Beautification Advisory Committee

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, April 3, 2024 3:00 PM Community Room Beautification Advisory Committee Chair: Shelli Connelly Vice-Chair: Dustin Nesmith Members: David Leaser, Julie McDonald, Sharon Watts, Fiona Winter City Staff: Justin Martin, Jim Kornas, Tara Kosieracki Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final April 3, 2024 (1) CALL TO ORDER Chair Leaser called the meeting to order at 3:01 P.M. (2) ROLL CALL Present: 6- Member Connelly, Member Leaser, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Member Winter Also Present Mr. Justin Martin, City of Marco Island Public Works Director Ms. Tara Kosieracki, City of Marco Island Public Works Department Administrative & Project Coordinator Mr. Martin Luna, City of Marco Island Audio/Visual Technician (3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chair Leaser. (4) INTRODUCTION OF NEW MEMBER ID 24-3470 New Committee Member Introduction At Chair Leaser's request, Ms. Fiona Winter, nominated by City Councilor Rich Blonna, and appointed to the Beautification Advisory Committee by the Marco Island City Council on March 18, 2024, shared a brief overview of her background and was welcomed to the Committee. (5) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION by Vice-Chair Connelly, seconded by Member Nesmith, that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE CONSENT. Yes: 6- Member Connelly, Member Leaser, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Member Winter (6) ELECTION OF CHAIR & VICE-CHAIR ID 24-3460 Election of Chair & Vice-Chair Chair Leaser outlined the procedure for nominating and accepting Committee candidates for the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair for the upcoming year, and he opened the floor for nominations for Beautification Advisory Committee Chair. MOTION by Vice-Chair Connelly nominating current Chair David Leaser to continue as Chair of the Beautification Advisory Committee. CURRENT CHAIR LEASER DECLINED THE NOMINATION. MOTION by Member Nesmith nominating current Vice-Chair Connelly as Chair of the Beautification Advisory Committee. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE VOTE: Yes: 6- Member Connelly, Member Leaser, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Member Winter MOTION by Member McDonald nominating Member Watts as Vice-Chair of the Beautification Advisory Committee. MEMBER WATTS DECLINED THE NOMINATION. City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final April 3, 2024 MOTION by newly-elected Chair Connelly nominating Member Nesmith as Vice-Chair of the Beautification Advisory Committee. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEE VOTE: Yes: 6- Member Connelly, Member Leaser, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Member Winter (THE COMMITTEE MEETING WENT INTO A BRIEF RECESS TO ALLOW THE NEW COMMITTEE CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR TO ASSUME THEIR APPROPRIATE PLACES ON THE DAIS) (7) APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 24-3528 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of March 6, 2024 MOTION by Member Leaser, seconded by Member McDonald, that the Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of March 6, 2024 be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS COMMITTEE CONSENT. Yes: 6- Member Connelly, Member Leaser, Member McDonald, Member Nesmith, Member Watts and Member Winter (8) OLD BUSINESS A. ID 24-3482 Announcement of 2024 Marco In Bloom Contest Award Winners (J. McDonald) Newly-elected Chair Connelly publicly thanked Ms. Leslie Landert of Landert Landscape Design for supporting the Committee's property judging process, and she invited Marco In Bloom Contest leader Julie McDonald to share the results of the Committee's evaluation and selection effort. Member McDonald thanked all of the members of the Committee for their participation and individual property evaluation scores, and she announced the following 2024 Marco In Bloom Contest Award Winning & Runner-Up Properties: Condominium Property Category: Riviera Condominium (Award Winner); Bayfront Place Condomium (Runner-Up) Cul-de-Sac Property Category: Bond Court (Award Winner); Channel Court (Runner-Up) Commercial/Public Building Category: J.W. Marriott (Award Winner); Marshall Building (Runner-Up) Residential - Professionally Landscaped Property Category: 1411 Quintara Court (Award Winner); 724 Plantation Court (Runner-Up) Residential - Built Before 1980 - Professionally Landscaped Property Category: 178 Geranium Court (Award Winner); 1733 Wavecrest Court (Runner-Up) City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final April 3, 2024 Residential - Personally Landscaped Property Category 475 Nassau Court (Award Winner); 1710 Hawaii Court (Runner-Up) Residential - Built Before 1980 - Personally Landscaped Property Category 1250 Jamaica Court (Award Winner); no Runner-Up property The Committee was advised that the presentation of this year's