Boca Raton Inlet History and Funding Alternatives page added

Check out a great new page with the above title describing the history, in detail, of the Boca Raton Inlet.
At the end, a section also outlines potential funding sources for inlet upgrades.

Meeting with Town Engineer and Document Delivery

Representatives of the HBA (Hillsboro Group Advocates) met with the Town's engineering consultant, MR. Douglas Mann on Wednesday, May 14. The Mayor authorized a one hour meeting between our group and Mr. Mann. The purpose of the meeting was to explore if and how we can cooperate in completing the Inspector General (IG) requests he is tasked with writing by the next Commission meeting. We had lots of questions, as did Mr. Mann. Notes of this meeting were taken by the Town Clerk.

Most of the hour was spent in wrestling with issues surrounding the Boca Inlet and Deerfield groins, facts versus opinions and perceptions of permit violations. Mr. Mann said he had not filed an IG request before. At one point he questioned if that was the right step to take, and asked if we had pursued formally any of the errors and violations through the normal channels before addressing the IG, or if the HBA had realized that there could be adverse consequences to filing the IG requests. We had not, partly because we are not a government organization.  Therefore the HBA has neither the resources, nor the staff contacts (which apparently Mr. Mann has), nor the standing as a governmental body to pursue individual staff in these organizations.  Thus we do not have the same access or resources as say our town does, but also because we are not intimate with the process. Very little time was spent on this in our one hour so we asked Mr. Mann in an email subsequently if he could elaborate on these issues, since they could be germane to the filing. We are awaiting his response.

The HBA group met on Friday to review what transpired on Wednesday then decide what could or should be done. It was agreed unanimously that Mr. Mann should receive the current drafts of the IG requests, for both the DEP and Army Corps, as well as a set of questions to explore which could lead to further permitting errors the HBA had. Mr. Mann was also informed that additional information, further potential data on permit violations and a great deal of documentation was available for the asking. We did not want to flood him with  every detail the HBA has in fear of overwhelming him in the short time he has to prepare to respond to the Commission. Last, we offered to work with him in any capacity to help in getting these requests completed and to make them as robust as possible.

The HBA sent the documentation out in an email a little while ago. We are hoping Mr. Mann will ask the HBA to review the filings before it comes up at the next Commission meeting so we can offer advice or analysis. It should be ready for the next Commission meeting in June.

We will continue to inform you of developments as they occur.
Thanks for your continued interest and support for our cause.

Our Commission has acted to support our cause!

Dear friends and neighbors,

 At the Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 6, our Commissioners voted unanimously to take the first step of a long overdue journey.  They have agreed to file official inquiries with the Inspector Generals of the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding Hillsboro Beach's unnatural erosion issues.  This is very good news!  This was the goal of the petition that has recently been circulating through Town.

 The negative impact caused to our beach by the Deerfield Beach groins and the Boca Raton Inlet is a result of permits issued by the Corps and the DEP. Now, for the first time ever, the basis and propriety of these permits will be officially evaluated.  

 To start the process for contacting the Inspector Generals (IG¹s), Commissioners have asked Coastal Planning and Engineering (CPE), the engineering firm with which the Town contracts, to draft a letter to the IG's that includes input from Hillsboro Beach Advocates.  This letter is slated for presentation to the Commission at their next meeting, which will be held June 3rd.  Please keep in mind, this is only the first step of a very long process‹just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.  It will be necessary for US, the residents of Hillsboro Beach, to stay involved with this process every step of the way to ensure things keep moving through the necessary bureaucracy. 

 At the meeting, the Commission also passed a motion to pursue the establishment of an official advisory board regarding beach issues.  Theoretically, this board would add an element of residential involvement to our Town government.  The specifics for the advisory board will be discussed as an agenda item at the next Commission meeting.

 We have cleared the first hurdle in resolving our beach erosion issue‹our Commissioners agree we must address the root causes of the problem.  The Commission and residents can now speak with one voice.  It's important for us to support our Commission in their efforts, while assuring that progress continues.

 To those of you who have attended meetings on the issue and/or signed the petition, thank you VERY much.  And thank you also to those who attended the Commission meeting.  By filling every seat in Town Hall, we made quite an impact!   :-) 

 Hillsboro Beach Advocates will do our best to keep you up-to-date on new developments.  Have you heard?  We¹ve created a Œblog¹ that contains current and past news updates, information about beach erosion, and links to relevant sites.  Look for HillsboroBeachAdvocates.blogspot.com, where you can also sign up for automatic notices or give us feedback.

 If you are interested in becoming an information point-person for your building, please respond to this message and let us know.  We are shooting to have at least one person from each building taking information back to the folks in their building.  The President of each condo association, and/or a member of each board would be ideal.  In the meantime, please share this information with your neighbors as best you can.

 Thanks for your involvement! 

 Sincerely,

Hillsboro Beach Advocates

HillsboroBeachAdvocates.blogspot.com

 

(BTW, the first item on the agenda at the Commission meeting was to recognize the winner for the new Town by-line.  We are now officially known as "Town of Hillsboro Beach ‹ Florida's Magnificent Mile."  Very nice!)

Summary of Meeting of April 30, 2014

A short meeting was held at Opal towers to inform the pubic of what our town's long term beach issues are, why they are happening, how we propose to start solving the problem and what our town's residents can do about it.

The meeting was an unqualified success. All of our objectives were met and surpassed!

We described in very understandable terms exactly where and how beach erosion is taking place, from Port de Mer downdrift for a mile. The action of the Deerfield groins as well as the sand volumes being passed from the Boca inlet were shown and related to our beach erosion.

We next described what an appropriate action should be - to petition the Inspectors General of the permitting agencies to review the harmful outcomes, why this is the right next step and why we think the Town commission should take the lead.

Finally, we asked the attendees and residents at large to support us by signing a petition to the Commissioners asking them to initiate the above actions.

There was a 20 minute question and answer period following this to respond to anyone's inquiry. Applause was generous at many points and the meeting was very cordial. About 60 to 70 people were present.

For those wishing to stay, we showed the 'Where is the Sand' presentation which had also been shown during the Town's 75th birthday celebration.

To our knowledge, almost everyone there supported our cause and returned a signed petition or had emailed their support in advance. Many people also took petitions with them for friends and neighbors to fill in.

The press was represented.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

The next Commission meeting is on May 6 at 9:00 AM. We need residents to be present, whether you choose to speak during the public comment period or not. Many of us will be there making presentations. It should be interesting.

Links to information and Help Wanted

Two new pages are available:

A page containing links to other sites and videos describing beach erosion issues.

A 'Help wanted' page contains a list of 'jobs' we need filled by volunteers. We hope you have the time, skills and want to participate in our efforts by addressing a vacant job.