03/13/2019 Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 13, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
8:00 AM
Council Chambers - Main Library
Marine Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 13, 2019
Roll Call
Present 5 - Chair Edward O'Brien Jr., Board Member Michael Grohman, Board
Member Kevin Laughlin, Board Member Ken Marlow, and Board
Member Michael Mack
Absent1 - Board Member Wade Carlisle
Also Present - Ed Chesney, P.E. — Marine &Aviation Department Director, Michael
MacDonald - Marine & Aviation Operations Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan
— Board Reporter
1. Call To Order
The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at the Main Library.
To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily
discussed in that order.
2. Approval of Minutes
2.1 Approval of September 12, 2018 Meeting Minutes
Member Laughlin moved to approve the minutes of the September
12, 2018 Marine Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written
summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None.
4. New Business Items
4.1 Comments on Marina Business Plan update
Marine &Aviation Department Director Ed Chesney reviewed the City
marinas'backgrounds. The existing Marine Business Plan, updated for
2019-2024, forecast income and expenses and updated the 5-year CIP
(Capital Improvement Project) list. A call had been released for EOR
(Engineer of Record) applications to add Marine Engineering Services.
Mr. Chesney anticipated the Clearwater Beach marina would be
rehabilitated during a 5-year window, with project completion in FY(Fiscal
Year) 2023/24. For FY 2018/19, $300,000 was budgeted for preliminary
design work and programming. He did not know if the total budget of$15
million would be sufficient. The aging water, electric, and sewer
infrastructure required upgrades. Seawall and tieback repairs were planned
for FY 2021/22. The City selected Erickson Consulting Engineers of
Sarasota as the project's marine specialist, the firm was successfully
managing the Harbor Marina wave attenuator replacement project.
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 13, 2019
Mr. Chesney said several slip layouts to include transient docks and
permanent water taxi infrastructure would be considered once a survey
was completed. The City would have to pay fees to the State if the marina
extended over State bottomland. In response to a concern re current
mismatch of private and commercial slips, Mr. Chesney said commercial
slips would line the seawall for loading/unloading. Transient slips would
be mixed with recreational boaters with recreational slips at the ends of
the docks, locked at night, the remainder of the marina would be open
day and night.
Mr. Chesney reviewed the background of beach marina commercial
rates; the City Commission adopted a rate structure in 1993 based on
passenger capacity rather than length in feet. While the beach marina is the
largest commercial marina in the area, its commercial rates are significantly
lower than area marinas such as John's Pass, beach commercial slips
have a 15-year waiting list. Commercial tenants operated 24/7 and did not
pay for garbage, sewer, and water services. Water use decreased since
the marina began metering commercial use last year, the cost of some
commercial tenants' water use was higher than the rent they paid. While the
marina lost money on some operations, the facility benefited beach tourism.
Mr. Chesney said he would submit a request to the City Council in April
to adjust beach marina commercial rates to include water, garbage, electric
meter billing, and a percentage of marina slip property taxes. The marinas
were part of Enterprise Funds and needed to build reserves for repairs. Rent
from marina businesses and restaurants plus food and alcohol sale
percentages recently increased beach marina revenues and helped
transform the beach marina into a destination.
Mr. Chesney reported the Harbor Marina, opened in 2010, had a 10-year
warranty on its docks which were beginning to wear from constant
wave action. System weaknesses, such as corrosion of fasteners and
electrical meters, needed to be addressed. Funds were set aside for
repairs. The Harbor Marina's reserve was healthier than the beach's due
to income from transient boats and fewer ongoing repairs. He discussed
the expensive and relatively small wave attenuator replacement project
that required a contractor and sophisticated equipment. New center piles
had been ordered and the 100-foot attenuators were on a flat bed truck in St.
Petersburg awaiting installation.
Mr. Chesney reviewed the history of the Seminole Boat Ramp developed
in the 1960s with State grant money which required free boat ramp
access. Annual parking revenues of$125,000 were insufficient to cover
all costs for parking lot repairs/resurfacing, drinking water, pump out for
boats, garbage pick up, portable toilets, and lights, the Beach Marina
covered overages. The City was investing $5 million in the facility for a
3-phase project including new parking lots, restrooms, and floating
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 13, 2019
docks. A new business model will be required for the new facility. General
Fund revenues will fund Parks & Recreation Department maintenance of
the park and restrooms, the Beach Marina will manage the floating
docks, ramps, and water surfaces. A small kayak launch will be built north
of the launch in place of one proposed for downtown. Members were invited
to the March 20, 2019 groundbreaking.
In response to questions, Mr. Chesney said kayaks will travel north
before crossing the channel. The Francis Wilson Playhouse's land lease
had minimal parking spaces, playhouse patrons will park at the Garden
Club. A private developer purchased the funeral home and free clinic sites
previously used for playhouse parking. Staff was working with the
playhouse re parking options.
In response to questions, Mr. Chesney said the Parks & Recreation
Department was responsible for the Sailing Center, which was operated
by a 501(C)3 organization. Coast Guard regulations prohibited water taxis
from transporting bicycles. Concern was expressed that boaters tied up for
lengthy stays on weekends at City docks by the Island Way Grill which had
time limits. Mr. Chesney said staff was not readily available to monitor users
of the Island Way Grill, Sand Pearl, or CMA (Clearwater Marine Aquarium)
City docks.
Mr. Chesney was complimented for tracking water usage, making smart
moves, doing a wonderful job, and making great progress.
4.2 Elect 2019 Chair and Vice Chair
Member Laughlin moved to reappoint Ted O'Brien as Chair. The
motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Laughlin moved to appoint Michael Grohman as Vice
Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Item
Mr. Chesney said while the FWC (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Commission) had indicated 3 derelict vessels would be removed from
the south side of the Causeway by the end of February, the boats
remained while waiting for the County which was securing a contractor.
People continued to live on one of the vessels. Staff requested the Police
Department ramp up its monitoring. Staff tracked Tampa and Bradenton
ordinances and considered establishing a small mooring field off the
channel. City ownership of the bottom land may help Clearwater control
moorings to protect sea grass, a sea grass survey was underway and a
depth study was planned. The owner of a proposed mooring field in
Mandalay Channel had not submitted required applications with the City or
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Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
County and lacked necessary upland support.
6. Director's Report: None.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 a.m.
Attest:
JAJ 411
Board Report=
City of Clearwater
March 13, 2019
Chair - Marine Advisory Board
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