HBA activity in June

The HBA was very active in the last month.

A private meeting with Chip LaMarca, 4^th district representative for Broward County, was held at the home of an HBA member. The purpose was to provide him with background about our beach issues, to promote a dialog with the County regarding our plight and solicit guidance on how best to navigate the County and other organizations so they understand our issues. Representative LaMarca was very open in his remarks, the meeting was very successful. We think he will be a friend and asset in our dealings with the County and State.

We had asked for and the Mayor scheduled a workshop with the Commissioners to discuss beach issues specifically. This meeting was held on June 24, where a great deal of information and viewpoints were exchanged in a non-adversarial environment. Many of the HBA members spoke and their comments were well received. There was interest shown by the Commissioners but no commitment that our recommendations would be implemented. One of Mr LaMarca's aides was also present.

Prior to today's Commission meeting:

• The HBA had drafted a 'proposed' letter to Deerfield outlining our case with the groins asking Deerfield to work cooperatively with Hillsboro Beach to solve our mutual problem. We provided this letter to the Commission so they would have a chance to review it; we had hoped the Commission would send this to the Deerfield representatives.

• We sent another note to the Commission requesting that subject-specific experts be hired to review and provide advice about a few issues that have great potential impact on our discussions. The Town needs this expert input to help formulate our technical and legal positions.

• As stated in a letter sent to the Town on June 28, a special meeting of the Deerfield Commission is scheduled for July 2. It seems that the Deerfield officials may want to abrogate their portion of the small beach nourishment scheduled for this coming spring, because they think Hillsboro Beach wants to 'remove' the Deerfield groins. (Our goal is to stop the downdrift erosion they are causing, nothing else.)

Hillsboro Beach Commission Meeting of July 1, 2014

The Hillsboro Commission meeting was held today. Two HBA members spoke at the meeting. The Deerfield 'letter' was brought up and we asked that it be sent, which they did not act on. As HBA had made clear to the commission, the HBA would send it under HBA signature and has done so.

We asked that the town retain a topic specific attorney to provide advice re: permits, other documents and the government agencies. The Mayor said:  “I would like to keep attorney’s out of this at this point. ” A letter drafted by the town engineer addressing the Florida Department of Environmental Protection was not brought up either.

It seems that nothing more will happen until the September Commission meeting, but we will update you should anything consequential occur.

News Flash:

Canceled: Special Commission Meeting – July 2, 2014

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the Special City Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at 6:30p.m. in the City Commission Chambers of the City Hall Complex, 150 Northeast Second Avenue, Deerfield Beach, Florida has been canceled.

Perhaps we CAN have a meaningful dialog with Deerfield about this beach erosion issue after all!

HILLSBORO BEACH TO MAKE ITS FIRST-EVER OFFICIAL REQUEST FOR RELIEF

Recently, you may have seen articles in local newspapers highlighting the ongoing beach controversy in Hillsboro Beach. These articles shine a light on the escalating demand by Hillsboro Beach taxpayers for a long-term solution to the problem created by our neighbors—specifically by the rock piles just off Deerfield Beach (groins) and the Boca Raton Inlet. It’s been only three years since the major nourishment of 2011—which we will all be paying for through a special tax assessment until 2021, and already another nourishment is needed on the north end of town. In the three-year interim, sand prices have risen exponentially.

Boca Raton Inlet Progress

On June 3^rd, our Commissioners voted unanimously to send a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requesting the terms of the permit for the Boca Inlet be amended.

Currently, Hillsboro Beach is required to send 45% more sand south past the Hillsboro Inlet than we receive from the Boca Inlet bypass. Obviously, that leaves us with a deficit right out of the gate. In addition, Boca Raton’s city records show that for quite some time, Boca has not, in fact, been passing the full amount of sand required annually by their permit. Commissioners have finally taken the first step to address these inequities by voting to send this letter requesting FDEP involvement.

Deerfield Beach Groin Progress

Unfortunately, addressing the Deerfield Beach groins in any fashion has been pushed back until the July Commission meeting.

Although three Commissioners (Garcia, Feaman, and Maggiore) favored immediately pursuing relief for the groin situation along with the inlet situation, Mayor Schubert convinced the Commission to delay a vote for making any groin-directed requests. The Mayor does not want to address the groins in any way until AFTER the emergency nourishment planned for Spring 2015 is completed, fearing Deerfield will “back out” of their share of the project. A majority of the Commission was not willing to wait nearly a year to begin serious discussion of the problem with appropriate authorities, therefore; a compromise was reached:

Commissioners voted to have a similar letter regarding the groins re-drafted using less inflammatory language and presented again at the July Commission meeting.

Biggest Takeaway from the 6/3/14 Commission Meeting

FINALLY, a majority of Commissioners realize something besides purchasing sand at the expense of Hillsboro Beach taxpayers MUST be done to alleviate the financial pain being sent “downstream” to us by our neighbors.

What does this mean for you?

Unless the problem of the inlet and the groins is rectified, the Town of Hillsboro Beach could very well become financially insolvent, obviously causing property values to nosedive as well as a raft of other problems for residents.

Hillsboro Beach Advocates is waging a campaign to get information out to residents. Once people understand the gravity of the situation, they are in full support of doing what should have been done years ago. To that end, we’re working to set up a network of residents with one or two representatives from each building who are willing to be contacts for their buildings. If you have any interest in being a contact for your building, please let us know.

For some of you, this may be the first communication you’re receiving from the Hillsboro Beach Advocates group. If you would like more explanation for any of the points covered herein or for the science behind the issues, please review some other pages on this blog or email us at hillsborobeachadvocates@gmail.com.