09/11/2019 Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 11, 2019
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
8:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Marine Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 11, 2019
Roll Call
Present 6 - Chair Edward O'Brien Jr., Board Member Michael Grohman, Board
Member Kevin Laughlin, Board Member Wade Carlisle , Board Member
Michael Mack, and Board Member Christina Joseph
Absent 1 - Board Member Ken Marlow
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 March 13, 2019 Meeting Minutes.
Member Laughlin moved to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2019
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 Presentation to MAB: Gulf of Mexico Electronic Log Book - Captain Mike Colby
Charter boat captain Mike Colby reviewed the Gulf of Mexico electronic
log book project that collected trip levels and catch information for the
national fishery more accurately than the previous phone call method.
He said with the Mayor's early support of a sustainable fishery, Clearwater
was in the forefront of these efforts. He said the project will be mandatory
for the 1,200 federally licensed boats operating on the gulf(22 in
Clearwater; 73 in Pinellas County).
Captain Colby said the project will track the annual number of fish kept,
released alive and released dead. The top 5 species tracked were red
snapper, vermilion snapper, red porgy, red grouper and gray triggerfish.
The State of Florida will collect the data via VMS (Vessel Monitoring
System) or GPS (Global Positioning System) pinging. Commercial catch
data will be augmented by Marine Recreation Information Program reporting
and other sources to help assess and maintain sustainable fish stocks.
In response to questions, Captain Colby said only 17% of catches were
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes September 11, 2019
intercepted dockside and weighed. He said more money was needed to
increase dockside oversite' weighing caught fish was not part of the
mandatory program. He said approximately 150 federal licenses were
dormant, the Gulf Counsel encouraged license holders to fish or sell their
licenses. He said under new guidelines, 37 fisheries had been rebuilt
since 2006. He said the project's accountability measures would reduce
overfishing and provide information re ideal length of fishing seasons,
important information for customers.
4.2 Review the update on Wave Attenuator/ Fishing Pier Construction.
Marine &Aviation Department Director Ed Chesney said the wave
attenuator was successfully installed. Redesign of the gangway to the
fishing pier will be necessary to correct the fabrication design flaw at the
connection point, Mr. Chesney reviewed operational complications of
replacing the connection piece. The vendor responsible for the project
had filed for Chapter 11 but the firm decided to work with the City and
make good on its contract. Anglers were unhappy the fishing pier will not
be operational for another 3 months. Replacing the wave attenuator took
2 years, it was difficult to attract contractors due the small size of the project
and costly mobilization of the large equipment required.
In response to questions, Mr. Chesney said the City awarded the contract to
construction managers at risk which then used subcontractors. After the
$600,000 project contract was awarded, the subcontractor subcontracted the
connection valued at $20,000. The wave attenuator never was designed for
pedestrian access, therefore, the slope of the connection had to meet ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements.
4.3 Review the update on Seminole Street Boat Ramp Construction.
Mr. Chesney said the Seminole Street Boat Ramp construction project
was on schedule; the grand opening should occur late this year or early
2020. The boat ramp remained open most days during the project. Parking
problems over the 4th of July were cured by Labor Day. The next phases will
construct elevated restrooms and install new floating docks. The City was
working with the State re the submerged land lease.
It was noted the Francis Wilson Playhouse Board of Directors were happy
to participate in the project's groundbreaking.
Mr. Chesney said the playhouse had enjoyed use of nearby parking for
many years even though its land lease included no space for parking.
The playhouse was happy with a planned parking agreement being
developed.
4.4 Discuss Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) For Boats
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes September 11, 2019
Mr. Chesney said Blue Gas Marine was courting marinas for opportunities
to provide compressed natural gas for boats. Retrofitting a boat for natural
gas use was estimated to cost $10,000. No recreational boaters or charter
captains had requested natural gas access at either City marina. Marine
& Aviation Operations Manager Michael MacDonald was uncertain if diesel
engines could be retrofitted for natural gas; the vast majority of the fleet
had diesel engines. Staff did not know where a highly flammable natural
gas pump could be safely located at either marina.
5. Old Business Item: None.
6. Director's Report
In response to a question, Mr. Chesney said the first part of the study on
rehabilitating the beach marina had not begun. Demolition and construction
will be done in stages and require temporary moorings. Utilities will need
to be installed along the seawall. It had not been determined if all floating
docks will be installed; some may be repaired. Some dredging will be
required. Stakeholders will participate in the planning stage; not everyone
will get what they want.
7. Board Members to be Heard
Chair O'Brien expressed concern MyClearwater Magazine did not feature
the Sailing Center and requested a follow up on this matter. He reported a
Foundations Campaign, supported by a firm that does underwater boat
work and hull cleaning, held a fundraiser in support of SAILFUTURE at
the St. Petersburg Marina.
8. Adjourn
Member Laughlin said he performed at the Francis Wilson Playhouse; his
next performance will be in the production of Shakespeare's Greatest Hits at
the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center.
Attest:
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.
Board Reporte
City of Clearwater
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Chair - Marine Advisory Board