Vice-Chairperson Bob Voyles called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

Bob Voyles, Steve Pavek, Joe Ladner, Ed Towey, Oliver Arrett, David Paulson, Council Liaison Kim Crockett, City Administrator Dana Young

Jerry Laughlin, Tracy Gustafson

The Committee approved the October 8, 2003 minutes on a motion by Joe Ladner, seconded by David Paulson. Motion declared carried.

Kim Crockett provided a review of a Boat Storage Unit Report that summarized the action taken on those many issues that had been raised over the last six months relating to the operation of municipal docks.

Joe Ladner questioned whether a permit holder who is interested in participating in the joint lease program is required to ask those individuals on the top of the waiting list to participate in the program. Kim Crockett stated that they are required to ask those individuals who are on the waiting list for that particular watercraft space but they don’t necessarily have to ask those who are at or near the top of the waiting list. Joe Ladner stated that this could cause those at the top of the waiting list some unhappiness about being overlooked. Kim Crockett stated that we have to wait and see how the joint leasing program works before any additional changes are made.

David Paulson asked why the Council rejected requiring color-coded parking stickers to differentiate between those who are permitted to park at the launch area, the beach and non-residents. The Committee recommended that he meet with Police Chief Harlan Johnson, who had voiced his opposition to the different colored parking stickers, to discuss this matter further.

Further discussion was held concerning the Task Force. David Paulson stated that the core issue for the Task Force was the new dock proposal at St. Louis Bay. He stated that 90% of the Task Force members left after the new dock proposal went away. Kim Crockett stated she felt that the new dock proposal was really killed following the September 10^th public meeting on this issue. Joe Ladner commented that he felt that the Task Force really will not be happy until the Council withdraws the application for the new docks before the LMCD. Bob Voyles stated that he didn’t see a lot of long range visioning in the Task Force’s recommendations. He added that they are not a totally different voice on these issues and seem to be primarily focused on the new dock issue.

Bob Voyles asked Steve Pavek and Joe Ladner, who had volunteered to serve on the membership subcommittee, to give their recommendations on new Committee members. Joe Ladner explained that he and Steve had called approximately 20 individuals who had signed up on the Volunteer Committee List. He stated that they had considered a number of factors in arriving at their recommendation including whether the volunteer was still interested in membership, when the volunteers had first applied for membership, and whether the volunteer currently was a permit holder. Joe Ladner stated that with this criteria in mind, he and Steve Pavek recommended that the Committee consider Pete Onstad, Patrick Noaker, Lawrence Parkhurst and John Gresens for membership on the Committee. Joe Ladner noted that all four individuals were in attendance for tonight’s meeting. Steve Pavek added that he had talked with Tracy Gustafson about her continued interest in serving on the Committee and he stated that she was no longer interested in serving on the Committee.

Bob Voyles welcomed Pete Onstad, Pat Noaker, Larry Parkhurst and John Gresens to the meeting and invited each candidate to give a brief statement on themselves and their interest in joining the Boat Committee.

Pete Onstad, 17975 Highland Avenue – Mr. Onstad stated that he has been a resident of Deephaven for 30 years and an avid boater for 25 years. He stated that he has had a shore space for four years. He stated that he will be retiring soon and would have the free time available to devote to the Boat Committee. He concluded by stating that the Boat Committee is the only committee that he has an interest in joining.

Pat Noaker, 4044 Hillcrest Court – Mr. Noaker stated that he has been a Deephaven resident for 2 years and ran for a City Council seat last year. He stated that he has heard the complaints from new Deephaven residents about the time it takes to receive a watercraft space and felt that he might be able to provide valuable feedback on this issue. He stated that he realizes that the problems are not easy but would look forward to helping to resolve these problems.

Larry Parkhurst, 4015 Heathcote Road – Mr. Parkhurst stated that he has been a Deephaven resident for 17 years and previously held a buoy and a slide permit. He stated that he had signed up three years ago to be a member of the Boat Committee. He stated that he has had a good deal of experience with policy committees having served on the School Board for several years. He stated that he has a number of ideas that he would like to bring to the Boat Committee including developing more dock slips instead of slides.

John Gresens, 4205 Chimo East – Mr. Gresens stated that he has been a Deephaven resident for 4 years and he also ran for a City Council seat last year. He stated that he has sailed for the past 20 years and will soon be taking his name off of the waiting list with the intention of obtaining a buoy at the Minnetonka Yacht Club. He stated that he is very interested in pursuing what is in the best interest for Deephaven and providing the fairest distribution of resources.

Discussion was held on how many new members were needed on the Committee. Bob Voyles stated that it was very likely that Jerry Laughlin would not pursue another term when his current term expires this February. He also stated that he would not be in favor of forcing Jerry off the Committee prior to the end of his term due to the excellent service he has provided the City over the years. The other Committee members agreed and recommended that Jerry Laughlin be given a plaque thanking him for his many years of devoted service on a motion by David Paulson, seconded by Joe Ladner. Motion declared carried.

The Committee noted that three additional members would be needed owing to Jerry Laughlin’s imminent retirement in February, Tracy Gustafson’s resignation, and the need to expand the membership of the Committee by one new member. Joe Ladner made a motion to recommend all four candidates to the City Council. The motion died for lack of a second. Both Bob Voyles and David Paulson stated that the Committee needs to make a decision on this matter and shouldn’t abdicate their responsibilities by having the Council select three out of the four candidates. Bob Voyles suggested that three candidates could be selected by recommending the top three candidates that had submitted their application for membership by the earliest date. David Paulson suggested that each Committee member should vote for three candidates and the winning candidate receiving the lowest vote total will serve a two-year term of office. The candidates with the two highest vote totals would serve a three-year term of office.

The vote total for the four candidates was as follows:

• Pete Onstad - 6 votes (three-year term)
• John Gresens - 5 votes (three-year term)
• Larry Parkhurst - 4 votes (two-year term)
• Pat Noaker - 3 votes

The Committee recommended the appointment of Pete Onstad to a three-year term of office, John Gresens to a three-year term of office and Larry Parkhurst to a two-year term of office on a motion by Joe Ladner, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried.

The Committee reviewed a letter from William Priesmeyer requesting permission to lease a boat for the upcoming 2004 boating season. The Committee recommended that Mr. Priesmeyer be invited to the December 10^th Boat Committee meeting to more fully explain his lease arrangement.

Bob Voyles stated that he would like the Committee to consider establishing 5-6 subcommittees with each consisting of 2-4 members to discuss the following issues:

• Membership
• Visioning & Long Range Planning
• Operational Issues
• Financial Issues
• Compliance & Usage Issues

The Committee members generally felt this was an excellent idea and should be discussed more fully at next month’s meeting.

Motion to adjourn by Joe Ladner, seconded by David Paulson. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m. The next meeting of the Boat Committee will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2003.