ON THE CHAPIN TREE, WE DIDN'T ISSUE A TREE REMOVAL OR COUNCIL
DIDN'T DENY TRIMMING EVER IT.
THEY DENIED THE REMOVAL OF IT.
AND THE TRIMMING IS A SEPARATE ISSUE FROM THE REMOVAL.
THAT WAS JUST A CLARIFICATION.
>>MARY ALVAREZ: WAS ALMOST A REMOVAL.
>>GWEN MILLER: MR. JENNINGS WOULD YOU COME BACK PLEASE.
WHEN A PERSON IS ALLOWED TO REMOVE A GRAND TREE, DO THEY HAVE TO
REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER TREE, MORE TREES OR WHAT?
>> WHEN A GRAND TREE IS BEING REMOVED, IT CURRENTLY GOES TO VRB,
VARIANCE REVIEW BOARD AND THEY CAN IMPOSE REPLACEMENT
REQUIREMENTS IF THEY DON'T REPLACE, OR REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL
REPLACEMENTS, IT IS PUT ON THE STANDARD TREE REPLACEMENT TABLE
AND THAT IS REPLACEMENT TABLE DICTATES HOW MANY TREES THEY HAVE
TO PLANT.
VRB REQUIRES ADDITIONAL TREES OR REQUIRES DIFFERENT SIZE AT THE
TIME THEY ALLOW THE REMOVAL OF IT, THEN WE ENFORCE THOSE WHAT
VRB REQUIREMENT WOULD DO.
>>MARY ALVAREZ: JUST A QUESTION THAT I HAVE ON TREE ROOTS.
I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE IN HERE THAT TREE ROOTS ARE BEING
ADDRESSED.
DOES A GRAND TREE HAVE ROOT SYSTEM THAT MIGHT ENCROACH ON A
FOUNDATION OR SOMETHING OF A HOUSE AND LIFT IT UP?
>> THE ROOT SYSTEM OF ANY TREE CAN GO WELL OUTSIDE THE DRIP LINE
OF THE TREE.
THAT'S A VERY POSSIBILITY.
IF IT IS GIVEN THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
TREE ROOTS LIFTING UP FOUNDATIONS, THOSE ARE PROBLEMS.
THOSE THINGS AREN'T LABELED IN THE CODE THAT WE CAN ISSUE
PERMITS FOR THAT ARE DESTROYING PROPERTY.
THE CRITERIA IS JUST NOT THERE FOR US TO, ABILITY TO ISSUE A
PERMIT OFF OF THAT.
WHICH SOMETIMES PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE A STRUCTURE, YOU CAN
DEFINITELY SEE THE CRACK DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, BUT THE
CODE DOESN'T SAY THAT YOU COULD ISSUE A TREE REMOVAL PERMIT FOR
EVEN A PROTECTED TREE BASED ON THAT.
YEAH, SOME OF THE TREES PLANTED YEARS AGO ARE UP AGAINST
FOUNDATIONS THAT ARE BASICALLY PUT ON THE GROUND STOW THE ROOTS
COULD GET UNDERNEATH THERE, LIFT THEM UP, SPLIT THEM APART, THAT
IS A REAL POSSIBILITY.
THAT ALL GOES BACK TO WHERE YOU PLANT A TREE, WHERE YOU SHOULD
OR SHOULDN'T PLANT A TREATMENT YEARS AGO TREES GROWING, THOSE
THINGS WEREN'T THOUGHT OF IT.
TODAY'S STANDARDS FOR DEVELOPMENTS, PUTTING IN FOUNDATIONS AND
HOW FOUNDATION IS DUG DEEPER INTO THE GROUND, YOU GENERALLY
DON'T HAVE ROOT SYSTEMS GETTING UNDERNEATH THAT.
THEY MAY GROW AND PUT PRESSURE ON IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, DOESN'T
NECESSARILY GO UNDERNEATH IT AND LIFT IT UP.
>>MARY ALVAREZ: SUPPOSE YOU HAVE A LOT THAT HAS THIS TREE ON IT
AND THEY HAVE TO PLACE THE HOUSE PRETTY MUCH CLOSE TO THE TREE,
WHAT HAPPENS THEN AND IF -- WHAT I AM ASKING, IS THAT ROOT
SYSTEM, HOW FAR DOES THAT ROOT SYSTEM GO DOWN THERE?
AND THEN TOO THE OTHER QUESTION IS, IF YOU HAVE TO TRIM THAT --
IF YOU HAVE TO CUT INTO THAT ROOT, DOES THAT STRESS THE TREE?
>> SURE.
ANY TIME YOU DO EVEN TRIMMING TO A TREE, IT PUTS SOME AMOUNT OF
STRESS ON THE TREE.
ROOT SYSTEMS PROVIDE THE NUTRIENTS THAT THE TREE LIVES BY.
THERE IS ABSORBING CAPACITY IN OTHER ROOTS.
ROOT PRUNING IS REQUIRED WHEN YOU DO DEVELOPMENT AND SOMETIMES
WE DON'T ALLOW PRUNING OF THE ROOTS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THEM DIG
SMALL FOUNDATIONS AND SPAN THE ROOT SYSTEM ABOVE GRADE, VAULT
THE FLOOR SO IT IS ABOVE THE GROUND SO THE ROOTS ARE ACTUALLY
STILL UNDERNEATH THE HOUSE AND NOT BEING REMOVED.
WE REQUIRE THAT ON TREES WHEN IT WARRANTS IT.
SOMETIMES THE HOUSE MAY BE EIGHT FEET AWAY FROM A TEN INCH TREE
AND TELL THEM YOU CAN ROOT PRUNE OUTSIDE THE FOUNDATION LINE SO
WHEN YOUR FOOTERS ARE DUG ROOTS ARE ENCASED IN IT.
ROOTS GET TRAINED TO GROW DOWN THE HOUSE.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE LOOKED AT WHEN WE ARE INSPECTING AND DOING
HOUSES NOW.
THAT IS PRACTICE THAT WE WILL ALL BROUGHT FROM THE PARKS
DEPARTMENT.
>>MARY ALVAREZ: OKAY, THANK YOU.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OF MR. JENNINGS?
I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO WEAR OUT THE RUG.
OKAY, ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER?
LET ME JUST MAKE A STATEMENT.
PROCEDURALLY I HAVE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP SO I CAN OPEN
IT UP TO THE PUBLIC.
SO IF I AM CLOSING THE PUBLIC WORKSHOP I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO
SAY YOU ARE GOING TO CUT ME OUT.
IT IS PROCEDURAL THINGS.
I NEED A MOTION.
I HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BUCKHORN, SECONDED BY MS. ALVAREZ.
AYES HAVE IT UNANIMOUSLY.
YES, SIR, YOU ARE FIRST.
>> MY NAME IS MALCOLM GILBERT AND I LIVE AT 10306 CLIFF CIRCLE
IN FOREST HILLS.
I HAVE BEEN THERE ALMOST 45 YEARS.
I BUILT THAT HOUSE.
I'M PROUD OF IT.
I BUILT IT WITH THIS.
RIGHT AFTER I MOVED IN THERE, WHAT I AM REALLY DOING IS GIVING
YOU MY EXPERIENCE WITH A GRAND TREE.
RIGHT AFTER I MOVED IN THERE, I WAS A LOT YOUNGER THEN, 30 YEARS
OLD AND I COULD MAN HANDLE A TREE AND I MOVED A TREE IN THERE
THAT WAS PROBABLY FIVE INCHES.
