04-13-22 ESC Adopted Minutesr� yly� MINUTES
} s� Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
Meeting
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Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - 6:00 PM
-b't 9r Commission Chamber
Present: Amy Palmer, At -Large Member, ESC
Mark Gabrynowicz, ESC Chair, District 1307 Member
Daniele Giovannucci, Vice Chair, At -Large Member, ESC
Barbie Brooksher, District 1312 Member, ESC
Sarah Boren, District 1306 Member, ESC
Bruce Andrews, District 1308 Member, ESC
Patrick Nobles, At -Large Member, ESC
Anastasia Houston, At -Large Member, ESC
Absent: Linda Chipperfield, At -Large Member, ESC
Christopher McHan, At -Large Member, ESC
Romy Vann, At -Large Member, ESC
Also Present: Abrielle Genest, Planner
Candace Kelly, City Commissioner, Seat 4
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mark Gabrynowicz called the meeting to order and called the roll. Sarah Boren attended via
Zoom.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Approve minutes of the March 9, 2022 regular Environmental Stewardship
Committee meeting.
Mark Gabrynowicz asked if there were any changes to the March 9, 2022 minutes. There
were no changes to the minutes. Mark Gabrynowicz stated the minutes stand as
submitted.
3. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (5 MINS.)
A. John November - Selva Preserve
Bruce Andrews provided a presentation about the Selva Preserve. Members
asked questions about the proposed trail through the preserve.
MOTION: ESC recommend to city staff and to the city commission that they amend the Parks
Master Plan for Selva Preserve to include moving forward with a Phase One of trail construction
in next year's budget. Phase One would include the design and construction of a trail within the
city -owned property north of 11 th Street to its northern boundary along Sherman Creek and
possibly looping into the western portion of the property. Phase One would also include
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
April 13, 2022
Page 1 of 10
4.
5.
preliminary design and budgeting for future portions of the trail northward into the Selva
Preserve LLC property within the greenway easement and southward to Plaza Drive through the
Selva Lakes property (pending approval from the Selva Lakes landowner).
Motion: Bruce Andrews
Second. Daniele Giovannucci
• Mark Gabrynowicz recommended moving the discussion of the motion to New Business.
Discussion on the presentation ensued.
• Commissioner Kelly said it is unlikely Phase One of trail construction will be included
in the next year's budge due to upcoming projects.
• Sarah Boren asked if funding for maintenance, environmental impacts, and inclusion into
the adaptation plan had been considered.
• John November responded and said there are no known endangered species in the area
and the trail will be relatively low maintenance. He estimated phase one will cost less
than $50,000 with an additional $25,000 for planning.
Daniele Giovannucci (Seconded By)
For
Bruce Andrews (Moved Bh)
For
Amy Palmer
For
Mark Gabrynowicz
For
Barbie Brooksher
For
Patrick Nobles
For
Anastasia Houston
For
Motion passed 7 to 0.
B. Emma Fin - Pesticides
• Emma Fin gave a presentation about long term and short term actions the city
could make to create a "Pesticide Free AB" (which is attached hereto and made
part of this official record as Attachment A)
• Sarah Boren proposed adding this to the Community Action Plan.
• Daniele Giovannucci suggested education about pesticides be an Outreach
Subcommittee task.
• Barbie Brooksher asked Emma Fin to help create education videos for the
Facebook page. Emma Fin agreed to this.
Pesticide -Free AB 04.15.22 - Emma Fin
CHAIR REMARKS
A. Commission Priorities
• Mark Gabrynowicz briefly went over the Commission Priorities and reiterated
that these are also the ESC's priorities.
REPORTS
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
April 13, 2022
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A. Tree Subcommittee
• Bruce Andrews gave the tree subcommittee report. He said the subcommittee
discussed recent Adopt -A -Tree plantings, the proposed addendum to Chapter 23,
Heritage tree incentives, and updating the list of proposed tree planting locations
(which is attached hereto part of this official record as Attachment B).
• Commissioner Kelly said the Commission did not approve of the Heritage Tree
incentives because the City did not want to get in the business of reimbursing
citizens.
PlantingPr�ty List 3.4.21 update
B. Outreach Subcommittee
• Barbie Brooksher gave the Outreach subcommittee report and discussed the
preparation for the 2022 Earth Day Art Show.
