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09/14/2005 . MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF CLEARWATER September 14, 2005 Present: Paul J. Kelley Hank Epstein David Hemerick Edward O'Brien Frank Dame Nick Matsis Mark Smith Chair - arrived 8:17 a.m. Vice-Chair Board Member Board Member Board Member Board Member - departed 9:24 a.m. Board Member Also Present: Bill Morris Gordon Wills Bev Buysse Catherine Yellin Brenda Moses Marine & Aviation Director Airport Operations Manager Marine & Aviation Assistant Director Senior Staff Assistant Board Reporter The Vice-Chair called the meeting to order at 8:02 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 - Auaust 10. 2005 . Member Dame moved to approve the minutes of the August 10, 2005, meeting as submitted in written summation to each Board Member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. . 3 - Wade Trim Guest Speaker on Marina Expansion Feasibility Study David Gildersleeve, Project Manager for Wade Trim, and Tom Cuba of Delta Seven Environmental Company provided preliminary information on the Marina Expansion Feasibility Study. The final report will be presented to the City Council in November. A FWC (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) grant is funding the study. He requested MAB (Marine Advisory Board) input. Mr. Cuba said the study considered ideal locations for commercial and private tenants and the maximum number of slips that could be realized. He suggested the Show Queen and Sea Screamer be moved to provide private tenants a wider access for boats. Study proposals include relocating the fuel dock, increasing the number of private slips, reconfiguring the parking area, adding a deck to provide elevated views of the Marina, adding 40-foot transient slips for long-term lease or coastal cruisers, alternatives for ticket portals, and a Marina guide and kiosk. Discussion ensued with comments that 40 separate businesses cannot share a location, high volume commercial businesses cannot locate next to pleasure boats as they generate significant trash, traffic, deliveries, noise, etc., businesses should continue selling tickets at their boats rather than using a ticket portal, and the proposed location for the fuel dock is problematic due to strong currents. It was recommended that the City reconsider 30-day Marine Advisory 2005-09-14 1 . . . docking permits, as the City could cancel dock permits too easily and harm long-term businesses. It was commented that the State has too few pleasure craft areas. Concern was expressed that while the commercial fleet has been a predominant force at the Marina, the City may determine at some point that commercial businesses at the Marina are unwelcome. In response to a question, Mr. Cuba said none of the proposals displaces commercial businesses from the Marina. He said commercial mooring fields cover more water surface than marinas and require shuttle services. It was reported that the USACOE (United States Army Corps of Engineers) is considering an underwater cable that could be raised for boats to tie to during hurricanes. In response to a remark that none of the proposals is creative, Mr. Gildersleeve said Wade Trim was instructed to retain the Marina's current size. He reported ideally, the Marina could be expanded by 65 boat slips. Discussion ensued with comments that MAB members are experienced boaters and are familiar with the Marina, and that relocating commercial tenants would deter foot traffic, inhibit visibility, and hurt business. Opposition was expressed to relocating commercial tenants and the fuel dock. In response to a question, Mr. Cuba said the study proposes a separation of approximately 57 feet between 35-foot private boat slips, which would be a boat and one-half length long. Concern was expressed that inexperienced boaters would have problems maneuvering boats in that tight of a space. Recommendations were made that boat slips should be at least two boat lengths long and that the study should consider strong north-south currents at the east end of the Marina, which make the maneuverability of larger boats difficult. Concern was expressed that fuel spills already are a problem. Marine & Aviation Director Bill Morris reported the Downtown Plan includes floating cement docks with built-in wave attenuators. Installing wave attenuators at the Marina would probably require regular dredging. Most commercial docks are fixed but floating docks could be used for some recreational dockings. Mr. Cuba suggested the permitting of deflectors close to the Marina's north side would be a problem. Discussion ensued regarding alternative marina configurations. Mr. Cuba said adding space between private use docks would result in fewer slips. It was recommended that the docks be rebuilt to the best possible configuration. Mr. Cuba said the Marina's "dead end" may change if commercial boats are relocated. It was stated that tenants on the Marina's west side would have problems with relocating to the east side. It was stated that vessels, 70 feet or longer, use several boat slips, thus reducing the number of proposed slips. In response to a question, Mr. Cuba said the study uses 150 feet as the channel's minimum controlling width, which is consistent with ICW (Intracoastal Waterway). 4- Old Business Waterway Management Plan Airport Operations Manager Gordie Wills facilitated discussion regarding the Waterway Management Plan. The goal is to prepare a final document for submission to the City Council. Mr. Morris said the formal waterway management plan needs to include wake zones, a Downtown marina, the future relationship of Coachman Park with the waterfront, etc. The City Council is not required to adopt the plan developed by the MAS. Marine Advisory 2005-09-14 2 . . . Discussion ensued with a recommendation that a comprehensive brochure with graphics be developed to include boater advisory information, contact names and phone numbers, navigable waterway charts, City wake, boat speed, and traffic pattern rules, and information regarding s~fe bo~ting practices and regulations. The brochures should be distributed at the Marina, Coast Guard Auxiliary, local marinas, at the Power Squadron, and boating classes, jet ski and boat dealers, boat rental firms, the Sailing Center, local restaurants and shops, and via City utility and Marina tenant bill mailings and County boat registration mailings. Boating information also could be broadcast on C-View, the County channel, Radio 940 AM, and included in local public publications. Posters and signage were recommended for the Marina fuel dock and boat launch locations. It was recommended that two brochures be published: 1) one to address traffic patterns and 2) one to address markings, wake and speed zones, heights, vessel lengths, etc. It was suggested that long brochures would discourage boaters from reading them. It was recommended that a single, concise, four-color brochure would be sufficient if it bullets each issue identified. It was recommended that information on the Recreation Zone should be added to the Marina's current brochure. Mr. Wills requested that MAB members mark up the current brochure with recommendations. The waterway management plan will apply only to Clearwater waterways. Other It was recommended that the Council approve hiring the contractor, who currently works on a barge near the Memorial Causeway Bridge, to remove the old Seminole Street bridge turnstile, which is a navigatinn::ll hazard, impossible to see at high tide, and has caused serious injuries. Mr. Morris reported that action cannot be added to the current contract. Member Dame moved to recommend to the City Council that the navigational hazard to the north of Red Marker R2, at the entranceway to Island Estates channel, be removed. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. 5 - New Business It was suggested that the MAB recommend re-institution of a requirement to instruct Marina tenants to have an ingress/egress passage for personal water craft along the Causeway to mitigate its overuse. Concern was expressed that personal water craft are operated within 20 feet of Devon Drive residences. Discussion ensued regarding common violations to personal water craft regulations. It was requested the Harbormaster instruct Marina tenants regarding regulations. It was recommended that leases of tenants who violate regulations should be terminated. It was commented that the MAB should re-address wake zones and the recreation zone when working on the Waterway Management Plan. Red Tide Issues Discussion ensued regarding problems related to Red Tide. Mr. Morris said the City would need to contract removal of dead aquatic life after it washes up onshore. Bids have been high. As Clearwater is a tourist destination zone, it was stated that dead fish need to be :-emoved promptly. Marine Advisory 2005-09-14 3 . . . Wake Zone extension request between Bayside and Brightwater It was reported that discussion at the last County Boater Access Task Force meeting considered boating etiquette, with concerns expressed regarding ramp rage occurrences. The FWC's brochure, "Boat Ramp Etiquette," is part of the Boat Smart Course and is being distributed to alleviate this problem. Another discussion item considers how to encourage municipalities to expand their marinas. The County is interested in buying waterfront property. The City of Dunedin opposes increased traffic that would result from a ramp at Honeymoon Island. The Seminole Launch Ramp site is being analyzed for a nearby high and dry facility. Once the City determines how to manage the uplands, access to the Seminole Launch Ramp will be controlled. Skim Board Area Marine & Aviation Assistant Director Bev Buyssee said Clearwater lifeguards reported that skim boards pose safety hazards to swimmers and have recommended the designation of a specific skim board area. Lifeguards are frustrated by their inability to stop skim boarding activity. Mr. Morris reported Sand Key Park has a marked skim board area. Member Dame moved to recommend to the City Council that a designated skim board area be designated at Clearwater beach. The motion was duly seconded. Members Hemerick, O'Brien, Dame, and Smith and Chair Kelley voted "Aye"; Member Epstein voted "Nay." Motion carried. 6 - Aqenda for next meetinq on October 12. 2005 Mr. Wills will prioritize Waterway Management Plan items. MAB members will submit marked navigation charts regarding areas that should be included in an informational brochure. 7 - Adiournment The meeting adjourned at g:~. . ... Chair Marine Advisory Board Marine Advisory 2005-09..14 4