[ SOUNDING GAVEL ] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. WELCOME TO TAMPA CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP DAY. CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: HERE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HERE. >> YOUNG? >>NAYA YOUNG: HERE. >> VIERA? CARLSON? CLENDENIN? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HERE. >>THE CLERK: WE HAVE A PHYSICAL QUORUM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. I'M HERE IN BODY. COUNCILMAN CARLSON HAS ENTERED THE CHAMBER. HOW DID YOU LIKE THAT TRAFFIC UNDER THE CONVENTION CENTER THIS MORNING? [ LAUGHTER ] >>BILL CARLSON: SEVERAL PEOPLE ASKING IF WE'LL HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT IS A WORKSHOP, SO AFTER EACH ITEM. >>BILL CARLSON: FOR ANYBODY HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE, THAT WOULD BE NEXT WEEK, NOT THIS WEEK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CORRECT. >>MARTIN SHELBY: WE'RE NOT MEETING NEXT WEEK, COUNCIL. TWO WEEKS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: AS A MATTER OF FACT, FOR ITEM NUMBER 1, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A WORKSHOP, IT IS A PRESENTATION. IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO US AND WE'LL JUST -- KIND OF THE ISSUES IN ITEM 1 WILL ROLL INTO OTHER ITEMS WE'LL HAVE COMMENT ON. WE'LL HAVE ITEM 1 AND THEN IMMEDIATELY INTO ITEM NUMBER 2. ITEM 2 AND 3, THIS IS AGENDA REVIEW, BY THE WAY. ITEM 2 AND 3, I THINK WE SHOULD HEAR THEM AT THE SAME TIME, AND THEN WE CAN DO PUBLIC COMMENT AFTERWARDS. THEY, AGAIN, KIND OF ROLL INTO EACH OTHER. MOST EXPEDIENT WAY TO DO THAT, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION. ITEM 4 SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. ITEM 5 STANDS ALONE ON ITSELF AS WELL. HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE AGENDA? MOTION TO APPROVE? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. SECOND FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. >>BILL CARLSON: ARE WE GOING TO STICK TO THE RULE THAT WE'LL END BY 1? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>BILL CARLSON: SHOULD WE ALLOW A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR EACH SO WE MAKE THAT? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MY GOAL IS TO GET OUT BEFORE LUNCH. I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT IF WE STICK TO THE AGENDA AND WE DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO. I THINK, YES, IF YOU COULD SET THE TIMERS FOR BOTH THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC SO THAT AT LEAST WE HAVE THAT UNDER CONTROL, I APPRECIATE THAT. >>LYNN HURTAK: I MOTION FOR THREE MINUTES ON FIRST. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK TO LIMIT COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS ON FIRST ROUND TO THREE MINUTES. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. VERY GOOD. I'M WORKING RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THERE WAS A QUESTION OF THE PUBLIC WHAT THE RULES WOULD BE, WHETHER THEY WANT TO SIT HERE WITH US OR NOT. COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG, DO YOU HAVE THE INVOCATION? >>NAYA YOUNG: I DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TODAY WE HAVE CHRISTINA UNCLE. CHRISTINA IS A GRADUATE OF PALM BEACH ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY AND STETSON UNIVERSITY DUAL JD MBA PROGRAM. DISTINGUISHED ATTORNEY, ENTREPRENEUR, AND SPORTS ANALYST WITH NEARLY 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN SOCCER, LAW, AND BUSINESS. A FORMER NCAA ATHLETE AND FIFA REFEREE, SPECIALIZES IN FOOTBALL LAW AND OFFICIATE ATING IN LEGAL MATTERS. PRESIDENT, GENERAL MANAGER, AND GENERAL COUNSEL WHERE SHE LEADS THE STRATEGIC GROWTH OPERATIONS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS OF WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER TEAM. SHE IS ALSO THE FOUNDER OF SPARCC CONSULTING GROUP, ADVISING CLIENTS FROM FEDERATIONS TO ATHLETES AND COACHES AT THE INTERSECTION OF SPORTS LAW AND BUSINESS. AS AN INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED BROADCASTER, CHRISTINA PARTNERS WITH ESPN, CBS SPORTS, APPLE TV, I TV AND FOX SPORTS DELIVERING EXPERT ANALYSIS FOR ELITE COMPETITIONS. ABOVE ALL, CHRISTINA'S PROUDEST TITLE IS MOM TO A FEARLESS LITTLE GIRL. CHRISTINA, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION? >> I BRING HERE TODAY FOR EVERYONE TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE AT, IN THE SPACE WHERE YOU ARE AT, AND THE MOMENT WHERE YOU ARE AT. I ENCOURAGE ALL TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO REFLECT IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND A MOMENT OF GRATITUDE AND A MOMENT OF REFLECTION AND A MOMENT IN CONNECTION WITH ONE'S FAITH, WHETHER SPIRITUAL OR OTHERWISE. AS WE ARE BLESSED HERE TODAY TO HAVE STEWARDS WITHIN OUR CITY AND WITHIN OUR COUNTY WHO COME AND GIVE THEIR TIME, THEIR RESOURCES, THEIR SKILLS, THEIR KNOWLEDGE TO BE ABLE TO INVEST BACK INTO THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY. SO WHAT THEY DO HERE IN THE WORKSHOP AND WHAT THEY DO EVERY DAY, AND SOMETHING UNLIKE NEVER HEARD BUT A GREAT QUOTE FROM SPIDER MAN, WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY. WE THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS HERE TODAY AND FOR BEING THE REPRESENTATION OF OUR CITY AND BEING A REPRESENTATION FOR WHEN IT'S BRING YOUR DAUGHTER TO WORK DAY TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. WE THANK YOU ALL AS YOUR PUBLIC SERVANTS FOR DOING THE WORK YOU DO, AND WE THANK YOU ALL FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART, FROM THE CONSTITUENTS THAT PRACTICE HERE DAILY AND THE CONSTITUENTS THAT PRACTICE HERE AND VOTE FOR YOU ALL. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR YOUR MOMENT AND FOR THIS PEACE AND GRATITUDE. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IF YOU WOULD MIND LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. [ LAUGHTER ] IT'S OKAY. SHE PUTS ME ON THE SPOT ALL THE TIME TOO. [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. I THINK THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN MY DAUGHTER PTSD. GOOD MORNING. WELL, THANK YOU. THAT WAS A WONDERFUL INVOCATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. LET'S DIVE RIGHT INTO IT. USF PRESENTATION. WE HAVE A 15-MINUTE PRESENTATION FROM USF. 15 MINUTES IS THE MAXIMUM. COME ON FORWARD. START WITH YOUR NAME. >> SHAWN LANDRY FROM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. MY COLLEAGUE BECKY ZAGAR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. SHE WILL BE DOING THE SECOND PART OF IT. I NEED SLIDES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT'S COMING UP. IT'S A PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO -- WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN PERSON WITH A FEW OF YOU, AND WE'VE RELEASED THIS ALREADY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF OUR POST-HURRICANE TREE CANOPY ANALYSIS AND SURVEY WITH RESIDENTS. JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND, NORMALLY WE DO A FULL TREE CANOPY ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS EVERY FIVE YEARS, BUT BECAUSE OF THE STORMS, YOU ASKED US TO DO A SURVEY TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH WE LOST AS A RESULT OF THE STORMS. SO WE DID THAT. SO I DON'T NEED TO REMIND YOU, BUT WE GOT TWO FAIRLY LARGE STORMS BACK IN 2024, BOTH CAME WITH STORM SURGE AND HIGH WINDS. AND LOTS OF RAINFALL IN A PERIOD OF A COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT SORT OF THE AREAS OF THE CITY THAT WERE MOST AFFECTED, I'LL SHOW THIS AFTER WHEN I SHOW WHERE THE DAMAGE OCCURRED, BUT A LOT, OBVIOUSLY, STORM SURGE OCCURRED ALONG THE COAST, AND THEN THE HIGH WINDS WERE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE CITY FOR HURRICANE MILTON AND THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL WAS IN THE EASTERN, SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE CITY FOR HURRICANE MILTON, AND THAT WILL BE REFLECTED IN WHAT YOU SEE FOR THE RESULTS. SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY WAS SIMPLY TO QUANTIFY THE LOSS IN TREE CANOPY AND THEN TO FOLLOW UP ON THE SURVEY WE DID IN 2021 TO FIND OUT IF PREFERENCES HAD CHANGED RELATED TO TREES. SO THE COMBINATION OF THOSE TWO WERE DONE BY USF. SO THE TREE CANOPY CHANGE ANALYSIS IS THE SAME METHODS WE USE EVERY TIME WE DO THIS. IT'S A SIMPLE METHOD, BUT IT'S VERY ROBUST. SO WE LOOKED AT, IN THIS CASE, IMAGERY FROM 2024 IN ROUGHLY JANUARY TIME FRAME AND IMAGERY FROM JANUARY TIME FRAME OF 2025. SO ONE YEAR KIND OF TIME SPAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT OBVIOUSLY WERE THE TWO HURRICANES. AND I WON'T GO INTO THIS DETAIL, BUT YOU CAN SEE ON THE IMAGE WHAT WE DO IS WE GET PHOTO INTERPRETERS TO LOOK AT THESE TWO IMAGES. THIS IS THE SAME HOUSE. THE FIRST PRE-STORM, YOU SEE THERE IS A TREE THERE. IN THE SECOND, THERE'S NOT A TREE THERE. SO IF YOU PUT DOWN ENOUGH RANDOMIZED POINTS IN THE CITY, YOU GET A GOOD ESTIMATE OF WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE, WHAT WAS THERE AFTERWARDS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID. NOT ALL CANOPY LOSS WAS BECAUSE OF THE STORMS. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT. THAT'S THE ONLY DATA WE COULD USE. SO WE ASSUME, THOUGH, THAT A HUGE PART OF THAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE STORMS. IT'S REFLECTED IN THE WASTE CLEANUP, THE WORK ORDERS THAT THE CITY HAD TO RESPOND TO. AND THE CALLS AND DISPOSAL BY PRIVATE RESIDENTS AND PRIVATE COMPANIES. OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF THAT DAMAGE WAS PROBABLY STORM RELATED. CUT TO THE CHASE, THE PRE-STORM, WHICH WAS KIND OF THE GOOD-NEWS PART OF THIS, IS WE WENT FROM 2021 TO 2024, AND WE HAD A LITTLE INCREASE. BASICALLY, IF YOU PUT IT IN PROPORTION OF THE 4.7% INCREASE IN TREE CANOPY DURING THAT PERIOD, WE KIND OF PROBABLY CREDIT THAT TO A LOT OF THE EMPHASIS ON TREE PLANTING INITIATIVES AND TREE PROTECTION INITIATIVES. AND THEN THE YEAR OF THE STORM WE LOST ALL OF THAT PLUS A LITTLE MORE. 4.8% DECREASE. SO WE KIND OF RETURNED BACK DOWN TO RIGHT AROUND THE 2021 LEVELS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AREAS OF THE CITY -- I APOLOGIZE FOR THOSE MAPS. I SHOULD HAVE REDONE THEM. ONE OF THE LARGEST AREAS HIT WAS EAST TAMPA KIND OF AREA AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, SORT OF SOUTH TAMPA. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PATTERNS, AGAIN, OF THE WINDS, STORM SURGE, THE RAINFALL, ALL OF THAT COMBINED IS SORT OF REFLECTED IN THIS PATTERN, WHICH IS WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT. SO THE CAUSES OF DAMAGE JUST ROUGHLY ARE NEWLY PLANTED TREES, OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE NOT ESTABLISHED. THEY CAN'T WITHSTAND ANY KIND OF WINDS, SO THEY JUST BLOW OVER. TREES, LIKE THE LAUREL OAK THAT HAVE SORT OF DECAY AND THEY ARE WEAK TO BEGIN WITH, THEY ARE GOING TO BE AT RISK. AND THEN OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE JUST INHERENTLY LOW WIND RESISTANCE. AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE PINE SHOWN IN THIS PICTURE. THOSE AREN'T NECESSARILY LOW WIND RESISTANT. BUT THOSE ARE THE KIND OF TREES THAT WILL BLOW OVER. THE SURPRISING THING, WITH ALL OF THE OAKS THAT BLEW OVER, WE THINK THAT'S DUE TO THE SATURATED SOILS, THE RESULT OF ONE HURRICANE AFTER ANOTHER, ALL OF THAT RAINFALL, SOILS ARE SATURATED, THE ROOTS JUST CAN'T HOLD ON WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING, AND WE LOST A LOT OF THEM. NORMALLY WE WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT WITH LIVE OAKS. SO THAT WAS QUITE -- QUITE SURPRISING. I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE. >> THANKS VERY MUCH, SHAUN. I'M REBECCA ZAGAR, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ANTHROPOLOGY AT USF AND CITY OF TAMPA RESIDENT. IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE -- AND THIS ONE, TOO, THIS WAS ACTUALLY IN MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD, TAKEN AROUND LAKE ROBERTA CIRCLE, YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A GRAND OAK THAT UPROOTED AND CAME DOWN IN FRONT OF THIS HISTORIC HOME. THE TREE HAD PROBABLY BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE. I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I'M GOING TO PRESENT RESULTS OF A SURVEY. WE HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE ROUGHLY REPRESENTATIVE ACROSS THE CITY OF TAMPA. BUT THERE IS A LOT THAT'S NOT CONVEYED FROM SURVEY RESULTS. I JUST WANT TO SORT OF SUMMARIZE THE FACT THAT WE HEARD DIRECTLY FROM MANY RESIDENTS. I EXPERIENCED SOME OF THESE IMPACTS OF THE HURRICANE MYSELF. WE HAD TO REMOVE GRAND OAK THAT WAS 65 FEET TALL WITH A CRANE FROM MY BACKYARD. SO THE IMPACTS OF THE HURRICANE BEYOND THE KIND OF CANOPY LOSS WERE SIGNIFICANT. PEOPLE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT SEEING THE AMOUNT AND THE SCALE OF TREE DEBRIS ON THEIR STREETS. THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT REMOVING THAT DEBRIS WHEN IT WAS. I THINK WE SAW SOME METRICS THERE ABOUT THE SCALE OF IT. IT HAD A REALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON PEOPLE, BOTH FINANCIALLY EMOTIONALLY AND THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. HOW QUE CAN WE ADDRESS THIS? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO MITIGATE THE IMPACTS IN THE FUTURE? THAT'S REALLY WHAT DRIVES THIS WORK IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT THE CITY HAS REQUESTED US TO DO IT. ONE OF THE THINGS WE EXPECTED TO SEE WITH THE SURVEY POST-HURRICANE WAS THAT THERE MAY BE SORT OF MORE CONCERN ABOUT TREES IN GENERAL AND LESS PREFERENCE FOR TREES IN THE CITY IN THE FUTURE. BUT WE DID NOT, IN FACT, FIND THAT. WHAT WE FOUND -- AND I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT POINT OF HOPE AND KIND OF GRAPPLING WITH THIS ISSUE AS A CITY -- IS THAT PEOPLE EITHER FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT TREES THAT THEY DID BEFORE THE HURRICANE, OR THEY ARE EVEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT TREES IN THE CITY. AND THE FUTURE OF OUR URBAN CANOPY. SO ON THIS SLIDE YOU CAN SEE 85% SAID THEIR PREFERENCE EITHER STAYED THE SAME OR IT INCREASED. I'LL GO TO MY NEXT SLIDE HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ASKING RESIDENTS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS WHAT THEY SEE AS THE BENEFITS AND THE DRAW-BACKS OF TREES. WE SEE OVER AND OVER AGAIN THERE IS SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENT ABOUT THE BENEFITS. THEY PROVIDE SHADE. THEY COOL THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES. PEOPLE HAVE EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL CONNECTIONS TO THEM, IMPORTANT LIFE EVENTS TAKE PLACE UNDERNEATH TREES. PEOPLE SEE THEM AS A REAL ASSET FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE DRAWBACKS, AND THIS IS WHERE THERE IS A LITTLE DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHICH ONES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT DRAWBACKS. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN IS THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONSIDER AS WE THINK ABOUT RESILIENCE TO HURRICANES. AND THEY DO DAMAGE PROPERTY AND SOMETIMES CREATE MESS WITH FALLING LEAFS AND BRANCHES. HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES WITH TREES, PEOPLE THINK THE BENEFITS ARE WORTH NOT ONLY THE INVESTMENT BUT ALSO THE RISK WHEN CONSIDERING HURRICANE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS SLIDE, WE HAVE A FAIRLY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT THAT THEY ARE WORTH THE RISK. IN THINKING ABOUT THE DAMAGE FROM HURRICANES, COSTS OF PRIVATE TREE TRIMMING ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. THERE IS A LOT OF AGREEMENT ABOUT THAT, ACROSS ALL NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY, THEY ARE EXPERIENCED AS EXPENSIVE, WHICH I THINK POINTS TO A CHALLENGE. DESPITE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CAME FROM DOWNED TREES AND TREE DAMAGE, THERE'S STILL AN INTEREST IN TREE PLANTING IN THE CITY. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER IS THAT MANY RESIDENTS WANT TREES PLANTED BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THEIR OWN YARDS. AND THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THAT. THEY'D LOVE TO SEE MORE TREES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. LOVE TO SEE MORE TREES IN THE CITY, BUT IT'S SORT OF HALF AND HALF AS FAR AS IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PLANT IN THEIR OWN YARD. BUT ONE THING I WOULD NOTE, TOO, IS THAT OF THE PEOPLE WHO COMPLETED THE SURVEY POST-HURRICANE THAT WERE KIND OF -- THAT WE'RE KIND OF SUMMARIZING HERE, 60% OF RESIDENTS WANT TO PLANT TREES ON THEIR PROPERTY. AND I THINK CONNECTING WITH THOSE RESIDENTS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL. THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE IS OF THE PEOPLE WHO COMPLETED THIS SURVEY, ONE IN FIVE LOST A TREE DUE TO THE HURRICANES THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN 2024, BUT THE MAJORITY DID NOT EXPERIENCE MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. ONLY 2.5% OF PEOPLE WHO COMPLETED OUR STUDY HAD THAT EXPERIENCE. SO WHEN THINKING ABOUT WHY PEOPLE REMOVE TREES, THE REASONS ARE MANY. OBVIOUSLY IN RESPONSE TO THE HURRICANE IS ONE EXAMPLE. BUT THIS SLIDE REALLY SHOWS SOME OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE SHARED WITH US ABOUT WHY THEY REMOVE A TREE. THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO BE KIND OF DELVED INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH THE IDEA THAT TREES ARE PERCEIVED AS HAZARDOUS VERSUS WHETHER THEY ARE DEEMED HAZARDOUS BY AN ARBORIST. SOMETIMES MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHICH TREES ARE HAZARDOUS AND WHICH ARE NOT WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL FOR RESIDENTS. NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SUM UP SOME OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THESE ARE DRAWN NOT SOLELY FROM THE HURRICANE SURVEY AND STUDY WE DID OF TREE CANOPY CHANGE, BUT FROM WORKING ON THIS ISSUE, INTERVIEWING RESIDENTS, TALKING WITH CITY STAFF AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE FIRST IS THAT IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO NOT ONLY PLANT TREES BUT TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THE TREES THAT SURVIVED THIS HURRICANE. INCREASING FUNDING. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE RECOMMENDING INCREASING FUNDING FOR STREET TREE AND PARK TREES, AS WELL AS TREE MAINTENANCE. MOST PLANTING SPACES ARE ON PRIVATE LAND. SO THAT PRESENTS A CRITICAL CHALLENGE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO MEET. THE OTHER RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE IS TO PRIORITIZE SUPPORT FOR THE CITY'S TREE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, WHICH IS COMPLICATED AND ACROSS MANY DEPARTMENTS. SO THINKING ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING COMMUNITY LEADERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PLANTING DESIGN, INCREASES SUPPORT FOR THE CANOPY, AND THINKING ABOUT PLANTING NEW TREES, PLANTING SHOULD MINIMIZE INFRASTRUCTURE CONFLICTS OBVIOUSLY. PRIORITIZE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO SPECIES BUT ALSO A DIVERSITY OF SPECIES AS WELL AS THINKING ABOUT REPLACING TREES THAT ARE BEING LOST NOT AS A RESULT OF THE HURRICANE BUT BECAUSE OF OTHER FORCES AT WORK. TO WRAP UP, I'VE GOT TWO FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS HERE. ONE IS DEVELOPING A TREE STEWARDS PROGRAM IN NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS A COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORT TO SUPPORT TREE PLANTING, MAINTENANCE, AND EDUCATION THAT'S BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER CITIES. AND AS WE'VE HEARD FROM THE TREE EXPERTS WITH THE CITY AND OTHER TREE EXPERTS IN CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, SELECTING TREES BASED ON THIS CONCEPT OF RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE. THERE IS NO ONE SOLUTION FOR ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT TREES PRESENT AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITIES, UPDATING THE CITY OF TAMPA TREE MATRIX IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SUGGEST AS WELL AS PROVIDING RESOURCES AND EDUCATION TO RESIDENTS. ABOUT WHICH SPECIES ARE MOST RESILIENT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO HURRICANES, THINKING ABOUT WHAT TREE IS GOING TO FIT IN THE SPACE THAT YOU HAVE. AND HOW CAN YOU MAINTAIN THAT TREE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL. AND THANK YOU TO BRIAN KNOX AND KAYLA AT THE CITY FOR INVITING US TO BE HERE TODAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I SAW COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO, CARLSON AND THEN MIRANDA. THIS IS QUESTIONS. COUNCILMAN CARLSON, YOU HAD A QUESTION. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID. THERE IS ANOTHER THING WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT, AND THERE WERE SOME TREES I REMEMBER ON SPRUCE JUST WEST OF MacDILL AVENUE BY WEST TAMPA LITTLE LEAGUE, RIGHT ALONG THE EDGE. BEAUTIFUL BIG TREES. THEY LOOKED HEALTHY. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THE STORM, I WAS DRIVING BY AND I NOTICED THAT INSIDE THE TREE IT WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TREE. I'M THINKING HOW IN THE WORLD CAN WE FIND OUT WHICH TREES ARE THAT WAY. RIGHT THERE, HUNDREDS OF KIDS -- 340 KIDS NOW PLAYING AT WEST TAMPA LITTLE LEAGUE, BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE GET DAMAGED BY A TREE BUT I ALSO WANT TO SEE THE TREE SURVIVE BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW OLD THE TREE IS OR HOW HOLLOW IT IS FROM THE OUTSIDE. >> MORE THAN LIKELY IT WAS A LAUREL OAK AS OPPOSED TO A LIVE OAK. WE'VE SEEN THAT CLASSIC CONDITION IN LAUREL OAKS ACROSS THE CITY. THEY WERE ALL PLANTED AROUND 50 TO 70 YEARS AGO OR SO, IN THAT TIME FRAME. AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY NOT A TREE WE WOULD EVER RECOMMEND PLANTING AGAIN IN AN AREA WHERE YOU WORRY ABOUT IT FALLING ON SOMEBODY. BUT THERE ARE WAYS OF CHECKING. AND IT IS REGULARLY DONE BY AN ARBORIST. ONE OF THEM IS A SIMPLE METHOD OF BANGING ON THE TREE, LITERALLY. YOU CAN HEAR IF IT IS HOLLOW. THAT'S ONE OF THE METHODS THEY DO. THEY ALSO HAVE SONAR. THERE ARE WAYS OF EVALUATING IT. THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS TO RECOMMENDING SOME MORE RESOURCES FOR THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING THESE TREES IN PARKS AND IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I AGREE WITH YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE THE SAME THING. PEOPLE CALL US FROM THE DRIVEWAY. THAT TREE WAS PLANTED 30 YEARS AGO, AND NOW MY DRIVEWAY IS LIFTING UP. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? >> IT IS THE RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE. WE'RE LIVING WITH THE LEGACY OF BAD DECISIONS. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: EVERYTHING YOU SAID I AGREE WITH. WE GET THE DRIFT OF IT AS WE STAY HERE LONGER AND LONGER EVERY YEAR. >> I THINK THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT REPLENISHING THE URBAN CANOPY, IT'S A MULTIGENERATIONAL PROJECT THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN, RIGHT? IT'S A LONG-TERM GAME. SO THINKING ABOUT THE TREES THAT WE PLANT NOW ARE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY GOOD INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT THINGS LIKE WHICH SPECIES ARE GOING TO BE MORE RESILIENT IN TIMES OF DROUGHT LIKE WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW OR WHEN IT'S HURRICANE SEASON OR TROPICAL STORMS ARE COMING IN. AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION OUT THERE ABOUT WAYS TO KIND OF REFOREST CANOPY WHERE IT'S BEEN LOST, BUT I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ARE THESE SORT OF INFRASTRUCTURAL CONFLICTS THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO ANALYZE HOUSE LOT BY HOUSE LOT OR NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK BY NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PUBLIC STREET TREES IN PARTICULAR. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ONE OF THE CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS WE'VE HAD IS THE PROBLEM WITH INFRASTRUCTURE CONFLICTS, IT'S NOT JUST DON'T PLANT TREES WHERE THERE ARE CONFLICTS; IT'S CREATE SPACE FOR TREES WHEN YOU'RE DOING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH OF THOSE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE. IT'S WHAT WE'D SAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS. A LOT OF THOSE MATCH WHAT MANY OF THE ADVOCATES ARE ASKING FOR, PARTICULARLY I LIKE THE WAY -- YEAH, THANK YOU. IF YOU COULD PUT THIS BACK. IF YOU COULD PUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS BACK UP SO I CAN ASK THE QUESTION. REORGANIZING THE CITY'S TREE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, I APPRECIATE YOUR PRIORITIZING TYPE ONE TREES, BUT IF YOU GO DOWN TO PLANT NEW TREES, IT SAYS LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE FOR TYPE ONE SPECIES DIVERSIFY. DO YOU MEAN DIVERSIFY WHERE YOU PUT THEM? THE WORD "DIVERSIFY" WAS UNCLEAR AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD YOUR RECOMMENDATION BASED ON WHAT WAS ABOVE. >> WE DON'T RECOMMEND LIMITING THE PALETTE TO TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO. PART OF THE REASON IS YOU NEED A DIVERSITY OF OPTIONS IN ORDER TO PLANT TREES IN PLACES WHERE THEY ARE AVAILABLE. I THINK YOU GUYS WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TODAY. BUT WE ALSO DIVERSIFY MEANING, DIVERSIFY THE SPECIES OF TREES. WE HAVE A LOT OF LIVE OAKS. IF WE GET A DISEASE COMING THROUGH THAT AFFECTS LIVE OAKS, WE'RE IN TROUBLE, RIGHT? I LOVE LIVE OAKS. DON'T GET ME WRONG. WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT DIVERSITY. OTHER CITIES HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THEIR DIVERSITY. I THINK MINNEAPOLIS THEY SET LIMITATIONS ON. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A CERTAIN PROPORTION OF ONE SPECIES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU CAN'T PLANT ANY MORE. NATURALLY, THINGS LIKE THESE DISEASES HAVE COME THROUGH AND LITERALLY WIPED OUT MOST OF THE TREES IN NEIGHBORHOODS UP NORTH. SO WE JUST WANT TO AVOID THAT. SO DIVERSITY IS KEY. >> JUST A KIND OF ADDENDUM TO WHAT SHAWN JUST SHARED, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO CREATE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY VERSUS PUBLIC PROPERTY WITH THE PRIORITIES. THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. I THINK THE DIRECT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS WE'RE RECOMMENDING DIVERSITY, DIVERSIFY IN BOTH SENSES OF THE WORD. WORK TO PRIORITIZE TREES AS LIVING INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE YOU CAN AND, YES, THERE ARE SOME DRAWBACKS WITH THINGS LIKE DRIVEWAY BUCKLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT ALSO WORK TO PRIORITIZE THOSE TREES THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO ADD TO THE CANOPY, BUT BE ABLE TO BE MAINTAINED AND STAY IN THAT PLACE FOR DECADES. HAVING FLEXIBILITY WITH THE TREE MATRIX FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SKILLED AT DETERMINING WHICH TREES, THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF BEING ABLE TO REALLY CREATE A DIVERSE, THRIVING, URBAN CANOPY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: MR. CHAIR, FIRST POINT OF ORDER. WE WHISPER TO EACH OTHER A LOT HERE. I THINK MARTY WOULD TELL US THAT FOR THE PUBLIC SAKE AND FOR OUR SAKE THAT WE SHOULD ASK TO BE HEARD AND THAT WE SHOULD PUBLICLY STATE WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO SAY. I KNOW SOMETIMES WE'RE TEMPTED TO DO THAT. IT'S DISTRACTING WHEN WE'RE WHISPERING TO EACH OTHER BECAUSE WE CAN'T HEAR. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEING SAID. IF THERE IS SOMETHING WORTH PUBLIC DISCUSSION, WUSHED SAY IT SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR. THE SECOND THING, ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T MAKE THE MOTION TO SCHEDULE THIS TODAY, I DID MAKE THE ORIGINAL MOTION TO BRING THEM ON TO DO THIS, AND MY OFFICE WAS WORKING WITH THEM. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SET IT UP FOR A SECOND. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. AT LEAST WE WOULD SET SOMETHING UP. MAY I? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YEAH, GO AHEAD. >>BILL CARLSON: I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO YOU. I KNOW THAT MY OFFICE WAS WORKING WITH YOU ALL A LOT WHEN WE FIRST CALLED YOU. IT WAS OUT OF PROCESS AND OUT OF STEP. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. I THINK WE ALL APPRECIATE YOU ALL GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS AND DOING IT. THE PURPOSE OF IT, AS YOU KIND OF SAID, THE PURPOSE IS -- WAS IN BETWEEN TO SET A NEW BASE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK IN YOUR PREVIOUS REPORTS INDIVIDUAL TREES BEING TORN DOWN AS INDIVIDUAL HOMES, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH TAMPA, THAT'S HAD A BIG IMPACT. BUT WHAT I THINK THE TREE ADVOCATES AND I DIDN'T WANT TO HAPPEN, AS YOU GET TO THE NEXT BIG STUDY THAT WE SAY, INSTEAD OF 4% DIFFERENCE, WHATEVER, 10% DIFFERENCE AND WE INCLUDE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE STORM. NOW WE HAVE AN IDEA THANKS TO YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR TEAM'S HARD WORK, WE HAVE AN ANSWER ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE STORMS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO SEPARATE. THE QUESTION -- FIRST, THANK YOU SO MUCH TO YOUR TEAM GOING OUT OF ORDER AND DOING THIS. SO THANKFUL THAT USF HAS THESE RESOURCES AND THANK YOU TO ADMINISTRATION FOR AGREEING TO DO IT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO AGREE TO DO IT EITHER. BUT AS YOU GET READY TO DO THE NEXT BIG STUDY, THE QUESTION IS, WILL THIS BE THE NEW BASE OR GO BACK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO? WILL THIS BE THE NEW BASE YOU MEASURE FROM? THE NEXT QUESTION, WHILE WE'RE HERE. TWO QUESTIONS REAL FAST. YOU SAY TREE MANAGEMENT. DO YOU THINK WE NEED MORE TREE STAFF? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND IS THAT BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE A TREE STAFF ARE VERY BUSY. THE TREE ADVOCATES AND T-TAG COME OUT AND HELP INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS AND THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL, KIND OF LIKE THE TREE STEWARDS PROGRAM. BUT DO WE NEED MORE TREE STAFF? THE OTHER THING, THE STATE LAW THAT PUTS CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON US, AS YOU STUDY IT NEXT TIME, IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN SPECIFICALLY PARSE THAT OUT SO WE CAN KNOW WHAT THAT IMPACT IS AND HOPEFULLY LOBBY THE STATE TO CHANGE IT? >> THAT IS A LOT. >> I WAS TAKING NOTES. I WAS TAKING NOTES. >> IN THE SENSE OF WILL THIS BE THE BASELINE, THIS WILL BE INCLUDED IN EVERYTHING WE PRESENT. HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY YEAR. SO WE CAN SEE FOR 2026, THIS IS THE YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH WE HAVE IN 2026 AND COMPARE THAT TO 2021, BUT ALSO COMPARE IT TO POST-STORM. THE OTHER THING WE HOPE TO LOOK AT DURING -- ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE'VE HAD OVER TIME IS HOW MUCH LOSS OR GAIN IS OCCURRING THAT RELATES TO EITHER STORMS OR TREE HEALTH IN GENERAL VERSUS DEVELOPMENTS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE HOPE TO DO IS A MORE ROBUST ANALYSIS OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER TIME WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT THAT'S OCCURRED WHEN HOUSES ARE TORN DOWN. IF A HOUSE IS TORN DOWN, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAD PRE-TEARDOWN FOR CANOPY ON THAT LOT, AND WE CAN LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED FIVE YEARS, TEN YEARS, 15 YEARS LATER. SO ARE WE REGAINING CANOPY OVER TIME AFTER REDEVELOPMENT OCCURS? BECAUSE WE KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE. RETAINING THE LARGE TREES IS PROBABLY THE PREFERENCE. BUT IT'S POSSIBLE TO RETAIN -- OR REGAIN CANOPY IN THE AREAS WHERE WE ARE HAVING MASSIVE REDEVELOPMENT. WE HOPE TO LOOK AT THAT SO WE CAN KIND OF LOOK AT WHAT'S CAUSING THESE CHANGES. THE CAUSE OF THE CHANGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT JUST ELUDES US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE DATA. >> IN ADDITION, WE'VE PROPOSED TO DO STREET-LEVEL INTERVIEWS IN A SYSTEMATIC SAMPLE ACROSS THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY TARGETING PLACES IN CENTRAL TAMPA, SOUTH TAMPA, EAST TAMPA WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S BEEN MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT CANOPY LOSS THAT'S BEEN DOCUMENTED. TO POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO SYSTEMATICALLY GET AT THIS QUESTION, YOU'RE ASKING ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF STATE LAWS AND OTHER SORT OF SPECIFIC STORIES ABOUT REASONS TREES CAME DOWN, HOW THEY CAME DOWN, UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES, SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF BUILD A PICTURE OF THE PATTERN IN A SYSTEMATIC WAY THAT KIND OF MOVES BEYOND SOME OF THE INTERVIEWS THAT WE'VE DONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR DOING THIS PRESENTATION. YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THERE ARE SOME CITIES THAT, I GUESS, MAYBE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A TYPE OF TREE, IS THAT IN SAN FRANCISCO AS WELL? DO YOU KNOW WHAT CITIES? >> CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME? >>NAYA YOUNG: EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, YOU SAID SOME CITIES, LIKE IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A TYPE OF TREE, THEN YOU DON'T PLANT MORE OF THAT TREE IN THAT AREA. IS THAT ALSO IN SAN FRANCISCO OR IS THAT IN ANOTHER -- >> SAN FRANCISCO IS FAIRLY UNIQUE. I WAS JUST THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND WE MET WITH THE HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF BUDGET. USED TO BE AN ARBORIST. THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO PASSED AN ORDINANCE IN 2016, I THINK, WHERE THEY PROVIDE $16 MILLION PER YEAR FOR TREES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE URBAN FORESTRY MANAGEMENT. SO THEY ARE KIND OF UNIQUE IN THAT THEY HAVE A FULL TREE INVENTORY BECAUSE THEY SPENT THE RESOURCES. OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE A MUCH BIGGER BUDGET THAN TAMPA JUST IN GENERAL. PROPORTIONATELY, IF WE FOCUS MORE ON MANAGING TREES, THEN WE COULD BE MORE PROACTIVE BY LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE AND HOW WE SHOULD FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND MAKING SURE WE AVOID PLANTING IN THE WRONG PLACE. WE CAN DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE KNOW THAT TAMPA'S MANAGEMENT OF TREES IS EXTREMELY REACTIVE. IT'S NOT PROACTIVE. THE CITY STAFF WILL TELL YOU THAT. WE KNOW THAT. I MEAN, UNFORTUNATELY, THE WAY TO FIX THAT IS PROVIDING FUNDING. WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR IT. I THINK THEY ARE PRETTY EFFICIENT AS IT IS NOW. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SOME OF THE PLANTING AND THEN HELP WITH MANAGING DIVERSITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >>NAYA YOUNG: OKAY. AND THEN MY -- SO, OKAY, SO IT'S SAN FRANCISCO THAT HAS THIS ORDINANCE YES? >> THEY DO THAT, YES. AS WELL AS OTHERS, MINNESOTA AS WELL AS -- >>NAYA YOUNG: I'M TRYING TO GET EXAMPLES OF CITIES THAT DO THIS, WHERE IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF TREES -- SO, OKAY. MY SECOND QUESTION WAS, IT WAS A QUESTION COUNCILMAN CARLSON ASKED ABOUT AS FAR AS HAVING MORE STAFF SPECIFICALLY FOR THE TREES. IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ALL WOULD RECOMMEND? >> YES. >> YEAH, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT SURE THAT'S OUR PURVEY TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION. BUT IT DOES SEEM THAT SUPPORTING THE EFFORTS WITH MORE STAFF AND MORE FUNDING SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR. THAT WOULD GO SOME DISTANCE. >> NEED TO BE PROACTIVE. IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE PROACTIVE, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK AT. WHETHER THAT'S MORE STAFF, WE CAN'T SPEAK TO. >> THE OTHER THING IN ADDITION THAT I THINK RELATES TO THAT QUESTION ABOUT MORE STAFF IS THAT THERE IS HESITANCY ON THE PART OF SOME RESIDENTS IN THE CITY WHO EXPERIENCED LOTS OF TREE LOSS IN THE HURRICANE TO SUPPORT PLANTING OF NEW TREES, WHETHER ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR PUBLIC PROPERTY. AND AREAS OF THE CITY THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED MORE TREE LOSS, IT'S LIKELY THAT THERE WAS LESS TREE MAINTENANCE THAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE STORM. SO IF TREES HAD BEEN PRUNED AND PREPARED FOR THE STORM, IF THERE HAD BEEN INVESTMENT IN THAT IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SENSE, IF THAT HAD BEEN POSSIBLE, WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT OUTCOME IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY. SO THERE IS A NEED TO KIND OF REBUILD SOME TRUST AROUND TREES AS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S POSITIVE IN SOME NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY. OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY, THERE'S MAJORITY SUPPORT FOR PLANTING TREES, JUST NOT ON MY OWN -- NOT IN MY YARD, IN SOMEONE ELSE'S. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS SOME INTERPLAY WITH SUPPORT WITHIN THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE, IN YOUR STUDY FOR YOUR FUTURE STUDIES, I WOULD SUGGEST HAVING A SOCIOECONOMIC BREAKDOWN ON THE Q & As BECAUSE I KNOW GROWING UP AS A POOR PERSON, MY FAMILY HATED TREES BECAUSE -- FOR FEAR OUT OF THE DAMAGE IT WOULD CAUSE TO THE HOUSE. THEY WOULD REMOVE TREES. WHEN SOMEONE CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOUSE DAMAGE, THAT IS A BIG ISSUE. I THINK WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND FOLKS WHO HAVE MONEY OR DON'T HAVE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS, IT'S A PRIVILEGE -- >> WE DID COLLECT THOSE DATA WITH BOTH SURVEYS. AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY TELLING TO ME IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT TREE MAINTENANCE, REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE, PEOPLE SAY THAT THAT IS EXPENSIVE. YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOUR INCOME IS BARELY ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE AND YOU'RE SAYING IT'S EXPENSIVE AND SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN A WEALTHIER ZIP CODE IS SAYING THAT, THEN IT'S REALLY EXPENSIVE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WILL SUGGEST IN FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN READILY APPARENT TO ME FOR YEARS, EVEN PRIOR TO COUNCIL -- THESE ARE ASSETS. ESPECIALLY -- CITY RIGHT-OF-WAYS, WE HAVE THESE ASSETS THAT WE DON'T MAINTAIN. ALLEYS, TREES, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS. I THINK WE NEED TO FIND A BALANCE WITHIN THE FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THE ASSETS. LIKE I THINK YOU POINTED OUT, WELL-MAINTAINED TREE IS MORE RESILIENT TO THE STORMS AS WELL. IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT A BALANCE OF HOW TO PAY FOR THAT AND MAKE SURE IT'S DONE. JUST LIKE WE ARE ALL HAVING A DIFFICULTY BETWEEN THE RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE, AND THEN THE SAME THING ABOUT TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT AGAIN TODAY. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT AS FAR AS US BUILDING THE TREE CANOPY? IN OTHER WORDS, CRAPE MYRTLES ARE BECOMING UNIVERSALLY HATED BECAUSE THERE IS A PROLIFERATION AND USING CRAPE MYRTLES IN LIEU OF WHAT WOULD BE PERCEIVED A BIT MORE DESIRABLE TREE, HOW DO WE BALANCE THAT WHAT DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE OF THE TREE CANOPY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA LOOKING LIKE? >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HOPE TO DO THE NEXT TIME WITH THE STUDY IS REVISE THE TREE MATRIX. IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE TREE MATRIX IT PROVIDES SOME OF THE DIFFERENT CRITERIA LIKE WIND RESISTANCE, DROUGHT RESISTANCE, AND HOW MUCH SPACE YOU NEED TO PLANT AND HOW LARGE THE TREE CAN GET. WE WANT TO ADD IN THINGS LIKE CONSIDERATION OF DIVERSITY. LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF CRAPE MYRTLES. WE SHOULD PROBABLY TRY TO STIR TOWARDS OTHER OPTIONS. CRAPE MYRTLE IS GREAT FOR A SMALL SPACE, BUT IF YOU HAVE MORE SPACE, THEN WHY ARE YOU PLANTING A CRAPE MYRTLE? SO HOPEFULLY BY REVISING THE TREE MATRIX, IT PROVIDES A BIT MORE OF A BETTER GUIDE, NOT JUST FOR THE CITY, BUT FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE PLANTING THE TREE IN A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN EXPECT THE LONGEST LIFE AND RECEIVE THE BIGGEST BENEFIT AND THAT BALANCE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES MY PORTION OF THE ROUND. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK FOLLOWED BY COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>LYNN HURTAK: THIS IS MORE OF A POINT OF ORDER QUESTION. WE SAID THREE MINUTES. ARE WE DOING THREE MINUTES FOR QUESTION AND ANSWER? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: UM-HUM. >>LYNN HURTAK: THEN WHY ARE YOU GOING OVER? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I WENT OVER ONE TIME. >>LYNN HURTAK: I'M JUST SAYING, WE NEED TO STICK TO RULES. WHAT IS THE RULE? WE NEED TO AGREE ON THE RULE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: LET ME ASK INDULGENCE, WHEN YOU SEE 30 SECONDS, THAT MEANS 30 SECONDS LEFT IN THE TIME SLOT. I DON'T MIND CUTTING THESE GUYS OFF. >> WE'LL PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE BEEPING OVER HERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I JUST WANTED TO ASK BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SET THOSE RULES BEFOREHAND, SO I THINK WE NEED TO AGREE TO THEM RIGHT NOW. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I THINK WE'RE GOOD WITH THE THREE MINUTES. >>LYNN HURTAK: BUT DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THREE MINUTES MEANS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS? WILL WE DO THAT FOR THE REST OF TODAY? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANTED TO SET THE STAGE BECAUSE WE DID NOT DO THAT AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. HONESTLY, THAT WAS MY ONLY THING. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE ARE MANY LITTLE THINGS WE CAN DO, I THINK WITHOUT A LOT. WHEN YOU SAY WE'RE PLENTY REACTIVE, YOU NEVER WIN. NEVER WIN. IT'S LIKE BASEBALL. WHO HAS THE BALL, DEFENSE, YOU CAN'T SCORE WHEN YOU HAVE THE BALL. SAME THING. WHEN I LOOK AT IT REALISTICALLY, WHY DO THE HOUSES FALL APART? BECAUSE THE TREE FALLS WHERE? ON THE ROOF. WHAT IS THE ROOF MADE OUT OF? WOOD. WHAT IS THE SECOND FLOOR MADE OUT OF? WOOD. FIRST FLOOR MADE OUT OF? CONCRETE. THERE YOU HAVE A FAILURE GOING AGAINST YOU ALREADY. YOU HAVE STRIKE TWO. ALL YOU NEED IS ONE MORE STRIKE AND YOU'RE OUT. THE TREE FALLS ON THE ROOF, WHAT HAPPENS? THE HOUSE COLLAPSES. SO WE HAVE TO CHANGE MORE THAN JUST PLANTING TREES. THAT'S MY OPINION. I MAY BE WRONG. YOU SEE IN THE ISLAND, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, VERY FEW HOUSES ARE TORN DOWN. WHY? BECAUSE THEY ARE CONCRETE AND REBAR WIRE GOES DOWN TO THE GROUND, SIX, SEVEN FEET DOWN AND REBAR WIRE ALL ACROSS THE HOUSE. THE ROOF IS NOT AT AN ANGLE. FLAT, CONCRETE, AND WHAT, REBAR. A TREE CAN HIT IT, HURRICANE CAN'T PICK IT UP, NO EAVES. CANNOT PICK UP THE EAVES AND THE WALLS COLLAPSE. A LOT MORE GOING ON THAN THE TREE. THE TREE IS TAKING THE HEAT FOR THE DAMAGE, BUT IS THE TREE REALLY THE CAUSE OR IS IT US THE WAY WE BUILT? THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. LET'S TRY TO KEEP TO TOPIC. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: AS I RECALL, WE GO BACK AND FORTH WITH SINGAPORE BEING THE NUMBER ONE TREE CANOPY IN THE WORLD. I LIVED IN SINGAPORE A FEW YEARS, HOSTED THE SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER IN TAMPA A FEW YEARS AGO. THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER WHEN HE STARTED IN THE '60s, GOT, I THINK, IT WAS TREES, LIKE 275 IS COVERED WITH TREE CANOPY. HE GOT FAST-GROWING TREES THAT WERE RELATIVELY CLEAN AND THEN WE CAN'T BRING THOSE HERE. WHEN WE WERE SHOWING THE SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER AROUND TAMPA, TOOK HIM ON 275, WE DISTRACTED HIM SO HE COULDN'T LOOK. MY STREET HAS AN OAK CANOPY, BUT THAT'S LIKE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD. IS THERE SOME FAST-GROWING TREE WE CAN USE THAT WOULD COVER THE SIDEWALKS AND ROADS THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND? >> THERE ARE DEFINITELY OPTIONS. >> MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, SHAWN. >> THERE ARE FAST-GROWING TREES THAT ARE NOT A PROBLEM. SOME OF THEM, LIKE LAUREL OAK, IF YOU ARE MAINTAINING IT, THEY ARE FAST GROWING. IF YOU ARE MAINTAINING IT AND YOU ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS WITH THE ROT INSIDE AND YOU'RE MONITORING IT, THEN THEY CAN BE GOOD SPECIES. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE IT THAT CAN DO THAT. BEYOND LIVE OAK, THERE ARE OTHER SPECIES THAT ARE OPTIONS. LIVE OAK, OF COURSE, IS THE ONE THAT WE ASSOCIATED WITH OVERHANGING CANOPY AND ALSO IT'S RESISTANT TO STORM DAMAGE BECAUSE IT EVOLVED HERE. >>BILL CARLSON: DO YOU THINK IT'S REALISTIC IN FLORIDA TO TRY TO PLANT A CANOPY OVER A HIGHWAY LIKE DALE MABRY OR 275 OR OTHER BIG ROADS IN TAMPA? OR SHOULD WE JUST GIVE UP? >> I THINK THE LARGE ARTERIES PROBABLY ARE SORT OF A SEPARATE CHALLENGE IN SOME SENSE. CLEARLY, MANY CITIES AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE DONE THAT. IN MY MIND, I'M LIKE, CLEARLY IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT IT FEELS TO ME LIKE IT WOULD BE SUCH A KIND OF REACH WITH RESTRUCTURING A LOT OF THE EXISTING HARD GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE. I WOULD BE PERSONALLY A BIG FAN, BUT I SEE THAT AS A BIG CHALLENGE. I THINK ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS TO KIND OF SUPPORT TREE PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WHERE THERE'S EXISTING INTEREST AND ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THAT, TOO. BECAUSE IT SEEMS A WAY TO KIND OF LEV RECYCLABLE EXISTING RESOURCES AND THEN KIND OF TAP INTO NEIGHBOR INTEREST IN THIS. I THINK THROUGH THE TREE PLANTING DISCUSSIONS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN RELIEF, THERE ARE SOME GREAT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT LANDSCAPE PLANNERS HAVE MADE IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. SO I THINK MAPPING THOSE IS REALLY CRITICAL. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DON'T YOU HATE THAT. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO CONCLUDE THIS PART OF THE DISCUSSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THAT. >> I SHOULD MENTION, IF YOU EVER HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL, AND YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US DIRECTLY, WE'RE HAPPY TO RESPOND, IF YOU MAKE THE RESPONSE PUBLIC, THAT'S FINE, BECAUSE WE DO THAT ANYWAY. WHENEVER YOU HAVE A QUESTION LET US KNOW. >> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT WAS A PERFECT TEE OFF FOR THE NEXT TWO DISCUSSIONS. WE'LL OPEN UP NUMBER 2 AND 3 TOGETHER. 2 AND 3 TOGETHER. >>ABBYE FEELEY: ABBYE FEELEY, ADMINISTRATOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. I THINK WHAT THE TEAM JUST SHARED WITH YOU AND WHAT I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS MORNING IS KIND OF THE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE. I DON'T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME. I KNOW YOU HAVE A VERY BUSY AGENDA, BUT WE HAVE SO MANY MOVING PARTS OF THE TREE DISCUSSION. AND IN EVEN THINKING ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF TODAY, WE REALLY WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION SO YOU CAN HAVE THE MOST PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION. I AM NOT THE TREE CZAR. I TOUCH TREES OR MY PORTFOLIO TOUCHES TREES IN RELATIONSHIP TO BUILDING PERMITS AND WHEN THEY COME IN AND THEY ARE UTILIZING MITIGATION IN THE TREE TRUST FUND. THE ZONING DEPARTMENT TOUCHES THEM. BUT WHERE DID ALL THIS START IS REALLY HOW DID ALL THESE PIECES KIND OF COME TOGETHER? IN FULL TRANSPARENCY, I'LL SHOW YOU, I STARTED PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER. OKAY, WHERE DID WE START ALL THIS? I'M LIKE, OH, THERE'S SOMETHING BETTER IN THIS. SO I WORKED ON THIS TILL CLOSE TO MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT. I BROUGHT HARD COPIES TODAY. I COULD STAND HERE AND RATTLE OFF THE ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, WHEN WE STARTED FUNDING THINGS, BUT I PUT IT IN A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT. I BROUGHT COPIES FOR COUNCIL. I BROUGHT SOME COPIES FOR THE PUBLIC. I CAN GET MORE COPIES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS ADA BEFORE I PUT IT INTO OnBase. BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IT'S A LOT OF WORK. >>ABBYE FEELEY: IN ADDITION TO THAT, I HAVE ALL OF THE ORDINANCES HERE. I WENT BACK. I READ THEM ALL. JUST TO BE ABLE TO SHARE TODAY AND HAVE A DISCUSSION, LIKE HOW DID WE START ALL THIS, BECAUSE I THINK IN ORDER FOR US TO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OR WHAT THE DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE TODAY, WE SHOULD TAKE THAT STEP BACK. WE'RE GOING TO START AT THE ROOTS OF THIS TREE, WHICH WAS 1996. IN 1996, THE TREE TRUST FUND WAS CREATED. AND AT THAT TIME, IT WENT INTO CHAPTER 16, AND IT WAS ABOUT THREE LINES IN CHAPTER 16 THAT SAID WE'RE GOING TO CREATE THIS FUND, AND WE CAN USE IT TO REPLANT TREES. AND IT WAS IN CITY PARKS. AND AT THAT TIME, THE MITIGATION IN '96, THE RESO THAT WENT WITH THAT, $125 A TREE. IN 2001, THAT WENT TO $300 A TREE. SO THAT'S WHAT STARTED BUILDING OUR TRUST FUND BACK IN 1996. IN 2006, WE AMENDED THAT SECTION 1626 TO SAY NOT ONLY WERE WE GOING TO PLANT TREES, WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR AN ANALYSIS OF OUR CITY TREE CANOPY. OKAY. THAT WENT INTO 1626. IT WAS FOUR LITTLE WORDS THAT GOT ADDED ON TO THAT SECTION. AND IT SAID, WE CAN NOW USE THIS FUND TO PAY FOR THIS CANOPY ANALYSIS TOO. AND WE HAVE DONE FOUR OF THESE ANALYSIS. WE DID ONE IN 2006, 2011, 2016, AND 2021. AND WHAT YOU JUST HEARD FROM THE TEAM AT USF, BECAUSE THERE WAS A RESOLUTION AT THAT TIME THAT PUT US INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND THEN LATER IT WAS AMENDED TO PUT US INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA TO BE DOING THIS ANALYSIS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WE'VE DONE IT. THOSE ARE AVAILABLE ON CITY PLANNING'S WEB PAGE, WHICH YOU CAN SEE NOW HERE IS ANOTHER FACET OF THE TREE AND HOW WE TOUCH THIS IN SO MANY PLACES IN THE CITY. IN 2009, CHAPTER 16 WHICH IS PARKS AND RECREATION'S CHAPTER GOT REORGANIZED FOR A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS. MARINAS THIS THAT. 1626 BECAME 1686, AND IT WAS THE SAME SECTION AGAIN. EXCEPT FOR THE FACT, TALKED ABOUT THE FUND, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE OF TREES TO BE PLACED IN DEPARTMENT MANAGED LANDS RIGHT-OF-WAY AND PROPERTY WHERE THE CITY HAD LEGAL INTEREST. SO WE WERE ABLE TO EXPAND FROM JUST PLANTING IN PARKS WITH THESE FUNDS TO PLANTING IN OTHER PLACES. IN 2013, THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED WITH THAT FIRST URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN. IN THE RESOLUTION THAT TALKS ABOUT CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTING THAT PLAN, IT WAS A PUBLIC PLAN. IT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED AT BARKSDALE SENIOR CENTER. I JUST GOT WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON THE TREES, BUT IT WAS PRESENTED AT BARKSDALE SENIOR CENTER IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR. IT WAS THEN BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR ACCEPTANCE THROUGH RESOLUTION. IN NOVEMBER OF THAT YEAR. AND THAT REALLY SAID WE ARE GOING TO USE THIS URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN AS THE POLICY PLAN FOR HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE OUR URBAN FOREST. SO WHEN I READ THROUGH THIS, I THINK THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN, KIND OF LIKE THE COMP PLAN, IT'S OUR POLICY PLAN. IT'S A 20-YEAR PLAN. THAT 20-YEAR PLAN, IF WE DID IT IN 2013 WOULD NOW BE DUE AGAIN IN 2033. SO WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF YEARS UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, BUT RUNNING CONCURRENT WITH THAT HAVE BEEN THESE ANALYSIS TO SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CANOPY. THEN WE HAVE THE 20-YEAR PLAN, AND THOSE THINGS HAVE TOUCH POINTS TOGETHER. RIGHT? IT GOES BACK TO THE TRUST FUND ON HOW WE SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME OF WHICH YOU HEARD THIS MORNING, THE MATRIX, THE DIFFERENT THINGS, WE'VE DONE MANY OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THAT URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN. SO IN 2018, REREALLY KIND OF MODERNIZED THE FRAMEWORK. UP UNTIL 2018, THAT'S WHAT MANY OF YOU KNOW AS THE OLD TREE TRUST FUND, RIGHT? IT WAS CITYWIDE. YOU COULD SPEND THE FUNDS CITYWIDE. IN 2018 WAS WHEN WE BROUGHT IN FROM THE COMP PLAN THE PLANNING DISTRICTS. THERE WERE FIVE PLANNING DISTRICTS. THIS IS WHEN 1668, THAT SECTION IN THE PARKS AND RECREATION CODE, GOT CHANGED TO INCLUDE PLANNING DISTRICTS AND TO SPECIFY THAT THE FUND BE COLLECTED BY PLANNING DISTRICTS AND BE SPENT BY PLANNING DISTRICTS. IT ALSO HAD A PARAMETER IN THE END OF THAT SECTION THAT SAID ANYTHING COLLECTED UP TILL NOW UNDER THE OLD TREE TRUST FUND COULD BE SPENT LIKE THE OLD TREE TRUST FUND SAID. THAT SECTION IS IN THERE. IT ENDED THE CITYWIDE TREE FUND, AND THIS ALSO TALKED ABOUT TREE TYPES, TREE PAYMENTS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU SAW, IT HAD A 1-3 INSTEAD OF STAYING TYPE ONES AND TYPE TWO. IT SAYS ONE THROUGH THREE AND PALMS. SO THIS IS WHEN YOU FIRST SAW IT INTRODUCED TO TALK ABOUT TYPES, AND ALSO THIS IS WHEN IT FIRST TALKED ABOUT REPORTING. SO 2019, THERE WAS -- THERE WAS AN ORDINANCE IN 2019 BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS JUST A RESTATEMENT BECAUSE IN 2019 WE TOOK THE OLD CHAPTER 13, WHICH WAS OUR TREE AND LANDSCAPE, AND WE MOVED IT INTO THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE INTO CHAPTER 27. SO EVERYTHING IN THE ORDINANCE IN 19 IS REALLY RESTATED, BUT IN IT HAS ALL THE CHANGES OF THE SECTIONS FROM 13 TO THEN BE THE SECTIONS FOR 27. SO THAT BEING SAID, IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THIS, WITH THE REPORTING. SO THE REPORTING WENT INTO EFFECT, IT APPEARED IN JUNE OF 2019. IN LOOKING AT THIS TO BE ABLE TO SHOW YOU TODAY WHERE WE'VE BEEN ON THE REPORTING, AND KAYLA WILL TALK TO THAT AND WE DO HAVE INFORMATION ON THAT, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, ACCELA WAS IN A PRETTY BAD SHAPE IN 2019. WE DID THE LIFT AND SHIFT ON ACCELA IN 2022. SO ACCELA WAS NOT -- THERE WAS NO WAY TO PULL FROM ALL OF THESE 20-SOME-THOUSAND PERMITS A YEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE TREES. SO WE STARTED -- WE DID THE ACCELA UPGRADE IN APRIL OF '22. IN OCTOBER OF '24, WE HAD THE SCRIPTING IN TO AT LEAST START PULLING THE MITIGATION TREES, HOW MANY, AND THEN THE PAYMENTS INTO THE FUND. WE STARTED TRACKING THE NEW WAY WITH THE TYPE ONE, TWO, AND THREE MARCH OF THIS YEAR. IN TERMS OF REPORTING, I WANT TO BE HONEST. I WANT TO BE OPEN. I WANT TO TELL YOU WHERE WE ARE ON THOSE THINGS. THE OTHER THING YOU CAN SEE FROM HERE IS THAT THE MULTIFACETED NATURE OF THIS, PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES IN PARKS. PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES IN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. PART IS IN ZONING WHEN THEY ARE COMING TO YOU. PART IS IN CITY PLANNING. PART IS IN RESILIENCY, AND PART OF THIS IS THAT A LOT OF THESE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN TRAVELING ALONG TOGETHER BUT KIND OF IN DIFFERENT SPACES. SO I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT TODAY BEFORE WE GET TO -- AND I DO HAVE THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN RESOLUTION WITH ME THAT TALKS ABOUT THE CREATION OF TWO THINGS. THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN TALKED ABOUT OR GUIDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INTERNAL TECHNICAL ADVISORY TEAM, WHICH WE HAVE, AND A NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH I KNOW IS ALSO ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY. IT TALKS ABOUT THOSE TWO GROUPS MEETING SEMI ANNUALLY TO DISCUSS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES IN WHAT I CALL THE URBAN FOREST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IN MY OWN MIND, AND PRESENTING AN ANNUAL REPORT BACK TO CITY COUNCIL IN THAT TERM. BUT IT REALLY TALKS ABOUT THEM WORKING ON THOSE LONG-RANGE STRATEGIES THAT ARE IN THE 20-YEAR PLAN. I KNOW WE'LL DIVE INTO EACH OF THOSE SECTIONS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. I JUST WANTED TO REALLY KIND OF GO BACK AND SET THE TABLE SO WE ALL HAVE THE INFORMATION AS TO KIND OF HOW WE GOT HERE TODAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MS. FEELEY. I THINK THAT IS A WONDERFUL KICK-OFF. THANK YOU FOR WORKING SO HARD AND BEING UP TO MIDNIGHT WORKING ON IT. GREAT WAY TO START THE CONVERSATION. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. I WANTED TO GO BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF HOW ALL THE DEPARTMENTS ARE DIVIDING. THIS IS A BIG QUESTION THAT I HAVE AND THE PUBLIC HAS. WHY DID THIS ADMINISTRATION GET RID OF THE TREE CZAR? THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT WAS TO BRING ALL THESE TEAMS TOGETHER. AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ADMINISTRATION, THAT WAS FARMED OUT TO THESE INDIVIDUAL GROUPS, WHY DID THAT HAPPEN? WHY DON'T WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S OVERSEEING ALL OF THIS? >>ABBYE FEELEY: SO I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY 26 YEARS. I AM NOT AWARE OF A TREE CZAR. I'M HERE HONESTLY TODAY TO TRY TO PULL ALL OF THIS TOGETHER. I DON'T WANT TO BE THE TREE CZAR. I'M NOT. I'M A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THAT'S NOT IT. I'LL HAVE TO GET YOU AN ANSWER ON THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN THAT POSITION ANYWHERE. IT'S ALWAYS LIVED IN THESE KIND OF OTHER PLACES. THE EFFORTS -- THE EFFORT HAS NEVER BEEN CENTRALIZED. EVEN WHEN THERE WAS A NATURAL RESOURCES TEAM -- >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. >>ABBYE FEELEY: THEY DIDN'T DO THE MAINTENANCE. PARKS STILL DID A PART. PLANNING STILL DID A PART. EVERYBODY STILL DID A PART WHICH I THINK THAT'S -- I MEAN, IT'S A BIG UNDERTAKING, RIGHT? SO EVERYBODY HAS DONE -- IT'S NEVER BEEN A CENTRALIZED FUNCTION LIKE YOU JUST DISCUSSED. >>LYNN HURTAK: TREE CZAR WAS NOT APPROPRIATE WORD, BUT THERE WAS THAT NATURAL RESOURCES THAT DID -- THAT WAS ABLE TO TOUCH EACH PART, THAT WHAT IT DID WAS, I THINK THE FRUSTRATION IS WHAT THAT TEAM DID WAS REALLY BRING -- MAKE IT CONTINUALLY A BRINGING IT TO THE FOREFRONT. WHEREAS WHEN IT WAS FOLDED INTO ALL OF THESE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND THERE WASN'T SOMEONE FOCUSED ON IT SPECIFICALLY, THAT THIS IS WHY WE LANDED WHERE WE ARE TODAY. THIS IS MORE OF A DISCUSSION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHY WE GOT RID OF THAT TREE, THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT TO GO DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHICH THEN DID, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, TAKE THE FOCUS OFF OF SOMEONE WHO HAD JUST FOCUSED ON TREES, LIKE IN OVER ALL THE DEPARTMENTS. >>ABBYE FEELEY: MAY I RESPOND TO THAT PLEASE? THANK YOU. SO I WAS PART OF THAT. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO THE NATURAL RESOURCES SECTION, WHEN I CAME BACK TO THE CITY IN OCTOBER OF 2020, YOU HAD A TEAM OF I BELIEVE FOUR. AS I JUST MENTIONED, STILL WERE NOT DOING THE MAINTENANCE AND EVALUATIONS OUT ON THE TREES. BUT YOU HAD FOUR PEOPLE THAT AN AVERAGE DAY, AND TWO OF THEM ARE HERE. MARY IS HERE AND BRIAN IS HERE, AND THEY CAN SPEAK TO THAT. MARY MIGHT START HER DAY DOING A REZONING EVALUATION, AND THEN JUMP AROUND AND GO OUT AND DO TWO TREE INSPECTIONS AND THEN COME BACK AND DO A BUILDING INSPECTION. AND THE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE WAS NOT HAPPENING. NOT ONLY THAT, WHEN I CAME IN, ALL OF THE TREE MITIGATION WAS ON PAPER SHEETS, AND THEY WERE HAND PUTTING IT INTO THE SYSTEM. AND WE NEVER FINISHED. WE NEVER FINISHED. IT NEVER GOT DONE. WHERE WE COULD RUN THAT REPORT AND BRING IT TO YOU. THAT SPURRED THE DISCUSSION OF AUTOMATION INTO ACCELA. HOW DO WE GET THIS DONE? IT ALSO MADE US LOOK AT WHERE ARE THE ARBORIST ROLES OR URBAN FORESTER ROLES WITHIN THE CITY'S PROCESSES. THEY ARE IN PARKS. THEY ARE IN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES. WE NOW HAVE THREE FULL-TIME REVIEWERS THAT HENRY, MICHAEL THAT SIT THERE TODAY AND REVIEWING THE 20,000 BUILDING PERMITS. WE HAVE MARY AND HER TEAM THAT WORKS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY COMPLIANCE TEAM TO ENSURE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE WHEN SOMEBODY CALLS IN THAT SOMEBODY IS CUTTING DOWN A TREE. BECAUSE WHAT WAS HAPPENING WAS, THE OLD TEAM, SOMEBODY IS CUTTING DOWN A TREE, I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUILDING REVIEW. