No Tax Money? Really?  Already at least $362,000 in tax money has been spent on planning and promotion of the Boat Slips. CRA and DDB funds both come from taxes and . . ."$500,000 of CRA funds and $500,000 of Downtown Development Board funds have been pledged."   Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard, reporting to citizens

 

We read the fine print! "The boat slips are supposed to make a profit, but only IF they have 100% occupancy for 40 years -- AND IF they can include marine gas profits at the Clearwater Marina on the Beach -- AND IF the estimated project cost of $11 million remains constant.  But the cost of the Cleveland Street streetscape alone has gone from $6 million to over $8 million.  How can we expect the boat slips project not to have a cost overrun?" Save The Bayfront

 

Would you pay good money to tie up there?  ". . . realistically, how attractive will those slips be to boaters without the full amenities to support them?  Would you pay good money to tie up there for any length of time?  And how far do you expect them to walk to enjoy whatever it is that Downtown Clearwater may eventually have to offer?"  Chip Haynes

 

Will we have to pamper the boat owners?  "To compensate for higher rates, facility management must target customer service to tend to the needs of boaters, providing assistance with provisioning, restaurant reservations, and transportation between the slips, downtown amenities, and the beach."  From the consultants' report to the city

 

Transient Slips are expected to make up 35% of slip rentals. " Most of the transient slips are outside the wave attenuater, subject to the full impact of wind and waves which caused the need for the attennuater to begin with."  Arnie Shal, auditor

 

"City pushes forth another bad idea - How about a short trip down to the Clearwater Beach Marina or the Dunedin Marina.  See how beautiful it is.  Little swirls of petrol in the water.  Sail mast after sail mast in the air, hiding any view of the open water.   . . . this is the dumbest thing to come down the pike since giving up parking spots on Clearwater Beach."  John Biggs, 

 

"Coachman Park should be for the use of all the people.  City leaders can, and should make it useful and beautiful for all citizens, not just the favored few who can afford expensive boats or concert tickets. Now that they're taking the parking off the beach, it is the only open waterfront space in Clearwater that belongs to all the citizens."  Anne Garris, spokesman, Save The Bayfront

 

On counting fuel sales against Marina costs.  "The consultants were so desperate to make the figures work, they threw in profit from fuel sales at the Beach Marina to help offset costs of the downtown boat slips."  Marvin Moore, former City Commissioner

 

Laundry facilities and showers.  "The building already on the waterfront will be remodeled and expanded (eastward) to provide restrooms, showers and laundry facilities for the boat owners."  city spokesman at a Boat Slips presentation

 

"The downtown Boat Slips will have to be subsidized at around $300,000 a year for forty years."  2 Clearwater CPA's and an Auditor