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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007 03 14 Beautification of Winter Springs Board Regular Minutes CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICA TION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING MARCH 14,2007 CALL TO ORDER The Beautification of Winter Springs Board Regular Meeting of Wednesday, March 14, 2007, was called to Order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairperson Alice Bard in the Commission Chambers of the Municipal Building (City Hall, 1126 East State Road 434, Winter Springs, Florida 32708). Roll Call: Chairperson Alice Bard, present Vice Chairperson Lorry Roero, present Board Member Ethel Beecher, present Board Member Larry Chmura, present Board Member J oAnn Mattie, present Board Member Denise Ritchey, absent The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Chairperson Bard. PUBLIC INPUT No one spoke. AWARDS AND PRESENTATIONS AWARDS AND PRESENT A TIONS 100. Not Used. PUBLIC HEARINGS AGENDA PUBLIC HEARINGS 200. Not Used. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 14,2007 PAGE 2 OF 10 REGULAR AGENDA REGULAR 300. Community Development Department - Urban Beautification Services Division Update On Arbor Day 2007. Mr. Mike Mingea, Arborist/Environmental Inspector, Community Development Department handed out a Flyer/Survey from the Parks and Recreation Department and asked that it be completed and returned to him as soon as possible. This Agenda Item was addressed by Mr. Mingea. Regarding the Arbor Day 2007 Proclamation, Mr. Mingea said, "We'd like to have the Mayor sign them - maybe if the Office - of the City Clerk could assist on to that." City Clerk Andrea Lorenzo-Luaces replied, "We're working on it." Regarding Board Member Denise Ritchey's father, City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces said, "I'll try to find out and if you'd like, if I - get anything, we'll let you know just in case you wanted to attend. But I had mentioned that we would send a card on behalf of the Commission and this Board." Discussion ensued on Arbor Day Event scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2007. Board Member Mattie said, "What time should we be here?" Mr. Mingea replied, "As far as for the class activities - I would say that if you're here maybe 8:30 [a.m.] or so, no later than a quarter to 9:00 [a.m.]." Regarding the free give-away items, Mr. Mingea commented, "For the public that simply wishes to drive away, that's - Winged Elm - Red Bud - and Southern Red Cedar, and Sand Live Oak." Discussion. Chairperson Bard asked, "Will there be opportunities like last year - to have the [St. John's River] Water Management District provide us - with those "Water Wise [Florida Landscapes"] booklets? Is that something we want to do?" Chairperson Bard continued, "I was not thinking about necessarily having them here; but, for instance, if we would to find out, either you, or me, or whoever, that they could give us - 'x' number of "Water Wise [Florida Landscapes"] booklets to have here that the people could take." Mr. Mingea commented, "If someone is willing to obtain those items, I have no objections. There'll be a place for availability." Chairperson Bard said, "I will call and see if I can roust anybody." Discussion continued. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 14,2007 PAGE 3 OF 10 Board Member Beecher said, "Point of clarification. From what you said this evening, you are not going to give certificates for them to take to a nursery, the ones that come to class; they are going to get a tree here?" Mr. Mingea replied, "We have yet to get a cooperative nursery that wants to front that cost." Mr. Mingea continued, "So, we finally just said, okay, we'll just get some trees and whatever may not be given away at that point, we've got a place to plant them anyway." Regarding assisting those in need of help with the give-away trees, Mr. Mingea commented, "If they absolutely can't - handle it, we'll make some kind of a delivery arrangement with myself or Staff." Mr. Mingea continued, "We'll be glad to take care of it with Staff if we've got some limited deliveries and somebody proves to us, absolutely, they couldn't pick up the twenty (20) pound tree and place it into their car. We'll make arrangements and get it there." Discussion. Regarding a presentation, Chairperson Bard asked, "I would assume I need to drop that, Andrea (City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces), off - the day before, at least, of the CD (compact disk) with my program?" City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces replied, "Yes, ma'am." Mr. Mingea commented, "And I believe that Mr. Richart already has all the items that has been sent over for Shawn Gallagher (Seminole and Brevard County Forester, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Forestry) as far as his, and we