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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee - 04/06/1995 MINUTES WATER/SHORE ADVISORY COMMITTEE APRIL 6, 1995 MEMBERS PRESENT: Frank Beck, Robert Blackmon, Ramiro Gamboa, Virginia Henderson, Vic Menard, Patricia Suter and Randy Thompson. MEMBERS ABSENT: Quenten Cook and Roy Lehman STAFF PRESENT: Tom Utter, Director of Development Services, Malcolm Matthews, Director of Park&Recreation, SiSu Morris,Marina Superintendent, Alison Galloway, Assistant City Attorney and Benita Brunner, Marina Administrative Aide. CALL TO ORDER: Mr. Thompson called the regular meeting of the Water/Shore Advisory Committee to order at 5:05 p.m. in the Committee Room at City Hall. ACTION ON MINUTES: The motion was made by Mr. Menard, seconded by Mr. Beck, to approve the 3/2/95 Minutes as presented. The motion passed unanimously. ACTION ON ABSENCES: The motion was made by Mr. Menard, seconded by Mr. Beck, to excuse Ms. Suter's absence from the 3/2/95 meeting. The motion passed unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Mr. Menard reported the Long Range Subcommittee feels the plan • needs to be updated and that their meetings will continue with the participation of Ms. Morris and the Planning Department. Ms. Suter advised the Committee of a meeting regarding plans for the Kennedy Causeway to be held at 5:00 p.m. on 4/12/95 at Blucher Institute. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Ms. Morris reported or commented regarding: (1) problems with tenants living aboard; (2) Hurricane Polly exercise 4/6/95; (3) Hurricane Workshop for boaters scheduled 5/23/95 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at Bayfront Convention Center; and (4) procedure for hauling out boats in response to hurricane conditions. PRESENTATIONS: Third Annual Corpus Christi Jet Sport Challenge -Elaine Motl gave a brief description of the event which brings jet ski participants to the City from all over the state. The participants compete under the rules of the International Jet Sporting Association. There will be an amateur two-person volleyball tournament included in the event. She invited the Committee members to participate in the Celebrity Jet Ski Challenge. The event is scheduled for 4/22-23/95 on Corpus Christ Beach adjacent to Sandy Shores Hotel. SCANNED Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 2 April 6, 1995 Pontiac U. S. Open -Elaine Motl gave a brief description of the event scheduled for 5/25-29/95 at Cole Park South a.k.a. Oleander Point. This is the eighth year for the event and approximately 100 participants are expected from around the world. Participants from Finland and Australia have already confirmed as well as the Mexican Olympic Team. Judge Blackmon suggested that the event name mention Corpus Christ in order to promote the City. Olympic Regatta, Hobie Fleet 99 - Scott Kee gave a brief description of the event scheduled for 5/6- 7/95. This is the 20th annual event which will be held on Corpus Christ Beach adjacent to Sandy Shores Hotel. In response to a recommendation from the North American Hobie Cat Racing Association, alcoholic beverages will no longer be promoted or provided at this or future regattas. The Coast Guard permit has been requested. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Boat Brokerage-Ms. Morris briefed the Committee on current regulations and boat brokering in the Marina. A draft was distributed for addition to the existing ordinances giving brokers another option for brokering in the Marina. Current ordinances require brokers to rent commercial brokering slips (5 maximum) and display broker signs only in those commercial slips. There is currently a renewed interest in boat brokering and brokers have circumvented the existing ordinances by putting generic "for sale" signs, indicating the broker's telephone number, on boats as if the boats were being sold by the owners. This method does not generate money for the Marina. Staff considered alternate ways to legally broker in the Marina, without eliminating the current system. The Staff recommendation is to allow brokers to place an approved, attractive broker sign on Marina tenants boats in their assigned slips. The broker would be required to pay a $25 fee to place a broker sign on a boat. The$25 fee would cover the remaining days of that month plus the next two consecutive months(no prorating). Refunds will not be made on sign fees. If a boat is not sold during the time frame, the broker will be required to remove the sign or pay an additional $25 for another three months. When a boat is sold by the broker, the broker will pay the City Marina a $100 flat fee. This will allow brokers two ways of brokering boats in the Marina, allows the City some control over the broker signs and will generate some revenue. One broker is currently representing nineteen boats in the Marina. Discussion followed regarding not limiting the number of slips a broker may lease, sign fees covering two months instead of three months, penalties for circumventing brokering ordinances, and brokerage signs. Neal Lillard commented that they charge only a ten percent commission to broker boats and a $25 per month sign fee would present a problem. He requested that the Committee consider the $25 per three months sign fee plus the$100 flat fee per boat sold by the broker which he considered to be fair. Discussion continued. Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 3 April 6, 1995 The motion was made by Judge Blackmon, seconded by Mr. Gamboa, to have Staff move forward with determining an alternate method for brokering boats in the Marina. Discussion followed regarding providing other brokers the opportunity to respond to a fine tuned draft of the methods for brokering boats in the Marina. Ms. Morris responded that Staff will seek input from other brokers and a better draft will be brought back for the Committee's consideration at the May meeting. The motion passed unanimously. Concession Award, Whitecap Boulevard -Mr. Matthews reported that in order to get through last Summer, Staff negotiated a permit with the vendor who had been operating without a permit on the City Beach South of the Seawall. The permit was issued with the understanding that the site would be offered for bids in the future because there were others interested in operating the site. Staff received two bids in response to the request for proposals. One bid was for $300 per month for a five month period and one was for $125 per