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04-09-1996 ~ ~ CITY OF EDGEWATER BEAUTIFICATION & TREE COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING APRIL 9, 1996 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 7:12 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room. Members present were: Chairman Felicia Ver Way, Michael Visconti, and Gail Wells. Linda Sullivan arrived at 7:13 p.m. Also present was Lisa Kruckmeyer, Recording Secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Re9ular Meetin9 of March 12, 1996 Mr. Visconti made a motion to approve the March 12, 1996 minutes, second by Ms. Wells. The motion CARRIED 3-0. OLD BUSINESS: Report - Mike Visconti - Fountain Update Mr. Visconti commented on his meeting with Mr. Frazier from Coronado Paint. He explained all of the top people working for Coronado were out of town but Mr. Frazier would present this to them when they return. Mr. Visconti informed the Commi~tee he would have another meeting next week to find out the outcome. Ms. Wells spoke about a fountain she saw in Spring Hill. She felt maybe it would be cheaper to have one like they have. Mr. Visconti presented a breakdown of the cost for the fountain. Ms. Wells commented on the response she got from her neighbors when she mentioned the fountain to them. There was a discussion regarding needing to clean up before doing any beautification. Ms. Wells feels they need to go before the Council and find out if they want beautification. Chairman Ver Way informed Ms. Wells they need to have a master plan before they can go before the Council. There was a discussion regarding the poor turnout when they planted the plants in the medians. The Committee discussed the fountain being a focal point in the City and branching off from that. Ms. Sullivan feels the medians look putrid, pathetic and are an embarassment. Ms. Wells feels they should have put wildflowers in the medians. Ms. Sullivan commented on a workshop they attended for advisory boards. There was a discussion regarding needing to have a master plan before going to Council. The Committee discussed the eyesores that have been condemned in the City. Ms. Sullivan questioned how petunias were put down the Riverwalk when the medians looks so bad. ~ ..""" Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to send a memo to Brenda Johnson regarding the status of the reclaimed water extensions. Mr. Visconti commented on an article in the newspaper pertaining to money New Smyrna Beach has collected toward one of their beautification projects and a grant they received from the DOT. There was further discussion regarding the grants through DOT and the grants requiring matching funds. The Committee discussed the cost of the grant that was obtained to beautify the three medians at the intersection of u.S. #1 and Indian River Blvd. The Committee spoke about the appearance of the medians and the overall appearance of the City with the eyesores being condemned. Mr. Visconti feels they need to go before Council and find out if they want beautification. If they don't want it, they should disband the Committee. Ms. Wells spoke about how nice the medians look in New Smyrna and she feels Edgewater doesn't need as much as they have. The Committee feels the City needs someone who has a background in horticulture. Chairman Ver Way informed the Committee she got a list of the trees from DOT that can be planted in the medians. She spoke on the problems with planting trees in the existing medians due to the cost of the high quality water that is already in the medians that have been planted. Ms. Sullivan feels the appearance of the medians needs to be addressed. Mr. Visconti spoke about putting a gazebo between u.S. #1 and Riverside Drive. Chairman Ver Way informed him they already thought about that but they were told it would obstruct traffic. There was a discussion regarding the lack of interest from the Council as far as beautifying Edgewater. The Committee discussed getting outside help for maintenance of the medians if there aren't enough people working for the City to do it. Chairman Ver Way made a presentation regarding a bike path down Indian River Blvd. This is not allowed per DOT because mulch is hazardous. The Committee further discussed the bike path and the widening of Indian River Blvd. being done in 1999. Chairman Ver Way informed the Committee she spoke to DOT about the building out by 1-95. Ms. Wells feels City Manager McMahon should be obtaining grants for the City. The Committee further discussed where to go to obtain funds for the fountain project. Ms. Sullivan feels they could still go to Boston Whaler even if they aren't located in the city. Chairman Ver Way suggested going