City of Apalachicola Tree Committee Meeting Agenda May 15, 2024, at 5:15 p.m. Old Library 1. Expected attendees. Sam Berkheiser, Tree Committee (TC) member, Scott Davis, TC member, Anita Grove, City Commissioner and TC liaison to the five-member Commission, and Dennis Winterringer, TC chairperson and preparer of summary for this meeting. 2. Summary of TC's April 16, 2024, meeting (Winterringer) = Approve with or without revisions. 3. Committee Chairperson (all). At the April meeting, Mr. Davis said he is willing to become the new Chairperson, but no vote was taken because TC member Sam Berkheiser was not present. A vote will be taken on selecting Mr. Davis as Chairperson. 4. Recruiting new members (all). The TC is two members short of the five persons the committee is supposed to have (or three members short if we think an alternate member is also needed). Prospective new members may attend this meeting. The procedure for filling vacancies is for the TC Chairperson to ask the City Manager to post on the City's website a notice soliciting applications. When an adequate number of applications has been received, the City Manager will include TC member selection on a City Commission meeting agenda. The City Commission is the body that reviews the applications and appoints new members. 5. Resignation of Code Enforcement Officer (Winterringer). P.J. Erwin, the City's Code Enforcement Officer who issues tree removal applications, submitted her resignation. Her departure date is unknown. Ms. Erwin is the gth Officer in the last 5 years (preceded by Wilbur Bellew, Revena Ramsey, T.J. Lemieux, Kevin Newell, Joe Richey, Angela Creamer, Glen Jenkins, and Ken Turner). Because of the high turnover in the position, there has been lack of continuity and consistency in implementing the tree protection standards of the Land Development Code. 6. Requested removal of patriarch water oak and trimming of two patriarch live oaks. Ms. Erwin forwarded to Mr. Winterringer two requests for protected patriarch trees (equal or greater than 35 inches in diameter at breast height). 1 J The Land Development Code al section 105-26(1)c and; 2(c), require the City to contact the Tree Commiftce for a recommendation when someone proposes to remove or substantially alter a patriarch tree. Paragraphs (1)(c) and (2.)(c) espectivcly.mpply lo private and City property. Removal of water oak at 91 17"h Strect.- Property owner Erica Allums submilted an application to remove the water oak ncar an accessory structure (a garage or shed) indicating that it is an "imminent harm to property or human safety" and a "tree in dccline (loss of vigor, poor growth, dieback oftwigs & branches). Attached is, a copy of the application. The tree is close to the rear property boundary, and it's unclear whether thc trec is on privatc property or on City property in the allcy. Trimming of two live oaks at 92 Avenue E. Property owner Kevin Curry wants to trim two oaks (one apparently on City property in the alley and another close to the property line but on his property according to Ms. Erwin). He did not submit a tree application. TC member Mr. Berkheiser is representing Mr. Cury on proposed development on the property. Hc may bave further dctails on how much trimming Mr. Curry wants to do and whether it would constitute "substantial altcration, > which thc Land Devclopment Code regulatcs. 7. Inflation Reduction Act grant application (Winterringer). On April 18, the City submitted an application for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant money. Unfortunately, the City did not request money to implement the tree-planting plan for Lafayette Park that the TC developed and the City Commission approved. The City requested $50,000 fort the following activitics (rounded from the total of'$49,980 shown in following bullets). $15,000 to trim palms at Battery and Lafayctte Parks and downtown (Water, Market, and Commerce Streets) - 100 trees X $150/ree, $10,980 to inoculate palms to prevent lethal bronzing diseasc - $6,300 for 63 antibiotic injcction kits and $4,680 for 60 trcatment kits, and In Chestnul Street Cemetery, o $6,000 to remove 20 trees - 20 X $300/tree o $18,000 to plant 18 large palms - 18 X $1,000/trce. The City didn't consult with the Apalachicola Area Historical Society (AAHS) about work at the Cemetery. lfit had, AAHS would have: Reminded Travis Wade, City Manager, and Sarah Bourque, City grant coordinator, that AAHS is about to receive State historic preservation grant money for removing and trimming trees in thc cemctery and for inoculating palms to detcr lethal bronzing diseasc (i.c., ifIRA grant is awardcd, it will duplicatc historic prescrvation grant money that is already being received), and Let them know that planting large palms large palms in the cemetery is problematic because of: 0 The carc that must be taken in digging largc holes in thc graveyard to avoid disturbance of marked and unmarked graves and The travel of large equipment through tight spaces between graves. 8. Tree removal at Chestnut Street Cemetery (Winterringer). 