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD REVIEW. THERE WAS NO SYNTHESIS TO HOW THE OPERATION WAS HAPPENING. THERE IS ONE IN THE ZONING TEAM. THE OTHER THING WE DID IS WE INTRODUCED AN ARBORIST IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. BRIAN WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD, THEN BUILDING PERMIT AND THEN COMING TO COUNCIL ON AN APPEAL, THEN WAS GOING OUT TO SEE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY WORK. RIGHT-OF-WAY DID NOT HAVE THEIR OWN ARBORIST. WE NOW HAVE CHER, AND SHE IS THE ARBORIST IN MOBILITY. AND THIS ACTUALLY ALLOWED US TO EXPAND AND MORE INTENTIONALLY BE A PART OF THE PROCESSES THAT REALLY NEEDED THOSE TREE REVIEWS AND REALLY NEEDED THOSE PEOPLE. SO I UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT EVER REALLY OPERATED THE WAY YOU JUST DESCRIBED AS SOMEONE BEING THE TREE CZAR OR THE TREE LEADER. I THINK IT STILL LIVED IN ALL THESE PLACES, AND REALLY HAS NEVER HAD ITS SYNTHESIS TODAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. REFERENCE FOR COUNCIL, I KNOW THE CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER, THAT'S KIND OF THE DEFERENCE I NEED. I FEEL LIKE WHAT MS. FEELEY PRESENTED IS CRITICALLY CRITICAL INFORMATION TO THE DISCUSSION. I URGE COUNCIL, WHEN YOU ARE PHRASING QUESTIONS, BE DILIGENT OF YOUR THREE-MINUTE TIME. TRY TO BE AS CONCISE AS POSSIBLE SO WE CAN GIVE THE SPEAKERS AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF TIME TO TALK. ON THOSE TIMES -- IF THEY ARE JUST REPEATING THEMSELVES, I'LL CUT THEM OFF. IF THEY ARE PROVIDING INFORMATION, I'LL LET THEM CONTINUE. IS THAT OKAY WITH EVERYBODY? >>BILL CARLSON: MS. FEELEY, SINCE YOU'RE UP THERE, PART OF THE REASON THE LAST PRESENTATION WAS TO SHOW THAT STORMS KNOCK DOWN A LOT OF TREES BUT A FAIR NUMBER OF TREES THAT ARE KNOCKED DOWN BY TREE ARBORISTS OR DEVELOPERS OR WHATEVER. AS YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL VERY RARELY APPROVES TREES TO BE CUT DOWN BUT THEN THERE'S ALWAYS A TRADE-OFF. THERE ARE A FEW WE APPROVE. BUT THE PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC IS THAT THE CITY, MEANING US OR YOUR TEAM, ARE JUST HAPHAZARDLY LETTING PEOPLE CUT DOWN TREES. STATE LAW LIMITS US ALSO. WHEN WE GET QUESTIONS, WE FORWARD THEM TO YOU. YOU DO A GOOD JOB OF ANSWERING THEM. SINCE THERE ARE A LOT OF TREE ADVOCATES PROBABLY WATCHING, CAN YOU TELL US THE SENSE OF A MAJORITY OF THE SITUATIONS AND HOPEFULLY DISPEL THOUGHTS THAT THE CITY IS ALLOWING TREES TO BE RAMPANTLY CUT DOWN? >>ABBYE FEELEY: SURE. JUST TO BACKTRACK FOR A SECOND, YOUR QUESTION UNDER THE LAST PRESENTATION ABOUT THE HOUSE BILL REMOVALS, WE NOW IN ACCELA HAVE A WAY -- I COULD RUN YOU A QUERY RIGHT NOW, IF WE SAW THEM GONE. THAT'S THE ONE THING ABOUT TREES. I JUST HAD ONE REMOVED ON MY OWN STREET AND THOUGHT I WOULD THROW UP IN MY CAR. HONESTLY. THERE ARE IRREPARABLE DAMAGES, RIGHT? IRREPARABLE DAMAGES. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PLATFORMS. ONE THAT CARROLL ANN AND STEPHANIE HAVE CONTINUED TO STAY IN CONTACT WITH US ON ARE NEW HOMES. AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY AN EFFORT OF THIS COUNCIL. NEW HOMES THAT ARE PUTTING IN THEIR MITIGATION TREES, AND I THINK WE GOT TWO LAST WEEK, AND THEY SELL THE HOME. THE HOME CLOSES, THEY SELL THE HOME AND SOMEBODY TAKES THE TREES OUT. WE DO DOOR HANGERS NOW TO TELL YOU, THESE ARE YOUR REQUIRED TREES. YOU CAN'T DO THAT. IN THOSE CASES AND WE DO HAVE THE TREE HOT LINE. MARY IS HERE. WE ACTIVELY -- WE ACTIVELY ARE OUT THERE GOING AFTER -- YOU KNOW, WE DON'T JUST LET PEOPLE TAKE THEM OUT. THE HOUSE BILL UNFORTUNATELY DOES PREEMPT HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE OCCUPIED HOMES FROM TAKING OUT TREES WITHOUT PERMITS BECAUSE IT IS A HAZARDOUS OR A THREAT TO THEM IN THEIR HOMES. I'M NOT SURE I FULLY ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, BUT OUR TEAM IS VERY PROACTIVE IN ENSURING THAT WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE THERE STAYS THERE AND WHAT IS THERE NOW WHEN PEOPLE COME IN TO ASK FOR THEIR REMOVAL IS NOT A HAPHAZARD DECISION. >>BILL CARLSON: THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR UPDATING ACCELA. WE WENT FROM VERSION 1 TO 11. IT IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: LET'S GET INTO THE MEAT OF THESE TWO ITEMS. LET'S START WITH NUMBER 3. TALKING ABOUT THE REPORTING. >> KAYLA KASELLA. [INDISCERNIBLE] I HAVE THEM PRINTED. WOULD BE HAPPY TO SUBMIT THE ELECTRONIC COPIES TO COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC AS WELL. AS WAS STATED, THE REPORT DOES NOT, FOR THE COLLECTION DOES NOT INCLUDE FROM THE LAST FIVE FISCAL YEARS, FISCAL YEAR 20 TO 25 IS WHEN WE WERE REQUIRED BY CODE WHEN THE UPDATE HAPPENED TO START THE REPORTING. TYPE ONE, TWO, THREE, AND PALM IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE COLLECTION BECAUSE WE WOULD BE REQUIRED BASICALLY TO GO INTO EVERY SINGLE BUILDING PERMIT AS ADMINISTRATOR FEELEY JUST MENTIONED AND PULL THAT INFORMATION MANUALLY. NOW IT WILL BE AUTOMATED. GOING FORWARD FROM MARCH INTO THE FUTURE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT. IT DOES HAVE EVERYTHING. THE BUILDING PERMIT NUMBER THAT'S ASSOCIATED, WHICH IS EXPLICITLY SAID IN THE REPORTING SECTION OF CODE AS WELL AS THE PART OF WHICH TRUST FUND. IF IT IS THE SOUTH TAMPA ONE, CENTRAL TAMPA ONE, ET CETERA. THEN THE SECOND PART, WHICH IS THE LAST THREE PAGES, THE EXPENDITURE PART. WE JUST EXPLAINED THAT WE HAVE THE OLD TREE TRUST FUND, AND SO WE WERE IN THAT RESOLUTION BASICALLY SAID THAT WE WERE OBLIGATED TO TRY AND SPEND THAT DOWN FIRST BEFORE GOING AND SPENDING THE NEW TRUST FUND. NOW WE'RE JUST GETTING TO THE POINT I BELIEVE I CHECKED WITH REVENUE AND FINANCE, WE HAVE MAYBE 39, 36 THOUSAND DOLLARS LEFT IN THE OLD. IT'S PRETTY MUCH DWINDLED DOWN TO THE LAST DROPS AT THIS POINT. NOW WE ARE STARTING TO EXPEND FOR THE FIRST TIME FROM THESE NEW TREE TRUST FUND. THE ONLY EXPENDITURES SO FAR FROM FISCAL YEAR 20 TO FISCAL YEAR 25 HAVE NOT BEEN ANY TREES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN THE PLANNING AND DESIGN WORK THAT HAS HELPED BUILD THE RELIEF PLANS THAT BRIAN KNOX WILL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT IN THE PRESENTATION TO HELP IDENTIFY WHERE WE CAN PLANT TREES TO THEN GO OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACTUALLY GET THE TREES IN THE GROUND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I HAVE A QUESTION. PARLINGS MAYBE FRUSTRATION. PARTIALLY 50%, -- THROW TOMATOES AT ME. HAS THIS GOVERNMENT RUN AMOK? WHY CAN'T WE PLANT THE DAMN TREES? WHAT HAS BEEN THE OBSTACLE OF GETTING THE DAMN TREES IN THE GROUND? I THINK COUNCIL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, TOO. CREATING THIS HUGE BUREAUCRACY. IS THERE A STREAMLINED VERSION? DO WE HIRE TWO PEOPLE AND SAY YOUR JOB IS TO PUT FRICKIN' TREES IN THE GROUND? HOW DO WE GET THERE? >> THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY TO DO IT. I THINK A FEW THINGS. WE EMPATHIZE WITH THAT. WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE REALLY EASY AS WELL. WHENEVER OPERATING IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, IT'S COMPLICATED. WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE UNDERGROUND ABOVEGROUND. WE ARE MANDATED BY OUR OWN CODE TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR ELECTRIC GRID THAT WE CAN'T PLANT TREES THAT GROW ABOVE 25 FEET WITHIN 30 FEET OF ELECTRICAL LINE. THERE HAS TO BE THIS ANALYSIS THAT HAPPENS. WE CAN'T JUST GO AROUND AND PUT ANY TREE ANYWHERE IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. THAT IS THE MOST RESTRICTIVE. IT IS THE HARDEST TREE TO PLANT IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF TAMPA AND USUALLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THAT ANALYSIS. THE TRADE-OFF IS IT USUALLY HAS A BIG IMPACT. PEOPLE LOVE HAVING TREE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OR CITY LINED WITH TREES. THEY CAN ALSO PROVIDE, EVEN IF IT IS A SMALLER TREE, THEY CAN PROVIDE SHADE AND BUFFER FROM VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, LIKE A MOBILITY VISION ZERO PERSPECTIVE AND THEY CAN BE BEAUTIFUL AND THAT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE ECONOMICS. I THINK WHEN YOU GET INTO PARKS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY, THAT IS THE EASIER OPPORTUNITIES -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HAVE WE SATURATED THOSE AREAS YET? >> PRIVATE PROPERTY, ABSOLUTELY NOT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHAT ABOUT PARKS? >> PARKS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE ARE NOT AS MANY OPPORTUNITIES AS WE THINK IN PARKS. WE HAVE TO LEAVE SPACE FOR OPEN RECREATION, SPORT FIELDS, ET CETERA. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A FEW MORE SPOTS TO PLANT TREES, BUT NOT ABLE TO COVER ALL THE PARKS WITH HUNDRED PERCENT CANOPY. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY FUNCTION THEY SERVE. >>ABBYE FEELEY: ABBYE FEELEY. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE WORKING ON, WE HAD GOTTEN A GRANT, A MILLION-DOLLAR GRANT AND STARTED AN EFFORT TO DEVELOP PLANTING PLANTS. WE NOW HAVE I THINK CLOSE TO TEN OF THOSE PLANS DEVELOPED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GRANT WAS TAKEN AWAY THROUGH THE FEDERAL -- I WANT TO SAY THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL OR ONE OF THOSE. EVAN JOHNSON'S TEAM HAD DONE COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THIS DONE TO DEVELOP THE PLANTS. SO WE HAVE THESE. HOW WE DID THAT, THE MILLION DOLLARS WE WENT TO TEAMS THAT WERE ALREADY ON CONTRACT WITH US IN AN EFFORT TO STREAMLINE, LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, TO GET THE PLANS TOGETHER SO THEN WE COULD USE THE TRUST FUND TO PLANT THOSE TREES. SO WE HAVE THOSE PLANS. I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS FOR CITY COUNCIL TODAY IS THE POSSIBILITY OF BRINGING NOW THOSE PLANS. ONE IDEA I HAD WAS WE COULD BRING THEM AS PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET. WE COULD PUT THE PLANS OUT RIGHT NOW ONTO THE WEBSITE. WE HAVE NOT PUT THEM OUT TO BID YET. I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT. WE JUST HAVE THE DESIGNS DONE, SO THEY WOULD NEED TO GO OUT TO BID. WHERE WE ARE KIND OF AT THIS POINT IS, WILL YOU LET US USE THE TRUST FUND TO GO AHEAD AND WORK ON THESE -- I MEAN, TO IMPLEMENT THEM? BECAUSE WE HAVE THEM. SO I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE LARGER QUESTIONS THAT BROUGHT US TO TODAY TOGETHER BECAUSE WHEN -- YOU KNOW, WE DO TRY TO INTEGRATE TREE PLANTINGS INTO OTHER PLANS. YOU'VE SEEN WITH THE PROJECT WORKING ON GETTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THAT'S WHERE THE CITY SEES AN OPPORTUNITY, WE TAKE IT UPON OURSELVES TO INTEGRATE THOSE THINGS INTO OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE THESE PLANTING PLANS THAT CITY PLANNING HAS BEEN WORKING ON IN COORDINATION WITH PARKS. ERIC MUKEY AND THE PARKS TEAM GETTING THOSE THINGS TOGETHER. I THINK THAT WE COULD PUT INTO ACTION THOSE THINGS, THOSE PLANS, I'M SORRY, NOW, OR GOING FORWARD, BUT WE NEED TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FUNDING SOURCE WHICH IS THE TREE TRUST FUND. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS, THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM, PRIVATE PROPERTY, TRYING TO GET TREES PLANTED. TRUE ONLY ONE PERSON DOING THAT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY? >> KAYLA. YES, ONE PERSON WHO DOES THE TREE-MENDOUS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A CONTRACTOR WHO DOES THE ACQUISITION, DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION. SHE DOES THE INSPECTIONS AND THE PRE-INSPECTION TO SEE IF THE SITE IS SUITABLE FOR WHICH TYPE OF TREE AND THEN THE SIX MONTH AND ONE-YEAR INSPECTION THAT'S REQUIRED BY CODE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DON'T YOU THINK WE COULD CONTRACT SOME OF THE ADDITIONAL HELP FOR THAT DEPARTMENT? MAYBE FOR A YEAR OR TWO OF EXPEDITING THAT INTO PRIVATE PROPERTY? >> POTENTIALLY. I THINK THAT IS A QUESTION WE'LL DEFINITELY CIRCLE BACK WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO FOR FISCAL YEAR '27. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXTRA MONEY WE HAD IN 2025. I HAD $500,000 EARMARKED FOR TREE MAINTENANCE, SPECIFICALLY TO DO THAT. UNFORTUNATELY THE ADMINISTRATION HASN'T SEEMED TO WANT TO DO THAT TO HIRE ANOTHER PERSON. BUT THAT WAS MY GOAL, BUT THEN COUNCILMAN VIERA WANTED MORE PARK MONEY FOR NORTH TAMPA. AND BECAUSE SOUTH TAMPA HAD GOTTEN A BUNCH OF MONEY, I LET HIM USE THAT MONEY. BUT TREES HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT MY OFFICE HAS BEEN WORKING ON FOREVER. AND THAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE. SO WE HAVE TO PUT FUNDING TOWARD IT. THE PROBLEM IS, HOW DO WE USE IT? BECAUSE THE TREE TRUST FUND CURRENTLY -- AND IT'S FOR OUR DEBATE LATER, BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT HOW WE ACTUALLY WANT TO USE THAT. DO WE THINK IT'S OKAY TO BE PLANTING BUSHES AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS TOO? THAT'S PART OF A LANDSCAPE PLAN. SO THERE IS A LOT TO IT. BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TREE-MENDOUS -- WELL, ANYWAY, WE'LL GET INTO THAT LATER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: FOR THE PUBLIC, AS YOU HEAR, WE HAVE A VERY PRO-TREE CITY COUNCIL. HAROLD WALKER, WHO WAS A RESIDENT OF HYDE PARK, PASSED AWAY ABOUT A YEAR AGO. LITERALLY COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK AND I WERE THERE. HE LITERALLY WAS SHOWING NEIGHBORHOODS HOW TO PLANT TREES AND PASSED AWAY ADVOCATING FOR TREES. HE WAS WORKING ON A PROGRAM THAT STARTED IN HIS YARD WHERE THERE WERE LAUREL OAKS IN HYDE PARK AND THE CITY SAID WE NEED TO TEAR THEM DOWN. HE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY SOMEHOW AND PAID EXTRA FOR TREES AND WENT THROUGH AND EDUCATED HIS NEIGHBORS ABOUT MAYBE TAKING OUT EVERY OTHER LAUREL OAK AND PLANTING A LARGER LIVE OAK. I WONDER, I'LL BE HAVING FOLLOW-UP MEETINGS ABOUT THAT. BUT I WONDER IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR. EXAMPLE IS NEW SUBURB BEAUTIFUL. NEW SUBURB BEAUTIFUL, IT HAS THE WORST ROADS IN THE CITY, I THINK. ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE ROADS. SOMEBODY PLANTED TREES IN 1976 FOR THE BICENTENNIAL, UNDERNEATH THE POWER LINES WHICH YOU SAID IS ILLEGAL NOW. PROBLEM WITH THE TREE CANOPY BEING V CUT. ROOTS ON THE TREES ARE SO BIG THAT THEY GO UNDER THE HOUSES AND STREETS. MOBILITY DEPARTMENT SAID WE CAN'T PAVE THE ROADS BECAUSE OF THE TREES. CUT DOWN THE ROOTS, THE TREES WILL DIE. IS THERE A WAY TO PARTNER WITH NEIGHBORHOODS TO DO THAT? SWANN PARK, I WAS THERE A COUPLE OF DAYS, CHARLIE MIRANDA WAS THERE JUST BEFORE ME, THE NEIGHBORS THERE WANT TO PLANT TREES AND I THINK THEY ARE WORKING ON THE CITY WITH THAT. WE SEE VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT WHO ARE WILLING TO PUT IN MONEY AND PAY. I WONDER WITHIN THAT, IF WE CAN WORK ON A BETTER PLAN TO LEVERAGE NOT JUST THE TREE FUNDS IN THE CITY'S BUDGET BUT ALSO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. LASTLY, ON STORMWATER OR OTHER ENTERPRISE FUNDS, I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THEIR OWN TREES. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A TREE POLICY NEEDS TO BE EMBEDDED IN THE FUNDS AND FEES FOR THOSE SERVICES AND THE TREE FUND SHOULD BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES. BECAUSE IT'S REALLY MITIGATION MONEY FOR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IT SHOULD BE USED FOR THAT RATHER THAN MITIGATION FOR AN ENTERPRISE FUND. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THESE ITEMS, I KNOW YOU ALL SHARE THE SAME FRUSTRATION THAT COUNCIL SHARES AND THE PUBLIC SHARES ON GETTING TREES IN THE GROUND. AS YOU'VE LOOKED AT THIS AND LOOKED AT COUNCIL'S CONCERNS, YOU HEARD THE PUBLIC OUTCRY ON THESE THINGS, WHAT WOULD BE AN AFFORDABLE, DOABLE WAY TO STREAMLINE THIS PROCESS AND TO BE ABLE TO DIVERSIFY OUR STREET WITH TREE CANOPY AND GET THE DAMN TREES IN THE GROUND? >> I THINK WE KIND OF HAVE THIS FORMAT THAT WE CREATED. WE BUILT IT FROM SCRATCH. WE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES. THE RELIEF PLANTING PROGRAM. SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS JUST STATED FOR WORKING WITH NEIGHBORHOODS IS EXACTLY WHAT THAT PROGRAM WAS DREAMED TO BE. IT HAS A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT TO IT AND THEN HAS THE PLANNING AND DESIGN. NOW WE HAVE 11 PLUS PLANS WITH THOUSANDS OF TREES THAT ARE DESIGNED AND WE JUST NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOW DO WE DO THAT? HOW DOES TOMORROW LOOK DIFFERENT THAN YESTERDAY? >> WE NEED THE FUNDING SOURCE, PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNCIL TO SEE IF THE TREE TRUST FUNDS COULD BE THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THOSE PLANS. THE ORIGINAL FUNDING SOURCE WAS THE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT. WE NO LONGER HAVE IT. WE WOULD LIKE TREE TRUST FUNDS TO BE THE FUNDING SOURCE. >>ABBYE FEELEY: I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, KAYLA, THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR TODAY. WHEN YOU SAY WHAT IS YOUR OBJECTIVE WITH THAT, IS IT TO GET AS MANY TREES IN THE GROUND AS POSSIBLE? IS IT BECAUSE, I THINK OUR ANSWER TO YOU IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT YOUR EXPECTATION AND YOUR OBJECTIVE IS. I DO AGREE, WE HAVE THE PLANTING PLANS. I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT ENSURING THE PUBLIC IS ENGAGED IN THAT. WE HAD THE CONTRACTORS DO IT, WHICH ARE EXPERTS THAT KNOW THE TREES. WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU NOT EVERY PLANTING PLAN IS ONLY TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES. IT IS A DIVERSIFICATION, AS WAS ALSO ADDRESSED AND DISCUSSED SOMEWHAT THIS MORNING. IF THAT IS THE WILL, THEN WE COULD PRESENT, HERE ARE THE TEN WE HAVE. HERE ARE THE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS THEY ARE IN. HERE IS THIS. AND ALIGN THAT WITH THE TREE TRUST FUNDS THAT GO WITH EACH OF THOSE. AND THEN IT WOULD ULTIMATELY, YOU ARE THE ONES -- I DO WANT TO SAY IN ALL MY RESEARCH 1668 IT DOES SAY, IF YOU FEEL NECESSARY, DUE TO CANOPY DECLINE, DISEASE, NATURAL HAZARD THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED, YOU CAN ALSO SHIFT THOSE FUNDS FROM ONE GEOGRAPHIC AREA TO ANOTHER. THAT IS YOUR PURVIEW AS COUNCIL UNDERNEATH THAT CODE. WE COULD BRING THOSE TEN PLANS TO YOU. WE COULD SHOW YOU WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT THEY INCLUDE, WHERE THEY ARE GOING, AND THEN IF WE GOT THE OKAY, THAT THAT COULD ALIGN WITH TREE TRUST FUND, WE COULD PUT THEM OUT TO BID. WE COULD THEN SHOW YOU THE SAME TEN PLANS WITH THE BIDS AND WHAT WILL PULL DOWN FROM EACH OF THE DISTRICT FUNDS AND WE COULD GO FROM THERE AND WE COULD GET STARTED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK AND THEN PUBLIC COMMENT. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE CAN'T GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVEN'T DONE NUMBER TWO. NUMBER TWO IS STATED AS A PRESENTATION FOR THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: DO YOU HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR TWO? >> WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION. >>LYNN HURTAK: IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT WE CAN'T GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT IF WE HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED AT THE PRESENTATION. WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: BETWEEN THE USF PRESENTATION AND THIS, WE HAVE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CRAPE MYRTLES. I THOUGHT WE KIND OF DID. >>LYNN HURTAK: THEN I HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, YOU'VE GOT THE FLOOR. >>LYNN HURTAK: YEAH, I HONESTLY THINK THAT EVEN IF WE DO IT VERY QUICKLY, WE SHOULD GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION. THAT'S NOT WHAT NUMBER TWO IS. NUMBER ONE IS DONE. NOW WE ARE ON TO NUMBER TWO AND WE HAVE NOT DONE THE PRESENTATION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PRESENTATION. >>LYNN HURTAK: THEN I HAVE QUESTIONS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NUMBER TWO, START WITH YOUR NAME. >> ALL RIGHT. NEXT SLIDE. THERE IS A CLICKER, RIGHT? I THINK ABBYE SET THE TABLE WELL TODAY. I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME TEAM. WE DO WANT THE SAME THING THAT THE PUBLIC, THAT COUNCIL WANTS. WE WANT OUR CANOPY TO BE RESILIENT, DIVERSE, AND CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND PLANT THE NEXT GENERATION OF CANOPY. WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS INCLUDED. SO WE'RE GOING TO, TALKING TO THIS ABOUT THIS MOTION, TOO. JUST WANT TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND. WE TALKED ABOUT TREES A LOT THIS LAST YEAR. WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT TREES A LOT. IN THE LAST YEAR WE HOSTED A TREE TOWN HALL IN JANUARY WHERE WE KIND OF WENT A TO Z ON ALL OF THE TREE PLANTING PROGRAMS. WE HAD COUNCIL MEMBERS THERE AS WELL. WE WERE ABLE TO JUST KIND OF INTRODUCE WHO DOES WHAT IN THE CITY AND PROVIDE THAT FOUNDATION ON KNOWLEDGE AND CLARITY. I THINK IT WAS WELL RECEIVED FROM THE FEEDBACK I HEARD. FOLLOW UP TO THAT, THOUGH, THAT WAS US TALKING, EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND BEING THERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. WE ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO GIVE US FEEDBACK IN A DIVERSE SETTING OF STAKEHOLDERS WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY ENGAGED. SO WE HAD AT LEAST ONE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF YOUR DISTRICTS. WE HAD TECHNICAL PROFESSIONALS, CERTIFIED ARBORIST FROM IFAS EXTENSION. UTILITY PROVIDER, A DEVELOPER REPRESENTATIVE AND ADVOCACY GROUPS BOTH FOR MOBILITY AND TREE PERSPECTIVE. WE WERE THERE TO TRY TO BE IN A LISTENING ROLE, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THEY HAD. WHAT WE TRIED TO DO WAS EMBED SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION. SOME OF THE THINGS WE HEARD SPECIFIC ABOUT PLANTINGS. THERE WAS HUNDRED PERCENT CONSENSUS EVERYONE IN THE ROOM THAT MAJORITY OF THE FUNDS SHOULD BE SPENT ON PLANTINGS WITH SOME CAVEATS THAT MAINTENANCE WAS ALSO HIGHLIGHTED AS A BIG PRIORITY. WE'VE HEARD IT SEVERAL TIMES TODAY. SO THEIR THOUGHT WAS WITH MIXED OPINIONS, NOT EVERYONE WAS ON BOARD. COULD SOME OF THESE TREE TRUST FUNDS BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT THE MAINTENANCE BUDGET. NOT EVERYONE IN THAT ROOM WAS IN AGREEMENT ON THAT. OTHER MIXED OPINIONS FOR PLANTINGS SPECIFICALLY WAS PART OF THE STAKEHOLDERS ONLY WANTED TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES TO BE FUNDED FROM TREE TRUST FUNDS. OTHERS WERE JUST KIND OF SHARING THE SAME FRUSTRATIONS, KIND OF EXPRESSED TODAY THAT THEY JUST WANTED TREES TO GET INTO THE GROUND. SO WHICHEVER DEPARTMENT, WHATEVER WAY WE COULD DO IT IN A WAY THAT WAS EFFICIENT, THAT IS WHAT WAS EXPRESSED. THEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES TODAY, BUT JUST THE IMPORTANCE ALSO OF DIVERSIFICATION, BOTH OF SPECIES AND SIZE. IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP THAT OAKS MAKE UP 8% OF THE CANOPY. THAT'S FROM THE STEM COUNT. HOWEVER 35% OF THE LEAF AREA. GREAT PERCENTAGE OF OAK GIVES ALL THIS BENEFIT FROM A SHADE PERSPECTIVE. THE DRAWBACK IS IF WE WERE TO HAVE A PEST OR DISEASE THAT COMES THROUGH AND AFFECTS OAK SPECIES WE WOULD LOSE BASICALLY A THIRD OF OUR LEAF COVERAGE OVERNIGHT RIGHT? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER AS A CITY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MITIGATING THOSE POTENTIAL CONCERNS IN THE FUTURE. GETTING TO TREE-MENDOUS, SO THIS IS ONE OF THE PLANTING PROGRAMS THAT'S BEEN AROUND, WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY. RUN BY ONE FULL-TIME STAFF MEMBER WITH THE CONTRACTOR I TALKED ABOUT. THEY PLANT ABOUT 500 TREES IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. SO AT THIS TIME IT DOES NOT INCLUDE PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT IT'S REQUESTED BY THE ADJACENT PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER. SO THEY CAN BE PLANTED IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROGRAM IS WE GET TO PARTNER WITH THE PUBLIC. THE PROPERTY OWNER WATERS THAT TREE FOR ONE YEAR, WHICH REALLY HELPS US A LOT. HELPS BOLSTER OUR CAPACITY. AND THE CON IS THAT BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS SO AMAZING, SHERRY IS SO AMAZING, WE HAVE A SIX TO 12 MONTH LONG WAITING LIST DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR. THE DEMAND IS THERE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE TREES TO BE PLANTED. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS WE HAVE A LIST OF THE SPECIES PLANTED. AS YOU CAN SEE, THOSE SMALLER TREES DO MAKE UP THE MAJORITY. WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE HAVE ON THE NEXT SLIDE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT. TWO THINGS, ONE WAS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW WE COULD LEVERAGE THIS HIGH RETURN ON INVESTMENT WE THINK FROM THIS PROGRAM IN THE FISCAL YEAR '27. WE KNOW IT'S TRIED AND TRUE. THE DEMAND IS CERTAINLY THERE AS DESIGNATED BY THE WAITING LIST. IT COULD BE EASILY SCALABLE AND KIND OF THE BEAUTY IS THERE'S NOT A SHORT-TERM ESTABLISHMENT MAINTENANCE COST. SO THE RESIDENT, ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNER PARTNERS WITH US, AND AGREES TO WATER THE TREE FOR US, AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF BURDEN OFF OF US AND REDUCES THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM OVERALL TO THE CITY TO BE PRETTY EFFICIENT. AND SO TO KIND OF ADDRESS SOME OF THE SPECIES THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD ON WHAT IS BEING PLANTED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, WE DO WANT TO CONSIDER THINGS LIKE THE DIVERSITY RULE OF TEN PERCENT SPECIES, 20 PERCENT GENUS, 30% FAMILY. SO TRYING TO LIMIT. LIKE, BASICALLY, YOU COULDN'T PLANT MORE THAN 10% OF ONLY SOUTHERN LIVE OAKS OR MAYBE WE LOOK AT IT FROM WHAT'S ALREADY IN OUR CANOPY PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS UP FOR DEBATE. AND THEN 20% GENUS WOULD BE MAKE LIKE ALL TYPES OF OAK SPECIES, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO DO MORE THAN THE 20%. THAT'S KIND OF THE SIMILARITIES OR THE POTENTIAL PROGRAM CHANGES. THE OTHER BIG THING THAT WE REALLY THINK WOULD KIND OF WIDE THAN OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT THE LARGER SIZE SPECIES IS TO CHANGE SECTION 16-86 TO ALLOW EXPLICITLY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY PLANTING. RIGHT NOW WE'RE LIMITED TO RIGHT-OF-WAY. IF WE'RE UNDER ELECTRIC UTILITY, THAT LEAVES ONLY ONE TYPE OF TREE AND IT IS A TYPE THREE TREE OR PALM. PALMS ARE NOT AN OPTION AS A SPECIES IN THIS PROGRAM. SO IF WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, NOW YOU HAVE ROOM TO PLANT A PINE OR A MAPLE OR SOMETHING ELSE, WE NEED TO PROBABLY GET A LITTLE BIT INTO THE PRIVATE PROPERTY REALM AND ALLOW SECTION 16-86, ENABLE IT TO DO THAT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS. THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT. I WAS AT THAT ROUND TABLE. IT GOT HEATED. PEOPLE WERE NOT HAPPY, BY AND LARGE. I THINK THIS REALLY GOES TO PEOPLE JUST -- IT'S A TRUST LEVEL ISSUE THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH AS A CITY. I HAVE TALKED TO THE MAYOR ABOUT THIS, AND SHE HAS TOLD ME SHE IS NOT INTERESTED IN ADDING TO THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM. SHE SIMPLY WANTS TO DO TREE GIVEAWAYS. I DISAGREE. FOR ME, IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING. TREE GIVEAWAYS ARE A REALLY BAD IDEA. I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT GIVING AWAY TREES WITH ANY OF THIS TRUST MONEY. THAT IS JUST A HARD NO FOR ME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S EXPLICIT AND CLEAR. NONE OF THIS MONEY COULD BE USED TO JUST GIVE AWAY TREES. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TWO MORE STAFF MEMBERS TO THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM AND OPEN IT NOT TO 8 TO 10 FEET BUT OPEN IT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY. BECAUSE BACKYARDS ARE REALLY WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GET PEOPLE. IF YOU'RE SAYING, UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ALLEY, WHICH IS A RIGHT-OF-WAY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE TREES PLANTED. FOR ME, MY INTEREST IS OPENING IT WIDE TO PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PROPERTY AND TO ADD MORE STAFF MEMBERS TO THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE IT'S WILDLY SUCCESSFUL. IT'S REALLY RIGHT TREE, RIGHT PLACE, BUT IT'S ALSO -- I MEAN, FROM THE STORIES I HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO USE THE PROGRAM, SHE IS TREMENDOUS. SHE TRULY IS "TREE-MENDOUS." PUN INTENDED. BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. AS WE SAW WITH THE USF STUFF, WE SAW THAT PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT PUTTING A TREE IN. AND HAVING SOMEBODY WHO CAN HAND-HOLD AND FIND THE RIGHT TREE, AND FILL THAT SPACE, ESPECIALLY IN SOMEONE'S BACKYARD. I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS DIVERSITY RULE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT SPECIES GENUS FAMILY THIS IS. YOU'LL HAVE TO DUMB IT DOWN FOR ME AND I THINK THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS A WHOLE. I WOULD BE VERY OPEN TO THAT TYPE OF CONVERSATION BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO ASK FOR A MORATORIUM ON CRAPE MYRTLES IN THE CITY UNTIL WE REACH THAT PERCENTAGE OF WHATEVER IT IS WE ALL AGREE TO. I THINK CRAPE MYRTLES NEED TO COME OFF FOR AT LEAST TWO TO THREE YEARS JUST TO -- A, BECAUSE PEOPLE CHOOSE CRAPE MYRTLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA OF ANOTHER OPTION. I WAS WALKING DOWN JEFFERSON THE OTHER DAY, WHATEVER IS IN BLOOM RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOTEL, THE HYATT ACROSS THE STREET, I MEAN, THAT HAS THE TRUNK OF A CRAPE MYRTLE, BUT, MAN, DOES IT HAVE A LOT OF LEAF COVER AND SHADE. IF I KNEW WHAT THAT TREE WAS, I COULD TELL YOU AND SAY, HEY, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE SHOULD PLANT. BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE NEED TO SEE. I REALLY THINK THAT WITH THE TREE MATRIX, WE NEED TO HAVE PHOTOS. MAYBE NOT THERE, BUT WHERE YOU CAN CLICK AND ACTUALLY SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. BECAUSE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT -- I HAVE IT HERE SOMEWHERE. NO ONE KNOWS WHAT MOST OF THESE ARE. THAT'S MY FIRST ROUND OF FEEDBACK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: HOW MUCH LONGER FOR YOUR PRESENTATION? >> THAT'S IT FOR THIS PART. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION? >> SO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 3 -- SORRY, THIS ONE AS WELL. WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE SLIDES FOR RELIEF. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: LET'S FINISH YOUR PRESENTATION AND THEN GIVE IT BACK -- >> I'LL BRING BRIAN UP. >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING. TODAY I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT TAMPA RELIEF PROGRAM. WE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SO FAR. THIS PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2024. IT WAS -- STARTED BY A SUSTAINABILITY AND RESILIENCY DEPARTMENT. NOW MANAGED BY CITY PLANNING. THE OBJECTIVES VERY SIMPLE, INCREASE THE LEVEL OF TREE PLANTING ACROSS THE CITY, ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS. AND ALSO IT WAS TO TAKE SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE CANOPY ANALYSIS THAT WE DO EVERY FIVE YEARS AND ACTUALLY APPLY IT TO SOME OF OUR AREAS WHERE THERE WERE HIGH HEAT ISSUES AND SOME URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECTS. ONE OF THE THINGS ADDED TO THAT, AFTER THE 2024 STORMS, WE HAD HELENE AND WE HAD MILTON, IT WAS TO COMBAT SOME OF THE CANOPY LOSS WE HAD THERE AS YOU HEARD DURING THE DISCUSSION WITH USF AND THE POST-STORM CANOPY ANALYSIS. SO THE FOCUS INITIALLY, WE WERE LOOKING AT ALL SPACES. WE WERE LOOKING AT HOW MANY TREES WE CAN GET IN THE GROUND, AND THEN AS WE STARTED TO REFINE THE INFORMATION AND DATA, WE STARTED TO LOOK MORE TOWARDS THE PUBLIC REALM BECAUSE THAT WAS THE EASIER PLACE TO PLANT. WHEN YOU'RE PLANTING ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, THERE IS A LOT OF NEGOTIATION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BETWEEN THE HOMEOWNER AND THE PROVIDER OF THE TREES. SO IF WE'RE LOOKING TO PLANT TREES AT A RAPID PACE, WE WANTED TO START IN THE PUBLIC REALM AND THEN TURN OUR ATTENTION TOWARD THE PRIVATE PROPERTY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARRIVES. JUST TO GIVE YOU BACKGROUND, YOU HEARD SOME OF THIS ALREADY. WE HAVE 11 SCHEDULED PROJECTS THAT RANGE ALL IN CENTRAL PLANNING DISTRICT. SO THEY ARE ALL IN THE SAME PLANNING DISTRICT, BUT IT DOES INCLUDE AREAS LIKE THE YBOR AREA, DAVIS ISLANDS. IT ALSO INCLUDES MacFARLANE PARK. IT INCLUDES DOWNTOWN CDB AREA, AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MAIN PROJECTS WE HAVE. WE HAVE A BUNCH MORE LINED UP, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES THAT HAVE PROVIDED US WITH THAT NUMBER OF 3,000 PLUS TREES SO FAR. SO THE MAJORITY OF THE TREES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO PLANT ARE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO. IN CASES WHERE WE CANNOT PROVIDE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO, WE FOCUS ON TYPE THREE FOR THOSE PLANTINGS. I MENTIONED SOME OF THE AREAS EARLIER AND SOME OF THE CONFLICTS THAT WE DEAL WITH WHEN WE'RE PLANTING TREES ARE HIGHLY URBANIZED AREAS. OVERHEAD POWER LINES AND GENERAL SPACING AND CONFLICT ISSUES. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND OF HOW WE CONSIDER WHERE TO PLANT, USING THE RE-LEAF PROJECT. IF WE HAVE LARGE SPACES WITH NO CONFLICTS, TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES GO THERE. IF WE HAVE A SMALL PLANTING SPACE, TYPE THREE TREES ARE CONSIDERED UNLESS THERE IS A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE CAN FIT A TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO TREE. IF IT'S A TREE GRADE, IT IS -- TREE GRATE, LIKELY TYPE THREE. THAT'S NEGOTIABLE DEPENDING ON THE AREA WE ARE IN. IF IT'S UTILITIES, IT'S TYPE THREE OR NO TREE. WE HAVE A VERY STRONG AGREEMENT WITH TECO TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PLANTING UNDERNEATH POWER LINES, ESPECIALLY TREES THAT COULD BE IMPACTED LATER ON AS THEY GROW. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO CONSIDERED THAT IS TYPICALLY NOT AN ARBORIST BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE ARE CULTURAL THINGS. THOSE THINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. SO, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE DAVIS ISLANDS. DAVIS ISLANDS IS LOADED WITH WASHINGTONIAN PALMS. THOSE PALMS ARE BY OUR INVASIVE SPECIES LIST CONSIDERED PART OF THE TREES THAT YOU CAN REMOVE. BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S WHAT MAKES DAVIS ISLANDS, DAVIS ISLANDS, THOSE WASHINGTONIAN PALMS. SO LOOKING AT THAT IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF RULE OUT SUCH AS GREENSPACES THAT COULD BE UTILIZED WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO, OR AREAS WHERE WE KNOW RESIDENTS -- THE TREE WOULD MAYBE IMPACT IT BY PARKING, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS ACTUALLY GREENSPACE IN THAT AREA. SO THROUGHOUT MY TIME WITH DOING THE WORKSHOPS FOR THIS, WE'VE BEEN DOING WORKSHOPS SINCE 2025. AND HISTORIC YBOR NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, I'VE MET WITH THEM NUMEROUS TIMES. THEY ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND THEY ARE READY TO GET THE TREES PLANTED AND READY TO GET GOING. THEIR PROJECT IS PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO. THE SAME THING WITH THE DAVIS ISLANDS CIVIC ASSOCIATION. WE MET WITH THEM LAST YEAR, AND WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PLANS. WE CAME WITH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, AND WE HAD A MEETING. WE TALKED ABOUT THE PLANS. WE ROLLED OUT THE PLANS. AND EVERYONE WAS PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE MADE IT THROUGH FAA AND HCAA GUIDELINES FOR TREE PLANTINGS. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT AS A HURDLE, BUT EVENTUALLY WITH THE RIGHT SELECTION OF TREES THEY APPROVED A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD. SO THAT PLAN IS AT 100% AND READY TO GO. SO LOOKING AT IT, WE HAVE ADDITIONAL PLANS AS WELL THAT ARE IN OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE JUST SMALLER PROJECTS. SOMEONE MENTIONED SWANN CIRCLE, THAT'S ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE LINED UP AS A POTENTIAL TREE PLANTING. WHAT WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO IS WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO PLANT THE TREES IN AS MANY COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AFFECTED BY URBAN HEAT AND LOW CANOPY. SO LOOKING AT THAT, THAT'S BEEN OUR PRIMARY TARGET. JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE 11 PLANS RIGHT NOW DOESN'T MEAN THAT'S WHERE WE'LL STOP. WE INTEND TO TRY TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM AS MUCH AS WE CAN BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THIS PROGRAM IS SCALABLE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS CAN USE IT AS WELL, GIVEN THE GUIDELINES THAT WE PROVIDE THEM FROM THESE PILOT PROJECTS HERE. JUST TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF AS A PRACTITIONER HOW WE GO ABOUT LOOKING AT AREAS TO PLANT TREES, THIS IS ONE OF OUR ACTUAL PLANS THAT WE HAVE ON DISPLAY. THIS IS MacFARLANE PARK. IT'S AN AREA, AS YOU CAN SEE, WITH THE GOOGLE MAPS CLIP-OUT I PUT HERE, THERE IS A LOT OF OPEN SPACE. SO PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT TREES. WITH THAT, WE PLANTED, WE'RE INTENDING TO PLANT TYPE ONES ALL ALONG THERE BECAUSE THERE'S SPACE. ON THE NEXT STREET, THIS IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY DEAL WITH. CONFLICTS. THERE IS A NICE OPEN GREENSPACE OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE. IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD PLANT TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO THERE, BUT WE HAVE OVERHEAD POWER LINES. SO THAT IMMEDIATELY TAKES IT DOWN TO A TYPE THREE TREE FOR CONSIDERATION. ON TOP OF THAT, THERE ARE SIDEWALKS. THERE ARE UTILITIES ON THE OTHER SIDE AND ALSO EXISTING CANOPY AS WELL. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO DO, IF WE'RE GOING TO PLANT A TREE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT TREE HAS THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY TO GROW AND ACTUALLY LIVE TO ITS LIFE SPAN IN URBAN CONDITIONS. I TOOK AN ANALYSIS BASED ON THESE TWO. IT WAS A VERY BRIEF ANALYSIS USING OUR iTREE ECOSYSTEM SOFTWARE THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US BY THE USDA AND U.S. FOREST SERVICE. I JUST DID AN ANALYSIS OF WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FROM THIS SET OF PLANS RIGHT HERE ON THE TYPE THREE. SO I HAVE 14 TYPE THREE TREES HERE. I HAVE TWO TYPE ONE TREES BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT CAN FIT IN THIS AREA. AND THEN I RAN THE ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE. AND LOOKING AT THE BENEFITS, IT'S THREAT CLEAR THAT THE 14 TREES ARE DOING MORE WORK THAN THE TYPE ONE TREES, BECAUSE IT'S TWO OF THE TYPE ONE TREES. WE KNOW TYPE ONE TREES GIVE US THE MOST AMOUNT OF BENEFITS BASED ON LEAF AREA, BUT ALSO TYPE THREE TREES CAN DO THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK AND VOLUME. 20 YEARS LATER, THE BENEFITS ARE THREEFOLD FROM TYPE THREE TREES IN COMPARISON TO THOSE TWO TYPE ONES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: AGAIN, MAYBE I MISHEARD MS. FEELEY BEFORE WHEN TALKING ABOUT THIS SECTION OF THE CODE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMINGLING OF FUNDS. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT, BECAUSE -- YEAH, BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT. >>ABBYE FEELEY: SURE. I'LL GO TO THE CODE. ABBYE FEELEY. I DID BRING -- WELL, I BROUGHT ALL THE ORDINANCES. THIS TALKS ABOUT THE TREE TRUST FUNDS BEING ESTABLISHED. THIS IS THE CODE TODAY. SO IT TALKS ABOUT THE FIVE PLANNING DISTRICTS, AND THEN THE PURPOSE OF HAVING THOSE FUNDS AND PAYMENTS TO THE FUNDS, WHO IS MAKING THEM, EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUNDS. IT SAYS THAT THE TREE TRUST FUNDS SHALL BE USED SOLELY FOR SELECTION ACQUISITION INSTALLATION, AND MITIGATION AND MAINTENANCE OF MITIGATION TREES AS DEFINED BY 27-43. I WOULD ARGUE EVERY DOLLAR IN THERE IS A MITIGATION, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW IT'S COMING IN THERE, THROUGH PERMITTING WHEN YOU'RE NOT PLANTING, YOU'RE PAYING. AND THOSE ARE YOUR TREES. THOSE ARE MITIGATION. AND THEN TO BE PLACED IN DEPARTMENT MANAGED LANDS, RIGHT-OF-WAY, PROPERTIES IN WHICH THE CITY HAS LEGAL INTEREST, AND IN ANY OTHER LANDS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 13-165, I GRABBED THE CODE BEFORE, YEAH, IN 27, I GRABBED THE WRONG ORDINANCE, BUT THEN IT GOES ON, TRANSFER OF MONIES BETWEEN FUNDS. CITY COUNCIL MAY APPROVE THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS BETWEEN PLANNING DISTRICT TREE TRUST FUNDS IF AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS LOSS OF CANOPY IN ONE PLANNING DISTRICT AS FOLLOWS: SUBSEQUENT TO EACH URBAN CANOPY ANALYSIS, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT THIS MORNING WITH THAT PRESENTATION BY USF, IF WE SAW THERE WAS CERTAIN LOSSES, RIGHT. AT ANY TIME TO ADDRESS LOSS OF CANOPY CAUSED BY A NATURAL DISASTER, LIKE HURRICANE, TORNADO, SOMETHING ELSE. AT ANY TIME TO ADDRESS LOSS OF CANOPY CAUSED BY OR IMMEDIATELY ANTICIPATED TO OCCUR, NATURAL OCCURRENCES THAT THREATEN. THIS IS THE DISEASE AND FUNGUS THAT WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING. SO THIS SECTION OF THE CODE, WHILE IT LAYS OUT HERE THAT IT SHOULD BE PAID BY THAT, THAT DOES GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S NOT SO MUCH A COMINGLING OF FUNDS. IT'S AN ASSIGNMENT BY THE COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO USE IT IN A DIFFERENT AREA IF THAT WAS YOUR DESIRE. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE LIKE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IS THE DESIRE OF COUNCIL. LIKE, I THINK WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO MITIGATE WITHIN EACH TREE PLANNING DISTRICT. MS. SCHARF, YOU DISAPPEARED, IF YOU COULD COME BACK. I HAD HER GO AND TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT TREE THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TREE GRATES -- I'M SORRY, SHE TOOK A LONG TIME TO ANSWER THAT -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE STARTED THE CLOCK WHEN SHE STARTED. WE CAN COME BACK. COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: VERY QUICKLY, IF I MAY, MR. CHAIRMAN. THE DOCTOR FROM SOUTH FLORIDA SPOKE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE IN TREES, ONE, TWO, AND THREE, AND VERY CASUALLY HE MENTIONED THE TREES ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE IF A DISEASE COMES AND I THINK ONE OF THE TWO OAK TREES, FORGOT THE NAMES. CAN YOU COME UP FOR A SECOND, SIR? I'M NOT TRYING TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH. IF I GO BACK IN HISTORY, HOUR AND A HALF AGO SO I REMEMBER WHAT YOU SAID VERY CLEARLY ABOUT HAVING SOME OF THE CLASS THREE TREES. >> SHAWN LANDRY. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: CAUSE OF DISEASE, ONE OR TWO TREES -- >> YOU SIMPLY DON'T WANT A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF ANY ONE SPECIES, AND THAT'S WHAT WAS TALKED ABOUT BY KAYLA AS WELL. BY SPECIES, WHICH WOULD BE LIVE OAK VERSUS LAUREL OAK. THOSE ARE SPECIES. GENUS WOULD BE OAKS. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I BELIEVE CLASS TWO IS THE ONE THAT COULD BE WIPED OUT KIND OF QUICKLY? >> NO. IT'S NOT A CLASS -- CLASS IS MORE OF A SIZE ISSUE. SO IT'S REALLY NOT A SIZE ISSUE. IT'S A SPECIES SPECIFIC. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ANY ONE OF THEM COULD BE WIPED OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE OF DISEASE. ANY CURE FOR THE DISEASE? >> THERE ARE NO KNOWN DISEASES FOR THE SPECIES THAT THE CITY IS PLANTING RIGHT NOW. OR LIVE OAKS OR LAUREL OAKS. BUT THERE ARE SOME DATE PALMS, I THINK -- PHOENIX PALM, SO THERE ARE SOME THREATS. I WOULDN'T SAY IT IS A HUGE ISSUE RIGHT NOW. UP IN THE NORTH, DUTCH ELM DISEASE, YOU'VE HEARD OF THAT, THAT WIPED OUT CITIES BECAUSE THEY PLANTED TOO MANY OF ONE SPECIES. SO THAT'S THE SIMPLE -- THAT'S THE TAKE-HOME. DON'T PLANT TOO MANY OF ONE SPECIES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: CAN I ASK A FOLLOW-ON QUESTION ON THAT? SORRY, BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN. SO I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON TREES, BUT I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LIVE OAK, MAYBE AROUND THE COUNTRY. ARE THERE DIFFERENT SUBSPECIES THAT COULD BE PLANTED THAT MIGHT, WHERE ONE SUBSPECIES MIGHT BE IMMUNE TO CERTAIN DISEASES AND SOME MIGHT BE SUSCEPTIBLE? >> THERE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF OAK JUST IN GENERAL. AND SO LIVE OAK -- SOUTHERN LIVE OAK, SAND LIVE OAK, THOSE ARE SORT OF DIFFERENT. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU'RE GROWING THEM IN A NURSERY SETTING, WE REFER TO THEM AS BASTARD OAKS BECAUSE THEY INTERBREED SO MUCH THAT IT'S HARD TO GET A SPECIFIC SPECIES. THAT'S PART OF THE CHALLENGE, BUT YEAH. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NO QUESTION FOR YOU. WHEN I STARTED HERE ALMOST 11 YEARS AGO, WE HAD KATHY BECK. KATHY BECK WAS LIKE THE TREE CZAR UNOFFICIALLY. BUT WHEN SHE RETIRED, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE HAD A REPLACEMENT. WE HAD CHANGES BECAUSE WE WENT INTO A NEW ADMINISTRATION AT THE TIME. I WILL TELL YOU, USING THE MONEY FOR THE TREE TRUST FUND, YOU DON'T WANT TO DEVIATE FROM THAT. I THINK WE'VE HEARD SOME CONCERNS BECAUSE I DON'T WANT IT TO BE ABUSED IN THE FUTURE. YOU START WITH A LITTLE HERE AND THERE. NOT SAYING THAT IT WILL BE, BUT I THINK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY. SOCIAL SECURITY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DIPPED INTO IT OVER THE YEARS AND WE SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH JOE CHILLURA, FORMER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER, ESSENTIALLY THE FATHER OF THE ORIGINAL TREE ORDINANCE BACK IN THE 1970s AND I LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM. IN MY TIME ON COUNCIL, I'VE DOCUMENTED ALMOST MY ENTIRE TIME HERE. I CAN SHOW YOU PHOTOGRAPHS. HURRICANE IRMA, I HAVE PHOTOS OF HOW MANY TREES WERE DESTROYED THAT YOU WOULD THINK -- THEY WERE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD OR MORE. WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW OLD THEY WERE BUT UPROOTED. JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE BIG DOESN'T MEAN THE ROOTS ARE STRONG. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME I'LL TALK TODAY. SECOND, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE LAST HURRICANES. I WAS OUT THERE THE NEXT DAY AND WHATNOT. THE GOAL OF THIS IS TO PROTECT OUR TREE CANOPY. WE HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST. I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T JUST PUT TYPE ONE EVERYWHERE. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE DISEASE, YOU CAN WIPE OUT A LOT. WE CAN DIVERSIFY A LITTLE BIT. BUT I THINK -- I'M NOT GOING TO PUT WORDS IN PEOPLE'S MOUTHS -- I THINK WHAT PEOPLE WANT ARE TREES THAT ARE RESILIENT. CRAPE MYRTLES ARE BEAUTIFUL, CAN BE BEAUTIFUL. BUT WHEN YOU HAVE LIVE OAKS, WHEN YOU HAVE SOLID TREES THAT ARE STORM RESILIENT, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT. REMEMBER, BEFORE WE WERE HERE, THE STORMS WERE HERE AND THE TREES WERE HERE. WE HAVE TO PROTECT WHAT WE DO. BECAUSE OVERDEVELOPMENT AND NOT HAVING RULES IN PLACE FOR SO MANY YEARS, WE'VE DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE. AGAIN, I'LL STOP WITH I AM VERY CAUTIOUS IN HOW WE USE THE MONEY IN THE TREE TRUST FUND. I DON'T WANT TO DEVIATE FROM WHAT ITS PURPOSE IS GOING TO BE. I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. I KNOW WE HAVE REGULATIONS BECAUSE OF UTILITIES AND POWER LINES AND WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL MOVING FORWARD TO PROTECT WHAT WE HAVE AND BUILD UPON WHAT WE'VE LOST. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG AND BACK TO COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK BEFORE WE CONCLUDE THIS PORTION. >>NAYA YOUNG: I BELIEVE I HEARD EARLIER THAT WITH THE STORMS, HAD WE HAD BETTER MAINTENANCE OF OUR TREES WE COULD HAVE SAVED SOME OF THOSE TREES, CORRECT? YEAH. OKAY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: MS. SCHARF HAS A PICTURE OF THE TREE. I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT THAT. IF YOU CAN -- SO THAT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT TREE, RIGHT? LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF SHADE THAT THING PROVIDES. BUT THAT IS NOT AN OAK TREE. CAN YOU ZOOM IN? THERE IS SOMEONE WHO WAS ABLE TO TELL US -- YEAH, ON THE WOLF. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT KIND OF TREE THAT IS? CAN YOU COME UP AND LET US KNOW? YOU HAVE TO COME UP. THEN YOU HAVE TO SAY YOUR NAME AND ALL OF THAT STUFF. THE RULE OF COUNCIL. >> REBECCA ZAGAR, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA. IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY THIS VERY QUICKLY FROM A PHOTOGRAPH, IT SEEMED IT WAS A CHINESE ELM OR PERHAPS A WINGED ELM. I HAVE TWO WINGED ELMS IN MY FRONT YARD, I FEEL GOOD -- >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S TECHNICALLY A TYPE THREE TREE. >> THAT IS A QUESTION FOR THE URBAN FORESTER. >>LYNN HURTAK: OH, IT'S A TYPE ONE. THIS IS WHAT I MEAN, THOUGH. IT IS A NARROWER -- SO BEING ABLE TO PLANT THESE TYPE OF TREES ON SIDEWALKS. IT'S NOT JUST A TYPE ISSUE. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT TYPE THREE TREES, TO PRIORITIZE THOSE THAT PROVIDE SOME TYPE OF SHADE. FOR ME, I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN JUST EVEN SUBSECTIONING IT WITH TYPE THREE BECAUSE CRAPE MYRTLES, WHILE THEY ARE PRETTY, PROVIDE LITTLE TO NO SHADE. AND JUST REALLY, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT TREES, OBVIOUSLY. BUT THERE ARE -- IS THERE A WAY -- THIS IS MY QUESTION. IS THERE A WAY WE CAN SUBPRIORITIZE -- ANYONE CAN ANSWER THIS -- SUBPRIORITIZE TYPE THREE TREES TO BE ABLE TO FOCUS ON THOSE THAT PROVIDE SOME TYPE AND LEVEL OF SHADE? >> YEAH, THAT'S DEFINITELY DOABLE. >>LYNN HURTAK: NAME, SORRY. >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING. THAT'S DEFINITELY DOABLE. JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING IS TYPE THREE DOESN'T MEAN IT DOESN'T PROVIDE BENEFITS. SO FINDING THE TREE THAT IS PROVIDING THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF BENEFITS FOR THE AREA THAT IT'S PLACED IN WOULD BE THE IDEAL SITUATION. >>LYNN HURTAK: SO WE COULD DO SOME SUBSETS OF TYPE THREE TREES. >> YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WE'LL CONCLUDE THIS PORTION. FOR THE LISTENING PUBLIC, EVERYBODY THAT IS IN THE CRAPE MYRTLE FAN CLUB, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTACT COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, THE ONE-800, STOP THE HATE. >>LYNN HURTAK: THERE'S JUST TOO MANY OF THEM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: STOP CRAPE MYRTLE HATE. STOP CRAPE MYRTLE HATE. ACTUALLY, I'LL ADD BOTTLE BRUSH TO THE HATE THING. THOSE ARE ALLERGENIC. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD PLANT BOTTLE BRUSH TREES. SOUTHEAST ASIA, AUSTRALIA, WHICH I THINK CRAPE MYRTLES ARE AS WELL. THEY ARE NOT INDIGENOUS. OLIVE TREES. WHY AREN'T WE PLANTING OLIVE TREES LIKE IN YBOR CITY? IS THAT SOMETHING WE'RE NOT PLANTING ANYMORE? DIDN'T WE USED TO PLANT OLIVE TREES IN YBOR CITY? >> OLIVE TREES IN YBOR. I DON'T RECALL THE VOLUME IN WHICH THEY WERE PLANTED BUT I HAVE SEEN A HANDFUL OF THEM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THEY ARE MODEST SIZE TREES AND PROVIDE SHADE. CULTURALLY APPLICABLE. >> YEAH, IT IS A TREE IN OUR CITY OF TAMPA TREE MATRIX. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE I KEEP SEEING CRAPE MYRTLES PLANTED IN YBOR CITY. WHY ISN'T THAT CRAPE MYRTLE AN OLIVE TREE? SEEMS MUCH MORE APPROPRIATE TO ME. >> WITH THE RE-LEAF PLANS, WE SHOP THOSE OUT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ONE LAST QUESTION AND THEN MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT -- GO AHEAD AND I'LL FINISH UP. >>BILL CARLSON: QUICK QUESTION, EITHER USF OR STAFF, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED ACROSS THE STATE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH TAMPA, IS WE HAD 100, 150-YEAR-OLD OAKS AND THAT HAD BROAD ROOTS, BUT BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE STORMS IN A ROW, THE GROUND WAS SATURATED. BECAUSE THE ROOTS WEREN'T DEEP BUT THEY WERE WIDE, THEN THE WIND CAME AND KNOCKED THEM OVER. IT RIPPED UP THE WHOLE FRONT YARD OR BACK OVER WHEN THEY CAME OVER AND LOST ALL THESE TREES. ANYTHING A HOMEOWNER CAN DO IN A SITUATION WHERE THE GROUND IS SATURATED, ANYTHING TO DO TO ANCHOR THE TREES TO STOP THEM FROM FALLING OVER? >> IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT I CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION. TYPICALLY WHEN WE ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE SPACING FOR A TREE DURING CONSTRUCTION, WE WOULD PROVIDE -- WE REQUEST A MINIMUM 20 FEET FOR EXISTING LIKE LARGE GRAND TREES. >>BILL CARLSON: PROTECTION OF THE TREES, SO THE OLD OAK TREES THERE BEFORE THE HOUSES, THEY JUST FELL OVER BECAUSE THE GROUND WAS SATURATED. FOLKS FROM USF OR ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS ON ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO SAVE TREES LIKE THAT? >> I THINK WITH THE SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEM, YOU'RE TYPICALLY -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU HAVE REINFORCEMENTS BEHIND TO YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION. >> SHAWN LANDRY. KEEP IN MIND, THIS WAS A RECORD-BREAKING RAINFALL EVENT. THAT'S ONE PART OF THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WHICH TREES BLEW OVER, I THINK YOU DO SEE SOME CONFLICTS IN SIDEWALKS OR PAVEMENT IN SOME OF THEM. THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM. BUT, YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN AVOID -- THE ONLY WAY TO AVOID GETTING SATURATED SOILS IS TO LIVE ON A BEACH. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S MUCH YOU CAN DO ABOUT THAT. >>BILL CARLSON: THERE'S NO WAY TO ANCHOR THE TREES OR PROTECT THEM FROM FALLING OVER? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ISN'T IT BASICALLY YOU HAVE A LARGE CANOPY WIND SAIL AND SHALLOW ROOT STRUCTURE, BROAD, SHALLOW ROOT STRUCTURE, AS OPPOSED TO A TAP ROOT. >> RIGHT, RIGHT. EXACTLY. IT'S THE KIND OF TREE IT IS. GENERALLY SPEAKING, IN A LARGE ENVIRONMENT, WHEN THE ROOTS, EVEN SHALLOW, THEY HAVE ROOM TO SPREAD OUT FAR ENOUGH, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE STRONG. BUT, AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW IN THE CASE OF THESE RECORD BREAKING RAINFALL EVENTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MANY OF THEM IN OUR HISTORY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: COULD KIND OF WRAP THIS STUFF UP, I THINK PART OF THE THING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE DISEASE ISSUE, ONE OF THE ISSUES, THIS IS WHY DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT, DISEASES JUMP FROM THE AFFLICTED SPECIES OR ANIMAL OR TREE OR WHATEVER IT IS FROM ONE TO ANOTHER BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY. SO PART OF NATURAL -- NATURE'S WAY OF HELPING WITH THAT IS SPREADING OUT AND HAVING SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ISSUE. GO OUT WEST, YOU HAVE THE PINE BEETLES, JAPANESE PINE BEETLE DEVASTATING CONIFERS AND YOU SEE ENTIRE MOUNTAINS OF DESTROYED WOODS AND FOREST AND IT'S BECAUSE OF PROXIMITY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT WHEN WE GET BACK TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND BRING IT BACK TO STAFF, I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON A SOLUTION, ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I'M HEARING TODAY. ONE OF THE THINGS IS IMPORTANT. OBVIOUSLY, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS ENHANCE AND INCREASE THE TREE CANOPY IN THE CITY OF TAMPA. ONE, RESTORE SOME OF THE TREE CANOPY WE'VE LOST AND, TWO, TO CONTINUE ON THE CITY'S OBJECTIVE OF HAVE A WORLD-CLASS TREE CANOPY. I THINK WHAT WE CAN'T DO WHEN WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION, I ASK THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY SPEAK, TOO, TO THINK ABOUT THIS. IT CAN'T JUST BE BLINDERS IN ONE DIRECTION. IN OTHER WORDS, NOT JUST ABOUT PLANTING. ALSO ABOUT MAINTENANCE. ALSO ABOUT LOCATION. IT'S ABOUT SPECIES. IT'S ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS. SO WHEN WE COME AT THIS AT THE END OF ALL THIS DISCUSSION, TRY TO FACTOR IN -- IF THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE CANOPY AND MAINTAIN A WORLD-CLASS TREE CANOPY, WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS? IT IS PLANTING, IT'S DIVERSITY. IT'S MAINTENANCE. IT'S STAFF TO DO THESE THINGS. IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LAND. SO THINK ABOUT THAT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO COUNCIL. PROVIDE SOLUTIONS. WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO POINT OUT THE PROBLEM TO US. WE HEARD IT ALL TODAY. COME TO US WITH SOLUTIONS. COME TO US WITH IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN GET TO AN END RESULT SO WHEN WE ARE DONE HERE BY LUNCH WE CAN CRAFT SOMETHING TO MOVE THE CITY FORWARD. WITH THAT, PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU CAN START WITH THREE OR FOUR AT A TIME AGAINST THE WALL. THE PEOPLE VERY WELL AND EXPERIENCED AND UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS DO, STAND AT THE WALL. WHEN YOU BEGIN YOUR TIME, YOU'LL GET THREE MINUTES. START WITH YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES AND SEE A 30 MINUTES -- A LOT OF NEW FACES THAT I SEE NOT USED TO THIS. TIMER WILL GO OFF. 30 SECOND COUNT-DOWN. WHEN THAT TIME IS UP, YOUR TIME IS UP AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR SEAT. FIRST PUBLIC SPEAKER. >> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL. STEVE MICHELINI. FIRST OF ALL, ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE HAS TO BE A NEXUS BETWEEN COLLECTING A FEE AND USING IT FOR INTENDED PURPOSE. FOR YEARS, THE BUILDERS WERE CRITICIZED FOR NOT CONTRIBUTING BACK TO THE TREE FUND AND ENABLING TREES TO BE PLANTED. YOU CAN'T USE THAT FUND FOR PLANNING AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF AND USING IT FOR CITY PROJECT. YOU SHOULDN'T USE IT. MAYBE YOU CAN, BUT YOU SHOULDN'T BE USING THAT AS A PIGGYBACK TO FUND OTHER PROJECTS. WHEN A HOMEOWNER, A NEW HOUSE IS BEING BUILT, YOU PAY INTO THAT FUND, AND THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO USE THAT MONEY FOR THAT PURPOSE. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FOR REPLACING THE TREE CANOPY. LET ME SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE. >> MOVE IT UP. >> THIS IS IN AN EASEMENT. THIS IS A TREE CANOPY WHERE THE MAINTENANCE HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED. THIS IS THE RESULT OF THOSE TREES DAMAGING PRIVATE PROPERTY. THERE IS A BETTER PICTURE. THIS IS WHAT THE CITY DOES DOWNTOWN. THIS IS AN OAK TREE AND IN A THREE-BY-THREE BLOCK, GOING TO COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK'S POINT ABOUT ELM TREES AND OTHER THINGS. THE CITY DOES IT, BUT THEY DON'T LET A BUILDER DO IT, THEY DON'T LET A HOMEOWNER DO IT. CRAPE MYRTLES, I KNOW THAT'S NOT YOUR FAVORITE TREE, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. YOU DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT. YOU DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO GET THE TREES OUT. WE PROPOSED THROUGH THE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION TO CREATE A COOPERATIVE EFFORT WITH SCHOOLS TO HAVE AN ARBORIST DAY AT THEIR SCHOOL OR AT THE YMCAs OR WHEREVER TO GIVE AWAY TREES. GET THE TREES OUT THAT ARE SITTING THERE. YOU COLLECTED $6 MILLION IN TREE FUNDS, 2.3 SOMETHING MILLION DOLLARS IN THE SOUTH TREE FUND ALONE, AND IT'S NOT BEING USED. BUT THEN WHEN YOU SAY YOU WANT TO USE THAT FOR PLANTING PURPOSES, THEY KNOW WHERE THE TREES HAVE TO GO. YOU HAVE AN TEMPORARY OF WHERE THE OPEN SPACES ARE. -- YOU HAVE AN INVENTORY OF WHERE THE OPEN SPACES ARE. THE SHIFT IN THE CITY HAS CAUSED PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE RULES ARE TOO COMPLEX. THEY SIMPLY ARE TOO DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PROPERTY OWNER. YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT YOUR CRAs. THEY HAVE MONEY, INDIVIDUALLY, FOR YBOR CITY, FOR DOWNTOWN, FOR WEST TAMPA, EAST TAMPA. USE THE CRA MONEY INSTEAD OF COMING BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND. YOU ALREADY ROBBED THE GENERAL FUND FROM THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING IN THERE ANYWAY. SO USE THAT TO ASSIST IN ENHANCING THE TREE CANOPY. INSURANCE LIMITATIONS. IF YOU DON'T TRIM THE TREES, THEY'LL CANCEL YOUR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, WHETHER ON YOUR PROPERTY OR IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY. THERE ARE EXAMPLES OF THAT ALL OVER THE PLACE. ANYWAY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONSIDER THOSE OPTIONS, AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, MAKE SURE YOU ALL KNOW, THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS 2 AND 3. SPEAK TO EITHER ONE OR BOTH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. START WITH YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ED AUSTIN, RESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBER OF HYNCA, THE HISTORIC YBOR NEIGHBORHOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION. I AM HERE TO EXPRESS CONCERNS FOR NEED FOR TREES IN YBOR CITY FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE. THIS PROCESS IS TAKING A LONG TIME TO ACTION STEPS. OUR HISTORIC LANDMARK DISTRICT NEEDS NEIGHBORHOOD TREES. OUR CAMPAIGN IS NAMED TREE-BOR CITY. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF FOR TWO YEARS. A YEAR AGO LAST APRIL AT JC NEWMAN CIGAR FACTORY, THE CITY PRESENTED A MUCH APPRECIATED TREES FOR COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE. THEY DISPLAYED TYPES OF TREES, RIGHT-OF-WAY PLANTING LOCATIONS. WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN MANY PRIVATE HOMES IN YBOR CITY. THERE WAS A GREAT TURNOUT. PEOPLE WERE EXCITED. THERE WAS HIGH ENTHUSIASM. RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO VIEW AND PROVIDE INPUT. SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN NO ACTION AS IT RELATES TO ACTUAL PLANTINGS IN YBOR, TO THE COMMUNITY'S FRUSTRATION. YBOR HAS NEVER HAD MUCH OF A CANOPY. WE ALSO HAVE CONCERNS THAT THE CITY'S MITIGATION TREE PROGRAM IN MANY WAYS IS OVERDUE FOR UPDATING SINCE 2009. HOW CAN THAT BE? GRAND OAKS THAT WERE RECENTLY REMOVED ON 3rd AVENUE IN YBOR BY THE POWER COMPANY HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED BY ANYTHING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT MONEY FOR THOSE TREES WENT INTO A GENERAL FUND THAT CAN BE USED ANYWHERE. THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. WE WANT TO LIVE IN A WALKABLE COMMUNITY FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. IN REGARDS TO TREE CANOPY, WE'RE BACK TO THE 2021 STUDY THAT FOUND TAMPA TREE COVERAGE WAS THE LOWEST IN 26 YEARS. YBOR IS TRAFFIC CONGESTED. HOW DO WE PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE CARBON DIOXIDE SPEWED BY CARS, AND EVERY KIND OF TRUCK YOU CAN IMAGINE. WALKING IN YBOR IS WALKING FOR THE MOST PART ON CONCRETE. WE NEED SHADE TREES. WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND THE URBAN CANOPY. THEREFORE, WE REQUEST THAT THE CITY PROVIDE A UNIFIED PROCESS FOR APPROACHING TREE NEEDS. THE NECESSARY RESOURCES, THE FUNDING AND STAFFING NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PLANTINGS. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THE PERPETUAL PLANNING PROCESS, TO THE PLANTING PROCESS. WE TALKED ABOUT RIGHT TREE, RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE. THE TIME IS NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. START WITH YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS KITTY WALLACE. I'M PAST PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA GARDEN CLUB, 400 MEMBERS, TWICE. AND A MEMBER OF MY CIVIC ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE COALITION OF COMMUNITY GARDENS, WHICH HAS OVER HUNDREDS OF MEMBERS IN THE AREA. SO I'M HEARING PEOPLE BEING VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TREES, BEING VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ANYTHING THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, BUT I ALSO HEARD SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING FROM THE USF STUDY. THEY POINTED OUT ALL THE THINGS THEY POINTED OUT. BUT WHAT I HEARD WAS A RECOMMENDATION FOR A STEWARDSHIP, A COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP COMPONENT. AND WHEN I'M LISTENING TO THESE PLANS RIGHT NOW AND THE DISCUSSION, I'M HEARING VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, EXCEPT FOR THIS GENTLEMAN. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL. THE NEIGHBORHOOD KNOWS WHAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW ABOUT TREES, AND THERE ARE COMMUNITY PEOPLE. I THINK THIS IDEA OF A COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP WOULD TAKE THE LEVEL OF DECISION MAKING INTO A COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY WHEN MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TREES TO PLANT IN WHAT COMMUNITY. SO I'M ASKING THAT YOU LOOK INTO THAT. THAT COULD BE VERY COST-EFFECTIVE AND VERY EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF DOING PLANTING OF TREES THAT ARE WANTED BY THE COMMUNITY AND VALUED FOR THEIR PROPERTIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR LONGEVITY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. >> HI. GOOD MORNING. NANCY STEVENS, TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP AND SIERRA CLUB. THANK YOU EVERYONE HERE WHO IS SUPPORTIVE OF TREES. THIS IS A VERY GOOD WORKSHOP. I WANTED TO -- MY COMMENTS ARE FOCUSING ON GROWING AND MAINTAINING OUR CANOPY AND THE INVESTMENT THAT'S REQUIRED FOR IT. IT DOES REQUIRE INVESTMENT IN THE -- AND THE TREE TRUST FUND IS ONLY ONE PART OF THAT. WHEN MS. FEELEY PROPOSES PUTTING MONEY INTO THE 2027 BUDGET FOR THE RE-LEAF PROGRAM, I FULLY SUPPORT THAT. WE NEED MORE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR TREES. THE TREE TRACK AND FIELD IS NOT AND SHOULD NOT BE THE ONLY FUNDING SOURCE FOR TREES. THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM, WE HAVE ALL THESE DESIRES TO DO THINGS THAT THE TREE TRUST FUND WAS NOT MEANT TO DO. THE TREE TRUST FUND IS MEANT TO REPLACE TREES REMOVED DURING CONSTRUCTION. $300 TREE DOESN'T COVER THE COST OF ONE $1200 TREE PLANTING. NOT ENOUGH TO DO EVERYTHING WE WANT TO HELP WITH URBAN HEAT ZONES AND OTHER THINGS. WITH THE LIMITED TREE TRUST FUND RESOURCES, THOSE RESOURCES SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON PLANTING LARGE SHADE TREES. TO REPLACE THE CANOPY THAT'S BEEN DESTROYED IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FUNDING. FOR EXAMPLE, RE-LEAF PROGRAM AND TREE TRUST FUND TOGETHER COULD DO A LOT TO REPLACE THE CANOPY. HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER COSTS IN THE RE-LEAF PROGRAM, THE DAVIS ISLAND PLAN THAT I SAW, THERE WAS COST FOR LANDSCAPING, TRAFFIC CONTROL, IRRIGATION, A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS INCLUDED IN THAT PROGRAM, PROJECT FOR 80 TREES. NET RESULT WAS THE COST WOULD HAVE BEEN $6,700 PER TREE PLANTED IN THAT PROGRAM. WE USE THAT KIND OF -- IF WE USE THE TREE TRUST FUND FOR THAT WHOLE PROJECT WE WOULD RUN OUT OF MONEY. I PROPOSE WE USE THE TREE TRUST FUND FOR PART OF THAT FOR THE TREES IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER FUNDING TO DO THE OTHER PARTS OF THE PROJECT THAT NEED TO BE DONE AND MAKE SENSE TO BE DONE AS A WHOLE PROJECT TOGETHER. ITEM 3, STORMWATER PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF THERE'S NO STEWARDSHIP FOR THE FUND. WE NEED SOMEBODY IN STAFF THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO LOOK AT PROPOSALS TO USE THE TREE TRUST FUND AND AUTHORIZE WHETHER IT IS USED OR NOT. AND MAYBE DIRECT WHICH PART IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE FUND AND WHICH PARTS OF THE PROJECT AREN'T. STORMWATER PROJECT IS AN EXAMPLE THAT DID HAPPEN. I SUGGEST WE DO FUND THAT -- WE NEED TO WORK ON THE REPORTING AND THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE MONEY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH NANCY. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. START WITH YOUR NAME. >> BEFORE I START, IS THIS THE ONLY TIME WE'LL GET TO SPEAK? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ON ITEMS 2 AND 3. THERE WILL BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. >> BASICALLY THE PowerPoint PRESENTATIONS THAT WE SAW ALREADY. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ANYTHING YOU ALREADY HEARD TODAY. START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> PAMELA JACKSON HANEY. I AM WITH THE TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TODAY. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD THAT I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT UP TO THIS POINT WERE THAT FUNDING -- A GENERAL FUND FOR TREES, FOR A CITY OF TAMPA SIZE SHOULD BE 4.5 MILLION TO 9.9 MILLION DOLLARS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE FOR URBAN FORESTRY IN THE GENERAL FUND 4.2. SO WE'RE WAY BELOW WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN THE GENERAL FUND WHICH WOULD BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE MAINTENANCE FOR THE TREES THAT ARE PLANTED. WHEREAS, THE TREE TRUST FUND, OBVIOUSLY, SHOULD JUST BE USED TO PLANT THE TREES, WHICH IS ALREADY AN EXORBITANT COST OF $1400 A TREE OR UP TO $1400 A TREE. SO I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON PRIORITIZING GETTING MORE MONEY INTO THAT FUND. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION WAS THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM. SO THAT -- THOSE FUNDS DO COME FROM THE TREE TRUST FUND OR FROM THE TAMPA TREE FUND. I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE POWER LINE THING, WE HAVE THAT ON MY STREET, TOO, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD GO IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS INSTEAD AND PLANT A TYPE ONE TREE INSTEAD OF A CRAPE MYRTLE SINCE THAT'S WHAT IS GETTING THROWN UNDER THE BUS. THE OTHER THING ABOUT THE CRAPE MYRTLES THAT I'M WONDERING IS, SO, LET'S SAY FIVE HOUSES ON MY STREET HAVE CRAPE MYRTLES, ONLY ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE -- AND THEY WERE ALL PLANTED I'M GUESSING BY THE TREE-MENDOUS TAMPA PROGRAM -- ONE OUT OF FIVE KNOWS HOW TO PRUNE A CRAPE MYRTLE. THE CRAPE MURDER WE'VE HEARD ABOUT, THEY ARE ALL MURDERED ON MY STREET, EXCEPT FOR ONE YARD WHERE THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL LARGE CRAPE MYRTLE UNDER THE POWER LINES THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. WHO IS FOLLOWING UP ON THAT? I KNOW WE'RE GIVING THEM TO THE HOMEOWNER AND SAYING, HERE, TAKE CARE OF THIS. BUT WHEN YOU DO THAT TO A CRAPE MYRTLE, IT OPENS UP THE TREE FOR DISEASE PESTS. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS STRONG IN A HURRICANE AS IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. AND, BY THE WAY, THEY ONLY LIVE UP TO 50 YEARS WHEREAS A TYPE ONE TREE LIVES, AS WE KNOW, FOR CENTURIES, HUNDREDS OF YEARS. I WANT US ALL TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WELL. BUT I DO THINK WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE PUTTING THE TYPE ONE TREES FIRST IN THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN HAVE ONLY ONE PERSON RUNNING IT IF THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS TO BE, INSTEAD OF SEVERAL PEOPLE. TYPE ONE TREES GO FIRST AND THEN MAYBE A BACK LOG OF 6 TO 12 MONTHS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: SABAL PALMS, TOO. PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TRIM SABAL PALMS. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. START WITH YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. I'M LORRAINE PERINO, PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP. I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THIS COMMITTEE WAS CREATED IN 2017-2028 -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT ITEM HAS NOT COME UP YET. JUST 2 AND 3, WHAT WE ALREADY HEARD. WE'LL GET TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE NEXT. >> CAN I TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WANTED TO MAKE? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE -- >> ABOUT THE TREE PLANTINGS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YEAH, GO. >> THE CITY CONTINUES TO ISSUE ONLY THE MINIMUM FINE FOR ILLEGAL TREE REMOVALS. THIS DECREASES THE DETERRENT VALUE. THE CITY IS NOT PENALIZING ILLEGAL PRUNING AT ALL. THE CITY CAN IMPOSE FINES OF UP TO $15,000, BUT IT'S NOT DOING THAT. THERE WAS RECENTLY A CASE WHERE A HOMEOWNER VIOLATED A WRITTEN ORDER NOT TO REMOVE TREES, AND HE REMOVED THEM ANYWAY. IF THE CITY WANTS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, ILLEGAL TREE REMOVALS SHOULD BE FINED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT. TWO YEARS AGO, TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP CAME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL, TOGETHER WITH THE CHILLURA FAMILY, AND WE MADE A PRESENTATION, AND WE PROPOSED IN HONOR OF FORMER COUNCILMAN CHILLURA, WHOSE IDEA IT WAS TO PLANT ONE OAK TREE IN EACH FIRE STATION THAT HAD SPACE, THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED. NOT ONE OAK TREE HAS BEEN PLANTED IN NOT ONE FIRE STATION. THERE ARE OTHER PLACES WHERE TREES CAN BE PLANTED. THERE'S CARROLL ANN BENNETT POINTED OUT, CITY OWNS A MINIMUM OF THREE BLOCKS ON SOUTH MANHATTAN AVENUE THAT WOULD BE IDEAL FOR PLANTING OAKS. AND SHE PRESENTED TO YOU ABOUT A PICTURE OF A BUS STOP LOCATED IN THE BLAZING SUN THAT COULD HAVE A TREE PLANTED NEXT TO IT. THAT HASN'T HAPPENED. ON DAVIS ISLAND, WHERE I LIVE, THERE IS A CITY OF TAMPA PARK BENCH LOCATED AT CHANNEL DRIVE AND COLUMBIA DRIVE THAT SITS IN THE BLAZING SUN ALL DAY. NOBODY USES THAT PARK BENCH. THERE COULD BE AN OAK TREE PLANTED THERE. OAK TREES COULD BE PLANTED ON BAYSHORE BOULEVARD, GADSDEN PARK NEEDS OAK TREES BECAUSE THAT PARK BAKES IN THE SUN ALL DAY. SO THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO PLANT TYPE ONE OAK TREES. IT'S JUST NOT BEING DONE. I'LL RESERVE MY OTHER COMMENTS FOR LATER ON. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. LOOK FORWARD TO IT. MS. BLUMA, START WITH YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING STILL. I'M TARAH BLUMA. READY? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YES. START WITH YOUR NAME. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> I'M TARAH BLUMA. GOOD MORNING. THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE ONLY INVOICE THAT THUS FAR WE HAVE SPENT MONEY ON OUT OF THE NEW TREE TRUST FUND. THIS IS FROM THE PIPES PROJECT. WELL, THE TOP PART IS KIND OF IRRELEVANT. WHAT IT IS SHOWING YOU IS THAT WE SPENT 61% OF OUR TREES WERE TYPE THREE. 11% WERE TYPE TWO. AND 28% WERE TYPE ONE. THESE ARE THE ONLY FUNDS ON TREES WE'VE EXPENDED THUS FAR TO DATE. TO ME -- PLUS, WE ALSO BOUGHT 106 JASMINE PLANTS. TO ME, THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. I WOULD BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THE IDEA OF 10% TYPE THREE IF WE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED IT OR TO PROVIDE SOME ADDITIONAL VARIETY. BUT THESE NUMBERS ARE NOT OKAY. AND THE RE-LEAF TAMPA 11 PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT TOGETHER SO FAR, IN THE EXAMPLE THAT THEY SHOWED EARLIER, LET'S SEE, IN THAT PROJECT, 35% WERE TYPE ONE, 15% TYPE TWO, AND 50% TYPE THREE IN YBOR CITY. COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK SHOWED AN EXAMPLE EARLIER THAT YOU CAN DO AN OAK TREE IN URBAN AREA. CATHEDRAL OAKS IN URBAN AREAS. THERE ARE A LOT OF TREES YOU CAN PUT IN URBAN AREAS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE THESE TYPE THREE TREES. I RECOMMEND TWO THINGS. BAN TYPE THREE TREE FUNDING IN THE TREE TRUST FUND. OR IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO DO THAT, AT A MINIMUM, IMMEDIATELY STOP DOING IT FOR THE TREE-MENDOUS TREE PROGRAM. THAT IS A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM THAT WE NEED MORE FUNDING FOR, MORE HELP FOR THE ONE PERSON MANAGING THE PROGRAM AND JUST SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR TYPE THREE TREES THERE. IF YOU WANT A CRAPE MYRTLE, GREAT, THEY HAVE THEM FOR $58 AT HOME DEPOT BECAUSE WE ARE PAYING THE OTHER THING YOU CAN SEE ON THIS HANDOUT, WE ARE ASTRONOMICALLY OVERPAYING FOR TREES. WE'RE PAYING $785 FOR A CRAPE MYRTLE AND $790 FOR A LIVE OAK. NOW, OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT INCLUSIVE OF ANY OF THE MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING STAKING THE TREES, WATERING THE TREES OR ACTUALLY PLANTING THE TREES. THAT IS CRIMINAL OVERPAYING. ABOUT THE DIVERSITY, THERE ARE TONS OF DIFFERENT TREES WE CAN DO TO BE DIVERSE IN TYPE ONE AND TWO CEDAR CYPRESS PINE HICKORY, SWEET GUM, PODOCARPUS AND HOLLY ARE ALL TREES IN TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO THAT ARE RECOMMENDED ON OUR PREFERRED TREE HANDOUT. SO LET'S START STEERING PEOPLE TO OTHER THINGS. HOPEFULLY WE GET TO TALK AGAIN. THIS WAS REALLY SHORT. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET TO TALK -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THERE WILL BE OTHER ITEMS COMING UP THAT YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO ASK HER TO QUICKLY STATE YOUR PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND RELATED TO THIS. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: SHE CAN DO THAT NEXT TIME. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE, START WITH YOUR NAME. >> GOOD MORNING. BISHOP MICHELLE B. PATTY. I'D LIKE TO START OFF BY THANKING USF FOR THEIR IN-DEPTH FINDINGS. I HEARD THEM SAY THAT THEY DID A SURVEY AND THEY INCLUDED EAST TAMPA. BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF THEY INCLUDED THE INTEGRAL PART OF EAST TAMPA, JACKSON HEIGHTS, BELMONT HEIGHTS, HIGHLAND PINES BECAUSE THOSE AREAS, MANY OF THOSE HOMES ARE OLDER HOMES. YOU HAVE SENIOR CITIZENS 70 YEARS AND UP THAT ARE ON FIXED INCOME. I ATTENDED A TOWN HALL MEETING THAT WAS GIVEN BY COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG JUST THIS WEEK WHERE IT CAME UP ABOUT THE TREE TRIMMING. AND THE CRA SAID THAT THEY WERE TOTALLY OUT OF FUNDS. SO A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO INSURANCE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN PRICED OUT OF INSURANCE. SO THE TREES ARE FALLING ON THEIR HOMES. MY BROTHER LIVE RIGHT HERE ON NORTH A STREET. THE LAST RAIN, THEY HAD A HARD WIND, A TRUNK FELL ON TOP OF HIS ROOF AND DAMAGED HIS ROOF. AT 80 YEARS OLD, HE CANNOT AFFORD A TREE TRIMMING SERVICE TO COME IN BECAUSE THEY START AT A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND UP. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'M HEARING ABOUT THE POWER LINES, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING TREES UP, I HOPE YOU'RE TAKING IN ACCOUNT WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT THESE TRUNKS, THESE LIMBS AND ALL, THE ROOTS GROW, AND THEY CAN DAMAGE PEOPLE DRIVEWAY. THEY UPROOT FOUNDATION OF HOMES. SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL WITH YOUR PLANNING AND PLANTING WHAT TYPE OF TREE THAT YOU WILL BE PLANTING AT PEOPLE'S PRIVATE HOMES. ONCE AGAIN, THE CRA OF EAST TAMPA -- I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE OTHER CRA -- BUT EAST TAMPA, THERE SHOULD BE MONIES. NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THE HURRICANES, HEADED TO THE HURRICANE SEASON. WHAT ARE THESE RESIDENTS SUPPOSED TO DO AT THIS JUNCTURE ABOUT TRIMMING THE TREES AROUND THEIR HOMES WHEN THERE ARE NO FUNDS ALLOCATED? ARE YOU ALL ABLE TO SHIFT FUNDS FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE TO HELP THE PEOPLE, THESE SENIOR CITIZENS OUT IN THAT AREA? I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. MAYBE I'M NOT LISTENING, BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT SHIFTING FUNDS TO HELP THOSE AREAS THAT ARE DEPRIVED, WHERE THESE PEOPLE ARE PRICED OUT. MANY OF THE HOMES, PEOPLE FOREGO INSURANCE. THEY CANNOT AFFORD INSURANCE ON THEIR HOMES, AND THEY ARE ONLY -- AND THEY ARE ON A LIMITED INCOME. PLEASE, AS WE THINK ABOUT TREES, YES, WE LOVE THEM. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE RIGHT ON NORTH A STREET. BIG OAK TREE. UNFORTUNATE, IT HAD A WHOLE LOT OF ROACHES THAT GOT IN THE TREE. THERE IS A LOT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF WHEN TALKING ABOUT TREES. APPRECIATE YOUR DUE DILIGENCE, BUT LET'S THINK ABOUT THE CITIZENS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE INCOME TO HIRE A TREE TRIMMER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. JUST FYI, I HAVE GOT TO STEP OUT FOR A PREVIOUS ARRANGED MEETING. I'LL BE BACK AFTER LUNCH. I WAS LOOKING AT THE AGENDA, UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS TRYING TO PUSH THIS THROUGH, WITH NOISE AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS ON THE AGENDA, I THINK IT WILL GO A LITTLE LONGER, STAFF CONCERNS, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY EATS, BREAK AT NOON. I'LL BE BACK AFTER LUNCH. STAFF PROBABLY NEEDS TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT. THAT WAS A SUGGESTION. I'M GOING TO GIVE THE GAVEL TO CHAIR PRO TEM LYNN HURTAK. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE'LL GET THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. WELCOME, AND STATE YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> ADAM HURTEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AS ALWAYS AND THANKS FOR THE DETAILED PRESENTATION THAT GETS US UP TO SPEED ON THIS TOPIC. SO MY COMMENTS, AND I'LL TRY TO NOT OVERLAP WITH THE NEXT TWO AGENDA ITEMS, THOUGH I THINK THEY REALLY ARE LINKED OBVIOUSLY AND THE IMPORTANT THING GOING ON, YOU POINTED OUT THAT PERHAPS THERE NEEDED TO BE DEDICATED STAFF. AS A CUSTOMER WHO DEALS WITH ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT ALL THE TIME. THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE IN PLACE. IN FACT, ONE OF THE INDIVIDUAL FORESTERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT SIDE USED TO WORK FOR TECO AND WAS THE FORESTER WHO WENT OUT TO MAKE DECISIONS IN ADVANCE. THEY DO SURVEYS IN ADVANCE BEFORE THEY PACK ALL -- AND, OF COURSE, ERIC, THE URBAN FORESTER AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES A GOOD JOB OVERSEEING THINGS RELATED TO TREES IN THE RIGHTS-OF-WAYS, IN PARKS. BUT THERE IS A DISCONNECT. PREVIOUSLY, I'VE SEEN PLANS FOR WHEN THERE WAS A MORE ROBUST WALK-BIKE COMPONENT OF THE MOBILITY DEPARTMENT, THEN THOSE PLANS WOULD ALWAYS INCLUDE TREES, SIDEWALKS, THINGS THAT DO FUNCTION TOGETHER. BUT THEN THERE IS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT. SO WE WERE SAYING, OH, WE NEED A BIKE PATH HERE, WE ALSO NEED A SIDEWALK HERE, AND THAT SIDEWALK NEEDS TO HAVE TREES. SO AS YOU TALK ABOUT THIS, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S -- KATHY BECK DID FILL A ROLE THAT WAS LARGER THAN THE INDIVIDUALS DO NOW. THE INDIVIDUALS DO NOW ARE PARSED IN A WAY THAT IS EFFICIENT AND THEY DO THEIR JOBS WELL. SO I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT. BUT HAVING SOMEBODY WHO IS OVERSEEING THE PLANTING OF NEW TREES. SO TO BRING THIS TO THE GROUND, THERE'S ALSO A SIDEWALK FEE IN LIEU FUND. AND THESE TWO THINGS SHOULD BE GETTING DISCUSSED TOGETHER, IN MY OPINION. AND THE CONCEPT OF THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT LATER, THE IDEAS OF WHERE WE WANT TO FOCUS SIDEWALKS THAT CONNECT SPACES THAT COMPLETE DISCONTINUOUS SIDEWALKS IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT GET PEOPLE FROM A PARK TO A PARK OR FROM A PARK TO A BIKE WALK OR FROM CITY PARKING IN A PARK TO A TRAIL THAT THEY CAN ACCESS, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT. OF COURSE, ALL THOSE PLANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TREES, RIGHT? ANYWAY, I GUESS MY TIME IS UP. I'LL BRING UP THE OTHER ITEMS WHEN I COME BACK. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. ADAM HARDEN IS HIS NAME. WE ACTUALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT BPAC, THE BUS PEDESTRIAN BICYCLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE COMING UP AT THE WORKSHOP NEXT MONTH. JUST AN FYI. NEXT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> HELLO. I'M CASEY NOON. TALKING AS CASEY NOON. WHAT I SEE WITH THE TREE SITUATION IS THAT WE'RE NOT ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSIDERING THE ENTIRE STORY. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE HAVE A THREE BY THREE BOX ON THE SIDEWALK. WE HAVE LIKE THE PLACE WHERE THE DEVELOPERS HAVE DECIDED THERE IS A NICE SPOT FOR A TREE. EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, GRASS, TREE. SIDEWALK TREE. YOU ARE ASKING BEFORE ABOUT HOW DO WE ANCHOR TREES TO PREVENT THEM FALLING OVER, WHEN YOU GO OUT AND WALK INTO THE WILDERNESS, YOU'LL SEE THERE IS A TYPE ONE TREE. IT HAS LIKE A TYPE TWO TREE SITTING ON IT AS ITS IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOR AND THEN IT HAS ONE OR TWO TYPE THREE TREES SITTING THERE AND VARIETY OF BUSHES AND OTHER THINGS. OTHER THING I HATE IS GRASS. TWO INCHES TALL, TWO INCHES OF ROOTS, LIKE A STRIP OF CARPET TRYING TO HOLD A TREE DOWN. MY POINT WAS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT MORE COMPREHENSIVELY IN DESIGN BECAUSE THE OTHER PLANTS THAT SUPPLEMENT THIS BOTH PREVENT THE OVERSATURATION OF THE GROUND, WHEN YOU HAVE A NATIVE SPECIOUS THAT IS USED TO HAVING -- SPECIES THAT IS USED TO HAVING DEEP ROOTS AND WATER BE A DORPTION. IF YOU GO INTO A FIELD OF GRASS, REAL SHORT, TEMPERATURE READING, LIKE HUNDRED AND SOMETHING DEGREES. A FIELD WAIST HIGH, TEMPERATURE READING OF THE GROUND, IT'S LIKE 60, 70 DEGREES. PHOTOSYNTHESIS IS EATING UP ALL OF THE HEAT ENERGY. ANYWAY, FOR YOUR URBAN HEAT PUBLICS, AND THE DESIGN AND THE USEFULNESS OF THE TREE PLANTING, I WANTED TO BRING UP A COUPLE MORE COMPREHENSIVE WIDER SCOPES. I REALIZE THAT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS VERY COMPLEX AND UNIQUE FOR EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. BUT THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO MAKE. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT. >> [INAUDIBLE] >> STEPHANIE POYNOR. >>LYNN HURTAK: ALSO, IF THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK, IF YOU WOULD COME STAND UP ON THE LEFT SIDE. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYBODY. OKAY. >> STEPHANIE POYNOR. I GAVE YOU TWO DOCUMENTS. ONE IS CARROLL ANN'S SPEECH. SHE'S NOT AVAILABLE. TOO EARLY FOR HER IN CALIFORNIA. SECOND PACKET, KELLY CAME DOWN HERE TO SPEAK ON THIS. BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENED IS SHE CALLED AN ARBORIST. THE ARBORIST TOLD HER THEY PULLED A PERMIT. RECEIPTS IN THERE FOR THE PERMITS. SOMEBODY FILED A CODE ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINT. THAT WAS LIFTED. I BROUGHT IT UP AT A MEETING WITH CHIEF BENNETT, WITH JC HUGENSON, KAYLA AND A COUPLE OTHER PEOPLE. SOMEBODY FILED A CODE ENFORCEMENT COMPLAINT AGAIN ON THIS LADY USING MY NAME. I'M NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT TO SAY THE LEAST. KELLY CAME TO SPEAK, BUT SHE HAD TO LEAVE BECAUSE IT TOOK TOO LONG. YOU GUYS CAN READ THE DOCUMENTS. I'M SURE SHE'D LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT. FIRST OF ALL, TECO IS BURYING ELECTRICAL LINES. WHY AREN'T WE FOLLOWING THEM AROUND TOWN PLANTING TREES BEHIND THE ELECTRICAL LINES? SERIOUSLY. THEY ARE PETITIONING PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY TO PUT THEIR POWER LINES UNDERGROUND. WHY AREN'T WE DOING THAT? GADSDEN PARK HAS BEEN MENTIONED. I'M GLAD THAT LORRAINE MENTIONED QUITE A BIT OF STUFF FROM CARROLL ANN'S SPEECH. COMMUNITY GARDENS. GO TO THE GARDEN CLUB AND ASK THEM WHERE TO PLANT TREES. I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THEY'LL GIVE YOU GOOD SPACES TO PLANT TREES. THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES WITHIN THIS CITY THAT COULD BE UTILIZED FOR THIS. WHIT REMER AND JC HUGENSON STOOD UP ON 4/25/24, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO AND SAID THEY WOULD START FINING THE TREE CUTTERS. MY CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF BENNETT ABOUT KELLY'S HOUSE WAS BECAUSE THE TREE CUTTERS WERE NOT FINED. THE TREE CUTTERS, NOBODY WENT AFTER THEM. AND SHE HAS PROVIDED THE INFORMATION. THESE PEOPLE TOLD HER THEY PULLED A PERMIT. THEY LIED TO HER ON PAPER AND YET THE CITY IS STILL PERSECUTING HER. THAT'S CRAP. TREES DON'T HAVE A BABYSITTER IN THE CITY OF TAMPA, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. ANYTHING, IF YOU WANT ANYTHING TO GET DONE IN THIS CITY, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A BABYSITTER. IT CAN'T BE ONE PERSON IN THIS DEPARTMENT, ONE PERSON IN THIS DEPARTMENT, ONE PERSON -- I WAS FLABBERGASTED AT THE TREE MEETING A MONTH OR SO AGO BECAUSE I WAS JUST SHOCKED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE AND STAFF WE HAVE THAT REALLY CARE ABOUT TREES, AND THEY ALL WORK ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER. THERE'S NO COHESIVENESS ACROSS DISTRICTS. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT TARAH BROUGHT UP THE WATER DEPARTMENT STUFF. THE WATER DEPARTMENT PLAN IS THE ONLY TREE PLANTING PLAN I'VE EVER SEEN. WE BUY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF TREES FROM NELSON'S TREE FARM. IT'S BEEN ON THE AGENDA TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME BUT YET NOBODY HAS EVER SAID WHERE THEY GO. WE HAD ONE THAT SHOWED UP I THINK IN THE LAST 30 DAYS SINCE MR. FOWLER HAS BEEN IN CHARGE. AND IT ACTUALLY SAID IT WAS GOING TO GO IN THE WEST DISTRICT. I'VE NEVER SEEN A DISTRICT MAP FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. IT'S ALL A BUNCH OF FLUFF, BUT WE CAN'T GET DOWN TO THE NITTY-GRITTY BECAUSE NOBODY IS BABYSITTING IT. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BABYSITTER, IT'S NOT GOING TO GET DONE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CONCENTRATES ONLY ON THE TREES TO GET THERE. I COMPLETELY FORGOT MY DAMN LIST. THERE'S 51 TREES ON THE LIST AND 26 OF THEM ARE TYPE THREE. PLEASE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT -- >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW IT IS TIME FOR COUNCIL -- I'M SO SORRY. THERE IS SOMEONE ONLINE. I APOLOGIZE. CARROLL ANN BENNETT, I BELIEVE. I DON'T HAVE THE LIST. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? MS. BENNETT, YOU ARE SELF-MUTED. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? I THINK I UNMUTED. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES, NOW YOU ARE. PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> CARROLL ANN BENNETT. I'M IN A DIFFERENT TIME ZONE. NOT AT MY BEST. PLEASE READ ANY FOLLOW-UP E-MAILS ON THIS. THEY WILL BE MORE COHERENT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIG MUDDYING OF THE MAJOR ISSUES HERE. AND THAT'S THE FUNDING. THE CITY'S OWN URBAN FORESTRY PLAN ON PAGE 19 SAYS THAT WE ARE -- WE HAVE LESS FUNDING, PROPORTIONATE FUNDING THAN ABOUT 700 OTHER MUNICIPALITIES. THE PowerPoint, ONE OF THE SLIDES YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YET, ADDRESSES THAT WE ARE UNDERFUNDED. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE TREE FUND WAS CHANGED TO PUT -- TO MAKE THE FUNDS HARDER TO ACCESS AND TO PUT THEM IN PLANNING DISTRICTS IS BECAUSE THE URBAN FORESTRY WAS UNDERFUNDED AND THEY WERE RAIDING THE TREE FUND TO PAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS TREES IN RIGHT-OF-WAYS. THAT IS NOT WHAT THE TREE FUND IS FOR. THE TREE FUND IS ONE TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX. YOU DON'T USE A HAMMER WHEN WHAT YOU NEED IS A SCREWDRIVER. IF YOU WANT TO PLANT TYPE THREE TREES BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME VALUE, THEN THE CITY NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE THAT AND FUND IT. BUT AS COUNCILMAN CARLSON SAID, THE TREE FUND IS FOR MITIGATION. IT IS A MITIGATION FUND. IT'S FOR MITIGATION. IT'S MITIGATION, MITIGATION, MITIGATION. IT IS TO REPLACE THE LOSS OF SHADE TREES. AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT COUNCILMAN HURTAK SHOWED A TREE THAT'S PROVIDING ALL THIS SHADE AND THOUGHT IT WAS A TYPE THREE TREE, BUT, IN FACT, IT'S A TYPE ONE. IT IS A WINGING ELM. WE HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF TYPE ONES. DON'T HAVE TO BE LIVE OAKS. WE HAVE LOTS OF TYPE TWOS. ON THE PowerPoint SLIDE, IT SAID TYPE ONE, SHADE TREES. TYPE THREE, ORNAMENTAL TREES. THE CITY NEEDS TO USE THE TREE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE THAT IT WAS DESIGNED. MITIGATION OF THE SHADE TREES. FUND THE OTHER THINGS WITH OTHER MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND THE WAY IT SHOULD BE FUNDED. AND AS FAR AS THE NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, IN 2018, IT WAS A LARGE COHESIVE DEPARTMENT THAT HAD AN ADMINISTRATOR, KATHY BECK. WHEN SHE RETIRED, HER POSITION WAS NEVER FILLED. IN 2019, IT WAS COMPLETELY REORGANIZED AND SPLIT UP. IT IS THE WRONG WAY TO DO IT. IT NEEDS TO BE PUT BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS IN 2018. LET ME JUST ALSO SAY, LIVE OAKS ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA ARE THE SINGLE-MOST HURRICANE RESISTANT TYPE ONE TREES. BUT WE CAN HAVE DIVERSITY BY SPENDING THE MONEY IT IS SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED. ALL THESE OTHER EXTRANEOUS THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, THE CITY HAS TO STEP UP AND PAY FOR THEM. BUT THE TREE TRUST FUND IS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT. THANK YOU. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IS THAT ALL OF OUR ONLINE PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY. SO, COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: JUST TO TALK ABOUT THE AGENDA REAL FAST. I'M HAPPY TO MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEM 6 AND 8 UNTIL THE MAY WORKSHOP. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT IS ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER AND ABOUT DOCUMENTS AND PRESENTATION. WHAT DATE? >>BILL CARLSON: THE MAY WORKSHOP I THINK HAS THREE ITEMS ON IT OR TWO ITEMS ON IT. >>LYNN HURTAK: YEAH, THE MAY WORKSHOP IS FOCUSED -- >>BILL CARLSON: OR MOVE IT TO JUNE. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE DON'T HAVE ONE IN JUNE. YES. SURE. >>BILL CARLSON: JUNE 25. >>LYNN HURTAK: MAY 28 FOR ITEMS 6 AND 8? >>BILL CARLSON: YEAH. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE SHOULD DO THOSE SEPARATELY. >>BILL CARLSON: MOVE TO CONTINUE ITEM 6 TO MAY 28 WORKSHOP. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >>BILL CARLSON: MOTION TO MOVE ITEM 8 TO THE MAY 28 WORKSHOP. >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON, SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? I DO BELIEVE THE REST OF IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER. DOES ANYONE WANT TO BEGIN? YES, COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: JUST A FEW -- >>LYNN HURTAK: BEFORE WE GO, WE'LL DO THREE MINUTES, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE ON AS WE GO. >>NAYA YOUNG: I'LL JUST SAY I FEEL LIKE THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WE DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE TREE TRUST MONEY -- TREE TRUST FUND FUN IS GOING TOWARDS THE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN SEEING -- I'M HUNDRED PERCENT, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY BE PLANTING MORE TREES. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LIKE YOU WERE SHOWING THE PICTURE EARLIER, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT TREES SHOULD WE BE PLANTING. INSTEAD OF THE CRAPE MYRTLES. WHAT ELSE CAN WE PLANT? WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE? FOR ME, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE TREES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CALLED. SO I THINK HAVING SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THOSE TREES ARE, ALSO FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN SEE AS WELL WHAT KIND OF TREES THEY WANT TO PLANT, IF THEY HAVE A SPACE THEY WANT TO PLANT A TREE IN. ALSO MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM, I THINK THAT WOULD BE AWESOME BECAUSE I'VE DEFINITELY BEEN IN PARKS. YOU SEE THE TREES THERE, PLANTED, HAVE THE STAKES, LEANING OVER, THEY HAVE JUST BEEN SITTING THERE. WHO IS TAKING CARE OF THESE TREES? WE'RE PLANTING THEM, BUT ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE ANY LONGEVITY IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY TAKING CARE OF THE TREES ONCE WE PLANT THEM. WE CAN SAY WE'RE PLANTING A TREE. WE PLANT IT AND THEN THAT'S IT. LIKE, WHO IS TAKING CARE OF IT? IT'S JUST THERE. I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO SEE WHAT IS THE ACTUAL COST TO PLANT A TREE? THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES. I'M SEEING ON ONE INVOICE COSTS THIS MUCH, ANOTHER -- HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PLANT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES? IS IT BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THEM FROM DIFFERENT FARMS? I DON'T KNOW. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT. I THINK ALSO THE POINT MADE ABOUT SENIORS. WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS -- I KNOW THAT HAVE THESE TREES AND WOULD LOVE TO KEEP THEM BUT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. I HAVE A SENIOR RIGHT NOW WHO HAS A BEAUTIFUL TREE. IT'S HUGE, BUT SHE NEEDS HELP. AND SHE CAN'T DO IT ALONE. SHE'S ON FIXED INCOME. SHE'S DISABLED. SHE LIVES BY HERSELF. HOW DO WE HELP THOSE SENIORS? ALSO, AGAIN, BROUGHT UP EARLIER, THAT WE ARE GOING INTO HURRICANE SEASON. WHAT CAN WE -- I WOULD LOVE TO SEE WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP, LIKE TODAY, THAT CAN LIKE, OKAY, WE MADE THIS DECISION AND IT WILL START TOMORROW OR BY FRIDAY BECAUSE HURRICANE SEASON IS COMING UP AND WE DO HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS THAT HAVE TREES. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WILL SAY IN YEARS PAST, WE HAVE ACTUALLY ADDED MORE MONEY TO THE TREE FUND FOR THE EAST TAMPA CRA, SO WE CAN ALWAYS REALLOCATE, WHICH IF WE ARE OUT, WE SHOULD PROBABLY DO THAT. BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW THAT WE ARE OUT. OFTENTIMES WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT UNTIL WE HEAR ABOUT IT FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE DO NEED TO -- I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT. ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS? COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I THINK WE OUGHT TO -- I'VE HEARD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT NOBODY WANTS A CERTAIN TYPE OF TREE. ONE OR TWO TREES. TO BE FAIR FOR THIS CITY AND THIS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, IF WE REALLY DON'T WANT THAT THIRD TYPE OF TREE, WE OUGHT TO SAY TAKE IT OUT OF THE ORDINANCE. >>LYNN HURTAK: HOW ABOUT I DO SOME QUESTIONS AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT? BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OVERARCHING ISSUES. WE HEARD THAT THE CITY HAS 11 PLANTING PLANS. DO WE THINK THAT TREE TRUST FUND MONEY SHOULD BE USED TO PAY FOR PLANS? >> NO. >>LYNN HURTAK: I'M HEARING NO AND NOT ANY MORE AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PLANS. I AGREE. I DO NOT BELIEVE WE SHOULD SPEND TREE TRUST FUND MONEY ON TREE DESIGN. MARK THAT DOWN AS ONE THING. WE'VE ALL BASICALLY AGREED. NO FUNDING FOR ACTUAL TREE DESIGN. WE NEED TO FUND IT THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I AGREE WITH THAT. ALSO I WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT WE BORROWED MONEY FROM AN ENTERPRISE FUND SOMETIME BACK. WHETHER PAID FOR -- >>LYNN HURTAK: YES, WE DID. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. >>LYNN HURTAK: CORRECT. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THAT'S BONDED MONEY. INTEREST RATES WILL CHANGE IF YOU DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A TRIPLE-A BOND RATING AND I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH THAT MONEY AT ALL. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY. REFRESH MY RECOLLECTION, DID CITY COUNCIL REGARDS SPECIFICALLY TO COUNCILMAN MIRANDA'S CONCERN TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION TO FORMALIZE THAT POLICY? >>LYNN HURTAK: WE DID NOT. WE WENT AHEAD AND PAID THAT. NOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT. DO WE WANT TO FORMALIZE A POLICY THAT SAYS WE WILL NOT REPLACE ENTERPRISE FUNDS WITH TREE TRUST FUNDS? >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: EVERYTHING HAS AN EXCEPTION. I DON'T WANT TO JUST KILL IT. WHOEVER THE MAYOR IS, WHOEVER THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, BETWEEN EACH OTHER. IF THEY WANT IT, THEY HAVE TO ASK FOR IT AND BOTH HAVE TO SIGN OFF, NOT JUST ONE. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCIL MEMBER YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: I'M SORRY. >>BILL CARLSON: AS I SAID BEFORE, THE ENTERPRISE FUND SHOULD BE SELF-SUPPORTING. IF STORMWATER GOES AND RIPS OUT A BUNCH OF TREES, STORMWATER FEE SHOULD REPLACE THEM OR WATER FEES OR WHATEVER. SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN OUT OF THE TREE TRUST FUND BECAUSE THAT'S MITIGATION. IN TERMS OF PROCESS, DON'T YOU THINK ON THE FIRST ONE MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAND THE GAVEL AND MAKE A MOTION JUST SO WE CAN MAKE IT OFFICIAL? >>LYNN HURTAK: SURE. >>BILL CARLSON: SECOND ONE, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION. >>LYNN HURTAK: I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ARE NOT TO NOT USE TREE TRUST FUND MONEY FOR PLANNING. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK. SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: COUNCIL, I JUST WONDER, WORKSHOP RULES -- >>LYNN HURTAK: YES, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE -- >>MARTIN SHELBY: MAYBE OPEN THE FLOOR TO SEE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO ADDRESS THESE TWO SUBJECTS BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION OR MAKE YOUR MOTIONS AND THEN OPEN THE FLOOR. >>LYNN HURTAK: I THINK WE'VE HEARD ENOUGH. WE NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS. >>BILL CARLSON: I THINK WE SHOULD SET A DATE ON IT BECAUSE THIS COUNCIL ONLY HAS AUTHORITY THROUGH MAY 1st NEXT YEAR. JUST BETWEEN NOW -- AND THIS IS -- EVEN THOUGH WE'RE VOTING, IT'S KIND OF INDICATIVE. IT IS A PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT, RIGHT? >>LYNN HURTAK: IT IS A PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT, SO I DON'T THINK A DATE IS APPROPRIATE. I'M FINE WITH JUST MEMORIALIZING THE CONVERSATION WE HAD TODAY THROUGH MOTIONS. I THINK AT THE END OF IT, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR ORDINANCE CHANGE OR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO COME OUT OF IT. BUT GOING THROUGH THESE SMALLER QUESTIONS FIRST I THINK HELPS. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE INVOLVED, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, FOUR DISTRICTS MAKE UP THE WHOLE DISTRICT. FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN. YOU HAVE ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, GET TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER, I THINK YOU RESOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY. THAT'S WHAT I THINK. MAYBE I'M WRONG. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. BUT WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO -- THAT IS THE INTENT OF THIS COUNCIL TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF TREE FUND MONEY FOR ENTERPRISE FUNDS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I'LL SECOND THAT. >>LYNN HURTAK: THE ONLY THING THAT CONCERNS ME IS THAT -- WELL ACTUALLY YEAH. COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ALTHOUGH I MAY NOT LIKE THE PROCESS, IF YOU SAY "CAN'T USE IT" THAT MEANS WE CAN'T APPROVE IT AND THEY CAN'T RECOMMEND IT TO US. IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY THAT YOU NEED THE MONEY AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'LL GET IT, WE'RE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A BOX WE CAN'T GET OUT OF. >>LYNN HURTAK: MY CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS ONLY IF, INSTEAD OF COMING UP WITH A GIANT TREE PLAN, IF THEY HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING OUT OR IF THEY HAVE NOTHING, TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE WITH A TYPE ONE OR TYPE TWO TREE. I'LL SUPPORT THAT FOR NOW. BUT I DO THINK THAT AS WITH EVERYTHING, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS. >>BILL CARLSON: WHAT WE SHOULD DO SEPARATELY IS MANDATE THAT ENTERPRISE FUNDS REPLACE TREES OR HAVE A TREE POLICY. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S ACTUALLY PROBABLY A GOOD COMPANION. WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? SURE. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD SECONDARY. AGAIN, YOUR MIKE WENT OUT. >>BILL CARLSON: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ASK STAFF IN CHARGE OF THE ENTERPRISE AREAS TO CREATE A -- TO CREATE POLICIES THAT WOULD REPLACE TREES THAT ARE TORN OUT AS A RESULT OF ENTERPRISE PROJECTS AND ALSO TO ENHANCE TREE AREAS AS PART OF THEIR -- >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ENTERPRISE FUND, ONLY FOUR OF THEM. WHICH ONE, ALL FOUR? THERE'S WATER, WASTEWATER AND OTHERS INVOLVED. >>BILL CARLSON: YEAH, IF ANY OF THEM THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RIPPING OUT TREES, THAT WE'RE IN GENERAL ASKING THEM TO HAVE POLICIES TO REPLACE TREES AND TO USE ENTERPRISE FUNDS TO ENHANCE THEM. JUST LIKE ANY OTHER UTILITY. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: QUESTION TO MYSELF IS, ARE THOSE, ANY ONE OF THOSE FOUR INVOLVED IN TREES AT ALL? >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ASKING FOR MONEY RIGHT? >>LYNN HURTAK: NO. >>BILL CARLSON: WE'RE JUST ASKING THE HEADS OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO CONSIDER PUTTING IN TREE POLICIES. >>MARTIN SHELBY: ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT -- IF I CAN CLARIFY, COUNCIL MEMBER, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT A POLICY TO REPLACE TREES THAT AS A PART OF ITS PROJECT ARE REMOVED? IT'S FOR REMEDIATION OF TREES THAT WERE PART OF THE -- REMOVAL WAS PART OF THE PROJECT. >>BILL CARLSON: AND ALSO ENHANCE AREAS THEY ARE RIPPING APART. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT THAT WAY. ANY ONE OF THE FUNDS THAT CREATE A PROBLEM BY TAKING A TREE OUT, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WORKING ON SOMETHING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF SOCIETY THAT THEY HAVE TO REPLACE IT, I AGREE. >>BILL CARLSON: IF THE WATER DEPARTMENT RIPS UP A STREET AND TEARS DOWN THE TREES, PUT NEW TREES, IF A YARD THAT DIDN'T HAVE A TREE, THEY CAN PUT A TREE THERE TOO. >>LYNN HURTAK: MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON, SAME SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I HAVE ANOTHER ONE I'D LIKE TO MAKE. I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN THIS BUT THE $300 PER TREE MITIGATION FEE NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED. I WOULD LIKE TO SET THAT IN MOTION TO HAVE A REVIEW OF THE $300 PER TREE MITIGATION FEE. THAT'S MY MOTION. I CAN COME UP WITH SOMETHING MORE SPECIFIC FOR THIS EVENING TALKING TO STAFF. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. AND THEN HOW DO WE FEEL -- WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT THE -- BASICALLY THE THIRD RAIL I THINK FOR TODAY. WELL, NOT REALLY. TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO VERSUS THREE. WHERE ARE WE ON THIS? COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: THANK YOU. SO I DEFINITELY SUPPORT THE TYPE ONE D TYPE TWO. UNTIL YOU SHOWED THAT PICTURE AND THAT WAS A TYPE -- >>LYNN HURTAK: NO. THAT WAS TYPE ONE. I WAS WRONG. IT WAS AN ELM. >>NAYA YOUNG: DISREGARD. NEVER MIND. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN MANISCALCO. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WITHOUT USING THE WORD "BAN" OR SAY BAN TYPE THREE, THAT WE PRIORITIZE TYPE ONE AND TWO, AND IN THE EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE CANNOT FIND ANY TYPES OF TREES WITHIN THOSE CATEGORIES THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO A TYPE THREE, BUT WE WANT LONG-LASTING TREES. LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF TREES THAT YOU WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT GET BLOWN OVER AND DESTROYED, BUT WE GET A LOT OF STORMS, TYPE ONE AND TWO PRIORITIZE, BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT, WHAT DO WE DO WITH TYPE THREE? BAN THEM OR -- YOU TELL ME. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A BACKUP SOMEWHERE. YOU CAN'T SAY ONE AND TWO, ONE GETS A DISEASE AND ALL GO DOWN, WHAT DO YOU DO THEN? >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILMAN CARLSON, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS BEFORE I -- >>BILL CARLSON: SORRY. >>LYNN HURTAK: THE TREE MATRIX, I PRINTED IT OUT. THERE IS A LOT -- WELL, THERE IS A DECENT AMOUNT OF TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES. THERE ARE A LOT OF TYPE THREE TREES. WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE ISSUE IS THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH PLANTING ALL OF THESE. WE HAVE MONEY AND WE HAVE PLANS TO PLANT. HOW ABOUT WE ASK TO SPEND TREE TRUST FUND MONEY TO PLANT THESE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PLANT. GIVE IT A YEAR OR TWO AND THEN HAVE STAFF COME BACK TO US FOR TYPE THREE MONEY IF THEY CAN'T PLANT MORE. BASICALLY JUST SAYING, HEY, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE ASKING FOR A COMMITMENT TO PLANT TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES, AND TO USE OTHER MONIES TO PLANT TYPE THREE TREES. AND WHEN YOU COME BACK AND SHOW US WHAT YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO, THEN -- BECAUSE PART OF THIS IS A TRUST LEVEL WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE A REALLY ROBUST EFFORT. HOWEVER, IF A PLAN HAS TYPE THREE TREES, TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THEM AS WELL, AND IF THAT'S GENERAL FUND MONEY, THEN COUNCIL JUST BASICALLY HAS TO SAY THAT'S GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR THE 2027 BUDGET. IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A PRIORITY. THAT'S WHY I TRIED TO PRIORITIZE IT IN THE REST OF WHAT WAS FOR 2025, BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT TENDED TO BE MONEY FOR PARKS, AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR PARKS WERE EQUALLY REPRESENTED. SO I HANDED THAT HALF MILLION TO COUNCILMAN VIERA FOR HIS DISTRICT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: I MAKE A MOTION THEN THAT WE ASK THE ADMINISTRATION TO PRIORITIZE TYPE ONE AND TWO TREES FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. TWO YEARS BECAUSE IN TEN, ELEVEN MONTHS WE TRANSITION TO A NEW ADMINISTRATION AND NEW LEADERSHIP. SO WE SEE HOW THEY WORK IN THOSE NEXT 23 MONTHS. IT COMES BACK TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? WHAT HAVE YOU PLANTED? HOW MUCH PROGRESS HAVE YOU MADE? AND THEN WE TAKE IT FROM THERE -- OR THEY TAKE IT FROM THERE. >>NAYA YOUNG: I WOULD SECOND THAT. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE A GOOD BUSINESS PERSON NEVER LEAVE OUT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE HELPFUL EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE LEAST AMOUNT OF HELPFULNESS IN CASE YOU HAVE A DISASTER, THEN YOU SAY I CAN ONLY GO HERE, THERE, CAN'T GO THERE BECAUSE I WROTE IT OFF. CAN'T DO THAT AS A BUSINESS PERSON. >>NAYA YOUNG: WHAT ABOUT A PERCENTAGE? >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: THIS IS AN ASK, A RECOMMENDATION, SEE WHAT THEY DO IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS. IT'S NOT A BAN. WE'RE NOT CUTTING OFF THE USE OF TYPE THREE. BUT SAYING -- THEN THE MOTION IS TO ENCOURAGE THEM. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ENCOURAGE MEANS A LOT OF THINGS. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MONEY, PERIOD, ACROSS THE BOARD. AND WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FIRST. AND WE KNOW WE'VE LOST A LOT OF OUR TREE CANOPY. WE HAD THE PRESENTATION IN PRIOR ONES. IF WE SPEND A YEAR OR TWO FOCUSING ON TYPE ONE AND TWO, WE'RE STILL NOT GOING TO MAKE UP ALL THE DIFFERENCE. IT DOESN'T MEAN IN AN EMERGENCY, STAFF CAN'T COME BACK AND ASK US. IT GIVES THE INTENT OF COUNCIL THAT WE WANT TO REPLACE THE TREE CANOPY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT'S DISAPPEARING. >>LYNN HURTAK: YEAH, THAT WAS MY POINT WITH THAT. >>NAYA YOUNG: WHAT OTHER WORDS CAN WE USE? DON'T WANT TO BAN. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, I THINK THAT WE DO. I THINK WE SHOULD BE STRONG AND SIMPLY SAY TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES FOR TWO YEARS, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. AND IF WE NEED TO PLANT TYPE THREE, BECAUSE I KNOW SOME OF THESE TREE PLANTS HAVE TYPE THREE TREES, WE NEED TO FIND OTHER FUNDING. IT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: LIKE THE WORD DEMAND RATHER THAN ENCOURAGE? >>LYNN HURTAK: I DON'T THINK ENCOURAGE IS WISE BECAUSE ENCOURAGE SAYS YOU CAN. I THINK WE NEED A MORE DEFINITIVE WORD. >>MARTIN SHELBY: MARTIN SHELBY, CITY COUNCIL ATTORNEY. MAY I BE RECOGNIZED? >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >>MARTIN SHELBY: THANK YOU. JUST A QUESTION AND I GUESS WE COULD ASK MS. FEELEY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, AND WE CAN ALSO DO THIS DOWN THE LINE AFTER THE MINUTES COME OUT TO REVIEW THEM. AT SOME FORM OR FASHION, THIS WILL HAVE TO BE FORMALIZED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. THE QUESTION IS THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD KNOW WHAT BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE SORT OF THINGS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: HOLD OFF ON MY MOTION UNTIL LATER TONIGHT. >>LYNN HURTAK: WHAT I WOULD INTEND TO DO WITH ALL OF THESE MOTIONS IS I'M FINE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING ON TREES FOR A LONG TIME. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ALL OF THESE MOTIONS AND WORK WITH CITY STAFF, MY OFFICE, AND FIGURE OUT SOME MORE SPECIFICS AND THEN BRING IT TO ALL OF US, NOT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TIME. BUT ON MAY 7 DURING NEW BUSINESS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: LET ME HOLD OFF ON MY MOTION RIGHT NOW UNTIL THEN. >>LYNN HURTAK: IF YOU DON'T MAKE IT I'M GOING TO MAKE IT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: YOU MAKE IT AND YOU WORD IT. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO SAY THAT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON PLANTING TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES TO HELP RECOVER THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC TO USE THESE FUNDS. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: FOCUS IS VERY BROAD. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, NO. THE MOTION IS TO ONLY USE TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO TREES SO THAT WE CAN FOCUS ON THE FACT OF DEVELOPING TRUST WITH THE RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE FUNDS GO TOWARDS THE MITIGATION OF THE TREES BEEN TAKEN OUT. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: MOTION AND SECOND BY CARLSON. >>CHARLIE MIRANDA: ALTHOUGH I LIKE THE MOTION, I CAN'T SUPPORT IT BECAUSE YOU'RE CUTTING SOMETHING OUT, AT LEAST HELPFUL FOR SOMETHING, WHATEVER THAT SOMETHING AMOUNT IS. YOU CUT THAT OFF, YOU PUT YOURSELF IN A CORNER THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THOSE TYPES OF TREES, THEN YOU HAVE NO RESOURCE. YOU CAN'T PLANT ANOTHER ONE. THAT IS THE REASON I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCIL MEMBER MIRANDA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACTUALLY FORMALIZE THIS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO ACTUALLY MAKE DECISIONS TODAY. AS WE WORK AND FORMALIZE IT, LIKE I SAID, OUR OFFICE WILL TAKE THE LEAD, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS AGAIN IN MORE MINUTE DETAIL OR WITH THE DETAIL. WE CAN TRY TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA LATER. I'LL SEE IF I CAN FIND A DATE. >>BILL CARLSON: IF WE DON'T DO THIS, IT'S KIND OF LIKE IF WE SAY THE SIDEWALK TRUST FUND CAN BE USED FOR PARKS, PEOPLE'S EXPECTATION, IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T BUILD A SIDEWALK, GOES INTO THE SIDEWALK FUND AND USED FOR SIDEWALKS. SAME THING. NOT PAYING A FINE IF YOU TAKE DOWN A CRAPE MYRTLE, IF YOU TAKE DOWN -- >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. MS. FEELEY. >>ABBYE FEELEY: THANK YOU. ABBYE FEELEY. COUPLE OF THINGS REAL QUICK IN RELATION TO WHAT'S GOING ON. I WANT TO GIVE YOU THE TREE TRUST FUND AND THE LANGUAGE SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT AND LOOK AT THAT NOW AS TO THE SECTION ON EXPENDITURE BECAUSE I THINK -- >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN YOU PUT IT ON THE WOLF, PLEASE? >>ABBYE FEELEY: SURE. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT DISCUSSION TODAY AND I TOTALLY HERE THE DIRECTION COUNCIL IS GOING IN. I'D LIKE A CLARIFICATION. YOU'RE SAYING FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, LET'S DO THIS. WE HAVE TEN PLANS RIGHT NOW THAT COULD -- I'M SORRY, 11 -- THAT COULD PUT CLOSE TO 3,000 TREES IN THE GROUND. THE FIRST DISCUSSION ITEM YOU ALL JUST HAD WAS IN RELATION TO NOT USING TREE TRUST FUNDS TO PLANT. GOT IT. IN TERMS OF USING TREE TRUST FUNDS TO PLANT, I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE DIRECTION WE WERE LOOKING FOR THIS MORNING. IF THOSE PLANS, THERE ARE COMBINATIONS TYPE ONE, TYPE TWO, TYPE THREE. NOW, GOING TO WHAT YOU JUST DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF THE TYPE THREE, THOSE MAKE UP LESS THAN 30% OF WHAT'S IN THOSE PLANS. THE QUESTION IN RELATION TO THAT, WE COULD GO BACK AND WORK ON THOSE PLANS AND SEE WHERE WE TAKE THOSE TYPE THREES OUT. THERE ARE ONLY 30% OF THE 3,000. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TYPE ONES AND TWOS, BUT THE DIRECTION OF FOCUSING ON TYPE ONES AND TYPE TWOS, THE QUESTION IS ON THE TABLE AS TO THE HOW. THE HOW RIGHT NOW ARE THE PLANS THAT WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD THAT WE COULD START MOVING FORWARD WITH AND GETTING TREES IN THE GROUND AND BRINGING THE BIDS OF THOSE PLANS TO COUNCIL TO SHOW YOU GEOGRAPHICALLY IT'S HERE. WE TALKED ABOUT DAVIS ISLAND, YBOR, MacFARLANE PARK, SWANN PARK IS ON THERE. PUTTING THOSE PLANS OUT FOR BID. WE COULD PUT THEM OUT FOR BID SAYING NO TYPE THREES. BUT PUT THEM OUT FOR BID. GETTING BACK THE COSTING ON THAT. ONE THING I DID WANT TO CLARIFY, THE TESTIMONY ABOUT THE TREE COSTING THE 700 AND SOMETHING, THAT INCLUDES, I WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD CLARIFYING WHAT THAT COST IS. THAT COST IS NOT THE COST OF A TREE. THAT COST IS THE TREE, THE INSTALL, THE STAKING, THE WATERING OF THAT TREE FOR SIX MONTHS, AND A WARRANTY ASSOCIATED WITH IT IN CASE IT DIES. SO THAT COST THAT WENT UP WAS NOT JUST THE COST OF THE TREE. WHEN WE ARE COSTING THESE, THAT COST INCLUDES ALL OF THOSE THINGS. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW. MS. BLUMA, ARE YOU STILL HERE? CAN YOU BRING THAT UP. THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW. I SAW THERE WERE ALSO COSTS THERE FOR MAINTENANCE. IT DEFINITELY SHOWED MAINTENANCE AS ITS OWN LINE ITEM. >>ABBYE FEELEY: BUT WHEN WE'RE PURCHASING, THAT PURCHASE PRICE, THAT IS INCLUDING ALL OF THOSE THINGS. >>LYNN HURTAK: IF YOU COULD PUT IT ON THE WOLF MS. BLUMA. >> WATER AND MAINTENANCE, ADDITIONAL $56,000. >>LYNN HURTAK: SAY YOUR NAME AND READ THAT OUT TO US. >> LET'S GO THROUGH IT. IT GOES THROUGH THE COST OF EACH TREE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I'M GOING TO HAVE MS. BLUMA SAY IT FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH. MS. BLUMA, CAN YOU EXPLAIN -- FIRST START WITH YOUR NAME AND TELL US WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY. >> TARAH BLUMA. MAYBE I'M WRONG. I SEE HERE THE LINE ITEM THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM SAYS SIX MONTHS OF ONGOING WATERING AND MAINTENANCE FOR $56,832. SOMEWHERE ON HERE IS ALSO STAKING. MAYBE THAT WAS ON THE OTHER ONE BEFORE. REMOVAL OF TREES REFUSED AFTER INSTALLATION. >> THAT IS A HUNDRED TREES. >> THERE'S 80 JASMINE, THERE ARE THE FOUR -- IT'S GOING THROUGH EACH OF THEM. >> HERE, HURRICANE MILTON REPLANTING RESTAKING 1400. THE WATER BEING IN THERE IS A HUGE COMPONENT OF THE COST AS WELL. MY UNDERSTANDING IN TALKING WITH CITY STAFF IS THAT THE COST OF THE TREE IS HALF THE COST. THEN YOU INCLUDE FOR THE OTHER HALF TO GET YOU TO AROUND THE 1400 APPROXIMATE DOLLARS WE'RE SPENDING IS THE STAKING, THE MONITORING, THE WATERING, THE PLANTING. SO THIS $760 -- >> THAT'S TEN TREES. >>LYNN HURTAK: EACH IS -- TEN TREES IS 7,600. >> $760 TIMES 10 EQUALS 7600. SO WE'RE PAYING $760 FOR TEN -- TREES. LOQUAT TREES. >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE COST IS 700 -- IF YOU CAN PUT THAT BACK UP ON THE WOLF AND EXPLAIN TO US HOW IT COSTS FOR, LET'S LOOK AT A SOUTHERN RED CEDAR, $925 PER TREE. IT'S $3700. AND THEN DOWN BELOW, SAID SIX MONTHS OF ONGOING WATER AND MAINTENANCE FOR 56,000. IT CLEARLY IS NOT ALL INCLUDED OR IT LOOKS THAT WAY, WHAT'S HAPPENING? >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING. SOUTHERN RED CEDAR, THREE AND A HALF INCH CALIPER, 11 TO 12 HEIGHT. IT'S NOT YOUR TREE THAT WE WOULD TYPICALLY PLANT. WE TYPICALLY PLANT TWO AND A HALF. FOR THAT, THE COST IS THE COST BASED ON FLORIDA GRADES AND STANDARDS. OUR REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU PLANT A FLORIDA GRADE NUMBER ONE TREE. WHICH IS THE SECOND BEST QUALITY YOU CAN GET. SO THE TREE YOU WOULD PROBABLY GET FROM A BIG-BOX STORE, NOT NAMING ANY NAMES, THAT'S NOT A FLORIDA GRADE NUMBER ONE. SO THE COST COMPARISON, IT'S NOT THERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT TRULY IS THE COST OF THE ACTUAL TREE IS 700 SOME ODD DOLLARS. >> YES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY, OKAY. THE WATER AND MAINTENANCE IS SEPARATE AND THAT IS THE 56,000. THAT IS WHY, WHEN MS. BLUMA SAID THAT THE AVERAGE COST OF THE TREE IS AROUND 1400, IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE TAKING THE COST, WHICH, AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THE IDEA OF SPENDING MORE MONEY ON A BETTER QUALITY TREE THAT WOULD -- HAS THE BETTER POTENTIAL TO LAST LONGER AND GROW FASTER. >> THE INSTALLATION, THOUGH, IS ALSO PART OF THAT. THAT IS NOT A SEPARATE LINE ITEM. THE STAKING IS NOT A SEPARATE LINE ITEM. THAT'S IN THAT COST. THIS WAS HOW THE WATER DEPARTMENT DOES IT. BUT WHEN WE'RE DOING THESE, THE FULL COST IS THE TREE, THE INSTALLATION, THE STAKING, THE WATERING FOR THE SIX MONTHS AND THE WARRANTY IF IT DIES. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. THANK YOU. >>ABBYE FEELEY: I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE BEST EXAMPLE AS THE WAY THAT IT IS LINE ITEMED LIKE THIS, BUT THIS IS OUR INTENTION AND WHEN WE'RE DOING THIS AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED. IF WE'RE AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO BID OUT ONE OF THE PROJECTS, WE COULD SHOW YOU BEFORE A PLANTING HAPPENS WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF THE FUNDS. >>LYNN HURTAK: MS. BLUMA. AND PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME AGAIN. >> TARAH BLUMA. I TOTALLY AGREE THAT IT IS WORTH THE MONEY TO BUY A NICER TREE, A HIGH-QUALITY TREE. WE HAVE AMAZING NURSERIES ACROSS THE STATE. THIS IS THE STATE WHERE OTHER STATES GET THEIR TREES FROM. SO WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT. BUT I JUST PURCHASED TWO MAGNOLIA TREES FOR ELEMENTARY. $350 PER TREE. THEY ARE NINE FOOT TALL. THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL. THEY ARE STAKED. THEY ARE ALREADY BLOOMING AND THEY HAVE ONLY BEEN PLANTING A COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE SCHOOL IS PAYING FOR THE WATERING. I'M OUT THERE CHECKING ON THAT TREE ■EVERY SINGLE DAY. BY GETTING INVESTED WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, YOU CAN SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. IT'S A BIG IMPACT. >>LYNN HURTAK: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S ACTUALLY -- COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: MS. BLUMA, COULD YOU COME BACK? I WANT TO SAY TWO THINGS. IN THE WATER PROJECT, I TALKED TO RORY AND I TALKED TO WHIT REMER, AND I THINK THAT AGREEMENT WAS MADE IN GOOD FAITH. BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A CONTRACT BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS, AND THAT CONTRACT SHOULD BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE BY CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THE PUBLIC SAW IT AND IT LOOKED LIKE A SLUSH FUND TO THEM. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BUDGET SET AND AN EXPECTATION OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE BOUGHT. AFTER THE FACT, WE CAN LOOK AT IT, BUT IT WOULD BE MUCH CLEANER AND MORE TRANSPARENT IF WE LOOKED AT IT IN ADVANCE. MS. BLUMA, WOULD YOU MIND IN 30 SECONDS TELLING PEOPLE WHAT YOUR SPECIFIC EXPERTISE IS RELATED TO THIS. >> I'M SOON TO BE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA GARDEN CLUB. I ALSO WORK IN LANDSCAPING. I OWN A LANDSCAPE AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND A LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE COMPANY. IN TEXAS, AND WE SHIP ALL OF OUR TREES. BUT I BUY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TREES PER YEAR. I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH LOOKING AT THESE PRICES OF TREES. A LIVE OAK DOES NOT COST THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY AS A CEDAR. SO ALREADY THIS IS BAD. AND MS. FEELEY, I'M SORRY, NOT ALLOWED TO ADDRESS YOU, BUT THIS MAY NOT BE THE BEST EXAMPLE, BUT SO FAR THIS IS THE ONLY EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS THAT WE'VE HAD ON TREES. SO I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MATERIAL TO WORK WITH, BUT I THINK THIS IS THE MOST ACCURATE. >>ABBYE FEELEY: I APPRECIATE THAT AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL. I DO. >>LYNN HURTAK: COUNCILWOMAN YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: I DON'T KNOW IF I NEED TO GO BACK AND COME UP WITH A MOTION, BUT I THINK ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE SAYING THAT, OKAY, FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON PLANTING TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWOS BACK TO THE TREES NEED A BABYSITTER. WE DON'T JUST WANT TO PLANT THEM AND THEN GO. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS CRAFTED INTO THE MOTION OR IF WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND TALK ABOUT THAT. BUT I DEFINITELY THINK THAT SHOULD BE A PART OF IT. AND THAT I THINK TIES BACK INTO ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY GARDENS AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE PROCESS, HAVING THAT STEWARDSHIP. >>LYNN HURTAK: I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU. WHAT I AM GOING TO DO ACTUALLY IS RESCIND MY MOTION FOR THE MOMENT BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THIS CAN GET SOLVED WITH OUR ENRACK, WITH OUR NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME. I'LL APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS HAPPENED, BUT MY LEGISLATIVE AIDE, MS. SCHARF, WENT IN AND I HAD SOME CHANGES I WANTED TO MAKE AND APPARENTLY THEY MADE IT INTO THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION. IF YOU COULD JUST SHOW ON THE SCREEN, IF WE COULD BRING THE PRESENTATION BACK AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT MY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NRAC BOARD. >> KAYLA KASELLA. I THINK THAT THE PRESENTATION WE UPLOADED PROBABLY WILL NOT REFLECT THOSE CHANGES. I'M ASSUMING. >>LYNN HURTAK: IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN TAKE ONE OF THESE AND PUT IT UP ON THE WOLF FOR ME? IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, IT IS NOON. WE STILL HAVE A SOUND STUDY TO HEAR. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: WANT TO BREAK AND COME BACK WHEN CLENDENIN COMES BACK? HE SAID AFTER LUNCH. >>LYNN HURTAK: I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THROUGH TREES. HERE'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE. THIS IS JUST MY RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NRAC BOARD COMPOSITION. DO WE WANT TO HEAR THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION FOR NRAC FIRST -- THE REASON WE SHOULD HEAR THE NRAC, A LOT OF THE PLANS, A LOT OF THE IDEA OF WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY SHOULD, CAN COME FROM THE NRAC AND A LOT OF THIS OVERSEEING THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT CAN BE HANDLED A LITTLE BIT BY -- NRAC, NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THAT WE HAVE BUT WE'RE LOOKING TO RETOOL. DO WE WANT TO HEAR THAT PRESENTATION FIRST OR JUST LOOK AT THIS? >>BILL CARLSON: I THINK THAT'S MOSTLY BACKGROUND. I ALWAYS BELIEVE THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO HEAR SOMETHING, BUT IT ALSO IS BACKGROUND. THE GENESIS OF THIS WAS -- BECAUSE OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT ISSUE, I WAS TALKING TO CARROLL ANN BENNETT ABOUT MAYBE SETTING UP A TREE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD HAVE AUTHORIZATION. WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON COUNCIL, TOO. A TREE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD APPROVE THE BUDGETS LIKE THAT SO THERE WOULD BE PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. IDEALLY THE INTENTION WOULD BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE. CARROLL ANN SUGGESTED THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE IS ESSENTIALLY DORMANT. WHY DON'T WE RESURRECT THAT AND MAYBE REPOPULATE IT AND GIVE IT ALSO THE TREE TRUST FUND TO OVERSEE. THAT ENDED UP WITH ALL KIND OF BIG ANALYSES AND DISCUSSION AND RIVALRY BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO WILL CONTROL IT AND ALL THIS STUFF. ULTIMATELY THE INTENT WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS OVERSIGHT INTO HOW THE TREE TRUST FUND MONEY IS BEING USED. >>LYNN HURTAK: YEAH. THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION QUICKLY OR DO WE JUST WANT TO LOOK -- OR DO WE AGREE THAT WE NEED A NATURAL RESOURCES AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION? SO WE WANT TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE COMPOSITION. >>NAYA YOUNG: QUESTION. TWO, WE'VE DONE OUR ACTION FOR TWO AND THREE, YES? >>LYNN HURTAK: WE CAN DO MORE ACTION AFTERWARD. >>CARL BRODY: CARL BRODY, LEGAL DEPARTMENT. AS YOU CONSIDER THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE, REMEMBER, THAT WAS CREATED BY AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. >> IT WAS A RESOLUTION AND IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT THE NRAC WAS CHARGED WITH. >>CARL BRODY: RIGHT. IT HAS LIMITED AUTHORITY IN TERMS OF WHAT IT CAN DO. SO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AS YOU HAVE THIS DISCUSSION ON WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE FOR THE COMMITTEE. JUST CONSIDER THAT AHEAD OF TIME AS YOU WALK THROUGH THIS. SOME OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT I THINK DOES NEED A DEEPER DIVE BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING CHANGES TO POLICY LIKE YOU WERE, SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT THE ORDINANCES THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE. >>LYNN HURTAK: CORRECT. >>CARL BRODY: WE'LL HAVE TO INCLUDE THAT IN TERMS OF NOT TAKING IMMEDIATE ACTION, BUT HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOU WANT THOSE TO INTERACT WITH THE ORDINANCE AND WHAT CHANGES YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT MAKING. AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU WANT TO GET TOGETHER AFTER WE MAKE DECISIONS HERE TODAY AND HAVE A FURTHER POLICY ANALYSIS OF ALL THIS, AND THAT'S PERFECT. BUT JUST TO LAY THAT ON THE TABLE THAT THERE ARE OTHER LEGAL FACTORS IN PLACE THAT ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED BY WHATEVER DECISIONS YOU MAKE AFTER DECIDING HOW YOU WANT TO MOVE FORWARD ON A POLICY. >>LYNN HURTAK: IF WE STARTED THIS WITH A RESOLUTION -- >>ABBYE FEELEY: ABBYE FEELEY. THERE IS ALSO AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. 2014-1, AND I'M GETTING COPIES OF THAT FOR YOU NOW SO YOU HAVE THAT. BUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU WITH THE WHEREAS CLAUSES SPEAKING TO BOTH THE INTERNAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT THE CITY HAS, WHICH IS MADE UP OF CITY PLANNING PARKS. I THINK MARY IS ON THERE. AND THEN THE SECOND PART, I THINK IT IS THE WHEREAS CLAUSE, MAYBE SECOND OR THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM, THAT TALKS ABOUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES. IT ACTUALLY WASN'T THE NRAC. IT WAS THE REVERSE OF THAT. BUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR NATURAL RESOURCES RELATED BACK TO THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN. I'LL GET YOU THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER RIGHT NOW. IT'S A ONE-PAGER. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE CAN STILL CHANGE IT BY RESOLUTION. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: COULD YOU LET US KNOW, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IF SOMEBODY ELSE COULD ANSWER, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME THE COMMITTEE MET AND WHAT HAVE THEY DONE OR ACCOMPLISHED OR DECIDED IN THIS ADMINISTRATION SINCE 2019. >> JUST A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NRAC, STARTED IN 2017-2018. AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE MEETING, AND IT WAS RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN. SO THAT'S WHEN THE COMMITTEE FIRST STARTED TO MEET. IT MET AGAIN IN 2022, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE RAN INTO THIS COMMITTEE NEEDED TO BE A SUNSHINE COMMITTEE AND OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS SO. >>BILL CARLSON: HAVE THEY MET SINCE 2022? >> NO. >>BILL CARLSON: SO THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING SINCE 2022. SO THAT'S FOUR YEARS. DID THEY DO ANYTHING IN 2020 OR BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022, PUT UP ANY RECOMMENDATIONS OR MAKE ANY DECISIONS? >> 2022, LIKE THE REASON THEY DIDN'T MEET IS BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO BE A SUNSHINE COMMITTEE, SO WE STOPPED OUR MEETINGS AT THAT POINT. >>BILL CARLSON: MY POINT IS THAT THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC IS THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN ENACTED. TO ME, ARGUING ABOUT WHO IS IN CONTROL AND ALL THAT STUFF, IT HASN'T BEEN ACTIVE ANYWAY. I HOPE THE ADMINISTRATION WILL WORK WITH US TO MAKE THIS BETTER AND TO PROVIDE MORE OVERSIGHT, PROVIDING OVERSIGHT AND TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC IS ONLY A GOOD THING IN MY MIND. >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING? >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING. THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS A PART OF A LARGER CYCLE OF THINGS. SO LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE OUR URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN. ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE FED INTO THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN, INCLUDING THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SO THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS SUPPOSED TO BE COMPRISED OF PROFESSIONALS AND ALSO THE PUBLIC TO ALLOW INPUT ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO OR WHAT ARE THEIR SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN THE MANAGEMENT PLAN. THEIR PRIMARY ROLE FOR THIS UPCOMING UPDATE FOR THE MANAGEMENT PLAN, THEY ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO UPDATE THE MASTER PLAN FOR US. THAT IS THEIR CRITICAL ROLE AND FUNCTION THAT WE NEED THEM FOR. AFTER THAT, THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL OF THE THINGS IN THE MASTER PLAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INTERNAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP. WITHOUT THAT COMPONENT, IT TAKES THE PUBLIC OUT OF A VERY PUBLIC DOCUMENT. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>BILL CARLSON: MY ARGUMENT IS WE NEED TO ACTIVATE IT BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN ACTIVATED IN FOUR YEARS AND IT NEEDS TO INCLUDE THE TREE STUFF SO WE CAN GET TRANSPARENCY TO THE PUBLIC. >>LYNN HURTAK: AS I LOOK -- MS. KOPESKY, COULD YOU PUT THAT ON THE -- CAN YOU PUT THE COMPOSITION? I APOLOGIZE, I LOOK AT THE COMPOSITION, THIS ISN'T CORRECT. BUT I WILL EXPLAIN WHAT IT WAS AND WASN'T. IF WE COULD JUST PUT IT UP FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WE DISCUSS THIS. SO INITIALLY, WE HAD DISCUSSED POSSIBLY CHANGING THE MAYOR, SLASH, COUNCIL ROLE BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE FOUND AS THIS COUNCIL IS THAT IF WE EACH SELECT SOMEONE, WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL POINT PERSON. AND I THINK THAT IS A VALUABLE THING. SO WHAT I DID IS MY RECOMMENDATION WAS CHANGE THE MAYORAL FROM SIX TO FOUR. AND THEN EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE ONE. BUT WHAT I ACTUALLY MEANT FOR 8, 9, 10, 11, IS LEAVE THAT AS A NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE. DISTRICT FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, THEY WOULD HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE. AND THEN FOR THE CITYWIDE ONES, DISTRICT ONE, TWO, AND THREE, WE WOULD CHOOSE A TREE ADVOCATE/ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT MEMBER SO THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS LOOKING AT THE OVERALL AREA. AND THEN THE MAYOR WOULD FOCUS ON THE IMPORTANT AND INDIVIDUAL ONES WHICH WOULD BE -- OR THE SPECIFIED ONES, WHICH WOULD BE A CERTIFIED ARBORIST, SLASH, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, TO HAVE TWO OF THOSE. TO HAVE A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL AND A DEVELOPER AND BUILDER. SO THAT WAY THE MAYOR HAS THE VERY SPECIFIC NEED AND THEN COUNCIL HAS FOLKS WHO ARE FOCUSED ON ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT WORK, TREE ADVOCACY, WHICH THEY COULD HAVE, SIERRA CLUB, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEN THE INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT PEOPLE COULD HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT BACKGROUND, BUT ALSO JUST A NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES. THE YEARS OF START WOULD BE ON THE SIDE OF ONE, TWO, AND THREE. IF YOU FLIP IT OVER, I HAVE A BALANCE OF THE MAYOR, BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO SWITCH, WE HAVE A BALANCE OF THE MAYOR HAVING ONE ONE YEAR, ONE TWO-YEAR, AND ONE THREE-YEAR, BECAUSE WE WANT TO STAGGER TERMS. DISTRICT ONE, TWO, AND THREE WOULD HAVE ONE OF EACH AND WE WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN OURSELVES WHAT WE WOULD GET. DISTRICTS FOUR THROUGH SEVEN WOULD HAVE TWO ONE-YEAR, TWO-YEAR, THREE-YEAR AND HAVE TO DECIDE AMONGST THEMSELVES. I HOPE THAT MADE SENSE. COUNCILMAN CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: I AGREE WITH ALL THAT. I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT CHANGING IT FROM FOUR TO SEVEN DOESN'T MEAN THAT CITY COUNCIL IS TRYING TO CONTROL IT OR WIELD POWER OR WHATEVER IT IS, TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY ADEQUATELY. AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND EVEN THE THREE YEARS CITYWIDE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS SO WE CAN JUST ADD TO THE DIVERSITY OF -- GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY AND OTHER KINDS OF DIVERSITY ON THE COMMITTEE. JUST LIKE WITH THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, THE MAYOR HAS THE RIGHT TO SEND E-MAILS, TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES, TO MAKE ARGUMENTS, AND THEN THE COMMITTEE CAN DECIDE WHAT TO DO. IF IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO LEGALLY CHANGE THIS, WE CAN ALWAYS SET UP A SEPARATE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD DO THE SAME THING SINCE THIS HASN'T BEEN ACTIVE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I WOULD ALSO ARGUE, LIKE, OVERALL WITH THE STAFF THAT COMES IN, THE MAYOR HAS A LOT OF CONTROL OVER THAT. IN THIS, WE'RE KIND OF DOING MORE PEOPLE CENTERED. YES, MS. PETTIS-MACKLE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AS THIS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED BY COUNCIL, IT'S A PROPOSAL FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD, IN RESOLUTION 2024-866, WHICH WAS THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL FOR THE CREATION OF THE NATURAL RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE COMPOSITION AS ALREADY OUTLINED, IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO HAVE 11 MEMBERS. SIX OF THE PROFESSIONALS, THE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD WERE MAYOR APPOINTMENTS. AND THE REMAINING MEMBERS WERE THE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES THAT WOULD BE SELECTED BY CITY COUNCIL. I WOULD ASK, AND I RAN THIS BY STAFF, WOULD CITY COUNCIL CONSIDER AS OPPOSED TO ELIMINATING A PROFESSIONAL PERSON WHO IS AN EXPERT IN THAT FIELD TO ADD, TO LEAVE THE REMAINING -- TO LEAVE THE EXISTING SIX PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD, BUT TO ADD MORE NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATES SO THAT EACH CITY COUNCIL PERSON COULD HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD ADVOCATE THAT THEY COULD APPOINT, BUT KEEP IN PLACE THE PROFESSIONALS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO ASSIST WITH THIS PROJECT PROCESS OF BRAINSTORMING AND COLLABORATING TO IMPLEMENT AND DISCUSS AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS FOR THIS MANAGEMENT PLAN. I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: SINCE THIS IS MY PLAN, I'LL SAY I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. I WAS JUST THINKING, WE TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT TRYING TO GET QUORUM, AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON A BOARD AND THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE AN ISSUE. THE REASON I DID CERTIFIED ARBORIST, SLASH LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, I SAT ON THE VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD FOR YEARS AND NEVER COULD GET ANYBODY TO FILL ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS HAD STUFF THAT CAME IN FRONT OF CITY. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND A PERSON TO DO THAT. I RECOGNIZE THIS MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT BOARD BECAUSE THIS IS JUST AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT STILL -- >>ABBYE FEELEY: ABBYE FEELEY. WE ALREADY HAVE THOSE APPOINTMENTS READY TO BRING TO YOU OF THOSE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE. THE SCIENTIST I THINK YOU SAW WITH EVEN HAVING MR. LANDRY HERE THIS MORNING, THOSE ARE CRITICAL THINGS TO THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN. IN WHAT YOU SUGGESTED HERE, IT WAS MOVING OUT THE ENGINEER -- WE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE READY FOR YOU TO APPOINT. >>LYNN HURTAK: IF YOU WANT TO ADD THREE MORE PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? WHAT DOES THE REST OF COUNCIL THINK? >>NAYA YOUNG: ARE YOU SAYING FOR ENGINEER AND PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIST, INSTEAD OF THOSE BEING COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS, LEAVE THEM AS MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS? >>LYNN HURTAK: YEAH, AND ADD THREE MORE SEATS. >>ABBYE FEELEY: WE HAD THE APPOINTMENTS READY TO COME TO COUNCIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. WHEN SOME OF THESE OTHER DISCUSSIONS CAME UP, THOSE THINGS WERE POSTPONED BUT WE HAVE THOSE INDIVIDUALS VETTED AND READY TO BE APPOINTED. SO I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS COLLABORATIVELY TO BE THAT WE STILL KEEP WHAT WE HAD AND WE ADD TWO TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS AND INTRODUCE THOSE OTHER INDIVIDUALS SO THAT WE'RE BUILDING ON THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE UP TO THIS POINT TO KEEP US MOVING FORWARD. >>NAYA YOUNG: WE'LL HAVE A BOARD OF 14. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, A BOARD OF 13. I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. MY ONLY THING IS THAT, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ALL SEVEN OF US SHOULD HAVE THE ROLE LABELED NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE. I DON'T THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES -- I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SPOT FOR TREE ADVOCATE AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT THAT AGAIN I THINK THE CITYWIDE SEATS WOULD HAVE A GOOD IDEA TO DO. >>ABBYE FEELEY: COULD IT NOT BE ANY ONE OF THOSE THREE CATEGORIES? >>LYNN HURTAK: SURE. >>ABBYE FEELEY: THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, IF THAT CHANGES OVER TIME. I MEAN, I THINK THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGE WE DO FACE ON THE BOARDS. THEY ARE VOLUNTARY BOARDS. GET PEOPLE TO SERVE ON THEM, LIKE THE VRB, WHEN WE PUT IT SO LIMITED THAT SOMETIMES LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO PUT THE RIGHT PERSON IN THE RIGHT PLACE. I THINK HAVING THOSE REPRESENTATIVES BE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES ELIGIBLE MAY BE A WAY TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE ON GETTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE THERE. >>LYNN HURTAK: I THINK THAT'S FINE. THE ONLY THING I WOULD CONSIDER FOR THE MAYORAL POSITIONS IS TO NOT HAVE THE CERTIFIED ARBORIST AND THE LANDSCAPE DESIGNER BE SPECIFIC BECAUSE THOSE ARE VERY HARD TO FIND. MAYBE IT WAS ME ON THE VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD, BUT -- >>ABBYE FEELEY: WE HAVE THEM. >>LYNN HURTAK: I KNOW WE HAVE THEM NOW. WHAT I'M SAYING IS IN THE FUTURE. >>ABBYE FEELEY: BUT THAT CAME OUT OF THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN AS WHAT THE CITY NEEDED. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. >>ABBYE FEELEY: IN TRYING TO REESTABLISH IT, I WOULD HATE FOR US TO ABANDON OR -- BECAUSE THAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC AREA THAT WE REALLY NEED TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. IF WE ADD THOSE THREE OR THE TWO, WE STILL WANTED TO TALK ABOUT STAGGERING OF TERMS. AND THE STAGGERING OF TERMS, THE STRUGGLE FOR ME WAS THE MAJORITY OF THE THREE-YEAR TERMS WERE FOR THE MAYOR, AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE AN EQUAL NUMBER FOR BOTH COUNCIL AND MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS. >>ABBYE FEELEY: I THINK THERE IS A PROPOSAL IN THE WERE A HE THINKS THAT BRIAN WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS WITH YOU BRIEFLY. >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. >> BRIAN KNOX, CITY PLANNING. SO LAST BULLET. BECAUSE OF THE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND HAVING THEM ON THE BOARD, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE APPOINTEES BE THERE FOR THREE YEARS AND THEN START TO STAGGER THEM OFF. I TALKED WITH A COUPLE OF TREE ADVOCATES ABOUT IT. I TALKED TO -- INTERNALLY ABOUT IT. AND I THINK GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE BOARD WITH UPDATING THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG PROCESS TO SEE SOME OF THIS STUFF THROUGH. AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO START STAGGERING THEM AFTER THE THREE-YEAR TERMS. START STAGGERING WITH ESSENTIALLY AS IT WAS WITH THE 11 MEMBERS, TWO MEMBERS FROM THE PROFESSIONAL, TWO MEMBERS FROM COUNCIL APPOINTED, AND CARRY THAT ON UNTIL IT'S PROBABLY TWO TO ONE AS IT WAS WITH THE 11 MEMBERS. JUST BASICALLY START STAGGERING AFTER THE THREE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF ATTAINING SOMEBODY IN THAT QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL POSITION. AND HAVING THEM SEE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN UPDATE. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HERE SHE COMES. >>LYNN HURTAK: ANYONE? DOES ANYONE HAVE -- >> [INAUDIBLE] >> YES, THE WAY I WOULD LIKE FOR IT TO BE STAGGERED IS EVERYONE STARTS WITH A THREE-YEAR TERM. THEN AFTER THAT, THE BOARD SLOWLY STARTS TO STAGGER OFF AFTER THEIR FIRST YEAR AFTER THAT THREE-YEAR TERM AND A SECOND TERM. TWO AND TWO. TWO MAYOR, TWO COUNCIL, AND THEN IN THE SECOND YEAR, TWO MAYOR, TWO COUNCIL, AND THEN IN THE THIRD YEAR, IT'S TWO MAYOR, ONE COUNCIL. >>LYNN HURTAK: I DON'T -- I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT MAINLY BECAUSE WE AREN'T GOING TO BE HERE AND THE MAYOR IS NOT GOING TO BE HERE. SO TO HAVE PEOPLE INITIAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THREE YEARS IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE WHOEVER SITS IN MY SEAT SHOULDN'T BE STUCK WITH MY APPOINTEE FOR TWO MORE YEARS. >>ABBYE FEELEY: ABBYE FEELEY. WHAT BRIAN WAS SAYING, THE WORK IS MORE THAN A YEAR TERM. I GUESS IN REESTABLISHING, FIRST, WE NEED TO ADD IN THOSE OTHER POSITIONS THAT YOU JUST PROPOSED, AND THEN EVERYONE COMING ON WOULD COME IN TOGETHER NOW FOR THREE YEARS, AND WE'D START WITH THOSE THREE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT GOES WITH THE URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN, AND WE CAN STILL -- I'M JUST EXPLAINING. I SEE YOUR FACE. WE CAN STILL HAVE DISCUSSION. WE'RE JUST SAYING, OKAY, WE STARTED WITH THIS GROUP, NOW WE'RE GOING TO ADD THESE INDIVIDUALS. OKAY. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT TERMS. SO TERMS, IT'S BEING RECOMMENDED THREE-YEAR TERM TO START. THOSE APPOINTEES WE HAVE FOR YOU THAT ARE READY TO GET APPROVAL ALREADY COMMITTED TO A THREE-YEAR. THEY KNOW THAT'S THE EXPECTATION. SO HOW WOULD WE POTENTIALLY MODIFY THAT OR LOOK AT THAT OTHER STAGGERING? I WHOLEHEARTEDLY HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. REALLY, THE CITY'S PERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE TREES AND THE OBJECTIVE OF THAT. SO WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE GROUP WE PUT TOGETHER WOULD BE WORKING AND GETTING THAT COHESIVENESS TOGETHER FOR THOSE THREE YEARS. SO IF WE DON'T DO AN INITIAL TERM OF THREE, THEN THEY GO FOR A SECOND YEAR OF TWO. WE CAN, I THINK NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PEOPLE, WE COULD TALK ABOUT WHAT THE TERMS WOULD BE TOGETHER. >>LYNN HURTAK: BOARD MEMBER YOUNG. >>NAYA YOUNG: I THOUGHT IN THE LAST MEETING, WE WERE KIND OF WORKING THROUGH WHETHER IT WOULD BE THE THREE YEARS OR TWO YEARS. WE DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION ON THAT. >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, WE DIDN'T. THIS IS THEIR RECOMMENDATION. >>NAYA YOUNG: HOW WOULD THEY AGREE TO THREE YEARS IF WE DIDN'T EVEN AGREE TO THREE YEARS? >>ABBYE FEELEY: BECAUSE THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMITTEE UNDER THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER EXISTS, WE BROUGHT THAT OTHER EXECUTIVE ORDER A FEW MONTHS AGO TO RESTART IT AND THAT THREE-YEAR WAS IN THERE. >>NAYA YOUNG: DIDN'T WE DISCUSS THAT? >>LYNN HURTAK: YEAH, WE DISCUSSED THAT WE DIDN'T WANT THREE-YEAR TERMS. >>ABBYE FEELEY: THE 2024 -- >>NAYA YOUNG: I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. IN THE LAST MEETING, I THOUGHT WE SAID WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY AGREE ON THE THREE YEARS. HOW WOULD SOMEONE AGREE TO DO THREE YEARS IF WE DIDN'T EVEN AGREE THAT WE WANTED IT TO BE THREE YEARS? >>ABBYE FEELEY: IN WHAT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THE TERMS OF EACH MEMBER SHALL BE STAGGERED THREE-YEAR TERMS. SO THE STARTING POINT NOW IN REESTABLISHMENT STARTS WITH THAT THREE YEARS. THAT'S WHERE WE ASKED THEM -- >>NAYA YOUNG: THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AND WE SAID NO, WE DIDN'T AGREE. AM I CRAZY? >>LYNN HURTAK: NO, YOU'RE NOT. >>NAYA YOUNG: ISN'T THAT WHAT WE SAID? >>LYNN HURTAK: THIS IS THE ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO GET US TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. >>ABBYE FEELEY: I'M NOT TRYING TO DO -- I'M FOLLOWING ALONG THE -- >>NAYA YOUNG: I REMEMBER THE MEETING AND GOING BACK AND FORTH ON WHAT THE STAGGERED TERMS MEAN. WE WANTED TO COME BACK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION. HOW WOULD SOMEONE AGREE TO SOMETHING THAT WE DIDN'T EVEN AGREE TO? AM I MISSING SOMETHING. >>BILL CARLSON: WHAT I THINK SHE'S SAYING -- >>NAYA YOUNG: IF I'M WRONG, I'M WRONG. >>BILL CARLSON: THIS IS ONE OF THE CHARTER ISSUES. WE PASSED A RESOLUTION, BUT A PREVIOUS MAYOR HAD AN EXECUTIVE ORDER. SO THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AS IT STANDS. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD, I THINK, SUPERSEDE THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. >>ABBYE FEELEY: SO THE RESOLUTION WAS JUST PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL WITH THESE TERMS ON SEPTEMBER 19 OF 2024. SO THAT'S WHERE WE PROCEEDED TO START BUILDING THE COMMITTEE BACK BASED ON THE TERMS OF THIS RESOLUTION. IT'S NO BAIT AND SWITCH. WE DID WHAT WAS IN THE RESOLUTION AS APPROVED BY COUNCIL. >>LYNN HURTAK: CORRECT. BUT NOW THIS COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO CHANGE ITS MIND. IT HAPPENS. >>ABBYE FEELEY: OKAY. IN PREPARATION FOR US -- IN PREPARATION FOR US FILLING THOSE SLOTS, WE FOLLOWED WHAT WAS APPROVED. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE HERE TODAY. AND THEN THOSE INDIVIDUALS UNDER THESE TERMS OF THIS RESO WENT ON THE AGENDA, AND THEN IT BECAME A DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL. SO THOSE PEOPLE ARE STILL THERE WHO APPLIED FROM 2024 TO COME AND SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY, AND NOW THERE IS A DISCUSSION BEING HAD BY THIS BOARD AS TO WHAT THAT CAPACITY LOOKS LIKE, WE FOLLOWED THIS. I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ANOTHER DISCUSSION GOING ON OUTSIDE OF WHAT WAS IN THE TERMS OF THIS, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE RECONCILED. BUT THIS WAS THE DIRECTION GIVEN, AND THIS IS WHAT WAS PROCEEDED IN ORDER TO GET THAT COMMITTEE SET UP SO WE COULD KEEP MOVING FORWARD. >>LYNN HURTAK: YES. AS WE'VE HAD MORE DISCUSSION, THE THOUGHTS HAVE CHANGED. AND WE DID THINK ABOUT CHANGES. COUNCIL MEMBER CARLSON. >>BILL CARLSON: STAFF WANTS TO FOLLOW IN TERMS OF THE RESOLUTION AND THE EXECUTIVE ORDER. SO THE QUESTION REALLY IS A LEGAL QUESTION. MARTY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? ASK FOR A REVISED RESOLUTION REFLECTING WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DECIDED? >> CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. I CAN ANSWER THAT. I PREPARED THIS RESOLUTION, AND THAT'S WHY -- THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. IF IT'S THE DESIRE OF THIS BOARD TO REVISE THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE JUST NEED DIRECTION. I WILL PREPARE THAT RESOLUTION. >>BILL CARLSON: YOU HAVE A NEW RESOLUTION YOU ARE PROPOSING. >>CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE: I'M WAITING FOR CITY COUNCIL -- >>BILL CARLSON: -- GIVE DIRECTION ON WHAT WE WANT TO CHANGE. >>CAMARIA PETTIS-MACKLE: CORRECT. >>LYNN HURTAK: THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO WITH MY SUGGESTIONS. AGAIN, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH JUST ADDING TWO MORE POSITIONS. BUT I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT START WITH EVERYONE WITH THREE-YEAR TERMS. I DO BELIEVE WE SHOULD START WITH STAGGERED TERMS. IF THE MAYOR HAS SIX APPOINTEES, THEN TWO ONE-YEAR, TWO TWO-YEAR AND TWO THREE-YEAR, AND WE DIVIDE AMONG OURSELVES IN THE SAME MANNER. I THINK THAT'S ONLY FAIR. TWO MORE, TO HAVE EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAS ONE. AND WHILE THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN THE GOAL TWO YEARS AGO, NOW WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS FOUND IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE AN APPOINTEE THAT -- AT LEAST ME PERSONALLY, WHEN I HAVE SOMEONE THAT I'VE APPOINTED, IT SERVES AS A CONDUIT FOR ME SO THAT TREES IN THIS CASE WILL STAY ON MY MIND MORE OFTEN. I HAVE AN APPOINTEE TO THE CITIZEN BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE. SHE AND I MEET EVERY SINGLE MONTH TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I HAVE AN APPOINTEE TO THE CITY'S CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION, WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES. AND THAT'S THE WAY I BELIEVE -- I CAN'T SPEAK FOR OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT THAT HAS WORKED REALLY WELL FOR ME. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT GOING FORWARD, SO WE'RE NOT AT THE SAME PLACE WITH ANY OTHER ISSUE, THAT AS WE MAKE THESE APPOINTEES AND AS WE HAVE THESE ADVISORY COMMITTEES, WHEN WE HAVE A PERSON THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO, WE STAY MORE IN TOUCH. SO WE DON'T END UP HERE WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TREES BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT TREES IN YEARS. >>BILL CARLSON: DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION AS TO WHAT YOU RECOMMEND CHANGING ON THE RESOLUTION? >>LYNN HURTAK: OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION THAT ON THE RESOLUTION WE CHANGE -- WE ADD TWO MORE CITY COUNCIL POSITIONS AND EACH POSITION WILL BE -- EACH POSITION WILL BE A NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVE, SLASH, TREE ADVOCATE, SLASH ENVIRONMENTAL NONPROFIT MEMBER FOR ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND THAT THE MAYORAL APPOINTEES STAY CERTIFIED ARBORIST, DEVELOPER SLASH BUILDER ENGINEER PROFESSIONAL SCIENTIST, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL. THEN AS FOR TERMS, THE MAYOR WILL HAVE TWO ONE-YEAR TERMS, TWO TWO-YEAR TERMS, AND TWO THREE-YEAR TERMS. AND THE COUNCIL -- THE INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL HAVE A SPLIT BETWEEN THREE TWO-YEAR TERMS, THREE -- THREE ONE-YEAR TERMS, I APOLOGIZE, TWO TWO-YEAR TERMS, AND TWO THREE-YEAR TERMS. AND I DON'T KNOW, WE COULD JUST -- WE COULD DRAW SOMETHING OUT OF A HAT, I DON'T KNOW. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: NOW WE HAVE TO BRING THE HAT INTO THIS. >>LYNN HURTAK: SORRY. NEVER MIND. >>GUIDO MANISCALCO: SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN CARLSON. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? >>LYNN HURTAK: I HAVE A SECOND RECOMMENDATION. OH, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE THIS. APOLOGIZE, BUT THAT'S MY MOTION ABOUT THAT. I DO HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT, I DON'T THINK A MINIMUM OF TWO MEETINGS A YEAR IS ENOUGH. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. GOSH SORRY. I'M CHAIRING. ANYTHING ELSE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT BEFORE WE TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS 4 AND 5, WHICH ARE THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE? >>BILL CARLSON: DO YOU WANT TO JUST SAY WHAT YOU INTEND TO MAKE IN THE MOTION AND THEN HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN YOU COULD TURN IT INTO A MOTION AFTERWARDS? >>LYNN HURTAK: ITEM NUMBER 4 WAS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS WHETHER TO ASSIGN THE OVERSIGHT OF THE TREE TRUST FUND TO THE CITY NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE. I DO BELIEVE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN TERMS OF A RECOMMENDATION BODY WE SHOULD DO. BUT I DO THINK THAT ULTIMATELY COUNCIL IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION. AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT WORKS. IF THE BOARD SAYS, YES, WE SPEND TYPE THREE TREE MONEY, ARE WE OKAY WITH THAT? SO WE KIND OF HAVE TO STILL HAVE A BIT OF A DEBATE. BUT ALSO, I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD MEET. AS WE'RE TRYING TO STRENGTHEN THIS, THIS SHOULD BE -- THEY SHOULD MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS SO THAT WE ACTUALLY GET THIS DONE. THOSE ARE MY RECOMMENDATIONS. BEFORE WE -- IF ANYONE ELSE HAS OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I'M FOCUSED ON. I'M FOCUSED ON MEETING SIX TIMES A YEAR. WE JUST TALKED ABOUT STAGGERED TERMS. LOOKING AT OVERSIGHT OF THE TREE TRUST FUND, BUT ALSO REALLY LOOKING AT THE PLANS THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING TOGETHER AND PUT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON PLANS FOR ADDING MORE TREES. >>BILL CARLSON: SHE WAS INDICATING WHAT SHE WANTS TO MAKE AS A MOTION AND THEN THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE THE PUBLIC SPEAK AND MAKE MOTIONS. WE'VE MADE MOTIONS AND APPROVALS. WE'RE REVISING THE RESOLUTION THAT BACKS UP THE EXECUTIVE ORDER REGARDING THE NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, BECAUSE I WAS AT A PLACE WHERE I COULD NOT WATCH. YOU GUYS MOVED THROUGH ITEM NUMBER 4. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE'RE DOING 4 AND 5 TOGETHER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. WE FINISHED WITH DISCUSSION AND YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR AN ORDINANCE TO SUPPLEMENT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE MAYOR. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE ALREADY MADE THAT MOTION. WE JUST MADE THAT MOTION BEFORE YOU CAME. THAT WAS REALLY ABOUT APPORTIONMENT. SO WHAT WE DECIDED WAS TO ADD TWO MEMBERS SO THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE ONE PERSON AND TO KEEP THE MAYOR'S SPECIFIC FOCUS. BUT OURS, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD HAVE ONE THAT WAS EITHER A COMMUNITY LEADER, A TREE ADVOCATE, OR A NONPROFIT MEMBER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: MR. SHELBY. >>MARTIN SHELBY: ALSO, MR. CHAIRMAN, WHILE YOU WERE OUT, ITEMS 6 AND 8 WERE CONTINUED TO THE MAY WORKSHOP MAY 28, LEAVING ITEM NUMBER 7 REMAINING. >>BILL CARLSON: MS. PETTIS-MACKLE SAID TO US, JUST TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO REVISE IN THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED IN 2024. WHEN WE GIVE HER THE ADVICE WHICH IS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HURTAK WAS DOING, THEN SHE'LL GO BACK AND REVISE AND COME BACK FOR APPROVAL. NOW WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON IS PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN FOLLOWING THAT CHAIR PRO TEM WILL MAKE THE FINAL MOTION THAT SHE HAS REGARDING THE CHANGES TO THE RESOLUTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: IS COUNCIL COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT SO I CAN MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT? PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE START WITH YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> LORRAINE PERINO, PRESIDENT OF THE TAMPA TREE ADVOCACY GROUP. I WAS GOING TO GO OVER THE HISTORY OF THE NRAC BUT THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE. WE WERE GOING TO -- T-TAG WANTED TO RECOMMEND THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FIVE THAT CITY COUNCIL WAS GOING TO APPOINT TO THIS COMMITTEE, THAT THEY ADD ONE SO THAT THE MAYOR WOULD HAVE SIX AND THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD HAVE SIX. SO HOW MANY ARE THERE GOING TO BE NOW? >>LYNN HURTAK: 13. SIX FOR THE MAYOR, SEVEN FOR COUNCIL. >> T-TAG BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS THAT SHOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE EXPENDITURE OF THE TREE TRUST FUND MONEY. AS FAR AS NRAC CONTROLLING THE TREE TRUST FUND EXPENDITURES, T-TAG BELIEVES THAT THERE SHOULD FIRST BE A TRIAL PERIOD OF THE NRAC BOARD TO SEE HOW THEY ARE FUNCTIONING PRIOR TO MAKING SUCH IMPORTANT DECISIONS ABOUT THE EXPENDITURE OF THE FUNDS. SO THOSE ARE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS WE WANTED TO MAKE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. START WITH YOUR NAME. >> TARAH BLUMA. I THINK THAT IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA HAVING A TRIAL PERIOD. I WOULD SUPPORT LETTING THE COMMITTEE BE THE STEWARD OF THE TREE TRUST FUND, BUT THE NEEDS IN EACH AREA ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN WHAT WE WANT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE 11 RELIEF PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED, FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE ALL FOR THE CENTRAL TREE TRUST FUND. I THINK IT'S ABOUT 3,000 TREES THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED PLANTING AT THE $1400 A TREE, THAT'S YOUR $2.6 MILLION. GONE. THE WHOLE CENTRAL TREE TRUST FUND. SO I VERY MUCH SUPPORT SUPPLEMENTING THAT FUNDING SO THAT YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH THE RELIEF PLAN AND STILL HAVE MONEY LEFT OVER IN THE TREE TRUST FUND. I THINK THEY ARE GOOD PLANS. I LOOKED AT THEM CLOSELY. BUT WHAT WE MIGHT WANT IN SOUTH TAMPA IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT AND WE WANT TO HAVE MONEY THAT WE CAN USE FOR THE TREE-MENDOUS TREE PROGRAM AND OTHER THINGS. IF THE NRAC IS MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, HOW ARE WE HAVING THAT LOCAL INPUT WITH JUST ONE OR POTENTIALLY TWO MEMBERS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS? THAT'S MY MAIN CONCERN ON THAT. OBVIOUSLY WITH MOST OF COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR ROLLING OFF WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, I THINK THREE YEARS IS A VERY LONG AMOUNT OF TIME TO HAVE THOSE REPRESENTATIVES. AND I DON'T REALLY THINK IT'S FAIR TO ANY OF YOU OR YOUR PREDECESSORS THAT DON'T GET TO MAKE THAT DECISION IN TERMS OF WHO IS REPRESENTING THEM WHEN THE NEW COUNCIL COMES OUT. I REALLY LIKE ONE- AND TWO-YEAR TERMS IN THAT SITUATION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER. >> STEPHANIE POYNOR. I REALLY WISH I SAW A FUNCTIONING COMMITTEE THAT IS CURRENTLY STAFFED BY CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE JOINTLY. DON'T SEE THAT OFTEN. BUT ANYWAY, BOTTOM LINE IS, THE RESOLUTION SAID, AND I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT MY NOTES, BUT THE RESOLUTION ISN'T IN OnBase FROM FEBRUARY 5. IT WAS JUST A RESOLUTION TO PUT THE MAYOR'S PEOPLE IN PLACE FOR THREE YEARS AT A TIME. WHAT I READ IN THE RESOLUTION, UP HERE AND GONE SO FAST, I DIDN'T SEE IT, IT JUST SAID THREE YEARS, TWO YEAR, ONE YEAR. AND IT DIDN'T SAY THAT THE MAYOR GETS ALL THE THREE YEARS. AGAIN, AS WE'VE ALREADY POINTED OUT, SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE HERE. I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AS SOMEBODY WHO SITS ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE. I'M ALSO GOING TO SAY THIS AS SOMEBODY WHO OBSERVES WHAT ONE OF YOUR NOMINEES DOES ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION BOARD, THAT YOU WOULD LOVE TO GET RID OF. YOU'D LOVE TO PUT HER ON THE HIGHWAY BUT YOU CAN'T BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY TO GET RID OF THE PEOPLE EXCEPT WITH CAUSE. TO GET INVOLVED AND TO GET SO DEEP IN WITH PEOPLE THAT SOMEBODY MAY NOT SUPPORT IN A YEAR, THAT'S CRAP. IT'S REALLY CRAP. AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A COMMITTEE THAT BY RESOLUTION IS ONLY MEETING TWICE A YEAR. IF YOU'VE GOT A BIG PLAN, THEY NEED TO BE MEETING EVERY MONTH. I MEAN, SERIOUSLY. HAVE THOSE PEOPLE COMMITTED TO THAT? BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED TO DO. BUT NOBODY SAID AND I DON'T REMEMBER READING IN THE RESOLUTION THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO THROUGH THE NATURAL RESOURCES MASTER PLAN AND REVISE IT. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT EVER COMING UP. AND IF THAT IS THE ASSIGNMENT FOR THEM, GO BACK AND WATCH YOUR CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND LOOK AT THE OBSTRUCTIONIST BEHAVIOR THAT'S GOING ON THERE. CARROLL ANN BENNETT SENT ME A TEXT AND SAID SHE LIKES LYNN'S PLAN. SHE'S TOTALLY DOWN WITH THAT. I THINK THAT THIS LIST THAT'S UP HERE IS A GREAT LIST. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO CONSIDER THAT, AND I THINK THAT CITY COUNCIL SHOULD NEVER AGREE NOT TO HAVE SEVEN REPRESENTATIVES, EVER, FOR ANY COMMITTEE EVER. EACH ONE OF YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR OWN PERSON. YOU CAN'T ALL DECIDE ON FIVE PEOPLE. WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO SIT UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT ONE INDIVIDUAL AND SAY, NO, I DON'T LIKE THAT PERSON BECAUSE THEY DRINK AT A BAR AND SWEAR UP AND DOWN THAT THEY DON'T DRINK OR WHATEVER. THE CRAZY STUFF I SAY ABOUT PEOPLE. YOU CAN'T SAY THAT OUT LOUD FROM THE DAIS, SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DISCUSS WHO YOU WANT TO PUT ON THE BOARD AND WHO YOU DON'T? SERIOUSLY. NOBODY, NOWHERE IN THAT RESOLUTION -- WE CAN PUT IT BACK UP HERE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BRING IT FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT -- IT DOESN'T SAY THE MAYOR GETS ALL THREE SIX TERMS -- THREE YEARS. I SHOULD CAUTION YOU THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING IN THE RESOLUTION WHEN REVISED HOW YOU CAN REMOVE SOMEBODY FROM THE BOARD. IF THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEY DON'T SHOW UP, THEY GO. I HAVE ENOUGH ISSUES WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WITH PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SHOW UP. AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE FABULOUS NOW. STILL HAVE PEOPLE THAT SHOW UP AND DON'T SPEAK. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT CRAZY THINGS I CAN'T SAY FROM THE DAIS. [ LAUGHTER ] >> STEVE MICHELINI. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT THE BUILDERS ARE PAYING INTO THE FUND, BUT THEY ONLY HAVE ONE SEAT. THE COUNCIL, ACCORDING TO YOUR DISCUSSION, ONLY WANTS TO APPOINT A NEIGHBORHOOD PERSON OR A TREE PERSON. I THINK AS GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT FUND, AND WE WERE THE ONES WHO BROUGHT IT TO COUNCIL AND TOLD YOU THAT THE FUNDS WERE NOT BEING SPENT. IT WASN'T THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION. IT WAS THEM COMPLAINING THAT THE BUILDERS WEREN'T DOING THEIR PART. SO WE LOOKED INTO IT AND HIRED OUR OWN INVESTIGATORS TO GO IN AND LOOK AT THE BUDGET. THAT'S WHERE WE FIRST FOUND THE THREE MILLION AND THEN THE FOUR MILLION, THEN THE FIVE AND NOW THE SIX. IT SHOULD BE A REPRESENTATIVE -- A BUILDER SHOULD BE ON THE COMMITTEE AS WELL. I AGREE WITH STEPHANIE. SEVEN MEMBERS, ONE FOR EACH OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DECIDE WHO IS GOING TO BE ON AND WHO IS GOING TO BE OFF. IF IT MEANS INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE BOARD AND IF THEY ATTEND, FINE. KEEP THEM ON THE BOARD. IF THEY DON'T, REPLACE THEM. BUT I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE EQUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE GROUPS PAYING INTO THE FUND, SHOULD HAVE EQUAL REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD. THANK YOU. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. START WITH YOUR NAME. >> HI. PAMELA JACKSON HANEY WITH T-TAG. I'M FINE WITH ONLY ONE DEVELOPER BUILDER ON THAT BOARD BECAUSE WE'RE HERE MAINLY BECAUSE OF THEM. THEY DID PAY INTO IT, BUT THEY TOOK DOWN A LOT OF TREES THAT DID NOT NEED TO COME DOWN AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. ANYWAY, I'M TALKING ABOUT USING THE FUND FOR THE ONE AND TWO TREES. WE HAVE SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN A TREE TRUST FUND BECAUSE OF THOSE MITIGATION FEES WITH THE RECENT CHANGES TO FLORIDA LAW, THIS FUND WILL LIKELY NOT GROW SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE FUTURE, SO WE HAVE ONE BITE AT THIS APPLE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND WE HAVE TO GET IT RIGHT. SO A MITIGATION FEE IS A REGULATORY TOOL DESIGNED TO BALANCE DEVELOPMENT WITH COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS ENSURING THAT GROWTH DOES NOT IMPOSE UNDUE BURDENS ON PUBLIC RESOURCES OR INFRASTRUCTURE. WE HAVE 6 MILLION IN THE TREE TRUST FUND BECAUSE TYPE ONE TREES WERE REMOVED. AND WE NEED TO PUT THEM BACK TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, AND WE CAN DO THAT. LIVE OAKS CHECK ALL THE BOXES. I HAVE FOUR AROUND MY HOUSE THAT ARE STILL BIG, THRIVING, HUNDREDS OF YEARS OLD AND RESILIENT. THEY ARE STRONG, THEY LIVE FOR CENTURIES. THEY SURVIVED THE STORMS BECAUSE I DID TAKE CARE OF THEM, I DO. THEY ARE SALT TOLERANT AND THEY ARE ALSO EVERGREEN, WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING. THEY ONLY LOSE THEIR LEAFS BRIEFLY AS WE NOW SEE IN THE SPRING. SO THERE'S NO COMPARISON TO A TYPE THREE TREE. IF IT'S 1400 BUCKS A TREE, WE NEED TO SPEND IT ON OUR OAK TREES. I JUST WANT TO BRING UP ONE THING, THERE'S SO MUCH MATERIAL TO LOOK AT. I URGE YOU ALL TO LOOK AT THE 2013 URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN BECAUSE IT HAS REALLY GOOD BONES. AND IT'S A GREAT 20-YEAR DOCUMENT TO FOLLOW. IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE STATIC. IT CAN BE CHANGED, OBVIOUSLY, BUT THE BONES ARE THERE AND WHAT IT SAYS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE A THRIVING CANOPY. AND THERE'S SOME GOOD NUMBERS IN THERE. ON PAGE 57 AND SOME INTERESTING COMMENTS OR OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES ON 63 AND 64. BUT WHAT I WANT TO QUICKLY GET TO BEFORE I RUN OUT OF TIME IS THE LATEST CITY OF TAMPA TREE CANOPY AND URBAN FOREST ANALYSIS DATED 2021. SO MUCH FABULOUS INFORMATION. ON PAGE 69, POTENTIAL PLANTING AREAS. IF WE FLIP OVER TO PAGE 70, THIS IS FASCINATING PAGE BECAUSE IT SAYS HERE THAT WE HAVE 3,271 ACRES OF CITY PROPERTIES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 263,769 POTENTIAL PLANTING SITES WITH A SIX-FOOT RADIUS FOR A TOTAL THE AT LEAST 685 ACRES OF NEW TREE CANOPY. 6 MILLION, DIVIDED BY 1400, THAT GIVES US 4,286 TYPE ONE TREES WITH AVAILABLE SPOTS LEFT FOR CRAPE MYRTLES, 259,483 SPOTS LEFT FOR CRAPE MYRTLES. SO LET'S DO THE TYPE ONE TREES. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. ANYBODY ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK? IF SO, PLEASE LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL. IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, SPEAK NOW OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE. AFTER ADAM, ONE ONLINE SPEAKER. >> NANCY STEVENS, MEMBER OF T-TAG AND THE SIERRA CLUB. I WANT TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL FOR THE MAKEUP OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES ADVISORY COUNCIL. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I'M A MEMBER OF THE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL LAND ACQUISITION AND PLANNING ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE WAY IT IS STRUCTURED AND MAYBE APPROPRIATE HERE, IT'S AN ADVISORY COUNCIL, SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH STAFF WHO COME UP WITH -- WELL, WHO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK, BUT AS THE COMMITTEE, WE COME UP WITH A LISTING OF LANDS TO BE ACQUIRED, LIKE PRIORITIZE THE LISTING OF LANDS. SO STAFF GOES OUT AND MAYBE GENERATES A BUNCH OF PEOPLE, BRINGS IN PROPOSALS FOR LANDS TO BE ACQUIRED, AND WITH THE COMMITTEE AND THE STAFF, WE WILL COME UP WITH A LIST. AND STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE APPROVES THE LIST. IT'S AN ADVISORY COUNCIL. HELPS THE STAFF DO THEIR JOB. STAFF GOES OUT AND ACQUIRES THE LAND, MAKES DEALS TO BUY THE LAND AND DOES ALL THE WORK. THAT COULD BE A GOOD MODEL HERE. THE ADVISORY COUNCIL ADVISES STAFF, COMES IN WITH A DETAILED REPORT OF WHAT TREE PROJECTS THEY ARE. WHAT IS THE REQUEST FOR USING THE TREE FUNDS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE COMMITTEE SO THE COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE INFORMATION TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON. MY BIG THOUGHT HERE, THE ADVISORY COUNCIL NEEDS TO BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF WHO IS EMPOWERED, WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE TREE TRUST FUND EXPENDITURES FOR PROJECTS. SO I THINK IT'S A TWO-PART SOLUTION HERE THAT HAS TO BE WORKED. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ADAM. START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. >> ADAM HARDEN. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: UP THERE, BECAUSE THE MICROPHONE WON'T PICK YOU UP. START WITH YOUR NAME UP THERE. >> ADAM HARDEN. I THINK YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT YOUR POTENTIAL RESOLUTION REFINE THE COMMITTEE SOUNDS REASONABLE. SO GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. THE POINT I WAS MAKING EARLIER WAS THAT I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF LOST OPPORTUNITY. THERE'S ALSO A SIDEWALK IN LIEU FUND. PERHAPS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER RESOLVING TO HAVE THIS SUNSHINE COMMITTEE ALSO OVERSEE WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING AND TO SEE THAT WE ACTUALLY GET NEW SIDEWALKS OUT OF THEM. SO AS WE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, MANY STREETS WHERE SIDEWALKS WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BE BUILT, OPEN DITCHES, EXISTING GRAND TREES. BUT HAVING, MAKING SURE THOSE FUNDS DON'T FALL INTO BEING USED FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT INSTEAD OF GIVING THE NEW SIDEWALKS THAT THE PEOPLE PAID THE FEE IN LIEU FOR I THINK IS IMPORTANT. THEN THOSE THINGS ARE LINKED WITH THE TREE MITIGATION, RIGHT? I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE THE IDEA OF GIVING A LIMITED BUDGET, ESPECIALLY OF EXPANDING THE PROGRAM TO PLANT TREES IN PRIVATE PROPERTIES IS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA. I THINK THAT IF YOUR SUNSHINE COMMITTEE IS -- HAS A STAFF MEMBER TO INTERFACE WITH, AND CAN COME UP WITH GOOD IDEAS, THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF PUBLIC REALM SPACES TO SPEND THE MONEY AND PLANT TYPE ONE TREES THAT EVERYBODY HERE AGREES WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, LYNN -- TWO GOOD EXAMPLES. FOLLOWING THE NEW BIKE CORRIDOR, WHICH THE CITY JUST BUILT. SURE THE RENDERINGS IN THAT CORRIDOR SHOW SIDEWALKS AND TREES, BIKE LANES DONE, BUT THERE ARE NO SIDEWALKS AND TREES. ANOTHER CORRIDOR WHICH WOULD CONNECT THE TWO PARKS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TOGETHER. DAILY, PEOPLE WALK IN THE STREET. A SECOND EXAMPLE HERE IS A PROJECT THAT WE ASSISTED WITH IN RIDGEWOOD. AGAIN IT SHOWS A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE TREE MITIGATION AND THE BIGGER PICTURE. THE HEIGHTS WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE FIRST $660,000 OF ITS TRANSPORTATION FEES WOULD GO TO TRAFFIC CALMING IN RIDGEWOOD. WE WORKED WITH CAL HARDY AND GOT THAT PROGRAM DONE. THIS IS A PORTION OF THAT. YOU CAN SEE THAT IT IS PARALLEL BY NO SIDEWALKS, AND IF YOU WERE TO LOOK THE OTHER WAY FROM THE IMPROVEMENT, THEN THERE'S ALSO HUGE GAP IN THE TREE CANOPY. SEEING AS THESE IMPROVEMENTS COME FORWARD, SEEING IT BE INTEGRATED, THE TREE MITIGATION, THE SIDEWALK EXPENDITURES AND THESE THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS DONE THAT ARE POSITIVE, I THINK IS IMPORTANT. IT LOOKS LIKE THE FOLKS THE MAYOR PUT UP ARE WELL QUALIFIED. HOPE TO SEE YOU APPROVE THEM. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU. OUR LAST SPEAKER ON THIS TOPIC IS ONLINE. CARROLL ANN BENNETT. CARROLL ANN? UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE. >> I'M UNMUTED. CAN YOU HEAR ME? >>ALAN CLENDENIN: NOW WE CAN HEAR YOU. START WITH YOUR NAME, PLEASE. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> CARROLL ANN BENNETT. I'M IN THE CAR. HOPEFULLY I CAN FINISH BEFORE I LOSE CONNECTION. I REALLY LIKE LYNN'S PLAN. I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION. HOWEVER, I HEARD WHAT STEPHANIE SAID AND SHE BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S HARD TO REMOVE SOMEONE AND A NEW COUNCIL MEMBER OR NEW MAYOR COULD BE STUCK WITH AN APPOINTEE THAT THEY DON'T THINK IS DOING A GOOD SCROB. LET ME POINT OUT THAT AN OPTION WOULD BE TO APPOINT EVERYONE RIGHT NOW TO A ONE-YEAR TERM. I WANT TO POINT OUT -- THEY CAN BE REAPPOINTED. IF YOU APPOINT THEM -- [GARBLED AUDIO] -- AFTER THE ELECTION, CAN REAPPOINT THE SAME PERSON OR IF THEY ARE UNHAPPY WITH THAT PERSON'S PERFORMANCE, THEY CAN APPOINT SOMEONE DIFFERENT. THAT PROVIDES THE CONTINUITY THAT BRIAN KNOX SAID HE WANTED SO THAT -- BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE THEM FOUR YEARS. IF YOU LIKE THAT PLAN BETTER. LET ME JUST GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE. THE TREE-MENDOUS PROGRAM IS PHENOMENALLY SUCCESSFUL. [GARBLED AUDIO] >>ALAN CLENDENIN: CARROLL ANN, YOU ARE BREAKING UP NOW. >> OKAY, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A DISEASE FOR A TREE, IT'S SPECIES SPECIFIC, NOT TYPE SPECIFIC. IF YOU LIMIT IT TO TYPE ONES AND TYPE TWOS, YOU CAN STILL HAVE THE DIVERSITY YOU NEED, AND THAT'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE DONE WITH THE TREE TRUST FUNDS. IF YOU WANT TO DO TYPE THREE TREES, PROVIDE THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THANK YOU, MS. BENNETT. THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'VE BEEN GOING THIS MORNING, I KNOW COUNCIL, WE'RE READY TO GO, BUT STAFF NEEDS SOME RELIEF. SO I AM GOING TO CALL A RECESS AND ASK EVERYBODY TO BE BACK IN ORDER AT -- >>LYNN HURTAK: CAN I JUST MAKE THE END OF MOTIONS? WE ALREADY HAD THE DISCUSSION. WE'RE JUST MAKING THE MOTION. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I'M TRYING TO SAVE YOU GUYS. >>LYNN HURTAK: IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE BUT TWO MINUTES TO MAKE THE MOTION AND THEN WE'RE DONE WITH THIS. WE WANTED TO WAIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: OKAY. GO. >>LYNN HURTAK: THE RECOMMENDATION IS -- OH, WE HAD IT UP ON THE SCREEN. IF I COULD HAVE THE SCREEN AGAIN. TO HAVE THE MEETING FREQUENCY AND TERMS BE A MINIMUM OF SIX MEETINGS A YEAR, ALTHOUGH I REALLY DO THINK THAT MONTHLY IS PROBABLY PREFERABLE, BUT I'LL GO WITH A MINIMUM OF SIX. TO DO INITIAL APPOINTMENTS BASED ON THE ONE, TWO, AND THREE YEARS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT PRIOR. AND THAT THE REST OF IT -- SO WHAT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT IS THAT MY OFFICE WOULD WORK TO TURN THESE INTO ACTUAL MOTIONS TO BRING -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DO. >>LYNN HURTAK: WE DID A LOT OF APPROVALS OF THINGS WE'D LIKE TO SEE. BUT WHAT OUR OFFICE WILL DO IS PUT IT ALL TOGETHER, TALK TO STAFF AND SEE WHAT KIND OF MOTIONS WE CAN MAKE OUT OF IT, WHICH IS THE POINT OF THE WORKSHOP. THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION IS SIX MEETINGS A YEAR AND THE SCHEDULE THAT WE HAD FOR THE ONE, TWO, AND THREE -- >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. TERMS USUALLY RUN -- >>LYNN HURTAK: I'M FINE WITH ONE YEAR. DONE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WHEN THEY ARE REAPPOINTED, THEY GO WITH THE OFFICIAL. >>LYNN HURTAK: EXCELLENT. I'LL GO WITH THAT. ONE YEAR TO FINISH OUT COUNCIL TERMS AND MAYORAL TERM FOR THE MAYOR AND THEN REQUIRING A MINIMUM OF SIX MEETINGS, AND THEN ALSO THE LAST THING IS TO CREATE RULES THAT WOULD -- OF -- TO MATCH SIMILAR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR ATTENDANCE. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: I THINK WE NEED TO COME BACK TO NEW BUSINESS ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, AND I THINK -- NOT JUST ATTENDANCE, I THINK THERE ARE STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES FOR BOARDS THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT, RULES OF PROCEDURE. >>LYNN HURTAK: ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, WE'LL GET THIS STARTED. I PROMISE YOU, THIS IS NOT THE END OF IT. THIS IS THE POINT OF A WORKSHOP TO VOMIT OUT OUR IDEAS AND COME TOGETHER. >>ALAN CLENDENIN: WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT THESE APPOINTEES FOR THE FIRST ONE YEAR AND RIDE WITH THE APPOINTED OFFICIAL, WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN HURTAK, WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN MIRANDA. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED? AYES HAVE IT. WE NEED TO BREAK. I KNOW WE HAVE ANOTHER AGENDA ITEM. WE NEED A BREAK. 1:45 GOOD FOR YOU GUYS? 1:45 WE'LL BE BACK. [ SOUNDING GAVEL ] [RECESS]