A year-long initiative from a group of Mexico Beach citizens is nearing its destination.

MEXICO BEACH A year-long initiative from a group of Mexico Beach citizens is nearing its destination.

The city of Mexico Beach will hold a special referendum Feb. 21, during which citizens will vote on a resolution that would become an ordinance on Leave No Trace right away if the measure passes.

After seeing a worsening situation of personal items being left on the beach over the past few years, a citizens group decided enough was enough and went door-to-door collecting signatures.

We went around and got over 300 signatures, which was more than enough for a ballet initiative, said Mary Lee Raulerson, the spokesperson for the group.

According to Raulerson, the ballot is just the latest step in curbing a problem.

The last couple years we tried Keep It Neat, and that just didnt work, she said. People were leaving things on the beach all night long. Some people were leaving things there for weeks at a time. Tents, chairs, flotation devices; all these things that the wind can blow into the water, if it gets bad, or back up into the dunes.

The beach was just a mess, and the last two summers it has just gotten worse.

If the referendum is approved, Mexico Beach would be following other local communities that have passed a Leave No Trace ordinance in the recent years. Panama City Beach passed an ordinance in 2012, and Gulf County passed one in 2015.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit any obstruction or personal property being left on the beach between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Raulerson isnt just worried about the appearance of the beach, though.

Its not just for the looks of the beach either its for our turtles, she said. The turtle patrol is behind this 100 percent. They go down every morning and see the turtle tracks.

They have gone down and seen where the turtles have gotten up to this stuff that is left and they just turn around and go back and they dont nest. Or they get tangled in it.

Raulerson wants the tourism industry to thrive in Mexico Beach and sees the proposed ordinance as a tool to achieve continued tourism activity in Mexico Beach.

It is real important to keep the beaches in good condition, in pristine condition, because that is what draws people here, she said.

Voting will take place at the Mexico Beach Civic Center between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT. No early voting will be allowed. Mexico Beach registered voters can request absentee ballots at bayvotes.org.

The rest is here:

Mexico Beach 'Leave No Trace' referendum Feb. 21 - The News Herald