Minutes, September 20, 2007

Minutes of Belle Isle Residents Association
Board Meeting
September 20, 2007
Community Room at 3 Island Avenue

Board members present
Scott Diffenderfer
Josh Fisher
Herb Frank (Via phone @ 6:20)
Barbara Frank (Via phone @ 6:20)
Keith Hark arrived at 6:21
Sandy Money
Irene Sperber

Guests
Juan Duarte
Marilyn Freundlich arrived at 6:28

Sandy Money called the Meeting to order at 6:13 pm
Scott Diffenderfer agreed to take Minutes

Ongoing business
– Park and street renovations. Josh presented letter from CIP regarding ongoing park and street renovations and reported that bump outs had been removed again because of damage from FPL trucks which was out of the contractors’ control. The electric for light posts is being installed and that within the next 8-10 weeks light posts would be installed, bumpouts will be completed and ready for planting and the streets will finally be repaved. The letter from the CIP has been posted on the website and has been distributed to the resident e mailing list.

– Candidates for Mayor and Commissioner meetings. Sandy sent out 2 letters with date, location and time to candidates and got responses from everyone except for Simon Cruz and Rafael Herman. The meeting for Mayoral candidates will occur from 7-9 pm on October 15 for the mayoral candidates at Sunset Harbour on 7th floor of North Tower, if Juan can arrange that. The meeting for the Commissioner candidates will be held Monday October 22 7:00-9:00 pm at 20 Island Ave. Two additional people, Ed Tobin and William Charles Smatt, have announced their candidacy since the original letters went out. It was suggested that we have a moderator for each meeting. Suggestions have been Michael Putney and Charles Perez. Sandy asked Juan to contact Charles Perez, since he lives at Sunset Harbour South, to see if he can moderate the Mayoral meeting and see if Charles will ask Michael Putney to moderate the commissioner candidates meeting. Sandy suggested each candidate should get a few minutes and then moderator will moderate questions for the candidates from the audience. It was agreed that no questions are needed in advance, as the audiences will be interested individuals. Sandy will follow up with candidates to let them know how the evenings will be conducted. Marilyn will attend the South of Fifth Neighborhood association mayor/commission meeting to see how the meeting goes and report back to Sandy. Marilyn will contact Sunset Islands resident association, West Avenue and Bay Road Associations to invite them to the meetings. Sandy will ask Barbara Bisnos to distribute to Venetian Island residents.

– Standard Hotel. The next hearing for the Standard is scheduled for 9 am on November 2 for conditional liquor license. Sandy asked board members to send comments on position paper to Herb for revision. Once revised she will give Juan BIRA’s position paper to distribute to Sunset Harbour Residents.

New Business
– Board member resignations. Josh reported that some board members have resigned and there are currently 9 active board members. Irene has distributed notice for new members to apply and will ask Herb to send to all property managers to post in all buildings.

– Alton Road plans. Irene attended FDOT Alton Road meeting on Sept. 11 to represent BIRA. She reported that there was no oral presentation by FDOT and that the meeting did not allow much resident participation. She distributed a synopsis of the meeting which is attached to these minutes.

– Renovations along Dade Blvd. Canal. No one is aware of any news, but it was decided keep the issue on upcoming agenda to keep abreast of the situation.

– Approval of minutes from last meeting. Barbara and Herb called in and Josh motioned to approve minutes from prior meeting, Sandy seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously.

– Incorporation for BIRA. Sandy suggested BIRA incorporate in Delaware since it was easy and inexpensive. Keith will ask an attorney what the implications of incorporating out of Florida and will report his findings. Josh offered to do internet work for incorporation in Florida, but not in Delaware and will await Keith’s findings.

– Pumping Station Noise. The loud pumping station noise was discussed and apparently noise will only be during testing of generators twice per month for a few hours.

– Next BIRA meeting called for Thursday, November 15.

– Josh moved to adjourn, Keith seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 7:37.



FDOT - ALTON ROAD STUDY PUBLIC MEETING SEPT 11th

There was no oral Presentation. Graphs and charts were provided along with City representatives present to answer questions as residents milled about the information boards.

The graphs and charts were as follows:

1) PROJECT NEEDS (to be addressed in study) - Traffic Congestion, Safety, Bicycle Facilities, Flooding, Poor Condition of Roadway, Absence of Transit Facilities, Pedestrian/ADA Deficiencies, Landscaping, On-Street Parking.
2) Alton/5th St. Underpass – FDOT is questioning whether or not to eliminate the flyover as well as addressing the issue of eliminating the median strip at the end of the flyover (@ 6th St), because of numerous accidents.
3) ACCESS MANAGEMENT – Considering restricting left turn lanes in accident prone cross streets to Alton Road from 5th Street to Upper Michigan St.
4) PROJECT SCHEDULE – Design Analysis scheduled to complete end of Nov., Engineering analysis is going on now until the end of Feb., Preliminary Engineering Report due the end of April. Alternative Analysis now until the end of Feb., Public Involvement will be until the end of June ’08. The next Meeting will also be a Public Hearing sometime in the spring of ‘08. Review and Receive plan approval from May until August ’08.
5) LEVEL OF SERVICE - FDOT will be grading the conditions and waiting times in various intersections. Several intersections were graded “F”, particularly in the morning rush hour. There have been approximately 90 crashes per year for the years 2001-2005 at 5th and Alton. 17th and Alton is the next highest crash site.
6) PROPOSED OPTIONS
a) 5 Lanes w/ Parking Lane & Bicycle Lane or 5 Lanes w/ Parking Lane & NO Bicycle Lane (bike lane located between parking lane & street)
b) 4 Lanes w/Median, Parking Lane & Bike Lane or 4 Lanes w/ Median, Parking Lane and NO Bike Lane
c) 4 Lanes w/ 14’ Median, Parking Lane & bike Lane or 4 Lanes w/14’ Median, Parking Lane and NO Bike Lane
d) 6 Lanes w/14’ Median & Exclusive Bus Lane
e) 6 Lanes w/14’ Median



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The most popular choice appeared to be c) , followed by b). There will be no street widening; the entire change will be from one inside edge of sidewalk line (next to the buildings) to the other.
Lane sizes will vary from 11’-12’ Car Lanes. Bike Lanes will be 5’. Sidewalks will be 6.5’ and the Parking Lane is slated for an 8’ width.
Many people believe that a Bike Lane on Alton is not a good idea; rather place a Bicycle Lane on a nearby street.