Environmental Quality Board Thursday, October 11, :30 P.M. Minutes

Transcription

1 Item No. Thursday, 3:30 P.M. Minutes The Town of Orange Park meeting was called to order in the Town Council Chambers on October 3, 2018 by Chairwoman Melba Gordon at 3:57 p.m., when a quorum was formed. The following Board members were present: Mrs. Frances Nichols and Ms. Jeane Knowles. Ms. Kelly Watt was absent. Mr. John Bartholomew resigned from the board. Others present were Economic and Community Development Director Stephen Smith and Town Clerk Courtney Russo. TREE CITY USA DESIGNATION Ms. Gordon moved this item up on the agenda. She stated there are only four standards for Tree City USA recognition. She discussed the standards. They include having a tree board/department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and an arbor day observation and proclamation. She stated it seems that once you have Tree City USA status you still have to perpetually fulfill these standards. She stated with the role of this board, it does not seem like they have implemented any plan of work for documenting annual tree care activities. She questioned if that was being done in some other committee. Ms. Barbara Davidson, 2710 Holly Point Road West, stated that is all included in the budget. She discussed the tree survey project that the Town did. She stated all of the standards are being done, otherwise the Town would not have a flag. She stated she just does not know the details of the administrative functions that goes into it. She stated this all has to do with public trees. She stated when the Town has its Arbor Day Observation not that many people show up. The board discussed ways of advertising the event better. Ms. Knowles discussed putting up banners like we do for other events. More people would see the signs. Ms. Gordon stated on the Tree City USA website, they have a banner PDF template that we could use. She stated that may be something to look into. She stated the board needs to be on point with being involved in the celebration and education. Ms. Davidson stated we need to educate the public. She discussed the process of planting the tree at the Arbor Day Celebration. Ms. Gordon stated it would be best for them to get more information from the point person at Public Works. Mr. David Powlin, 816 Plainfield Avenue, discussed the dates for the celebration.

2 Page 2 Ms. Davidson discussed the trees that have been planted in Town Hall Park. She asked if there was a list of who those trees were dedicated to. Ms. Russo stated she is unsure if a list exists but would check. Ms. Davidson stated associating a name with a tree, could get more people out to the celebration. DISCUSSION ON PREFERRED AND PROTECTED TREES Ms. Gordon stated this was brought up by Ms. Knowles at the last meeting. She stated the board s homework was to figure out what should be preferred/protected. Ms. Knowles asked where the preferred trees list came from. Ms. Davidson stated it came from the University of Florida. Ms. Knowles questioned what they know about the Town of Orange Park. She stated there are trees all over that are vital and that are not on that list. Mrs. Nichols stated that list is not the same as protected trees. She stated the list is just a tool to use. Mr. Smith stated the list is optional. It is a guide. Ms. Gordon stated it frustrates her that they are cycling back around on an ordinance that the board has already spent a great deal of time on. She stated the ordinance the Town has seems to be working. She stated she hasn t heard any dismay or fury from the public about it. Ms. Davidson discussed the resident that cut all his trees down on his River Road property. Mr. Smith stated the ordinance was amended in October He stated that incident happened prior to the tree ordinance being amended. He stated they had the residential standards in the original ordinance that was approved in October 2016, but that did not have the list of historic trees. Ms. Knowles questioned the goal of the board is. She stated they need a mission statement. She stated these ordinances were written before all this traffic came into the Town. She stated air quality is important to her. She stated clean water and clean air are two things we cannot live without. She stated a person needs a good reason to cut down a tree. Ms. Davidson discussed her neighbor that had a camphor sapling. She stated people are going to do what they want to do without coming to the Town first for permission. Ms. Gordon stated the ordinance now does not protect every tree, but it is a good start. She agrees not everyone is going to come to the Town to get permission before cutting down a tree. She stated people are learning and they are coming in and paying for a tree permit. She stated she is not inclined to rework this ordinance. Mrs. Nichols stated she does not want this to get to restrictive. Ms. Knowles stated we need to define what a tree is.

