[1. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
(GAVEL) >> CALL TO ORDER THE AUGUST 16, 2022, CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP.
>> COMMISSIONER BEAN. >> HERE,
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> HERE.
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> HERE.
>> VICE MAYOR KREGER. >> HERE.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY. CELL PHONES ON SILENT. IT'S LIKE A BROADWAY PLAY WHERE I REPEAT THE SCRIPT. (SPEAKER AWAY FROM
MICROPHONE) >> DO THEY? CELL PHONES OFF OR ON SILENT. GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> TALK TO US ABOUT MONKEYPOX?
>> NO. I WILL TALK -- I SPOKE TO ANN CUNROD AND WENT ON A TRIP AND GOT COVID. SEGWAY, COVID IS HERE. I KNOW FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE NOW WHO HAVE IT.
SO AS I ALWAYS SAY, TAKE ANY MEASURES TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
[3.1 TREE PROTECTION PLAN]
OTHERS. THIS GOES WITHOUT SAYING, GENTLEMEN, WE WILL HAVE TO RESPECT THAT. ALL RIGHT.SO ITEM 3.1, TREE PROTECTION PLAN. THIS ITEM WAS PLACED ON THE WORKSHOP BY VICE MAYOR KREGER. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, SIR.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO KIND OF GO THROUGH A PROCESS. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE THIRD TREE WORKSHOP.
THE FIRST TWO I'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH. THIS WORKSHOP IS ACTUALLY DISCUSSING TREE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE TREES IDENTIFIED IN THE TREE INVENTORY AS POOR, WHICH I'LL GET TO. BUT I WANT TO GO BACK THROUGH WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE. SO IN FEBRUARY THROUGH APRIL, THE CITY WORKING ALONG WITH THE (INDISCERNIBLE) BROUGHT IN ONE OF 20 MASTER ARBORISTS. THE PURPOSE WAS TO ASSIST AND TRAIN THE ARBORIST AND TRAIN. IT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF STAFF. AND MIKE, YOU WERE AT THE FIRST ONE.
I WENT TO ALL SIX. WE HAD A LOT OF STAFF IN THERE.
AS HAS PROGRESSED AND WE LEARN MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROTECTION OF THE TREES, PARTICULARLY THE PROTECTION OF THE TREES DURING CONSTRUCTION, WE LOOKED AT WHAT THE LDC SAID. AND THE LDC WAS KIND OF OKAY. WE LOOKED AT MORE IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT WE WERE TO FIND OUT, WHICH I THINK WE ALL KNOW, IS THAT THE CITY MANAGEMENT OF THE LDC PROTECTION OF TREES WAS A DISASTER. IT WAS NOT HAPPENING. PERIOD. THIS WENT ON ACTUALLY FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS TO IDENTIFY WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN USING THE EXISTING LDC.
IT WAS NOT HAPPENING. THERE WERE NO TREE PROTECTION ZONES. WE PROBABLY DID NOT HAVE ONE LEGITIMATE TREE PROTECTION ZONE IN THE CITY. AS A RESULT -- ON THE OTHER SIDE WHAT THE CITY WAS DOING WAS PLANTING A LOT OF TREES. YOU HAD A SITUATION GOING ON THEY WERE LOOKING ATROPHY PLANTING AS THE COMMISSION PUSHED FORWARD AND EVERYBODY WANTED TO DO. BUT WE TOTALLY FAILED TO PROTECT THE TREES DURING CONSTRUCTION. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF THE 37% CANVASSING? AS A RESULT, THE CITY ENGINEER WORKING WITH PLANNING, CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE BUILDING ENFORCEMENT HAD COMMITTED ON GETTING APPROPRIATE TREE PROTECTION ZONES TO INCLUDE TRAINING OF CONTRACTORS. IT'S GOING NOT BAD AT ALL.
MUCH BETTER. THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL CHANGES OR RECOMMENDATIONS. THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION SUBMIT TODAY CHANGE TO UPGRADE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE TO REFLECT WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL ARBORIST SOCIETY RECOMMENDED.
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED ON THAT YET. WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THAT.
SO THE REAL MEETING FOR THIS IS THAT WE HAVE
[00:05:03]
15,000 TREES IN THE CITY, PUBLIC CITY-OWNED TREES.AND THEY WERE IDENTIFIED ON TREE INVENTORY IN 2009.
UPGRADED IN 2017. 14% OF THE 15,000 TREES WERE IDENTIFIED AS IN POOR CONDITION.
AS FAR AS WHAT HAPPENS NOW, THAT'S WHERE THEY STAY. AND SO MANY PEOPLE OR MANY PROFESSIONALS RECOMMEND THAT WE DO TREE ASSESSMENTS ON THOSE. WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS. SO WHY WOULD YOU DO A TREE ASSESSMENT? I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE.
YOU ALL GOT EMAILS ON THE TWO MAGNOLIA TREES ON 6TH STREET TAKEN DOWN AWHILE AGO. THE ONE TREE THAT HAD TO COME DOWN WAS IDENTIFIED AS POOR IN 2009. HAD WE DONE A TREE ASSESSMENT, THAT TREE COULD HAVE STILL BEEN THERE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY PRUNING AND STUFF, CHANGING -- COULD HAVE SAVED THAT TREE. SAVING THAT TREE WOULD HAVE SAVED THE OTHER MAGNOLIA TREE. SO WE LOST TWO MAGNOLIA TREES THAT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BY DOING A TREE ASSESSMENT AND TAKING THE RIGHT ACTION TO PRUNE, TO LOOK AT THE TARGET AREAS TO DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO. THAT'S WHAT I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE HAVE THAT PROGRAM. IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE A LOT OF TREES. IT MIGHT SOUND HARD, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY THAT DIFFICULT. FURTHER ON, IT'S WHAT BASICALLY WHAT PEOPLE HAVE RECOMMENDED. AND I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SAVE THE CANOPY, THE CANOPY IS GOING TO DROP BELOW 35% THIS YEAR.
IF YOU WANT TO SAVE THE CANOPY, LOOK AT WHAT WE GOT RATHER THAN PLANT OTHER TREES.
THAT WAS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF SAYING YES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER WORKSHOP.
