Agenda Item: 7A
Prepared By: Jim Kornas
Business: New Business
Department: Executive Office
Subject:
Title
2025 Tree Fund - Proposed S. Heathwood Planting & Alternative Locations (S. Connelly, L. Scherzinger, D. Nesmith)
Body
BACKGROUND: At the Committee's December 4, 2024 meeting, Committee Chair Shelli Connelly shared a visual presentation outlining a potential South Heathwood Drive tree planting initiative between San Marco Road and Winterberry Drive to utilize and deploy a significant portion of the Committee's 2025 Tree Fund budget.
Public Works Director Justin Martin noted the density of underground infrastructure lines, pipes, and drains that run under the swales along S. Heathwood Drive between San Marco Road and Winterberry Drive, and he recommended that the Committee proceed cautiously and carefully before committing to a large-scale tree planting effort alongside that roadway.
He outlined his recommended process for ensuring that each proposed tree planting location be: 1) specifically identified by the Committee; 2) communicated to City's Public Works and Water & Sewer departments for their knowledge and the City's solicitation of bids from potential landscape vendors and; 3) led by the Committee's selected landscape vendor for location marking by Sunshine 811 for potential utility/infrastructure interference prior to any digging/planting at each desired location.
The following Motion passed by a Committee vote of 5 - 0:
MOTION by Member Needles, seconded by Member Scherzinger, that the Beautification Advisory Committee focus the deployment of its remaining 2025 Tree Fund budget of $29,000.00 toward the planting up to one hundred (100) 25 gallon Cassia Bakerianas trees in the swales along South Heathwood Drive between San Marco Road and Winterberry Drive, and that the City be authorized to solicit bids for the Committee to contract with a landscape contractor to coordinate the marking of potential tree planting locations with Sunshine ...
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