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05/09/2001MARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING CITY OF CLEARWATER May 9, 2001 Present: Tom Horne Chair Hank Epstein Board Member Nick Matsis Board Member Paul Kelley Board Member Denis Sparks Board Member Edward O’Brien Board Member Absent: Dick Safirstein Board Member Also Present: William Morris Marine & Aviation Department Director Cyndi Tarapani Assistant Planning Director Gina Clayton Senior Planner Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m. at the Marina. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM 2 – April 4, 2001, Minutes Approval Member Epstein moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 4, 2001, as submitted in written summation to each board member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM 3 – Marina Parking Director of Marine and Aviation Bill Morris said the City’s Parking Department controls parking throughout the City. He said the parking at Crabby Bill’s was brought up to FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) standards and now there are approximately 20 parking spaces less than previously available. City parking lots are required to follow FDOT’s standards. The project to bring forth the Crabby Bill’s parking area was delayed due to pending decisions by the Beach Entryway Committee. The Committee was debating alternatives to the Roundabout radiuses adjacent to that area which would have impacted the area available for parking if the radiuses were increased. It is anticipated that an exit onto Coronado will be added. Plans are to move the Post Office vehicles into the permit lot and out of the main Marina lot within the next few months. The Post Office has requested a marked path for their employees for safety reasons. Mr. Morris said the Marina pays for Police aides on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays to push beach parking out of the Marina. He said the Parking Department has not considered raising parking ticket rates for the Marina parking lot and will wait until the Post Office parking is moved. He said a lift station and 4 bathrooms with showers are being constructed in the lot next to the Starlight Majesty. All 4 bathrooms are ADA (Americans with Disabilities) accessible. The ones with showers will be keyed. The other 2 restrooms that face the Causeway will be open to the public during day hours and will be locked at night. Mr. Morris distributed a copy of the proposed dock provisions. One MAB (Marine Advisory Board) member said he is a member of the Clearwater Beach Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has commissioned a task force regarding parking on the beach. He said the Marina parking and the Roundabout construction has resulted in a net loss of parking spaces in the Marina. Over the last 4 years, the City has moved backwards regarding parking. The Task Force is reviewing short-term solutions and long-term planning to address some of the City’s needs. He felt a long term solution would be to utilize the Memorial Causeway for long-term parking and place signage on it indicating “beach parking lots full” to alleviate Roundabout congestion. He suggested landscaping and transit systems to move people to the beach as a potential approach to address beach parking issues. He said changes at the beach hinge on private development. He said tour busses are being discouraged instead of encouraged. Mr. Morris said there is a possibility that the City would eliminate the temporary parking on the Causeway after July 4, 2001. Mr. Morris said the Marina building is aging and will need to be replaced at some point in the future. The plan needs to include appropriate parking with retail uses facing the water and the sidewalk. He said currently, the Marina is 274 parking spaces short. It was remarked that staff had informed a MAB member that the City has no control or supervision over parking issues in the Marina and referred him to Police Chief Sid Klein. Assistant Planning Director Cyndi Tarapani apologized for not distributing the dock provision material to the MAB in advance of this morning’s meeting. She reviewed the proposed dock provisions for the City to be included in the Community Development Code, Section 3-601. She said under the Deviations section of the Code, a change is being proposed to address deviations from the requirements of this section. Deviations may be granted as a Level One (staff) approval provided that signed and notarized statements of no objection are submitted from adjacent waterfront property owners, as well as signed and notarized statements on the Pinellas County Water and Navigation Control Authority permit application. In the event statements from the adjacent property owners cannot be obtained or the proposed dock does not meet one of the criteria listed above, such deviations may be reviewed by the Community Development Board as a Level Two application. A section is being added to address navigation impacts related to multi-use docks, which have been separated from commercial docks. Those requests could be approved at a Level One (staff) approval if the dock request is less than 500 square feet; other it would require a public hearing. The Use and Compatibility section addresses use, compatibility, impacts on existing water recreation activities, navigation impacts, impacts on marine environment, impacts on water quality, impacts on natural resources, and impacts on wetlands habitat/uplands. Ms. Tarapani said the entire process regarding docks would require review by the Community Development Board. Mr. Morris’ input, the City’s consultant and in-house environmental specialist, and public