Coastal Community Association

Vision Statement:

South Gulf County Florida is, and will remain, a friendly, quiet, uniquely charming, low density residential shoreline commmunity. The Coastal Community Association's goal is for South Gulf County to develop in harmony with the beautiful natural coastal environment and be supported by necessary services and amenities for the needs and convenience of its residential community.

Our Successes:

Voter approval of  MSTUs to fund Beach Restoration.

 

Issues:

Coastal Community Association is working on many issues that affect the quality of life and the environment in South Gulf County. For more information about some of those issues, please visit our Current Issues page.

For up-to-the-minute news from your South Gulf County Volunteer Firedepartment, visit their new website at http://sgcfire.com .

For all the latest info on local tax issues, visit the Citizens for Reduced Taxes' website at www.citizensforreducedtaxes.org .

If you're a new resident, welcome!  We need the power of your vote in local elections, so don't forget to register.  For registration and candidate information, visit the Gulf County Supervisor's excellent site at www.votegulf.com .

 

Your Invitation:

Will you join us in efforts to preserve the beauty of South Gulf County while improving the quality of life? Please visit our Membership page for more information

Map

What We’ve Done

COASTAL COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR SOUTH GULF COUNTY
 
  1. CCCL/30 – engaged the County and State Legislators to give owners more time to prepare for the movement of the line by DEP. Obtained credit for the beach restoration in terms of the placement of the line. Still working on this issue.
  2. Worked with County Commission to get lines striped by C 30 from Dead Man’s Curve to County Line.
  3. Met with the ASSET Group who are in charge of the renovations and road work on St Vincent in reference to how they will tie up Indian Pass Landing.
  4. Worked with County to get garbage ordinance and working with Code Enforcement to get ordinance carried out.
  5. Working with County on signage ordinance
  6. Activated South Gulf County residences when Oviation sought increased density. Contacted DEP, Corp of Engineers, and 1000 Friends of Florida for their support against Oviation’s request.
  7. Attend Commission meetings to keep abreast of taxes and budget issues
  8. Working on the Bears on the Cape issue with the County and State Wild Life
  9. E-blast members to keep them abreast of what is going on-for some it is the only information they have—such as the issue with Oviation.
  10. Working with Sheriff department on beach and road patrols
  11. Support the South Gulf County Volunteer Fire Department
  12.  Support the Save The Cape Committee and Beach Restoration

President’s Message:

Welcome to the Coastal Community Association. We have a new, energized Board of Directors and are seeking members to serve on our committees to stay on top of several critical issues affecting all of South Gulf County. Good government comes from having involved and informed citizens who stay ahead of the issues and changes that will occur in our small piece of paradise. Our Board is dedicated to keeping abreast of the issues and working to maintain our unique coastal style of living in North Florida. Please visit our Contact Info page for a list of committees and contact the committee chair if you will serve on a committee that is of particular interest to you.

A few of the issues that we have targeted are:

1.  Taxes and what our County Commissioners are doing with our money are always a big issue, particularly for those who own land that is not their primary residence. The state legislator has passed new laws dealing with the tax issue in Florida. Our County Commissioners are going to have to cut back 9% from their budget for next year. They are presently attempting to do this and what and how they cut back will be posted on our website as it happens.  If the Board of County Commissioners choose by a super majority they do not have to cut back on the millage rate.  Two Commissions have to stand with the Gulf County tax payers to keep the millage rate from rising. In budget discussions to date the Commission has considered how to raise more money from other taxes.  They have already increased the gas tax.We will also be trying to make sure what few services we have in South Gulf County are not cut back.

2.  Keeping our beaches clean, safe and friendly is a primary goal. While we support beach driving, we would like to see it done responsibly and have the present rules and ordinances enforced. We will be working with the Sheriff’s Dept to do so. There are also issues as to trash receptacles, trash pickup, beach chairs and beach paraphernalia left on the beaches for days at time; and how and where overnight camping may be appropriate that we need to have a voice in.  The Sheriff’s Office has the beaches being patrolled during the summer. It is a nice presence to have throughout the day. Hopefully we will not lose this during the budget cutting that is going on now.


3.  Safety issues involve our great South Gulf County Volunteer Fire Department. They continue to be our first (and only) line of defense against fires and are our essential first responders for medical or accident emergencies. They literally are our lifeline. Please support them. The new fire truck they obtained last year has saved many homes already.  They are still trying to obtain sites at Indian Pass and on the Cape for additional fire stations. They are seeking at least ½ acre to build on. Efforts are still under way to try to locate on a corner of Rish Park, since that would solve the safety issues for the Floridians with disabilities who use the park. A possible heliopad has been included in the deal for safer and more rapid transport to medical facilities.The fire department website is sgcfire.com.

4.  Beach restoration is moving forward with a great job done by the Beach Advisory Committee and County. Their efforts have literally saved the cape. They are on schedule and hop to finish by November.  For up to the minute information on their progress they have a great website at www.savethecape.com. All of us at CCA support their efforts and appreciate all that they have done and continue to do.

5.  The movement of the CCCL and 30-year erosion line continues through the DEP process. We were, along with the County, successful at least in getting a 10 year credit for the Beach Restoration, which saved some properties. It is projected at this point that the line will move sometime after the completion of beach restoration in November.  No date has been set.  Thanks go to our Commissioners for their continuing efforts. Refer to the minutes for specific questions and answers that were given at the Annual meeting in June. DEP projects to have the new rule in place between August to mid September.  There is now some concern over the endangered St. Andrew's Mouse.

6.  The Stump Hole and potential wash through is high on our agenda.  Prebble Rishe and the County Commission has worked with DOT and DEP and the project should begin in the fall, hopefully before a storm hits.  Not only will a storm wash out the rocks and strand the Cape, it will affect our St Joe Bay.

7.  The boat ramp at Indian Pass will be impacted by restoration projects on St. VIncent.  We will monitor this and try to minimize the commercial and recreation impacted by Fish & Wildlife.

8.  The bears of the Cape present a major problem as they picnic on all the abundant garbage.  unfortunately, they have terrible table manners and strow the garbage everywhere.  Tourist and some who don't seem to know better think these guys are zoo animals and chase the to take pictures.  Don't feed - don't chase - Don't go near the bears!

As you can see there is a lot going on. These are just a few of the issues that our Board is presently addressing.

We intend to update our Current Issues page on a monthly basis to provide you with current information on the “hot” issues in our county. Our Forum Page allows you to comment and bring up issues that someone may know the answer for. Our Associate Members are business leaders and stake holders in our coastal area who are a great asset to our organization. Please see the list of our Associates and their websites on the Membership Page and support them.

We want to be your source for information on issues affecting your property and the quality of your coastal living. If our organization is to have a strong voice on this wide variety of issues, we must have your support. Please join us and encourage others who are not CCA members to join today.

Patricia K. Hardman, PhD
President