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01-13-1998 ...... "WJI CITY OF EDGEWATER BEAUTIFICATION & TREE COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 13, 1998 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Parks & Recreation Director Jack Corder 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: Michael Visconti, Michael Tanksley, Eleanor German, and Patrick Conway. Also present was Parks & Recreation Director Jack Corder and Recording Secretary, JoAnn Richard. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Visconti made a motion to approve the December 9, 1997 minutes, second by Mr. Tanksley. The motion CARRIED 4-0. OLD BUSINESS Appoint Chairman and Vice Chairman Mr. Conway nominated Mike Visconti as Chairman, second by Mr. Tanksley. The motion CARRIED 4-0. Mr. Conway nominated Mike Tanksley as Vice Chairman, second by Mr. Visconti. The motion CARRIED 4-0. NEW BUSINESS There was a brief discussion regarding appointing a fifth member to the Committee. Establish Districts - Beautification Award This item was not discussed. Budget discussion - ? Master Plan Rough draft Master Plan - Mr. Tanksley Mr. Tanksley went over the priority list he has created for the Beautification & Tree Committee for 1998. There was some discussion regarding raising money for the Committee. Mr. Tanksley asked why the medians have nothing in them. Mr. Corder explained it is a combination of things. There is no water on u.S. #1. Ms. German asked if it is practical to water with a water truck. Mr. Corder spoke about the heat in the summer and it not being practical. Ms. German hopes emphasis will be given to native Florida plants. Mr. Tanksley informed her that has already been touched on. Mr. Corder went on to explain nothing has been done with the medians on SR 442 due to the road being widened. Everything has been put on hold on Indian River Blvd. Mr. Visconti asked if that is approved already. Mr. Corder stated sometime in February DOT is going to set up a meeting with the public at the Library before the final decision. ..... ....,; The Committee felt they should be at this meeting. Mr. Corder stated when he finds out a definite date he would let them know. Mr. Tanksley asked if it could be assumed if the City had landscaped medians they would not tear them out but if we are thinking about putting them in they would fight us. Mr. Corder feels if they landscape the medians, DOT will rip them out anyway if they go with the plan of all pavement. The option is still open to where there might be some median left down there. There was a brief discussion regarding the size of the medians on Indian River Blvd. being 30 feet wide by 250 feet long. Mr. Conway feels if they can get U.S. #1 straight then they should jump into SR 442. Mr. Conway spoke about DOT controlling SR 442. Mr. Corder stated they need to consider if DOT puts medians in there, they need to work with them because water lines could be put in at a cheaper cost. Mr. Tanksley read the priority list he prepared for 1998. Mr. Visconti felt the list is very good. He feels beautifying U.S. #1 needs to be a priority. He felt by placing an ad in one of the newspapers somehow they could ask for sponsors to adopt a median starting with the north part of Edgewater and going south and do half a mile at a time. He spoke about the medians concaving and when it rains they would get plenty of water that would stay right there. Mr. Visconti spoke about a variety of trees that could be planted in the medians after speaking to someone at Lindley's nursery. Ms. German feels they should emphasize the sabal palm being a state tree. She has got a dozen on a lot she just bought that she could provide. Mr. Visconti feels they need to get groups or individuals who are interested in adopting a median such as the local business, banks and merchants. Mr. Tanksley stated Adopt a Highway is a litter pickup type thing. Would they need to do the planting as well as the maintenance? Mr. Visconti feels if they adopt a median they would pay X-amount of dollars to adopt a median for the initial cost of the trees and shrubs to be put in there. The maintenance would go to parks and recreation. Mr. Conway feels they should go before Council for some money to get started. He spoke about getting the City committed to putting in the water lines, then they could go to the businesses to adopt a median. Mr. Corder spoke about needing more than rain water to get trees established. The first thing to think about with the master plan is getting the City to get water to the medians. If the plants don't have water, they will burn up. Mr. Tanksley feels they need to combine the reuse water lines and master landscaping plan in one plan to present to the Council. He feels they shouldn't waste any money until there is water in the medians. Mr. Conway suggested getting in touch with Terry Wadsworth to ask him to come up with how much it would cost to run a water line from Park Avenue to where it taps in and up to the City line. Page -2- Beautification & Tree Committee January 13, 1998 ...... ,..., Mr. Corder informed Mr. Conway there is no reuse water on u.s. #1. The water currently in the medians is potable