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HomeMy WebLinkAbout040207 Work Session 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 From: RE: April 2, 2007 Mayor and Members of the City Council Lake Advisory Committee Members Park Advisory Committee Members Frank Boyles, City Manager Joint Meeting Date: To: Annually the City Council conducts a joint meeting with its advisory committees. The purpose ofthe meeting is to get reacquainted as well as to review annual objectives and discuss key issues under consideration by the respective committees. Dan O'Keefe, Chair of the Lake Advisory Committee, and Mike Feriancek, Chair of the Park Advisory Committee will spend about ten minutes each reviewing 2006 accomplishments and 2007 objectives. Following that, the Lake Advisory Committee will report on its web camera project. The greatest amount of time is likely to be spent discussing policy issues regarding the boat/canoe slip question. Assistant City Manager Kelly Meyer has prepared a memorandum, table and proposal for discussion purposes. Weare hopeful that by the conclusion of the meeting, the staff will have a sense of the Council's position on this topic so a policy and City Code amendments can be considered by the Council at its April 16 meeting. www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 4646 Dakota Street S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 J oint Meeting City Council Lake Advisory Committee Park Advisory Committee Parkview Conference Room April 2, 2007 4:30 p.m. AGENDA 1. 2007 Objectives . Lake Advisory Committee . Park Advisory Committee II. LAC · Web CAM III. PAC · Policy Issues Regarding Boat/Canoe Slips IV. Other Business I'COLJ\CIL\WORK SESSIONS\2007\Joint Meeting ageHll\M'4e:1WIeriorlake.com Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 CITY COUNCIL, PARK ADVISORY, LAKE ADVISORY JOINT MEETING MEETING DATE: April 2, 2007 PREPARED BY: Kelly Meyer, Asst. City Manager AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION REGARDING: OVERNIGHT BOAT SLIP RENTAL, CANOE RACK RENTAL, AND CANOE RENTAL AT COMMUNITY PARKS. PURPOSE: At its Feb. 2, 2007 meeting, the City Council asked staff to prepare a policy (or policies) that would address boat slip rentals and canoe rack rentals, as well as provide options for how overnight boat slip rental, and the rental of canoes might be accommodated. Currently there are existing policies and/or our park ordinance that address current boat slip rentals and the new canoe rack rentals. The purpose of the discussion tonight amongst the Park Advisory Committee, Lake Advisory Committee and City Council, is for staff to quickly outline the existing policies and identify the issues and impacts associated with overnight slip rental and canoe rentals, and have the City Council and advisory committees provide staff with a sense of direction in order to develop the various policies for City Council consideration at their April 16, 2007 meeting. In the attached outline, I've broken this discussion down into three parts: 1. boat slip rental, 2. canoe rack rental, and 3. canoe rental. For each I've attempted to outline the existing policy/regulations, the possible alternatives, and the associated impacts/issues. The final page is the staff recommendation based upon the general direction given to date. www.cityofpriorlake.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 OUTLINE OF CURRENT ORDINANCES AND POLICIES RELATED TO BOAT SLIP RENTAL AND CANOE RENTAL 1. OVERNIGHT BOAT SLIP RENTAL Facilities Current Procedures Governing Doc. Overnight Rental Issues Options Watzl's Beach - Reserved for Water Patrol Rental Policy & Suggest No Change This is an asset for both the DNR and Law enforcement. It helps to Slip #1 Signage have their presence at the dock/beach. Watzl's Beach - Advance reservations for Zoning Code - The City's zoning code provides that the leasing of Slips #2-#10 fee ($25/day for residents, The reservation process boat slips would classify it as a marina, which are subject to $50/day for non-residents) Rental Policy & has not been heavily additional zoning code standards. The DNR has made a Not more than 3 City Ordinance utilized in the past. Most determination that because the slips are provided by a public entity, it consecutive days, or more Section 702. often the slips are used on would not classify as a marina. The City's zoning ordinance would than 2 slips per day. a first-come, first-served need to be amended to be consistent with that determination. Unreserved slips are made basis. available on a first-come, Conditions of Rental - Would rental be for weekends only (Le. first-served basis Overnight rentals could be Friday-Sunday), or daily on weekends only, by the week? Would the accommodated with these slips be for boats only? slips if all of the associated Other personal watercraft? issues can be addressed to the Council's Parking - Should overnight slip rental also include a parking location satisfaction. during park hours? If so, where? Park Hours - Is it reasonable that users of the overnight rentals must secure their boats and vacate the premises by 10pm? Security - While we are planning to install a web cam at Watzl's in August, it would not be feasible for the City to guarantee security of the premises after park hours. Is the Council comfortable with having users waive any obligation the City would have in this respect? Administration - The reservation process could be accommodated by existing Rec staff. Depending upon the volume at the site, additional seasonal staff may be required during the boating season. Fees - The City of Mound charges $350/yr. for a city-owned boat slip for one boat. They have a 5 year waiting list. The fee would need to be based on the length of the rental. What is the appropriate fee? Facilities Current Procedures Governing Doc. Overnight Rental Issues Options Watzl's Beach - First-come, first-served