Harbor Commission Meeting - 2022-07-13

Detailed briefing

Harbor Commission Meeting — July 13, 2022 ATTENDEES: Greg Fisher, Bill Brown, Jeff James, McCullough, Scott Maloney, Laura Cordes, John T. Baker, Tom Graham Jr.; Chip Everest participated by Zoom but could not vote. • The commission approved the June 8 meeting minutes. No old business was listed, and no public comments were recorded before the harbormaster report. • New marina power poles have arrived and are stored by DPW. Squire Electric may install them this fall or in early spring, depending on weather. The commission also heard that the finger pier at slips 57 and 58 has significant damage and is planned for replacement; the matter is going to City Council. • Staff will pursue mooring-light compliance outside the designated mooring field. The harbormaster said boats in the designated field are not required to have lights, but boats elsewhere within the harbor boundary are required to display them. Staff planned a letter to the Harbor Point Association and emails to affected boat owners, while asking Jim Raymer to clarify whether violations can be ticketed. • Marina activity was below the comparable 2021 level. Through July 13, the harbor had nearly 200 boat registrations, including duplicates, and $84,036 in revenue, compared with 256 registrations and $95,000 at the same point in 2021. The harbormaster reported that nearby marinas also saw cancellations and vacant slips, with fuel costs cited as a factor. A 100-boat regatta fleet was still expected, including 35 to 40 boats at the city marina. • Kayak-rack compliance will be addressed beginning July 15. Staff found 24 empty spaces during an inventory and will email assigned users. Under the stated 29-day occupancy period, users who do not place a kayak in their space may lose their ability to reserve that space for 2023, with openings offered to the waitlist. • Commissioners discussed Ford Park launch permits and parking enforcement. Concerns included possible misuse of the honor-system envelopes for parking, the challenge of verifying permits for dinghies launched for long periods, and the need for added weekend assistance for Mary Jane. No change to fees, staffing, or enforcement procedures was adopted. Worth watching: • Whether City Council approves the slips 57-58 finger-pier replacement. • Legal clarification and follow-through on mooring-light enforcement. • Whether kayak spaces are released to the waitlist after the July 15 occupancy deadline. Upcoming: The harbor survey is expected to remain open about three more weeks; the next Harbor Commission meeting is August 10, 2022, at 4 p.m. Why it matters: The discussion centered on maintaining safe, usable harbor facilities while addressing declining boating activity and limited waterfront access.

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