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Council asks staff to cost replacement and expansion of no-wake signage at Joes Bayou
Summary
After resident reports and public comments about close passes and safety in Joe's Bayou, council directed staff to return cost estimates to replace an existing no-wake sign and add a 500-foot no-wake marker to extend the zone.
Following public comment about boaters operating at high speed near swimmers and paddle boarders in Joe's Bayou, City of Destin council members directed staff to return with an estimate to replace and add no-wake signage to expand the protected radius in the bayou.
A resident recounted a near-miss with a jet ski at the sandbar and asked the council for help; Councilman Cosmo Destin moved that staff provide the cost to replace the old no-wake sign and add another sign to establish a 500-foot radius from the launch. The motion passed.
City staff said the state's rules on no-wake zones and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) may affect how local signs are applied, and staff will review statutes and prior signage decisions. Council asked staff to check whether previous local signs predate state changes and whether the city or property owners hold any additional rights for narrower, locally defined no-wake zones. Staff noted potential low-dollar options such as improved kayak launches that could justify a legal 500-foot radius under state interpretation.
Next steps: staff will return with cost estimates for replacing the existing sign and for adding another 500-foot no-wake marker, plus legal and permitting guidance on whether the city can assert an expanded local no-wake zone.
