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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-2008 PSAC Minutes MINUTES PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION STUDY SESSION CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE 183 NORTH MAIN STREET LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2008 ......................................................................... CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. Chairman Norkin called the Public Safety Advisory Commission Study Session to order at 7:03 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Commissioner Dailey. ROLL CALL PRESENT: CHAIRMAN NORKIN COMMISSIONER DAILEY COMMISSIONER LYONS COMMISSIONER STEWART ABSENT: VICE-CHAIR BHUTTA Also present were: Information/Communications Manager Dennis, Assistant City Attorney David Mann, Administrative Services Director Pressey, Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy, Sergeant Yates and Clerk of the Board Munson. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Launch Ramp Coordination and Safety Inspection Needs Assessment Information/Communications Manager Dennis presented the staff report. He indicated the purpose of this Study Session was to re-exam the perceived needs and problems. He reviewed some steps in developing the Needs Assessment and recommendations. He recommended starting with Commissioner's viewpoint for the launch ramp coordinator. 1 Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy presented a PowerPoint presentation and outlined some of the goals and objectives of PSAC. Chairman Norkin indicated he would like to see a ramp coordinator or safety coordinator to alleviate traffic concerns and delays on boat launches and could also help speed things up. He indicated the coordinator should have direct contact with first responders and Lake Patrol or LEMSAR. Commissioner Stewart asked to define a safety or ramp coordinator. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy indicated it was more like a safety inspector. Chairman Norkin stated PSAC should be looking at ramp coordinator. Commission Stewart indicated he supports a safer lake. He stated the lake was getting busier and indicated he supports this position if finances support position. He indicated it was PSAC's duty to find a way to keep people safe. Commissioner Lyons noted he was in favor of ramp coordinator during summer months to keep everything moving; however, he still has problems with the coordinator getting boats out of water. Pete Dawson, resident, indicated he had trouble tying to tie the two issues together - a ramp coordinator and a safety inspector. He stated he agreed with the delaunching issue of being a problem area. He stated boat lines at end of day are long and impacts can delay delauching. He noted dock capacity can also affect delaunching. Chairman Norkin suggested having a priority lane for people having their trailers ready to hookup. He indicated a coordinator can be effective in keeping things moving on the launch. Terry Prijatel, resident, stated a launch coordinator is good for disabled boaters. She stated another idea is to have boaters buy a lake use pass for the year and have them go through a inspection at a certain location so as to not to interfere with regular flow. Louis Prijatel, resident, and in LEMSAR, stated boat sinking can quickly unravel movement and use of the launch, requires coordinated response. He suggested placing a launch ramp on other side of lake. He stated the current location is the worst place to delaunch due to wave action and on the other side it is not as severe. He stated boat fires could have been preventable if inspections were done a at boat launch. 2 Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy presented the goals, situation, need, proposal, duties and benefits, costs and funding issues, and action items as described below: Goal - Increase public safety through increased boater knowledge of boating regulations and verify required boating safety equipment prior to launching on the lake. Situation Analvsis - The City won the surface water rights for Lake Elsinore and is the responsible agency to maintain order and protect public health and welfare on the lake. Need - Sherriff's Lake Patrol issued 2,000 citations in 2007 for boating violations, which represents about 6% of boaters. Unknown - No data readily available on boater compliance with required boating safety equipment. Fact Findinq - Conduct boating survey to collect data. Chairman's Proposal - Mandatory inspection of vessels prior to launching. Assistant City Attorney Mann indicated there are no provisions for mandatory inspections of boats before going in water. He indicated an alternative would be to make that a condition of the use. Who and Where Locations of Inspections - seasonal inspections. Duties of Ramp Coordinator. - Physical inspection of vessels for fire and life jackets and verbally communicate key lake use regulations. Other responsibilities could be to assist with boat launching, ensure most vessels have the basis safety equipment; and ensure receipt of lake use regulations. Cost & Fundinq - The cost basis of two Community Services Officers for six months at two stations; Seaport and Elsinore West would cost $80,000 p/year. Proposed funding would be from daily Lake day use fees. Concerns - No quantifiable data on need - Potential negative impact on operation of boat launch facilities - private boat launch facility acceptance - perceived increase in public safety outweigh public service - substantial cost increase in daily lake use pass - increase of 30%. - are there other means to obtain the goal. Alternatives - Improve boater education - develop and implement a standard boater orientation and safety check-in "script" for commercial boat launch facilities at point of purchase - offer basic boating safety equipment for sale - request increase courtesy boat inspection by the US coast Guard - Request 3 Sheriff Lake Patrol to perform spot boat inspections at the launch ramps and collect data. Action Items - Provide consensus and direction to staff. Chairman Norkin