I TALKED ABOUT THIS TWICE BEFORE. WHAT HAS REALLY HAPPENED, THE COMMISSION IS WANTING TO PROCEED WITH THIS. THAT'S HOW WE GOT (INAUDIBLE) THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO DO IS GET CONSENSUS MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT. AND THERE'S MANY WAYS TO DO IT. MY SUGGESTION WAS, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS A MONEY ISSUE. BUT THERE'S MANY WAYS TO DO IT. WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A PARKS GUY WHO IS HEAD OF PARKS. HAS A DEGREE IN FORESTRY. WE HAVE THE NUMBER TWO GUY IN STREETS WHO IS THIS FAR FROM BEING ANN ARBOR -- ANN ARBORIST. THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE THAT WOULD TAKE LOOKING AT JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND CHANGES. BUT I THINK TO SAY YOU HAVE 14% OF YOUR TREES IN POOR CONDITION AND DO DOING IS CRAZY. WHY DID WE DO THE TREE INVENTORY? WE DID THE TREE INVENTORY SO WE CAN BE TREE CITY USA AND ARBOR CITY. WE NEED TO GET BEYOND AWARDS AND
MANAGE OUR STOCK. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO
DO A TREE ASSESSMENT? >> 15 MINUTES OR LESS.
>> SO 2,100 TIMES -- DIVIDED BY FOUR.
>> WHAT IS 2,100? >> 2,100 TREES.
>> I THOUGHT HE SAID THERE WERE 15,000.
>> 15,000, 14% ARE POOR. >> HE SAID THERE ARE
15,000 CITY TREES. >> TIMES ..14 IS 2,100.
>> AREN'T YOU ASSESSING ALL OF THEM?
>> YOU ARE GOING TO ASSESS THE POOR TRIES.
OKAY. I GOT IT. WANT TO BE CLEAR.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR
>> I'M JUST ASKING. >> WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT ALL TODAY. HOW I WOULD DO IT IS GO PARKS FIRST. YOU ASSESS WHERE THE TARGET IS OR POTENTIAL DAMAGE IS AND YOU START THERE. AND THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, YOU HAVE PEOPLE ON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY SPENDING HOURS AND HOURS, AND THEY CAN HELP IDENTIFY AND YOU GO TO THOSE POOR TREES AND START ASSESSING POOR TREES. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YOU CAN DO IN A DAY. ACTUALLY, THE MASTER ARBORIST SAID HE COULD DO 100 IN A DAY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO 100 IN A DAY. YOU'RE JUST STARTING.
YOU'RE SETTING A PROGRAM. THE GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE CANOPY OF THE 37% CANOPY. YOU'RE GOING TO
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MAINTAIN MORE CANOPY BY SAVING TREES THAN BY PLANTING TREES. SO THOSE MAGNOLIAS WE MIGHT NOT HAVE TO CUT DOWN. WE HAVE HOW MANY TREES WE HAVE TO PLANT AND HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE? THINK ABOUT IT AND LOOK AT IT. DO WE WANT TO DO IT? WHY DID WE DO THE TREE INVENTORY? WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING IT IF WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING UP ON IT? THERE'S DOCUMENTATION FROM -- TAMMY MENTIONED THE LIABILITY ISSUE. IF IT DOES FALL AND WE KNEW IT WAS POOR, WE'RE LIBEL.I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO LIABILITY BECAUSE THE GOAL IS TO DO BEST WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THE CANOPY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE ANYWAY WITH 580 LOTS THAT ARE BUILT THAT WE DON'T CONTROL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T JUST DO HALF. WE EITHER DO IT OR WE DON'T DO IT. ARE WE INTERESTED IN THE CANOPY? ARE WE GOING TO COMPLY WITH THE COMP PLAN? ARE WE GOING TO MAKE EFFORTS? WE HAVE AN ARBORIST WHO WATERS TREES. LET'S USE A PROFESSIONAL FOR TREE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE ARBORIST. LIKE I SAY, BUT I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF CHANGING JOB DESCRIPTIONS BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO GET IT DONE. YOU COULD DO IT. THE I WOULD START AT CENTRAL PARK. I FORGOT HOW MANY AT CENTRAL PARK THAT ARE POOR. YOU GO TO CENTRAL PARK. WE EVALUATED A TREE AT CENTRAL PARK. IT WAS INTERESTING. ALL YOU HAD TO DO TO CHANGE IT AND MAKE IT SAFE, WAS TO MOVE A PICNIC BENCH. BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL EVALUATION, YOU LOOK AT THE TARGET AREA. SO YOU COULD DO CENTRAL PARK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. YOU COULD DO ALL THOSE TREES IN CENTRAL PARK IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
THERE JUST HAS TO BE -- SOMEONE HAS TO SET THE
STANDARD TO DO IT. >> HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN
THE TREE FUND? >> 100 SOME THOUSAND
DOLLARS I THINK. >> $120,000? SO THERE'S SOME MONEY. WHEN YOU ASK HOW TO PAY FOR IT.
>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALSO -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S RECORD KEEPING AND THINGS TO DO. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR BEFORE. THERE'S ACTUALLY SOFTWARE THAT COST YOU ABOUT $1,500 TO $2,000 A YEAR AND YOU GO OUT AND TAKE THE PICTURE AND YOU DO IT. ACTUALLY, YOU PRESS THE LITTLE BUTTONS AND YOU LOOK AT THE AREA. YOU LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE. YOU LOOK AT THE HILL AND YOU PRESS THE BUTTONS AND IT COMES UP AND TELLS YOU WHAT THE RISK FACTORS ARE. AND IF IT SAYS IT'S MODERATE OR BELOW, THEN YOU DETERMINE WHAT YOU NEED TO DO, IF YOU COULD DO ANYTHING.
MAYBE WE JUST MORE THE TARGET AND THAT CHANGES.
HOW MANY OF THE 14% ARE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE IN SOMETHING -- WE DON'T KNOW. WE DON'T KNOW IF WE DON'T LOOK AT IT. SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS ON -- AND BECAUSE TWO WORKSHOPS TO MOVE ON AND GET COMPLIANCE WITH THE LDC WITH TREE PROTECTION ZONES. THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. IT HAS TO GO
TO THE COMMISSION I GUESS. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS,
YOUR LIGHT IS STILL ON. >> I'M SORRY.
>> COMMISSIONER STURGES. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> SO LEN, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ONE, HOW DID THEY DETERMINE THE 2,100 TREES, THAT 14%? THEY'RE ACTUALLY MARKED? WE KNOW THERE'S 20 TREES
IN CENTRAL PARK? >> YOU CAN GO TO THE COUNTY ASSESSOR'S WEBSITE AND GO ON GIS AND IT WILL SHOW YOU LITTLE DOTS, BLACK ONES ARE POOR. AND THERE'S PARKS. THERE'S A WHOLE CITY. THERE'S ANOTHER ONE. SO IT WAS INTERESTING --
>> SO IF I PULL THE GIS MAP UP AND BLOW IT UP AND
>> SO PERIODICALLY, OUR ARBORIST COULD TAKE ONE DAY A WEEK, IF WE WANT TODAY DIRECT HIM TO, AND HE COULD ATTEND TO THESE PARKS UNTIL THEY'RE DONE?
