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VOLUSIA COUNTY BEACH POLICY ADVISORY BOARD
Meeting minutes for September 11, 2007
VOTRAN Meeting Rooms
I. CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting of September 11, 2007 was called to order by Chairman Lamotte at
5:30 p.m.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Interim Chairman David Lamotte
Interim Vice-Chairman Glenn Storch
Dr. P.T. Bud Fleuchaus
Nick Conte
Jason McGuirk
Steven Strawn
BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT
Wilma Allen
Worley Pruitt
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF AUGUST 14, 2007:
Chairman Lamotte moved to approve the minutes of August 14, 2007 and Vice Chairman Storch seconded the motion. Motion approved unanimously.
III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (3 MINUTE TIME LIMIT PER SPEAKER):
None.
IV. NEW BUSINESS:
Vice Chairman Glenn Storch asked if there were any new members appointed to the Board. Chris French explained that at this time there were no new applications from west side applicants for the County Chair to elect from. Vice Chairman Storch made a recommendation to Chairman Lamotte to schedule the election of the officers at the next Board meeting. Chairman Lamotte asked that the election of the officers be added to the next Board meeting in October.
V. ONGOING BUSINESS:
A. Beach Management Plan
Discussion began regarding off beach parking fees and the increase in the beach tolls. Chairman Lamotte asked for some clarification regarding these changes. Vice Chairman Storch advised that the Board proposed 2 different options which were to allow for funds to be put away for future off beach parking areas. A suggestion to remove the segments covering the off beach parking fees and the increase in beach tolls and then take the plan back before Council for approval was discussed. Nick Conte made the motion to remove the off beach parking fees and the increased toll fees from the Beach Management Plan and take it back before Council for review, approval and implementation. Vice Chairman Storch seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. A brief history of the Beach Management Plan was discussed for the benefit of the new members. Vice Chairman Storch would like to know when the Beach Management Plan will go back before County Council with the changes made so that Board members would be able to attend and support the approval of the plan. Chairman Lamotte asked for the figures relating to the parking fees collected by Republic Parking. Nick Conte questioned the use of the promotional monies to hire one person to be the contact for various issues regarding the beach. He was advised that Tony Sopotnick from Beach Safety is the person who is occupying that position as mentioned in the plan. Nick Conte has a question regarding the sea walls on the beach. Vice Chairman Storch advised that the County does not have jurisdiction over the sea walls themselves. They actually fall within the jurisdiction of the Cities. He advised that it would actually be beneficial for the Cities and County to work together to create a plan to clean them up and make a standard for all of the sea walls. Further discussion ensued. Vice Chairman Storch made a suggestion that the Board should suggest that the Cities and Counties should work together to create one standard for all of the sea walls on Volusia County beaches. Vice Chairman Storch made a motion to have a letter sent to Steve Kintner, VCOG and the redevelopment districts to get someone working on getting the Cities and County together to create a standard for the sea walls. Motion was seconded by Dr. Fleuchaus. Motion passed unanimously. Chairman Lamotte asked about the beach concessions and the conditions of the vehicles. Beach concessionaire Rick Shiver advised that they are working with Rick Gilotti and the County and they have looked at several designs. They are working on finalizing the contract with the County and the design they will use at this time. Further discussion on the plans for the concessionaires followed. Nick Conte wanted to know how long it took to develop the Beach Management Plan. Vice Chairman Storch advised that it took a total of one year to complete. Further discussion ensued.
B. Beach Mile Marker Signs
Beach Concessionaire Rick Shiver demonstrated for the Board how the signs would be placed on the poles on the beach. Tony Sopotnick from Beach Safety advised the idea for the signs had come from signs that were in use on the beaches in Clearwater. He advised that the signs are very popular with the residents and tourists in that area. At this time he was not sure if the signs would be two sided but that they will be placed out on A1A as well as down on the beach. The signs will be placed every mile and will begin at the south county line and run to the north county line. Rick Shiver advised that the Mainstreet and South Redevelopment districts had mentioned to him that they may be willing to provide some funding toward the signs in their areas. Further discussion ensued. Vice Chairman Storch made a motion to have two letters sent out from Chairman Lamotte, one to the County Manager commending him for the job done on the signs and asking that the signs be double sided, using two poles to hold them up and using architectural themes to designate the different cities on the beach, another letter would be sent to the redevelopment districts about the possibility of some funding from them for the new signage. Nick Conte seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
VI. DISCUSSION ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
Chairman Lamotte asked Tony Sopotnick to recap the beach conditions from this summer. He advised that there had been various weather conditions throughout this summer and that some had caused some extreme conditions requiring them to perform many rescues on the beach. Overall he advised that they had done extremely well this summer and made many successful rescues. He advised that they did not have any deaths in the guarded areas on the beach. Vice Chairman Storch briefly discussed the issues that are occurring in Brevard County and their beaches, he complimented Volusia County on the great job they are doing. Tony Sopotnick advised that they are still busy through September and October due to the weather conditions in this area. Jason McGuirk asked about the numbers of visitors to the beach. Tony Sopotnick advised that the numbers are soft this year. He has the numbers from Republic Parking and that they have been down through July 31st. He advised that they lost Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day due to weather conditions which substantially affected the numbers. Further discussion ensued regarding the attendance on the beach. Chairman Lamotte asked about the tides this summer and that they seemed to be high. Tony Sopotnick advised that the geography of the beach was changed during the hurricanes in 2004 and that has caused the difference that is being seen now. Dr. Fleuchaus gave Tony Sopotnick an article to share with his staff about New York lifeguards. Nick Conte asked if he could get the numbers regarding beach attendance that Tony Sopotnick has from Republic Parking. Tony Sopotnick advised that he would get them to him. There was some discussion regarding the extra weeks that the kids were out of school this summer and the thought that it would help attendance on the beach. Vice Chairman Storch thanked Tony Sopotnick for the great tour that some of the members were given during the summer. Tony Sopotnick advised that they enjoyed taking the Board members out and that they would be happy to do it again in the future.
VII. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.
The next meeting is set for October 9, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.
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