09/14/2016 MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
CITY OF CLEARWATER
September 14, 2016
Present: Vice Chair Paul E. Lightfoot, Board Member Edward T. O'Brien Jr., Board Member
Nino Accetta, Board Member Michael Grohman, Board Member Ken Marlow, Board Member
Empty Seat
Absent: Board Member Tish Wold
Also Present: Camilo Soto—Assistant City Attorney, William Morris — Marine &Aviation
Department Director, Nicole Sprague —ORLS Coordinator
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall. Member Marlow was welcomed
to the board.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
3 —Approval of Minutes
3.1. Approve the minutes of the June 8, 2016 Marine Advisory Board meeting as submitted in
written summation.
Member O'Brien moved to approve the minutes of the February 18, 2016 Marine Advisory
Board meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried
unanimously.
4—Citizens to be Heard re Items Not on the Agenda: None
5—Old Business
5.1 Clearwater Point Discussion
Marine & Aviation Department Director Bill Morris said previous projects with the Army Corps of
Engineers to dredge Clearwater Pass, the channel, and short cut channel cost between
$550,000 and $750,000. The current project using a private contractor to dredge Clearwater
Point only will cost slightly more than $400,000 and was scheduled to being by early October.
Staging locations for materials such as vessels, pipe, sand, and rock for jetty s/"groins" had not
been determined. The dredge company will own the spoils and must adhere to environmental
disposal requirements, even if they sell the spoils.
The Clearwater Beach Marina was not scheduled for dredging. When it does require dredging, a
maintenance permit would take approximately 6 months to obtain and the dredge company
could sell the beach quality spoils locally. Following completion of the Clearwater Point dredging
project, the City planned to issue a RFP (Request for Proposals) to biannually dredge shallow
areas in the subject channels. Larger project permitting and planning with the Army Corps of
Engineers would take several years, as those projects would have to be incorporated into the
Army Corps' schedule.
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5.2 North Marina Master Plan
Mr. Morris distributed the North Marina Master Plan, which was available online, and
encouraged members to become familiar with it and to contact the Marina office for the public
hearings' schedule. The City contracted with AECOM to develop plans for the north basin and
downtown. This plan represented AECOM's first pass at improving the appearance, traffic flow,
and parking at Seminole Boat Ramp. Staff's preferred traffic pattern would allow people to drive
to the launch and then through the parking lot without making a u-turn. Staff also recommended
removing 2 grass islands that impeded traffic lanes. Overflow parking would have marked
spaces. The Ft. Harrison Avenue traffic signal would remain.
6 — New Business
6.1 Election of Chair
Mr. Morris reported Member Bongo had resigned as did Chair Kelly. A new Chair was needed.
Member O'Brien moved to appoint Paul Lightfoot as Chair. The motion was duly seconded and
carried unanimously.
Member Grohman moved to appoint Ted O'Brien as Vice Chair. The motion was duly seconded
and carried unanimously.
6.2 Fuel Dispensers at the Clearwater Beach Marina
Mr. Morris distributed photographs of new stainless steel fuel dispensers being installed at the
beach marina.
6.3 Possible Consultant for Clearwater Beach Marina Update
Mr. Morris said in 2006, beach marina upgrades were estimated to cost $8.6 million. Wade Trim
provided several variations; submerged land and water lines limited the marina's footprint.
Mr. Morris said the City intended to hire a consultant to provide a cost estimate to rebuild the
marina with floating docks; the State's ban on floating fuel docks will complicate the plans. The
MAB (Marine Advisory Board) will have an opportunity to provide input to the consultant.
Planning and permitting will take the project out 5 to 6 years to completion. As proposed, Penny
for Pinellas 4 funds will finance the project. $15 million was requested internally within the City's
project list.
In response to a concern that marina charges were too low, Mr. Morris said a market study was
done in June. The most expensive dock at John's Pass was $10,000/month compared to
$2,000/month at the beach marina. The City Council might approve an increase based on
location and real estate values. Assistant City Attorney Camilo Soto said City Council evaluation
of the market study may be tabled. The Beach Marina had not attained 100% occupancy since
rates were raised in 2010 and 2011; older fixed-wooden docks were less in demand. Pent up
demand existed for floating docks similar to those at the Harbor Marina, which had 98% to
100% occupancy and over capacity demand during downtown events.
Mr. Morris said the beach marina historically reserved 10% of its docks for transient use,
typically near the fuel docks. Public docks by the Island Way Grill and Clearwater Beach
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Recreation Center were popular with boaters going out for dinner. A project to add floating
docks for transients at the beach marina, accessible by ramp from a fixed dock, would provide a
short-term fix and could be completed in 6 months once funds were available.
6.4 Hurricane Hermine Damage Update
Mr. Morris distributed photographs of the Harbor Marina; the south basin sustained damages.
The steady pounding of waves on the south basin wave attenuator took a toll and supports for
support piling guide rollers in multiple piling collars gouged into the concrete. Had the reinforced
collars not been installed last year (under warranty) and 2 helix anchors added to the
southernmost wave attenuator, the wave attenuator most likely would have broken loose. While
Intracoastal waves broke over and through the "Starboard" (brand name) materials where the
docks attach to each other at 90-degree angles, the inside of the basin remained "mill pond"
smooth. The docks were designed to survive category 3 hurricanes.
6.5 Presentation to City Council —2016 Accomplishments
Mr. Morris said the City Council requested each advisory board to provide them an update with
a review of their 2016 accomplishments. The Chair will make the presentation; the Chair
suggested scheduling the presentation for October 20, 2016. It was recommended the report
include storm damage repairs, Seminole Boat Dock upgrades, and the ferry/water taxi service.
6.6 Public Notice of Application for Mooring Field in Mandalay Channel
Mr. Morris distributed related materials. Attorney Soto said the Army Corps of Engineers had
issued a Public Notice re an application to install a private mooring field in Mandalay Channel.
Submerged bottom land in the channel was held by a private owner. The City thought it owned
a sliver of submerged bottom land. The Army Corps needed to request a Public Hearing by
September 16, 2016. Staff was reviewing the proposal's impact on navigation and will apprise
the Army Corps of associated problems. Nothing prevented other interests from responding.
Mr. Morris said the mooring fields would have not have adequate upland support. The FDEP's
(Florida Department of Environmental Protection) response to the application proposed
requiring dye in moored boats' holding tanks and pumping them out every 3 days. The
application obligated the City to provide those services to private mooring field tenants without
discussing those requirements with the City.
It was questioned if research indicated a need for a mooring field and if it would interfere with
the beach marina. Concern was expressed the field would impede water flow in the channel.
Mr. Morris recommended board members familiarize themselves with related issues by
reviewing the FWCC (Fish &Wildlife Conservation Commission) website including the section
on anchoring and mooring and the December 2013 report on the 2009 legislation that stripped
most municipalities of the ability to manage moored boats within their borders. Vessel owners
who posed a problem in the City would not rent mooring balls, regardless of ownership.
Attorney Soto said mooring field development usually was a government led effort. The State
mooring field program had no process to approve a privately owned mooring field.
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7 — Agenda for next meeting on December 14, 2016
1. Clearwater Point
2. North Marina Master Plan update — if warranted
3. Update on Crabby Bill's restaurant construction
8 — Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.
Attest:
Chair - Marine Advisory Board
Board Reporter
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