water and the water has to be paid for out of his budget. Mr. Conway asked if there is a water line down Riverside Drive. Mr. Corder informed him not reuse. There is no reuse water east of u.s. #1. Everything is potable on U.S. #1. He is currently paying $1,000 a month for the water at Menard and Veterans Parks. Mr. Conway asked about the reuse on the west side. Mr. Corder stated there is reuse water at the Library and from there he wanted to pipe down the canal to u.s. #1 to do the medians down there. Eckerds bought that property and is going to fill in the canal and pipe the canal down through there. Eckerds has included in their plans to run the reuse line from the Library to u.s. #1 for him, then he will be able to tap into the three medians and start extending the reuse water. Mr. Conway feels it is going to take five years before they get reuse water from one end of the City to the other. Mr. Corder feels the first step in the master plan should be asking Council to have the City Engineer and Utilities Department design a plan to install reuse lines on U.s. #1. Mr. Conway would like this pushed ahead even if something temporary is done. Mr. Corder spoke about the Council having to budget extra money to pay for the potable water. Mr. Visconti asked if they decide to plant the trees without water lines at the moment, could they get the Fire Department to use their water truck to water the trees. Mr. Corder stated he would have to ask the Fire Department but in the past they have not been too willing to let us use one of their trucks. Occasionally they may let us use it but probably not on a frequent basis. Mr. visconti would like to use the water truck until the trees are established. There was some discussion regarding the FIND project. Mr. Corder feels the FIND project is probably a year to two years down the road. Mr. Tanksley stated it would be from that source that they would draw the line down to the north city limits. Mr. Corder stated possibly they could use the Gabordy Canal and bring a line under the tracks on the north end. He informed the Committee there is no reuse lines north of Ocean Avenue. Mr. Visconti asked if there are water lines in Port Orange on Dunlawton Avenue from U.S. #1 to 1-95. Mr. Corder stated he didn't know but he could find out. He would guess yes. He knows SR 40 in Ormond Beach does. Mr. Corder spoke about problems they have had with the medians that currently have plants and the water lines being turned off for a week and the plants starting to burn up. Mr. Visconti stated since they are trying to get Edgewater beautified and they keep running into problems with the water, it will be five years down the road before anything gets done. If you wait five years, nothing will get done. Mr. Visconti feels if they are going to get some trees, either they have to get the Fire Department to water or ask the Council for a water truck for the whole city. Mr. Corder feels it would be worthwhile to ask Councilor utilities what the cost to run the water line up U.s. #1 would be. Page -3- Beautification & Tree Committee January 13, 1998 'W" ..., Mr. Tanksley asked if this water could be converted later to the reuse water. Mr. Corder explained the potable water is on U.S.#l now. Eckerds is pulling permits for the building right now so in the next three or four months that reuse water will be on u.s. #1. Then from there, it is a matter of cost and deciding how to jack and bore to the medians and get the line through there. He suggested sending a memo to the City Manager asking for Council's consideration and at the same time talk to Mr. Wadsworth about running the lines up u.s. #1. Mr. Conway suggested sending a memo to the new City Manager asking him if Mr. Visconti could meet with him and present him with the plans the Committee comes up with and explain to him how important it is to get a water line put in. Mr. Corder suggested also sending a memo to Council requesting approval from them that the City Engineer and utilities Director work with the Committee to design a master plan for reuse water on u.S. #1. Mr. Tanksley feels they should first look at trees only with water to get this started. Then they could do shrubs next year. Mr. Corder suggested the Committee watch their selection of trees. He has to make Council aware of sizes of trees that are put in that median because of the liability aspect. Mr. Visconti suggested writing a memo to Mr. Grace inviting him to one of the Beautification & Tree Committee meetings or to meet him at his convenience. Mr. Conway feels every other left turn should be eliminated on u.S. #1 to make the medians larger. Ms. German volunteered to write a letter to the corporate headquarters of Eckerds asking them about the oak tree on property purchased by Eckerds. Mr. Visconti suggested endorsing the letter as a Committee requesting the tree remain and not be taken out. Ms. German asked if anyone has taken into consideration Magnolia trees. She spoke about how fast they grow and how beautiful they get. Mr. Tanksley referred to his priority list pertaining to permitting and removal of trees. Mr. Visconti asked if they should draft a master plan to present to Council. There