TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH
AGENDA
TOWN COMMISSION - SPECIAL MEETING
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MINUTES
TOWN COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 24, 2003
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A special meeting of the Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida was called to order by
Mayor Crispen at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24 in the Town Hall. Mayor Crispen also led
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Present:
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Mayor Crispen
Vice Mayor Smith
Commissioner Price
Commissioner Walters
Commissioner Wilson
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Others Present:
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Town Manager Hoskovec
Amy Adams, Cape Canaveral Scientific
one (1) resident
Town Clerk Masny
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I. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF SERVICES OF CAPE CANAVERAL
SCIENTIFIC TO SUPPORT A FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST GRANT APPLICATION.
Town Manager Hoskovec stated that earlier this month, the Town Commission approved Amy Adams to proceed
with the project and she will report her findings as the grant application is due June 10, 2003. Ms. Adams stated
that these services relate to an environmental assessment to be performed by Scientific Environmental Applications.
Ms. Adams stated that since the rule change was adopted in 2001 when they went from Preservation 2000 they
reauthorized the legislation, the name was changed to Florida Forever and they adopted new rule making with
the Florida Communities Trust Program and changed from preservation to more conservation and recreation
oriented. Ms. Adams stated that this will allow the purchase of land to allow the public to recreate on. Ms.
Adams stated that they took a lot of questions out of the application that related to plant analysis and
endangered species and added more questions about recreation and also have required a preliminary site
assessment. Ms. Adams stated that we have contracted this team to go ahead and do that preliminary
environmental assessment and they have given us a figure of $2,800. Ms. Adams stated that preliminary
environmental assessments can range anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 depending on the number of acres
and this land is about 1.86 acres at the Boomerang Restaurant site.
Ms. Adams stated that the environmental assessment is to be attached to the land management policy and
must accompany application process.
Mayor Crispen opened the meeting for public comment regarding this agenda item. There were no public comments.
Commissioner Walters stated that this grant is for the property and asked Ms. Adams how much this grant is for?
Ms. Adams stated it was for $2.1 million a year and one-half ago, and now they are asking $3.3 million for the
property at the Boomerang site. Ms. Adams stated that they have to do what is called a “willingness to sell”
statement, and in that statement, it tells us that if you are not willing to consider appraised value, don’t talk
to us right now and it puts them on notice that the state does three (3) competitive appraisals and a fourth
evaluation of those appraisals is done by an outside entity and the state can only purchase at appraised value.
Ms. Adams commented that they can go up to 10 percent over the appraised value, but that is it.
Commissioner Walters stated that all he is hearing is that in the state and federal government, the money is
extremely tight and asked what are the Town’s chances of getting this money? Ms. Adams stated that the
trust funds are being attacked, the Senate is funding them at the anticipated values and the House is attacking
them brutally and slashing them by 50 percent. The Florida Forever budget has not been tackled too badly.
Ms. Adams stated that $66 million available and they may see 1/4 taken away. Ms. Adams stated that this
type of property would probably rant in the top 10 to 12 projects and they usually fund around 40 projects.
Ms. Adams stated that oceanfront properties rank very high for funding. Ms. Adams stated that the Town
could score higher if it were willing to chip in some more money.
Commissioner Price stated that the idea of applying for this grant is to expand Ocean Park. Commissioner
Price commented that we are looking at $3.3 million and Amy stated she asked them where the got this
number and was advised that this is the asking price, an appraisal has not been done and that she advised
them that the appraisals are done by the state. Commissioner Price stated that once you expand Ocean
Park, the Town takes on the responsibility to maintain and staff the park.
Commissioner Price stated that the Town took commercial property off the tax rolls for a library recently and
now we are thinking at taking another piece of commercial property off tax rolls and that he believes the Town
Commission needs to consider this impact of this.
Mayor Crispen asked that the Town Commission discuss the idea and if the Town would want to move forward
with pursuing this grant. Ms. Adams stated that the taxes for the Town on this commercial property is $18,000
per year. The Town Commission discussed the ideas in favor of and against taking this property off of the tax
rolls and preserving the land for recreational purposes.
Commissioner Walters commented that he is in favor of moving forward with applying for this grant and possible
Ms. Adams can apply for another grant for the development of the land. Vice Mayor Smith commented that
she agrees that ocean property is popular with the state for awarding funds for to purchase it and that the Town
Commission should move forward to see if we get the grant. Commissioner Price asked what do we need this
property for, we have a small beach and this commercial beach front property could generate more revenues
in the future and asked what is the drive is to purchase the property. Mayor Crispen commented that it sounds
like that because we think we can get this money, we should go for the grant and asked what do we want the
land for? Mayor Crispen stated that the Town should have a plan before we talk about buying the land.
Commissioner Wilson discussed what types of business could go onto this property if the Town does not
go ahead and move to apply for this grant.
Town Commission discussed a recreation facility with a possible concession run snack bar, possible wedding
reception areas and a place for other types of recreation. Ms. Adams commented that there is no time limit to
develop property if a grant is funded.
Commissioner Price commented that he is not comfortable with moving forward with the grant at this time
because the Town does not have a plan for the land and what the cost of running a facility will be. It is
discussed that the City of Satellite Beach sees this as an investment in protection because oceanfront
property is your first line of defense from storms. The Town Commission discussed that it is not committed
to the grant at this time and can pull out of grant in the future if necessary.
Commissioner Wilson stated that he has concerns over the environmental study because we put a $10,500
cap on 2 grant projects and Ms. Adams commented that she did not realize the $2,800 was not included in
the total of $10,500. Commissioner Wilson commented that he has the survey the same people did for the
Loggerhead Park Preserve and asked if this was a similar type survey, which was done for about $250?
Ms Adams stated that the one that was done for Loggerhead Park Preserve was just a plant survey and
did not require a preliminary environmental assessment and the application was significantly different under
the Florida Forever has a lot of background information that is needed such as a flora and fauna survey,
hydrology, geology, stormwater services and flow, historical flood zones, etc. Commissioner Wilson
asked if Ms. Adams received other estimates for this survey? Ms. Adams stated that Bill Kurr does
a lot of work for her and he estimated $3,500 and the girl that used to work for the EELS Program and
she estimated about $3,000, but she cannot do the project this month..
COMMISSIONER WALTERS MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER WILSON TO APPROVE THE PRELIMINARY
NATURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND PLANT IDENTIFICATION SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $2,800 .
VOTE: COMMISSIONER WALTERS, AYE. COMMISSIONER WILSON, AYE. VICE MAYOR SMITH, AYE.
MAYOR CRISPEN, AYE. COMMISSIONER PRICE, NAY. MOTION CARRIED.
Commissioner Walters requested that the regular meeting date in May be switched to the second Wednesday
rather than the third Wednesday because of the holiday week and he would like to make extended plans.
There were no objections to changing the May regular meeting date.
II. ADJOURNMENT
COMMISSIONER WALTERS MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER PRICE TO ADJOURN.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
The special meeting of the Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
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MARK J. CRISPEN, MAYOR
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CYNTHIA E. MASNY, CMC
TOWN CLERK
Note: a mechanical recording has been made of the foregoing procedures of which these minutes are a
part and is on file in the office of the Town Clerk.
PURSUANT TO SECTION 286.0105, FLORIDA STATUTES, THE TOWN HEREBY
ADVISES THE PUBLIC THAT: If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the
Town Commission with respect to any matter considered at its meeting, he will need a
record of the proceedings and that for such purpose, affected persons may need to insure
that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony
and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. This notice does not constitute
consent by the Town for the introduction or admission into evidence of otherwise
inadmissible or irrelevant evidence, nor does it authorize challenges or appeals not
otherwise allowed by law.
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