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>>> PLEASE BE SEATED. CALL TO ORDER THE JULY 5TH, 2022, CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> MAYOR LEDONOVICH >> HERE PHONES OFF OR PUT THEM IN AIRPLANE MODE.
I SAY THIS EVERY MEETING. COVID-19 IS STILL HERE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WENT TO JULY 4TH PICNICS OR BARBECUES.
WE WERE AT ONE AND THE VERY NEXT DAY THE PERSON NOTIFIED ME THEY HAVE COVID SO IT IS THERE AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING SICK SO TAKE WHATEVER MEASURES YOU NEED TO TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH OR
[3.2 TREE PROTECTION, INSPECTION, AND EVALUATION: This item is placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Lednovich.]
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OTHERS. I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT.ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO MOVE THE TREE PROTECTION, INSPECTION, EVALUATION TOPIC TO THE TOP OF THE AGENDA. LET ME SAY THE FOLLOWING AND I KNOW PEOPLE WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
NORMALLY IN WORKSHOPS WE DON'T ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT AND THE REASON WE DON'T ALLOW PUBLIC XHEMENT COMMENT IS THIS IS A CH THE FIVE OF US TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND TRY TOO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THOSE AND I KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS, YOU WANT TO EXPRESS THEM AND HOW TREES ARE TO THIS COMMUNITY. LET US HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TREE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.
WE ALL WANT TO PRESERVE OUR TREES.
WE ALL WANT TO PLANT NEW TREES. WE ALL WANT MORE HERITAGE TREES.
THOSE ARE THE THREE GOALS. SO LET US TALK ABOUT THAT.
LET US SEE WHAT CITY STAFF HAS COME UP WITH.
THEN IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AFTER THAT, I WILL ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT. SO VICE MAYOR YOU WANTED TO KICK US OFF. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.
>> THANK YOU. THIS WORKSHOP CAME ABOUT BECAUSE THE LAST COMMISSION MEETING WE IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS WITH TREE PROTECTION ZONES. THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN A BLUFF WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING HOMES AND NONE OF THEM HAD PROTECTION ZONES. ATTACHED ARE THE COMP PLAN PARTICULARLY DURING CONSTRUCTION, THAT'S A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WHICH DEFINES WHAT A TREE PROTECTION ZONE WILL BE. IN REALITY I KNOW WE CAN MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AND THERE ALSO IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BUT PLANS ARE ADEQUATE IF COMPLIED WITH.
THE FACT IS THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING.
IT IS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH.
THIS HAPPENS TO BE MEDIA BLUFF. THIS WAS A FOUNDATION PICTURE.
I BELIEVE THIS WAS IDENTIFIED THE 8TH OF JUNE WHEN ALL OF YOU GOT THE PICTURES AND THE NEXT DAY THEY WERE GOING TO CORRECT IT ALL. THE SAME SUPERINTENDENT FOR SIX OR SEVEN HOMES OUT THERE, BUT NEEDLESS TO SAY IT HAPPENS AGAIN THE 23RD OF JUNE SO IF YOU KIND OF SCROLL, THIS IS A FOUNDATION, THIS IS ON THE EAST SIDE BY THE CREEK.
THIS IS SOMEWHAT OF A DIFFERENT AREA BY IF YOU SCROLL UP, THIS IS A TREE PROTECTION IF YOU SCRS A TREE PU IF YOU SCROLL UP, THI IS A TREE T IF YOU SCROLL UP, T IS A TREE PROTECTION ZONE, GUYS.
THAT'S ANOTHER ONE AND SO IF YOU JUST GO THROUGH IT, THERE ARE SOME DIPLY INDICATED PICTURES IN THERE BUT THAT'S WHAT WE SAW ON THE 9TH SO THEY CAME BACK AND CORRECTED IT.
ON THE 23RD IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY PUT UP THE BARRIERS. THE BARRIERS THAT THEY DID PUT UP ARE NOT SUFFICIENT AND DON'T MEET THE LCD ANYWAY SO ON THE 23RD, MORE OF THE HOUSES WERE ON THE SIDE SO THEY DID THE ONES ON THE FRONT BUT NOT ON THE SIDE, SO THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE OF TO ME I'M JUST AMAZED THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED AND IS UNSATISFACTORY, SO THIS MORNING I WAS DRIVING DOWN BY MY HOUSE OVER AT HICKORY RIDGE ON 13TH AND FERG WHERE THEY'RE BUILDING THREE BRAND NEW HOUSES AND, AGAIN, ONE TREE PROTECTION ZONE IS UNSATISFACTORY AND THEY'RE NOT THERE.
THIS IS THE TREE ZONE PROTECTION THERE.
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THESE ARE REQUIREMENTS, THEIR COMP PLAN, THEY'RE LDC REQUIREMENTS AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING DONE.I DON'T THINK THE CITY STAFF DISAGREES WITH ME.
WE HAVE BUILDING INSPECTORS OUT THERE, WE HAVE AN ARBORIST AND HOW THIS HAS HAPPENED IS IN UNSATISFACTORY.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW THIS IS DONE AND THIS SHOULD BE REFLECTING ON PERFORMANCES OF DUTY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT GETTING THESE THINGS DONE. THERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE LDC WHICH I FORWARDED BACK IN MAY AND THEY'RE ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA AND THAT WAS TOO BRING THE LDC INTO COMPLIANCE USING THE REFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL ARBORIST SOCIETY BEST MANAGEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION.
I SAY CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING MORE TREES FOR LACK OF TREE PROTECTION ZONES THAN WE CAN PLANT CANOPY WISE.
ALSO ATTACHED IN THERE IS THE 2019-2024 THEY CALL IT THE TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND IT TALKED ABOUT CANOPY AND SAVING THE CANOPY AND TREE PLANNING. THE LAST PAGE, THERE ARE FOUR LINES THAT TALK ABOUT MAINTENANCE.
SO THIS SHOULD BE -- YOU HAVE TO PLANT A WHEOLE BUNCH OF TREES T REPLACE THE CANOPY. LAST WEEK I HEARD THERE ARE 5850 BUILDABLE LOTS IN FERNANDINA. OUR CANOPY IS AT 39% NOW, I THINK THE COMP PLAN SAYS 3 37 PERCENT % WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SAVE IT. WE'RE NOT G SAVE IT. WE HAVE A TREE INVENTORY AND I'M NOT SURE WHY WE HAVE THEM. WE KNOW THEY'RE THERE BY TREES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN 2009, I DON'T KNOW IF WE DID ANYTHING WITH THEM. IF A TREE IS POOR WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND ASSESS THEM AND SEE IF IT BECKS A LIABILITY AND THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE BUT THERE'S NO SENSE IN HAVING INVENTORY BECAUSE IT GETS US AN AWARD OR GETS US A GRANTER REQUIREMENT IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE THE INVENTORY.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I GOT INVOLVED WITH A TRAINING PROGRAM. I WENT TO SIX OF THE SIX PROGRAMS AT SIERRA NASSA AND LEARNED A LOT THAT WE WERE NOT DOING AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE IT'S A MANAGEMENT ISSUE.
