Have you filed your claim? The class action settlement with BP provides for many Beach leaseholders to file for a claim for loss of use and enjoyment of their property. All Gulf Front properties are eligible, and many Sound Side properties also qualify. The award amount is based on the 2010 assessed value of the property, but the minimum award is $2,800. You can find out how to determine if your property is eligible and how to apply for these benefits at the PBA website, www.pbadvocates.org at the BP Oil Spill Claims page. It is not difficult to do this yourself. If you need assistance, there is a claims office on the west side of town who can provide assistance.

Escambia County has formed a committee of 9 citizens to review applications for the estimated $100 million in RESORE grant monies that will come to the County from the BP fines. The Committee will rank the applications and make recommendations to the Escambia County Commissioners.  PBA has been actively  working with the SRIA and Commissioner Grover Robinson to be sure Pensacola Beach is  seeking RESTORE funds for improvements like beach nourishment, Improvements to pedestrian crosswalks, a boardwalk on Quietwater Sound, and improvements to the Casino Beach pavilion.

PBA Beachkeepers participated in the selection of an environmentalist for the RESTORE Committee. The 22 environmental groups in Escambia County selected Christian Wagley as their representative.  We are confident that he will do a great job representing  our interests.

Grover Robinson nominated SRIA Board member and Beach resident Tammy Bohannon for the RESTORE Committee, and she has been confirmed as a member of the Committee.

Through the efforts of PBA members Lila Cox and Beverly McCay, the SRIA has secured a $500,000 grant from BP to promote eco-tourism on Pensacola Beach.  The grant will pay for an “Eco-tour” of about 40 signs on dune walkovers, public piers and parks throughout the beach explaining our birds, sea turtles, plants, dunes and other natural features of our barrier island. QR codes and text links on these displays will allow smart phone technology to connect to the VisitPensacolaBeach.com web site. Most of the funds will be used to promote eco-tourism in the spring and fall shoulder seasons.  Great job Lila and Beverly!

Bright lights can disorient nesting sea turtles or the young hatchlings. Escambia County is the only Florida County that has nesting sea turtles that does not have a lighting ordinance to protect them. PBA Beachkeepers has been working with the Escambia County environmental staff on a draft ordinance to make our Beach lights more turtle friendly. Balancing the desire to be more turtle friendly with the desire of some commercial leaseholders to have attractive lighting for their businesses is proving to be a challenge, but good progress is being made.

The process will involve getting approval of the SRIA, the Planning Board, and finally the Escambia County Commissioners.  PBA will keep you informed as to when public hearings will be held.

PBA Beachkeepers is combining two successful events into one this year.  On Saturday morning, April 20th, at the Casino Beach parking lot they will have a family-friendly event to kick off the beginning of the sea turtle nesting season.  Also, they will sponsor a recycling event featuring free shredding of personal financial records and a giant yard sale.  More information will be relayed to you as the event draws nearer.

March 18th to 20th will mark the annual Power Up Energy Expo in Fort Walton Beach. The event features exhibits and forums on renewable energy and alternative sources of fuel.  The exhibits are free, but the lectures and forums have a small fee. You can learn more at www.powerupenergyexpo.com.

A new Sea Turtle Conservation Center is being built at the foot of the Navarre Bridge.  It will feature sea turtle exhibits and live sea turtles.  It will also have medical facilities and an operating room to treat and rehabilitate injured sea turtles.  The Center has launched a $350,000 campaign to fund the costs of the construction and equipment, and has raised about $250,000 so far.  Contributions should be made payable to the Navarre Chamber Foundation, 8668 Navarre Pkwy, Suite 142, Navarre FL 32566. For more information about this organization visit http://navarrebeachseaturtles.org.

The PBA Board of Directors has approved a $2,000 contribution to the Center.

2013 PBA annual dues of $30 are due now.  If you haven’t already paid your 2013 dues, you can pay on line at www.pbadvocates.org, or you can mail them to P. O. Box 1262, Gulf Breeze Fl 32562. If you have mailed a check in the last few days,  your membership record may not yet be updated with Active status. A family can have multiple email addresses (max of 3) attached to a single membership. To add a spouse or household member, login to your account, click View Profile, and in the Bundle summary section, click the Add Member button.

If you find these newsletters informational and relevant, please join PBA if you are not a current member. Membership costs $30 per year and is open to residents, leaseholders and those with any type of  business interest. Your 2013 membership status is shown below. Last year we implemented a new website that makes it easier to renew online. You can login to this site to pay your dues and update your member or contact profile.

To renew or update your membership login to our website with your email. You will need to reset your password the first time you access the site.  Once you have logged in successfully, click My Profile link in upper right corner of the screen to update your member/contact information.

New members can join online at http://www.pbadvocates.org/join

Currently, no dogs are allowed on any of our beaches.  The SRIA is considering a proposal that would:

• Allow dogs from sunrise to 10:00 am at both Park East and Park West
• Dog parks would be open 365 days per year
• Dogs at Park West would have to be on leashes
• Dogs at Park East could be off-leash except during bird and turtle nesting season
• Owners are required to pick up any dog poop – bag dispensers will be provided

This is going to be a hotly debated topic. There are people who feel strongly on both sides of this issue.  There are issues involving enforcement of the rules, liability, protection of endangered species, etc. to be resolved. The SRIA has asked the PBA to poll its members on the proposed dog parks, and a straw poll will be taken at the PBA Annual Meeting on November 12th.  If you cannot attend that meeting, but have an opinion on this matter, please submit a proxy form or e-mail your comments to info@pbadvocates.org.

The SRIA will have a public meeting on the dog parks on Wednesday, November 14th at 5:00 pm at the SRIA offices. The results of the PBA straw poll will be reported at that meeting.

On Tuesday, November 6th, the FL Supreme court will hear oral arguments on both the Navarre Beach case challenging taxation of leased land and the Pensacola Beach residential challenge of taxation of leased improvements.  The oral arguments begin at 9:00 eastern (8:00 local) time. Each side has only 20 minutes to argue each of the cases, so the whole proceeding should take 2 hours or less.

If you want to go in person, the Supreme Court is located at 500 S. Duval St. in downtown Tallahassee.  Keep in mind the 1 hour time change. 

If you want to watch the proceedings, you can access them at http://wfsu.org/gavel2gavel/

On Monday, November 5th from 6:00 to 8:00, Commissioner Grover Robinson will conduct a Town Hall meeting at the SRIA offices. Subjects include:

• BP fines – RESTORE Act monies coming to Escambia County
• Proposed Turtle Lighting Ordinance
• Proposed Noise Ordinance
• Discussion of events during hurricane Isaac and how they affected Beach residents and Businesses