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2015.06.09_BSAB_Minutes_Regular ••'' '70hh TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH AV o; • m ;s;• - :3P r: =,i MINUTES OF THE �,� �;.• •.•# s BEACHES & SHORES ADVISORY BOARD ����yfL Ofl10t:�' REGULAR MEETING Tuesday,June 9,2015 9:30 AM Members Present: Chair Elyse Riesa; Vice Chair Ira Oaklander; Member Jim Jiovanazzo; Member Elizabeth Andrews; Member Anne Gehman; Member Lynn Rodis and Member Katharine Braun. Also Attending: Commissioner Louis Stern; Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker; Town Manager Beverly Brown; Administrative Assistant Rosalie DeMartino and members of the public. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Riesa called the Regular Meeting to order at 9:30 AM. Roll call was taken by Rosalie DeMartino, Administrative Assistant, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the Beaches & Shores Beach Pledge. 2. ADDITIONS,DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: Chair Riesa called for additions, deletions or acceptance of agenda. Chair Riesa wanted to change Item A under New Business. Instead of a discussion regarding placing a "Swim at your own risk" sign on the beach, she would like to have a discussion regarding beach safety, and how to communicate this to the residents in Highland Beach. Member Andrews would like to have a discussion regarding a report from the Department of Environmental Protection and the possibility of eliminating retail plastic bags (7C). By consensus the Board accepted the agenda as amended. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: There were no public comments. 4. PRESENTATIONS: • Welcome New Member: Katharine Braun Chair Riesa welcomed new member Katharina Braun to the Beaches & Shores Advisory Board. Beaches & Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes June 9,2015 Page 2 of 6 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: • March 19, 2015- Regular Meeting MOTION: Vice Chair Oaklander moved to approve the March 19, 2015 Regular Meeting Minutes; seconded by Member Jiovanazzo. Motion passed with all in favor. Chair Riesa — There were several actions that I took after the last Beaches & Shores meeting where I prepared a letter for the Commission outlining the comments and recommendations given by a very large crowd attending this meeting. I read this letter at the Commission meeting, and they did not approve or try to approve any other recommendations. I also emailed the residents that came to the meeting and let them know what transpired at that meeting. The other was a letter sent to the Commission to ask for approval to have benches and a gazebo placed behind the Library for the residents to enjoy, based on the fact that the Library Terraces were going to be enclosed. Since the Library Terrace enclosure was turned down due to the cost and safety issues, there is no need for the benches and gazebo. 6. OLD BUSINESS: A. Update on Safety on the Intracoastal Waterway. Commissioner Louis Stern—We have met with Boca Raton on several occasions. They already patrol the Intracoastal from the Spanish River Bridge to the area parallel to the Delray Sands. They indicated that with the three boats they have patrolling the waterway, they have not issued one single ticket in the last three years. They have given 57 warnings. They are going to change out two of their boats and will go out for public auction. We can go to the auction if we wanted to have our own boat. The boat could possibly need a new engine; training for the person running it; personnel benefits and gasoline which are expenses we know nothing about yet. Vice Chair Oaklander — I live on the Intracoastal, and they are not patrolling the water. They are not doing what they say they are doing. The problem is the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission. Something has to be done because there is a great deal of danger caused by these speeding boats. We need some speed restrictions. Comm. Stern—I have attended many meetings, and unless there is personal injury or death, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission does not care about seawalls or marine wildlife. Since there are none on file, they are not going to do anything. They have used the one expression that the Intracoastal Waterway from Maine to Florida is the I-95 of the highway. Chair Riesa — You are not saying anything that we don't already know. Do you have any suggestions that can move this forward? Comm. Stern — There is a town resident who has volunteered to get us an appointment with Senator Maria Sachs. We don't know what she can do, but that is our next step. Chair Reisa—Town Manager Brown, do you think you can reach out to the other Beaches & Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes June 9, 2015 Page 3 of 6 Town Managers in Delray and Boca Raton to discuss what you can do? Town Manager Brown — I met with the Mayor of Boca Raton and she set up the appointment for Police Chief Hartmann and myself to meet with the captain of the Marine patrol. We were trying to hire them to patrol our area, but were told that this is not a no wake zone and they cannot stop anybody. They claim there is a boat out there every day and are basically looking for safety issues. They were not interested in accepting money from us to put on additional patrols. They are getting two new boats and we can buy one of the boats, but when the boat comes it is stripped of everything. You would have to equip the boat, replace the engines and have a captain and a backup on the boat. There would be two patrolmen on duty. The cost would be somewhere around $500,000. Vice Chair Oaklander — Boats are responsible for their own wakes. Some of these boats cause dangerous situations. These rules were put in place in the 1960's when boats were very different, and there were one-tenth of the boats we have now. Town Manager Brown — All the Legislators have public meetings before the season starts. Start a group and go out to lobby these elected officials in Tallahassee. Unless Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission change their opinion, we are not going to get anyplace, unfortunately. Comm. Stern — I have all the documentation when Mayor Reid passed a resolution making the Intracoastal a no wake zone. It had to be reversed because the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission said it was illegal and not right. Vice Chair Oaklander— We need to put more pressure on them. Comm. Stern— I have attended meetings where there were at least 400 to 600 people yelling about this issue. Some of them were residents of Seagate. Their response was "there is nothing we can do". MOTION: Vice Chair Oaklander moved to request the Commission write a letter to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission informing them that the residents of the Town of Highland Beach would like a"no wake" or"slow speed" zone installed in the Intracoastal Waterway adjacent to Highland Beach due to the dangerous conditions created by speeding boats. In