I CUT IT OFF AND IT WAS LIKE A STUMP UP THERE AND ALL THE LIMBS
GREW OUT OF THAT STUMP.
WELL IT TURNED INTO A GRAND TREE HERE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND I HAD
A LIMB 18 INCHES IN DIAMETER HANGING OVER MY BEDROOM THAT I WAS
GETTING WORRIED ABOUT.
ALSO OVER THE LAST 45 YEARS I HAVE GIVEN AWAY AT LEAST A HUNDRED
TREES.
I LIKE TREES.
MOST OF THEM, IN FACT ALMOST ALL OF THEM WERE LAUREL OR WATER
OAKS, WHICH GROW VERY FAST.
I COULD TAKE THEM TO THE CHURCH SALE, SEE WHY I WOULDN'T DIG IT
UP.
I LOVE TREES.
BUT THIS WAS A GRAND TREE AND I DECIDED IT'S TIME GOT SOME DEAD
LIMBS TO COME OUT.
AND SO YOU INQUIRE WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT TO GET A TREE TAKEN OUT.
CITY WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO COME IN AND LOOK AT IT TO DETERMINE IF
IT WAS A GRAND TREE.
AND IT WAS.
NOW I PLANTED THAT TREE 45 YEARS AGO.
ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY YARD.
CITY HAS CONTROL OVER MY YARD.
I DON'T LIKE IT.
I DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL.
BUT SO I DECIDED WHAT I HAVE TO DO AND AT THAT TIME, IT WAS $225
APPLICATION FEE.
I NOTIFY MY NEIGHBORS, TWO OF THEM NEXT DOOR, THEY DON'T HAVE NO
TREES.
THEIR YARD LOOKS TERRIBLE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY TREES.
THERE IS NO ORDINANCE THAT SAYS THEY HAVE TO PLANT ANY TREES.
BUT I GOT A TREE THAT I PLANTED THAT I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER.
CITY HAS CONTROL OVER IT.
I'M MAD.
THERE WAS A CLAUSE IN THAT ORDINANCE AT THE TIME THAT SAYS THAT
YOU COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A TREE BANK OR REPLACE TREES, WHICH WAS
ACTUALLY PROBABLY INTENDED FOR DEVELOPERS THAT WAS GOING TO
CLEAR A LOT OF LAND.
WELL, SINCE I HAD GIVEN AWAY NUMEROUS TREES, I KNEW WHERE, RIGHT
OFF THE HAND THERE WAS 15 OF THEM, THE BIGGEST ONE WAS PROBABLY
LIKE THIS.
AND I WENT AND TOOK PICTURES OF THAT TREE, ALL THOSE TREES AND I
SAID I'M GOING TO FIGHT.
AND ALSO IN THAT ORDINANCE THERE IS A FINE OF $10,000.
ALONG WITH PRISON TIME OR WHATEVER, JAIL TIME.
AND I'LL GUARANTEE YOU IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE $10,000, I
WOULD HAVE SET IN THAT JAIL IN THERE.
AND NO WAY -- I'M MAD.
I'M GOING TO FIGHT.
I TAKE PICTURES OF THOSE 15 TREES.
AND I'M READY TO GO DOWN THERE AND FIGHT.
I GET THOSE PICTURES BACK ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
NOW I HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL AND NOBODY IN THIS WORLD CAN
CONVINCE ME THAT I DON'T HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL.
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME OVER THE YEARS THAT I COULD TELL
YOU THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT.
I WAS FIXING TO GET IN TROUBLE.
SATURDAY EVENING, WE WERE EATING DINNER, JUST ABOUT DARK, AND
I'M THINKING ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO DOWN THERE MONDAY AND
START THIS FIGHT IN THERE.
AND KABOOM, LIGHTNING STRIKES THAT TREE.
BLOWS PART OF IT OVER INTO MY NEIGHBOR'S YARD >>CHARLIE MIRANDA:
I KNEW THERE WAS A REASON I LET YOU GO PAST THE THREE MINUTES.
NOW IT'S COMING TO LIGHT.
>> BUT, IN HERE, SHE PROBABLY WAS WATCHING OUT AFTER ME.
I KNOW.
I SAY SHE.
I STILL HAD TO PAY AN ARBORIST A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO COME OUT
THERE TO TELL ME THAT THAT TREE WAS DANGEROUS, WHICH I ALREADY
KNEW.
AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID PAY ME FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR
THE TREE BUT IT COST ME $2,000 TO TAKE THAT TREE OUT.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXPERIENCE FROM THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE
PASSED IN HERE THAT ENCROACHES UPON THE HOMEOWNER'S RIGHTS AND I
WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF OR AT LEAST FOUND OUT,
ATTEND THESE MEETINGS THAT THEY HAVE IN THERE.
NOW I HAVE ANOTHER TREE --.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: I HOPE YOU DON'T GET MAD AT ME.
BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAVE BEEN UPSET.
BUT IF I DON'T CUT YOU OFF, I HAVE EVERYONE BEHIND YOU THAT
WANTS TO SPEAK AND THEY ARE GOING TO WANT THE SAME PRIVILEGE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.
YOUR POINT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN.
>> WE NEED RULES AND REGULATIONS BUT WE NEED GOOD RULES AND
REGULATIONS.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: I UNDERSTAND SIR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE) YOU NEVER GIVE ME BUT TWO MINUTES.
MY NAME MOSES KNOTT, JR..
I RESIDE 2902 East Ellicott STREET.
THANK GOD TO SPEAK.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO SPEAK.
MS. ALVAREZ, YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT ROTTEN TREE BEFORE, I SEE A
PICTURE BACK THERE, THAT FELL THAT COME IN HERE, PEOPLE SHOWED
UP CRYING.
ONE LADY ON TELEVISION CRYING, BOO HOO, LORD, PLEASE DON'T MOVE
THAT TREE.
NEXT TWO OR THREE DAYS, THE TREE FELL, WHO HAD TO PAY FOR IT?
US TAXPAYERS HAD TO PAY FOR US.
I HATE TO SAY IT BUT IT IS TRUE.
I DON'T HAVE NO MONEY AND ALL THE PEOPLE I REPRESENT DON'T HAVE
MONEY.
MAYOR SAID A WHILE AGO IT TAKES FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO PULL A
PERMIT.
I TOLD YOU ALL ALWAYS CROOKS DO A LOT LIKE YOU ALL DO.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO DO THIS TREE BUSINESS JUST LIKE THEY DID
BLUE RIBBON, LIKE THEY DID OLD HISTORIC HOMES, A WHITE MAN TOLD
ME 15 YEARS AGO, SAID HE WANTED TO GET RID OF A TREE, HE SAID HE
WENT AND PAR DONE, ONLY PAR DONE ONE SIDE OF IT.
THE WAY YOU WANT IT TO FALL.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: SOUND LIKE A PROFESSIONAL ARBORIST.
NEXT.
>> JOSEPH FAR COMPANY WITNESSES, BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER
TAMPA, WEST KENNEDY BOULEVARD.
I APPRECIATE THE NOTICE TO HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY, BUT OTHER THAN
HEARING WHAT'S BEEN SAID SO FAR IN THE PRESENTATION BY THE
STAFF, WE HAVE NOT HAD THE BENEFITS OF HAVING HAD ANYTHING GIVEN
TO US IN WRITING INSOFAR AS WHAT IS ACTUALLY BEING PROPOSED.
