Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee - 08/01/2002 Minutes Regular Meeting Water/Shore Advisory Committee Thursday,August 1, 2002 • Members Present: Tom Anderson (Vice Chairman), Alan Dinn, Grant'Fergeson (1), Dr. Oscar Garcia, Dan Leyendecker, Steve Moody, Dr. JoAnna Mott (1) Terri Nicolau and Roy Pell (Chairman) Staff Present: Margie C. Rose, Assistant City Manager, Dan Whitworth, Director of Park and Recreation, David Ondrias, Assistant Director of Park and Recreation, Peter M. Davidson,Marina Superintendent and Benita Brunner,Management Aide Call to Order: Chairman Pell called the regular meeting of the Water/Shore Advisory Committee to order at 5:33 p.m. in the Basement Training Room of City Hall. Captain Bill Wagner of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Marine Safety Office led the Pledge of Allegiance. Action on Minutes: The motion was made by Mr. Dinn, seconded by Dr. Garcia, to approve the June 2, 2002 Minutes as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Presentations and/or Public Comment: .USCG — Security Issues —Captain Wagner presented an overview of USCG operations and how local boaters may be affected by the heightening of security related to homeland defense and security since September 11, 2001. He reported substantial fines, some criminal, will be charged for violation of security zones covering "outside", "outside, in" and "inner harbor" areas. The "outside" coverage area is outward from the Port Aransas Jetties, working with other law enforcement/intelligence agencies targeting vessels "flagged" according to data based information relative to cargo, crew, owner, etc. and performing air patrols to determine what's out there, what is arriving and when and potentially meeting/boarding vessels. The "outside, in" coverage area encompasses inland waters from the Port Aransas Jetties into the inland harbor, where armed patrols look for what might could be opportunities where a vessel might be harmed or might itself be used as a weapon. The "inner harbor" area covers areas adjacent to the refineries and sensitive infrastructures, for which a security zone was established for national defense. There are 24 hour armed water and land-based patrols of the security zones (under the bridge and for the full length of the inner harbor up to the turning basin) which allows access only to commercial vessels/tugs; access is not allowed for private, fishing and/or commercial passenger vessels without permission from the Captain of the Port. Captain Wagner reported that Naval Vessel Protection Zones require pleasure/commercial vessels coming within 500 yards of any Navy/Navy- chartered vessel to come to a slow bell; when within 100 yards, to raise/talk to the Naval vessel or its escort on Channel 16 to get permission to pass. He stressed the important of avoiding the protection zones whenever possible because armed patrols may have authorization for deadly force and that Naval Station Ingleside has its own restrictions that disallow approach and/or picture taking. Captain Wagner stated the intent is to get information to the general/boating public to ensure they understand about the protection Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes -1- S CAN 1\1 ED August 1,2002 and/or security zones and to enlist the public's cooperation and assistance bj' reporting to any law enforcement agency any and all suspicious activity. Captain Wagner introduced Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kiefer who is new to the local USCG Office and Petty Officer Harry March. Petty Officer March distributed printed information as he gave an overview of the Coast Watch established to enlist the assistance and participation of the recreational boating public to identify and report to law enforcement agencies for follow-up suspicious activities occurring on either land or water. Chairman Pell thanked Captain Wagner and Petty Officer March for their presentations. Eagle Scout Project—T. J. Hunter,Boy Scout Troop 3 gave an overview of the project he performed in the Marina toward earning his Eagle Scout badge. Mr. Hunter reported he received approval for the project and raised funds for the project through a garage sale. He expended the funds on supplies, snacks and pizza for his crew. They started and finished painting approximately 100 signs from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on June 20, 2002. Mr. Hunter stated his hopes that the signs will protect the public from injury/loss of life. In response to questioning, Mr. Hunter said he needed only to complete paperwork and to talk to a few people before his project was completed. Mr. Hunter introduced his Mother, Alexis Hunter and his Grandmother, Marcie Taylor. Chairman Pell, on behalf of the Committee, congratulated Mr. Hunter on completion of his project. Mr. Davidson, on behalf of the Marina, thanked Mr. Hunter for performing the project in the Marina. Mr. Moody arrived at the meeting at 5:52 p.m. Plan Our Waterfront (POW) — John Holmgreen stated POW, comprised of citizens interested in the form and terms of commercial development in the Marina, have presented a proposal for commercial development in the Marina and initiated a petition drive intended to extend the same protection that the City Charter provides for submerged lands in the Marina through amendment of the City Charter to all land areas in the Marina. POW believes the