MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
A Regular Meeting of the Venice Fishing Pier Ad Hoc Committee was held this date in Council Chambers at City Hall. Chair Leis called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
I. ROLL CALL
The following Committee members were present: Chair Jim Leis, Vice Chair Morgan Skoegard, Barry Garman, and Mike Pachota. Shawn Leahey was absent.
Also present: Utilities General Manager Len Bramble, Venice Police Department Lieutenant Mike Rose, Public Works Supervisor Bob Hirter and Recording Secretary Susan Schult.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Pachota moved to approve
Minutes of the Regular Meeting held
With consensus of the board, Mr. Leis moved Audience Participation next on the agenda. Mr. Leis explained the purpose of the committee.
James Green, winter resident, queried the committee on the concerns of the board, reviewed his fishing history in other cities, noted the opportunity to fish for sharks at the pier, stated most sharks are released back into the water, talked about fishermen staking a claim with their coolers and equipment, the bait and unwanted fish left on the pier, alcohol use on the pier, and suggested closing the pier at night.
In response to questions from the board, Mr. Green suggested having a pier master to monitor all situations, a curfew should be imposed to allow adults only on the pier after a certain hour, having people work their fines off by cleaning the pier, and charging a fee to access the pier.
Discussion ensued on fishing being the primary focus of the pier, how the city can accommodate everyone, there currently being no curfew in the city, having a pier master or contact on the pier to work with police, many pier inhabitants policing themselves, and challenges the police face in curtailing bad behavior.
(3:21) James Creutz, 18162 Robinson Avenue, stated he drives from Port Charlotte to fish at the pier, he likes to have all his equipment on the pier, and the problem is not the amount of rods a fisherman has, but the number used while fishing. He talked about shark fishing being the draw to the pier, using a kayak to ensure bait lines are out and away from the pier, problems with using the kayak, catching and releasing sharks, and children vandalizing the pier.
Mr. Creutz answered questions regarding children on the pier, alcohol use on the pier being mostly Sharky’s patrons, and suggested having someone on the pier to enforce the laws.
Discussion followed regarding buying and selling fish, people catching illegal fish, tagging fish being a gray area, reusing tags for different fish, having too many rules on the pier, safety concerns during night fishing, storing fish in a cooler and keeping it off the pier, and tourists on the pier.
(3:44) Kevin Regilio, 269 E. Venice Blvd, stated parents drop their teenagers off at the pier, it would alleviate a lot of problems if a parent or an adult were present, and queried the committee on who to call when illegal fish are caught.
Lt. Rose responded, stating people should call the police department first since they are closer, reported one shark is allowed per person per day, the police can contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and stated he will try to conduct another fishing class at the Waymire facility.
Discussion followed regarding the police and FWC phone numbers being posted at the pier, and possibly limiting the number of rods to take on the pier.
IV. UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
1. Discussion on Pier Concerns, Causes and Corrective Actions
Mr. Leis suggested dividing the items in categories, such as safety, enforcement, legal issues and then prioritizing the items.
Discussion took place on resolving the issue of enforcement, using flyers or pamphlets, having an angler’s club or pier master to enforce the rules, having the proper signage to alleviate problems, the benefits of having a pier master, having a designated person to cooperate with police, whether bait shop workers should monitor the pier, charging a fee on the pier, sectioning off the pier for fishermen, hours people fish, possible grants or funds to promote fishing, the fishing license requirements, making numbered fishing spots on the pier and assigning fisherman a spot, contract management companies that manage piers, problems with the previous anglers group, lack of parental supervision, having a parental consent form, pier identification or permission card, enforcement being key, creating a pier courtesy brochure, having registration at the bait shop to form a new anglers club, previous night watchmen at the pier, previous fees for pier access, Sharky’s sponsoring the initial angler club meeting, having club members clean the pier, the purview of the committee to make recommendations to the city manager and council, closing the pier for certain hours, how to recruit pier management groups, having a wall of honor for fishermen, educating the public on shark fishing, casting safety, having underhand casting only, designated areas for overhand casting, establishing fishermen only areas on the pier, and problems at sunset with tourists and fishermen at the end of the pier.
1.
Mr. Leis reviewed the results of the pier survey, stated most suggestions were from fishermen and queried the board on continuing with the survey.
2. Discussion
on Frequency of Meetings
Discussion
took place regarding the committee sunset date of
There was a consensus to meet the first and third Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. with the next meeting being February 18.
3. Miscellaneous
Mr. Leis recounted his conversation with City Manager Isaac Turner regarding communication from the committee as issues or motions are made.
Discussion ensued on a possible motion, forming an anglers club and possibly charging a pier fee.
(4:56) Mr. Garman moved to support the creation of an anglers club to monitor pier activity. Seconded by Mr. Pachota. MOTION CARRIED ON VOICE VOTE UNANIMOUSLY.
Discussion continued regarding staff providing documentation on the bond and the possibility of charging a fee, the issue of cleanliness on the pier, and the interlocal agreement with the county excluding the pier.
Mr. Hirter stated the county is not maintaining the pier, the city and Sharky’s are maintaining the trash removal at the pier, and county staff reductions enacted a change to the interlocal agreement.
Discussion ensued regarding the feasibility of restricting pier access, and researching a pier fee.
Andy Polaszek, FWC, stated most of the issues discussed are local issues, described his authority regarding pier issues, and stated he is here to support the city.
Mr. Pachota
noted Sharky’s started a Venice Pier website, described the contents of the venicefishingpier.com
website, and announced the bait shop is sponsoring a charter fishing trip on
In response to questions, Mr. Hirter reported the city purchases the fishing license for the pier to enable people to fish without a fishing license.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before this Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 5:07 p.m.
(Approved by the
Chairman and the Recording Secretary at the