DEEPHAVEN BOAT COMMITTEE

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Minutes

Call Meeting to Order

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

Members Present

David Paulson, Pete Onstad, Oliver Arrett, Darel Gustafson, Steve Pavek, Larry Parkhurst, Administrator Dana Young

Members Absent

Ed Towey, Marc Anderson, Council Liaison Keith Kask

July 10, 2006 Minutes

The Committee approved the July 10, 2006 minutes on a motion by Oliver Arrett, seconded by Pete Onstad. Motion carried 6-0.

Matters from the Floor

Paul Boyer, 4501 Vine Hill Road, was scheduled to appear but was not present for tonight’s meeting.

New Committee Member

The following individuals were invited to appear before the Boat Committee to discuss their interest in becoming a member of the Committee:

· Michael Kelly – 19045 Lake Avenue

· Susan Jerutis – 18869 Carsonwood Avenue

· Jim Van Bergen – 19200 Highland Avenue

· Tom Brislin – 3675 Parkway

David Paulson thanked the residents for their interest in the Boat Committee and invited each applicant to introduce themselves and state why they have an interest in joining the Committee.

Dana Young stated that there were five other residents who had also expressed interest in serving on the Committee but were inadvertently not invited to attend this evening’s meeting. David Paulson stated the Committee could interview the other candidates at a later meeting and suggested that the Committee could select one of the candidates this evening to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of John Gresens.

Tom Brislin asked where his application for membership on the Boat Committee stood?

Dana Young stated that the Boat Committee had recommended the appointment of Tom Brislin to the Council but the Council took no action on the recommendation due to some uncertainly over whether Mr. Brislin’s Boston Whaler and sailboat were in violation of width and length requirements. He stated that now that Mr. Brislin had responded to these issues in an email, the City Council would review the Boat Committee’s recommendation to appoint Mr. Brislin at the August 21^st Council meeting.

After three separate votes, the Boat Committee recommended the appointment of Susan Jerutis to the Boat Committee to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of John Gresens.

Recommended Boat Sizes and Weights for Boats on Slides

Jeff Williams (19105 Highland Avenue), Lois Boisclair (19400 Azure Road), Kathe Flynn (19155 Lake Avenue) and C.J. Ramstad (19235 Lake Avenue) were present to discuss a variety of issues relating to the width of boats on slides and on the proposed plan for St. Louis Bay.

Kathe Flynn asked how was the Committee going to handle removing people from the slides since the number of slides in St. Louis Bay were proposed to be reduced? Pete Onstad stated that the Committee does not plan to remove people from the slides but there are typically 20-25 openings each year that simply would not be filled. David Paulson added that there is much more interest in slips rather than slides and the Committee is proposing to construct more slips in exchange for slides and also accommodate larger boats on slides.

Kathe Flynn asked if the Committee intended to change the slide material and hoped the slides won’t be the same as those in Excelsior. Steve Pavek stated that the slides would not change and the Committee has had on-going discussions on the use of rollers that would either be installed on top of the existing slides or on the ground.

Tom Brislin asked if a 13’ long boat was going to be acceptable on a slide. He stated that his Boston Whaler is an appropriately sized boat for the lake. Pete Onstad stated that the Committee is proposing to take one third of the existing slides for wider boats. He stated that the Committee felt that allowing wider boats on slides would help to reduce interest in the slips.

Jim Williams stated that he would like to see the width issue successfully resolved and wasn’t even aware that winches weren’t permitted on slides. Pete Onstad stated that the Committee is not opposed to winches, they would simply like to see more uniformity with the winches.

Kathe Flynn asked if the City was prepared to enforce the width standards on the slides? Dana Young stated that the City Council has requested that all residents with boats on slides be informed that all boats on slides must be in conformity with width requirements by the 2007 Boating Season.

Tom Brislin asked whether he should appear before the Boat Committee or the City Council to discuss the 6” width of his Boston Whaler, which was not in conformance with the 5’4” width requirement. David Paulson suggested that Mr. Brislin return to the September Boat Committee meeting for a recommendation from the Committee on this issue.

Jim Williams added that he wouldn’t like to see anyone lose their space because their boat was too wide.

