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05/13/1998MARINE ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER May 13, 1998 Present: David C. Martens Chair Donald McFarland Vice-Chair David Hemerick Board Member Bill Wilhelm Board Member Eric Spaulding Board Member Richard Howard Member of Public Allen Williamson Member of Public Cliff Conatser Member of Public Bob Potthoff Member of Public Jim Larsen Member of Public William Held Harbormaster Mike Hancock Assistant Harbormaster Mike Willis Marine Operations Supervisor Brenda Moses Board Reporter Absent: Edward Dohrman Board Member Ernie Cline 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 April 8, 1998, Minutes No corrections or additions were requested for the minutes of the regular meeting of April 8, 1998. Consensus was to approve the minutes as submitted in writing to each board member. ITEM #1 - Preliminary Costs for Bayfront Marina Mr. Held said this board’s concerns regarding proposed docks, parking issues and preliminary costs for a bayfront marina were reviewed with HDR Engineering, a consultant firm hired by the City. Since it is unknown if the City Commission will approve construction of a new Memorial Causeway Bridge, HDR Engineering estimated costs for placing boat slips south of the existing bridge. No funds are currently available for this project in the budget or the CIP (Capital Improvement Project). Construction could be delayed should the City Commission decide to proceed with construction of a new Memorial Causeway bridge. He referred to maps indicating the location of potential boat slips. Scheme 3 could easily accommodate 150 slips, staying 100 feet from the intercoastal waterway. Scheme 4 could accommodate 78 slips. Estimated costs for a 77-slip marina for materials only are $350,000, excluding electric and utilities. Marina employees would supply the labor. A 146-slip marina is estimated at $600,000. Preliminary costs for dredging is $180,000. Dredging north of the bridge, where it is more shallow, would be more costly. These estimates do not include the expense of material removal and a disposal site. In response to a question, Mr. Held said the State designates dredging disposal sites with permit approval. He has requested the Engineering Department perform seagrass studies from the Drew Street dock to Pierce 100, into the intercoastal waterway to determine what impact it would have on fishing piers. Should the existing bridge remain, the fishing pier could be constructed south of the bridge. It was remarked the larger marina is preferable on the south side of the bridge since there is more room from the intercoastal setback and a natural buffer exists. That area was once the site of a fishing pier from approximately 1955 into the 1970’s, and it was felt a permit would be approved. HDR Engineering estimated a marina permit would cost $50,000. Mr. Held will share this board’s input with Assistant City Manager Rick Hedrick and supply feedback to the board at a future meeting. ITEM #2 - Conditional Use Request to Operate Rental Jet Ski’s and a Fishing Boat from Shepards Harbormaster Bill Held said Cliff Conatser, parasail operator, has submitted a conditional use application to operate 4 rental jet skis and a small fishing boat in waters near Shepards Restaurant between Light 6 and 4 inside the jetty. He had received a permit to operate a parasail operation June 1997. Mr. Held said there have been no complaints regarding Mr. Conatser’s parasail operation. He currently operates inside the wake zone which has recently been moved 350 yards further west to Light 6. The Sheriff office’s statistics from April 1, 1997, to December 31, 1997, indicate 156 citations and 74 warnings in that area. Eighty percent of tickets were for personal watercraft violations. In the past, requests for personal watercraft businesses to operate in Clearwater Pass between the bridge and Shepards have been denied. Changes have taken place over the years including moving the channel to the south away from the shoreline, and a new bridge placement in Clearwater Pass. It was noted boating activities during the weekend and holidays are extremely heavy near Shepards. In response to a question, Mr. Held said the wave runner business operating at the Holiday Inn Sunspree was grandfathered in when the Land Development Code became effective. According to the Sheriff’s office, no citations have been given to rental boat operators there. Mr. Conatser stated he has made application for a chase boat, a flats boat, and a rental jet ski business to operate on the west side of Shepards Restaurant. In addition to regulations set by Tallahassee regarding jet ski operation, he has established additional rules of operation. Anyone suspect of drinking alcohol is not permitted to rent jet skis. Plans are to escort jet ski renters past Marker Number 6. Richard Howard said he was amazed no one has been killed in the waterway near Clearwater Pass. He felt local jet skiers were the ones speeding and causing problems, not the renters. He stated he has repeatedly been denied a permit to operate a flats boat in Clearwater due to the lack of docks and severe parking problems that exist. Bob Potthoff, owner of Holiday Inn Aqua Wave, said he bought the business November 12, 1997. He felt he has a good orientation regarding his wave runner operation. In response to a questions, he said jet ski violators are responsible for payment of citations. He said the worst problems are with non-English speaking renters. He felt 90% of people frequent Shepards to drink alcohol. He does not permit anyone believed to have been drinking to operate jet skis. Concern was expressed that other hotels may want to start renting fishing boats off the beach, taking the focus off the Marina. Jim Larsen operates a sports fishing boat and also owns a flats boat. He denied an accusation that he illegally runs a business from the Highland Springs Motel (old King Cole Hotel). He lives there and his boat is occasionally docked at that location. In response to questions, Mr. Held said there are a limited number of commercial slips at the Clearwater Marina. When a business is purchased, the buyer agrees to maintain that same boat for a year while in that slip before replacing it with another boat. The slips belong to the City and are rented under a docking permit. Conditional use permits must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Board for commercial operations at locations other than the Marina. Five personal watercraft rental businesses currently operate in the City. Board members felt Clearwater Pass is not the proper place to generate or increase recreational beach-oriented, shore-based activity due to safety issues. Dozens of people have drowned in the Pass over the years. It was suggested educating jet ski renters will reduce the frequency of accidents. It was remarked the demand for a personal watercraft business near Shepards only exists because of Shepards. Because Shepards serves liquor, the jet ski business is an accident waiting to happen. Member McFarland moved to recommend denial of Cliff Conatser’s request for conditional use application for a fishing flats boat and jet ski rental operation. His request would increase commercial activity in Clearwater Pass and is contrary to this board’s understanding of proper pass activity. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 - Letter from Dr. Hemerick on Wake Zones Member Hemerick referred to aerial photographs indicating a problem with large wakes created by power boats in the channel near his boat dock. It was discovered a piling was misplaced and has been recently moved 90 feet to the east of his dock, making a definite improvement in the wake activity near his dock. He said larger boats still pull wakes into that area, and some no wake zones in the harbor and Clearwater Pass should be revisited. Mr. Howard said his boat has been “beat up” many times at the fuel dock by larger boats that suddenly stop at the no wake zone. Mr. Held stated in 1989 the Florida Marine Patrol examined all existing wake zones. This board appears to be concerned about boaters dragging swells at Day Beacon 9. It was suggested this item be discussed at the next meeting in order to obtain other marina tenants’ input before a recommendation is made. ITEM #4 - Hurricane Conference Mr. Held stated he will be the guest speaker at the June 4, 1998, Governor’s Hurricane conference at the Tampa Convention Center. ITEM #5 - Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Marina Tour The DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) will receive a tour of the Clearwater Marina. Other Activities/Business June 4, 1998, a state-wide convention at the Doubletree Hotel will include a tour of the Marina and Pier 60. Marina restroom renovations are scheduled for next week. A remark was made that it is not in the Marina’s best interests to allow the owner of the Marina baithouse to operate a charter business. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:03 a.m.