I THINK WE HAVE TO SAME TYPE OF ISSUE WITH THE DUNES ON FIRST AVENUE WHERE THE LDC SAID THINGS AND WE WEREN'T COMPLIANT.
THERE WAS NO SENSE WITH THE CITY NOT COMPLYING WITH THE COMP PLAN. CHARLIE JUST SHOWED ME SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT'S HIS PLAN TO MAKE IT BETTER.
>> LET'S SEE IF IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS, VICE
MAYOR. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? SO, TO REFRESH EVERYBODY'S MEMORY TWO WEEKS AGO WHEN THIS CAME UP, I CHARGED THE CITY MANAGER WITH COMING BEFORE US WITH SOLUTIONS TO HOW WE WERE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT SO LET'S SEGUE INTO THAT.
>> CHARLIE GEORGE, CITY ENGINEER.
AS YOU STATED, MR. MAYOR, YOU CHARGED THE CITY MANAGER WHO THEN CHARGED ME TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO RECTIFY WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE PROCESS AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAKDOWN, IT'S CODE ENFORCEMENT, IT'S PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT. THOSE ARE THE THREE ENTITIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING, IMPLEMENTING, MANAGING THE LDC, THE BUILDING CODE AND SUCH AND SUCH SO WHAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH IS A PROCEDURE OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE INSPECTIONS GOING IN THE FUTURE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THOSE THREE DEPARTMENTS AND MYSELF AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF RIDING AROUND BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY MAY HAVE THE TREE PROTECTION UP AT 8:30 IN THE MORNING, SOMETHING GOES ON IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND AT 11:30 IT'S DOWN. WE COULD SEE IT AT 8:30 AND IT
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WON'T BE THERE AT 11:30. SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN JUST A ONE TIME A DAY LOOKING AT.UPON RECEIPT OF A PERMIT APPROVAL OF CONSTRUCTION THE CONTRACTOR IS TO SUBMIT A NOTICE TO THE PLANNING, CODE ENFORCEMENT DEMENT, HOLD A MEETING ON SITE WITH THE CONTRACTOR TO DISCUSS SOIL EH RATION SEDIMENTATION MEASURE AND THAT INCLUDES THE FENCING, TOO, AND THIS WILL HAVE THE EXHIBITS OF WHAT'S BEEN DEVELOPED AS FAR AS WHAT IS THE RIGHT TREE PROTECTION? WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR PUTTING IN THE [INDISCERNIBLE] AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
A TREE PROTECTION SYSTEM INSPECTION PRIOR TO ANY CONSTRUCTION GOING ON. THE CITY WILL PERFORM THE INITIAL PROTECTION OF SILT FENCING AT THE COMPLETION OF ANY CONSTRUCTION OR INSPECTIONS. CITY PLANNING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT STAFF WILL PERFORM ROUTINE DAILY VISUAL INSPECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS TO VALIDATE THE TREE PROTECH MEASURES AND SILT FENCES ARE IN PLACE PROPERLY.
CITY BUILDING DEPARTMENTS WHO GO ON INSPECTIONS ON SCHEDULE DURING VARIOUS PORTIONS OF THECO ON INSPECTIONS ON SCHEDULE DURING VARIOUS PORTIONS OF THE PROCESS, THEY WILL CHECK THE MEASURES AND SILT FENCING MEASURES DURING THEIR SCHEDULE CHECKS AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, MS. GIBSON AND I WILL DO OUR OWN AND PEND RIDE-THROUGHS AND CHECK INDEPENDENT RIDE-THROUGHS AND CHECK ON THAT, TOO. OPERATION OF CITY STAFF FAILURE TO MAINTAIN WILL RESULT IN A PVA REQUIRED REMEDY OF 24 HOURS FOR TREE PROTECTION AND 48 HOURS FOR SILT FENCING.
MOST OF THOSE REQUIRE A SUB BECAUSE IT'S A FAIRLY SOPHISTICATED -- IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, THE CONNECTION AND ALL THAT, SO WE GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE TIME IN THERE TO DO THAT.
FAILURE TO BRING THE TREE PROTECTION AND SILT FENCING INTO COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIME FRAME WILL RESULT IN A $500 FINE VIOLATION. IF COMPLIANCE IS NOT OBTAINED WITHIN 24 HOURS, A STOP WORK ORDER WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CITY AND THAT'S WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE GOING
>> YEAH, I MENTIONED TO CHARLIE, THE SILT FENCING, TREE PROTECTION IS A 2 BY 4 WOOD POST, IT'S A MUCH MORE
SUBSTANTIAL. >> CORRECT, IT'S AN ACTUAL
STRUCTURE. >> IT GOES BEYOND USING MULCH OUTSIDE AND VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS.
SILT FENCING COMES DOWN REAL EASILY AND YOU'RE GOING TO WORK
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> THANK YOU, WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED COST OF ONE OF THESE SILT FENCES TO THE CONTRACTOR?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE SIZE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE REQUIREMENTS FROM THE EROSION AND CONTROL ENTITIES, THEIR SEDIMENTATION CONTROL, BASICALLY IT'S A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL POST AND THE SILT FENCING THAT HAS TO BE ATTACHED TO THAT AND IT'S DOUBLE LAYERED AND EMBEDDED I THINK TWO FEET IN THE GROUND SO IT CAN'T GET BLOWN OUT FROM ANY KIND OF EROSION OR SOMETHING AND HAVE AN OPENING UNDERNEATH. SOME OF THEM DON'T PUT IT IN, THEY PUT IN JUST BASICALLY SOMETHING THAT CAN BLOW OTHER BUT THAT'S WHAT SOIL EROSION SEDIMENTATION CONTROL FROM THE STATE REQUIRES. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE COST
IS BUT IT'S FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL. >> AND THIS PROTECTION THAT WOULD MATCH THE STATE, WE WOULD BE MATCHING WHAT THEY REQUIRE TO
>> AND THEN DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW THIS FIGURE, IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD KNOW. WHAT IS THE COST OF A PERMIT TO TAKE A TREE LIKE THIS DOWN? I KNOW WE CHARGE FEES FOR THAT
KIND OF THING. >> I DON'T KNOW THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF THE TREE AND HOME, BUT THERE IS A SCHEDULE OF FEES IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT SAYS REMOVAL OF TREES DEPENDING ON THE SASE.
