HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Watershore and Beach Advisory Committee - 01/04/2024 w 1201 Leopard Street
City of Corpus Christi
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Meeting Minutes - Final
Watershore and Beach Advisory Committee
Thursday,January 4,2024 5:30 PM 6th Floor Conference Room,City Hall
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A. Call To Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:33 pm.
B. Roll Call
Present: 7- Armon D.Alex, David Zill, Larisa A. Ford, Scott Lawson, Kathryn Hyatt, Harrison A.
McNeil, and Philip Blackmar
Excused: 1 - Ruben Macias
C. Public Comment
There was no one from the public that wanted to speak. There were several City people
in attendance and so each person in attendance introduced themselves, including the
WBAC members.
Cliff Schlabach, the representative from BMAC did want to speak. Cliff wanted to relay
that several visitors to the beach are upset with the Kite board surfers. The kite boarders
are being reckless, they are endangering other visitors. Cliff wants to bring this problem
back to WRAC, it has been discussed in the past, but it needs to be revisited before
something happens.
D. Approval of Minutes and Action on Absences
The minutes from the December 7, 2023 were approved. Scott made the first motion and
Larisa made the second. The minutes were unanimously approved.
E. Committee Reports
1. 23-2039 PRAC Report - Howard Schauer
Howard reported that at the last PRAC meeting they discussed, in detail, the Holly Trail
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Watershore and Beach Advisory Meeting Minutes -Final January 4,2024
Committee
project. Scott asked if there was anymore discussion regarding the smoking ban and
Howard reported that City Council did not want to address the issue.
2. 23-2040 BMAC Report - Cliff Schlabach
Cliff reported that there is not much going on at GMAC. They did get an application from
the City for an additional beach access road just south of Port Royal. Cliff discussed the
issue of the sand dune with regards to this access road, he is looking forward to more on
this application. Philip wanted to know if WBAC members could look at the application.
Cliff didn't think that through BMAC he could, but since it's a City application (public work
project) we should be able to get a copy.
3. 23-1761 ISAC Report
Harrison reported that ISAC did not meet; they didn't have quorum. He did relay that the
lifeguard resolution was presented to City Council with the backing of ISAC & WBAC.
Harrison noted that there will be some issues that ISAC will be looking at that we will be
interested in, like the mobility study, the shoreline erosion plan and Commodore master
park plan.
F. Staff Reports
Darren started his report by giving the committee the numbers from Beach Rescue for
2023, regarding general contacts, preventables, drownings, and welfare checks. The
major increases was in general contacts, they went up by 13,000, and the preventables
were also up by 13,000. There was 1 drowning in 2023 and welfare checks were 121.
Darren talked about jellyfish stings, how they come in waves, every other year there
seems to be an abundance of them.
Darren explained that the philosophy has changed at Beach Rescue; they are now
proactive instead of reactive! Armon wanted to know if there was some way to
acknowledge the guards and Darren said he is planning to during Beach Safety week.
Darren reported that permits sales were up this year by 14,000 (this includes Port A and
the County) and that the 2024 permits have been distributed to the vendors. Howard
wanted an update regarding the disable veteran's permits and he was told that Beach
Operations has given some permit to the Park and Recreation department located on the
second floor of the Bayview Towers building and working on participating in the Veteran's
round table. Darren passed out photos of the work being done on the beach, the
dredging, it's working!
G. Unfinished Business
4. 23-1599 Sand and Shorelines
The subcommittee did not meet and had decided that they would wait for the new
members of WBAC to be appointed, in particular the candidate from the Blucher Institute.
That position did not get filled.
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Watershore and Beach Advisory Meeting Minutes -Final January 4,2024
Committee
H. New Business for Discussion and Possible Action
5. 23®2038 Update from Tyler Florence and/or Sergio Gonzalez regarding the CEPRA grant
Tyler reported that the study application for the Bayfront Erosion Control project has been
selected for priority consideration by the GLO. The award amount would be about 1.3
million for phase 1. Tyler will be meeting with the GLO in January with the initial scoping
of the project. Once this is completed, it would be 3 to 6 months before contract
execution. This project will focus on Oleander Point, Ropes Park and Poenisch Park.
Harrison asked that WBAC be updated periodically about this project.
I. Future Agenda Items
Review the 2024 goals.
J. Adjournment
As there was no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:11 PM.
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