Barefoot Bay Recreation District — Barefoot Bay, Florida

The Barefoot Bay Recreation District is an independent special taxing district, not a city, created by Brevard County to own and run the common recreation facilities of the Barefoot Bay mobile home park.

The district's FY 2025 audit describes it as a special independent taxing district created by Ordinance Number 84-05 of the Board of County Commissioners of Brevard County on January 12, 1984 (BBRD FY 2025 audit, Note 1). It acts under Sections 34 through 38 of Chapter 83-204, Laws of Florida, and Section 418.30, Florida Statutes. The same note gives its job in one line: to acquire, operate and maintain the facilities of the mobile home recreation park in Barefoot Bay.

The district's About page describes Barefoot Bay as an unincorporated, deed-restricted manufactured home community and recreation district located in southern Brevard County, and it names Sebastian, across the line in Indian River County, as the nearest commercial area (About Barefoot Bay). Gulf Acceptance Corporation bought the original one thousand acres in 1968. In 1984, by the district's own account, Barefoot Bay became a Special Recreation District with a charter authorized by the Brevard County Commissioners, and the Board of Trustees was created then.

Barefoot Bay has no homeowners association. The district's FAQ says the annual assessment that funds the Barefoot Bay Recreation District is collected by Brevard County with property taxes, and that all residential property in the district is privately owned (BBRD FAQs). The district does not advertise rentals and points buyers and renters to a local realtor.

Section 418.30, Florida Statutes, lets any Florida county or city create a mobile home park recreation district, and the Barefoot Bay Recreation District is one of them (Section 418.30).

The statute limits each district to the boundaries of a mobile home park and requires an ordinance approved by a vote of the electors residing in the proposed district. That ordinance, as later amended by the county and approved by district voters, constitutes the charter of the district. A petition signed by a majority of the district's electors can replace the referendum. Section 418.30 traces its own history to section 34 of chapter 83-204, the same 1983 act cited in the Barefoot Bay audit.

The Board of Trustee Rules treat Chapter 418.30-309 and Brevard County Ordinance 84-05, which they date to 23rd February 1984, together as the Charter of the Barefoot Bay Recreation District (BBRD Board of Trustee Rules, page 1). The rules give the district's mailing address as 625 Barefoot Blvd, Barefoot Bay, Florida 32976-9233. Two special acts later addressed trustee terms: Chapter 2022-234, Laws of Florida, provides that if district voters approved its November 2022 referendum it would supersede and replace section 1 of Chapter 2017-202 (Chapter 2022-234, page 2).

Section 418.304 lets the Barefoot Bay Recreation District charter grant powers to contract, maintain streets, lights and recreation facilities, levy a recreation district tax, issue bonds, charge user fees and enforce facility rules (Section 418.304).

For Barefoot Bay, the recreation district tax is a special assessment, not an ad valorem tax, assessed equally against all improved residential parcels, which the statute defines as a platted lot on which a mobile home may be erected. Facilities paid for by that tax and by fees may be opened to residents and nonresident owners within the district, their family members and guests. The statute also lets the trustees employ all personnel deemed necessary, including private security guards.

In practice the Barefoot Bay Recreation District levies its assessment per lot: the FY27 Adopted Budget is based on an assessment rate of $1,028.18 per year per lot (BBRD FY27 Adopted Budget, page 3). The district also owns a centrally located 17,655 square foot, 3 building neighborhood shopping center of 12 units that it uses to subsidize and supplement amenities (FY27 budget, page 60). Its storage operation covers 25 kayak spaces at the Barefoot Bay pier, 97 spaces in the west lot and 274 spaces in the Micco lot (FY27 budget, page 57).

Borrowing is allowed but unused today. The FY 2025 audit management letter reports the total amount of outstanding bonds issued by the Barefoot Bay Recreation District as $0 (BBRD FY 2025 audit, page 35).

An elected Board of Trustees governs the Barefoot Bay Recreation District, and the FY27 budget lists five trustees led by Elaine Van Berschot as Chairwoman (BBRD FY27 Adopted Budget, page 2).

The same page lists Joseph Klosky as 1st Vice Chairman, Bruce Amoss as 2nd Vice Chairman, Jeff Grunow as Treasurer and Ed Haslam as Secretary of the Barefoot Bay board. That officer slate follows Section 418.302, which has the board elect from its number a chair, two vice chairs, a secretary and a treasurer after each election. The statute's default is a nine-member board, but the Barefoot Bay budget and the FY 2025 audit each list five trustees.

Section 418.302 also says trustees may not receive any compensation for their services, though they may be reimbursed for authorized district expenses (Section 418.302). A Barefoot Bay trustee authorized to sign checks must post a $10,000 surety bond, and the board must conduct its business as a public body subject to Florida's open government, financial disclosure, conflict of interest and ethics laws. When a seat falls vacant, the remaining trustees appoint a qualified elector of the district for the unexpired term.

Candidates for a Barefoot Bay trustee seat file with the Supervisor of Elections for Brevard County, and the district's voting location is Building A, 625 Barefoot Blvd (BBRD Election Information).

A district manager confirmed by the Barefoot Bay Recreation District Board of Trustees runs daily operations under a contract between the district and Special District Services, Inc. (BBRD FY27 Adopted Budget, page 5).

The FY27 budget calls the district manager the chief appointed official of the Barefoot Bay Recreation District. Administration has three sub-departments: District Clerk, Finance and Human Resources. The District Clerk is the official records custodian, prepares agendas and minutes for board meetings and workshops, and handles records under Florida State Statute, Chapter 119. Finance bills the RV storage lots and shopping center leases and works with independent auditors on the annual audit.

Beyond administration, the Barefoot Bay district lists resident relations, property services and the food and beverage department among its staff (About Barefoot Bay). The FY 2025 audit counted 114 district employees in the last pay period and 34 independent contractors paid in the last month of the year, with $3,363,869 in employee compensation and $1,419,492 for contractors (FY 2025 audit, page 35).

The Barefoot Bay Recreation District Board of Trustees holds its regular meetings in Barefoot Bay on the second Thursday and the fourth Tuesday of each month (BBRD Board of Trustee Rules, page 3).

The district calendar for October 2026 shows a Board of Trustees Regular Meeting on Tuesday, October 27 and a BOT Townhall Meeting on Thursday, October 29 (BBRD home page). Under the trustee rules a majority of the entire board is a quorum, and a trustee may attend remotely only when that is the sole way to reach a quorum.

Residents who want to speak at a Barefoot Bay board meeting fill out a card naming the agenda item before the meeting, then get up to three (3) minutes per item, more at the chair's discretion (Board of Trustee Rules, page 4). Speakers state their name and place of residence, nobody has to register to attend, and attendees may record the meeting. The board follows the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order. No approval of the annual budget may be granted at an emergency meeting, and minutes are open for public inspection (Board of Trustee Rules, page 5).

Public records requests for the Barefoot Bay Recreation District all go through the Office of the District Clerk: in person at the Administrative Building, 625 Barefoot Blvd., by phone at 772-664-3141 x210, or by email to Records@bbrd.org (BBRD District Clerk). The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM. Last verified: October 13, 2026, on the Barefoot Bay Recreation District website.