The commission began by deliberating on the town’s beach restoration efforts, focusing on the challenges of construction access and the need for cooperation due to limited beach construction access through private properties. They noted that federal, state, or county funding for restoration efforts is not available due to the beach being private.

The presence of nearshore hard bottom, which affects beach width locally and acts as a form of protection, was acknowledged. The impact of storms on the beach, the formation of rack lines, and the potential consequences for the beach’s profile and dunes were discussed. The Southeast Florida Compact on Climate Change’s projections for future sea level rise were referenced, highlighting the need for sustainable and resilient beaches.

The commission addressed considerations for beach nourishment, including nourishing the entire beach profile, nourishing the dry beach, and repairing the toe of the dunes. The challenges and implications of each option were debated, including construction access, funding, durability, and feasibility.

In addition to beach restoration, the commission discussed management options to address sea level rise and storm protection, such as dune repair and beach nourishment. Dune repair could be undertaken by individual property owners or groups of owners, while beach nourishment to combat sea level rise was noted to require years to design and permit. The potential for building seawalls was also mentioned, although regulations for construction are highly restrictive. Concerns about the low berm elevation in Highland Beach and the potential threat posed by high tides, king tides, and storm surges were expressed.

The commissioners debated the threat to the beach and whether habitable structures were designed to withstand extreme storm events. The potential relaxation of rules for seawalls by the state was mentioned, and the need for dune restoration and the removal of exotic plant species was discussed. The need for pre-funding a reserve for future beach renourishment efforts was also considered.

Another topic was the donation of $2500 to the Highland Beach Sea Turtle Team, a 501c3 nonprofit organization. The importance of the donation for supporting the sea turtle team’s efforts was highlighted, with reference to the team’s fundraising activities and the significance of protecting sea turtles in the town. The population of turtles near the Milani property and the impact of public access and development on the nesting and survival of sea turtles were discussed. Public comments included concerns about the capacity of the beach area and the need for education and respect for sea turtles among residents and visitors.

The operational challenges of the local post office were a notable point of debate. The US Postal Service’s decision to stop accepting credit cards for transactions at the post office left only cash and check payments as options, creating a dilemma for the commission in balancing the needs and expectations of the community with practical and financial considerations. The commissioners discussed the financial implications and operational difficulties of continuing to operate the post office under these new conditions, including the possibility of reducing the operating hours as a compromise.

The meeting also touched on the delay in the start date for road construction, concerns about potential disruptions to the upcoming seasons, and the appraisal of the Milani Park property, which exceeded the county’s purchase price. Plans to coordinate residents to attend the county’s “matters of the public” meeting to express their unified opposition to the park were discussed, with transportation arranged for the residents.

In addition, the commission addressed the reappointment of members to various boards, the proposal to install their own credit card machine to address the post office situation, and the debate about canceling the May 7th Town Commission regular meeting to attend the County Commission meeting.