Tuesday evening, August 3, at City Hall, Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) director Greg Lang asked Cedar Key`s five city commissioners, sitting as the CRA board, for guidance on preliminary design plans for a new facility to replace Cedar Key`s "outside" marina boat ramp. The existing ramp, which provides Cedar Key`s only direct access launch to the Gulf, essential for larger and taller boats, is a deteriorating 11-foot wide structure.
The proposed replacement ramp will be 32 feet wide, allowing two-way traffic and eliminating delays for commercial fisherman and clam farmers, who share the outside boat ramp with tour boat, recreational, law enforcement, and emergency users.
A $560,000 no-match boating improvement grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will help cover costs of the new ramp and related improvements in the parking and thoroughfare area between the City Park, to the east, and the marina and Dock Street, to the west.
The commissioners discussed and provided interim guidance on the location of the new ramp, a fixed dock and flush-out facility, and floating docks, as well as on traffic and parking signage and lighting improvements in the area.
In other business, and in response to reduced revenue projections, Director Lang reported to the commissioners on debt service costs of the $9.2 million redevelopment bond issued in 2007. Among Lang`s recommendations is elimination of the position of CRA Director after the next year or two, when major projects funded by the redevelopment bond should be completed. He also seeks legal review of a proposal to implement a debt service draw down fund to assure the City is able to meet its obligations under the bond.
Director Lang reported also on the status of the following CRA projects, all currently under contract, on schedule, and on budget: Phase II Streets and Utilities Project, Wastewater Rehabilitation Project, Anchor Hole Boat Ramp Project, and Creswell House Welcome Center renovations.
Creswell House renovations should be completed by the end of the summer. A construction schedule for replacement of the Anchor Hole Boat Ramp should be ready for the next CRA meeting, Tuesday, September 7. | 
