Beautification Advisory Committee

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, March 3, 2021 3:30 PM Community Room Beautification Advisory Committee Chair: Shelli Connelly Vice-Chair: Maria Tobin Members: Mary Beth Cummings, James Eby, Ken Kramer, Dustin Nesmith City Staff: Timothy Pinter, P.E. Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2021 (1) CALL TO ORDER Chair Connelly called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M. (2) INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBER KEN KRAMER Chair Connelly welcomed new Committee member Ken Kramer, and invited him to briefly comment on his experience and background. Member Kramer introduced himself to the Committee and shared some educational and professional highlights with the Committee and those in attendance. (3) ROLL CALL Present: 5- Member Cummings, Member Eby, Member Kramer, Member Nesmith and Chair Connelly Absent: 1- Vice-Chair Tobin (Note: Vice-Chair Tobin arrived at approximately 3:42 P.M.) (4) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chair Connelly. (5) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Chair Connelly requested that two previously-discussed items be added under 'Old Business': 1) the Tommie Barfield Elementary Shade Tree Landscaping Proposal as raised by a citizen at the February 3rd Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting and; 2) the Adopt A Cul-de-Sac Program. MOTION by Member Cummings, seconded by Member Nesmith, that the Agenda be Approved as Amended. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE: Yes: 5- Member Cummings, Member Eby, Member Kramer, Member Nesmith and Chair Connelly (6) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 21-1414 Beautification Advisory Committee Minutes of February 3, 2021. Member Nesmith requested that the February 3rd Meeeting Minutes be amended to reflect his nomination of Member Connelly as Chair of the Beautification Advisory Committee. Member Cummings requested that Member Eby's second of Member Tobin's re-nomination as Vice-Chair of the Beautification Advisory Committee be noted in the February 3rd Meeting Minutes. MOTION by Member Nesmith, seconded by Member Kramer that the Beautification Advisory Committee Minutes of February 3, 2021 be Approved as Amended. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 5- Member Cummings, Member Eby, Member Kramer, Member Nesmith and Chair Connelly (7) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS a. ID 21-1416 Utility Box Photos City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2021 Public Works Director Tim Pinter referenced the three photos that were included with the Agenda that show three (3) of the recently-wrapped utility boxes showing indications of bubbling / peeling. He further noted that three (3) other utility boxes are beginning to show similar concerns. Mr. Pinter indicated his intention to reach out to the vendor that applied the laminate given the one-year warranty that applies and, as requested by Chair Connelly, he committed to provide the Members of the Committee a report on the vendor's response prior to the next meeting of the Committee on April 1st. b. Wrapped Utility Box Bases Mr. Pinter reported that the epoxy coating of the bases for the wrapped utility boxes that are located within a landscaped area will begin during the second week of March, and that the contract for applying brick pavers to the wrapped utility boxes in non-landscaped locations has been issued to the contractor (Affordable Landscaping Services). No date for the start of work on the brick-paver bases was provided. c. Marco Lake Trees ID 21-1419 Trees For Consideration For Marco Lake Drive Member Cummings shared a visual presentation of three (3) shade, and two (2) palm tree species that may be appropriate to utilize along the approximately four block area around Marco Lake. Noting the narrow swales, difficult grade and lack of underground irrigation in the desired areas, she investigated and searched for smaller, single-trunk, durable species of trees that she recommended for consideration. Her search yielded the following selections: Shade Trees 1. Pigeon Plum 2. Eugenia, Ironwood/Red Berry or Spanish Stopper 3. Buttonwood Palm Trees 1. Florida Thatch Palm 2. Buccaneer Palm Public Works Director Pinter noted the importance of identifying and selecting native trees that are drought-tolerant for the proposed area, and he asked the Committee to provide him direction on how many (if not all) of the proposed species he could review with the City's landscape services provider. After considered Committee discussion, Mr. Pinter was asked to review the entire list with the City's landscape services provider for his input and recommendation. (8) PUBLIC COMMENT No public comments were brought forward at this meeting. (9) PRESENTATIONS No presentations were presented at this meeting. (10) OLD BUSINESS City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2021 a. Marco In Bloom - Vice-Chair Tobin Vice-Chair Tobin reminded the Committee (and meeting viewers) that the deadline for submissions to the Marco-In-Bloom Contest is rapidly approaching on March 19th. Given the nearness of that deadline, Vice-Chair Tobin provided a verbatim reading of the objective of the Contest as: "... encouraging the planting and upkeep of beautiful landscapes compatible with our unique South Florida climate and weather conditions. Every year, the Beautification Advisory Committee of the City of Marco Island promotes the Marco-In-Bloom Contest among homeowners and home owner associations ..." Following her reading, Vice-Chair Tobin noted that a few nominations had been received in the personal and professional residential properties and condominiums category, but that no nominations had yet been submitted in the commercial properties, cul-de-sacs or institutional categories. She encouraged all attendees and viewers of this meeting to 'spread the word' to residents and visitors to the Island. Beautification Advisory Committee member voting on submitted nominations will be conducted at the Committee's regular meeting on April 1st. Winners of the Contest will