Harbor Commission Meeting - 2026-09-09

Detailed briefing

Harbor Commission Meeting — September 9, 2026 ATTENDEES: Public commenters Kristen Balog of the Harbor Springs Area Historical Society and Dave McVicker were identified in the transcript. • The commission approved the previous meeting minutes and the agenda. No opposition was stated during the votes recorded in the transcript. • Kristen Balog thanked the commission, Marine Patrol, and community partners after the Historical Society’s 14th annual Blessing of the Fleet. She said planning is beginning for the 15th event, scheduled for June 24. Dave McVicker thanked the commission and City Council for allowing Wallstrom’s Dock and Dredge to remain in its home port through the summer, saying it benefited the company and appeared to help buffer east-wind waves near the boat launch. • Staff said a FEMA application for a replacement Marine Patrol boat—just under $500,000—has not yet received a response. The current boat has improved after repairs and operational changes but was described as in dire need of replacement. Marine Patrol rescued people from three overturned sailboats in the last month and responded to a Coast Guard Mayday, though high waves forced the patrol to turn back. • The commission voted to combine commercial-license/permit rules with the broader Harbor Rules and Regulations, incorporating discussed edits and sending the draft to staff for further review. The revised document is expected to return to the commission before moving on to City Council. • Cruise-ship rules remained the most significant policy discussion. Commissioners favored removing the existing detailed permit allowances and developing a more restrictive approach: no permits in the June-through-August high season, six months’ advance notice for potential shoulder-season requests, case-by-case review, and no use of city facilities unless permitted under a future process. Exact language and legal treatment remain unresolved and will require staff, attorney, and City Council review. • M24 regatta preparations are underway. Up to 53 boats are expected, with arrivals beginning on the 15th and racing starting on the 21st. A Med-moor system is planned for the east dock to accommodate 27 boats; other boats would be rafted or placed in cleared slips. Donated materials and labor are expected to cover the system’s cost, while the city retains ownership. Harbor revenue through August 31 was reported at roughly $221,000 to $222,000, versus a little over $188,000 at the same point in 2025. Worth watching: • Whether FEMA awards the replacement Marine Patrol boat grant, and what alternative funding decision follows if it does not. • Staff and legal review of the consolidated harbor-rules draft, especially cruise-ship access, permits, tenders, and city-dock use. • Traffic, parking, launch-ramp access, and equipment removal ahead of the M24 event. Upcoming: M24 arrivals are expected to begin on the 15th; racing is scheduled to start on the 21st, and the next rules-and-regulations discussion is planned to begin at the October meeting. Why it matters: The commission is balancing waterfront safety, public access, commercial activity, and event capacity while setting future harbor policy.

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