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04/08/1998MARINE ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER April 8, 1998 Present: David C. Martens Chair Donald McFarland Vice-Chair David Hemerick Board Member Edward Dohrman Board Member Ernie Cline Board Member Eric Spaulding Board Member Glen Bahnick Engineer II William Held Harbormaster Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: Bill Wilhelm Board Member The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at the City Marina. To provide continuity for research, the items will be in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. Approval of March 11, 1998, Minutes No corrections or additions were requested for the minutes of the regular meeting of March 11, 1998. Consensus was to approve the minutes as submitted in writing to each board member. Introduction of New Board Member Harbormaster Bill Held introduced new member Eric Spaulding. ITEM 1 - Bayfront Marina Plan Discussion ensued regarding areas being considered for additional marina facilities: 1) Drew Street dock to the Memorial Causeway Bridge; 2) 100 feet from the edge of the intercoastal waterway, to incorporate 40 forty-five foot slips and 106 thirty foot slips; 3) a fishing pier north of the new Memorial Causeway bridge and Pierce 100; and 4) a fishing pier on the causeway with free parking. Mr. Held said marina facilities will be funded with Penny for Pinellas funds. Upland development, roadway dropoffs for boats, and water taxis require further scrutiny. It was felt the Drew Street Dock will be ideal for a water taxi. In response to a question, Mr. Held said the water depth is sufficient in the channel north of Memorial Causeway Bridge for construction of fishing piers. In discussions with City consultant HDR Engineering, staff’s preference was to construct marina facilities near the new bridge, because that site would not be impacted by bluff development. It was remarked the State does not merely issue permits, they are negotiated. The City Charter states dredging over 4,000 cubic yards, other than for maintenance purposes, requires a referendum and a State approved dredging disposal site. Staff had recommended to the Charter Review Committee to dispense with the referendum requirement. The State permit designates the dredging disposal site with permit approval. In response to a question, Engineer Glen Bahnick did not foresee a problem with an emergency road or fishing catwalk under the new bridge. Mr. Held said Marina employees can build docks once designated areas are dredged. Discussion ensued regarding the type of tenants that will be drawn to the waterfront once additional marina facilities are built. Mr. Held will supply board members with information regarding estimated costs for dredging and additional marina facilities. He noted this board can recommend various sites to the Commission now while One City. One Future. is in its conceptual stage. ITEM 2 - Scuttlebutt Board members received copies of the Marina’s one year anniversary edition of Scuttlebutt. This publication is distributed to Marina building and land tenants, and available on the Internet. Staff has received positive feedback regarding the publication. Correspondence The Harbormaster received a request from a citizen residing across from the Marina fuel dock for an extension of the No Wake Zone. The resident fell off his boat due to a large wake created by a power boat enroute to the fuel dock. The resident feels the most flagrant offenders are parasail boats and transient boaters that remain powered up to the edge of the zone and slow down after pulling wakes into the Marina basin. The Harbormaster sent letters to parasail boaters in the area requesting their cooperation. He noted the Marina basin is an Idle Speed No Wake Zone and boaters caught violating it will be cited by the Sheriff’s Department or the Florida Marine Patrol. The City begins and stops zones at federal markers designated by the Coast Guard. To lessen the number of pilings, the City places signs on those markers after obtaining “letters of no objection” from the Coast Guard. Consensus was for board members to visit the area in question near the fuel dock and discuss this matter at the next meeting. Anticipated Request to the Planning & Zoning Board Mr. Held anticipates a parasail operator will request approval to operate a jet ski rental operation near Shepherds Restaurant from the Planning & Zoning Board. The business owner had previously been successful in requesting and receiving approval for extension of the wake zone in Clearwater Pass to Marker 6. His argument had been to make that area quieter and safer. It was remarked the parasail operator has contradicted himself by requesting permission to operate a jet ski business. In response to a question, Mr. Held said no further information is available regarding an accident that occurred a few weeks ago. A boater had fallen on his boat while in Clearwater Pass as a result of rough waters, receiving severe internal injuries. Magnolia Street Dock The Magnolia Street dock looks fantastic and is officially open between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Advisory Board Appreciation Dinner The Advisory Board Appreciation Dinner is scheduled for April 14, 1998, at the Harborview Center. The meeting adjourned at 8:47 a.m.