input would be considered. It is estimated that no more than 10 commercial dock applications would be requested annually. In response to a question, Ms. Tarapani said all dock application information would be forwarded to Mr. Morris, who in turn would share that information with the MAB. One person representing the Marine Industry spoke regarding the lack of maintenance dredging provisions for new docks in the proposed ordinance. He suggested a minimum depth be included in provision E, Impacts on Water Quality. It was suggested the MAB do their homework regarding the minimum depths as they vary with different agencies. Matching the standards of one agency would not be helpful, but would be redundant. He suggested the City match the strictest agency standards currently in place. Ms. Tarapani said this section only applies to commercial docks. Residential docks are measured by the length and width of the dock. Discussion ensued regarding additional MAB input on this ordinance. It was suggested that the MAB and the public e-mail Senior Planner Gina Clayton and Mr. Morris regarding their input. Member Matsis moved to reschedule the regular Marine Advisory Board meeting to June 6, 2001. The meeting is necessary in order to review the final document proposed by staff and make recommendations prior to the Commission meeting on June 7, 2001. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. Ms. Tarapani said she would forward a draft of the ordinance to Mr. Morris one week prior to the MAB’s June 6, 2001, meeting. Mr. Morris said everyone’s input must be sent to him by May 16, 2001. ITEM 4 – Other Business One person expressed concern regarding the proposed 300-foot dock behind the Radisson Hotel on Sand Key. He requested staff obtain input from residents across the street about the project. It was noted that no formal proposal for docks behind the Radisson has been proposed. Mr. Morris said the Radisson representative met with Sand Key residents. After they received resident input, they decided not to file a formal application for docks. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said the MAB is probably the best forum for residents to voice their opinions regarding docks and other waterway issues prior to attending CDB (Community Development Board) and Commission meetings. He said he does not review all permits, only those that are controversial or that do not meet standard guidelines. Mr. Morris explained the MAB is strictly an advisory board. The CDB reviews formal applications in a public hearing. It was suggested the language in the ordinance proposed by staff regarding docks reflect that the Marine & Aviation Director and the DRC’s (Development Review Committee) approval are required in the appropriate sections. It was remarked that if Mr. Morris feels an application warrants the MAB’s review, he would bring it forward. Mr. Morris said he always tries to keep the MAB and the local civic associations in the loop regarding dockage and other waterway issues. One person remarked that when she moved to Island Estates, she was under the impression there would never be any docks built there. Alder Allensworth, President of the local Sailability chapter (a handicapped sailing nonprofit organization), said she is promoting the sailing with people of disabilities. Ms. Allensworth said all 3 handicapped-use boats have been sponsored and should arrive at the Sailing Center within the next 3 weeks. Each boat costs approximately $5,000, including electronics. The program will be implemented at no cost to the City. The City is providing the facility and storage for the 3 boats. Mr. Morris hopes to construct additional docks in anticipation of more boats for the program. The handicapped sailing program has been advertised on CNN and through other media. Mr. Morris said he is trying to change the misconception regarding the Sailing Center that it is only for the wealthy. Mr. Morris distributed a copy of a public notice regarding dredging in Clearwater Pass. He said he anticipates dredging will be completed within a year. He is applying for a $32 million grant which over the next 4 years makes funds available to construct, renovate, maintain transient-type facilities for recreational boats 26 feet or more in length. He is considering those funds for the Yacht Basin, Coachman Park, and Island Estates, and is investigating projects where public docks could be constructed under City ownership and control. He said he is applying for additional $100,000 federal grant specifically for rehabilitative recreational activities for the Sailing Center. This would help to expedite the development of the handicapped sailing program. ITEM 5 – Agenda for next meeting on June 6, 2001 It was requested that utilization of the Sailing Center be added as a topic for the next meeting. One member said the State is proposing 130 estuaries all over the State, prohibiting boats, kayaks, canoes, etc. in specific areas. He was unsure where the areas are in Pinellas County. He said the Army Corps of Engineers is tagging all Pinellas County permits whether they are docks or boatlifts. They send permit applications to Tampa and the sender receives a notice that their application will be delayed due to pending issues. He said a fee is being charged to the agency that is going to enforce speed limits in manatee zones. He requested this topic be placed on the next agenda. It was suggested that the issues surrounding the Seminole boat ramps be added to the agenda. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said buoys at Island Estates for a no wake zone are being installed. ITEM 6 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:32 a.m.