About PBA
The purpose of Pensacola Beach Advocates, Inc. (PBA) is to educate and inform leaseholders, public officials and other interested parties about matters affecting the controlled development of our community and to protect the public lands of Pensacola Beach for the benefit of its leaseholders and for all the citizens of Escambia County and beyond.
PBA acts as a voice for the stakeholders on the Island. Members are kept updated on current issues facing the Beach through the PBA web site, viewpoints presented in the local media, occasional meetings and an e-mail network. While representing the majority view of its members (as determined by periodic polls and meetings), the PBA recognizes that some issues are complex and there are
many valid points of view that need to be respected.
Why Be a Member of PBA?
- Stay updated on important issue facing Pensacola Beach
- Get involved and have your voice heard
- Membership is open to all residents, leaseholders and those with business interests on the beach and costs only $30 per year.
Membership information
Important Issues on Pensacola Beach
- Taxation of leasehold improvements and land
- Hurricane evacuation and re-entry
- SRIA vs. County Administration
- Controlled development of a Barrier Island
- Protection of the Island environment
- Preserving our sense of community
Stay Connected with PBA
You can get involved by:
PBA Launches Membership Portal
Last year we upgraded to a new website using Wild Apricot's membership management software. Members and wannabe members can login and update contact information, pay membership dues online and comment on blog posts.
Click here (Join Now) to become a member today.
Current Members:
If you are already on our membership or email list you should follow the steps below to login for the first time:
- Click Forgot Password link in the header (top right corner of screen).
- Enter your email address and type the code shown. An email will be sent to you from Wild Apricot that contains a link to reset your password.
- Click the link in the reset password email. Enter your new password (twice).
- Login with your email address and password in the form in the header.
- View your profile and make any required changes. If there are multiple people in your household under your membership who want to receive email notifications, you can add them as members and they will be linked to your membership.
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BP Claims
Have you filed your claim? The class action settlement with BP provides for many Beach leaseholders to file for a claim for loss of use and enjoyment of their property. All Gulf Front properties are eligible, and many Sound Side properties also qualify. The award amount is based on the 2010 assessed value of the property, but the minimum award is $2,800. You can find out how to determine if your property is eligible and how to apply for these benefits at the PBA website, www.pbadvocates.org at the BP Oil Spill Claims page. It is not difficult to do this yourself. If you need assistance, there is a claims office on the west side of town who can provide assistance.
RESTORE Committee Is Being formed
Escambia County has formed a committee of 9 citizens to review applications for the estimated $100 million in RESORE grant monies that will come to the County from the BP fines. The Committee will rank the applications and make recommendations to the Escambia County Commissioners. PBA has been actively working with the SRIA and Commissioner Grover Robinson to be sure Pensacola Beach is seeking RESTORE funds for improvements like beach nourishment, Improvements to pedestrian crosswalks, a boardwalk on Quietwater Sound, and improvements to the Casino Beach pavilion.
PBA Beachkeepers participated in the selection of an environmentalist for the RESTORE Committee. The 22 environmental groups in Escambia County selected Christian Wagley as their representative. We are confident that he will do a great job representing our interests.
Grover Robinson nominated SRIA Board member and Beach resident Tammy Bohannon for the RESTORE Committee, and she has been confirmed as a member of the Committee.
Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center
A new Sea Turtle Conservation Center is being built at the foot of the Navarre Bridge. It will feature sea turtle exhibits and live sea turtles. It will also have medical facilities and an operating room to treat and rehabilitate injured sea turtles. The Center has launched a $350,000 campaign to fund the costs of the construction and equipment, and has raised about $250,000 so far. Contributions should be made payable to the Navarre Chamber Foundation, 8668 Navarre Pkwy, Suite 142, Navarre FL 32566. For more information about this organization visit http://navarrebeachseaturtles.org.
The PBA Board of Directors has approved a $2,000 contribution to the Center.
Turtle Lighting Ordinance
Bright lights can disorient nesting sea turtles or the young hatchlings. Escambia County is the only Florida County that has nesting sea turtles that does not have a lighting ordinance to protect them. PBA Beachkeepers has been working with the Escambia County environmental staff on a draft ordinance to make our Beach lights more turtle friendly. Balancing the desire to be more turtle friendly with the desire of some commercial leaseholders to have attractive lighting for their businesses is proving to be a challenge, but good progress is being made.
The process will involve getting approval of the SRIA, the Planning Board, and finally the Escambia County Commissioners. PBA will keep you informed as to when public hearings will be held.
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