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2009.03.09_BSAB_Minutes_RegularTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH Ci MINIJ"I'ES OF THE BEACHES & SHORES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING 1V~ondav. March 09.2009 9:30 A.M. Members Present: Chair Lucy Miller; Vice Chair Ruth Samuels; Board Member Beverly Knight; Board Member Linda Peterson; Board Member Betty Hofstadter; Board Member Rosalind Svenstrup and Board Member Evelyn Weiss. Also Attending: Deputy Town Clerk Valerie E. Oakes CALL TO ORDER• Chair Miller called the Regular Meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. The meeting date had been changed due to Election Day. RoII call was taken by Deputy Town Clerk Oakes. The Pledge of Allegiance followed. ADDITIONS. DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to accept the agenda. Board Member Knight seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. • PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: None. PRESENTATIONS• Chair Miller welcomed the newest member to the Boazd, Rosalind Svenstrup, who was appointed by the Town Commission on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. Boazd Member Svenstrup introduced herself to the public stating that she has resided in the Town of Highland Beach for 10 years. Mrs. Svenstrup loves Highland Beach and the nature of the beaches and sea turtles. APPROVAL OF MINjJTES• MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to approve the minutes of February 4, 2009 Workshop Meeting; February 10, 2009 Regular Meeting; and February 24, 2009 Workshop Meeting. Board Member Hofstadter seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. OLD BI~SINESS: Sea Turtle Program Board Member Peterson reported that Barbara James is distributing the sea turtle poster. She also spoke with Ms. James regazding the Adopt-A-Turtle Program and the concept is • in the works but has not been finalized. The Wish List would have to be approved by the Commission. Ms. James is afraid that it would be considered as solicitation. Ms. Feterson informed the board that no turtles have been sited as of yet. There have been a Beaches 8c Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting 03/09/09 - Page i of4 few minor violations that have been addressed and Sergeant Carl is working diligently on all of the issues. Toscana and the Holiday Inn have beach chairs that could obstruct the • turtle(s) from nesting which is a violation, they have been notified. Municipal Tao District Discussion Vice Chair Samuels reported that was investigating the frontage of condominiums and Board Member Knight was reporting on the single-family homes. Vice Chair Samuels has a survey showing the access points but is missing information on the private sector. Vice Chair Samuels would like to send a letter to all of the condominiums requesting bona fide, true in statement information regarding the frontage of the property and how many times the beach is cleaned monthly/yearly. Board Member Knight explained that they are public records and can be viewed on the Palm Beach County Clerks Records Division website. Chair Miller stated that we should do the research by look up the information without sending out a letter to all of the condominiums. Vice Chair Samuels will ask the building department for some information and report back to the Board. Board Email Policy Chair Miller spoke regarding the Board email policy. According to the policy, board • members are allowed to email the clerk information for distribution. Chair Miller expressed that this policy was not self-imposed and that in fact the Beaches and Shores Advisory board is the only board that is following the law. Vice Chair Samuels read into the record the minutes from September 9, 2008 which reflect the motion that was passed by the board. Vice Chair Samuels feels that everything is being done correctly. Board Member Knight commented that before the policy was created, the Town was included in all emails. Emails were never sent to each other without copying the clerk. She voted nay because the presentations were done quickly, efficiently and legally by copying the clerk. Ms. Knight expressed that the time is being cut tremendously because the board has to work during the Clerk's work hours and the Beach and Shores Advisory Board is the only board that has this policy. Chair Miller read allowed an article from the Palm Beach Post regarding e-rnail discussion out of public view. She informed the Board that she would ask the Town Attorney for a legal opinion. Vice Chair Samuels added that in the past she was inundated with emails. Milani Park Recommendation • Chair Miller reported that she delivered to the Boards feelings on Milani Park to the Town Commission and requested that they vote no. The subject was not voted on at the last meeting and will be continued on at the Apri127, 2009 meeting. Beaches 1~ Shores Advisory Board Regular Meiling 03/09/09 -Page 2 of 4 Board Member Knight was mentioned that there is an Election tomorrow and the • Commission Members may be changed. Chair Miller would then resubmit the petition to the Town Commission if there were changes. NEW BUSINESS: Mangroves Vice Chair Samuels reported that she has been in contact with Ginny Powell from Palm Beach County and has asked her if she would assist in writing the standards for the mangroves. Ms. Powell was unsure as to if her position covered that and would be in touch. Ms. Powell did share an informative website regarding maintenance of the mangroves and explained that Palm Beach County follows the State standards. Board Member Peterson reported that she had received information from Keith Patton, extension agent, about the mangrove trimming guideline for homeowners which would be the most beneficial. Ms. Peterson will request more copies and distribute to the board. Board Member Svenstrup asked if a letter had been written to the State to have a minimal wake zone. She explained that the large boats are the ones causing the problem with the shoreline. Board Member Weiss reported that for the past 6 years since the board has been in existence, they have been trying to work on a no wake zone. One of the issues is that the Intracoastal is shared with Boca. Raton. The Condo Association is working on this issue • as well. Board Member Svenstrup explained that eighty (80) feet of shoreline has been lost and it is vital to the manatees; mangroves are their source of food. Board Member Knight suggested that since these letters were written so long ago and that there may be new Boca Raton City Commissioners and a new County Commissioner, letters should push forward. Board Member Svenstrup stated that another issue is the fact that the laws are there but the speed limits are not enforced. Perhaps write a letter and include a report showing the mangrove and its vitality to the food chain to the Marine Patrol. Board Member Knight said that they would have to ask the Commission to write the letter and send it to a number of organizations and inform them of the problem. Review of policy for absences Chair Miller stated that the rule is three (3) consecutive unexcused absences would automatically remove a person from the Board. Each time that someone is not able to make a meeting they need to convey that information to the Deputy Clerk who will notify the Chair and she will excuse the absence. • Beaches & Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting 03/09/09 -Page 3 of 4 ADJOURNIVIENT• MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:55 a.m. Board Member Weiss seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. APPROVED: Chair ~ 1 ~ ~ ,~-,~,( k~~ ~ Samuels, Vice • ATTESTED: c Valerie E. Oakes Deputy Town Clerk Linda lseterson, Boazd Member n, Ro ~ nd Svenstrup, oazd Member ,~ elyn V11/eiss, Board Member Date: TuesdaX,. April 14, 2009 Beaches & Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting 03!09109 -Page 4 of 4 ~.~~~ ' ~ ~ Betty Jane fstadter, Boar Member .-,