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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes 7-26-10 ST. LUCIE COUNTY BLUEWAY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Environmental Resources Conference Room 2300 Virginia Ave., Ft. Pierce 2:00 P.M. Monday July 26, 2010 MINUTES Members in attendance: Commissioner Charles Grande, Jane Brooks, Camille Yates,Jim David, Guy Medor, Pat Pacitti, Kay Nichols, Patrick Boles. Members not in attendance : Bobbie Billie. Staff in attendance : Steve Fousek, Karen Smith Guests in attendance: Vincent Burke Introductions Item 1: Approved July 26, 2010 Agenda Item 2: Approved April 29, 2010 Minutes Item 3:Public Comments – none Item 4: Management Plan (Updates) ? Surfside Park – The Committee approved the updated site plan at the previous meeting. Steve mentioned that the comments from the Committee have been added to each of the appropriate management plans regarding erosion of the dune by adding signage, gates and/or mats. No one had any comments on the draft management plan. Jim motioned approval of the management plan, Jane seconded. Approved. ? South Ocean Beach Boardwalk (aka South Beach Park- County leases with management agreement with City of Fort Pierce) – The Committee approved the updated site plan at the previous meeting. No one had any comments on the draft management plan. Comm. Grande recommended approval of the management plan, Camille seconded. Approved. ? John Brooks Park – The Committee approved the updated site plan at the previous meeting. No one had any comments on the draft management plan. Camille recommended approval of the management plan. Comm. Grande seconded the motion. Approved. ? Pepper Park – Jane asked when the playground will be replaced. Guy will be replacing the playground next budget year. The Committee approved the updated site plan at the previous meeting. No one had any comments on the draft management plan. Jim recommended approval of the management plan, Comm. Grande seconded the motion. Approved. ? Coon Island – Steve suggested that we discuss developing the management plan. The attorney’s office did not believe that the Committee had the authority to not recommend developing the management plan. Discussed the last public hearing regarding the public outcry on placing improvements at the island. Steve had talked to DEP and they suggested a primitive restroom, trails and exotic removal. Camille suggested eliminating all improvements. Steve said that there must be some minimum of improvements to the island such as exotic removal, a kiosk or signage to post rules, monitoring and measures to control erosion or pollution such as a restroom. Jim suggested scraping down most of the island to wetlands in conjunction with the Ft. Pierce marina island project. Kay suggested a port-a-let at the adjacent state park. Camille motioned that staff do additional work to develop partnerships. Pat seconded the motion. Motion was approved. Item 5: Management Plan (New) ? Harbor Branch Preserve – Steve introduced Patrick Boles, representative of the landowner and he introduced Vincent Burke with Harbor Branch/FAU. Steve provided a power point summarizing the field trip that several members took to Harbor Branch. Discussed the requirements of Florida Communities trust and the specific recreational amenities to compete for the grant funds. Discussed the potential parking lot locations, and the problems with each one. Parking lot A, west of U.S. 1 will be the easiest to accomplish, as there is already some pavement there. Parking lot B is through the Florida Inland Navigation District. They were contacted to see if they would allow public access through their property. They may lose their current access across the FEC railroad tracks, and are working with Coconut Cove to obtain an easement using their flyover bridge. Parking lot C would need FEC permission to authorize an at-grade crossing. Steve will be working with FEC and Heathcote Botanical Gardens to obtain a similar easement. Parking lot D currently exists at Harbor Branch. A boardwalk will need to be constructed here to access the proposed trails. There is an easement for a roadway in this general area, and that construction of the boardwalk may be delayed until FAU/HBOI constructs the road through the wetland. That way, the boardwalk may be eliminated. Patrick did not know when the road would be constructed. Steve stated that the trail on the eastern side of the grove on top of the dike has not been approved by HBOI, and would require an easement. Steve stated that most of the improvements will need to be completed within 5 years. Patrick stated that the use of the Discovery Center parking lot for public access to the trail system could be accomplished with an agreement. FAU will be redesigning the entrance to the facility. Patrick asked about constructing a boardwalk further south to the Indian River. Steve said that the northern crossing through FIND property would impact less wetlands. Jim said that it was already permitted. Camille motioned approval of the management plan and suggested that parking lots be installed in the following order: A, C, D and B. Motion was seconded. Motion was approved. Steve will schedule the public hearings sometime in September. We will hold off on the Coon Island Management plan. If anyone has any revisions to the draft management plans, please send them to Steve as soon as possible. He will complete the remainder of the plans, post the sites with signs and advertise for the public hearings. Steve will check with the attorney’s office to see if we need a quorum to hold the public hearing. Item 6: Other Business – none Adjourn