Town ofMelbourne Beach  TOWN COMMISSION WORKSHOP MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020, 6:00 p.m. COMMUNITY CENTER, 509 OCEAN AVENUE  MINUTES  Commission Members: Mayor Jim Simmons Vice Mayor Wyatt Hoover Commissioner Steve Walters Commissioner Sherrie Quarrie Commissioner Corey Runte StaffMembers: Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro Town Clerk Jennifer Torres Town Attorney Cliff Repperger Finance Manager Jennifer Kerr    1.  Call to Order  Mayor Simmons called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.  2. Roll Call  Commissioners Present: Mayor. Jim Simmons Vicel Mayor Wyatt Hoover Commissioner Steve Walters Commissioner Sherrie Quarrie Commissioner Corey Runte Planning & Zoning Board Present: Vice Chairman Kurt Belsten Member Doug Hilmes Member April Evans Member Daniel Gonzalez  Staff] Present:  Town Manager Elizabeth Mascaro Town Clerk. Jennifer Torres Finance Manager Jennifer Kerr Town Attorney Cliff Repperger Planning & Zoning Members not present Chairman Dave Campbell  3.  Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence  Led by Mayor Simmons  Mayor Simmons noted that Dave Campbell, the Chair oft the Planning &  Zoning Board was not in attendance.  4. Public Comments Chris Schultz 409 Hibiscus Trail  Mr. Schultz asked the Mayor to clarify a comment from thel last meeting related toa conflict of a Commission member with voting on Ordinance 2020-03. Mayor Simmons clarified that voting is mandatory unless there is a direct financial benefit to a Commissioner involved - and that is not the case in this event.  Steve Strauss 429. Riverview Lane  Mr. Strauss wanted clarification on the Ordinance 2020-03. He wanted to know ift the location on the property of the RV or thel boat has to be behind thel building line. Mayor Simmons said Mr. Strauss was offt topic and out of order because this is public  comment for items that are not on the agenda this evening.    Thel Mayor explained that the Commission agreed to table the second reading of Ordinance 2020-03 in order tol have further discussion. He explained the informal platform oft thej joint workshop with invited members oft the Planning & Zoning Board. Hei then asked Planning & Zoning Board Vice Chairperson Belsten to share and explain Vice Chair Belsten said thel board wanted split out Boats from RV. They realized the length of boats should be increased but felt thel length suggested for RVs was too much. Mayor Simmons asked ift the specific request from the Planning & Zoning Board was to allow the extension of maximum boat size - but not allow an extension in length of RVs Vice Chairman Belsten said they are willing to discuss thel length of RVs but feels 45-feet The Mayor then gave a rundown as to what other municipalities are doing as far as restrictions, etc. related tol boats and RVs which predominately include longer length allowances for both boats and RVs. Given this information, he felt the Town of  hist thoughts on the Ordinance.  to45-feet. ist too much  Melbourne Beach was the outlier here.  Commissioner Quarrie distributed some papers reflecting that thej property owners are Planning and Zoning Member April Evans said she would like the Commission to consider splitting up boats and RVsi into separate Ordinances and felt that thei increase ini time allowed forl loading and unloading is good stuff-1 but the size allowed for RVs was the big issue and she would likei to see it come back toi the Planning & Zoning Board Planning and Zoning Member Daniel Gonzalez said you can'treally dictate what goes in Planning and Zoning Member Doug Hilmes said this ordinance allows an RVi to be parked on thej property line and therei is no setback here. He went on to say that setbacks provide air and space between houses and a more uniform look.. Also, they provide public safety - in the event ofa fire we. havei tol be ablei to reach the back yard. He went overs several items he felt could be implemented to tighten up the Ordinance. Commissioner Steve Walters said it's about the noise as well and breathing in diesel. He was also concerned about people living in them and added the' Town had spent thousands oftax dollars on this controversy when most people are against it.  already adhering to concealment with hedges etc.  so they can work on the size issues.  your neighbor's: yard and that's why he dissented in his vote.    Vice Mayor Hoover distributed a printout of several of his own suggestions, adding he  was fine with separating boats and RVs in the Ordinance.  His suggestions included:  Limited capacity to enforce length (codes) they choose to do SO - it's an option.  Any group of homeowners can create an HOA and create more restrictive rules if The issue with RVs is height - not really thel length. He suggests mitigating the issue of height by being allowed to put in a 10-foot vegetative barrier.  