C. LEED Subcommittee
• Sarah Boren gave the LEED Subcommittee report and discussed the Community
Action Plan survey, LEED for Cities recertification, and focus groups regarding
the Community Action Plan.
6. MAYOR/ STAFF REPORT
A. Legislative Initiatives
• This agenda item was not discussed.
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. Tree Trimmer Guide
• Mark Gabrynowicz reviewed the current stage of publishing the Tree Trimmer
Guide and said the guide is now at the staff level.
B. Arborist Addendum
• This item was reviewed during the Tree subcommittee report.
C. Steward of the Environment
• Mark Gabrynowicz stated he and Daniele Giovannucci came up with two
different ways to grant awards. He preferred giving awards to people through out
the year while Daniele preferred giving out an annual award. Mark Gabrynowicz
passed around an Environmental Steward Award for members to review. There
was no contest to the award.
• Sarah Boren said she preferred an annual award that has criteria and requires a
vote.
D. ESC 2022 Priorities
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
April 13, 2022
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• Anastasia Houston discussed revising the information on the City's website to
accurately reflect what items are recyclable.
E. ESC Meeting Rules Change
• Mark Gabrynowicz reviewed the verbiage change the City Clerk brought up. The
change includes removing the word "present" from the voting options. There was
no contest to this change.
8. NEW BUSINESS
A. SME Proposal
• Mark Gabrynowicz reviewed the Subject Matter Expert Management Guidelines
lie drafted.
B. Carbon Pricing - What can AB do?
Mark Gabrynowicz asked ESC members to think further about what the City can
do and the ESC can recommend to Commission regarding carbon pricing.
Sarah Boren addressed the difference between carbon pricing and carbon
reduction through target setting. She reviewed statistics that was generated
during the LEED for Cities recertification and the targets already included in the
Community Action Plan. She wanted to make sure the ESC is clear about what
they are recommending.
Mark Gabrynowicz thanked Sarah Boren for the information and said he wanted
to set the stage for future discussion on Carbon Pricing.
C. Bruce Andrews- Johnston Island
Bruce Andrews brought up that FDOT now owns Johnston Island and is
considering allowing the City to have access to the island.
D. Sarah Boren- Mitigation Fund Update
• Sarah Boren asked for a quarterly mitigation fund report.
9. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Mark Gabrynowicz declared the meeting adjourned at 8:02
p.m.
Attest:
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Amanda Askew
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
April 13, 2022
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Let's Discuss!
• What is our pathway to a toxic -free A.B.?
• What are our short-term and long-term goals?
• How can we utilize existing resources, goals and
initiatives from COAB to advance this agenda?
0
Short -Term Goals
• Spread awareness about the toxicity and health impacts of
pesticides/herbicides in residential gardens
• Provide people with resources to safer alternatives (see this fact sheet
from Beyond Pesticides and :his list of less toxic alternatives)
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Long -Term Goals
• e, --
Meet w/ pesticide/herbicide-spraying companies in the region (landscaping as well?) to
discuss transitioning towards less toxic alternatives, with the goal of educating
companies and their workers around worker safety, community health, and
environmental health. The economic incentive for these companies might be an
organic premium or rebranding they can undergo along with the promise of safer,
healthier, friendlier lawn care.
Another idea: these companies that "go green" or become less toxic or transition to
organic can get some sort of recognition from the COAB or Mayor's office (i.e., the
Mayor's "Stamp of Approval" or "COAB Certified Green")?
• Provide native landscape consulting through the COAB
0
City of Atlantic Beach
Environmental Stewardship Committee - Tree Sub Committee
Prepared by: Sarah A. Dark
11/04/2020
COAB Next 1,000 Tree Plantings
Suggested Funds: COJ Tree Fund
A - High Priority (main roads, visibility, improve heat island effect, pedestrian shade, large/
bold impact, low hangin fruit/easy infill street trees)
• 1 *: Russell Park -Bald Cypress along swale (Col has planted a couple)
• 2*: Russell Park - Pine Tree Infill within playground area and western perimeter (Approved for COJ Round 2)
• 3*: Plaza Road (south side near Sea Oats Apartments and Mayport Rd) - Infill Street trees (COJ denied)
• 7*: Camelia St & W. 1 st Street - Street Trees along swale adjacent to church property (COJ approved two oaks
for Round 2)
• 8*: Main St. & W. 1 st Street - Eastern Red Cedars along NE corner to provide screening to mobile home
park from the street (COJ approved additional cedars for Round 2)
• 9*: Veteran's Park/ 1 st St. - Street trees along north and south side of 1 st street. North side -
E. Red Cedars for screening, South- Canopy/Shade Trees to take into account grass parking (CoJ denied,
have to stay away from utilities and cant go between drainage Swale and street)
• 11 *: Levy Ro and Mayport Road - Opportunity to plant shade trees near or adjacent to Mayport Road. (Best
opportunities are on private property)
• 13*: Donner Park - palms by basketball, shade trees (top option/palms in the parking islands (COJ denied -
too close to bball courts, dangerous)
• 15*: Sherry Drive (west side adjacent to Howell Park land) - Street trees (oaks) to fill in canopy (COJ denied -
water line)
• 16*: East Coast Drive (11th to 15th) - fill in with Sabals to complete the ex. Sabal palm Allee planting, in
space between sidewalk and roadway. May need to contact specific homeowners to give notice. Consider
extending along the sidewalk between 11th and 12th, opportunity to create more shade along the sidewalk.
