02-09-22 ESC Adopted MinutesMINUTES
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
Meeting
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 - 6:00 PM
Commission Chamber
Present: Amy Palmer, At -Large Member, ESC
Linda Chipperfield, At -Large Member, ESC
Mark Gabrynowicz, ESC Chair, District 1307 Member
Daniele Giovannucci, Vice Chair, At -Large Member, ESC
Romy Vann, At -Large Member, ESC
Barbie Brooksher, District 1312 Member, ESC
Sarah Boren, District 1306 Member, ESC
Absent: Christopher McHan, At -Large Member, ESC
Bruce Andrews, At -Large Member, ESC
Also Present: Amanda Askew, Director of Planning and Community Development
Candiace Kelly, City Commissioner, Seat 3
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
• Mark Gabrynowicz called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.
• Linda Chipperfield called the roll. Sarah Boren attended via Zoom.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve minutes of the January 12, 2022 regular Environmental Stewardship
Committee meeting.
3. CHAIR'S REMARKS
A. 2022 ESC Priorities
• Mark Gabrynowicz stated he attended the Commission's Priority Setting Meeting
and spoke to some of the Commissioners about the ESC's individual priorities,
in which they had no dissent.
• Mark Gabrynowicz said he would like to consolidate the priorities. He read the
priorities members came up with for the ESC to complete, which include focus
on areas other than trees, finalize, implement, and distribute a new welcome
package, have a city-wide tree planting day, improve recycling rates and
participation in recycling, educate citizens, and promote "AB Loves Trees" with
outside organizations. He asked members to discuss the priorities.
• Sarah Boren said she forgot to submit hers, which is to pass the Community
Action Plan in 2022.
• Daniele Giovannucci suggested coming up with more measurable tasks for each
of the priorities. He also stated most recyclable items are going to landfills and
he did not think this would be a great objective to pursue. He suggested coming
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
February 9, 2022
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up with more specific topics beyond the general statement of "focusing on areas
other than trees".
• Linda Chipperfield expressed that promoting "AB Loves Trees" and having a
city-wide tree planting day fall under the same category and all of ESC's tasks
have the goal of educating citizens. She said that she does not know if there is
much the ESC can do about recycling.
• Mark Gabrynowicz said the purpose of this discussion is to narrow in on the
priorities for the year. He said he would like to discuss the individual goals
quarterly to get a progress update.
• Sarah Boren suggested focusing on composting under the education priority.
• Following discussion about priorities, Mark Gabrynowicz discussed the
legislative action to revise Florida Statute 163.045. He also reported the Board
Member Review Committee approved 2 ESC members and the next step is for
them to go to Commission for approval.
B. Individual member priorities
4. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (5 MINS.)
• The committee took a 5 minute recess to allow Amanda Askew to get the PowerPoint
for Emma Finn.
5. REPORTS
A. Tree subcommittee
• Mark Gabrynowicz gave the tree subcommittee report.
B. Outreach subcommittee
Barbie Brooksher gave the Outreach subcommittee report. She discussed the
planning for the 2022 Earth Day event, 2023 Arbor Day planning, and tree code
training for realtors.
Members discussed training for realtors.
C. LEED subcommittee
• Sarah Boren gave the LEED subcommittee report. She discussed submitting the
LEED recertification, the Community Action Plan survey, and making the Public
Works building green. She asked members to distribute signs promoting the re-
opened Community Action Plan survey around the city.
6. MAYORS AND/OR STAFF REPORT
A. Commission Priority Setting
• Amanda Askew reviewed the Commission Priority Setting. She reported there
will be a budget amendment to get a tree canopy assessment. Members discussed
the tree canopy assessment and the bid process.
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B. Royal Palms adopt -a -tree mailer
• Amanda Askew discussed the Adopt -A -Tree mailer sent to the Royal Palms area.
Members discussed the 3 -year survival requirement and the application.
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. COAB Parks Assessment Plan
• Mark Gabrynowicz reported he spoke with the Mayor about the Park Assessment
and she was not in full support. He said he would still like to move forward with
the assessment. He asked for any comments to the the document he already
created.
• Amy Palmer asked if this is something city employees already do. Mark
Gabrynowicz responded that Parks employees do this, but his idea is to be an
evaluator.
B. Tree Removal Certification (formerly known as Tree Trimmer Guide)
• Mark Gabrynowicz stated he will send out information about the certification and
asked for member to review and provide comments.
C. Steward of the Environment
• Mark Gabrynowicz said he drafted guidance on the Steward of the Environment
award. He asked member to review and provide comments to Amanda Askew.
S. NEW BUSINESS
A. Pesticides
• Mark Gabrynowicz made a motion to move item Sa. to follow item 4. There was
no 2nd and no dissent.
• Emma Finn gave a presentation on pesticides. Discussion ensued following the
presentation.
• Mark Gabrynowicz asked Emma Finn to come to the next meeting to brief the
committee on a plan to address pesticides concerns.
B. What ABout
• Mark Gabrynowicz discussed creating a "one -stop -shop" page on the City's
website that has all information needed for new residents.
• Linda Chipperfield expressed her concern due to the limitations of the website.
• Amy Palmer asked if the ESC is no longer doing the welcome tote bags.
• Barbie Brooksher reported Jennifer Johnston, Outreach subcommittee liaison,
expressed her concern for the welcome bags since they have been in discussion
for several years and suggested creating a flyer with a couple of paragraphs to
post online.
• Members discussed the idea of posting information to the webpage, ESC budget,
and tote bags.
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February 9, 2022
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• Mark Gabrynowicz asked Amanda Askew to provide tote bag prices at the next
meeting.
• Following the discussion, Daniele Giovannucci readdressed his idea of creating
a mailing list to reach out to the community. Amanda Askew expressed her
concern with logistics and stated the ESC would need a city email so that
correspondence would be collected as public record. Daniele Giovannucci
offered to take on the task of creating the list and soliciting the public for support
of the ESC. He asked Mark Gabrynowicz to write a draft email to send once the
list is created. Members discussed creating a mailing list.
• Amy Palmer brought up the discussion of relocating palm trees and asked it be
added to the next meeting agenda. Mark Gabrynowicz said this would be a topic
to take to the tree subcommittee first.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Mark Gabrynowicz declared the meeting adjourned at 8:11
p.m.
Attest:
JO
ar br o c Amanda Askew
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
February 9, 2022
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