Beautification Advisory Committee

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, November 1, 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, Jim Kornas, Tara Kosieracki Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final November 1, 2023 (1) CALL TO ORDER Chair Leaser called the meeting to order at 3:00 P.M. (2) ROLL CALL Present: 4- Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member McDonald and Chair Leaser Not Present: 3- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Nesmith and Member Watts (Note: Vice-Chair Connelly and Members Nesmith and Watts participated remotely via telephone, but did not join the meeting until 3:06 P.M. during the discussion of the 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Contest.) (3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chair Leaser. (4) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION by Member McDonald, seconded by Member Homuth that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY ATTENDING COMMITTEE MEMBER ASSENT: Yes: 4- Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member McDonald and Chair Leaser Not Present: 3- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Nesmith and Member Watts (5) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 23-3230 Approval of the Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of October 4, 2023 MOTION by Member Homuth seconded by Member McDonald, that the Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of October 4, 2023 be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY ATTENDING COMMITTEE MEMBER ASSENT: Yes: 4- Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member McDonald and Chair Leaser Not Present: 3- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Nesmith and Member Watts (6) OLD BUSINESS ID 23-3231 2024 Marco In Bloom Contest Application Update (J. McDonald & J. Martin) Committee Member Julie McDonald reviewed the Committee's inputs from the October meeting, and she displayed the revised nomination form which reflected the inputs received. She highlighted the potential "Homes Built Before 1982" classification as a means by which older Deltona-era homes might be more fairly judged versus more newly-built homes, and Chair Leaser recommended that the date and year be verified to coincide with when the last Deltona/Mackle Brothers era home was built on the Island. The Committee discussed whether rear yards should also be considering in the 2024 Marco-In-Bloom judging process, and the Committee recommended that a check box be added to the nomination form to allow for property owners to select whether they wish to have their rear yards included in the evaluation process. City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final November 1, 2023 Committee Member McDonald advanced the opinion that the comparative judging process could be improved if all members of the Committee could proceed to, and review, each property together, and Public Works Director Justin Martin indicated that separate Member transportation to each contestant's home, and advanced public noticing of the Committee coming together in this way are among two important steps that will be required to comply with the spirit and intent of the Florida Sunshine Law. Mr. Martin indicated that he would investigate this matter further on the Committee's behalf. Committee Member McDonald reiterated her intention to pursue a means by which all property judging scores could be compiled and displayed on a single scoresheet, and she championed the suggestion that an "expert gardener" visit the submitted properties prior to the Committee's judging so that she/he could provide the Committee's members with "things to look for" when they visit each nominated property. The Committee's discussion next moved in the direction of handling the 2024 Marco-In-Bloom property nominations via online (rather than hard copy form) submissions onto the City's website, and Public Works Director Martin indicated that he had initiated some discussion with the City's IT Department on this possibility after the Committee's October meeting. More specifics will be reviewed with the Committee at a future date. Committee Member McDonald reported on her success in obtaining preliminary cost estimates for placing Marco-In-Bloom Contest announcements and/or an example application form in issues of the Coastal Breeze, The Marco Gazette, and the Marco Eagle, but given the timing and distribution differences between the various publications, she indicated a need to more thoughtfully compare and contrast the information that she had received. Chair Leaser recalled the success which last year's Committee enjoyed by conducting a direct distribution of promotional contest materials to obviously well-landscaped homes and properties. Vice-Chair Connelly also noted the opportunity to engage in early awareness and contest promotion at the weekly Farmer's Market on the Island. The Committee agreed to delve more deeply into a discussion of marketing tactics for the 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Contest at its December 6, 2023 meeting. ID 23-3232 Seasonal Light Display - Report on Identification of Potential 3rd Vendor (D. Nesmith) Committee Member Nesmith reported that he had emailed Public Works Director Justin Martin the names of some potential vendors for consideration after the October 4th Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting. Public Works Director Justin Martin followed by advising the Committee that the City had, with Member Nesmith's help, identified the necessary number of contractors and obtained the required number of competitive bid submissions to appropriately select a vendor to decorate the City's light poles along north and southbound Collier Boulevard near the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge. Work was already underway to complete the seasonal lighting installations on or before November 8th. ID 23-3233 Collier Boulevard Banner Display Dates & Locations (S. Connelly) Public Works Director Justin Martin reported that his department has been in contact with the Island's Kiwanis and Rotary organizations in providing them with a properly-sized example banner for their graphic design work, and that both organizations have the necessary application forms, banner trial fitment requirements, and fee requirements to facilitate the display of their banners along Collier Boulevard in support of the events that they reviewed with the Committee at its October 4th meeting. ID 23-3234 Marco Island Historical Markers - Newspaper Ad/Insert Design Concepts (S. Connelly & J. McDonald) City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final November 1, 2023 Vice-Chair Connelly reported on the progress that she and Committee Member McDonald have achieved in gaining public visibility for the marker renovations that have been completed, and Committee Member McDonald identified (and showed photos of) the five markers that could use some additional landscape beautification to enhance the presentation and appearance of the markers. A discussion of soliciting donations from individuals and/or organizations also ensued. Vice-Chair Connelly next shared a landscape design, installation, and on-going maintenance quote that she received from Landert Landscape Design, and the Committee discussed the project phases required to properly plan