3-8-23 Adopted MinutesMINUTES
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
Meeting
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 - 6:00 PM
OR 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 and Community Development
Candace Kelly, City Commissioner, Seat 4
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Mark Gabrynowicz called the meeting to order. Linda Chipperfield called the roll. Sarah Boren
attended via zoom.
2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mark Gabrynowicz asked for a second to approve the agenda. Patrick Nobles seconded. A
motion was not made. There was not discussion about the agenda.
3. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR (5 MINS.)
There were no speakers.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve minutes of the February 8, 2023 regular Environmental Stewardship
Committee meeting.
B. Subcommittee Reports
Sarah Boren had an edit to the Tree Subcommittee minutes. She suggested to revise the
statement "Sarah cataloged all arborist letter" to "Sarah is in the process of cataloging
arborist letters".
C. 90 -Day Calendar
Mark Gabrynowicz suggested putting names next to events that people plan to attend.
Amy Palmer suggested having one representative attend the Commission meeting.
Discussion ensued about attending Commission meetings and speaking during Curtesy
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
March 8, 2023
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of the Floor. Members decided that Sarah Boren will assign a Commission meeting to
individual members and Mark Gabrynowicz will reach out to all members when there
are Commission agenda items that are in ESC's purview.
A motion to approve the consent agenda was not made.
5. CHAIR REMARKS
A. ESC Attendance at Events
Mark Gabrynowicz encouraged members to attend ESC sponsored events and to attend
Commission meetings.
6. SIGNIFICANT MATTERS ARISING IN SUBCOMMITTEES
A. Sustainability and Resiliency Subcommittee
Sarah Boren reported the subcommittee decided on priorities for 2023.
Mark Gabrynowicz encouraged members to have the future in mind when setting
priorities.
B. Outreach Subcommittee
Linda Chipperfield reported that Anastasia Houston is working with the farmers market
on Earth Day events. Discussion about Earth Day events and local nurseries ensued.
Sarah Boren suggested members send Anastasia Houston an local nurseries they know
of and the ESC will create a resource list. Members were in support of this idea.
Sarah Boren suggested sending out invites via Google Forms so people can spread the
word of the event.
Sarah Boren mentioned to Amanda Askew that the event should be publicly noticed to
avoid any Sunshine Violations. Amanda Askew agreed.
Daniele Giovannucci proposed giving out t -shirts to people at the Earth Day event.
Discussion about t -shirts and bags ensued.
Linda Chipperfield said the first speaker series was a success. Sarah Boren shared 12
people attended the event. She said the next event is the first Thursday in April.
Linda Chipperfield said the first newsletter was published. Sarah Boren shared the open
rate was 58% and the letter was sent to approximately 345 people. Discussion about the
mailing list ensued. Daniele Giovannucci expressed he felt the newsletter provided too
much information.
Patrick Nobles suggested doing the following 3 tasks for the Mayor's Monarch Pledge:
1. Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway, or swap.
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
March 8, 2023
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2. Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator -friendly demonstration garden at City Hall
or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
3. Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitats.
Members were in support of the 3 tasks.
Bruce Andrews suggested the Outreach Subcommittee conduct a marketing campaign
for the Adopt -A -Tree program. He proposed having an representative from. each street
provide applications and information to their neighbors. Amanda Askew said she would
be happy to provide the letters along with the application. Discussion about the Adopt -
A -Tree program ensued.
Linda Chipperfield asked what decisions were made. Mark Gabrynowicz said the tree
subcommittee would make a working group to complete the proposed "Ambassador
Program" to promote the city's free tree program. Bruce Andrews stated that when he
volunteered to be chair of the tree subcommittee he said he would only have time to
cover Chapter 23 specific topics. Sarah Boren suggested the Outreach Subcommittee
create a working group to manage the "ambassador Program" to cover all ESC related
initiatives. Mark Gabrynowicz expressed his concern that some people may take the
position to the extreme and feel they have too much power. Sarah Boren said the outreach
subcommittee can create a short description of the role and follow up with phone calls.
C. Tree Subcommittee
Bruce Andrews reported that there is a homeowner pursuing removing trees within the
city's Historic Corridor that required approval from City Commission. He said the tree
subcommittee was ok with the removal as long as the mitigation is located in the right-
of-way. Discussion about removing trees in the right-of-way ensued.
7. MAYOR AND/OR STAFF REPORT
A. Rain Garden at Jack Russell Park
Amanda Askew reviewed the proposed rain garden in Jack Russell Park. She said she
would like to get the ESC involved in this and potentially create a working group to
decide what plants would be best in the area. Discussion about planting in retention areas
ensued.
B. Tree Permitting Update
Amanda Askew said there is an attachment in the agenda with some numbers from tree
removal permits. She said the tree subcommittee suggested adding a column about
arborist letters, however, many arborists do not include the diameter at breast height.
C. Lily Street
Amanda Askew gave a presentation about the potential acquisition of property off Lily
Street, with the help of the North Florida Land Trust, for conservation purposes. She
asked for a recommendation from the ESC. Discussion ensued.
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March 8, 2023
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A
MOTION. to recommend to Commission that they partner with the North Florida Land Trust
to investigate purchase of the Lily Street property (to include soliciting public input) for the
purpose of preservation
Motion: Linda Chipperfield
Second: Amy Palmer
Anastasia Houston
For
Amy Palmer (Seconded By)
For
Linda Chipperfield (Moved By)
For
Patrick Nobles
For
Mark Gabrynowicz
For
Daniele Giovannucci
For
Runty Vann
For
Sarah Boren
For
Bruce Andrews
For
Motion passed 9 to 0.
OLD BUSINESS
A. ESC Priorities to Commission: Resolution No. 23-05
Mark Gabrynowicz noted that Commission added priorities that are environmentally
focused. Sarah Boren asked if the ESC can be proactive in working to accomplish the
priorities. Mark Gabrynowicz said that would need to be done through recommendations
to Commission. Commissioner Kelly said the ESC should not wait around for
Commission to do things. She stated the water reduction goal should be the first priority
since it will need education. Sarah Boren suggested members come up with ways to
achieve the priorities since it is already March. She said she would be happy to compile
the ideas so they can start working on them in April. Mark Gabrynowicz said he will
send an email to the subcommittee chairs on what he thinks should be focused on for the
ESC to make recommendations. He said chairs would then assess what they are doing
and how it pertains to the priorities.
B. ESC Meeting Rules
Mark Gabrynowicz reviewed the changes to the meeting rules. Linda Chipperfield
suggested members send their comments to Mark to review next meeting. There was no
dissent.
C. ESC Annual Awards Proposal
MOTION: to accept the proposal in the agenda packet
Motion: Sarah Boren
Second: Romy Vann
Romy Vann expressed her support for the proposal.
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March 8, 2023
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A vote was not recorded. there was no dissent to the motion.
Motion passed unanimously 5 to 0.
D. ESC 2023 Priorities and Potential Budget Needs
Mark Gabrynowicz said he was happy with the subcommittee priorities being the ESC's
priorities. He told members to look at their priorities and determine if any tasks will need
a budget.
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Volunteer Engagement Process
This item was not discussed.
10. MEMBERS CLOSING REMARKS
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further discussion, Mark Gabrynowicz declared the meeting adjourned at 8:09
p.m.
Attest:
Amanda Askew
Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC)
March 8, 2023
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