>> YES. >> AND THEN, HE COULD ATTEND TO THE RIGHT-OF-WAYS UNTIL HE'S
>> MIGHT TAKE MONTHS TO DO THE PROCEDURE, BUT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING ONE EMPLOYEE. I KNOW THAT EMPLOYEE IS BUSY ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS A LOT UNDER HIS BELT. BUT THAT IS THE QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE THAT
SHOULD BE DOING THIS. >> THAT'S CORRECT. SO THIS MAGNOLIA TREE IN 2009 WAS A BLACK DOT AND THE ONE NEXT TO IT WASN'T A BLACK DOT AND NOW THEY'RE
[00:15:01]
>> AND THE BLACK DOT IS GONE, TOO.
>> IN MY OPINION, THAT'S THE COURSE OF ACTION AT A MINIMUM WE CAN TAKE RIGHT NOW WITHOUT EXERTING TOO MUCH MONEY AND WITHOUT EXERTING TOO MUCH EFFORT WOULD BE JUST TO TAKE HIS JOB DUTY ONE DAY A WEEK AND HE GOES THAT ONE DAY A WEEK AND DOES THAT.
ASSESSES THE POOR TREES THAT HAVE DETERMINED IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO THEM TO SAVE THEM WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
>> CORRECT. RIGHT. >> THAT'S JUST MY
THOUGHTS. >> IT'S TRULY PRETTY SIMPLE. IT COULD BE TIME. BUT THOSE ARE THINGS, YOU KNOW -- I JUST FIND IT CRAZY THAT WE GOT THAT INVENTORY SITTING THERE, AND WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING WHEN IT'S IDENTIFIED AS BEING IN
POOR CONDITION. >> WHAT DID INVENTORY
COST? >> THE SECOND 2017 WAS A GRANT. I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE 2009 WAS WHEN IT WAS DONE. THE GRANT, SOMEWHERE IN THE COMP PLAN IT WILL TELL YOU THAT 2010 WE HAD TO COMPLETE THE TREE INVENTORY. I THINK THEY PROBABLY WERE BOTH DONE WITH GRANTS. BUT
THEY'RE THERE. >> COMMISSIONER ROSS.
>> I CAN TALK ABOUT THE TREE CANOPY AND PRESERVING TREES AND ALL THESE THINGS FOR FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE. BUT HERE'S MY PROBLEM.
>> WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. >> I'M SORRY. HERE'S MY PROBLEM. WE GOT 306,000 SQUARE FEET OF DECKING SPACE. AND WE KNOW THAT'S IN DISREPAIR. THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO DO THE TREE TRIMMING AND THE TREE ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF THAT. WE GOT A DOWNTOWN THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF EVERY DAY WITH TRASH AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. THAT'S THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO DO THIS TREE WORK. AND ON AND ON IT GOES. SO I MEAN, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER THING WE'RE CHASING WITHOUT -- HOW DO WE PAY FOR ALL THIS? AND HOW -- IT'S LIKE SCHIZOPHRENIA. ONE WEEK WE'RE CHASING -- LAST SEASON WE WERE CHASING BOARDWALKS AND NOW WE'RE CHASING TREES. IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE. THERE'S ONLY HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR PARKS AND REC, EIGHT WORKER BEES THERE AND A FEW ON THE ROAD. HOW MUCH CAN THEY DO? THAT'S MY CONCERN.
>> WE'RE NOT SAYING THEY'RE DOING IT. WE'RE AWING THE ARBORIST DOES IT.
>> YOU HAVE AN ASSESSMENT AND YOU HAVE SOMEBODY TAKE
CARE OF IT. >> THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF IT ANYWAYS. THAT'S THEIR JOB.
>> YOU GET MY POINT. I'M JUST FRUSTRATED WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS. IT JUST SEEMS TO ME WE'RE CHASING SOMETHING ELSE AGAIN. I THINK THE TREE CANOPY AND ALL THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO THE ROLL BACK RATE AND CUT THEIR TAXES AND WANT ALL THESE THINGS AND WE'RE ASKING STAFF TO DO MORE AND MORE. HERE'S ANOTHER THING. HERE'S ANOTHER THING. IT'S EASY TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO. DOING IT IS A WHOLE OTHER STORY. YOU KNOW, AT MY OTHER JOB THROUGH THE YEARS OF MEDICINE, WE KEEP GETTING ALL THESE MANDATES. YOU GOT TO DO ONE MORE THING ON THE CHART. YOU GOT TO DO ONE MORE THING. YOU GOT TO DO ONE MORE THING. AFTER AWHILE, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU -- WHICH THING IS MORE IMPORTANT, IS DOWNTOWN MORE IMPORTANT? ARE THE TREES MORE IMPORTANT? THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT. I UNDERSTAND THAT. MY FRUSTRATION IS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENTIRE PACKAGE AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
>> HERE'S THE THING, WE HAVE DEVOTED HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS OF STAFF TO PLANTING TREES. THAT IS GOOD. YOU BALANCE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU BALANCE THAT. WE HAVE AN ARBORIST THAT WATERS TREES. DOES HE NEED TO WATER TREES? COULD HE ASSESS TREES? IS THAT MORE EFFECTIVE TO SAVE THE CANOPY? FOR SURE. YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW -- LET THEM DECIDE. I'M NOT OF THE BELIEF THAT SERVE KILLING THEMSELVES IN THIS CITY. ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME. THEY'RE WORKING HARD. WE CAN READJUST. WE HAVE NOT ONCE TALKED ABOUT EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY SINCE WE GAVE EVERYBODY THE WELL-DESERVED PAY RAISE.
WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT. WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN LOOK AT PRODUCTIVITY. WE CAN LOOK AT EFFICIENCY.
WE CAN DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT WE SHOULD DO -- IF YOU WANT YOUR 37%, YOU BETTER LOOK AT 14% IDENTIFIED AS POOR. WHEN YOU LOSE THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PLANT HUNDREDS OF TREES, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOREVER.
