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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1958-05-03 Special MeetingI COUNCIL MINUTES May 39 1953 The Council of Ba1 Harbour Village met in a special meeting at 10:00 o'clock Saturday morning, May 39 1958 at the Village Hall. There were present: Messrs. Beatty, Broeman and Hart. Absent: Messrs. Brown and Faulkner. ,Also present were W. H. Webb, Village Manager; Mary T. Wetterer, Village Clerk, George Whittaker, Village Engineer and representatives from .,ocean front properties, namely; Mr. E. O..Kirkeby, Mr. Irving Feldman, Mr. Mortimer Feldman, Pdr. Paul Naddeo, Mr. Richard Connell, Mr. Dudley Whitman, Mr. Arthur Bieck and Mr. A. J. Hoffman. ` The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the future of the beach of Bal Harbour Village, which, according to the engineers,, is inajeopardy. Ms. Webb mentioned that some of those present had met before and at ,each meeting there had been a great deal of discussion, but nothing has come out of it. The feeling was that the County or the Federal Government would do something about the situation. He told those present that his office had contacted the two Florida Senators, our Congressman, and Army Engineers regarding the survey which has been made by the army Engineers. It had been hoped that the Government would wish to make Bakers Haulover a Federal inlet, as this inlet is in a vary deteriorated condition and the jetties have crutabled. It is the opibion of the Sal Harbour Village Council that the Government is not going to make this a special project and therefore it is the responsibility of the Countv to do something about it. Mr. Webb then told of the meeting with the County Manager, Mr. 0. W. �3, Campbell, saying Mr. Campbel was very much impressed and said it was the { County's responsibility and that Mr. Wh ittaker has been in contact with a'Wk the County Engineers and it doesn't look as though they arc- making any plans do anything about it. Mr. Whittaker said they should reactivate the old .s Bakers Haulover Taxing District and should create a sand transfer station at the north jetty. to Mx. Webb read the wires sent to Senators Smathers and Holland and `.. Congressman Fascell and explained that the Bakers Haulover Survey report 1,,', had been due in February of tais year. It was cxplaired that in the meantime, there is a very serious condition at the north end of the beach r:hich is getting worse all the ti ^'e. r; < w. r a 5 naz �F i Mr. Whittaker showed a chart which indicated the eriosion up to a year ago and he explained the chart in detail. He said it is the opinion of his firm that the oceanfront property owners can't wait until the Federal Government steps in. This is an emer- gency situation. It had been suggested that they pump sand from the Bay and the firm of Zurwelle and Whittaker recommends that approximately 60,000 cu. yds. of sand be pumped from the Bay and deposited in the north area and the s-,nd will work its way down the beach. They feel 60,000 cu. yds. would be benefi- cial to about 2,500 ft. down the coast and groin would have to be put in in order to trap the sand. Mr. Whittaker said his firm had read the letter. There had been no reply. However, the County Engineer and Assistant Engineer have recently twice visited the property, so they realize this is a problem. It is the opinion of Mr. Whittaker that the County is responsi ble and they should do something, but it seems they always say they do not have any money and can't do anything until the budget is made up, and they don't say definitely that it is going to be in the budget. Mr. Whittaker said somethin:1 has to be done by somebody. He was in hopes that they would get a response to their letter. The County owns 100 ft. on the south of the Haulover, so it would be some protection to the County property. He said everyone should keep this before the public. They feel some action s�:ould be taken toget that facility repaired. Something should be done this fall. Mr. Hart said the Village Council feels something should be done right now. Mr. Broeman said they should determine what benefits would be derived by each of the hotels. A year and one —half ago Mr. Feldman and Mr. Kirkeby called Mr. Beatty, who was they Mayor, and discussed the matter with the Village. Mr. Beatty said it will cost approximately $42,000 to pump the sand and the cost could be worked out so the people at the north end would pay the most and the people at the south end the least. The groins would have to go in in order to hold the sand, approxi- mately every 200 ft., at a cost of between $14,000 and $16,000 each. It was suggested that the groins be put in starting at the south end of the beach. The question was asked whether the owners would be interested. Mr. A. J. Hoffman, representing the Bal Harbour Club, said he understands it is a temporary relief mearsure. He said the club is not in a financial position to stand that expense and wanted to know if they can't bring a suit against the County? Mr. Hart said it is the opinion of the Village Attorney that they could not sue the County. It is estimated by Mr. i "hittaker that to permanently alleviate the situation, it may be necessary to put in about 10,000 cu. yds. of sand a year for say five years. MAY 3. 