NOR WERE WE PRIVY TO ANY OTHER MEETINGS BEING CONDUCTED AND
UNFORTUNATELY WE WOULD HAVE LIKE TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: EXCUSE ME, JUST FOR THE RECORD, THERE HAVEN'T
BEEN ANY OTHER MEETINGS SET.
THIS IS THE FIRST PRESENTATION.
WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IS THE SAME THING WE HAVE SEEN.
>> WHEN THE COUNCIL PASSED A GRAND ORDINANCE, WE FELT THAT WAS A
RATHER RESTRICTIVE ORDINANCE.
WHEN YOU DID THE AMENDMENTS, WE THOUGHT THAT WAS OVERLY
RESTRICTED.
BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD TODAY JUST GOES OFF THE DEEP END OF
REGULATIONS.
I THINK YOU HAVE THE MECHANICS IN PLACE CURRENTLY TO PROTECT
GRAND TREES TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
UNFORTUNATELY WHEN YOU GET INTO TREES, JUST AS YOU DO IN SIGNS,
THE SUBJECT TENDS TO BECOME EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL BY PEOPLE,
ALMOST TO THE POINT OF HYSTERIA.
THERE IS A NEED TO PROTECT GRAND TREES, NOBODY IS GOING TO ARGUE
THAT POINT BUT WHEN YOU ARE TAKING THE REGULATIONS TO THE EXTENT
THAT YOU ARE, WITHOUT HAVING ANY IDEA ON WHAT THE COSTS OF THE
REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO BE, HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FUND ALL THAT
SORT OF THING, WHAT THE DELAYS AND COST OF CONSTRUCTION ARE
GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THAT SORT OF THING, NOTWITHSTANDING THE
QUESTIONS ON HOW YOU ARE IMPOSING ON INDIVIDUAL'S PROPERTY
RIGHTS HAVE YET TO BE ADDRESSED.
IF IN FACT THE URBAN FORESTER BECAME MORE INTEGRATED PART OF THE
URBAN REVIEW PROCESS, PERHAPS THAT ALONE WOULD ALLEVIATE THE
SITUATION.
AS IT RELATES TO THE TREE TRIMMING, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT I
GUESS THAT ONE INSTANCE WHERE SOMEONE WENT A LITTLE OVERBOARD ON
PRUNING A TREE, THAT THAT HAS TO BECOME THE SOLE EXAMPLE FOR ALL
OF THAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING.
THE PROPOSALS DON'T REALLY ADDRESS WHAT SIZE OF BRANCH CAN BE
PRUNED OFF A TREE WITHOUT A PERMIT.
WHETHER IT IS JUST A TWIG OR WHETHER IT IS A MAJOR BRANCH ON A
TREE, IT DOESN'T SPEAK TO IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, ON A WINDY
DAY AND A BIG BRANCH IS STARTING TO RUB UP AGAINST SOMEBODY AS
FASCIA AND THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW, NOT WAIT TILL
MONDAY OR TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY OR NEXT WEEK TO GET A PERMIT,
TAKE THAT LIMB OFF, THEY ARE GOING TO GO OUT AND TAKE THAT LIMB
OFF.
NOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE VIOLATION OF THE LAW AND SUBJECT TO
FINE AND PERHAPS IMPRISONMENT.
THERE IS NO REAL REASON WHY WE HAVE TO GO INTO SUCH INTENSE
REGULATIONS MERELY TO IDENTIFY AND TRY TO RESOLVE WHAT MAY BE
NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES.
THE ORDINANCE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, THE REGULATIONS YOU ARE
TALKING ABOUT ARE GOING TO APPLY CITY WIDE, NOT JUST SOUTH OF
KENNEDY BOULEVARD. AND THERE IS LOTS OF CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE
SOMEONE WOULD SCRATCH THEIR HEAD AND SAY THIS IS ABSOLUTELY
unequivocally ABSURD TO PASS A CITY WORD ORDINANCE OF THIS
NATURE.
AS FAR AS THE WAY THE SYSTEM WILL WORK, I HAVEN'T A CLUE.
BEST WAY IT WOULD WORK AT THE MOMENT UNDER THE CURRENT
REGULATIONS WOULD BE AGAIN TO HAVE THE URBAN FORESTER AS PART OF
THE PLAN REVIEW AND PERMIT PROCESS.
AGAIN THAT WOULD CERTAINLY ALLEVIATE THE SITUATION.
THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU'D BE TALKING ABOUT WOULD DEAL NOT ONLY
WITH NEW DEVELOPMENT BUT ALSO PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT
ESPECIALLY HOW YOU ARE GOING TO FUND THIS. WE'D LIKE TO BE PART
OF ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS, ANY FURTHER MEETINGS THAT ARE
HELD ON THIS.
BUT WE THINK THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITHOUT
EVERYTHING TO ENACT ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS.
THANK YOU.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.
NEXT.
>> MY NAME IS JOHN THOMAS, I AM HERE FOR THE BAYSHORE BEAUTIFUL
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND OTHERS AS WELL.
I AM CONCERNED WITH THE TIME LIMIT.
I DO HAVE WRITTEN COMMENTS.
WE DID GET A DRAFT OF MR. MASSEY'S WORK PRODUCT.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU A COPY OF OUR WRITTEN.
>> MOTION BY MS. MILLER, ALVAREZ.
[MOTION CARRIES]
>> ON THE ISSUE OF TIME LIMITS I WOULD JUST REQUEST IF IT IS
POSSIBLE, IF I AM ALLOWED TO SPEAK A LITTLE BEYOND MY TIME, THAT
WOULD PROBABLY REDUCE THE TIME BECAUSE I DO HAVE A NUMBER OF
PEOPLE WHO UNDER THE MEETING PROCESS HAVE SEEDED THEIR TIME TO
ME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT DOESN'T APPLY HERE.
>>CHARLIE MIRANDA: THAT DOESN'T APPLY.
STOP THE TIME FOR A SECOND.
LET ME JUST CLARIFY THIS.
USUALLY PUBLIC INPUT IS TAKEN DURING THE PROCESS OF AN
ORDINANCE.
WE HAVE NO ORDINANCE.
WE HAVEN'T ANYTHING.
WE JUST WANTED TO TAKE THE INPUT NOW SO WE COULD GET MORE
INFORMED ON HOW YOURSELF, YOUR ORGANIZATION, YOUR NEIGHBORS, AND
ALL THAT IS HERE AND ALL THAT ARE LISTENING TO US AND ALL THAT
IS GOING TO BE WRITTEN FOR AND AGAINST, SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE
DOING THIS THING.
AND AS YOU WELL SEE, WE HAVE A FULL AUDIENCE.
I HATE TO SAY THAT I'M EMBARRASSED TO SAY THAT THERE IS MORE
PEOPLE HERE TODAY, TEN TIMES MORE THAN WOULD BE HERE WHEN A
BUDGET IS PASSED THAT'S CLOSE TO SIX HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR, SO
SOMEWHERE IN IDEA LOGICAL THINKING WE HAVE AS HUMAN BEINGS, WE
ARE MISSING SOMETHING.
I AM NOT PREACHING TO YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE.
