TOWN OF MELBOURNE BEACH
MINUTES
TOWN COMMISSION - Special Meeting
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Wednesday
November 9, 2004
COMMUNITY ROOM
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A regular meeting of the Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida was called to order by
Mayor Walters at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2004 in the Community Room at Town Hall. Mayor
Walters also led the Pledge of Allegiance
Present:
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Mayor Walters
Commissioner Guglietta
Commissioner Price
Commissioner Stacey
Commissioner Wilson
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Others Present:
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Town Manager Higginbotham
Police Chief Syrkus
Rochelle Lawandales, Lawandales Planning Affiliates
12 members of the public
Town Clerk Masny
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I. ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE TO NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS
Town Clerk Masny administered the Oath of Office to Mayor William G. Stacey, Commissioner Donnie L.
Price and Commissioner Sandy Wilson.
Town Manager Higginbotham reported that since the recent hurricanes, several homes in Town have been
declared uninhabitable and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing temporary housing to
about four (4) residences and Town Code Section 7A-67 provides that the Town Commission will permit these
trailers as temporary housing. Town Manager Higginbotham requested that the Town Commission delegate
him the authority to work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding the placement of these
temporary housing facilities.
VICE MAYOR GUGLIETTA MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER PRICE TO DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO THE
TOWN MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY IN PLACING
TEMPORARY HOUSING WHERE NEEDED IN THE TOWN.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
II. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF OCEAN AVENUE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT
Rochelle Lawandales, Lawandales Planning Affiliates; Wayne Hart of Wilson Miller, Design Engineers for
the T-21 projects; and Diane Miller with the Florida Department of Transportation gave an overview of the
Ocean Avenue beautification project with the Town Commission. Ms. Lawandales reported that Town has
been awarded funding in the amount of $245,000, with no required grant matching funds. She advised that
the project will include streetscaping, signage, benches, trash cans, and intersection improvements on Ocean
Avenue at Pine Street and at the municipal pier. Ms. Lawandales advised that parking improvements and
decorative lighting were removed from the project due to lack of funding. A gateway/welcome sign will be
included, the benches will be as those in Ryckman Park and the trash cans will match the benches. Ms.
Lawandales advised that some of the landscaping will be oak trees, sable palms and various ground cover.
Ms. Lawandales stated that the completed plans must be submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation
by December 1, 2004.
Ms. Lawandales reported that the Town will need to sign off on a maintenance agreement with the Florida
Department of Transportation and construction will start around July or August of 2005.
Commissioner Walters commented that some areas along Ocean Avenue are already landscaped and asked
that they try to compliment the existing landscaping and add to other areas. He verified that they will not
remove what landscaping is currently there. Commissioner Walters asked if the Town has to put the money
up front and then get reimbursed from the Florida Department of Transportation? Ms. Miller responded that
with the 2005 budget, this money is already there and this will not be necessary.
Commissioner Wilson commented that at the crosswalk near the pier, there is a curb cut at a driveway that
allows vehicles into Ryckman Park and requested that this not be removed. Ms. Lawandales advised that
this will just be a pedestrian walkway and the curb will not block access to the park. Commissioner Wilson
commented that the insignia on the sign should be a pineapple or something related to Melbourne Beach.
He requested that based on the recent hurricanes, the plants that are to be put in should not be those that
snap off such as Washatonian palm trees or oak trees. Commissioner Wilson requested that there be a
warranty on the plants as part of the bid specifications. Ms. Miller responded that all plants are warrantied
for a full year.
Mayor Stacey opened the meeting to public comment.
Thomas Shaw, 406 Riverside Drive commented that since the oleanders are being removed from the plan,
what will replace these? Ms. Lawandales responded either Asian jasmine, myrtle or holly. Mr. Shaw
suggested that they get input from landscapers in Town. Mr. Shaw commented that he has concerns
regarding the heavy equipment that the City of Melbourne runs through the corner of Ocean and Riverside
because of the sewage lift plant. Mr. Shaw requested that this crosswalk area be extra thick so it will not
break. Mr. Shaw suggested that the sign color scheme be consistent throughout the Town. Mr. Shaw
requested that the Town Commission request that the Florida Department of Transportation put in a non
binding clause to have bidders look at local businesses regarding plants, etc., and provide the Town will a
list of pre qualified contractors for review.
Frank Thomas, 606 Atlantic Street commented that the Town colors and symbol were official adopted in
1983 with the colors being brown and tan, as on the old stationery. Mr. Thomas requested that salt-tolerant
plants be used in the landscaping.
Bruce Black 508 Ocean Avenue commented that oak trees are nice, but the Town will be required to maintain
a 35-40 foot tree, these could be changed to a gumbo limbo or something similar in a medium-height tree.
Mr. Black asked if the intersection of Pine Street and Ocean Avenue could be brick pavers to make it stand
out? Mr. Black commented that the prices of the landscape materials seems too high and Mr. Hart commented
that the cost of the plant material is based on Florida Department of Transportation cost history for landscape
projects such as this. Mr. Black commented that the Town could save money on the landscaping costs and
have extra money to put toward the lights, brick pavers or something else.
Commissioner Price commented that the Town actually received approval of the plan and not actually the
entire funding of $245,000 and the money is a budget figure or an estimate of the project cost.
Jay Gurecki, 406 Sixth Avenue thanked all for their hard work on this project.
COMMISSIONER WALTERS MOVED, SECOND VICE MAYOR GUGLIETTA TO APPROVE THE LANDSCAPE
PLAN AND DESIGN AS PRESENTED AND AMENDED AND AUTHORIZE THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO BEGIN THE PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
COMMISSIONER WALTERS MOVED, SECOND COMMISSIONER WILSON TO DELEGATE THE TOWN
MANAGER TO WORK WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND TO APPROVE
ANY PLAN CHANGES.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
III. ADJOURNMENT
COMMISSIONER WILSON MOVED, SECOND VICE MAYOR GUGLIETTA TO ADJOURN.
VOTE: ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIED.
The special meeting of the Town Commission of the Town of Melbourne Beach, Florida adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
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STEVEN O. WALTERS, 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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