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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes B&E 030602Beautification and Environmental Committee Summary Notes Wednesday, March 6, 2002 The February 6, 2006, regular meeting of the PBG B &E Committee has called to order by Donna Wisneski at 5:45 P.M. in the Growth Management Department meeting room of the Municipal Complex located at 10500 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The following members were in attendance: Connie Premuroso, Jeff Renault, Betty Marks, William Olsen, Richard Beladino and Donna Wisneski. City Staff Liaison Mark Hendrickson was present. Approval of the minutes: The February 6, 2002 minutes were not available. Items by the City Council Liaison and Staff Liaison Mark states that the Florida Forest Service has recommended approval for our 2001Tree City USA certification to the Arbor Day Foundation. Donna speaks about a very successful Arbor Day celebration at Lake Catherine. Old Business a) Animal Protection codes: Donna explains that the Committee decided last month to learn more about protecting animals, specifically unprotected animals. There has been a lot of road kill. The Committee wanted to know what was being done about the wild animals, what are the codes, what is in an environmental assessment, how do we protect against nuisances cause by roaming animals. Mark explains that the Committee passed a motion to have him draft a letter to the City Manager and City Council to make them aware of the wildlife issues, as Donna mentioned. Mark states that he met with the Growth Management Administrator Charles Wu and City Manager Ron Ferris on this subject. Mr. Ferris directed Mark to tell the Committee to start right away on researching the facts and recommending a course of L j action. Mark threw out some ideas for the Committee to consider during the fact - finding stage. Mark handed out the different parts of the City's codes that deal with animal protected and wildlife assessments. Section 14 -2 declares the City to be a bird and wildlife sanctuary. Section 78 -248 (10) requires the environmental assessment to have a complete habitat analysis. Section 78 -312 requires a plan to deal with potential nuisances caused by rodents and vermin, prior to clearing. A discussion about what is in an environmental assessment occurred. Richard Mulligan asked how are Gopher tortoises relocated. Mark explains a method. Richard Beladino asked about if Legacy Place did an unprotected animals nuisance plan. Mark explained their plan called for the clearing to proceed from east to west. The clearing would occur over several days and the potential nuisance animals would hopefully find culverts or cross roads to the woods to the west. This may not a good plan, but the code is designed to protect people, rather than animals. Betty asked if there is a code committee. Mark explained the process on writing codes. Ultimately, City Council approves codes, but many times codes start in committees like B &E. Jeff asked if I knew of any other cities had codes that protected unprotected wildlife. Mark did not but would research this subject on the internet. Jeff also suggested getting the City's environmental consultant to speak to the Committee. Donna wants to make sure environmental assessment information does not fall through the cracks. Richard Beladino and Donna agree that this research and potential code amendment has to happen quickly. Mark tells the Committee that the PBG Neighborhood Association has also said that wildlife needs to be controlled better during construction, even if the developer has to pay to help. The Committee requested Mark to have the environmental consultant to discuss a typical environmental assessment at the next meeting. New Business a) 2002 agenda: April meeting will be the review of a typical environmental assessment. The next meeting will be April 3, 2002. L March 15, 2002 To: Mark Henrickson, City Forester From: Bonnie Peacock, Forestry Technician RE: Issues concerning new development vs. wildlife Points to discuss: 1. Advice is directly from US Fish & Wildlife biologist and Busch Wildlife Sanctuary animal rehabilitator. 2. Mortality rate due to relocating animals is 80 %, due primarily to stress of the relocation. This percentage was developed with input of reputable trappers tracking the animals after relocation. 3. By law, only specific animals can be relocated. Those most desired to relocate happen to be the most difficult to trap. Fox and bobcat are the most desired to relocate, however, raccoons are what are going to be caught in traps. Raccoons are illegal to relocate. 4. Many animals have or carry disease. The disease parvo is species specific and very contagious. 5. Locating a willing donor site will be very difficult. Relocating animals to an already populated donor site will cause problems with disease, territories & over population to name a few. 6. It has been found that animals survive better when allowed to fend for themselves and disperse into neighboring / adjacent lands and preserves. 7. Relocating is a `feel good' solution only. 8. Additional info... Gopher turtles which are found to be diseased will have their burrows plowed over, rather than be relocated. The areas of relocation of gopher turtles have been limited due to the possibility of spreading disease.