I AM JUST SAYING THE FACTS, WE ARE HERE WHEN SOMETHING IS VERY
CLOSE TO US AND YOU HAVE THE PERFECT RIGHT TO DO THAT, TO COME
AND STATE YOUR CASE.
AND THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I LOOK AS A LEGISLATOR, ONE OF
SEVEN, THAT BOTHERS ME A LOT.
NOT THAT YOU ARE HERE.
I WELCOME THAT.
I WELCOME YOU HERE MORE OFTEN ON OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE
IMPLICATIONS OF CITY WIDE CONDITIONS.
AND I GET VERY FEW RESPONSE FROM THE AUDIENCE AND ANY ONE OF
THOSE CONDITIONS.
YES, SIR, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
I AGREE BUDGET IS VERY IMPORTANT BUT I WOULD JUST ASSERT THAT
THE TREES ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.
WITHOUT THE TREES, THE BUDGET DOESN'T MATTER.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: I AM NOT MAKING THAT KIND OF CORRELATION.
I AM MAKING A CORRELATION ON CITY WIDE ISSUES.
THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
>> THANK YOU.
WE DID REVIEW MR. MASSEY'S POINTS AND MY COMMENTS ARISE
PRIMARILY OUT OF MY EXPERIENCE REPRESENTING THE MONTEGUES IN
THEIR CASE AND OBSERVING AS AN OUTSIDER THE CHAPIN CASE.
I HAVE GONE THROUGH POINT BY POINT AND I THINK THAT MR. MASSEY
IS SOMEWHAT UNCLEAR IN HIS MEMORANDUM THAT TRIMMING SHOULD BE
INCLUDED IN THE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESS THAT GOES TO THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE WANT TO TRIM, ONLY TRIM, THEY DON'T WANT TO
REMOVE.
WELL, AS WE SAW IN THE TAPE, TRIMMING CAN BE TANTAMOUNT TO
REMOVAL.
IF IT IS NOT DONE PROPERLY.
SO TRIMMING NEEDS TO BE HANDLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS REMOVAL.
THERE ARE A COUPLE TERMS USED IN PARAGRAPH A 2 THAT THE TERM
POOR HEALTH AND SHORT LIFE EXPECTANCY, THOSE OBVIOUSLY NEED TO
BE ELUCIDATED AND CLARIFIED.
THAT PARAGRAPH A 2 DOES NOT IDENTIFY WHAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
IS GOING TO DO.
AND I WOULD JUST PROPOSE THAT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE
PROPOSING WHAT TRIMMING MAY BE ALOUD, WHAT REMOVAL MAY BE ALOUD
AND PROPOSING LIMITING CONDITIONS ON THE TRIMMING AND THE
REMOVAL.
ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHAPIN INCIDENT WAS THEY WERE
ALLOWED TO TRIM BUT IT WAS NOT CLEARLY IDENTIFIED WHERE THEY
COULD TRIM, TO WHAT EXTENT THEY COULD TRIM.
AND THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT RESULTED IN THE VIRTUAL
DEATH OF THAT TREE.
SOME OF THE FACTORS, WE ARE NOT SURE HOW THEY ARE GOING TO BE
WEIGHED.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED BY PARKS
DEPARTMENT.
THOSE FACTORS CAN EITHER BE CONJUNCTIVE, IN OTHER WORDS YOU HAVE
TO MEET ALL OF THEM OR DISJUNCTIVE, YOU HAVE TO MEET SOME OF
THEM OR THEY WAY AGAINST OTHER FACTORS.
WE NEED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
MR. MASSEY WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO ELABORATE AND ASSERT THAT STANDING
WOULD BE ALLOWED FOR THE HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION IN THE MONTEGUE
CASE.
THAT LEAVES A POOR SINGLE CITIZEN CONFRONTING A DEVELOPER AND AN
OWNER AND THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE INVESTMENT BACKED EXPECTATIONS AND
THEY ARE GOING TO PUSH HARD AND THREATEN SUIT, AS OCCURRED IN
THAT CASE.
THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION IS IN A BETTER POSITION TO REPRESENT
THE INDIVIDUALS.
IT WOULD LIMIT THE PROCESS.
WITH YOUR INDULGENCE.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: I HAVEN'T SAID A WORD.
>> THE TERM USED IN THE ORDINANCE UNDER THE GRAND TREE
PROVISIONS IS DENY ALL REASONABLE USE OF THE PROPERTY.
THAT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARD DEVELOPED BY THE UNITED STATES
SUPREME COURT.
THAT IS THE STANDARD THAT NEEDS TO BE CARRIED FORWARD IN THE
PROTECTION OF GRAND USE, NOT JUST REASONABLE USE BUT ALL
REASONABLE USE.
WHEN THESE APPLICATIONS GO TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THEY SEEM TO
HAVE A VERY LIMITED SCOPE OF REVIEW.
ALL OF THE FACTORS CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN 13-45 H 1 ARE IGNORED.
AND THOSE FACTORS INCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENT, THE CANOPY, THE
ECOSYSTEM AND STORMWATER ISSUE.
SO SOMEBODY HAS TO EVALUATE THOSE FACTORS AS WELL.
I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT THAT'S APPROPRIATELY FOR THE PARK
DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CHAPIN CASE AND THE MONTEGUE CASE IS
WHILE ONE APPLICATION WAS BEING REVIEWED IN THE FIRST CASE BY
THE VRB, IN THE SECOND CASE BY THE CITY COUNCIL, THE OWNER
APPLICANT WAS ALLOWED TO GO AND GET OTHER PERMITS.
THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM.
ALL THE APPEAL RIGHTS IN THE WORLD DON'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF
THE OWNER APPLICANT CAN JUST COME IN AND PUT IN SERIAL
APPLICATIONS ONE AFTER ANOTHER AND THEN WHEN THEY GET THAT
PERMIT AND THEY HAVE THE OPENING THEY GO AHEAD AND USE IT.
MEANWHILE THE PEOPLE OPPOSING THAT TRIMMING OR REMOVAL ARE BUSY
WITH A MOOT APPEAL.
IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE UNLESS ALL APPLICATIONS AND
APPEALS AND REQUESTS HAVE BEEN DECIDED FINALLY.
I HAVE OTHER POINTS.
THEY ARE MORE GENERAL PROTECTIVE POINTS, CERTAINLY WE ARE
INTERESTED IN PROTECTING MORE TREES THAN JUST THE GRAND TREES.
PERHAPS, WE CAN ADDRESS IN THIS PROCESS THE THRESHOLD OF WHAT IS
A GRAND TREE.
THERE ARE MANY, MANY TREES THAT COME VERY CLOSE TO THAT
THRESHOLD BUT ARE NOT AT THAT THRESHOLD.
THEY CANNOT BE IGNORED.
THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
WE CAN'T ARBITRARILY SAY SIX INCHES MORE AND YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN
PROTECTED BUT YOU ARE GONE BECAUSE YOU LOST SIX INCHES SOMEWHERE
DURING A DRY PERIOD.
WE CERTAINLY NEED ENHANCED DETERRENCE I THINK FOR UNPERMITTED
CUTTING AND REMOVAL.
>>CHARLIE MIRANDA: I AM ASKING BECAUSE I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT
WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AND I WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE SAME
OPPORTUNITY I HAVE GIVEN YOU AND ANY OTHER SPEAKER BEFORE YOU
AND ANY SPEAKER AFTER YOU.