for, fund, install and maintain the desired plantings around the historical markers in question. The Committee advanced a Motion to approve and fund a landscape design and Master Plan for the identified historical markers, with an understanding that, following the acceptance of an appropriate landscape design and Plan, separate steps with City and Committee approvals to fund, purchase, install, and maintain the plantings will be required in the future. MOTION by Member McDonald, seconded by Member Homuth, that an allocation of the Beautification Advisory Committee's 2024FY budget in the amount of $2500.00, but not to exceed $2999.00, be applied to procuring a Landscape Design, Preliminary Plan, and Final Master Plan including elevation sketches, aerial plan to scale, plant lists, blooming schedule, planting instructions, and initial consultation with Landert Landscape Design for the Committee's Historical Marker Project, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING MEMBER VOTE: Yes: 7- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser (7) NEW BUSINESS ID 23-3235 Calusa Park Food Forest - Update & Next Steps (D. Leaser) Chair Leaser reported that, as a result of donations received to date, thirteen (13) fruit-bearing trees have been planted in and area of Calusa Park (Winterberry Drive) between Barcelona and Capri Courts. Chair Leaser provided an brief description of the thirteen trees. ID 23-3236 Assignment of Committee Leads for 2024 Events & Initiatives (All Committee Members) Committee Member Sharon Watts led the discussion in identifying Committee Member volunteer leads and support members for the following events/activities: MARCO NATURE NIGHT Committee Lead: Member Watts Supporting Committee Members: Vice-Chair Connelly & Member Nesmith MARCO-IN-BLOOM Committee Lead: Member McDonald Supporting Committee Member: Member Kramer ARBOR DAY Committee Lead: Member Homuth Supporting Committee Member: Chair Leaser ID 23-3237 Restoration of Marco Island’s Medians - Recommendations for Soliciting City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final November 1, 2023 Public Interest and Funding (D. Nesmith) With no ready recommendations to share at this meeting, Committee Member Nesmith agreed to bring forward his recommendations to the Committee for its consideration at its December 6, 2023 meeting. [Editorial Note: See Staff Communications (Agenda Item 8 below) for additional information on select median improvement actions currently underway] ID 23-3240 2024 Committee Meeting Schedule Confirmation The Committee reviewed the first Wednesday of the month dates for its 2024 schedule of meetings and decided to convene on the following dates: January 10 (the second Wednesday of the month) February 7 March 6 April 3 May 1 June 5 July 3 August 7 September 4 October 2 November 13 (the second Wednesday of the month) December 4 (8) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Public Works Director Martin advised the Committee of a resident-led initiative among the residents on and along South Heathwood Drive south of Winterberry Drive to collect funds to restore the narrow median on South Heathwood Drive between Winterberry Drive and Collingswood Avenue. Director Martin indicated that a cost estimate to restore that median to its original landscape design plan was in the process of being obtained from the City's vendor (Affordable Landscape & Design). He expected that an estimate would be in hand by November 3rd. Additionally, Director Martin reported that residents concerned with the condition and appearance of the center median on South Collier Boulevard across from the Cape Marco Condominium complex have contacted the City to request that the dead junipers and bougainvillas be removed from that median. Work is underway to remove those dead plantings. ID 23-3186 Dead Tree Identification and Removal Process In line with his report on the median improvement efforts noted above, Public Works Director Martin City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final November 1, 2023 asked the Beautification Advisory Committee Members to be the "eyes" for other unsightly/neglected public rights-of-way areas where dead plants may need to be removed. Chair Leaser noted sections in the City's Land Development Code where the City Staff is compelled to remove and replace dead trees and plantings as they occur, but both he and Public Works Director Martin recognized the need for funding allocations from the City Council to facilitate the City's ability to remain in compliance with the City's existing statutes. Chair Leaser conveyed his intention to bring this situation to the attention of the City Council. (9) PUBLIC COMMENT ID 23-3239 Citizen Request Mr. Russ Howald (Delbrook Way) outlined his effort to obtain permits to remove and replace unsightly invasive plants with more eye-pleasing greenery at the rear of his property along San Marco Road, and he requested the Committee's action in devoting its attention and resources toward beautifying the public right-of-way along San Marco Road between Balfour Drive and Sand Hill Street. Public Works Director Justin Martin outlined the City's plans to install and maintain drought-tolerant bahia sod once the invasive plants are removed, and he provided an overview of the City's broader invasive plant removal/replacement initiative in that area. (10) NEXT MEETING: CONFIRMATION & ATTENDANCE Chair Leaser confirmed that a quorum of Committee members is likely to be available for the Committee's next meeting on December 6, 2023. (11) PROPOSED AGENDA TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING The Committee identified the following agenda items for its December 6th meeting: 1) Funding Landscape Improvements for City Property ("First Responders Park") on the Southeast Corner of San Marco Road and South Heathwood Drive (Vice-Chair Connelly with Fleet & Facilities Manager Miguel Carballo) 2) Historical Marker Landscape Elevation Sketches & Soliciting Public Donations (Vice-Chair Connelly) 3) 2024 Marco Nature Night Initial Approach & Plan (Member Watts) 4) 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Marketing Plan (Member McDonald) 5) South Heathwood & Winterberry Drive Median Restoration Update (Member Nesmith) The following are also carried forward from the Committee's November 1, 2023 Meeting: 6) Restoration of Marco Island's Medians - Recommendations for Soliciting Public Interest and Funding (Member Nesmith) 7) 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Nomination & Judging Process a) Ability to Accept Nominations on the City's Website (Director Martin) b) Identifying an Expert Gardener to Guide Committee Property Evaluations (Member McDonald) c) Procedures to Successfully Allow for Committee Members to Judge Properties Together (Director Martin) d) Timetable to Ensure the Announcement of Contest Winners at the April 8, 2024 City Council Meeting City of Marco Island Florida Page 5 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final November 1, 2023 (Director Martin) (12) OTHER COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS No other Committee Communications were offered during this portion of the meeting. (13) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, Chair Leaser adjourned the meeting at 4:16 P.M. ________________________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 6