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TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH
MINUTES OF THE
BEACHES & SHORES ADVISORY BOARD
REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, September 8, 2009 9:30 AM
Members Present: Vice Chair Ruth Samuels, Board Member Betty Hofstadter, Board
Member Rosalind Svenstrup, and Board Member Evelyn Weiss.
Members Absent: Chair Lucy Miller (excused) and Board Member Barbara Zeeman
(excused). Also Attending: Town Manager Dale Sugerman, Deputy Town Clerk Valerie
Oakes and members of the general public.
CALL TO ORDER:
Vice Chair Samuels called the Regular Meeting to order at 9:30 AM. Roll 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 as presented. Board
• Member Weiss seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS:
None.
PRESENTATIONS:
None.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
MOTION: Vice Chair Samuels moved to approve the minutes of August 11, 2009,
regular meeting and August 19, 2009, workshop meeting. Board Member Hofstadter
seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
Mangrove Project Report
Board Member Weiss did not have a report.
Beaches & Shores Advisory Board
Seutember 8, 2009 Page 2 of 4
• NEW BUSINESS:
Finalize the List of Economists
Item tabled until the next meeting.
RFPnRTS~
A. Municipal Tax District:
• Answering Questions - Dr. Sugerman, Town Manager
Vice Chair Samuels -What is a Municipal Special Tax Unit?
D. Su eg rman - A Municipal Special Tax Unit is a district formed for a special purpose
and designed for taxing its members to reach its goal. All the beaches in Highland Beach
are private except for the 1,200 ft. that belong to Palm Beach County. The only way to
enforce beach cleanliness is through the Highland Beach Code of Ordinances. The code
enforcement process is not an instant solution. The funds from the district would clean
the beach under this tax district authority. Those violations would be cleaned up by the
beach cleaning company.
The Town Commission decides whether to place the item on the ballot. If they choose to
place the item on the ballot, the citizens of Highland Beach would then vote on the item.
• The economist, who would create a methodology, would determine a calculation of the
benefit received. A budget needs to be established to show expenses for every year.
Board Member Weiss -Are there other towns our size that has a district?
Deputy Town Clerk Oakes will send an inquiry to other municipalities requesting
information regarding MSTU.
Board Member Svenstrup - Is there a way to get the item on the ballot, or is that a
Commission decision?
D. Su eg rman -Yes, the Commission would decide if the item is to be placed on the
ballot.
Board Member Svenstrup - Do you know of any economist that you can refer?
D. Su eg rman -They are based out of Gainesville and Tallahassee, but will find out if
there are any local economists that they can refer.
Board Member Weiss - At the last presentation, the commission allowed for $15,000.00
for an economist. Would the district pay the town back for the loan to hire the
. economist?
D. Su eg rman - It was never budgeted and never approved.
Beaches & Shores Advisory Board
September 8, 2009 Page 3 of 4
• Vice Chair Samuels -How do we get on the agenda for the Commission to approve
hiring an economist?
D. Su eg rman -The board needs to make its recommendation to the Town Commission
by establishing an outline then you would send it to the Town Manager's Office who
would place the item on the agenda. At the meeting, the board can make its presentation,
and the Commission will decide if they are going to give you authority to move forward.
The board has made a presentation to the Commission about clean, healthy beaches and
the Commission agreed that they also want clean, healthy beaches. Ask the Commission
for their continued support by endorsing the board to move forward and fund hiring an
economist to discover the impact on the property.
Vice Chair Samuels -What is the job of the Beaches and Shores Advisory Board?
D. Su erman -Once the economist reports his/her findings, you will need to establish a
budget for the district.
Board Member Svenstruv -Announced that on Friday, September 11, 2009, at 2:00 PM
there will be Joint Meeting with the Planning Board regarding wake zones.
The board scheduled a meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, at 9:30 to discuss
• creating the presentation to the Town Commission regarding MSTU.
B. Board Members:
Board Member Zeeman -Absent
Board Member Weiss - Is going to contact Mr. Spole regarding the mangrove
project.
Board Member Svenstrup - No report.
Board Member Hofstadter - No report.
Vice Chair Samuels - No report
Chair Miller -Absent.
•
Beaches & Shores Advisory Board
September 8, 2009 Page 4 of 4
ADJOURNMENT:
• MOTION: Board Member Weiss moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:36 AM. Board
Member Svenstrup seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
APPROVED:
Excused Absence
Lucy Mill ,Chair
Ruth amuels, Vice Ch r
ATTESTED: ~~ _ ~ ~~~~
,- Betty e H fst dter, Board tuber
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Valerie E. Oakes
Deputy Town Clerk RosaSvenstrup,: Board M~mber
Date: Tuesday October 13, 2009 G
Evelyn W iss. Board
•
Excused Absence
BarbaraZe~~eman, Board Member
!y
Vacancy ~
•