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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-24 Harbor Committee Minutes City of Bangor Harbor Committee Minutes Meeting: Thursday, March 24, 2011 City Council Chambers Committee Members in Attendance: Art Morgan, City Engineer; Daniel Cassidy; Daniel Field; Peter D’Errico; Charles Longo, Council Alternate Representative; Jerry Ledwith, Harbormaster Guests: Jim Ring, Retired City Engineer; Geoffrey Gratwick, City Councilor Minutes from the January Harbor Committee were accepted as distributed. The City Council has since approved the rate structure as was recommended by this committee. I Infrastructure Grant for Dock Replacement  Infrastructure Grant (BIG) for the total amount of $133,000 will be implemented hopefully this summer. Permitting is required for the dock design. An offset from the bulkhead is planned to enhance the security issue. Other parts of the project, including showers in the new Harbormaster’s building, and removal of the old Harbormaster’s building is as discussed previously.  Detailed Specifications will be drawn up and an open bidding process is expected in the next few months. Currently it is expected this will provide 240 feet of replacement docks. These docks may not be ready for this season. II Docks for the 2011 Season  Budget constraints may limit the docks placed this season. This decision will be made by the council later this spring.  The m/vPatience will be located in Belfast during the week and is considering a cruise up to Bangor on the weekend. It is unclear what activities they plan from Bangor.  The American Cruise line is only advertising 4 visits to Bangor this summer. They have yet to directly contact the City.  Pete D’Erico pointed out that visiting vessels were often unable to dock this past season due to docks being occupied by these vessels. The m/v Patience did not have an active cruise schedule this past year. There is value to the city only if these vessels bring significant activity to the waterfront.  A motion was made by Dan Field, seconded by Peter D’Errico to recommend to the Council that “The City obtain a schedule of planned activities, as well as rates to be charged by these commercial vessels prior to the city’s agreement for access being provided at the docks”. This motion was unanimously approved. III Small Boat Access  The Small boat access point, a key part of the waterfront development grant still awaits final planning. This may take the form of a gangway to a float on the downstream side of the bulkhead. There may be a safety concern for novice boaters launching and retrieving craft from such a dock at different stages of the tide.  DEP has declined a request to have an on the surface walk-down ramp/dock because of concerns as to what it might do to the cap. It was pointed out that volkswagon-size ice chunks (weighing many times more that two people carrying a canoe) grind on the cap each winter. Committee members as well as representatives of local paddling organizations could help testify if this ruling is challenged.  It was suggested that the most recent design of the Small Craft Access point be available at the next meeting with the Parks and Rec Committee. IV Moorings  Harbormaster Jerry Ledwith indicated he has had a conversation with Shawn Mahaney of the Army Corps about allowing moorings in the Harbor. The permit granted by the Army Corps in 1990 has never been revoked, and thus may be worth reviving. The council has endorsed this. A careful proposal should be formulated with city staff and this committee before a formal discussion with the Corps. V Joint Meeting with the Parks and Recreation Committee Art Morgan will contact Tracy Willette to coordinate a meeting. It will likely be in late April. This committee expressed the willingness to be flexible in accommodating a meeting on any evening that works out.