The regular meeting of the La Crosse Joint Board of Harbor Commissioners was held Monday, August 25, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. in the Fifth Floor Conference Room, City Hall, 400 La Crosse Street. 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  President John Fisher

                                      Commissioner Dale Wetterling

                                      Commissioner Wayne Oliver

                                      County Supervisor Don Meyer – left at 5:26 p.m.

                                      Capt. Michael Horstman

                                      Council Member Tom Sweeney

 

MEMBERS ABSENT:    Commissioner Marc Schultz

                                      Commissioner Jim Bertram

                                      Commissioner Tom Thompson

 

OTHERS PRESENT:              Larry Kirch, City Planner

                                      Karl Green, UW Extension

                                      Jane Brunner, City Planning Staff

                                     

1)                Approval of the minutes of the July 21, 2008 meeting of the Port of La Crosse Joint Board of Harbor Commissioners.

 

Don Meyer made a motion approve.  Dale Wetterling seconded.  Tom Sweeney said there was an error with wording but was unable to indicate where it was found within the minutes.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

2)                Discussion of City and County Harbor budgets.

 

Karl Green went over the County Harbor budget and made a copy available to the Recording Secretary.  He said that there is a Brennan Marine bill for the Harold Craig site for the installation of six bulbs, of which he wanted the Harbor Commission aware.  The County will be paying this bill. 

 

Larry Kirch addressed the City portion of the budget and said that we have been trying to reduce costs by use of electronic mailing; there will be further changes done with regard to this mailing.  He said that if the commission wants to include a line item for repair and maintenance, this could be done, with the total requested amount being $500.  It was noted by the Recording Secretary that there has been a request to add a line item to operating budget which would increase revenue to $34,000. 

 

3)        Recap regarding WCPA Annual meeting.

 

Aside from the vehicle accident on August 6th, John Fisher thought that the annual meeting went well.  It was agreed that the presentations were very interesting and informative and John had received a lot of positive feedback from those in attendance.  Larry Kirch said that because the business meeting on the first night left room for people to leave after the lunch speaker on the second day, it created a lack of participation later on the second day. 

 

Larry reported that the WCPA will have teleconferences during the year as well as a six month meeting with officers.

 

4)                Update on the main channel no wake (Report by Capt. Horstman.)

 

Capt. Michael Horstman reported that 66 warnings and no citations were issued this summer through August 10th.  Violators’ main problem is the lack of visible buoys because of high water at the Black River and a missing buoy near Taylor Island.  He said that there are many people on the river who are from Minnesota and Iowa who are unaware of the no wake zone, and they were not able to see the buoys.  The biggest issue is not being aware of the zoning and seeing the buoys.  He added that a large sign near the Clinton Street Bridge and possibly at Taylor Island would be very helpful.

 

Larry Kirch said that he has directed someone to GPS some points north of the Cass Street Bridge for future buoy placement for two buoys.  Capt. Horstman wondered if it would be possible to get larger buoys.  However, it is believed that the present buoys are the largest buoys that we can get.  John Fisher suggested more signage as the buoys are not as effective, although there is a problem with vandalism of signs.  He added that if one was placed on the Cass Street Bridge, a boater could already be in the middle of the no wake zone by the time he sees the sign.  Tom Sweeney suggested having the signs on the bridge running north and south with arrows pointing in both directions.  The WI DOT would have to be contacted with regard to this.  It was suggested that a sign be placed on Taylor Island which could be seen by those on the Black River and to those coming down the Main Channel.  The sign could say “No wake one mile…” or something similar.

 

Larry Kirch said that he doesn’t believe that we should have to pay twice for the placement of the buoys when using a contracted business.  If they don’t weight the buoys correctly, then they should have to pay for it.  This will need to be written into our scope. 

