Community Voices: Citizen volunteers to advise on Municipal Marina

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A six-person group of citizen volunteers has formed and been recognized by the St. Petersburg City Council as a Marina Advisory Committee. This committee will mirror the airport advisory committee, which is respected by elected officials and city staff. 

The committee brings a wealth of experience: Five rent slips in the marina; three are marine business owners with a combined 130 years of experience, two are are longtime live-a-boards; two were on the previous committee in the 1990s; two are yacht brokers; one is a professional yacht captain.

The committee has two broad areas of concern to address. The first is day-to-day operation of the current marina. The second will be the preparation to rehab it and help it become a modern boating facility.  The committee will take into account all the advancements and changes in boating habits, to continue the tradition of having a great municipal marina and a welcoming boating destination.

The St. Petersburg Municipal Marina is the largest marina on the west coast of Florida, with over 600 slips. It has for many years made contributions to the city’s general fund from profits generated there. The Municipal Marina can host boats from 20-120 feet in length. It offers 500 feet of face dockage for transient/guest vessels. You can purchase Valvtect gasoline and diesel there, and they have a modest ship’s store. 

The marina has a pump out station for waste water and a pump out boat that can visit boats in their slips for waste management. It also manages the mooring field in the Vinoy Bbasin.

But during the Pier construction, planning for the dinghy dock interface that serves the mooring field was overlooked. As a consequence, the mooring field is closed with no near-term plans to reopen.

Our waterfront and boating have been a focal point since the incorporation of our city in 1903. The natural appeal of this activity is what our committee hopes to build upon.

The members are Mike Lloyd, Nancy Ballard, Chad Shakespeare, Bill Herrmann, Page Obenshain and Hugh Hazeltine.