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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBeachRakeBeach Rake Issues 1. What is the impact of the proposed beach rake on Cape Canaveral beaches? The beach rake will collect trash and debris (including dead fish and seaweed) to a maximum depth of six inches on the beach – the depth of the spring tongues on the beach rake is adjustable to meet variable site conditions. The beach rake will collect trash and debris up to four feet in length and as small as cigarette butts. In addition, the beach rake will only be used on an as needed basis and not on the beach dune – many areas of the beach will not require the beach rake since large areas rarely contain debris and trash. The major impact of the beach rake will be a cleaner beach with no trash and debris (and associated odors, aesthetic issues, etc.). 2. " " shells? Shells present within the upper six inches of sand may be collected by the beach rake. However, the beach rake will not be used near the shoreline where most shells are located and collected by beachcombers. 3. " " dunes? The beach rake will not be used on the beach dune (illegal to destroy beach vegetation) – only areas where trash and debris are frequently present (areas between the shoreline and the beach dune). 4. " " sea turtles? The beach rake will not be used during turtle nesting season; therefore, there will be no impact to sea turtles. 5. " " natural seaweed on the beaches? There is no “natural seaweed” present on the beach – only dead seaweed washed ashore by ocean currents. The beach rake will not be used east of the shoreline where natural seaweed could possibly be located. 6. What will be the noise level of the rake? What will be the hours of operation? The noise level of the beach rake is minimal – the only noticeable noise will be from the tractor which will be pulling the beach rake. Only properly trained, City staff (Streets Department) will operate the beach rake. Therefore, the beach rake will only be used during normal City working hours (potentially extended hours after natural disasters – hurricanes). 7. What areas of the beach will be cleaned? Wherever debris and trash are present (mostly heavy use areas). Many areas will not require the beach rake since large areas of beach rarely contain trash and debris. Potential areas include the entire area from the shoreline to the beach dune. 8. Will this go as far as the Port/Jetty Park? No – the beach rake will only be used within the city limits of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. 9. What distance of beach will be cleaned? What is the distance in Cape Canaveral? Cocoa Beach? The beach rake will only be used on an as needed basis (mostly in heavy use areas). Many areas will not require the beach rake since large areas of beach rarely contain trash and debris. However, the beach rake may be used the entire length of the beach in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach (within the city limits of both communities). 10. Have we approached the Port about their opinions of this? If we agree it is a good thing, would the Port want to share the purchase, operational, and maintenance costs of this? The Port has not been contacted concerning this project – only the cities of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach are involved. Past negotiations with the Port on similar types of issues have proven to be “difficult at best”. 11. Why does the City of Cape Canaveral need to participate in this project? Multiple community members have expressed their serious concerns to me about the need for this, the cost for this, and the impact on the environment. The beach rake is the most cost-effective method to remove trash and debris from the beach. There is not enough City staff to manually clean the beach throughout the year. Although some residences may have concerns, other residents frequently complain about trash and debris on the beach (health concerns, odors from rotting vegetation, aesthetics issues, etc.). Use of the beach rake will improve beach conditions – which should be favorable to all residents. 12. What is proposed seems a highly disproportionate requirement on the part of the City of Cape Canaveral for the cost of this and the storage of the equipment. Is the City of Cocoa Beach planning to reimburse the City of Cape Canaveral for the storage of the equipment? The City of Cocoa Beach will perform larger maintenance repair activities at their maintenance shop. The City of Cocoa Beach will also make available a large trailer for the transport of the beach rake. Therefore, the City of Cape Canaveral will not charge the City of Cocoa Beach for the storage of the beach rake since the City of Cape Canaveral is not being charged for any tasks completed by the City of Cocoa Beach. 13. What is the proposed schedule for the use of the equipment? What time of day? How frequently each month? How much during the year? Please provide individual responses to these questions for the City of Cape Canaveral and the City of Cocoa Beach. The beach rake will be used only on an as needed basis – its use will be dependent upon a number of variables (e.g., onshore currents/winds bringing seaweed onto the beach, busy beach weekends where trash and debris will be left behind by visitors, frequency of fish kills, etc.). The beach rake will not be used if not required. Therefore, a definitive usage schedule cannot be developed for either Cape Canaveral or Cocoa Beach. The beach rake will be used during normal City working hours only by trained City staff. 14. Who will staff the equipment? As stated in the Interlocal Agreement, only trained City employees (Streets Department) will operate the beach rake. As for the City of Cape Canaveral, City staff have not yet been identified or trained (most likely all Streets Department staff will be trained). 15. Who will maintain the equipment? As stated in the Interlocal Agreement, both cities will perform routine maintenance of the beach rake (filling with oil, gasoline, cleaning, etc.). Larger maintenance repair tasks of the beach rake will be performed by the City of Cocoa Beach at their maintenance facility. Costs for major maintenance repairs will be equally shared between the cities (50/50). 16. What are the proposed annual costs for the City of Cape Canaveral? The City of Cocoa Beach? After the initial purchase of the beach rake, the only costs will be for routine maintenance (e.g., oil, gasoline, etc.). Since the beach rake will only be used on an as needed basis, actual annual maintenance costs are unknown. Any larger maintenance repair costs will be equally shared between the cities – the frequency of these larger maintenance repair tasks is unknown. 17. What does Keep Brevard Beautiful think about this? The City's Beautification Board? The Florida Department of Environmental Protection? Extensive discussions were held between the City and the FDEP to obtain regulatory approval to use the beach rake. Keep Brevard Beautiful and the City’s Beautification Board were not consulted on the project. The beach rake will act as an asset to Keep Brevard Beautiful since the number of beach cleanups necessary to clean the beach may actually be reduced. (Note: The same beach rake model is used throughout the state of Florida by other municipal governments.) 18. Shouldn't we have a City Workshop on this, since several of the residents along our beaches have expressed concerns about this proposal, and many of the residents may not even know we are considering it? The purchase of the beach rake has been reported on several occasions in the Florida Today newspaper and was discussed at several City Council meetings – the beach rake project should not be a “surprise” to informed residents. The beach rake project is considered a cost-effective method of improving beach conditions within the City – this should be favorable to City residents, many of who frequently complain about trash and debris on the beach. 19. Are we doing this to be a good neighbor with the City of Cocoa Beach primarily? The use of the beach rake is a cost-effective method of improving beach conditions in both communities - the project will benefit both communities with costs shared on a 50/50 basis.