COQUINA BEACH – This weekend marks the start of the busy holiday beach season that runs through Memorial Day weekend, and local public safety agencies say they are ready.
Public Safety and local law enforcement agencies held a press conference on March 29 to discuss the measures they will take to keep the public safe.
Beach patrol, law enforcement and EMS will be facing new and unique challenges this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur said.
“It’s critical for Manatee County to work in unison with our Island partners and local law enforcement agencies to keep all beachgoers safe so that they have a safe place to enjoy this Island and this community while they’re on break or taking some much-needed downtime from their hectic schedules,” Saur said, reminding residents to expect large crowds during this busy season.
Manatee County Beach Patrol Chief Joe Westerman spoke about the challenges facing lifeguards and first responders as the busy spring and summer holiday season begins.
“We ask a few things of everyone that comes out here. One is to always swim in front of a lifeguard, and check with your lifeguard about what the surf and beach conditions are that day. Also, there is no alcohol allowed on any of our beaches. Also, this isn’t a place to bring pets, we don’t allow any pets on our beaches unless it’s a service animal,” Westerman said, adding that a little planning ahead of time will make for a successful day at the beach.
It takes coordination between multiple agencies to keep the public safe at area beaches. Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer said 13 different agencies or departments are working together, including all law enforcement agencies on the Island, EMS, Code Enforcement, Property Management and Public Works. Litschauer said communication is essential, and the fact that all 13 agencies are able to communicate effectively is a key factor in the event of an emergency.
Holmes Beach Police Chief William Tokajer took to the podium to reiterate the Island’s zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol on the beach.
“No alcohol, no pets, no glass bottles, no fires and no grills unless you’re in a grilling area that’s assigned. It’s important to remember that you’re vacationing in a residential area, so keep the noise down to a respectable level, and remember that we still have a mask order in place and social distancing,” Tokajer said, stressing that these laws would be enforced. Tokajer also said that anyone caught drinking alcohol would be issued a fine, and anyone underage caught consuming alcohol would be removed from the beach and their parents would be contacted, regardless of their location.
Chief Tokajer also shared some numbers on just how busy the spring season has been so far this year.
“Between March 1st and March 26th, we have had 650,000 vehicles come to Holmes Beach alone, which is 24,700 cars a day. We have limited parking, so if you want a space, you should come early.”
Parking can often be an issue during the busy spring season, but Longboat Key Police Lieutenant Chris Skinner said his department, as well as others, would strictly enforce parking regulations, and if you park outside designated areas, you should expect a citation. Skinner said his department will increase patrol not only on the streets, but on the beaches as well during this busy season.
Almost exactly a year ago, the agencies were working together to close the beaches because they didn’t know what to expect from the pandemic. Now the same agencies are once again working together to prepare for what will likely be larger-than-normal crowds at area beaches. As more and more people are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations and positivity numbers continue to slowly go down, many have their eyes on Gulf beaches for a much-needed getaway. It’s important to remember, however, that COVID-19 is still a genuine threat, and if you can’t social distance – or wish to visit businesses on the Island – masks are still required.
