1/7/1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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are losing that quality of life, we are losing tourism and we are losing that resource that taxpayers have been paying for. She is relying on the City Council and County Commission to resolve the issue. William Hoolage, 11 Vista Gardens Trail, asked for clarification regarding the referendum. He noted that we just had a referendum regarding purchase of environmentally sensitive lands. Attorney Vitunac explained that the Constitution requires an election before bonds can be issued which will be supported by ad valorem taxes. The law allows districts to be established which can issue bonds, but only after a referendum. That is why the referendum to purchase environmentally sensitive lands is binding. This County Commission can ask for a referendum at any time, it can make a public announcement that it will go along with the result, but the referendum cannot bind the Commissioners if they change their minds. J. B. Norton, executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, represented himself only. He conceded that the Chamber publishes a brochure which mentions that Indian River County has many beaches, but it does not say where the beaches are located. He urged the Board to address this situation because the stretch of beach within the city limits of Vero Beach is in. dire need of immediate attention and we cannot afford to wait. He felt the Board needs to get the facts, study the situation, see what we have to do, present that to the community, and proceed with it. Denis Scarpinato, director of Conserve Our Resources, stated that his group basically supports the project but not the designs proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He recounted his experience with the original beach committee dealing with the Corps' plan. He stated that Conserve Our Resources advocates the dewatering project. He wanted to see the community work together to protect the environment, protect the buildings and protect our recreational beaches. Councilman Pease wanted the Sebastian Inlet itself to be studied because he felt the sand is not reaching our beaches. He realized that it takes time for beach nourishment but we must try to bring nature back into the process. He suggested extending the Sebastian Inlet Taxing District to the south. Dr. Peter Fallon, Sebastian Inlet Taxing District Commissioner, felt that coastal engineers would argue that virtually every inlet in Florida causes significant down -drift erosion. The problem we are having to date is the actual scientific quantification of how far south the effects of the Sebastian Inlet are felt. He noted that his home is affected by 9 JAN 7 1993 BOOK $8 FA{ r 166