Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee

51 Bald Eagle Drive City of Marco Island Florida Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Beach and Coastal Resources Advisory Committee Chair: Maria Lamb Vice-Chair: Robert Eastman Members: Donald Bonica, Ruth McCann, Ray McChesney, Judy Novak, Nathaniel O'Donnell City Staff: Dave Baer, Patty Mastronardi Wednesday, November 20, 2019 9:00 AM Community Room (1) CALL TO ORDER Chair Lamb called meeting to order 9:00 a.m. (2) ROLL CALL Present: 7- Member Novak, Member ODonnell, Member McChesney, Member Bonica, Member McCann, Chair Lamb and Vice-Chair Eastman (3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Member McChesney. (4) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION by Member Bonica, seconded by Vice-Chair Eastman, to amend and approve this AGENDA by adding under New Business: Bird Flushing on Beaches. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: MOTION by Member Bonica, seconded by Vice-Chair Eastman, to amend this AGENDA to add under New Business: Bird Flushing on Beaches to be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 7- Member Novak, Member ODonnell, Member McChesney, Member Bonica, Member McCann, Chair Lamb and Vice-Chair Eastman (5) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 19-556 BchCRAC Draft Minutes for October 16, 2019 MOTION by Vice-Chair Eastman, seconded by Member Bonica, that these MINUTES be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: MOTION by Vice-Chair Eastman, seconded by Member Bonica, that these MINUTES be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 7- Member Novak, Member ODonnell, Member McChesney, Member Bonica, Member McCann, Chair Lamb and Vice-Chair Eastman (6) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Beach and Coastal Resources Meeting Minutes - Final November 20, 2019 Advisory Committee a. MIPD Report Captain Baer not present. Sgt. Mark Haueter reported: Do not have 2019 September Report. Red Tide update: high concentration 2019 October Report: 194 hrs.on beach, over 125 events. October violations: Madeira trimming sea grape without permit Dead Sea Turtle, several dead birds near condominium due to migration or flight disability 2 service dogs on beach, reduction of beach goers due to red tide. 2019 - 41 total violations: increased result from public awareness Several sea turtle lightings PD educates through social media: Twitter, Instagram, in future, possibly Facebook. Mr. Haueter will deliver questions from committee to Mr. Baer on violations and funds collected. b. Sea Turtle Lighting Violations Mr. Haueter will deliver questions from committee to Mr. Baer on violations. (7) PUBLIC COMMENT (TIME CERTAIN 9:30 A.M.) Andrew Tyler, 58 N. Collier informed committee City applied for DEP permit to trim mangroves to help water flow easier. Birds collide or may flush while nesting due to vehicle noise. Suggested law enforcement help with intrusion, with Police Department Marine monitoring unit. Boaters moor at Tigertail lagoon with dogs. Mangrove pruning offers few law enforcements, it's inappropriate. Code has two Community Service Officers (CSO) 10 hrs. daily, driving around, glass and other trash still on other properties. Dan Flaherty, N. Collier Boulevard spoke of Sea Turtle nesting. Where did 41 violations come from? Sea turtles do not nest until shortly after sundown, there were many violations without volunteers on beach at night. He frequents beach at night during hatchlings, puts up black curtain to guide turtles towards beach avoiding lights on Sand Dollar/South Seas. Hatchlings pass black curtain, then turns wrong way from beach. Spoke to Collier County, need names from State to discuss issue. People need to turn lights off, need fines up to $15,000, Magistrate cuts to $250. Opportunity to release sea turtles on 10,000 island with transmitter. Found and adopted turtle, named Kit Kat, can track migration, another capture will schedule release. Chair Lamb named BAC adopted female turtle: Bella Marco. Committee and Mr. Haueter discussed sea turtle violations: Document evidence, record proof when turtles move toward lights or turn around State said no volunteers at night, instead citizens should turn down lights Working with Collier Country on ordinance Mr. Haueter will check with Mr. Baer why City is trimming mangroves - need justification, and will inquire on status of usage of new drone donated by BchCRAC. (8) PRESENTATIONS a. City Manager's Slide Presentation on Beach Protection & Discussion Chair Lamb and committee reviewed/discussed City Managers presentation (from October 5, 2019) on Beach and Coastal Protection on Federal, State, Local and Private City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Beach and Coastal Resources Meeting Minutes - Final November 20, 2019 Advisory Committee Agencies: City of Marco Island has Turtle/Straw Ordinance, enforce coastal construction stands Code Enforcement coordinates with other agencies, outreach with Beach Stewards and BchCRAC Not able to enforce beach 24 hrs. Improve lighting conditions Recommended Actions: improve coordinated outreach to condominium management boards Need stronger fines, lower fines make no difference, consequences for actions. Beach Stewardship program needs more volunteers on beach. Fines acceptable, magistrate lowers fines, not helping situation Need education, who is fined, how condo fined? Need awareness. Councilor Grifoni requested committee revise fine structure for different violations. Chair Lamb researched how much money budgeted by City for FY20 for beach protection and cleanliness Public Works allocated $7,500 for Madeira Beach Access maintenance, $24,000 for Crystal Shores Winterberry Beach Access maintenance, allocated 2 CSO's for beach patrol $4,200 for fuel and $6,200 repairs = $171,507 from City budget. FY20 Collier County approved $5,568,642 for South Beach re-nourishment, beach raker and pick up trash $289,353 and $925 for shorebird monitoring. Need full-time Environmental Specialist. (9) OLD BUSINESS a. Gopher Tortoise Sign Update Chair Lamb ordered signs. Mr. Baer with notify committee on accessible location to install signs. b. Big Belly Installation Update Chair Lamb tested Big Belly at Winterberry Drive, looks good and works well. c. ThorGuard Lightning Warning System Update Mr. Barry Williams, Director and Commissioner Donna Fiala of Collier County ordered two lightning systems, one South Beach, one Tigertail, installation within 30 days. d. Madeira Consent Order Update Chair Lamb stated almost ready, waiting for comments from City on removal of vegetation. e. Burrowing Owl Safe Harbor Agreement Summary ID 19-564 Burrowing Owl Safe Harbor Agreement Summary Chair Lamb stated topic on December 2019 City Council agenda, committee should attend. Vice Chair Eastman suggested FWC, Brad Cornell, Audubon make renewal process easy as possible, unless objections from owl watcher if not doing properly. f. Update 2001 Sea Turtle Lighting Protection Ordinance City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Beach and Coastal Resources Meeting Minutes - Final November 20, 2019 Advisory Committee ID 19-565 2001 Sea Turtle Lighting Protection Ordinance Chair Lamb presented update on 2015 FWC model Sea Turtle Ordinance, 2001 City of Marco IslandI Sea Protection Ordinance and attached Broward County update. City Council requested BchCRAC move forward to revise ordinance, get working on 2020 for Sea Turtle season. Chair Lamb received approval from Collier County to update Collier County ordinance with Marco Island. She requested members take coastal cities who revised Sea Turtle Ordinance last year, focus on Sea Turtle friendly fund, compare penalties/violations, and grant money. Member McChesney will research total funds collected for penalties in 2019. Magistrate not able to repair irreparable damage to sea turtles hatchlings, will find more scientific definition to add to our ordinance. Vice Chair Eastman will reach out to Cape Canavera/Broward County, for features and bring revisions to next BchCRAC meeting. (10) NEW BUSINESS a, Bird Flushing on Beaches Committee discussed how to prevent bird flushing: Discourage beach goers/photographers not to take photos or feed birds FWC Migratory Treaty Act - any flushing act disturbing, cities are not invoking. Section to not flush, reach out to code enforcement to educate. Federal Act: birds migrate from one country to another, flushing is detrimental all treated same. Residents Beach to South Beach educate public, discussion next month meeting. (11) COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS a. October Beach Clean-up Member McCann reported three (3) clean ups completed October 12th, 26th, and 29th @ Hilton, and November 9th sponsored by Kiwanis. Found glassware, silverware on beaches. November beach goers mentioned beaches very clean, only finding smaller items as opposed to larger items hurting wildlife on beaches. November attendance good due to Key Club kids helping. January 11, 2020 Key Club (100 kids helping) sponsoring beach clean up. Marco Woman's Club sponsored for seven years. Hilton joined, no weekends, invest in grappers on own, promoting community services.. b. 2020 BchCRAC Schedule Member McCann handed out 2020 beach clean up schedule with dates, groups and locations. Chair Lamb reported U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit was applied by Publix (under construction) on disturbing Eagles while building nest. Publix allowed to cause abandonment, and not liable. Chair Lamb inquired to SE Region biologist - can construction be stopped until after mating season? City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 Beach and Coastal Resources Meeting Minutes - Final November 20, 2019 Advisory Committee MOTION by Vice-Chair Eastman, seconded by Member McCann, to approve 2020 BchCRAC meeting schedule. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: MOTION by Vice-Chair Eastman, seconded by Member McCann, to appove 2020 BchCRAC meeting schedule to be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 7- Member Novak, Member ODonnell, Member McChesney, Member Bonica, Member McCann, Chair Lamb and Vice-Chair Eastman (12) ADJOURNMENT Chair Lamb adjourned meeting 10:22 a.m. NOTE: TWO OR MORE CITY COUNCILORS OR OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY BE PRESENT City of Marco Island Florida Page 5