2-8-23 Adoped MinutesMINUTES
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
Meeting
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 - 6:00 PM
Commission Chamber
Present: Anastasia Houston, At -Large Member, ESC
Amy Palmer, At -Large Member, ESC
Linda Chipperfield, At -Large Member, ESC
Patrick Nobles, 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
Sarah Boren, District 1306 Member, ESC
Bruce Andrews, District 1308 Member, ESC
Absent: Barbie Brooksher, District 1312 Member, ESC
Also Present: Amanda Askew, Director of Planning & Community Development (DPCD)
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mark Gabrynowicz called the meeting to order. Linda Chipperfield called the roll.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
A. Approval of Agenda
Sarah Boren said the annual awards discussion should be under the Outreach Committee
not the Sustainability and Resiliency Committee. She also said there were minutes that
were not approved.
Mark Gabrynowicz said the December minutes that were not approved were on the last
month's agenda and this will be voted on during the consent agenda. He stated he did
not think the record of decisions document under Item 4.A should not be included in the
agenda in the future.
Mark Gabrynowicz stated new business was left off the agenda and said this should be
agenda item 9. He said Member's closing remarks should be agenda item 10 and
adjournment as agenda item 11. He asked that members not leave the meeting until there
is a motion to adjourn.
MOTION: to make the changes to the agenda as stated
Motion: Mark Gabrynowicz
Second: Daniele Giovannucci
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February 8, 2023
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A vote was not recorded. There was no dissent to the motion.
3. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (5 MINS.)
There were no speakers.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve minutes of the January 11, 2023 regular Environmental Stewardship
Committee meeting.
B. Subcommittee Reports
C. 90 Day Calendar
MOTION. to approve the consent agenda
Motion: Bruce Andrews
Second: Sarah Boren
A vote was not recorded. There was no dissent.
5. CHAIR REMARKS
Mark Gabrynowicz reviewed his concerns about appointing new ESC members which was
brought up in the ESC member's end of the year survey. He stated that Sunshine laws make it
difficult to introduce members to the committee. Daniele Giovannucci suggesting making an
on -boarding package to provide to new members. Romy Vann supported this idea and suggested
having a dedicated agenda item on the new member's first meeting for questions and answers.
Anastasia requested that an explanation of the time commitment be relayed before applying.
Sarah Boren volunteered to make the on -boarding package.
Mark Gabrynowicz thanked Sarah Boren for making the end of the year survey.
Mark Gabrynowicz stated that the priority setting process had some issues but thanked everyone
for the great ideas that were generated. He said they will need to approve the process for next
year. Daniele Giovannucci suggested having a facilitator to help guide the priority setting
process.
Commissioner Kelly acknowledged the ESC's disappointment in the Commission's priority
setting and how environmental priorities were not set. She reviewed the city's vision statement
and said there are ways to get things done that are not directly prioritized. She said that some of
the priorities listed on the Sustainability and Resiliency Subcommittee are out of the ESC
purview. She said she will continue to support the committee and she will work with them to get
recommendations approved by the Commission.
6. SIGNIFICANT MATTERS ARISING IN SUBCOMMITTEES
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February S, 2023
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A. Sustainability and Resiliency Subcommittee
Sarah Boren said the LEED Gold celebration was a success. She said they did not meet
this past month. She reported that a point the city did not receive in the LEED
recertification is because the city's boards and committees do not reflect the diversity of
the community. She said she is working with the city to formally track this in the board
application process. Discussion ensued.
B. Outreach Subcommittee
Linda Chipperfield reported ideas for Earth Day. She said they plan on holding the event
at the farmer's market on April 27th where they will invite vendors. Anastasia Houston
asked Amanda Askew if she has a contact for the farmer's market and if the city has
tables and chairs for set up. Amanda Askew said she already organized a spot for the
ESC. She said she believes vendors pay for their spot at the farmer's market so the ESC
will have to coordinate with the contact for the event. She said Kevin Hogencamp is the
liaison between the city and farmer's market. Discussion ensued about the logistics of
the event.
Linda Chipperfield said the second idea for Earth Day is to host an art exhibit at the
Adele Grage in May and Mark Gabrynowicz is speaking to the Arts, Recreation, and
Culture Committee about collaborating on the evet.
Anastasia Houston spoke about organizing a working group for the Earth Day event in
creating a demonstration garden.
Linda Chipperfield spoke about having a QR code at the Earth Day booth that will take
people to a page on the city website that provides more information about the ESC and
what citizens can do to make environmentally friendly changes in their home and life.
Romy Vann suggested creating a list of items and information the ESC wants to citizens.
Linda Chipperfield agreed and mentioned the newsletter that was proposed at previous
meetings. Sarah Boren reviews the logistics of the monthly newsletter.
Linda Chipperfield asked for an update on the Monarch Pledge. Amanda Askew said she
needed the tasks they ESC will complete to maintain the pledge. Patrick Nobles said he
sent that information out via email.