THAT'S A GRADUATED NUMBER. >>SIZE.
THAT'S A GRADUATED NUMBER. >> THE POINT I WANT TO RAISE BY ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS IS I WANT TO AVOID POTENTIAL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE THE FINE OF NOT DOING THIS, WHAT WE JUST DESCRIBED AS TREE PROTECTION, THE FINE OF NOT DOING THE TREE PROTECTION IS $500. WE COULD BE CAUSING A SITUATION WHERE THE DEVELOPERS WILL JUST PAY THE MIN AND CLEAR ALL THE TREES THAT WE'REN AND CLEAR ALL TREES THAT O AND CLEAR ALL THE
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TREES THAT N AND CLEAR ALL THE TREES THAT E AND CLEAR ALL THE TREES THAT Y AND CLEAR ALL THE TREES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECTION. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WEINCENTIVIZE KEEPING THE TREES. >> THE PERMIT THE REMOVE THE
TREE IS HIGHER. >> THAT'S GOOD BUT AT SOME POINT WE'RE MAKING THESE MATCH AND THAT'S THE THE POINT I WANT TO RAISE. ADDING THIS FINE MIGHT MAKE IT MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR A BUILD TORE TAKE DOWN THESE TREES SO THAT'S MY GOAL, TO MAKE SURE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE OPTION WILL BE
TO KEEP THESE HERITAGE TREES >>
>> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON COMMISSIONER KREGER'S COMMENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS IS PROTECTING THE DRIP LINE OF THE TREES. SOME PEOPLE WANT A HOUSE CLOSE TO THE TREES FOR SHADE OR WHATEVER BUT THAT ENCROACHES ON THE DRIP LINE, THAT ORDINANCE, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT IS, WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO TAKE THE TREE OUT SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT LANGUAGE IN THAT ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES?
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S ROUGHLY $60 TO $75 FOR EVERY TEN FEET AND IT STARTS AT $250 FOR A TREAT PERMIT AND DEPENDING ON HOW MANY TREES YOU HAVE AND WHAT SIZE THEY ARE, IT GOES UP IN INCREMENT AND I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL ESTABLISH WHAT WE NEED TO ESTABLISH HERE TO SAVE THE MOST AMOUNT OF TREES IS PROPERLY PRUNING THEM LIKE LEN IS SHOWING AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO COMPROMISE BUT THE SILT FENCE AND WHERE I WAS GOING WITH MY FIRST THOUGHT WITH THIS IS HOW MANY ACTIVE PERMITS ARE THEY BUILDING CURRENTLY? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA RIGHT NOW, CHARLIE? IS THAT 50 OR 150?
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY 50 BUT NOT MORE THAN 100.
>> THAT WAS MY GUESS, BETWEEN 70 TO 90 PERMITS IS PROBABLY WHAT
WE CURRENTLY HAVE. >> SOME ARE REMODELS.
>> AND SOME ARE REMODELS. WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS YOUR JOB SITE AND HOW TO INCREMENT YOUR TIME AND HOW MUCH TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE IS IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 8:30 TO 11:30 AND SOMEONE IS OUT THERE MOVING THE SILT FENCE OR RUNNING
EQUIPMENT TO DO SOMETHING -- >> IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF
STAFF HOURS >> IT'S GOING TO TAKE STAFF HOURS. PEOPLE NEED TO REALIZE IF THEY'RE GOING OUT ONCE TO TWICE A DAY AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 50 TO 70 JOB SITES, YOU'RE TALKING A LOT OF HOURS.
I'M NOT SAYING IT CAN'T BE ACCOMPLISHED BUT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER AT SOME POINT WHERE IS THE THRESHOLD? WHO ARE WE GOING TO GET TO DO THIS BEFORE WE HIRE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE JUST TO GO OUT AND MANAGE THIS TREE CONTROL AND THE SILT FENCES AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S NOT WHERE THE DIRECTION NEEDS TO GO BUT I'M JUST SAYING IMPLEMENTING THESE THINGS HARD AND FAST AND LEN DOING HIS JOB AS A CITIZEN SAYING THIS ISN'T HAPPENING, LOOK AT THE THINGS, THIS ISN'T HAPPENING.
OKAY. WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF, OBVIOUSLY, TO HANDLE THAT RIGHT NOW.
WE CAN SEE IT. IT'S NOT HAPPENING.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T COLLECTIVELY COME BY.
HOW MANY TIMES. WE CAN'T GO TO EVERY SIGH SITE Y
DAY. >> IT'S GOING TO BE SEEN AT LEAST ONCE A DAY BY SOMEBODY BECAUSE IT CHANGES DAILY.
>> TRUST ME, IT DOES. YOU HAVE NOW HIRED AN EMPLOYEE.
YOU BETTER GO AHEAD AND HIRE IN ANOTHER EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE. YOU CAN'T TELL ME THAT IF YOU HAVE 50 JOB SITES, IT TAKES 20 MINUTES A JOB SITE, THAT'S
HOURS ON A DAY. >> [INAUDIBLE]
>> HE DID THE QUICK MATH. 24 HOURS.
ANYWAY, THAT'S ALL MY POINT IS. THAT'S ALL I WAS BRINGING UP.
YOU'RE GOING TO EAT UP AN EMPLOYEE'S DAY, ONE EMPLOYEE.
AND I DON'T THINK DAVE HAS THAT IN HIS --
I DON'T KNOW THAT'S IN DAVE'S BUDGET SO THAT'S SOMETHING FOR
ALL OF US TO THINK ABOUT. >> I THINK THE TAKE FROM THAT IS
THIS IS A MONUMENTAL TASK. >> IT IS.
>> FOR THE AMOUNT OF AREA THIS CITY HAS AND THE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION AND JUST THE DIFFICULTIES OF MONITORING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S NOT PERMANENT.
>> WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS DISCUSSION, THERE'S A REASON I'M
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GOING TO THIS WHERE YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T ACCIDENTAL -- ACCIDENTALLY IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR. NOT ACCIDENTALLY, IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACTOR.MAYBE YOU ONLY GO OUT TWICE OR THREE TIMES A WEEK AND IF THEY CATCH THEM ONE TIME, IT WON'T TAKE LONG FOR THAT CONTRACTOR TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT IF THEY GET FINED.
I'M NOT ASKING TO IMPOSE CONTRACTOR -- HOLD ON.
