Beautification Advisory Committee

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, August 2, 2023 3:00 PM Community Room Beautification Advisory Committee Chair: David Leaser Vice-Chair: Shelli Connelly Members: Tiffany Homuth, Ken Kramer, Julie McDonald , Dustin Nesmith, Sharon Watts City Staff: Justin Martin, Tara Kosieracki Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final August 2, 2023 (1) CALL TO ORDER Chair Leaser called the meeting to order at 3:00 PM. (2) ROLL CALL Present: 6- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser Absent: 1- Member McDonald (Note: Member Nesmith participated via telephone.) Also Present Al Benaroch of Affordable Landscape Service & Design LLC Marvin Needles 1230 Butterfly Court, Marco Island, FL 34145 City Staff: Daniel Smith, Director of Community Affairs Tara Kosieracki, Administrative/Project Coordinator Martin Luna, Audio Visual Technician (3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chair Leaser. (4) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION by Member Homuth, second by Member Nesmith, that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser (5) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 23-2967 Approval of the Minutes of June 7, 2023 MOTION by Member Watts, seconded by Vice-Chair Connelly, that the Meeting Minutes of June 7, 2023, be Approved. MOTION BE CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser (6) OLD BUSINESS 6a. Naming the Parcel at San Marco Road and Heathwood Drive The Board reached consensus for the project codename. The codename will be First Responder Park. 6b. Recommended Changes to the 2024 Marco In Bloom Application City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final August 2, 2023 Recommended Changes to the 2024 Marco In Bloom Application will be discussed during the next Beautification Advisory Meeting. 6c. 2023 Remaining Budget ID 23-2968 Beautification Advisory Committee Account Summary Member Homuth mentioned the report reflects the same budget information from the report previously provided in May 2023. The report still reflects "10,000 Trees Initiative." Member Homuth and Vice-Chair Connelly would like this issue addressed. The report should reflect "Tree Initiative." This project is separate from the "10,000 Tree Initiative." Vice-Chair Connelly asked Daniel Smith, Director of Community Affairs to clarify this with Justin Martin, P.E., Director of Public Works. The Board provided a Budget for 2024, Member Homuth requested a Workshop update for the next Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting. Member Watts stated she will have an additional invoice to add for FY 2023. (7) NEW BUSINESS 7a. Marco Island Historical Markers ID 23-2969 Marco Island Historical Markers Vice-Chair Connelly summarized the restoration process and discussed the quote provided from AGG Restoration Specialist. Vice-Chair Connelly described the current condition of the Marco Island Historical Markers. The Board discussed the location, landscaping, budget, and funding options of the Marco Island Historical Markers. The Board discussed proposing a budget for the Historical Markers. A guest speaker, Marvin Needles outlined how the Marco Island Historical Marker Project was originally created, advertised, and funded. He suggested the Historical Society should offer something similar to what the Chamber of Commerce provided in the past. The Chamber of Commerce served as the Welcome Center in the past. Al Benaroch from Affordable Landscape, LLC provided his professional landscaping suggestion in reference to the Marco Island Historical Markers. MOTION by Chair Leaser, seconded by Member Watts, request funding for restoration of Marco Island Historical Markers on public property. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser 7b. Restoring Marco Island Medians After Hurricane Ian Chair Leaser indicated residents are concerned about Marco Island's medians. Al Benaroch from Affordable Landscaping, LLC summarized work completed after Hurricane Ian and explained that some vegetation did not make the transition. He outlined the damaged landscaping caused by Hurricane Ian, including dead trees on the roadways. The Board and Al Benaroch discussed the visual saltwater damage, identified the medians that need to be prioritized, and median restoration on Marco Island. Vice-Chair Connelly mentioned she has been contacted by citizens concerned with Marco Island's visual presence. Daniel Smith, Director of Community Affairs provided insight on the budget. City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final August 2, 2023 7c. Marco Island Tree Canopy Assessment Conduct by DePaul University Chair Leaser explained DePaul University is conducting a Tree Canopy Assessment for Marco Island. They are doing this in collaboration with the Naples Botanical's Garden. They have identified hotspots on the island and will be presenting it to the Beautification Advisory Committee once finalized. (8) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Daniel Smith, Director of Community Affairs provided reasons why palm trees are more desirable to residents and the reasons why it is difficult for Canopy Trees to be planted. Dan Smith provided insight and suggestions on how to bring back more Canopy Trees. (9) PUBLIC COMMENT Marvin Needles - 1230 Butterfly Court Marvin Needles mentioned the County did a nice job restoring the medians near the gateway to Isle Capri/951 to the Marco Island area. He raised concerns on the medians that are located when you first arrive onto Marco Island to Bald Eagle Drive. Marvin Needles addressed the sample cul-de-sac concept for citizens to visit. He would like to see the sample to include irrigation, curb, materials, and cost factors. Marvin Needles provided information when he adopted a cul-de-sac in the past. Member Homuth mentioned the cul-de-sac topic was included in the 2024 Budget as the cul-de-sac initiative. Member Homuth informed that she will help research this topic. Al Benaroch raised the concern of the right-of-way and tree trimming. (10) NEXT MEETING: CONFIRMATION & ATTENDANCE The Committee discussed a potential date of September 13, 2023 at 3:00 PM for its next Meeting. Tara Kosieracki was asked to confirm this date and time with absent Members. (11) PROPOSED AGENDA TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING Two topics were raised for the next Meeting: 1. Restoring Marco Island Medians 2. Christmas Decorations and Display (12) OTHER COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS None. (13) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, Chair Leaser adjourned the Meeting at 4:12 PM. ___________________________________ Tara Kosieracki Administrative/Project Coordinator Public Works Department City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final August 2, 2023 City of Marco Island Florida Page 4