02-20-2008, 02:05 PM
02/19/08
Burnt Store, Punta Gorda Isles fishing ban proposed
PUNTA GORDA -- Bill Albers will finally see his fellow City Council members consider the fishing ban he's been expecting for more than a month.
The council will consider a proposed ordinance Wednesday that will effectively ban mullet and other fishing from the seawalls of vacant lots in Burnt Store Isles and Punta Gorda Isles. Albers had expected the ordinance to go before the council by now.
What part of the sense of urgency to get this done did you all miss? We said this would be completed in February," Albers wrote to Punta Gorda City Manager Howard Kunik in an e-mail dated Feb. 2. "Leaders of both civic associations promised their members that resolution was imminent.
"Citizens, especially those in BSI who have generated numerous calls to (the Punta Gorda Police Department) about this are now very upset with our performance," Albers wrote. "I am really embarrassed, and I don't do embarrassed well."
In another e-mail to Police Chief Chuck Rinehart, Albers wrote, "I am hopeful that once the no fishing ordinance is passed in March that this will become a mute point. Meanwhile, we have a bunch of very concerned and proactive residents."
If adopted, the ordinance would prohibit fishing within the canal systems -- except where posted and specifically allowed by City Council. Anglers would need the expressed written permission of lot owners to fish from the seawalls.
Violations of the ordinance could result in fines of $100 for first-time offenders, $200 for second-time offenders and $300 for each subsequent offense.
Some residents see the ordinance as absolutely needed.
"It gives a very uncomfortable feeling to have a "public fishing pier" right next to and across from us," Dennis Waryjas wrote in an e-mail forwarded to Mayor Larry Friedman. "Especially considering the number of robberies right around us on our street and the streets adjoining us. We have elderly and widows living all around us -- I'm sure they do not like this situation either!'
But not everyone sees the fishing ban as necessary, or prudent.
"In my opinion, it is an example of overreaching by local government," Dave Ouimette wrote Friedman. "The proverbial sledgehammer is being used to kill a flea, and the solution to the perceived problem is going to create a huge inconvenience for everyone who fishes within the city's limits."
As proposed, Ouimette suggests homeowners or their guests could be asked by police to prove they own property or have written permission to fish on the seawall of the property. If they don't happen to have written permission on their person, they are subject to fines even though they may have the right to fish at that location.
"There are no exceptions, even young kids who may be visiting parents or grandparents could be fined by the police," Ouimette wrote.
Paul LaFleur wrote to Friedman, "I hope you don't pass this proposed statute, but if you do, I would ask that it be done fairly. Restrict all activity on vacant lots, not just fishing from the seawalls. Neighborhood barbecues, social gatherings, yard sales and parking recreational vehicles ought to be included in the statute."
Gregory Larrison, a sixth-generation Punta Gorda resident, is upset at the characterizations by some BSI and PGI residents of he and others who fish for mullet from the seawalls.
"Before PGI and BSI were even a faint idea in anyone's mind, and (when they) were just low-lying swamps and salt flats, I fished these local waters and streams," Larrison said in a statement. "I have not ever been loud, rude or offensive in any way to the people of PGI or BSI when I have been fishing from a vacant lot, but I have found myself increasingly the subject of police visits as a direct result of citizen complaints that I have in some fashion violated someone's perceived enjoyment of life.
He takes exception with BSI and PGI residents who would describe him and other local anglers as "nonresidents."
And like LaFleur, Larrison asked that council not single out the anglers. To be fair, he said, a ban should prohibit all recreational activities from vacant lots.
"As I understand the law, no one who lives in PGI or BSI has any greater rights or privileges with respect to vacant lots," Larrison said.
The City Council meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 326 W. Marion Ave. , Punta Gorda.
You can e-mail Steve Reilly at reilly@sun-herald.
Burnt Store, Punta Gorda Isles fishing ban proposed
PUNTA GORDA -- Bill Albers will finally see his fellow City Council members consider the fishing ban he's been expecting for more than a month.
The council will consider a proposed ordinance Wednesday that will effectively ban mullet and other fishing from the seawalls of vacant lots in Burnt Store Isles and Punta Gorda Isles. Albers had expected the ordinance to go before the council by now.
What part of the sense of urgency to get this done did you all miss? We said this would be completed in February," Albers wrote to Punta Gorda City Manager Howard Kunik in an e-mail dated Feb. 2. "Leaders of both civic associations promised their members that resolution was imminent.
"Citizens, especially those in BSI who have generated numerous calls to (the Punta Gorda Police Department) about this are now very upset with our performance," Albers wrote. "I am really embarrassed, and I don't do embarrassed well."
In another e-mail to Police Chief Chuck Rinehart, Albers wrote, "I am hopeful that once the no fishing ordinance is passed in March that this will become a mute point. Meanwhile, we have a bunch of very concerned and proactive residents."
If adopted, the ordinance would prohibit fishing within the canal systems -- except where posted and specifically allowed by City Council. Anglers would need the expressed written permission of lot owners to fish from the seawalls.
Violations of the ordinance could result in fines of $100 for first-time offenders, $200 for second-time offenders and $300 for each subsequent offense.
Some residents see the ordinance as absolutely needed.
"It gives a very uncomfortable feeling to have a "public fishing pier" right next to and across from us," Dennis Waryjas wrote in an e-mail forwarded to Mayor Larry Friedman. "Especially considering the number of robberies right around us on our street and the streets adjoining us. We have elderly and widows living all around us -- I'm sure they do not like this situation either!'
But not everyone sees the fishing ban as necessary, or prudent.
"In my opinion, it is an example of overreaching by local government," Dave Ouimette wrote Friedman. "The proverbial sledgehammer is being used to kill a flea, and the solution to the perceived problem is going to create a huge inconvenience for everyone who fishes within the city's limits."
As proposed, Ouimette suggests homeowners or their guests could be asked by police to prove they own property or have written permission to fish on the seawall of the property. If they don't happen to have written permission on their person, they are subject to fines even though they may have the right to fish at that location.
"There are no exceptions, even young kids who may be visiting parents or grandparents could be fined by the police," Ouimette wrote.
Paul LaFleur wrote to Friedman, "I hope you don't pass this proposed statute, but if you do, I would ask that it be done fairly. Restrict all activity on vacant lots, not just fishing from the seawalls. Neighborhood barbecues, social gatherings, yard sales and parking recreational vehicles ought to be included in the statute."
Gregory Larrison, a sixth-generation Punta Gorda resident, is upset at the characterizations by some BSI and PGI residents of he and others who fish for mullet from the seawalls.
"Before PGI and BSI were even a faint idea in anyone's mind, and (when they) were just low-lying swamps and salt flats, I fished these local waters and streams," Larrison said in a statement. "I have not ever been loud, rude or offensive in any way to the people of PGI or BSI when I have been fishing from a vacant lot, but I have found myself increasingly the subject of police visits as a direct result of citizen complaints that I have in some fashion violated someone's perceived enjoyment of life.
He takes exception with BSI and PGI residents who would describe him and other local anglers as "nonresidents."
And like LaFleur, Larrison asked that council not single out the anglers. To be fair, he said, a ban should prohibit all recreational activities from vacant lots.
"As I understand the law, no one who lives in PGI or BSI has any greater rights or privileges with respect to vacant lots," Larrison said.
The City Council meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday at City Hall, 326 W. Marion Ave. , Punta Gorda.
You can e-mail Steve Reilly at reilly@sun-herald.