I'M JUST EXPLAINING THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY FOR US AS A CITY TO MANAGER IT WITHOUT IMPOSING ALL THESE HOURS ON OUR EMPLOYEES. THAT'S IT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO
>> A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. ABOUT ADOPTING NATIONAL ARBOR STANDARDS, THAT'S INTERNATIONAL STANDARD AND YOU CAN ADOPT STANDARDS AND GIVE YOURSELF EXCEPTIONS -- NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I'MNO, THAT'S NO, THAT'S TRYING TO SAY.
THE ISSUE HERE IS SMALL LOTS. IF YOU HAVE A 100 BY 100 LOT --
>> I'M SAYING YOU CAN ADOPT THAT STANDARD AND GIVE YOURSELF THE LEEWAY TO ALLOW FOR EXCEPTIONS IN THOSE CASES.
>> I WASN'T TRYING TO SAY DON'T ADOPT IT.
>> THE REASON FOR THAT STANDARD IS IT'S INDUSTRY STANDARD AND IT HAS THINGS IN IT. OUR LDC IS IN.
>> I AGREE. >> WHETHER IT'S ONCE A DAY OR WHATEVER, MY POINT IS WE'RE BUILDING SIX HOUSES AND IN THE PROCESS YOU WOULD HAVE CODE INSPECTION, BUILDING, THE ARBORERS AND THEY WOULD SEE THAT OVER ON 13TH AND FERRELL, JUST DRIVE BY, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR.
YOU CAN SEE. >> PLANNING LOOKED AT IT AND NOTIFIED THEM FRIDAY, I THINK, ABOUT GETTING INTO COMPLIANCE.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. IF WE DO THOSE THINGS, WHETHER IT'S ONCE A DAY OR WHEN WE DRIVE BY.
IN MEDIA BLUFF, THERE WAS NO EXCUSE, THEY WERE IN TOTAL
VIOLATION. >> I'M NOT DEFENDING --
>> I'M NOT GETTING ON YOUR CASE, JUST GIVING A LITTLE SPEECH.
>> I MANAGED CONSTRUCTION FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY DO IT. I THINK IT'S A VERY POSITIVE STEP FORWARD AND ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT DONE.
WE CAN'T DECIDE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THE LDC OR THE COMP
>> AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMMISSIONER GOALS, THEY'RE
BASICALLY ORDINANCES. >> I AGREE.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> SO WOULD YOU REVIEW WHAT IS THE REQUIRED TREE PROTECTION AT THIS TIME?
>> WHAT THE LDC AND THE TYPICAL STANDARD IS IT'S VERTICAL WOODEN POST WITH A TWO BY FOUR OR A TWO BY SIX HORIZONTAL RAILING AROUND IT TO KEEP ANYBODY FROM WALKING INTO IT.
IT MAKES IT HARDER TO REMOVE INSTEAD OF WHAT YOU SEE A LOT IS THAT ORNAMENTAL SAFETY FINANCING THAT'S FLEXIBLE AND IF A BRANCH FALLS ON IT AND IT KNOCKS IT OVER.
IT'S REALLY JUST A WOODEN BARRICADE.
>> SO TO BE ABLE TO BUILD IN THIS CITY, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME, SO THERE HAS TO BE A WOOD RN BARRIER AROUND EACH
>> AND IF THERE ISN'T? >> IT'S IN VIOLATION.
>> AND AT WHAT POINT DO THEY HAVE TO PUT THESE BARRIERS UP?
>> AFTER CLEARING BUT PRIOR TO TO ANY ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTION.
IN SOME CASES IT WOULD BE HARD TO DO CLEAR IFFING THOSE
BARRICADES ARE UP. >> SO THEY HAVE TO AVOID HITTING
THE TREE WHEN CLEARING. >> CORRECT.
>> SO THEY HAVE TO PUT UP ALL THESE WOODEN BARRIERS AROUND ALL THESE TREES BEFORE THEY CAN PROCEED?
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>> CORRECT. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADING.
>> THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED OR THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED?
>> THAT'S WHAT'S REQUIRED AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ENFORCING.
I DON'T THINK IN THE PAST WE HAVE BEEN REAL -- I DON'T KNOW.
I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE LESS THAN TWO YEARS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S BEEN PUSHED IN THE PAST BUT WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO THIS IS WHAT WE GO FORWARD WITH.
>> AND I'M JUST GOING TO SAY IT ONE MORE TIME SO I'M PERFECTLY CLEAR BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SCREW UP.
BEFORE YOU CAN PUT A SHOVEL IN THE GROUND, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A WOODEN BARRIER AROUND -- HOW FAR OUT FROM THE TREE?
>> I DON'T KNOW OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ON THAT EXHIBIT. IF THERE ARE TREES CLOSE TOGETHER YOU CAN CLUSTER THEM BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE TREE AND HOW CLOSE THE TREE IS TO SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROPERTY LINE.
>> WHERE ALL THE TREES ARE, THEY'RE ON THE PROPERTY LINE BECAUSE WE CUT DOWN EVERYTHING IN THE MIDDLE NOW, SO WHEN YOU TAKE A SILT FENCE AND GO AROUND A TREE, THAT DOESN'T COUNT?
>> THAT'S NOT GIVING ADEQUATE PROTECTION.
>> A LITTLE DIFFERENT QUESTION. THAT IS NOT A LEGAL TREE
PROTECTION? >> NOT IN MY MIND.
IT'S MORE OF A SOIL EROSION. >> AND WITH THE SOIL EROSION FENCING, YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN TWO FEET?
>> I CAN'T REMEMBER BUT IT HAS TO BE TUCKED UNDER AND BURIED TO KEEP IT FROM FLAPPING BACK UP. I MAY BE OFFER ON MY DIMENSIONS
BUT DAVID MAY KNOW THAT. >> IT'S ROUGHLY A FOOT.
IT NEEDS TO BE BURIED AT LEAST A FOOT.
