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02/12/2003MARINE ADVISORY BOARD CITY OF CLEARWATER February 12, 2003 Present: Tom Horne Chair Hank Epstein Board Member Nick Matsis Board Member Dick Safirstein Board Member Paul J. Kelley Board Member Denis Sparks Board Member Edward O’Brien Board Member Also Present: Bill Morris Marine & Aviation Department Director Catherine Yellin Senior Staff Assistant Brenda Moses Board Reporter The Chair called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m. at the Marina. To provide continuity for research, items are in agenda order although not necessarily discussed in that order. ITEM #2 – Minutes Approval from January 8, 2003 Member Epstein moved to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of January 8, 2003, as submitted in written summation to each Board Member. The motion was duly seconded and carried unanimously. ITEM #3 – Other Business Marine & Aviation Director Bill Morris said he is scheduled to meet with the Clearwater Sailing Center staff regarding a grant to put docks in at the Sailing Center to support the Sailing Center’s sailing and handicapped sailing programs. There is an enormous amount of paperwork required. As the docks are for non-powered vessels, there should not be a problem getting them approved even though there is a dock moratorium in place. Mr. Morris said he is responsible for “cleaning up” Clearwater Pass although he has no law enforcement authority. There is no marine enforcement unit in the Clearwater Police Department, therefore he must coordinate the enforcement efforts of the Coast Guard, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office, and the Fish & Wildlife Commission. Lieutenant Mike Waters of the Clearwater Police Department is developing an organized approach and strategy to service the area surrounding Clearwater Pass. Mr. Morris said he will be distributing a handout with parking passes to boaters at the City launch ramp at Seminole Street and make the handouts available to the operators of the local marinas and High and Dry marine facilities for distribution to their tenants. The handout will advise them that there will be an increased law enforcement presence in the waterways in Clearwater and boaters can expect to be boarded for inspection of life jackets, fire extinguishers, flares, etc. Hopes are these measures will reduce some of the problems in waterways. Mr. Morris said he discovered a section of the Florida Statutes, specifically F.S. 327.731, which states “Anyone convicted of a criminal boating violation or a non-criminal boating infraction which resulted in a boating accident or two non-criminal boating infractions within a 12 month period must enroll in, attend, and successfully complete a classroom boating safety course, and file proof of completion of the course to the FWS (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission) within 90 days of completion. Until this requirement is met, the violator’s privilege to operate a vessel in Florida is suspended. A violation of this is a second-degree misdemeanor. This law requires attendance of a classroom course. Correspondence or online course completion is not acceptable for meeting the course requirement for violators.” Mr. Morris said this law has been in effect for a long period of time, however, according to the FWS, because of documenting and tracking the violations against a boater database while operating on the water, it is virtually unenforceable. In response to a question, Mr. Morris said if the Clearwater Pass area was declared a manatee-crossing zone, no boating would be permitted. The bottom growth in that area does not support manatee grazing. He said he has the support of the State for enforcement zones north and south of Shephard’s Beach Resort, excluding Shephard’s, out to whatever distance the City Commission finds palatable. It will be obvious where the accidents and other problems are occurring. The Police Department has an excellent plan in place to address problems in that area near Shephard’s, but do not have the resources to sustain the effort. The administration wants increased enforcement efforts and public education to address safety concerns and unwanted activity in that area. Mr. Morris said he is addressing the public education aspect of the enforcement plan. The new Police Substation across the street from Shephard’s is opening on Valentine’s Day at 1:00 p.m. The FWS will be expanding their marine patrol efforts, therefore the City is offering free office space and free space for their boat. It was suggested that a part-time person be hired on weekends to provide an enforcement presence and for the protection of wildlife in the area near Shephard’s. It was suggested the City and the MAB actively pursue finding someone to donate a boat and finding grant funds for an off-duty police officer to patrol that area. It was remarked that costs including insurance premiums must be considered. Mr. Morris said he would obtain some financial data from Belleair City Commissioner Chuck Pollick regarding how the City of Belleair was able to institute a Police boat in their waterways on the weekends. Mr. Morris said the City is encouraging him to expand public access City docks. The moratorium on docks is an obstacle. The administration has requested he look into putting