SO ALL I'M SAYING IS LET'S LOOK TO DO SOMETHING AND
[00:20:03]
SEE HOW IT COMES OUT. IT'S NOT HARD TO DO A TREE ASSESSMENT. IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG TO DO A TREE ASSESSMENT. SAFETY-WISE, IS THE SECONDARY ELEMENT. ALL I'M SAYING IS LET'S TRY TO DO SOMETHING AND MOVE FORWARD TO USE WHAT WE GOT. THIS IS MORE THAN GETTING AWARDS. THIS ISN'T ABOUT TREE CITY. WHAT WAS CRAZY WAS WHEN WE DID THE SIX DAYS OF MASTER ARBORIST WORK, HE WITH A LUNCHEON SO WE CAN GET AN AWARD INSTEAD OF BEING ON THE STREET. LET'S DO SOMETHING WITH IT.I'VE BEEN RAGGING ON IMPLEMENTATION FOR SEVEN YEARS ABOUT DIFFERENT STUFF. WE DON'T NEED AWARDS. WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE STUDY. SO WHAT WOULD CONSTITUTE A POOR TREE? AND HOW WAS THAT DETERMINED? WAS IT DETERMINED AT THE TIME? DID WE HAVE AN ARBORIST GO
LOOK AT IT? >> THE TREE WAS LOOKED AT IT. THE PROBLEM IS THE POOR TREE DOESN'T PASS THE STANDARDS, WHICH IS MODERATE RISK, WHATEVER.
BUT IT DOESN'T DEFINE IT THAT WAY. BUT THEY'RE THERE. SO AND WHEN WE KNOW -- WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT ONE INTEREST, IT WAS INTERESTING. WE SPENT PROBABLY -- WE WENT OUT TO THOSE MAGNOLIA TREES AND WE DID AN EVALUATION. AND WE WERE LOOKING. THERE WERE TWO TREES. WE LOOKED AT THE SOUTHERN TREE. WE LOOKED AT IT AND LOOKED AT IT. WE HAD OUT THE MASTER ARBORIST. WE HAD OUR ARBORIST. WE HAD JIMMY GRAHAM. WE HAD CODE OUT THERE. WE LOOKED AT IT AND LOOKED AT IT. WE DID INVASIVE TESTING WHERE YOU DRILL INTO THE TREE, WHICH IS VERY, VERY RARE.
WHEN WE DID ALL THAT, WE FIND OUT THAT THE TREE WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT WAS THE BAD TREE. WAS WORSE.
THEN, I WENT ON THAT SITE IN 2009, BLOCKED OUT.
NOTHING HAPPENED. SO HAD WE DONE THAT -- AND THEN, THAT TREE DID HAVE TO GO AT THAT POINT.
AND I THINK WE MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS, BECAUSE IT WAS -- THE OTHER TREE WAS CUT DOWN TOO. AND IT PROBABLY DID HAVE TO GO.
THE JUDGMENT YOU KNOW I RESPECT THAT JUDGMENT BASED ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. WE PROBABLY COULD HAVE SAVED BOTH TREES HAD WE GONE OUT AND DONE THIS. WE MIGHT NOT HAVE.
THERE'S NO GUARANTEE OF ANYTHING. BUT I'M JUST SAYING IF YOU GO OUT AND YOU LOOK AT THEM AND PICK AN AREA AND YOU SET A TIME FRAME AND I WOULD LEAVE THAT UP TO THE DEPARTMENTS TO DO. I BELIEVE IT COULD BE DONE. TO NOT DO IT WOULD BE CRAZY.
>> YOU MENTIONED THAT DOT WAS NOT THERE ANYMORE. IT WAS REMOVED. WHO IS UPDATING THAT REPORT?
>> PLANNING IS UPDATING THE REPORT.
>> OKAY. GOT IT, THANKS. >> ALL RIGHT. SO A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS THAT I HAVE IS -- AND COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU'RE CORRECT OF ALL THE BALLS WE HAVE IN THE AIR IN TRYING TO PICK AND CHOOSE.
BUT I WILL REMIND YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR MOUSE PAD...
>> I JUST DID. >> INCREASE TREE CANOPY
BY 5% WITHIN FIVE YEARS. >> DO YOU KNOW --
>> EXCUSE ME. LET ME FINISH. CAN I FINISH?
>> YES. >> I'LL DO MY BEST ROSS PEROT. (LAUGHTER)
>> IT'S OKAY. >> I'M JUST USED TO WHEN SOMEBODY ASKS A QUESTION...
>> FEBRUARY 1, 2024, IS 17 MONTHS AWAY. I WOULD SAY WE'RE LOSING THAT BATTLE. SO WE HAVE SAID -- TREES ARE A PRIORITY. IT'S RIGHT HERE. IT WAS ONE OF OUR TOP OBJECTIVES. SO WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED WHAT A PRIORITY IN THE CITY IS.
NOW, THE WATERING THING. SO THE ARBORIST SPENDS A LOT OF TIME WATERING. OKAY. I HAVE COFFEE AND OATMEAL EVERY OTHER DAY. AND I SEE THE FOLKS WITH THE CART COME AROUND WATERING THE PLANTS. THE DOWNTOWN PLANTS. THOSE ARE VOLUNTEERS. OKAY.
CITY STAFF IS NOT DOING THAT. I REACHED OUT TO AMELIA TTREE CONSERVANCY AND SAID WOULD YOU ALL HAVE VOLUNTEERS TO WATER THE NEW TREES? AND
[00:25:01]
MARGARET WENT TO HER BOARD, BROACHED THE IDEA AND SAID YES. WE HAVE 21 ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS, 21! SO AGAIN, WHEN WE SAY -- I NEVER SAY YOU CAN'T. I TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE DO THIS? WE ALL KNOW VOLUNTEERISM IS HUGE ON THIS ISLAND. AND YOU MENTION TREES, OH, MY GOODNESS! TWO TOPICS WILL GET VOLUNTEERS OUT IN A HEARTBEAT. TURTLES AND TREES. T AND T.SO WHY DON'T WE MARSHAL VOLUNTEERS TO RELIEVE THE ARBORIST OF WATERING SO HE CAN FOCUS ON THE ASSESSMENT. OKAY. WHY DON'T WE TRY IT.
OKAY. IT'S WORTH A TRY. AND YOU TRY SOMETHING, IT'S NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, YOU ADJUST.
TRY IT. ADJUST. TRY IT. ADJUST. THAT'S ONE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. ALL RIGHT.
