Highland Beach advisory board discusses dune-restoration outreach, trash cans and contractor practices

The Natural Resources Preservation Advisory Board met in a special session Jan. 29 to review a November presentation on dune restoration, recap the board’s Dec. 5 outreach at the Mingle Jingle event, and discuss resident complaints about limited trash cans and beach-raking contractor practices along Highland Beach.

Board members and residents focused on two immediate community concerns: increasing outreach to beachfront property owners about dune restoration and vegetation, and addressing complaints that mechanical beach-raking has been burying trash and leaving deep tractor ruts.

The board’s discussion opened with a summary of the Nov. 12 presentation to beachfront property owners by APTIM Environmental and Infrastructure LLC. Chairperson Nessel said the presentation was intended to educate property owners about dune vegetation and management. Town staff confirmed a consultant fee of "$1,695, not $1,200," for the workshop and said the APTIM report and the presentation recording are posted on the board’s web page.

Resident David Newman, who…