Agenda Item: 6E
Prepared By: Jim Kornas
Business: Old Business
Department: Executive Office
Subject:
Title
Mackle Park Tree Donation Implementation Update (S. Connelly)
Body
BACKGROUND: At the Committee's November 13, 2024 meeting, City of Marco Island Storm Water Engineer Zurima Luff read the contents of an October 24, 2024 email from City Manager of Parks, Culture & Recreation Samantha Malloy regarding the status of completing the planting of donated trees around the lake at Mackle Park.
In the email, Ms. Malloy shared the City's concern with the salinity of the soil resulting from the storm surge experienced from Hurricane Milton, and that, to enhance the success of the new plantings, she recommended that the planting be delayed until January - February, 2025. Ms. Malloy indicated that an updated email will be sent to the Committee when a date for the plantings has been scheduled.
At the Committee's December 4, 2024 meeting, Committee Chair Shelli Connelly reviewed the timeline of events between the commitment of the donors to fund the tree plantings around Mackle Park Lake in April, 2024, and the status of the project to date.
Concerned that the characterization of "high salt levels" in the soil around Marco Park Lake from the summer hurricane storm water surges may not have been a reasonable concern for a delay in initiating the planting of the desired trees until January/February 2025, Ms. Connelly reached out to Ms. Jessica Ryals, Extension Agent, and her two colleagues with the University of Florida UF/IFAS Collier County Office, on November 14, 2024 to obtain their recommendations.
Proposing that the City conduct an EC (electrical conductivity) soil sample test, Ms. Connelly shared the UF/IFAS team's recommendation via email with members of the City Staff. She received feedback from the City's Community Affairs Director Dan Smith with a recommendation from the City's landscape contractor that advised holding off on the planting of the des...
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