2008.06.24_BSAB_Minutes_Workshop• BEACHES & SHORES ADVISORY BOARD
WORKSHOP MEETING MINUTES
June 24.2008 9:30 a.m.
Chair Lucy Miller called the meeting to order in Commission Chambers at 9:30 a.m. In
attendance were Chair Miller, Vice Chair Martha Pando, Members Evie Weiss, Ruth
Samuels, Gary Guertin, Beverly Knight and Betty Jane Hofstadter. Also present were
members of the general public.
New/Old Business
William B. Stronge, PHD, and a retired professor from FAU, spoke with the Board about
how he will present the Taxing District project (MSBU -Municipal Services Benefit
Unit) to the Town Commission at their 1:30 p.m. meeting. He said that his task would be
to survey usage of the beach. The winter season tends to draw out of state visitors and
seasonal residents, and summer tend to draw local Floridians. In order to get a picture of
beach usage, it would be helpful to determine who uses the beach in those seasons, and
the properties they come from. He would to do the survey in March, around July 4, and
other most used times of the year. The Board noted that even though many residents
don't use the beach, all have access to it; therefore the survey should be based on the idea
that all residents "use" the beach. Dr. Stronge noted that the shorter someone stays in
Florida, the more they will use the beach. The longer someone is here, the less they will
• use the beach. Whether a resident goes to the beach, or views the beach from their home,
they are still "using" the beach. Chair Miller feels there would be more controversy as to
where a residents property is located more than who uses the beach. Condos and homes
West side would be classified (taxed) differently than condos and properties on the beach.
i. e. 10% as opposed to 50%. There was discussion on taxing residents according to how
much beach front they own or use (via easements) as some easements are only 10 feet
wide, some easements only allow ingress/egress to the beach, but don't allow space on
the beach to use. The owners who don't clean their beach now may oppose the plan as
they may wish to keep their beach in its natural state. The property owners share would
be according to the size of their property. Mr. Stronge will use a mathematical model to
=-t~etermine the beach usage and taxing regulations.
Chair Miller summed up the discussion by noting that she will speak at today's Town
Commission Workshop Meeting and will recommend to the Commission that the Town
hire Dr. Stronge to set up a taxing district.
Adjournment
With no further business to come before the Board, MOTION to adjourn was made by
Mr. Guertin/Mrs. Weiss at 11:35 a.m.
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Beaches & Shores Advisory Board
June ~ 2008 Page 2 of 2
may,
Apnroval•
Lucy E. Miller, Ch.
Martha Pando, V.Ch. -'~"G2~
Betty Jane
Evelyn Wei;
Ruth Samue
Gary L. Gue
Beverly A. l
Attest:
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