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10-12-22 ESC Adopted MinutesMINUTES Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) Meeting Wednesday, October 12, 2022 - 6:00 PM Commission Chamber Present: Amy Palmer, At -Large Member, ESC Mark Gabrynowicz, ESC Chair, District 1307 Member Romy Vann, At -Large Member, ESC Barbie Brooksher, District 1312 Member, ESC Sarah Boren, District 1306 Member, ESC Bruce Andrews, District 1308 Member, ESC Anastasia Houston, At -Large Member, ESC Absent: Linda Chipperfield, At -Large Member, ESC Christopher McHan, At -Large Member, ESC Daniele Giovannucci, Vice Chair, At -Large Member, ESC Patrick Nobles, At -Large Member, ESC Also Present: Amanda Askew, Planning and Community Development Director (PCDD) 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mark Gabrynowicz called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Anastasia Houston volunteered to record decisions in Linda Chipperfield's absence. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Approve minutes of the September 14, 2022 regular Environmental Stewardship Committee meeting. Mark Gabrynowicz had two amendments to the minutes to include revising the vote on item 6.C. from "5 to 0" to "7 to 0" and remove the words "he was" from Bruce Andrews' comment under item 6.B. MOTION: to approve the September 14th meeting minutes as amended Motion: Bruce Andrews Second. Anastasia Houston A vote was not recorded. There was no dissent to approval of minutes. 3. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (5 MINS.) A. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) October 12, 2022 Page I of 4 Kelly Diaz, 130 5th Street, spoke to members about the mitigation that is owed on her property. She stated she has requested to use king palms as replacement credit which is not an approved species. She asked for advise on how to get administrative approval to allow the king palm. She said she has not heard from the administrator about her request. Ms. Diaz also spoke to the ESC about beautification in city rights-of-way. Discussion about on -street parking ensued. Sue Harvey, 386 9th Street, asked the ESC to educate residents about Florida Friendly landscaping. 4. CHAIR REMARKS A. Mark Gabrynowicz stated he gave a presentation to Commission updating on the ESC's work. He encouraged members to work on their personal goals identified during priority setting for 2022. He asked members to focus on the SRCAP and encouraged the committee to make recommendations to Commission supporting the SRCAP. 5. REPORTS C. Sustainability and Resiliency Subcommittee Sarah Boren gave the subcommittee report. She said the LEED certification will be submitted in the next two weeks. She reported that she was able to meet with 4 out of 5 Commissioners to discuss the SRCAP and the plan will be on the October 24th Commission meeting agenda for final approval. She suggested the ESC establish 2023 priorities before Commission in order to have a plan on how to achieve some goals specified in the SRCAP. B. Tree Subcommittee Bruce Andrews gave the subcommittee report. He stated they have discussed amending Chapter 23 to better protect trees on properties undergoing construction. Amanda Askew said she edited the proposed language and will send it to the subcommittee for review. Brue Andrews also reported they discussed plantings in the right-of-way, approved species list, and funding for care of private Heritage trees. Commissioner Kelly said the general opinion of the Commission is they did not want to spend city money on private property. Discussion about Heritage Trees ensued. Bruce Andrews stated Amanda Askew has applied for a DEP grant to fund the canopy assessment. Sarah Boren asked what the options are for Ms. Diaz' complaint. Amanda Askew reported that the property owner was notified by staff that the king palm was not an acceptable mitigation species and she may pursue an appeal to the tree subcommittee or a variance. She stated that staff also denied to property owner's request to designate a Heritage tree in lieu of planting 5 inches of mitigation. Discussion ensued. Sarah Boren asked how the landscaping in the rights-of-way was regulated. Amanda Askew said landscaping is not allowed for sight visibility and safety reasons. Discussion ensued about on -street parking and landscaping. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) October 12, 2022 Page 2 of 4 A. Outreach Subcommittee Barbie Brooksher stated she was in contact with the principal of Atlantic Beach Elementary School (ABE) and confirmed an Arbor Day celebration on the school campus. She reported the subcommittee had the idea of creating a lesson plan for teacher to give the week of arbor day but have not worked out the details. Discussion ensued about Arbor Day plans. Barbie Brooksher emphasized relating lessons and information provided to students at ABE back to trees in the city. Bruce Andrews suggested sending students home with an Adopt -A -Tree application and creating an incentive for classes like a pizza party. Members supported this idea. 6. MAYOR AND/OR STAFF REPORT A. Smoking Ordinance Amanda Askew reported Commission passed the first read of the Ordinance prohibiting smoking on beaches and parks and the Ordinance will go to second read for adoption on October 24th. Amy Palmer asked if the beach accesses were included. Amanda Askew was unsure. MOTION. to recommend City Commission include the public beach access in the no -smoking Ordinance Motion: Bruce Andrews Second. Amy Palmer A vote was not recorded. There was no dissent. Motion passed unanimously. 7. OLD BUSINESS 8. NEW BUSINESS A. Extension of Selva Preserve trail through Selva Lakes Bruce Andrews reported there will be a ribbon cutting for the new trail. He said Romy Vann and John November have been working with Selva Lakes HOA to allow trail access on their property starting at Plaza running north to 11 th Street along Sherman Creek. He stated the HOA has agreed to grant the City an easement which is being reviewed by the City. MOTION. to recommend the City enter into an agreement with Selva Lakes HOA to grant an easement which will extend the Selva Preserve Trail from 11th Street south to Plaza along Sherman Creek. Motion: Bruce Andrews There was not a second to the motion. A vote was not recorded. There was no dissent. Motion passed unanimously. Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) October 12, 2022 Page 3 of 4 9. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, Mark Gabrynowicz declared the meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Attest: Amanda Askew Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC) October 12, 2022 Page 4 of 4