“WATCH OUT FOR FIREWORKS”……..
The Mc-Furth plan for the “Furth” of July Fireworks display surprisingly still seems to be on the beach…or is it?…
The Commission was in receipt of quite a few late correspondence from the Nat. Turtle Foundation/DEP/Fl. Fish and Wildlife Commission…who were not happy with the committee’s choice of using the beach… …preferring the pier…But it appears some were told some untruths about the pier…starting with the cost…$20,000…We hear the pier owners never gave any price and had only one conversation with Event Coordinator Marc Furth…and no followup or inquiry from the Commission Co-Chairs or the Town….Could that be due to the Town Manager putting out the memo not to speak to the owners?….
Pretty strange when you think of all the hand wringing going on over the El Mar Drive streetlights and the Beach Pavilion lights…that no attempt has been made to have the fireworks off the pier…(no matter the differences on the pier sign)….to benefit the residents and the turtles…
Previously posted was one letter from DEP/Lou Fisher….(scoops…LBTS agenda/meetings categories) below are the others that arrived…
Many think there will be no fireworks and an attempt will be made to put the loss on the pier owners and the critics of how this years event has been run so far…ala the lack of the $5000 from the VFD for the Chamber’s Christmas-By-The-Sea…a big political ploy…
We hear that may have just happened in Town Hall with an anonymous letter sent to McIntee…and distributed…ala the attack letter about Patrick Pointu it is said was put in the Commissioner’s boxes by McIntee …..absolutely breaking all the rules….from accepting unsigned letters ( not allowed under Town policy)…to unauthorized distribution ( not allowed without the Town Manager’s approval) and not being stamped ….
A look at last year’s calendar shows that on March 12th, 2008 Comm. Dodd had his first July 4th meeting with Cristie Furth at her home…….March 19th, 2008 Comm. Dodd met with Town Manager Colon….April 1st, 2008 Comm. Dodd , Jerry Sehl and this writer met in Town Hall for 4th of July…Comm. Clottey left upon arrival in the parking lot due to the meeting not being posted…April 10,2008 the first posted meeting in Jarvis Hall…and then the meetings were regularly posted almost weekly on the Jarvis Hall board until the event…Comm. Dodd did go away on a long known vacation…but Comm. Clottey also went away…and as far as who did what…Comm. Dodd was fully engaged and involved from the beginning until the end…and after the event in a post July4th meeting…up until he was “Tarred and Feathered”…by the CIC…(previous post…July 2008)…..
The e-mails…..all are public record….
From: Trindell, Robbin
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 4:17 PM
To: Fisher, Louis; John Olinzock
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Cich, Wesley; Koperski, Meghan
Subject: RE: Item 16b on tonight’s agenda (042809)
To my knowledge, DEP permits for fireworks displays seaward of the CCCL line do not allow the actual staging area to be on the sandy nesting beach. Any structure for launching fireworks must either be landward of the nesting beach – some places have used the lawn of a beachfront building – or on the pier as suggested by Broward County .
Robbin N. Trindell, Ph.D.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Imperiled Species Management
620 South Meridian Street, MS#6A
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Phone: (850) 922-4330
FAX: (850) 921-6988
From: Cich, Wesley
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 1:57 PM
To: Fisher, Louis
Cc: Jackson, Celora A.; Halbert, Robert; Martinello, James; [email protected]; Taynton, Mark
Subject: RE: Item 16b on tonight’s agenda (042809): 4th of July Fireworks, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Lou,
Yes, I read Robbin’s comment last night (and your initial e-mail). While I do understand the desire to eliminate any potential impacts to marine-turtles, the comment that was made was not entirely accurate. Standard DEP/FFWCC conditions would apply. A stage would be allowed on the sandy, non-vegetated beach, but it would still have to be constructed in accordance with the attached DEP/FFWCC Special Events Permit Conditions (guideline#2) and/or be removed immediately following the event. Only ATV’s or similar lightweight ATV-type vehicles would be allowed to transport equipment/materials onto the beach. FWC had provided me comments in the past pertaining to fireworks, indicating these types of activities should take place at the high tide line on the wet, sandy beach because the likelihood of turtle nests in this area would be minimized. It was also recommended that plywood, small elevated platform or similar structure should be used beneath the deployment zone to eliminate the potential for sub-surface heat transference, if any.
I understand that the Town no longer wants to erect a stage to launch from. They would like to utilize a plywood platform on grade to launch the fireworks. I understand that they will also need to erect temporary barricade fencing (approx. 280′ feet) to keep pedestrians a safe distance from the launch zone. All items/structures would be removed immediately following the event using manual labor/ATV’s.
I had suggested the use of the pier initially, but I have also been provided conflicting information… I was told that the Town would like to use the pier, but that the cost of $20,000, which it was reported the pier owners would charge, was too expensive. It just so happens that I had the chance to speak with one of the pier owners this morning, and he indicated that they would only charge $5,000 for use of the pier to launch fireworks. If they were to launch from the pier, I would not require a DEP Field Permit because it would be atop an existing structure beyond mean high water line, which is outside of my jurisdiction. However, it would still be expected/required that the fireworks display be terminated by 9pm in accordance with state law and local sea turtle lighting ordinance regulations.
I’ll keep you posted as I learn more about the exact plans for the proposed 4th of July fireworks display in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea….
Respectfully,
Wesley Cich
Environmental Specialist II
Department of Environmental Protection
Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems
(877) 314-1329
BC…again this should not have been decided on the night of the 28th…it should have been held over for the Commissioners to have full disclosure before voting…
Thanks to the Faithful Reader for the”Furth of July” headline suggestion!….
More to come…..
Tags: 4th of july, local government, Local Politics, Scoops
