10-25-17 ESC prep
October 20, 2017
Dear ESC Committee Members,
I’m looking forward to our next meeting and as we discussed, we need to establish a work plan
in order to operate with maximum efficiency. Linda Lanier will return to help us prioritize our
work and as expected, she’s asked us to do a little preparation. Here are her instructions.
Please review the original “Goals” document that was approved by the Planning Committee and
incorporated into our establishing ordinance. The document is attached. The Goals are divided
into 4 areas: Maritime Forest, Parks and Open Spaces, Beautification of Public and Private
Spaces and Environmental Services. Pick five to seven items that you think are either urgent
(time sensitive) or important (high long term value).
Your work selecting your priorities in advance will save us a lot of time during our meeting.
Thanks for your participation and I’ll see you next Wednesday, October 25 at 6:00 pm.
Judith Leroux, ESC Chair
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.”
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 easeme
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.
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.