2007.06.12_BSAB_Minutes_RegularPUBLIC NOTICE
• TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
BEACHES & SHORES ADVISORY BOARD
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
9:30 A.M.
Chair Lucy Miller called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. In attendance were Betty Jane
Hofstadter, Ruth Samuels, Evelyn Weiss, and Gary L. Guertin. Vice Chair Martha Pando
was absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
May 29, 2007 Workshop Meeting.
NEW /OLD BUSINESS
- Create maintenance standards for all three miles of beach. Ruth Samuels created a
guideline of standards for the beach. Chair Lucy Miller will create presentation to
• - present to the Commission.
Same set of standards as used on A 1 A, cut lawns, remove trash.
- Erosion control /repair /mulch seaweed, do not bury it.
- Year in review 2007 Beaches & Mangroves.
- Bill Moore has list of where to place more trash receptacles/ Board asked for 6
more receptacles.
- Artwork placed on receptacles? James Wanat was working on this with a member
of the Cultural Board.
NEXT MEETING
Next meeting will be held on June 26, 2007 -Workshop
•
Beaches & Shores Advisorv Board
6/12/07 Regular Meeting Page 2.
Adiourn
With no further business to come before the Board, Motion to adjourn was made by Mr.
Gary Guertin and Mrs. Evelyn Weiss at 11:OOa.m.
APPROVE:
Lucy Miller, Chair
Martha Padno, Vice Chair
Betty Jane Hofstadter
Evelyn Weiss
• Ruth Samuels
Gary L. uertin
Attest:
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Absent
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. Town of Highland Beach
Beaches and Shores Advisory Board
June 12, 2007
To: Highland Beach Town Commissioners
Joseph Asselta, Vice Mayor
From: Lucy Miller, Chair
Beaches and Shores Advisory Board
Re: Milani Park
The Beaches and Shores Advisory Board has assembled the following points
for your consideration regarding Palm Beach County's intent to construct a
public park on that piece of beachfront property known as "The Milani
Property."
• 1. Safety
The beachfront property consists of a very shallow beach with rocky
terrain that is quite slippery. It is our concern that anyone using that
site would be endangered.
2. Protection of Private Property
Beachfront property neighbors of the proposed park have voiced
their concerns that a "spillover" of bathers will infringe upon their
right to enjoy their own privately owned property. Since the existing
beach at that property is very shallow, it is quite likely that the
nearby private beach areas would be very enticing to bathers.
3. Traffic
There is considerable angst on the part of residents of Highland
Beach that the presence of a hundred vehicle parking lot is not in
• keeping with the quiet residential nature of the town. Spanish River
Boulevard is already congested from beachgoers to Red Reef Park.
We anticipate that the Highland Beach parking lot will exacerbate an
already existing problem.
4. Requirement for Police Presence
The increased traffic will impose an additional burden on the
Highland Beach Police Force. In lieu of the proposed reduction in
Property Taxes requiring a budget adjustment by Highland Beach, is
this the best use of our police?
5. Archeological Remains
There is concern for the disturbance of the archeological site on the
Milani property and adjacent properties. It is our recommendation
that the proposed park lends itself to a more passive type of park
used for instructing chaperoned school students about environmental
concerns.
6. Sea Turtle Protection
• The presence of a public park would require a caging and release
program for the sea turtles in the area. Last year there were 7 turtle
nests at Milani Park, but 40 nests in Zone l where the proposed park
is located. Since Highland Beach is comprised of an entirely
volunteer Sea Turtle Program, we are unprepared to competently
administer a cage and release program. Such a program requires a 2-
hour-watch period around the clock for hatching turtles for the ten
days prior to hatch and three days after hatch. As unpaid volunteers,
many of whom are also fully employed, this would place an
unreasonable burden on the program. The cage/release provision
should be part of the Palm Beach County budget for Milani Park for
all of Zone 1 and fully funded in perpetuity.
7. The present budgetary adjustments being required of aii Palm Beach
County residents indicates that the money being spent on an
unneeded and unwanted park would not be in the best interest of the
citizens and is indicative of an unwise fiduciary policy.
L
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June 5, 2007
Dear Friend,
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As a beachfront resident you know firsthand the devastation caused by Tropical5torm
Andrea and the relentless pounding of surf that has decimated our beaches and dunes.
Protecting your property is my priority. l am happy to say it is now a priority for critical
state and federal agencies as well.
We worked together to have much of our coastline declared a shoreline emergency, a
critical first step in drawing needed support from FEMA and the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection. Working with county, state and federal officials, emergency
dune restoration efforts are underway to provide an immediate short-term solution.
• More important however, is the need for along-term solution to our erosion problem.
I believe the answer to be the installation of breakwaters along with full beach
nourishment to restore and protect what we have lost. We are actively working with the
appropriate agencies to develop a breakwater plan that will provide lasting protection to
the beachfront and property owners.
Like you, I consider our beaches to be one of our state's greatest natural assets and remain
committed to finding an effective means for combating erosion. I will work to keep you
informed of our progress on this issue and invite your comments, ideas and questions.
As always, I thank you for the privilege of representing you.
Sincerely,
Jeff Atwater
:7
P.O. Box 14366 North Palm Beach, Florida 33408
NOT PAID FOR AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE
Political Advertisement Paid for and Approved by Jeff Atwater. Republican for State Senace. District 2.5
PROTECT OUR COASTLINE
•
Please return via fax or mail to:
Senator Jeff Atwater
P.O. Box 14366
North Pafm Beach, FL 33408
FAX TO 954-862-3050
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RACHAEL SCALA-P{STOPiE
217 S OCEAtrI BLVD APT 302
HICHLAN[3 BEACH FL 33487-1835
Dear Senator Atwater,
I would like to be kept up to date on this important beach re-nourishment issue and informed
when progress is made.
_. Please keep me informed by mail.
Please keep me informed by email.
Email address:
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The objective of The Beaches and Shores Advisory Board of Highland Beach is to
create maintenance standards for all three miles of beach along the Highland Beach ~/
coast. These standards would provide a safe haven for all our residents, sea life, ~~--~z~~~J ~ s
birds, animals and dune vegetation.
Standards
1. All Beaches shall be cleaned by a professional reputable Beach Service Company
using both mechanical and manual methods three times weekly.
2. All dunes would be strengthen by a process that collects seaweed, separates trash, and
then mulches the seaweed for distribution on the dunes. This would be part of the service
provided by a professional reputable Beach Service Company.
.. ~ 3. Replacement of all exotic plants with native plants to further strengthen the dune
system using a reputable professional Beach Landscaping Service Company.
4. Establish plans for erosion control and beach repair using the expertise of a reputable
• professional Beach Service Company
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