Destin council directs city manager to implement beach-code enforcement plan, asks for sheriff coordination

The City of Destin City Council on a 4-0 vote directed the city manager to execute a beach-code enforcement plan and report back during spring break.

Council members said the goal is clearer, faster beach enforcement this season through a dedicated daily beach officer, a secondary relief officer, better coordination with the sheriff's office and improved situational awareness of code officers' locations.

City Manager Larry Jones presented the staff plan, saying the daily assignment would include one primary beach officer and a secondary beach officer to provide relief so officers do not remain in the sun longer than is safe. Jones said the primary officer will focus on beach duties and coordinate with the sheriff's office "so that we're not in the same area," while the secondary officer will be available to ride or walk as needed. The plan is adaptive: staff will vary patrols by day, weather and crowding and adjust when rain or low attendance reduce demand.

Steve (code enforcement staff) described operational details: shifts centered on busier afternoon hours, a side-by-side vehicle for patrol, and an intent to start citations where prior warnings exist. Jones and staff said the department is short staffed but has multiple qualified applicants and will begin interviews.

Council members pressed staff for faster response times and better communications. Councilman Bagby told staff the city should aim for near-immediate responses to beach complaints and called for improved "situational awareness, communication, coordination" among city staff and the sheriff's office. Bagby said police and code officers should be able to identify and respond to a complaint within minutes during peak periods.

Council and staff also discussed real-time location tracking. Staff said vehicle GPS is available to public works but not yet accessible to code enforcement; the city manager said he could add additional authorized users if council wished. Staff told council that their current permitting/tracking software cannot always pin locations on sand, but a new system coming online should let officers drop a pinpoint for citations on the beach.

After discussion, Councilman Bagby made the motion directing the city manager to implement the plan and report back; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The council's direction includes: daily primary and secondary beach officer assignments, a plan to coordinate coverage with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office (including use of the sheriff's beach deputies as backup), adjustments to shifts to concentrate officers during the 10 a.m.'5 p.m. peak period, and a requirement that staff return with operational details and a spring-break status report.

Council members emphasized enforcement priorities: food vendors and safety issues such as unfilled holes left on the beach, and they asked staff to prioritize notices and citations where warnings have already been issued.

The council vote made the plan official and gave staff direction to move forward immediately.

The council also instructed staff to improve interagency communications with the sheriff's office so beach-code responses can be synchronized and resourced quickly during peak summer activity.