IT'S SO THAT IT DOESN'T BLOW AWAY BECAUSE ACTIVITY HAPPENS
ALL THE TIME ON JOB SITES, SO. >> THIINNK
>> ALL RIGHT, COMMISSIONER STURGES AND THEN VICE MAYOR
>> SO BASICALLY, IN MY MIND, AND I'M JUST THINKING AS A BUILDER, IN MY MIND, STAFF WHO HASN'T BEEN DOING THIS, RIGHT, WE HAVE COME TO THAT CONCLUSION AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PROTECT THE TREES, SO IN MY MIND, A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WOULD BE HAVING A STAFF MEMBER GO OUT THERE TWICE MINIMUM, TWICE A WEEK AS LONG AS SOMEONE IS SEEING IT TWICE A WEEK AND GIVES A WARNING THE FIRST TIME AND IF IT CONTINUES AFTER THAT WARNING WE GIVE OUT A FINE AND IF IT'S NOT IF OUR FINE SCHEDULE, YOU COME UP WITH IT. HOW BUILDERS AND ANYONE ELSE RELATES IS TO MONEY. IF IT BECOMES A MONEY PROBLEM, THE JOB SUPERINTENDENT, LIKE LEN HAS PICKED SPECIFICALLY THAT SITE TO LOOK AT AND OTHER ONES, THAT JOB SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT BECAUSE IT'S HIS JOB TO POLICE HIS AREA AND IT'S HIS JOB TO MAKE SURE THE CONSTRUCTION SITE IS CLEAN AND ORDERLY BECAUSE WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IS ANYBODY WHO WALKS ON THAT JOB HE'S LIABLE FOR, NO MATTER ANY TIME, YOU KNOW THAT AND ANYBODY ELSE KNOWS THAT AND THE LAST THING THEY WANT IS A LAWSUIT FROM SOMEBODY.
IN MY OPINION, I THINK THE EASIEST WAY NOT TO KILL STAFF BUT TO STILL GET THE JOB DONE WOULD BE TO -- AND ALSO, I'M GOING TO STOP MY THOUGHT THERE FOR A SECOND AND GO TO TRAINING.
LEN MENTIONED TRAINING BY ULTIMATELY WE SHOULD HAVE A BUILDER TRAINING IN HERE ABOUT WHAT IS REQUIRED BECAUSE I GUARANTEE YOU 75% OF THE BUILDERS OUT THERE I HAVE READ WHAT'S REQUIRED BUT 75 OF THEM MIGHT NO HAVE.
>> AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD A MEETING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WITH CONTRACTORS TO TALK ABOUT BUILDING CODE ISSUES.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE SITE CONTRACTORS IN AND HAVE THAT
SAME MEETING. >> YEP, AND IT WILL GO OVER A LOT BETTER AND IF THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND I'M JUST SUGGESTING THE FINE BECAUSE IT WILL CUT DOWN ON STAFF HOURS AND IT WILL GET THE SAME JOB DONE.
IF IT COSTS THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT.
>> I THINK AT THIS STAGE, IF WE GET IT IN COMPLIANCE, MAYBE WE CAN CUT DOWN THE STAFF HOURS BUT UNTIL WE GET THIS THING UP AND RUNNING AND GET EVERYBODY ON A STANDARD, I THINK WE HAVE TO HIT
>> VICE MAYOR? >> I'M GOING TO QUOTE SOMETHING HERE SO THERE'S NO CONFUSION. THIS IS FROM OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. TREE PROTECTION BARRICADES SHALL
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BE AT LEAST THREE FEET TALL, THE BARRIER SHALL CONSIST OF A TWO BY FOUR POST WITH MINIMUM OF -- [INAUDIBLE] SO THERE'S NO QUESTION. I BET YOU YOU WON'T FIND WIN OF THOSE IN THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH AND IF YOU LOOK AT BEHR NATIONAL ARBOR STANDARDS THEY WILL SHOW IN THE DIAGRAM ALONG WITH THE SIGN THAT SAYS TREE PROTECTION ZONE.I LIKE THE SIGN PART. >> I'M SURE YOU DO.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS? >> SO THIS IS A LEGAL CITY ATTORNEY QUESTION. SO IT ALLOWABLE TO CHARGE A $500
CHARLIE AND I HAVE NOT DISCUSSED IT BUT ANY FINES HAVE TO BE ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE. THE MANAGER ASKED ME IF WE CAN ADOPT IT AS PART OF THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE.
THE ANSWER IS NO. ANY PUN TAV FITIVENESS TO BE AD BY ORDINANCE. OTHERWISE IT'S THE STANDARD CODE
ENFORCEMENT. >> ALL RIGHT, TAKE MY THROUGH TODAY. THROUGH TODAY. E THROUGH TODAY. I'M JUST GOING TO PICK ON THE LOT ACROSS. MY NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BE ANNOYED WITH ME FOR PICKING ON THEM BUT IT'S ACROSS THE STREET.
THERE'S NO FENCING UP AND SOMEONE STARTS WORKING AND A NEIGHBOR CALLS AND RATS THEM OUT.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT UNDER THE CURRENT --
>> THE CURRENT ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WOULD GO OUT.
IT COULD BE CODE ENFORCEMENT OR A POLICE OFFICER, JUST SO
EVERYBODY KNOWS. >> IT CAN'T BE THE BUILDING
DEPARTMENT? >> THEY ARE NOT CODE.
>> CODE ENFORCEMENT PERSON OR A POLICE OFFICER.
>> RIGHT, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE DEFINITION.
CODE ENFORCEMENT GETS A CALL AND UNDER THE STATE LAW AND OUR CITY CODE THEY HAVE TO BE GIVEN FIVE DAYS IS OUR STANDARD MIN MIME AMOUNT OF TIME TO CORRECT THEIM AMOUNT OF TIME TO CORRECT THE VIOLATION AND IF IT'S NOT THEY ARE INVITED TO A CODE ENFORCEMENT CODE HEARING AND THAT HEARING IS USUALLY A MONTH
AFTER THEY GET THE NOTICE. >> I'M VERY --
>> YOU KNOW. BUT TO ANSWER FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, IT'S ABOUT A MONTH LATER, THEY GET THEIR INVITATION AND IF THEY'RE FOUND IN VIOLATION, EVEN IF IT'S IN COMPLIANCE ON THE DAY OF THE HEARING IF THERE ARE PICTURES AFTER THAT FIRST FIVE DAYS THEN THEY'RE IN VIOLATION AND THE BOARD GETS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY'RE FINED $250 PER DAY THAT THE VIOLATION EXISTED IS THE HIGHEST FINE FOR A FIRST TIME VIOLATOR.
>> BUT IN THE INTERIM THEY CAN CONTINUE GOING FORWARD WITHOUT
>> CHAPTER ONE ON THE BUILDING CODE SAYS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT A STOP WORK ORDER ON SOMEBODY NOT FOLLOWING THE
SO THAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE. >> THAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE.
>> AND WHO CAN ISSUE A STOP WORK ORDER?
>> BUILDING DEPARTMENT. >> WHEN YOU SAY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, ANYBODY WHO WORKS FOR THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT?
>> THE BUILDING OFFICIAL. >> THE BUILDING OFFICIAL IS ONE
>> TWO PEOPLE. ANYBODY ELSE? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS.
>> NO, THE BUILDING OFFICIAL OR THE CITY ENGINEER CAN DO IT.