The concept of vegetative barrier is a good solution  Planning & Zoning Member Gonzalez said he liked the idea of vegetative barrier because Vice Mayor Hoover advised they be careful of how much more work they are asking our Planning & Zoning Member Evans said a big issue is code enforcement because they can'tg go on the property and if they can't see it on the street they can'tenforce code. Commissioner Runte said he does not like the idea of permits or special exceptions because it's too hard to keep up with every application for special exception. Planning & Zoning Member Hilmes felt that for RVs - along with screening - there should be a setback and a limit on the number of vehicles. He also felt they should make sure there is a valid license/tag on the vehicle and it is registered to the occupant ofthe home. He also feels the special exception for corner lots should be removed. Vice Mayor Hoover said his concern was with how the Town would be able to enforce these things. There is no practical way for a code enforcement officer to check registrations on RVs- sO he'sl hesitant to go down that line ofthinking.  itv would provide some kind of setback.  Town Staffi to do. Iti is a small staffa and they are very busy.  Further discussion ensued related to vegetative barriers, setbacks, and regulating = or Mayor Simmons suggested the group go through each of Vice Mayor Hoover's suggestions. After which some discussion took place and the' Town Attorney advised that some oft these suggestions - ifenacted - would result in many more residents becoming  overregulating the community.  noncompliant with the code. Public Comments    Justin Piller 304 S. Palm  Mr. Piller suggested a fence or shrubs on either side and require boats or RVs tol be  registered.  John. England 5144 Avenue B  Mr. England discussed setbacks and suggested some residents could be grandfathered  in.  Tina Coppcok 505.Avenue. B  Ms. Coppok said she moved from a less desirable place to live in this town and she objects to RVs -but not boats and feels these issues need tol be separated. She suggested  the issue be placed on thel ballot.  Chris Schultz 409 Hibiscus Trail  Mr. Schultz suggested the' Town give some thought to easements. Safety issues can be  problematic. Somebody may get hurt.  Jean. Hilmes 443 Riverview Lane  Ms. Hilmes asked question about enforcement.  Brian Troy 509 Hibiscus Trail  Mr. Troy said there is a lot of fear mongering going on and the sensationalism is overzealous because there are just a few bad apples - adding that we are a coastal  community.  Pam Lindenberger 514 Banyon Way  Mr.1 Lindenberger questioned who willl handle code enforcement for vegetativescreening  and will they address how many vehicles ini total you can have.    Pete Peterson 305 6th Avenue  Mr. Peterson said a 16-foot boat can end up over 30- feet in length.  Thjs Shelling Mango Drive  Mr. Shelling there are no storage facilities available. And, he can see. having a 10-foot  hedge or setbacks if you have the room, but many people don't.  Jean Lewis 506. Hibiscus Trail  Ms. Lewis suggested permits which would allow code enforcement on the property.  Neil Tewksberry 398 Riverview Lane  Mr. Tewksberry objected to people living inside their RVs and said many are an eyesore.  Mike Kalajian 524 Sunset Blud.  Mr. Kalajian commented on adding vegetation as a buffer.  Joyce Barton 322 Third. Avenue  Ms. Barton felt that RVs and boats should be in different categories. Boats are bigger these days and people want to use them more frequently. RVs are not synonymous with costal living. She said the Commission needs toi think it through a little more.  Dave Stein 507Andrews Drive  Mr. Stein said that length seems like a bad way to do this. A fence height ofs six feet won't allow anyone to have something in their side yard - SO perhaps they should increase the  height limit.  Frank LaGrassa 412 First Ave.    Mr. LaGrassa said everybody's feelings are valid. Property values are affected by appearance. Views affect property value. Neighborhoods not loaded with boats, RVs and cars are nicer. He would also hate to see compliance dependent on neighbors.  Michael Ottomanelli 510_Avenue A  Mr. Ottomanelli said people want to enjoy their freedoms. He had issues with extra vegetation and asked what right does someone have to take the right away from  someone else?  Bruce Morgan 512 Magnolia. Avenue  Mr. Morgan felt that views related to property values are subjective and he did not agree  with taking away anyone else's right.  Brad. Molander 211 2nd Avenue  Mr. Molander said they should focus on fixing the very few issues that exist and let the  rest of the residents enjoy. Dontcomplicate this.  Cynthia Lagrassa 412 First. Avenue  Ms. LaGrassa said setbacks are important but no one is talking about limiting the number of RVS and boats. She felt the issue should be added to the ballot for residents  to vote on.  Mayor Simmons said they are not limiting the number ofl boats and RVs.  Member Doug Hilmes said that Planning & Zoning had suggested not allowing the slide outs to remain open overnight. Discussion ensued that slide outs on RVs should be collapsed between 12 midnight and 7 a.m. He also said they needed to define the  measurement oflength.  After some further discussion and suggestion, the Town Attorney confirmed that a boat shall be measured from the tongue of the trailer to the tip of the extension or propeller  ofattached engine. The Commission agreed.    Vice Mayor Hoover moved to adjourn; Commissioner Quarrie  seconded; Motion carried 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.  ATTEST:  Wyut Hoow Wyat'Hoover, Mayor  bs Jennifer Torres, Town Clerk