Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Chime in on future of your waterfront
Residents are invited to share their opinions Saturday at a summit with city officials.
By JON WILSON
Published October 11, 2006
ST. PETERSBURG - Saturday's boating summit means far more than a chance to air ideas about where and how to park boats, an old-salt waterfront leader declared this week. "I personally think the summit is going to be used to determine what the future of the waterfront is going to be," said Jopie Helsen, a longtime entrepreneur in the Salt Creek marine district. "This really is the most important thing the city's ever done." The free event is billed as a comment session for residents to give city officials their opinions on such topics as derelict vessels, mooring fields, boat ramps and St. Petersburg city marina projects. Helsen, who is president of Sailor's Wharf, a summit sponsor, has a special interest in the future of the city port. More than 150 people already have registered for the event, said Walt Miller, port and marina manager. The summit came about after City Council member Jamie Bennett advocated a mooring field for Big Bayou. Mooring fields, which are supervised places where boaters tie up to buoys anchored to a waterway's bottom, are seen as a way to provide more accommodation for boaters unable to find space in marinas. Bennett's suggestion generated discussion about other boating issues, many of which will come up Saturday. Speakers include St. Petersburg marine police Officer Les Miller and state fish and wildlife official Roger Young, who will discuss derelict vessels. Abandoned or neglected boats have become a problem in several waterways around the city. Tim Grabenbauer, director of the Vero Beach marina, will talk about the east coast city's 20-year-old mooring field. Parks director Clarence Scott will discuss public boat ramps and Walt Miller will provide an update on the city's $6.3-million city marina rehabilitation project. During the afternoon segment, attendees will break into groups to organize ideas on waterfront and boating subjects. More discussion will follow. "It's going to be fairly fast-paced, geared to getting input from citizens rather than providing answers," Walt Miller said.
[Last modified October 10, 2006, 19:57:09]
Share your thoughts on this story
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