1958 — 2 — f, Mr. Broeman said the Council is going on record as having gone to every agency possible to see what is to be done, and in the event of a catastrophe, the Village can then feel they have done everything they possibly could to have prevented it. Financing was discussed and Mr. Webb indicated they might float a bond issue. It was suggested that every oceanfront property owner commit themselves to put their own groins in. Mr. Kirkeby thought they should repair the old seawall and then take steps to sue the county for the expense. Mr. Anderson, the Village Attorney, had said it is very difficult to sue the county and collect. Mr. Whitman pointed out that the County property is in danger. He thought Mr. Whittaker's letter to the County was an excellent idea and suggested that Mr. Whittaker send a wire and explain the hazards to navigation and to see why the letter has not been replied to. Mr. Whittaker said they realize that 60,000 cu. yds. of fill is only a temporary measure. Mr. Whitman wants to pursue the course that it is an emergency and get help from the Federal Government and the County govern- ment for harbor widening and sand transfer station. Mr. Kirkey said they would have to guarantee a beach if they are going to spend about $40,000, Mr. Feldman said regardless of what the other owners do, he is going to dump sand in front of his hotel. He pointed out how important it is to have groins in front of the buildings. Mr. Hoffman said the Beach Club does not have the money for this project. It was suggested that it could be done on a long time deal if general obligation bonds were sold — stretching it out over possibly 15 years. Mr. 'Webb said dredging is the first thing that should be done. Mr. Hart said if they could get commitments from a majority of the oceanfront property owners, they w ould have to go ahead and assess the others. Mr. Connell of the Ivanhoe said that either as a group they would have to go ahead with the sand pumping and putting in the groins or the city would have to do it, and sell bonds to pay for the work. He emphasized he thought it should be done. Mr. Feldman said it looks as though it will have to be declared an emergency. 3 — MAY 3, 1958 Mr. Hart said it looks as though the Village would have to go ahead and then finance the project with self - liquidating bonds. Mr. Hart asked Mr. Webb how long it would take to get the figures on raising the money. Mr. Webb said he would have to discuss the matter with Mr. Anderson when he gets back in town. Said they could issue the bonds, and it would probably take about six months. Mr. Webb said the Congress had passed a law that the Federal Government would help the Counties and States. Mr. Whittaker said the erosion that has taken place happens everywhere there is an inlet. He stressed that it is necessary to put in a sand transferring station. And said they would have to have a groin on the north side totrap the sand. He said in the past 60 days the County seems to realize that they have a problem. He feels now is the time the County will do something. Suggests some concentrated effort be made on the County. Mr. Feldman said Mr. Campbell was to contact the Federal agency, the Beach Erosion Board. It was pointed out that it takes a lot of time to get the Federal , overnment to do anything. Mr. Whittaker suggested that concentrated effort be made while they have the County thinking about it - to go in and keep pushing with them on the basis that the Connty eventually is going to have to do the work. The County coulc get Federal aid. In the meantime, Mr. 'Whittaker feels that something should be done to get the 60,000 cu. yds. of fill in and if all the gro'ns can't be put in, put the ones in the critical areas at the north end. Mr. Whittaker said he had phoned the County Attorney, Darry Davis, to inquire the best way to approach the problem, and Mr. Davis said the municipalities should be the ones to take legal action against the County. The immediate problem is to oet the fill in. It was suggested the north end owners put up the money. Mr. Whitman suggested getting together with the County officials and Senator Smathers and make it a combined effort. Mr. Y +ebb said the Village can probably borrovrr enough to start the dredging. He said the Council should definitely instruct Mr. Whittaker to start plans for the entire project so they can decide on the financing, and estimate how much dredging has to be done over a period of 5 - 10 years. Mr. Hart wants to oet the north end owners to commit themselves and put in their gro''ns. MAY 3. 1958 Mr. J+hittaker said then consider the situation an emergency. He explained that in designing groins, they put in gates so the sand could be shifted up and down the beach. He said Palm Beach County set up a gro`n plan and put in groins. He said if sufficient groints were put in at the south end od the property, it is possible just pumping sand would fill the beach. A committee was set up with Mr. Feldman and Mr. Tisch and Mr. Dudley Whitman to meet with the County Commission in the next few days. It would be as a last resort. The County has a set up to take care of emergencies. Mr. Whitman suggested they first walk up to the Haulover and look it over before starting their meeting. Then it was suggested the County Commissioners and their legalr epresentatives be invited. Mr. 6 +'ebb suggested the meeting be held at the Kenilworth Hotel. Mr. Whitman and Mr. Feldman are to meet with Mr. Webb Monday morning. Mr. Hoffman made it clear that the Club is interested and if they can go into some financing in the way of bonds, he will offer his office's help. Mr. «ieck will be Mr. Hoffman's representative, as Mr. Hoffman is going north in a few days. Mr. Beatty made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Hart seconded the motion. ATTEST: "Z55 Fp j- ------ --- Villagee Clerk Vice - Mayor MAY 3. 1958 5