Beautification Advisory Committee

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, December 6, 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 December 6, 2023 (1) CALL TO ORDER Chair Leaser called the meeting to order at 3:00 P.M. (2) ROLL CALL Present: 7- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser (Note: Member Homuth left the meeting at 4:16 P.M.) (3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chair Leaser. (4) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION by Member McDonald, seconded by Vice-Chair Connelly, that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENSUS: Yes: 7- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser (5) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 23-3264 Approval of the Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 1, 2023 MOTION by Member Nesmith, seconded by Member Watts, that the Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of November 1, 2023, be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS CONSENSUS: Yes: 7- Vice-Chair Connelly, Member Homuth, Member Kramer, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Chair Leaser (6) OLD BUSINESS ID 23-3269 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Marketing Plan (J. McDonald) Member McDonald presented the results of her investigation into ad insert rates for the Marco Eagle, the Coastal Breeze, and the Marco Gazette, with the Committee offering input on potential ways that one or more of these publications could assist in promoting the 2024 Marco-in-Bloom Contest. Ms. McDonald was also asked to inquire about potentially promoting the Contest in the MI Magazine as well. The Committee agreed that promotion of the 2024 Marco-in-Bloom Contest should begin in mid-to-late January, and include the following: 1) Appearance at the January 22, 2024 City Council Meeting to publicly announce the Contest; 2) Committee attendance and dissemination of Contest announcement flyers to attendees of the weekly Marco Island Farmers' Market; 3) Committee-created articles announcing and describing the Contest for insertion in the Marco Eagle and the Coastal Breeze newspapers; City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final December 6, 2023 4) Activation of an online 2024 Marco-in-Bloom Contest Application Form accessible via the City's website, and; 5) Potential 1/4 page advertising inserts in one or more of the Island's local publications beginning in mid-to-late February, depending upon the number of Contest applications received. In addition, Member McDonald was asked to contact City Parks, Recreation & Culture Manager Samantha Malloy to obtain her recommendations and guidelines for disseminating information at the weekly Farmers' Market. Also, Member McDonald was asked to provide electronic versions of the Contest Application Form and the Contest announcement flyer to Public Works Director Justin Martin's office so that: 1) the Contest Application Form may be loaded onto the City’s website, and; 2) the Contest announcement flyer may be shared with members of the City's other volunteer Committees for their information, dissemination, and support. ID 23-3272 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Nomination & Judging Process (J. McDonald & Director J. Martin) Member Julie McDonald led the Committee's discussion regarding several considerations to enable a well-planned and executed judging process for the 2024 Marco-in-Bloom Contest. Among the elements discussed, the Committee determined: 1) the necessary procedures to allow the Committee members to judge Contest applicant properties in a manner that is compliant with the State's public noticing and Sunshine Law requirements; 2) Committee guidelines under which past Contest winners may display their award yard signs, and; 3) its Contest judging timetable to facilitate the ability for the Committee to announce the 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Contest winners at its April 3, 2024 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting, with presentation of awards at the April 8, 2024 City Council Meeting Additionally, Vice-Chair Connelly agreed to assist Member McDonald in identifying an Expert Gardener volunteer to provide plant identification insights for the members of the Committee as they review contest entrant properties. Member McDonald was asked by the Committee to bring forward one or more proposed 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Contest Award Winner yard sign designs for discussion at the Committee's January 10, 2024 meeting. ID 23-3237 Restoration of Marco Island’s Medians - Recommendations for Soliciting Public Interest and Funding (D. Nesmith) At the request of Committee Member Dustin Nesmith, Public Works Director Justin Martin provided an update on one neighborhood-initiated proposal to fund the revitalization of the narrow landscape median on South Heathwood Drive, south of its intersection with Winterberry Drive. Member Nesmith asked Director Martin to include him in all future communications with the neighborhood group that approached the City regarding this median. Mr. Martin also re-iterated the City's pursuit of State funding for the redesign and re-grading of the City's landscape medians along Collier Boulevard to reduce the runoff of reclaimed water into the City's stormwater drain system. He noted that the State assigned the City's grant request to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for its consideration and prioritization, and that he did not expect any funding action from FDOT before the start of its next fiscal year which begins on July 1, 2024. ID 23-3270 Historical Marker Landscape Elevation Sketches & Soliciting Public City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final December 6, 2023 Donations (S. Connelly) Vice-Chair Shelli Connelly reported that, since the Committee's last meeting, she visited and assessed each historical marker site for its sun exposure and irrigation availability with the assistance of Ms. Leslie Landert of Landert Landscape Design. Ms. Connelly also contacted and received verbal approval from each property owner where the historical markers are located to pursue landscape improvements to beautify the immediate historical marker sites. She showed concept photographs and proposed design plans for seven of the historical marker sites, and she indicated that the remaining site designs, and the compilation of the number of plants and sizes required, will be completed in advance of the Committee's next meeting. Actions/Next Steps: Ms. Connelly was asked to check/confirm the structural stability of the Goodland Village access road marker, and to send the address information for the Railroad Turnaround cul-de-sac location to Public Works Director Martin so that his staff can confirm the status of the irrigation supply lines to that location. Additionally, Vice-Chair Connelly reviewed her proposed donation solicitation letter with the Committee and received the Committee's consensus support to proceed with the letter as drafted. [Editorial Note: A copy of the Committee's endorsed donation solicitation letter is listed on www.cityofmarcoisland.com under Our Government > Agendas and Minutes > Beautification Advisory