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03-30-17 Agenda Packet- BNRPACBeautification and Natural Resource Preservation Advisory Committee 6:30 p.m. March 30, 2017 Agenda 1. Approval of minutes. 2. Review and discussion on BPNRAC report to City Commission on March 27 (J. Leroux & K. Hogencamp) 3. Discussion/review of BNRPAC governance and suggested additions or changes 4. Review of community input/suggestions 5. Review and complete group priority setting exercise with results from March 16th meeting (L. Lanier) 6. Review of tasks completed per City Commission charge to BNRP; discussion and planning for future meetings/completion 7. Other matters for discussion 8. Adjournment ROW #1 STRENGTHEN TREE ORDINANCE SUSTAINABLE TREE CANOPY PROTECT OUR TREES REVIEW OF TREE PERMITS IMPROVED CODE ENFORCEMENT OF TREE ORDINANCE & OTHER ENVIRONMENT RELATED CODES CANOPY CONSERVATION TREE CANOPY - ASSESSMENT, MAINTENANCE & PRESERVATION ROW #2 CREATE BETTER ACCESS TO PARKS PARKS & GREENSPACES – PROTECTION, BEAUTIFICATION, & EXPANSION ART IN PUBLIC PLACES BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH ART AND FLOWERS PUBLIC OPEN SPACE PROGRAM - HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE, - ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE, ADJ. TO EX. O.S. - NATURAL FEATURES - PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS ROW #2 – CONT’D ENSURE CONTINUED CONSERVATION, IMPROVEMENT & PROTECTION OF PARKS & PRESERVES PURCHASE & DEVELOP JOHNSTON ISLAND ACQUIRE PARK & CONSERVATION LAND LOSS OF WILDLIFE HABITAT DUE TO DEVELOPMENT (REGULATORY COMMITTEE) ACQUISITION OF EXISTING UNDEVELOPED LANDS (CITY COMMISSION) ROW #3 ARBORIST TO ASSESS CONDITION OF LARGER/OLDER TREES PLANT TREES RESTORE TREE CANOPY TREE CITY U.S.A. STREET TREE PROGRAM TREE PLANTING PLAN ROW # 4 APPLY FOR GRANTS NEED TREE OVERSIGHT BODY (CODE ENFORCEMENT) RESTORE THE TREE BOARD ROW # 5 PROTECT & RESTORE MARSHLANDS REVIEW MARSH MASTER PLAN BEACH DUNES PRESERVATION ROW # 6 HOWELL PARK – INDIGENOUS BOTANICAL PARK MAYPORT CORRIDOR FOCUS ON WEST ATLANTIC BEACH BUDGET MORE BIKE PATHS ROW # 7 TIDAL DRAINAGE DITCHES NEED ATTENTION OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICES ADVISOR- RESEARCH & RECOMMEND TO COMMISSION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY ROW # 8 EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE TREE ORDINANCE A. RESIDENTS B. BUILDERS C. TREE SERVICES ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY ANNUAL ARBOR DAY (OR SIMILAR) TO BRING AWARENESS & CELEBRATE TREE CANOPY & NATURAL RESOURCES TREES – CITIZEN HOMEOWNER EDUCATION ROW # 9 REVIEW/REWRITE 50% LOT COVERAGE EQUITABLE ENFORCEMENT PROPERTY RIGHTS ROW # 10 IMPROVED LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS OF NEW CONSTRUCTION SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES & COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ELIMINATE EYESORES & ENHANCE COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPES ROW # 11 MORE SECURITY IN TIDEVIEWS & DUTTON ISLAND PRESERVE (ABPD & CITY) ROW # 12 IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CITY DEPTS. & CITIZENS ROW # 13 ENFORCE EXISTING RULES & LAWS ROW # 14 CREATE A PANTHER POPULATION MARITIME FOREST The maritime forest in Atlantic Beach is core to our identity as a small coastal village. Our tree canopy creates beauty, provides a home to birds and wildlife, functions as an element of our water management system and enhances our property values. It is in our best interest to be the curators of our tree canopy through assessment, maintenance and preservation of this natural resource. The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city government: - Provides environmentally sensitive education and outreach about the selection and appropriate care of trees to private property owners, developers and builders, and tree and landscape service owners. This education can take the form of website information, training for businesses, new homeowner information and public events such as Arbor Day celebrations. - Strengthens and clarifies the language in all tree and landscape related building codes and ordinances, ensuring appropriate administration and enforcement. - Develops a long-term tree plan that includes a current canopy assessment, projected future needs and a calendar and budget for tree planting in parks, public spaces and along streets and right of ways. - Restore