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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee - 12/06/2001 ?;' n• h, ro sv' DEC X00103 Minutes RECEIVED Regular Meeting VI CITY SECRETARY'S 5.;) Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting `�� OFFICE Thursday, December 6, 2001 p��t et 0 11\ Members Present: Tom Anderson, Frank Beck, Alan Dinn (Chairman) (1), Dr. Oscar Garcia (2), Dan Leyendecker (1), Dr. JoAnna Mott (2), Tern Nicolau (3) and Roy Pell Members Absent: Steven Moody(Vice Chairman) (4) Staff Present: George Noe, Deputy City Manager, Marco A. Cisneros Director. of Park & Recreation, David Ondrias, Assistant Director for Operations, Peter M. Davidson, Marina Superintendent, Rene Garza, Marina Maintenance Technician; Benita Brunner, Management Aide Call to Order: Chairman Dinn called the regular meeting of the Water/Shore Advisory Committee to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Basement Training Room, City Hall and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Chairman Dinn introduced and welcomed Mr. Anderson as the newest member of the Committee. Action on Minutes: The motion was made by Mr. Pell, seconded by Mr. Leyendecker, to approve the November 1, 2001 Minutes as presented. The motion passed unanimously. Presentations and/or Public Comment: Mr. Jerry Vaughn inquired about correspondence indicating that the Landry's Groups' response to the marina privatization request for proposals • . (RFP) was going directly to the City Manager without first being considered by the Water/Shore Advisory Committee. Mr. Noe responded that he had no knowledge of any recommendation just that the evaluation team, of which Chairman Dinn is a member, had received presentations on three proposals. Those three proposals are currently being considered, but the next step has not been determined and a specific firm has not been • recommended. There were•no local proposals submitted that fully satisfied the RFP criteria (the Downtown Management District submitted no proposal but indicated their desire to work.., . • with the City). Mr. Leon Loeb submitted his south bank project, as was presented to the '': A Water/Shore Advisory Committee, which is being discussed separately as it can be done in conjunction with the RFP but he has no interest in expanding into the other three properties nor operating the marina. Mr. Vaughn suggested that the Committee, boat owners and/or other marina interests seek current tenant input regarding management practices and take a walking tour of facilities owned by those who have submitted proposals in response to the RFP. Referencing his copy of a memo indicating that the evaluation committee was potentially going • to make a recommendation to the City Council on 12/18/01 or 01/08/02, Mr. Pell asked where was the Committee's opportunity-for input? Mr. Cisneros responded that the process including.,,.—; having the Committee Chairman as the working representative on the evaluation committee and the intent has always been to keep the Committee apprised as to the status. Mr. Noe commented that their process is to select a developer before negotiating contract details with a developer which can become quite lengthy. It would be unfair to expect the Committee to Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes -1- SCAN NED December 6,2001 consider proposals when they have not seen all the presentations. It is possible to advise the Committee of what the recommendation could be and to provide information regarding each proposal for the Committee's review/discussion before it would be sent to City Council. There - has been no formal policy decision by the City Council to privatize or not privatize the Marina, and they can decide to do nothing. Mr. Beck commented that Committee members have more years in the Marina than does most City Staff involved with the issue and stated that he did not agree that the Review Committee represented a better grasp of what's needed in the Marina. He further stated that he was offended that the Committee's time/efforts to assist the City seems to be wasted because City Staff would make the decision. Mr. Noe responded the issue was not who has the better view or that Staff judgment is better than the Committee's. Staff suggested to the City Council the opportunity to privatize, and they agreed it was an option to explore. Staff are professionals charged with carrying out a process and giving our best recommendation regarding how to proceed. Privatizing a Marina isn't so different from privatizing or working on a joint venture in a host of other projects. Mr. Beck departed the meeting. Mr. Neal Scogin commented that the assertion that the Marina is like other projects indicates an incredible lack of knowledge of something that has a very specific domain. To assume the • knowledge required to run a successful marina into privatization would be similar to privatizing the garbage service is incredible. This is indicative of someone who comes from another city and thinking they understand why/what is being done in the first place. Mr. Noe responded that the Marina and the land in question is owned by the City/community. Staff is responsible for responding to policy directed by City Council in order to operate so as maximize benefits to the community. Staff reviews details, researches proposers, checks details and makes recommendations to City Council. If the Committee wants to receive information in order to provide its own comments/ recommendation to City Council regarding what Staff recommends, Staff will make sure the Committee receives the information in time for them to prepare their comments for the City Council. In the end the policy decision will be made by the City Council. Mr. Pell expressed concern that the list has been narrowed to three potential candidates; having not seen income information; not knowing what divides the three candidates regarding their vision/plan; not wanting circus/carnival atmosphere on bayfront as is in Kemah; there being opportunity to make bayfront unique to Corpus Christi; decision will affect bayfront for many years; importance of advisory committee input. Mr. Noe responded that some information provided in the proposal is private information until such time as a recommendation is made. Staff will make sure that the Committee receives a briefing on the concept of the recommended plan/vendor. There is no problem with the Committee providing feedback to City Council. The issue will not be on the City Council agenda for 12/18/01 but may be in January 2002. Discussion followed regarding concerns for the perception being to rush the issue to City Council. Mr. Cisneros commented that Staff must target dates to make presentations to City Council. Depending on status of on-going issues, the Committee can hold a special-called meeting if needed to address issues scheduled to go before City.Council. Mr. Noe assured the Committee that Staff would not recommend something that is inappropriate for the community. Discussion followed regarding the RFP being left open-ended, without parameters, to glean ideas from the general public; the concept being evolutionary, requiring fine tuning via substantial dialogue before what will be the final concept; that Staff is not Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes -2` December 6,2001 • rushing the matter; there being a language barrier regarding language Staff understands not being understood by non-City Staff. • • Mr. Joe Polansky commented regarding his experience with the stay aboard permit process and -the need to adjust the authorization to allow tenants more than three permits per months so long • as their total monthly on-board nights do not exceed 15 days per month. Discussion followed - and Mr. Davidson expressed his agreement with Mr. Polansky and reported that he would.place • the issue on the agenda for action at the next regularly scheduled meeting. • Discussion Items: Director's Report - Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Ondrias and/or Mr. Davidson• - • reported on or responded to questioning regarding: (1) Legal continuing to deal with Bait.Stand ¢• issue; (2) Stormwater sample sights (Haulout, Boat Ramp, Fuel Station and Bait.Stand) on the - Coopers Alley L-Head (to bring application book to next meeting); (3) Stormwater Plan being submitted with application (will get Ms. Peggy Sumner to make a presentation); (4) sampling procedure; (5) water quality report (need for resampling following high readings - will have Health Department make presentation—Ms. Brunner to ask for re-read information and sekd-to Committee); (6) no further update/status of Grant for Lawrence Street Restroom Facility(will call TPW re: status); (7) GLO/TPW having reached maximum allowed input from public; (8) , awaitin• g updates on Grants for visiting vessel accommodations and dredging; (9) City Manager requesting Staff investigate other sources for dredging the Marina gap; and (10) Joe' -Crab Shack revenue. Committee Reports: None offered. Current Concerns: Discussion followed regarding placement of Orion's Belt. - • Request for Information/Agenda Items: None offered. • Confirmation: Next meeting date - January 3, 2002 •.• a o Adjournment: As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:26 p.m. • • • i Peter M. Davidson Marina Superintendent Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - 3 a December 6,2001