By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council is hoping to hear from the public regarding proposed policy changes at the marina that could provide preference to city residents looking to secure a slip at the city’s crowded marina.

Just two weeks after requesting the city recreation commission draft a policy that would have allowed city residents to bump non-city residents from renting boat slips, several councilors have changed their tune.

At February meeting several members of the council including Mayor Wayne Ashley said that city residents should have be given preference over non-residents at the marina. That sentiment was supported by councilors Nichole Kennedy and David Price as well.

Kennedy disclosed at the meeting she was among those on the waiting list.

However, on Monday the mayor said bumping longtime renters from the marina would be “morally wrong.”

The mayor’s change in view came after the recreation commission offered strong words of opposition to the policy.

Recreation Committee Chairman Tom Pinkerton said the recreation commission “strongly opposed” bumping longtime residents from spots they have rented for years in order to appease city residents who are currently on the waiting list.

Instead the commission recommended higher fees for non-city residents, but according to Pinkerton the commission was also reluctant about that policy as well.

The comments from the recreation commission prompted a brief discussion of issues at the marina. Councilor Skamperle agreed with the recreation commission that longtime renter should not be bumped in favor of city residents, but also opposed charging city residents a different fee from non-city residents.

The current proposal would include separate waiting lists for non-residents and residents.

Councilor Jennifer Stevenson suggested the city wait until after the public hearing to make modifications to the proposal so that information brought forward by residents could be considered.

The hearing will be held March 26 at 7 p.m. at city hall.

The proposed marina policy to be discussed at the meeting follows:

Use of Marina

A Dockage for private pleasure craft will be made available during the months of May, June, July, August, September and October. The fee to be charged shall be established on an annual basis by the Ogdensburg City Council.

B. Transient dockage within the marina shall be limited to a maximum consecutive period of 48 hours unless given permission by the Director of Parks & Recreation.

C. Dockage will be allowed only within the slips provided by the marina itself, and only one boat per slip shall be permitted. The boat moored at a slip will be required to be owned by the person leasing the boat slip. No other boats will be allowed. No Jet-Skis will be allowed to occupy the same slip as a boat. Mooring of any vessel along the western or northern seawall of the municipal marina shall be prohibited unless written and specific permission is granted by the Director of Parks & Recreation.

D. The City Manager is hereby empowered to issue a permit allowing dockage by one craft for periods in excess of 48 hours and allowing dockage in places other than designated slips in exceptional circumstances and when, in the judgment of the City Manager, a public purpose and the best interests of the City shall be served by such a permit.

E. Vessels entering and exiting the marina, or within 100 feet of the marina shall be operated at a speed low enough to prevent any wake.

F. Water skiing within 100 feet of the marina or municipal dock is prohibited.

G. Swimming is prohibited in the marina area. Fishing from docks within the marina is prohibited, but shall be allowed along the northern face of the municipal dock.

H. Those who rent a boat slip are not allowed to keep chairs, coolers, or other possessions on the docks itself. These items create a hazard for city staff and others who use the docks.

I. Glass beverage containers are prohibited in the Greenbelt area, including the marina.

J. On or about Feb. 1 of each year, the Parks & Recreation Department will send a letter and renewal form to all of those who rented seasonal boat slips the previous marina season. Those receiving a letter and renewal forms will have at least an 8-week period with a deadline to be determined by the Parks & Recreation Department to return the renewal form, complete payment, proof of residency and current boat registration to the Parks & Recreation Dept. offices at the Dobisky Center, 100 Riverside Ave., in

order to be eligible to receive a boat slip for the upcoming marina season. Those who do not return the required paperwork and paperwork will forfeit their slip.

K. Payment of boat slips will be determined by the length of the vessel stated on

the boat registration submitted to the Parks & Recreation Department.

L. The following dictates the city marina's boat slip waiting list:

1) Residents and non-residents of the City of Ogdensburg desiring to lease a boat slip in the City of Ogdensburg owned marina must fill out an application provided by the Parks & Recreation Department and hand that document, as well as a copy of their driver's license, utility bill, boat registration and boat insurance, to the Parks & Recreation Dept. offices at the Dobisky Center, 100 Riverside Ave. Depending on his/her residency, they will be placed on the appropriate waiting list for city resident or non-residents. All vacancies occurring in dock space shall be filled from an established waiting list based on a first-come, first serve basis.

2) Applicants who have completed the application in full, will receive written notification of receipt of their application to be placed on the waiting list. The waiting list, for both city residents and non-residents, will be posted on the City of Ogdensburg's website, marina webpage. The person's name and municipality will be listed. The waiting list will be updated annually.

3) Applications for a boat slip will be recorded in chronological order and the awarding of a boat slip will take these following steps:

a) When a boat slip is available, the Parks & Recreation Department will notify the next applicant on the waitlist with a vessel of appropriate length and width determined by the Director of Parks & Recreation. Those on the city resident list will be contacted first followed by those on the non-resident list. Those on the city resident waiting list must meet the City of Ogdensburg's residency {·requirements first before moving forward.

b) If he/she declines the boat slip when approached, the applicant may waive the boat slip but can elect to remain on the waiting list for the next available slip.

c) When selected from the waiting list, the Parks & Recreation Dept. will try for two (2) days to contact the applicant by the telephone listed on the application. If no contact is made by phone, a letter will be sent to the address provided on the application and the applicant will be given seven (7) days to respond. If there is no response by telephone or letter then the applicant will be removed from the wait list and the slip will be offered to the next applicant per the wait list policy.

d) Once successful contact has been made, the applicant will have seven (7) days to return a completed boat slip application, driver's license, utility bill, boat registration, boat insurance and full payment to the Parks & Recreation Dept. office at the Dobisky Center, 100 Riverside Ave.

4) In order for an applicant to maintain his/her status on the waiting list, he/she must notify the Parks & Recreation Dept. office in writing by using an established "waitlist renewal form" between November 1 and January 1 of each year, to express his/her desire to remain on the waiting list. The "waitlist renewal form" is located at the Parks & Recreation Department office at the Dobisky Center, 100 Riverside Ave., and is also found on the City of Ogdensburg's website, marina webpage. If a renewal form is not filled out in the appropriate timeframe, then he/she will be removed from the established waiting list. M. Dockage for transient boaters will be made available during the months of May, June, July, August, September and October. The fee to be charged for transient boaters shall be established on an annual basis by the Ogdensburg City Council.

1) Day use of transient slips in the City Marina will be allowed only after receiving permission from Parks & Recreation staff.

2) If a transient boat is to remain in a slip overnight, then the boater must fill out a transient boat docking form found at the Dobisky Visitors' Center, 100 Riverside A venue, and pay the appropriate fee based on the size of the boat before they spend the night.

N. Upon adoption of this policy, all returning renters for the 2018 boating season will be able to renew their slips regardless of whether they are residents or non-residents, provided they comply with all other documentation requirements.