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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee - 02/01/2018 WATERSHORE AND BEACH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Regular Called Meeting, Thursday, February 1, 2018 5:30 pm Staff Conference Room, City Hall 1201 Leopard Street, Corpus Christi, TX Members Present Members Absent Staff Present Cliff Schlabach Phillippe Tissot Josh Wentworth Jennifer Pollack Darren Gurley Terry Palmer Martha Lawhon Carrie Robertson Meyer Jyoti Patel Daniel Mazoch Mukesh Subedee Meredith Darden I. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 5:30 pm. II. ROLL CALL The roll was called and a quorum was present. I. ADOPTION OF MINUTES Minutes from the January 4, 2018 meeting were distributed for review and approval. Daniel made a motion to accept the minutes as presented, Carrie seconded, unanimously approved. Motion passed. IV. HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC There was 7 people in attendance; most of these people were from North Beach. Several of these people wanted to thank the WBAC committee for the work they are doing because it is making North Beach more enjoyable. A couple of issues also brought up were BBQs, trash blowing, dog issues & police/patrol presents. One man wanted to see more biking lanes in North Beach; safer too. One of the women there addressed the restroom and homeless issue and the need for help with both of those. Jerry Plemons from PRAC (Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee) spoke and wanted to encourage the public to attend PRAC meetings because that committee also needs to hear these comments. V. BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION 1 New Business a. North Beach Restroom Carrie gave handouts to the committee members with pictures and information regarding the restrooms. Carrie spoke first about the lack of parking at North Beach; there is no vehicular traffic allowed on North Beach and very little authorized parking, mostly visitors park on the city streets. With regards to the restroom, they are mostly being used improperly; drugs being sold, people engaging in sex, and lots of littering. The bath houses themselves are in major need of help. Currently there is not water because of plumbing problems and the bath houses are old. Carrie suggested that maybe the City could have just pole showers, like the ones used in Hawaii. This is what the North Beach Community Association (NBCA)would like. Cliff suggested that the NBCA bring WBAC a formal recommendation that WBAC could support. A major problem with providing shade (like a pavilion) is that the homeless population will take it over. There are no longer any structures for shade on North Beach because of this problem. 2 b. North Beach Redevelopment Speaker Dan McGinn from the City's Planning Department gave WBAC a presentation on the North Beach Redevelopment Initiative; the same presentation that was given to City Council in August 2017. The current plan has been somewhat changed according to stakeholders wishes and there will be an Open house on February 15th in North Beach. This project was started in response to the new Harbor Bridge configuration: new opportunities to develop, new traffic patterns, return on investments. This project will be under the Downtown Area Development Plan and it will also include North Beach Capital Improvement Projects. The funding source for these projects will be bonds and possible a TIRZ. Dan showed the committee 2 of the plans for North Beach; these were the same as Carrie had last meeting. Dan showed us a listing of North Beach Capital Improvements which include parking. Carrie noted that what North Beach wanted was to have the parks developed and making parking available, not creating new water ways and hotels. Dan explained that there will another alternative based on North Beachs' wishes. Cliff suggested that we wait until this projects moves forward and gets refined. c. SHOTs and HOT Fund Update: Expenditures Josh gave everyone a handout showing the expenditures for SHOT & HOT for FY 2016 and explained each area. Personnel is the most difficult area but Josh and HR are working on a plan. d. GLO Meeting This meeting was postponed and it has not been rescheduled. 2 Old Business a. Update: Fire Regulations Jay has a meeting with the Fire Marshall but it has not happened yet. Carrie will bring back a recommendation or not from the NBCA on the BBQ issue at North Beach. b. Update: PRAC Jerry reported that at their last meeting they spoke of the lack of money in Parks and Recreation; the general fund is stressed. Jay brought up the idea of raising fees and one idea was to raise the permit parking fee from $12. Darren reminded the committee that there are 3 entities involved in such a decision: the County, Port Aransas and the City. Jerry reported that all of the fees in Parks and Recreation will be going up. Dotson Lewis was elected chair of PRAC. They discussed the bathroom situation at North Beach and Jay likes the idea of the solar restrooms like they have at the Gulf Beach. Jerry also noted that PRAC speaks of the homeless issue at almost all the meetings; it's a problem all over the City. c. Update: Six Pack Projects Darren reported that the TIRZ2 committee has recommended moving the money needed for the ADA mats at the jetties. With regards to the beach showers, they will be built in house but they will not be put on the beach because there is no water. Access road 3A will get water first and Zahn sometime in the future. Darren is working on getting prices for the pavilion; the monies were approved for it. Cliff had a chance to speak with Greg Smith and Greg is pushing for the water lines to be done. Access Road 3A is getting curbs and a sidewalk. Cliff also reported that there has been vandalism at the new restrooms. The Surfrider Foundation will be doing some patrolling around the restrooms. Maybe cameras should be used. Restroom signage is coming. d. Update: Legal status of WBAC attending City Council Meetings Carrie and Cliff investigated this and found that WBAC may make recommendations directly to City Council. Cliff will speak with Jay. Jyoti noted that this would probably be helpful to Jay. VI. STAFF LIAISON REPORT • Carrie noted that the new boardwalk at North Beach is beautiful, "just perfect"! • Darren reported that the Beach is getting ready for Spring Break. He is still talking about what to do with Newport Pass because it was damaged in Harvey. Spring Break is March 12th to March 19th. The report on the ATONs is being finished. It will cost $65,000 to fix the lights and that might C:AUsers\NormaD2\AppData\Local\Temp\Minutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee-02_01_2018_3690891\Minutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee-02_01 2018.doc 3 only fix the ones on the ends. The new trucks are coming in and also the new equipment. Cliff thanked Darren and Josh for the good work they are doing. VII. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA 1. Raising the Beach Parking Permit Fee 2. Update: North Beach Recommendations (Restrooms, BBQs) 3. Update: Fire Regulations 4. Update: Legal status of WBAC attending City Council Meetings 5. Update: PRAC 6. Update: Six pack projects 7. Beach Parking Permits (Revenues, Where Sold) 8. Update: ATONs VIII. ADJOURNMENT As there was no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm. Martha Lawhon, Management Assistant C:AUsers\NormaD2\AppData\Local\Temp\Minutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee-02_01_2018_3690891\Minutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee-02_01 2018.doc