06/08/2022 Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes June 8, 2022
City of Clearwater
Main Library- Council Chambers
100 N. Osceola Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
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Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
8:00 AM
Main Library - Council Chambers
Marine Advisory Board
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes June 8, 2022
Roll Call
Present 8 - Chair Michael Grohman, Vice-Chair Kevin Laughlin, Board Member
Kevin Laughlin, Board Member Wade Carlisle, Board Member Maranda
Douglas — arrived 8:13 a.m., Board Member Julie Battaglia, Board
Member Deena Stanley, Board Member Steven Voras, and Ex Officio
Phil Henderson
Also Present— Eric Gandy - Marine & Aviation Director, Michael MacDonald - Marine &
Aviation Operations Manager, Patricia O. Sullivan — Board Reporter
Awaiting approval
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 9, 2022, Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes.
Member Carlisle moved to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2022
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 Introduction of new Marine & Aviation Director.
Marine &Aviation Director Eric Gandy introduced himself. He thanked the
Board for their service and Marine &Aviation Operations Manager Michael
MacDonald for his expertise and help managing the departments.
4.2 Review the update on the Marina Rules.
Mr. Gandy said the Legal Department will review Marina Rules for best
practices, update liability and legacy issues, and codify and publish the rules.
The MAB (Marine Advisory Board) will review the updates and make
recommendations to the City Manager before distribution to tenants.
Staff sent notices to tenants that Marina Rules required them to submit
insurance updates to the Marina Office. Commercial tenants also were
required to submit copies of their licenses, endorsements and inspections,
verifying that operators were qualified. Follow-up letters will be sent to
tenants who have not yet filed required credentials.
Rule updates included: 1) Marina Office will stop accepting mail and
package deliveries except for transient vessels with prior arrangements, 2)
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board Meeting Minutes June 8, 2022
Marina Office will turn over lost and found property to the Police Department,
and 3) Marina will announce rate increases 30 days in advance. In
adherence with the 2013 Fire Marshal Act prohibiting gasoline storage on
docks, the new beach marina fuel dock will feature cradles for personal
watercraft.
The Coast Guard was investigating recent collisions.
5. Old Business Items
5.1 Update on Beach Marina Replacement project.
Mr. Gandy met with the engineering design team; the Beach Marina
replacement project was approaching 30% design. The team, charged with
preserving the commercial fleet during construction, was working to
accommodate all needs. Commercial tenant views were not unified, costs for
some individual requests would be significant. Costs and the contingency
were significantly higher than budgeted due to the unusual inflationary
environment and changes to the scope, including dredging, upland kiosks
for commercial points of sale and a promenade that integrates with Beach Walk.
All timber on top of the 1980s seawall will be removed when the seawall is
replaced,prohibition of anything on top of the new seawall structure will affect
commercial tenants.
The City Manager has requested staff to pursue a phased approach to
reduce costs. If a recreation dock is temporarily eliminated, the marina would
lose that revenue until reconstruction is completed. Staff met with Duke
Energy re service issues, new hurricane codes will impact the budget.
In response to questions, Mr. Gandy said 40 marina parking spaces will be
removed for kiosks and storage. The goal was to retain commercial vessels'
ability to operate throughout the project, recreation boaters will be impacted.
A mooring field was not possible. While it will be possible to follow FWC
(Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission) rules to view daily
catches, ice machines and equipment storage adjacent to vessels will be
removed. There was no definitive plan for a parking garage. Some costs
tripled since the design team forecast the CIP (Capital Improvement
Project) budget. There may be an opportunity to discuss additional funding
with the City Manager and City Council. Construction delays were
anticipated due to supply chain disruptions.
Discussion ensued with hope expressed that the marina would retain its 165
recreation slips, encouragement expressed for permitting flexibility for flood
plain requirements, recommendations made re project phasing possibilities,
and comments that commercial docks were affixed to the seawall which
needed tie backs and utilities were located under the seawall.
Mr. Gandy said the City Clerk had said it would be problematic for a Board
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City of Clearwater
Marine Advisory Board
Meeting Minutes June 8, 2022
Member to participate in meetings when other Members do not have the
same opportunity based on the Sunshine Law. The goal was to not waste
design team member time or create tenant conflicts.
6. Director's Report
Mr. Gandy reviewed State criteria for Slow Speed/Minimum Wake Zones.
The Engineering Department measured the Stevenson Creek bridges. They
met virtually with FWC in Tallahassee. It was determined a Slow Speed/
Minimum Wake Zone only could be enforced within 300 feet of each bridge
structure; a City Ordinance and State approval also would be required. Also,
the Clearwater Yacht Club did not qualify for a Slow Speed/Minimum Wake
Zone as the club did not serve the general public.
In response to a suggestion that cheaper fuel could be trucked into the
marina, Mr. MacDonald said the marina was bound by Ordinance re boat
fueling. Prices changed daily; the marina tried to provide competitive pricing
to discourage tenants from purchasing fuel elsewhere.
It was recommended the board discuss diversifying the marina's business
model to increase revenues and consider opportunities such as partnering
with an independent organization to host boat races and constructing a
marina parking garage with restaurants on top that would generate marine
specific revenue. It was stated boat races produce little revenue.
Mr. Gandy said the boat races' economic impact to the City could not be
monetized; the City contributed in-kind services for events. He said the best
way to maximize profitability would be to construct a high end facility due to
great demand for nice boat slips.
In response to a concern, Mr. Gandy said no rate increases were planned
during construction. Once completed, incremental adjustments will be
implemented to reach market rates.
7. Board Members to be Heard: None.
8. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 9:25 a.m.
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City of Clearwater