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2018.08.23_NRPB_Minutes_Regular TOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Town Hall/Commission Chambers Date: August 23, 2018 3614 South Ocean Boulevard Time: 9:30 AM Highland Beach, Florida 1. CALL TO ORDER: Administrative Support Specialist Rosalie DeMartino called the Natural Resources Preservation Meeting to order at 9:30 AM. Roll call was taken followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. MEMBERS PRESENT UPON ROLL CALL: Member Eva Kleeman Member Jack Halpern Member Nievicita Maraj Member Katharina Braun 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS: A. Chair MOTION: Member Halpern moved to nominate Eva Kleeman as Chairperson. The motion was seconded by Member Braun, which passed unanimously. B. Vice Chair MOTION: Member Halpern moved to nominate Nievicita Marai as Vice Chairperson. The motion was seconded by Member Braun, which passed unanimously. Administrative Support Specialist DeMartino turned the meeting over to the newly elected Chairperson Kleeman. 3. ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA: The agenda was accepted as presented. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REQUESTS: Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Minutes Thursday,August 23, 2018 Page 2 of 5 Commissioner Rhoda Zelniker thanked the members for volunteering their services to this board. Ted Alman provided comments with regard to the need for a uniform policy for beach tending and the problem with seaweed. He was in favor of tax money being spent for the Town to take over cleaning the beach. 5. PRESENTATIONS: A. Introduction of all Members Chairperson Kleeman introduced each Board Member. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: None. 7. NEW BUSINESS: A. Eco Shore Briefing by Member Halpern. Member Halpern introduced this item. Member Halpern mentioned that he attended a presentation by Eco Shore on a technique called PEM. He explained that plastic tubes are put into the beach that would take water down below the beach level and the sand would remain. It was used in Hillsboro Beach for a short period of time and was not proven to be a success. He was not in favor of this unless there was some success in performance agreed upon, and there was a way the Town could get their money back if it did not work. Commissioner Riesa explained that Ken Christianson is the CEO of Eco Shore and gave a brief summary of the meeting she attended as a resident of Highland Beach and not a Commissioner. She is looking into Mr. Christianson using this technique in Highland Beach as a "showcase". Discussion ensued with regard to Mr. Christianson appearing before the advisory board. It was the consensus of the Board Members to have Mr. Christianson appear before the Natural Resources Preservation Board at a future meeting. B. Dune Restoration Presentation by Dan Bellante Dan Bellante gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Importance of Dune Restoration. Board Discussion: Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Minutes Thursday, August 23, 2018 Page 3 of 5 Vice Chairperson Mara* asked where this study was performed. Mr. Bellante replied that it was done at 2711 North Ocean Boulevard, Jamaica Manor by his company. Member Braun explained that Mr. Bellante is a representative of the Beaches and Shores Club and that this board will be working together with that club in the near future to save our beaches. Member Halpern questioned the cost of this project. Mr. Bellante explained the costs involved depending on the difficulty of the job and being able to work with DEP (Department of Environmental Protection). He explained the process to protect, restore and preserve the dune system. Sea Oats help dune restoration and would take three to five years to take care of itself. Discussion ensued with regard to costs, working with the environmental agencies guidelines and educating and encouraging the homeowners on how they can protect our dunes. Discussion ensued with regard to a member of the Beaches and Shores Club becoming a member of the Natural Resources Preservation Board. If the board is in favor of this, Legal would have to be contacted to see if this would be in violation of the Sunshine Law. Mr. Bellante mentioned that the Beaches and Shores Club is considering using a Drone System to survey the properties on the beach and explained that they could work with the Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board in obtaining funding for this project. The members were in favor of the drone idea. MOTION: Chairperson Kleeman moved to have Mr. Bellante bring his presentation before the Commission. The motion was seconded by Member Halpern. UPON ROLL CALL: Chair Kleeman - Yes Member Halpern - Yes Member Braun - Yes Vice Chair Maraj - Yes Motion passed on a 4 to 0 vote. Commissioner Zelniker explained that although these are all good ideas, the beaches are private property and whether or not pictures can be legally taken of these private properties. C. Discussion on Beach Raking Vice Mayor Nil a explained that the Commission made a motion to task the Natural Resources Environmental Board with beach raking. She provided comments with regard to the two beach raking companies that clean the Town's beaches and the complaints she received from the residents. She met with the Department of Environmental Preservation who informed her that the Town should be responsible for cleaning the beaches and Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Minutes Thursday, August 23, 2018 Page 4 of 5 explained the reasons why this should be done. She referred to the photographs taken of conditions on the beach made by the beach rakers who are not following the DEP and Florida Fish and Wildlife regulations. These regulations will be incorporated into our code so they can be better enforced. Vice Mayor Nil a provided comments with regard to the different options for beach raking. Interim Senior Financial Analyst Krystal Strickland presented a report researching various methods of beach raking and costs as follows: • Town of Hillsboro Beach Cleaning—Private beach raking by Beach Raker. • Town of June Beach—Hand raking • Highland Beach Landscaper—Manual Raking • City of Boca Raton— Interlocal Agreement Potential • Beach Cleaning Program Assessment Methodology Report (April 2010) Interim Senior Financial Analyst Strickland explained that if the Town takes over the beach cleaning process and how it would pay for it,a special assessment would be the proper way to handle this. She referred to the April 2010 Assessment Methodology Report and the cost to each homeowner. Vice Mayor Nil a explained that the DEP recommended Highland Beach follow Juno Beach, which does manual raking. The town does not pay for raking. Each individual homeowner pays for the raking. There are three options: manual raking, Boca Raton Interlocal agreement or hiring a more natural environmental type of raker and putting it on the tax bill. Ted Alman provided comments with regard to beach access that would allow debris to be taken off the beach and disposed of. He commented on the type of debris that has been found on the beach. Commissioner Riesa provided comments with regard to the amount of seaweed on the beaches, what other towns are doing to remove the seaweed and how they are using it when removed. She also commented on the trash on the beach and how code enforcement needs to be involved in making sure homeowners clean their portion of the beach. D. Discussion on the Mission and Priorities. V ice Mayor Nila commented again on the three options for the board members to look into, have a discussion and make a recommendation to the Commission. Member Halpern inquired about beach access. Vice Mayor Nila explained this item will be discussed at the next Commission meeting since beach access is a priority for both the police and the beach cleaning. She commented on the different options available to obtain these access points. Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Minutes Thursday, August 23, 2018 Paye 5 of 5 Vice Chairperson Maraj asked about Boca Raton's beach cleaning. Vice Mayor Nila explained they have their own internal beach cleaning service and are willing to meet with the Town to discuss this issue. Member Braun provided comments with regard to the current beach raking companies and the beach cleaning. She suggested the Town ask Boca Raton first before looking into any other options. Interim Senior Financial Analyst Strickland explained how an interlocal agreement would work between the Town of Highland Beach and Boca Raton. Commissioner Riesa suggested the board members look into the contracts for the two companies currently cleaning the beaches to determine what the costs are and compare them to the other options. Discussion ensued with regard to the task given the Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board by the Commission regarding beach raking. It was the consensus of the board that each member would individually investigate the Boca Raton beach cleaning option and discuss their findings at the next meeting. Dan Bellante explained how the beach raking disturbs the sand. 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, Chairperson Kleeman called for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Member Halpern moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:54 AM. Vice Chairperson Maraj seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. APPROVAL: Eva Kleeman, Chairp 7j- ATTEST: Rosa ie DeMartino, Administrative Support Specialist Date: �+