03-13-18 ESC Tree Subcommittee Meeting Minutes.17
MINUTES OF
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE:
TREE CODE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
March 13, 2018
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWAIHIP COMMITTEE: TREE CODE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS
PRESENT:
Chip Drysdale
Linda Chipperfield
Myron Blankerbaker, via phone
STAFF:
Kevin Hogencamp, Deputy City Manager
Shane Corbin, Director of Planning and Community Development
Brian Broedell, Planner
1. Call to order.
The meeting was called to order at 4:02 p.m. in the North Conference room.
2. Approval of minutes.
There were no minutes to approve.
3. Courtesy of the floor.
No one addressed the committee.
4. New Business.
C. Drysdale began the meeting by suggesting all Tree Subcommittee meetings be no longer than one
hour.
C. Drysdale then expressed the need for the Tree Subcommittee to establish a regular meeting schedule.
He stated that the previous meetings had conflicted with the regularly scheduled Environmental
Stewardship Committee (ESC) meetings and suggested that the Tree Subcommittee meetings take place
at least one day prior to the ESC meetings. He then suggested the second Tuesday of each month.
L. Chipperfield stated that the meetings should be held after 5:00pm.
K. Hogencamp discussed a possible conflict with the Code Enforcement Board meetings that are held
the second Tuesday of every other month at 6:00pm. He stated if the Tree Subcommittee meetings were
to be regularly scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month at 5:00pm, the meetings would need to
end by 6:00pm. It was agreed that the meetings would be scheduled for 5:00pm on the second Tuesday
of every month and that the meetings would end by 6:00pm.
C. Drysdale stated that it is the job of the Tree Subcommittee to systematically review tree removal
permits for compliance with Chapter 23 of the City's Code of Ordinances, per Ordinance 5-17-64. He
expressed the need to set a schedule for each Subcommittee member to review the permits. He also
suggested Subcommittee members begin accompanying City Staff on their site visits for tree permits as
this experience would help them better understand the permitting process.
M. Blankerbaker agreed that a rotating schedule should be set for each Subcommittee member to review
tree permits. He also stated that Subcommittee members should be notified of each tree permit and that
he would rather not have to check the City's website for any new tree permits. He suggested that each
permit be emailed to all Subcommittee members by City Staff. S. Corbin confirmed that this can be
done from now on and suggested that each Subcommittee member review some tree permits with Staff
so that they can gain a better understanding of the permitting process.
C. Drysdale suggested that each Subcommittee member choose a week of the month to review tree
permits. M. Blankerbaker stated that he would review tree permits the first week of the month. L.
Chipperfield volunteered to take the fourth week of the month while C. Drysdale agreed to take the
second week of the month. S. Dark was given the third week of the month. It was agreed that the Tree
Subcommittee will manage their permit review schedules internally.
C. Drysdale explained that Ordinance 5-17-64 requires Staff to notify each Subcommittee member every
time a tree permit is posted for "Notice of Issuance." He asked Staff if this was being done. B. Broedell
explained that tree permits were being posted on the City's website five business days prior to issuance
for Subcommittee members to review. C. Drysdale stated that he does not believe this meets the
requirements of Ordinance 5-17-64 and that each Subcommittee member needs to be directly notified
via email when a tree permit is posted for "Notice of Issuance."
It was decided that each Subcommittee member will be emailed tree permits once they are deemed
substantially complete and again when they are posted for "Notice of Issuance."
S. Corbin introduced a report completed by Staff that reviewed all tree removal permits that had been
issued since November, 2017. The report included the number of trees planted and removed; the number
of inches planted and removed; and the number of legacy trees planted and removed.
B. Broedell stated that a noticeable takeaway from the report is the high rate of applicants utilizing the
incentive of double mitigation credit when replacing non -legacy trees with legacy species. He stated that
he believes this is a popular approach among applicants that are redeveloping on smaller lots within the
City. He also stated that the report indicates that the 50% replacement rate intended by Code is being
met while the number of legacy species is increasing.
C. Drysdale volunteered to create a summary of this meeting to present at the next ESC meeting.
S. Corbin stated that he and B. Broedell will be attending all Tree Subcommittee meetings moving
forward and that B. Broedell will be recording the minutes.
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5. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
ATTEST
Shane Corbin
Director Planning and Community Development
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Dawn Scott
Secretary
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