2011-0615 Regular City Commission Meeting

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Summary Minutes: Regular City Commission Meeting June 15,2011 City of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida there is an alternate solution to the problem, but in the interim this is a temporary measure until such time we are able to come up with a more permanent solution. 12B. Add-On: Discussion regarding SeaDuction Floats. Action: [City Clerk's Note: Correspondence and photographs were distributed prior to the meeting.] Mayor Ede1cup said this is a discussion and presentation by James Harrison of Atlantic Beach Clubs, Inc. and noted that material was handed out prior to the meeting. Mr. Harrison said he is the President of Atlantic Beach Clubs, and the inventor, patent holder and manufacturer of the SeaDuction line, and wishes to have this commenced in the City as its home base, and have done everything they can to accommodate their product line in the City. Vice Mayor Thaler said that staff had told him that this has been turned down by the City of Miami or Miami - Dade County, and Mr. Harrison said that is correct for use of the product in the recreation corridor, and he has had three meetings with them. They are under the belief that they don't wish to engage in any more permitting within the corridor, and believe that they are turning this over to the City of Sunny Isles Beach for total management of the beach. He said he told them he didn't think that would ever happen, and he spoke to City Attorney Ottinot who also said it would never happen. He said he doesn't want this near the public access areas or recreation corridors, he wants it in a more quiet area, and noted that he listed the parameters in his handout. Vice Mayor Thaler said he has no problem putting it in an unrestricted area but he does have a problem until staff comes back to him and tells him the reasons why Miami turned it down and are referring it to us. Mr. Harrison said he dealt with Mr. Ripple, the Operation Director of Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation, and he got the impression that they want to shove it off to the City. They feel if they had to permit a float that it would force them into permitting every County Park. City Manager Cohen said he would investigate this and he understands there are staff concerns here as well as at the County level, but he also knows there is interest in this activity, whether or not we can find common ground he can't say but he will investigate it. Mayor Edelcup said to defer this to the City Manager doing his survey internally in the City along with City Attorney Ottinot as to the legal ramifications. The type of amenity that is being presented to us certainly is conducive to the tourist atmosphere that we have in the City and he would like to see if there is a way we can accommodate this kind of amenity as long as it is properly controlled and safe for the environment. He is in favor of the concept, whether or not we can execute it and come up with the right controls and regulations of our City without also advocating or receiving anything from the County that we don't want to receive which is total control of the beach. With that said if you can do a study of this issue and see if it can be accommodated, and if it can be to bring it back before the Commission. Commissioner Aelion asked if this would have an effect on the turtle season, and what the width ofthe float is. Mr. Harrison said he asked Wesley Seech ofDEP if this would interfere with the turtle season, and he said no; the float is six (6) feet in width and seven (7) feet in length. Commissioner Aelion said Item 10 on the handout in setting the parameters, you are suggesting not to exceed six (6) per property. Mr. Harrison said he set the parameters to no less than 30 feet apart. 12