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Clearwater boat slips move to ballots

By ASHLEE CLARK
Published July 22, 2006

CLEARWATER - City Council members are in agreement that adding boat slips downtown would be a way to revitalize the city's waterfront.

In November, they will see if the idea floats with voters.

The City Council on Thursday approved the placement of a referendum on the November ballot that would let voters decide on a project to build more than 100 boat slips near the new Clearwater Memorial Causeway. The council had previously discussed the matter at a Tuesday work session.

If approved, the project will cost $10.9-million and be targeted for completion in 2009.

Mayor Frank Hibbard said during the meeting that Clearwater residents would have first access to renting the slips.

Boaters would rent slips for about $14 per foot, per month, a price that City Council member Hoyt Hamilton said would be appealing to boaters wanting to rent from a new facility.

"There will probably be people willing to bid on a boat slip," he said.

The council also discussed funding for the project, which could come partially from grants.

"We don't have $11-million laying around," Hibbard said. "There's a revenue stream that is very significant that is funding this."

Many community members at the meeting - including representatives from the Downtown Redevelopment Board, Marina Advisory Board and Clearwater Downtown partnership - supported the project and said boat slips were necessary for a waterfront town.

City Council member Bill Jonson said Friday that the boat slips would be more traditional of a waterfront community and draw more people downtown to see the boats.

"We have such a large waterfront, but we don't make very good use of it," he said.

Ashlee Clark can be reached at aclark@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4158.

[Last modified July 21, 2006, 20:56:13]