Staff Writer
They may not perform well in the water, but City Council member Reggie Brown revealed at Thursday’s Waterways Commission meeting that he spent some of his Easter Sunday fielding calls from upset constituents who had parked their motorcycles at the Harborview Boat Ramp.
Those calls were from angry bikers who had been ticketed for improperly parking their motorcycles at the boat ramp on the Ribault River on the City’s Northside.
“Is there parking designated for motorcycles at the boat ramp?” asked Brown, who is also chair of the Waterways Commission.
City Planner Jody McDaniel spoke on behalf of the City’s Planning and Development Department in explaining that there are parking spaces for automobiles and vehicles with boat trailers, but nothing specifically for motorcycles.
A grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District has been requested to build new restrooms and improve the parking lot at the boat ramp, and Brown asked if designated motorcycle parking could be a part of those plans.
“It will be part of the discussion when we meet with designers,” said McDaniel.
The City has applied for navigation district grants for the Harborview and four other projects. If approved, the City will receive more than $1 million in grant funds. The matching grants are awarded through the District’s Waterways Assistance Program.
Other projects include construction of additional parking and shoreline stabilization at the Joe Carlucci Boat Ramp totaling $450,000, construction of docks and pump out station at the Sisters Creek dock and pump out totaling $540,000, construction of the south end of the Trout River Pier totaling $600,000, and design of dock renovation and extension at the Mayport Boat Ramp totaling $120,000.
“The City is very savvy about applying for funding for their projects,” said Mark Crosley, assistant executive director for the navigation. “They have a good track record of completing the projects they apply for.”
In 2007, the City applied for $450,000 in matching funds for installation of water and electric hookups for Metropolitan Park electric upgrades. That project is completed.
In 2008, the City applied for $220,000 in matching funds for replacement of restrooms and parking lot lighting and stabilization of overflow parking at the Michael Scanlon, Mayport, Boat Ramp. That project has been bid and awarded.
In 2009, the City applied for $400,00 in matching funds for construction to stabilize the shoreline at the Alimicani boat ramp near the Fort George Inlet. Also in 2009, construction of boat parking expansion was approved for $225,000 of matching funds for the Mandarin Park boat ramp adjacent to Julington Creek on the City’s Southside. Both projects are completed.
Grants are approved with a two-year time limit, with the option of applying for a one-year extension.
The Waterways Assistance Program is a grant program established by the Florida Legislature and the District for the purpose of financially cooperating with local governments to alleviate problems associated with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and associated waterways within the District.
The next Waterways Commission meeting is May 13 in City Council Chambers.
356-2466