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10/08/2003 (2) ,. , , , '.' '. . MAB ",' ,'Marine'Advisory Board , '" , MINUTES . . I . . . < " . . Date ......'.lo/08LQ~ . , , ' , .. . , . ' .,.. , " , , . . " " ' , ' , ' , , , , '. . . , ' , . . . .' . l ~.' . , . :,1 '>... . . ' < I' . '. . . , , . , . , . . .: t.. .' '. . j , . . I' . , , . . .. I, . , " , . 1, .' .., , . ' , . , . , . .. . , , . I ' ' I . .' . , ' , , , o ' I \,. r , , , . ' b':". ' . , . ' , , ~ . . ".' I'.' I. .. . .. t . , . . I " . ' , '. '~ . . . .', " '. .'. + I ',' , ' , '. " .+ . . . \ . .. .' .' ~ , ,j , , , I ,I. .' fl , , , . , , "', '. ' " , ' , , . ,. . , , ' , ' ~ ",' , .' , , , " . , ' , ' . ' ~ , . : ,> I , , + l. . f , " :',' . ... .' I _, ' . .... I . ' " . . >. ~ . . .< ,.' . I . ". " . " . . "", I> . . < . , , . l.. , , , , ' , o 'I' '. . ; I' , . , " . . ~ . l' I. . , I 4 '~ . .' '.',. I .. . ... ' . . ~ I. ~. l . . _ 'I"" +, . I- " . . .. . . .: . - . MARINE ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER October 8t 2003 Present: Tom Horne Hank Epstein Nick Matsis Dick Safirstein Paul J. Kelley Edward O'Brien Chair Board Member Board Member - arrived 8:10 a.m. Board Member Board Member Board Member Absent: Denis Sparks Board Member Also Present: Bill Morris Patricia O. Sullivan Marine & Aviation Department Director Board Reporter . The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at the Mar,ina. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. . 2 - Approval of Minutes Member Epstein moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of September 10, 2003, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 - Other Business The Chair reported he will meet wit~ Bill Shepherd, of Shepherd's Resort, to discuss long term issues before contacting the Police Department for input regarding , boats anchoring in Clearwater Pass. Slip Rental Survey . Marine & Aviation Department Director Bill Morris distributed a section of the 2002 Performance Measure Results of the Marine & Aviation Department and a Marine Slip Rent Survey., Discussion ensued with a recommendation that brokers rent slips to market boats for sale, comments the slip rent chart is misleading as it reports average , 'costs and not data on per-foot rates, per-foot rates would provide better analysis of local slip rental costs, the Clearwater Marina provides higher quality services that other marinas, and other marinas have maintained full slip rentals after rates were doubled. A per foot rate comparison was requested. Mr. Morris said transient rates atClearwater ' Marina have been increased significantly from $1.05 to $1.50 per foot per night, but agreed permanent wet storage is under priced. Staff is working to determine the right mix of permanent, transient, commercial slips at the planned Downtown marina. The MAS (Marine Advisory Board) suggested the City could apply for a grant to fund moorings along the Causeway. It was stated in other harbors, boaters adhere to an honor system to pay for docking. Adding moorings would require some dredging. Mr. Morris said in the past staff had applied for a State grant to dock boats larger than 26 Marine Advisory 2003-10-08 1 ~ " " .' . ~ I . .I; . l . '.' .' :. . .', . '. .' . '\ ' r,'. ' . ' . . ~ . . feet but were denied. He said the County has approved public docks by the Island Way Grill on Island Estates. The private development project in Mandalay Channel, . consisting of 64 14yacht basin" boat slips, awaits approval from the Army Corps of Engi'neers. Dredging is scheduled to begin in December. It was recommended staff pursue a grant to dock boats at least 26 feet long in this location. Mr. Morris said staff is stretched too thin to begin the arduous grant process at this time. He said the City's grantwriter only coaches staff how to write grants. Staff recently invested six months pursuing a grant. only to be turned down. It was recommended the City hire another grantwriter. Mr. Morris said costs for the Marina Enterprise Fund have increased, with annual "rentall! fees paid back to the City at the Marina now at approximately 5250,000. He anticipated redevelopment of the Marina property will not occur before 2011. Current needs include replacing the fuel system and dredging. He was unable to purchase dredging equipment as planned, which would have saved significant money over an upcoming contracted dredging operation. Jazz on the Bav - Raft Up or Anchor Down David Hemerick requested the marine community support the new Downtown marina by attending "Jazz on the Bay - Raft Up or Anchor Down," on October 18. 