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2009.05.12_BSAB_Minutes_RegularTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH MINUTES OF THE BEACHES & SHORES ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING Tuesday, May 12, 2009 9.30 A M Members Present: Chair Lucy Miller, Vice Chair Ruth Samuels, Board Member Betty Hofstadter, Board Member Beverly Knight, Board Member Linda Peterson, Board Member Rosalind Svenstrup, and Board Member Evelyn Weiss. 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 and a moment of silence followed. ADDITIONS. DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to accept the agenda. All in favor. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: None. • PRESENTATIONS: Sea Turtle Conservation and Lighting Impact by Jacey Biery of Palm Beach County (PBC) Department of Environmental Resource Management Jacey Biery's primary job is to deal with sea turtle lighting, review new coastal development lighting plans, and she does the disorientation reports. • Four (4) of the eight (8) sea turtle species call Palm Beach County which are the Leatherbacks, Hoxbills, Greens (endangered), and Loggerheads. • PBC has an ordinance for beach chair vendors to stack their chairs at night. • Two (2) threats of the species is entanglement and lighting. • PBC recorded 1/3 of the states disorientations, and they reported 10, 000 hatchlings were disoriented due to artificial lighting. • Highland Beach has reported zero (0) on the Disorientation Report. Board Member Knight explained there were a few disorientations last year; the report is inaccurate. • Florida Fish and Wildlife &PBC have not received a report form Highland Beach since 2002 (J. Biery will check with Jean Higgins of FFWC) • J. Biery gave reported that artificial lighting causes breast cancer and prostate cancer. • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission have grants available for lighting. • A great resource regarding lighting pollution is w-v4~~.darksl:y.or~. Beaches & Shores Advisory Board May 12, 2009 Page 2 of 4 • Municipalities are adopting a Dark Sky Ordinance to limit light pollution and help sea turtles. • Florida Dept. of Transportation can change the fixture type on the poles. • Sidney Morris 3115 S. Ocean Blvd. (Ocean Terrace North): Last year an anonymous call was made to the police, and he would like to know why? When is the best time to take pictures of the sea turtles? Are there any licenses needed? How would he obtain a license? Board Member Peterson responded to his inquiries, and he should not use a camera because of the flash. She highly recommends speaking with Barbara James, Permit Holder, regarding licenses. It is better to go on the beach with an organized group because you can easily scare the turtles, and they will return to the water. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION: Board Member Samuels moved to approve the minutes of April 14, 2009 regular meeting with a change. Board Member Weiss seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: Mangrove Project Report None. • NEW BUSINESS: Monofelament Recycling Program Board Member Peterson came up with the idea of installing a Monofilament Recycling Program because fishermen are predominately in the "future" Milani Park area. Jacey Biery suggested contacting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's Tequesta office, which is in charge of the program. Trash receptacle installation request by Ocean Terrace North Roger Messenger, 3115 S. Ocean Blvd. (Ocean Terrace North): A group of Ocean Terrace North residents are sensitive to the idea of sea turtles eating plastic. The group routinely picks up trash on the beach. He is requesting a separate receptacle for aluminum and garbage. The board will address a letter to Ocean Terrance North Condominium Association requesting permission to place a litter receptacle on the beach. REPORTS: A. Municipal Tax District: Vice Chair Samuels has completed the list of approximated footage for the condominiums with the exception of Sea Frolic. 11 U Beaches & Shores Advisory Board May 12, 2009 Page 3 of 4 • B. Board Members Board Member Weiss: No report. Board Member Svenstrup: On Wednesday, May 6, 2009, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission held a public workshop on Vessel Speed Zones on the ICW. There were approximately 60 people present. Half of the attendees were there to protest the present restrictions and stop any additional items of consideration. Another group was there to request restricted areas on the ICW. The meeting primarily discussed safety issues, but Highland Beach is not dangerous enough to qualify. There have not been serious accidents or enough citations by law enforcement officials in Highland Beach. Chairman Louis P. Stern of the Planning Board is interested in this issue, and he is going to bring this issue before the board. If the Beaches and Shores Advisory Board is interested, the two boards can work in consorted efforts on this topic. Suggestions include petitions and public awareness. Sea Gate Condominiums is fully supporting public awareness and want to seek a wake height restriction. Board Peterson: Liaison Report-There has been 11 sea turtles and two (2) false crawls. The Sea Turtle Program is working on lighting compliance and helping people identify their bad habits. Mrs. Peterson has created a flyer for Toscana to make the public aware of the beach chair issues. Barbara James has requested that the board approve the liaison to create a packet of information with the permit holder. As of today, Board Member Linda Peterson is resigning from the Beaches and Shores Advisory Board and her position as Sea Turtle Liaison for the Sea Turtle Program because her family is relocating to Texas. Board Member Peterson would like to recommend Board Member Beverly Knight for the Sea Turtle Liaison position. Chair Miller will make the recommendation to the Commission. Board Member Knight: No report. Board Member Hofstadter: No report. Vice Chair Samuels: No report. Chair Miller: No report. • Beaches & Shores Advisory Board May 12, 2009 Page 4 of 4 ADJOURNMENT: A workshop meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 9:30 AM. MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:20 a.m. Board Member Weiss seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. ATTESTED: ~~~ _ ~° ~~ Betty J Ho adter, Board "tuber r i lerie Oakes Beve y Knight, Board Member Deputy Town Clerk Resigned May 28 2009 Lin Peterson, Board Member Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 Rosali c1~Svenstrup, B and Member ~ 1 velyn We' s, Board ember • • C7 APPROVED: