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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8-26-26 ESC Adopted MinutesMINUTES . YS Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) Meeting Wednesday, August 26, 2026 - 6:00 PM 'J City Hall, Commission Chamber 800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 Present: Anastasia Houston, ESC Member 1 Amy Palmer, ESC Member 2 Sarah Boren, ESC Member 4 Matthew Mattila, ESC Member 5 Bruce Andrews, ESC Member 6 Daniele Giovannucci, ESC Member 7 Christina Kelcourse, ESC Member 8 Amy Franqui, ESC Member 9 Absent: Todd Miner, ESC Member 3 Also Present: Tonya Robinson, Principal Planner (PP) 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chair Andrews called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (5 MINS.) There was no public comment. 3. CHAIR REMARKS Chair Andrews reported that he and Giovannucci had attended the Commission meeting on Monday to deliver the required semiannual tree report. He noted the presentation lasted approximately ten minutes, followed by roughly fifteen to twenty minutes of Q&A. Giovannucci commended Chair Andrews for diplomatically presenting the report's negative findings — namely that the city was losing canopy far faster than it was being replaced. Chair Andrews reported that the Mayor and City Manager committed to including the tree mitigation fund action plan and spending plan within the budget process for approval. Chair Andrews said he encouraged them to approve it as presented rather than conducting a line -item review, reminding them of the delays caused by that approach previously. He also asked the Commission and staff to be more responsive to ESC's recommendations and provide clearer guidance on which items to prioritize. Boren then raised the topic of tree watering costs, proposing that the city explore hiring a local teenager or college student — similar to the existing lifeguard program under the police department — to water newly planted trees on a seasonal basis, rather than relying on more expensive private -sector contractors. She noted watering would primarily be needed in March and October/November, roughly four months total. She indicated she had briefly mentioned the idea to the Mayor, who asked her to write it up. She sought consensus to pursue the idea further. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) August 26, 2026 Page 1 of 6 Chair Andrews noted the practical logistics of the water tank trailer, recalling earlier efforts when staff used a confiscated vehicle to pull the trailer. Boren raised procurement concerns, including the city's three -bid requirement for contracts over $25,000 and bonding and insurance requirements. Palmer raised a question about whether seasonal workers like lifeguards were covered by insurance year-round. Chair Andrews suggested they would likely fall under the city's general self-insurance coverage. The group agreed the idea was worth pursuing creatively. Giovannucci noted that Commission had asked ESC to identify its top three budget priorities. The group discussed and agreed on: (1) planting and establishing trees, (2) a state of the canopy report, and (3) a private property tree inventory. Boren suggested combining the planting and watering/establishment items and including heritage tree incentive programs. Chair Andrews recommended using the term "establishing" rather than "watering," as suggested by City Arborist Chris, to better convey the broader care involved. Boren added that the spending plan was largely taken verbatim by staff into a resolution, with the only addition being a specific dollar figure for tree watering/establishment. The group agreed the three priorities should be kept in reserve in case Commission did not bless the full plan. 4. STAFF REPORTS A. Heritage Tree -1885 Live Oak Lane B. Heritage Tree -1800 Sevilla Boulevard Addressed jointly with Item 4.A above. C. Heritage Tree -1880 Live Oak Lane Addressed jointly with Item 4.A above. MOTION. Planner Tonya Robinson clarified that although the heritage tree nominations had been voted on previously, the tree subcommittee had not been present at that prior vote and a new vote was required. To RECOMMEND to the City Commission the nomination of three heritage trees —1885 Live Oak Lane, 1800 Sevilla Boulevard, and 1880 Live Oak Lane. Motion: Sarah Boren Second. Anastasia Houston The tree subcommittee members — Giovannucci, Anastasia, and Chair Andrews — voted unanimously in favor. The full ESC then voted, with all members voting in favor unanimously. Motion passed 8 to 0. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) August 26, 2026 Page 2 of 6 D. Tree Data Summary Giovannucci provided commentary on the July 2026 tree data summary. He noted that mitigation payment collections appeared to have slowed recently, which had also been a question raised at the Monday Commission meeting. He reported that nearly $350,000 had been collected in the current calendar year, bringing the combined total of collected but unspent funds to approximately $614,000. He expressed hope that those funds would soon be spent according to the proposed budget. Giovannucci cautioned that future collections may slow further — potentially to the $20,000 range — due to the newly strengthened ordinance. He noted, however, that arborist letters had not slowed significantly and that 203 mature trees had been removed to date. Boren suggested reviewing prior -year data for seasonal patterns but found no clear seasonality — August and March appeared to be the highest months. Giovannucci attributed the level of tree removals primarily to the volume of construction activity in the city. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Semi-annual tree permit report to the commission to include in the commission agendas as follows: • it was submitted to Amanda on Monday, June 29. The CM had concerns and questions. A revised version is attached to the agenda. Also attached is an email from Sarah Boren to Director Askew re: this topic. • the report for the second half of the year is due to Director Askew by Monday, Nov. 30, for the Dec. 14 commission meeting Chair Andrews confirmed the semiannual report had been delivered to the Commission on Monday and could be removed as a recurring ESC agenda item. He noted the report for the second half of the year would normally be due to Director Askew by November 30th for the December 14th Commission meeting. Chair Andrews suggested pushing the second report to January to avoid reporting again so soon after the first. Planner Robinson confirmed that Director Askew had indicated the report could be moved to January if needed. B. Current status of possible Chapter 23 changes Giovannucci reported that several working sessions with staff had been scheduled — on September 4th, September 18th, and October 2nd at 2:00 PM — to work through proposed Chapter 23 revisions. He noted that City Arborist Delk and staff member Planner Jamieson wanted to revisit some of the previously drafted changes in order to take ownership of the content. He indicated that most of the proposed changes were relatively minor, including root protection provisions, a simplified mitigation table, and closing existing loopholes. Chair Andrews expressed concern about not approving changes he hadn't had the opportunity to fully review. Palmer proposed that items such as mandatory palm relocation and stronger protections for trees on neighboring properties be considered while Chapter 23 was being revisited. Boren urged that process improvements raised at Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) August 26, 2026 Page 3 of 6 the town hall — such as prohibiting the use of arborists affiliated with tree removal companies — also be captured and formally considered. Boren also raised concern about ESC being perceived as responsible for delays, and suggested the narrative be proactively communicated to Commission. She noted that volunteers had offered to make a public motion at the next Commission meeting to get Chapter 23 onto the agenda with a formal deadline. She also reported that City Manager Hogencamp had been informed that a two-year-old item had been sitting unaddressed and had asked for it to be sent to him immediately. The committee agreed on a two- pronged approach: accelerating the working sessions with staff and having commissioners formally raise the item at the September 14th Commission meeting. C. Tree fund budget still needs approval from Commission Palmer clarified that the City Manager had preferred a higher-level budget summary go to the Commission to avoid getting bogged down in line -item review but confirmed that staff still valued ESC's detailed budget work and would continue to rely on it internally. She confirmed the budget could potentially appear on the September 14th Commission agenda. Boren summarized that the staff -drafted resolution was consistent with the ESC's approved budget, with the only addition being a dollar figure for tree establishment — approximately $26,000 — and a revised figure of $15,000 for the state of the canopy report. D. Status of free arborist day Palmer reported that City Arborist Delk had begun conducting informal tree consultations every Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, which he called "Leaf and Limb Checks." Residents could sign up and schedule a visit, and several ESC members confirmed they had participated. Kelcourse shared that Delk had visited her home and assessed a girdling root issue and noted that the program was already generating neighbor interest. Boren clarified that ESC had also previously voted to fund a separate formal Master Arborist program — using tree fund dollars — to provide comprehensive care and maintenance plans, which is distinct from DeWs informal visits. She noted this item had been dropped from the staff version of the spending plan and expressed procedural frustration, though she acknowledged that Delk's program was a positive development. The group agreed to treat Delk's Leaf and Limb program as a working pilot toward the original intent and to revisit the formal program if needed. E. Tree plantings in required drainage swales - follow up from last meeting Chair Andrews noted this item continued to be unresolved. Planner Robinson confirmed that Public Works was looking into it, reviewing the drainage volume calculations. Boren noted the complexity of the issue, including species-specific water uptake rates and standing water concerns during extended rain. Palmer raised the idea of using Cypress trees, which are naturally suited to wet conditions, noting the successful Cypress plantings along Johansen. Chair Andrews confirmed those plantings had done well. The group acknowledged the matter remained under review by Public Works. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) August 26, 2026 Page 4 of 6 6. NEW BUSINESS A. Landmark tree protection ordinance (Ordinance No. 95-26-128) passed at the July 13 Commission meeting. Chair Andrews reviewed the agenda item and confirmed that the ordinance had already passed and that the draft motion document on the agenda was carried over from the July ESC meeting as a reference item, published just before the Commission voted. Boren confirmed that all elements — including the doubled mitigation fees for trees in setbacks, the updated mitigation table aligned to the new 20 -inch landmark threshold, and the option for tree relocation — had been adopted by the Commission. Giovannucci raised a concern that it was not entirely clear in the final language whether mature trees in setbacks were simply prohibited from removal absent a building conflict, noting this distinction was important and should be clarified during the Chapter 23 working sessions. Boren suggested the group focus on monitoring how the ordinance was affecting behavior — whether it was prompting design changes — and on compiling a list of tree relocation companies. Palmer reiterated the suggestion to consider requiring relocation of healthy palms rather than removal. The group agreed to watch the data and revisit as needed. B. Any urgent non -tree related topics Boren reported that the film screening — in connection with ESC programming — was scheduled for the following evening at 6:00 PM, and thanked Chris Kelcourse for coordinating in her absence. She provided an update on the Trees for All program and suggested producing a door hanger to distribute throughout the community during September and October, potentially stapling the heritage tree nomination application to it, with the goal of surpassing the hundred -trees target before refining the approach for March of the following year. Planner Robinson provided an update on the Marsh Oaks Community Center opening, noting it was being delayed and that the parking lot had just begun being poured that week. Giovannucci reported on the status of the Edible Tree program, noting that attempts to site the program in the Jack Russell area had been denied and that staff had suggested alternative locations, none of which proved viable. He and City Arborist Delk had walked the park and found insufficient viable planting space. Giovannucci suggested the community garden site as a possible location. Planner Robinson noted that the community garden organizers had not received the idea warmly given the density of the existing design. The group discussed the possibility of approaching City Manager Hogencamp about a communal fruit tree trail concept, with Boren expressing openness to the idea and citing positive community interest. Kelcourse noted that loquats were reportedly on City Arborist Delk's tree list, though it was unclear whether this applied to the Trees for All program or the tree giveaway. 7. MEMBERS CLOSING REMARKS There were no additional closing remarks. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) August 26, 2026 Page 5 of 6 8. Attest: ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:09 p.m. 4, 1 ^/1, 'k,11 I '- 49 004 6 Amanda Askew, Neighborhoods Director Bruce Andrews, Chair Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) August 26, 2026 Page 6 of 6