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Maritime Safety Committee outlines survey results, recommends boater education and outreach
Summary
The committee presented findings from a six-week survey of 88 respondents and recommended boater education, public service announcements, a USCG safety course and an April/May workshop ahead of boating season to address speeding, abandoned vessels and safety near swimmers.
Brian, chair of the Maritime Safety Committee, briefed the council on the committee's work since January 2025 and presented survey results collected Nov. 1–Dec. 15, 2025. The survey received 88 responses (85 residents, three nonresidents) and indicated a highly experienced pool of respondents: 68 reported more than 10 years of boating experience and 61% had completed a boater safety course.
The survey identified key safety concerns: speeding and wake near swimmers and kayaks, boating under the influence, reckless operations near docks, submerged hazards such as old pilings and debris, and an increase in abandoned vessels—particularly sailboats—in Clear Lake. Awareness of the city's abandoned-vessel ordinance was low: 51% reported not being aware of the ordinance.
The committee described accomplishments in 2025, including assessment and installation of navigational aids and no-wake buoys placed to keep raft-ups at least 100 yards from residential property. The committee recommended a set of outreach and education actions: subsidizing or coordinating a U.S. Coast Guard boater safety course, producing updated public-service announcements and videos for city social channels, hosting a pre-season workshop in April or early May to inform residents about ordinances and navigation safety, and developing a clear mission statement to clarify the committee's role.
Council members thanked the committee for visible safety improvements and encouraged staff to return with cost/availability information for boater safety courses and proposed outreach plans.
The committee scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers and will present findings from subcommittees on cost and availability of training.
