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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore And Beach Advisory Committee - 01/06/1994 MINUTES WATER/SHORE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. JANUARY 6, 1994 MEMBERS PRESENT: Frank Beck, Quenten Cook, Chairman, Charlene Forest, Roy Lehman, Vic Menard, Scott Skinner, Vice Chairman, Patricia Suter and Randy Thompson. MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert Gross. STAFF PRESENT: W. Thomas Utter, Director of Development Services, Malcolm Matthews, Director of Park & Recreation, SiSu Morris, Marina Superintendent, Alison Gallaway, Assistant City Attorney, and Benita Brunner., .Recording Secretary. CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Cook called the regular monthly meeting of the Water/ Shore Advisory Committee to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Committee Room at City Hall. ACTION ON MINUTES: The motion was made by Ms. Suter, seconded by Ms. Forest, to approve the October 7, 1993 Minutes as presented. The motion passed unanimously. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Ms. Suter reported that the Texas Department of Transpor- tation sent a Request for.Proposals, seeking proposals for studying the raising of the Kennedy Causeway, to various engineering firms. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Ms. Morris reported or advised the Committee of the following: Garrett Construction beginning demolition of A-Pier; $35,000 credited to contract-for work performed by Marina staff which may allow for purchasing gear boxes on new piers; success of 1993 Harbor Lights and possibility of new approach to awards; increase in youth sailing through•Sea Explorer posts and possibility of two additional posts forming; and RTA presentation at February, 1994 meeting regarding possible relocation of landing site to East face of Peoples Street:T-Heads.. Mr. Matthews reported or advised the Committee of the following: pier replacement project included funding mechanisms with Texas State Aquarium and their performing restroom maintenance at Corpus Christi Beach and at the Lexington and landscaping and maintenance of the parking lot adjacent to the Aquarium; Committee's comments were included in Oso Creek Parkway Plan which was subsequently approved by the City Council; and finalization of a non-profit: organization associated with the Park & Recreation Department which will allow individuals to donate money, equipment, property, etc. to the Department. DISCUSSION ITEMS: Consideration for Expansion of Facilities for T-Head Marina dba The Lighthouse Restaurant - Joe Williams, Architect, distributed multi-phase expansion designs for The Lighthouse Restaurant which have been in the planning stages for-several years. Their immediate request is to expand only the kitchen toward the median and over the driveway and to relocate the elevator and electrical service into the tower. The Marina Office could then expand into the existing elevator shaft, hallway and front porch. He added that the walls can be moved and that they would do so,..but felt it was something the Marina or the City should do. sC Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 2 January 6, 1994 • Mr. Utter stated this item was on the agenda to bring a request, which had been dropped, back to the Committee for discussion. He added that staff is not ready to make a recommendation. The Engineering and Building Inspections Depart- ments have been reviewing the request. He suggested the appropriate action would be for the subcommittee to review the request while staff attempts to resolve existing code orvariance problems, prior to submitting a recommendation to the Committee. They are not proposing to build a new Marina Office in this plan. They are requesting to install vaulted above ground fuel tanks as are called for by the Fire Department. He added that is something that needs to move forward right away. Chairman Cook stated his 'position is that Bill Harrison committed to work withthe subcommittee and the committee with regard to the expansion plans and a new Marina --- Office. He wanted to defer the item to the subcommittee for review and recommendation. Ms. Suter stated the variances and/or permits given to Bill Harrison in the very beginning required thatheprovide for the Marina Office. They should not have any expansion or any new contract unless they do something for the Marina. Mr. Williams stated he did not know why The Lighthouse's offer to build a building at the airplane site was turned down but they were 'prepared todo that. He suggested that the Committee make known.what they want. Mr. Utter reported that Mr. Harrison or his attorney submitted a contract that was basically the same as the existing contract. The City returned its own contract to Mr. Harrison. His attorney responded that the City's contract was unacceptable and they