HomeMy WebLinkAboutBeachRake.doc1
[if !mso]> <STYLE> st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } </STYLE> <![endif] From: Bennett Boucher [boucher-cape@cfl.rr.com]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 4:04 PM
To: 'Walter Bandish'; 'Jeff Ratliff, CC Public Works'
Subject: BeachRake.doc
I revised this a little, have your copy ready for tomorrow night.
Bennett
Beach 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) 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.
The major impact of the beach rake will be the consistent removal of human debris that can pose a hazard to humans and animals.
2. " " shells?
Shells present within the upper six inches of sand may be collected by the beach rake.
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 cleaning can only occur seaward of the high tide line and only during the day from March 1st to October 31st. Therefore, there will be no impact to sea turtles.
5. " " natural seaweed on the beaches?
Stranded seaweed provides an important food source for beach and near shore food chains, and should be left in place when possible. Will pickup seaweed if human debris is present.
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. The beach rake will only be used during the
working hours 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (potentially extended hours after natural disasters – hurricanes).
7. What areas of the beach will be cleaned?
Staff will monitor the accumulation of human debris along all City beaches and schedule cleaning as needed. High use beach areas around lifeguard towers and public beach access points
get a large accumulation of human debris.
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.
9. What distance of beach will be cleaned? What is the distance in Cape Canaveral? Cocoa Beach?
Most of the beach cleaning activity will be in the areas of Cheri Down Park and public beach access points. Cocoa Beach is initially targeting three high use areas, the pier area,
Sheppard park, and Minutemen Causeway.
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 and the Tourist Development Council.
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 human debris that can pose a hazard to humans and animals.
Non-mechanical methods of beach cleaning such as hand raking are not cost effective.
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 maintenance and repair activities at their maintenance shop. The City of Cocoa Beach, at their expense, will use their trailer, and personnel
to transport the beach cleaning equipment from Cape Canaveral to their City. Cape Canaveral does not own a heavy trailer to transport said equipment. Additionally the storage
at the City Hall bay complex will provide our workers easy access to the 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.
Staff will monitor the accumulation of human debris along all City beaches and schedule cleaning as needed – its use will be dependent upon a number of variables (e.g., onshore currents/winds
bringing debris 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 be used during the
hours between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., only by trained City staff.
The two Cities will mutually agree to a non-conflicting beach cleaning schedule.
14. Who will staff the equipment?
As stated in the Interlocal Agreement, only trained City employees (Streets Department) will operate the beach rake.
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.). 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.
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
is considered the most cost-effective method of cleaning human debris from our beaches that can pose a hazard to humans and animals.
City Council has the option to schedule a workshop meeting if desired.
19. Are we doing this to be a good neighbor with the City of Cocoa Beach primarily?
The two Cities have a history of working together on many issues, and the beach cleaning Interlocal agreement is just another example of intergovernmental cooperation and cost
sharing.
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