Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee - 07/03/1997 . l ; Minutes Water/Shore Advisory Committee July 3, 1997 Members Present: Trian Serbu (Chairman), Robert Forest, Virginia Henderson, Roy Lehman, Bill McDowell and Mercedes Salinas. Members Absent: Frank Beck (Vice Chairman), Ramiro Gamboa and Roger Wright. Staff Present: H. Quenten Cook,Marina Superintendent and Benita Brunner, Marina Administrative Aide. Call to Order: Chairman Serbu called the Water/Shore Advisory Committee meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. in the Committee Room in City Hall. Action on Absences: The motion was made by Ms. Henderson, seconded by Dr. Lehman, to excuse Mr. Gamboa's and Ms. Salinas' absences from the 6/20/97 special called meeting. The motion passed unanimously Action on the Minutes: Ms. Henderson corrected the 6/20/97 minutes to reflect that she abstained from voting on the Marina Budget. The motion was made by Mr. Forest, seconded by Dr. Lehman, to approve the 6/5/97 Minutes as presented and the 6/20/97 Minutes as amended. The motion passed unanimously. • Public Comment and/or Presentations: None offered. Discussion Items: Bed and Breakfast-Mr. Cook reported the vessel operates under a standard, commercial slip rental contract for a Peoples Street T-Head slip just the same as "The Flagship" and the "Texas Star". Discussion followed and the Committee expressed concern that the operation had been allowed to open prior to their expressed concerns being answered. Mr. Cook assured the Committee that he had discussed the operation with the Legal and Housing and Community Development Departments and they were all in agreement that the operation presented no violation of City Ordinances. The operator,Neal Lillard, has agreed to sign a special permit, dictating specific rules regarding pollution, noise, alcohol, etc., if the City develops one. The Committee reiterated their unanswered concerns regarding the live aboard ordinance, not offering the new operation for bid, revenues, security, requirement for payment of hoteUmotel tax, lease term, ability to charter and sanitation. The Committee expressed an interest in having the opportunity to set and discuss rules prior to developing and presenting plans to the City Council, possibly for ordinance, when this special type of operation presents itself. The Committee requested that the bed and breakfast proprietor and representatives from the Legal Department, hoteUmotel taxing authority and possibly a City Council member be available at the next meeting. SCAM •E Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 7/3/97 Joe O'Brien commented ... if the Chairman understood that before any thing happened this was going to be brought back before the Committee and it has not been and is in fact operating today, is that another gap by our City staff? Are they required to collect the hotel/motel tax? There's some legal implications there if they are. Referencing the dam situation, he stated most elected official have denied knowing any thing about the bulge that was indicated in a 10/17/96 agenda memo on the consent agenda which passed unanimously with no questions and no discussion. Der Wienerschnitzel Leasing McGee Beach Concession Building-Mr. Cook reported that Alison Gallaway is working on a proposal submitted by Der Wiener schnitzel which will allow them to operate from the McGee Beach Concession Building. Their push carts have been successful from Seawall locations and they are requesting to try a short term permit for a more permanent facility. They will sell beach items in additional to hot dogs and drinks. Mr. Cook reported that City Staff is actively seeking methods to repair the facility by either fiberglass wrap or additional rebar and cement. Packery Channel-Chairman Serbu turned the meeting over the Ms. Henderson and excused himself _ from the discussion because he lives on Packery Channel. He reported that the State's peer report is available and offered to make copies available to interested parties. Pat Suter commented that the first report that the peer review panel found"no fatal flaw" in studies done by the Blucher Institute was incorrect. The peer review panel actually reported that the study was incomplete and did not answer precisely how much long shore sediment transfer occurs. They said they had to consider the transport of sediment back and forth because the channel can be silted from the south or north and they questioned the design and length of the jetties because the first indication given by the Blucher Institute was that there was only two rows of breakers and the breakers were so close to shore that they would not contribute to both safety considerations. This is not quite accurate so they have to do another study which is exactly what opponents said about the original study. The $26 million cost for dredging is not a major requirement but rather the maintenance costs and the requirement that the County have a funding source in perpetuity for keeping the channel open. They are trying to get funding through Congress to dredge because it is not part of the general Corps of Engineers assignment. There would have to be a special bill annually unless it is made part of their national mandate