be announced on April 5th. At the request of Chair Connelly, Vice-Chair Tobin took a few moments to explain the Marco-In-Bloom voting process to the new members of the Committee. b. Fertilizer Card - Member Cummings ID 21-1415 Fertilizer Ordinance Cards/Price Member Cummings referenced the proposed draft of the fertilizer information card that she sent the members of the Committee for their review. Noting that the card was designed to be rack-sized, two-sided, and a handy reference for homeowners, landscape companies and others involved with the sale or distribution of fertilizers on the Island, Member Cummings sought direction from the Committee on: 1) the design concept of the information piece; 2) the number desired for the initial printing, and; 3) whether members preferred the version with a white or colored background. After considerable discussion regarding potential distribution points and uses for the proposed information card, the Committee reached consensus on: 1) pursuing the color version, and; 2) taking advantage of the maximum quantity (1,000 cards) at the identified print quantity price. Public Works Director Pinter reminded the Committee of the City purchasing process requiring at least three written vendor-submitted quotes and vendor submission of applicable W-9 forms to qualify to be included on the City's vendor list. c. Murals - Chair Connelly Noting City Council Chair Jared Grifoni's stated interest in pursuing an investigation of artistic / creative public murals at a recent City Council Meeting, Chair Connelly solicited the opinions of the Committee members and Public Works Director Pinter's thoughts on the best way to approach addressing this opportunity. After considerable discussion, Member Nesmith (with support from Chair Connelly) agreed to take the lead in gathering additional, relevant information upon which to develop an appropriate Committee City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2021 recommendation for City Council consideration. d. Adopt A Cul-de-Sac Program Chair Connelly noted that only 14 cul-de-sacs (out of 305 on the Island) are currently participating in the Program, and she raised the question as to whether this was a program worth expending Committee energy against at this time. Upon further discussion with the Committee members and Public Works Director Pinter, Chair Connelly suggested that this topic be revisited at a more appropriate time in the future. The Committee concurred with her recommendation. e. Tommie Barfield Elementary Shade Tree Landscaping Proposal As requested by Chair Connelly at the Committee's February 3rd meeting, members of the Committee discussed the citizen-proposed addition of more shade trees on and around the property of Tommie Barfield Elementary School. At the conclusion of the Committee's discussion, Chair Connelly asked Public Works Director Pinter to reach out to the petitioner to suggest that she contact the leadership of the School District to more appropriately assess and address her concerns. (11) NEW BUSINESS Chair Connelly raised the need to devote more Committee attention to the Committee's website page on the City's website as a means to better educate and communicate to the City's website visitors about the various initiatives and programs promoted by the Beautification Advisory Committee. In concert with Chair Connelly's request, Vice-Chair Tobin noted a need to transfer the information and photo history from her privately-managed Beautification Advisory Committee Facebook page to the City's Committee website as well. None of the Committee members volunteered to become the point person to work with the City Staff on these two efforts. Given the concern raised and the state of the discussion on this topic, Public Works Director Pinter recommended that the Committee bring this forward as an agenda topic at a future meeting and come prepared to list and prioritize what information needs to be added to, or modified on, the Committee's existing website page. (12) COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS For the benefit of the new members, Public Works Director Pinter explained the purpose for the 'Committee Communications' portion of the Agenda as an avenue by which Committee members can safely share ideas, thoughts, and discussion publicly and in compliance with Florida's Sunshine Law. Chair Connelly followed Public Works Director Pinter's comments by recognizing the outstanding effort, creativity and support of Member Nesmith (as a member of the Marco Island Center for the Arts team) in assisting the Committee to successfully raise local artist awareness and participation in last year's Utility Box Creative Wrap Contest . At the request of Chair Connelly, Member Nesmith provided a brief summary of the elements of the effort that he spearheaded. Chair Connelly then referenced a proposal by former Beautification Advisory Committee Member Becky Irwin to investigate the potential for establishing an edible fruit garden within the confines of Calusa Park (located on Winterberry Road between Heathwood Road and Sandhill Street). Noting that Calusa Park is under the responsibility of the City's Growth Management Department and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee, Public Works Director Pinter recommended that any Beautification Advisory Committee effort on this topic begin with an outreach to Community Affairs Director Dan Smith on the appropriate process to undertake to move this topic forward. Member Eby raised a question as to which City Department / Staff has responsibility for managing the City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final March 3, 2021 water quality in Mackle Park's lake. Public Works Director Pinter indicated that the City's Growth Management Department and its Parks & Recreation Department team have this responsibility for the City and citizens of Marco Island. (13) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Beautification Advisory Committee, Chair Connelly adjourned the meeting at 4:55 P.M. ______________________________________ Jim Kornas Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 5