Minutes of 3/29/06 Meeting

MINUTES of
BELLE ISLE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (BIRA)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
March 29, 2006

Community Room at 3 Island Avenue

Board Members Present
Josh Fisher
Barbara Frank
Herb Frank
Barbara Gillman
Nancy Liebman
Sandra Money
Irene Sperber

The Standard
Herb Frank called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. Nancy Liebman reported having called Andre Balasz to schedule our meeting around his request for extended bar hours, but heard nothing back. Spa Manager Jason Harler was questioned about it and seemed in no hurry to make such a change.

Approval of Minutes of February 15, 2006 Board Meeting
Nancy Liebman made a motion to approve the Minutes of the February 15, 2006 Board meeting. Irene Sperber seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

On Going Business
Park Plans
Herb reported that he has had no response from George Chartrand on timing or the size of the plants scheduled for the park. Nancy agreed to call Mr. Chartrand.
Herb suggested that a dog area be set aside that would make clean-up easier than the grass. Barbara Frank agreed to share the descriptions of the best dog parks in the country that will appear in the next issue of Dog Fancy.

Causeway Bridges
Nancy reported that she and Barbara Bisnos have had two meetings with the Coast Guard authorities. They have agreed to have a Study made of the effects of opening both Causeway bridges only on the hour and half-hour, if there is water traffic. The Study must first be listed in the Federal Register, so it will be a while before it is begun.
No one present has heard any of the results of the Load Tests of the bridges made in early March.

Noise Ordinance
Nancy reported that, because of the heavy turnout and the excellent presentations, the Commissioners moved from a 4:3 vote in favor of the commercial interests to a unanimous decision in favor of the residents. Commercial entities will now receive serious fines after 3
warnings in a given year and the fines will become stiffer over time as well.

Phone Numbers for Code Enforcement
Herb reported the following:
For Normal Concerns, call 305-673-7900 during business hours.
For Serious Concerns call 305-673-7901, press 1 and ask for Code Enforcement.
If you call, record the date and time and the Identification Number or call taker’s position number.
Patricia Becerra is in charge of Code Enforcement and can be reached at 305-673-7000, extension 6775 until 8 p.m.
Josh Fisher agreed to post this information and the other contact numbers which appeared on the Annual Meeting Agenda on the web site. Herb agreed to call Hilda Hernandez to find out what procedure should be followed after business hours.

New Business
Industrial District
Nancy reported that, on February 28th, the Commission agreed that any development greater than 50,000 square feet must go before the Planning Board before it can be considered by the Design Review Board. However, plans submitted the previous day by the Felig brothers for a Fresh Market, Self Storage Unit and Home Goods store are being considered by the Design Review Board on April 4, prior to consideration by the Planning Board. Residents are urged to attend the meeting in the Commission Chambers staring approximately 1:30 p.m. on April 4.

Toll Booth Signage
Barbara Gillman agreed to draft a recommendation for Barbara Bisnos to send out about the signage and street marking needed to identify the location of the building at which one obtains a C-Pass transponder.

Other Business
Light & Crosswalk at 17th & Purdy
Herb reported having heard nothing about the timing. However, the following day he was told that the contract has been let out and the contractor is to start the installation of the light within 45 days

Set Time and Day for the Next BIRA Board Meeting
It was agreed that the next Board Meeting, and the last before the fall, will be held on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 6 PM in the 3 Island Avenue Community Room.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.

Prepared by:

Sandra K. Money, Secretary