Marco In Bloom yard sign awards will be conducted at the April 22, 2024 Marco Island City Council Meeting, and Contest leader McDonald pledged to reach out to all award-winning and nominated property owners prior to the Council's meeting. Newly-elected Chair Connelly praised Marco In Bloom Contest Leader McDonald for her excellent work and preparation for this year's judging effort, and she encouraged all non-award-winning property owners to re-submit their properties for nomination when the 2025 Marco In Bloom Contest is announced early next year. B. ID 24-3479 “First Responders Park” & Historical Markers Donation Update (S. Connelly) Chair Connelly advised the Committee that soil evaluations at the locations of the thirteen historical markers is being completed, and that the procurement of plants for all locations for a targeted May, 2024 completion of the project is currently planned. She noted the outreach by a property owner regarding a historical marker location that was being affected as a result of a neighboring property owner's driveway project, and she indicated that the City Public Works team was very responsive in promptly re-securing the marker. Chair Connelly also reported that no public or business community donations had been received to date to support the Committee's desired beautification of the 'First Responders Park" (note: property parcel at the southeast corner of South Heathwood Avenue and San Marco Road), and Committee member Julie McDonald volunteered to inquire with the leadership of the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce if the Committee might be allowed to bring an awareness/solicitation presentation to an upcoming "Chamber After Five" member event. Member McDonald indicated her intention to provide an update to the Committee at its next meeting. C. ID 24-3483 Calusa Park Butterfly Garden Irrigation Status Update (S. Connelly) Chair Connelly advised the Committee that the City's landscape contractor was in the process of completing the relocation of the water supply spigot in support of the Calusa Garden Club's request for the Calusa Park Butterfly Garden, and she conveyed the Garden Club's appreciation and acceptance of the Committee's offer to fund one-half of the cost (up to $266.50) of the water supply spigot relocation. Chair Connelly also noted the Calusa Garden Club's enthusiastic support of the Committee's plans to conduct its 2024 Arbor Day event and tree planting in the vicinity of the Club's Butterfly Garden. D. ID 24-3474 Committee Member Reports on Preparations for 4/24/24 Arbor Day Event Committee Member Sharon Watts confirmed the date, time, and location for the Committee's 2024 Arbor Day Event (Wednesday, April 24 beginning at 9:00 A.M. near the Calusa Park Butterfly Garden), and she communicated the status of the arrangements that have been completed and are still in process. Chair Connelly advised the Committee of the selected species of tree that was identified for planting as part of the Arbor Day Event (Holywood lignum vitae, or as known by its scientific name, Guaiacum Sanctum) with the help of the Calusa Garden Club members, and she indicated that the City's landscape contractor was in the process of procuring an appropriate specimen for the Event. City of Marco Island Florida Page 3 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final April 3, 2024 Ms. Rhonda Gloodt of the Calusa Garden Club volunteered to share an enlightening and entertaining history of the selected tree species at the April 24th Event. (9) NEW BUSINESS No new items of business were brought forward or discussed during this portion of the meeting. (10) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS ID 23-3274 Director Justin Martin’s Report Public Works Director Justin Martin updated the Committee on the status of the City's request for Collier County Tourist Development Council (TDC) consideration in funding improvements to the City's beach access pathways, and he sensitized the Committee to the highly-constrained nature of the City's budget resources to support the purchase, deployment, and maintenance of additional waste receptacles along the Island's major roadways. In response to questions raised by members of the Committee later in his report, Director Martin provided insight on several City infrastructure projects that are viewed as high-priority by the City’s Council Members, and he provided a status on the citizen-requested improvement to the center median on South Heathwood Drive, just south of its intersection with Winterberry Drive. Director Martin also read an email submitted by a local resident regarding her observations regarding the appearance of the North Barfield - Collier Blvd. intersection, and he provided an expected timeline on when the City's work to improve the flow of incoming and outgoing traffic at that intersection is likely to begin. Chair Connelly, during Director Martin's update, also requested an update on the funds remaining in the Committee's 2024 Fiscal