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3-2-26 Commission Workshop Adopted MinutesMINUTES Commission Workshop Meeting Monday, March 2, 2026 - 7:00 PM City Hall, Commission Chamber 800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 ATTENDANCE: Present: Curtis Ford, Mayor - Seat 1 (At Large) Bruce Bole, Commissioner - Mayor Pro Tem Seat 2 (District 1308) Thomas Grant, Commissioner - Seat 3 (District 1307) Candace Kelly, Commissioner - Seat 4 (District 1306) Jessica Ring, Commissioner - Seat 5 (District 1312) Also Present: CALL TO ORDER Kevin Hogencamp, Interim City Manager (CM) Donna Bartle, City Clerk (CC) Amanda Askew, Neighborhoods Department Dir. (NDD) Chris Delk, City Arborist Bruce Andrews, ESC Member Amy Franqui, ESC Member Christina Kelcourse, ESC Member Todd Miner, ESC Member Amy Palmer, ESC Chair Mayor Ford called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. He clarified that the Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) members are invited to stay for potential questions and dialogue during the workshop. 1. TOPIC: TREE PROTECTION CODE (CHAPTER 23) B. Staff Overview AB Code Chapter 23 (Link) CM Hogencamp acknowledged subject matter experts, NDDAskew and City Arborist Delk. He reported that since presenting the initial red -line Chapter 23 draft in November, staff has been in active listening mode, incorporating feedback from the Commission, ESC, and community. The feedback will be synthesized for an April town hall meeting where we plan to provide a dedicated forum for broader community input on tree canopy goals. CM Hogencamp announced that within the next few months, staff will return to the commission with a second red -line version reflecting all collaborative feedback. He emphasized the goal of ensuring decisions are data -based, mentioning that staff has applied for a grant to fund a professional tree inventory, with results expected by June Commission Workshop March 2, 2026 30th. As an alternative, the commission may be asked to fund the inventory directly if they want to expedite the process. Staff has reinitiated their request to the City of Jacksonville to utilize their tree plotter software, expecting a favorable response that would enable precise mapping and monitoring of the city's most significant oaks. CM Hogencamp stated the goal is to bring a code recommendation that not only manages growth but preserves community character. A. Overview of Workshop Purpose - Mayor Ford Mayor Ford explained that the recent cutting of a 200 -plus year old oak on West First Street brought tree protection issues to the forefront. He emphasized that any changes to Chapter 23 needed to be thoughtful and data -driven, requiring a comprehensive tree inventory to understand the volume of trees and whether they are located in the public right-of-way or on private property. Mayor Ford posed questions about the city's priorities, asking whether Atlantic Beach would be willing to trade stormwater requirements for tree preservation when both cannot coexist. He suggested considering exceptions to stormwater retention requirements and setback variances to save significant trees and noted that trees naturally absorb stormwater. He questioned whether city staff could be granted authority to make reasonable exceptions for tree preservation without someone crying graft and corruption. He asked everyone to think about what could be done differently to get where they want to go, noting his support for saving trees. Commissioner Bole referenced a previous city manager's right-of-way chart showing how tree roots intersect with streets. C. Commission Discussion Commissioner Bole Emphasized the need for better enforcement and education regarding tree protection. Expressed concern about the current double mitigation requirements for tree removal, noting that when dealing with multi-million dollar properties, even substantial mitigation fees become a small percentage of the overall project cost. Commissioner Kelly • Supported the concept of case-by-case flexibility to save trees by adjusting house placement. • Acknowledged the enthusiasm of new residents wanting to build their ideal homes but favored dealing with existing lot constraints. • Liked the idea that properties with more trees should require less stormwater retention since trees provide natural retention benefits. • Raised concerns about root zone protection, specifically mentioning the beautiful oak trees on Plaza that are at risk from parking and the need for city action to prevent root damage. Commission Workshop March 2, 2026 • Noted that tree preservation efforts on roads like Sailfish between Seaspray and Atlantic are paying off. • Emphasized the need to address challenges on small lots and the balance between preserving trees and allowing reasonable homeowner development. Commissioner Ring • Questioned the higher mitigation rates for new development versus other types of development. NDD Askew explained the current code categorizes projects as vacant property, new development, redevelopment, and heritage trees in environmentally sensitive areas. The Environmental Stewardship Committee was particularly concerned about targeting tear -downs and new development rather than penalizing homeowners adding pools or additions. The higher mitigation ratio for new development serves as a deterrent to clear -cutting and encourages creative design to save trees. • Raised concerns about subdividing properties, citing the West First Street example where subdividing one lot into two led to the loss of the 250 -year-old oak. Askew acknowledged this as difficult since the subdivision met minimum code requirements, noting that developers often aren't deterred by high mitigation fees, with some simply paying $80,000 without concern. Commissioner Grant • Echoed concerns about higher mitigation rates and the need for developer outreach. • Advocated for a developer town hall to gather input. • Suggested more flexibility on setbacks might be appealing to developers. • Emphasized that with rising land costs, even substantial mitigation fees represent only 1-2% of project costs. • Proposed incentives for tree preservation and discussed mitigation location flexibility. • Suggested developing a program to match people wanting trees with those needing to mitigate, particularly in areas with fewer trees away from the shore. • Stressed the importance of addressing root zone protection. • Noted the inconsistency of asking homeowners to protect trees while the city struggles to protect its own trees on Plaza. ESC Member Bruce Andrews explained that current code allows payment into the mitigation fund instead of on-site planting, once minimum on -property requirements are met. This fund supports the Adopt -a -Tree program, which aims for 100 trees in 2026 for the city's centennial and is nearly at 50 trees already. Mr. Andrews noted that Chapter 24 requires new construction to include shade trees in front yards, with successful examples visible throughout the city. He suggested increasing requirements for expensive new homes, noting that some multi-million dollar houses have minimal landscaping despite the negligible cost impact. Mayor Ford Commission Workshop March 2, 2026 • Expressed concern about unintended consequences from proposed changes to root protection zones, particularly on narrow 50 -foot lots where construction logistics are already challenging. • Concerned that overly restrictive requirements might encourage builders to simply pay fees and remove trees rather than work around them. • Emphasized the need for data on whether protected trees are actually being damaged during construction, noting that while citizens would typically report deaths of 200 -year-old oaks, staff doesn't currently track such incidents. • Referenced examples of old oaks surviving with exposed roots in Jacksonville parks, suggesting the need for balanced, thoughtful regulations. • Addressed confusion about tree terminology. NDD Askew clarified the terms. • Emphasized that live oaks should receive special consideration due to their longevity, stating that a 250 -year-old live oak cannot be replaced in one, two, or even three lifetimes. • Noted the current code requirement to replace oaks with oaks, but pointed out the illogic of replacing a water oak (80 -year lifespan) with another oak when a longer -lived species might be preferable. Commissioner Kelly • Asked about the possibility of freezing all tree permits until the ordinance revision is complete. Mayor Ford indicated this would likely be problematic legally, noting that permit moratoria are typically used for health and safety issues rather than policy development. Commissioner Ring • Suggested looking to Savannah, Georgia's tree management model, noting their forward -thinking approach to green spaces and protection of centuries-old trees. CM Hogencamp noted that Florida legislature presents impediments to implementing Savannah -style ordinances. • Suggested partnering with nonprofits for tree preservation, similar to how the city acquired Selva Marina and River Branch Preserve. The discussion included acknowledgment that while some property owners exploit the diseased/dangerous tree exemption through questionable arborist reports, most residents appear to comply with the tree ordinance requirements. NDD Askew noted concerns about arborists who charge $150 to write removal letters for any tree without proper professional standards. Commissioner Grant • Mentioned that the tree inventory would cost approximately $100,000. • Suggested focusing initially on larger trees while potentially incentivizing self - reporting. • Emphasized the need for proactive identification of at -risk significant trees to enable preservation efforts. Commissioner Bole Commission Workshop March 2, 2026 • Noted emerging drone technology that could provide advanced tree surveying capabilities, offering detailed analysis of tree patterns and root systems. ESC Chair Amy Palmer expressed appreciation for the creative suggestions, particularly regarding variances to save trees. She noted that Chapter 24 is largely silent on tree preservation priorities and suggested that explicit language prioritizing tree protection, similar to Fernandina Beach's requirement that "every effort shall be made to save the tree," could provide clear direction for staff and the Community Development Board. The workshop concluded with plans for the next town hall meeting to gather broader community input on tree canopy protection goals. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m. Attest: wol(,M4 a4a*- Donna L. Bartle, City Clerk Date Approved: �q Curtis Ford, Mayor Commission Workshop March 2, 2026 MW