development should be in the right place, at the right price and maintain public control of public recreational areas in the Marina. POW believes the right place is the Peoples Street T-Head(PST) because it is the least used land that is closest to hotels and public convention facilities, existing and planned; that based on comparable real estate values applied to the per square foot land area multiplied by the rate the Port expects on real estate investments ($760,000) can fund existing/foreseeable Marina improvements. Mr. Holmgreen stated that if the Laundry's proposal was dependent upon financial arrangements, the public should know what are the arrangements; and, that Landry's has proposed three methods of payment (percentage of gross), two of which are public funds (sales tax, ad valorem tax). He reported POW's request is for the Committee to adopt a resolution or requesting that the City Council: disclose the principle terms of the Landry's proposal and specifically the amount and form of lease payments that Landry's proposed; and, to make sure that the City Council allows sufficient time for public consideration and discussion of the Landry's proposal before making a decision; Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes -2- August 1,2002 and that taking the requested actions would improve the public's knowledge of the enterprise and the level of public confidence in this municipal government's administration. Discussion followed regarding capital investment, servicing the Marina's bond indebtedness, there being no previous information about the rental value of the Marina, there being no specifics of the Landry's proposal, City protecting information involved in the competitive bid, no response to Mr. Holmgreen's request for information after the bidding had ceased and the City was negotiating with a selected party and that the RFP was open-ended. Chairman Pell reported the next step is finalization of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), presentation of the MOU to the Water/Shore and Park Advisory Committees for further input to City Staff, City Staff presenting the MOU to the City Council for a vote, and, if approved, putting together the lease document, presenting the lease document to the Water/Shore and Park Advisory Committees for further input and prior to final City Council vote. Mrs. Rose verified the accuracy of Mr. Pell's statement. Discussion continued regarding disclosing information during negotiations, that the issue is based on timing, responsibilities of the Stakeholder's Committee, that the public is entitled to more information, and how the issue might be affected by the November 2002 elections. Mr. Ondrias responded to questioning that the timeline would be provided to the Committee as soon as possible. Mr. Dinn requested and Mr. Davidson agreed to provide the Committee a list of the Ad Hoc Committee's recommendations when it became available. Chairman Pell thanked Mr. Holmgreen for his presentation. Andy Ficken commented his agreement with Mr. Holmgreen's presentation. Discussion Items and Possible Action Thereto: Director's Report — Mr. Davidson reported or responded to: (1) bay water sampling; (2) BIG Grant; (3) derelict boats [safety concern]; (4) budget [Staff to provide year end reports to the Committee as soon as possible]; (5) Marina projects including dredging, McGee Beach sand replenishment, working through on-going maintenance list [decking repairs], some projects being on hold pending privatization consideration; (6) five Marina Staff vacancies; (7) City Council approval of new City Staff compensation plan; (8) need to clarify documented bank charges; (9) bait stand meeting financial requirements of lease; and (10) status of leases [some held month-to-month pending privatization consideration; Marina fuel having paid as required]. Mr. Davidson responded to questioning that he would discuss bay water sampling procedures (high reading response) with Larry Jones of the City/County Health Department and to whom the report is distributed. Mr. Whitworth indicated Staff would Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes -3- August 1,2002 request the appropriate representative to respond to the Committee's concerns regarding bay water samples. Committee Reports: None offered. Current Concerns: Dr. Garcia complimented Mr. Dinn's work during the Optimist World Championships. Mr. Dinn reported that CCYC hosted the 217 participants (10-15 years of age), representing 45 countries, and that all fifteen races were run (last two World events only completed three, five). Mr. Dinn reported that CCYC will host the J- 22 Championships for the first two weeks in October 2002. The event is expected to draw 75-100 boats with three-man crews. Chairman Pell introduced Margie Rose as the newly appointed Assistant City Manager and Dan Whitworth as the newly appointed Director of Park &Recreation. Request for Information/Agenda Items: Ms. Nicolau requested attendance be placed on the agenda for discussion at the next meeting. Confirmation of Next Meeting Date: The motion was made by Ms. Nicolau, seconded by Mr. Dinn, to cancel the August 8, 2002 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on September 5, 2002. Adjournment: As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. Peter M.Davidson Marina Superintendent Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes -4- August 1,2002