month for an 11 month and 29 day period. Staff had to ask specific questions of one bidder to verify his bid. There were specific blanks in the bid that requested information on how much per month would be paid and for how many months. One bidder put "$2,000 total" below the blank provided for the bid amount which did not equate to the result of extending the amount bid. After speaking to and meeting with one bidder, Staff verified the bid and both bids were deemed to be for the same amount of money. Mr. Matthews commented on a map depicting the vending site, showed photos of the site and commented that, for safety sake, there is room for only one vendor. Mr. Matthews stated Staff is recommending the permit be awarded to Sula Cox for $300 per month for a term of five months. The recommendation is based on type, quantity and quality of equipment offered. The five month term will allow Staff to bid the site again in time for Spring Break 1996. Discussion followed on the vending site. Mr. Matthews reported that one bidder approached the City Council on 4/4/95 and the City Council recommended that a permit not be awarded until they had a chance to respond to a written recommendation. He added that Staff has made its recommendation here and will take the Committee's recommendation forward to the City Council. David Umansky, Sula Cox's son, thanked the Committee for the recommendation and commented that their bid was structured so they pay the City during the peak season(June through August) when they are able to generate income. He commented that they have a no patch policy and the majority of their equipment is new. Mr. Umansky commented on their good working relationship with the County, selling beach parking permit,utilizing local temporary agencies to operate theirbusiness, etc. and answered various questions from the Committee. Larry Morano commented that he has held City and State permits since 1982. He commented there was a factual dispute in the bid package and that he approached Staff for clarification. He stated he bid$2,000 and included $400, the required 20%with his bid. He commented that the type of service he offers is sometimes needed after September. He added that after talking with Staff, he spoke with his Council Representative,Melody Cooper, who recommended he go before the City Council which he did. Mr. Morano answered questions from the Committee. Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 4 April 6, 1995 Discussion followed. Ms. Morris commented that the bid sheet has two blanks in which bidders indicate(1)how much per month and (2) for how many months. Mr. Morano's bid indicated $125 per month for 11 months and 29 days in the appropriate blanks and, in no blank, he indicated"total $2,000". The bid was evaluated by Ms. Morris, Ms. Galloway and Mr. Matthews. It is City policy to use the unit price when a total bid does not equate to the unit price. She added that when it appeared there was confusion on his bid sheet and because Staff wanted to make sure it was correctly interpreted, Ms. Brunner was instructed to call Mr. Morano to clarify his bid. She addressed two areas of concern: (1) is the bid $125 per month for 11 months and 29 days (Mr. Morano confirmed that was his bid)and(2)will the site be in operation all those months and, if so, what will be offered during off-season months (Mr. Morano stated he would operate through November and thereafter offer only food items on the weekends). Ms. Morris stated that Mr. Morano again confirmed his bid was$125 per month for 11 months and 29 days when he visited with her at the Marina Office. His check was inconsistent with his bid and, as was explained to Mr. Morano, would have been corrected had he been the successful bidder. She added that under normal process, the City Council would not be involved with a Department Head negotiating a permit for less than a one year term. Discussion followed. The motion was made Mr. Menard, seconded by Ms. Suter, to accept Sula Cox's bid for$300 per month for a minimum of five months beginning in May, 1995. The motion passed unanimously. The Committee recommended that Staff consider a one year term when the Whitecap site is rebid. Concession Award.Peoples Street Bandshell and McGee Beach Concession Stand -Ms. Morris gave a brief overview of offering the Peoples Street Bandshell and McGee Beach Concession Stand for a minimum five month term with the opportunity to extend for up to four additional months at the same bid amount. Two bids were received for the Bandshell and no bids were received for McGee Beach. Both bidders offered $300 per monthfor five months and both offered different types of food/drinks. One offered to provide entertainment of up to four melodramas productions. Staff had concerns about items offered by one bidder because they are the same as what is offered by other lessees located in close proximity to the Bandshell and what they planned to offer seemed more than the building could accommodate. The Staff recommended to award the permit to Melodrama by the Sea because they will offer something unique to the public. Discussion followed. The motion was made by Ms. Suter, seconded by Judge Blackmon, to award the permit to Melodrama by the Sea. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Morris commented that she would contact the non-successful bidder to see if they have any interest in McGee Beach Concession Stand which is a viable location during the Summer. Discussion followed regarding rollerbladers, traffic, and lowering the rental. Electrical Usage in Marina - Ms. Morris described how Marina tenants are currently charged for electricity. She wanted to let the Committee know there is a problem with electrical usage in the Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 5 April 6, 1995 Marina. The Marina needs to find a way to more closely monitor electricity usage and adjust electrical fees. Discussion followed. CURRENT CONCERNS AND EVENTS: Ms. Suter reported there will be a Walkathon held 4/22- 23/95 in observance of Earth Day. Ms. Suter reported that although gates have been installed at Hans Suter Park,they are not being closed. She added that a large snapping turtle which has been dumped in the sewer drain at Hans Suter Park is causing problems for nesting birds in that area. HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: No comments were offered. ADJOURNMENT: As there was no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. .4/ W/004 SiSu Moms Marina Superintendent SM/bkb