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03-14-1995 ..... ,.."", CITY OF EDGEWATER BEAUTIFICATION , TREE COMMITTEE MARCH 14, 1995 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM MINUTES ROLL CALL/CALL TO ORDER: Chairman Ver Way called the regular meeting of the Beautification & Tree Committee to order at 7:06 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room. Members present were: Chairman Felicia Ver Way, Sandra Ruggles, Kathleen Spellman, Helen Janda, and Linda Sullivan. Also present was Recording Secretary Lisa Kruckmeyer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meetinq of November 8. 1994 Ms. Janda made a motion to approve the November 8, 1994 minutes, second by Ms. Sullivan. The motion CARRIED 5-0. OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business to be discussed. NEW BUSINESS: Election - Chairman Election - Vice Chairman Ms. Ruggles nominated Chairman Ver Way to remain chairman. Chairman Ver Way nominated Ms. Sullivan to be chairman who declined the nomination. Chairman Ver Way accepted the nomination. Chairman Ver Way nominated Ms. Ruggles to be Vice Chairman. Ms. Ruggles accepted. Ms. Sullivan made a motion to nominate Ms. Ver Way as Chairman and Ms. Ruggles as Vice Chairman, second by Ms. Janda. The motion CARRIED 5-0. Approve Amended By-laws Ms. Sullivan made a motion to accept the by-laws as printed, second by Ms. Ruggles. The motion CARRIED 5-0. Chairman Ver Way asked that copies of the by-laws be included in the next packet. Kathleen Spellman - Presentation on Champion Trees Ms. Spellman made a presentation and passed out articles regarding champion trees. There was a discussion regarding champion trees in Volusia County. Ms. Sullivan commented on a large tree in Orlando that has been well kept and well maintained. This tree is surrounded by a fence, it is lit at night, and the road goes around it. '-'" "-" Ms. Sullivan commented on the foresters in Orlando who take care of the trees being very involved in trees. Ms. Sullivan spoke about there being Urban Foresters in the Parks and Recreation Department in Orlando. There was a discussion regarding every tree in Orlando being inventoried on computer. Ms. Sullivan commented on 1-4 through Orlando being landscaped as well as the side streets and areas of the City that aren't very nice. There was a discussion regarding neighborhood programs in Orlando. There was a discussion regarding the Urban Forestry Seminar attended by Chairman Ver Way and Ms. Sullivan and the seminar being held in Marco Island this year. Chairman Ver Way spoke about a conversation she had with Ms. Butler of the City of South Daytona and Mr. Butler of the City of Ormond Beach regarding the trees in their medians. She stated they were telling her what is happening, is the towns are just going in and planting the trees because they are tired of fooling around with DOT's guidelines. There aren't trees that match what DOT wants. There was a discussion regarding the Parks and Recreation Board not wanting the Committee to name the Lake and Alice Park even with the Committee donating trees. Chairman Ver Way wants the Committee to concentrate on getting trees in the medians. Chairman Ver Way stated the Committee is a Tree Committee as well as a Beautification Committee and we have these reports that need to go in every year and we are not planting the trees we are supposed to. She stated we are not doing our part of the obligation to get recertified. Ms. Sullivan stated every town, including has trees in their medians but Edgewater. Brevard County has trees in their medians excuse is no one wants to maintain them. Oak Hill, along U.S. #1 She went on to state too. She stated the There was a discussion regarding how the sprinklers are turned on in the medians. There was a discussion regarding whether the city had received the grant to continue the beautification of the medians. Chairman Ver Way explained the City had received it but they were holding off due to discussions of widening U.S. #1 sometime this year. Ms. Sullivan stated she would like to see what the possibility is of transplanting some of the plants that have been in the medians for one year to the other medians. She stated there is probably enough extra plants in one median to beautify another one because they are all too close. Chairman Ver Way spoke about getting trees donated and placing them between the flower beds in the medians. Sh~ stated if they are going to try to get the money donated for trees then they should concentrate on putting them there instead of in parks where nobody wants them. There was a discussion regarding the Committee wanting to put trees in the medians and there being no trees that meet DOT's stipulations. Page -2- Beautification & Tree Committee March 14, 1995 '-' ~ Chairman Ver Way stated she was going to ask the secretary to write a letter to a gentleman at DOT because of there not being trees to meet the stipulations but she did not have his name. The Committee spoke about the trees they would like to see put in the medians. Chairman Ver Way suggested inviting Mr. Corder to the next meeting to discuss what they can do with the trees. Chairman Ver Way stated she didn't know yet if Arbor Day was going to be in April. She stated the cost of the trees is $50 each without planting so they needed to find out if the trees could be planted by the City. Chairman Ver Way again suggested inviting Mr. Corder to the next meeting to discuss their goals and what they want to do because they are tired of doing nothing. Ms. Sullivan suggested going to the City Council. She wanted to present it at the next City Council meeting but it was too late due to the agenda already being closed. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to send a memo to Mr. Corder asking him to the next meeting. Chairman Ver Way spoke about still having to collect the money for the trees. Chairman Ver Way stated due to the postponements of meetings, she doesn't feel there is enough time to prepare for the usual Arbor Day Celebration. She stated getting the trees in the medians would be their Arbor Day. Ms. Sullivan suggested having a proclamation and list everyone that donated trees. Chairman Ver Way spoke about the Adopt a Tree Program. Chairman Ver Way spoke about the memo from Philip Fong, Chairman, Economic Development Board, regarding the US 1 Corridor - Beautification, Streetscape & Signage and the "Edgewater Pride Campaign." Ms. Sullivan asked if they are joining forces with the EDB. Chairman Ver Way stated that is what she thinks he would like us to do. Ms. Sullivan stated they should get together with them to try and get something done. The Committee discussed inviting Mr. Fong to the next meeting to explain exactly what the EDB would like the Committee to do. The Committee discussed whether they would be breaking for the summer. They decided to wait and see who their new members will be and whether they will be around for the summer. The Committee briefly discussed the Edgewater Pride Campaign. Chairman Ver Way feels it is a good idea and she would like to work with the EDB. The Committee discussed the welcome to Edgewater sign being gone at the entrance to Edgewater from SR 442 due to a church being built on the property where the sign was located. Chairman Ver Way spoke about the LDR's being passed. Chairman Ver Way asked that a copy of the LDR's be given to each member at the next meeting. Page -3- Beautification & Tree Committee March 14, 1995 ........ .."., Ms. Sullivan asked to include in the memo to Jack that if he can not attend that will be fine and they will just go to the City Council meeting next month. Chairman Ver Way asked that he let us know ahead of time. Ms. Sullivan stated they can't keep waiting. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to send a memo to Mr. Fong inviting him to the next meeting informing him that the Committee would like to work along with the EDB on the Edgewater Pride Campaign. The Committee discussed not being able to have the Arbor Day Celebration in April due to their not being enough time to prepare for it. Chairman Ver Way stated she would assume the Committee would be there when the trees are planted which would be Arbor Day. December Beautification Award Choice The selections for the December Beautification Award are: Palm Apartments, Leon's Edgewater Motor, Edgewater Commons, G. D. McGuinn's and First Union. The selections for the April Beautification Award are: Kathleen - 1918 Lime Tree Drive, beige house at the corner of 20th Street, Helen, 1940 Coco Palm Drive, Sandy - 2229 vista Palm Drive, 2008 willow Oak Drive. Chairman Ver Way spoke about a house on Indian River Blvd. that is beautiful. The address was unknown but the number is 1843. The secretary informed Ms. Ruggles that her pick is located in Zone 4. The Committee decided to allow her to use 2229 vista Palm Drive. The selections were tabulated and the winning business was G. D. McGuinn's. The second place winner was Edgewater Commons followed by First Union. Ms. Sullivan decided to use the house on Indian River Blvd as her pick for Zone 3. MISCELLANEOUS: Chairman Ver Way commented on an article in the February 22nd edition of the News Journal. She spoke about all of the towns being included in this article but Edgewater. Chairman Ver Way stated somehow we have to get the message across that somewhere in one of these future budgets money needs to be budgeted toward some beautification projects. She stated they can't keep asking the same people for donations. Chairman Ver Way stated the main concern is people want beautification. Chairman Ver Way suggested sending a copy of this article to the City Council and Mr. Corder. Ms. Sullivan spoke about the Committee having to plant the plants in the medians themselves. The Committee discussed not getting anything accomplished and not being unified enough. Chairman Ver Way feels the Committee needs to be together on any projects they decide to work on. Page -4- Beautification & Tree Committee March 14, 1995 ~ "WI' Ms. Sullivan spoke about there being no money to beautify in front of City Hall. Less than one year later, someone who works here suggested beautifying in the front of City Hall and she got all of this money and it looks gorgeous. Ms. Sullivan stated why have a Committee if these people can come in off the street and they can get somewhere and the Committee that is volunteering their time can't get anything done. Chairman Ver Way stated they sit there month after month and talk about things and no one listens to them. Ms. Sullivan spoke about the Committee not having anything to do with the Riverwalk and not having any say as to what gets planted in the medians. Chairman Ver Way stated it is getting very frustrating. Ms. Sullivan made a motion to send a copy of the article to the Council and Mr. Corder, second by Ms. Janda. The motion CARRIED 5-0. Ms. Sullivan stated she is starting to believe there is a conflict of interest with Mr. Corder as far as his priorities. The Committee further discussed not having any budget to work with. Chairman Ver Way stated on her Tree City U.S.A. report, she has to show that there is manpower for these tree projects and we just don't have it. Ms. Sullivan stated our one tree still doesn't get trimmed regularly. Chairman Ver Way stated usually the City donates a tree worth over $100. She stated the trees are $50 this year so maybe the City could donate two trees. Ms. Sullivan stated she understands the more the Beautification Committee does, the more Mr. Corder will have to do. Chairman Ver Way suggested then the City should put more money in the budget for manpower. The Committee briefly discussed contracting out for help with the maintenance of the City. Chairman Ver Way feels the Chamber of Commerce could do something to help out. Ms. Sullivan stated they have come forward and stated they would help. Chairman Ver Way feels they could be involved. Ms. Sullivan stated they will have to tell the Chamber of Commerce what to do and if they get the Edgewater Pride Campaign going, they can assign them something. Chairman Ver Way asked about the Beautification & Restoration Award signs. The secretary stated she would look into it. Ms. Sullivan asked Ms. Janda when she would be turning in her resignation. She stated she would turn it into the secretary tomorrow. Ms. Sullivan asked if Ms. Fugate could be approached to see if she would be interested in serving on the Beautification & Tree Committee. She suggested she be contacted. The secretary agreed to look at Ms. Fugate's application she already submitted to the board to see which boards she is interested in. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to contact her and she would contact Ms. Fugate. Page -5- Beautification & Tree Committee March 14, 1995 ,.... .."" ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Sullivan made a motion to adjourn, second by Ms. Ruggles. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Kruckmeyer Page -6- Beautification & Tree Committee March 14, 1995