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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Island Strategic Action Committee - 05/04/2021Webex Meeting Number: 187 133 9177 Password: bHj3pj6jPJ7 Island Strategic Action Committee Regular Meeting Agenda Meeting Minutes Tuesday, May 4, 2021 5:30 PM ISAC Agenda I. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL Chair Jay Gardner called the meeting to order at 5:3 1 p.m. City Staff Bonnie McLaughlin called roll . Present Members (13) Jay Gardner, Polly Balzer, Charles Duffley, Cheri Sperling, Armon Alex, Tommy Kurtz, Daniel Brown, Melanie Salinas, Roy Coons, Dotson Lewis, William Ularik, Daniel Grimsbo Absent Members (0) Robert Pruski Present Ex-Officios (4) Terry Palmer, Keith McMullin, Twila Stevens, Bryan Gulley Absent Ex-Officios (2) Brett Oetting, Darren Gurley Present City Staff (x) Daniel McGinn, Bonnie McLaughlin, Keren Costanzo, Leane Heldenfels, Captain Frank Perez II. Approval of Minutes from April 6, 2021 Motion by Committee Member Cheri Sperling to approve. Second by Committee Member Charles Duffley. Motion carried by unanimous vote. III. CONSIDERATION OF REQUEST FOR EXCUSED ABSENCES None IV. PUBLIC COMMENTS 1. Carter Tate, former ISAC member, call-in comment 2. My name is Matt Werkhoven, 15209 Caravel. I currently own and operate a golf cart rental business off of Whitecap and also manage a large powersports dealership in Corpus Christi. I am writing to ask the group and the city to consider regulating the rental companies. In recent months there have been a few new businesses that have opened up that are choosing to rent items that are similar to golf carts but pose a greater risk if not properly operated. I am specifically worried about the new business operating out of the old country store on park rd 22. They are displaying high-powered Polaris Razor 1000s for rent at that location and the IGA. Most recently it appears that they have received some more utility based Ranger 1000's. The rental of these is not the issue I have. I personally feel that these types of vehicles should not be rented without a governor. The Razors are incredibly fast (upwards of 90mph) and pick up speed very quickly. The rangers can run as fast as 70mph. A simple electronically controlled governor to limit the speed to 25pmh is readily available from the manufacturer and should be required to prevent rental customers from abusing the power that these machines have. In our golf cart rental company, we have every cart governed to 19 to ensure safety and proper operation. My other issue with this particular company is that they are currently renting out of a location with no street access via golf cart or UTV. They have no visible building that they are working out of, and they have no website online promoting their business locally. They have one, but it is advertising their location in New Mexico. There is another operation that opened up recently right before the Packery bridge that claims to be offering go karts for rent and usage on the beach. To the best of my knowledge go karts were not included in the city ordinance that made golf carts and UTV's street legal in certain areas of Corpus Christi. I sell and have sold a great deal of products (golf carts and UTV's) to island residents that have invested a lot of money to operate them responsibly around the Island. My goal here to start the discussion of needed regulation before someone gets hurt (or worse). I am happy to answer any questions or concerns and can attend the zoom meeting this evening if need be. Thank you, -- Matt Werkhoven General Manager Corpus Christi CyclePlaza (361)852-7368 Office (361)548-9376 Cell (361)851-2460 Fax Matt@cccycleplaza.com VI. ONGOING BUSINESS for Discussion/Possible Action 1. Watershore & Beach Advisory Committee-Terry Palmer a. Have not met since the last ISAC meeting. b. ISAC Member Dan Brown mentions structures/lifeguard platforms on beach that are being washed away by high tide. Chair Jay Gardner mentions that the structures were set up, no notifications were made, and that they were promptly washed out by high tide. Both suggest that city reach out to committees for feedback or at least inform of changes/work. c. Terry to chat with Darren about the structures and to confirm any upcoming projects/updates. 2. Parks & Recreation-Twila Stevens a. No new updates, did request that showers on Zahn road be added to future Parks Meeting agenda, also wants brainstorm how to keep tourist vehicles away from the water (perhaps signage). 