2003. at 6:00 p.m. A surrog~te captain is needed for the event. Clearwater Pass 20-foot Exclusion Zone . Mr. Morris said he has been tasked with developing a 20-foot exclusion zone along Clearwater Pass at the request of a City Commissioner. He said the zone would be difficult to enforce as several property owners have opted out of it. Discussion ensued regarding the proposal with comments that necessary research would be a waste of staff time, the Commissioner is not a boater, and the Commissioner first should have requested board input regarding the practicality of the recommendation. ' Member O'Brien moved that the Marine Advisory Board does not support: instituting a 20-foot exclusion zone along Clearwater Pass, as the proposal is unrealistic and should not be considered. The motion was duly seconded. Discussion ensued regarding motion language. Concern was expressed any exclusion zone would need to consider depth charts and would push boaters into strong currents. It was stated the idea is ridiculous. Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously. SailinQ Center Mr. Morris reported the Sailing Center is experiencing some growing pains, as some of its directors do not have experience managing a non-profit agency. While center membership has increased, the Sailing Center must meet all sailing needs. . Center management needs to be educated regarding the importance of the disabled sailor program. ' . Marine Advisory 2003-10-08 , 2 ," . ...:, . . . > ~" . . . ~ '. ' .: . . .: , .. I " l " > ~ I I' . " . , ',". ' . Drew Street Dock Mr. Morris said the contract for the Drew Street Dock expires in August 2004. The City is obligated to replace a nearby fishing pier. He supports rebuilding the dock in the style of the new marina as a fishing pier and adding a floating wave attenuator at its end. While construction funds are available, the Engineering Department first needs to develop site plans. . Consensus was to support expansion of the Drew Street Dock as a fishing pier to replace those lost to construction of the new Memorial Causeway Bridge and a wave attenuator should be added to the end of the Drew Street Dock. Downtown Marina In response to a question. Mr. Morris anticipated slip rental rates at the proposed Downtown marina will be on the high end. It was felt Downtown is a less desirable location for boat slips than the beach marina. Mr. Morris said marina rat.es are increased automatically by 50/0 every other year. It was suggested rates could be raised significantly, considering the length of the waiting list. Mr. Morris said staff does not want to drive Clearwater residents from the marina. The Downtown marina will complement Downtown redevelopment efforts. It was indicated other cities have had great success with developing marinas on Downtown waterfronts. . Mr. Morris said he had recommended space be set aside for commercial vessels to pick up passengers Downtown. The marina also will feature temporary slips. While' , Economic Development has envisioned a pretty marina, boat storage does not make money as compared to an active marina It is anticipated the project will take four years to complete. In addition to a required feasibility study and permitting process, the project must be approved by public referendum. Concern was expressed project consultants have no marine background. No decision has been made regarding the east end of the Causeway I under the bridge, which could become an attractive nuisance. Mr. Morris reviewed security problems related to the fishing pier area beneath the Clearwater Pass Bridge. Trash there ha~ been reduced by 750/0 since security gates were installed. 4 - Aoenda for next meetino on November 12. 2003 It was requested the Chair schedule City Commission representation at the meeting. 5 - Adiournment The meeting adjourned at 9:16 a.m. f . .. <:j L~f\ A~/Y~ Chair ' J Marine Advisory Board . Attest \ ,j~.{.'rl[irt / ) [,0 ~)(/ ~ , Board Reporter Marine Advisory 2003~1 0~08 3 'tot . , , I I I . " I ~. ~ . . , j, . . . ',', . . ., '.. / . ,. , .' '. .' ( '\ / , ,:..! '" .MAB.. . Marine Advisory Board MINUTES, . , " ~ " ' . : I , . ., " . ,'1 . . ,Date " ; , " .. 'I , , " I . ~ : , " , ' , I .' . I. ~ t.. " '" " I I " , , , , " , . j . +' I I " ". \' , , , , '. I' "' '1- . . "." ) , , " , ( < t . , , . . , . '. I , ' ' " , " c . ~.l " . . , , .' ;1 " ' , '. . , , ' , , , , 1 ' " , , , ' . , ~. . :' I ,,',.. I 1 '., I l ' . I '~ .. I,' . "', '.,1' ,,'/,,'. , . ~ . ' ~ I I , I ,~ .' .:. ',' ,",' '..' . MARINE ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER November 12, 20~3 Present: Tom Horne Hank Epstein Nick Matsis Dick Safirstein Denis Sparks Edward O'Brien Absent: Paul J. Kelley Also Present: Bev Buysse Bryan Ruff Brenda Moses Chair Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member Marine & Aviation Assistant Director Assistant City .f\ttorney Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at the Marina. \ To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2. Minutes approval from October 8.2003 Member Matsis moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 8, 2003" as recorded and submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. . 