Harbor Commission Meeting - 2022-06-08

Detailed briefing

Harbor Commission Meeting — June 8, 2022 ATTENDEES: Bill Culler, Karen Stroh, Chip Everest, Greg Fisher, Jeff James, Laura Coors, John Baker, and Jim Bartlett (online); Tom Graham Jr. was absent. • The commission approved the prior meeting minutes after a motion and second, with no opposition stated. The agenda was also accepted. Public comment focused on the Harbor Plan update: one resident said the draft looked good and worked well with the parks plan. Staff said the draft is on the city website. • Watershed Council policy staff thanked the commission for the opportunity to review the Harbor Plan and offered updated Little Traverse Bay water-quality data, resources, and recommendations. The plan’s redlined version had requested updated data from the organization. • Jim Bartlett was elected Harbor Commission chair, and Bill Culler was selected as vice chair. The selections were made by voice vote; no opposition was recorded in the transcript. • The commission approved Little Traverse Yacht Club’s request for a September Melges 24 racing event. Organizers expect roughly 14 to 30 boats, likely closer to 14 to 20. Requested support includes the launch ramp, trailer storage south of City Hall, and marina dockage if available. Marina staff said boats could be accommodated together for a limited event period, while arrivals substantially before the event could be harder to handle. Organizers said off-site storage is available for early or late arrivals. • Commissioners reviewed, but did not approve construction of, a preliminary alternative harbormaster-building concept. The sketch would add space on the west side of the existing building for public restrooms facing Marina Park, while using the current north-end restroom space for laundry and storage. Discussion described the addition as about 14 by 26 feet and within the currently fenced dumpster/ice-machine area. No cost, final design, funding decision, or schedule was established. • The harbormaster reported dock risers were removed after water levels dropped, the marina was fully staffed, and revenue stood at about $14,000—roughly $1,000 behind the prior year at that point. Staff also flagged that low water may be contributing to prohibited power loading at the launch ramp and said launch-area monitoring would continue. Worth watching: • City staff and Bartlett are to discuss how to verify the harbormaster concept’s fit and pursue preliminary design work; City Council authorization remains necessary before moving forward. • Harbor Plan surveys were expected to be released early the following week and remain available through the next public-input session. • Launch-ramp enforcement and monitoring may need attention as low water continues. Upcoming: Another Harbor Plan public-input session is planned for the August Harbor Commission meeting; the approved LTYC racing event is planned for September. Why it matters: The meeting advanced harbor leadership, a potentially tourism-generating sailing event, and early planning for public restroom and marina-service improvements.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.