Waterways Advisory Committee

City of Marco Island Florida 51 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, Florida cityofmarcoisland.com Meeting Minutes - Final Friday, February 17, 2023 9:00 AM Community Meeting Room Waterways Advisory Committee Chair: David Crain Vice-Chair: Martin Winter Committee Members: Carlos Escarra, Steve Sokol, Philip Thompson, Michael Welty, Eugene Wordehoff City Staff: Justin Martin, Diedre Wint Waterways Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2023 (1) CALL TO ORDER Chair Crain called the Meeting to order at 9AM. (2) ROLL CALL Present: 6- Member Escarra, Member Sokol, Member Welty, Vice-Chair Winter, Member Wordehoff and Chair Crain Absent: 1- Member Thompson Also present: Councillor Palumbo Justin Martin, Public Works Director Diedre Wint, Public Works Storm Gewirtz, Storm Water Engineer (3) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Led by Chair Crain (4) ID 23-2754 Introduction of Member Escarra Member Escarra introduced himself to the Committee as a native to Florida, a retired Fire Fighter and an avid boater. ID 23-2792 Election of Chair and Vice Chair MOTION by Member Winter to Nominate David Crain as Chair. Yes: 6- Member Escarra, Member Sokol, Member Welty, Vice-Chair Winter, Member Wordehoff and Chair Crain MOTION by Member Sokol to Nominate Member Winter as Vice Chair. Yes: 6- Member Escarra, Member Sokol, Member Welty, Vice-Chair Winter, Member Wordehoff and Chair Crain (5) APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA MOTION by Member Wordehoff, seconded by Member Welty, that the Agenda be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: Yes: 6- Member Escarra, Member Sokol, Member Welty, Vice-Chair Winter, Member Wordehoff and Chair Crain APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES ID 23-2757 Approval of the Minutes for the January 19, 2023 Meeting MOTION by Member Sokol, seconded by Vice-Chair Winter, that the Minutes of January 19, 2023 be Approved. MOTION CARRIED BY THE FOLLOWING VOICE VOTE: City of Marco Island Florida Page 1 Waterways Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2023 Yes: 6- Member Escarra, Member Sokol, Member Welty, Vice-Chair Winter, Member Wordehoff and Chair Crain (7) NEW BUSINESS None. (8) PUBLIC COMMENT (TIME CERTAIN 9:45 A.M..) It was recommended that a joint meeting he held with the Beautification Advisory Committee before introducing a pilot project for fertilizer ban. Criticism was raised on the Committee's unilateral focus last year on water which did not seem to fit into the focus of City Council; as a result, it was suggested that the Committee refocus their initiatives with those that will be met by City Council. Suggestions were made to implement: a one-year embargo on phosphorus and nitrogen ban (fertilizer) on the Island, hold a joint meeting with the Beautification Advisory Committee to get feedback on the Waterways Advisory Committee's initiatives and garner the City's involvement to improve navigational markers. In addition, a standard was needed for canal structures to ensure resiliency and not just the aesthetics appeal. Councillor Palumbo greeted the Committee Members and informed them they had his support but the tasks were difficult. Commitment was made by the Committee to follow up with Collier County on the navigational markers. Concerns were raised regarding the installation of vinyl instead of concrete Sea Walls due to their lack to provide habitat for oysters which are good for water quality and that vinyl created a slime far from an aesthetic appeal. (9) Landscape Registration and Fertilizer Enforcement ID 23-2756 Notice for Landscape Registration and Fertilizer Enforcement It was suggested to implement a fertilizer ban; however, it was postponed to the next meeting for discussion and resolution on the matter. (10) OLD BUSINESS (11) STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Shorebird nesting season began February 15, 2023 and Sand Spit of the Borrow Area which is included in the Tigertail Sand Dollar Island Restoration Project has been raked and restored. The RFI voted on in the last meeting was in its final version and will be sent out by the Purchasing Department for bidding. To date, 20 Contract Landscapers were registered under the new Landscape Registration and Fertilizer Ordinance. (12) NEXT MEETING: CONFIRMATION & ATTENDANCE City of Marco Island Florida Page 2 Waterways Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes - Final February 17, 2023 Members agreed that the next Meeting be the third Thursday of March which is March 16, 2023. (13) PROPOSED AGENDA TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING Proposed topic for the next Meeting to include: Florida Friendly Planning - defining New Seawall, Update on connectivity to City Sewer service by Goodland and Isles of Capri, Committee Presentation on its initiatives to City Council. (14) OTHER COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS Recommendations were made to move up hearing Public Comments after the Minutes have been approved and make provisions before the adjournment of the Meeting for any items on the Agenda. It was discussed that the building standards for seawalls have not been changed in about a decade even with new technology. While vinyl may be a great product for it to be installed on a falling seawall and have the City records classify them as a new seawall was not acceptable. The construction of docks needed redress along with seawalls to provide structural resiliency. (15) ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Committee, Chair Crain adjourned the meeting at 10:20 A.M. __________________________________ Diedre Wint, Administrative Assistant City of Marco Island Florida Page 3