Loading...
2021.02.03_NRPB_Minutes_RegularTOWN OF HIGHLAND BEACH VIRTUAL NATURAL RESOURCES PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Town Hall / Commission Chambers Date: February 03, 2021 3614 South Ocean Boulevard Time: 1:00 P.M. Highland Beach, Florida 33487 1. CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Parks called the meeting to order at 1:03 P.M. 2. PRESENT UPON ROLL CALL Member Susan Amerling- Stern Member Jack Halpern joined the meeting at 2:08 P.M. Member Katharina Braun Vice Chairperson Nievecita Maraj Chairperson Steven Parks Administrative Support Specialist Ganelle Thompson ABSENT UPON ROLL CALL Member Diane Matthewman ADDITIONAL STAFF PRESENT Town Planner Ingrid Allen 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Chairperson Parks led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Chairperson Parks moved Item 5 "Public Comments" to Item 6, Item 7A "Approval of the Minutes" to Item 5 and Item 9B Beach Access to Item 7A under Presentations. MOTION: Member Amerling-Stern/ Member Braun - To approve the agenda as amended. The motion passed on a 4 to 0 vote. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT (has been moved to 6A) Virtual Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes Date: February 03, 2021 Page 2 of 5 APPROVAL OF MINUTES (This item was formally item 7A.) A. December 09, 2020 - Regular Meeting Minutes Chairperson Parks introduced this item. MOTION: Member Amerling-Stern/Member Braun - To approve the minutes as presented The motion passed on a 4 to 0 Vote. 6. PRESENTATIONS: (This item was moved to Item 7A.) PUBLIC COMMENT (This item was formally item 5A.) A. Robert Patek's Email Chairperson Parks opened public comments. Robert Patek was present via Zoom and provided comments as it relates to beach raking, seaweed, and the issues that arise from allowing the beach to remain private. He also discussed the accumulation of garbage on the beach. There was Board discussion following Mr. Patek's statements. Member Halpern clarified that the Town Commission (should) check with DEP to make sure the beach rakers maintain compliance with state regulations. 7. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (This item was moved to Item 5A) PRESENTATIONS: (This item was formally item 9B.) B. Beach Access - Chairperson Parks (This item was formally Item 9b) Chairperson Parks introduced this item and discussed access points on the beach and mentioned wanting to see the Town have oversight on the beach rakers. Town Manager Labadie provided comments concerning the beach rackers on the beach. Member Halpern Joined the meeting at 2:08 P.M. MOTION: Chairperson Parks/Member Amerling-Stern — That the Town Commission engage the services of the Town Attorney to facilitate some type of communication to the DEP to force the DEP to review and enforce their own guidelines on the beach. The motion passed on a 5 to 0 vote. Virtual Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes Date: February 03, 2021 Page 3 of 5 8. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: A. Staff Update - Beach Bucket Trees Chairperson Parks referred this item to Town Planner Allen. Vice Chairperson Maraj left the meeting at 2:34 P.M. Town Planner Allen provided an update on the progress of the implementation of the four bucket trees approved by the Town Commission. She explained that she reached out to several condos that currently have a Town receptacle on the property to find out if there is interest in having a bucket tree on their properties. She also elaborated on how the steps that would be taken to move forward with the process and also how the trees would be attached to potential structures. B. Status Report, December 9, 2020, Board Recommendations Chairperson Parks referred this item to Town Planner Allen. Town Planner Allen provided an update on the " Take Pride in our Beach" education initiative and banner that The Town Commission discussed at the February 2, 2021, Town Commission Meeting. She further explained that the Town Commission believed that the Banner option the Board chose was too lengthy and opted for two different choices for the Board to choose from. The Option choices where, "Clean beach= Healthy Beach" or "Take Pride in Your Beach". The Board expressed dissatisfaction with the limited wording the Town Commission wanted to include on the banner. They explained that the proposed banner from the Town Commission did not express that there should be an education initiative and the Commissions proposed Banner loses the intent of what the Board was trying to establish and does not fully express all the thoughts of the Board. She also shared the design of the beach bucket trees and logo design that would be placed on the buckets. MOTION: Chairperson Parks/ Amerling- Stern — That the Town Commission revisit words or verbiage on the banner as it does not reflect (the Board's) intention to educate the Town that there is a need to facilitate their help in cleaning up the actual beach. The motion passed on a 4 to 0 vote. MOTION: Chairperson Parks/Member Halpern - The Board does not accept the artwork proposed by Rodrigo as it does not reflect (the Boards') intention on this matter. The motion passed on a 4 to 0 vote. Virtual Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes Date: February 03, 2021 Page 4 of 5 9. NEW BUSINESS: A. Town Commission Recommendation Memorandum Chairperson Parks read the title into record. Town Planner Allen introduced this item and stated that at the January 19, 2021, Town Commission meeting, the Town Commission designated the NRPAB to identify invasive plant species particularly at light poles and streetlights. The Board discussed not being qualified to identify invasive species and discussed the Town looking into hiring a qualified individual such as a horticulturist who can identify invasive plant species. Member Amerling- Stern left the meeting at 3:05 P.M. and rejoined the meeting at 3:15 P.M. MOTION: Chairperson Parks/ Amerling- Stern — The Town Commission obtain the services of a qualified horticulturist to take a survey of the Towns public properties and determine whether or not there is an invasive plant species that may affect the Town. The motion passed on a 4 to 0 vote. B. Beach Access - Chairperson Parks (This item was moved to 7A under Presentations) 10.ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chairperson Parks read the announcements into record as followed: A. February 11, 2021 - 9:30 A.M. Planning Board Meeting February 15, 2021 - Town Hall Closed in Observance of Presidents' Day February 16, 2021 - 1:30 P.M. Town Commission Meeting March 02, 2021 - 1:30 P.M. Town Commission Meeting March 11, 2021 - 9:30 A.M. Planning Board Meeting Virtual Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes Date: February 03, 2021 Page 5 of 5 11. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Parks adjourn the meeting at 3:22 P.M. APPROVED at the August 11, 2021, Virtual Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board Regular Meeting. �\4H LAB. ATTEST: (36 9 _ Steven Parks, Chairperson 19 Y 000� Transcribed by Ganelle Thompson Administrative Support Specialist G elle Thomp on Date A ministrative Support Specialist Disclaimer: Effective May 19, 2020, per Resolution No. 20-008, all meeting minutes are transcribed as a brief summary reflecting the event of this meeting. Verbatim audio/video recordings are permanent records and are available on the Town's Media Archives & Minutes webpage: s i'rngnlandoeacn-ti murucoaerneeungs com;