IN THE NEWS
As a service to its members and website guests, LCACBSprovides recent news updates regarding a wide variety of matters of potential interest to antique and classic boat enthusiasts, boaters in general and particularly those boating on Lake Champlain.
Items currently “In The News” are:
HAPPENING ON THE LAKE
· Burlington Waterfront Development
· Velez Marina Expansion, Port Henry, New York
NEWS ALERTS
· Proposed Federal Legislation: Ethanol Mandate
· Fire Extinguisher Recall
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
· Douglas Brooks
· David Steinman
HAPPENING ON THE LAKE
Burlington Waterfront Development
In 2013, the City initiated Mayor Weinberger’s Public Investment Action Plan (PIAP) for continued waterfront redevelopment by requesting proposals for development concepts from the community at large. Over 100 concepts were submitted. These proposals were reviewed and ultimately narrowed down to six proposals by a Public Investment Team (PIT) appointed by the Mayor and Chaired by LC-ACBS member, Bill Truex. Ten million dollars in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) capital was allocated between the proposals, and approved by the voters in March of 2014. In all six proposals were submitted by the PIT to the Mayor and City Council for approval, and five of the six currently are supported by development teams as part of the PIAP process.
The six proposals included:
1. Two new 150+- slip marinas, one is a public marina located south of Perkins pier (this marina has been deferred by the City to be funded separately outside of the PIAP process). The other, is a privately developed marina to be located west of the U. S. Coast Guard Station breakwater;
2. An expansion of the ECHO, Leahy Science Center Facility;
3. A new facility for the very successful Burlington Sailing Center;
4. A revisioning and redevelopment of the former Burlington Electric generating facility (the Moran Plant);
5. A Waterfront Access North (WAN) project which includes an extension of Lake Street north, with 100 additional parking spaces, and a world class skateboard park.
The public marina, which is now under consideration by the Burlington Parks and Recreation Department, and has received seed money from the State and will likely proceed in the future.
The WAN project, including the skateboard park was completed in 2015.
The new sailing center and private marina are slated for construction starts in 2016, with completion in 2017.
The ECHO Center expansion is currently on hold while options are being evaluated.
The Moran Plant project is pursuing feasibility options. Its not-for-profit developer, New Moran, Inc., has $6.3 million of TIF funding and has successfully raised over $4 million in philanthropic funding. These and other potential sources of funding could make this project a reality by 2018 or 2019.
Velez Marina, Port Henry, New York
Major improvements to the Velez Marina, located at the base of Port Henry Village, were completed in time for the 2015 boating season, and a second phase is scheduled for completion by July of 2016. The new construction will bring the total capacity of the marina to 110 deep water slips and moorings, well protected by the existing stone breakwater and a new wave attenuator.
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
(looking for the articles written earlier for Brooks and Steinman)
ALERTS
Federal Legislation Alert: Ethanol Mandate
Two bills designed to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) were introduced in Congress in 2015. In the Senate, Senators Diane Feinstein and Patrick Toomey have authored The Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act of 2015. In the House, Representative Rob Goodlatte introduced the Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015. Both proposals have received bipartisan support in their effort to eliminate the mandate for higher blend ethanol fuels, and specifically the E15 mandate. Both are critical to protecting marine engines, particularly the older engines found in antique and classic boats. To voice support for either of these bills, contact your Senators or Representatives.
Fire Extinguisher Recall
Kidde, a popular fire extinguisher manufacturer, has announced a voluntary recall to replace certain of its fire extinguisher units. The problem involves a faulty valve component that can cause the disposable fire extinguishers not to fully discharge when the lever is repeatedly pressed and released. Extinguishers affected were sold nationwide between August 2013 and November 2014. Thirty-one models of fire extinguishers were affected, and can be red, white or silver with black plastic valves, and may be ABC or BC rated. Some of the affected models were designed for use by the boating market, and bear a nameplate Mariner 10, Mariner 110, Mariner 5, and Mariner 5G.
More information is available by contacting the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) at www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2015/Kidde-Recals-Disposable-Plastic-Fire-Extinguishers.
Article Source: Boat US Press Room, 2015