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05-09-1995 ..... ......, CITY OF EDGEWATER BEAUTIFICATION , TREE COMMITTEE MAY 9, 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 7:10 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room. Members present were: Chairman Felicia Ver Way, Kathleen Spellman, and Linda Sullivan. Connie Newcomb was excused. Sandy Ruggles was absent. Also present was Lisa Kruckmeyer, Recording Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting of April 11, 1995 Ms. Sullivan made a motion to approve the April 11, 1995 minutes, second by Ms. Spellman. The motion CARRIED 3-0. OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business to discuss. Chairman Ver Way spoke about her conversation with Mr. Schapel and Roger Smith from DOT. She informed the Committee she still was not informed of the type of trees the City can put in the medians. Chairman Ver Way informed the Committee she was waiting for a copy of the old and new DOT regulations. There was a discussion regarding every city along u.S. #1 having trees in their medians except Edgewater and the residents expressing concern about this. Chairman Ver Way commented on having a discussion with Council in October. The Committee discussed adjourning for the summer. It was decided they would meet again in September. The Committee discussed attending a meeting with the Council in October and holding the Arbor Day Celebration in November. Ms. Sullivan asked if the city would be upset if there was no longer a Tree City U.S.A. She feels the City can't be considered a Tree City if there aren't any trees being planted. Chairman Ver Way spoke about Mike Akam submitting a bid to Mr. Corder regarding maintaining the medians. Chairman Ver Way asked that a memo be sent to Mrs. Johnson, Assistant utilities Director regarding the water in the medians on u.S. #1 not being reclaimed water. She asked why regular City water is in the medians when it was supposed to be hooked up to reclaimed water. She feels that is a waste of money paying a large water bill when the City is encouraging everyone to use reclaimed water. Ms. Sullivan mentioned the Parks and Recreation Director being apprehensive about using the water due to the high cost. Chairman Ver Way added this is going to undermine future beautification projects. What can be done about this? '-" ...", Chairman Ver Way discussed the article that was sent to Council regarding all the cities being listed except Edgewater regarding beautification. Chairman Ver Way asked for a follow-up on this because the Committee never received an answer. Chairman Ver Way asked that a letter be sent to Ben G. Watts, Secretary of DOT, 605 Swaney Street, Tallahassee FL 30399-0450 asking the kind of trees that can be planted. Chairman Ver Way spoke about a grant proposal she received from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She asked the secretary to send for a grant application packet. NEW BUSINESS: Discussion re: Edgewater Pride Campaign Chairman Ver Way asked that a memo be sent to Philip Fong, Chairman, EDB but she didn't know what she was going to tell him because it is difficult for the Committee at this time to tell him what kind of plans they have in store to help kick off the campaign when all of their projects are at a standstill. Ms. Sullivan spoke about plans of action that have been submitted to Mr. Corder. She suggested giving Mr. Fong a copy of that so he may incorporate that into the Pride campaign. Chairman Ver Way asked that a memo be sent to Mr. Corder asking him to supply the Committee with the list of goals that were given to him. She stated when the list of goals are received she would submit a memo for Mr. Fong. Ms. Sullivan feels they will be able to incorporate the goals into the Pride Campaign because nothing has been done from the list of goals. There was a brief discussion regarding the Committee not campaigning for something if they have no money to do anything. Discuss strategy of presentation for Council There was a discussion regarding the city being self-insured but not for everything, only for small claims. If there were bigger claims involved, the city has insurance with the FLOC. Ms. Sullivan asked if City Attorney Storey had any feelings on the liability regarding the medians. Chairman Ver Way explained she didn't say too much. Ms. Sullivan feels they need to have more information to present to Council regarding the liability as far as the medians being wet and obstructing view. Chairman Ver Way asked the size of the three medians that have been planted. She asked to include in the memo to Mr. Corder what the size of these medians are. Chairman Ver Way suggested inviting Mr. Corder and City Attorney Storey to the September meeting. Ms. Sullivan stated excuses of Mr. Corder and the matters that need to be addressed to the Council are the DOT rules, liability insurance, cost of the water, no manpower, no equipment, and how does this city expect the Committee to do anything with these problems. Page -2- Beautification & Tree Committee May 9, 1995 '-' ..,. Ms. Sullivan spoke about there being no problem with beautifying the front of City Hall or the Riverwalk. Ms. Sullivan stated there is no problem with anything Mr. Corder wants to do but when it is the idea of the Committee there are always excuses. Ms. Sullivan spoke about Ms. Fugate going before Council regarding the retention ponds. She feels if they want anything they need to go before Council every month. Chairman Ver Way stated the Committee has to take the heat from concerned citizens for something that is not the Committee's fault. There was a discussion regarding there being talk and never any action. There was a discussion regarding holding the Arbor Day in the Fall instead of the Spring due to the heat and more people being here in the Fall. Chairman Ver Way feels putting trees in the medians would become an annual Arbor Day event. Ms. Sullivan feels they are acting more like code enforcement. They got the shopping center beautified and took the pictures of the ugly buildings. She feels that is not their job. Ms. Spellman mentioned the clean up of Creative Landscaping being started. Ms. Sullivan stated the Committee will not go further than the plans submitted to Jack due to the fact that those need to be done before they can continue on. Chairman Ver Way stated the only thing that has been accomplished were the replacement of the trees at the Fire station and the additional trees at the Library. Chairman Ver Way expressed concerning regarding not having reclaimed water in the medians. She stated City Attorney Storey informed her the City is at the maximum for the reclaimed water. Ms. Sullivan feels the city should not have to pay premium costs for City water. There was further discussion regarding the difference in cost between City water and reclaimed water. Chairman Ver Way stated when the new political party came in, weren't they told that one of their goals was each member would visit the different boards. Ms. Sullivan commented on the meeting with the EAC and the Council knowing they were having problems back then. Chairman Ver Way asked if a date had been picked for the Board Dinner. The secretary informed her the city Clerk is working on it. May Beautification Award Choice The choices for Zone 4 are: Kathleen - 2804 Royal Palm Drive, Linda - 2730 victory Palm Drive, and Felicia - 2410 willow Oak Drive. There was a discussion regarding a City flower. Page -3- Beautification & Tree Committee May 9, 1995 '-" ...., Chairman Ver Way asked Ms. Spellman if she had the books she received from Cathy Lowenstein to return due to her resignating. The selections were tabulated and the winning residence for Zone 4 was 2730 Victory Palm Drive. Chairman Ver Way spoke about the signs for the Beautification Restoration Awards. There was a brief discussion regarding the criteria for the restoration award and businesses that have been restored. Chairman Ver Way and Ms. Sullivan wished Ms. Spellman good luck. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Sullivan made a motion to adjourn, second by Ms. Spellman. The motion CARRIED 5- O. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Kruckmeyer Page -4- Beautification & Tree Committee May 9, 1995