2 In accordance with an evaluation of trees done by a certified arborist in 2016, AAHS was preparing to ask the City for permission to remove 13 trees at City-owned Chestnut Street Cemetery because they posed a threat to fall on grave markers and fences. AAHS would use State historic preservation grant money to fund the removals. After the trees were marked and prior to AAHS submitting a tree removal application to the City, cemetery neighbors objected to the tree removals and hired an arborist to conduct another evaluation. After reviewing the neighbor's arborist evaluation, AAHS reduced the number of trees recommended for removal to 11. Based on their arborist' s recommendations, the neighbors countered that only 5 of the 11 trees should be removed. To support their positions, both AAHS and the neighbors commented at the May 7 City Commission meeting. The City Commission directed that a group comprised of the City Manager, an AAHS representative, a TC member, and one of the neighbors or their representative meet to see if agreement can be reached on which trees to remove. TC member Mr. Davis has agreed to be on the group. The group is scheduled to meet on May 20. 9. Landscaping plan for Lafayette Park (Davis). Ongoing activities on the Lafayette Park landscaping plan are as follows. Native plant restoration area on southeast slope (Davis). Meeting to be held with City Manager to discuss. Permission will have to be obtained from City Commission to proceed with Duke Energy Foundation grant application. Water sprinkler system (Davis). o Meeting to be held with City employee Rhett Butler to get information on: The water supply, including the locations of the lawn sprinkler heads, which Mr. Davis will map. Functionality of system and whether it needs to be modified for the plantings (including the beds around the gazebo and at the Avenue B walkway entrançe to the gazebo). 10. Next TC meeting (all). Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. 3 V walee oak has abedy bpew toppeok - 1831 91 17Hh8T TREE PERMIT APPLICATION Tree Removal or Alteration ofProtected Trees Applicant's Name: Lv Email: PHIEn Criabalunse Gmal.ton Property Owner's Name:, Shin Rlumg Phone: 551-319 Address:, 91 Property I7h Sy City,State, Zip: Apalachicola, FL 32320 General Contractor/Tree Contyactor: arw Help Phone: Applicants Signature/Date Sw! h. . - l Date: /4 zy Development Plan Attached: Y N New Construction: Y N 1. Protected trees - Enter the number oftrees to be removed or altered (significant cutting oflimbs and branches) 4"to16" Greater than 16" to less 35" and larger" (Patriarch than 35" Tree) Bald & Pond Cypress Eastern & Southern. Red Cedar Live Oak LongleafPine Pecan Sabal Palm Slash Pine Southern Magnolia Sycamore WaterOak 136.26") Total E Size is measured atl breast height (4.5 Feet above ground surface) 2. Reason(s) for removal or substantial alteration (Mark all that apply with "X") *Substanitial, Alteration means, "the heavy cutting of top branches (topping) cutting of major lower limbs (elèvating), or significant trimming of a tree that alters the natural symmetry oft the tree, Owner's Private Property Removal Substantial Alteration* Tree located within ort too close to footprint of proposed new Limbs and branches encroaching where structure is to be building or addition - C built Tree roots damaging building foundation 01" underground utilities Limbs and branches rubbing on side of roof ofbuilding Imminent hazard toj property or human safety Imminent hazard to property or human safety Diseased or" pest-infested tree Diseased or pest-infested tree Storm damaged tree (other than City declared emergency; e.g, Storm-damaged tree (other than during City declared lightning) emergency; e.g, lightning) Tree in decline (loss of vigor, poor growth, dieback of twigs & branches) O Vbwin & LP 05 ryp wL. City Property (City Street ROWS adjacent to private property) Substantial Alteration: Requested by Removal Private Property Owner (Significant cutting oflimbs & branches) Tree located where access to private property is) proposed Imminent hazard toj property or human safety (driveway, etc.) (cost borne by Property Owner) Imminent hazard to property or human safety Diseased or pest-intested tree Diseased or pest-intested tree Storm damaged tree (other than City declared emergency; e.g., Storm-damaged tree (other than City declared emergency). lightning) E.g. lightning). Requested by City Department Interference with City utilities (c.g, water, sewer,: stormwater) or Growth encroaching on street 01 alley Imminent Hazard 3. Provide photos of proposed trees to be removed or substantially altered. 4. Attach a map with the following drawn to scale: Lot! boundaries Footprints of existing and proposed structures (principal structure, all accessory structures (garage, shed(s), etc.), driveways, parking areas, & walkways) Types & Diameters of protected trees (measured at breast height in inches) Protected trees that are proposed to be removed or altered. OFFICE USE ONLY PERMIT PROGESSING FEE ($50.00 or $100.00) 50.00 REPORESTATION PUND Number of Trees 4"E to 16", x. $25.00/Tree Non-Patriarch Trees) Number of Trees, greater" than 16" to less than 35" x: $35.00/Tree (Non-Patriarch Trees) Non-Patriarch Tree Total ($250.00 Max per lot) Number" of Trees. 35" and larger x. $1,000.00 Reforestation Fund Total TOTAL DUE Code Enforcement Offjcer, Gity Manager, or Designee decision (When no development, plan is submitted) Patriarch Tree, Non-Patriarch Tree, Approved Denied Reason fDenied: 5-8-24 Corte Enforcement Officer or Designee Date Date City Manager (if patriarch tree) Plamming & Zoning Board (When Development plan is submitted) Patriarch Tree, Non-Patriarch Tree. Approved Denied Reason ifDenied: Date: approved by P&Z Board: