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12/08/2021 Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes December 8, 2021 City of Clearwater Main Library- Council Chambers 100 N. Osceola Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 m Meeting Minutes Wednesday, December 8, 2021 8:00 AM Main Library - Council Chambers Marine Advisory Board Page 1 City of Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes December 8, 2021 Roll Call Present 5 - Vice Chair Michael Grohman, Board Member Kevin Laughlin, Board Member Wade Carlisle , Board Member Maranda Douglas — arrived 8:16 a.m., 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 Vice Chair called the meeting to order at 8:16 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 June 9, 2021 Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes. Member Carlisle moved to approve the minutes of the June 9, 2021 Marine Advisory Board meeting as submitted in written summation. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ex Officio Henderson did not vote. 3. Citizens to be Heard Regarding Items Not on the Agenda: None. 4. New Business Items 4.1 Presentation by Marine Industries Association of SWFL and Tampa Bay Misty Bottorff with Marina Industries Association of SWFL and Tampa Bay presentation Misty Bottorff, Marina Industries Association of SWFL and Tampa Bay Manager, said the association advocated boating interests and water safety. She distributed placards with boat safety practices. She said the association also provides tool grants for industry employees. The association was complimented for the "Know Before You Go"placard. 4.2 Discuss "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone" for Bayway / Clearwater Yacht Club Board discussion on feasibility of a "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone" for Bayway / Clearwater Yacht Club led by Jim Coats. Page 2 City of Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes December 8, 2021 Marine &Aviation Department Director Ed Chesney said Clearwater had the highest number of designated specialty zones in Pinellas County. As the City applied for State of Florida FWC (Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) permits over the years, older ones were difficult to reference and some required GPS (Global Positioning System) remapping. The State has difficulty tracking all Clearwater permits. Obtaining a State permit for an additional "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone" would be time consuming. The State suggested previously that the City consolidate all of its permits into a master permit, however, that process could eliminate some City specialty zones. Jim Coats, representing the Clearwater Yacht Club, proposed establishing a "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone"for Clearwater Harbor bordered by Bayway Boulevard, Bayside Drive, Hamden Drive, and the Intracoastal Waterway. He said the subject area features residential properties with docks, the Charthouse Suites with docks, and the Clearwater Yacht Club, where personal watercraft, small vessels and sailing prams for youth sailing programs launch from its marina. He reported manatee and dolphin activity in the marina launching area. He said short-term transit anchorage also occurs there. He expressed concerns that blind spots were hazardous and wakes from high speed vessels endangered youth sailors, those embarking and disembarking docked vessels, and commercial sightseeing vessels. He reviewed recent damages to pilings, docks, and boats at the club caused by large wakes. Mr. Chesney discussed difficulties enforcing specialty zones, reviewed the process to apply for specialty zones, and referenced the extended time frame and high costs associated with developing a robust application which required hiring a consultant and submitting a list of hazards, citations and accidents in the subject area. Maintaining new specialty zones would be expensive by requiring the City to adopt an Ordinance, increase patrols and purchase and maintain multiple new Aids to Navigation. When reviewing applications, the State did not consider wake damages. City Council approval was necessary to start the process. Discussion ensued regarding dangers posed by large wakes to boaters in kayaks and small vessels, the limited enforcement of existing specialty zones, and limited areas in Clearwater where boats can operate at moderate speeds. It was suggested that youth sailing prams in the subject area meet requirements for designation as a specialty zone. In response to a suggestion that consolidating City permits would create greater efficiencies, concern was expressed the City could lose specialty zones by pursuing that process. Page 3 City of Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes December 8, 2021 Mr. Chesney said consolidation efforts would slow the application process. The State no longer approves waterski zones, Mandalay Channel has one. Fast flashing lights on buoys similar to ones at crosswalks were not permitted and could be hazardous. Commercial boats that frequent the subject area have not complained to staff re speeding vessels. Member Douglas moved to recommend the City Council consider applying to establish a "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone" for the waterway adjacent to the Clearwater Yacht Club. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ex Officio Henderson did not vote. 4.3 Discuss "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone" for Stevenson Creek. Board discussion on feasibility of a "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone" for Stevenson Creek. Darrell Lakey requested a "Slow Speed Minimum Wake Zone"be established for Stevenson Creek which is frequented by small craft. He said the Police Chief had indicated no citations had been issued for the creek. He said all other bridges in the County have no wake zones beneath them. He said boat traffic will increase when boat slips are built on the creek near Alternate US 19. He said speeding jet skis frequent the creek, endangering kayakers, paddleboarders, and children. He said one boat with children onboard had run aground and required EMS (Emergency Medical Services). He said the creek had manatee activity. Mr. Chesney said boat slips cannot be built at the Alternate US 19 location under current City Codes. No other specialty zones in Clearwater extend into the mainland creeks. Stevenson Creek has 4 low-clearance bridges and dead ends at Palmetto Street. New development with docks was occurring near the upper end of the creek. One resident reported he operates his 18- foot ski boat at high speed on the creek so he does not get stuck in the shallow water. Clearwater Marine Patrol and FWC vessels are too large to access the creek beyond Douglas Avenue and enforce the City ordinance requiring slow speed minimum wake. It was recommended the City contact the State and request that the Manatee Zone be extended into the creek now that Stevenson Creek has been restored. Resident Mike Flanery presented photos of manatees in Stevenson Creek and said the significant increase in high speed boat traffic on the creek is endangering the manatee population. He expressed concern that the Manatee Zone between the Intracoastal Waterway and mainland lacked markers. He said signage was important for manatee protection and would encourage tourism. Page 4 City of Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes December 8, 2021 Mr. Chesney said the Manatee Zone east of the Intracoastal Waterway ends at Stevenson Creek. He will request Manatee Zone signage from the State and thought that the State had extended the Manatee Zone to the Dunedin border. Mr. Lakey requested signage in Stevenson Creek. Member Carlisle moved for staff to communicate with the State re extending the Manatee Zone into Stevenson Creek. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ex Officio Henderson did not vote. 5. Old Business Items 5.1 Update on Imagine Clearwater construction impacts to marina parking. Follow up discussion on the Imagine Clearwater Construction impacts to marina parking. Mr. Chesney reported Clearwater Harbor Marina tenants can access a new shuttle for transport up and down the bluff. Tenants lost marina parking during construction of a new lift station for the Imagine Clearwater project. When construction is completed, marina parking will be reestablished under the Memorial Causeway Bridge. 5.2 Update on Beach Marina Replacement project. Follow up discussion on the Beach Marina Replacement project. Mr. Chesney reported the contract for the design and permitting process for the Clearwater Beach Marina replacement was awarded to Moffatt & Nichol. The first phase will be data collection. Yesterday, firm representatives surveyed seawalls, utilities, and uplands. The firm is developing a construction master plan with input from commercial tenants. Some floating docks were planned. The marina replacement will be built in 4 or 5 phases with utilities shut off to portions of the marina during specific phases. Private tenants will experience less disruption, commercial tenants will need to adjust schedules. Professionals will design the docks, details of every boat in the marina have been forwarded to the designer. The consultants will address the advisory board at its March meeting. He did not know if use of generators was allowed on the docks. In response to a question, Mr. Chesney reviewed the City's procedure to award contracts. Costs for each phase of construction will be identified. While $18-million has been budgeted for the project, no cost estimate has been submitted. The fuel dock's location will control the design. A boardwalk behind the seawall along Coronado Drive will be considered. Page 5 City of Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes December 8, 2021 Ex Officio Henderson requested the Board appoint him as representative of the Marina Advisory Board when he attends meetings with the engineering firm. Discussion ensued. Concern was expressed that other members may want to attend the meetings. Mr. Chesney said the meeting schedule for the yearlong project has not been announced. Member Laughlin moved for Ex Officio Henderson to represent the Board at meetings with the engineering firm until the March MAB meeting when input from the Legal Department will confirm if more than one member can attend meetings. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. The Marine Advisory Board recessed from 9:58 to 10:00 a.m. 6. Director's Report: None. 7. Board Members to be Heard 8. Adjourn Member Douglas expressed concern the recent offshore boat races may have had negative environmental impacts. She recommended the Board also have representation from Ocean Allies and Amplify Clearwater. Concerns were expressed re poor member attendance. Mr. Chesney requested that members respond to staff emails and confirm their attendance or absence prior to meetings. Member Laughlin congratulated Member Douglas on her upcoming Captain License test. The meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m. City of Clearwater Chair - Marine Advisory Board