All right, we'll start again. Uh, it is April 16th. It is noon. I would like to call to order the meeting of the Anchorage Advisory Committee. Let's stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, roll call. Starting with >> deadlaw will >> Chris Rel King, >> John Wesley Nash, Sam Lurri,
>> Curtis Lwood. >> Okay. And Tom Hedrickk is not here. He is on his cruise on his boat, I believe. Um and we are >> John >> short a couple of members. Oh yeah, John Mlan is not here. Do we know is he
coming? >> He is not. He went out of out of town on vacation. >> All right. >> That's exactly it is. Yeah. >> Okay. Public comment. And I see that we do have somebody in the audience for public comment. Ed Skoonerver.
>> Yeah. I'm Ed Scoonover. Um, I wanted to thank you all for serving on this committee with me. Um, the workload for the LPA is just a little bit too heavy to stay on this committee and and do it responsibly. So, I've resigned and I've
been here since 10:00 Monday night actually. But anyway, I wanted to thank everybody and especially Curtis and his and his crew. um your appreciation day Sunday was a fantastic day. It was a lot of fun, a lot of people. Um just one
more thing, when you get to to see your numbers and we talk about the the dry storage or or a slip for for the second boat. I'm wondering if we couldn't transfer some money from since we're it's good to have reserves, but we're a little high with
what we have. if we could think about transferring that money to Curtis's budget so we could get a vote um down at the south end. And that's it. >> Thank you, Ed. >> Thank you. >> We appreciate you serving on this committee and we will miss you. So, feel
free to always come and talk to us at public comment >> and good luck on the LPA. >> I want to second that, Ed. It's been a pleasure to serve with you. It's uh this committee is going to miss a lot of your expertise, but uh I know the LPA well
needs your your talents. >> And thank you, Ed, and good luck on LPA. >> Ed, uh thank you very much. We appreciate it. And uh um thank you for that. Um uh I'm consideration with putting the third bow down at the south end. I appreciate that. And um don't be
a stranger. Come around come around to a meeting and everything. Do a public comment every now and again. So, uh, we appreciate everything that you have done for this, uh, for this committee and and also for us down at the Morning Field. We appreciate it. Thank you. >> So, since you've been here since 10
Monday, you can leave now if you if you want to go home and take a nap. All right. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Ed. >> Thanks, Ed. >> Thanks, Ed. See you. >> All right. Next up on the agenda is approval of minutes. However, we were not provided with our minutes. So, we will table that until May um when we
have our joint meeting with MURF and then we will look we will do some procedural things at that meeting before we get started with the discussion and we will approve whatever minutes are outstanding at that time. All right, staff report and updates. Curtis. >> All righty. Um All right. So, few
updates right now. Um, so, um, right now the anchorage vessels, I got about 20 boats in the back anchorage. I know it says 18 on our report, um, but those numbers have increased. And I have 10 vessels in the front field. Um, as of this morning, we came in, we had a
beached, uh, power boat on the, uh, point of BIC. So, um worked with uh with um Lee County and um the Bowic Park officials and um we've gotten that taken
care of. It's reported to FWC LCSO um and along with the Coast Guard, but uh looks like the marine investigators on it and working on it right now. Um so hopefully it we're kind of hearing word that the owner was around. So hopefully we can get in touch with him and they
he'll get it he'll get it pulled off. So, um, that's the biggest update in the morning field right now for us. Um, I will say, um, this looks like the season's starting to slow down. We're seeing it in our numbers right now. This morning, we had 37 boats on balls, um,
which is a little bit down. We like to stay in the 40 range. So, um, which we have reservations for this weekend, so we expect those numbers to to, um, go up just a little bit. Um, another big update, we are moving
forward to moving in to the to the new office. So, um, we hope to sometime in May be fully moved in there, but we are working right now of um getting it fitted out. We have to do some work in the office before we move in. So, um,
that's what we're looking at right now. We're going to paint it and do some electrical, lighting, and stuff. So, um, and then we'll just and then we'll just outfit it all. So, that's kind of where our priority shift is going to be going these next couple weeks and stuff like
that. Um, which but we were super excited to have kind of a more of a permanent home now. So, um, you're not crowded enough in that trailer. >> I know.
Um so update on Buccaneer Lagoon and the fish kill and the um algae bloom that we have in there right now. So um we are still actively taking samples and getting it tested. I was um we're still
getting some reports in some complaints about it the smell and um the water clarity, but I was in there. We were back in there yesterday and I can honestly say it's starting to kind of change to its natural state. Now, more in the front when you enter into the
lagoon, you do still have that strong strong like sulfur smell in a sense, but I will tell you it's not as bad as what it was initially, I think. And um I think the water clarity is getting back to a natural state. It is a little bit milky um when once you enter in to the
lagoon, but um towards the resident side like the houses, the water is a lot more natural looking opposed to it on the mangrove side, it's more like chalky and and milkier looking. But um but I do think
things the conditions in there are improving. Um we're seeing a lot of fish activity, bait popping, that kind of thing. So that's that's good for bringing it back. And every time we go in there, there's manatees galore up in there. So So that's good to see.
>> When do you think we'll have any sort of idea as to what might have happened and how we avoid that going forward? >> That's the problem, Chris. It's very hard to pinpoint. We can tell what's we can tell what's in the water and
certain things that we're seeing, but we don't know exactly. We can't pinpoint exactly what caused the whole entire fish kill. Um, and then after that, now I mean the biggest thing
of that whole thing was was the low was the low oxygen. That's what killed the fish, but it was, you know, something that made that happen, right? Um and um um we are still taking uh samples and
we're coordinating it with uh Florida GF Coast um and we are in the process of putting together a um a water sampling program um that that my
team and the marine environmental team will be working hand in hand to do. But we are we are in the process of putting that together now for the future. >> We were through there yesterday and we had absolutely no smell. Fish are
jumping. There's a ton of mullet swimming around and we did see manity and dolphin. So, it's definitely improved a lot. Um, so, um, this month our revenue, um, we
brought in $26,963. So, um, we could tell last month was probably our peak numbers. I think we're a little bit above that in the 30,000 range. So, um, this month we were a little down, but we can tell it's starting to starting to die down for
season. Um and and yeah, so we'll see how we'll see see how things go this off season and everything. And then maybe I was thinking I want to get us a full year under our
under our belts with this rate change. Um and um then after this off seasonason we can kind of discuss and then I feel like we need to give it a year and see where we're at um so we can compare numbers a
little bit more a little bit more accurately and then next year I think we should if we want to um look at the other options for rates and see if ways we can
get better and help ourselves financially. >> Curtis, I notice on your um monthly revenue report um we're missing numbers for I guess 2021 2122 22 23. Is there
any chance of recovering those or um >> is there any reason to go back that far? I mean we're looking at the days of Ian when that when that happened you know 21 and 22 >> just to so we can show a trend if you think it's worth it nobody else thinks it worth it then these are
>> that data is not available and won't be available it occurred uh during changes in uh >> systems >> systems and part of it is obviously uh after Ian we the data was collected
beforehand, but they didn't get it to us. Uh, and it's gone. So, I don't see any way of recovering that. >> All right. Well, noted. >> Yeah. And I think that's something, you know, as we look at things like this, it
might be nice to add a column or a row that explains, hey, we don't have this data. Here's why. Or here's a significant something that happened during this year that may have skewed the numbers. Just so we, you know, for people who come after us, they don't
have to try and figure out, oh, what happened that year that we don't know about? Yes, Miss Patty. >> I can look in the I can try to look in the old files and see if there's anything that that the previous um >> Do you have that grab >> admin did
>> and see if I can find anything? And if I can, I will shoot it over to you guys. Can I get if you can't send me a clean copy of this, I will make my own and work on it from there to see how many slots I can
fill in. >> Okay. >> If you'll send me the Excel sheet that's current, I can go back and look for it. >> Oh, that's fine. I'm sorry. Uh, that's the financial. I don't have that. If you can >> fill in the blanks or whatever. Yes.
