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10-25-17 ESC and Tree Subcommittee Agenda Packet Environmental Stewardship Committee Tree Subcommittee Agenda 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2017 1. Call to order 2. Discussion about tree removal permit application reviews 3. Other business – C. Drysdale 4. Adjournment Environmental Stewardship Committee Agenda 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, 2017 1. Call to order 2. Approval of minutes 3. Tree Subcommittee report – C. Drysdale 4. Report on ESC request to staff for new permit application signage & website access to permits per ordinance – K. Hogencamp 5. Tree City USA – review of requirements & timeline – K. Hogencamp 6. Discussion of potential workshop for review of tree ordinance 7. Priority setting exercise – facilitated by L. Lanier 8. New business 9. Adjournment Tree City USA Standards To qualify as a Tree City USA community, you must meet four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. These standards were established to ensure that every qualifying community* would have a viable tree management program and that no community would be excluded because of size. Four Standards for Tree City USA Recognition Standard 1Standard 2Standard 3Standard 4 Standard 1 A Tree Board or Department Someone must be legally responsible for the care of all trees on city- or town-owned property. By delegating tree care decisions to a professional forester, arborist, city department, citizen-led tree board or some combination, city leaders determine who will perform necessary tree work. The public will also know who is accountable for decisions that impact community trees. Often, both professional staff and an advisory tree board are established, which is a good goal for most communities. The formation of a tree board often stems from a group of citizens. In some cases a mayor or city officials have started the process. Either way, the benefits are immense. Involving residents and business owners creates wide awareness of what trees do for the community and provides broad support for better tree care. Standard 2 A Tree Care Ordinance A basic public tree care ordinance forms the foundation of a city’s tree care program. It provides an opportunity to set good policy and back it with the force of law when necessary. A key section of a qualifying ordinance is one that establishes the tree board or forestry department—or both—and gives one of them the responsibility for public tree care (as reflected in Standard 1). It should also assign the task of crafting and implementing a plan of work or for documenting annual tree care activities. Ideally, the ordinance will also provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from streets, parks and other public spaces as well as activities that are required or prohibited. Beyond that, the ordinance should be flexible enough to fit the needs and circumstances of the particular community. For tips and a checklist of important items to consider in writing or improving a tree ordinance, see Tree City USA Bulletin #9. Standard 3 A Community Forestry Program With an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita City trees provide many benefits—clean air, clean water, shade and beauty to name a few—but they also require an investment to remain healthy and sustainable. By providing support at or above the $2 per capita minimum, a community demonstrates its commitment to grow and tend these valuable public assets. Budgets and expenditures require planning and accountability, which are fundamental to the long-term health of the tree canopy and the Tree City USA program. To meet this standard each year, the community must document at least $2 per capita toward the planting, care and removal of city trees—and the planning efforts to make those things happen. At first this may seem like an impossible barrier to some communities. However, a little investigation usually reveals that more than this amount is already being spent on tree care. If not, this may signal serious neglect that will cost far more in the long run. In such a case, working toward Tree City USA recognition can be used to reexamine the community's budget priorities and redirect funds to properly care for its tree resources before it is too late. Standard 4 An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation An effective program for community trees would not be complete without an annual Arbor Day ceremony. Citizens join together to celebrate the benefits of community trees and the work accomplished to plant and maintain them. By passing and reciting an official Arbor Day proclamation, public officials demonstrate their support for the community tree program and complete the requirements for becoming a Tree City USA! This is the least challenging—and probably most enjoyable—standard to meet. An Arbor Day celebration can be simple and brief or an all-day or all-week observation. It can include a tree planting event, tree care activities or an award ceremony that honors leading tree planters. For children, Arbor Day may be their only exposure to the green world or a springboard to discussions about the complex issue of environmental quality. The benefits of Arbor Day go far beyond the shade and beauty of new trees for the next generation. Arbor Day is a golden opportunity for publicity and to educate homeowners about proper tree care. Utility companies can join in to promote planting small trees beneath power lines or being careful when digging. Fire prevention messaging can also be worked into the event, as can conservation education about soil erosion or the need to protect wildlife habitat. up back to top Tree City USA is an Arbor Day Foundation program in cooperation with:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         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.