>> SO CURRENTLY TODAY IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE WOOD UP WHICH NOBODY HAS AT THIS POINT, I WOULD AGREE WITH, THE TWO OPTIONS ARE NUMBER ONE, THE POLICE OR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CAN GO OUT THERE AND CITE THEM AND KNOWING HOW IT WORKS, 6, 8, 10 WEEKS LATER SOMETHING ELSE MIGHT HAPPEN AND THEY CAN CONTINUE NOT IN COMPLIANCE DURING THAT TIME.
OR NUMBER TWO, SOMEBODY FROM THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT CAN GO OUT THERE AND ISSUE A STOP WORK ORDER?
>> NOT SOMEONE. IF THE INSPECTOR SEES IT, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ISSUE. HE COMES BACK AND MR. PARR WILL GO OUT PRETTY MUCH IMMEDIATELY AND PUT A STOP WORK ON SOMEBODY.
>> OKAY, AND WHAT ARE THE SOONS CONSEQUENCES OF THE STOP WORK
ORDER? >> THEY HAVE TO STOP WORK OR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND POLICE DO GET INVOLVED.
>> AND IF THEY DON'T STOP WORKING AND THEY CONTINUE, WHAT
[00:35:09]
HAPPENS? >> THAT PRETTY MUCH BECOMES A
LEGAL ISSUE THEN. >> WHAT HAPPENS? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS.
>> THE NEXT IS TO GET AN INJUNCTION FROM A COURT.
>> SO YOU HAVE TO GO TO COURT? >> YEAH.
>> WHICH TAKES A LONG TIME. >> LONG TIME.
>> CAN I MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT? >> SURE.
>> THE WAY WE CAME UP WITH THE $500 FINE THERE IS SOMETHING IN CHAPTER 11 IN LDC THAT SAYS IT'S A $500 FINE.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. STRAIGHT TO A $500 FINE?
WOULDN'T THERE BE A WARNING? >> THAT'S THE WAY THE -- THE PLAN IS THE FIRST THING IS A VERBAL AND WRITTEN WARNING TO GET IT RESOLVED AND THE SECOND IS A CITATION WHICH COMES WITH THE $500 FINE AND THE THIRD ISSUE IS A STOP WORK.
>> AND THE THIRD ISSUE IS WHAT? >> STOP WORK.
SO IT'S A THREE LEVEL -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD IS.
>> ESCALATION BY THREE. >> ALL RIGHT.
THAT SOUNDS FINE. I JUST KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE, EVEN THOUGH WE NEED TO GO OVER BUILDER TRAINING, AND ONCE THEY GET IT, THEY'LL DO IT. IF THEY DON'T, ONCE THE MONEY HITS, THEY'LL DO IT. THAT'S JUST MY APPROACH AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST SENSIBLE ONE IS HAVING A PROCEDURE. CURRENTLY NOBODY IS DOING IT
>> JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE COUNTY IS HAVING THE SAME
>> CAN YOU -- >> OH, I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING ELSE? I'M NOT STEPPING IN THAT, I'M
SORRY. >> I'M SAYING THEY'RE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM TRYING TO GET IT ENFORCED.
>> I MENTIONED THE USE OF PREINVENTORIES AND WHY WE HAVE THEM. I WANT TO GET INTO THAT BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THE CITY COMES UP WITH -- IF WE IDENTIFY THAT A TREE IS IN POOR CONDITION AND I DISCUSS THIS WITH THE ATTORNEY, WE HAVE A PLAN THAT WE'RE JUST NOT DOING INVENTORY TO PUT ON THE ASSESSOR'S SITE IN THE FUTURE.
IF IT'S POOR OR MODERATE AND THERE'S A RISK, SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT IT? I WOULD SAY WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IT. THE ONLY THING IN OUR TREE
INVENTORY ARE CITY TREES. >> I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> IN 2009 THEY IDENTIFIED A BI BUNCH OF TREES IN POOR CONDITION. THEY WERE NOT USING MODERATE AND HIGH RISK. DO WE SAY THE INVENTORY THERE IS GREAT OR DO WE GO AND LOOK AT THEM AND SAY THERE'S A LIABILITY ISSUE OR RISK ISSUE OR SOMETHING WE CAN DO WITH THAT TREE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT'S NOT OUR TREE BUT THE TREE AT THE CONTINUER OF CENTER STREET OR ATLANTA WITH ALL THE BARRIERS, THAT TREE IS A RISK SO SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE TREE IF THEY HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
DO WE IDENTIFY THAT OR JUST SAY IT'S IN INVENTORY, THAT'S GOOD, OR WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> NO. >> IF IT'S IDENTIFIED AS POOR, IT'S POOR PAUSE THERE'S A RISK INVOLVED.
>> RISK, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
LIKE IT'S IN POOR HEALTH? >> YEAH.
>> OKAY, SO? >> WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT.
>> TO DO WHAT? >> DO A TREE ASSESSMENT TO FIND OUT IF WE NEED TO MITIGATE THE TREE, REDUCE THE CROWN, DO WE NEED TO REMOVE THE TREE. THAT'S WHAT ARBORS DO.
>> THERE'S TRIMMING. HE'S NOT GOING RIGHT TO THE VERBAL POINT OF IT BUT THERE'S TRIMMING THAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE THE TREE HEALTHIER. WE HAD TWO TREES LIKE THAT --
I'M SORRY, I'M OUT OF TURN. >> YOU'RE FINE.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT.
>> AND, OKAY? HOW ARE WE GOING TO PAY FOR
THAT? >> WE HAVE A THREE FUND THAT HAS MONEY IN IT THAT WE PUMP MONEY INTO.
[00:40:02]
THAT'S HOW WE PAY FOR IT. >> HOLD ON.
OKAY. JUST TO RECAP, WE HAVE SOME SURVEY, WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF THAT TELLS US WHICH TREES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND THEY'RE ALL ON CITY PROPERTY AND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS THAT WE HIRE SOMEBODY TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT ALL THESE TREES AND DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH ALL THESE
TREES? >> WE HAVE A 2009 SURVEY AND A 2017 SURVEY AND THEY'RE ON THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S, THEY DON'T GO BY THE CRITERIA OF MODERATE WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE LAW USES. WHEN IT SAYS IT'S POOR, IT'S POOR FOR A REASON. IS THE HEALTH BAD OR IS THE STRUCTURE BAD AND IS THERE A LIABILITY? AND IF THERE'S A LIABILITY, WE CAN REDUCE THE SIZE AND MITIGATE IT AND MAKE IT SAFE AND ELIMINATE THE LIABILITY OF THE CITY AND WE HAVE TREE MONEY TO DO THOSE THINGS.
