HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes CAB 120606Community Aesthetics Board
December 6, 2006
Minutes
The Community Aesthetics Board met on December 6, 2006. The meeting was called to order
by Chairperson Donna Wisneski at 5:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers Conference Room of
the Municipal Complex located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida,
and was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
I. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Donna Wisneski — Chairperson
William Olsen — Vice Chairperson
Terence Brady
Sherry Levy
Gail Vastola
(1' Alt) — Cable Nuehaus
(2'd Alt) — David Anderson
Members Absent: Richard Sartory
Vacancies: One
Also present: Vice Mayor and Council Liaison, Jody Barnett
Staff Liaison, Mark Hendrickson
Alternate Staff Liaison, Brad Wiseman
H. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On page 1 under Items by Council Liaison, 2nd paragraph was grammatically incorrect, the
minutes had Richard Sartory as being present at the November 8, 2006 meeting, he was
absent and there were some changes made to the signature page. There were no further
changes, the Board approved the minutes and changes will be made accordingly by the City
Clerks Office.
M. ITEMS BY COUNCIL LIAISON
Announcements:
Donna Wisneski informed the Board that at the December 7, 2006, Council Meeting, they
would discuss issues with buffering Downtown at the Gardens, pictures and comments from
the residents about the density of the vegetation, meeting codes and concerns from the
residents. Mark Hendrickson said a resident complained about buffering and he would have a
presentation to discuss the approved plans. Mr. Vito DeFrancisco from Shady Lakes was the
resident who made the complaint and had been an outspoken advocate for different
organizations. He had the opportunity to take some pictures that were not correct or
completed. Mark Hendrickson said hopefully, they would address the concerns and move
forward. There is also a truth in advertising in Planning and Zoning. Mark Hendrickson said a
lot of times the Landscaping Architect may say what something looks like in tens years, may
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not be something that is actually what they want to look at. Donna Wisneski mentioned that if
anyone was not able to attend the meeting, a telephone number would be provided for them to
call in and listen to the meeting. (7994150)
IV. ITEMS BY STAFF LIAISON
L Blowing Debris Into Streets
Mark Hendrickson informed the Board that someone had made a compliant about the blowing
of debris in the streets at Magnolia Bay. He went to Code Enforcement and spoke to David
Reyes to get his opinion and they were not able to find an actual code that says blowing debris
into the street was against the code. But there were loosely interpreted sections that suggested,
if you put debris on someone else's property, it's against City code. He also discussed it with
the planners and engineers and there were no concerns that this was causing any problems.
Mark Hendrickson suggested if there was something else that needed further clarification, the
Board could review the landscaping code because there is a maintenance section where this
could be further clarified if they felt this was problem.
H. Gardens of Woodbury / Southamuton Buffer
Mark Hendrickson said there was a condition that said, six months from the excavation
permit, they would have all of the buffers put in, that date has not yet passed and they are still
within that time frame. The Gardens of Woodbury does not have a buffer, so if they wanted to
put up a fence or a buffer themselves, they could probably do so but the only buffer between
the two would probably be when they improve the preserve in that area. Mark Hendrickson
stated that the Board needs to put their faith in the City Forester and that planting would done
to the satisfaction of the City Forester. Mark Hendrickson stated that they were not planning
on a lot of restoration but since the three hurricanes, the insects damage that they've had to
remove hundreds of pines in Southampton, assuming that through the replanting, they would
compensate the buffers adequately for the trees that they have lost and filling the voids where
the exotics were removed. Mark Hendrickson mentioned the Point System which is based on
the open space landscaping and the amount of new landscaping being added to it. Right now,
there are no points to create a preserve because it is the environmentalists and he who works
with the landscaper to know what the plan is, what the size and the density is depending on
whether it is an oak or pine preserve, and what is the existing or what needs to be created.
This was set up this way so there could be some flexibility as far as the purpose it is trying to
serve. He said some of the preserves act as buffers, some are purely preserves that can be
added to an open space but can stand alone.
V. OLD BUSINESS
No old business was discussed. The Preferred Species List and The Landscape Code for
review will resume at the next meeting which is the I' Wednesday in January, 3, 2007. One
Committee Member stated that this Committee is at the Council's pleasure and she has seen
Committees come and go and be abolished because they are no longer needed. She said she
can understand someone going to the Council and vocalizing their concerns and the public has
all right to address their issues and staff has to come back with answers. She wants the
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Committee to keep striving forward with their concerns and the Council has to address those
issues as soon as possible.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
Arbor DU Celebration
Arbor Day Celebration is January 19, 2007 and the Parks Department is working again with
the Gardens Women's Club to have a large celebration at Lake Catherine. The question was
whether or not the Board wanted to have their celebration at the Sandhill Crain Access Park
again where they've had it for the last three years. The only concern was that it was still under
construction and even though they could still find a space, it would be easier to have just one
celebration and they were always welcome to join the Arbor Day Celebration. Mark
Hendrickson reiterated as to what Betty Mark Hendrickson would say if she was here, it was
the Board who started the Arbor Day Celebration, they are the tree board and it was always
her opinion that they should have an Arbor Day Celebration with the Board being the one that
is doing the celebration. He said they've had two celebrations on the same day for the last
three years and it was not very well attended. They have a full Board this year and it was up to
the members if they wanted to have two celebrations. What the new members may not know
is that they now have annually, their third tree day at the Green Market on the Sunday
following Arbor Day which is a Community Aesthetic Board Tree giveaway that has been
very popular for two years in a row and could very well be something that the Committee
could sponsor annually. Also, in late March or early April next year, he anticipates the Grand
opening of the Sandhill Crane Access Park. The art will be displayed and he is hoping that
this will be something that the Board will be interested in attending because of its importance
to the City.
A question was raised as to what they did at Lake Catherine. He responded that it was very
well represented and for the past several years, all City Council members have attended, they
have at least two to three classes where they have walk -ins for their environmental class, the
daycare, usually an elementary school and the Women's Club. The next question was, if they
were to join what could they contribute? Mark Hendrickson said their presence alone was
always welcome. It was suggested that when the park is completed, it would be a good idea to
have the committee go out and plant a tree in memory of Bettie Marks and then have a tree
giveaway at the Garden Market or could they plant a tree when they have the opening of the
Sandhill Crane Park dedication. Mark Hendrickson said they could, but he didn't want to
suggest that because the Dedication of the Sandhill Crane Art will be for Betty and her
husband also, so having two things, one might overshadow the other. It's better to have one
thing now and maybe the tree later. Gail Vastola had a motion to hold off planting the
Garden's Club Tree on Harbor Day and participating in the Council's Tree planting and also
postpone planting a tree in the memory of Betty Marks until after Sandhill Crane Park is open.
This motion was seconded by William Oslen.
VII. DISCUSSIONS
The Board requested that they have name tags, buttons or t -shirts that could identify them at
the Green Market. Mark Hendrickson said he would look into the t- shirts.
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4
V11I. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to discuss the pe ting adjourned at 6:09 p.m.
Approval:
Wisneski, Chairperson
William Olsen, Vice Chairperson
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Sherry Leyy, and Mem er
Member
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Terence Brady, Board Nkmber
Richard Sartory,
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Cable Neuhaus, 1
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David Anderson, ternate
Attest:
Ray Ellis
Deputy City Clerk
Note: These summary minutes are prepared in compliance with 286.011 F.S. and are not verbatim
transcripts of the meeting. A verbatim audio record is available from the Office of the City Clerk.
All referenced attachments are on file in the City Clerk's office.
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