Council asks staff to draft boating‑safety ordinance for Joe’s Bayou; requested report by Oct. 1

Council members directed city staff to draft an ordinance that would allow the city to establish slow‑speed or minimum‑wake boating zones in areas with demonstrated safety or congestion concerns, specifically citing Joe’s Bayou.

The council reviewed statutory criteria (Florida Statute 327.46) that municipalities must meet to enact restricted‑use boating areas, such as documented accident reports, vessel traffic studies or other credible data demonstrating risk. The council asked staff to work with the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to collect or identify the data needed to justify an ordinance or a defined slow‑speed zone.

Council members recounted a recent incident in Joe’s Bayou in which a resident captured video of a high‑speed vessel damaging private property and creating a hazardous wake; staff said FWC will not issue citations based solely on video and that on‑scene observation is required for certain infractions. Council directed staff to return on or before Oct. 1 with proposed ordinance text or a requirements checklist explaining what additional data (e.g., traffic counts or crash reports) would be required.

The council emphasized it seeks a defensible ordinance that meets the statute’s criteria and can be enforced by FWC or the sheriff once in place.