City Council Meeting~

Last Night: Shirley Jones once again gave a moving speech to City Council in favor of rebuilding the Deep Creek pier. Though the meeting ran long, she patiently waited until her name was called. The applause for her effort was great. Her speech follows.
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Good evening, Mayor Frank and Council Members. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you.

My name is Shirley Jones and I have lived in our present Woodmere neighborhood since 1957. My husband and I have raised three children who have become good members of society, and I would like to leave my 3 children and 16 grandchildren a legacy of integrity.

I feel that the elected members of the City council from the central district and the City of Newport News have failed to live up to their words and deeds in the matter of Warwick County to honor all agreements, and there was an agreement with the Melzer family to keep the pier in good condition for all citizens and the watermen, just as there was with the Federal Core of Engineers and the state. I understand that the City of Newport News has accepted money from the state to keep the pier in good repair. Instead you have torn it down. You have failed to honor your agreements with The County of Warwick, with the State of Virginia, with the United States Federal Government and last but not least, the people who elected you, the citizens of Newport News.

I am deeply disturbed by our total lack of consideration for the watermen of this Hampton Roads Area. I consider myself at fault for not studying the history sooner and standing in defense of the watermen and citizens affected by the actions of Council. We have taken away their promised free protected area to dock their boats and given it to businessmen and what i call “fat cats.” The watermen are not fairly represented here because they go to work between 2 and 3 am. They are sleeping now so they can get up to go to work tomorrow!

I was at the City Council meeting when six of you voted to rebuild the Deep Creek Pier, only Mayor Frank dissented. He is the only one with a distant relative who would be affected by rebuilding the pier and rebuilding the boat ramp and returning the rightful parking property to the citizens of Newport News.

I suggest you fund the rebuilding of the pier with the two hundred thousand plus designated for performing arts, the Ferguson Center and the Yoder Barn.

I urge you to consider the future of your own children and grandchildren and the legacy you are leaving – will it be one of supporting integrity?

Deep Creek pier decision delayed

The city was leaning toward a mooring plan, but Mayor Joe Frank asked for more information.

By Sabine Hirschauer
June 11, 2008
Source: dailypress.com

NEWPORT NEWS – — So close. But not close enough.

Four Newport News City Council members said Tuesday they would support another mooring pier at the end of Deep Creek Road. Two council members, Vice Mayor Charles Allen and Councilman Joe Whitaker, backed a pedestrian pier with benches and rails.

But it was Mayor Joe S. Frank who sent city staff back to the drawing board on the pier issue.

“I don’t think I have enough information to decide one way or the other,” Frank said.

Since the city demolished the aging Deep Creek pier last year, a firestorm has ignited over whether or not to rebuild the 1940s-era local landmark.

A full-fledged, new 400-foot mooring pier including a costly parking lot, lights, water, restrooms and security cameras could cost between $600,000 to $900,000. By comparison, a 300-foot pedestrian pier with some amenities, where only children could fish, could cost around $300,000. But it was unclear if a parking lot with a price tag between $146,000 to $185,000 was needed for the shorter pedestrian dock. Restrooms would cost between $190,000 to $250,000.

The city attorney will research if by state law, Newport News can use eminent domain to acquire land for parking, something which might not be legal if the pier was used commercially by the watermen. The city will also check into whether or not the pedestrian pier would require parking at all.

Council members also discussed charging pier users for parking and mooring, and requiring watermen to insure their boats once the city rebuilds the pier.

Good news and bad news and a whole lot in between, C.W. Powell, a local waterman, said describing Tuesday’s work session debate about the pier.

And Carol Hogge, the wife of a Deep Creek waterman, said for the city requiring insurance and possibly charging for mooring wasn’t fair.

“They are running the watermen out,” she said.

December 11, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING

OF THE NEWPORT NEWS CITY COUNCIL

HELD IN THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

2400 WASHINGTON AVENUE

December 11, 2007

7:30 P.M.

Mayor Frank advised that the City Manager was asked to bring forward the plans, with a cost estimate regarding the Deep Creek Pier, as well as scheduling public meetings in the neighborhood to view the recommended plans and to receive comment and feedback. City Manager Hildebrandt responded that his direction was to proceed with plans for a pedestrian pier, not a wharf pier for use by watermen. City Manager Hildebrandt further stated it was the intent to develop and improve the facilities on the Menchville side of the harbor. Input would be welcomed from the watermen as there would be meetings as to how the City could better make the Menchville area usable by the industry.

Councilwoman McMillan expressed concern about fishing not being allowed. It was her hope that this be reconsidered. She stated a pedestrian pier was a pedestrian pier and she did not see why children could not fish off of that pier.

Source: Official site of Newport News, Virginia

Wrangling at waterfronts

Conflict of interest?Mayor Joe S. Frank’s brother — Virginia Court of Appeals Judge Robert Frank — is married to the sister of James River Marina co-owner Jeffrey Deyong. Frank said he did not see a conflict of interest in this because neither he nor his brother or sister-in-law have a financial interest in the marina. In August, Frank voted with the rest of the Newport News City Council to demolish the pier.

Source: dailypress.com
In Newport News, a tussle continues over whether to rebuild the city-owned pier at Deep Creek.
By SABINE HIRSCHAUER
November 3, 2007

NEWPORT NEWS – –>— The owners of the James River Marina at Deep Creek are urging Newport News not to rebuild the city-owned pier there, a local landmark that is facing the wrecking ball for the third time in two decades.

