CC Minutes 08/27/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Commission Meeting August 27, 2007 Page 7 The Parks and Recreation Director outlined the advantages and disadvantages to closing the boat ramps. If the amps are closed for any amount of time, either temporary or permanent, they are closed to all of the public, including the lakefront homeowners. The advantages to closing ramps would be fewer accidents, reduced traffic and reduced noise. The disadvantage would be the loss of recreational opportunities and the loss of a Seminole County Boating Improvement Grant in the amount of $46,200 for improvements to the canal between Triplet, Middle Lake Triplet and North Lake Triplet. Seminole County has stated that the alternative of providing public access only to non -motorized vehicles is not sufficient to keep the Grant. There is also an $8,000 FDEP Matching Grant for aquatic weed control, that requires a public boat ramp on the lake in order to qualify for the match. There would be access to the lakes for emergencies and maintenance if the Commission chooses to close the ramps, but the closure would not allow access for use by the lakefront homeowners or the public. The option to close and remove the ramps does not allow for emergency access or for maintenance. If the Middle Lake Triplet boat ramp is kept in place and the unimproved ramp at North Lake Triplet is removed, this would allow access to the most vunerable lake, Middle Lake Triplet, and still maintain emergency access to the largest lake, North Lake Triplet. The Northshore Community has private access to North Lake Triplet and the City could possibly negotiate e Maintenance Access Agreement with Northshore. The Commission also asked that staff look at alternatives to closing the boat ramps to motorized access. The conceptual plan presented shows all the nine lakes with public access; two of the lakes, Middle Lake Triplet and Lake Hodge already have piers. Three of the lakes have conceptual plans for either piers or boardwalks, Dew Drop, Lake Concord and Grassy Lake. It is possible for three other lakes, Lake Griffin, Quail Pond and Lake Emily to have piers but farther analysis is needed. Lake Cecille has no access and no possibility for construction of a pier. The cost for construction of a pier would range between $30,000 to $100,000 depending on the size, the makeup of the ground and the underwater soil. There are Grants available for this process; assistance Grants funded both Secret Lake and Lake Hodge Fishing piers. The other plan is a decade old plan to create an aquatic trail system or a blueway system that would connect the chain of lakes; North Lake Triplet, Middle Lake Triplet, South Lake Triplet, Lost Lake, and Queens Mirror. The plan is environmentally friendly plan and provides a buffer zone for passive use such as kayak and canoeing and would potentially allow for launching from Secret Lake Park. The plan also shows a boardwalk and placement of buoys in 100 foot no wake zones and provides a buffer for the canoes and kayaks. Currently City Ordinance encourages more active uses to stay in the center of the lake, which is beneficial for the water quality and erosion of shoreline. It also provides a buffer zone for the canoes and kyaks to stay a little bit closer to shore. If the Commission wishes to eliminate motorized access to the lakes, this alternative passive plan would cost approximately $1,825,000, which could be phased in over a number of years. The boat ramps are currently closed temporarily and if the commission does not take action tonight, they will reopen the boat ramps, they will reopen because the temporary closure ends on Tuesday Night and they will return to the status they were two weeks ago. Resolution 07-1813 permanently closes the boat ramps and designates the ramp at Middle Lake Triplet as a park, which will allow the City to include this in the park administrative rules that would prohibit the use of the ramp, with the exception of City use for maintenance. This plan would allow Code Enforcement to place tines for violations.