3. Other Business , It was remarked that it appeared the activity on the water in front of Shepard1s Beach Resort had improved during the most recent holiday. Shephard's maintains an off-duty police presence on their site to try to control undesirable behavior. It was remarked that the cost of a marine unit boat to patrol the area has not been determined. It was requested the Police Department provide more information regarding operating costs. Chair Horne said he spoke to the Sheriffs Office about the need for additional enforcement on weekends in the Clearwater Harbor. ' It was remarked the MA8 (Marine Advisory Board) has stated that a marine patrol is necessary in the area of Shephard's on weekends beginning in late April and continuing through Labor Day. The MAB also had suggested that Shephard's consider c'ontributing towards the cost of a marine patrol vessel to police the area. It was suggested that Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel also should be the vessel. It was requested that staff research how New Smyrna Beach, Florida handles their marine patrol and how Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel are funded when used. Member Sparks said he would inquire if the local Coast Guard Auxiliary would be interested in partnering,with the City in some capacityregarding a patrol, however, he felt discussing the matter with the officer in charge at Sand Key would be best.. It was suggested the Marine & Aviation Assistant Director also discuss this issue with the Coast Guard Auxiliary regarding their interest. It was remarked that any violations of marine activity regarding jet skis, improper operationl etc. in other areas is a continual problem on the ''! '. " Marine Advisory 2003-11,-12 1 11/12/03 " ~.' , ", " ','. ,', ~', ~ I. ' . I;' ~ .' . " .!' , .'. " , I . ,..' J..",' .1 ~ ~ . . ' , . gulf and bay waterways and also requires enforcement measures. It was suggested that a request be made to the Police Department for policing of the waterways, using the Coast Guard Auxiliary and a uniformed police officer on weekends when the Sailing Center holds regattas. It was remarked that although Coast Guard Auxiliary boats have no sirens on board, they do have bullhorns. It was suggested the City would need to establish a Marine Enforcement Division to ensure an enforcement presence on the waterways. p:- comment was made that the Coast Guard does not have the manpower to patrol all the waterways. ' Dredging will begin on the private development in Mandalay Channel, consisting of 64 "yacht basin" boat slips in December with construction beginning in late December. The downtown marina hopefully will happen soon. There are a number of boat storage facilities that will be converted into condominiums with boat slips around Frenchy's Restaurant. As the area develops. there will be a need for more marine policing and enforcement. In response to a question, Marine & Aviation Assistant Director Bev Buysse said there has been no information regarding rules and regulations for Homeland Security arid how it would affect the City. She said larger commercial ports are being consid~red at this time. Discussion ensued regarding the possibility of placing a light on the end of the jetty in the channel in Clearwater Pass to assist boaters or those unfamiliar with the area who cannot see the no-wake zone signs at night. It was remarked that it is difficult to remain in the channel at night. . . In response to a question; Ms. Buysse said there have been no updates to the downtown marina plan. ' City Commissioner Bill Jonson responded to questions from board members. He said the Charter Review Committee has recommended a change to the Commission, who in turn has directed the: City ,Attorney to draft language to appear on the March 9, 2004. ballot regarding a downtown marina. There is an ongoing permitting process, a tentative design, and public hearings have been held regarding the new mC":lrina. In response to questions from board members, City Commissioner Frank Hibbard said the final design for a downtown marina is being refined. Issues such as wave attenuation, commercial uses, etc. are being considered. If approved by voters in March, the downtown marina plan also would require the usual approvals by the State and other appropriate agencies. At this point in time, it appears the permitting process would take approximately two years. Board members expressed their excitement about the possibility of a new downt~wn marina and offered to assist the City in the process in any way po~sible. Commissioner Jonson said he attended teday's meeting as an observer. He thanked the board for their dedication and service. -, Board members thanked Commissioners Hibbard and Jonson for their attendance. Marine Advisory 2003-11-12 2 11/1'2/03 I. ,', " ,', ' . . ......... " I . .' .' I.. '\', I .'. . . Commission'er Hibbard said the issue surrounding Shephard's Resort is ongoing. He said he appreciates the MAB1s input regarding such matters. 4. AQenda for next meetinQ on December 10. 2003 'This item was not discussed. 5. 'Adiournment The meeting adjourned at 8:41 a.m. . Chair . Marine Advisory Board . , " I _ . . ',' " , " "I. 'O' j , , ,0'. . ,', , ) '. ,(.I Marine Ad~isory 2003-11-12' " 3 11/12103 '