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20181107 Environmental Stewardship Committee LEED for Cities UpdateMINUTES OF CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING NOVEMBER 7, 2018 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Judith Leroux, Chair Bruce Andrews, Vice Chair Dawn Scott, Secretary Bonnie Hanson Steve Kallao Sarah Boren (arrived at 6:10PM) STAFF: Shane Corbin, Director of Planning and Community Development Derek Reeves, Principal Planner 1. Call to order. The meeting was called to order at 6:00p.m. in the Commission Chambers by J. Leroux. 2. Approval of minutes. The motion to approve the minutes from the September 12, 2018 meeting was brought by B. Hanson and seconded by D. Scott. The motion passed with no opposition. 3. Courtesy of the floor. There were no speakers present to address the Committee. 4. Report from the Tree Subcommittee. B. Andrews reported that at the last Tree Subcommittee meeting, there was an owner from Oceanwalk in attendance who wanted to remove a tree that was leaning against his house with no mitigation requirement. The Subcommittee voted unanimously to deem the tree to be a threat to his house, and the tree could be removed and not require mitigation. S. Corbin stated it was an oak tree, and that staff deferred to the Subcommittee since an arborist determined the tree was not sick. B. Hanson stated she felt the owner was trying to follow the rules and be a good citizen. The Subcommittee is also reviewing tree trimmer regulations from other cities. 5. Review of Tree Ordinance suggested changes per workshops. D. Reeves presented and discussed the changes and recommendations that were brought up during the Tree Ordinance workshops. November 7, 2018 Environmental Stewardship Committee Meeting Minutes Page 1 of4 J. Leroux stated that the Committee can tell Commission that the Building Official has already agreed to inform contractors that tree protections must be in place during construction, and that the suggested change has already been put into practice. B. Andrews asked if there is any item in the Building Code where, if a tree removal permit is not applied for, tree protection will still be required. D. Reeves said staff will clarify that and make sure that is happening, and that is called out in Chapter 23. S. Boren stated that the U.S. Green Building Rating System has language available for free that discusses how to protect trees during construction called Construction Activity Pollution Prevention credit, but it might be too much to ask for during construction. S. Corbin stated that the threshold for requiring documentation needs to be discussed, and small lots will be a challenge to ensure tree protection with no parking in the right of way. B. Hanson asked if there have been instances where trees have died due to no tree protection. S. Corbin stated he was only aware of one instance. D. Reeves said it is difficult to say that poor tree protection actually caused the death of the tree. S. Kallao said he could see problems when a root system is killed during the construction of a building foundation and footing. S. Boren stated she is a fan of incentives, and in cases where a tree root system is in the way of a foundation, problem-solving techniques could be shared. J. Leroux said she had spoken with Scott Williams from Public Works, and he said that a lot of trees were being taken down on the weekends when City staff could not respond. B. Andrews asked what happens when trees are cut down without permits during the week, and S. Corbin said that Community Development staff will make a site visit and follow up, and staff can always follow up if trees are taken down over the weekend. The Committee discussed tree removal and tree trimming on weekends. S. Corbin stated that staff had performed research, and other municipalities do not franchise their tree trimmers, and ultimately the homeowner is penalized for tree trimming and removal without permits. The vendors must still provide proof of insurance and local business tax receipts. J. Leroux stated that requiring documentation from vendors may have a chilling effect on work without permits. The Committee discussed tree trimmers working without permits. S. Corbin brought up using an open-book test to qualify tree-trimmers to work in the City. S. Boren stated a webinar with a quiz could be used to qualify vendors. B. Hanson said that it is a difficult problem that can't be completely solved, and there are consequences for homeowners. She said the Committee can educate the public, but it would be difficult to police the activity. B. Andrews asked if unlicensed tree-trimmers going door to door is illegal, S. Kallao said he didn't believe it was against the law. 6. Discussion of Arbor Day January 2019 event and tree planting. J. Leroux said that it had been suggested that Subcommittees were taxing for staff, and the Committee wanted to handle Arbor Day, rather than assigning a Subcommittee. S. Corbin presented and discussed proposed ideas and locations for plantings. He said staff was working on determining costs and would send the ideas to the Committee for their review. J. Leroux said a goal of 200 tree plantings had been suggested. S. Corbin said that City staff had concerns about planting in the City's right of way, and the City could be liable if someone hit a tree. S. Corbin said Joe Gerrity, City Manager, had agreed to allow staff to present the idea to Commission and ask for permission to plant trees in the public right of way. S. Boren November 7, 2018 Environmental Stewardship Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 of4 asked if homeowners had to be contacted, and B. Andrews said that homeowners should be asked or notified prior to planting in the right of way. J. Leroux said that there is a potential heritage tree near Country Club Lane that could be designated for Arbor Day 2019. B. Hanson said that the community should be involved with the decision process. S. Corbin discussed the proposed locations and potential for planting trees and landscaping. J. Leroux said there were only 2 proposed locations that might require public input and notification. S. Corbin said that the Committee could focus on planting locations that could be used for Arbor Day, which is the third week of January 2019. The maintenance of the proposed trees was discussed, either by City staff or by hiring contractors. The Committee also discussed public engagement ideas and potential funding sources. J. Leroux said the Commission had designated the third Friday of January as Arbor Day, and in 2019 it will be held on that following Saturday. 7. New Business. B. Andrews asked about the status of Selva Preserve and if there was any activity regarding the trail along Sherman's Creek, S. Corbin said there was no activity from the City. J. Leroux stated that a new member had applied to be on the Environmental Stewardship Committee. S. Corbin said the Parks Master Plan reception was scheduled for December 5, 2018. S. Boren updated the Committee on the LEED for Cities Subcommittee activities, and duties had been assigned to Subcommittee members. She said an intern from University of North Florida was also working with the Subcommittee to create a handbook for other small coastal cities' applications to the LEED for Cities program. S. Boren made a motion to present S. Dark with a sapling to celebrate the birth of her daughter, and also that Beaches Go Green would be screening a film the following Saturday at 200 First Street in Neptune Beach. B. Andrews said that some Beaches Town Center landscaping had died, and he reached out to the organization and to Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City Manager, and the dead landscaping would be replaced. He also discussed the importance of the dunes, especially after the past few hurricane seasons, and the possibility of filling gaps in the dunes with sand prior to a storm. He said he would like the Committee to consider the health of the dunes at a future meeting. S. Corbin said he could present the idea to the City Manager, but dune walkover issues were discouraged by walkover neighbors, and the idea would have to be communicated very well to the public. J. Leroux stated the Committee would have to educate themselves on the dune issues, and S. Corbin stated a presentation could be put together for a future meeting. 8. Adjournment. The motion to adjourn was brought by B. Andrews and seconded by D. Scott and passed with no opposition. The meeting was adjourned 7:37 PM November 7, 2018 Environmental Stewardship Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 of4 (Minutes respectfully submitted by Jennifer Johnston on November 30, 2018.) ATTEST: Shane Corbin, Director of Planning and Community Development November 7, 2018 Environmental Stewardship Committee Meeting Minutes Page4of4