Board discusses Sea Cliff Circle content

Sea Cliff plans renovations for local trails

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The Sea Cliff board of trustees conducted extensive discussions about necessary renovations to 18 trails and updates for the Sea Cliff Circle newsletter. The trail renovations will help prevent erosion. Sea Cliff Mayor Elena Villafane cited a report that is nearing completion, stating that stopping erosion on the trail hillside will require opening up the canopy to allow more light to reach the trail.

“We are close to having a report that is worthy of being read. They have a number of old documents that they had to acquire, about the moving high-water law,” Villafane said during the Jan. 6 meeting. “As far as a general observation to what they have said so far, it’s nothing we didn’t know. 18 trails needs to be addressed and the best way to address it is to have someone go up there and open up the canopy to have more light come down.”

18 trails is one of the various hidden trails throughout the Sea Cliff community. The trail runs from Memorial Park, down 12th Avenue, and Tilley Place. Villafane also discussed other proposed measures to combat erosion.


“The report also mentioned planting the hillside with beach grasses and other erosion protection type of plantings,” Villafane said. “When we are taking down the trees that are on that hill, we have to make sure they are cut the right way down the hill, to create natural barriers to keep the hill from eroding as well.”

The Village will put this plan in motion and seek funding for the tree removal process. Villafane said that the tree removal will be a significant and a ‘big ticket’ item when applying for funding.

“We will have the rest of the report shortly, so now we can go seek funding for this project. The tree work is going to be significant, the top and bottom of the hill both have large amounts of weed trees growing in odd directions,” Villafane said. “When we get to applying for grants for this, that is going to be the largest item on there.”

The board also discussed how to improve public information efforts about the project once it receives approval. Trustee Mark Sobel suggested holding a public meeting to share details about the progress. Villafane noted that community members who have expressed interest will be kept informed.

“We have had people who have reached out repeatedly and asked about this and once we are about to get started, we will reach out to them and let them know what is happening and why,” Villafane said. “There are neighbors who live at the bottom that this will impact, and we will reach out to them individually.”

The trustees shifted focus to the Sea Cliff Circle newsletter. The village has taken over production and publication of the bi-weekly newsletter, which informs the public about local events.

Villafane said she wanted to talk with members of the board as well as Bruce Kennedy, the Sea Cliff village administrator, and now one of the publishers of the circle, about what is deemed appropriate to add to the newsletter. Villafane expressed concerns over what material should be deemed appropriate to publish.

“We decided to bring the Circle back in-house. Marion will be taking the lead on it with help from Bruce. One of the things that we need to address is what is appropriate for the Sea Cliff Circle,” Villafane said. “It is supposed to be information about events that are village-related and it is not supposed to be a vehicle to advertise for money making endeavors.”

After an extended discussion about content guidelines, the board moved into an executive session to continue deliberations.

The board of trustees will meet again on Jan. 13 at 7 p.m.