Tree Board Meeting

Town of Lake Park, Florida Tree Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 6:00 PM Town Hall Commission Chamber, 535 Park Avenue, Lake Park, FL 33403 Brady Drew — Chair Gillian Kennedy Wright — Vice-Chair Shana Phelan — Board Member Lauren Paxton — Board Member PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND BE ADVISED, that if any interested person desires to appeal any decision of the Tree Board, with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, such interested person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in the meeting should contact the Town Clerk’s office by calling 881-3311 at least 48 hours in advance to request accommodations. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL 6:00 P.M. PRESENT Brady Drew Shana Phelan Gillian Kennedy Wright ABSENT Lauren Paxton PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Gillian Kennedy Wright led the pledge. PRESENTATIONS: 1. Selection of a Chair Town Clerk Vivian Mendez explained the need to select a Chair and Vice-Chair as determined by the Town Code. Motion to select Brady Drew as Chair and Gillian Kennedy Wright as Vice-Chair made by Board Member Phelan, Seconded by Vice-Chair Kennedy Wright. Tree Board Meeting December 10, 2024 Page 1  Voting Yea: Chair Drew, Board Member Phelan, Vice-Chair Kennedy Wright. 2. Selection of a Vice-Chair CONSENT AGENDA: 3. September 12, 2023 Tree Board Minutes Motion to approve the Consent Agenda made by Board Member Phelan, Seconded by Vice-Chair Kennedy Wright. Voting Yea: Chair Drew, Board Member Phelan, Vice-Chair Kennedy Wright. NEW BUSINESS: 4. Tree Replacement Proposal for the West Side Swale of Lake Shore Drive Corridor. Public Works Director Jaime Morales presented to the Board (see exhibit). The Board asked questions regarding the irrigation in the area and asked why the area is so wet. Public Works Director Morales explained that the area discussed does not have irrigation because it is dense and retains water. Board Member Phelan asked if there are opportunities for shade trees in the area. Public Works Director Morales explained that trees such as Oaks are beautiful and provide shade, but the root systems would create other issues in the future. Board Member Phelan ask what stormwater assets are in the swale. Public Works Director Morales explained the issues with the amount of space between the right-of-way and the roadway; there is not enough space to contain the root system that will grow and cause damage to the sidewalk and roadway. He explained that there are utilities in those easements for Florida Power & Light and stormwater. Chair Drew asked if Dahoon Holley and Simpson Stopper can be considered instead. Public Works Director Morales stated that those could be considered, but did not believe they were appropriate. He would speak to the architect and arborist for their opinions. Chair Drew asked if the original architect was available. Public Works Director Morales stated that they were nonresponsive. Board Member Phelan asked if the area could be changed into bioswales? Public Works Director Morales stated that trees were requested, but he would ask the Commission for direction and funding. Chair Drew wants the irrigation schedule and was in favor of bioswales.  Board Member Phelan asked if the Commission does not agree with bioswales then which Palm Tree would be best. Vice-Chair Kennedy Wright suggested Saw Cabbage Palm or Cabbage Palmetto. Public Works Director Morales asked the Board if they wanted to see the proposal before it is brought to the Commission or report back afterwards. Chair Drew suggested that in the interest of time that he bring it forward to the Commission and keep the board in formed of the progress. The Board thanked Public Works Director Morales for the presentation. PUBLIC COMMENT: This time is provided for addressing items that do not appear on the Agenda. Please complete a comment card and provide it to the Agency Clerk so speakers may be announced. Please remember comments are limited to a TOTAL of three minutes. NONE COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: Phelan it’s nice to meet. She asked that the long term goals of the Tree Board be addressed at some point. Chair Drew requested that the other initiatives in his email to staff be addressed. Town Clerk Mendez explained that the Community Development Department and Public Works Department collaborate on the efforts addressed in the email. She would forward the email to both departments and follow-up with a response to the Board. STAFF MEMBER COMMENTS: NONE ADJOURNMENT: 6:27 P.M. Motion to adjourn made by Board Member Phelan, Seconded by Vice-Chair Kennedy Wright. Voting Yea: Chair Drew, Board Member Phelan, Vice-Chair Kennedy Wright FUTURE MEETING DATE: The next scheduled Tree Board Meeting will be conducted on January 14, 2025. Tree Board Meeting December 10, 2024 Page 3  Exhibit Department of Public Works Lake Shore Drive – Swale Trees Challenge Current Situation Overview •Location: West side swale of Lake Shore Drive Corridor •Design: The swale is designed to retain water for prolonged periods, helping manage stormwater runoff. •Current Tree Species: Silver Buttonwood (original design). •Issues: The Silver Buttonwood requires well-drained soil, but the swale area has medium-drain soil, which retains more moisture than is suitable for this species. •Cost: Replacing nine Silver Buttonwood trees costs $1,575 (excluding labor). •Current Condition: Some Silver Buttonwood trees have already died; others are in poor health and unlikely to survive in this environment. Silver Buttonwood - Unsuitable for Swale Environment Native Habitat: Coastal Why It’s Failing in the environments where soil drains Swale: quickly. Soil Type: Medium-drain soil Soil Preference: Well-drained, retains more moisture than sandy soils. Silver Buttonwood can Moisture Tolerance: Poor tolerate. adaptation to prolonged Moisture Retention: The moisture or saturated soils. swale’s function to retain Salt Tolerance: High, ideal for water causes prolonged coastal regions but not suited exposure to moisture, leading to swale-like, moisture- to root rot and poor tree retaining environments. health. Palm Tree Substitution Plan We have researched palm species that are more suitable for this specific swale environment and present the following options. These palms can better tolerate moisture, medium-drain soils, and, where necessary, salt tolerance. Palm Tree Options Dypsis Lutescens (Areca Palm) Moisture Tolerance: Moderate. Soil Texture: Prefers well-drained but adaptable to medium-drain soils. Salt Tolerance: Low. Saw Cabbage Palm (Sabal minor) Moisture Tolerance: High tolerance to wet soils. Soil Texture: Adaptable to various soil types, including medium- Palm Tree Options Carpentaria Palm (Carpentaria acuminata) Moisture Tolerance: Prefers moist conditions. Soil Texture: Thrives in loamy, moist soils. Salt Tolerance: Low. Yellow Butterfly Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) Moisture Tolerance: Moderate to high. Palm Tree Options Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) Moisture Tolerance: Low to moderate. Soil Texture: Prefers well-drained soil. Salt Tolerance: High. Solitaire Palm (Ptychosperma elegans) Moisture Tolerance: Moderate. Soil Texture: Adapts to loamy or medium-drain soils. Palm Tree Options Royal Palm (Roystonea regia)Moisture Moisture Tolerance: High; can tolerate wet soils. Soil Texture: Thrives in moist, fertile soils. Salt Tolerance: Moderate. Cabbage Palmetto (Sabal palmetto) Moisture Tolerance: High tolerance to moisture. Soil Texture: Grows well in moist, sandy, or loamy soils. Palm Tree Options Key Thatch Palm (Thrinax morrisii) Moisture Tolerance: Moderate. Soil Texture: Prefers sandy soils but tolerates various types. Salt Tolerance: High. Proposed Next Steps • Request the Commission’s guidance on selecting the appropriate palm species for replanting in this swale. • Evaluate the acquisition and implementation cost for the recommended Palm tree.