Beautification Advisory Committee

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, September 5, 2018 3:00 PM Community Room Beautification Advisory Committee Chair: Andrew Kirlin Vice-Chair: Luwana Milner Members: Peggy Anuta, Linda Colombo, Susan LaGrotta, Becky Irwin, Maria Tobin City Staff: Timothy Pinter, P.E., Patty Mastronardi Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final September 5, 2018 (1) CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order by Chair Kirlin at 3:00 p.m. (2) ROLL CALL Present: 7- Chair Kirlin, Member Colombo, Member Irwin, Vice-Chair Milner, Member Tobin, Member LaGrotta and Member Anuta (3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chair Kirlin. (4) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Chair Kirlin - amended to move a. to b., and b. to a. to (10). New Business Member Colombo - amended to add c. Fertilizer Outreach Ordinance Discussion to (10). New Business Member Irwin - amended to add d. Food Forest to (10). New Business MOTION by Chair Kirlin,to change agenda as amended, seconded by Member Irwin, that this be approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 7- Chair Kirlin, Member Colombo, Member Irwin, Vice-Chair Milner, Member Tobin, Member LaGrotta and Member Anuta (5) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 18-486 Draft BAC Minutes 8/1/18 Attachments: Draft BAC Minutes Aug 01.2018.pdf MOTION by Chair Kirlin, seconded by Member Tobin, that these Minutes be approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 7- Chair Kirlin, Member Colombo, Member Irwin, Vice-Chair Milner, Member Tobin, Member LaGrotta and Member Anuta (6) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS a. Landscape Maintenance Update - Al Benarroch, Affordable Landscaping Mr. Benarroch - Sprinklers okay. Palms planted last Thursday, weather issue -some fell, mulching starting near palms and Collier Boulevard. Keeping track of medians on Collier Boulevard (#6, #7). Director Pinter will be making modifications to Affordable Landscaping FY19 contract. b. Staff Reports Millage rate has limited funds. First reading on FY19 budget. Next City Council meeting will determine FY19 budget. Still cleaning up after last storm, lost mulch, cleaned out drains, and swale work done on Yellowbird. 4" of rain in Amber Valley area, did not flood during storm. Remaining budget $2,000 balance will be used by Affordable Landscaping to finish cul-de-sacs. City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final September 5, 2018 Director Pinter stated flood drainage on swales coming mostly from private property mowing. If residents have issues with flooding, contact Director Pinter. City crews accessing flood areas. (7) PUBLIC COMMENT (TIME CERTAIN 3:30 P.M.) Section 7-705 Meeting and Public Input from Handbook for Boards and Committees: “Audience speakers will not have to sign up to speak on Agenda Items, although those who do will go first. Audience speakers will be limited to one four-minute comment per agenda item and public comment session. Speaker time limits may be extended upon approval of the Chair.” (8) PRESENTATIONS - None (9) OLD BUSINESS a. Banner Discussion Member Tobin provided an approved sample banner showing boat, ball and umbrella with possible changes: . add icons: No drinking, no parking, no pets . add Beach Access on top, with pedestrian person, no parking . sign with red boxes, move 2 icons Pedestrian walking, no park/handicap . use Pedestrian Access verbiage . with boat, no welcome, Marco Island Pedestrian Walk Access . make it clear not a parking drop off to avoid traffic . welcome only on sign, icons Beach Access with pedestrian access . use Beach Access or Pedestrian Access . add sign across street Director Pinter - Madeira pedestrian crossing sign is up, might hide sign if add banner, same sign at every beach entrance. Member Tobin will return revisions for approved banner to artist, then will bring back final banner (with changes) to next meeting. Approximate cost for artist: $80 an hour. MOTION by Member Colombo, seconded by Chair Kirlin, that this be approved as amended. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 6- Chair Kirlin, Member Colombo, Vice-Chair Milner, Member Tobin, Member LaGrotta and Member Anuta No: 1- Member Irwin b. Plantings Near New City Signs - Update Director Pinter working on City Hall, Mackle Park & Goodland signs for FY19. BAC approved recommended plantings, can use some FY18 budget remaining funds ($2,000) for City Hall & Mackle Park irrigation near signs. (10) NEW BUSINESS ID 18-490 ROW Ordinance 15-18/Landscaping Code City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final September 5, 2018 Attachments: ROW Ordinance 15-18.pdf Landscaping Code.pdf a. Tree Policy - BAC Recommendations Deferred to next month. ID 18-489 Tree Planting Agreement Attachments: Tree Planting Agreement.pdf b. Discussion on ROW/Ordinance Permit - BAC Recommended Changes Director Pinter reminded committee: City Council determined by unanimous consensus (7-0) to reference Ordinance 15-18 for specific plantings in the public right of way (ROW) with BAC recommendations and return to City Council within 90 days. Chair Kirlin reviewed code violation examples, obstructions in ROW, able to only install trees in ROW with permit, no means to get any exceptions. Problem code violation examples: . mail boxes with landscaping . sod, mimosa or perennial peanut. Any other ground cover/plants are restricted, . shrubs, plants/flowers never allowed in ROW . not allowed to request variance, one should be created . code too restricted, BAC should recommend amending these Codes BAC swale discussion: . Concern with health of swales, designed to percolate, not to have run off in canals, have 2 more choices now than years ago. . Drainage device for City, explore diverse plantings in swales. Negative: not sure if only three (3) plantings do the job well. . Ground covers are needed to keep soil from eroding, need to retain soil, and take away rain water. . Member LaGrotta: non spreading ground cover does not stop erosion adequately and should not be allowed. . Change Ordinance for mailbox plantings is good idea per Tim Pinter, need FL Friendly requirements . types of plants obstruction to drainage. Allow more than 2 types of ground covers. Proceed with caution, review how drainage is affected in swales. . Allow room for flexibility. Some swales have no risks, can be eye appealing to look better. . Expand list of various beautiful ground covers. Inform residents if losing plantings, favor of expanding allowance of plantings. . Plantings around mailbox, needs permit with no cost, approved by Public Works . Review ordinance for mailbox plantings . Do not rewrite ordinance, just tweak . Grass clippings in swales, going down drain, change from sod, to other options . Native plants promote water conservation, avoiding road flooding Councilor Honig stated code violations were addressed to him due to Chair Kirlin's citation for violation in ROW. Need to enforce codes. 643 mailboxes have illegal ground covers, consider swales issue separate from other City issues. Look at ground cover issues in swales, help City Council with project. City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final September 5, 2018 Director Pinter - There were numerous presentations for benefits with four (4) options of planting in swales, accepted by Planning Board for Ord. 15-18. Choices: Code violations on photos, only trees are allowed in swales, no limitations on how many to plant in swale. Storm water engineer starting to get involved in MS4 process regarding drainage throughout the island, and removing plantings from swales, no need to remove trees. He stated City not opposed to plantings around mailbox, just limit to ground covers, make regulations for plantings near a mailbox. Amend code to add more ground covers. MOTION by Member Colombo, Director Pinter will find available date available in October for Fertilizer Ordinance presentation, seconded by Member Anuta, that this be approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 7- Chair Kirlin, Member Colombo, Member Irwin, Vice-Chair Milner, Member Tobin, Member LaGrotta and Member Anuta c. Fertilizer Outreach Ordinance Discussion Mr. Benarroch - Make sure landscapers using fertilizer are licensed, educate residents. Affordable hired four (4) more employees to help vacuum clippings to avoid drain issues. Suggestions to promote Fertilizer Ordinance: . Hand out material at Community Room, invite speaker on October 15th, check on room availability, ask Yvette Benarroch (Affordable Landscaping) as speaker,request short presentation at City Council meeting and Farmer's Market to hand-out related material. Director Pinter - Need flexibility for City Council meeting presentation with Yvette Benarroch, will discuss with City Clerk regarding presentation at October 15, 2018 City Council meeting or next meeting. Advertise future events: . Farmers Market: Nov. 14 - April 24, 2018: BAC sponsor outreach for Arbor Day, Marco in Bloom at beginning of season at market. . October 20-21, 2018: approval for tree giveaway and to distribute tree saplings, saplings can be reserved to handout at Farmers Market. Director Pinter - No fee permit for planting. Under time constraints, 90 days is past, extenuating circumstances. Making progress, Chair Kirlin will give report to City Council. Chair Kirlin - Bring back ideas for ground covers, invite public speakers (Dr. Caldwell) to offer value, and ideas for FL Friendly ground covers to next month meeting, consensus 7-0. d. Food Forest Deferred to next month. (11) COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS a. Butterfly Garden Update - Susan LaGrotta Member LaGrotta obtaining cost for 17- 6 x 4 colored plant naming plastic signs, cost is $20 each, plus shipping, tax and stakes. New pathway usage is busy with walkers (and baby carriages), bicycling, and bench sitting. Director Pinter - FY19 BAC budget is $10,000. Can use remaining $2000 FY18 budget by City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final September 5, 2018 September 30, 2018. Postpone banners until FY19. MOTION by Member LaGrotta,to use FY18 remaining budget funds not to exceed $750 for 17-19 plant signs at the Butterfly Garden, seconded by Member Irwin, that this be approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 7- Chair Kirlin, Member Colombo, Member Irwin, Vice-Chair Milner, Member Tobin, Member LaGrotta and Member Anuta b. Committee Concerns None. (12) ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned 4:49 p.m. Two people in attendance in audience. NOTE: TWO OR MORE CITY COUNCILORS OR OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS MAY BE PRESENT City of Marco Island Florida Page 5