In this pilot program, parking passes would be issued at the machine currently being used to issue launch passes. The machine can be programmed to collect fees and print parking passes as well as launch passes. A second machine could be purchased to be used in the First Street parking section for customer ease if the pilot program succeeded.
Discussion followed regarding; why is this necessary and will it provided any additional spaces? Discussion of hours of use and fees to be charged were not discussed. The parking fee was discussed only as to the charge being the same for all day parking as for an hour. The commission’s support for the pilot parking program was not unanimous. Mayor Davis did not want to implement the project unless the entire commission was in agreement. The pilot program was therefore dropped.
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... -june-2016

MARINA ANNUAL LAUNCH PASSES

A first discussion occurred focusing upon Marina annual launch passes. Staff presented current guidelines and three proposed options. Commissioners agreed upon residents paying $30 per trailer and non-residents paying $180 per trailer. They further agreed to charge $25 for replacement of a stolen or lost pass.
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... -july-2016

Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 382 which amends the current rate and charge schedule for the City Marina effective October 1, 2016.
Some changes include:
•slip lease is $60 plus tax;
•Frequent User Pass is $180 per boat with the pass affixed to a the driver side of the trailer’s winch post;
•City Taxpayer Annual Pass is $30, not $20 as in the past, with the pass affixed to a the driver side of the trailer’s winch post;
•issuance of a lost or stolen pass is $30 plus tax.
http://cedarkeynews.com/index.php/city- ... ugust-2016

[2Salty]

How much does it actually cost to launch at Cedar Key's boat ramp?

Cedar Key annual boat ramp pass (non city taxpayer) $180

launch 1/month = $180/12 = $15/launch
launch 2/month = $180/24 = $7.50/launch
launch 1/week = $180/52 = $3.46/launch

With an annual pass the cost of launching depends on how often the ramp is used.

[Can'tCatchAnything]