10-25-17 Draft ESC minutes revisedMINUTES OF
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
TREE SUBCOMMITTEE
MEETING
OCT. 25, 2017
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TREE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Myron Blankenbaker
Linda Chipperfield
Chip Drysdale
Sarah Dark (alternate)
OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bruce Andrews, Vice Chair
Bonnie Hansen
Judith Leroux, Chair
Dawn Scott, Secretary
STAFF:
Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City Manager; Derek Reeves, Interim Community Development Director
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 5:49 p.m. in the Commission Chamber by C. Drysdale.
2. Discussion about tree removal permit application reviews
K. Hogencamp announced that tree-removal permit applications are now posted on the City website and
are accessible via a link on the home page. This action was taken as a result of the Environmental
Stewardship Committee’s recommendation, which was approved at its Oct. 25, 2017 meeting.
C. Drysdale said the review process has been cumbersome, an issue that should be resolved with the
applications being posted online.
D. Reeves explained some aspects of the tree-removal permit application process and said he would like
to explain the tree-protection ordinance in detail and discuss the review process with the Environmental
Stewardship Committee.
A discussion ensued about the Environmental Stewardship Committee’s recommendation that the City
post tree-removal application notice signage on city right-of-way adjacent to tree-removal work sites
within three days of the applications being submitted. That recommendation was formalized on Oct. 25,
2017. D. Reeves and K. Hogencamp said they felt it would be most efficient and logical to post the
signage during the initial inspection after the permit applications were deemed “substantially” complete.
The Environmental Stewardship Committee members generally disagreed, saying that it is important
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that the community is informed as quickly as a possible when an application is submitted. In particular,
committee members generally agreed with M. Blankenbaker’s assessment that timely posting is needed
to raise awareness and create conversation in neighborhoods “before the chainsaws come out.”
K. Hogencamp said that he would discuss the matter further on the staff level and report back to
committee members.
3. Other business.
No other business was discussed.
4. Adjournment.
There being no further business of the Tree Subcommittee, C. Drysdale adjourned the meeting at 6:19
p.m.
(Minutes respectfully submitted by Kevin Hogencamp on 11-4-17)
_____________________________
Dawn Scott
Secretary
ATTEST
____________________________
Donna L. Bartle, CMC
City Clerk
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MINUTES OF
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
TREE SUBCOMMITTEE
MEETING
OCT. 25, 2017
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bruce Andrews, Vice Chair
Myron Blankenbaker
Linda Chipperfield
Chip Drysdale
Sarah Dark
Bonnie Hansen
Judith Leroux, Chair
Dawn Scott, Secretary
STAFF:
Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City Manager; Derek Reeves, Interim Community Development Director
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 6:19 p.m. in the Commission Chamber by J. Leroux. K. Hogencamp
noted that Don Ford has resigned from the committee and said he would follow up with the new City
Commission regarding filling the vacancy.
2. Approval of minutes
The Oct. 4, 2017, meeting minutes were unanimously approved.
3. Tree Subcommittee Report
This matter was covered in the Tree Subcommittee meeting
4. Report on ESC request to staff for new permit application signage and website
access to permits per ordinance
This matter was covered in the Tree Subcommittee meeting.
5. Tree City USA – review of requirements and timeline
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K. Hogencamp and D. Reeves discussed Tree City USA requirements, noting that for 2016, the only
unmet requirement is an Arbor Day observance. K. Hogencamp and committee members discussed
working together to ensure that the 2017 requirements are met. K. Hogencamp said he would report
back to the committee on this matter. Committee members generally agreed that a full-scale observance
should be planned and held in 2018, perhaps in conjunction with the Florida Arbor Day observance
during the third week in January or with the National Arbor Day observance during the last week of
April.
6. Discussion of potential workshop for review of tree ordinance.
Staff and committee members agreed that a presentation from D. Reeves on the ordinance and a
discussion about the Tree Subcommittee’s role to ensure that the tree-protection ordinance is followed
would be extremely beneficial. It was agreed that the workshop would occur during the Environmental
Stewardship Committee’s Nov. 8 meeting.
7. Priority-setting exercise facilitated by L. Lanier
The exercise began at 6:38 p.m. and concluded at 7:49 p.m. The work plan attached to these minutes
was produced by L. Lanier as a result of the exercise.
8. New business
The committee members agreed to meet next at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, and to begin meeting
regularly (and minimally) on the second Wednesday of each month, the meeting time established in the
ordinance establishing the committee.
Adjournment
There being no further discussion by the Environmental Stewardship Committee, J. Leroux adjourned
the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
(Minutes respectfully submitted by Kevin Hogencamp on 11-4-17)
_____________________________
Dawn Scott
Secretary
ATTEST
____________________________
Donna L. Bartle, CMC
City Clerk
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