County defends specialized waterway permitting, considers phased fee increases

Commissioners pressed staff about permitting for docks and navigational projects and whether the county could move the work to another permitting division or recover the cost through fees.

A senior permitting staff member explained the work is specialized: review of navigability, environmental checks, Army Corps checklist compliance, dredge-and-fill permits and mangrove authority. The staffer said the delegation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers speeds processing and that on-site inspections require boats and shared equipment. "We're doing it at the same time and we're getting it done in a few weeks to less than a month," the staff member said, arguing the county's delegation provides a faster process than direct Corps permitting, which can take six months to a year.

Staff told commissioners that, while fee increases could help offset general-fund costs, raising permit fees high enough to break even would require substantial percentage increases (staff estimated a roughly 120% increase in some fees to fully cover costs). Staff proposed a phased three-year increase as a compromise, which the packet estimated could yield approximately $280,000 over the phase-in period. Commissioners asked staff to continue discussions with marine contractors and to return with a more detailed fee schedule and equity analysis.