3. Nueces County-Bryan Gulley a. Pier: Ongoing, long-term. Ad hoc committee working on design, preparing bids for demolition, erosion issue in Packery Channel Park, put in for grant to build a shoreline/barrier with a walkway to fish off of (should know by August). b. Contemplating purchase of wetlands area towards town, long range plan. c. New Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries President is Bryan Gulley, VP is Barbara Canales. 4. Nueces County Water Control & Improvement District #4-Keith McMullin a. No updates 5. Convention & Visitors Bureau a. No Update, Brett Oetting not in attendance. 6. Island Engineering Updates-Daniel McGinn a. See presentation for detailed Engineering updates. 7. Beach Facility Maintenance-Rolando Garza, Gignac Architects a. See presentation for detailed updates and site plan. b. Jay Gardner: Ongoing project since 2001, included in Bond 2014, last update in March 2018 from Keith Selman “no change and no comment”, Jay surprised to hear of 90% plan in the last few months. c. Bryan Gulley: Cost/Funding Source question, Rolando says the city is paying for the project, current estimate at $500,000. d. Charles Duffley: Wants to understand the process of site selection, concerned that this is an industrial product going in the middle of a residential area, no wash out station so how will you prevent rust without one, isn’t it zoned as residential and part of the PIPOA, concerned that the project is riddled with issues and not clearly articulated to the city. e. Dan McGinn: Parks worked with engineering to choose a location, not sure about the PIPOA question, can look into and verify if the city needs to do anything to stay within their guidelines, lots of difficulty choosing a site, pressure in the last year to get it resolved with limited options of city property on the island. f. Dan Grimsbo: Site location has changed multiple times, says that he doesn’t believe that there will ever be a spot that everyone agrees on, disagrees that the heavy equipment storage is a concern. g. Tommy Kurtz: Wants to know if the city can look at other sites as a backup? Have there been more than two sites since 2016? Jay Gardner says yes, there have been many sites explored, states that equipment are kept generally pretty close to the beach and is concerned about the “full schedule” of the equipment has been weighed. h. Marvin Jones (acknowledged by ISAC Member Tommy Kurtz) for PIPOA: approached by citizens about the location for traffic reasons (and others), the position of the island property owners is that they oppose placing this near the fire station. Board of Directors voted to oppose. i. Polly Balzer: First time she is seeing this, would like a copy of the rendering to see measurements and have a conversation about it. Would also like to u nderstand how it might be used. j. Melanie Salinas: Requests ratings and specifications on the building, wind ratings, monthly costs, can it withstand rust, etc. k. Tommy Kurtz: Asks for other site options and why they were nixed. Pros/Cons. l. Dotson Lewis: States that five different sites previously considered, Dec. 2018 city council approved, we need the building but need more time to discuss it and look at all the options so that we can make a knowledgeable recommendation. m. Dan Brown: Proposes that a small committee of ISAC can choose “the least offensive location” for the building, concerned that there will never be a 100% agreement on the location. n. Polly Balzer: PIPOA requesting a public meeting about the facility, also would like specs and sketch sent out to ISAC members. Dan McGinn confirms that City Staff will send out PowerPoint from the meeting. 8. Bond Taskforce-Dan McGinn a. See presentation for detailed updates. 9. TIRZ #2 & Subcommittee Update-Jay Gardner a. Need to approach Del Mar or TAMUCC. Staff preparing more information. VII. NEW BUSINESS for Discussion/Possible Action 1. Padre & Mustang Island Area Development Plan (ADP) – Keren Costanzo, City Planning a. Presentation of online community survey responses, with full document provided to ISAC. b. Presentation of revisions submitted by ISAC and ISAC Chair (see presentation for more information) c. Ms. Costanzo noted that a zoning map will be added to the background report per ISAC members’ request. The exhibit will be dated since zoning cases are processed constantly. d. Staff seeking a motion from ISAC recommending adoption of the March 19, 2021 draft ADP with revisions 1 through 11, as presented by staff. Will also incorporate requested exhibits in the background document, but the background document will not be adopted by City