>> Okay. Um, just to let you know, you didn't get um the March daily report because they changed it again. So now I'm having problems again trying to get it to balance with what's in the report. >> Yeah, I can extract it from the Excel
sheet if I have the Excel sheet. And I don't believe I have the most recent one. >> I emailed that to you, but I will ree it to you so that you have >> I have problems that way. So I appreciate the help. >> Okay, no problem. Curtis, as we
as we look to reassess next year about where things were, will we also then go out and, you know, kind of double check and see what other moing fields are doing so that we can keep track of, you know, how they have maybe altered their fees and things like that. So, we
continue to understand where we are. >> Absolutely. Um, we're we're already actually doing that again now. We we we actually discussed that this morning. So, um yes, that's something I will bring to the table. I'll have all my homework done. We will look we will have other comparisons for other marinas. So,
um we're not in the dark and we know what other people are doing. So, we're um you know um positioning ourselves in a uh competitive competitive manner for the morning field. Um I believe that it concludes my
updates right now. I have some updates u just uh to closure of the cruisers appreciation day but that is the one of the topics coming up next so I'll get into that here soon but uh um if y'all have any other questions >> go John
>> um just forformational purposes now that they permanently removed the cutter from the Coast Guard station have we uh had any talks about recovering the six moing balls that uh uh that I think were being pulled because of cutter maneuverability
or is that still just an open issue? >> Are you talking about the construction tender that I talked about last time that came in and they they had to go to dry dock. Is that what you're saying? Or did they remove the 87 from there? Is that what you're saying? >> The 87 is gone and from my idea my
I was told it's not coming back. >> Okay. >> Well, I don't know how that would impact of our situation with the morning balls or anything like that. I guess I'm not understanding. So, so there were six moing balls that the Coast Guard discouraged us from using. >> Correct. >> Have and are they still um still not
being used? >> Correct. >> And um was that anything to do with the cutter coming in out? Uh nothing at all. >> I don't I don't believe so. No. No. I see what you're you're getting at now. I see what you're getting at now. Um I
don't think that had I think it was they were just impeding the channel. I don't think it had to do with any thing about the cutter or because I mean the shrimp boats and stuff are bigger than those than those cutters. >> But we are waiting for some sort of coast guard boat to do the assessment of
whether we can have those balls back. So it is a boat issue. It's just not that issue. >> But I'm saying you thought that that boat is why they said no >> for it coming in and out. That's kind of what I'm understanding. Right. >> Yeah. I I thought it had something to do with >> I don't believe it does at all. I think
it's just regular um you know they were in violation and when they would swing with the current >> the boat would stick >> go into mark channel >> they would stick into the channel correct so I think it's just as basic as that you know
>> okay so is that still an open issue >> it is an open issue like I stated there so they were the cutter came they were in there they were in here we thought it was going to happen it was probably this is probably about a month ago Um and they actually came in um the night
before I saw them and they uh lost an engine, >> right? >> So they had and they had to uh they had to get back up to St. Pete because they had to make their dry dock and that's something that now they had the engine problem and they have their dry dock to
make. So it's I don't know how long their dry dock was. I think it was for a couple months, but with my experience in the Coast Guard, you need to add another two months to that end date. Um, so, um, so it's kind of a
disappointment. Um, I was not happy when I heard that as I was really pressing to get that done. Um but Chad and I do have some Army Corps of Engineer meetings here coming up with the um with the talk about the Matanzas Pass and stuff with
the project down the road with them. Um so um and we have the Coast Guard waterways management team on those meetings too. So that's when we talk to them about this. So um I hope to have by our next meeting I hope to have some more updated information on that.
>> So but that's where I'm at. I know it's a disappointing thing. So, but we're we're pushing the issue. So, >> yeah, I'm not sure if it's relevant. Um, and certainly I don't know if it's uh verified information, but I was told when I toured the Coast Guard facility
last week that they were pulling the 87s out of service and um most of them are are on the hard and Curtis Creek now and I'm not sure they're going to continue using them, but it's something you can ask them about. >> Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I wasn't aware of that. I got to ask my brother-in-law.
um he he would have more insider information. So I'll see what he uh what he has to say about that. Um but yeah, there after so many years like I so when I was in the 110s were were so the 87s replace the 110s. The 110s were going
out of service. So I'm anxious to know what they're going to replace it with or or if it's just going to be the 154s, the F FRC the fast response vessels that are going to be taking over now. So, but I'll try to get that information for you, John. >> For those following along at home, I'm
guessing those are monikers for boats that I don't understand. So, >> correct. >> Okay. All right. Any other questions for Curtis? I just wanted to bring up now I don't know if it's appropriate to appropriate
or whether we should you know send it to council or if council's listening now about that fish tail. Um it seems like that slip is dirt cheap like that must be some kind of discount. I don't think that's the retail price. Is that is that
a discounted price Curtis? >> So it was included in a um >> like a package >> in a package that we made. Yes. with the um with the rehab of their facility and the construction and um I was believed it
was in one of the I forget what document it is. I don't want to um say the wrong thing here, but yes, it was something that they offered to us um in the contract or whatever of >> process. That's a very good rate. And I think when council looks at it, they
should look at um just consult with Curtis and the guys and see between driving time and taking the boat and and you know maintenance and fuel and everything, how much time savings, money savings, payroll savings that will be
because if that's going to make it more convenient for them to be on this end of the island, if there's enough things to do down here, I would suggest that that's almost that's a no-brainer. if we could either move the money or have the money. >> So, let's talk about that when we close out cruisers in a few minutes. Okay.
Yeah. I want to I want to talk about our financials and then we can make a motion if we so choose. All right. Anything else for Curtis? All right. How about we do member items and reports? Ted, do you want to talk through your documents? Um
the uh I Curtis has already presented this but uh our change from uh October of this fiscal year uh to last year we were up 19%.
And November up 1% and December up 6% from the pre previous December. uh January we were down 10% and February and February we're down 7% and March
down 90 u 8%. So it's been up and down but we are beyond beyond uh below last year's and the previous years uh were in similar to last year. So it is a
noticeable change. >> Are you saying is this occupancy Ted or revenue? >> Occupancy. >> Okay. So occupancy has been fluctuating and we know that we did have some cold months. Yeah. >> In January, February and March which may or may not have impacted that but
occupancy has been down but revenues have been up. >> Uh equal or up. >> Okay. Okay. And thank you very much for for doing that. Questions for Ted, comments.