can get that to you." Mr. Mingea said, "And I'll have to ask Ms. [Darcy] Meagher (President, A Budget Tree Service, Inc.) about hers. I know she has a PowerPoint and has various other stuff - she could also get that in advance." Continuing the discussion on those in need of help with the give-away trees, Mr. Mingea commented, "And for those that don't have any availability for it, we can take their information, address, and make a type of delivery." Chairperson Bard inquired, "How many trees are there for the free give-away?" Mr. Mingea responded, "For the little - we have 350." Board Member Beecher then asked, "How many of the large trees do you have, seven (7) gallon?" Mr. Mingea replied, "Currently, I have a hundred and fifty (150)." Further discussion. Regarding South Seminole Farms, Board Member Beecher said, "Just a point of information about him." Board Member Beecher continued, "Any extra pots that you have - when you get plants and you have all those things, you can just bring them if they are open or dump them by their gate." Board Member Mattie said, "That is good to know." Discussion ensued on the Arbor Day Event. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 14,2007 PAGE 4 OF 10 Mr. Mingea said to City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces regarding sign-up sheets for the class, "Unless it went to some other division, and I'm certain that if other stuff comes in -let us know. " Board Member Beecher said, "I have been telling people we are having clinics on pruning and planting the right tree..." Chairperson Bard commented, "...That's essentially what this is." Regarding what Shawn Gallagher would be presenting in his presentation, Chairperson Bard said, "Discussing the importance of urban forestry to the City." Discussion continued. Tape l/Side B Furthermore, regarding the Arbor Day Event, Chairperson Bard commented. "We'll have it as a future agenda item for next meeting so we can talk about - what could we do better - would we want to do it again, what would we do differently, etc." Board Member Mattie asked, "Do you think that - we could have a suggestion box so that when the people leave from this presentation, they might have some suggestions for us?" Mr. Mingea said, "We have one (I) - step a little bit beyond that; we were thinking about actually writing out - just a few check offs. Yes; no; good; bad..." Chairperson Bard said, "... Was this useful? Did it suit your needs?" Board Member Mattie commented, "So, hopefully there will be a place on there that they could write something if they would like to." Mr. Mingea said, "But we're going to try to present something in a fairly simple format." Board Member Mattie asked, "But they can write in?" Mr. Mingea replied, "Whatever you want." Further discussion. Regarding putting Events such as our Arbor Day event on the Website, Chairperson Bard said, "Maybe that could be something that we recommend in future years to have a quick link or something on the home page." Board Member Mattie asked, "Can they have it on the Website and have a quick reference saying 'Events' and then you could click on that and then there'd be a list of different events coming up. Or a calendar would be best." City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces replied, "There is a calendar, but again, it's not right there. It's not a quick click - but we'll certainly bring that up." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 14,2007 PAGE 5 OF 10 REGULAR 301. Community Development Department - Urban Beautification Services Division Discussion Of The Arbor Ordinance 2003-22. Regarding Ordinance 2003-22, Chairperson Bard said, "I definitely want to have it on the agenda for next month so I have a little bit more time to disgust it." Discussion ensued on the Arbor Ordinance and specifically 'DBH' (diameter of trunk at breast height). Chairperson Bard said, "So, we may want to discuss at some point getting rid of 'caliper' as a measurement." Discussion. Chairperson Bard said, "So, that will be something that we'll have to discuss in here, how to kind of clean up some of that language so it's consistent throughout." Further discussion. Board Member Beecher commented, "And there's something in the next section '{sU'jt said, 'Copy of a contractor's Occupational License'. - They are not using that term now. Aren't they saying 'Business License'?" Mr. Mingea commented, "What you're referring to is Contractor's License required. That's 5-4. '{sU"'Board Member Beecher said, "Page 8 of 24." Chairperson Bard said, "Item '{sU"'. Mr. Mingea continued, "The question that you're asking involves not just the City of Winter Springs, but through the State of Florida - best as I recall, they have changed payments of a process that used to be referred to as an Occupational License. Through the State's great wisdom, and realizing in construction industries that there were some