MOTION. to approve the launch of an annual Environmental Stewardship Committee awards
program, to enable the Outreach Subcommittee to discuss and research best format, procedures,
and award categories for 2023, and to authorize the subcommittee to prepare a formal proposal
for ESC to review at a monthly meeting
Motion: Sarah Boren
Second: Daniele Giovannucci
A vote was not recorded. There was no dissent.
Bruce Andrews proposed including commercial beautification as an award category.
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February 8, 2023
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C. Tree Subcommittee
Bruce Andrews said the litigation for tree removal on 19th Street without a permit is still
pending. He said the cut off for the next Adopt a Tree planting will be at the end of
February and planting will take place in March. Amy Palmer expressed that filling out
the online application does not always work. Amanda Askew said she will get with IT.
Romy Vann asked Amanda Askew if any mitigation trees were reported as dead after
the hard freezes in the area. She said she had not had any reports. Bruce Andrews said if
they see a mitigation tree that has died to report that to Abrielle Genest.
Bruce Andrews reported that Amanda Askew and Romy Vann are working with Plant It
Geo on the tree canopy assessment and they are hoping to start in May. He said that the
arborist letters are now uploaded to the website. He said that the tree fund has about
$204,000.
7. MAYOR/ STAFF REPORTS
Mayor Ford said he has an opinion and some feedback on one of the priorities given to
commission, however he will address that at a later date.
Amanda Askew reported the North Florida Land Trust was able to acquire property on the
Intracoastal Waterway and there is a celebration scheduled for April 22nd but the details are still
being worked out.
S. OLD BUSINESS
A. Subcommittee Membership
Sarah Boren said the tree subcommittee is made up of Bruce Andrews, Daniele
Giovannucci, Mark Gabrynowicz, and Patrick Nobles, the Outreach Subcommittee is
made up of Linda Chipperfield, Mark Gabrynowicz, Anastasia Houston, Barbie
Brooksher, Patrick Nobles, Amy Palmer, and Sarah Boren, and the Sustainability and
Resiliency Subcommittee is made up of Sarah Boren, Mark Gabrynowicz, Romy Vann,
Barbie Brooksher, and 3 community members. Mark Gabrynowicz said these were not
voted on, but if everyone is happy with the membership, then that will be the
subcommittee members. There was no dissent.
B. ESC Priorities to Commission
Mark Gabrynowicz said Kevin Hogencamp is going to get a list of ESC priorities for
Commission to review and vote on. Sarah Boren asked Commissioner Kelly when the
priorities will be voted on. She said she was unsure since they were not ready. Sarah
Boren expressed her disappointment that environmental priorities were not included.
Discussion about Commission priorities ensued.
Sarah Boren proposed Mark Gabrynowicz send an email to elected officials with a call
to include environmental priorities in the City Commission's 2023 priorities and to have
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February 8, 2023
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9.
one other ESC member speak during public comment at the next Commission meeting.
Romy Vann said she can speak at the meeting. Mark Gabrynowicz said he will get the
Kevin Hogencamp to discuss what the best course of action is. He said he will follow
this with an email to Commission. Discussion ensued.
Sarah Boren asked what three priorities the members wanted the give to Commission to
consider. Members went through the list that was previously sent to commission and
discussion ensued.
MOTION. to recommend Commission to include the following three priorities in the 2023
Commission Priorities:
1. Pass a required integrative biocide management plan for city operations/public sector and
voluntary guidelines for private sector
2. Reduce energy consumption in city buildings by 10% and
3. Use the Canopy Assessment data to create actions to further protect and increase the canopy.
Motion: Sarah Boren
Second. Anastasia Houston
Bruce Andrews did not support having city fleet change to electric vehicles.
Anastasia Houston (Seconded By)
Amy Palmer
Linda Chipperfield
Patrick Nobles
Mark Gabrynowicz
Daniele Giovannucci
Romy Vann
Sarah Boren (Moved By)
Bruce Andrews
Motion passed 8 to 1.
C. ESC Priorities
This agenda item was deferred.
D. Speaker Series
This agenda item was deferred.
E. Working Group Establishment
NEW BUSINESS
This item was not discussed.
10. MEMBERS CLOSING REMARKS
For
For
For
For
For
For
For
For
Against
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
February 8, 2023
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Bruce Andrews asked members to review the four areas the ESC is tasked to make
recommendations on based as written in Chapter 23. Discussion about beautification ensued.
Anastasia Houston asked members to look for a location to put the demonstration forest for
Earth Day.
Romy Vann asked for guidance on an email she will send to community members about the
push to get environmental priorities on the 2023 Commission Priorities list. Discussion ensued.
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Mark Gabrynowicz declared the meeting adjourned at 8:19
p.m.
Attest:
AI -, t�' , �"�
Amanda Askew
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
February 8, 2023
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