 

5)       Request to place a 100-ft. no wake buoy in Catgut Slough adjacent to Bob’s Bait and Tackle (north of Clinton Street). – Marc Schultz

 

Duane McClain was present for this item.  He said that he would like a buoy placed in this area because they have a new dock with a houseboat, which is hit by a great deal of wave action.  The main problem is the possibility of injury to family and friends who join them on the boat and at the dock.  He explained that boats come through and are moving fast and causes very high wake, which are safety concerns.  Capt. Horstman questioned if this was primarily a problem during spring high water.  He added that he has had staff present at Clinton Street to observe the amount of traffic moving in the area and they have indicated that because of low water levels at present, very little traffic is moving through the area.  Mr. McClain said it does depend on the depth of the water, and if it is shallow it causes less of a problem.  He said that the buoy could be placed so that it is seen when a vessel is near the culvert.  He explained that the problems arise when vessels are moving both north and south.  Capt. Horstman wondered if the culvert is 100 ft. from the dock. 

 

John Fisher wondered if the placement of a single buoy or two 100 ft no wake buoys would eliminate that, and explained that at the beginning or end of a no wake zone there will always be a problem with wake action because of acceleration or deceleration.  Mr. McClain said that boaters do pay attention if they are filmed. 

 

John Fisher said that the Harbor Commission is in the process of going through the buoy permits and incorporating them into groups; however, this task will not be completed until 2009.  Larry Kirch thought that a buoy in the subject area could be incorporated into the new permits.  Capt. Horstman said that the Sheriff’s boat could range out 100 ft. for the buoy placement this weekend. 

 

Dale Wetterling believes that buoy placement would solve a couple of issues.  First, the water skiers taking wide turns would not be allowed such turns, and those speeding into Bob’s Bait and Tackle would be two such issues.   Larry Kirch asked what the County’s criteria had been when approving these permits.  Dale Wetterling said that the person requesting the permit would pay for it and the County would put together the permit.  The buoys would then be placed by the permittee.  Mr. McClain had no problem with that.  However, John Fisher explained that the Harbor Commission is now having all of the buoys placed professionally because of problems with accurate locations and time of placement.  Inaccuracy made enforcement impossible.  Whoever requests the buoys pays for them initially but the cost for placement is shared.  Larry Kirch said that a special meeting will need to be held to address the buoy issues only. 

 

6)                Discussion regarding the Port Plan update.

 

Marc Schultz had requested that the Harbor Commission address the scope of the plan.  This item was tabled until the next meeting.

 

7)        Discussion concerning obtaining shirts for entire commission.

 

This was Tom Thompson's request.  The shirts would be purchased individually by the commissioners.  The consensus was that this would be a good idea.  The logo would indicate the Joint Board of Harbor Commissioners.  Larry Kirch indicated that a local vendor will be contacted to determine prices.

 

8)        Resolution creating permanent Harbor Commission sinking fund for harbor-related       activities.

 

Because this resolution was included on the Referred Matters List it has been officially noticed as going to Harbor Commission.  Therefore, the item was discussed.  The Sinking Fund would have a cap of $100,000, with funds over that amount going into a surplus fund.  If/when there is a project which would use these funds, the project will be approved or denied by the Harbor Commission. 

 

9)         Future agendas.

 

Wayne Oliver said that he asked talked to Tony Binsfield about doing a sounding near the island south of Pettibone Beach Club and the information will be given to the USACOE.  Larry Kirch said that he is also having an intern complete a reading with six different points which will be sent to the Corps, who will complete a design free of charge.  He added that the money has been cashed from the Stry Foundation and a resolution is before Common Council to accept the $10,000 from the State. 

 

Buoy placement needs a special meeting.  Need to talk to the WI DOT, the Town of Shelby, etc.  We can repeal some of the ordinances that we don’t need and make a decision of what direction we want to go. 

 

Dale Wetterling made a motion to adjourn.  Tom Sweeney seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.  President John Fisher adjourned the meeting at 5:58 p.m.

 

                                                          Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                          Larry Kirch, Director

                                                          La Crosse City Planning