HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Environmental Advisory Committee_Tab 03_7/14/2021Agenda Item #3.
j,
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
STAFF MEMO-'
Meeting: Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) - Jul 14 2021
Staff Contact: Thomas Bradford, EAC Chair Department: Environmental Advisory
Committee
Trees for Tequesta Program Proposal
SUMMARY:
This document and any attachments may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by completing
our Accessibility Feedback Form, sending an e-mail to the Village Clerk or calling 561-768-0443.
—=---_.-.:.;:.,=---
Trees for Tequesta Program Proposal
Page 13 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
Memo
To:
From:
cc:
Date:
Re:
Environmental Advisory Committee Members
Thomas G. Bradford, Chair, EAC
NA
July 7, 2021
Trees for Tequesta Program Proposal
At the EAC meeting in June it was requested that I create a draft program for Trees for Tequesta
concept. Per your request, a draft program has been outlined below for your critique and ultimate
approval.
The Problem
Over the last twenty plus years the Village of Tequesta has failed to add to the tree canopy
throughout the community. No noticeable gains in the inventory of trees in streetscapes can be
pointed to. In addition, there are noticeable gaps in the existing street tree canopy made all the
more obvious by the continued maturity of existing live oaks on Country Club Drive and Tequesta
Drive. Continued investment in street trees creating the shaded streets, sidewalks and bike paths
increases property values Village -wide, not just where the trees are located. Prospective property
owners see such beauty as a confirming reason to buy in Tequesta. Street trees provide aesthetic
appeal. Also, for wildlife, these trees create habitat and food which is important in an ever-
increasing developed world that takes for man's use that which was once used by all sorts of
wildlife as their territory to sustain themselves.
Meanwhile, in 2017, Tequesta adopted its Comprehensive Plan, which states the following:
Page 14 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
o The Village shall maintain its program to plant native trees in public rights of -wary and
other public lands, whenever practical, thereby adding to the Village's aesthetic appeal and
providing habitat for urban wildlife.I
o The Village shall maintain and seep to expand the Village's inventory of greed permeah1c
open space so as to provide rnaximurn area for shallow aquifer recharge and Sturmwater
filtrationlpercolation, oxygen production, visual buffer and wildlife habitat. This shall be
accomplished through implementation of land development regulations, additional parks
and open space.'
o The Village shall implement strategies to promote species diversity, the planting of native
landscapes, and sustainable urban forest landscape practices in order to protect the health
and resiliency of our natural resources from the impacts of climate change,3
o Provide a sustainable, safe, convenient, accessible and efficient multirnodal transportation
system (a system that provides for pedestrianism, bicycles, automobiles, watercraft, and
transit) for the citizens of Tequesta.4 (To facilhate "pedatriani.sm and bicycle usage in
South Florida, one needs-vhcade,f)
The Village shall seek to limit greenhouse gas emissions through the implementatirn of
stralegies to reduce the nurnber of vehicle miles travelled. These strategies may include but
not be the promotion of mixed -use development that provides for a mixture of residential
and non-residential land uses in a pedestrian friendly environment with multi -modal
transportation connectivity to other areas; promoting the use of alternate transportation
modes as specified herein, including mass transit, bicycles, and pedestrianism, and;
requiring Transportation Fernand Management Programs as a condition for development
approvals.$ (Trees remove carbon ftom the atmosphere for little relative expense. To
facilitate "pedestrianism and bicycle usage in South Florida, one needs shade!)
o The Village shall promote the increased use of the bicycles and walking as viable alternate
means of transportation through implementation of the Policies below. o fiaciliiate
bic"VC/e uxage marl' walking in ,Smith Florida, one needs .vhade!}
o The Village shall continue to beautify the pedestrian and bicycle paths her promoting scenic
core d �r, neighborhoods rlloods and cr mmercI di lricks.7
The seven bullet points above are from just two elements of the Tequesta Comprehensive Plan.
There is more, but 1 think you get the paint. So, why is the Village not improving existing
streetseapes and expanding strectscapes to places without theta when its very own Comprehensive
Plan says it will andfor a variety of reasons? For starters the Village fathers have never realized
the power behind an adoptedComprehensive Plan in Florida. The Village can be saved for failure
to do what it says it will do. I think they do understand the value of trees, but routinely fail to give
the street trees their due position in the budgetary process. The truth is that for 20 years
infrastructure maintenance was ignored and now it has caught up with the Village. This was not
1 Village of Tequesta Comprehensive Flan, Conservation Element, Policy: 2.13.4, page 51-
2 Village ofTe-questa Comprehensive Plan, Conservation Element, Policy_ 2.15.18, page 54-
3 Village: ofTLquesta Comprehensive Plan, Conwrvation Element, Policy: 2-15-21, page 55-
4 Village of Tequesta Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Element, Goal, page 13-
5 Village ofTequesta Connprehcnsivc Plan, Tmnapnrtation Element. Policy, 1,1.9, page 14,
Village of Tequesta Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Element, Objective: 1.8.0, page 16.
