09/14/2011
MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
September 14, 2011
Present: Tim Trager Chair
F. David Hemerick Board Member
Donald O. McFarland Board Member
Paul E. Lightfoot Board Member
David J. Napoli Board Member
Eric D. Spaulding Board Member
Absent: Tom Calhoun Board Member
Also Present: Camilo Soto Assistant City Attorney
William 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
– June 8, 2011
Member Napoli moved to approve the minutes of the Marine Advisory Board meeting of
June 8, 2011, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly
seconded and carried unanimously.
3 – Old Business
3.1. Clearwater Harbor Marina Wake Zones
Marine & Aviation Department Director Bill Morris said he has aerials of the Intracoastal
Waterway showing huge wakes by the Clearwater Harbor Marina. Separate nearby sections of
the Intracoastal are under jurisdiction of the City, Army Corps of Engineers, and FWC (Fish &
Wildlife Conservation Commission). He reviewed the process to modify the wake zones. The
City can maintain in its current location the buoy warning of the upcoming wake zone. The
FWC did not extend the wake zone shoreline to shoreline across the Intracoastal as it should
have when the new bridge was constructed.
Discussion ensued with concern expressed that law enforcement is necessary to slow
speeding boats sufficiently.
Member Hemerick moved that the Marine Advisory Board recommends that the City
establish an idle speed zone in the Clearwater Harbor Marina. The motion was duly seconded.
Mr. Morris said the change would discourage speed boats from spinning in the marina.
Upon the vote being taken, the motion carried unanimously.
Marine Advisory 2011-09-14 1
Concern was expressed that expanding the wake zones will not stop large wakes. It
was felt this is an enforcement problem and ticket revenue would cover enforcement costs.
3.2. Little Pass Dredge
Mr. Morris said Army Corps of Engineer maps continue to refer to Clearwater Pass as
Little Pass. A new barge will be used for the three week dredge project, beginning next month.
Following completion of the project, the City will host a ceremony to christen the new barge. It
was recommended that the ceremony be held downtown.
4— New Business
In response to a question, Mr. Morris said he had not seen the accident report for the
recent fatal accident in the waters off Sunset Point Road.
Mr. Morris said the Post Office indicated it will close its branch at the beach marina after
the holidays, freeing up 30 parking spaces. Negotiations continue regarding an upstairs
restaurant.
Almost 60% of the Clearwater Harbor Marina slips are rented. The marina has no
delinquencies and is $19,000 in the black. Beach marina residential slip rentals fluctuate
between 62% and 64%. Six slips were reconfigured last year to accommodate larger, wider
boats, reducing the number of slips to 203. The waitlist for the 47 commercial spaces has 11
names. In response to a suggestion that residential slips be reconfigured for commercial use,
Mr. Morris said with liability issues related to foot traffic, he recommended that commercial uses
be limited to the seawall.
As a poker run is not planned for this year's boat races, less activity in the basin is
anticipated. The boat races have requested approximately 12 slips. Reservations are no longer
available for Jazz Holiday. The first come first serve model works well. Reservations are not
accepted until 60 days out.
5 -Agenda for next meeting on December 14, 2011 _
Review of fatality report for acciden ff Sunset Point Road.
6—Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 a.m.
Attest: Chair
Marine Advisory Board
oard Reporter /
Marine Advisory 2011-09-14 2