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Dunedin commissioners direct staff to draft ordinance banning motorized launches from south Dunedin Causeway
Summary
After staff presentations and extensive public input on safety and environmental damage, Dunedin commissioners gave consensus direction to draft an ordinance that would prohibit launching motorized watercraft from the south side of the Dunedin Causeway and to keep the area closed until an enforceable ordinance and enforcement coordination are in place.
Dunedin officials moved on Wednesday to pursue an ordinance that would prohibit launching motorized watercraft from the south side of the Dunedin Causeway, citing public‑safety incidents, seagrass damage and long recovery times for habitat.
Staff presented background on the causeway’s history and recent county-led repairs and asked the commission for “consensus direction to allow staff to work with the city attorney to draft an ordinance which would prohibit launching motorized watercraft off of the south side of the causeway,” Nicole Delfino, strategy and sustainability manager, told the commission. Staff said Pinellas County has jurisdiction for repairs but has given the city written authority to regulate launching and that the county indicated support for a similar restriction and possible funding for living‑shoreline restoration.
Tony Mollky, parks and recreation director, described the south side as a shoreline rather than an improved boat launch and warned that shoreline launching causes propeller scarring, turbidity and sediment disturbance that can take years to recover: “It can take 10 years for boat scarring to recover in a seagrass bed,” he said. Michael A. Goinga, the city’s fire chief, added that the area has experienced two fatal accidents since 2020 and that the city runs a significant number of water rescues in the general area.
Members of the public were sharply divided at the workshop. Several residents and committee members urged the commission to act. “This is about public use, quality of life, safety, and compatible activities,” Fawn told the commission, and Claudia, who identified herself as president and founder of Sailability of Greater Tampa Bay, said safety for kayakers and swimmers is a driving concern. By contrast, small‑boat owners warned staff that moving shoreline launches to more distant ramps could expose low‑power craft to unsafe conditions in storms; Dave Ferguson described launching a 12‑foot john boat by rowing out and then starting the motor to avoid scarring and said relocating to farther ramps could put those boaters at risk.
Staff answered questions about enforcement and alternatives. Teresa Smalling, the city’s liaison to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, summarized department data showing nearly 14,000 calls in the report period with about 80 jet‑ski related incidents through April 30, and staff said the sheriff’s office would continue to enforce prohibitions and typically issues warnings before citations. Staff also pointed to nearby official ramps — Seminole Boat Ramp, Sutherland and Palm Harbor launches — and noted private launching vendors as additional, higher‑cost options. The commission discussed whether the city could limit marina‑ramp access to residents and asked staff and the city attorney to investigate legal authority and potential penalty levels.
After the Q&A and public comment, the commission gave consensus direction for staff to draft the ordinance language, advertise and proceed through first and second readings, attach the December 9, 2025 memo from the Causeway and Coastal Waterways Committee to the record, and coordinate enforcement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Mayor Freaney said the county has agreed to keep the south side closed until an enforceable ordinance is in place.