SO ENLIST THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO DO THAT. OKAY. IF WE NEED FUNDING, WE HAVE $120,000 IN THE TREE FUND. I DON'T THINK WE'D USE THE WHOLE THING. SO WE HAVE SOME MONETARY RESOURCES TO DO THAT. SO IT'S HOW DO WE BEGIN? HOW DO WE BEGIN TO DO THAT? THAT'S JUST A COUPLE OF IDEAS I HAVE. I'M OPEN TO ADJUSTING THAT. OPEN TO DISCUSSING IT. COMMISSIONER ROSS,
YOUR LIGHT IS ON SO. >> DO YOU KNOW WHERE THE
5% CAME FROM? >> WHERE THE 5% CAME FROM. I REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM?
>> REFRESH MY MEMORY. I REMEMBER TALKING ABOUT
THAT MY FIRST -- 2019. >> BUT DO YOU KNOW WHERE
THE NUMBER CAME FROM? >> IT'S NOT "JEOPARDY", RIGHT? YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME THE ANSWER.
>> ONE NIGHT I SAID 5%. I MADE THE NUMBER UP.
IT'S A MADE UP NUMBER. MAYBE IT SHOULD BE 3%.
IT'S A MADE UP NUMBER. WE AGREED TO IT AND IT'S GREAT. BUT THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS WE SAY WE, WHO IS THE WE? WHO IS THE WE OF WHO IS GOING TO MOBILIZE THE TROOPS? WHO IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THAT? WHO IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT? THE
NEW MAYOR STURGES. >> I WOULD SAY THE ARBORIST. THE ARBORIST IS THE GENERAL OF THE TREE
PROGRAM. >> OKAY. JUST FINDING
OUT WHO'S GOING TO DO IT. >> OKAY. SO COMMISSIONER BEAN. .
>> THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I THINK I'VE HEARD ENOUGH IDEAS TO COME UP WITH A GREAT PLAN. EVERYONE COMING TOGETHER. MR. MAYOR, I LIKE YOUR PLAN. COMMISSIONER STURGES, I LIKE THAT PLAN THERE. HERE'S WHAT WE DO. WE DO BOTH. ONE DAY A WEEK WITH GO AHEAD AND ASSIGN THE CITY ARBORIST TO DO THE INSPECTIONSES LIKE THE VICE MAYOR WANTS.
AT THAT TIME, IF THE TREE CONSERVANCY ON THAT DAY WOULD BE WILLING TO WATER, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT COMPROMISE. I FULLY TRUST THE TREE CONSERVANCY TO TAKE ON THE WATERING JOB. THAT'S A WIN-WIN. IF THE TREE CONSERVANCY IS WILLING TO WATER, WE SHOULD TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY AND LET THE ARBORIST ON THAT DAY GO FORTH. I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU AND WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE RECORD.
>> OKAY. COMMISSIONER STURGES.
>> MY ANSWER, CHIP, IS THE CITY STAFF. THE TREE ARBORIST WORKS FOR -- ISN'T HE IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, WITH KELLY? SO KELLY SHOULD BE HELPING TO DEVICE THE PLAN FOR WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO. AND THEN, ULTIMATELY IF CHARLIE HAS TO LOOK BEHIND AND SAY HOW DO WE MODIFY MEETING BETWEEN THOSE THREE PEOPLE IS WHAT I SEE WOULD BE THE PLANNING ATTACK. CHARLIE, KELLY, AND DAVE. THAT'S JUST MY
>> YEAH, IF YOU REMEMBER, TOO, IT WAS A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS TREE WORKSHOPS WHEN WE GOT INTO TALKING ABOUT HERITAGE TREES, THERE ARE ACTUALLY PEOPLE HERE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO HELP US EVALUATE THAT. ONE OF THEM I BELIEVE IS AN ARBORIST. SO AS WE PROGRESS, I DON'T REMEMBER THE GUY WHO WAS UP HERE, ONE OF OUR -- TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE HERITAGE TREES AND ALL. HE JUST IS WILLING TO GO OUT. SO ALONG WITH WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, LIKE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE. AND THAT WOULD COME LATER. I MEAN, IF WE CAN GET TRAINED
[00:30:04]
ARBORISTS TO GO OUT AND DO THAT AS A VOLUNTEER, MORE BETTER AS THEY SAY IN HAWAII.>> COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOUR LIGHT IS ON.
>> OH, I'M SORRY. >> CITY MANAGER, DO YOU
HAVE INPUT ON THIS? >> I THINK WE'RE ABOUT TO ENLAZEN THE ARBORIST WITH AN S FOR SUPERMAN ON HIS CHEST. WE HAVE ONE ARBORIST. SO FAR NO ONE MADE ANY COMMENTS WHAT HE SPENDS THE BULK OF HIS TIME. THE BULK OF HIS TIME IS REVIEWING SITE PLANS. THAT'S WHAT HE SPENDS. I ASKED HIM IF YOU USE THE METRIC, WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE TASK YOU SPEND 50% OF TIME ON. WHAT IS YOUR SECOND TASK YOU SPEND 30% AND 15% AND 5%. THE BULK OF HIS TIME IS REVIEWING SITE PLANS. NOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TREE PROTECTION. THE ARBORIST. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HERITAGE TREES? THE ARBORIST. THERE'S ONE MAN WORKING 40 HOURS. SO YOU ARE BUSY SETTING POLICY HERE. WHAT SHOULD BE THE ARBORIST'S NUMBER ONE TASK SO I CAN PROTECT MR. GEORGE TO PROTECT MISS GIBSON TO DIRECT -- IF WE TAKE HIM OFF SITE PLANS, I'M GOING TO HEAR FROM DEVELOPERS, WHY IS THE SITE PLAN TAKING TWO WEEKS TO GET REVIEWED? BECAUSE HE'S WATERING TREES, DOING TREE PROTECTION. IT'S ONE PERSON. PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY. HE'S GOT A LOT OF TASKS, WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE PRIORITY YOU WANT TO SET. I WOULD CONTEND -- I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE DATA COMES FROM THAT SAYS WE'RE LOSING THE BATTLE ON TREE CANOPY. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE SCIENTIFICALLY MEASURED IT. I'VE NOT SEEN DATA.