All right. Thank you very much for keeping track of all that for us. John, any member comments at this time? >> No, ma'am. >> Okay. Sam, >> I just want to make a comment that
during the MURF meeting Dave Nusbomb brought up I just want to bring this up now because we'll probably discuss it at our joint meeting with them. He seems to have a seasonal person that operates a ferry
um wherever it is up north there um that may um be amicable to bringing it down here for season. So, I just wanted to bring it up and if nobody watched that, um, he'll probably be able to explain that better during our joint meeting. It
seemed like a great idea. >> All righty. Shall we move on then to new business and let's talk about cruisers appreciation day? Um, let's talk about what went well, everybody's impressions, and then we will try and uh close that
out with some action items. John, you put together some items for discussion. Do you just want to go over those, you know, briefly? And I think I didn't disagree with anything. >> Well, there's all been submitted for record and I don't know how much you
detail you want to get into. Um, but I can run down the highlights. Uh this year we've uh created the some tools um some spreadsheets some um
different PDF documents that will help us a lot next year and allow us not to uh or give us the option not to start from scratch. I think that'll be good for us. The final versions of all those will be forwarded to KUR within a week.
Uh the uh committee has provided me with community members have provided me with all the mission information over the last few days. I uh believe that uh consideration and and an item action item I'd like to put in front of the committee is that we
consider sending out a blind survey, an electronic survey that allowed people to respond without identifying themselves uh to everyone that was involved, every group that was involved with the uh cruisers appreciation uh day. Uh asked
them things like uh what could we do different to help them next year? um what were we missing, what we we do right, how successful it was for them. I certainly would be um happy to put a draft of that together if the committee
feels that's worth it. I don't know if you want to respond to that now. >> Um why don't you just kind of go through all the all the stuff and then I'll I'll call them up and we'll we'll talk about everything at once. >> All right. Um some of the documents that we sent out to the uh different
participants uh were excellent this year. logistics information layout showing uh where where the location thing of things are um a template for the um participants uh to forward to members. So let me uh let me go back
there. Uh participants logic logic logistics information was sent out um proposing that next year we consider sending out a layout of the um of the facilities which we really didn't do this time. We didn't put out a table
assignment uh drawing and we may want to think about doing that next year so there's not so many questions about where uh people are positioned. We did lay out all the um all the tables. We did label all the tables but it uh it
appeared that it still created a lot of questions on where people were located. So maybe we ought to uh figure and doing that within the week before um we send uh before the uh the CAD next year. Um I
also I I wrote a template um for two participants um that uh that basically was a draft email and asked them to send it to their members to help promote the event. um uh it it worked real good and they
did turn it around um to their membership and I'd like to encourage that next year and possibly do that with all participants basically saying here's a form email please send it to your membership to help them understand what's coming up.
We had discussion um last meeting about u monetary uh sponsors and what uh involvement they should have. Um my thoughts on that kind of changed. I think we should uh encourage allowing them to have a display t table for the
event and additionally uh using them as publishing them as sponsors um on on different uh press releases if that's acceptable and within the town parameters. In my opinion, the promotion of this
year's event was insignificant. Further efforts should be target to broader audience for better encouragement and support of of higher um attendance. I can't sit here and tell you right now what we should have done different, but uh I think we should
discuss that early in the process for next year and try to come up with a more uh formal way of of promoting uh the event. I think we promote it through the town, but I I didn't see that getting to the lot of people on a one-on-one basis.
I think we need to think about um trying to do that better. So this is a this is a tough one that I think could have a lot of discussion. Um it'd be cons consideration should be giving to future cruisers
appreciation days of it tying it to another town event. Um as an example uh maybe it can incorporate it into a separate section of the shrimp festival arts and crafts. I'm just using that as an example. um having it as a standalone
um event um is wonderful, but I think that I would look for ways to increase our attendance and this may be something to give consideration to. Next year's U cruisers appreciation day,
we should establish the date for that as quickly as possible. When I look at the uh calendars for the um Chamber of Commerce and what's up FB Fab FB uh many of the 2027 events are already listed
and already being promoted and I would uh think it would be a wonderful thing to get ourselves up on there as fast as possible. All the details don't need to be there. I think we can um I think at least if we can get a date up there and
and possibly um a location um that'll help because I find myself more and more going on to those websites just to see what's going on and uh and helping plan in my calendar out in the future.
I think next year we should put greater emphasis uh be placed on boating safety, boating education and unique features of local waters around this area. I think uh we should push hard to have um FWC,
Lee County Sheriff's Marine Operations Office, uh Fort Myers Beach Fire Control, Life Safety Teams, all things that we identified this year that we wanted to do. But I think with those agencies, we have to approach them much
earlier than we did this time. Um I I think we gota get them lined up months before we had other participants. And then I think we should encourage them where possible to do some demonstrations, not just to show out and and hand out um pamphlets, but um
possibly uh CPR AED demonstrations. We couldn't do classes there. uh some fire suppression um methods that would be unique to voters um and uh you know whatever they could suggest that that
would be more than just being there and handing out pamphlets try to get something more interactive. And then the other thing is is sort of a a side thing is I stepped up and did the um presentation of the kind of hosted
the presentation of the first drawing. I don't know if we had intended Ed Ryan to do that or not. Um I kind of felt like maybe I stepped on on his on his commitment. Um without knowing that I should have. So now I think that's open
question. >> Yeah. I mean and and if there's any guilt there, it's probably mine for not being clear with whomever was going to be doing that. So hopefully, you know, you didn't feel like he took Well, he did kind of take the reins away from you. So
>> No, no, no, no. And and I not that um I I enjoyed doing it. I love doing it. I I had fun doing it. But if he was there to do it as a master ceremonies, we just have to have better communication. >> Absolutely. And that that's on me. So my bad. >> It is sort of a tradition. He has been
doing it in the future and I didn't know that he had been relieved. Uh so I think he was there thinking he was supposed to do it. >> Yeah. >> And that's just a tradition. Yeah, that's my concern. Um, it was 1:30. I didn't see anybody there. I jumped up
and did it, not knowing at all that that that we had a tradition of him doing it. Um, and certainly he does a wonderful job and he can do it much better than I can, >> but I'm not sure it was a tradition. I think it's more like, okay, well, we didn't really state who was going to be
doing what. We knew that we were all going to be part of that thing, just not whose responsibility it was to do the announcing. So maybe maybe a more documented uh format next year to uh um to say this person's doing this, this person's doing that. >> Absolutely.
>> So those are my suggestions in summary um uh for discussion and review for for this year's cruisers appreciation day and for some of those points to be considered for future uh cruisers appreciation days. >> Perfect. Thank you very much for putting
that together. Ted, do you have anything to add to that bin of goodness? all of that. Well, I I'd say that uh it was apparent uh from Curtis's
interactions with the cruisers during cruisers appreciation day uh was very close and showed how personally contacted he is with our our cruisers and our uh users of the field. And I I
think the town is lucky to have uh Curtis with us as harbor master. And I would say that Curtis is reporting at the uh uh location and to this committee has
been very professional and has has presented information in a fully understandable way. after this period of time. I'm thinking we have are very lucky to have someone who can communicate with us and with the borders voters.
