02-13-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION DATE: February 13, 2017 ITEM NO.: 9 Department Approval: Administrator Reviewed: Agenda Section: Name Adam Edwards Y"-4 Public Works Director/ Title Public Works Director/City Engineer City Engineer's Report Item Description: Big Island Docks Discussion References A. Big Island Nature Park Management Plan, 2011 List of Exhibits A. Dock Costs 2009-2016 1. Purpose. The purpose of this item is to provide council an opportunity to discuss the future disposition of the docks at Big Island. 2. Background. There are two 80 ft. long commercial docks at the Big Island Park. Per the Big Island Nature Park Management Plan adopted by the City Council in 2011: Docks, Lake Access Access to the Park via watercraft will be accommodated via the use of public docks installed on a seasonal basis at designated locations. At certain locations along the shoreline of the park where lake bottom conditions are suitable, beaching of watercraft will be allowed. It should be determined whether such locations should be identified by signage, and whether there are locations where such use should be prohibited. Existing Docks. During 2006-2007, a floating dock on loan from Minnetonka Portable Dredging was installed at the property to accommodate the ongoing work at the Park as well as recreational visitors. The City at that time determined it would be appropriate to provide dockage suitable for use by the steamer Minnehaha. In early 2008 the City surveyed the shoreline at the landing site and processed a variance application for installation of 4 concrete bulkheads to which floating docks with ramps could be attached. The bulkheads and the main dock and pilings (plus a smaller ancillary dock) were installed in spring 2008, and the initial visit to the Park by the Minnehaha occurred on June 25, 2008. In 2009 the City installed a second large floating dock. Although bulkheads have been installed to accommodate as many as 4 docks, it is undetermined at this time whether more than two docks are necessary. Signage was added to the docks in 2009 prohibiting fishing from the docks. Dock Storage. Winter storage for the docks has been handled by floating them to a protected cove southeast of the landing area. During the spring of 2010 the docks were unleashed from their winter mooring by vandals and only because of favorable prevailing winds they did not end up floating around the bay. The City should investigate whether suitable alternatives exist for winter storage of the docks to avoid this issue in the future. Because of the vandalism when the docks were stored at Big Island, the removal cost increased by $1,000 per year to tow the docks to Shorewood Yacht Club. The owners there (Tonka Bay Marina) have stored the docks for free during the winter. It is unlikely that this storage option will continue to be available in the future. The coordination and management of maintenance at Big Island was conducted by the appointed Big Island Custodian. 3. Cost. The annual maintenance cost (installation and removal) in 2016 cost was $8,000. Previous year maintenance costs are a described in Exhibit A. The purchase price of the docks included three years