(sent letters out to each elgible homeowner- no yes responses)
• 17*: East Side of Seminole between 18th street and 19th street - opportunity to plant between sidewalk and
roadway like round 1 plantings to the south (COJ denied, may be able to do COAB planting).
• 18*: Seminole Road between 20th & Oceanwalk Neighborhood East and West sides- opportunity to create
shade and tree canopy in a mostly open space (COJ will only approve palms here- planned for Round 2)
• Seminole Road South of CH: planting opportunities along the completed multi use path. Need to account
for R.O.W. resident parking. (COI has approved some oaks for Round 2)
• Sailfish Drive (Commercial Area) - Street/Shade Trees (Planned for COJ Round 2)
• Selva Marina Drive median - Fill in gaps where trees have been lost to storm damage, etc. (Approved for
COJ Round 2)
• Ocean Blvd. - Infill as identified by staff, within the space between sidewalk and roadway. (letters sent to
homeowners, one yes so far)
• N Park Terr W Johansen Park - NW Corner of park, replace dead oaks from older planting. (Approved for
COJ Round 2)
B - Medium Priority (medium trafficked areas, smaller impact plantings)
• 4*: Orchid Street/Snug Harbor Ct. Church (church does not want more trees)
• 10*: W 6th Street - opportunity for street/shade trees dependent on ex. Utilities (COJ denied -no
space in Right of way)
• Russell Park Walking Path - Oaks for shade along path, (Approved for COJ Round 2)
• Russell Park Open Space - Pines to replenish the ex. Pine canopy (Approved for COJ Round 2)
• Russell Parking Along the south side fence adjacent to tennis courts - plant E. Red Cedars to
create a screening effect. (Utilities - COJ can only do understory. Put on hold until there is a plan)
• Plaza Sidewalk along Russell Park - Add Oaks on the south side of the sidewalk to compliment
ex. Oaks on the northern side of the sidewalk. Will enhance walkability on the sidewalk and
provide shade in the park greenspace. (COJ denied for spacing, would have to plant in field)
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C - Low Priority (low trafficked areas residential side streets/lower visibility, no sidewalk
• 5*: W Plaza & Mayport Rd - street trees (currently inhibited by ex. Utilities and stormwater
swale) (cant plant here with current utilities and sidewalk location)
• Beach Ave. 7th and 8th street
• Water Plant 469 11 th Street - Request from adjacent resident to plant along western,
northern, and easter property lines. Future plans to removed water tower and replace
infrastructure-- determine if it will affect plantings. (waiting until after construction)
• Tide views Retention Pond (COJ denied for spacing from existing trees)
• Seaspray Ave. - Residential Street with sidewalk on one side. Would be planting in "front
yards". Very few ex. Street trees. Potential candidates for joint AB/COJ Free ROW Tree
program too. (Would need to reach out to homeowners)
ON HOLD
12*: Donner Park - NW Parking Area. Plant oaks or pines at south end of parking area at the
north end of the open field. ON HOLD (to be higher priority once parking expansion
determined)
14*: Donner Road - ON HOLD (until after road construction)
Aquatic Pond - Shade Trees around TOB, Littoral Plantings along pond edge - bald cypress.
ON HOLD (until after construction) Also suggest budget for stormwater improvements
include 10% landscape budget.
*Refers to location number identified by the ESC Tree Subcommittee & Staff, locations marked
on a map.
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