Brevard decides against fees for canoes, kayaks

County commissioners decided Tuesday that they are not ready to institute fees for ecotourism companies that launch canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards from county parks.

Commissioners instead directed the county manager's office and parks officials to first craft a free permit system that would help the county determine how many companies operate such businesses and how extensive their operations are at county facilities.

Under a county staff proposal that commissioners rejected — at least for now — businesses that launch canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards from any of 19 public ramps would have had to pay $500 a year for a general permit to do so at those sites.

A separate $1,000-a-year restricted permit would have been required for a business to launch from Manatee Cove Park or Pine Island Conservation Area on Merritt Island, two popular sites to view wildlife, such as dolphins and manatees. Under the proposal, businesses with those permits would get the exclusive right for commercial launches one day each week at the parks, not including weekends or six major holidays.

County officials wanted to institute those steps to prevent the Indian River Lagoon by being overwhelmed by the ecotour businesses, as well as to prevent the parking areas from being filled with tour buses and other large vehicles.

Assistant Brevard County Manager Venetta Valdengo told county commissioners the proposal sought to balance various interests.

"We definitely support ecotourism," Valdengo said. "We're trying to protect our parks as well."

County Commissioner Trudie Infantini said that "it just seems wrong" for the county to institute paid permits and restrict ecotourism operations at Manatee Cove and Pine island, while also trying to promote tourism and support local businesses.

"I don't think it's soup yet," Infaniti said, referring to the county staff plan that she felt left many concerns and unanswered questions.

County Commissioner Chuck Nelson said that unregulated "commercial activity is prohibited" from county parks, and the county has a responsibility to manage its parks.

Seven speakers addressed the commission on this issue Tuesday, most of them affiliated with the ecotourism industry. While they generally indicated they didn't mind a permit system, they had concerns about how the county was going about it.

County Manager Stockton Whitten said questions remain about even the free permit system, such as whether the permits would require proof of insurance and how the system would be enforced.

Before anything instituted, Whitten said, county staff will meet with ecotour operators, then report back to the commission.

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or dberman@floridatoday.com Follow him on Twitter at @ByDaveBerman and on Facebook at facebook.com/dave.berman.54