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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore and Beach Advisory Committee - 03/02/2023 w 1201 Leopard Street City of Corpus Christi td� y Corpus Christi,TX 78401 4� cctexas.com Meeting Minutes - Final Watershore and Beach Advisory Committee Thursday,March 2,2023 5:30 PM Staff Conference Room 1st Floor,City Hall. The City of Corpus Christi promotes participation regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability or political belief. Reasonable accommodation is provided upon request and in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For assistance or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact (361) 826-3300 at least 48 hours in advance. Upon request, this information can be available in larger print and/or in electronic format. Present: 9- Chair Meredith Darden, Philippe Tissot, Harrison A. McNeil, Ruben Macias, Philip Blackmar,Armon D.Alex, David Zill, Larisa A. Ford, and Scott Lawson A. Call To Order B. Roll Call C. Public Comment There was public in attendance so Meredith read the rules of decorum first. Terry Palmer was the first to speak; he said he missed most of the last meeting but wanted to tell the committee that they are doing a great job. He did state that this meeting was difficult to find online and he is not sure how to fix that. He would like WBAC to give an update on North Beach in a future meeting. Maggie Peacock was also in attendance and wanted to speak. She wanted to voice her opinion that she hopes this committee is working with City Council on critical issues, making the plans sustainable, lasting and equitable. That the plans protect all beaches and waterways. She is co-founder of the organization "Gulf of Mexico Youth Climate Summit". This organization is about education, advocacy and policy. She also spoke about the oil spill and how it is not over and the ill effects of it. D. Approval of Minutes and Action on Absences Ruben was listed as absent on the minutes but he explained that he took a Covid test. Philippe made a motion to make the absence excused, Larisa seconded, unanimously approved. Armon noted that under Public Comment the word "The" should read "There". With that correction Armon made a motion to accept the minutes as corrected, Philip seconded, unanimously approved. E. Committee Reports City of Corpus Christi Page 1 Printed on 411112023 Watershore and Beach Advisory Meeting Minutes -Final March 2,2023 Committee 1. 23-0313 PRAC Report - Howard Schauer Howard reported that he didn't have much to report. PRAC (Park and Recreation Advisory Committee) spoke about Commodores Park and the Sherrill Veterans Memorial Park. Sherrill Park is where the patriotic ceremonies and events are held and PRAC is in the initial stages of a master plan for this park. The committee is also working on some changes to their by-laws. There was not an update on the Bayfront Development plan. 2. 23-0314 ISAC Report Meredith was not able to go but Darren reported that there was nothing related to WRAC. ISAC stands for Island Strategic Action Committee. 3. 23-0315 BMAC Report - Cliff Schlabach BMAC (Beach Management Advisory Committee) has received lots of applications for dune protection; that's what this committee does, reviews the applications for permits. The majority being for homes but many are for walkovers. They are working with the City to create a permeable surface policy which would cover the City including the Island. F. Staff Reports Darren reported that the beach is getting ready for Spring Break which starts Saturday. The emergency lane is being set up, the numbers of trash cans and portable toilets are doubled. There was a good surfing tournament last weekend. Lifeguards will be mobile for Spring Break. The barge is suppose to be off the beach by Monday. Harrison asked about the jet skis, Darren explained that they don't really use them for Spring Break because most of the visitors don't go in the water, because it is still cold. The jet skis are close by if needed. Darren told the group that he has hired a safety coordinator. There is a certified lifeguard class at the pool for all interested. Philip asked about exit interviews and Darren told him why those guards left, but no, exit interviews are not done. Darren did relay that the beach is looking for lots of lifeguards. Meredith asked if Martha could share those opening with the committee members. Kevin Johnson was asked to look at the Master Plan and he did. He reported that he didn't find much but one critical item; disbursements of Park systems assets which deals with the Bay Side parks and flooding. He and Deidre are on plans for these parks. G. Unfinished Business 4. 22-1576 Gulf Beach & Packery Channel Monitoring Sub-Committee Report The subcommittee brought a draft resolution to the committee. Harrison explained that the desired result of the resolution is to remove the Packery Channel from Engineering and give it to the Parks and Recreation department. He explained that it would be better managed by the people that are there, Beach Operations, and with this committee. City of Corpus Christi Page 2 Printed on 411112023 Watershore and Beach Advisory Meeting Minutes -Final March 2,2023 Committee Meredith explained that Visit Corpus Christi has a data science department that specialize in calculating the economic impact of certain things. Using the data, with this ability, the estimate income this would create is $770,000 in local tax collections. This would create a 95 to 1 return on investment. Harrison added that this resolution, if passed would assure that this system is managed, which would include monitoring. He relayed the Engineering has a lot coming on and the switch would have people with hands on, involved in the management. Kevin suggested that there be more emphasis on safety, Darren agreed. The subcommittee will reconvene and update the resolution. 5. 22-1575 WBAC By-laws There is no update on this. 6. 23-0240 Chapter 2 Amendments Sub-Committee Report Armon reported that the subcommittee has not met yet but they intend to meet with Councilman Dan Suckley and Rebecca Huerta for their insight into what this should look like. H. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action 7. 23-0316 Flint Hills Oil Spill Clean-Up Status Update/Comments by Deidre Williams and Billy Delgado Meredith reached out to Flint Hills. They were not available to come to our meeting in person but sent a email with an update. Meredith also said that she has received several phone calls since. She read the email, for those that were not in attendance. The recap of the calls Meredith receive was that weather conditions were hampering the cleanup. Billy Delgado, from the City Emergency Response department, reported on the City actions. The City was/is concentrating on University Beach and North Beach. The reporting has not been completed yet but the areas are being worked on. Deidre Williams gave a presentation on this spill. She told the committee about actually paddling into the spill on the water. She presented slides showing the oil in different physical types, which makes clean up so difficult. She then presented a recap of the spill. She next spoke of the transport of the oil due to the winds, she is calling this the perfect storm. University Beach is the ideal lab for monitoring how this oil moves in the system. She next went over the timeline. She discussed how hard it is to identify the oil and clean it up on the beach. Lastly she showed us characteristic of light crude oil. 8. 23-0317 Beach Operations and Rescue Presentation Darren gave a presentation on all the beach operations. He spoke about the trash system and the volume of trash removed. He spoke about the miles of beaches that are maintain by beach personnel. He talked about the beach parking permit program. The revenues from the permit sales must be used for the beach purposes. He had all the numbers from the lifeguards regarding their activities, like preventables, medical issues and more, for the current and 2 prior years. He also cover the number for McGee beach. City of Corpus Christi Page 3 Printed on 411112023 Watershore and Beach Advisory Meeting Minutes -Final March 2,2023 Committee McGee beach has a problem with concrete groins, they are covered in oyster shells and swimmers are getting cuts and will not stay away from them. North beach will get lifeguards this summer, not sure if they will be in the stands or mobile, it depends on how many lifeguards the beach has. Finally he spoke about enforcement and presented their numbers. There was lots of discussion about what to do at McGee beach with regards to the groin. I. Future Agenda Items Possible preservation methods for restoration methods regarding the oil spill. Capital improvement budgets. Senate Bill. J. Adjournment As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned at 7:37 pm. This meeting may be held via videoconference call pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.127. If this meeting is held via videoconference call or other remote method of meeting, then a member of this governmental body presiding over this meeting will be physically present at the location of this meeting unless this meeting is held pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.125 due to an emergency or other public necessity pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.045. City of Corpus Christi Page 4 Printed on 411112023