was a brief discussion regarding the medians on u.S. #1 being different in size. Mr. Tanksley feels they should design an imaginary median showing landscaping, reuse water lines and power in the median. Everything in the medians doesn't have to be done at one time but they do have to have the water lines in there first and DOT working with them on these items. He feels a Garden Club would help a great deal with the maintenance. Mr. Visconti asked if the Committee gets together with DOT or does the City get together with DOT regarding the guidelines for planting trees in the medians on U.S. #1. Mr. Corder informed Mr. Visconti DOT already has the guidelines set up for the Committee to go by. Once whatever plans the Committee has are approved, then from there permitting would have to be obtained from DOT. There was a brief discussion regarding the liability factor for placing trees in the medians. Page -4- Beautification & Tree Committee January 13, 1998 ...... ....", Mr. Tanksley asked how they get a copy of the guidelines from DOT. Mr. Corder informed him he has a copy at his office and agreed to get a copy for the Committee. The Committee briefly discussed starting a Garden Club. Mr. Corder stated once his maintenance building is constructed, he plans on putting a greenhouse area behind it for growing plants. He spoke about cutting costs due to the City growing its own plants. Ms. German has spoken to around twenty people that are interested in serving on a Garden Club. She spoke about Garden Clubs she has joined in the area. She spoke about work done by the Garden Club in New Smyrna Beach. The rest of the Garden Clubs she joined had a social gathering. Mr. Tanksley asked Ms. German how she is reaching the people interested in serving on a Garden Club. She has gone through the Florida Shores Homeowners Association. There was a brief discussion regarding Edgewater having a Garden Club in the past but not being able to get anything accomplished. Mr. Corder mentioned there are projects out there that the Garden Club could benefit from. There was a brief discussion regarding the Florida Shores Homeowners Association. Mr. Tanksley stated he hadn't thought of putting a City Garden Club on the front burner until the Committee could support them. He would like this to be City-wide and not just Florida Shores. Ms. German was planning to have the dues for the Garden Club to be $10 and then $5 if they are a members of the Florida Shores Homeowners Association and have them as a support group. Ms. German also suggested including Oak Hill because to her knowledge they do not have a Garden Club there. Mr. Visconti asked if it would be wise for the whole Committee to attend the Florida Shores Homeowners Association meeting. Ms. German agreed to look into it for possibly in March. She suggested naming it the Florida Shores Garden Club due to Florida Shores being a large portion of the City. Mr. Corder doesn't feel calling it the Florida Shores Garden Club would be a good idea. Ms. German doesn't feel they should call it the Edgewater Garden Club because of the one that went defunct. There was further discussion regarding naming the Garden Club. The Committee then went on to discuss the Committee going on a van tour, noting the best and worst including Beautification Award decisions. Mr. Tanksley suggested also looking at historical trees and placing them on a map. Mr. Visconti spoke about obtaining trees from lots that are being cleared. Mr. Conway spoke about the Committee moving into a small section of the maintenance building when it is built. Ms. German feels one way to get the support of the Florida Shores Homeowners Association is to rent their clubhouse. The Committee discussed a date to go on the van tour. Ms. German would like to get coverage in the newspaper. She feels publicity will help. Page -5- Beautification & Tree Committee January 13, 1998 ,... ~ After much discussion, the Committee decided to go on the van tour on January 27th at 10:00 a.m., meeting at Veterans Park and having a picnic behind the fountain on u.s. #1 after the tour. Mr. Visconti spoke about professional photographers that have taken pictures of the fountain. Ms. German feels the location of the fountain is good due to the people coming in from 1-95. She asked Mr. Corder to place a picnic table behind the fountain before the picnic lunch on the 27th. Mr. Visconti received a phone call from Councilwoman Judy Lichter and she got in touch with Congressman Mica to try to do something with the entrance into Edgewater off of 1-95. The Committee discussed the property where trucks are parking out by 1-95. Mr. Conway suggested maybe people that live in Edgewater that drive tractor trailers are parking them out there because they can't bring them to their homes. The Committee spoke about improvements that have been made at the Florida Shores Truck Center. Mr. Visconti spoke about Councilwoman Lichter being very interested in beautification. Mr. Conway would like to see the Welcome to Edgewater signs replaced. Mr. Visconti feels they should have one coming in from Oak Hill, one coming in from 1-95 and one coming in from New Smyrna Beach. Ms. German suggested