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09-08-1998 ~ ...., CITY OF EDGEWATER BEAUTIFICATION , TREE COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM MINUTES CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairman Mike visconti called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:18 p.m. Members present were: Chairman Mike Visconti, Mike Tanksley, Patrick Conway, and Terry Webb. Rose Hoffman was excused. Also present were Parks and Recreation Director Jack Corder, Karen Hall, and Recording Secretary Lisa Kruckmeyer. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Reqular Meeting of Auqust 18. 1998 Mr. Tanksley made a motion to approve the August 18, 1998 minutes, second by Mr. Conway. The motion CARRIED 4-0. OLD BUSINESS Discussion re: Future Beautification proiect at Edqewater Cemetery Chairman Visconti stated they just came from a meeting at the Edgewater Cemetery regarding the location of the monument. Mr. Conway feels they know enough about it to take a consensus. Chairman Visconti showed a copy of the monument and a copy of the planting of trees. He read a coupon the Committee could use to collect donations for Camellias. He got the idea from the Bert Fish Buy a Brick project. To run this in the Daily Journal the cost would be $150. If this is ran twice in one week, the second ad would cost $70. Mr. Tanksley feels they should type and proof the coupon. Everyone was in agreement. Ms. Webb does not want her phone number published as shown on the coupon. Ms. Webb questioned if this is for the dead. Chairman Visconti stated it would be for anyone. Ms. Webb would also like this to include birthdays and Mother's Day. Mr. Tanksley feels they should include a sketch of the Memorial Wall on the coupon. ~ ~ Ms. Webb suggested taking the long pictures and using overlays. Mr. Tanksley suggested running this as a press release. Chairman visconti questioned where the placement of the monument would be. Mr. Tanksley stated he asked the Cemetery Association to come back with a drawing of the area where the monument could be placed. They would also need to negotiate a lease with them. Mr. Corder stated they also said that space would some day be used too so they have to watch how they set this up. Ms. Webb the road people. Cemetery feels the Memorial Wall should be placed closer to and that it would best suit a majority of the She feels people may be intimated to come up on the property and drive through. Mr. Tanksley suggested placing signs identifying the grave of John Milton Hawks and direction arrows. He asked about putting a white picket fence with a plaque around John Hawks grave and was told there would be no restrictions and the Committee could do that. Mr. Tanksley feels they should do a visual presentation to the Council. Mr. Corder stated he missed the first meeting and asked if the Cemetery would be donating the wall. Chairman visconti stated the City would be doing the wall. The City would put the foundation in and the Cemetery would be willing to take a deposit of half of what the monument will cost. Chairman Visconti questioned if the Council would approve this. Mr. Corder informed the Committee they need to have facts and figures, including who will be doing the maintenance. Chairman Visconti stated the Cemetery would be doing the maintenance. Mr. Corder questioned how much would be charged for engraving the letters. Mr. Tanksley informed him the individual buying it for their family would be paying for it. He stated Mr. Letter suggested pre-selling the wall to a Veterans' organization or group that would want to go in on this with the Committee. The secretary informed Mr. Corder the charge is $1.50 per letter and $4 per letter for the larger letters. Mr. Corder asked if this would be included in the price of the Camellia. Chairman Visconti informed him that is correct. Page -2- Beautification & Tree Committee September 8, 1998 '-" ""'" The secretary cautioned the Committee to make sure the engraving isn't going to cost more than the donation because at $1.50 per letter the cost adds up fast. Chairman visconti stated the cost of the Camellia is $15. Ms. Webb feels they should also accept smaller donations which could be used towards perennials. For $10 or $25, they could be given a frame with a picture of the flower in it and a thank you card. For a $50 donation, they could be given a plaque framed. Anywhere between $100 and $200, they could have a name sandblasted in stone. The secretary questioned if $200 would discourage people. Ms. Webb stated it did her when she went to New Smyrna Beach. Their minimum donation would be $250. Mr. Tanksley read a portion of previous minutes describing how the donations could be done. Ms. Webb feels anyone interested could purchase a tree and pay separately for the lettering. Mr. Tanksley feels they need to present options. Mr. Corder feels they need to specify the type of tree. They don't want to mix and match. Mr. Tanksley fears if they don't present a package, people would bring in their own trees asking the Committee to plant it. Mr. Corder thought the design was to purchase the Camellia with the name to be put on the wall instead of on the tree. Mr. visconti informed him Mr. Harmon is willing to put a small aluminum tag on the tree with the person's name on it. Ms. Webb feels they should make a list of the donations and what is included. with the smaller donations, they could use these for perennials in the medians. There was further discussion regarding what to include on the