SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Authorize staff to proceed with a study and preliminary design to determine if marina side service infrastructure can be integrated into the parking garage. (consent)
Body
SUMMARY:
The Clearwater Beach Marina has been in existence since the 1950’s. The last significant renovations occurred in the late 1970’s and early 80’s. In 2005, the city pursued a replacement of the docks only at an estimated cost of 8 million dollars. That project was never initiated.
In October of 2021, due to advanced age and accelerating deterioration of overwater structures and utilities, City Council authorized the Engineering Consulting Firm Moffatt & Nichol to begin the design and permitting process to replace all these components. At that time, the design team was provided the direction to incorporate resiliency, a vision for a Marina Walk to integrate with Beach Walk, and to solicit input from the commercial fleet to accommodate their needs.
The design team held meetings with commercial fleet representatives and presented the master plan to the Marine Advisory Board in March of 2022. It must be noted that replication of existing “overwater” structures and equipment maintained by the commercial fleet is not permittable and in some cases subject to removal by permitting authorities. The unavoidable biproduct of accommodating one of the commercial fleet’s primary needs, sales kiosks, and the creation of a marina walk is the projected loss of approximately 40 parking spaces. Based in part on these discussions and additional staff review of the overall infrastructure needs necessary to support the commercial operations, it was determined that rebuilding of the marina without considering upland needs for supporting services and storage would exacerbate existing deficiencies in marina operations. A parking garage design developed concurrently or in cooperation with the marina design would address upland support needs currently unavailable to the marina project design team, such as storage and a location for FEMA required elevated utilities.
Moffatt and Nichol will give a presentation on the design and planning exercise to date, including efforts to incorporate resiliency and means/methods to accommodate the commercial fleet’s needs. Marine and Aviation will be recommending an option that falls within the current marina replacement budget for council discussion.
Additionally, Marine and Aviation is soliciting council input and direction on conducting preliminary research and design for a marina parking garage. If council authorizes this analysis, the Parking Division will research parking needs and Engineering would determine the best preliminary design option to ensure coordination with final Marina Design. Staff would come back to council with a pro-forma and design costs.
At the October 3 work session, staff provided an update on the beach marina dock and utilities replacement project and requested authority to expand the project for the purpose of integrating a parking garage design with marina side service infrastructure. There was council consensus for staff to proceed with the study and preliminary design to determine if marina side service infrastructure can be integrated into the parking garage. Staff was directed to place the item on the Consent Agenda.