Year budget, and she encouraged the Committee to consider how these remaining funds might best be used through the remainder of the City's fiscal year (through September 30, 2024). (11) CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION ID 23-3296 “City Council Communication” Agenda Topic No communication or direction to the Committee from the Marco Island City Council was presented or discussed at this meeting. (12) PUBLIC COMMENT Ms. Rene Ford (Bald Eagle Dr.) invited the Beautification Advisory Committee to participate in the 3rd Annual joint Rotary Club of Marco Island Noontime / Collier County YMCA "2024 Island-Wide Clean Up Event" on Monday, April 22 at 11:00 A.M. at the Marco Island YMCA. Briefly outlining the history of this event, Ms. Ford also encouraged the Committee to support her organization's effort to generate donations to fund pedestrian benches and waste receptacles along stretches of Bald Eagle Drive, South Heathwood Avenue, San Marco Road, Winterberry Drive, and at the Island Yacht Club-side base of the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge. Ms. Ford concluded by offering several suggestions to the Committee to help support its effort to solicit donations for the Committee's desired improvements at "First Responders Park". (13) NEXT MEETING: CONFIRMATION & ATTENDANCE City of Marco Island Florida Page 4 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final April 3, 2024 ID 23-3293 Next Meeting: Confirmation & Attendance All six of the Committee members present indicated their availability to be present for the Committee's next meeting on May 1st, with the exception of Committee Member Watts who will be unable to attend or call-in to the Committee's next meeting. (14) PROPOSED AGENDA TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING New Committee Member Fiona Winter, during Director Justin Martin's "Staff Communications" report, volunteered to bring forward an initial review and proposal for a City-wide "Adopt A Median" public solicitation and donation-recognition program for discussion at the Committee's May 1, 2024 meeting. Member Winter also requested that a discussion of the City's budget allocation and application history with Tree City USA be added to the Committee's May 1, 2024 agenda. (Note: in support of this forthcoming discussion, Member Julie McDonald volunteered to reach out to one or more former Beautification Advisory Committee members who spearheaded the Committee's previous engagements with Tree City USA to obtain whatever information and/or insight that may be available to share with the Committee prior to its May 1st discussion of this topic.) Additional requested agenda items proposed for the May 1 Committee meeting include: 1. Debrief on the Presentation of Marco In Bloom Awards at the April 22 City Council Meeting (J. McDonald) 2. "First Responders Park" Donation Update & Historical Marker Landscaping Completion Status (S. Connelly) 3. Debrief on the April 24 Arbor Day Event Activity (S. Connelly) 4. Estimated Per Unit Costs for Main Road Benches & Waste Receptacles (J. Martin) 5. Founder Memorial Park (1299 N. Collier Blvd) Beautification/Enhancement Discussion (All) (15) OTHER COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS Past Committee Chair David Leaser reminded the Committee of his presentation, to be jointly-presented with City Councilor Becky Irwin, recognizing donations to the Committee's Ten Thousand Trees in Ten Years pilot program, at the Marco Island City Council Meeting on Monday, April 8, 2024. Current Committee Chair Shelli Connelly also advised the Committee that the nomination and potential appointment of a new Beautification Advisory Committee member to fill the Committee's seventh seat is on the agenda for the April 8, 2024 City Council Meeting. Chair Connelly concluded by thanking Public Works Director Justin Martin for his update on the City's request for Collier County Tourist Development Council (TDC) funds to improve the City's beach access pathways (see Agenda Item 10 Staff Communications), and she requested the opportunity for the Committee to participate in, and offer in-person support, when the City presents its request at the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee (CAC) on Thursday, May 9, 2024 beginning at 1:00 P.M. Director Martin shared insight on the Marco Island City Councilors and residents who sit on the CAC and TDC, and he communicated the location for the City's May 9th presentation to the CAC as: The Collier County Board of Commissioners Chambers, 3rd Floor, Building F, Collier County Courthouse Complex, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, Naples. City of Marco Island Florida Page 5 Beautification Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final April 3, 2024 (16) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, Chair Connelly adjourned the meeting at 4:21 P.M. ___________________________________ Jim Kornas, Recording Specialist City of Marco Island Florida Page 6