DEEPHAVEN BOAT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Minutes
Vice-Chairman David Paulson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
David Paulson, Joe Ladner, Larry Parkhurst, Pete Onstad, Steve Pavek, Ed Towey, John Gresens, Council Liaison Kim Crockett, Administrator Dana Young
Oliver Arrett
The Committee approved the November 10, 2004 minutes on a motion by Oliver Arrett, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried.
Discussion was continued from the November 10th meeting on whether to establish size and weight restrictions at the St. Louis Bay and Carson’s Bay launch. Pete Onstad presented a report detailing the weight of various boat brands ranging from Bluewaters to Searay runabouts, and which provided additional estimates on the weight of fuel/water and trailers. Dana Young stated that he had been in contact with the City of Minnetonka and was informed that there were no weight or size restrictions for boats using the Gray’s Bay launch. He stated that Minnetonka permits any size boat to be launched at Gray’s Bay as long as the trailer can fit within the curb lanes. After further discussion, the Committee decided that it probably was not realistic to expect cruiser boats to be launched from Carson’s Bay or St. Louis Bay due to the size limitations at both launches and decided that imposing size and weight restrictions at the City launches was probably not necessary.
The Committee recommended the appointment of David Paulson as 2005 Boat Committee Chairman on a motion by Joe Ladner, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried.
The Committee recommended the appointment of Pete Onstad as 2005 Boat Committee Vice-Chairman on a motion by Steve Pavek, seconded by John Gresens. Motion declared carried.
Further discussion was held on filling the two vacancies on the Boat Committee resulting from the resignation of Bob Voyles and the upcoming end of Joe Ladner’s term of office. The Committee recommended placing notice of the vacant positions in the upcoming Newsletter and to schedule candidate interviews before the Committee in February.
Dana Young reported that he had received two complaints from residents that had paid for slide spaces in August and September of this year and stated their belief that they should have had to pay a prorated fee instead of the full fee since they had received their watercraft space so late in the year.
Dana Young stated that he had received a request from Dyke Williams that permit holders should not be required to provide current DNR registration information since the Police Department can easily verify the current status of their boating license during their daily inspections. Ed Towey asked what was the purpose of the City sending out letters requesting DNR registration information when boat licenses do not have to be renewed until March? Dana Young stated that the Mooring Lease Agreement required permit holders to provide current DNR registration information in order to verify ownership of their boat. He stated that the letters had been sent out now because City staff is in the process of renewing 2005 boating permits. The Committee recommended that the City discontinue its practice of requesting updated DNR registration information and have the Police Department verify ownership by going on-line at the DNR’s website.
Dana Young stated that there were no permit holders in violation of the 90-Day Rule for 2004. He stated that the Boat Committee will be reviewing several appeals at their next meeting on January 12, 2005 from 2004 permit holders who did not return their 2005 Boat Renewal Cards by the November 20, 2004 deadline.
Discussion was held on the recent adoption of an ordinance that prohibited the storage of canoes, kayaks and other boats of similar design on slides and street-end slides. The Committee recommended that those individuals that were currently storing canoes, kayaks, etc. on slides should be informed by letter that they will have to relocate their watercraft onto canoe racks or purchase a larger boat that meets the size requirements for a slide.
Further discussion was held on the need to construct additional canoe racks and on possible locations for additional canoe racks. David Paulson recommended that additional canoe racks should be installed in fire lanes. Kim Crockett asked if it would be feasible to add some canoe racks to the Back Bay, since it is a natural destination for canoes. Further discussion was held on the availability of city-owned land on the Back Bay and possible locations for off-street parking. John Gresens cautioned that the Chimo Homeowners Association, located directly across from Burton Park, would probably not be supportive of canoe racks at Burton Park due to parking concerns next to Burton Park.
The Committee discussed developing a long-range plan for the Carson’s Bay docks. The Committee recommended developing a Carson’s Bay improvement plan by April 1st that would provide options on the reconfiguration of boat storage units at the Carson’s Bay marina and provide recommendations on potential locations for canoe racks on a motion by Larry Parkhurst, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried. The Committee decided to hold a special worksession on December 15th to initiate discussion on the Carson’s Bay improvement plan.
Motion to adjourn by Joe Ladner, seconded by David Paulson. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Boat Committee will be held on Wednesday, January 12, 2005.