If you’re going to have controversy around something as big, important to the economy and critical to our image as Spring Break, at least we’re having the right kind now.
At Thursday’s Panama City Beach Council meeting and a recent Bay County Commission meeting, the controversy wasn’t swirling around “why don’t we do something” as much as it was around, “why are we doing that?” or, “Why don’t we do this?”
That speaks of action, and that is good. But like an energized college freshman let loose on Panama City Beach, the reality of actually addressing Spring Break seems to have left our government officials wide-eyed and scrambling, not sure where to begin.
Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen, finally having everyone’s attention after Fox news reported what he’s been saying for years, laid out some proposals on what would make life safer for spring breakers, those of us who live here and his deputies.
They were clear and simple and encompassing, like banning alcoholic beverages on the beaches (sand) or parking lots, and making bars, clubs and other establishments end alcohol sales “by 2 a.m. and possibly even earlier.” He suggested enforcing capacity limits and fire safety ordinances and using TDC advertising money to publicize what you can’t do here, as well as any new laws and ordinances.
The County Commission took a look and a stance, kind of, saying they will take action this time and if the other governmental bodies didn’t follow suit, well, we’d see about that. Again, this is a positive step.
Meanwhile, the Panama City Beach City Council, tackling the exact same issue, met separately with a different list of proposals from its police chief and staff. It also had ideas worth discussion, and talk drifted to perhaps not banning alcohol on the sandy shores, but banning coolers, and closing city-owned parking lots at 5 p.m.
Both government bodies are looking at a host of ideas that deserve the public discussion they are getting. And as evidenced by Thursday’s turnout on the beach, the businesses involved have an opinion, too. Many folks on the beach, or with financial interests in the beach, can make or break their year based on Spring Break.
And the numbers are staggering.
Mayor Gayle Oberst said Spring Break has an economic impact of between $400 million and $500 million. The city collected $1 million in sales tax in March.
I have concerns on both sides of the issue. I’m happy the sheriff has a platform and if the government entities involved follow through, I might become giddy. As a newspaper we’ve endorsed tackling this issue rather than giving it lip service until it dies down as it seems to each year.
At the same time, it seems extreme to ban alcohol on those beaches during Spring Break because it punishes people who aren’t doing anything wrong and it changes the rules for an arbitrary amount of time, a point of confusion. Arguing with myself, though, I ask myself what other option is there? There simply isn’t the manpower to just enforce the existing laws and arrest those who are drinking underage.
That’s just in my head, so imagine the difficulties inherent in two governmental entities and two law enforcement agencies tackling the subject publicly, yet separately.
The Beach Council ended its meeting with the decision that council members will meet individually (i.e., privately, out of the public eye), with staff to work through ideas for a future discussion. The county staff is addressing the issue and there is some discussion back and forth.
Both bodies move forward, toward a common goal, yet without working together in a public forum with a combined audience. Maybe my phone will ring this week and someone will tell me why that isn’t a good idea, but it hasn’t yet.
If they want to solve this issue together, in a way that the community as a whole endorses, then wouldn’t it make sense to bring everyone together for a discussion to hash out the major issues at the same time?
A tourist, spring breaker or most residents aren’t much bothered by where the line in the sand is drawn that separates the city of Panama City Beach from the unincorporated area, they’re concerned about where the sandy beaches begin and end.
That seems like the way we ought to be approaching this issue.