Volusia
County Beach Policy Advisory Board
Meeting minutes for July 8, 2003
VOTRAN Meeting Rooms
I. CALL TO
ORDER:
Chairman Storch called the
meeting to order at 5:30 p.m., July 8, 2003
BOARD MEMBERS
PRESENT
Chairman Glenn
Storch
Vice-Chairman Ernest Boger
Dr. Bud Fleuchaus
Charles DeZaruba
James France
Walter Welch
Richard Lohmann
Jay Crocker
BOARD MEMBER(S)
ABSENT
William Cook
*Media present
II. APPROVAL OF
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF JULY 8, 2003:
Charles DeZaruba moved approval of the minutes and Rich Lohmann seconded
the motion. Motion approved unanimously.
III. PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION – ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT PER SPEAKER)
None.
IV. BEACH MANAGEMENT
PLAN:
Beach Driving – Board Members comments and consensus of what to do:
Continued
Beach Access – Where would
people go and how would access be provided if driving were banned:
Continued
Beach Driving – Public
Participation –
Walter Hayes – Mr. Hayes let the Board know that he resented the “low
spending day tripper” comment in the News Journal article. Chairman Storch
advised that citizens and residents are different. Mr. Hayes stated that
over the years he had never seen an accident on the beach and further felt
that off beach parking areas on the West side of A1A was dangerous due to
crossing the busy street. Chairman Storch advised Mr. Hayes that the Board
recognizes that problem and stated that parking lots on the West side of
A1A is not the solution. Chairman Storch advised that the beachfront parks
are a huge success and that fees for off beach parking are being
considered.
Glenda Diodene let the Board
know that she was mad about the article in the newspaper. Ms. Diodene is
against taking cars off the beach. Ms. Diodene asked the Board to consider
whose interests would suffer and who would profit by taking the cars off
the beach. Chairman Storch advised that his article voiced
opinions/reactions he had received from people who were both pro and con
for taking driving off the beach.
Jay Crocker asked Ms. Diodene
if she was drawing a distinction in her comments between beach driving and
beach parking or if they were the same and she replied beach driving. Ms.
Diodene expressed that she likes parking on the beach. Ms. Diodene
suggested forming a committee to come up with a creative solution.
Charles DeZaruba stated that
driving is needed to access the beach, but is not a necessity. Ms. Diodene
stated that Daytona Beach is the “World’s Most Famous Beach” because of
the driving and tourist will go elsewhere.
Susanne Noble – reported to
the Board that she is new to the area and had recently moved here from
Sarasota because the beach is accessible by car. Ms. Noble felt that
safety issues could be reduced with education and suggested that volunteer
groups could educate the drivers. Chairman Storch asked if there was set
of rules and regulations handed out at the tollbooths. Chairman Storch
advised that parents need to be educated about safety problems. Rich
Lohmann asked Ms. Noble about her experience with the West coast. Ms.
Noble advised that there are lifeguards year round and lots of off beach
parking available. And shuttle buses are provided from the parking lots to
the beach.
Dr. Marion Keyser – 27 year
resident. Dr. Keyser advised that driving one way on the beach would take
care of some of the problems. Dr. Keyser expressed that fireworks and
dangerous and should be eliminated from the beach. Chairman Storch asked
that the discussion be focussed on beach driving. Kevin Sweat was asked to
provide a report on fireworks at the next meeting.
Mike Chuven – Remembers when
cities maintained the beach. He reminded the Board that the people of
Volusia County voted to keep access on the beach. He is against removing
cars from the beach. Mr. Chuven hasn’t seen any damage to the beach that
resulted from 100 years of driving.
Constance Hunter – Resident
since 1976. Ms. Hunter suggested that the Board get in touch with County
Manager, Cindy Coto and the County Council Members about some new
regulations and laws.
John Williams – Complimented
Chairman Storch on bringing the crowd to the meeting. Mr. Williams advised
that the “Sons of the Beach” organization is back business. Mr. Williams
expressed concern about there being no mention of the budget. Dr.
Fleuchaus reminded Mr. Williams that the budget was discussed in the
previous year. Chairman Storch asked Mr. Harper about this year’s budget.
Mr. Harper advised the Board that the first budget workshop will be held
in August.
Terrie Campbell –
Conservationist wants to see access to the beach be preserved. Mr.
Campbell feels that the public chooses to be on the portion of the beach
where driving is accessible. Mr. Campbell doesn’t think cruising is a
problem and believes that closing some ramps would create a traffic
problem. Mr. Campbell accepts the one way traffic idea.
Shawn Geopfert provided the
Board with the July 4, 5, and 6 toll reports. Mr. Geopfert doesn’t believe
one way traffic is the solution. The sand, the tides, etc… would prevent
this from being successful.
Rich Lohmann reported that the
red tide is moving south and will encroach other driving areas year after
year.
Ken Bots – Ocean Deck. Mr.
Bots doesn’t agree with Chairman Storch’s comment on day-trippers not
spending money in the area. He believes that a day at the beach is a good
value and if fees were charged for parking, it would still be a good
value. Chairman Storch advised that all of the issues are being looked at
and any creative solution would be reviewed.
Chairman Storch advised the
crowd that there is no crisis with regards to taking cars off the beach,
but that it should be looked at when considering a plan for the next 10
years.
Mike Porter – HAVOC Member.
Mr. Porter reported that the County is in violation of HAVOC by only
providing one wheelchair accessible site. Mr. Harper advised Mr. Porter
that his information was incorrect and in fact the County provides more
than what is required.
Chairman Storch asked the
Board if they wanted to continue discussing and gathering information on
this subject in an effort to develop a consensus of what to do. The Board
agreed.
Kevin Sweat will present a detailed report on accidents to the next
meeting and the Board will continue the discussion on beach driving at the
next meeting.
V. NEW BUSINESS:
Surf Zone Expansion –
Rick Shiver spoke before the Board about his concerns with the surf zones.
He advised that he is unable to surf in front of his house. Surf zones
were created to prevent injuries to swimmers. Surfing is much safer than
it was years ago. Mr. Shiver asked the Board to consider recommending to
the County Council to expand the surf zones.
Jay Crocker asked Kevin Sweat
when and how the surf zones were created. Kevin reported that they were
developed within the Beach Code. Some of the audience members supported
Mr. Shiver.
Jason Surgent, a local surfer,
advised that swimmers are usually only in waist deep water and don’t
interfere with surfers and in fact surfers have been instrumental in
saving several rip current victims.
Continued discussion to take
place at the September Meeting.
VI. ONGOING
BUSINESS:
John Harper – Update on ramp beautification projects:
John Harper provided before and after pictures of the Granada Avenue ramp
beautification projects and reported that the City of Ormond Beach
cooperated with the County to complete this project. Mr. Harper advised
that $20,000 of the $50,000 allocated to ramp beautification projects was
used for the Granada Ave. project. Dunlawton Ramp is next. Mr. Harper will
provide an update on the progress with the City of Daytona Beach Shores at
the next meeting. Dr. Fleuchaus suggested that the curbs be eliminated
because of problems with the sand building up. Charles DeZaruba asked
about the grass and if it was a desirable choice for drought tolerant
landscapes.
Ernest Boger commended staff on the progress at Frank Rendon Park.
VII. DISCUSSION OF
ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
None.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
Next meeting will be Tuesday, August 12, 2003.
The meeting was adjourned at 7 p.m. back to advisory
board
