Committee Members Joe Ladner, Tracy Gustafson, Oliver Arrett, David Paulson, Ed Towey, Council Liaison Kim Crockett, City Administrator Dana Young

Steve Pavek, Jerry Laughlin

The Committee approved the June 26, 2003 Boat Committee minutes on a motion by David Paulson,

seconded by Oliver Arrett. Motion declared carried.

Dana Young provided a brief update on the City Council’s decision concerning those individuals who were in violation of the June 15^th deadline requirements.

David Paulson provided an overview on his recommendations to be included within a long-range plan. He stated that we have to acknowledge the reality that we are a small community with a unique responsibility to be fair in providing shared resources. He stated that it is clear that no matter what we do, some people will not have access to the lake. We therefore need to look at the full range of resources that we do offer in terms of parks, swings, tennis courts, etc. and utilize marina funds to contribute to these resources so that everyone in the community feels benefited. He stated that we need to add an incremental charge to marina fees in order to improve these other resources. He stated that the other elements to his plan include:

• We must give the public the impression that we are being fair with our community resource.
• We need to consider other resources that we have ignored, such as fire lanes.
• The pristine nature of the Back Bay needs to be respected.
• We need to upgrade our existing docks and slides.
• Rates should be frozen for residents once they turn 65.
• Only one family should be eligible to receive one marina resource.
• The City should set aside four slides in both Carson’s and St. Louis Bay for permit holders that have buoys.
• The Committee needs to address the issue of bigger boats placed on slides that are not built to support their weight or size.
• We need to have a long-range plan to avoid future projects like the breakwater structure.

Bob Voyles commented that due to the fact that boats have tended to get bigger over the years, the Committee has always been lenient regarding the storing of larger boats on slides. Dave Paulson stated that he didn’t object to larger boats on slides, we just need to make a commitment to improve the slides to accommodate the larger boats.

Oliver Arrett stated he was very impressed with the new slides in Excelsior and felt that these new slides might be able to accommodate larger boats. Dave Paulson stated that these slides are too wide and we would have to remove about 40% of our existing slides in order to fit them in. Oliver Arrett suggested that we could contact the supplier and order smaller slides. Joe Ladner commented that the problem is compounded by the fact that boats are continually getting wider.

Dave Paulson stated 40-45 slides would be made available if those individuals with buoys were provided with six rowing dory’s.

Joe Ladner stated that other people might have a different opinion on the use of the Back Bay for boat storage units. Oliver Arrett added that we shouldn’t discard the Back Bay as a future site for boat storage units and it should be left as an open issue. Dave Paulson stated that his recommendations on a long-range plan are his opinions only and he did not try to represent the opinion of the entire Committee.

Bob Voyles provided a brief overview of his long-range planning document, which had been presented at some length at the June 19^th Boat Committee. Bob Voyles asked the Committee members to comment on his document.

Dave Paulson stated that he really liked Bob Voyles document and suggested that perhaps residents could be asked if they would be willing to donate their boat as part of a community "pool" for the general public to use. He stated that this might be a good way to set aside slides for public use.

Joe Ladner asked Bob Voyles if he had incorporated Dave Paulson’s ideas into his document. Bob Voyles stated that he had included a number of Dave’s ideas in his long-range plan.

Oliver Arrett stated that he also likes Bob’s document and inquired whether Bob had included a couple of items that had been suggested in the City Newsletter such as the requirement that residents sign up annually on the waiting list and to limit the length of a permit to a certain number of years. Bob

Voyles stated that requiring residents to sign up on the waiting list each year would be a bureaucratic headache that won’t really have an appreciable effect on the waiting list since there is no disincentive for residents to not be on the waiting list. He also stated that the idea of establishing a time limit for permits is included in his document.

Ed Towey stated that there are a number of core issues that need to be considered such as turnover and the perception of abuse. He suggested that the Committee select four topics, assign two Committee members to each topic, and have each team meet with two individuals that are currently on the waiting list to get their feedback and ideas on the issues.