3 Page 3 Ms. Gordon stated the ordinance does not say you can cut down any tree that you want. The ordinance is specific with size and type of trees. She stated she feels the board has adequately addressed what a tree is, what trees are permitted to come down, and what trees need permits and what ones do not. She stated she feels like they have been very explicit in the ordinance related to that. Mrs. Nichols stated this is as simplistic as it is going to get, without being too restrictive. She asked what the next steps are. Mr. Smith stated at the last meeting the board voted on the proposed changes regarding the violation process. They also voted to reduce, from four to three, the number of trees that can be removed without coming to the board. Ms. Gordon stated she is ready to move forward with this ordinance. Mrs. Nichols stated the next steps will be to advertise the ordinance and to educate to public. Mr. Smith stated the word is getting out. He stated he recently had one person come in and one person call about tree permits. He stated once the proposed changes are approved by Council, then they can start to work on getting the information out to the public. Ms. Gordon stated back in February, they discussed a one-page fact sheet about trees. She asked if they were ready to move forward with that. She also suggested that if they know what person each tree honors, they could put that list on the back on the information sheet. She suggested having some ready to hand out at Fall Festival. Mr. Smith stated the document is done. He stated they also discussed putting a link on the website and putting a message on the utility bills. Mrs. Nichols stated they also discussed putting a message in with the water report as well. Mr. Smith stated he likes the slogan call before you cut that the board discussed at a prior meeting. Ms. Davidson stated when the ordinance goes to Council for approval, the board members should be present at the meeting. Ms. Gordon stated she had a request from the board to develop a mission statement. She stated she did some research. She passed out a form to the members that had a proposed mission statement and description of responsibilities for the Town of Orange Park. She stated this is just a suggestion. She stated it is a starting point for discussion. The proposed Mission Statement and Description of Responsibilities for the Town of Orange Park is as follows:

4 Page 4 Vision: Orange Park is a unique waterfront community that balances the preservation and enhancement of its environmental resources with eco-friendly business and residential practices. Mission: To determine actions, policies, and practices necessary to preserve and enhance the environmental quality of the Town of Orange Park through proven scientific studies and identified needs of the residential and business communities, thereby supporting the public health, safety, and welfare of our residents, visitors, and businesses. Strategies: Strive to ensure abundant clean waterways in the Town of Orange Park, the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake Strive to ensure the protection of our watershed, wildlife, native plant life, and other environmental assets Promote the education of residents and visitors regarding the protection of our watershed, wildlife, native plant life, and other environmental assets Promote the establishment of eco-friendly business practices and businesses Collect relevant data Strive to ensure the beneficial and attractive visual aesthetics desired by the community related to landscaping and tree cover, sign ordinances, and water management Propose modifications to ordinances of the Town of Orange Park to achieve the vision and mission of the Promote intergovernmental cooperation Ms. Davidson discussed the responsibilities of the board. Mr. Smith stated the Town Code sets out the responsibilities. He stated the mission statement would not be codified. It would just be the mission and vision of the board. Ms. Gordon discussed the EQB statement that is on the website. She stated they need to bring the vision and mission into better focus. She stated she looked at different cities around Florida and molded several examples together. Ms. Knowles stated she would like to see abundant clean air added to the list of strategies. Ms. Davidson stated we cannot do anything to ensure clean air. Ms. Knowles stated you can. She stated she is adamant that trees help clean the air. Mrs. Nichols stated she likes the form. She stated Ms. Gordon did a good job on it. Ms. Gordon stated one of the strategies is to collect relevant data. She stated she is not sure it is actionable to them. Ms. Knowles asked what they would be collecting relevant data on. Ms. Gordon stated it would be on the water and trees. Mrs. Nichols stated she likes the strategy of promoting intergovernmental cooperation. She stated it is a good document.

5 Page 5 Ms. Gordon stated if the board is comfortable, then they can move forward with approving it or they can discuss it more at the next meeting. Mrs. Nichols moved to adopt the mission statement as presented by Ms. Gordon. Ms. Knowles seconded the motion which passed 3 to 0. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business to discuss. PUBLIC COMMENT No one addressed the board at this time. ADJOURNMENT The next regular meeting for the is scheduled for Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 3:30 P.M. There being no other business to come before the Board, Ms. Gordon adjourned the meeting at 4:43 p.m.