indicated he believes boaters who do not have the correct safety equipment do not belong on the lake. He suggested having inspections done prior to launching and would prefer Sherriff's Dept. do inspections. Pete Dawson, resident, indicated vessel inspections should be done by a vessel inspector. He indicated Lake Perris make these inspections mandatory. He provided the following data - last year 70% of boats did not comply with - working fire extinguishers, life jackets, showed biggest violators were with personal water crafts, and brand new boats. He indicated he was concerned with the City's liability of not inspecting everything, Assistant City Attorney Mann stated Mr. Dawson raises a valid point. He indicated he was not certain there is immunity for public agencies for inspections. He indicated PSAC needs to focus in on safety aspect. Chairman Norkin stated he was simply asking for boat inspection of basic safety equipment and proves equipment is working and appropriate. He indicated he was in favor of having Coast Guard Auxiliary increase inspections and felt basic safety inspections are feasible. Commissioner Dailey indicated she felt there was a need for two coordinators, one at each ramp. She expressed her concerns with safety inspections and with backing boat traffic up. She stated it was better to doing once a month safety inspections. She suggested starting collecting data from users on where they live. She also suggested a need for a launch ramp solution; however, every weekend for inspections was too excessive. Commissioner Lyons stated the City needs people to inspect; boat inspections should be done on Lakeshore Drive; he was not in favor of a safety sticker and indicated this was not a guarantee people will have these items next time when they go on the lake. He noted parking at Seaport Launch is inadequate and need more docks on other side of lake. Chairman Norkin suggests the City look into building a new dock. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy indicated in March, the City Council will be approving a new boat launch facility. Commissioner Stewart stated he did not understand why it would take so long to ask if they have life jackets and a fire extinguisher. 4 Check Roberts, President of Pyramid Enterprises, indicated he was uncertain of the future demands and indicated a way to speed up process at the seaport was to have more than one person as ramp coordinator. He stated his experience at other lakes and a process used at Pyramid Lake to speed things was to ask boaters to have their gear in boat ready far in advance and before they get into gate and ask if they know what safety equipment they need. He noted another item needed to be sold that people loose all the time are boat plugs along with other safety equipment. He suggested the City should consider getting a floating wave wall. Commissioner Dailey inquired Mr. Roberts what he was specifically recommending. Mr. Roberts indicated he was recommending his facility provide the coverage and increase of operating costs and make an adjustment to cover. Commissioner Dailey indicated spot checks are very effective and liked the idea of using Mr. Roberts's services. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy suggested having one CSO at ramp and one at Elsinore west which by separating them should cover more areas. He indicated the cost to hire two CSU's would be $80,000 per year. Chairman Norkin proposed hiring two CSO's and Mr. Roberts' service. (2) Hiqh Speed Zone Needs Assessment Terry Prijatil, resident, stated the normal recreational boater will do their run early in the morning and leave. Louis Prijatil, resident, indicated he agrees with his wife. He sated if there are not too many people who launch, and then 90 mph is not too fast. He stated on weekends 35 mph is fine. He stated he does not want PSAC to overkill on this issue and indicated there have been no deaths, and very few accidents in the high speed zone. Pete Dawson, resident, indicated the ordinance just recently approved needs to cover more than hydroplanes boats; it needs to cover competition boat - the guy who is doing commercial boats for competition. Chairman Norkin inquired staff to ascertain what is the recommended speed. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy recommended 80 mph standard maximum and higher would require a permit Chairman Norkin suggested setting the limit of faster than 120 mph require a permit. 5 Commissioner Daily recommended 150 mph from May 15t to September 30th _ and early mornings between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. are freebies and no speed limit. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy suggested sunrise and restricted all weekend high speed zone travel from April 15t through September 30th to 35 mph - 150 mph over would require a special permit. Chairman Norkin questions the direction of travel. Commissioner Daily stated the direction of lake fine. Chairman Norkin expressed his concerns with two boats going 150 mph in high speed zone in opposite directions. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy and Sergeant Yates indicated they have never seen two boats going in the opposite direction in the high speed zone. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy also suggested considering an age restriction for boaters aliowed using the high speed zone; under 16 cannot go faster than 35 mph. Chairman Norkin inquired if there was sufficient delineation for the high speed zone. Lake and Aquatic Resources Director Kilroy indicated there was plenty of delineation. Chairman Norkin requested staff have all of the changes to the ordinance prepared for the next regular PSAC meeting. ADJOURNMENT It was the consensus of the Commission to adjourn to a Regular Meeting on March 12, 2008, in the Cultural Center located at 183 North Main Street, Lake Elsinore, California, CA, 92530. f\ Chairman Norkin adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m. /./ ! I' . /~~r-r/) ;' MIKE NORKlN, CHAIRMAN PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COMMISSION fL_L- VIVIAN M. MUNSON CLERK OF THE BOARD 6