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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1998-05-19 Workshop Meeting225 COUNCIL MINUTES WORKSHOP MEETING - MAY 19. 1998 The Workshop Meeting of the Bal Harbour Village Council was held on Tuesday, May 19, 1998, in the Council Chambers at Bal Harbour Village Hall. The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Mayor Spiegel. Those present were: Mayor Estelle Spiegel Assistant Mayor Andrew R. Hirsch! Councilman James E. Boggess Councilman Daniel S. Tantleff Councilman Peg E. Gorson Also present: Alfred J. Treppeda, Village Manager Jeanette Horton, Village Clerk As a quorum was determined to be present, the meeting commenced. 2. Presentation by Bradshaw. Gill & Associates of Second Conceptual Plans for Be_autification of the Beach and Repair of the Jogging Path - Bob Gill: Mr. Treppeda explained this is a presentation of the second set of conceptual plans. In September 1997, Bradshaw, Gill & Associates presented the first set of conceptual plans. Bob Gill, Bradshaw, Gill & Associates, Landscape Architects and Land Planners, introduced himself to the Council. Harvey Sasso, Coastal Systems International, introduced himself to the Council and explained they are the coastal engineers assisting Mr. Gill and critiquing the plans from a coastal permitting point of view. Mr. Gill displayed the conceptual plans and reviewed them. He explained the second scheme accommodates some of the requests the Council made. They took the main access path and made it more curve -linear and of a "free form" look. It's in the same area but has more of a curving look similar to the existing jogging path. It will be a pedestrian walkway and access for emergency vehicles and construction traffic, if needed. Councilman Tantleff thinks the emergency access road is supposed to stay straight and a couple of sections of the jogging path that keep getting damaged are supposed to be moved west. Mr. Sasso stated since the last plan they have pulled the jogging path backwards into the existing vegetation so there is not as much maintenance in terms of it washing out. However, there is an expanded beach now. Assistant Mayor Hirschl stated Bal Harbour is pretty much built out and he hasn't seen access roads anywhere along the eastern Florida coast and doesn't understand why it is being kept. Mr. Gill stated it is a pedestrian walkway that is going to be packed and made out of interlocking pavers. Mayor Spiegel thinks curving the road will obstruct the vision of police cars, etc. that go through there. Councilman Tantleff thought the Council was trying to accomplish bringing the jogging path portions that were washed out further west so they won't be washed out. He doesn't remember discussing reconstructing the access path as much as beautifying the jogging Council Workshop Meeting 5/19/98 1 226 path and making that whole area beautiful. Mayor Spiegel thought they had discussed having uniform landscaping at the back wall of each building. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) questioned what the point was spending any money on the access road when the Council wants to enhance the jogging path and make it the pedestrian path. He doesn't think there should be any path, it should be a beach. The Village has police vehicles that can drive on the sand, and fire trucks can go in the front. Councilman Boggess stated Bradshaw, Gill & Associates were brought in to move the jogging path west so it won't erode so quickly and do something to dress up that whole area. Mr. Gill stated the plans show the direction that the Council had given Mr. Sasso and him to proceed in. The first plans presented a very straight pedestrian access walkway, and the Council wanted more of a meandering path. The second plan reflects the Council's comments from the last meeting. It was requested at the last meeting that the jogging path be brought in tighter to the existing vegetation line, which they have done. That gives them the ability to break up some of the existing vegetation and the groupings open up so there is more of a view from the pedestrian access. Mr. Sasso thinks the previous design was hidden behind the trees to a large extent and the Council didn't want that. Councilman Boggess suggested trimming the sea grapes so the breeze can come through and that the whole idea was the make the beach more attractive to tourists and Bal Harbour's residents. Mr. Gill reviewed the plans for the jogging path and stated there are certain areas where the view is blocked. The intention is to move parts of the path back against the existing vegetation. Mr. Sasso stated the plans provide the meandering the Council asked for and the ability for security vehicles to go through. Councilman Boggess questioned if the Village is under any obligation to provide access for emergency vehicles on the beach. Mr. Treppeda doesn't think the Village has to, but needs to check into that matter to see. Councilman Boggess stated if the Village doesn't have to, he suggests forgetting about the fire trucks and the construction. He doesn't think the Village is obligated to provide construction areas on the beach. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) agreed. Mr. Gill stated the plan beautifies the rear of all the units. Mayor Spiegel stated the backs of the parking garages and the pool decks need to be uniformly landscaped the full length of Bal Harbour. Mr. Gill stated this plan accommodates that. Mayor Spiegel stated it is also a safety measure having the greenery for any future hurricanes. Marjorie Schiell, Balmoral Condominium, addressed the Council. Ms. Schiell feels the islands of plants were put there for a purpose. Councilman Boggess stated they're not removing those, they're just being trimmed. Mr. Sasso stated they will encroach into some of the vegetation, but they're also placing additional vegetation both landward and seaward. Sheryl Goldberg, Plaza of Bal Harbour, addressed the Council. Ms. Goldberg thinks the interlocking brick path is redundant. Councilman Boggess stated some people like to jog and some like to walk and there needs to be some separation of traffic back there. Ms. Goldberg suggests meandering the path, but not using interlocking pavers and keeping it as natural as possible. Council Workshop Meeting 5/19/98 2 22'7 Mr. Craig Gorson addressed the Council and suggested the vegetation be constructed so as there will not be blind pockets or where someone walking might be afraid there will be people lurking. Councilman Tantleff summarized that the Village Attorney needs to check if an access road is legally mandatory. If it is not legally mandatory, then there should be vegetation and one jogging path. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) stated the second conceptual plan is great, except where they have interlocking pavers the sand should be kept there. Ms. Goldberg questioned if the jogging path could be wider. Councilman Boggess stated that might be the hardest thing to do because of the permitting from the State. Mayor Spiegel clarified a new jogging path is not being built, the existing one is being repaired. Ms. Goldberg suggested some benches and stools. Mayor Spiegel stated it would have to be the type of bench that only allows people to sit on it and not stretch out on it. Mr. Whitman, Bal Harbour Shops, addressed the Council and believes they are on the right track and the access road is not needed. He suggests getting rid of the access road, create an attractive walking/jogging area, and address the backs of the buildings with landscaping. Mayor Spiegel stated that's what the Council wants. Councilman Boggess doesn't think the jogging path needs to be any wider. He suggests looking at the benches in Miami Shores. There cannot be any lighting because of the sea turtles. Mr. Sasso stated that he and Mr. Gill worked on a similar plan in Miami Beach and they put specific lighting with the shielding facing inward and that was approved. Roberto Beltran, Middlebrooks & Associates commented on the project. Councilman Tantleff questioned under the contract, if the Village would make the Sheraton pull their bricks out or if the vegetation will stop at the Sheraton. It was the consensus of the Council that the back of the Sheraton is landscaped beautifully and should be left alone. Jim Harrison, Atlantic Beach Clubs, addressed the Council. Mr. Harrison stated there are so many activities for the guests at the Sheraton and questioned if there could be a small modification where vehicles could get behind the Sheraton when they have a big event. It was the consensus of the Council that vehicles were not wanted back there. Assistant Mayor Hirschl stated the Sheraton put the bricks there at their expense and the Sheraton agreed that if it's not what the Village wanted to do with the Master Plan, they would remove the bricks. The Village may ultimately require the Sheraton to remove the pavers, but its premature right now. It was the consensus of the Council that the Master Plan will continue to 96th Street. Mr. Gill questioned what material the Council wanted. It was the consensus of the Council to use hard packed sand. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) summarized it will be the access road that is there without pavers, instead it will be hard compacted sand similar to the jogging path material, it will be meandering, and smaller. Assistant Mayor Hirsch) questioned if grass can be put where the access road is now. Mr. Gill stated it would be difficult and would need to be more of a sea oat type of material. Council Workshop Meeting 5/19/98 3 228 Mayor Spiegel suggested landscaping the back of the buildings, have a place to walk without it being an access road, hard pack the sand to walk on, and the rest should be shrubbery with the jogging path. Mr. Treppeda stated the Council needs to start looking at budgets. Mayor Spiegel stated the Council needs to know the cost and eliminate the brick. Mr. Gill stated they would like to revise the plans with the suggestions that were made. They will put together some figures. Mayor Spiegel stated Mr. Whitman put it very clearly what the Council wants. Councilman Boggess questioned Mr. Gill when the optimum time would be to do this work and if an irrigation system will be needed. Mr. Gill thinks an irrigation system will be needed on part of it. Councilman Boggess stated there is an irrigation system of sorts out there. Robert Wheldon, the Village's Director of Public Works, doesn't think it can be used for this project because it was put in 20 years ago and was designed to disintegrate on its own in a little over a year, two years tops. It was put in just to get the vegetation started and his department still maintains it to this day. Mayor Siegel questioned if the irrigation system can be put underground. Mr. Gill responded yes. Mr. Sasso stated they will go back and get the approval from the Department of Environmental Protection for the landscaping and the compacted area. Councilman Boggess stated its already compacted and they're just landscaping the areas. Mr. Gill will come to the next Council meeting with the revisions and cost estimate. 3. Adjourn: There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was offered by Assistant Mayor Hirsch) and seconded by Councilman Tantleff to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously (5-0). and the meeting adjourned at 5:15 p.m. Attest: due k; Janette Horton, CMC/AAE Village Clerk /elw Mayor Ester Spiegel Council Workshop Meeting 5/19/98 4