03/10/2021 Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
e
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
8:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Marine Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021
Roll Call
Present 5 - Vice Chair Michael Grohman, Board Member Kevin Laughlin, Board
Member Maranda Douglas, Board Member Wade Carlisle , and Ex
Officio Phil Henderson
Absent 3 - Chair Edward O'Brien Jr., Board Member Michael Mack, and Board
Member Christina Joseph
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 8:05 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 Approve the minutes of the March 11, 2020 Marine Advisory Board
Member Carlisle moved to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2020
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 Review the Powers and Duties of the Marine Advisory Board as defined by city code
Marine &Aviation Department Director Ed Chesney reviewed the Marine
Advisory Board's powers and duties in the Code.
Following discussion, consensus was to recommend no changes to Code
language related to the board.
4.2 Discuss the Marine Advisory Board meeting frequency
In response to a concern, Mr. Chesney said the board had not met via
Zoom as the process was expensive and cumbersome.
Consensus was to that quarterly meetings suited the board's mission,-
special
ission,special meetings could be scheduled if necessary.
4.3 Identify month for the Board's annual report to City Council
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021
Consensus was for the Board Chair to present the board's annual report to
the City Council in October 2021.
4.4 Election of Officers
Member Laughlin moved to reappoint Edward T. O'Brien Jr. as
Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
Member Laughlin moved to reappoint Michael Grohman as Vice
Chair. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously.
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Reaffirm the Board's recommendations from the March 2020 meeting.
At the last Board Meeting on March 11, 2020. the Board unanimously
recommended both commercial and recreational slip rate increases along
with a recommendation for solid waste charge backs to the commercial
tenants. These recommendations are recorded in the March 11, 2020
meeting minutes.
In response to a question, Mr. Chesney said empty slips at the beach marina
will not be filled immediately before construction, temporary slips at the
Clearwater Marine Aquarium, an accessory to the Clearwater Beach Marina,
or other City facilities may be used during the project. The aquarium has
leased and paid monthly rent for multiple docks behind its facility for a
decade, those docks do not have adequate parking or water and electric at
every slip. The City would consider temporarily relocating commercial slips
behind the aquarium if sufficient City slips are not available. Commercial
boats are the biggest concern as public docks could be out of commission.
Creating a mooring field was being considered as an accessory use with
centralized pickups, the City Council would need to adopt an Ordinance
approving a mooring field and County and Army Corps of Engineers permits
would be required. A mooring field would establish City control of the
permitted area, prohibiting other vessels from anchoring within 300 feet.
Concern was expressed that turn around space on the east side of the
marina is needed during east winds
Mr. Chesney said during the 2020 lockdown, rates were not increased.
Commercial rents were deferred for April and May and tenants had until the
end of the year to pay 2020 rents. While commercial rents are still below
market rate, tenants paid surcharges for water and electricity. New
commercial surcharges for trash will be implemented with a range of
$8.09/month for 6-packs to $103/month for 70-plus passenger boats.
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes March 10, 2021
Mr. Chesney said although commercial businesses did not operate equally,
previous rent increases were implemented evenly across the board. Small
boats may take passengers out once a day; large dinner boats may take 3
daily trips. Rental rates have not been increased for 2 years. The City
Manager had the ability to raise rates every 2 years based on rate studies.
Staff was considering higher rate increases for larger boats; 5% for Tier 1
and 2 and 10% for Tier 3 and 4.
Mr. Chesney said the Clearwater Beach Marina was in a superior location
with a waitlist for every slip; commercial slips had 20 -year waitlists.
Extending BeachWalk to the new marina has been recommended. The
marina was self-sufficient and needed to maintain a minimum reserve. The
General Fund only covered waterway maintenance costs outside of the
marinas.
It was noted the private marina by the Seminole Boat Ramp charged
$600 a month for a 30 -foot boat. Concern was expressed allowing
commercial tenants to consign their slips to others created a permanent
waitlist; it was noted other marinas do not permit that practice.
In response to a concern re sidewalk congestion on Coronado Drive, Mr.
Chesney said County regulations will not permit ticket booths to be replaced
on the new docks and a centrally located kiosk was planned.
6. Director's Report
Mr. Chesney said staff was trying to protect the fuel dock and system's
footprint at the new marina. Many commercial users do not buy fuel from the
marina. Marine & Aviation Operations Manager Michael MacDonald said
City rates were competitive; the City made little money providing fuel
services. Staff has received complaints from residents re mobile filling in
waterfront neighborhoods; the City opposed offsite refills due to safety and
spillage cleanup costs.
7. Board Members to be Heard
8. Adjourn
Attest:
New Board Member Maranda Douglas introduced herself. The Board
welcomed her
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
Board Report
City of Clearwater
Chair - Marine Advisory Board
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