to WACO. Mr. Visconti suggested getting a TV from a local appliance company and raffling it off. Ms. Wells doesn't feel enough money would be raised to purchase the fountain. Ms. Wells spoke about a friend of hers that raises $18,000 a year in the town where she used to live to benefit the community. Page -2- Beautification & Tree Committee April 9, 1996 . ~ ....", The Committee discussed placing canisters around the City to collect money for beautification. Ms. Sullivan feels the money should be collected for beautification in general, not just individual projects and then the Committee could use the money for whatever they want. There was a brief discussion regarding businesses adopting the medians in front of their business. Ms. Wells feels before the people are going to give money, a commitment is needed from the City. Ms. Sullivan doesn't understand why the Committee has to ask to get the medians cleaned up but the Riverwalk and City Hall are automatically taken care of. Discussion - Beautification Restoration Signs Chairman Ver Way informed the Committee they need to decide what to do about the beautification restoration signs. Mr. Visconti agreed to make the signs. The Committee discussed a design for the sign. Ms. Wells questioned why they haven't done the beautification awards. Chairman Ver Way informed her the Committee hasn't been secure enough up to this point to where they could start doing the awards again but assured her they would be doing it again soon. Chairman Ver Way asked the secretary to send a memo to the Mayor asking him for the map he feels the Committee should have to keep track of the trees. There was a discussion regarding getting updated maps so the Committee could create new beautification zones. The Committee decided writing out the boundaries of each zone would be a good idea. Chairman Ver Way briefed Ms. Wells on the beautification award process. Ms. Wells spoke about her elderly neighbor who has a very nice house and takes real good care of her property. Chairman Ver Way showed the Committee the award the City received for being a Tree City U.S.A. for five years. She feels the award should be on the counter in the lobby of City Hall. Ms. Sullivan suggested taking the award with them to a Council meeting. Mr. Visconti asked the secretary to get a wood base to put underneath it and get the Committee members names put on it. Ms. Sullivan thought using a real piece of wood with the bark still on it would be neat. Summer Recess Chairman Ver Way asked the Committee if they wanted to recess for the summer for the months of June, July and August. The Committee discussed going before Council before they recess for the summer. Chairman Ver Way informed the Committee she would not be at the May meeting and would not be back by the May 20th Council meeting. The Committee discussed what their presentation before Council will include. Ms. Sullivan made a motion to recess for the summer, second by Mr. Visconti. The motion CARRIED 4-0. Page -3- Beautification & Tree Committee April 9, 1996 9' ..... ..., Open Discussion Chairman Ver Way informed the Committee of the response from Ms. Plaskett regarding property at 2119 S. Ridgewood Ave. Chairman Ver Way asked if the tree that fell at the model home built by Progressive Homes on U.S. #1 had been replanted. Mr. Visconti informed her that home is owned by Kevin McDonald who is the owner of Progressive Homes. Ms. Wells questioned what is going on with the ordinance pertaining to outside storage of vehicles. The secretary informed Ms. Wells the final reading went before Council at their last meeting. Chairman Ver Way informed the Committee of the following eyesores: 107 E. Park Avenue, vacant house west of U.S. #1 across from Park Plaza, vacant large gray building across from Florida Homes and Land where the weeds have grown up, and Wayne's World, 1501 S. Ridgewood Ave. The Committee discussed a trailer park on U.S. #1 that is for sale or lease. Ms. Wells commented on wanting to find out the status of the ordinance pertaining to outside storage of vehicles. The Committee discussed Code Enforcement being done on a complaint basis. The secretary informed them they are now patrolling again. Chairman Ver Way feels they are doing a very good job getting eyesores cleaned up. Chairman Ver Way spoke about a phone call she received regarding the backyard of a house at 3203 Vista Palm Drive. She asked to include this in the memo to Code Enforcement regarding the eyesores. ADJOURNMENT: There begin no further business to discuss, Ms. Sullivan made a motion to adjourn, second by Mr. Visconti. The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Kruckmeyer Page -4- Beautification & Tree Committee April 9, 1996