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01-10-01AGENDA REGULAR MEETING OF BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 10, 2001 7:30 p.m. City Hall Commission Chambers 1. Call to Order 2. Recognition of Visitors 3 . Approval of Minutes of November 8, 2000 4. O1 A. B. C. D. E. F. d Business Update on Landscaped Areas Tree Giveaway Public Beach Access Program Sailfish Drive Luminaria Trees on Francis Street 5. New Business 6. Announcements/Reports 7. Adjournment 4. .> MINUTES OF BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE January 10, 2001 A regular meeting of the Beautification Cormmittee was held Wednesday, January 10, 2001, in the City Hall Conference Room. Present were Chairperson Jody Richards, Mimi Ames, Dee Carter, Gloria Vaughn, Jane Vincent, Gabby Donnelly of Parks and Recreation and Staff Member Susan Dunham. 1. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. 2. Recognition of Visitors None. 3. Approval of Minutes of November 8, 2000 A motion was made by Committee Member Vincent, seconded by Committee Member Vaughn and unanimously carried to approve the Minutes of November 8, 2000. 4. Old Business A. Update on Landscaped Areas: Due to City Gardener Terry Putnam's absence, Gabby Donnelly of Parks and Recreation updated the Committee on the landscaped areas. Gabby Donnelly advised that Terry Putnam would be returning to work January 25. Two Parks and Recreation maintenance workers, Alan Sowder and James Payton, have been maintaining the flowerbeds. They cultivated and re-nourished the beds, added new mulch, and purchased pansies to put in all of the flowerbeds. They are in the process of gathering prices for trees for Seminole Road, Francis Street and Sailfish Drive. In addition, Timmy Johnson will be meeting with Commissioner Beaver tomorrow morning to determine where to plant the trees. Gabby Donnelly advised that Sycamore trees have been selected for Seminole Road. Gabby Donnelly informed the Committee that $437 worth of luminaria was sold. Susan Dunham advised that she made an additional deposit of $56 for the sale of luminaria. This totals $493 worth of luminaria sold this year. Gabby Donnelly advised that she received two requests from citizens who would like to join the Beautification Committee, Mort Hanson and Ann Betchkal. A discussion was held with regard to the Beautification Committee's role. Discussion was also held with regard to the Beautification Coordinator position. Chairperson Richards stated that applications for this position should have come to the Committee for review. Susan Dunham advised that applications for city employee positions are not given to Boards or Committees for review. Chairperson Richards stated that if the City is going to fill a position for someone who is going to work with a Board, it is customary and proper that the Board review the resumes. Susan Dunham advised that this is not a function of the Committee, it is a City fiznction-that this is an employee hired by the City. Chairperson Richards stated that normally the people who are involved in the Board are brought into that process because the Board members are supposed to be knowledgeable in what they are working on. Chairperson Richards stated that she has serious questions as to why this Committee is not given the opportunity to review resumes. Beautification Committee Meeting January 10, 2001 Page 2 ~. Committee Member Vaughn asked for clarification on the duties of the new Beautification Coordinator. Gabby Donnelly advised that it would be a full time position, with the same responsibilities that currently fall under Susan Durham's position, along with some gardening responsibility until the City hires a new gardener. The position will also supervise the gardener and possibly additional gardeners in the future. Susan Dunham also advised that the new Beautification Coordinator would no longer be responsible for preparing Minutes for other Boards and Committees. Committee Member Vaughn expressed concern as to the purpose of this Committee. She asked the questions--What function do we serve? Who are we responsible to? Who is our liaison? Why are we here? Chairperson Richards stated that the Committee is here because the Commission thinks it is politically correct to have this Committee. B. Tree Giveaway: Susan Dunham advised that there are 18 participants who have not picked up their trees. Susan Dunham stated that she had called those participants and advised them that they had until Sunday, January 21, to pick up their tree. The Committee determined that any trees not picked up by then could be planted on Francis Street or Sailfish Drive. Susan Dunham will advise Chairperson Richards as to the final count of trees remaining. C. Public Beach Access Program: Susan Dunham advised that the City Manager requested that the Public Beach Access Program be presented to the City Commission in December and the Commission approved the program. D. Sailfish Drive: Discussion was held with regard to whether or not to remove the healthy pindo palms. Chairperson Richards stated that the healthy pindo palms would stay in their current location and only the dead pindo palms would be removed. Committee Member Vaughn stated that she was not sure how to incorporate the live pindo palms into the design. Chairperson Richards advised that there is an opportunity to utilize the leftover trees from the Tree Giveaway. Gabby Donnelly informed the Committee that Terry Putnam and she prepared a plan for Sailfish Drive but was not completed due to Terry Putnam's leave of absence. It was suggested that Terry Putnam provide a final plan by the next meeting. Chairperson Richards stated that the trees need to be planted within the next couple of months. E. Luminaria: A discussion was held with regard to the night to light the luminana and how to get more participation. Committee Member Vincent suggested that next year the Committee contact churches or school groups to get involved as a task force. Gabby Donnelly suggested contacting the Teen Council to see if they would be interested in participating in the luminaria sale. F. Trees on Francis Street: Committee Member Vaughn spoke with a Habitat homeowner who lives on Richardson Street who spoke with her neighbors and they said their tree preference would be Live Oaks. Committee Member Vaughn suggested planting trees on Richardson Street and the Committee agreed. Committee Member Vaughn suggested that the Committee look to plant trees at any Habitat for Humanity property. Susan Dunham suggested that by the next meeting, Terry Putnam have written plans for Sailfish Drive, Francis Street and Richardson Street for Committee approval. This will include the drawn ,. 4;, o Beautification Committee Meeting January 10, 2001 Page 3 ,~ . plan, number and species of trees and costs. This plan will be presented to the Commission at their next meeting for approval. Chairperson Richards stated that if Terry Putnam were not able to prepare these plans, to advise her and she would prepare the plans. 5. New Business None. 6. Announcements/Reports The Committee changed the February meeting to Wednesday, February 7, 2001. Chairperson Richards stated that with regard to the function of this Committee, she did not have an answer for anyone. Chairperson Richards suggested that each member call the Commissioners to determine what they feel is the function of this Committee. Committee Member Vaughn suggested that someone determine what documentation is in place with regard to the Committee's role and advise the Committee members. Committee Member Vaughn stated that if what is in place is inadequate, then the Committee should work on defining its role. Chairperson Richards stated that the Committee needs to decide whether this Committee continue or disband. Discussion was held as to why not many projects have been completed and why Commissioner Beaver was involved in the landscaping of Sailfish Drive and Francis Street. Susan Dunham discussed the City staffing issues and haw this affected the garden areas and the timeframe in which projects were completed. Committee Member Vaughn discussed her displeasure with regard to the removal of the plants the Committee planted in the garden areas. Susan Dunham stated that the plants were removed because the flowerbeds did not look good and citizens were calling to complain. Chairperson Richards stated that the Commission needs to determine if they want this Committee to exist. If they do, then the Commission needs to give direction to the Committee as to what they would like to have the Committee achieve. Susan Dunham suggested that the Committee ask one of the Commissioners to act as liaison to the Committee; that this might assist them in communicating with the Commission. Chairperson Richards asked each member to contact the Commissioners and Mayor to ask them, "What is the purpose of the Beautification Committee and what would you like to see accomplished this fiscal year?" She stated that at the next meeting, the Committee could discuss the Commissioners' responses and then decide how to proceed. 7. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. ~~~~ dy Richards, Chairperson ..