Call Meeting to Order

Chairman David Paulson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

Members Present

David Paulson, Pete Onstad, Darel Gustafson, Larry Parkhurst, Steve Pavek, Council Liaison Keith Kask, Administrator Dana Young

Members Absent

Ed Towey, Marc Anderson, Oliver Arrett

April 12, 2006 Minutes

The Committee approved the April 12, 2006 minutes on a motion by Larry Parkhurst, seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion carried 5-0.

Matters from the Floor

There were no matters from the floor.

Prospective Committee Members

David Paulson stated that he had called a couple of people on the volunteer membership list to come to tonight’s meeting to discuss their interest in joining the Committee but apparently they decided not to show up. He stated that he could start calling others on the list and suggested that if the Committee knew of anyone who would be interested to have them come to an upcoming meeting.

Ordinance No. 09-15, Amending Section 900.07, Subd 2

Dana Young stated that the purpose of this ordinance was to clarify the language in this particular section of the Watercraft Space Ordinance and to more clearly specify the appeals process for those permit holders in violation of the 90 day usage requirement and the June 15^th deadline requirement.

Darel Gustafson moved to recommend approval of Ordinance No. 09-15, Amending Section 900.07, Subd. 2, as presented. Seconded by Steve Pavek. Motion carried 5-0.

No Wake Buoys / Setback Lines

Dana Young provided information on No Wake Buoys and dock setback lines that had been raised at the April 12^th Boat Committee meeting. He stated that requesting new No Wake Buoys or an adjustment in the location of an existing No Wake Buoy involves two agencies:

· The LMCD determines No Wake Areas.

· Hennepin County Environmental Services sets out and maintains the buoys.

Dana Young stated that Judd Harper, with the LMCD, recommended that both agencies should be contacted on a request for a new buoy or an adjustment to the location of an existing No Wake Buoy. Discussion was held on whether to proceed with Pat Florance’s request to relocate one of the No Wake Buoys at the entrance to St. Louis Bay. It was suggested that the Committee members, such as Pete Onstad and Steve Pavek, who have their boats moored at St. Louis Bay should take a look at the No Wake Buoy in question and report back to the full Committee with their recommendations.

Dana Young stated that the setback lines for multiple docks, according to Judd Harper with the LMCD, are as follows:

Distance from

Shoreline

Side Setback from Abutting

Non-Multiple Dock

Side Setback from

Abutting Multiple Dock

1^st 50 feet

20’

10’

After 50 feet

30’

15’

Larger Boats at Slides / Slide #79-81 in St. Louis Bay

Dana Young stated that the Committee recommended last month that four of the remaining six slide spaces in St. Louis Bay should be used for larger boats with a roll-n-go slide. He stated that there are a couple of issues that have an impact on this recommendation including:

1. Who pays for the new roll-n-go slides?

2. And, the number of available slides may be reduced due to fact that Slide #79-81 in St. Louis Bay is practically unusable due to the amount of sand covering the slide. He stated that the City might need to obtain a permit from the DNR to dredge out the sand to enable boats on Slide #79-81 to access the lake.

Steve Pavek stated that he is pretty confident that he could install roll-n-go slides on this slide and provide the boats with ready access to the lake.

David Paulson stated that he would be supportive of installing roll-n-go slides for those permit holders with the larger Boston Whalers and for someone like Tom Brislin, who has a disability that makes it difficult for him to use a regular slide. He stated that the Boat Committee has generated a lot of ideas but seems to be continually spinning our wheels in getting something actually accomplished. He stated that the purchase of the roll-n-go slides for the whalers would enable the Committee to test how well these boats fit together on the slide spaces.

Larry Parkhurst stated that further investment in roll-n-go slides could be in conflict with what the Committee is proposing to do with the shoreline.

Darel Gustafson asked what are we testing by purchasing additional roll-n-go slides for whalers?

Steve Pavek stated that we are testing to see if larger boats would work stored on land. Darel Gustafson stated that we already know that the roll-n-go slides can accommodate a grade of up to 30%.

David Paulson stated that the test would demonstrate how well these larger boats fit together, do they provide a better boating experience, how well they improve the appearance of the shoreline and the best location for the roll-n-go slides.

Pete Onstad stated that he thought the Committee had already decided that the resident would purchase roll-n-go slides. David Paulson stated that the City could buy 5 or 6 of the roll-n-go slides and sell them next year if they wanted to.

Dana Young stated that this interim period during the Committee’s review of whether to permit larger boats on slides has been somewhat confusing both for staff and residents. He stated that on the one hand, the City has an ordinance that prohibits boats wider than 5’ 4” on slides yet we are also overlooking those boats that currently exceed that standard and even reward those with larger boats by placing them on a roll-n-go slide.

Steve Pavek moved to have the Committee review two ramp masters that are stored with Boston Whalers on Slide #79-81 at St. Louis Bay at next month’s meeting so that the Committee can review the space, aesthetics and the accommodation of larger and smaller boats. Seconded by Pete Onstad. Motion carried 5-0.

Revised Dock Plan

Dana Young stated that the City Engineer would be surveying the property lines at Carson’s Bay and St. Louis Bay Marinas at a cost of approximately $1,500. He stated that he thought there was a possibility the survey would be ready for next month’s meeting.

Further discussion was held on the status of the Comprehensive Dock Plan and on a list of items that still need to be addressed in a final plan. The outstanding items that were mentioned included providing access to buoys, the waiting list issue and how to address current slide permit holders if the number of slides are reduced to accommodate larger boats. Darel Gustafson stated that this latter item could be clarified somewhat by knowing the number of slide permit holders who are also within the top 40 on the waiting list for dock slips.

Pete Onstad stated that the Committee should better define the scope of the Comprehensive Plan. He stated that he didn’t think the plan could include everything because the Committee is just going to get mired in issues.

Keith Kask stated that it is difficult to separate the issues since the Boat Committee acts as an advisory body for the management of marina resources including both physical facilities and policy and administrative matters.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Steve Pavek, seconded by Pete Onstad. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Boat Committee will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2006.