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04/12/2000MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER April 12, 2000 Present: David Hemerick Chair Bill Wilhelm Board Member Donald McFarland Board Member Hank Epstein Board Member Nick Matsis Board Member Dick Safirstein Board Member Tom Horne Board Member Also Present: William Morris Harbormaster Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m. at the Marina. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM 2 – March Minutes Approval As no corrections or changes to the minutes of the special meeting of February 23, 2000, and the regular meeting of March 8, 2000, were suggested, the Chair stated both sets of minutes stand approved as submitted in written summation to each board member. ITEM 3 – Continued Discussion regarding Additional Docking Sites Harbormaster William Morris said a public meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. tonight at St. Brennan’s Catholic Church on Island Estates regarding a proposed Shooter’s restaurant with docks at the Landry’s property/Crabhouse Resturaunt site. He said a reverter clause prohibits docks unless for public purpose. In a meeting in October of 1999, Mr. Morris met with the spokesperson for the business owner to review regulations for docks. The permit process has started and it is anticipated a public meeting with the County will be held in May regarding this issue. The proposed docks would be transient docks on a first-come, first-served basis. No overnight dockage will be permitted. The County permits docks. The City signs off on dock permits only for navigational purposes. Discussion ensued regarding how much of the property the docks would cover is in the old reverter clause area. How far the reverter line extends on both sides of the Memorial Causeway is debatable. Some Marina docks are within the reverter line. It was remarked that no one knows the developers proposing the project. A Marina tenant said he obtained a booklet from the Economic Development Department regarding the project. He said letters written by Assistant City Manager Bob Keller indicate his enthusiasm about the proposed development. The tenant said the information he received at a meeting at Attorney Ed Armstrong’s office with a representative of the developer conflicts with the information in the booklet. He said at that meeting, the representative said the investors wish to remain anonymous. The tenant expressed concern the Harbormaster had been instructed by City staff to proceed with dockage permits although Mr. Keller has indicated that the project is not that far along. He was unsure that anyone other than the Economic Development staff has seen the booklet on the project. It was remarked that at a Windjammers Club meeting, members had expressed concern regarding any additional dockage near the Sailing Center, including proposed docks behind the Radisson Hotel on Sand Key. Mr. Morris said he is tired of having his integrity challenged. Whenever he is informed and privy to information regarding the waterfront, he acts accordingly and passes on all available information to board members. He said his role in approving docks is to officially comment on their navigational impacts regardless of his opinion. He said a Radisson environmental consultant approached him regarding building private docks behind the hotel. He suggested the consultants meet with the Sand Key Civic Association, and other groups to obtain public input regarding the project. Mr. Morris permitted the consultants to use the Sailing Center conference room for a meeting as they requested a good visual image of the waterway. Mr. Morris also invited a local fisherman, the Windjammers Club, and other interested parties to provide the consultant with additional public input. No official public meeting was held. The public is concerned that powerboats using those docks will create a safety issue for students in the Youth Program at the Sailing Center. A member commented that the board is not questioning the Harbormaster’s integrity. It was felt his job is a difficult one and he has done an incredible job. He said the board is in favor of additional docks. The study is not completed regarding environmental impacts on Sand Key. Not enough is available to determine reasonable dockage. It was noted that there is no temporary dockage on the south or north end of Clearwater Beach or Sand Key other than at the Marina or at Frenchy’s. It was remarked that the Sand Key Civic Association will bring up this issue at their next meeting. One member was pleased that the Harbormaster took the time to invite others to the meeting with the Radisson’s consultants. Mr. Morris said an environmental study must be done at the Yacht Basin before docks can be considered. The board’s request to incorporate the footprint of the current Memorial Causeway bridge into dockage plans once the new bridge is built is pending and no additional information is available. Board members requested they be included in future meetings and presentations held by the Radisson Hotel’s consultants. It was suggested inviting the consultants to a Marine Advisory Board meeting. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said the Radisson Hotel does not own the bottom land for the proposed docks. A State lease is required. It was suggested boaters using the Radisson docks be steered to the Coast Guard channel. Mr. Morris said most people are more concerned about recreational weekend boaters using the docks. Most cruising boaters abide by channel markings. He said boat activity legally cannot be restricted from a body of water unless the area borders a State park. Mr. Morris said he would like to construct a dock restricted to supporting the Youth Program at the Sailing Center and prohibiting powerboats and overnight dockage. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said before docks could be placed in the vicinity of the old Clearwater Yacht Club, staff would have to work around the seagrass beds or mitigate. It was remarked that the docks are functional at the Yacht Basin apartments. Mr. Morris said in his budget meeting today, he will review next year’s budget and use of retained earnings. Plans are to replace the Marina’s inground fuel system and piping by 2004. The Seminole launch ramps also may need to be dredged. A lot of the retained earnings fund is programmed for regular maintenance and repairs. Member Horne moved that Mr. Morris request the possibility of funds to proceed with a dock application at the Yacht Club at today’s budget meeting. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said two ramps at the Sailing Center have been delayed because the City must obtain a SWFMUD (Southwest Florida Water Management) permit before the contractor can begin work. Mr. Morris said he will attend the Sand Key Civic Association meeting tonight. Mr. Morris said the tenant of the bait house at the marina intends to expand it to provide food service. He also wants to expand the docks for seating and to allow cooking of fish caught. As the bait house is on City property, it went through the permitting process. The same footprint of the existing building is being used. The old ticket booth at the Marina will be modified by the City and used for restrooms to accommodate patrons of the bait house. Two of the restrooms facing west will require key entry and will have showers for transient boaters. The general public will use the other two facing east. As the Marina has paid for extra parking on the causeway to support Marina expansion, other business owners will be able to expand their businesses. Additional parking on the Causeway on the temporary lot was used as an expansion of a permitted use at the Marina. It is unclear if the temporary lot will cease once the parking garage in or around the downtown is built. One member expressed concern that as an adjacent property owner, he was not notified of any expansion of use for the bait house or the Flagship, and is concerned that the temporary parking lot on the Causeway impedes his view. Mr. Morris said the County should have notified him. He said the temporary parking lot was expanded for Spring Break. The ballard portion of it also was increased for bus parking. One member said Howard Johnson’s is planning to submit a dock application for the north side of Bayway. The dock will be approximately 240 feet and accommodate 20 boats with open space of 3 feet on each end to the property line to prevent walking from dock to dock. Boaters can tie up at the docks while vacationing. It is possible that renters from other hotels may be able to rent the slips for a short period of time. He said he thinks they also may provide some boat lifts for rent. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said board members should attend public meetings to obtain information regarding the DeGuardiola group’s progress. It was suggested after the group develops a design for the downtown, the board should invite them to another meeting to discuss waterfront plans. ITEM 4 – Other Business – None. ITEM 5 – Agenda for Next meeting on May 10, 2000 ITEM 6 - Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:05 a.m.