for the $1 million per year maintenance dredging. In response to questioning regarding Packery Channel being considered.an emergency access to the Gulf, Ms. Suter responded that was another tact but probably would not be an issue. One of the two local Coast Guard cutters could go through Packery Channel to the Gulf but from the Coast Guard headquarters, the distance is not significantly shorter than the present route. Ms. Suter continued that this is her fourth effort opposing Packery Channel which has come up every ten years. She reported that you learn to cover all the bases when you work on issues and she is working with other in an attempt to learn which committees in Congress might be considering these issues. They have lists of all committee members and the chairman, etc. and are trying to determine who is sympathetic to their issues and what can be done if it goes before Congress during this session. She was concerned that if it does, it will be tacked on as a local bill. Historically, there have been attempts to dredge the channel since the mid-1800's(Rope's Folly). The channel opens in a hurricane -2- Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 7/3/97 but it doesn't stay open because there is no sediment coming down river due to the dams and because of the sink created by the 77' channel at Port Aransas. There is no way to keep the channel open except with constant maintenance dredging. Westinghouse, which bought Lake Padre from Ralph Durden in the late 1980's, had no problem providing funds to dredge the channel; however, they did not want any thing to do with the constant maintenance dredging. Mr. Cook commented that Packery Channel is not an issue with the City at this time. Mr. O'Brien commented that the City could be involved because of its property located in front of the Seawall. He read a portion of a 5/97 newspaper article, "Virginia Beach sued again for failing to properly dredge Rudy Inlet" and commented that the City should be involved with Packery Channel. Committee Reports: None offered. Director's Report: Mr. Cook commented/reported on: (1)Fourth of July activities; (2) 7/8 and 8/6 Hurricane meetings; (3) 7/10-12 J-24 Nationals sponsored by CCYC on the L-Head; (4) 8/7 next meeting; and (5) 80% occupancy in Marina. Current Concerns and Events: Discussion occurred regarding those interested in increased use of L-Head; City Council wants to determine the direction of the Marina firsthand (will write a letter to City Council outlining questions/requesting clarification);joint workshop; if the latest Lighthouse lease is 40 years beginning in 1994;Lighthouse lease provisions regarding the Marina Office facilities; and, Lighthouse property insurance requirements. Mr. O'Brien commented that the City Council was told that the latest Lighthouse lease is a new 40 year lease. He respectfully suggested that the Committee should consider resigning from the Committee if the City Council does not wish issues to go before them for their opinions and advice. He commented that one Council member brought up the subject of additional restaurants and don't believe any decisions were made;the general consensus was to have a discussion of it. Dennis Haas suggested having a joint workshop with the City Council to suggest a dialogue of ideas regarding the direction of the Marina. Mr. Haas suggested Committee members monitor activities at an upcoming, major regatta to what it take to run one. He suggested that the City should not think so much about the profits but rather how to attract more boating activities such as regattas. Sailing activities do not usually occur on municipal properties which makes for an awkward situation. Discussion followed on how boats and trailers are accommodated during the event and fees charged for those accommodations. Mr. Cook responded to questioning that Marina Staff arranged a tag system. There is a$25 special event fee and regatta representatives will be issued a specific number of tags. The tags can be moved from one boat/trailer to another during the regatta. The regatta representative will be billed $5 for each tag that -3- Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 7/3/97 is not returned immediately after the regatta. The $5 trailer fee is required by City Ordinance and monies collected are deposited into Transient Fees. Dr. Lehman commented that three areas indicated on the June water samples did not meet the standards. He suggested the testing method needs to be reviewed and needs to be done better. Discussion followed regarding the water samples. Mr. Cook responded to Ms. Salinas that he would remind Mr. Matthews that there are 319 Funds available for the project Mr. Matthews suggested at the Botanical Gardens: Ms. Salinas announced the Bay Program will hold a series of three meetings to discuss ideas regarding industry (port), local governments and recreational users. The first meting will be in a local hotel (to be announced)from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, September 22, 1997. Discussion followed regarding new laws passed dealing specifically with the operation of jet skis. Adjournment: As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. H. u>\1fLCHL - ten ook Marina.Superintendent /bkb -4-