our city’s status as a bona fide “Tree City USA.” - Consider the re-establishment of a Tree Board PARKS Our parks provide open spaces for recreation, exercise, relaxation and encounters with the natural world. As a thriving, inclusive community, we strive to provide a variety of park spaces that are well maintained, accessible and secure. The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city government: - Has a mandate and a long-range plan to protect, improve and beautify our park spaces. (Example: enhance Howell Park to make it an indigenous botanical park) - Improves access and amenities at parks including disability accommodations, bike paths, parking, signage and other user friendly features - Expand the city’s inventory of parks and conservation land (Example: Johnston Island and other sites west of Mayport Road) - Maintain a web-based, publicly accessible inventory of parks including their history, rules of use and easements. PUBLIC SPACES Public spaces in Atlantic Beach include public rights of way, roadsides, city buildings and other publicly held properties. As such, the city has an opportunity to take the lead and set high community standards in the beautification and excellent maintenance of public spaces. The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city government: - Enhances our public spaces with art, carefully maintained landscape design and plantings - Reduces the number and appearances of degraded property and eyesores - Develops a design theme for signage, bus shelters, lighting and other elements of the built environment. (Linda added this…open for discussion) COASTAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Atlantic Beach is located at the northern end of a 37 mile long barrier island identified on Google maps as San Pablo Island. As such, the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway have a great deal of influence on our micro climate, drainage issues and the variety of flora and fauna that thrive here. The care and health of both of our coasts must be paramount in every decision about the use of our land water system and canopy. The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will ensure that our city government: - Utilizes best practices and a science driven approach when making any decision about development and its impact on our environment. - Ensure the protection of our beach and dunes as critical defenses in hurricane, erosion and flooding conditions. - Understand and communicate the dynamics of our tidal drainage and flood plain with the goal of preserving our flood management system. - Review our city’s environmental codes and ensure enforcement with rules regarding dumping, septic tanks and commercial pollution. - Review the Marsh Master Plan for adherence to current research about sea level change and wetlands preservation OTHER ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED 50% lot coverage Property rights Grant opportunities for the city’s work in the above areas Panthers Historic preservation and archeology Hi Kevin, I saw the letter in the Beaches Leader looking for input for the committee. I see the tree canopy maintenance, preservation, tree replacement and taking care of common areas mentioned but see fences missing. I think it’s a huge issue about the appearance of Atlantic Beach. People are looking for “privacy” on 50ft lots and install cheap ugly fences past the front of the house that block breezes and are in short unsightly. Ugly sides of fences face to the street or adjacent property owners. Other parts of the country don’t allow the type of stockade fencing I’m referring to—its used in commercial areas only. Our code used to be that a fence wasn’t supposed to go past the front of a house. At some time it changed. Drive by my house 352 Second St. and see the fence that extends at 6 feet high 13 feet past my front door. Its legal. I’ve heavily shrubed it to hide it but the ugly side is looking at me in my backyard. A new fence was installed further west on 2nd and is similar—one side is finished and the other is rough frame. There are many other styles of fences where they basically look the same on both sides. I think AB needs to mandate a fence that is either hidden by shrubs or equally finished and appealing on both sides. Ideally a shadowbox like design would allow breezes and look nice on both sides. Thank you. Jane Wytzka 352 Second St.