addition, copies should be sent to the Editor of the local newspaper, Governor Scott, Senator Maria Sachs and Congresswoman Lois Frankel. Motion was seconded by Member Jiovanazzo. ROLL CALL: Vice Chair Oaklander - Yes Member Jiovanazzo - Yes Member Braun - Yes Member Rodis - Yes Member Gehman - Yes Member Andrews - Yes Chair Riesa - Yes Motion carried 7 to 0. Chair Riesa—Even though we have not been able to get very far on this issue, we do appreciate the work and the effort that Town Manager Brown and Commissioner Stern have been doing to try and support the Town on this matter. Beaches & Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes June 9,2015 Paze 4 of 6 7. NEW BUSINESS: A. Discussion regarding placing a "Swim at your own risk" sign on the beach. Chair Riesa — We were going to ask the Commission to have a sign "Swim at your own risk" with the permission of the condominiums that own the right-of- ways, placed at the entrance to the beach, and other condominiums to have one as well. The reason I am not pushing for that today is because each sign would cost $90.00 each, and is a great deal of money for the Town to spend. Another problem is we would have to get permission to place these signs on people's property, and some may not want them. This could possibly cause a legal issue. We need to talk about how we can communicate to our residents that they should spend the $90.00 as other communities have done. There can be an article placed in the Highlander regarding things that can be done for beach safety. I have been working with Ken Thompson from the Fire Department to do a seminar on beach safety. We need to let everyone in Town know that we do not have lifeguards and swim at your own risk. Member Jiovanazzao — Perhaps some of the Condominium and Homeowner's Associations on the west side of AIA can assist in the cost of these signs since their owners are the ones who use the entrances to the beach. Chair Riesa asked Town Manager Brown if she could supply the information as to where they could procure these signs. Town Manager Brown—The Public Works Department investigated the cost. Chair Riesa — Could the Town contact the HOA's and try to negotiate with the individual right-of-way owners. Town Manager Brown — It would be an expense because we would have to get our attorney involved. The HOA's who use an easement to cross someone's property should contact the owner who owns that property. Vice Chair Oaklander — It is not our responsibility to inform these people of the risks. It should be the responsibility of the HOA's and homeowners. Town Manager Brown — There are some condominiums who put up a sign each day informing the residents of the beach conditions. Chair Riesa suggested putting an article in the Highlander letting the condominiums and homeowners know where they can procure a sign informing their residents that there are no lifeguards on the beach and they would swim at their own risk. Consensus was to place an informational article in the Highlander regarding the lack of lifeguards on the beach, and the possibility of including information on such things as riptides. B) Turtle Talk and Walk Date. Chair Riesa— The Turtle Talk and Walk Day is scheduled for Saturday, July 25th at 7:00 a.m. The Beaches & Shores Advisory Board will need to get authorization from the Commission to participate with the Sea Turtle Volunteer Program for the Turtle Talk & Walk Day. Flyers will be prepared and distributed to all the condominiums with detailed information. Beaches & Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes June 9,2015 Page 5 of 6 MOTION: Member Jiovanazzo moved to request authorization by the Town Commission to participate with the Sea Turtle Volunteer Program for a Turtle Talk and Walk Day on Saturday, July 25, 2015. Motion was seconded by Vice Chair Oaklander. ROLL CALL: Member Jiovanazzo - Yes Vice Chair Oaklander - Yes Member Braun - Yes Member Gehman - Yes Member Rodis - Yes Member Andrews - Yes Chair Riesa - Yes Motion carried 7 to 0. C) Discussion Regarding Plastic Bags. Chair Riesa would like to see paper bags used in supermarkets instead of plastic bags and have letters written to our Congress to enforce this. Vice Chair Oaklander — Our Town should inform our local stores and vendors that the Town of Highland Beach does not appreciate plastic. Another suggestion is having the Town supply reusable bags with their logo on them to the residents at cost. Member Braun — There are many recyclable materials available, and not very expensive. It could be used as a promotion for Highland Beach to show people that we care about the beaches and our environment. Member Jiovanazzo — We can inform the Library, that when they have special events, they do not use any type of plastic cups or bags. Chair Riesa — If this gets approved by the Town Commission, we would work with them in finding the right material at the right price. Town Manager Brown— I have looked into this and the canvas bags which are washable are $8.00 each. There was a smaller one for $4.00 that was not washable. You could do some research and come back to us so we can include it in the budget. We have bags left over from the Light up the Holidays, and will leave some in the lobby of Town Hall for anyone interested in taking one. Chair Riesa asked each member to research these bags, and whoever has the best proposal, we will present it to the Commission indicating that this is what we would like. The community could pay for these bags individually, or perhaps fifty percent (50%). She also asked Town Manager Brown if she could give her an idea of how much of a budget the Beaches & Shores Advisory Board might be able to utilize. Beaches & Shores Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes June 9,2015 Page 6 of 6 Vice Chair Oaklander — There may be some government grants to fund a project such as this. Town Manager Brown—There are grants through the State that we could investigate. We haven't taken too many large grants due to the fact that the government comes in and restricts some of your policies and procedures. Once you take the money from them, they can tell you what to do. We don't meet all of the requirements of some of the federal grants because of it. We will investigate through the State to see if we can come up with something. MOTION: Vice Chair Oaklander moved to have the Beaches & Shores take the initiative of looking for a recyclable bag that people can take to the supermarkets and advertise the wonderful Town of Highland Beach. Motion was seconded by Member Andrews which passed unanimously. Commissioner Zelniker — We need people attending the budget meetings. The members should attend the meetings, speak up and say what you want on behalf of the advisory board. 8. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Chair Riesa adjourned the meeting at 10:26 A.M APPROVED: 1 s ti ra ander, Vice C air f Jiovanazzo, MeXiber Elizabeth Andrews, Member ATTEST Anne , Mem e C��4-, Lynn R is, Member Katharina Braun Rosalie DeMartino Administrative Assistant Date: