So at 6:00 it is our first meeting of the Sustainability committee in 2026. And so this is an exciting new year, and
our committee members are all eager to do positive, big things and to be thoughtful and
creative. So our first thing we'll do is have a roll call. Chairperson McInnis. Present.
Siobhan. Neon. Present. Loretta Righetti and Doctor Melina Skelly here. Everyone. Okay, so I hope you all have reviewed
the minutes from last meeting. And is there any discussion or would someone like to make a motion to approve? So I have a
second. I'll second. All in favor? Aye. Okay. So look at this robust group of public
people here. We're so happy. So are there any public comments? Yes. Please go up and go to the podium, introduce yourself and
give us your address. And then proceed. You have three minutes. Okay. My name is Gerry Doherty. I've been a resident. Okay. I'm
1250 South Pinellas Avenue, unit 406. I've been here for over two years now from Clearwater, and I've been a
Sierra Club member forever and just been active on and off for for a long time. And I decided that I really would like to. I
really love Tarpon. I and I see where it's starting to grow and, you know, develop or whatever. And there's things I really
care about. And well, one is trees and I'm really concerned about mature trees. It seems like developers can come in and
just take out every tree, and then just plant some little skinny, six foot tall trees. And I'm just wondering if that's something that could be
looked at. I the Sierra Club is working on a model tree ordinance. So that's something I can share in the future. And then the other thing is, well,
we happen to have a resident owl right now at the Green Dolphin. And and I see these I
can't say the rodenticide bait boxes around this office building next to us. And I'm concerned because, well, you
know why. And so I got a copy of the Safety Harbor resolution opposing the sale, purchase and use of anticoagulant
rodenticides. So I want to give each of you a copy of this. And there's other things I'm looking at, like I really am like the five acres that's
behind our property that's still not developed. And I really hope even if it got developed, that some of the big trees would stay. So that's
what I have for now. But I'm very interested and I'd like to do what I can to help out. Thank you. If you could give that to Holly and Holly, if you
could send that to all of us, we would be very happy about that. Great. More than happy to.
Denise Menino for seven zero Cypress Street. It's great that we're having somebody that came to talk about trees. It is Arbor Month and it was
recognized by the BoCC this this month. And we have our arborist here. And that's what I am talking about today too, because we did have back when
the gross Storm water project was, was done. I think it was before we actually had the urban forest management plan, and we did not have a tree
inventory done, but we went to the meetings to begin with. You know, when when the residents in that area and we were assured that the beautiful
canopy that was over Cypress Street was not going to be touched, it was just going to be the property. But then it was subcontracted and there was
a long, long fiasco. But it led to a lot of those trees being removed. And just recently I passed the property and they were planting a tree. One of the city trucks was there. I
think it was the last thing that the company that actually finished the work put in a tree, but it had died. So I took a picture of it and then did the
click. I can't seeclickfix seeclickfix to notify the city, but one tree does not compensate for all the large old trees that were removed.
And the same thing happened down near the elementary school. And I know that there were owls that were living there because I saw an owl couple, but they have been gone. I haven't heard
owls ever since then, you know, except on rare occasions. So I think it's time to get really proactive about it. I mean, fortunately we do have a plan
for maintaining net net for canopy not to be lost. So yeah, it's going to be good. Anyway, that's all I am here to say is
that I'm celebrating trees, along with our arborist and our other guests tonight, and I'm just excited that we have a plan in place to maintain them.
We just need to be really vigorous about implementation. Thank you. Thank you. Denise. Okay, so as I understand it, at
the first of the year, we have to vote on a committee chair and co-chair. So. Is there
discussion about this? No, no. Well, okay. Going into this, I, I guess I was thinking that probably committee chair
co-chair could potentially go to the two more, I guess senior longer standing members of the committee. I'm still a baby here. I'm still learning. So I don't feel like I'm ready to be
in a leadership position in any stretch of the imagination. So I guess that's where I was coming in, thinking that would probably be what I would I
would vote for. So I, I mean, we just elected, right? And we just elected Yvonne as co-chair. I know we didn't we didn't do a
co-chair because we didn't have four members. I wasn't. So we waited until we had enough members to pull so that there wouldn't be a chair co-chair and then just a third member,
because that would be kind of a weird. So, yeah. Do we nominate Siobhan? Yes, I guess I'm no, I have no I mean, other than you,
right? Yeah. So does someone want to make a motion for that? So do you want to make a motion. And I would motion for doctor
make it to be chair and Siobhan would be the co-chair. Second. All in favor. Aye. Okay. So
passed. Perfect. Thank you. Now we have the honor of the new arborist who we haven't met yet. And I'm so happy that you're here because you're so
important to our city. And I take it you're going to. Just as long as you don't turn her tablet off, she'll tell us
about yourself and what you are doing and what your visions are. So, yeah, Mona Neville, I have a few cards here I can leave with Holly because of course
I'm going to escape with my two littles. Yeah, I'm a single mom of two. And the ex, Shannon, who I know most of you know. Yeah, she was going to watch them, but she ended up having to go to a funeral today, so
they ended up with me. But I went to Holly. I'm like, but I didn't want to postpone a quick meeting. Thank you with you. So I appreciate you letting me bring the littles, but so I
work for the Florida Forest Service for the past 11 years, for the Florida Forest Service. So I actually have a bachelor's degree in forest management. So
I spent the last 11 years working. I did state lands for a year and a half doing inventory on state forest. That was my first year and a half and then the next. And ish, I
was a county forester, so I worked for the private residence, and that's how I met and and worked with her to help guide her application of how my
urban management plan. So I just decided I needed a little bit of a change. Ventures I applied here, I honestly, based
on things that were happening here in the city, I thought it would slow progress that I was going to kind of have to fight. I've been here three months and
it's been downhill mudslide of everybody just taking to that plan and things changing. And it's been a little crazy, not going to lie. But it's all in
good. We did just receive and sign off Tuesday night. The board signed off on phase three of the original two grant from
forestry, which included the first part of inventory, the writing of the management plan and phase three is planting. So I think it's 30 something trees
that will be planted. Not exactly sure, but they will be here in the city and we just got a approval by the board to for another grant through
forestry, which crossing my fingers that we get it granted to us and well, one's already in. Let me put that. That is for living up for safety. Fire trucks and stuff and
underserved communities. So we're waiting to hear back on that one. And then we just got approval to turn in what would be like a third grant, which will hopefully complete our
inventory for the entire city. So that one and another one, the last and final one that forestry has coming out for at least the time being, that they're aware of funding wise,
we're hoping to possibly put in for a hurricane relief grant. And so even though the hurricanes have passed, it is ideally for maintenance of
trees, getting them wind resilient storms. So we'll be looking at the heavy areas, contract people to come in and
trim those or wind. So those are some grants we have going forward. But we are working at
changing in good ways over is crazy. I don't know what that process, how long that's going to take working on. I'm aware
of the bed ish tree over here at the corner. One thing that I'm implementing or trying to, and it's working in my favor is.
We were the city was planting trees all year round, and that's not ideal in Florida. I've explained in a what I call our tree meeting, getting the
city to know me, why Arbor Day is when it is, and why it's in Florida, it's in January and it's planting season. So I think hopefully even with city projects now, there's some that
are already contracted out. I can't change much of that. But going forward on new contracts, I'm working with all of our city people to say, okay, the
road work, the infrastructure part's done. But the contract for tree planting and what have you that gets done at a later date or conducive to growing
season. More tracking on the contractors part to make sure they're watering them enough and keeping them alive. Or they have to replace them. Yeah, so it's going to be time that we
start seeing these changes. We are going to I know the oak over here in the corner, it's not quite dead. Dead. It looks very dead but still got some
oomph to it. The branches are still bendable. That project changed a lot when it come to the trees because of budget issues that happened in during
the project. And so, again, my job is to say, okay, you need to factor this in better, but I can't change projects already done. So we're looking at all that stuff from a city level
internally to make it better going forward that these we know we have enough trees, that the budget doesn't get thrown into asphalt unexpectedly. And
so a lot of hurdles for me to jump. But so far most of our upper management has changed. And just before I got here, they're on board to change these things and they like the
ideas I'm coming at them with. And I plan on coming at you guys with some ideas and ask for help and things like that. I do education and outreach, I love doing. I did a lot of that
before. So if there's anything that you guys are tossing around ideas, feel free to reach out to me. Email, phone calls through Holly, however,
and I'll continue to hopefully work with you guys going forward. I need you guys. You guys need me. It all works out great, but that's really kind of my background. I just moved
over to New Port Richey from the other side of Pasco County, where I was born and raised. So yeah, I'm knee deep, neck deep some days. But the biggest
thing is getting the city to understand we can't plant trees in June, July and August and think they're going to live that well. You know, they're just not we don't have the facilities and the finances in
our budgets to maintain these trees like they need to be. So I'm trying to move it to spring plantings and maybe even do more community effort plantings and things like that. So we are
going to do the tree giveaway for Arbor Day through the touch a truck in February, burning all my events. So we are going
to do that and then hopefully in the next couple of years, I can even do more. I know the Garden Club reached out for me wanting a planting of a tree, and it was too close and I was
like, please reach out to me next year, but not this year. So, I mean, I'm here at your guys's disposal. Even city residents. I am implementing
that. The seeclickfix that we have for reporting issues, that's actually what I'm going to be using for the public. If they call me and say, hey, can you come look at a tree in my
yard? I'm not sure if I want to take it down or not or what it's doing. I haven't put in a request for fix just so. At the end of the year I can track and say help this. Many residents.
And the other goal of mine in the department that I'm in now, planning and zoning, and my boss is there. They used to request that a landowner put in a tree permit, even if they
weren't sure if they wanted to take it down, and they would still be able to charge a fee for somebody going out. I've asked that we quit doing that.
My job is to help the residents, so we've taken that away. And so that's the way I track and set up site visits and go and assist our public to say, yeah, this tree is still healthier. I
understand your concern about this one and work with them and not charge them to go out and do a site visit. I think that's a hindrance and I'm glad that you yeah, I that it was forestry. That was my main job
just helping and I brought it here and my bosses were okay with it. And there was no formal policy said landowner had to do that. I mean, granted, it's based on schedule and
availability, but usually I can get to them. It's really nice that you did. Shannon would go out, Shannon would go out. But her boss is actually required people to put permits in, put
in a request in order for her time to be paid. And I just I didn't feel it was right. And they let me do it this way. That may change down the road
for some reason, but in respect to a concern, I heard about developers just being allowed to take things down. That is part of my biggest job is I
review every development, anything that comes through the city for trees and I have this. I can't even begin to explain to you how it works, but I have
a spreadsheet and it's based on certain gauges. Diameter of the tree, and I take what you're cutting down. And then if like
usually like a commercial business has to plant X amount of trees, yes, they may only be two trees. So say they're putting in ten two trees. I put
20in down for what they're planting. And it's got some really fancy formulas in it that it calculates and says, okay, you're taking out a 20 inch tree, which is obviously
going to have this big, huge canopy. This is X amount, how much dollars it would be. Just remove those with nothing. And then I add in the 22 inch, you know, 20in in diameter to and
trees are putting in and it calculates it percentage wise on what the canopy from that original tree would be. And it brings it down. Like for instance, I had one the other
day. It was a developer. Their bill was $6,800. And he's like, well, I'm planting 20 trees and I'm like or ten trees and I'm like, they're this big. You
took out this big. And so I showed him that if he doubled the amount of trees, it only changed it by like $800 was $800 less than what he was
already built. So. He's taking out the big ones. He's putting new ones in. But that money that he's charged, that $6,800, the permit fees and things like
that go into a general fund, that money for anybody removing trees that they pay any mitigation into, it goes into a tree bank. It does not go into general fund. And that money is
used to plant and maintain and take care of and also remove trees as needed throughout the city. So it's kind of tree for tree in a way they may not be
planting as much as what was there originally, but they're in turn having to pay into the tree fund so I can plant trees elsewhere. We need so it does. It's not the perfect solution,
but to me, from an arborist standpoint, it does balance out that we're still getting that money. It's not going in a general fund. It's coming directly to trees and trees
along. I'm no, no but that's sorry free bank for if you guys don't understand how that works. And if you watch the doc meeting. The mayor did not know
how that worked either. When I charged him almost $300 for his tree. So I've been telling residents that, and I'm getting a lot less kickback that I originally got when I explained
to them that trees and part of our code or code, you have to have X amount of trees, well, sometimes you need to take them down for safety reasons. I do
pay into mitigation. Some of these new builds. We're trying to figure out the best case, the way the code is written that are replacing homes after
the hurricane. There are lot sizes X amount of square feet in X amount of trees, but when they build their house, their house is orders of lot size.
They don't have room, right? So I can't necessarily. It's supposed to be, well, you plant trees, you don't pay as much. In mitigation. I flat out tell them you have nowhere to plant
a tree. You have to just pay full maintenance. So we're working on that balance too, and trying to figure that out because it's all about right tree, right place. I don't want people planting oaks, letting
them grow for 20 years, and the next owner or whatever is now cutting that tree down, or the city is going in and cutting it because it's in, you know, messing up infrastructure,
pipes, whatever, underground, the house, the foundation I'm getting a lot of calls for. I'm afraid it's cracking my foundation. Well, when you have 30 inch oak next to your house, it probably is by now. And so
we're really working at that. And also the right of ways. And right now we have a 14 foot fish clearance for roadways. I'm looking to up that to 20.
Even though our biggest fire trucks like six less than our new ladder truck. I'm thinking about the bigger trucks we had at forest have a hurricane.
They come in state level, comes in for incident management for all our fire trucks, are busy in a neighboring fire department comes in if they have fire trucks. I'm looking
at making that clearance higher again down the road. What's going to happen? Smart thing. So I'm planning very much big picture thinker and not the
here and now. I want to over here on Piper's. They had a lot more trees planned for that. And I was like, no, they had eight oak trees in 100. And
like that works when they're babies, but when they grow up, that's never so again, I stopped them from planting that many. And then also the other reason not as many trees
planted back is access for down the road when that has to be dug out as a sediment, things like that can't get equipment in the power lines on two sides of it, private property on the
third. We can't get our heavy equipment around those berms. If we planted trees. So again, going back to them, they think they got a great idea. If they
can't, that ain't going to work. So some of the trees not being planted is my fault. I'm not going to lie. But I'd rather see those trees get planted and thrive where they need and they
are going. So does anybody have a question? I have a question. Since the hurricanes I've noticed even on my own street there are dead pine trees,
massive ones. And what is being implemented to make sure that those trees, I mean, it's not on city property as private property, but, you know, going
forward, those are going to continue to die because of the salt water. And and I know that's really important. I know
for the birds of prey, they love that those pines that have died on my and my hopes is that there are places and some of our parks and things, but pine
trees, somebody reported a tree and they wanted a longleaf pine out at the beach. I'm like, they don't work out there. So
some of the pine issue is saltwater intrusion. We're still seeing trees die from the hurricane. When Hurricane Michael hit North Florida, I worked that hurricane from
forestry, and for 3 to 5 years and continued to see stuff die. And it was stemmed from the hurricane, so I don't expect to not see it coming. The other
problem with pine trees is if you type in little pine tree on Google, you get SBB or southern pine beetle. Southern pine beetle does not happen in
Pinellas County. It stops at the Hernando Pasco line. Does not come down here. Now we do have what we call IPS and black turpentine beetle. And I don't know I don't know that
everybody's old enough to understand when I say I call them the pine tree. Are you familiar with who Kevorkian was?
So the tree actually puts off a pheromone when it's stressed to attract those beetles in, and they will fly over five miles to one single tree. We all
could be pines in here and me being stressed out like I always am. I put off that pheromone. He come, they come and they attack me and they finish me off. Wow. Those two
beetles are usually gone by the time we people look up and see the crown dying. And then all the after feeders come in, they will not mess with any of y'all unless you're putting off that
pheromone. So they're in and out, in and out, in and out in all times. It might be a pocket of trees and it might hit 1 or 2, and then three weeks later they'll hit a couple more. So the same way from the hurricane.
I don't know how stressed they have to be. They will not talk to me. Regardless of what people say about arborist and tree people. The trees do not talk to me right would make my life easier. But so it's a
guessing game and I just have to unfortunately wait for them to die. And again, we're not charging people on that tree because that's not really their fault, you know? Now, if I have
if I see evidence that they've been herbicide in a tree, then yes, there's more I can do. But most of everything I've seen in this state up hurricane,
probably still hurricane strength. It's just time. So ideally we're trying to look at finishing inventory, see what canopy we have, what type of
trees we have and then figure out okay, well we can put for instance, we can put some more pines at Sports Complex. You know, something that a lot of
people don't like. Pines are afraid of them because of lightning. Me personally, I'll have five of them around my house because, you know, my house has a ground rod to protect it from lightning. That
tree is going to do it before that little rod in the ground. So I'll let my tree get hit and my house be safe. Most people don't see it that way. So I personally talk to our staff
and even homeowners. If I'm at somebody's house. If my house I have two little kids, I would do X, Y, and Z because a lot of people just, oh, that tree scares me. And somebody told me
I'd let my kids play under it all day long. And I got the forestry background and, you know, and usually by the time I leave, they're like, thank you. That was going to be thousands of dollars. And I really liked
yes, we like the trees to. So the pine trees can't really fix that problem. They're going to die. Trees are no different than you and I. We all have our time. It's matter when and not
knowing the stressors on them and different things like that. But it's always ever moving and ever changing. And so you really have to just flexible
and adapt. And every time we see a planting project come up, you know, I can look at our public works. People say, you know, I really need a tree
planted to help you. Are you encouraging certain varieties of trees that are salt tolerant, like in flood zone A, B? That is one reason I haven't like
dove out with like the projects that are already like the one frozen cypress like Holly stated whispered to me, which is nice because I didn't think about it even though we didn't
plan them over there. That department still paying for trees to be planted to make up for that. Just not any. Not really. Anytime soon. I'm going to push it off. Even though
it's coming planting season. I'm pushing it off for that reason alone I want I'm Wife has been working on a salt tolerant list, so I'm waiting for those smart cookies up
there. Okay, to get that together. All my professors and then some. And that's really going to help guide me on what to plant down here. Great. So
that's my goal is more salt tolerant something that's going to do better. The live Oaks obviously do. But I can't require everybody to plant live oaks because that destroys our
infrastructure. So. Playing with the door he opens it. But yeah I mean anytime it doesn't have you guys do not have to
wait to ask me general questions just to get an feel free to reach out to me. You can use my cards and Holly or send you guys my info. I do
plan on updating Connect Tarpon in the website. Again, it's like I think that the public would really enjoy maybe a
presentation from you. Yeah, my my goal is definitely outreach and education on many fronts, not just sustainability committee. Like I've talked to people at the library, staff at
the library. I was over with emergency management today and how I can help her. So again, as long as it's a planned out thing where I can make sure I got coverage and not have them,
you know, at the door, I will gladly do it if it's during the day, even better. But I know not all our residents can make a day day meeting. They all work too, so I'm not I'm not
object to doing weekend things. I just need time to make sure I got them covered. But that is my ultimate goal. So if you guys are planning some event, I'd be glad to tag along with
you and presentation. So anyone else have a comment? Are you working on the approved tree list? You mean compared to what's in there right now? Yes, yes, because it's ideally I
want camphor trees to come off of our approved list. And there's a few others on there that I'd like to come off of approved list. And then I'm going to look at the the documentation from UWF and
really see that everything else on there is definitely fault tolerant because they are to a point. But the other problem with that is they are in histories, texts. But over time,
and I like to jokingly say Mother Nature quit taking her meds like ten years ago. And that has affected everything we do. And we can't always follow the text, right? So it's the
here and now. And I'm also part of what we call the Bay area. Bay Area forestry Forester. Group, something like that. The
acronym is Barf or Barfing Tree Knowledge. We just changed it. But I'm part of that group and we have people from Tampa all the way out to Polk County, where I used to work, coming in
to this meeting once a month. And it's all urban people, and we're working together to say, what's working for you? What? So I'm very close with all Pinellas counties, urban forestry Department, all the
cities in between. So Pinellas has a big do. And we also have the arborist from Pasco County, that group. So we're pulling from multiple counties. And the goal actually in Shannon's new
role is if he wants to bring this together in every other part of the city state and bring that information back to the local level and take our stuff to people in Panhandle.
So that's actually what Shannon's out working on right now. Is that together? So hopefully soon I'll be connecting with people across all of Florida in our urban
realm and seeing what's working in their. It would be nice to have more of a guys approach with the county, because I'm a
landscape designer and so I, I, I deal with Saint Pete has a different list. Has urban has a but I found that Saint Pete and
Dunedin are in a good job. Yeah. And I'm actually with the change of code I've been pulling code for not only locally to support doing, but I pulled code from say, North
Carolina, Atlanta, different places like that, and trying to look at their tree code. And so some of them just have some really definitions of things or different ways of calculating,
removing of trees versus the way we're doing it. So I'm looking at all of that in the process of doing this. I say we put it on the back burner
because we need, as a big group doing all development code, and we put trees on the back burner until I could investigate a lot of this stuff. So it's an ongoing process. But if there's
something if you're familiar with lists that you like and that work around here, don't free to forward those to me and save me some time. Yeah, I'll send them to you. Yeah. Because
but that's what I do. I with meeting with them in these meetings talk about like, hey, we're what do you guys do? What about this? That's where I found out about us working on the salt tolerant list. Right.
So I'm kind of trying to hold back because I know it'll be coming out eventually. They kind of have one drafted together, but I would love to see that before I make any determinations on code changes.
But I am going to take the naturalized exotic. List, I know. Do you have any questions?
I don't have any questions, but I do love the idea of adding tree education to our presentation list, because I think that there's a lot of really great information you're
giving and a lot of great questions that the citizens would have that any of you heard of Project Learning Tree? So I'm a facilitator, project
learning, an office full of stuff down there brought with me. Unfortunately, I've been doing it for nine, ten years now. So it is an environmental
education. It's not just trees. Every so I can facilitate that into some of these, whether it's schools or even just, you know, with funding help here.
For me it's for like a giveaway, a take home activity for parents and kids. Yeah. There's a free section to project learning. But all of those type
of things, that's what I'm. So I mean, if you guys are out there events and talks to reach out to me, I will gladly help and get out there. I know more
than I do and we'll get you there. So I'm still learning half of City Hall. So. So I have a question about funding. I don't know if I can answer,
but I'll try. Okay, so there's been a lot of shuffling of funding and cutting of funding. Federal, state, all of that.
And you mentioned that you were getting this grant and that grant or applying at least. So what is your sense about how
much money is available and will continue to be there to help support these efforts from forestry? Because, again, I worked there for 11 years. I
know them pretty well. The this grant that just opened, I think it was everybody getting ready to apply to you. Those are the
last two that they have funding locked. Okay. Going here in general, the future is unknown. But there was a grant that
Shannon put in when she was still here. Yeah. For. Slimming up. And that was through fed level. Yeah. And when all the cuts happened and the freezes
she lost that grant. So we put in for it under forestry. Forestry has already been given money from federal. And even if they haven't received it, they
took their own money and put it in a pot. And that way me as a municipality, I get grant, I get funded a grant, I submit all my stuff, it's completed. They're essentially paying out
of Forestry's budget, the state budget, and waiting to get reimbursed by the feds versus me having to wait. So forestry has that money locked that way.
I know when I'm granted if and when we're granted these things, that money isn't. So in the short term, there's a bucket of
money. But what's in the future? And as I hear more from forestry, because again later this 2026 year, that the urban forest guy and Tallahassee,
Florida Forest Service, he attends our local meetings, urban meetings, but he will also be talking later in the year. And we're crossing our fingers because their fiscal
year is July 1st of June 30th. So we have him coming out in like October or November, and we're hoping that they have more funding coming because of my fingers. But the concern
here was I knew I've only been here. The tree planting for safety inventory grant and then this other one, I'm like, look, there's a lot of money. They're not going to overlap by the
time they go through the whole process of planting and whatever guarantees, we're going to get them all. But I don't feel they'll overlap. And I would be that overwhelmed. I think you're looking at if we
got approved all of these, it's going to be over the next like great because it does take a while. Okay. So I ask that we apply for everything we can
possibly apply for right now, because the talk is that there's not really funding. Right. And that's why I was asking this because it and
you've actually done it. Like how do you plan and get things done when the likelihood is there's not going to be money?
Or you can assume that. So your strategy is wonderful and thank you for that. And some of the things staff has been talking about is just that is looking
at budget for next year, going to the, you know, we're paying X amount to contractors for free removal. If we got our an in-house tree pruning training.
You know. So we're looking at that big picture that we thought was years down the road is moving faster than I wanted it. Yeah right. But I'm happy.
I rather be overwhelmed. Right. And stressing out a little bit because this much movement. Well, it behooves us to think
in that way in across the board, like, how can we get as much as we can now and prepare and think about strategies, about
what we do when there isn't funding available and how we can still continue in some very creative ways. That is my
biggest push for for you, because you so much more knowledge and numbers and things that I can commissioners
whoever to say this why and yes, we're hoping we put it they put in the grant just after I started in October for the first College Park area of town.
We had the same problem elsewhere. So there are times that a fire, fire department, emails or whatever, and we got to go in right then and there. Fine. But I want to start
focusing on those other areas I already know that won't be covered under that grant if we. Places. So I mean, yes, we most
department heads will tell you you need more money or fraud, you know, and removed by us. And so I have I don't know, I,
they, I don't think they're going to like the numbers they see but it's people I think every, every department asking for either a tree budget or
also just like sure this that other departments however the but we need a. Not the trees but an actual like because
that's what help us down who's doing this. So it will be ideally if we get granted that one, it'll be just like the one before where we turns in. Yeah.
So it was very well done. What about would you accept volunteers. Yes. So I am looking into I got to talk with like procurement and HR and what have you as far as
liability stuff. Yeah. But I mentioned I because they're like well we don't know what you know interns sometimes can be hard to get which is true. But I was like 90% of these
high schools have to have some kind of, you know, service. So. They're playing with tablets and they're three and one and a half, and they can almost do
better than I can on my phone. So I really feel that with some training just being out there and I can say, okay, yeah, I, I trust that this person is going and they're going to have to
apply and give references or whatever, and maybe even working directly with somebody at the tech school, you know, down the road to say, hey, have somebody. Well, Saint Pete
College too. Yes. In Tarpon, they have a lot of students and they have science program and biology, and they do all of this. You can get a few couple
interns, but not many, maybe as many paid interns, right? Even if they were younger kids, I could team them up with an intern and they could still get that experience. I would gladly
sign off on Saint Pete College really likes to provide interns, so I think that talking to them is a really good idea, I know
somebody guilty on February Friday to. And they bring educators from. Yeah okay. College. So that's a perfect
thing. Yeah. If I can mix all this together and I'm hoping project learning tree I know you're have an urban side of
their program. And so we have a new person for project learning. We're hoping to you know try to
do painting urban modules or been down the road. Volunteered. So terrific. Feel free if you
guys have an idea and you're not sure, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I will back and forth. I totally also
thinking of Call me because I figured out I can expertise Birtley guide my way into just about any topic with trees like how do you do this? These are
in everything here we hear a lot of don't print that. I'm a very paper oriented person, so I've had to cave and not get on my high horse for resources.
And there's over 30,000 products. Really. Like I can do a whole educational session like everybody. Oh, if it's
like that screen. The plastic isn't even plastic anymore. So it's hard for me. They want they don't realize that. Yes,
up and go. But I've met several people. People that are losing orange groves are going to find him because they can't afford orange groves, but they can't
afford their property if. Right. Well, the other thing I just said was. There's I haven't went there yet. I'm still I'd rather have plants and trees and some bamboo personally, but
but that. Yeah. As far as transitioning. Yes. Citrus farmers transitioning because it bamboo is a renewable resource. And there's you know,
things that you can you can build with it. Yeah. And stuff. And the biggest problem in Central Florida with these timber landowners is mill
locations. Not that many mills, but every old us that went to a mill kind logged off of a property. But nothing is wasted.
And so that's what many people don't realize. And so to me, education, outreach, way more
than just code. And, you know, yes, I want builders to have to plant trees, don't get me wrong. But like educating our young ones, I may not be able to
change 60 year old's mind on what they're doing, but if I can get the young ones and the future is going forward, that's
what I care about now what now? The state has changed the tree ordinance, post code. So how is
that important? So the biggest thing that the state changed on tree code is the fact that we cannot tell somebody on their private property that they
cannot take down a tree, they have to provide an arborist. And and that's proved to be pretty dicey. It can be dicey
because, you know, I'm because I do this, I've run into some really bad arborists and they will sell a letter for $400.
The average letter cost, even from a reputable arborist, is anywhere from 3 to $700. I try to look at them with what I'm
going to call a fine tooth comb, and away I am track certified myself, which you have to be to write this letter because it's risk assessment, not just rating that says, oh, the tree
is bad. If all the parts are there, there's not much I can do. My hands are tied and I have to say, okay, a tree down, no mitigation, I can't. That's
what that tree log. That was another reason. But was one save them money. I'm not trying to take money away from private
arborist by any means, but if I have the time and I can go look and I can educate up to them and they're not running that
not so ethical arborist, I'm happy. So it is a balancing act and illegal balancing act. But I think the way I'm going about
it with trying to site visits myself and not always requiring it and talking to some of them will say, well, if I get a letter, I'm like, yes, technically if you get a letter,
but 90% of the time I get a rating and I'm like, that's not it. It has to be a track risk assessment report. And I said, you're going to pay 5 to $700 a
week depending on how many trees. And that's one tree that's not even multiple tree.
Yep. So they oh God forbid. But but yeah I mean there's just a lot of moving parts right now.
That tree. A little convoluted. You know, I don't want to tell people no, they can't take down a tree anyway. I mean, especially if it's a risk. And that's why the site visits. I'm
hoping to eliminate some of those not so great people writing letters in our city and getting more stuff taken down. If I can make that connection with people and they know I'm
there, I'm hoping they'll call me before they call the not so ethical arborist. But if they come across, they just have to either. If I have enough
evidence, I can report them myself. I can report them to international Isa. So that's a little time consuming, but I have no problem doing that if I really feel they're doing
unethical, I'll take the time to report. That's great. Great to hear that. So unfortunately, that law is a little. Yeah. But
that's where I personally stand on it. And so far my bosses and the and the city attorney are backing me on this. Right. So we shall see. Okay. Yeah. Yep.
Well, thank you so much. And we're so happy to meet you and your cute kids. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And I appreciate you guys having me in again. Yeah.
No, thank you for being here, Mona. Making it work. We're going to go. Hey, you ready to go home? Can you tell everybody?
Bye. Oh, no. Oh! Oh. Yep. Thank you Denise, because for me, it has to be live oak. Okay, so by.
We're moving on to talk about the potential future public topics. And I'm going to hand
out a, an email that I wrote to Christine Red Carter at. The museum. Holly, are you talking
going to talk about something? Oh, no. This is just for you all to talk about. I'm just writing notes. Oh, the only reason that I. I can do this for my seat. Actually, I don't know why I'm standing here. I
do not have a presentation about this, but I did want to tell you that we. I had a call today with the IFAs, the extension service, and just got some information from them
about Florida friendly landscaping presentations that they typically offer, as well as rain barrel presentations, slash workshops. So I've got kind of information about what
they offer or can do in that regard. So just and here's the copy of the email I sent. This way, I'll just give it to Holly.
So let me read it. And. Okay so blah blah lickety split blah blah blah. You don't have to know that we got our studio up.
With the grand success of the coyote event. Our sustainability committee would like to continue doing similar events, maybe for a year. Would
you be interested in continuing this partnership? I'm keen on. So this is my suggestion. I'm keen on doing a panel on why
preservation panelist would be, for example, Tex Carter, who's the head of the West Klosterman Preserve Group, Mallory Dimmitt from Florida Wildlife
Foundation, a Saint Pete College science professor who could speak about the benefits of trees in the natural world for mitigating the warming of
our planet, and someone who could talk about how to balance development with preservation. And then I said, you know, as you know, I used to do this at
the Dali Museum for many years and Creative Pinellas. So I'm happy to take the lead on this and maybe work on a grant. And so Christine wrote back and
said, you know, great, this is good. And that we'll meet at the end of the month. She's putting up a miniature show now,
so she's in install mode and talk about what's possible. And I think that doing a partnership, continuing that
partnership with the museum is just a really great thing. One, it's a good place, big, and it brings a diverse group in it's
connected with the college and so we can use their faculties, we can use their students. And perhaps I'm going to talk to Christine about this, about how
maybe we can incorporate an art aspect in as well with bring other people. But I mean, this is sort of my view about how to
continue on, but I just think that. Making it. Well, in the coyote thing, we had one person,
which I think is often a good idea, but I also think it's good to have multiple people. So, so okay, what do you think?
Sounds great. You're you said you mentioned art in the arts, but you have that special I know. So you might want to
consider being. Not on the panels per se I would what I'm thinking is I sort of be the
chair host, ask the questions for this. Keep it structured, moving on. But the art thing could be a separate thing. In
that room. Or, you know, Christine's very interested. You know, we've had we had a big show there and she's very interested in this. So I think
that her curator very creative. And I just think that having the partnership with the city
and the museum is a good one. What about. Invited artists who have that are in that niche?
That would be because then you pulling exactly could do a show on trees. Yeah, yeah. You know,
another idea would be to be having. Out wildlife. Birds how
to. Native birds with plants. What kind of native plants would. And maybe even I was thinking of having some. Our
website would have a community section like a photos or videos of what they see in their backyard for they did something. Maybe they got inspired by one
of these presentations and decided put up bird feeders, or put up a bat house. On our
system. That might be a whole different. That's a whole different. Yeah, I do like it. It's good. But also what you said about attracting wildlife, that is specifically one of the principles of the Florida
friendly landscaping that the extension service can come and do a presentation about, even just that one specific principle they can present on the whole concept of the nine
principles, or they can just pick one such as right plant, right place or how to attract wildlife or, you know, proper mulching techniques, you know, control things like that. This
is where I also would like to have some sort of education on the dangers of being chemicals out to take care of a rodent,
or instead we could use a box, but with traps inside of it instead, because I know our community has owls due to these
poisons, and because the rats. That yeah, yeah, yeah. Secondary. Is there anything I mean, I don't know if we can. Holly, can you send that out to
all of us? The list of what they can do so we can look at it? There's not really a list. I mean, it's really. We just had a conversation, so they didn't send me any
documentation. It's really just any of the principles of Florida friendly landscaping. They can zoom in on one. Where can you send out what the principles are to all of us?
The key, the key in making these presentations work is they have to be really structured, and they have to be something that because I've
done this for so long, it's so we have to really think about how to make a presentation work. So that's why we want to do
some of these principles, to think about how to organize it and how to. You know, make it very attractive. One of the
things that was so successful about the coyote thing was how many people showed up and they showed up because the coyotes
had been a big issue. And then we had a coyote fair of coyote, which was so cute. I have all
these pictures, but I think that the key is that we have to have presentations that work like that, you know, that are
successful. You don't want like ten people in the audience want them really to work. And so we have to be very careful in
thinking. And but I think that what we what we decided last year and what we're doing now and what we hear from the arborist and everybody else, is
that we have to do all we can to present people with as much knowledge as possible, and in a
way that's engaging. I. How to turn your yard. The wildlife.
And there's so many. And there's there's so many. Do you want to write something up? I
could write something maybe. Yeah. So the more we discussed that and outer structure it and who could be involved? Or maybe
the three of us, why don't we? You've done that. Just a point of information. Don't forget, we can't communicate outside of the committee. So you just
anything that you want to compile, like if someone wanted to do part. And then we do have that drive, we've got the Google drive. So you could put it in there. You could all collaborate that way by putting
your ideas or points into a shared document, or you could send it to me and I can compile it into a document, and then you can send comments, you know, around that way through me. But just just that reminder. So
sorry, but so maybe for the next have some basic ideas. Yeah. And and and I think it's also important like one thing I
tried to incorporate in there was to use some faculty from Saint Pete College, like Christine really liked that,
but also like how to. So the there's the preservation preservation stuff. But the other issue is how do we do development. So we have to
think, I think not only about, you know, pushing the environment, but also other practical things. I mean, so
you want wildlife in your yard. Well, what does that mean? I mean, maybe it means instead of putting a palm tree, whatever
it is, but yet. Well, but my my point is wildlife can carry right and do damage. And so you have to think about you can't just say, oh, wildlife, you
have to think about. So what are the consequences of doing it? I think if we look above this, there's a holistic approach. How to have Festival
yard. Yes, because that brings in. Everything the plants, the flora and fauna. Right. So
successful yard that I think that's interesting way of looking to create a. Because
there's so many things that. Terrible the the use of pesticides, you know, lawn fertilizer. You know, when I go
I go to Home Depot and Lowe's and all all the nurses and I just see so many people buying lawn chemicals and it's it's
just going all into the water. So, you know, there's ways of. Landscape. Yeah. You know,
think of a way of making it. Attractive because people are using all these chemicals. And you also don't want to make
them feel guilty or like they're doing all this wrong stuff. So, you know, and you want them to come. So you this
is cost of this. Even if it would even take. Putting it.
But and we also have to think but we have to think of how many people are going to go and pick up seaweed. And if everyone does it, there won't be any left. And, you know, I
just think we have to think broad to achieve the goal that we and also we have to think about different economic groups.
We also have to think about people who don't have yards, who live in condos or in apartments. How do we create a
accessible outdoor space? Yes, for everybody, for pollinators. Yeah. And how do we how do
people who live in apartments. Have have gardens? And I don't want bees in their homes, but
but plants create good environment in your home, right. So anyway, I also think that things about sustainability, remember, aren't just
environmental issues, they're economic issues about affordable housing, issues about transportation. So I mean,
we can do all of those things too. I love how you're throwing out for yeah. Yeah. That's
that's yeah, we do more than that. Too much. One was so good. So how many of these would we want for four. That's why I
said, oh okay. Where's my page? I think with the success of the coyote presentation, it shows that there is a there's a thirst for information about
the tarpon wildlife, you know, the that we could I don't know, we would want to do it all in one go. But we could break that out into, you know, here's what you see at the bayou and here's
how to, you know, respect the animals that you're seeing, at the wildlife you're seeing at the bayou, or I see on the community Facebook page, which I know is terrible to be on, but it's a good way to see like
what questions people are asking. I love going on. How many times a year does somebody say a squirrel fell out of my tree? What do I do? You know, and always the same people that
are saying, well, here's what you got to do. Play your baby squirrel sounds or, you know, do all these things. Being able to do a presentation about what to do when there's displaced wildlife, who do we call how to
handle that situation could be helpful to? Again, we have to be able to have a presentation that can sustain an hour or an
hour and a half. So how how many pieces of that do we combine for an hour and a half versus we would need, would we need to break this out, you know, into a couple of events?
And remember the reason the coyote one was so successful because people were having coyotes and they were freaking out and doing, like, killing
them. Yeah. So I mean, that was people wanted to. Yeah, they want to know they were afraid. Yeah. And it was so interesting what they said. One of the main
thing was if you eliminate if you eliminate the feeding of them, they're not going to be around. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, how many of us boatyard and you see
all of them, the cats that they're feeding out there, I'm like there's a food source. Right. And that's why coyote Cat because the cats they're eating. So I had I had started
doing a little bit of a list for some ideas. I thought it would be neat to do a presentation on foraging about
like the local, you know, Maura, and teaching people. You know what? What don't you eat? What could you eat? I think that would be interesting. I think
there's there's a demographic of people who would be. And a lot of young people go into the the colleges are really into.
The notion of being able to get back out and touch grass and, and look at birds and, and see what, what's out there for us
to eat. We have before I was officially on the committee, we had this long conversation about recycling. And how do we get that information out there? You know, Earth Day would be a
great time to around that time to do a presentation where we get that information out there, sustainable building, landscaping, irrigation, that
kind of stuff I thought would be cool. And then we're doing this. The Storm Drain art project. That would be really neat to have, like an exhibit
where we can talk about, like stormwater stuff and then all the artists that are doing this burn drains could have, like their concept art or whatever, that could be part of that to
bring in some of the art component. So could you think about something connected with
what you do? Issues about ecology and somehow how to address that issue about maybe
the way. Things that bring harm, you know, yeah, things that are not sort of expected. I mean,
to me, that would be how does the environment affect. Your, well, mental well-being. So
that's something that you know about. You know, that's sort of your. Thinking and that that's something that we don't
normally get. And that could be fascinating. And we could find different people who could talk about different aspects of it.
Yeah. Because there's. Something. Well, the first and worst bathing out in the. But
also young people are so. And there's some way to which is very difficult to get them. So
many times and I go out in the mornings. Around the time that picked up by busses are sitting on the ground looking at their
phones. They're not interacting, you know, we're divorced. I
love. I took. This day like we go to school. They're picking it. Clover putting in their
mouth. And they learn that you can eat clovers. Yeah, but that's you know, my kids are excited just to think. Yeah.
And that was a great way to. Giving them. The one thing we could do instead of, you know,
in addition to these things that the is when there's Earth Day, we could set up a series
of one on fourth, one on, you know, what do you do when a squirrel full of it, you know, sort of that do this smaller
thing and can and that could be a good way of doing. What I'm thinking of disorder. You know, one thing you can focus on, I
do have to say that when I think of how to forage, I think of liability issues, I do too. Thank you doctor. It was top of
mind for somebody eats the wrong mushroom. Correct? I don't know if the city I would, I would have to check on that. If we could bring someone in who maybe had a certain credential or something. But I
would have to for sure check on that as like, I think we should, like, not do that because of liability. And, you know, if you got to think of these
things because I do I, you know, write that down before you said it, you don't want to. Yeah, I wrote it down. You don't want to like tell someone, oh, you can go pet a coyote or
something because you probably. Except if it's stuff. Yes. If I can just make one quick point. Yes. My thinking would also just be like timeliness and seasonality. If you were if
there's a topic that can be talked about, you know, any time of year, don't do that. Maybe during a time of year that you want to focus on something like, you know, oh, we want to talk about how to
have a successful yard. Well, maybe let's talk about that before planting season. Right? Right. Talk about it in an order or a time that that makes sense and is functional for people to then take that information and apply it, you
know, sort of in a, in a temporal manner. That makes sense. When is Earth Day? Earth day is April 22nd every year, and that week is Earth Week.
And there is a big there is an event that the there is not an event. So the last couple of years there has just been the library does I mean, the library does an event in the
sense that they have information available during Earth Week. They have a big display. Last year I contributed, you know, a lot of information to it. The arborist
usually does as well. Previously, you know, I think there were events that were held at different tables. And the attendance, I think was a
little bit. Underwhelming in the sense that, you know, when obviously there's a lot of time and energy put into something, but then you don't get, as you were saying, for these presentations or anything of
that nature. We want to make sure that the, you know, the number of people that we're reaching is substantial enough to put in that level of effort. So for Earth Day, I think it
would be, you know, for example, when I talked to the extension service today, she told me, you know, April is a terrible month. They're not going to be able to come out during April. They're so busy. They're so booked. So
everyone focuses so much on having events during Earth Month that sometimes they outcompete each other. I got that, so that's just one thing to consider as well. So one
thing we could do is, I don't know, once a month there's that. What is it called? The outdoor
Friday, first Friday. No, the second Saturday, I don't know. It's during the day on a Saturday. Second Saturday I think is what they call it a
market. And there's food and you know, they sell food. It's in the mirrors. Mother mirrors. I mean, we could maybe do it
there because people do come to that. And First Fridays are sort of crazy. You know,
they're selling smaller joints. I mean, I'm not saying, but that event would that market would be a really good one. With the look, I just pictured
these little booths we have and, you know, sustainability booths and maybe we could do them
every few months. So what I'm what I'm thinking of is that the ones at the museum are sort of more substantial. And then
these are, you know, doing these like a vignette. And then we're reaching different people and they have different tones
to them. I think that that that could work. So why don't we think about that? You know, I've never been to that. Market
on the Saturday because I'm always have something else I have to do, but I'm going to try to go. Maybe we all could
go and and roam around and talk to. If anyone happens to go and report back as far as what that venue is like, that could be
just a quick, you know, you could do a committee comment on it, you know, next time. Or if we just continue this conversation, however that looks, when is the next one?
Does anybody know? Saturday already happened in January. So I would assume it's February. February. Okay, so that would probably be February 14th is
Valentine's Day. Valentine's day. How to sustain your relationship. Okay, well, I
mean, a community would not survive if everybody broke up their relationship, right. For
this? Yeah, it comes in if and just one more point of information on as far as topics to consider, you know, the sustainability plan does have an action for public outreach
and education, specifically around water, energy conservation. Obviously, recycling is a big goal. So I love that you brought that up, Doctor Scully. And just so you
know, making sure that obviously we can have ones that are not 100% like obviously laid out in the plan as a specific action. But if we can also make sure that some of
them are looping in so that we are showing, you know, that the committee is working, you know, with staff like we're collaborating to effectively, you know, create action around these things that are in the
plan. I think that would be it's just a really cool way to address that. This Saturday market, in our little Stainability booth. Having a whole thing about that, that
who is going to have it, what I said, except there are just some considerations. They're going to do well. But I mean, that's it's just it's that that it would take a lot more than
just. Yeah. So there would be some, some figuring out to do on that end. Yeah. But we can figure it out. We can bring it to table. And I know that was I
just don't know. It's complicated also with sunshine laws as well. So I don't know what that would look like. I'm just trying to say I love the idea, but I just don't know
what the yes, I don't know about the execution, so I would have to research our husbands or our children, or they'll do it. The public does not want to
have to encounter my husband. He is not local government material. Well, and I think too, you know, as committee members, just, you know, being mindful of obviously your time and energy as well and not, you
know, biting off more than you know. I know, but we can this is our passion, right. And, you know, I'm going to write a
grant for. I'm going to write. We're here to help. We're here to make it. We're going to get grants. So we could do I'm willing to volunteer and I can
Denise will volunteer or volunteer. Denise. That's voluntold. Yeah, yeah. Okay. So anything else on this? Well,
keep working on this and start before the next meeting. I will have met with Christine and she yesterday. Okay. Now we have
about a half hour left and have people looked at this document
that. Holly sent out from Dunedin? That is interesting. Now, my understanding, Holly,
and correct me if I'm wrong, that when somebody goes to Dunedin and proposes a
development, they have to have a minimum of 100 to 320 points developed from this in order to
pass, in order to move on, I guess be credited what they need to meet the sustainability requirement. So theirs is more codified in the sense that they
have this in their code of ordinances, right? This isn't just a guideline, it's actually a requirement for the city, you
know? So it is a little more they have it very well set out. You know, my that's it's it's kind of a we don't have our
sustainability plan is just that it's a plan. So we don't have a we don't have necessarily pieces of our ordinances that really directly.
We don't have a sustainability ordinance. Okay. So we do have obviously within our land development code, we have certain components of sustainability. You know, within our code, as we make changes, there will be more
sustainable elements added in. But we don't have our code set up in the way that Dunedin's is. So this is just kind of more of a guide of saying like, if we were to come up with, you know,
a checklist of some kind, would we want to would you want to kind of have these same priority topics? Would you have other things that you wanted to see in it, kind of thinking
about, like what an all encompassing, you know, sustainability checklist might look like for a development. So this is kind of, you know, again, this is one version. And
since ours isn't codified again, it's a it would be a guideline, but it could be talking about very, you know much these similar things heat island reduction. Well guess what our comprehensive plan talks about
that. So that's, you know, directly tied in. Right. So just kind of thinking about what the priorities are, what you think it would be feasible for developers to consider
addressing if we didn't have, you know, an incentive or if it wasn't a requirement, what are things that they might actually, you know, be interested or be
be, you know, able to create a little impact on without it being necessarily a huge, you know, ask because we can't enforce it at the way it would
stand today if we created it, we wouldn't be able to enforce it. So one thing I don't understand about this is they
want people to get one at least 120 points, but it'd be you'd have to do almost all of them to get to that. I mean, because
you're only getting like one point. Well, I think some of them are big. You know, if you're 30, maybe if you do it completely, unless it's
something that you get multiple points, like one point for one, I couldn't figure out how the point system works. I'm not really sure either. And I'm not really sure. You know, unless
we had an incentive that was tied to a certain score, I don't know that it would necessarily be a, you know, maybe a point system would work, maybe it wouldn't. Maybe it would again, just be sort of a
checklist. And then they can maybe there is an incentive in the sense that they could access a different part of, you know, doing something different in their development that they wouldn't be able to do otherwise. Those are kind of
all the things that I would have to work out, you know, with right planning and zoning and kind of making sure that all that makes sense. So there would be a score or a checklist. But no, I know what you're
saying. I mean, I think that people do have to do developers do have to come in and they have to do, you know, some of the ones that are worth higher value points to really. Yeah.
