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01/08/1997MARINE ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER January 8, 1997 Present: David C. Martens Chair David Smith Member David Hemerick Member Edward Dohrman Member Ernie Cline Member Bill Wilhelm Member Dave Perkins Ex-Officio Mike Hancock Assistant Harbormaster Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: Donald McFarland Member The meeting was called to order by Chair David Martens at 8:04 a.m. in the Marina conference room, 25 Causeway Boulevard, Clearwater, Florida. In order to provide continuity for research, the items will be listed in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. 1. Marina Decorative Lamp Posts Assistant Harbormaster Mike Hancock noted the material for electric decorative lamp posts for the main and east docks and the seawalls at the Marina is expected to arrive by mid-February. The lamp post lights are photocell-controlled lamps which will match the other lamp posts already at the Marina. Contract prices are being reviewed for installation of new lights. 2. Tourist Information Center There will be a kiosk erected in the Marina lobby, similar to the one at the Clearwater Mall. The kiosk will provide information about the beaches, City services and points of interest in Clearwater. Racks of brochures, a flashing information sign, a money change machine for parking meters, and a new ATM machine are planned. The information center will not be staffed. Benches have been placed in the lobby to accommodate those viewing television, weather monitors and brochures. 3. Update of Fishing Pier at Clearwater Pass Bridge Mr. Held was not present at this meeting. Members agreed they had previously decided to recommend construction of 3 fishing piers at Clearwater Pass. This project will be discussed at the next meeting. 4. Other Business The minutes of December 11, 1996 were approved as submitted in writing to each member. The Pinellas County Commission met on December 10, 1996 regarding the Magnolia Street dock reconstruction. The City will file for the building permit, which will probably cause the opposition to file suits to block the process. It is anticipated an appeal to the Pinellas County Commission’s ruling will be filed by the January 10, 1997 deadline. Mr. Hancock noted Pier 60 concession sales have dropped off slightly since the grand opening, but over the holidays vendors’ sales were good. It was noted the fixed docks leading to the floating docks at the Seminole Launch Ramp are in the process of being replaced with a solid concrete structure. Re-striping and re-paving should be complete by February of 1997. The Sailing Center dock has been permitted as a permanent dock. Restrictions have been placed on the dock that no motorized vessels can be used other than for the purpose of training, sailing classes and regattas. Questions were asked about the update on the proposed Memorial Causeway Bridge. No new information has been dispersed to this Board, and members would like to be kept informed. Discussion has taken place throughout the City with various groups regarding the proposed new library. One of the groups with which Chair Martens participated suggested putting books onto computer disks to reduce the amount of space required for the library. Another member noted a suggestion was made to incorporate the proposed library into the Harborview Center. The shoreline of Clearwater is mainly private property which greatly limits the addition of launching facilities throughout the City. It was noted the west end of the Courtney Campbell Causeway is too shallow, the waterfront from Harborview north is private property, and Stevenson’s Creek is too shallow. Parking considerations must also be addressed when planning launching facilities. It was suggested members drive past the Island Estates area and the waterfront are north of the Harborview Center to determine the possibility of adding launching facilities. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 a.m. The next meeting of the Marine Advisory Board is scheduled for February 12, 1997 at 8:00 a.m. at the Marina conference room, 25 Causeway Boulevard, Clearwater.