OR DO WE JUST WANT TO HAVE THE SURVEY SO WE CAN APPLY FOR ANOTHER GRANT FOR WHICH WE NEED THE SURVEY? LOOKING AT THE HAZARD AND THE LIABILITY OF THE CITY.
>> I'M GOING TO GO TO THE ATTORNEY.
I KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TREE LAWS BECAUSE THEY'RE DIFFERENT IN EVERY STATE, IT'S WHERE THE TREE IS AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
WHAT'S THE QUOTE LIABILITY? WE HAVE A POOR TREE ON A SURVEY.
WHAT'S THE LIABILITY? >> IF THAT TREE, AND THAT DOES HAPPEN, WE WILL GET A COMPLAINT OR A CLAIM THAT A TREE LIMB FROM A TREE IN THE RIGHT OF WAY HAS FALLEN ON A PARKED VEHICLE AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED THE CLAIM TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS DENIED MANY OF THESE CLAIMS BUZZ THEY SAY WE HAVE NO INFORMATION THAT THE TREE IS NOT IN GOOD CONDITION. YOU HAVE GOTTEN NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT IT YOU HAVE NOTHING ON FILE BUT IF WE HAVE SOMETHING ON FILE THAT SAYS A TREE IS IN POOR CONDITION WE NEED TO GO AND LOOK AT IT AND DETERMINE WHAT, IF ANY, STEPS WE CAN TAKE TO MAKE IT SAFE. WHETHER IT'S TRIM LIMBS OR REMOVE THE TREE AND DETERMINE WHAT THE ISSUE IS.
>> IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND GETTING A COPY OF THIS, QUOTE, SIR WAY
>> IT'S ON THE COUNTY ASSESSOR SITE.
>> I HAVE NO PROBLEM GRABBING A LINK AND SENDING IT TO COMMISSIONERS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT WILL PROLONG THE LIFE OF THE TREE. THAT'S THE REASONING DOING ALL
THAT STUFF. >> I GUESS MY CONCERN IS THIS IS ONE MORE TASK FOR A VERY LIMITED GROUP OF STAFF AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHO IS GOING TO DO ALL THIS AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT A NOBLE IDEA BUT WE HAVE A PLAN TO COME UP WITH TREE PRO PROTECTION WHICH WE KNOW IS INADEQUATE AND NOW WE ADD PROTECTION WHICH WE KNOW IS INADEQUATE AND NOW WE ADPROTECTION WHICH WE KNOW IS INADEQUATE AND NOW WE ADD ON TOP OF THAT ANOTHER MANDATE? THIS JUST DOESN'T SEEM FEASIBLE
WE'RE AT LAGGER HEADS HERE. WE HAVE WIN PERSON WHO IS QUESTIONING WHETHER IT CAN BE DONE AND ONE PERSON SAYING DO
IT. >> OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE ARBORIST DOES, PERSONALLY.
COMMISSIONER BEAN? >> I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR CHARLIE. MY QUESTION IS EARLIER MOMENTS AGO COMMISSIONER ROSS TOOK US THROUGH THE CURRENT -- I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE TREE PRO TEXT PLAN.
[00:45:03]
MR. TECTION PLAN.MR. ROSS TOOK US THROUGH OUR CURRENT LAWS.
ARE WE BEING ASKED TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT FROM OUR CURRENT LAWS OR ARE WE LOOKING AT HOW TO ENFORCE OUR CURRENT
LAWS? >> NO, WE IMPLEMENT IT BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB ENFORCING IT.
>> SO TODAY, WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO
ENFORCE OUR EXISTING LAW? >> THAT'S CORRECT.
WHAT I PRESENTED WAS A PLAN TO BETTER ENFORCE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. SO EVEN THIS ENFORCEMENT PLAN OF THE WARNING OF $500 AND STOP WORK, THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN OR
IS THAT THE ENFORCEMENT CHANGE? >> I THINK IT'S PART OF THE EXISTING PLAN IN THEORY, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN PUT INTO
THAT'S MY QUESTION. THANK YOU.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES? >> I WILL MAKE THIS BRIEF, MAYOR. GET EDUCATION OUT THERE, IMPLEMENT THE PLAN, PLAN ON THE ATTACK OF GOING TO MANAGE IT CURRENTLY AND AS FAR AS LEN GOES, THERE ARE DISEASE RIDDEN TREES, COMPROMISED TREES AND WE HAVE ONE IN ONE OF OUR PROPERTIES WHERE THE TREE WAS DYING AND WE TRIMMED IT UP AND NOW IT'S COME BACK TO LIFE. JUST LIKE WHEN YOU TRIM YOUR TREES AT YOUR GREENHOUSE AT HOME, A SMALL PLANT.
IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DYING, TRIM IT UP AND COMPACT IT AND I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE TRIMMED BY AN ARBORIST AND KNOWS. I'M NOT SAYING JUST WHACK OFF ALL THE LIMBS, IT WILL GROW BACK AND GET HEALTHY.
IT DOES HAPPY SO ANYWAY, I THINK THAT'S IT.
>> OKAY. VICE MAYOR DID I HAVE SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON.
>> NO, I'M GOOD. >> ALL RIGHT, YOU MIGHT AS WELL STAY THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> WHAT DID YOU SAY? >> I WAS TALK TOOING MR. GEORGE, THAT HE SHOULD JUST STAY AT THE THAT HE SHOULD TMR. GEORGE, THAT HE SHOULD OMR. GEORGE, THAT HE SHOULD MR. GEORGE, THAT HE SHOULD JUST STAY AT THE LECTERN.
WHAT'S THE JOB OF THE ARBORIST? >> HE'S INVOLVED IN IT LIKE WE ARE BUT HE'S ALSO DOING PLAN REVIEWS OF PERMIT APPLICATIONS AS IT RELATES TO THE TREES SO HE'S DOING A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS BEHIND THE SCENES. AS I INDICATED, THIS IS NOT A ONE PERSON JOB TO DO THIS. HE HAS OTHER DUTIES HE'S DOING THAT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY NOTICE.
HE'S DEALING WITH THE HERITAGE DEAL.
HE DOES GO OUT AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE CITY TREES TO SEE WHAT THEIR CONDITIONS ARE, SO HE'S PRETTY BUSY BUT A LOT OF IT IS
JUST BEHIND THE SCENES. >> OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT TREES ARE TOO THIS COMMUNITY, IF YOU WANT TO FILL THIS ROOM UP, BRING UP TREES. THREATEN TREES, TREES THAT ARE DESTROYED. THAT IS, RIGHTLY SO, A HOT BUTTON ISSUE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM COMMISSIONER ROSS' NEIGHBOR WITH NO --
>> I WOULDN'T ATTACK MY NEIGHBOR.