Get it to that, to that higher score. Sure. But the incentive is there's not really an incentive other than you're not
going to get permission to move on unless you do this right. It's not like. Some other types
of incentives. I this is really helpful. I think so too. I mean, it's you know, some of these are very specific. It might they might not apply. That's kind of why it's, it's it's an
example of one, you know, neighboring city that obviously has a process in place that works for them. So it's just one thing to look at. Yeah. Like here with charging
stations, for example, for new residential, non residential and mixed use buildings provide charging stations. And then you get two points for each station.
So you don't just get points for doing it you get. So if you had four stations you get eight points. So this may be out of date because that actually has been preempted by the state.
Sadly, we cannot, like the city, cannot require private developers to install electric vehicle charging stations anymore. So yes. So that is that that would be one, you
know, factor to just make sure that obviously anything right you're asking for is, you know, within reason and isn't something that's being prevented at a higher level of,
well, making. Well, but the thing is, for something like this, maybe we can't require it, but we could say if you do do
this, then we can't. We can't. You're right. We can't require it. Yes, and not require it. But maybe there is a trade, right? Maybe there is some.
Yeah, right. Sure. Put on. Maybe they I mean maybe it does. Maybe it speeds up your review process. Right. If you, if you turn in a sustainability checklist and say that I did,
you know, ten of these things or whatever it is, maybe it does I think that's you know, yeah. These are all conversations that, you know, have to have with other departments. But I think this is why, you know, we want to
talk about it and kind of think about what would, you know, what might make it more desirable for how about next
time we. We go through this one at a time, okay. And talk about each of the categories and, and say if it would apply or not,
how what we think about it, how we might want to word it differently. And then Holly can also tell us if there's state
things that now we can't do, which, you know, was sort of talking to the arborist about it. There's all this stuff
restricting and. Some of are really productive for healthy living. And and then, you know,
we have the issue if property taxes reduced in any way, what are going to be the priorities that the city has to have and
certainly be? Police will certainly be fire, roads, library, I hope libraries, you know, schools, schools will be
separate. But I mean, these are things that our committee has to really think about because we're all about sustainability.
And how do you sustain a really robust community when funding getting cut. And, you know, how do you keep priorities going?
So that that's a big discussion. We don't know what's going to happen. Maybe nothing will happen because to get agreement, even if it's what the you know,
if they put it on the ballot, what would that even look like? But we should be thinking about that. So when we go through each item, we should think
about, you know, what? What's what do we think is a group is a priority. And how should we word it to think about it?
Because this is a really good list and very thoughtful. Sorry
I didn't okay, you have more time. I was in Los Angeles. You don't know. Okay. But I'm going
to look at it. I'm going to. Okay. So now what are our items for the next agenda? Well, this is certainly one of them. And
certainly talking about the presentation. One other quick thing, I received an email yesterday. I guess it was from
our we have a new government liaison from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, and she is actually interested in coming to the February meeting and just introducing herself and kind of, you know,
explaining how they work with cities, different things like that. So she's, you know, they do planning, but they do offer different, you know, services and kind of support. And they
just look at obviously, how cities are playing into the regional big picture of, you know, they have they have lots of sub groups within their agencies. So they've got like
clean air. They've got the Bay working groups, they've got a stormwater working group like they have lots of anyway. And
so like our mayor is on the council. Right. So each city typically has an elected official that represents them on the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. So I think
she just wanted to come and introduce herself. That'd be great. Yeah. And that would be pretty quick. I mean, it wouldn't be she wouldn't have a presentation per se. She would just want to introduce herself
and kind of maybe ask about the types of priorities that you all have as a committee for this year. So what it. Is
cities have to, when they do their planning, also have to think about how it fits in with the regional planning. Typically, yes, I mean they're little people, but we're in a
hole, right? We we all, you know, affect each other and as the region, the county or is it bigger than that? It is the it is much bigger than that. It is. So it's actually six counties.
Our region is. So it's citrus. Hernando, Pasco. And Ellis, Hillsborough and Sarah. Wait, maybe Sarasota is not Manatee.
Thank you. Yeah. Not Sarasota is not in technically the region. But they are they do participate in some they get pulled into some things. How
about not. Not the ones immediately north of us. Yes. Pasco, Hernando and Citrus Pasco all the way up. Okay. But
not Polk. Not Polk. 1234566. Oh quite a it's quite a quite a lot of people. Well that's good in that region. And some of them are on the coast but not
everyone correct. Yes. So that is different. It is. Yep. So that's the only other thing that I have that okay. A short
agenda item. That sounds good. Okay. Staff comments have comments. I was just going to tell you all that. I saw a coyote yesterday crossing Pine
Street on my way home. Yes, right by the elementary school at five. It was right at, I don't know, five. What did it look like? It was? Well, first of all, it was beautiful. I
looked to the right and it was just trotting down. Oh my gosh, not gross. What's the one over Levis I guess, is that yeah, it was just trotting down and I was so like, is someone's dog
out? And then as it got closer, I was thinking, that is no dog. And I think there was maybe a person kind of going down the street with it. So it all just what color was it? It was very kind of like grayish and light
brown. Really, really pretty though. It was, it was it kind of wowed me. I thought, oh my gosh, after all that we did with that coyote presentation. And here's one right here by City Hall, like, hello. Wow. So
that was fun. And then the only other thing I have is that we are working on a spring newsletter, so that will be forthcoming in the very near future. You know, trying to
talk about obviously topical things, planting season, everything from, you know, just the upcoming events, try to
cover all the all the basics. So. And then okay. Committee comments. Have anything they
wanted to share or support or it's just going to be colder tomorrow. That's why we're all going to move to Florida. Yeah, right. Does get cold in Florida
in January. But where I come from it's it's snowing really bad right now. Well good. They they say hello right now. Now
where I come from in new Jersey and what it's going to be like in the 30s tomorrow. Yeah. There's enough precipitation.
It could snow. Who went back and cold or what. Not at 36. No, no. But North Florida might get cold. Okay. Yeah. So I have a
comment. Namely that our committee can always use more people. And if you are on the committee, you get to talk and
discuss and propose things. And so anyone who's here or is listening, please consider being on our committee. We're doing big things and it's
exciting. And we can always use other people with ideas and
passions. Over here. Okay, so do I have a motion to adjourn?
Second, all in favor? Aye. Okay. Thank you very much. Okay.