Council. e. Dan Brown: inquired if anything about short-term rentals in existing single-family zoning within the document? Ms. Costanzo replied that there are no revisions proposed to current unified development code included in the ADP and current code requires a minimum of 30 days for rentals in single-family districts. f. Dan Brown: also asked if there is anything that we missed or should have asked a question about? Ms. Costanzo responded that staff has worked to make sure that everyone is comfortable with approving the document, very happy with the community engagement and quality of feedback throughout the process, despite COVID, but is looking forward to being able to conduct in-person community engagement again. g. Polly Balzer: asked about the revisions presented, expressed concern about voting on something not in “its final form.” Ms. Costanzo explained that the motion to recommend adoption will incorporate the specific edits as presented. Ms. Balzer requested that the beach maintenance facility (P1) project location be removed from the short-term map. Motion to recommend removing beach facility maintenance location from ADP draft by Committee Member Polly Balzer. No vote followed. h. Discussion over the location of the beach maintenance facility being included in the ADP. Jay Gardner reminds committee that the ADP document will be updated, as it is a “living document.” i. Jay Gardner: mentions that he had suggested to Ms. Costanzo that maps of beach parking permit required areas be added to background document. Mr. Gardner also mentions that the background document is much larger/longer than the ADP since it contains so much background information. j. Charles Duffley: Potential developers and investors for Cape Summer prefer that the map shows planned development instead of medium-density residential (FLUM). k. Melanie Salinas asked about grants for bicycle/walkway, were any identified? Keren not sure if any are specified within the document, though Safe Routes to School Program is specified. Melanie interested in consistency throughout the document. l. Keren will update document with 13 additional revisions (11 + 2 from this meeting) following ISAC motion, new draft/date that will go to Planning Commission (public hearing), then on to city council (also a public hearing). ISAC recommends adoption of the March 19, 2021 Draft ADP with revisions one through eleven (1-11) as presented by staff, and the removal of the location of the beach maintenance facility in the short-term projects map; and the addition of an asterisk under that item that indicates that that project is not shown on the map; and changing from medium-density residential designation to planned development designation in the future land use map of the area west of Sea Pines. Motion proposed by Committee Member Dotson Lewis. Second by Committee Member Tommy Kurtz. Motion passed. 2. Island Overlay Subcommittee a. Committee Members: Brud, Polly, Tommy, and Charles. b. Jay Gardner calls for additional members if anyone is interested. 3. Island Rentals (Razors/UTVs) a. Concern over potential speed of razors. b. Jay Gardner proposes we ask the city to regulate the ATV/UTV rules. c. Charles Duffley proposes we have Keith McMullin weigh in on how they handled them in Port Aransas. d. Dan Brown expresses concern about the speed potential and the inexperience of tourists and new owners. Suggests a speed limit for these specific vehicles. e. William Uhlarik brings up the sound and speed issue. Wonders what the speed limits are for these vehicles and whether the sound ordinances apply. f. Jay Gardner concerned that enforcement is not being handled and that this is a safety issue. Wants to recommend a speed limit for golf cart rentals or razors, Jay to talk to legal about whether or not ISAC can recommend a speed limit for the vehicles. Need to review the regulations. g. Melanie Salinas asks about including vehicles that are privately-owned, not just rentals. 4. Packery Channel Survey/Monitoring Presentation a. Deidre to offer brown bag meeting for committee so that they can ask questions. b. Background information and post-storm assessment. VIII. IDENTIFY ISAC FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Island Rentals • TIRZ #2 Subcommittee • Updates on ADP • Packery Channel Presentation (if workshop hasn’t occurred) IX. SCHEDULE NEXT MEETING Date: June 8, 2021 @ 5:30 p.m. Location: Webex X. ADJOURNMENT - Meeting Adjourned at 8:07 p.m. Motion made by Committee Member Armon Alex to adjourn. Second by Committee Member Melanie Salinas. Motion passed.