Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Meeting - December 10, 2025
Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Meeting - December 10, 2025\n\nThe Clearwater Marine Advisory Board met on December 10, 2025, at the Main Library Council Chambers. The meeting covered citizen testimony on Stevenson Creek manatee protection and dock issues, a detailed presentation by charter fishing fleet operators on the impact of rate increases, updates on marina reconstruction and repairs, and a director's report on the financial pro forma and kiosk pricing. The board discussed next steps on letters, rate adjustments, and future meeting dates.\n\n### Public Comments & Testimony\n- Stevenson Creek Advocacy Group (representatives and a boat captain): Expressed urgent need for a manatee protection zone in Stevenson Creek, citing frequent manatee sightings (5–10 manatee observed during survey), shallow water depths (as low as 2 feet at low tide, 5 feet at high tide at the bridge), and safety hazards from boats. Opposed proposed construction of 20 new docks at the creek mouth, arguing they would set a damaging precedent, harm the estuary, and lead to illegal dredging ('midnight dredging'). Urged the board to draft a letter opposing the docks and supporting a local ordinance manatee zone. Noted that the environmental advisory board has already opposed the docks.\n- Susan Smith, Jamie, and TJ (owners of Stella Fishing, a six-pack charter boat): Presented data showing that the city's approved rate increases (120% to 170% for small charter fishing boats) are unsustainable for their business model. They emphasized that their top-line revenue is $250,000–$300,000 per year—far less than larger tour boats—and that margins are razor-thin. They requested a 'carve-out' or special rate structure for the six-pack fishing fleet, citing the working waterfront's importance to tourism (one group brings $40,000 in a week). Also noted that higher fuel costs (currently ~$5.15–$5.35/gallon on the water) consume 30–45% of revenue.\n\n### Discussion Items\n- Beach Marina Commercial Tenant Outreach Group Update: Susan Smith reported that the tenant group is organizing under Amplify Clearwater (similar to a chamber of commerce). Membership fees will be waived until June 2025. A membership guide will be distributed soon. The group is working with the city on rate and fuel concerns.\n- Charter Fishing Fleet Rate Concerns (continued): Susan Smith provided detailed financials to show that rate hikes disproportionately hurt six-pack charter boats. Board members expressed strong support for preserving the working waterfront and directed Director Mike to continue working with the city on solutions, including possible rate carve-outs and fuel pricing adjustments (e.g., monthly invoicing at cost plus a small markup). Mike confirmed he is already in discussions with city leadership.\n- Beach Marina Reconstruction Project Update (Kelly Petrich, Engineering Division Manager): Reported that Orion Construction completed pile and floating dock installation. An obstruction (25x50 feet, metallic) below the mud line was found at the final pier; sonar failed to identify it. Options include using a large hammer to punch through or deferring to Phase 2. Electrical work progressing; main power inspection passed. Upland concrete crews working; site furnishings to be delivered by Christmas. Phase 1 turnover expected first week of January 2025. Phase 2 on schedule.\n- Harbor Marina Repairs Update (Kelly Petrich): South End design is out for bid (December 10, 2025); award anticipated March 2, 2026, with construction before next storm season (3–6 months). North End: 90% design drawings by January 23, 2026; 100% drawings one month later; bidding in March 2026; construction 6 months. Goal to complete south end before storm season.\n- Seminole Boat Ramp Construction Update (Kelly Petrich): Phase 2 (upland slabs) recently poured; expected to open in 1–2 weeks. Future phase will address submerged portion (to be bid separately), with two ramps kept open at all times.\n- Director's Report (Mike): Presented summary of the pro forma analysis showing that the updated rate structure (based on Walter Duke appraisal) is necessary for long-term sustainability of the marine enterprise fund, supporting $46 million beach marina reconstruction, debt service, and reserves without drawing on general fund. The pro forma will be presented at the next meeting (March 18, 2026).\n- Kiosk Pricing (Aaron Brayley, Division Controller): Proposed rate structure for 24 temporary kiosks at the beach marina: $350/month for first 84 months (to recoup costs), then $100/month thereafter. Kiosks are removable (designed for storm evacuation), expected 20-year life. Board offered no objections.\n- Board Member Comments: Member noted rumored fuel dock at Clearwater Yacht Club, but Commodore denied any plans. Board discussed quorum concerns due to a board member's resignation; staff will work with clerk's office to fill vacancies. A candidate (Trish Rodriguez) was suggested. Board meeting scheduled for March 18, 2026 (third Wednesday) to allow for pro forma presentation and further discussion.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- Stevenson Creek Letter: Board agreed to draft a letter opposing the docks and supporting a manatee protection zone. The draft will be emailed to all board members for approval before the next meeting, with time sensitivity noted.\n- Charter Fleet Rate Relief: Director Mike was directed to continue working with city leadership on a rate carve-out for six-pack charter fishing vessels, fuel pricing adjustments, and possible monthly billing to ease cash flow. No formal motion was made, but board consensus supported preserving the working waterfront.\n- Kiosk Pricing: The board acknowledged the proposed kiosk pricing ($350/month for 84 months, then $100/month) with no objections. Implementation will proceed.\n- Next Meeting: The board set its next meeting for March 18, 2026, at 8:00 AM, to accommodate the pro forma presentation and further discussion on rates and other items.\n- Board Membership: Staff will verify the resignation and recruit new members; the clerk's office will be contacted regarding applications on file.\n- Construction Timelines: Beach Marina Phase 1 turnover expected first week of January 2025. Harbor Marina South End bid award on March 2, 2026; North End design completion in January 2026. Seminole Boat Ramp phase 2 opening within two weeks.