>> I second that. >> I would agree. All in favor? >> Y'all are too nice. Thank you all very much. >> Anything else, Ted? >> Okay. Sam, do you have anything to add? >> I do. I want to just thank a couple
people real quick. Especially Ted's wife, Tina. She's there every she's been there every year and she does twice as much as and as me and Ted put together and we want to thank her. She did a great job. Um, regarding Snug Harbor, I I talked to Mary Ruland, the owner
there, and she was very happy how it went. They did give us a break on the money again. We had a $2,000 minimum. We spent $1,95. They build us for $1,95. So, I want to thank her for that. And
the server, Nicole, who's uh one of the managers there, did a job above and beyond what she was supposed to do. She was delivering food. Everyone got very fast service and I think everything went real smooth um at the restaurant. Want
to thank Ed Ryan. He brought his um his PA system. and as I'm sure he's listening now. Um, as far as involving him, he's always willing to do as much or as little as anybody wants. So, he's just there to pitch in and he did talk
with everybody and keep things going pretty good. Uh, and thanks Ed Skoonover brought the generator to run the PA system. The setup was really good. Everybody kind of zigzag through there and most of the people that went through stopped at every table and it was I thought it was really good setup.
Um, Curtis and his crew were great, but the stars of the show were Bobby's kids by far. >> Yeah, >> I was waiting for that to come up. >> Yeah, they were. They were. Man, they were the best. And, uh, that's all. Thank you.
>> Okay. Um, Curtis, do you want to say anything before I kind of go through some of the particulars? >> I do. >> All right. >> Um, listen, first off, I just want to thank y'all. y'all did a phenomenal job and all the efforts that y'all um went through to put on an amazing event on
Sunday. So, um I thought everybody enjoyed it. Um and I thought it was a great a great time. So, um thank you. And I know it was a lot of a lot of hard work, a lot of phone calls and everything like that, but I think we did a great job. Um but on that note, I will
say I definitely think we have some room to improve and get better, right? We can always we can always um strive to be to be better. Um my biggest thing that I think would help us out the best um I
know that I I kind of thought that we the year prior we had a little bit more walk up traffic and stuff like that. I didn't see that was I felt like that was a little down. I know that some of my voters were down. Um it's hard. Um, so
there's two recommendations that I I will recommend for next year for us to think about and I think we need to probably discuss it sooner rather than later so we can get it on the books. But I I think we need to highly consider moving the date up above Easter. I think
that's going to help us with our people that's going to show up. I have more Boers in at that time. Um, and along with the walkaround traffic for Fort Myers Beach, I think we would see definitely an increase in our numbers
and the the show and audience. Um, if if we did that, my next thing would be No, I know we're we're tight on the weekends and stuff like that, but I think if we move it to a Saturday might be a little bit better.
And those are two my two recommended addations for that. Um and um John, I know that you uh mentioned um FWC conservation and commission there along with LCSO marine unit. So I had I
I was able to reach out to LCSO marine unit and get that contact. So um they again agreed to come and then they had another obligation and pulled away. So, but at least that effort's not wasn't gone away completely. So, we have
that contact for next year for that we added to the spreadsheet that you that you created. So, I think that at least we have that information. But, I kind of dropped the ball. I should have reached out to them a lot sooner. So, that's that's kind of on me for that. So, I do do apologize. Um but but all in all, I
thought it was awesome and y'all do a great job as always. So, thank you all for everything. Well, and thank you for having your crew there and toing tables and chairs. So, I want to thank the library for letting us use their tables. And which churches did we get chairs
from? >> I believe it was St. Raphael's. >> Okay. >> Right. Yeah. >> Not the one we showed up to the other, >> right? >> Oh, boy. It's bad when you go to the wrong church and ask for chairs and they look at you like, "What?" >> You think they're all close by. >> Okay.
Well, I I sent out this recap document and I think a lot of what we've brought up is in here, but I just want to give a bit of overall results. Um, for people who weren't there, it was a beautiful day. I mean, we really lucked out in terms of day. Yes, windy, but beautiful.
Um, 80s, we had great vibes from all the participants and attendees. They were all happy. It was it was nice to see people um, you know, just mingling. Every time I looked out into the park, there were always people flowing through the tables. So, kudos to John for
putting that together, the schematic, and you know, we had a very uh it was very regimented measuring. You know, we had tables in exactly the right places. It all worked really well. Um, we served we handed out 70 complimentary meal
vouchers to our voters and VIPs. 68 were redeemed. So, that came out to the 195 that Sam talked about. Um, we had uh 19 participating nonprofits and educational organizations. We had attendees representing 11 of our moing balls and
we had 22 VIPs attending. We had 22 organizations who gave us 22 total prizes that we drew for thanks to Beach Talk Radio for their promotional support and their AV support and general getting the crowd excited support. Um, I'm not
sure really how to estimate the attendees beyond the voters and the VIPs. I'm I'm thinking, you know, 60 80 60 to 80 seems about right to me. I mean, we did have quite a few people wandering around, but to your point, Curtis, yeah, you could tell that it was
post Easter and there just wasn't that walk up traffic of families and other people. So, definitely something to think about as we plan for the future. Um, so event expenses, let's just talk about that really quickly. Uh, so we
have Snug Harbor that we need to pay 195. And I'm assuming that you've already put in that request through Curtis. >> Yes, it is. Um, I should be I hope to get the check either today or tomorrow and it'll be delivered. I I will hand deliver it to to Snow Harbor.
>> Okay. And other other expenses. So we have a permit. Do you know what the permit cost was? I don't know exactly what the permit Patty, can you check? >> Okay, >> I'll check into that because technically I don't know that they should be
charging us. >> Okay. All right. >> But if they do, it would I don't I don't do special events anymore and I haven't for two years. So, >> okay. >> So, if we can get that from Nora because I know she was the one who helped shepherd the permit. >> Well, it would be on our um fee schedule. So,
>> okay. Okay. That would be an easy thing to look at. I mean, I have a copy of the permit, but I don't know that it says how much we paid for it. Maybe it does. >> Okay. >> I I believe that was a contrib contribution. You may >> that I did the insurance.
>> Okay. >> Are we exempt because we might be exempt because it's a a town function >> back when I did back when I did special events? Yes, that was true. Um, but like I said, it's been two years and everything I used to do, they've
completely changed. So, I don't know. You know, the rules all changed. So, but back then, no, you guys didn't have to pay for it because it was kind of a town event. >> So, I'll check into it. >> Curtis, do you know how much we paid for the sign boards?
>> They're like 60 a piece, weren't they? >> Something like that. I think it was like 100 >> like right around 120 a piece or together. >> Okay. >> So with our expenses being a little over
$2,000 and we had 6627.36 um that gives us over $4,000 that's sort of left in our bank account. I would like to entertain the option and opportunity that if we could contribute um a portion of that to pay
for the dry slip for a year but then have the town put it into their budget for the next year. >> Absolutely. >> I would I would like to entertain that as a motion. >> I will >> I'll second it. >> All in favor? >> I
>> Okay. Um, I will write that up as a recommendation to council and I will let people know that I can come to the next council meeting and make that recommendation. >> Awesome. Well, thank you all very much. I appreciate that and I'll make sure on my end that that is something that I'm
pretty sure it can be done, but we'll check and make sure with >> and there may be some urgency. So, if we could get that rolling ASAP. >> Yeah. >> Before they revoke the offer. Well, the next council meeting is the in May.
