01/12/2005
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Present:
Paul J. Kelley
David Hemerick
Edward O'Brien
Nick Matsis
Dick Safirstein
Frank Dame
Absent:
Hank Epstein
Also Present: Bill Morris
Catherine Yellin
Brenda Moses
MARINE ADVISORY BOARD
CITY OF CLEARWATER
January 12, 2005
Chair
Board Member
Board Member - arrived 8:05 a.m.
Board Member-departed 8:18 a.m.
Board Member
Board Member
Vice-Chair
Marine & Aviation Department Director
Senior Staff Assistant
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 - December 8. 2004
Member Dame moved to approve the minutes of the December 8, 2004, meeting, as
. corrected. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3 - Other Business
Clearwater Beach Resort/Hunter Hotel Company - Docks at Rec. Center
Marine & Aviation Director Bill Morris said the City and the Hunter Hotel Company
negotiated an agreement to allow the City use of 19 of 57 slips at the Clearwater Beach .Resort
site at no cost to the City. Currently, the City only has one slip in that location. No water,
power, or sewer service will be available at the public docks, as they will be day-use slips only.
Dock slips at the Island Way Grill also will be available on a first-come, first-served, basis for
day-use, at no cost to the City. It was suggested the MAB (Marine Advisory Board) address the
loss of boat slips throughout the City due to the conversion of marinas to condominiums. There
is an increasing problem finding dock space for larger boats.
In response to a concern that the MAB was unaware of the dock proposal, Mr. Morris
said at a meeting nine months ago regarding possible dock locations, he had discussed his
vision. He only recently was informed of this agreement. Concern was expressed that the
developer shall have exclusive use of 67% of the boat slips for the life of the facility. It was
recommended that the document include a 1 O-year reverter clause.
Mr. Morris said the proposal is a draft. The boat slips cannot be sold. Condominium
residents would be offered an agreement for their use. As amenities, the developer plans
mixed-use retail and residential components, a hotel guest component, and transient,
residential, and City boat slips.
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Discussion ensued with a request for Mr. Morris to submit an overview of City-owned
property in the yacht basin, concerns that marine-related projects are negotiated without MAB
input, which undermines the role of the MAB and Harbormaster, the development agreement
should have been a 50:50 deal, a recommendation that the City begin to proactively involve the
MAB in marine-related issues prior to final decisions, and a comment that the draft document
contains no costs or amortization schedule related to improvements. Mr. Morris said public use
docks behind the Island Way Grill will revert back to the City.
Member Hemerick moved to recommend to the City Council that language should be
changed to the developer agreement between the City and Hunter Hotel Company, requiring
that use of the new Yacht Basin boat slips be renegotiated every 10 years. The motion was
duly seconded and carried unanimously.
The Chair will meet with the Mayor regarding these types of projects and the MAB's role.
Discussion ensued with comments that this is a good time to promote the Downtown marina
and MAB members can speak individually to City Councilmembers regarding concerns.
Other
Mr. Morris reported the Sand Key Civic Association wants to mark the Sand Key public
beach with buoys. He has approached the County regarding a uniform marking system along
the coastline. Tomorrow, he will attend the first County discussion group regarding boat ramps
and all public recreation issues within Pinellas County.
Mr. Morris said the City applied for a $60,000 grant for a feasibility study for the marina.
Staff will obtain MAB input regarding future plans to reconfigure the marina with floating docks
and upscale improvements.
Mr. Morris estimated paving the old footprint of the Memorial Causeway bridge for a
promenade will cost almost $800,000. The promenade's conceptual design is complete but no
funds are available to proceed. The fishing piers will be shifted to the Drew Street dock until the
promenade project can be funded. Discussion ensued with comments that the northwest side
of the Memorial Causeway bridge is the best long-term location for fishing piers and the Drew
Street dock is more suited for urban, rather than commercial use.
Mr. Morris said transfer fee language related to marina boat business has been delayed
until after the marina feasibility study and the Marina Business plan are completed. Staff will
meet with commercial tenants. prior to resubmitting the issue to City Council.
Mr. Morris provided MAS members with a development schedule for Beach Walk.
Mr. Morris said one Island Estates resident submitted photographs of dilapidated docks
and felt the Harbormaster's only role is to patrol waterways and write citations.
In response to a question, Mr. Morris said the City Council will consider extending the
minimum wake zone in Mandalay channel on January 20, 2005.
One resident requested MAB members disclose their opinions regarding mandatory
marine evacuation during hurricane conditions.
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It was remarked on January 24, 2005, the FWC (Fish and Wildlife Commission) will
conduct a workshop regarding new boating safety laws.
Member Safirstein announced his resignation is effective today, as he is moving from the
City.
It was reported that no passengers were aboard a Port Richey gambling boat during a
recent accident and no injuries occurred, however, the Coast Guard is concerned about the
incident as the crew did everything wrong during the emergency. The Coast Guard will conduct
a workshop regarding reinforcement of marine regulations.
In response to a concern regarding recent homeless problems, including a break-in at
the marina, Mr. Morris said the Clearwater Police Department was notified.
4 - AQenda for next meetinQ on Februarv 9. 2005
5 - Adiournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:07 a.m.
ISOry Board
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