coupon. Mr. Corder questioned if the Cemetery is going to want to do maintenance on the plants purchased with the $10 donations. Ms. Webb feels they could use these in the medians. Mr. Corder questioned which medians because that would involve him as far as maintenance. He questioned how soon people would be expecting to see these plants in the medians. He feels this would be a problem. Ms. Webb questioned if the donations would be for general beautification for Edgewater or strictly limited to the Cemetery. Chairman visconti stated the original idea was to beautify the medians. Page -3- Beautification & Tree Committee September 8, 1998 ,." ..." Mr. Conway feels a contractor should do the maintenance. Chairman Visconti stated it depends on the prices for a contractor. Right now Mr. Corder is saying his department is taking care of that. Mr. Corder would like to see maintenance done outside because as they beautify more medians, he won't have the personnel to handle it. Mr. Tanksley stated the Camellia Society offered to do planting and maintenance but he is concerned with this being a legal issue. He feels Council will as well. Ms. Webb suggested doing Adopt-A-Median. Chairman Visconti stated he is already doing this. He has spoken to Burger King, PUblix, and Sea Pines. Paradise Associates owns Edgewater Commons and would have to be involved. Mr. Corder feels they need to stipulate who will do the maintenance and will they just purchase the plants and the City do the maintenance. He informed the Committee they need to figure out how to handle this. Mr. Conway feels the South Causeway looks beautiful. The former City Manager had said they would get an outside contractor to do maintenance. Mr. Tanksley feels the maintenance could be a future Garden Club's responsibility. Mr. Corder spoke about the liability on the medians and a City employee in Titusville who was killed in a median a couple of months ago. Ms. Webb feels they should contract one guy who already has insurance and knows about gardening and fertilizing. Mr. Corder informed the Committee the maintenance for the two medians at the north end of the City will be maintained through his department. Mr. Conway feels once it is started, people will come forward. He feels the monument will be beautiful and they should let the people see what the Committee wants to do. Chairman Visconti stated the Committee's budget falls under Parks and Recreation. So much is set aside for beautification. He feels the amount is so small and that more money should be put in the budget for beautification. If they allow the Committee $15,000 a year, they could use that. Ms. Webb feels this is where the $10 donations received would come in. Page -4- Beautification & Tree Committee September 8, 1998 ---- ...", There was some discussion regarding matching grants. Mr. Corder stated past Councils and City Managers have said there is no money available. If he started plans now for a grant, it would be the year 2000 before they could even get started. Chairman Visconti questioned if they would be able to use the $21,000 while they are waiting for the grant for something else. Mr. Corder informed him no, DOT has a xeriscaping grant style. With the plants they are using now, they would not qualify because they don't have enough points built up. Mr. Conway spoke of a bill passed by the federal government. There are billions of dollars for roads including money for beautification. Mr. Corder explained grants are trickled down through the states. Mr. Conway feels someone has to get this started. That is why there is nothing here now because nobody went out there and started it. Chairman Visconti suggested going to each merchant. Ms. Webb agreed to do this. Chairman Visconti asked about getting identification. Ms. Webb again agreed to go door- to-door. Mr. Corder advised the Committee to check the ordinance on soliciting. Ms. Webb suggested putting the information in mailboxes. Mr. Conway feels they should get a commitment and when ready to start, they could then send the bill. Mr. Tanksley asked for a motion for Ms. Webb to proceed with the graphic presentation and written press release to bring before Council for their approval before it is released and to notify the general public. Ms. Webb questioned if the Committee has a bank account. Mr. Corder explained to her the check would be made out to the City of Edgewater. Mr. Tanksley suggested setting up an account for the Memorial Wall. Mr. Corder informed the Committee they would have to request that Council set up a special fund for the money donated to be used for what the Committee is designating it for. Mr. Tanksley feels this should be strictly designated for the Wall. Ms. Webb suggested putting the coupon in the pennysaver or Daily Journal. Chairman Visconti questioned if they have the money. The secretary suggested putting it in the City newsletter. Mr. Tanksley suggested putting a notice on the back of the utility bill. He also feels they would need to have the account established before publishing the coupon. Page -5- Beautification & Tree Committee September 8, 1998 .... ,...., Mr. Corder informed the Committee the check would be made out to the City of Edgewater. Ms. Webb suggested setting up a trust account. Mr. Corder informed her past practices have been that Council includes a line item reserve account but everything is made out to the City of Edgewater. Chairman Visconti suggested the money go to the Parks and Recreation Committee in care of Beautification & Tree Committee. Mr. Corder explained Council would still have to set up an account. Mr. Conway feels this is not something new and every city has a form to do this with. Mr. Corder stated people would be returning paperwork with it so they would know where the money would go. Discussion re: Presentation of Beautification Award Chairman Visconti stated he doesn't mind presenting the award but would like the other members to take turns. Ms. Webb feels they should team up for that anyway. Chairman Visconti would rather share this with the whole Committee or have the whole Committee present for the picture. Mr. Tanksley has no problem with the way it is being done. Ms. Webb feels before their meeting on Tuesday night, they should present the award. The secretary informed the Committee this also has to be set up with the press. Chairman Visconti feels they should leave it the way it is. If Mr. Visconti can't make it, he could call another member that way they would be guaranteed to have someone there. Chairman Visconti stated he enjoys meeting the people. The Committee agreed to leave it the way it is. Beautification Award - District 3 & District 4 Mr. Tanksley questioned if the address of 2229 Vista Palm Drive is supposed to be 2225 Victory Palm Drive. After tabulating the choices, 2229 Vista Palm Drive was the winner of the award for District 3. The winner for District 4 was 3304 Queen Palm Drive. The secretary informed Mr. Tanksley at 328 N. Ridgewood Avenue is Tenchi Machinery. He had previously inquired. The choices for the Business Award are: Palm Auto Wash - Mike Visconti pomerroy Shopping Plaza - Mike Tanksley Dr. Lester's Office - Ms. Webb Page -6- Beautification & Tree Committee September 8, 1998 ..... ." Ms. Webb stated you really can't see how nice Dr. Lester's is unless you go inside. There are waterfalls and bird feeders in the back. NEW BUSINESS There was no new business to discuss. MISCELLANEOUS Karen Hall, representative for Edgewater on the Volusia Growth Management Commission, brought in information on what they do. Ms. Hall asked the Committee to close their eyes and picture a village. Each member described what their village looked like. She passed out information and guidelines for the 'Village.' She stated Lake Eola has planned their City similar to the Village concept. Ms. Hall further spoke of the Village concept. She spoke about the community coming together during the fires. She went on to discuss the layout of the Village. Chairman Visconti spoke of Edgewater being limited. Ms. Hall feels the City Planners need to start thinking ahead to what Edgewater is going to need. The population has tripled since she has been here. Chairman visconti spoke about SR 442 going out to 415 and 14. This is on DOT's agenda for the year 2014. Ms. Hall commented on Edgewater having no escape routes, as they found out during the fires. She didn't know who to address this to. Chairman Visconti spoke of trying to beautify Edgewater for four years, but there is either no money available or not enough help to do the maintenance. Mr. Conway feels the city needs to purchase lots in Florida Shores for the children to play on. Now is the time to buy some of these lots. Ms. Hall feels they need to think about future generations so grandchildren have a nice place to live. She also feels the children need more activities. Page -7- Beautification & Tree Committee September 8, 1998 .... ..."". Mr. Corder spoke about having a major park across from Indian River Elementary and getting ready to start a major park by Edgewater Elementary. They are trying to be where the kids are. The schools are there but the usage of them is not practical. Council is going to decide if the park is going to be operated by City staff or bring the YMCA into the area. Hopefully Thursday night, they will make the decision on what level of service they want to provide to the Community. Ms. Webb feels they need a civic center for kids. Mr. Corder feels they need a facility where the kids can go and hang out. Ms. Hall feels Edgewater is going to need a middle school and eventually a high school. Mr. Tanksley would like to see Ms. Hall present her idea to Council after the budget is done. Ms. Hall would like to do that because she thinks they could make the decision. Mr. Tanksley showed Ms. Hall a drawing of a V1S1on of SR 442 and the beautification around the power poles. Ms. Hall stated she was told the power on one line is too high a voltage to put underground. Mr. Corder stated the City was told it is too much money to put underground. There was some discsussion regarding putting the utilities underground with the widening of SR 442. Mr. Corder stated the poles could have been put down 18th street but the Council at the time refused because the residents in that area complained to Council. The cost to put the utilities underground is approximately $2 million. Mr. Tanksley spoke about working with Councilwoman Lichter regarding doing murals in the City depicting historical Edgewater. He will make a brief talk Thursday at the Council meeting and wanted to make sure the Committee is supportive of this. Everyone was in agreement. Ms. Hall feels history needs to be pushed in Edgewater and that they need to preserve what we have. Chairman Visconti thanked Ms. Hall for coming. ADJOORNMENT There being no further business to discuss, Ms. Webb moved to adjourn, second by Ms. Tanksley. The meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Minutes submitted by: Lisa Kruckmeyer Page -8- Beautification & Tree Committee September 8, 1998