MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — City leaders in Madeira Beach passed an ordinance regulating liveaboard vessels after condo residents demanded action.
Sea Towers' condos are in a prime location, next to shops, the beach and a beautiful view of the intracoastal waterway.
"We love it here," said Phyllis Tinnesz.
She has just one big issue, "the boats parked out in the water."
She and others have been complaining about the liveaboard boats for years.
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"It's an ongoing problem," said HOA president, John Apache.
He showed us several pictures of trash they pulled from the water about a week ago, saying trash is constantly dumped from the vessels.
"This picture was the icing on the cake. We have to pay somebody to pick this up on a regular basis," said Apache.
He and nearly 100 of his neighbors packed the city commissioner's meeting to demand action.
Leaders voted on a new ordinance that will regulate liveaboard boats and their owners.
Boaters will have to get a $5 permit and dump their waste at the city marina, they can only be anchored in the Intracoastal for 72 hours and boaters will not be allowed to leave their boat vacant for more than eight hours a day.
"My question, how are you going to enforce it?" asked Apache.
City leaders are still working things out. They will discuss the ordinance again at their upcoming meeting on October 8.
