After more than three hours of public testimony, the Dunedin City Commission voted 4-0 July 23 to advance an ordinance prohibiting the launch and retrieval of motorized watercraft from the south side of the Dunedin Causeway.
The Causeway, the scenic roadway connecting Dunedin to Honeymoon Island State Park, is one of northern Pinellas County’s most popular waterfront recreation areas, drawing swimmers, kayakers, anglers and personal watercraft users.
If approved on second reading, the ordinance would prohibit shoreline launching while continuing to allow motorized vessels to operate in St. Joseph Sound and the Intracoastal Waterway. Other public and private boat ramps throughout northern Pinellas County would remain available.
The city says the proposal would protect seagrass while improving public safety. In a prepared statement announcing the ordinance, City Manager Jennifer Bramley said Hurricane Milton’s closure of the Causeway revealed what the shoreline looked like without motorized launches.
“During the time that the Causeway has been closed to motorized watercraft launching, there has been a resurgence of seagrass, a resurgence of the native wildlife,” Bramley said. “The parking issues are no longer there, the trash issues are no longer there.”
Parks and Recreation Director Tony Mulkey said repeated shoreline launching damages seagrass that can take years to recover.
“It can take 10 years for boat scarring to recover in a seagrass bed,” Mulkey said. “Those seagrass beds are vital for flora and fauna of the sound and the waterway itself.”
The statement also cited safety. Fire Chief Michael Handoga reported two jet ski fatalities since 2020, while the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office documented 80 personal watercraft-related incidents between Jan. 1, 2022, and April 30, 2026.
Dozens of residents, environmental advocates, business owners and personal watercraft enthusiasts addressed commissioners before the vote as supporters and opponents debated whether shoreline launches should continue.
Supporters said the ordinance would reduce noise, protect wildlife and restore seagrass.
Michelle Birnbaum said commissioners should consider what future generations will inherit. “It’s a refuge for people to recover and explore that world somewhere you don’t see anywhere else in this area.”
Opponents said the ordinance would punish responsible riders for the actions of a few.
Nick Wadell, general manager of Cycle Springs PowerSports, said the city should focus on enforcing existing laws rather than eliminating shoreline access for responsible riders.
“I believe the fairest approach is to address specific behavior through clear expectations and individual accountability while preserving access for responsible riders,” Wadell said.
Steven Guardino said the Causeway has long provided families with a place to enjoy the water and urged commissioners to adopt a permit or registration system instead of an outright ban.
“If I had to pay to go out there, I would do it,” Guardino said. “Then if you have a registration process, you also can track the individuals that aren’t following the rules … and there’s consequences involved.”
Matt Norman questioned whether the city had shown that permanently eliminating shoreline launching was the least restrictive solution.
“I’m not asking you to preserve the status quo,” Norman said. “I’m asking you to make sure the public policy process is as rigorous as the decision is permanent.”
Commissioners repeatedly asked whether permits, user fees or stronger enforcement could address residents’ concerns without an outright ban.
Staff said creating a formal launch area would require additional permitting, accessibility improvements and ongoing costs that user fees would not cover.
Commissioner Sandbergen acknowledged the emotional testimony from personal watercraft users.
“I used to be part of that jet ski crowd, and it was a heck of a good time,” Sandbergen said. “You guys are passionate. It’s more than a hobby.”
But, he added, “I represent and work for the citizens of Dunedin … I will be voting in favor of the ordinance.”
The commission unanimously approved the ordinance on first reading. A second public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3.
Rich Santoro, a 35-year Dunedin resident who supported the ordinance, said the vote addresses only one piece of the Causeway’s broader management issues.
“What we’re talking about here is just one of the symptoms. It’s not the complete disease up there,” Santoro said. “This place has to get managed better.”
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com.
