05-4-17 Minutes for BNRPAC Beautification and Natural Resource Preservation Advisory Committee
Meeting of Thursday, May 4, 2017
Minutes
Members Present:
Tim Anderson
Bruce Andrews
Sarah Andrews Dark
Linda Lanier
Judith Leroux
John November
Dawn Scott
Members Absent:
Chip Drysdale
Don Ford
Suzanne Shaughnessy (resigned)
Staff:
Kevin Hogencamp, interim city manager
Visitors:
Steve Fouraker
Mary Emerson-Smith
1. Call to order. Chair J. Leroux called the meeting to order at 6:42 p.m.
2. Courtesy of floor to visitors. M. Smith introduced herself as a former Tree Board
member. At B. Andrews' request, M. Smith provided historical information about the
Tree Board's activities and dissolution.
3. Approval of minutes. No minutes were submitted.
4. Report on subcommittee meeting.
a. J. November reported on his May 3 meeting with D. Ford and presented three
documents: A proposed resolution establishing the Environmental
Stewardship Committee (ESC), a proposed ordinance establishing the ESC,
and a proposed ordinance establishing a tree subcommittee. A discussion
ensued on the viability of the ESC being established by resolution or
ordinance, and whether both a resolution and ordinance should be presented
to the City Commission for consideration.
5. Discussion and possible approval of the Advisory Committee's final report.
a. The possibility of the City Commission establishing the ESC, but not a tree
subcommittee, was discussed.
b. B. Andrews made a motion, seconded by L. Lanier seconded, that a resolution
establishing the ESC be presented to the City Commission. S. Dark and others
lamented that critical language in the proposed resolution —the product of
the BNRPAC's hard work-- could be lost if an ordinance is enacted while a
resolution is not adopted. T. Anderson said he preferred an ordinance, as it
would have more staying power. D. Scott suggested marrying the proposed
resolution and ordinance into one document; L. Lanier further pushed for
such a compromise. B. Andrews withdrew his motion.
c. A consensus was reached to move forward with fine-tuning an ESC ordinance
and tree subcommittee ordinance, but not a resolution. L. Lanier made
working changes to the ESC ordinance as the discussion continued.
d. Length of committee terms. A motion was made by B. Andrews, seconded by
D. Scott, for ESC members to serve four-year terms and that the committee
members initially serve three- and four-year terms, so that they are
staggered. K. Hogencamp advised that, to be consistent with other boards,
terms should begin on Jan. 1. Vote: Aye 7, Nay 0.
6. Consideration of future meeting dates. A consensus was reached to meet next on
May 11, 2017, pending the availability of the commission chamber.
7. Other business. None.
8. Adjournment. Chair J. Leroux adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m.
Minutes submitted by Kevin Hogencamp/transmitted to committee members on May 17,
2017.
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Judith Leroux, C ai
(0124
Attest
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
The Planning Committee recommends a total of eleven members for the Environmental
Stewardship Committee who represent the entire geographic area of the City of Atlantic Beach.
Members of the inaugural committee will be appointed for a two year term as follows:
MEMBER REPRESENTATION APPOINTED BY
At Large Mayor
At Large Mayor
At Large Mayor
District 1308 Seat 2 Commissioner
At Large Seat 2 Commissioner
District 1307 Seat 3 Commissioner
At Large Seat 3 Commissioner
District 1306 Seat 4 Commissioner
At Large Seat 4 Commissioner
District 1312 Seat 5 Commissioner
At Large Seat 5 Commissioner
Thereafter, all members who are appointed or reappointed will serve four year terms. Members
will serve no more than eight consecutive years on the committee. Future members will be
selected by the Board Member Review Committee and confirmed by the Commission. At any
time there will be at least one member representing each district on the committee.
Committee members shall reside in, own property in or own a business that operates within the
city limits of Atlantic Beach.
The committee will meet at least monthly and will follow Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised.
To the extent possible, committee members will demonstrate at least one of the following skills,
experience, expertise, educational background or interests.
Knowledge of best practices in environmental management and sustainability
Developer/building professional
Property development/urban planning and design
Arborist/landscape architecture
Environmental policy
Environmental and constitutional law
Community engagement
Education
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
GOALS
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 advocacy, assessment, maintenance and preservation of this natural
resource.
The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will work to ensure that our
city government:
- Strengthens and clarifies the process and language in all tree and landscape
related city codes and ordinances, ensuring appropriate advocacy, transparency
through online access to codes, administration and enforcement.
- Provides environmentally sensitive education and outreach about relevant codes
and 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.
- Develops a long-term tree plan that includes a current canopy assessment on
public property, projected future needs and a calendar and budget for tree
planting in parks, public spaces and along streets and right of ways.
- Restores our city's status as a bona fide "Tree City USA."
- Develops a process for systematic, audit/review of the city's enforcement of the
existing tree codes, including the possible establishment of a "tree hotline."
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PARKS AND OPEN SPACES
Our parks provide open spaces for recreation, exercise, wildlife habitat, 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 work to 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 in parks including disability accommodations,
bike paths, parking, signage and other user friendly features.
- Expands the city's inventory of parks and conservation land through acquisition
or other means. (Example: sites west of Mayport Road)
- Maintains a web-based, publicly accessible inventory of parks including their
history, archeological value, rules of use and easements.
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BEAUTIFICATION OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 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 work to ensure that our
city government:
- Enhances our public spaces with art, carefully maintained landscape design and
plantings.
- Advocates and provides incentives for beautification of private and commercial
spaces. (EX: Bring back the Yard of the Month awards)
- Reduces the number and appearances of degraded property and eyesores.
- Develops a design theme/community branding for signage, bus shelters, lighting
and other elements of the built environment.
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ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Atlantic Beach is located at the northern end of a 37 mile long barrier island that
stretches from Mayport Village in the north to Vilano Beach in the south. As such,
the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Johns River and the Intracoastal Waterway have a
great deal of influence on our micro climate, drainage issues and the variety of
vegetation and wildlife that thrive here. The care and health of our coast and
marsh must be paramount in every decision about the use of our land, water
system and canopy.
The Beautification and Natural Resources Committee will work to ensure that our
city government:
- Utilizes best practices and a science based approach when making any decision
about development and its impact on our environment.
- Ensures the protection of our beach and dunes as critical defenses in hurricane,
erosion and flooding conditions.
- Understands and communicates the dynamics of our tidal drainage and flood
plain with the goal of preserving our flood management system.
- Reviews our city's environmental codes and works to ensure enforcement with
rules including, but not limited to dumping, septic tanks, commercial pollution,
etc.
- Reviews, updates and maintains the Marsh Master Plan for adherence to current
research about sea level change and wetlands preservation.
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