Oregon State Marine Board, March 31

The Oregon State Marine Board held a special Board meeting on March 29, in Portland, to consider agency legislative concepts for the 2017 session, an emergency grant for the City of Milwaukie, extending the current grant agreement for Duckworth Dock, and the City of Portland’s request to pursue relocating the Kevin J. Duckworth Memorial Dock. The Board unanimously approved two legislative concepts introduced by staff that will create a non-motorized boating program and also expand the protections of the aquatic invasive species prevention program (AISPP). The non-motorized program legislative concept was the result of more than three years of work with an external stakeholder advisory committee, constituent surveys, and public meetings around the state. Proposed changes to the AISPP are intended to close enforcement gaps when boaters fail to stop at a boat inspection station, and removes the exemption for obtaining an AIS permit for boats under 10 feet. The Board also approved an emergency funding grant of $24,920 to assist the City of Milwaukie with temporary repairs to the access bridge to the boat ramp from winter flood damage. These funds will be matched with City of Milwaukie and FEMA funding to make repairs sufficient for boaters to access the ramp in the coming boating season. Additionally, the Board considered two agenda items related to the Kevin J. Duckworth Dock. The Board voted 4 aye, 0 nay, with one abstention to extend the current contract agreement between the Marine Board and the City of Portland for the Kevin J. Duckworth Dock by six years for non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the current grant. In the second agenda item, recognizing current safety and security concerns and lack of boater interest in the current location , the Board unanimously voted to accept the City of Portland’s request to pursue the relocation of the Duckworth Dock 2.75 miles downstream to Swan Island. To review the staff report, visit http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/info/Pages/Public-Meetings.aspx