MARCO ISLAND — On Wednesday, the Beautification Advisory Committee learned the island’s 302 cul-de-sac medians will see some upgrades. Tim Pinter, public works director, announced a contract with Affordable Landscaping for the cul-de-sac medians to receive clean-up maintenance twice this year. In addition, 70 cul-de-sac medians will be refurbished from the ground up.
The $39,550 contract was approved as part of the city’s $44,200 budget for cul-de-sac median improvements. Members of the beautification committee spent hours identifying the condition of each of the city’s cul-de-sac medians and choosing those needing special attention. Their findings will be turn over to the contractor for necessary upgrades.
The $4,650 savings will be applied to the committee’s Florida Friendly projects. Two areas being considered for Florida Friendly plantings are the strip median on Sand Hill Road directly adjacent to Calusa Park and a Collier Boulevard median south of the Smokehouse Bay bridge and close to Milan Court. The committee will ask for approval for the projects from City Council.
Follow-up discussions on ways the beautification committee can assist the city with street lighting drew public comment. The committee will be reviewing street light alternatives with an eye to esthetics and continuity within the city.
Pinter explained that several parameters were already in place including Department of Transportation requirements for pole heights, the poles’ green color, and distance between poles. Public speakers asked why the poles on Bald Eagle Drive past Barfield Drive were 30 feet tall while those on Collier Boulevard were shorter.
Pinter said the height of poles on Bald Eagle Drive met DOT standards; however, the city waved those standards when installing lights on Collier Boulevard. The poles are closer together on Collier Boulevard because the lighting footprint is smaller when shorter poles are used.
The beautification committee was asked to review all available pole styles and make their selections. Although island esthetics and not cost will be the committee’s driving criteria, Pinter said installed poles with fixtures cost from $1,900 to $7,000 per pole. Pole designs will be reviewed on-line from manufacturers’ sites.
The Right-of Way Handbook describing acceptable materials in swales is in final editing before presentation to the city’s Planning Board on February 17 or March 2. All swale landscaping installed after cityhood will be subject to handbook regulations if approved by council. City Ordinance 99-23, effective Nov. 1, 1999, required permitting of swales including selected materials. The city’s landscaping design excludes rock, gravel or shell.
Cul-de-sac medians identified to receive immediate re-landscaping are:
Zone 1: Diplomat Court, Snell Court, Spinnaker Court, N. Cottage Court, N. Henderson Court, Dorando Court, S. Solano Court, Tigertail Court, Nautilus Court, Lewis Court, Parkhouse Court, Austin Court and Mauder Court.
Zone 2: Sundrop Court (east) and Juniper Court.
Zone 3: Woodbine Court, Canby Court, Geranium Court (east), Stillwater Court (north), Calusa Court, Grapewood Court (southeast and northwest), Rockhill Court (northwest) and Bamboo Court.
Zone 4: Society Court, Kingston Court, Rookery Court, Menorca Court (west), Maywood Court (east), Jamaica Court and Madagascar Court.
Zone 5: Copperfield Court, Moon Court, Bonita Court, Dandelion Court, Saturn Court, Dove Court, Caribbean Court and Milan Court.
Zone 7: Cutler Court (west), Hammock Court, Osceola Court, Caxambas Court (east), Mimosa Court, Seagrape Court, Orchid Court, Quintara Court, South Heathwood Drive and Forest Court (east).
The next Beautification Advisory Committee meeting will be held at 3 p.m., March 7, in City Hall’s 1st floor conference room. The committee also will hold its Annual Community Meeting from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, in Rose Auditorium, Marco Island Public Library, 210 S. Heathwood Drive.
Community School Graduation ceremony
Collier County arrests: 05-26-2012
Winged Foot winner Brett Clark
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 10
laslic writes:
The top brass of the city should volunteer their time monthly on a couple of cul-de-sacs cleaning, trimming, mulching, planting and weeding....... then they will start looking better. Save some money also.
ajm3s writes:
"The city’s landscaping design excludes rock, gravel or shell."
Now the justification, at the last Planning Board meeting was, in a memorandum provided:
"In storm events that produce 4 inches or more of water, loose materials, such as inorganic material (stone, gravel, shells, and mulch) get carried with the water plugging filters, clogging outfalls and preventing the beneficial stormwater functions of the right-of-ways. Groundcovers such as sod, Sunshine Mimosa or Perennial Peanut, absorb nutrients, prevent erosion and move water along without mixed material traveling to the outfalls."
Now, do you really believe, stone, gravel, shell will float in storm events with deluges greater than 4"?
Mulch, yes. Stone, gravel, shell, highly doubtful!
But hey we all know there is a drive to exclude shell on this island, but now on public property, especially in a ROW. Thereby, disregarding the historical significance of shell to stabilize soil conditions, especially in areas prone to erosion from stormwater deluges.
So now the wisdom of government will reject history and good management practices, to now exclude shell and replace with a new "green" approach which includes fertilized sod.
Did we not just hear complaints from Southwest Florida Water Management complain about fertilizer use on sod and its contribution to contamination from runoff into canals?
Why are we picking on shells? Again?
Is this another shellacking? Hint: I think its about looks, that elusive Aphrodite.
LOL
toesinthewater writes:
I'd like to know if this maintenance contract went out to bid??? Is there only one contractor on this island?
Mayor_McCheese writes:
Who will start looking better - the top brass or the cul-de-sacs?
Throat_Yogurt writes:
WOOO TIGERTAIL IS ON THE FIRST LIST!! AND GET RID OF THAT EYESORE..YOU KNOW...THE ONE WITHOUT THE YARD BECAUSE THE OWNER WENT TO JAIL FOR TOUCHING LITTLE BOYS.
marco97 writes:
The cul-de-sacs should not be a priority when the City has money problems. Why this City keeps spending money we do not have just shows how mismanaged we are. The people in Goodland must be happy they are not part of Marco Island. Also I agree with the comment above about putting the landscaping contract out to bid.
marco826 writes:
spend spend spend!!!!
26yearsonmarco writes:
The Beautification Committee and Tim Pinter need to drive up and down Collier Blvd. and take note of the dangerous areas where the landscaping is too high and dense to make turns, or to see pedestrians crossing in the daylight and especially at night.
For example, I recently had a near miss with two people crossing Collier Blvd. at 7:30 pm while rounding the northbound bend, next to another car, just before the South Beach Sign. I could not see them, and I’m sure they could not see my head lights because of the high hedge, and the sign. This was a life or death situation with mere inches to spare.
I also challenge the Committee to try to turn from the left hand northbound lane of Collier Blvd. onto the Marriott’s ramp. It is impossible to see anyone in the southbound lane of Collier Blvd. until your car’s frontend is well into the lane. The pedestrian crosswalks are also so overgrown, you cannot see anyone crossing.
I also have an issue with the “bull noses” that should have just grass at that point, or vegetation no higher than 18 inches.
It’s just a matter of time before a serious accident occurs, and I urge immediate action on the part of the City.
ajm3s writes:
Interesting! Let me add that last year, the committee with support from the city, stated quite clearly, that the "over grown" vegetation in cul-de-sacs posed a safety hazard because of lack of visibility.
http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/fe...
Now given your comments, and Mr. Pinter's need to apportion limited personnel and funding, which areas would you think the city's resources should be directed?
This is why we have a problem on Marco Island. The city and the beautification committee have lost their way...
Is Beautification now influencing city ROW standards to such an extent that safety is actually being compromised in some areas, while bemoaning safety issues in cul-de-sacs? Or is this just a ruse for replanting?
Let's see: What is more of a safety issue, if safety is our true guiding principle?
1. traffic areas traveled by tourists who may not be that familiar with turning locations, as well as citizens alike
or
2. traffic areas in cul-de-sacs?
To your point, of urging "immediate action on the part of the city", I would add, the city focus on priorities and stop confusing the public and informing or is it "misinforming" the folks with claim of safety issues in cul-de-sacs, when in fact, the city currency has designed/approved/installed unsafe areas on Collier. And please, I know the city will cry out that the city followed strict government standards and oversight in its execution.
Perhaps, the amended ROW standards, currently being formulated need scrutiny because elimination of shell in ROW is not a priority that meets the threshold of items to be banned on this island.
Line of sight is a concern! But I guess it is less a concern on Collier and more so in cul-de-sacs per Beautification.
Time for the city to turnaround and stop creating ordinances and standards that address beauty rather than safety. Especially, beautification under the guise of safety concerns.
Only on Marco Island, has the term "safety" been misappropriated so many times. And beauty codified to the point it may harm us.
26yearsonmarco writes:
Thank you for your understanding about this issue, and we can only hope the City acts before it is too late for someone.
Also, I discussed this issue with a member of our Police Department, and he agrees with me.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.