2009.02.10_BSAB_Minutes_RegularTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF THE
BEACHES & SHORES ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday. February 10.2009 9:30 A.M.
Members Present: Chair Lucy E. Whalen Miller; Vice Chair Ruth Samuels; Board
Member Betty Jane Hofstadter; Board Member Beverly Knight; and Board Member
Evelyn Weiss. Members Absent: Board Member Linda Peterson (excused). Also
Attending: Deputy Town Clerk Valerie Oakes and members of the general public.
CALL TO ORDER:
Chair Miller called the Regular Meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Roll call was taken by
Deputy Town Clerk Oakes. The Pledge of Allegiance followed. Chair Miller welcomed
Commissioner Pagliaro and Ronnie Svenstrup.
ADDITIONS. DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA•
MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to approve the agenda. Board Member Weiss
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS:
None.
PRESENTATIONS•
Announcement -Sea Turtle Liaison
Chair Miller announced that the Town Commission appointed Linda Peterson as the
liaison for the Sea Turtle Program.
Speaker Ken Spole on Mangrove Restoration
Ken Spole is a local resident of the Town of Highland Beach and has been very active in
the protection, maintenance and restoration of the mangroves in Highland Beach. He
explained that the ecological integrity of the mangrove area between Casuarina and
Coronado Condominiums was completely out of balance resulting in the release of toxic
sulfur dioxide and became the breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mr. Spole then
introduced Carman N. Vare, project manager, of The Environmental Resource
Management Department of Palm Beach County who instituted a clean up project that
removed the debris that prevented the flow of water in the canals and the Intracoastal
which significantly reduced the odor.
Beaches and Shores Advisory Board
• Tuesday, February 10.2ti09 Pace Z of 4
Speaker Carman N. Vare from the Palm Beach County Department of
Environmental Resource Management on General Ecological Informatiod and
Benefits from Mangroves
Carman explained that there was a project that was planned with St. Lucy's Church to
include a boardwalk and funds were set aside by Commissioner McCarty and with her
resignation those funds were dissolved. The boardwalk area needs special funding that is
not attainable at this point. The Environmental Department can pay for environmental
components that will help mangroves and increase flushing but the department can not
support infrastructure. Due to boat wakes, 80 feet of shore lines has been lost within the
past 50 years. In order to protect what is left, rock needs to be placed along the shoreline
which is a project that Mr. Vare has funding for and can also receive matching funds.
The focus needs to be on the environmental issues instead of public use. The Florida
Inlet Navigation possibly would fund half of the project but they require permits in hand
prior to the approval of funds. Mr. Vare recommends reviewing the project over the next
year and a half and during the review process obtain a sea grass survey which is required.
The next step would be to apply for permits, which takes approximately a week and seek
funding after permit approval.
Vice Chair Samuels informed Mr. Vare that the Board is in the process of creating
standards for maintaining the mangroves. Mr. Vare recommended contacting Ginny
• Powell who is the Supervisor for the Palm Beach County Public Outreach Program and
Ms. Powell would be willing to assist in creating standards for Highland Beach since
there is not a general consensus of standards from the county or federal government.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to approve the minutes of January 13, 2009.
Board Member Hofstadter seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
(,,,~-LD BUSINESS.
Approval of the article "Preserving Your Beach and Mangroves" for the
Highlander Newsletter
Chair Miller suggested that the draft article be reviewed and approved by Town Manager
Dale Sugerman prior to the Board approving the draft. All in favor.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion of a bi-annual informational and educational postcard, flyer or
newsletter.
This item was tabled due to Linda Peterson being absent.
Beaches and Shores Advisory Board
• Tuesday. Febru~rv 10.2009 Page 3 of 4
REPORTS•
a. Board Member Weiss -None.
b. Board Member Peterson -Absent.
c. Board Member Knight -Reported that she spoke to Barbara James the Permit
Holder for the Town of Highland Beach Sea Turtle Program. The Sea Turtle
Program and the Board can work together in creating a poster using information
from the Nest Program poster and the Wildlife Federation poster to post on behalf
of the Sea Turtle Program on all of the condos. Sea Turtle season starts Mazch 1 ~`
so they will create a proof prior to posting. Also, Ms. Knight feels it necessary to
give a photo credit to Sergeant Richard Carl for taking such beautiful pictures to
show that everyone in the Town is actively involved. On the poster Detective
Bob DiVito should be a contact person to report poaching. Ms. Knight will figure
the printing cost of the posters.
There was a 5 minute recess clue to tcchnical difficulties.
Discussion continued regarding the Municipal Tax District and Boazd Member
Knight reported that she is still doing the research.
d. Board Member Hofstadter -None.
e. Vice Chair Samuels -Reported that 3 new receptacles have been placed on the
beach. Ms. Samuels thanked Bill Moore, Utility/Maintenance Supervisor, for his
idea of the aluminum slots and the logo an the garbage cans.
i Deputy Town Clerk Oakes notified the boazd that Keith Patton confirmed his availability
to make a presentation for the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Boazd Member Knight asked why a recommendation was never given to the Commission
from the Board regarding Milani Park. Board Member Weiss replied that a letter was
written about 2 years and Chair Miller presented the recommendations to the
Commission. Board Member Knight noted that there aze new Commissioners and this
matter will be voted on at the March 3, 2009 meeting and the Board should revisit the
issues since a lot of changes have occurred since the recommendations were made.
ADJOURNMENT•
The Board scheduled a workshop for Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. All in
favor.
The Board decided to reschedule the next regularly scheduled meeting of Tuesday,
Mazch 10, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. to Monday, March 9, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. due to it being
Election Day. All in favor.
MOTION: Board Member Hofstadter moved to adjouru the meeting at 10:50 a.m.
Board Member Weiss seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
•
Beaches and Shores Advisory Board
Tuesday. February 10 2009 Page 4 of 4
APPROVED:
Lucy M,irt~r, Chair
Rum Samuels, Vice Chair
%~ ~~~
Betty Jane ofstadter, Board ember
~G
even Knight, Board Member
absent
Lind-$eterson, Boazd Member
'velyn W~iss, Board Member
ATTESTED:
Date: MondaX, March 9 2009
Deputy Town Clerk
Valerie E. Oakes