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

John Gresens

The Committee approved the May 12, 2004 minutes on a motion by Joe Ladner, seconded by David Paulson. Motion declared carried.

Bob Voyles asked Steve Pavek to present his inventory on the slides to determine whether there are any problems with the size of the boats assigned to a slide.

Steve Pavek stated that there might be problems with one-third of the slides in both Carson’s Bay and St. Louis Bay. He added that City staff might need to reassign boats on the slides to enable everyone to fit.

He stated that he would complete the survey on June 16^th once all the boats are at their assigned spaces by the June 15^th deadline.

David Paulson stated that the Boat Committee has tried to be magnanimous in the past and it hasn’t always worked. He stated that we might need to be tougher and perhaps not allow any boat at a slide if they exceed the maximum width even if they have been grandfathered.

Further discussion was held on the need to relocate those canoes that are currently on slides onto canoe racks.

Bob Voyles summarized the discussion by stating that the initial slide survey had been completed with the results being inconclusive until all the boats are at their assigned spaces and some boats may need to be reassigned spaces.

Further discussion was held on the availability of placing six additional boats on existing street ends and moving canoes or kayaks off of slides onto canoe racks. Various locations were suggested for the addition of canoe racks. Kim Crockett suggested that some canoe racks should be shorter in height in order to make it less difficult to access a canoe on the top rack.

Discussion was held regarding two individuals who are requesting permission to place jet skis on their assigned slides. Bob Voyles stated that he contacted a dealer of personal watercraft and found that personal watercraft tend to be around 10’ –12’ in length, 4’ – 41/2’ in width, with an average weight of 700 lbs. He added that the dealer recommended that these watercraft really shouldn’t be pulled up on a slide, they were really meant to be trailered or on lifts. He noted that although these craft are far from ideal, they do meet the requirements of the current ordinance and are currently legal for use in both Carson’s Bay and St. Louis Bay.

David Paulson compared personal watercraft with snowboards in that snowboards are now accepted at ski resorts when they were once prohibited. He stated that the Committee should try to put together reasonable expectations for these types of watercraft. Steve Pavek noted that personal watercraft have become much quieter. Bob Voyles stated that they are moving to a four-stroke engine and, as a result, are becoming much quieter.

Ed Towey stated that he is concerned with the weight of personal watercraft and the Committee may want to consider establishing a maximum weight. He added that owners of personal watercraft may need to add bunks or rollers to their slides. He stated that perhaps we need to find a space for those people with personal watercraft so that they can put in their own roller or lift. Steve Pavek asked where would be a good spot for these types of watercraft?

Bob Voyles stated that he would place them in St. Louis Bay, with its easier access to the Main Lake, at the north end of the beach. Pete Onstad stated that personal watercraft are legal under our ordinance, are often quieter than many other watercraft and we need to accommodate these watercraft. He added that whatever problems they might cause out in the Main Lake is the Sheriff’s problem, not ours.

Dave Paulson suggested that the personal watercraft should be relocated to a street end where they would have immediate access to the Main Lake. He stated that those individuals who are currently assigned a street end should be relocated to a slide at either Carson’s Bay or St. Louis Bay. Other members were concerned with unilaterally relocating permit holders on street end slides without their permission in order to accommodate personal watercraft.

The Commission recommended submitting an application to the LMCD in 2005 with the intent to maximize the available space at street ends and to hold a public meeting prior to submitting the application with all affected property owners within 300 feet of the street ends to discuss the proposal on a motion by Larry Parkhurst, seconded by Pete Onstad. Motion declared carried.

The Commission recommended that personal watercraft meet the requirements of watercraft on slides and that the owners of personal watercraft should be informed that they might be moved to a different location at a later date on a motion by Ed Towey, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried.

Dana Young reported that Frontier Electric has evaluated the condition of the dock wiring at St. Louis and Carson’s Bay and reported that the wiring is in good condition and meets code requirements with GFI receptacles and covers. Bob Voyles stated that Peter Wood, Dock Slip #128 at Carson’s Bay, has a 21’ electric boat that runs on batteries and he would like permission to use one of the electric outlets at Carson’s Bay to recharge his batteries.

Pete Onstad stated that he would imagine that a number of boat owners, including himself, would love to have the ability to use electrical power at the docks. Bob Voyles stated that he would like to be able to accommodate Mr. Wood’s due to the environmental benefit of operating an electric boat. Pete Onstad stated that we would need to be prepared to answer the requests from other people wanting electric service.

The Committee recommended providing electrical access to Peter Wood with the provision that he would be charged a flat rate of $40.00 per month, with a refund or additional charge accessed to him depending on the cost difference between this year’s electrical bill and last year’s on a motion by David Paulson, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried.

Bob Voyles stated that Clm. Nancy Middleton had stated her concern regarding the location of Buoy #50 in Carson’s Bay and felt that it was making the access to the Yacht Club and City buoy fields more difficult. Nancy Middleton, who was in attendance, stated the buoy is blocking a channel that is often used to access the buoy fields and stated that she felt the buoy should be moved closer to the Deephaven side.

Steve Pavek stated that he had looked at the buoy with Joe Ladner and Pete Onstad and that all three thought there was plenty of room between the Yacht Club buoys and the boat. Pete Onstad agreed that there appeared to be plenty of room.

Further discussion was held on installing green and red buoy channel markers to assist boats using this channel.

Bob Voyles stated that David Gross is out of town this evening and will be available at the next Boat Committee on July 14^th to discuss this issue.

Dana Young stated that in the past, the Boat Committee had served as a Board of Appeals for those individuals in violation of the June 15^th Deadline. However, he noted that the City Code does not require the Boat Committee to review appeals for this particular violation. He stated that the City Code requires City Staff to provide the individuals with ten day’s notification that their permit has been revoked and that they have the right to appeal to the City Council.

Bob Voyles asked Kim Crockett and Nancy Middleton if there was any expectation from the City Council that those individuals in violation of the June 15^th deadline should first appear before the Boat Committee. Both Kim Crockett and Nancy Middleton thought it would be repetitive to have the residents meet both with the Boat Committee and City Council

The Committee recommended that those individuals who are appealing the revocation of their permit for violating the June 15^th deadline should present their appeal directly to the City Council on a motion by David Paulson, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried.

There were no Subcommittee Reports to review. Bob Voyles requested that David Paulson’s Subcommittee present a report on street ends at the July meeting, that the Compliance Subcommittee present their report on the slide inventory at the July meeting, and that the Operations Subcommittee present their report on the two-tiered slide system at the August meeting.

Motion to adjourn by Joe Ladner, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion declared carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Boat Committee will be held on July 14, 2004.