|
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 811, and obtain and plant the trees in each unobstructed, identified location.
At the Committee's January 8, 2025 meeting, the Committee will identify its proposed tree planting locations along S. Heathwood Drive, and Members Nesmith and Scherzinger will share their alternative tree planting areas/locations on the Island for utilization and deployment of the Committee's 2025 Tree Fund budget, should the S. Heathwood Drive effort not yield the Committee's desired result. The Committee will also discuss and determine its next steps for this initiative.
FUNDING SOURCE / FISCAL IMPACT: Up to $29,000 of the Committee’s remaining 2025 Fiscal Year “Tree Fund” budget; project completion on or before September 30, 2025.
PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS: To be determined.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1) Solicit Committee volunteer(s) to identify desired tree planting locations along S. Heathwood Drive;
2) Map each desired tree planting location;
3) Determine if the number of tree planting locations on S. Heathwood Drive will meet the Committee’s desired tree canopy result;
4) Review potential landscape contractors for the project’s execution;
5) Review/consider alternative tree-planting locations proposed independently by Members Scherzinger and Nesmith;
6) Conduct a preliminary suitability review of one or more of the alternative tree-planting locations;
7) Confirm the final location and execution plan for the project;
8) Ensure that full completion of the project occurs before September 30, 2025
POTENTIAL MOTION: To be determined as required.