Jacksonville Waterways Commission
Jim Love, Chair
FLORIDA INLAND NAVIGATION DISTRICT (FIND) SUBCOMMITTEE
Thursday, October 30, 2014
City Council Conference Room A
2:00 P.M.
In Attendance: Commissioners Gary L. Anderson(Chair), Stephen Swann; Waterways Coordinator, Captain Jim Suber; Council Member & Waterways Commission Chairman, Jim Love; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Tera Meeks, Chief, Natural and Marine Resource Division, Parks & Recreation Department, Brian Burket, Parks & Recreation; Captain Mike Getchell, Jacksonville Marine Transportation Exchange; Scott Skinner, JaxPort; Dave Roman, Mayor’s Office; Terry Hull, Intera; John Nooney, Recreational Fishing Alliance; Bruce Fouraker; Kevin Kuzel, Executive Council Assistant; Jessica Morales, Legislative Assistant; John J. Jackson, Council Research Division.
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 2:10 P.M.
The Chair indicated that the purpose of the meeting was to have a dialogue on FIND grantsopportunities for 2015. He explained that this was the beginning of the FIND application process. He explained that the source of funding for FIND projects was the County’s ad valorem taxes and that the projects were co-funded; the FIND funds had to be matched by the City of Jacksonville. Each project had two components: the design phase and the construction phase. Tera Meeks had provided the Subcommittee’s attendees with a list of potential 2015 FIND grant projects. The list included the proposed project, the Council District, who suggested the project, the project type (design, construction or design/construction, the scope of the project, the FIND cost, COJ cost and the total estimated cost.
The Chair requested that Tera Meeks proceed to describe the proposed projects on the list.
Captain Mike Getchell raised a safety issue that he had with the project identified as the Reed Island Floating Dock. According to Captain Getchell, the site was directly across the river from Blount Island. He saw a hazard in recreational boating in on a commercial waterway with its large vessels and wake issues. Furthermore, the turning basin for large vessels was off of Blount Island. He noted the proximity of the site to the proposed harbor deepening dredge project. As an alternative, Bruce Fouraker asked if Mill Cove could be used for a floating dock. The response was negative owing to cove being too marshy and that JEA power lines made such a site problematic. The Chair requested that Captain Getchell and Scott Skinner (JaxPort) look into these issues and have information to report at the next Subcommittee meeting.
The Ft. George Inlet Dredge project was discussed next. The Chair, Commissioner Gary Anderson, provided some background information about the site.
Tera Meeks sees this potential project as problematic. For one thing, FIND expects dredge projects to last ten years. Ms. Meeks indicated that the City cannot fell FIND precisely how many years this (Ft. George Inlet) dredge would last. She recommended taking this project off of the current list of potential projects. Commissioner Stephen Swann motioned that the Ft. George Inlet dredge project be tabled for future consideration. Terry Hull of Intera indicated that he agreed with the assessment regarding Ft. George Inlet.
Captain Jim Suber explained what the Lighting at Wayne B. Stevens and Arlington Lions project entailed, namely to give boaters and others access after nightfall; the public had sought 24-hour access. With lighting, these sites would have 24-hour use and reduce safety as an issue.
John Nooney expressed an interest in a kayak launch at the Geffen Park area of the Northbank Riverwalk.
There being no further business, the subcommittee meeting adjourned at 3:21 P.M.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 63-1729
11.12.14
Posted: 11:00 A.M.