conflicts in that, they didn't want to misrepresent the people; that somebody that was doing certain degrees of work, was a qualified, trained, skilled professional, whom had licensure. And they had been misusing this as a means as Contractors to defraud the public for many long years." Mr. Mingea continued, "They changed that over to what's referred to as a Business Tax. And business taxes are for those whom just simply pay for privilege." Discussion ensued on the Arbor Ordinance. Mr. Mingea said, "Where it says "proof of Liability" Insurance, it needs to be proof of tree form of Liability Insurance." Regarding Insurance problems with some Landscape Contractors, Chairperson Bard said, "That's going to be one of those things I think we'll have to make our best stab at and then it's going to have to go through the City Attorney anyways." Mr. Mingea commented, "I think all of it should." Chairperson Bard continued, "But that specifically, I am sure he's going to want to look at a lot more closely than some of the other parts of it." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 14,2007 PAGE 6 OF 10 Regarding the part of the Ordinance on page 2 of 24, item (b), Board Member Beecher commented, "In my humble opinion, I think - about parts of this Ordinance, that they're intrusive into the private homeowner." Discussion. Regarding Landscape companies not removing plants correctly, Chairperson Bard said, "So, what you're saying is that is something we should look to addressing in the Arbor Ordinance?" Chairperson Bard continued, "So, maybe look to potentially addressing that." Regarding such issues with Landscape companies, Chairperson Bard said, "So, we may need to look to shore that up." Mr. Mingea commented, "Maybe want to be further well defined." Continuing the discussion on the Arbor Ordinance, Chairperson Bard said, "So, that will be something for us to check on - Provisions against incidental damages." Chairperson Bard asked, "Wouldn't some of this potentially be covered though if we had a provision that - and I may not have gotten to that, but to say that - additional permits for work in - 'natural communities - may be required by St. Johns River Water Management District or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the homeowner needs to look into getting those'." Mr. Mingea replied, "And the City of Winter Springs," Chairperson Bard continued, "So, I was just jotting that down earlier as something we want to address." Chairperson Bard commented, "Yes, I was already considering I would want to have a provision added to address that." Discussion. Chairperson Bard said, "We'll just get this as tight as we possibly can to where we are as happy with it as we possibly are, but remember too, that it will be a work in progress. We may come back a year, two (2) years, whatever from now, and probably want to make some changes. So, we will certainly shoot for making it the best that we possibly can." Further Discussion. Tape 2/Side A CONSENT AGENDA CONSENT 400. Office Of The City Clerk Approval Of January 10,2007 Regular Meeting Minutes. Board Member Mattie commented, "My name is spelled wrong and they might want to take the 'e' off of my first name," City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces replied, "We apologize for that; we'll take care of that." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 14,2007 PAGE 7 OF 10 "MOTION TO APPROVE." MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER MATTIE. SECONDED BY VICE CHAIRPERSON ROERO. DISCUSSION. VOTE: BOARD MEMBER CHMURA: AYE BOARD MEMBER BEECHER: AYE VICE CHAIRPERSON ROERO: AYE BOARD MEMBER MATTIE: AYE CHAIRPERSON BARD: AYE MOTION CARRIED. INFORMATIONAL AGENDA INFORMATIONAL 500. Not Used. 600. REPORTS Board Member Beecher mentioned the recently appointed new Beautification of Winter Springs Board Member, Roberto Carlos Acevedo, Furthermore, regarding Mr. Acevedo, City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces said, "He is interested in assisting possibly with Arbor Day. So, we're going to get Mr. Mingea and Mr. Richart, (Urban Beautification Services Division Manager, Community Development Department) to get in touch with him." Chairperson Bard stated, "Mr. Richart is not here, so 1 guess 1 can always pose to him, through the Meeting Minutes, the VillageWalk landscaping that was done, just somehow to me doesn't look as good, as it did when it was first installed. It maybe looks like there's less material. It's less diverse and 1 was just kind of wondering what had happened. What was going on and hoping he (Steve Richart) might be able to give us an update. " Board Member Mattie asked, "Are we trying to cultivate the use of Florida native plants within the City?" Board Member Beecher replied, "Yes." Chairperson Bard said, "Yes." Board Member Mattie commented, "I was just wondering if we all could think about how we could encourage the residents on the use of native plants in their yard by possibly having some kind of an award or a picture of their yard in the newsletter or something to encourage them to show an interest - and then the person that does, gets - a dinner out or some kind of award or something. It is just food for thought as to how we can go about encouraging the people that live in our community to show more interest in native plants and planting them in their yard." Chairperson Bard said, "I am jotting that down as a future Agenda Item for next month." Chairperson Bard commented, "I think - it has got promise - and 1 would like to have it as something that we all could sit down and brainstorm ideas. How would we make this happen?" CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 14,2007 PAGE 8 OF 10 City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces mentioned a conflict with next month's Beautification of Winter Springs Board Regular Meeting and a City Commission Workshop being held in the Commission Chambers discussion ensued. With agreement from the Beautification of Winter Springs Board Members, City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces said, "So, we'll go ahead and keep it on for the [April] Illh, [2007], it's just that it will be in - the Conference Room." Further discussion followed on changing Meeting dates, and where Advisory Board and Committee Meetings are usually held. Discussion. Board Member Mattie mentioned "Deersong - the Deersong that backs up to [State Road] 419, to me it needs something there. It looks so barren and shabby and it is part of the entrance to Winter Springs." Board Member Beecher said, "That was on our priority list." Board Member Mattie then pointed out, "Is the area right by the fencing and the wall of Deersong, that is City property or is that State property - I think we need to find that out. Because, maybe we can't plant the plants close to the street, but, maybe we can plant some trees closer to the wall." Chairperson Bard asked, "Do we want to bring up as a future Agenda Item for the next Meeting, and we mayor may not get to it, depending on how far along we get on the Arbor Ordinance, discussion of the priority list?" Board Member Beecher said, "Yes, revisit - that priority list." Board Member Mattie said, "Yes, we need to." Advisory Board Member Mattie commented, "I think we ought to start working on the areas that more people see, not areas that are so remote that only a few people in the neighborhood see." Vice Chairperson Roero said, "That is true." Board Member Mattie continued, "It should be where most people driving through Winter Springs on the main roadways sees it." Chairperson Bard remarked, "So, yes, - just get an update on the priority list." Regarding Future Agenda Items, Chairperson Bard said, "I have got update on Arbor Day; discussion of Arbor Ordinance." Chairperson Bard continued, "Ideas on encouraging use of native plants in home landscapes within the City." Chairperson Bard restated this wording as, "Discussion on encouraging use of native plants in home landscape. And then the last one would be an update on the priority list." CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA MINUTES BEAUTIFICATION OF WINTER SPRINGS BOARD REGULAR MEETING - MARCH ]4,2007 PAGE 90F9 Board Member Mattie asked, "And how do we find out - along Deersong on [State Road] 419, right by their wall - say, five feet (5'), six feet (6'), ten feet (10') from their wall is part of Winter Springs? If that is part of Winter Springs, then we can get some things maybe planted there." Chairperson Bard asked, "Andrea (City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces), could that come up under this Item or would we want to have a specific, separate item for discussion of landscaping along Deersong wall." City Clerk Lorenzo-Luaces replied, "Yes, we could also just include it as a directive to ask Mr. Richart to check into it, if you'd like." Chairperson Bard said, "Okay, great." Board Member Mattie said, "Yes, we need to check into how much is part of Winter Springs." FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS · Update on the Arbor Day Event. · Discussion of Arbor Ordinance. · Discussion on encouraging use of native plants in home landscape. · Update on the Priority List. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Bard asked, "Do we have a Motion for Adjournment?" "SO MOVED." MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER BEECHER. SECONDED BY VICE CHAIRPERSON ROERO. DISCUSSION. WITH CONSENSUS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD, THE MOTION WAS APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED. Chairperson Bard adjourned the Regular Meeting at 8:54 p.m. RES? ECTFULLY SUBMITTED: ~~.~ DA IELLE HARKER ~ ASSISTANT TO THE CITY CLERK NOTE: These Minutes were approved at the Aprilll ,2007 Beautification of Winter Springs Board Regular Meeting.