Joe Ladner suggested that some of what Ed was proposing in terms of prioritization of issues has already been included in Bob Voyles’s document. David Paulson added that he felt Ed’s proposal would just delay the process and ultimately result in the same conclusions already discussed by the Committee.

Kim Crockett stated that Bob’s plan is very close to what the Council is looking for in terms of a long-range plan. She suggested that each action step needs to be more fully developed and quantified. She stated that the Council is attempting to address three groups with the development of a long-range plan – current permit holders, those on the waiting list, and those individuals who have never used marina resources but would like to see the marina funding supplement the resources that they do use. She also suggested that the Committee can start giving the Council certain recommendations such as residents being allowed to have one boat storage unit per household and the replacement of slides with better units. She stated that limiting residents to only one permit could open up as many as 40 slides.

Bob Voyles asked if those in attendance had any comments or suggestions. Dick Kreutter asked whether the City Council was really ready to get into the harbormaster business and all this it implied? Bob Voyles stated that only the Council can answer that question and while it is certainly a huge issue, it is surmountable.

Larry Parker suggested that the Committee consider giving those on the waiting list preference over those lakeshore owners that currently have their own dock space. He also stated that he does not favor the preponderance of docks planned for St. Louis Bay and felt that more docks should be considered in the Back Bay to provide better community balance. He also suggested that two types of slides could be made available, one to accommodate 14’ boats and the other for 16’ boats.

Joe Ladner asked whether the Committee had considered the mandatory turnover plan presented by Skip Wyer and Jim Friedlander. Bob Voyles stated that it is an interesting plan that should be considered.

Renae Combs stated that her family had to wait for a space at the marina and that there are plenty of commercial marina spaces available for those individuals on the waiting list. She also stated her concern with the proposals to limit the length of time that an individual can hold a permit. Kim Crockett stated that there has never been any serious consideration of limiting the time that someone is eligible to hold a permit to less than 10-20 years.

Bob Voyles stated that he would like to revisit the boat usage issue that was discussed at the last meeting.

The Committee recommended the adoption of the following language to be added to the definition of watercraft on a motion by Bob Voyles, seconded by Oliver Arrett, with a friendly amendment added by Dave Paulson: "By June 15^th, any watercraft must be, and remain, in operational seaworthy condition, capable of use, to be placed at a watercraft space. For example, a motorboat with an inoperable engine, a sailboat with its mast not erected or a holed boat on a slide would not be considered to be operating condition capable of use and would not meet city usage requirements’. Motion declared carried.

Further discussion was held on how to provide buoy permit holders with access to their sailboats if they are no longer able to obtain a second permit for a slide or canoe rack. Joe Ladner suggested writing all buoy permit holders and asking them their opinion on the matter. Ed Towey suggested designating canoe racks for their use. Kim Crockett stated that she was concerned with this idea since it would take a resource away from other individuals.

Dave Paulson stated that he felt that one family should only be able to have one permit and the City of Deephaven could try to accommodate buoy permit holders with a way to access their sailboats. Dave Paulson made a motion to recommend that a single family privately owned residence in which the owner resides on the property will be entitled to only one marina resource for that sign address. He stated that the marina resource is assigned to the address and to the owner and only one marina resource will be leased. The motion died for the lack of a second.

Bob Voyles stated that he didn’t object to the concept but felt that the Committee has to provide a way for permit holders to get to their buoy. He stated that Dave’s recommendation does not provide for access.

Joe Ladner made a motion to amend Dave Paulson’s language to include a provision that would provide access for those permit holders with a buoy. Oliver Arrett seconded the motion. No action was taken on the motion.

The Committee recommended that any action regarding providing access to permit holders with buoys be tabled until further clarification can be made on either the provision of city-owned dories or whether space can be provided on canoe racks on a motion by Ed Towey, seconded by Bob Voyles. Dave Paulson opposed. Motion declared carried on a 5-1 vote.

The Committee decided to review a specific list of proposed recommendations for adoption at their next meeting.

Motion to adjourn by Joe Ladner, seconded by Oliver Arrett. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. The next meeting of the Boat Committee is scheduled for August 13^th.