YOU SOUND LIKE VERY INTELLIGENT INDIVIDUAL WHICH I KNOW YOU ARE,
YOU SOUND LIKE AN ATTORNEY WHICH MAYBE YOU ARE BECAUSE YOU HAVE
MENTIONED THE CONSTITUTION TWO OR THREE TIMES.
I AM NOT IN THAT LEAGUE WITH YOU.
I AM WAY UNDER YOU.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE WITH US TODAY, SIR.
>> I HOPE WE ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE CERTAINLY TEND TO PARTICIPATE TO THE END OF THAT ISSUE.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: AS I STATED EARLIER, THE PUBLIC INPUT IS
UNUSUALLY THE PUBLIC PROCESS OF THE ORDINANCES.
THIS IS A MEETING WE ALWAYS HAVE OPEN AND WE WELCOME THAT INPUT
FROM YOU AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE.
NEXT PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M JEAN NAH, 338 WEST CHAPIN AVENUE, I WISH TO SAY ONCE AGAIN
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT TREE PROTECTION ISSUES AND
YOUR TIME LISTENING TODAY.
I AM HERE BECAUSE I CARE.
I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU ARE TOO.
YOU ARE PROBABLY TIRED OF DOGS AND TREES AND TRAFFIC AND WATER
ISSUES.
AND SO ON.
AND THEN THE APPEALS OF ALL THESE ISSUES.
I DO NOT BELIEVE YOU WOULD HAVE VOTED TO HOLD THIS WORKSHOP IF
YOU DID NOT KNOW CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE.
THE BAYSHORE BEAUTIFUL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION HAS HIRED AN
ATTORNEY, MR. THOMAS, WHO JUST SPOKE.
THIS IS NOT TO THROW AROUND OUR WEIGHT.
IT IS BECAUSE WE FEEL WE NEED A KNOWLEDGEABLE ADVOCATE WHO CAN
HELP MEND THE PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM.
THE PROBLEMS ARE NUMEROUS BUT THEY ARE NOT ALL IN THE CODE.
I HOPE YOU WILL BEAR WITH ME DURING THIS PART BECAUSE I THINK IT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT THIS DOES COME OUT IN THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE NOT BEEN UPHOLDING THE CODE AND
ENABLING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.
IN RECENT MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR AND YOUR CHAIRMAN, MR. MIRANDA
AND NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES THIS WAS BROUGHT VERY CLEARLY
INTO THE LIGHT.
THIS IS COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYEES, MR. JENNINGS AND MR. LA
BREAK ADMITTED TO PRACTICE OF VERBAL APPROVAL OF PERMITS TO
REMOVE AND TRIM GRAND TREES.
THIS PRACTICE MUST STOP IT IS CLEARLY A VIOLATION OF CODE AND
PUT THE CITY AT GREAT LIABILITY.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS RECOGNIZE YOU THE CITY COUNCIL ARE NOT THE
COWS OF THESE PROBLEMS.
WE DO NOT PAINT YOU WITH THE SAME BROAD-BRUSH AND SAY THE CITY.
PLEASE DO NOT PAINT US WITH A BROAD-BRUSH.
THE NEIGHBORHOODS DO NOT WANT TO BE LABELED WITH INAPPROPRIATE
NAME ANY MORE THAN YOU DO.
WE ARE SEEKING A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO THE ISSUE OF TREE
PROTECTION, A BALANCE BETWEEN KEEPING OUR URBAN FOREST INTACT
AND YET LETTING PEOPLE HAVE REASONABLE USE OF THEIR PROPERTY.
WE KNOW THAT THIS WILL TAKE SOME WORK FROM ALL OF US HERE IN
THIS ROOM TODAY.
WE KNOW THE TREES AGE AND CAN BECOME HAZARDOUS.
OUR OLDER TREES MUST BE MAINTAINED.
THIS DOES TAKE TRIMMING, WE RECOGNIZE THIS.
I KNOW THAT YOU DO TOO.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT PERFECTLY HEALTHY TREES FALL.
SOME MAY COME DOWN LATE THIS WEEK IF TROPICAL STORM DEBBIE
VISITS US.
TREES WILL FALL AND DAMAGE CARS AND HOMES.
WE HOME THE PRESS NOTICES BAYSHORE BEAUTIFUL IS NOT THE CAUSE.
SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME A FREE FALLS OUR NAME IS MENTIONED.
WE WISH TO SEE SOME CHANGES APPLIED WITH COMMON SENSE AND
FAIRNESS.
HOWEVER, THIS PROCESS MUST GO ON WITH THE PROTECTION OF A
dwindling URBAN FOREST FOREMOST IN YOUR MIND.
WE ARE ASKING THE EXISTING CODE BE ENFORCED UNTIL ANY CHANGES TO
LAW ARE MADE.
WE DON'T NEED, WE JUST WANT THE LAW CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO BE
UPHELD.
THEN WE ASK THOSE CHANGES BE ENFORCED IF THEY ARE MADE.
AS LAWMAKERS YOU ARE AWARE A LAW IS NO GOOD UNLESS IT IS UPHELD.
OUR URBAN FOREST IS A TREASURE TO BE PROTECTED.
IT IS A WONDERFUL PART OF WHY TAMPA IS THE CITY WE ALL LOVE AND
WISH TO LIVE IN.
I PLEA WITH YOU TODAY TO BE AN ONGOING AND ACTIVE PART OF A
SYSTEM WHICH PROTECTS OUR TREES.
THANK YOU.
DIFFICULT DO IT?
CHARLIE MIRANDA: YOU DID AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
AND THE TWO WORDS THAT I CLING TO IS THE TWO WORDS YOU SAID WAS
COMMON SENSE.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU APPEARING BEFORE US.
NEXT PLEASE.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M MELISSA STEADMAN, 3104 Mullen AVENUE.
THIS IS QUITE A DILEMMA BECAUSE I REPRESENT THE OTHER SIDE, NOT
REALLY REPRESENT THE OTHER SIDE.
WE ARE THE FAMILY WHOSE GRAND OAK FELL ON THEIR HOUSE.
AND $5,000 PROJECT HAS NOW TURNED INTO A $35,000 PROJECT.
AND PROBABLY A RENOVATION.
WE HAD TWO STATE CERTIFIED LICENSED ARBORIST COME OUT, TELL US
THAT THE TREE WAS SEVERELY SICK, ILL.
AND PRESENTED A HAZARD TO OUR HOME.
I CAME DOWN TO THE CITY, APPLIED FOR MY PERMIT, CODE ENFORCEMENT
CAME OUT AND AGREED WITH THAT DETERMINATION AS WELL.
AND PARKS DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND DENIED MY PERMIT.
I AM IN FAVOR OF A TREE ORDINANCE, I THINK IT IS JUST IMPERATIVE
THAT WE HAVE IT AND I THINK IT IS WONDERFUL YOU ALL ARE
ADDRESSING IT.
THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT.
PERHAPS WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES IN THE
GRAND OAK CATEGORY.
OUR PARTICULAR TREE WAS A LAUREL OAK AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THEIR
TIME ISN'T AS LONG AS A, AS YOUR LIVE OAKS.
OURS WAS WAY PAST ITS PRIME.
PERHAPS ALSO WE SHOULD LOOK AT ONE DEPARTMENT OVERSEEING THE
CODE ENFORCEMENT VERSUS TWO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN OUR
CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I APPRECIATE IT.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: WE THANK YOU FOR APPEARING AND THESE THINGS
ARE DIFFICULT.
IT IS EASY TO SAY THE WORD TREE BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO WORK
THROUGH AND APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND SORRY WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU.
NEXT PLEASE.
>> JERRY CABBAGE, INDEPENDENT TREE SERVICE, 22 YEARS IN THE
BUSINESS, I AM JUST HERE TO DISCUSS ABOUT THE GRAND TREES. I
THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE SPECIES THAT ARE
CONSIDERED GRAND TREES.
FOR INSTANCE, THE LAUREL OAK THAT FELL ON THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER'S
HOUSE.
LIVE OAKS CAN LIVE HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
LAUREL OAKS, 55, 60 YEARS, AFTER 40 YEARS THEY BECOME A HAZARD.
ANY LAUREL, WATER OAK OVER 30, 35 INCHES IN DIAMETER IS
GENERALLY A HAZARDOUS TREE.
THOSE TREES BASICALLY I FEEL SHOULD NOT BE ON THE GRAND TREE
STATUS.
THEY CAN APPEAR HEALTHY, THEY CAN HAVE A FULL CANOPY.
THEY CAN ALSO HAVE ROOT ROT, WHICH DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE UPPER
CROWN.
YOU HAVE A FULL CANOPY, YOU HAVE A ROTTING ROOT SYSTEM, YOU HAVE
HEART ROT, TREES SPLIT APART.
ERGO, YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM ON THE ROOF.
LIVE OAKS ARE WONDERFUL TREES TOO BUT THEY TOO GET FUNGUS,
CANKERS AND PROBLEMS, AND THE APPEARANCE OF GOOD HEALTHY FOLIAGE
WITH ROTTED INTERIORS.
THE TREE ON CHAPIN WAS ROTTED INSIDE.
HAD A FULL BEAUTIFUL CANOPY.
THEREFORE, I THINK THAT WAS THE TREE THAT SHOULD HAVE COME DOWN
AND UNFORTUNATELY THE OWNERS OF THE PROPERTY HAD TO DO THE SONG
AND DANCE AND DO WHAT THEY HAD TO DO.
I THINK THE BEST THINK I HEARD TODAY WAS THE CITY MAY ADOPT THE
ISA CODE FOR GRAND TREE STATUS.
AND BY ADOPTING THAT ASA CODE, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUT THE
POLITICAL PRESSURE ON THE INSPECTORS IF THEY DO CONDEMN A GRAND
TREE AND ALSO TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF THE SELECTION OR THE
ALLOWANCE OF A PERMIT FOR A GRAND TREE.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS ERR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY, ESPECIALLY WHEN
WE HAVE THESE LARGE TREES OVER OUR HOUSES OR OUR CLIENT'S
HOUSES.
AND WITH THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD IN THIS FIELD, I
JUST KNOW THERE IS MANY, MANY TREES OUT THERE THAT REACH THE
GRAND TREE STATUS, BUT THEY ARE STANDING DANGEROUS ROTTED TREES.
SO AGAIN, PLEASE LOOK AT THAT ISA CODE AND TAKE THE EMOTION OUT
OF IT, THE POLITICAL PRESSURE OUT OF IT.
AND ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY, CITY OF TAMPA HAS A VERY
LIBERAL TREE REMOVAL CODES.
NO PERMIT REQUIRED OF TREES LESS THAN 22 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
HOWEVER, IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH TEMPLE TERRACE, YOU WILL FIND
FULLY CANOPIED YARDS.
GENERALLY IT SEEMS 99% OF THE POPULATION LOVES THEIR TREES.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG LARGE, DEAD OR DANGEROUS TREE, WE NEED
TO TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF IT, GET IT OUT AND HAVE THE CONSUMER
SAFETY IN MIND.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU.
THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER SPOKE, WE DO HAVE A MEETING WITH SOME OF
THE NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVISTS, ALL OF US ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH
WHAT YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT.
THIS IS A RESULT OF THAT MEETING THAT IS COMING OUT SLOWLY BUT
SURELY WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THE CODE IN PLACE IS VERY RESTRICTIVE.
I MENTIONED THAT TO MR. GRAHAM EARLIER IN THE MEETING TODAY.
AND THAT THESE THINGS, THE ONLY DECISION THAT ARBORIST HAD TO
MAKE WAS DOES IT HAVE A FIVE-YEAR EXPECTANCY OR NOT?
I THINK THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DISCUSSED AND
RIGHTLY SO AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR BRINGING IT TO OUR ATTENTION.
WHEN YOU FEEL ANYBODY, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT IS NOT LISTENING TO
YOU, THEN THAT PERCEPTION OR THAT PROBLEM BECOMES A REAL
PROPERTY R PROBLEM IN YOUR MIND.
NEXT PLEASE.
>> LINDA GARVEY, COCHAIR, TAMPA SIERRA CONSERVATION COMMITTEE.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE MY FINAL STATEMENT IN CASE I RUN OUT OF TIME.
I REQUEST THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TREE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING
NEW DEVELOPMENT BE RETURNED TO THE URBAN FORESTER WITH ENOUGH
STAFF TO IMPLEMENT ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCE.
I AM OFTEN CALLED ABOUT PROBLEMS FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE
AREA.
AND I GO OUT ROUTINELY AND CHECK THEM OUT.
RECENTLY I WENT OUT TO A MASTER ADDRESS 5001 PALM SPRINGS DRIVE,
AREA FOUR, PARCEL 20, TAMPA PROBLEMS, A LA FAR PROPERTY
CURRENTLY DEVELOPED, 187572.
AUTHORIZED REMOVAL OF 740 TREES ON 6-30-99.
NOW WHAT THEY NEEDED TO REMOVE THOSE TREES WAS A WAIVER FROM VRB
FOR REMOVAL OF GRAND TREES AND A VARIANCE FROM THE VRB FOR
REMOVAL OVER 50 PERCENT OF THE TREES FROM A PARCEL GREATER THAN
ONE ACRE.
THE CLERK CONFIRMED IN CITY HALL THERE WAS NO VARIANCE AFTER I
REVIEWED AN INCORRECT VARIANCE NUMBER GIVEN TO ME.
THE PARCEL DID NOT CHECK OUT AS THE SAME PROPERTY SO I CHECKED
WITH THE CLERK AND FOUND IN TRUTH THERE WAS NO VARIANCE.
THE PROPERTY HAS BEEN FILLED BY THREE OR FOUR FEET, I SUSPECT
AND THE ADJACENT PROPERTY IS HEAVILY TREED.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT PROBABLY WAS THERE BEFORE.
THERE APPEARS TO BE A TREE COUNT OF SORTS ON THE PLAT.
BUT IT WAS POSSIBLY PUT IN AFTER THE FACT SHOWING TREES REMOVED
AND A DEFICIT OF 2,072 TREES NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ONES TAKEN
OUT.
BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T GO THROUGH THE URBAN FORESTER, WHO IS
ENFORCING THIS?
WHO IS MONITORING THIS?
I THINK WE NEED TO GET TREE PEOPLE BACK IN CHARGE WITH THE
TREES.
THESE TREES PROVIDE SHADE, THEY FILTER AIR POLLUTANTS, THEY
PREVENT EROSION AND PROVIDE HABITAT.
WE NEED TO BE SURE THEY ARE BEING PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF.
NOW THERE IS A NEW DEVELOPMENT OUT IN GRAND HAMPTON WHERE THE
DEVELOPER PROBABLY GOING WITH MAYBE WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING,
WANTING 80% OF THE TREE REMOVAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
NOW, I THINK WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN HAVING THAT TAKEN OUT SO HE
HAS TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS.
BUT THIS IS NOT PERHAPS UNTYPICAL OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO INCLUDE THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN GOING
BACK TO THE FOR RESTER WITH A DECENT STAFF SO HE CAN PROTECT
YOUR ENVIRONMENT OF THE NEW TAMPA AS WELL AS YOUR GRAND TREES IN
SOUTH TAMPA.
THANK YOU.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH MS. HARVEY.
NEXT PLEASE.
THEY WERE CLAPPING BEFORE YOU BEFORE YOU GOT UP HERE.
>> MY NAME IS SUE LION.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: MOTION RECEIVED AND FILED.
[MOTION CARRIES]
YES, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS SUE LION,.
TELL ME WHEN THE BUDGET IS COMING UP.
AND I CAN DO ANYTHING.
WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE CODE BEING ENFORCED.
MOST OF IT'S PRETTY GOOD.
NOT A BAD CODE.
IT IS PRETTY RESTRICTIVE.
IF IT IS IN FORCE PROPERLY, IF WE MOVE THE GRAND TREES TO THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT, AS BEEN SUGGESTED AND GIVE STEVE GRAHAM OR
WHOEVER IS DOING THE WORK THE STAFF TO DO IT AND THE LEEWAY TO
EXAMINE THE TREE AND SAY THIS IS A GOOD TREE.
AND WITH MISSY STEADMAN'S TREE IT SUPPOSEDLY WOULD LAST FIVE
YEARS.
AND HE WAS LIMITED IN THAT.
AND THAT CAUSES PROBLEMS.
THE LAUREL OAKS DON'T LAST AS LONG AS THE LIVE OAKS.
WE ALL AGREE WITH THAT.
AND MANY, MANY OF THE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN PLANTED WERE THE
LAUREL OAKS, BECAUSE THEY GROW FAST, THEY MAKE SHADE IN A HURRY.
SO A LOT OF THE TREES WE HAVE GOT ARE LAUREL OAKS.
BUT IF THEY GO DOWN, THEN THE ONES THAT ARE 30 INCHES, THAT I
CAN'T PUT MY ARMS AROUND, THAT ARE BEING REMOVED WOULD REPLACE
THEM IN A NORMAL SPAN OF LIFE.
BUT IF THEY GO DOWN, THEN WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
SO WHAT WE NEED, AS BOB SUGGESTED, MAYBE PROTECTING THE ONES IN
THE FRONT YARD.
BUT MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR IS GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE.
AND THERE IS A GRAND TREE IN THE BACKYARD.
SO THEY PUT THE HOUSE IN THERE AND THEN THEY TOOK OUT THE TREES
IN THE FRONT YARD BECAUSE IN ORDER TO PUT A GRAVE WAY IN AND ALL
THIS AND PROTECT THE TWO GRAND OAKS THAT WERE THERE, THEY HAD TO
REMOVE 7 GOOD SIZE TREES.
AND THEY DID THE BEST THEY COULD, AND WENT WITH THE CODE, BUT IT
IS STILL A NAKED LOT.
SO, WE KIND OF HAVE TO WORK WITH THE FORESTER AND WITH THE
BUILDERS TO GET THINGS DONE.
BECAUSE THESE LOTS IN SOUTH TAMPA ARE GOING FOR AN EXORBITANT
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND THE BUILDERS PAY THAT MUCH MONEY AND THEY WANT TO BUILD A
HOUSE THAT'S BIG SO THEY CAN GET THEIR MONEY BACK.
SO WE ARE FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE ON THAT.
BUT WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE CODE WE HAVE.
WE NEED TO GIVE STEVE GRAHAM THE INSPECTORS HE NEEDS.
WHEN THEY CHANGED THE CODE TO BCS, THEY MOVED SIX INSPECTORS OUT
OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OVER TO BCS.
NOW BCS IS REAL BUSY BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE SIX INSPECTORS AND
PARKS DOESN'T HAVE THEM ANY MORE.
WHEN WE COME BACK ON THE BUDGET, WE NEED SOME MORE MONEY IN THE
PARKS DEPARTMENT.
IN ORDER TO GET THIS DONE.
IT IS NOT JUST A FEW GRAND TREES.
WE ARE WORKING TO GET UP A TREE REGISTRY AND OUR ASSOCIATION HAS
DONATED THE MONEY TO HELP THE PARKS DEPARTMENT GET THE TREE
REGISTRY OFF THE GROUND.
WE ARE APPLYING FOR A GRANT SO THAT WE WILL KNOW WHAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT.
THE CODE SAYS THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A REPORT DONE ON ALL THE
TREES DONE.
IT IS ACTUALLY IN THE CODE.
I HAVE STARTED, MY LIGHT READING NOW IS THE LANDSCAPE CODE.
I CARRY MY LITTLE YELLOW BOOK AROUND WITH ME.
BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT WE ARE TAKING DOWN.
TO MS. ALVAREZ REQUEST, NOBODY KNOWS HOW MANY TREES GO DOWN.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD ALONE, JUST THIS LAST WEEK, TEN TREES WENT
DOWN.
BIG TREES.
THEY WEREN'T GRAND TREES BUT THEY WERE BIG TREES.
AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AS ALWAYS.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH I WANT TO JUST MAKE
ANOTHER LITTLE COMMENT.
USUALLY WHEN THESE THINGS ARE WORKED OUT AND BOTH SIDES DON'T
LIKE IT THAT MEANS IT IS A PRETTY GOOD SETTLEMENT.
>> I'M EMILY, I LIVE 742 BROWNING AVENUE.
I AM GOING TO READ A FEW THINGS THAT JOHN THOMAS DIDN'T GET A
CHANCE TO.
AND I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS OF MY OWN.
OTHER NEEDS.
ENHANCED NOTICE, PROCEDURAL PROTECTIONS FOR APPLICATIONS
ADVERSELY AFFECTING PROTECTED BUT NOT GRAND TREES.
AND TREES ORIGINATING OFF SITE WITH LIMBS, ROOTS ON-SITE AND
RIGHTS OF THE NEIGHBOR AND TREE OWNER.
GO BACK TO THAT ORDINANCE THAT'S MISSING, THAT WAS SWEPT UNDER
THE CARPET THAT NOTIFIES NEIGHBORS.
AT LEAST AN ABBREVIATED TREE INSPECTION.
ANALYSIS AND PROTECTIVE REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DEMOLITION AND SITE
CLEARING PERMITS.
ALL GRAND TREE REMOVAL PLANS TO BE SATISFIED BY ARBORISTS.
ALL GRAND TRIMMING TO BE PERFORMED BY CERTIFIED ARBORISTS.
THRESHOLD REQUIREMENTS DEFINING GRAND TREES OR CREATE OTHER
PROTECTED CATEGORY.
ENHANCE TREE REPLACEMENT OFFSET THE LOSS OF THE SCAN KNOWN ECHO
SYSTEM SHOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT IN IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF
REMOVAL.
ENHANCE DETERRENCE OF ALL UNPERMITTED TRIMMING REMOVAL AND HARM.
