Loading...
01/14/2009 MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER January 14, 2009 Present: Tim Trager Chair F. David Hemerick Board Member Tom Calhoun Board Member Donald O. McFarland Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Vacant Seat Board Member Absent: Edward O’Brien, Jr. Board Member Also Present: Camilo Soto Assistant City Attorney Bill Morris Marine & Aviation Department Director Patricia O. Sullivan Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 2 – Minutes Approval – December 10, 2008 Member Calhoun moved to approve the minutes of the Marine Advisory Board meeting of December 10, 2008, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 3 – New Business Downtown boat slips Marine & Aviation Department Director Bill Morris reported the permit process for the downtown boat slips is behind schedule. Construction should be completed by year’s end. More than 700 names are on the waitlist; only two people have submitted deposits. Staff will evaluate if a lottery is warranted. Staff does inform callers that slips are available at the Marina. Another Marina tenant vacated (Gazette) Mr. Morris reported the Clearwater Gazette had relocated to Belleair. A dentist previously vacated the building. In anticipation of redeveloping the site, the City Council limited leases to three years. He anticipated difficulty in attracting short-term tenants and subsequent consequences to the Marina budget. 4 – Old Business Marine Advisory 2009-01-14 1 Motion to cancel April 8, 2009, meeting Mr. Morris reported a conflict for use of the Chambers on April 8, 2009. Member McFarland moved to cancel the April 8, 2009, MAB (Marine Advisory Board) meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Modification to Marine Business Plan Rates Mr. Morris expressed concern that a second 31.5% rate increase would result in a mass exodus of tenants. He will recommend that Council modify the Marine Business Plan to freeze dock rates at current levels for one year, and increase them by 5% during each of the following two years. The Marina has 40 vacant recreational slips. Some slips are too narrow for larger boats. The Marina has three slips between 75 and 100 feet in length. Some tenants do not want to pay for space their boats do not occupy. Assistant City Attorney Camilo Soto said rates must be equitable for smaller boats. Mr. Morris said reducing transient slip rates had increased occupancy during this popular time of year for transient use. Advertising to the transient market was expanded and the Marina now accepts reservations. Discussion ensued regarding slip rate computation methods. Concern was expressed that the occupancy rate is only 65% and cash flow must improve. Recommendations were made to charge boats, 40 feet or longer, per foot of length, with a stipulation that if a larger boat owner wants the slip, the original tenant could either pay the higher rate or vacate the space within a predetermined timeframe. Board Vacancies Consensus was for board membership to include a commercial operator, dock builder, or marina contractor. Paul Kelley could recuse himself if board business relates to one of his projects. Reconfiguring of Marina docks (update) Mr. Morris reported that some center poles had been removed to provide sufficient space for boats with wider beams. 5 - Agenda for next meeting on February 11, 2009 Staff submission of a modified rate structure proposal for larger slips. Items not on the Agenda Marine Advisory 2009-01-14 2 Proposed Dock and Lift for Fireboat Mr. Morris reviewed the City's Flexible Development request to permit the addition of a 460 square-foot commercial dock/lift in conjunction with an existing governmental use behind the Clearwater beach police substation, increasing maximum dock length from 75% of lot width to 90% of lot width, increasing maximum dock width from 75% of lot width to 83% of lot width and reducing east side setback from six feet to zero feet (to lift). The dock's flat platform will allow easier maintenance of the City's fireboat. The Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, County, and Customs use the other lifts. Discussion ensued with concern expressed that others will want similar reductions to side setbacks and a recommendation to reconfigure the dock and locate the fireboat at the western slip, where sufficient space exists. Consensus was to oppose the proposal, as the City would be setting a faulty precedent. Sand Pearl The meeting adjourned at 8:58 a.m. 6 - Adiourn Chair Marine Advisory Board Marine Advisory 2009-01-14 3