Committee 12/6/23 > Meeting Details] (7) NEW BUSINESS ID 23-3268 2024 Marco Nature Night Initial Approach and Plan (S. Watts) Member Sharon Watts reviewed her initial approach and plan for the Committee's planned 2024 Marco Nature Night event. Targeting an event date of Wednesday, February 21, 2024 (with an alternate date of Wednesday, February 28, 2024), Public Works Director Justin Martin was asked to confirm the availability of the Community Meeting Room and lobby area for that date. [Editorial Note: City Staff later confirmed that both February 21 and February 28 are available dates for the Committee's Marco Nature Night event] Member Watts outlined her thoughts on the Event's kick-off, refreshments, raffle, and exhibits and, along with the Committee's input, identified several potential presentation topics and presenters to share information on topics of interest for the 2024 Marco Nature Night evening. Actions/Next Steps: Member Watts was asked to reach out to the identified presenters to assess their interest in participating in the Committee's 2024 event, and to update the Committee at its January 10th meeting. Member Nesmith offered to assist in identifying a provider/sponsor for the evening's refreshments. ID 23-3271 Funding Landscape Improvements at “First Responder Park” (S. Connelly) Vice-Chair Shelli Connelly noted that she included reference to "First Responders Park" in her earlier-discussed donation solicitation letter, and she hoped that the opportunity to fund the beautification of this high visibility corner at the intersection of San Marco Road and South Heathwood Drive would attract the attention of one or more generous benefactors. Ms. Connelly, and Public Works Director Martin, also briefly referenced City Fleet & Facilities Manager Miguel Carballo's intention to include "First Responders Park" in his effort to solicit State grants to improve the appearance, safety, and accommodation of the Winterberry Drive Public Beach Access City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final December 6, 2023 pathway, but she indicated that any State response will likely come sometime in the more distant future. In light of this likely timetable, the Committee agreed to revisit the original concept design plan for this park at a future meeting to enhance its presentation and ability to effectively solicit public donations. ID 23-3273 Review of the Committee’s Web Pages (Director Martin/J. Kornas) A brief review of the Committee's existing web pages on the City's website precipitated the following: 1) a recommendation that the "Contests & Awards" content be merged with the "Events & Activities" content to appear under one common banner; 2) a request by the Committee that information and photos from recent Marco-in-Bloom Contests, Marco Nature Nights, and Arbor Day activities be researched/retrieved and added to the "Events and Activities" section of the site; 3) that the Committee's recent work in updating the Island's Historical Markers be added to the site, and; 4) that informational materials for citizens regarding medians and cul-de-sac improvements, and how to donate to support beautification efforts at "First Responders Park" and other locations be included Additionally, Chair David Leaser volunteered to meet with City Staff to review the structure and layout of the Committee's current web pages to identify and propose modifications to improve the site's timeliness and public presentation. (8) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS ID 23-3274 Director Justin Martin’s Report Public Works Director Justin Martin reported the following: 1) the City is in receipt of the necessary documentation from the Island's Rotary Club regarding the club's desire to display banners on the light poles along Collier Boulevard in conjunction with its February/Valentine's Day fund-raising activity [see the Beautification Advisory Committee's Meeting Minutes of October 4, 2023 for additional detail]; 2) no documentation from the Kiwanis Club of Marco Island regarding its planned display of banners in conjunction with its February 24, 2024 Car Show has been received to date [also reviewed at the Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting of October 4, 2023], and; 3) assessment and repair of select Collier Boulevard light pole lower banner support arms is being undertaken to prepare for the February events. Additionally, Director Martin reminded the Committee that the annual election of Committee members to the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair for the upcoming year will be conducted at the Committee's March 6, 2024 meeting. (9) CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION ID 23-3296 New “City Council Communication” Agenda Topic Recording Specialist Jim Kornas highlighted and briefly explained the purpose of this new agenda topic that will be included on all Committee agendas for calendar year 2024. City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final December 6, 2023 (10) PUBLIC COMMENT No members of the public came forward to provide comment to the Committee at this meeting. (11) NEXT MEETING: CONFIRMATION & ATTENDANCE ID 23-3293 Next Meeting: Confirmation & Attendance All members of the Committee indicated their availability and intention to participate in the Committee's next scheduled meeting on January 10, 2024 beginning at 3:00 P.M. (12) PROPOSED AGENDA TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING The Committee identified the following likely agenda topics for its January 10 2024 meeting: 1) 2024 Marco Nature Night Event Plan Update & Date Confirmation (S. Watts) 2) Historical Marker Landscape Elevation Sketches & Next Steps (S. Connelly) 3) 2024 Marco-In-Bloom Yard Sign Design Concepts, Online Application Form Draft, & Promotional Plans Update (J. McDonald) 4) "First Responder Park" and Historical Marker Landscape Donations Update (S. Connelly) 5) Citizen Median Improvement Update (D. Nesmith) 6) 2024 Arbor Day Celebration - Initial Approach and Plan (T. Homuth) (13) OTHER COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS Vice-Chair Connelly requested clarification on the Committee's direction and objective regarding the solicitation of public donations for the improvement of roadway medians and cul-de-sacs on Marco Island. The Committee's ensuing discussion led to an understanding of the proper process and procedure for interested citizens and citizen groups to pursue improvements to their desired medians and cul-de-sacs of interest. Public Works Director Martin advised the Committee of an existing informational piece on the City's website entitled: City of Marco Island Public Works Department Cul-de-Sac Landscaping & Permitting Guide, and he encouraged the Committee to refer citizens and citizen groups to this document if they are approached about this subject. [Editorial Note: A copy of this Cul-de-Sac Landscaping & Permitting Guide is listed on www.cityofmarcoisland.com under Our Government > Agendas and Minutes > Beautification Advisory Committee 12/6/23 > Meeting Details] (14) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, Chair Leaser adjourned the meeting at 4:33 P.M. _________________________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 5