Rental Policy, Suggest No Change, but Part of the rationale for providing slips at Lakefront Park was to give Slips #11-18 Signage, City Park the Council has the option lake users an opportunity to dock the boat and use the beach, or Ord. to open these slips to walk into the downtown area - connecting Downtown to the lake. overnight rental as well. Initially, you might want to start small and only open these to overnight rental as demand dictates. Sand Point - Reserved for Water Patrol Rental Policy & Suggest No Change This is an asset for both the DNR and Law enforcement. It helps to Slip #1 Signage have their presence at the dock/beach. Sand Point- The staff and PAC Rental Policy, Overnight rental at Sand Because of the higher level of activity around the Sand Point boat Slip #2-18 proposed to treat the Sand Signage, City Ord. Point is an option to launch and beach, and the limited parking, the Council may want to Point slips the same as consider for all, or any consider trying an overnight rental program first at Watzl's, before Watzl's portion of these slips, but creating additional issues around Sand Point. would need to address issues similar to those However, overnight rental at Sand Point is possible if the issues listed above for Watzl's identified above for Watzl's Beach can be addressed to the Council's Beach. satisfaction. 2. CANOE RACK RENTAL Facilities Current Procedures Governing Doc. Overnight Rental Issues Options Sand Point- Rentals are per season, Rental Policy This policy has been considered by the PAC and LAC. The 6 canoe rack spaces May through Oct. summary of the procedures is provided for Council information 6 kayak rack spaces Each user must only. (Includes sail boats if Fee is $50 for residents, enter into rental Overnight storage they will fit) $100 for non-residents. agreement. included. Would Watzl's be a better location given the congestion at Sand Point boat launch? Users must provide ins to cover damages, and indemnify the City. Canoe/kayak/sailboat must be registered with State of MN, and carry at least one coast guard approved flotation device. Rack spaces can be assigned through separate procedure. No canoeing, kayaking or sailboatinQ after dark. 3. CANOE RENTAL Facilities . Current Procedures Governing Doc. Rental Options Issues Sand Point The City currently does not None currently. (1) contract with a private Location - Should rentals be offered at Sand Point, Watzl's, or Watzl's Beach have the equipment to Would need to vendor to provide both? Sand Point has a busy boat access that may not be the provide this service. consider Park equipt and staff. best location for launching canoes. On the other hand, it is the Ordinance if the (2) contract with a private busiest beach that a private vendor would find more attractive. project were to move vendor to provide The Council may wish to consider Pike Lake rather than Prior forward, and develop equipt for City staff to Lake for this type of amenity. Pike Lake is not conducive for appropriate policies, administer. motorized boats. rental agreements, (3) City purchase and liability waivers. equipment and Start.up and Administrative Costs - If a private vendor can be administer rentals found that would like to provide this type of service, there would from existing be little cost to the City. However, you may recall that we did try concession facilities. paddle boat and bicycle rentals at Lakefront that did not prove lucrative for the private vendor. If the City were to provide this service, the upfront costs would be in how many canoes/kayaks we purchased, and the cost of additional racks. We could likely administer the rentals utilizing additional summer seasonal concessions staff. There would be some minimal additional maintenance staff time required annually for storage of the equipment. Liability - If the City were to rent any canoes, we would have to require a liability waiver and indemnity from users. Should also consult City Attorney for any additional liability concerns. Administration - What is the appropriate rental period - hourly? Daily? Weekend? Weekly? What is the appropriate fee? STAFF RECOMMENDATION OVERNIGHT BOAT SLIPS Where: Watzl's Beach -- Overnight rental for Slips #2 - #9 only. Slips #10-18 would be first come, first served. Slip #1 - reserved for law enforcement. Sand Pointe Beach - No overnight rental. Slip #1 reserved for law enforcement. All other slips used first come, first served. Parking: Vehicle with trailer parking available at Lakefront upper lot with overnight slip reservation. Vehicles may not be parked overnight or outside of park hours. How Often: Overnight rentals would be weekly only, Monday through Sunday. This would help with the administration of the program, and alleviate the customer having to deal with weekend traffic at boat launch. Users would be limited to reserving only two weeks per season, May through September. (excluding week of Lakefront Days when slips are removed for water ski show) Users Eligible: Residents or Non-Residents. Preference given to residents. Boat registration must be provided, current and verified. Waiver of Damages: Required Fee: $250 per week for residents. $500 per week for non-residents. CANOE RACK RENTAL Amend policy to include the storage of sailboats if they will fit. Suggest moving to Watzl's Beach because it may be a calmer location for putting in canoes/kayaks, and a more convenient location for users. It will also bring more activity to Watzl's Beach. CANOE RENTAL Staff would recommend that if this is an amenity the City wants to provide, that it could probably most effectively and efficiently be operated by purchasing the equipment and operated by seasonal staff from the concession facilities at Watzl's Beach. The Council and committee members may also want to consider if this type of an amenity should be reserved as an amenity for the future park/nature area around Pike Lake.