Loading...
09-12-1995 ...... ,..", CITY OF EDGEWATER BEAUTIFICATION , TREE COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 12, 1995 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL: Chairman Ver Way called the Regular Meeting of the Beautification & Tree Committee to order at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room. Members present were: Chairman Felicia Ver Way, Linda Sullivan, Connie Newcomb and Michael visconti. Also present was Lisa Kruckmeyer, Recording Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of May 9, 1995 Ms. Sullivan made a motion to approve the May 9, 1995 minutes, second by Ms. Newcomb. The motion CARRIED 4-0. OLD BUSINESS: There was no old business to be discussed. NEW BUSINESS: Welcome - Connie Newcomb Welcome - Michael visconti Chairman Ver Way introduced Connie Newcomb and Michael visconti and welcomed them to the Committee. Update of goals for new members Chairman Ver Way showed pictures of the eyesores along U.S. #1. She commented on the eyesores that have been improved. Ms. Sullivan explained these are not only concerns of the Committee. Ms. Ver Way actually got phone calls about a lot of these eyesores asking the Committee for help getting things cleaned up. Chairman Ver Way commented on the medians in Titusville. She spoke about the landscaping in our medians not being designated by the Committee. That was already taken care of before the Committee had anything to say about it. Chairman Ver Way explained a grant was approved last spring for the two medians on the north side of the City limits. That is being held up due to U.S. #1 being widened. Chairman Ver Way commented on the beautification of the fences around the lift stations in Florida Shores. Chairman Ver Way commented on the fountain in the pond at Rotary Park and the other ponds throughout the City that need fountains to aerate the water, give oxygen to the fish and for beautification. She feels these ponds need to be cleaned up and made to look nice. This is still on hold because there is no money for this project and the Committee has to figure out a way to do this on their own. Ms. Sullivan commented on a fountain that was put in a lake on Mango Tree Drive. Mr. visconti commented on the fountain in the lake in Meadow Lake. He suggested the Committee ride through Meadow Lake to see how nice it looks. ~ ~ Ms. Sullivan commented on the trees that were planted between Meadow Lake and Whistle stop Park that have died due to children breaking the trees. Mr. visconti commented on the wetlands behind Meadow Lake. Chairman Ver Way asked Mr. Visconti how he made the fountain in Meadow Lake. Mr. Visconti explained he and another gentleman did it and the fountain cost about $500. Chairman Ver Way commented on the Committee at one time being interested in designating the City as a City of Fountains. Chairman Ver Way commented on the Lake Doctor. The City is paying for him and she doesn't see what he is doing. She suggested getting rid of the Lake Doctor and putting the money into fountains. Ms. Visconti commented on Meadow Lake having Aquamatic coming in once a week to put a chemical around the lake. If it was windy, he couldn't do it and he still got his money. They decided to get rid of him and put the fountain in. Chairman Ver Way feels that is great. Chairman Ver Way questioned the cost to run the fountain. Mr. Visconti explained the Association pays him $30 a month for the electric. According to Florida Power & Light, it is $1 a day to run the fountain. Ms. Sullivan spoke about the grass around the lakes being maintained by Public Works. Ms. Sullivan asked Mr. Visconti which house is his. He informed her 316 pine Breeze Drive. Chairman Ver Way explained the beautification award process to the new members. There was a discussion regarding the Committee being aware of people removing trees without a permit and making sure trees that are removed are replaced. Chairman Ver Way commented on the City being a Tree City U.S.A. and the process for recertification. Chairman Ver Way explained the past Arbor Day Celebrations that have been held by the Beautification & Tree Committee. She informed the Committee the celebration this year would be smaller than in the past due to the length of time is takes to prepare it. Chairman Ver Way spoke about not knowing where to hold the Arbor Day Celebration this year. There was a discussion regarding not being able to put trees in the medians due to the standards of the Department of Transportation, the City being self-insured, there being no curbs around the medians, too many turning lanes, and the speed limit issue. There was a brief discussion regarding all the cities along U.S. #1 except Edgewater having trees in the medians. Ms. Newcomb asked Chairman Ver Way if she had a list of the criteria for the different trees that are acceptable. She was informed there are no trees that meet DOT standards. Ms. Sullivan commented on the other cities putting in the trees they want and then getting them grand fathered in. Page -2- Beautification & Tree Committee September 12, 1995 "'-' """"'" There was a brief discussion regarding the first impression of Edgewater. There was a brief discussion regarding the City being self- insured. Mr. visconti questioned if U.S. #1 is a state road. He was informed this is a state road but it is maintained by the city. There was a discussion regarding there being quality water used to water the plants in the medians. Ms. Sullivan stated they were under the impression from the beginning that reclaimed water was going to be put in the medians. There was a discussion regarding the water in the medians being on during the rain. Chairman Ver Way spoke about a list she received of the cities that recertified as a Tree City u.s. A. and questioned New Smyrna Beach not being listed. In the 1994 Small Business Tree Planting Program Grant recipients, New Smyrna received money to plant trees on non-federal public property. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to contact Cathy Lowenstein to find out when the grant is coming up again for the trees and to please send an application to Chairman Ver Way's attention. Ms. Sullivan spoke about being able to obtain trees from Florida Power & Light. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary if Ms. Janda had returned the books the Committee received from Cathy Lowenstein. The secretary was not sure but would find out. There was a further discussion regarding obtaining trees from Florida Power & Light. Chairman Ver Way stated the Committee was very upset when they received the grant to beautify the medians and no one showed up to help plant the plants. Chairman Ver Way spoke about people taking the plants out of the medians shortly after they were planted. Chairman Ver Way questioned where the money came from for plants to beautify around City Hall. She was informed it was the City Manager's suggestion. The Committee is upset because they can't get any money to beautify but then beautification projects are being done by other people. Chairman Ver Way stated they don't know where to go to get a book on fountains. One of the goals of the Committee is to beautify the strip from U.S.#1 to the river on Indian River Blvd. and put a fountain at that intersection. Mr. visconti informed her there is a company in Port Orange listed in the Pennysaver. There was a discussion regarding the median from U.S. #1 to the river being the only piece of land the City can do with what they want. Chairman Ver Way stated she spoke to Ms. Williams from First Union about trying to obtain money for beautification of that strip. She has to get back to her to find out the outcome. Page -3- Beautification & Tree Committee September 12, 1995 ..... ~. There was a discussion regarding the above mentioned intersection being a good focal point. Chairman Ver Way encouraged the new members to comment on any suggestions they may have about beautification projects. Mr. visconti commented on the area when you come off of 1-95 being a disaster. He suggested asking DOT to beautify that area. Ms. Sullivan stated they did at one time but the trees died due to not being watered and being planted in the middle of the summer. Ms. Sullivan stated maybe they could get help from some of the bigger businesses in Edgewater to help sponsor some beautification projects. Mr. visconti suggested talking to the Chevron people to see about beautifying out by 1-95. Mr. Visconti spoke about the trucks that park on the property next to the Chevron station. Ms. Sullivan stated if DOT wants that to be a park and ride, they should pave it. Chairman Ver Way stated she would speak to Russell smith before the next meeting. Mr. Visconti feels both sides of SR 442 coming into Edgewater need to be maintained. Ms. Sullivan stated that is DOT. There was a brief discussion regarding the widening of SR 442. Ms. Newcomb stated she saw surveyors out by 1-95. Ms. Sullivan commented on the junk that hasn't been cleaned up from the overpass repair. Chairman Ver Way stated maybe they will have to send a letter to Russell smith. Ms. Newcomb stated sometimes when you have something in writing, it's a little more effective. Ms. Newcomb suggested getting each builder, when a piece of property is cleared, to donate one tree to the City to be relocated somewhere in the City where trees are needed. Ms. Sullivan spoke about a project in Tampa where contractors would relocate trees that were removed from cleared property. Chairman Ver Way and Ms. Sullivan commented on the Urban & Forestry seminar they attended. Chairman Ver Way commented on cities smaller than Edgewater doing a wonderful job beautifying due to community participation. Ms. Sullivan stated it was all done by volunteers. Ms. Newcomb spoke about in the city where she came from they used to buy used whiskey barrels and fill them with dirt and flowering plants and they were used to beautify the main street. Each person who had one in front of their business, bought the barrel, which costs around $8. Chairman Ver Way commented on wanting to do an Adopt-A-Tree Program but they can't start that until they can find out what kind of trees they can plant. with the Tree city agreement, the City is supposed to be planting a lot of trees and that isn't being done. Ms. Newcomb suggested putting something newsletter when someone donates a tree. Albuquerque, New Mexico does that. Ms. people like to see their name in print. thought it was $200 for a tree with the in the newspaper or Ms. Sullivan stated Newcomb stated a lot Ms. Sullivan stated plaque. of she Page -4- Beautification & Tree Committee September 12, 1995 ...... "'-' Ms. Sullivan commented on the idea of having a "Green Up Edgewater. " Chairman Ver Way stated you can't get anyone interested to do anything until they see some results. Ms. Sullivan spoke about the meeting with the Chamber of Commerce. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to give each member a copy of the Parks and Recreation Board by-laws. There was a discussion about getting all of the banks to make a donation for beautification. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to send a memo to Philip Fong informing him we still don't have any answers for him yet regarding the Edgewater Pride Campaign. We can't give him any commitments because the Committee doesn't have any o.k. 'so We are only an advisory board. We have to get the o.k. 's from the chain of command. Mr. Visconti asked if the Committee could be placed on the agenda to go before Council. Chairman Ver Way stated when they do go before Council, they have to have their plan of action and they have to know what they are talking about to be prepared for any questions Council may have. Chairman Ver Way suggested inviting them to a meeting. When new Council was voted in, she had invited them to meetings. last time, she was told each Councilmember would visit the Committee at sometime. The only one that came was the Mayor. the This Ms. Sullivan stated beautification is very low on the priority list. We have no money so they don't want to hear from us because when they do, we are asking for money. Anything we do makes more work for the city. Mr. Visconti stated if you invite the Council to a Beautification meeting, there are only five or six people. If the Committee goes before the Council, the public is there. Ms. Newcomb stated you have to meet them on their turf. Ms. Sullivan stated the Committee needs to sit down and come up with a plan and prioritize a list of projects. Ms. Newcomb spoke about the Parks and Recreation Department budget consisting of approximately $660,000. Ms. Sullivan explained that includes everything. Sports come first and most of the money goes to maintaining the fields. Mr. Visconti suggested on a referendum to ask every citizen to donate $1 a year to the Beautification Committee. The Committee thought that was a good idea. Chairman Ver Way commented on the $2 per person per capita yearly clause in the Tree City status for annual tree planting. We don't get that. Ms. Newcomb questioned where that money goes. Ms. Sullivan stated to Parks & Recreation. Mr. Visconti feels the Beautification Committee should get some of the money from Parks and Recreation. Ms. Newcomb questioned being in violation of the Tree City status. Chairman Ver Way informed her that is correct. In this money that is supposed to be appropriated from the City per capita, money can be put towards equipment and maintenance. After that, there is no money left. Ms. Sullivan spoke about the palm tree on U.S. #1 that never gets trimmed. Page -5- Beautification & Tree Committee September 12, 1995 ...... ...,.; There was a discussion regarding the Code Enforcement process being done on a complaint basis. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to send a memo to City Attorney storey asking if they could have the builders donate a tree back to the Beautification Committee once a lot is cleared in conjunction with the Tree City program. Ms. Sullivan suggested including in the memo the $1 per person per year on a referendum to go towards beautification to be placed in an account for the Committee and how they would go about doing that. Chairman Ver Way asked Ms. Newcomb to find out how much it would cost to get plaques for when we put the Adopt-A-Tree Program into effect. Ms. Newcomb agreed to do that. Chairman Ver Way stated we no longer have a Vice Chairman due to Ms. Ruggles resignation. Chairman Ver Way nominated Ms. Sullivan to be the Vice Chairman. Ms. Sullivan accepted the nomination. Ms. Newcomb made a motion to have Ms. Sullivan as the Vice Chairman, second by Mr. Visconti. The motion CARRIED 4-0. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to make some copies of Mr. Visconti's presentation. There was a discussion about putting up a booth at different functions. Ms. Sullivan spoke about figuring out what they would like a Welcome to Edgewater sign to look like and get some prices and go to Council and try to get some donations. Chairman Ver Way thanked the new members for their input. Ms. Newcomb stated people want to live in a nice neighborhood especially with the high taxes we will be paying. Chairman Ver Way stated Edgewater is paying more taxes than Port Orange. There was a discussion regarding the Committee needing one more member. Chairman Ver Way stated they would have one by the next meeting. Chairman Ver Way explained the absenteeism rule for the Committee. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Sullivan made a motion to adjourn, second by Ms. Newcomb. The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Kruckmeyer Page -6- Beautification & Tree Committee September 12, 1995