1-10-24 ESC Adopted MinutesMINUTES
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
Meeting
t)
Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - 6:00 PM
OR 9 Commission Chamber
800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Present: Bruce Andrews, District 1308 Member
Sarah Boren, District 1306 Member
Mark Gabrynowicz, District 1307 Member
Daniele Giovannucci, At Large Member
Todd Miner, At Large Member
Amy Palmer, At Large Member
Patrick Nobles, At Large Member
Heather Markaj, At Large Member
Romy Vann, At Large Member
Absent: Anastasia Houston, At Large Member
Also Present: Amanda Askew, Director of Planning and Community Development and
Building
Candace Kelly, City Commissioner, Seat 4
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mark Gabrynowicz called the meeting to order. He called the roll.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A. Approval of agenda
MOTION: to approve the agenda
Motion: Sarah Boren
There was no second. There was no dissent. A vote was not recorded.
3. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (5 MINS.)
Commissioner Kelly reported that there will no longer be commission liaisons for boards and
committees.
Nicole Devenoge spoke about environmental stewardship work she does and offered to help
with the upcoming Arbor Day event.
4. CHAIR REMARKS
Mark Gabrynowicz discussed the elimination of the commission liaison and said they would
have more details on how to relay information about the ESC in the future.
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 10, 2024
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Todd Miner and members went around the room to give brief introductions.
5. REVIEW OF ESC MEMBERSHIP POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Positions Descriptions
Mark Gabrynowicz introduced the position descriptions and stated that these should be
stored with the ESC Meeting Rules. Daniele Giovannucci suggested refining the bullet
points per position and to order them in a hierarchy of importance.
MOTION: to approve the position descriptions
Motion: Daniele Giovannucci
Second. Sarah Boren
There was no dissent. A vote was not recorded.
6. 2024 ESC POSITIONS ELECTIONS
A. Election of ESC chair
Sarah Boren nominated herself for chair. Bruce Andrews seconded the nomination. Mark
Gabrynowicz stated with no further nominations Sarah Boren is elected chair.
B. Election of ESC vice -chair
Mark Gabrynowicz nominated Daniele Giovannucci as vice chair. Bruce Andrews
seconded the nomination.
Daniele Giovannucci nominated Mark Gabrynowicz as vice chair. Bruce Andrews
seconded the nomination. Discussion about the position endued.
Mark Gabrynowicz stated he would like to take a break from any chair positions. Daniele
Giovannucci accepted the position.
C. Election of Secretary
Bruce Andrews nominated Romy Vann. Amy Palmer seconded the nomination.
Sarah Boren stated the secretary and treasurer position can be separate of done by one
person. Discussion ensued.
Sarah Boren stated with no further nominations Romy Vann is elected secretary and
treasurer.
D. Election of Treasurer
This item was discussed under item 6.C.
E. Subcommittee members and member positions
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January 10, 2024
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7.
Tree Subcommittee:
Daniele Giovannucci nominated Bruce Andrews as chair. Mark Gabrynowicz seconded
the nomination. Sarah Boren stated with no further nominations Bruce Andrews is
elected chair.
Discussion about membership ensued to determine number of members and alternates.
MOTION: to elect Bruce Andrews, Mark Gabrynowicz, and Daniele Giovannucci as members
and Amy Palmer and Patrick Nobles as alternates.
Motion: Heather Markaj
Second. Daniele Giovannucci
A vote was not recorded
Bruce Andrews read Section 23-52(f)(1) and confirmed the tree subcommittee shall be
comprised of 3 members with 1 alternate. Discussion ensued.
MOTION. to elect Bruce Andrews, Amy Palmer, and Daniele Giovannucci as members and
Patrick Nobles as the alternate.
There was no dissent. A vote was not recorded.
Outreach Subcommittee:
Sarah Boren nominated Anastasia Houston for chair. Romy Vann seconded the
nomination.
Romy Vann nominated Patrick Nobles to be co-chair. Amy Palmer seconded the
nomination. Anastasia Houston and Patrick Nobles were elected co-chairs.
Mark Gabrynowicz, Sarah Boren, and Heather Markaj volunteered to be members.
Sustainability and Resiliency Subcommittee:
Mark Gabrynowicz, Romy Vann, Todd Miner, Heather Markaj, and Sarah Boren
volunteered to be members.
Romy Vann volunteered Sarah Boren as chair. Mark Gabrynowicz seconded the
nomination. There was no dissent.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approval of the December 13, 2023 minutes
B. Tree Subcommittee
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 10, 2024
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C. Outreach Subcommittee
Sarah Boren suggested revising the dates to say 2024 in items 5.A. and 5.B.
D. Sustainability and Resiliency Subcommittee
MOTION. to approve the consent agenda with the revisions to Outreach Subcommittee
minutes.
Motion: Bruce Andrews
Second. Mark Gabrynowicz
There was no dissent. A vote was not recorded.
8. 90 DAY CALENDAR
Sarah Boren reviewed events on the 90 day calendar.
9. SIGNIFICANT MATTERS ARISING IN SUBCOMMITTEES
A. Tree Subcommittee
Bruce Andrews reported the subcommittee's discussion about requiring a budget line for
landscaping for road improvement projects. He said this was going to staff for review
then potentially to Commission.
MOTION: to recommend the verbiage in the attachment under item 12.A. of the agenda
Motion: Bruce Andrews
Second. Mark Gabrynowicz
There was no dissent. A vote was not recorded.
B. Outreach Subcommittee
Sarah Boren asked for ideas for the "how to" series. She explained the mature tree
canopy contest and asked for name recommendations for the "ambassador
program"/"block captains".
C. Sustainability and Resiliency Subcommittee
Sarah Boren said they are focusing on the Community Action Plan and Conservation
Challenge.
D. Charter Review Subcommittee
This item was not discussed.
10. MAYOR AND OR STAFF REPORT
A. Chapter 23 Update
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January 10, 2024
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Amanda Askew said there will be a Commission Workshop on January 22, 2024 at 5:30
p.m. Sarah Boren asked for someone to volunteer to attend on behalf of ESC. Heather
Markaj volunteered.
11. OLD BUSINESS
A. ESC priorities
There was no further input to the ESC priorities.
B. ESC recommended priorities for Commission
Sarah Boren reported that the recommended priorities were sent to Commission. She
encouraged members to attend the priority setting meeting.
12. NEW BUSINESS
A. Proposed Environmental Landscaping Policy for City Infrastructure from Tree
Subcommittee
This item was discussed under item 9.A.
B. Volunteer/working groups needs based on 2024 priorities
Sarah Boren expressed she thinks it will take more personal outreach to recruit people
for working groups.
Mark Gabrynowicz explained his friends of the park volunteer program. Discussion
of friends of the park ensued.
13. MEMBERS CLOSING REMARKS
Patrick Nobles spoke about a Marvin's Garden initiative.
Todd Miner recommended writing lesson plans for schools regarding "park rangers".
Bruce Andrews recommended not standardizing the play equipment at Marvin's Garden.
Amy Palmer spoke about designating a historic corridor for trees.
Sarah Boren asked members to complete the 2023 self -evaluations.
14. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Sarah Boren declared the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Attest:
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 10, 2024
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4
Amanda Askew
Sarah Boren
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 10, 2024
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