HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee - 02/07/2019 WATERSHORE AND BEACH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Regular Called Meeting, Thursday, February 7, 2019 5:30 pm
Beach Operations' Conference Room
8185 Highway 361, Corpus Christi, TX
Members Present Members Absent Staff Present
Cliff Schlabach Jyoti Patel Darren Gurley
Philippe Tissot Warren Monyelle
Carrie Robertson Meyer Martha Lawhon
Terry Palmer
Daniel Mazoch
Mukesh Subedee
Meredith Darden
Lauren Williams
I. CALL TO ORDER
Meeting called to order at 5:30 pm.
II. EXCUSED ABSENCES: Jyoti Patel & Meredith Darden
Philippe made a motion to excuse last month's absences and Terry seconded, unanimously
approved.
III. ROLL CALL
The roll was called and a quorum was present.
IV. ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Minutes from the January 3, 2019 meeting were distributed for review. Terry made a motion to
accept the minutes, Daniel seconded, unanimously approved. Motion passed.
V. HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC
There was no one from the public in attendance.
VI. BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION
1 New Business
a. Darren Gurley: Presentation on Gulf Beach and Natural Resources' Operations
Darren took a group of members on a Gulf beach tour before the meeting. Cliff noted how good
the beaches look these days. The committee was impressed! Carrie asked what the rule was for
driving near the water, and it is that you must be 50' away. Philippe wanted an update on Zahn
and Darren told the group that it will be rebuilt with concrete; it is in design right now and is
scheduled to be done when Newport is, which could be next winter. Darren gave a presentation
on Gulf beaches and Natural Resources (Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve). He spoke of and showed
slides of the sand management, trash collections, maintenance of signs and the bathrooms, ADA
mats, and protecting the turtles and the piping plovers. Darren told the group how Beach Rescue
operates in the summer and winter seasons and what kind of encounters they have. He spoke
about Enforcement and their activities; the focus being on educating the public. Next he spoke of
the parking permit revenues and how the dollars are split. Darren told the group about Oso Bay
and all the programs they do, and the possibilities of having the preserve open on Sundays.
Lastly Darren spoke of future projects and events that have happened.
b. Dates— Field Trips: North Beach &Water's Edge
The field trip to North Beach will be May 2nd, at 4:30 pm. Carrie will investigate further. The
Water's Edge trip will be scheduled at a later date.
c. North Beach —Oyster Reefs
Carrie wanted the group to know that on the Bond 2018, in proposition A, $250,000 was
approved for the study of and permitting of coastal shoreline protection. She believes that this is
something Watershore should know about; it is early on in the process. The City will be hiring
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someone to do a feasibility study, probably through Engineering. The oyster part was just an idea
that maybe oyster reefs could be involved. Terry explained that he thought the water would be too
salty for oysters.
2 Old Business
a. Update: Beach Cameras
Darren reported that these are up and running and told the group how to find them on the web.
b. Update: Packery Channel:USACE's Permit
This is the dredging permit and it "is coming along". The permit to restore the Packery Channel is
also being worked on. There are many permits with USACE; moving sand is one. The Beach
Maintenance one will expires in 2022 so this one needs to be worked on so that it can get
renewed. It is thought that maybe the sand movement could be added to the beach maintenance
permit or possibly be an amendment to a current contract, which every way would be quicker.
Update: North Beach Nourishment
The GLO got money from FEMA to nourish the beach, and the City got a grant from CEPRA.
CEPRA will probably pay 20% and the City only 10% (roughly$11,000)to renourish North Beach.
All if this is still in the works, nothing is confirmed yet but Darren believes that this will happen this
year.
VII. PARK AND RECREATION ACTION COMMITTEE—Jerry Plemons
Jerry did not attend this meeting.
VIII. ISAC Report
There have been 2 meeting since the last WBAC one and most of this report concerns the
Packery Channel. The TIRZ2 subcommittee (which Cliff is now a member) met and wants to
extend the TIRZ2 past 2022, if this doesn't happen some funding may be lost. Philippe noted that
there is a low level of understanding with regards to the TIRZ2 and that concerns him. Cliff
brought up the showers and the monitoring program, as he usually does and noted that there has
been some "movement"; the monitoring program is going to City Council next Tuesday, 2/12.
Darren is working on a plan to get other surveys done with SHOT funds.
Some of the other recommendations from the TIRZ2 were navigation aids, lights on the jetty and
repairs to the boat ramp.
Cliff said that the repairs from Harvey were discussed and that the cost was about $15 million;
Darren noted that, that was "the better than the better" price. Regarding the pavilion (30 by 60);
Darren noted that the budget was $250,000, most of that being for electrical, was discussed
along with maybe building an additional one, smaller than the original, to be located at the
Windward parking lot.
Lastly they spoke of the Park Road 22 Bridge; Cliff noted that this seems to be "picking up
speed". Philippe reminded the group that some studies need to be done regarding the canals and
bulkheads being ready and able to handle the increase in water and the currents.
Deidre updated ISAC on the dredging of the Packery Channel; it could happen in 2020, and also
that it would take 240,000 cubic yards of sand to bring the beach area in front of the seawall back
to the 200' mark. She did say that there is 140,000 to 160,000 cubic yards of sand in the channel.
IX. STAFF LIAISON REPORT
Darren noted that most of this has already been discussed. He did say that Beach Operations is
getting ready for Spring Break, and that we are still waiting for the water line (so many permits are
involved)to be completed.
X. IDENTIFY ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA
1. Update: North Beach Breakwater
2. Update: North Beach Nourishment
3. Packery Channel: USACE permit (moving sand)
4. North Beach Eco Park Project
5. Spring Break Preparations: Gulf& Bay beaches
6. Update: Cole Park & Dimmit Piers
7. SHOTS Wish List
8. Keith Selman: Salaries and Retention
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XL ADJOURNMENT
As there was no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.
Martha Lawhon, Management Assistant
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