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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04-10-2008 FORT PIERCE HARBOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting Held On April 10, 2008 Convened at 3:00 p.m. Adjourned at 3:53 p.m. This meeting of the Fort Pierce Harbor Advisory Committee (FPHAC) was held Thursday, rd April 10, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. in Conference Room #3 on the 3 floor of the Administration Building, 2300 Virginia Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken. Members Present: Mary Chapman, Vice Chairman Bill Thiess, Commissioner Craft’s Appointee Gerald Kuklinski, Commissioner Grande’s Appointee John Holt, Commissioner Smith’s Appointee David Souza, St. Lucie Village Also Present: Katherine Mackenzie-Smith, SLC Assistant County Attorney Charles Grande, County Commissioner District 4 Jim Oppenborn, Marine Resources Coordinator Larry Storms, Smart Growth Bob Bangert APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: The minutes from the March 13, 2008 meeting were unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS: Jim Oppenborn, SLC Marine Resources Manager: The existing nearshore site is located 6.2 nautical miles out and the existing offshore site is located 11.0 nautical miles out. The proposed nearshore site will be 5.6 nautical miles out and the proposed offshore site will be 14.0 nautical miles out. The Fish Haven Site is 1.5 square miles. The reef site is located 1.5 miles north of the Fort Pierce Inlet and one mile offshore. The water depth is 30 to 40 feet. Nearshore Site is 1.3 square miles. The reef site is 5.5 to 6.0 miles east south east of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The water depth is 50 to 60 feet. Offshore Site is 4.5 square miles. The reef is located 12 miles east south east of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The water depth is 80 to 200 feet. Fort Pierce Harbor Advisory Committee April 10, 2008 Page 2 ?? 2005: 780 tons of materials were placed at the Nearshore site ?? 2006: 2,100 tons of materials were placed at the Nearshore site ?? 2007: 1,094 tons of materials were placed at the Nearshore site and 3,010 tons of materials were placed at the Offshore site, totaling 3,104 tons ?? 2008: So far there have been 1,000 tons of materials placed at the Offshore site ?? Between 2005 and 2008 there has been 6,984 tons of material deployed Mary Chapman asked what the nature of the material being deployed was. Jim Oppenborn stated the material consisted of barges, concrete culverts, concrete light poles, concrete railroad ties and concrete pipes. Between 2007-2008: ?? Two (2) deployments were made to the Civic Center Reef ?? Four (4) deployments were made to the Amazone Reefs ?? Two (2) reefs were created at 120’ and two (2) reefs were created at 140’ with roughly 1,000 tons of material on each of the reefs Dimensions of the Civic Center Reef: ?? Bottom depth is 57’ ?? Top of the barge is 47’ ?? Top of peak one is 35’ ?? Top of peak two is 31’ Amazone Reefs (Deployed June 2007): ?? Midway Reef’s maximum profile is 12’ ?? North Reef’s maximum profile is 18’ ?? Southeast Reef’s maximum profile is 15’ ?? Southwest Reef’s maximum profile is 18’ 120’ and 140’ Reefs (Deployed in December 2007 & February 2008): ?? 120’ Reef’s maximum profile is 19’ ?? 140’ Reef’s maximum profile is 18’ Currently there are approximately 81 species found on the St. Lucie County Artificial Reefs. The Tug Lee is a 49’ tugboat that is being donated to create a dive attraction. The cleanup of the Tug Lee is being done at Andros Fisheries on the North Causeway. Mr. Oppenborn has been coordinating with the FWC, USCG and USEPA to make sure they are in compliance with all the necessary regulations. There have been several cash donations made to help with the Artificial Reef Program, as well as material donations from municipalities, private contractors, public utilities, FEC Railroad, FPL and FPUA. The County annually funds $50,000 and since 2005 there has been a grant every year from FWC for $199,000. Fort Pierce Harbor Advisory Committee April 10, 2008 Page 3 Bill Thiess asked what the best way is to stay up to date on the coordinates of the reefs. Mr. Oppenborn stated anyone could email him at oppenborj@stlucieco.gov and he would be happy to send the coordinates as well as deployment material. You can also find the coordinates by going to www.stlucieco.gov, located under Public Works you will see “Artificial Reef Program”. Jerry Kuklinski asked if the County shared the cost of disposal with the people donating material. Mr. Oppenborn stated that currently the County does not, but he has thought about it. He said so far the County has never had a shortage of funds. Mr. Oppenborn doesn’t want to discourage people from bringing their materials, but on the other hand he has started requiring people to give him receipts for the total amount of funds they spent delivering the materials. Mr. Oppenborn stated he is always present to make sure the materials they receive are good. Jerry Kuklinski asked if the saltwater affects the concrete items over a long period of time. Mr. Oppenborn stated most of the concrete is secondary concrete, which is better and suggested by the Army Corp. of Engineers. The secondary concrete is good because the ph more closely resembles the natural ph of the seawater; it also lasts longer than steel. Jerry Kuklinski asked how much longer the staging area would be at Harbour Pointe. Mr. Oppenborn stated as soon as he is asked to stop, he will stop. He also thanked everyone for allowing him to use the area. He has been preparing for the day when he won’t be able to use it anymore. Katherine Mackenzie-Smith stated the Fire District turned down Chuck’s Seafood’s request. The Fire District suggested Chuck’s Seafood go to the City for a variance for additional parking, that way they can have less parking than they are requiring. NEW BUSINESS: Mr. Anderson will be attending the July 10, 2008 meeting to discuss potential spoil sites. There was a brief discussion about the charter boat that was asked to leave the City Marina because they were running topless charters. The charter boat is now located at Harbortown Marina. ADJOURNMENT: At 3:53 p.m. the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be held Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 3:00 pm in Conference Room 3, on the third floor of the Administration Building. Respectfully submitted: Stephanie Bush