TREES RIGHT NOW HAVE PROBABLY THE BEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION AND AWARENESS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE THAT IT'S GOING ON. PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF TREES AND BEING
PROTECTED. >> YOU CHECK IT ON THE 2020-2024 TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN TALKS ABOUT ALL OF THAT. IN TERMS OF WHAT HE'S DOING AND WHAT HE'S NOT DOING, THIS IS TO START OUT. AND I CAN'T -- NO WAY CAN YOU NOT START A PROGRAM ON SOME SEQUENTIAL BASIS AND STILL DO WHATEVER SAFE REVIEWS ARE AND THOSE THINGS. AND IF THAT BECOMES A PROBLEM -- THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WHOLE PROCESS OF THE TREE PROTECTION ZONES, WHICH WE'RE NOT GETTING DONE IN THE SITE REVIEW, WE'RE NOT GETTING DONE BY PEOPLE OUT THERE, IS THAT THIS COMMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DIRECT THAT. SO AS YOU MOVE FORWARD, LET'S MOVE FORWARD AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. MIKE HAS AN EXCELLENT IDEA. WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE SAT HERE AND SEEN THE WHOLE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SITTING IN HERE LOOKING AT MAPS ON WHERE TO PLANT TREES. COMMENDABLE, BUT BALANCE IT. TAKE SOME OF THE TREE PLANNING. AND MOVE IT AND BALANCE IT.
NOW, AS FAR AS LOSING THE CANOPY, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE 580 LOTS AND GO OUT IN THE CITY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT CANOPY IS GOING. WHETHER WE CAN MAINTAIN 37% IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. AND WHETHE WE CAN GROW IT IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
BUT WE CAN SURE TRY. BUT ALL I'M SAYING, LET'S TRY TO DO SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
AND TRY SOMETHING. THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
AND IF THERE'S CONFLICTS, THEN WE'LL GET THIS GUY WHO IS AN ARBORIST WHO WANTED TO GO OUT AND WE'LL GET OTHER SOURCES. BUT YOU JUST CAN'T LEAVE THAT THERE BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET AN AWARD. THAT'S
ALL I'M SAYING. >> COMMISSIONER STURGES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO SITE PLANS, HOW WERE THEY BEING DONE WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ARBORIST? WHO WAS DOING THE SITE PLANS AT THAT TIME? KELLY?
WAS JACOB OVERWHELMED WHERE HE COULDN'T DO SITE PLANS FOR ONE DAY? OVERWHELMED. OKAY. WELL, IT'S A STAFFING -- OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS SHEERLY A STAFFING ISSUE. AND WE CAN FIGURE IT OUT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY TO FIGURE IT OUT. BECAUSE WE'RE -- I CAN SEE LYNN'S POINT AND I UNDERSTAND IT.
AND TRULY, IT'S JUST A PORTION OF THE DAY OR A DAY THAT WOULD NEED TO START THE PROCESS. IF THERE ARE CERTAIN ONES THAT NEED TO BE TRIMMED OR REPAIRED OR WHATEVER THE CASE IS, I'M THINKING IT'S A STAFFING ISSUE. SO HOW CAN WE FIGURE THAT OUT?
[00:35:03]
>> AND AGAIN, I'M LOOKING FOR WHAT ARE THE
>> I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. I DON'T THINK THERE WAS AN ARBORIST THAT WAS WILLING TO COME FORWARD AND DO THIS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WILLING TO COME FORWARD AS
THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. >> LISTEN, BRIEFLY, CAN I
HAVE MY TEN SECONDS? >> YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.
>> GOOD. WE HAVE A POSITION IN THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, TWO POSITIONS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FILLED IN TWO YEARS. IF THE ARBORIST NEEDS A BACKUP, HIRE SOMEBODY PART-TIME TO START WITH. I'M SURE WE CAN PROBABLY FIND SOMEBODY TO HIRE TO DO A LEVEL OF WHAT HE NEEDS. I MEAN, I'M JUST THINKING.
>> THAT MAY BE A HEAD COUNT POSITION BUT IT'S IN THE BUILD DEPARTMENT AND HAS TO BE FUNDED AND USED FOR COMPLYING WITH FLORIDA BUILDING CODES. YOU CANNOT USE FUNDS FOR NONBUILDING -- GREAT IDEA.
(LAUGHTER) >> CAN'T YOU USE THE TREE FUNDS TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR?
>> AND THEN, ALL I HEAR ABOUT IS EXPLODING HEAD
COUNT ON CITY STAFF. >> IT'S AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, NOT A CITY EMPLOYEE.
>> WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> IT'S AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.
>> ALL I KNOW IS AS A BUILDER, IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET A PERMIT. IT'S TAKING LONGER THAN IT SHOULD. IT IS HAPPENING, OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT IS IMPROVING EVERY DAY. SO AT LEAST I DON'T WANT TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM -- THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB.
SO ANYWAY. >> I THINK THE FRUSTRATION CITY MANAGER IS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TREES AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN ON THIS COMMISSION. AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TREES. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT PRESERVING TREES. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TOUGHENING THE TREE ORDINANCE. BUT WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, WE GET RESISTANCE. AND I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. THE ARBORIST IS OVERWHELMED. WELL, I'M HEARING THERE'S A RETIRED ARBORIST. CONTRACT WITH HIM. THAT TREE FUND MONEY IS SITTING THERE. IT'S JUST SITTING IN A BANK. HIRE THE GUY PART-TIME TO DO THE ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
LET'S AT LEAST TAKE A FIRST STEP INSTEAD OF JUST THROWING OUR HANDS UP AND GOING, WELL, YEAH, WE ALL NEED THE TREES. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A DAMN THING ABOUT IT. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. AND IT'S HYPOCRITICAL.
>> AND I GUESS, MR. MAYOR, I WOULD ARGUE WE'RE NOT NOT DOING A DAMN THING ABOUT IT. I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER STEP FORWARD TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. AS SOON AS THEY STEP FORWARD, I WOULD LET YOU KNOW. AS FAR AS I KNOW NOW, HAS ANYBODY COME FORWARD TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OFFER TO GO VOLUNTEER THEIR SERVICES?
>> OKAY. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NOBODY HAS COME FORWARD TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. IT'S ONE THING TO TALK THE TALK. BUT PEOPLE NEED TO SHOW UP IF THEY'RE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER, TO SHOW UP AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND CITY HALL AND WE'LL DEPLOY THE RESOURCES. EVERYBODY TALKS BUT NOBODY
IS FOLLOWING THROUGH. >> DALE, THAT'S UNFAIR, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A PROGRAM FOR THEM TO VOLUNTEER TO. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A VALID POINT. IF WE ANNOUNCED WE HAD A PROGRAM THAT WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO WATER TREES, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE PEOPLE COME FORWARD. BUT YOU'RE JUST EXPECTING PEOPLE TO MARCH UPSTAIRS AND GO, OH, I VOLUNTEER FOR WHATEVER IT IS YOU HAVE. WE DON'T
HAVE A VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. >> OKAY. I THINK WE'RE VERY CLEAR NOW THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO HELP THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT WITH TREES, PLEASE (INDISCERNIBLE) AND WE WILL ORGANIZE VOLUNTEERS FOR WATERING OR OTHER
SERVICES FOR TREES. >> SO THE AMELIA TTREE CONSERVANCY SHOULD SEE WHOM?
