Why would City Council and the Marine Commission Approve Expansion Without Asking the Important Questions and Requiring Appropriate Studies?

Renowned Local Scientist is certain that the Marina Expansion will have a negative environmental impact on the Indian River Lagoon. 

He states: 

• The narrowing of the lagoon at the City Marina causes limited tidal influence and movement. 
• Deep water basins will become anoxic and eutrophic, eventually venting gases. 
• Dredging will capture fine sediments. The dredged depressions would not be beneficial to support lagoon creatures or seagrass so sorely needed at this time. 
• Expansion will be detrimental to the health of the lagoon and potentially harm people who consume fish from the lagoon. 

• Record Number of Florida Manatees Starved to Death in 2021
• Saving starving manatees will mean saving this crucial lagoon habitat
• We need to CLEAN the lagoon by rebuilding oyster beds to filter pollutants, then reintroduce seagrass. It has been done before, and we can do it again

Has Chapter 2- LAND USE ELEMENT GOAL, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES of The Policy Document - Adopted by (covb.org) from the comprehensive plan voted by the people been forgotten?

It states: "Vero Beach's quality of life, individual identify, and small town character typified by low rise and low density scale of development will be maintained and continued in a manner that:

1. Provides a compatible and complementary mix of uses to meet the social and economic needs of the community; 
2. Respects the community character and the quality of life of the community; 
3. Preserves and enhances coastal, environmental, natural, historic and cultural resources;
4.  Maintains and enhances the City's distinct overall low density, residential character and diversity of residential neighborhoods; 
5. Creates diversity and sense of place for its commercial areas;
6. Provides for reasonable public safety and security from hazardous conditions associated with the City's coastal location; and 
7. Provides for the efficient and cost effective use of services and facilities.

• The current waitlist for dry storage is a total of 17
• Current waitlist for dock slips is 217
• There are currently NO waitlists for 30' boats at dry storage facilitates at either the Ft Pierce Inlet or the Sebastian Inlet
• The pandemic brought a rush of new boaters to marinas, but 40-plus percent of new boaters drop out in less than five years. What will happen when gas prices rise...and the boom ends?
• Pollution continues to mount in this stagnant area of the Lagoon. Fishing is now a major concern and  Local Charter Captains are giving up their fishing businesses and selling their boats.

• Millions of  Dollars of Taxpayer money has been set aside this year for the expansion with the expectation that the City will ultimately spend  $7.1 Million for this phase alone.
• Although $2 million will be given without strings, the balance will be a loan (likely structured as a 15-year loan at 1%) which the city can also choose to forgive in the future. In return, the city/taxpayers will only receive 6% of the Marina income for the general fund.
• The City is PAYING a lot of money so the marina can MAKE a lot of money, BUT… the City is getting almost nothing in return. That’s a bad deal for the taxpayers!

• Yes!- Update the Marina to First Class Standards  
• Yes! - Keep the Charm of the Marina 
• The amount of money being spent for Phase 1 of the Maximum Expansion can and most likely WILL jeopardize completion of Marina repairs in future phases.
•  Uncertainties of future grants, inflation, recession, gas prices are just a few of the unknowns that could hinder the much needed repairs and updates of the Marina as was the initial goal in 2019 when the Marina upgrade plans began.
• The Marina sits on public land which has been placed in the City Charter with the express purpose of preserving its status for public use.  It was not intended to become a “Destination Marina” as has been touted by council members and members of the community.
• No - Do not build a 200’ plus x115’x35’ Industrial Metal Building for dry RACK STORAGE AT THE EXPENSE OF FIXING THE EXISTING Marina