public access docks adjacent to the property that is occupied by the Island Way Grill. The current proposal for docks in that area has Island Estates residents’ support, however, there is some opposition from the owner of Quality Boats. The owner claims he would lose the mooring buoys that he leases from the City if docks are to be accessed safely. Mr. Morris said that he would have to remove some mooring buoys and revoke his permit. The owner of Quality Boats was not happy with the end result. Mr. Morris suggested he get on the list for boat slips at Island Estates so that every time a mooring buoy is removed, the owner would receive another slip. He already is on the waiting list for slips. It was remarked that the Standing Watch Committee is battling with the FWS regarding dock construction. All the dock permits in the City and County are sent to the Army Corps of Engineers, which only has one person designated to review all State permits. Unless there is an appeal, the permits are approved and move fairly quickly through the process. It was suggested that in light of the dock moratorium, anyone wishing to apply for a dock should do so immediately, including the City. Mr. Morris said he received a complaint from a citizen who just realized that the fees had been raised for the Seminole Launch Ramp. Mr. Morris reviewed with him the improvements that were being done. There also are two high and dry marinas that are going to be replaced with condominiums on Island Estates, making the Seminole Launch Ramp a more valuable resource as usage increases. Mr. Morris said dredging costs for the marina are estimated at $350,000 to $500,000. He has set aside $175,000 towards the purchase of a dredge similar to the one used in Cape Coral, Florida. The dredge also would be used to perform activities for the Army Corps of Engineers, bringing more revenue into the City. He said the last time Island Estates was dredged, the company the City hired did not dredge it properly. The City had to mitigate the problems by trading some environmental gains. Mr. Morris said the Sailing Center is considering a plan to offer City employees discounts. There are over 100 members, which is the highest membership ever realized by the Sailing Center. Activity has greatly improved at the Sailing Center thanks to the great group of volunteers and excellent staff that is currently in place. An architect has been hired to design an extended deck on the Sailing Center to allow for booking of larger events. A certified instructor course that is currently in place also will help bring in more revenue. Mr. Morris said there are some wake zone issues pending. The request for a wake zone at Marina del Rey was denied by the State. The State felt the wake zones that are currently in place are sufficient. They suggested violations be addressed by local law enforcement officials. There are opposing forces between manatee groups and boating lobbyists. This and high level lobbying at the State level is ongoing. One Island Estates resident said he does not oppose the addition of docks at the Island Grill Restaurant as long as a no wake zone is put in and monitored. Mr. Morris said that entire area as you approach the restaurant is a minimum wake zone. Steve Hickcock, the owner of Clearwater Water Taxi, gave a brief overview of his new business. He is going to operate a small Coast Guard certified single diesel vessel to move people around Clearwater beach and island Estates. The vessel can pull up to any dock or seawall. The vessel is environmentally friendly because it casts nearly no wake. The top speed is six knots. The vessel is fuel efficient and easy to maintain. It also is handicapped accessible. The bow section of the vessel has been re-engineered to take a breakdown hoist similar to the vessels at the Sailing Center. He feels this service would not only provide transportation to senior citizens and take patrons to waterfront restaurants etc., but it would help to alleviate some frustration with traffic during holiday and peak times. He hopes to purchase a second vessel in the near future. He said he would contact Mr. Pollick regarding stops at the baithouse at the east end of the marina and discuss expansion into Belleair waterways. Mr. Morris said currently, the City has a contract with Phil Henderson Senior for ferry service to operate the Drew Street dock through August of 2004. He suggested Mr. Hickcock contact Mr. Henderson to inquire if he could work with Mr. Henderson to use that dock for this business, as it is a different service than offered by Mr. Henderson. Mr. Hickcock said the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is offering a 20% discount to people using the Clearwater Water Taxi to visit the Aquarium. Additionally, Mr. Hickcock is offering a 20% discount on the taxi ride to visitors of the Aquarium. He said Channel 13 would feature a piece on the Clearwater Water Taxi in the near future. It was remarked that Mr. Hickcock’s water taxi service will help promote public access docks downtown, and should become more successful as development occurs. Member Epstein said volunteers are needed for the race at the Sailing Center this Saturday. ITEM #4 – Agenda for next meeting on March 12, 2003 This topic was not discussed. ITEM #5 – Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:42 a.m.