>> I think it's the first week of May. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, I will make sure that I'm there for that one. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. So, there's event expenses. Go ahead. Did you have something else, Curtis? >> Thank you all. That's it. >> Um I think there are a couple other
outstanding things that we need to wrap up. I think we need to send the thank yous to the nonprofits. And John, I would like to take you up on your suggestion of adding a survey to that. Would you be okay with sending out an email thank you to all the nonprofits
and including that survey? I I certainly would. I'm just wondering if there's any advantage to making them separate. Um I I don't want to send something and thank them and influence their feedback to us
>> because they can't be anonymous. Well, I mean, you you can still set it up as anonymous. So, I mean, when you do a forms, Microsoft forms, you can say, "I don't want to know the names of these people." Um, but my experience in marketing is, you know, typically when
you have a communication to people, you often include some sort of a feedback survey. Hey, tell us how we did. Tell us what we could have done better for you. Um a and then at the end if you want us to contact you and talk about things then they could leave their information
in the survey. >> All right. So so certainly glad to to do the thank you letter. Um and of course it will be a draft that needs to be approved. Um, let me come back on the survey scenario and and see if uh
um ex exch. >> Okay. >> And I would be happy to do a thank you email to all of the inind sponsors and the monetary sponsors once I get the final look at your um list so that I
have all of that information. But I'm happy to do that on the behalf of the council. so or the committee so that we can get that done. Um, just also want to say thank you to the town, to Curtis and his crew, to Abigail, Nora, to everybody who helped us through this. So, um, we
appreciate that. Yes, Patty, the crew, the peeps that work with Curtis and help him. Um, so let me see if there's anything else in here. So let's talk about you know the format
of the event going forward and I don't know that we want to make any decisions today but I think it is something to think about and in June maybe we come with um more information about hey here's what the schedule looks like for
other 2027 events where might we attach ourselves if that made sense um what are some of the openings because I don't think we want to double book but I really do like the the idea that we we do it in conjunction with something else
that makes sense because then you already have a built-in audience. I wouldn't want to dilute our purpose though. So I think we have to you know make that that distinction that if we can have our own sort of little presence within a larger thing that might be
good. What do you guys think about that? >> I think it's exactly part of what my suggestion was. Um, we can maybe look at at at things coming up next year and see if there's some
candidates. Um, I can certainly have some >> I guess it's it's not appropriate for me to do it offline. Um, certainly we maybe we can come back with a list of suggestions of the events and and talk them over and and key a couple.
Yeah, >> I think I'd be good. And I don't want to step on you yet, but let me just say because you brought it up. Um I I would like to see us at have a target um possibly at June's
meeting to have a proposed or draft of what exactly our schedule should be for prep next year. >> Um kind of break it down and make it more formal about uh we need to accomplish this by this date. I would be happy to put that together. >> Excellent.
>> Okay. All right. So, um, at our June meeting, we will we will bring our thinking caps together. We will have, um, John, maybe since you've talked about calendars, you could take a look at what's already scheduled out there and and give us an
idea of where we might be able to fit. Um and I will put together a schedule sort of a timetable saying okay 3 months out we should start doing this or 6 months out we should have already started doing this like really establishing the date. Um
what could we do to engage more of our mooring field and anchorage voters? I mean, do we feel like it was an issue of time of year or is this just not exciting for them? Go ahead, Sam.
>> It's free food. I'm not sure why we didn't get more of them, but one of the things um that was mentioned is having a Saturday instead of a Sunday. Sunday is traditionally a travel day and a lot of stuff. Sat I think Saturday would be a good suggestion. I'm not sure why we're
not getting the turnout. I think that um Abby and Nora put out a bunch of stuff for people to get there, but there's a lot going on and if we could move it up s earlier in the calendar, however, maybe before all the spring break, like
right before all the spring breakers get here, that might be a nice um you know, window to put it in. >> What do you think about time of day? Is lunch good or is an earlier dinner better? >> I think lunch is good. If you don't get people early in the day, you're never
going to get them. So, I think the 11 to 2 or like we did at even 11 to 11 to 2 because everyone was already there. We were ready at 11 and it wouldn't require any of us getting there, you know, much earlier. And that gives a chance uh for the people start their day with us
instead of having to get to us later. >> What do you think, Curtis? So, I will say a lot of my long-term people I talked to about there was probably about three or four of them that told me that they had work. So, they couldn't make it. So, that's
kind of that's kind of hard to I mean, how do you work around that? You know what I mean? Like that's >> a Sunday. >> That was a Sunday. So, you know, and I don't know if more people have off Saturdays, you know, that's kind of what I'm thinking. Um, so that's kind of more
or less why why I said that. Um, plus I think when you do normal events and stuff like that, it's Saturday's more of a day for the for those type of things. So, that's that's kind of why I pitched that. Um, I will say um I again I do
apologize, but I felt like I got the cruisers information out to cruisers.net Nate net a little later because we subscrib we just we just subscribed to them and then um
I believe I get got them the information a little late to put out to promote it. So I think that's going to be a better resource for us moving moving forward in the upcoming years. Um, and I think that is a bigger
network that we can use to get get the word out more. Um, so, um, that's just something that I think would definitely help. Um, that wasn't as I felt like I could have done
a better job to get it out for us to be more more success successful or get the word out. So, >> I agree. Abby and her staff did a did a good job at the 10,000 foot level. Um, what I didn't see I didn't see a poster
in like the library or or uh I I think posters or information should be in every boating related resource on on the on the on the island marinas um boating repair shops. uh ask the uh Coast Guard
accelerator to maybe include it uh with their VSC's that they do uh before the event. We just got to get promotion down in the weeds. Um in my opinion to to maybe help uh we we can't keep it. Uh Beach Talk Radio promotion that that
Chris did was absolutely wonderful. But as wonderful job that Beach Talk Radio does uh with their broadcast and newsletters, that's not that's not everybody on the island. We we got to break um beyond those things. And um and
somehow I think we should try to come up ways to become more grassroots progressive on the promotion. >> With what John said, we definitely should consider renaming it. I think I think a lot of people don't don't
understand. It's a traditional name, but it's really not it's not very descriptive at this point. So, we we should be able to come up with some maybe something better than that that appeals to, like John said, appeals more to the general public and just get walk-ins, more walk-ins.
>> Yeah. So, you know, as we come back together in June, that's another thing to think about. I mean, we want to be we want to be true to the original purpose. We want to make sure that we are celebrating those who cruise to Fort Myers Beach, whether they use the Moringfield or Anchorage. Um, you know,
they're just here for the day in and out. So, how can we celebrate that in a name, but also bring together the community? Because I I'm just really excited by the organizations that were there this year. I mean, we had some new
ones who were pretty darn excited to be included. Um, and then John and I talked to a woman who um represents the America's Great Loop Cruisers Association. She was thrilled. Did you talk to her, too? Okay. So, she was so excited we were doing this and I think
we can get her organization and other people more involved in this as well next year. Um, she was very complimentary uh about how welcoming Fort Myers Beach is to cruisers and says that's not always how a lot of communities are treating them these
days, especially on the east coast of Florida. So, I I think we want to continue our great reputation as being a place where we are welcoming. We want them uh we want them to be part of our community and continue in that sort of vein. Make sense?
>> Yeah, that makes wonderful sense. And that was a connection that we had tried to do in the past and and really wasn't successful in making a one-on-one um scenario, but but she was uh very uh excited and thought that the event was
was excellent for her group. And I think she can give us a little more promotion um nationally or or at least in her her group of uh great loopers. And I think that'd be wonderful if we can get the information out there early enough and maybe even an article that she can publish.