>> GO TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, LET'S START WITH THE ARBORIST. SET UP AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE ARBORIST. THEY'LL ASSIGN THE VOLUNTEERS.
>> ARE WE CLEAR ON VOLUNTEERISM?
>> YES. >> I THOUGHT WHAT WE WERE SAYING IN THE CONSENSUS WAS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
TREE ASSESSMENTS. >> THAT'S THAT ONE, YEAH.
>> SOME WAY TO DO IT. AND THEY'LL COME AND HELP.
AND I REPEAT THAT. OF THE GUYS, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, HE WAS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HERITAGE TREES AND WHAT WASN'T HERITAGE TREES. HE STOOD IN HERE AND I'LL TRY TO GET THAT GUY. BUT I THINK WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH SOME METHOD OF A TREE ASSESSMENT, AND OTHER THINGS WILL FALL INTO PLACE. DON'T MAKE IT SO YOU HAVE TO GET ALL THIS. THE WHAT IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE, WE'RE IN AGREEMENT AND WANT TO MOVE FORWARD IN SOME WAY. AND I AGREE
[00:40:03]
WHOLEHEARTEDLY. >> I'M SAYING HE HAS OTHER TASKS. AND THAT DOESN'T GET INTO THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE PAPERWORK OF RECORDING HERITAGE TREES, OR TREE PROTECTION ZONES. IT'S JUST LET'S BE CAUTIOUS. I THINK STAFF IS VERY AWARE OF THE DESIRE TO PROTECT AND MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE
THE TREE CANOPY. >> SO VICE MAYOR, CAN YOU SUPPLY THE ARBORIST OF THE NAME OF THE RETIRED ARBORIST YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> YEAH. >> CAN WE CONSIDER FUNDING A CONTRACTOR TO HELP WITH THIS PROGRAM?
THAT'S YES? >> AGAIN. WE HAVE TWO BUDGET WORKSHOPS COMING UP OR PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE CAN
ADD THAT TO THE BUDGET. >> SO WE'RE NOT ADDING ADDITIONAL WORK TO STAFF. OTHER THAN THE PRELIMINARY WORK OF TRYING TO PUT TOGETHER AN ASSESSMENT PROGRAM. AND SUPPORTING THE ARBORIST ON THE
>> THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE ADDING TO THE ARBORIST'S PLATE IS JUST THIS INITIAL GET IT
ORGANIZED. >> OKAY. HOW MANY HOURS
DOES HE SPEND WATERING? >> I DON'T THINK HE'S BEEN WATERING TREES FOR AWHILE.
(SPEAKER AWAY FROM MICROPHONE)
>> WELL, JUST IF I MAY, ONLY BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS WAS SUDDENLY ON TREE PROTECTION. SO WE SET ASIDE WATERING BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS WAS ON TREE PROTECTION. WE GOT BEAT UP DAILY FOR TREE PROTECTION. I HAVE FOUR STAFF, MR. GEORGE, MISS
>> MICHELLE, CODE ENFORCEMENT, ALL WORKING
ON TREE PROTECTION. >> UNDERSTAND.
>> IF THEY HAD DONE THEIR JOB, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE
HAD TO WORK ON IT. >> LET'S NOT GO DOWN THAT
ROUTE. ALL RIGHT. >> I'LL POINT THAT OUT WE HAVE TO START DEALING WITH THAT.
>> I UNDERSTAND. >> IT WAS A TOTAL
FAILURE. >> LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> I'M JUST CURIOUS. HOW MANY WATER TRUCKS DO YOU HAVE?
>> WE HAVE ONE. >> ONE. AND WHAT KIND OF LICENSE DO YOU NEED TO DRIVE THE WATER TRUCK?
>> CHARLIE GEORGE, CITY ENGINEER. WE HAVE ONE PICKUP TRUCK. IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOMEBODY THAT IS REALLY AGILE AND STRONG TO CLIMB UP ON THE PICKUP TRUCK, FILL THAT -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY GALLON TANK IT IS ON THE TRUCK AND HAUL THAT HOSE. IT'S NOT A WATERING CAN AND WATERING TREES. THIS IS A MAJOR EVENT. YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CITY TRUCK AND GET A WAIVER FOR LIABILITY. YOU GOT TO FILL THAT THING UP AT THE MAINTENANCE ROOM AND GO AROUND WATERING TREES. SO I MEAN, IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED THAN YOU THINK.
AS MR. MARTIN SAYS, DAVID, OUR ARBORIST, HE'S EXTREMELY BUSY CHASING PLANS, LOOKING AT TREE PROTECTION AND TREES THAT NEED TO BE CUT DOWN ON PROPERTY. HE'S GOING AROUND LOOKING AT STUFF AND SPENDS AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME ON CITE PLANNING REGARDING TREES AND TREE PROTECTION. I'M A LITTLE OFFENDED BY WHAT YOU SAID THAT WE FAILED ON THE TREE PROTECTION. WE CAN'T GO OUT AND MAKE CONTRACTORS DO SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH WE SAY IT IN THE PERMIT.
WE DON'T HAVE A STAMP TO RIDE AROUND IN.
CONSTRUCTION IS DONE EVERY DAY. TREE PROTECTION WILL BE UP ONE DAY AND DOWN THE OTHER.
>> YOU'RE TELLING ME WHEN I WENT AROUND AND WE SAT HERE, THAT THERE'S NOT ONE TREE PROTECTION ZONE THAT WE -- THAT I COULD FIND IN THIS CITY THAT MET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CURRENT LAND DEVELOPMENT
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT -- YOU KNOW, SO IF THAT'S IN THE PLAN AND PEOPLE ARE GOING -- I'M GOING TO BRING UP AMELIA BLUFF BECAUSE THAT'S A MAJOR
MAIN CULPRIT. >> ALL I'M SAYING HERE IS THAT WE COULD DO SOMETHING WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED POOR TREES AND TRY TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU.
>> WE'RE SEEING WHAT IS HAPPENING. SO YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVE A HARD TIME WITH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PUSH-BACK IN TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS RIGHT AND MAKING IT WORK. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PLANS HE'S GOING TO GET. I UNDERSTAND YOU'LL HAVE FLEXIBILITY.