“It deeply disturbs us that council is still entertaining ideas to resurrect the pier,” marina owners Marty Moliken and Jeffrey Deyong wrote in a letter to the City Council.

In the letter, dated Oct. 19, Moliken and Deyong say they want to add up to 40 slips to their marina once the pier is gone. Although they have not applied for any permits yet, they also say they might want to add a restaurant on the water.

And they argue that the situation at Deep Creek where “watermen governed themselves … is unacceptable.”

In August, the City Council voted unanimously to demolish the Deep Creek pier, which was first built more than six decades ago. In the 1930s, Bonnie Melzer donated land to Warwick County and asked in return for the county to build a public dock. When the county consolidated with the city in 1958, the pier became city property and its maintenance became the city’s responsibility.

The vote in August ignited a firestorm of protests among Deep Creek residents and the letter is driving a wedge even deeper between pier supporters and opponents.

“It sounded very odd why they wanted to see the pier come down,” said Bonnie Melzer Atkins, Bonnie Melzer’s granddaughter. “Now we know why.”

Since Moliken and Deyong took over the James River Marina in 2001, it has grown from 60 boats into a 200-boat storage marina with a repair shop and restaurant.

“We built it up and it’s now running on all pistons,” Moliken said. “We always knew we wanted to expand. I do respect the watermen for what they are doing. But we want the city to move forward. This could be a good mix of watermen and recreational boats. This could be beautiful down here.”

Watermen used to moor at the city pier for free but living next to each other wasn’t always smooth sailing.

“The sunken boats … as well as submerged engines and parts now around the pier prove that the watermen are their own worst enemy,” Moliken wrote. “Incidents over the years of boats slipping their mooring and running into our pier have tested our patience and pocket.”

Mayor Joe S. Frank asked the city manager to include cost estimates for rebuilding the pier in the city’s capital improvement plan, which is due next week.

“It’s a question of good faith and community values,” Frank said this week. “Depending on the cost, we need to find out where does this fit within the options the city has.”

Officials from the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism will present the cost estimates to the council on Nov. 13. The options will include costs for building a full-fledged working pier or a shorter pedestrian dock, plus the cost for buying land for parking and restroom facilities.

Atkins recently took her father, Joseph Lee Melzer Sr., who is 90, in a wheelchair onto the pier before the floor planks were taken off.

“We wheeled him out on the pier one last time,” said Atkins, who used to fish and crab off the dock. “It’s hard for him to accept it. This is one last thing I wished he would not have to see.”

While people continue to butt heads over the pier, the city awaits bids for removing the rest of it. Across the water, the city is working on drawings for repairing and replacing the bulkhead at the old Menchville Marina, where most Deep Creek pier watermen have moved. Once the drawings are completed at the end of the year, said Michael Poplawski, the city’s parks and recreation director, he’d like to meet with the watermen to get input.

“I would love to believe that they (city officials) are seriously entertaining the thought of rebuilding the pier,” Atkins said. “I hope that’s the truth. I really hope so.”

Site Administrator’s Take on Mayor Frank’s Letter

Interests has been expressed about letters dispatched from City Council – received by those who spoke on behalf of Deep Creek Pier at the August 14 City Council meeting. The administrator of this site has no information about said letters, however, there is certainty regarding one letter received by at least one who spoke at that meeting. The administrator of this site suspects that the content of the other letters may be similar, but has no way of knowing.

Some may interpret this letter as a positive take on the plans for Deep Creek Pier, however, there is nothing new in its content. At the August 14 meeting, City Council voted to investigate the feasibility of rebuilding a new pier at Deep Creek. As decided at that meeting, the
City Manager is suppose to investigate and provide the results garnered from that investigation – costs surrounding the building of a new pier, restrooms, clean-out facilities for boats using it, and a parking lot for those who use the pier -at the November meeting.

That is it. There are no plans to rebuild the pier, only plans to get estimates about what it will cost, and then vote on whether it is a feasible project for the City – as discussed at the August 14 meeting. It is essential for anyone who wants the pier to be rebuilt to attend the November meeting. Do not be placated by this letter. It promises nothing.

If others have received letters expressing something other than the content of this letter, and wish to see it published here, please send to deepcreekpier@yahoo.com. The site administrator will publish all pertinent information regarding Deep Creek Pier.

Thank you.

see letter below

Mayor Joe Frank’s Letter

Re: Deep Creek Pier

Dear Col. DeMaria:

I very much appreciate your correspondence with regard to the Deep Creek Pier. You should know that the City Manager recommended demolishing the pier because of its extremely deteriorated condition and based upon engineering reports that indicate it is dangerous. I supported his recommendation.

At the same time, given the clear support for a pier at that location by citizens in the community, I asked the City Manager to bring to City Council (as part of his Capital Improvement Plan due in November)a plan to rebuild the pier –to include parking, restroom facilities, and clean-out facilities for boats using it. Obviously each of those features would be priced separately so a decision could be made for which would be needed and could be afforded.

I am hopeful we will find a way to make that happen. I am particularly mindful that your family and many supporters want us to preserve the legacy of Ms. Bonniebelle Amory Melzer and her vision for a pier at that location.

Very truly yous,

Joe S. Frank

Mayor