Harbor Commission Meeting 4.15.2020

Detailed briefing

Harbor Commission Meeting — April 15, 2020 ATTENDEES: Jim Bartlett, Tim Fletcher Rice, Michael Esposito, Thomas Graham Jr., Laura Coors, Bill McCullough, Fred Rockwitz, and Flicka Reagan. • The commission approved the January 15 minutes after correcting language in the public-comments/correspondence section to state that the issue had been dealt with at the council level. A separate clarification was made that Flicka Reagan had participated in that January meeting by phone, though she was absent for voting purposes. • Members voted to recommend changing 2020 transient-water rates from Schedule I to Schedule G. Discussion cited changed economic conditions during COVID-19 and the fact that Petoskey had adopted Schedule G rather than Schedule I. The chair said City Council would consider whether to roll the rate back at its April 20 meeting. • The Wallstrom Dock and Dredge project remained active. Council had approved the contract, the Planning Commission approved the gravel drive required by the license agreement, and staff said work was moving toward driveway construction and barge installation. No completion date was given. • Ferry dock installation may be delayed. Floodation Docks was not working under the state’s then-current restrictions and expected its installations to be delayed about six weeks, potentially to early July. The commission did not select an alternative landing site but said it would consider temporary public or private locations if the ferry could operate before its Ford Park dock was installed. Ferry representatives said they had the boat and could control passenger capacity through reservations. • Electrical-pedestal replacement at the harbor was proceeding as a safety-related project. About 15 pedestals had arrived, installation was expected to begin the following week, and the rest of the order was still pending. • High water was identified as an ongoing operational and erosion risk. Members discussed raising docks, possible storm-driven water increases, Ford Park and beach impacts, and the need for prompt repairs. Staff said emergency work can proceed without prior Council approval when necessary, with later updates to the commission and Council. • COVID-19 restrictions created uncertainty over boating, marina operations, staffing, revenue, events, and mooring installation. Staff said the city would be flexible with paid mooring and dock holders who could not use their spaces. All 66 city moorings were reported fully paid; installation was still planned but might miss the May 15 deadline because of weather and distancing constraints. Worth watching: • Whether City Council approves the proposed Schedule G transient-rate change on April 20. • Whether delayed ferry dock work requires a temporary landing location, parking plan, or other accommodations. • High-water damage, dock usability, emergency repairs, and the timing of mooring installation. Upcoming: City Council was scheduled to meet April 20; the Harbor Commission said its next meeting was theoretically mid-June, though an earlier meeting could be needed. Why it matters: The city’s harbor operations, seasonal revenue, waterfront access, and new ferry service all faced simultaneous disruption from COVID-19 restrictions and unusually high water.

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