>> I DISAGREE. AS SOON AS WE TURN OUR FOCUS ON THAT, STURGES IS GOING TO CALL US AND SAY WHERE IS
MY BUILDING PERMIT? >> YOU HAVE TO SEE IF
THINGS COULD WORK. >> YOU'RE ACTING LIKE WE'RE NOT TRYING. AND WE ARE.
>> THIS IS NEW. I ACKNOWLEDGE YOU WERE TRYING. WHEN I WENT OUT I ACTUALLY -- I WENT TO
[00:45:03]
AMELIA BLUFF YESTERDAY AND IT WAS LOOKING GOOD.OKAY. I UNDERSTAND THAT. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT. THE POINT I'M TRYING TO DO IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS RIGHT. I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT THE COMP PLAN SAYS AND WHAT COMMON SENSE SAYS. AND IT BECOMES A BALANCING ACT.
>> YOU TRY TO MAKE IT WORK AND SEE WHAT YOU NEED TO
DO. >> AND I WOULD SAY THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH THE STAFF WE
HAVE, AND THE WORKLOAD. >> WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP DOING THE BEST YOU CAN.
>> I'M GOING TO CUT THIS OFF. YOU GUYS ARE JUST -- I'LL SET UP A RING AND YOU COULD PUT GLOVES ON AND
YOU COULD HAVE AT IT. >> IT WILL BE A QUICK
(LAUGHTER) >> SO HERE'S WHAT I ASK:
>> HERE'S WHAT I ASK, AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP, CONTINUE THIS ON THE AGENDA. ASK THE ARBORIST HOW WOULD HE USE A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS AND A PART-TIME ARBORIST? HOW WOULD I UTILIZE THAT COMBINATION? TO TRY TO ACCOMPLISH TREE ASSESSMENT AND SAVING TREES THAT ARE IN POOR CONDITION. SO COME BACK AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP WITH HIS THOUGHTS ON THAT. I'M NOT ASKING FOR A I15-PAGE REPORT.
(SPEAKER AWAY FROM MICROPHONE)
>> YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING. LET'S THROW IT TO HIM, HOW WOULD YOU DO THIS? MAKE SENSE? ARE WE
GO WITH THAT, GENTLEMEN? >> SO THE MEETINGS WILL
STOP WHEN MORALE IMPROVES? >> NO.
(LAUGHTER) >> MY ONLY POINT IS, WE HAVE X AMOUNT OF STAFF. AND WE KEEP ASKING MORE AND MORE AND MORE. AND THEN, WE HEAR ABOUT MORE EFFICIENCY. WE HAVE MORE OF THAT. I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE KEEP ADDING THINGS, AND YOU CAN'T GET MORE EFFICIENT CUTTING GRASS. YOU CAN'T GET MORE EFFICIENT DOING A LOT OF THESE THINGS. A LOT OF THE GRUNT JOBS OF RUNNING A CITY ARE PE PEOPLE-INTENSIVE. IT'S LABOR-INTENSIVE. IT'S HOT OUT THERE. IT'S MISERABLE. COULD EVERYBODY DO BETTER? EVERYBODY COULD ALWAYS DO BETTER. BUT THERE COMES A POINT -- AND WE KEEP ASKING MORE AND MORE OF THE SAME PEOPLE. THERE'S ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE IN PARKS AND REC. I HAVE A LIST HERE I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT LATER OF THINGS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF. I MEAN, IT'S HUGE. AND NOW WE'RE GOING BACK TO TREES. I SUPPORTED THE TREE CANOPY AND ALL THIS STUFF IN EARLY CONVERSATION. AND I AGREE WITH IT. AND I AGREE WITH ALL THESE THINGS. BUT THE REALITY IS, WE'RE A LITTLE TOWN OF 14,000 SOULS. AND WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH RESOURCES. AND WE KEEP SAYING WE WANT YOU TO DO MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
AND THERE'S A POINT WHERE IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. AND PART OF THE PROBLEM -- BECAUSE WE JUMP AS A COMMISSION, AS A GROUP, WE JUMP FROM SHINY OBJECT TO SHINY OBJECT TO SHINY OBJECT. FOR AWHILE, IT WAS THE BEACH AND TRASH ON THE BEACH. THEN, WE WENT TO SOMETHING ELSE. AND SOMETHING ELSE. SO IT'S HARD FOR STAFF TO FOCUS FOR ANY LONG PERIOD OF TIME ON ANY ONE THING. SO I'M JUST SAYING IT'S DIFFICULT. AND MAYBE IT'S SAID WE MET THE ENEMY.
I DON'T KNOW. >> I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING YOU SAY, COMMISSIONER ROSS. WE ARE ASKING STAFF TO DO -- WE'RE ASKING THE ARBORIST TO DO ONE THING. IF HE HAD VOLUNTEERS FOR WATERING, AND IF HE HAD A PART-TIME ARBORIST ASSISTANT, HOW WOULD HE UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES?
THAT'S IT. >> YOU HEARD WHAT HE JUST SAID ABOUT WATERING. I MEAN --
>> COMMISSIONER ROSS. >> OKAY.
>> NO. NO. COMMISSIONER ROSS, YOU FENCE THINGS IN. THERE'S A WATER TRUCK.
WELL, IS THERE ANOTHE MEANS TO GET WATER TO WATER TREES? HAS ANYONE TALKED ABOUT IT?
>> RAINDANCE. >> OKAY. YOU JUST CAN'T
SAY CAN'T, CAN'T, CAN'T. >> MY COLLEAGUES WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK. >> WE'RE GOING TO RECESS REAL, REAL SOON. COMMISSIONER STURGES, GO
AHEAD. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR, BRIEFLY. MARGARET COULD HAVE A LARGE STRAPPING HUSBAND. (LAUGHTER)
>> THERE COULD BE PEOPLE THAT -- I'M JUST USING THAT AS A RECOMMENDATION. THERE COULD BE PEOPLE THAT COULD BE TRAINED. IF WE PUT THE SYSTEM IN MOTION, THERE CAN BE PEOPLE TO BE TRAINED. THEY CAN GET THE QUALIFICATIONS TO OPERATE THE TRUCK. THEY CAN DO THIS. VOLUNTEERS WILL STEP UP. WE HAVE A LARGE VOLUNTEER BASE ON OUR ISLAND. THAT'S ALL I WANT
[00:50:02]
TO SAY. >>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MR. HERRERA, I SEE YOUR HAND. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROOM, I'M
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.