INCREASE DEDICATION OF RESOURCES, PERSONNEL, INCREASE CITY STAFF
OF QUALIFIED ARBORISTS.
AND I WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT THE TREES SO MANY TIMES THAT
AREN'T BEING CUT THAT ARE IN THE VICINITY ARE DAMAGED.
WE DON'T HAVE PROTECTION, EVEN ON THE CHAPIN TREE, THERE IS A
TREE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THAT, I TOOK A PICTURE, I WAS LOOKING TO
SEE IF I HAD IT IN MY FOLDER, I DIDN'T.
JUST REALLY REALLY DAMAGED BADLY.
THERE IS NO PROTECTION.
YOU GO TO A SITE AND YOU SEE NO BARRICADES, YOUR INSPECTORS ARE
NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
THEY SHOULD BE FINED OR REMOVED FROM THEIR POSITION WHEN THEY
ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB OF INSPECTION.
THAT GOES FOR EVERYTHING ELSE THEY ARE DOING, DIGGING UP GRASS,
MY YARD, EVERYTHING.
THE INSPECTORS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
AND THE TREES, THE GRAND OAKS ARE BEING BUILT TOO CLOSE TO, WE
HAVE SEVERAL EXAMPLES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE INSPECTORS ARE NOT DOING THEIR JOB.
CONSTRUCTION SERVICES OVERSEES THIS AND ALSO IF YOU ARE THERE TO
GO AND APPEAL SOMETHING, YOU GET RETALIATED ON, LOOK FOR IT.
IT HAPPENS.
YOU ARE THERE YOU DARE TO SAY A WORD.
SO YOU REALLY ARE IN TROUBLE FROM THERE ON TRYING TO GET
ANYWHERE.
YOU NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR THAT.
THERE IS SO MUCH BAD STUFF I DISCOVERED, I NO IDEA THAT IS GOING
ON IN THE CITY AND IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME PRIVATELY, I'LL
TELL YOU.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE GOOD INSPECTORS AND THAT IS MY BIGGEST
COMPLAINT RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NO INSPECTION REALLY.
THANK YOU.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT.
GENE BATHES, 4413 BROOK WOOD DRIVE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT
KNOW, I CHAIRED THE LANDSCAPE BOARD OF REVIEW FOUR YEARS AND
SERVED ON IT FOUR EIGHT YEARS AND WE LIVED THROUGH THE ORIGINAL
PART OF THIS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON TODAY.
AND I CAME FROM -- I WAS BORN IN SPRING HEAD AND YOU GOT TO BE A
REAL CRACKER TO KNOW WHERE THAT IS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY.
YOU DO?
CONGRATULATIONS.
CHARLIE MIRANDA:.
>> AND GREW UP IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS.
AND NOW LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE JOE BYERS USED TO COME BEFORE THE
TREE AND LANDSCAPE BOARD AND SAY, DON'T MAKE ANY RULES, PEOPLE
WILL PLANT TREES.
BUT JOE BYARS DID, CULVERS BAYOU IS FULL OF SHADE AND TREES AND
BEAUTIFUL BIRDS.
AND OTHER PLACES ARE NOT AND I AM NOT GOING TO PARTICULARLY
COMMENT ON THEM BECAUSE I'M PERFECTLY AWARE THAT THERE ARE
PLACES WHERE DEVELOPMENT CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT IN LARGE TREES AND
STILL MAKE THE PROPERTY AVAILABLE ECONOMICALLY FOR PEOPLE.
I WISH IT WOULD WORK AND PERHAPS THE CITY CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY
OF DOING IT.
BUT REALLY WHAT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS THIS.
I HAVE A COPY OF WHAT MORRIS MASSEY HAS PRESENTED, BUT ALMOST
NOBODY DOES BACK THERE.
IT WASN'T OFFERED TO ANYONE AT THE DOOR.
I HAD ONE BECAUSE I'M BRASSY.
AND THERE IS SOMETHING THAT'S HARDY TO TALK ABOUT THAN THE
LANGUAGE WHAT YOU ARE PRODUCING.
AND THAT IS ONCE IT'S DONE, ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM DO YOUR
JOB?
-- THEIR JOB.
AND I SUGGEST TO YOU -- I'M GOING TO WAIT UNTIL MS. MIRANDA AND
MS. FERLITA.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: I AM HALF CUBAN, I CAN DO MORE THINGS AT ONCE.
>> ALL RIGHT, THE REST OF THIS IS, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE
PASS, FOUGHT OVER OR NOT, AGREEABLE OR NOT, IF WE DO NOT PROTECT
TWO GUYS THAT I HAVE KNOWN SINCE WE WORKED ON THE ORIGINAL
REVISION OF CHAPTER 13, IT ISN'T GOING TO DO ANY GOOD AT ALL.
IF THEY DON'T HAVE TENURE, THEN IT ISN'T GOING TO WORK.
BECAUSE DECISIONS MADE MAY COME FROM SOME, SOMEBODY IN THE CITY,
PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN, BE MORE LENIENT WITH THIS PERSON, IT MAY
COME FROM YOU.
I CERTAINLY HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH SOME OF YOU OCCASIONALLY TO
GET SOME HELP ON SOMETHING.
EVERYTHING THAT I WAS DOING HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN LEGAL,
HOWEVER, BECAUSE -- BUT, THEY HAVE GOT TO HAVE TENURE, THEY HAVE
GOT TO HAVE ALL THE KINDS EVER THINGS THAT PROTECT THEM SO THAT
THEY WILL NOT BE PUT IN THE POSITION OF NOT MAKING THE DECISIONS
THAT THEY ARE VERY, VERY CAPABLE OF MAKING AND DECISIONS THAT
MORE OR LESS I HAVE BEEN TOTALLY AGREEABLE TO.
THE CHAPIN TREE PERHAPS IT HAPPENED TO MAKE US AWARE THAT WE ARE
REALLY, SHOULD BE DOING A BETTER JOB THAN WE ARE AND I EXPECT
YOU ALL TO DO IT.
THANK YOU.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: I AM GOING TO MAKE A STATEMENT, I AM GOING TO
SAY IT FIRST IN SPANISH AND THEN IN ENGLISH BECAUSE IN SPANISH
IT HAS MORE MEANING.
THERE IS A OLD SAYING IN SPANISH (SPEAKING SPANISH) AND YOU
UNDERSTAND WHAT I SAID.
AND THAT MEANS NOT FOR SOMETHING WRONG, THAT SOMETHING GOOD MAY
NOT COME OUT OF.
THAT IS THE CLOSING STATEMENT YOU MADE AND I WANT TO REITERATE
WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
>> THANK YOU.
AND AISLE SAY TO MR. BUCKHORN, WHEN I HAVE SEEN THE MATERIAL
THAT I SAW IN HIS OFFICE ABOUT THE TREES BEING -- WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO MR. BUCKHORN WHEN WE HAVE TO WIDEN THE STREETS?
BECAUSE THE MAYOR WANTS US TO HAVE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HERE.
SEE YA.
CHARLIE MIRANDA: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
(APPLAUSE).
CHARLIE MIRANDA: BY THAT TIME THE MAYOR WON'T BE THE MAYOR.
MAYBE MR. BUCKHORN WILL.
>>BOB BUCKHORN: IS THAT AN ENDORSEMENT MR. MIRANDA?