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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-15 Marine Advisory Board Minutes • City of Dania Beach Marine Advisory Board March 15,2006 The Marine Advisory Board met Wednesday,March 15's in the City Hall Conference Room. The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m.by Chairman Clive Taylor. Members present: Debby Bradford Mike Grady Ray Lair Billy Phipps Carol Stokrocki Bernard Swindell Clive Taylor Louis Webb Members absent: Charles McKenna(excused) Brian Carroll(excused) Craig McAdams William Wosenitz(excused) John Kafouros Others present: Deputy Jay Dunning,BSO 2 student observers from South Broward High School Suzanne Witz Bud Witz Chairman Taylor announced that Lester McKinney had resigned from the board and Mark Latimer is no longer a board member due to six unexcused absences. Minutes of the previous meeting were presented for approval. Debby Bradford said her name was . misspelled. A motion was made by Carol Stokrocki,seconded by Debby Bradford,the minutes be approved with the name spelled correctly. Motion carried. Chairman Taylor said Larry Leeds,Community Development Director,had been scheduled to attend the meeting this evening but so far hasn't arrived. He then introduced guest Deputy Jay Dunning who was filling in for Deputy Jason Riddle. Deputy Dunning informed the board he is based in the Pompano Beach area but is very familiar with the problems that exist in Dania Beach,particularly the derelict boat issue. Chairman Taylor began by saying that since Capt Morris is no longer the Liaison for the board,no report is available in regard to the renourishment project or what is taking place in the pier and beach areas. He then moved on to old business. He said the two most important issues at the present time are the Dania Beach Yacht Club and the dredging project.First the Dania Beach Yacht Club, Chairman Taylor said he had called Mayor Flury and discussed the issue with her. She indicated the City Manager wants to have a group of people from the board meet with the Commission and present the boards ideas and suggestions. Mayor Flury seemed to be in favor of the topic being brought to a Commission Meeting. The City Manager had suggested a workshop. Whatever type of meeting is decided,Chairman Taylor feels he and Capt.Kafouros should be present as well as any of the other board members who so desire. Chairman Taylor said he feels the board is in complete agreement on all the issues the board report recommended. A major point in the report was no grants should be involved. There's enough potential income to make it possible for anything that needs to be accomplished to be covered without any grant money. With no outside money involved, residents could be given a discount.That point must be emphasized.Another issue the board should stress is that the project should be managed in-house. It seems the mood of some of the city authority is to privatize everything. The advisory board has researched a number of other marinas from Miami,to Hollywood,to Ft.Lauderdale and found them all to be city managed. Hollywood has been successfully managing their marina since 1923. Chairman Taylor mentioned the number of slips the presentation is based on must be confirmed before meeting with the Commission. 1. • Chairman Taylor said he expects a call in late March to present the boards plan to the Commission. Carol Stokrocki said she felt as many of the board members as possible should be present when the meeting occurs. It was suggested the meeting be held as quickly as possible since the budgeting project for the coming year is scheduled very soon. Chairman Taylor thinks the City Manager plans a transition period which mainly would be a fact-finding period. Supposedly the transition is going to be a gradual thing. As far as the budget is concerned,repair and a study on electrical,plumbing, etc.is necessary and probably some temporary dock repair is needed. Metered water supply is in the report but Hollywood recommends just one meter and either applying an individual fee based on boat size or included in the rent. More meters mean more trouble and more leaks. Also it has been suggested there should be no"live aboards"because that can present problems with parking, children,etc. Chairman Taylor said the other important issue is the US#1 bridge and the dredging project He passed around a letter written by State Representative Tim Ryan to the Department of Transportation asking their help in solving the existing problems at the bridge. Chairman Taylor explained the bridge is the narrowest point in the big loop and is a choke point The water flow is blocked by several factors,the fenders,the fact it was not dog deep enough,and the buildup of debris under the bridge. Broward County is now promoting a program of river trails for people to kayak and canoe and the high velocity of flow under the bridge presents a very dangerous challenge and has