wanted to drop the entire project. It was the City's understanding all along that they would build a new building for the Marina Office. Chairman Cook stated the Committee allowed The Lighthouse to decrease the Marina Office from 1,100 to 800 square feet to accommodate their.elevator. The.Marinagot. nothing in return. The Committee allowed The Lighthouse to improve the breezeway area to increase their ability to provide for the public. The Marina got nothing for that. He stated-that although he wants The Lighthouse to be very successful, it is time that the Marina get something in return. He suggested that everyone return to the negotiating table to discuss what they want and are willing to give. Mr. Williams asked to be advised of anything they needed to do for the Marina during the expansion because they were in the process of getting a building permit. Chairman Cook responded that the subcommittee will communicate the Marina Office needs when they meet with Lighthouse representatives. Mr. Thompson reported that the subcommittee issued its recommendations for the Marina Office.in May, 1993. The recommendations addressed specific interest-on problems with the Marina Office and those facilities. The subcommittee realizedat that time that if the Committee cooperated with or encouraged the expansion and the Marina Office moving out of the building, that might facilitate something.. The Lighthouse wanted and something the Committee wanted. At that time the subcommittee came up with a specific recommendation that possibly suggested a modification of The.Lighthouse to allow:'expansion in return for some of these other. Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 3 January 6, 1994 things and the fuel loading dock was included as something that needed to be resolved along with other issues effecting both :parties. He stated the subcommittee's willingness to meet with Lighthouse representatives or to see their proposal sent back through Mr. Utter. Mr. Matthews assured Mr. Thompson that the subcommittee's recommendations were used during negotiations for the last project where a fueling facility and new Marina Office were to be developed. Chairman Cook stated the last plan was rejected by The Lighthouse. Mr. Thompson stated that even though the original proposed plans lacked much detail, the subcommittee was pleased with what they had seen and were ready for further review. He thought there might have been issues such as funding, lease, etc. that prevented its moving forward. Mr. Williams related one item in the proposed contract that upset Mr. Harrison and that was the requirement that The Lighthouse make sure the grass was mowed when it got three inches long. He then asked if staff was recommending the expansion. Mr. Utter responded that staff was not making a recommendation at this time. Ms. Suter stated a restaurant is not water-related and should not be there. Her opinion was that Mr. Harrison should meet his obligations to do the best thing possible for the Marina. She added that if Marina Office space had been decreased, Mr. Harrison should be negotiating from that point as well as realizing that he received special exceptions to the non-water related situation; that the Marina ought to get something if he wants to expand. Mr. Williams asked the Committee to make known exactly what they want. Ms. Suter responded that Mr. Harrison is well aware that the Committee wants,.a building for the Marina Office. Chairman Cook added that the Committee provided Mr. Harrison with detailed specifications for the new building. Mr. Utter stated the best solution would beto have Mr. Harrison meet with the subcommittee to work through issues. He agreed that Mr. Harrison is fully aware of what is needed. He reported that the Legal Department developed a new proposed lease identical to the one used for others such as Landry's. He stated staff would like to see The Lighthouse expand; they would like to see a better Marina Office; and, if nothing else is done, something must be done about the fueling station. He added that staff is willing to meet with the subcommittee and Mr. Harrison in the next week. He reported that there is no regulation under State or Federal law that requires something built on the land (T- or L-Heads) to bewater dependent. Ms. Suter responded that other permits have been denied on that basis. Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 4 January 6, 1994 Mr. Utter responded that the water-related issue applies if something is permanently moored or has a dock, i.e. Landry's. Getting a permit to build on that type of fast land now might be another story. Chairman Cook stated that although the Committee was to have input on the proposed fuel site they have received nothing and the plans were not included in Mr. Williams' distribution. Mr. Utter reported that under the new City Ordinances and Fire Code, the fuel site has to be a concrete vaulted metal tank. He responded to Chairman Cook that this was the only option because neither City Staff nor the Texas Water Commission feel tanks should be installed in the ground. Chairman Cook stated thereare other options and locations for the fueling facility. He stated that a cement block building with a fence around it is not what the Committee wants to see on Lawrence Street. Mr. Utter stated the facility would be a pre-built vaulted concrete tank. The Lighthouse will have to get certification from FEMA or a Licensed Professional Engineer that the vault is not subject to wave action; otherwise they have gotten permission from FEMA. He responded to Chairman Cook that he would provide details on the vault to the subcommittee. He reiterated that staff was making the Committee aware that the expansion issue is not dead. Mr. Utter responded to Chairman Cook's concerns that Staff is not asking the Committee to take immediate action. Ms. Suter stated that she was in favor of a motion to not take action today. Mr. Beck stated that for over a year, City Staff has informed the Committee that the haul out facility would not be released because they were not sure what Mr. Harrison was going to do, where the fueling would be done, etc. Mr. Utter stated the fueling situation can be addressed regardless of whether the other questions are answered. He stated he did not like the current fueling situation and that it was, at best, temporary. Mr. Utter responded to Ms. Suter that a new lease was not required if the expansion did not go outside the leased area. Mr. Beck stated the expansion is outside the leased area. Mr. Utter disagreed. Ms. Forest asked if the fueling facility would bemoved from the L-Head back to Lawrence Street by the restaurant but in a different, above ground configuration. Mr. Utter responded that would be Staff's recommendation to the subcommittee. He added that the fuel station needs to be at the center of activity and that the Marina Office needs to be in a very visible location on Lawrence Street. The Marina Staff needs easy access to the entire Marina as well as the rescue boat out into the bay. The Marina Maintenance operation could remain at the haul out facility on the L- Head. ; Water/Shore Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 5 January 6, 1994 The motion was made by Mr. Menard, seconded by Mr. Skinner, to table and forward the issue to the subcommittee for their review and recommendations. Their recommendations will be brought back to the full Committee for discussion. The motion passed unanimously. Goals and Objectives for the Water/Shore Advisory Committee - Mr. Menard stated that while the goals established in 1993 are appropriate for 1994, there might be other or specific objectives for 1994. Chairman Cook instructed the subcommittee to meet with staff and to bring their ideas back at the.February meeting. Mr. Matthews distributed the Park &Recreation Department's mission statement. He stated the Park & Recreation Advisory-.---- Committee had also developed goals and objectives giving consideration to what staff would be working onandto help that committee concentrate on those specific areas. Discussion followed regarding the opportunity to dredge areas of the Marina before new piers are installed. Chairman Cook asked if the City might approach the Port Authority for assistance in dredging and removing dredged material. He stated that the Marina Patrol provides the Port assistance when boaters enter the harbor, to retrieve pilings, bridge jumpers, etc. in the ship channel and does not charge them for the service. Mr. Utter stated the City has been talking and will be meeting with Port representatives regarding dredging areas in the Marina. He felt a representative of the Committee might want to attend meetings with Port representatives. Chairman Cook volunteered to meet with the City Staff and Port representatives. Mr. Utter responded to questioning that the City can dredge the Marina at any time under existing permits. Mr. Beck suggested approaching the pier replacement contractor to do the dredging:;, and to get permission from the Port to dispose the spoil in the Port's spoil areas. . CURRENT CONCERNS AND EVENTS: Mr. Beck related his concern for children rolling down hills in Cole Park using trash barrels that are not secured. Mr.. Matthews will address the concern .with the Parks. Division. Chairman Cook appointed Ms. Forest to chair a subcommittee dealing with the Mayor's Cup_-racing series. HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: Jim Tyree, 206 Indiana, commented that the removal of piers on the Lawrence Street T-Head afforded an excellent area for youth learning;; to sail. His opinion was that the piers should be rebuilt given the existing;: vacancies. ADJOURNMENT': As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m. S' u orris Marina Superintendent . SM/bkb -