05/10/2006
MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
May 10, 2006
Present: Paul J. Kelley Chair
Hank Epstein Vice-Chair
Edward O’Brien, Jr. Board Member
F. David Hemerick Board Member
Frank L. Dame Board Member
Mark A. Smith Board Member
Charles Cashman Board Member
Also Present: Bill Morris Marine & Aviation Department Director
Bev Buysse Assistant Marine & Aviation Department Director
Patricia O. Sullivan 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 – March 8, 2006
Member Dame moved to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2006, meeting as
motion
submitted in written summation to each board member. The was duly seconded and
carried
unanimously.
3 – Old Business
Waterway Management Plan Update
Assistant Marine & Aviation Department Director Bev Buysse distributed the Waterway
Management Plan draft. The draft, which is approximately one-third complete, identifies cross
jurisdictional areas of the Pinellas County Sheriff, Coast Guard, and Florida Marine Patrol and
special use areas, no wake, no combustion, swimming, skim boards, and personal water craft
rental use areas. The current plan is limited to Clearwater Harbor, as information on Tampa
Bay and Allen’s Creek has not yet been gathered.
Ms. Buysse referenced maps of Clearwater Harbor and requested volunteer help to
coordinate and participate in a boat count in various channels. Marine & Aviation Department
Director Bill Morris said personal watercraft, which create significant traffic and aggravate
congestion, need to be counted and recommended establishing a training area. The survey is
not designed to be a statistical analysis but will count boats by general category. It was
suggested that staff obtain estimates from the Sheriff and Florida Marine Patrol to validate the
survey. Ms. Buysse said the data will be used to identify the reality of use, not to increase
regulations.
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Consensus was to schedule boat counts for Wednesday, June 28, and Saturday, July
15, 2006, with Saturday, July 22, 2006, as a rain date. Criteria for the counts will be presented
in June.
Ms. Buysse is creating an inventory of docks and their condition, and has counted more
than 800 boat slips in Mandalay Channel. Discussion ensued regarding derelict boats and
Code enforcement issues. Recreation ramps are listed as marine related facilities. Mr. Morris
said 45% of the 63 boat ramps in the County are private. The ramps are not convenient for all
boaters. It was recommended that heavy boat traffic be moved away from the Sailing Center.
Discussion ensued regarding the plan with recommendations that it be updated on a
regular schedule, that it focus on safety and the future, identifying what is desirable and
undesirable, that it include an executive summary, and that it include the City’s gulf coastline.
Ms. Buysse said all plan information and materials have not yet been collected.
4 – Old Business – None.
5 – New Business
Condominium Development
In response to concerns that a condominium development is advertising a private beach,
Mr. Morris reviewed riparian rights, which extend to the high water mark in places, and the City’s
easement, which runs along the Clearwater Pass sea wall and is under water in places.
Spoil Islands
Mr. Morris said staff will work with FDEP (Florida Department of Environmental
Protection), which is responsible for spoil islands in Clearwater Harbor. He expressed concern
that at least one was trashed recently. Volunteer efforts are necessary to keep them clean or
else the spoil islands will be off limits to boaters. Discussion ensued regarding coastal cleanup
efforts. FDEP permission is necessary to erect on the islands signage that requests cleanup.
BeachWalk Construction
Concern was expressed that the MAB had not been consulted regarding Engineering
Department plans to initiate ferry service in the summer between Downtown and the beach due
to BeachWalk construction.
Boater Access Task Force
Mr. Morris reviewed issues discussed by the Boater Access Task Force, which has
regrouped, and is looking at space near the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport and reviewing the
ramifications of changing current laws that prohibit residents from renting out their private boat
docks, as is done in south Florida.
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Downtown Docks
The City has received good feedback from residents Citywide regarding proposed
Downtown docks. An outside marine consultant firm will report to the City Council in July if the
docks will be self-funding. As scheduling a presentation to the MAB would increase study costs
significantly, it was requested that the City Council be asked if they want the MAB to review this
item first. In response to a concern, Mr. Morris reviewed the City's time line and marketing
strategy for the November referendum on the docks. It was recommended that the City contact
homeowner associations with referendum information for inclusion in association newsletters.
Mr. Morris said a PAC (Political Action Committee) would need to be formed to advocate for the
docks, as staff is not allowed to promote referendum items.
Discussion ensued regarding rates at the marina and proposed boat docks. In response
to a suggestion that the City could charge market rates for the new docks, Mr. Morris said the
marina is designed to serve City residents and charges rates below market rate. City residents
currently are charged favorable rates. A percentage of the new docks will be designated for
transient use.
Sand Pearl Dock Issue
Mr. Morris said no action is planned on the Sand Pearl dock issue until after November.
The City isrenegotiating the lease as research concluded that the City, not the State, owns the
subject bottomland. The original intent was to set aside one-third of the docks for public use
and provide dock space to the public for no cost.
. 6 - Aaenda for next meetina on June 14.2006
Boat count criteria to be presented.
It was requested that dock lengths be discussed.
Ch
Marine Advisory Board
7 - Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:35 a.m.
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