HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnvironmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) - 29 Jan 2025 - Minutes - PdfEnvironmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 29, 2025
MINUTES
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
Meeting
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 6:00 PM
City Hall, Commission Chamber
800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Present: Anastasia Houston, ESC Member
Amy Palmer, ESC Member
Todd Miner, ESC Member
Sarah Boren, ESC Chair
Bruce Andrews, ESC Member
Daniele Giovannucci, ESC Member
Heather Markaj, ESC Member
Also Present: City Manager Bill Killingsworth
City Planner Kevin Auster
Suzanne Barker – Resident
Mary Emerson Smith – Resident
Mitch Reeves – Resident
Don Wolfson - Resident
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
2. OPENING
The meeting began with ESC Chair, Sarah Boren, thanking the City Manager and ESC for taking
the time to meet. Sarah emphasized the importance of all ESC members having a chance to
discuss staff recommendations with the city manager. Due to time constraints and other
commitments, Sarah suggested that the city manager share the staff recommendations first,
followed by a round of questions and thoughts from the committee members.
City Manager Bill Killingsworth started by explaining his recent activities, including lobbying
at city hall and discussing transportation money and a 5K event.
He mentioned three main recommendations:
1. Reducing the number of ESC members from 11 to 7.
2. Eliminating subcommittees, as they are not particularly useful in their current setup.
3. Moving active parks out of the ESC and under the ARCC Committee for better
programming and maintenance.
Bruce Andrews expressed concerns about the long-term health of the parks and the need for
oversight.
He argued that a larger membership Subcommittees:
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Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 29, 2025
Bill discussed the importance of subcommittees in handling specific tasks and providing
detailed recommendations.
He expressed concerns about the potential elimination of subcommittees and the impact
on the ESC's efficiency.
Orchard Project:
Bill provided an update on the orchard project, including the selection of tree species and
the challenges in finding suitable locations.
He discussed the need for irrigation and the difficulties in coordinating with public
works.
Communication and Efficiency:
Bill emphasized the need for better communication and alignment between the ESC and
the commission.
He discussed the importance of focusing on a few key projects and getting them
completed efficiently.
Decisions Made:
The meeting concluded with a discussion on the importance of maintaining the tree canopy and
the role of the ESC in preserving the environment.
3. COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP
Membership Reduction: There is debate about reducing the size of the main
committee—from 11 members to possibly 7 or 9. Some see this as a way to be more
efficient; others say 11 members allows for more diverse opinions and better handling
of complex issues.
Term Lengths: City Manager wants to reduce terms from 3 three-year terms to 2 three-
year terms in hopes of bringing in fresh ideas more frequently.
Eliminate Subcommittees:
o Pros: City Manager say they create more work or confusion, and that staff could
handle some of these tasks directly.
o Cons: ESC Chair submitted that subcommittees allow specialized focus and can
save time for the main body.
o The group hasn’t reached consensus on whether to disband subcommittees
altogether or simply tweak them for better functionality.
4. OVERSIGHT AND PERMITTING
Desire for Oversight: Across many notes, there’s strong emphasis on keeping a
mechanism to review and comment on permits (especially tree removal permits) before
final approval.
5‐Day Waiting Period: Previously introduced to give time for public/committee input,
but some now see it as preempted by state law, burdensome to staff and permit holder,
or too short to truly influence decisions.
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Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 29, 2025
5. ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS AND TREE CANOPY CONCERNS
Substantial Canopy Loss: The notes stress that tree canopy loss has been significant,
spurring calls for stronger environmental protections or more direct oversight.
Fees Don’t Stop Clear‐Cutting: There is skepticism that mitigation fees alone deter
large‐scale tree removal; some want new or enhanced policies to preserve mature trees.
Mayor & Commission: A past mayor reportedly supports the ESC’s work
6. ORCHARD/TREE-PLANTING PROJECT
ESC member, Heather Markaj, provided an update on the orchard project, including the
selection of tree species and the challenges in finding suitable locations. She discussed
the need for irrigation and the difficulties in coordinating with public works.
ESC learned for first time after five months of work that the City Manager stopped
project earlier in the week when he learned it would encroach on walkway around the
park.
Future Location & Logistics Considerations:
o Must avoid encroaching on sidewalks and roads.
o Must have irrigation, easy public access, and a beneficial community location
(e.g., where people gather).
o Need for improved communication and coordination between staff and between
City Manager and ESC.
7. COMMUNICATION AND LIAISON ROLES
Ongoing Theme: Communication gaps between committees, staff, and elected officials
keep coming up—small but critical details (like quotes for an orchard project) get
overlooked.
Liaisons: Although some commissioners or staff act as liaisons to committees, there is
no standardized reporting process, which leads to confusion over progress and next
steps.
8. PARKS AND RECREATION INTEGRATION
ESC is okay with Neighborhoods department: the combining of parks and rec with
planning and zoning
A new parks staff member was hired to oversee maintenance and green‐space initiatives.
This could help unify responsibilities under “one roof,” improving efficiency.
The goal is to build community around parks and public spaces, coordinating with both
residential (neighborhood) interests and commercial sectors.
o ESC believes trees are at the heart of this
9. WILLINGNESS TO FOLLOW COMMISSION DIRECTIVES
The ESC recognizes the importance of aligning with City Commission priorities and
following its guidance more closely.
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Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
January 29, 2025
By doing so, the ESC hopes to allocate time and resources more effectively, focusing on
the areas the Commission deems most critical.
ESC main concern is they want a baseline of environmental protection from one
commission to the next, to maintain consistency with ESC values
10. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned.
Attest:
Amanda Askew Sarah Boren, ESC Chair
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