THEY'RE NICE NEIGHBORS. >> I'M SURE THEY'RE NICE AND I'M SURE IT'S A LACK OF KNOWLEDGE BY THE CONTRACTOR, WHOEVER IS DOING THEIR WORK ABOUT PUTTING UP THAT BARRIER.
>> WELL, CAN I JUST ADD TO THAT? I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BARRIER IN
THE CITY. >> SO THIS IS MY NEXT POINT.
I HAVE A NEIGHBOR PUTTING IN A POOL.
I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY CANOPY DRIVE.
IT'S APTLY NAMED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OAKS.
THAT POOL IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
I DON'T SEE A TREE BARRIER ANYWHERE AND I DRIVE BY THAT HOUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY SO THERE'S NO BARRIER THERE.
I BELONG TO AMELIA RIVER GOLF COURSE AND YOU'RE AWARE OF THE LARGE STRUCTURE THEY'RE BUILDING OUT THERE.
THERE IS A HUGE OAK TREE I WANT TO SAY TEN YARDS AWAY, MAYBE
FIVE YARDS. >> I KNOW WHICH ONE YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT. >> NO BARRIER EVER.
YOU DRIVE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW YOU WON'T SEE A WOODEN BARRIER.
AND SO WITHOUT BRINGING DOWN A HAMMER ON THE CITY'S HEAD, THIS HAS BEEN AN ABJECT FAILURE AND WE CAN LAY IT AT WHOEVER'S FEET YOU WANT TO LAY IT AT BUT IT CANNOT CONTINUE, I THINK YOU
KNOW THAT. >> THAT'S WHY I'M UP HERE.
>> I THINK THE CITY MANAGER KNOWS THAT.
HERE'S THE OTHER CONCERN. YOU MENTIONED CODE ENFORCEMENT, PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE INVOLVED IN
>> SO YOU HAVE THREE DEPARTMENTS AND WE ALL KNOW THE MORE DEPARTMENT THAT IS GET INVOLVED THE MORE THEY DON'T TALK TO ONE
[00:50:03]
ANOTHER, SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS ABOUT COMMUNICATION, ENSURING THAT THEY COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER.AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS WE WILL HAVE SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS ON THIS. HOW WILL THIS BODY KNOW THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS GETTING DONE?
>> OKAY. I WOULD SAY THAT SENSE I HAVE BECOME COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR WE HAVE MEETINGS EVERY WEEK WITH ALL HEADS OF THE THREE DEPARTMENTS WITH MYSELF AND WE TAKE THESE ISSUES OUT SO COMMUNICATION HAS GOTTEN MUCH BETTER AND THE WAY WE CAME UP WITH THIS PLAN WAS THE THREE HEADS AND MYSELF COMING UP WITH THIS SO WE HAVE MEETINGS EVERY WEEK THAT WE DISCUSS ALL THE ISSUES THAT RELATE TO ALL THREE DEPARTMENTS TO TRY TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOAL.
COMMUNICATION HAS GOTTEN BETTER AND IF IT HAD BEEN WORKING GREAT I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN UP HERE TODAY, SO.
>> OKAY. JUST A SUGGESTION OR IDEA THAT I HAVE, A WAY THAT WE, THE COMMISSION KNOWS AND THE CITY MANAGER KNOWS, WHEN SOMEONE GOES OUT TO INSPECT A LOT, A SITE,
HAVE THEM TEAAKE A PICTURE. >> THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN.
>> WE ALL MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER ON MONDAYS, I CAN SAY CITY MANAGER, SHOW ME THE PHOTOS.
HOW MANY SITES DID YOU GO TO THIS WEEK? FAIR ENOUGH? COMMISSIONER ROSS HAS A PROBLEM, APPARENTLY IT'S WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH ACCOUNTABILITY.
THIS IS A POLICY BOARD NOT A TELL HOW HOW TO DO IT BOARD AND YOU'RE TASKING THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL THESE PEOPLE WITH ONE MORE THING TO DO AND I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE.
LET THEM COME UP WITH A PROCESS FOR ENFORCING IT AND LET THEM TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT INSTEAD OF TELLING THEM TAKE PICTURES, WE'RE TALKING HUNDREDS OF PICTURES.
IT'S JUST ONE MORE THING FOR SOMEBODY TO DO.
THAT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE AND I WORKED IN A WORLD WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO AND THEY ALL HAVE A BETTER IDEA. LET THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM DO THAT. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU HOW I'M GOING TO KNOW IF IT'S ENFORCED, I'M JUST GOING TO LOOK ACROSS
THE STREET. >> I GUESS I'M LOOKING AT THAT ONE TOMORROW. [LAUGHTER]
>> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PICTURES BECAUSE I THINK PART
OF -- >> I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
PICTURES -- >> HOLD ON A SECOND.
PART OF THE PROBLEM OF HOW WE GOT WHERE WE ARE IS VICE MAYOR KREGER AND CITIZENS HAVE GONE OUT AND SEEN IT NOT DONE BUT WE HAVE SEEN IT WHEN IT'S IN GOOD CONDITIONS BUT THERE ARE TIME DIFFERENCES OF WHEN THOSE OCCUR. IF WE HAVE PICTURES WE CAN SAY LOOK, WHEN WE WERE THERE, IT'S THERE AND IF IT'S NOT THERE, IT'S NOT THERE. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE
PICTURE PART. >> YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE
A PICTURE ANYWAY. >> THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ANYTHING ELSE, GENTLEMEN? YOU CAN PUT YOUR ARM DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. LET'S TALK ABOUT HERITAGE TREES AND I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER A WEEK AGO ABOUT THE PROCESS BECAUSE WE JUST APPROVED SIX AND THERE'S LIKE 600 AND I HAD TALKED TO AMELIA TREE CONSERVANCY ABOUT PITCHING IN WITH PAPERWORK SO ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN SPEED UP THE HERITAGE TREE APPROVAL PROCESS?
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCESS, SO I CAN'T REALLY
ANSWER THAT. >> OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH.
ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, GENTLEMEN, WE'LL BE
[3.1 ALTERNATIVE REVENUES - This item is placed on the agenda at the request of Commissioner Ross.]
ADJOURNED UNTIL 6:00. >> THE SECOND ITEM ON THE
NEXT -- A MONTH FROM NOW. >> YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT
>> SO WE CAN PUT THE ALTERNATIVE REVENUE SOURCES AT THE TOP OF
THE NEXT AGENDA. >> THE NEXT AGENDA, THE NEXT
WORKSHOP IS THE CRA MEETING. >> SO THE FOLLOWING WORKSHOP.
OKAY. ALL RI
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.