the Sabal Palm Garden Club as a name for the Garden Club. Mr. Conway asked about where they would get the signs. Mr. Corder informed him the small metal ones are ordered through Public Works. The Welcome to Edgewater signs on the north and south ends of the City were provided by the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Conway asked if the City has a maintenance department that would be able to make the signs. He has in mind a sign that is 6' X 10' that is very colorful. Mr. Tanksley suggested designing a sign as part of the overall master landscaping plan. The Committee discussed the problems with Riverwalk at the south end. Mr. Corder explained the problem is there is no right-of- way down there. In order for the Riverwalk to be continued, the City would have to start condemnation. The past Council did not want to get into that issue. Mr. Conway asked if New Smyrna Beach was going to put in a Riverwalk. Mr. Corder stated he is not aware of anything. He went on to speak about the Riverwalk crossing the street but there are two areas close where they would be cutting across traffic. That was discussed by a previous Council but they decided against it. There was further discussion regarding problems they have had with extending the Riverwalk to the south end of the city. The Committee went on to discuss a tree protection program for historically important trees. Mr. Tanksley would like to get City Historian JoAnne Sikes involved. Mr. Visconti suggested looking at the trees on their tour. Mr. Tanksley stated he would ask Ms. Sikes to go on the tour. Mr. Visconti feels plaques should also be placed on historical buildings. Mr. Corder spoke about signs Ms. Sikes did place around the City on some historical buildings. Page -6- Beautification & Tree Committee January 13, 1998 .... ..."" Mr. Tanksley elaborated on tree trimming practices. Ms. German spoke about utilities being placed under ground in France. The Committee briefly spoke about the poles that were placed on Indian River Blvd. by Florida Power & Light. Mr. Visconti suggested sending a memo to the utility companies asking them to be careful when trimming trees. Mr. Corder stated he has the names of the company that FP& L uses for tree trimming. He is not pleased with what they have done in front of the cemetery on U.s. #1. Mr. Tanksley mentioned tree removal. Mr. Visconti referred to a memo from Ms. Plaskett which includes Article V - Landscaping of the Code of Ordinances. Mr. Visconti spoke about the beautification being done at Southern RV Center and how trees are being planted and camping sites are being set up with the RV's for sale. Mr. Tanksley spoke about concerns he has heard about sycamore trees being planted. He doesn't feel these trees should be offered for sale in the city. They are not native Florida trees. He feels this would be a great program for the Garden Club to take on. Mr. Corder spoke about a tree that is going to take over the State of Florida. He agreed to bring copies of literature he has regarding this matter to the next meeting. The State is trying to do what it can to eliminate this tree. Mr. Corder suggested getting in touch with Volusia County Agricultural center because they may have literature on the situation regarding the sycamore tree. The Committee briefly discussed free trees that can be obtained from the Ag Center around Arbor Day. Ms. German asked about Tree City U.S.A. Mr. Corder briefly discussed Tree City U.S.A. Mr. Visconti feels they should look for eyesores in the City when they go on their van tour. There was some brief discussion regarding advertising signs on bus stop benches. Mr. visconti feels the Committee should write a letter to whoever is the advertising agent for the benches. Mr. Corder stated Marketing Associates of Daytona Beach. He went on to explain the money collected is designated to Parks and Recreation and is about $3,000 a year. Mr. Visconti doesn't think the idea is to get rid of them but to uniform them. He feels they should be made more attractive. Mr. visconti spoke about R & R Groves being plastered on the benches. He spoke to R & R Groves and the gentleman is willing to give the Committee $10,000 for their next project. Mr. Visconti told him he was going to take him up on that. Mr. Visconti spoke about the conversation he had with the owner of R & R Groves. The Committee spoke about the beautification that has been done to the entrance to R & R Groves. It was mentioned they could stop by R & R during the City tour. Mr. Conway suggested using the $10,000 to get new Welcome to Edgewater signs. Mr. Visconti suggested putting on the sign that it was donated by R & R Groves. Mr. Corder suggested using it for the reclaimed water lines. Mr. Conway feels the City pays enough taxes to get the water line out there. Page -7- Beautification & Tree Committee January 13, 1998 It '-'" ...." Mr. Tanksley feels they need to get something done in terms of drawings. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Mr. Conway made a motion to adjourn, second by Mr. Visconti. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Minutes submitted by Lisa Kruckmeyer Page -8- Beautification & Tree Committee