10-04-17 EC Meeting MinutesMINUTES OF
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
MEETING
OCT. 4, 2017
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Bruce Andrews
Myron Blankenbaker
Linda Chipperfield
Sarah Dark
Chip Drysdale
Bonnie Hansen
Judith Leroux
Dawn Scott
Don Ford
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Aurelie Drexler
Allen Ennis
VISITORS PRESENT:
Ellen Glasser
STAFF:
Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City Manager
Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 6:01p.m. in the Commission Chamber.
1. Welcome
With no officers in place yet, K. Hogencamp welcomed the new committee members and thanked them
for their service.
2. Introductions
Committee members introduced themselves and shared their background and reasons for desiring to
serve on the committee. It was noted that committee members S. Dark, B, Andrews, C. Drysdale, J.
Leroux, D. Scott and D. Ford served on the Beautification and Natural Resource Preservation Advisory
Committee, the panel that recommended that the City Commission form the Environmental Stewardship
Committee and drafted legislation accordingly.
A discussion ensued regarding how often the committee will meet. Generally, it was agreed that the
committee will meet monthly, except when the need arises to meet more.
3. Election of chair, vice chair and secretary
The committee discussed the secretary's duties as it relates to the duties of the recording clerk, which are
the responsibility of a designee of the city manager. K. Hogencamp stated that a city clerk's office
representative will serve as the recording clerk. It was agreed that the committee secretary's role will
essentially be to serve as a liaison to the city staff by assisting with record-keeping and ensuring that
minutes are reviewed and distributed.
The committee agreed that the vice chair will serve as chair in the chair's absence.
The following unanimous selections were made: J. Leroux, chair; B. Andrews, vice chair; D. Scott,
secretary.
It was noted that the ordinance establishing the committee states that officers should be elected each
January henceforth.
4. Courtesy of the floor to visitors
Ellen Glasser, 2060 Beach Ave., thanked the committee members for their service and stated that she
thinks the time is right for such a committee. She said communication between the committee and City
Commission will be critical to the committee's effectiveness. She said Selva Preserve, Johnston Island,
marsh master plan review, establishment of a recreation master plan, and reviewing the tree-protection
ordinance are among the topics/issue the committee may tackle.
5. Sunshine Law acknowledgement
K. Hogencamp advised the committee members that they are subject to Florida's "Government-in-the
Sunshine" laws. He advised committee members not to have discussions with one another about
committee business or matter that could come up before the committee -electronically or otherwise -
unless a public meeting is called and properly noticed to conduct the discussion. He said an open
government and ethics training course is being planned for November by the City, and he encouraged
committee members to attend.
6. Discussions regarding committee's scope, processes and priority-setting
Scope and goal-setting
J. Leroux stated that Community Development Board member Linda Lanier is available to facilitate a
goal-setting exercise, as she has done with other City committees. It was generally agreed during the
discussion to have Ms. Lanier conduct such an exercise at an upcoming meeting, and that the
committee's framework and processes -in addition to those specified by ordinance --ideally will be
identified during that exercise.
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Tree-Removal Permit Applications
Committee members agreed that trees in general and the City's tree canopy and tree-protection
ordinance likely will be a primary focus of the committee's work. In response to a committee member's
question, K. Hogencamp stated that it is his understanding that tree-removal permit applications are
posted on the City website as required in the passage of legislation establishing the Environmental
Stewardship Committee. Committee members requested that the City post a link on its website
homepage to the tree-removal permit applications. K. Hogencamp agreed to do this.
Committee member Don Ford depmied the meeting at 7:40p.m.
Some committee members stated that it would be ideal for permit information to be easily accessible
from the City website's home page and that signage similar to a rezoning sign be erected announcing
that tree-removal permit applications have been submitted. The discussion culminated with the
committee unanimously voting to recommend that the City post "Notices of Tree-Removal
Application" signage on city right-of-way adjacent to the tree-removal work sites within three days of
the applications being submitted; that signage be easily identifiable and weatherproof; and that the
signage include the first two pages of the application along with a phone number and website address
to view the permit online; and that the signs shall remain erected until the trees are removed,
mitigation has been satisfied, or the permit is rejected or withdrawn.
K. Hogencamp said he will look into whether a city ordinance is required in order to institute the sign
posting requirement.
Tree Subcommittee
Committee members agreed that Tree Subcommittee membership would be regularly rotated so that the
subcommittee workload is spread among the committee members. It was agreed that it would be helpful
to have Derek Reeves, interim community development director, provide a workshop on the tree
protection ordinance to the committee; in the meantime, Tree Subcommittee members will reach out to
Mr. Reeves directly if they have questions about current tree-removal permit applications.
Following the discussion, these ESC members were unanimously selected as the initial appointees on
the Tree Subcommittee: C. Drysdale, M Blankenbaker, L. Cltipperfield and S. Dark (alternate).
7. Wrap-up; establishment of next meeting.
The next Environmental Stewardship Committee meeting was set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25,
preceded by a Tree Subcommittee meeting at 5:30p.m.
Adjournment
There being no further discussion by the Environmental Stewardship Committee, J. Leroux adjourned
the meeting at 8:38p.m.
(A1inutes respectfully submitted by Kevin Hogencamp on 10-23-17)
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Kevin Hogencamp
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Dawn Scott
Secretary
ATTEST
Deputy City Manager
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