Steve Pavek stated that he had been asked by the Committee to research boat lengths and widths for the Committee to consider in their evaluation of appropriate boat widths and lengths for the larger slides. He presented the following Class B-2 Slide Options:

a. 17 foot Montouk (Beam – 6’10” / Weight – 1,300 lbs)

b. 16 foot Crestliner (Beam – 7’3” / Weight – 880 lbs)

c. 16 foot Alumacraft (Beam – 5’10” / Weight – 292 lbs)

d. 15.5 foot Montouk (Beam – 6’10” / Weight – 1,400 lbs)

e. 16.2 foot Bayliner (Beam – 7’2” / Weight – 1,289 lbs)

f. 16.5 foot Alumacraft (Beam – 6’10” / Weight – 880 lbs)

g. Roller options (Roll-N-Go or Ramp Master)

Steve Pavek stated that the beams of these boats have definitely widened over the years and thanked Carol Grinde for helping to compile the information. Darel Gustafson noted that both the Roll-N-Go and Ramp Master have a maximum weight capacity of 2,500 lbs.

Finalization of St. Louis Bay Plan

The Committee reviewed the following three revised dock plans for St. Louis Bay.

		Option One		Option Two / 40’ Navigation Lane			Option Two / 50’ Navigation Lane
	Existing		Proposed		Existing	Proposed		Existing	Proposed
Docks	40		60		40	62		40	60
Buoys	28		28		28	28		28	28
Slides	78		59		78	59		78	59
Shorespace	13		0		13	0		13	0
Net	159		147		159	149		159	147

Pete Onstad stated that he was concerned with the navigation lane since it pushed the new docks too close to the beach. Both Steve Pavek and Darel Gustafson agreed that the docks with the interior navigation lane would be too close to the beach.

David Paulson stated that the navigation lane has two benefits. He stated that it would eliminate boat traffic that is currently exiting right next to the beach and it would eliminate an extremely long walkway.

Kathe Flynn asked if the proximity of the dock would add additional pollution to the beach.

David Paulson stated that St. Louis Bay is a finite space to construct docks and the problem is not with pollution but with bigger boats. He stated that the one benefit of bigger boats is that they have 4 stroke engines that are much cleaner than outboard motors.

Pete Onstad stated that there are a number of people who are not going to be happy sitting in the Main Beach gazebo staring at the rear of boats.

David Paulson stated that there is never going to be complete consensus on any plan.

Lois Boisclair asked if proposed plan would eliminate the shore spaces? Pete Onstad stated that the shore space would be eliminated.

Lois Boisclair noted that the proposed plan does not appear to be impacting the variances on the north side of the docks. David Paulson stated that the proposed plan would be in compliance with all variances.

Lois Boisclair stated that she thinks the north side of the beach would be a better location for an additional dock.

Steve Pavek stated that it is frustrating to hear this since the Committee has heard from so many people who opposed this location a couple of years ago.

Kathe Flynn asked whether the lifeguards would oppose the construction of a swimming platform over the breakwater structure? David Paulson stated that there is currently a number of swimming platforms on other public beaches including Shady Oak.

Jim Van Bergen asked if adding another 10 of so slips is really that big a deal with so many hundreds of residents interested in a slip. Pete Onstad stated that it probably wouldn’t have a significant impact.

Steve Pavek asked C.J. Ramstad for his comments on the plan to remove the shore spaces. C. J. Ramstad stated that the shore spaces are located in an ideal place to moor a boat and stated that he felt the water was too deep in this location to serve as a safe location for a boardwalk.

Daryl Gustafson stated that the residents on the shore space will be accommodated elsewhere and that those residents without a boat will be able to enjoy the boardwalk area.

Daryl Gustafson recommended presenting the Option One Plan and the Option Two Plan with the 40” navigation lane to the City Council. Seconded by Oliver Arrett. Motion carried 6-0.

Both plans would be presented to the City Council on September 7^th.

Other

Pete Onstad reported that former Boat Committee member Joe Ladner informed him that the sailboat on Buoy #57 has not had their mast up all year. Dana Young stated that he would contact the owner to inform him or her that they are required to have their boat in seaworthy condition.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn by Larry Parkhurst, seconded by Oliver Arrett. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Deephaven Boat Committee will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2006.