Meeting Transcript
A boat captain. US Coast Guard Master Captain. Review the area and his comments are in that package. And so we want to bring these to you, but it's going to require a little bit of discussion. So that's what we're here to ask is let's have that conference. Absolutely. Yeah, the managing count is the thing that we're really hoping is. Well, we want you to read the report. Well, but I think also between now and March, as we get into the cooler much and that water's warmer, I think that math T count is going to go up significantly in the next ninety days over what it's been in the past ninety days. Right, but I think I think you're gonna see quite a much five. Actually, two dimensions, which I think will will help. What is the vertical clearance? The air draft when you surface the water at the bottom of the bridge at both high and low tide. I read through it a couple times. I didn't see the air draft or the water depth. Well, there may be more data to be uh collected. The reason we're coming to you now is uh there's some urgency in our view to uh discuss this and decide if it really should be a manatee protection zone. Uh I think the longer we delay the hazard we've to Mike's point. We're we got two issues at hand. It's the manatee protection zone, and then we're still trying to stop the dock right building. And um I'm on I've heard through the grapevine that it's been approved by the county, it's really just looking for some final processing. I'm in touch with the um director that's handling that permit, Julie Sims with the county, and I'm in the portal all the time checking to see what information is coming and going. Um we would love to have ultimately a letter from you folks uh describing any concern that you might see with these docks. We have one from the marine uh excuse me from the environmental advisory board opposing the docks, and I think one from you folks would be very strong. Was CMA helpful at all? Um CMA, no the aquarium has been non-responsive. Well, they built a rehabilitation center there. So if any manatees do get injured, they don't have to take them very long. But I'm thinking that also the water depth in there is is critical. It's an issue, big issue. Well, yeah, but I mean, as far as manatees go, because when you get a meeting herd up there, which I have seen repeatedly, um, of course, everybody freaks out when they see that, they just see a whole bunch of manatees up and put on the put on the outbreak music call. Um, your your next meeting though is in March. Correct. Yes, second Wednesday in March. I'm sensing a gap here that we got a lot of information to relate to you, and we can't really formally do that until your next meeting. So the two issues, the docks and the manatee zone are related but unrelated. We we think the manatee zone is important because people the docks is just uh they're they're not really related. We need to, I think we think we we need a manatee zone okay, and and and just to reiterate what we talked about at a previous meeting was that um the manatee is the way to go. Um there's not much that we can do to help as far as implementing any further wake zones than we already have. Wake phone wake zones is not really the issue now. Uh but there's no signage that even has the word manatee on it out there. We want to sign coming in under the bridge for the jet skiers and others, yes, uh, even flat bottom boats crank it up. Um tell people there's manatees in here slow down. We need a uh we don't need a massive amount of signage. I I don't believe just a few properly placed signs. Would that would that be us of manatee signs, or would that be fish and well? Well, there's two ways that you can go about getting there's two ways you can go about getting the uh managing zone. One is through the FWC, they do periodic studies and they implement the uh the uh zones. The second one is a local ordinance, so the state has given the county permission to have uh local ordinances for manatee zones. And in the case of the feasibility study that we presented here before, uh the best course of action uh to to get a slow speed zone in that in that in those two portions of the creek would be through the local ordinance manatee zone.
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