>> Yeah. >> One of the greatest thing about all the exhibitors were this is not their first event. They do events all the time. They were all prepared. They had their tables set up. They had supplies. They had um you know people there to talk and I thought all of them were set up and and
very ready. And John, just to comment, just to comment on uh what you said with uh with Kim, she uh actually followed up with an email with me and everything like that. Um and we talked at the event, so that's another outlet that we can promote to get the word out for sure
as well. So, >> okay. Unless there's anything outstanding on this topic, um I think our to-dos for next meeting. Did you have something, Ted? I just want to report that the Coastg Guard Auxiliary was very pleased and and happy.
>> Good. Thank you. And it was wonderful to always have them there in uniform. They look so spiffy. So, in June, we'll talk about what's on the 2027 schedule, where might we fit in, if there is something that we would want to explore to align ourselves with or not. Uh we'll talk about possibly
moving it to a Saturday timetable for preparation. Um, let's see what was I can't read my writing, which is a problem. My husband will attest to that. Um, we need to lean in to where it's best for promotion. So, Great Loopers and other places that
Curtis mentioned, and I'll wrap this all up for us. So, uh, and then I will make that recommendation to council as you have all given me the authority to do. So, cruisers, thumbs up. >> Thumbs up. >> All right.
Okay, let's prepare uh briefly for our joint meeting with MURF in May. Uh you all should have a little bit of an overview of a document that I put together just for discussion purposes.
This was uh using AI. God bless Copilot for helping me put this together and wrapping things together. But what the deal is um the town has asked for our advice, which is what we do. were an advisory committee and they basically
said, "Hey, um, if we in the future would want to allow some sort of a taxi, a water taxi, water ferry service, what things should we think about? What guard rails should we put in place so that we can make sure that we are um
safeguarding our environment, safeguarding our waterways, uh, doing the best thing for the town's residents, visitors, that sort of thing. So that framework that I sent to you really just
gave gave you some okay what are normal considerations from an environmental perspective what are some navigational considerations how might we want to operate and govern this um so that that sort of thing it it's really just an
overview and I know that MURF did discuss it at one of their previous meetings and from my understanding they really have a couple of major concerns and they are around speed and they're around um safety of our marine
environment, our our marine animals, you know. >> So, I mean, and Curtis, I'm going to ask for your expertise here, but I think we start with the premise that we would want whoever operates this to comply.
They would have to comply with all other regulations, you know, federal, state, county, local. That's just the starting bar. >> Correct. And anybody that um runs one of these businesses, I mean,
and they're operating a vessel. So any of these, whether it's the taxi or the ferry service, right? So we got to remember we're talking about two different things here. So it's >> glossery of terms on page six. >> Okay. Very good. And um so
I guess the biggest thing for th for those two things is um is we just have to um I think that if if they if they have a business right they have to abide by all
those rules and regulations. It's something that they have to do to run the business. So I mean that is step one for anybody that's thinking of starting this >> and so what all would be included in some of those I mean basically the speed
zones are already established that's not something that we have to worry about because that is what it is um thanks to the chamber uh Mary Torerson and working with the chamber to have that wonderful laminated map of all of the speed zones that we were able to
hand handout on Sunday. I thought that was a fabulous map. But so speed kind of takes care of itself, >> right? >> Because that's already included. >> That's the law. >> Wildlife protection also is part of ordinances, you know, that because
you're only going a certain distance, you know, a certain speed, you hopefully are not going to cause any damage. But are there other things with regard to, you know, wildlife protection, you shouldn't approach them. You shouldn't
do these things. Hey, if you see them, do something else. >> I mean, I think if you see if you see a manatee, right, I mean, the safe practice is stay clear. Um, you can see their wake. I wouldn't get up on top of them or anything like that. Um, so that
would definitely be something that we should recommend to these to these to these boers or the businesses. Um and then um along with the dolphins as well. I mean I think those are two the the manatees
and the dolphins go go um you know you know hand in hand. Now I know we have charters and stuff that specifically go to see these things but I know that they keep a certain amount of distance away. So that's that's the biggest thing is just to respect the marine life and
everything in our and I in our in our waters. Um, so we would definitely push that and I know that Murf is already pushing that, right? So, um, I know that there's things talked about other things to have protection like prop cards and
stuff like that. Um, but so I will say just to um for this meeting coming up in May on the 13th, a joint meeting with MURF, right? So, um, and Dave as his his people, um, about this, but I think
what we should do for both things, I think we look at I think that or what I'm going to ask of y'all is to, um, pick out two things that you would like to see or to be or to be implemented
into the ordinances for these taxis and ferry and ferry services. So, so we're looking at really two things for the taxi services and two things for the ferry for the ferry services. Um, just procedurally, could we have
some whiteboards or easel signs or something so that we can actually while we're discussing and I would love for us to be, you know, on the floor for that meeting because I don't think it's going to work to just have all of us, right? >> Everybody up here. So, it would be great to just have a couple of >> Sure. There would probably be a separate road
table and chairs up here. >> That'd be great. >> One meeting, one >> one committee would be up here, the other would be down there or something like that. That's how I don't know how. But that's something we can talk about. >> I mean, if we could do a kind of a round table thing like we did for one of our meetings, right? You know, our planning meetings.
>> Okay. Okay. >> As you know, as long as it can conform with what we need to do. >> Absolutely. >> So, I go ahead. >> Sorry. Um there are specific um regulations published by FWC on all those kind of
things how you approach and u I don't know if we want to go beyond those regulations um but we certainly should promote them >> absolutely um yes yes I agree 100% with that
>> so just to make sure everybody knows what we're talking about a water taxi is a small vessel providing point-to-point passenger service a water ferry is a larger vessel providing scheduled service between fixed points. When we talk about a wake zone, areas where
vessel speed must be reduced to minimize wake. Uh we already know what a moing field is and a designated landing site. I think people can figure that out. Here's where you get on, where you get off. Um so I kind of wrote down things that I
think we should maybe provide a POV on, you know, a point of view. So I'm just going to kind of throw those out there and then we can decide if those are sort of your two things. >> Just let me provide this information before we move forward for the taxis and the ferry services. So just for
qualification purposes for the for the taxis, right? So that's going to qualify under a uninspected vessel. So that is the license you have to obtain to be able to run that type of vessel or the or the um the taxi service
is going to be a a sixpack captain's license. >> So a six-pack is what it's called. >> Sixack. >> Yes. Correct. >> All right. >> Um so it's um >> so that will be um they cannot transport more than more than six more than six
passengers. Now, with the ferry services, we're looking at higher number of people, right? So, that's going to go into a 25 ton up into a 100 ton captain's license, and there's a 50 ton in the middle there. Um, and
that's based off the size of the vessel that they are they are operating. Um, and um, so that is going to be an inspected vessel. So they have to go through s certain rules or hire rules and regulations through the coast guard
um to to be obtained to run their to run their operation. >> So these are who established these sort of regulations for what kind of license you need for these sorts of vessels? Is that a federal >> that is federal that that is the Coast
Guard. >> Okay, perfect. So we don't need to worry about that. >> Correct. But what we could talk about is >> but just for background and understanding >> moving forward discussing this topic. >> That's super helpful that that's already established and we don't have to worry
about that. >> Now would we want to appine on what we would want as a limit for the size of vessel and the number of passengers? Is that something for us to talk? >> I guess we can make an a recommendation.
I don't think um >> I have a comment on that. >> I don't think the P I don't think the ferry service is going to be over a 100 people, right? I think I think we're looking 50 and under, right? I mean, that's what I was thinking. >> Yeah, correct. >> There are if you look around at the the boats, the tour boats, um and other
boats that are taking 49 passengers, almost all of them are what's called a Corinthian catamaran. >> And they and they draw very little water. And if you're going to go from one end of the island to the other, that's probably going to be the main thing. You're probably not going to have a monohole unless it's a total flat uh
flat boat. So, you're probably looking at the 49 49 passengers or some of them they make a 42, but you're basically probably looking at a 49 passenger Corinthian or similar to a catamaran. >> Exactly right, Sam. >> Okay. So, you would say, Sam, that that is the predominant sort of size of
vessel that is operating those sorts of tours today. 49. It's like 90% of all these boats that take more than six people out around here. >> Perfect. Well, that makes things so much easier because I have things like operator qualifications. Boom. Already know about that. Um,
>> and that would be an inspected vessel to take 49. >> What about how many of each we would want to allow? How many taxi services? How many vary services you think would be reasonable
to allow? >> Can I throw in one more thing before we start on the glossery of terms since uh >> Did I screw something up? >> No, you just maybe omission. >> Okay. >> So, water taxi is just like an Uber. You you call it it's on demand. The ferry is
what you see on a flyer. They have published rates. They have published schedules. The third one, which is what I operated in Marina del Rey, California, is a shuttle. And it's a hybrid. The shuttle is similar to
an airport shuttle that takes hotels. It's it waits until there's a number of passengers or operates on demand rather than a schedule, but it operates similar to a ferry in function. Um but because there is going to be a lot of different
I see so many obstacles with this that I think the things you're mentioning are not even the obstacles um and I guess I'll bring it up in detail in our joint meeting but there are so many obstacles to you know Jim Adhalt
had um he he I think >> kind of set up with the arches >> having the ferry station there >> um and possibly at Snook hook bite and then fish tail. If you if you do anything like that at
the arches, I don't know how they accommodated. They thought everyone's a walk-on. I don't know how they accommodated for any kind of parking. I know that Snookbite and Junkanoo, even in the offseason, there's no place to park there. >> Um Fishtail, if they do this, they are
going to have to a lot parking for that also. So we have in the agreement, John King would know better than me, but in the agreement with the arches,
there was a little bailout clause that said, "We will provide a ferry terminal. We will provide the ferry service as long as it's profitable." And I think it was based on their opinion what was
profitable. And we may end up getting ourselves into a situation where it's going to be so pricey that nobody uses it or that it's they're not making enough money that they don't even want to have it. >> And that's stuff we can bring up with.
>> Right. No, I mean I think so it's interesting that you bring up this water shuttle. I always come back to what is the problem we're trying to solve. So with a ferry service, we're trying to solve my understanding is
>> people who live on the south end cannot drive north during season. So I think we're thinking of a seasonable a seasonal uh solution to the traffic problem on a stero. I mean I don't see it as something being year round because
I just don't think that would work >> as of right now. Right. Maybe once, you know, down the road when all these projects and, you know, the arches are built and stuff like that, then it might be more of a >> right. It might be >> fulltime gig, you know what I mean? But
I don't think I I'm in agreeance. I think it's more of a part-time gig right now. That falls in line with what David Nusbomb was saying about the people that aren't using their boats up north would bring them down here for a few months. >> Yeah. What about taxis? Do we have taxis
today? And the problem that they would be solving is, hey, I want to go from my boat in Anchorage or in the morning field to somewhere else and I don't want to take my big boat or is that a use case or what?
>> Correct. I think the taxi service can be used in several different situations. Right. So the situation that you just stated, Chris, could be an option as well. Um there has been discussion when I was on Murf um about them going to down the canals picking up people from
houses and stuff during season. And then also you have your people in the morning field um that are say they're going on trips and stuff like that and they can't leave their dinghy at the dock, right? That would help that would help enforce
the um no overnight dockage for dingies at the dinghy dock. Um, right now we have nobody operating or doing that, you know. So, um, I think that would help out a lot. Um, so I think that's another
small little business that a taxi service could get into as well. Um, along with just say somebody's at um, but yeah, I think the taxi service and Murf kind of used it as Uber, right? you
know, that's more of the term now than taxi, right? So, um they talk about that being more like Uber service on the water. Say if somebody was um somewhere and they wanted to go eat at at a restaurant, you know, um they could
they could provide that pro, you know, provide that service to them. So, um, >> and there's probably more more avenues that I'm not thinking of and stuff like that, you know, that that that might get brought up at the meeting and stuff like that. So,
>> I think we might be creating a problem that doesn't exist with the with the taxis. Um, provided there six-pack taxis, there's already people doing it. There's there's fishing captains doing it. I I'm licensed and I could do it if I wanted to. There's a lot of people
that doing it that it doesn't have to be regulated by us. The only issues they have is where they drop off and where they pick up. And so I'm not sure the six-pack taxi thing is even um something that is our issue at this point.
>> Do you think they should be regulating charging people? >> I think the town is trying to do that. Yeah, >> I I I think they're trying to put a limit on who who how many people can do that and they So what is >> right now everybody that has a six pass license can do it and some of them are
doing it >> right but what I'm I understand that Sam but I'm saying is they want to regulate it through the town you have to get a license or permit through the town like that's kind of the direction it it might be going >> is all I'm getting at >> just be a branch of occupational license or something that they that they approve
so they know everybody that is doing Right. Right. Right. For visibility, >> Patty. >> Okay. Just for historical information, we we used to have a water taxi before Ian and he was an elderly gentleman. Then after Ian, he decided not to do it
anymore. We also used to have um taxis. We were allowed two permits for taxi services before Uber started. So that kind of put a kibash on that because you
can't regulate Uber and things of that nature. But that's just for your historical information of kind of how we we are getting to where we're getting now. So we only had one taxi water taxi service before. >> Okay.
In order to operate a water taxi right now, you you have to have an occupational license with the county or the town in order in order to legally do that right now. So, I'm not sure what more you would want to
add on to that. >> An occupational license, is that different in an addition to that captain's license? >> Yes, that's an that's it's a business license, an occupational license to run your business. Okay. Um, and anything anything in Lee County, if you're running a business, you're supposed to have an occupational license. The
captains are a little sketchy on that sometimes, but but that would be the enforceable part without having to overregulate it that everyone >> agree. So, we're talking about two different things. They have to obtain the captain's license, go by Coast Guard rules and regulations, and then also
>> occupational license to operate their business, >> right? >> Yep. We used >> the town used to have those also. >> Yep. And even just to have a regular six-pack charter, not taxi related, just to take people out fishing or anything, you are supposed to have a occupational license. >> Correct.
>> And that occupational license can be issued by the town or by >> I think this is more with the with the county and um Yep. >> Okay. >> I think that's I think that's one >> I think that's one thing we still farm out now. I don't think there's an individual occupational license. They
just say town of Fort Myers Beach, but they're issued through Lee County. I think occupational licenses Okay. >> So, Sam, what what problem would your water shuttle solve? How does that fit into the mix of this thing? >> I just had to put the definition in there. It Well, it makes it more
flexible. Ferry, you're going to have printed rates and times. >> Mhm. >> Um whereas the shuttle's more flexible. I was going from a parking lot to a shopping center and we just did it on weekends. when the as soon as the
parking lot filled up, that's when we started to an auxiliary parking lot. So, I'm not sure how that would fit in um you know, how that would would fit. It it probably would be better to have a ferry service. Other towns and other
places that have the ferry service, they have published rates, times, and ticketing and everything that is on a strict schedule. I was just given the different definition. It's kind of shuttle is just kind of a hybrid of the taxi. >> Okay, I know we have to be out of here
in 13 minutes, so I'm going to try and push us along a little bit. John, go ahead. >> Um, just a quick comment. We we need to be open-minded. Um, having a shuttle service or ferry service from the let's say the Moringfield down to Fishtail
because of the speed zones, that's very long time. Uh, but we maybe should think about Steve going on the outside, going on the golf side where we wouldn't have speed zones. Something we just should look at and got to keep open-minded on that. >> I would say that's going to be very
difficult. It's I rent charters out there. It's, you know, unless it's a perfect day like today, especially in the winter time when you get fronts coming through, you would not be able to operate that very, very well at all. And you want to keep your times like as
accurate as possible and the bay allows you to do that even though it's going to be slower, but >> I mean the the time and the distance it is what it is. >> I want to say the bridge to fish tales at least 45 minutes. >> Yes, you're right. >> I'd like to ask. >> And that's going fast. That's going fast
in the areas you can go fast. >> I'm wondering do we have any concept of how many people would use this? It seems like to me it's not self-supporting. >> No. And I think our remit is not
necessarily figuring out if it's viable, but if somebody were to want to operate this, what guard rails could we put in advance to make it easier to at least, you know, put into place. And I would assume that whoever would want to do
this might do a proof of concept and just say, okay, for three months I'm going to try this and see if this works. And if not, then you know I don't want to make a long-term commitment. It's because we don't know. >> And what are the obligations we have with the arches who have not even come
close to putting a shovel in the ground, >> right? Okay. So, couple more things. I just want to I just want to kind of set a framework here and I will update this document based on what we discussed and I'll make sure that the it gets sent to Murf as well and maybe I will have a
conversation with Dave and we'll outline what we want to talk about specifically at that meeting. But >> there are frameworks already in place. So, um, regardless of whatever we say, they have to comply with all regulations and ordinances already in place. That means, hey, to operate this sort of a
vessel, you have to have this type of a license, and you're also going to have to have some sort of an occupational license to operate as a vendor of doing this sort of thing. Coming along with that means, hey, you have to you have to do the speed limits. You can't you can't
violate any of those things. Um capacity is already taken care of by the size of the vessel. We think 49 and under >> or the captain license they are operating under as well. >> Um insurance and liability. My understanding would be that that
probably would be covered under your occupational license. >> It will not be and that's where we like we do with the mooring field. That's where we probably should be setting uh minimums. >> Okay. hours of operation. I do think that that
might be something that we would want to opine on. >> So, I think that's something that we can recommend, but who are we to tell an entity what time of operation they can operate? I think we are kind of strapped with that a little bit. I mean, >> well, we set limits on how long you can
have music, live music. >> Oh, right. >> Things like that. So I I see that >> there's already ordinances in place so they should be following that you know for >> for the music I believe right if I'm not mistaken Patty do you know yeah
>> and is it viable to go in the back bay after dark >> so look at pages four and five where it talks about the regulatory models um the number three is the one that I had put in italics because to me that
seems like a model we want might want to look at. So the town establishes a clear standardized permit for water taxi or water fairies uh operators. It includes all of our requirements, but it probably would state, hey, you already have to
comply with these other things. This is an addition. Um, there's some administrative capacity that would be used to manage this, but it's predictable, transparent, scalable, and it would align with town priorities. So, I don't know if you guys have looked at these OP models, but to me, that seems
like the one that might come closest to meeting our needs as we think about our recommendations. >> I agree. >> Okay. And I'm looking at my list of things that I brought up as concerns. Water quality, but that's already taken care
of by, hey, you have to operate your boat safely and you can't dump things. All that sort of thing. Congestion. We'll be thinking about that as we think about the number of operators. We might want to suggest get to do this. Um, you know, all of the other safety
things. Thank you for, you know, the insurance and liability information, Sam, because I do think that is important that we want want to make sure that that is all covered so that the town is not liable for anything. >> Those are kind of my big things.
What didn't we cover that you know you want me to call out in the revision of this? >> I think our ideas kind of in line with for this meeting. Um and I think the topics that we
brought up are very important. I think we bring that up in the joint meeting and then um you know obviously Murf will have their ideas and um we'll see where it >> where it goes from there, you know. Um
but just so we're aware like we're doing this joint meeting because we're trying to put the policy in place for us. So >> Mhm. >> So these these entities will have to obviously um follow the rules based off their
captain's license, occupational therapy and then what we are doing now is they would have to whatever whatever the town decides permit or whatever that this that the business will have to have to run also in Fort Myers Beach. So, it's
looking like three things that they'll have to obtain to run this business. So, um but that's the whole point of this joint meeting is to put this ordinance and whatever whatever process the town
wants to to uh um uh put in place. So, >> yeah, I mean the good news is there's so much that's already established. You know, we don't need to recreate the wheel. Just need to make sure that there are some nuances that we call out that would make this tenable for us.
>> Absolutely. Yep. >> Okay. All right, Mr. John, >> I I don't know how to express this. Um, but I'll try. >> Okay. You got a minute? >> I got a minute. >> Okay. Uh I think MURF and AAC has to
understand what committee has what focus on what types of uh recommendations. Uh I hate to see AAC and MURF arguing over entities that really crosses responsibility. >> Um otherwise it's going to be a very
very long meeting. Um and and uh so maybe at some point when we start outlining what we should look at at this meeting, there's some sort of agreement between um our committees that this is our recommendation um
based on what we we do and these are your recommendations based on what you do. uh we can make suggestions back and forth, but we have to have recognitions that this is a AAC
policy and this is a MURF policy. Um I I I'm concerned that it's going to become debates between committee and we need to avoid that. >> I don't think that's a problem since we're just doing this for the pleasure of the council. So, and they wanted us to brainstorm it. >> Yeah. I mean I I feel like there is
enough overlap and similar sentiment and when we can talk about the regulations that are already in place, Murf should well know what things already are in place to make sure that people are operating their vessels and you know operating
them safely so that they don't hurt the environment and other things. So I I I'm positive about it. I think I think it's going to be good. I'm 100% positive, but I don't want to hear most murf trying to talk about regulations associated with
the Morningfield. >> That that's that's not their place. >> And we shouldn't be talking to them about >> certain issues uh about the environmental uh conditions. I mean, there's got to be some sort of
guidelines >> and and I respect your opinion here, Sam, but we can't cross certain areas because it's not going to be productive, >> right? >> Okay. >> All right. Public comment. Patty, anything to say?
>> Nope. All right. She's looking at me like, "No, don't call me." Okay. Um, next meeting agenda that is our joint meeting with MURF. Uh, I will revise this document and sort of put a summary of discussions that we've already had. I will invite Dave to add things to that.
We'll get it out to both committees. Um, we will need to do a little procedural business and talk about our minutes and get those approved. Uh, and then I'm going to also update the cruiser stuff. John's going to work on thank yous to all of the nonprofits. I'm going to work
on thank yous to all of the people who gave us money and things. And I think we will be ready. >> I move to adjourn. >> Second. >> All right. So Sam is adjourning us and Ted is seconding. All in favor say I.
>> I. >> All right. We are adjourned at 128 on Thursday, April 16th. Two minutes to spare. Thank you.