caused many boating accidents. The present condition only allows one-way traffic of vessels under the bridge. A major dredging project is planned up to the bridge and Chairman Taylor feels it should include under the bridge as well. He said he plans on attending the next meeting of the Broward Marine Advisory Board,which will take place the first week of April, to inform them that Dania Beach wants the area under the bridge included in the project He will get the exact date, location and time so as many board members as possible can attend the meeting as well. • Mr.Webb brought up the subject of disposal of derelict boats. He was informed this issue had been discussed previously and a proposal for an amnesty program for Dania Beach residents was requested. Capt.Morris made arrangements for Dominick Orlando,Dania Beach Public Works Director,to attend the October 191h,2005 board meeting to discuss the problem.Mr.Orlando said Public Works is not equipped to handle boat disposal and stressed they are not a disposal facility. They are a transfer station. After a lengthy discussion he offered to have his assistant contact Waste Management regarding their policy for boat disposal. The October 19t°meeting took place prior to Hurricane Wilma and Mr.Orlando has had more pressing issues to handle since then. Mr.Webb was not aware of the action previously taken since he only joined the board in January,2006. Ms. Witz offered to make copies of minutes of previous meetings for Mr.Webb to bring him current with what action has taken place.Deputy Dunning offered some information on boat disposals he had been involved with. He stressed anyone who sells a boat to someone else should get proof of sale and keep as much information as possible regarding the sale.Everyone agreed boat disposal is a major problem,particularly where a large boat is involved. More information is needed and this issue will be discussed further at a future board meeting. Carol Stokrocki asked why there was no one from the City present at this meeting.Chairman Taylor said Kathy had told him Larry Leeds was going to attend.It was his understanding that a different person from the City would be present at each meeting to act as Liaison. A number of comments were made regarding the fact there is no one present to update the board on important items or to support the board or correct any misunderstanding.When Capt.Morris was taken away from the board without any advance notice or any opportunity to express the feelings and concerns of the board it was unfair and left the board without an anchor. Ms.Bradford asked if the board can't ask that CapL Morris be reinstated as Liaison. Everyone agreed that he is sorely missed. Chairman Taylor confirmed that somebody who is knowledgeable and dependable is needed. He said there were issues which involved time and the board can't get too involved in the City personnel problems. • 2. • Chairman Taylor said he had talked to Mayor Pat Flury about the problem and she said the Commission can't get involved either but if whatever is happening is not working out the board should let her know and Chairman Taylor said he certainly intends to do so.The board needs to be able to make recommendations and send them to the different department heads when needed and also be kept advised insofar as other issues in the city are concerned The general feeling of the entire board was that Capt.Morris was great. Chairman Taylor suggested a motion be made to the effect that the board needs a dependable,knowledgeable,assigned Liaison. Ms.Stokrocki commented the Liaison needs to be current on what is going on with the beach as well as the City. Louis Webb made a motion that the Marine Advisory Board be provided with a Liaison who is dependable and knowledgeable insofar as the beach area as well as the City is concerned. The motion was seconded by Carol Stockrocki and also everyone else present Motion carried unanimously. One last question was asked by Mr.Webb.He wanted information about tree limbs and other trash removal from the waterways. Chairman Taylor said this issue has been discussed on several previous occasions. Capt Morris had managed to get South Florida Water Management involved in one issue where several trees had fallen into the water by the bridge.He said he didn't know how he did it but he always seemed to be able to get most of the boards problems resolved. There were many other things he was able to accomplish insofar as this issue was concerned. Chairman Taylor suggested calling Dominick Orlando regarding any dangerous trash in the waterway problems.. One of the student observers asked a question about residents parking boats in their yards or in the Swale. Chairman Taylor was able to furnish the information she requested. There being no further business to bring before the board,Chairman Taylor adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. • Clive Taylor,Chairman Respectfully submitted, Suzanne Witz 3 