Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Special Meeting - March 18, 2026
Clearwater Marine Advisory Board Special Meeting - March 18, 2026
The Clearwater Marine Advisory Board held a special meeting on March 18, 2026, at 8:00 AM in the Main Library Council Chambers. The board addressed several key items including a letter on the Stevenson Creek Manatee Protection Zone, rate increases for the marina, updates on harbor and beach marina construction projects, and the election of officers for 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The board unanimously approved the minutes from the December 10, 2025 regular meeting and the January 28, 2026 special meeting.
Discussion Items
- Stevenson Creek Advocacy Group Update: Sherry Day, president of the Stevenson Creek Advocacy Group, presented a draft letter urging the City Council to take action on a Manatee Protection Zone in Stevenson Creek. The board discussed the letter's content, noting the date needed correction, and voted to approve and sign the letter as presented, which will be included in a larger package to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Sherry Day also highlighted media coverage of loopholes in permitting for docks in the aquatic preserve. The board acknowledged the issue is outside its purview but expressed support for the group's efforts.
- Marina Rate Increases: Bill Hodson, Division Manager of Marine Aviation, recommended increasing recreational slip rates to 100% effective October 1, 2026 (to $23/foot resident, $25.30/foot non-resident), while keeping commercial rates at the 50% increase that took effect February 1 until the Beach Marina reconstruction is complete, after which a market rate study will be conducted. The board asked questions about demand and slip pricing but took no formal vote on the recommendation.
- Harbor Marina Update: Kelly Petrich, Engineering Division Manager, reported that the south end of Harbor Marina has been awarded to Kelly Brothers, with construction expected to start in May 2026 and completion by end of 2026 or early 2027. The north end is at 90% construction drawings, with bids expected by June and a target council date of September 16, 2026, aiming for completion before the 2027 storm season.
- Beach Marina Reconstruction Project Update: Kelly Petrich reported that Phase II demolition of buildings, docks, and removal of timber/concrete piles is 90% complete. Sheet pile wall is largely completed, and concrete work is progressing. A pre-dredge survey was completed, and dredging will begin upon approval. Upland work, including sidewalk demo and utility re-piping, is underway. The project remains on schedule and under budget, with completion targeted for summer 2026.
- Seminal Boat Ramp Kayak Launch: During the Director's Report, a board member asked about creating kayak/paddleboard launch areas at the sandy area west of the fish cleaning station at the Seminal ramp and near the shuffleboard court on Stevenson Creek. Bill Hodson responded that Parks and Recreation is already exploring these options, which would require ADA compliance.
- Election of 2026 Chair and Vice Chair: The board unanimously reelected the current chair and vice chair to serve another term.
- Board Member Comments: A board member raised the issue of filling two open seats on the board, suggesting potential candidates Trish Rodriguez and Courtney Ross. The board discussed the application process and encouraged members to recommend interested individuals.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the December 10, 2025 and January 28, 2026 meeting minutes.
- Approved and signed a letter to the City Council supporting a Manatee Protection Zone in Stevenson Creek.
- Reelected the current chair and vice chair for the 2026 term.
- Received updates on rate increase recommendations and construction projects, with no formal votes taken on those items.
Meeting Transcript
Oh, it is. We have o'clock. It's on time now. My watch is a little late. We'd like to call the um March 18th, um, third Wednesday at meeting of the Clearwater Marine Board to order um to start things off. I would like to say at least to the board. Never got the notification for the January meeting. I would have been here. I was a little bit behind. Ask everybody, and I'll you know, we'll do it. And uh never got the notification, maybe confusion with one of my old emails. My apologies. Thank you, Mike, for taking over. I did watch the the the show, and um uh that's a good way to put it. That that would segue right into um um talking to the Stevenson Creek people, and uh good morning. Good morning, I'm Sherry Day, president of the Stevenson Creek Advocacy Group, and I want to thank you all for coming at eight o'clock in the morning. Um the day after St. Patrick's Day. Everybody Perky. Um we appreciate your attention to this, and I want to say also that um uh we're limiting our conversation today to the Manatee Protection Zone, which you've received the draft letters. Um wanted to know your opinion of it. Is it well suited for you to sign it today? Um personally, I'm I'm I'm glad that we were able to separate the two items that you have guys have concerns with right there, and that someone clearly went through and pared it down to just say the exact point of what we need to say to the city council. They have to do something about this. Yeah. Um do you do you have anything to add to this, or do you think we can just vote that we approve your we would love for you to vote it as is. I would only note that what you have is not today's date, so it probably needs to have today's date. Um yes. Good catch. Yes. I have one here with today's date. Okay, and and and what would be the procedure for that? If we approve it, we could just go ahead and sign or the chairman could just sign it now. Uh yes, when you you would need a motion to approve a second, um, and you would just state that you would be correcting the date to today's date. Okay, and the one I have here is dated March third. There's no change. Not the content, only the date. But you have a correct one right there that's dated today, right? Yes. You do you want time to read it? Oh no, no, I've got she's got one, it's got the correct date on it. That's that's what you'd have sent. So I'm good. I I'll make one. Okay. We have we have a motion to approve this letter to send to city council. Mike seconds it. All in favor say aye. If passes, we will sign your letter. We will get it to city council, and um uh I personally will watch to see when it comes um before the city council if it comes up at a meeting or a work session and thank you and see if I can't be there to to show our support.
openpublica.com