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TAMPA - Maritime companies have complained long and loudly to Tampa Port Authority officials about how the public agency does business. Now, they're asking state lawmakers to help them.
A group of 67 local maritime businesses said Tuesday it will ask the Hillsborough County legislative delegation to amend the law that spells out how the port authority operates.
Changes proposed by the Port of Tampa Maritime Industries Association include expanding the agency's five-member governing board by adding two members from the maritime business community.
The group also wants to require the port authority to perform community impact studies before approving new developments and do a better job providing the public an opportunity to comment on staff recommendations to the board.
"The port authority is supposed to be about furthering economic development of the whole port - not just the port authority," said Skip Volkle, spokesman for the association and legal counsel for petroleum shipper Maritrans. "Some of the problems we see are inhibiting growth at the port."
The port authority had no response to the proposal Tuesday, said John Thorington, director of government relations. "We just need to look at it," he said.
Maritime businesses have clashed with the agency over a variety of issues recently.
Two shipyards objected to the port authority canceling leases to make room for real estate developments along Ybor Channel. Tenants complained the agency held hearings on port fee increases just a week after announcing the proposed charges.
The most controversial idea could be changing the makeup of the port board, which includes three members named by the governor, Tampa's mayor and a Hillsborough County commissioner.
Stephen Van Dyck, chairman of Maritrans, withdrew his application for an appointment to the port board last year after the state Ethics Commission ruled his serving would be a conflict of interest.
Volkle said the law could be written to allow commissioners to recuse themselves on issues affecting their businesses. Under the proposal, the governor would select the two business members from nominations by the port industries association and the Propeller Club of Tampa, an older business group that has endorsed changing the law.
The organizations are trying to line up legislators to sponsor the proposed amendments, Volkle said. The legislative delegation meets Nov. 19.
Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or 813 226-3384.