7 V illage of Tequesta Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Element, Policy: 1,10.3, page 18.
2
Page 15 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
caused by the sitting Village Council. They will claim that they don't have the money, or if they
do, cannot expend money fast enough on trees and streetscapes to make a noticeable difference in
a world now faced with climate change impacts of rising temperatures, sea level rise and worsening
natural disasters, like hurricanes.
This is where we come in and, hopefully fill the void.
The Proposed Solution
The creation of a funding source for the planting of trees is proposed that will augment Tequesta's
efforts or jumpstart planting of more street trees than has been undertaking in the past 20 years.
We have at least two choices as how to proceed to create the funding source that will be driven by
citizen and corporate donations, which would be tax deductible in either case, as follows:
1) Creation of a Tree Fund by the Village of Tequesta, which would receive and disperse
funds received as part of their administrative and budgetary process.
2) Creation of a nonprofit corporation with a 501 C 3 designation that can collect and
expend funds on its chartered charitable purposes, which in this case would be provision
of new streetscapes with trees, irrigation etc., whatever is necessary to make the new tree
planting area happen or the in -fill of existing streetscapes as may be needed such as on
Country Club Drive and Tequesta Drive, both of which would all be in accord with
professional plans drawn up, submitted to and approved by the Village of Tequesta.
My preference is Option 1. However, if the Village is not interested, I would revert to Option 2.
Once the funds are raised for project number one, they will never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Proposed Program Deliverables and Success Criteria
The Trees for Tequesta Program will raise funds to provide for the planting of native trees and
necessary appurtenances in accordance with all existing standards for infill of existing streetscapes
and for the creation of new streetscapes with trees native to Florida and in accord with plans
designed by licensed landscape design professionals.
1) EAC identification of the following:
A. Existing streetscapes requiring infill enhancement
i. Country Club Drive
ii. Tequesta Drive
iii. Seabrook Road
iv. Other locations?
B. Streets in Need of a Streetscape Project
i. U.S. Highway One (currently being contemplated by VOT)
ii. South Riverside Drive (Tequesta Drive to Dover Ditch)
iii. County Line Road (US Ito Old Dixie)
iv. South Cypress Drive (Tequesta Drive to Pineview Road, currently being
contemplated by VOT)
3
Page 16 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
v. North Cypress Drive (Tequesta Drive to 407 Cypress Dr.)
vi. Bridge Road
vii. Old Dixie Highway (currently being contemplated by VOT)
viii. Beach Road
ix. Other locations?
Please note that all of the streets listed above are either major roadways, collector roads or roads
on which are located commercial properties. The EAC has to create a list of the projects to be
done and their order of priority, in the collective opinion of the EAC.
Success will be measured by the amount of money raised and the number of projects initiated
and completed.
Meanwhile, what about the roads within our subdivisions? See below.
2) Creation of a Tequesta Tree Planting Program — This could be along the lines of the
City of West Palm Beach program or the Palm Beach County Native Canopy program.
See the following links to learn more.
i. hops://www.wpb.org4lome/Components/Calendar/Event/3248/216
ii. hops://www.wpb.org/govemment/sustainabili . /city-initiatives/10-000-
trees-in-10-years
iii. https:Hdiscover.pbc o�g/coextension/horticulture/Pages/Native-
Canopy.aspx
iv. https:Hdiscover.pbc o�g/SiteAssets/helpers/videoplayer.htm?videoid=c
oe/2021/2021 NCEP
The City of West Palm Beach links were provided to me by Laurie Brandon. We can limit the
types of trees to be provided and the locations where they can be planted. For example, much of
the Tequesta Country Club right-of-way is lawn only. Live oak trees strategically planted in the
swale areas chosen in conjunction with the Tequesta Country Club Community Association would
provide great aesthetic and environmental benefits. On the other hand, in the Tequesta Pines
Property Owners Association only the following trees are allowed to be planted in the swale areas;
Queen Palm, Oak, Green Malayan Coconut, Foxtail Palm, Christmas Palm, Dahoon East Palatka
Holly and the Bottle Brush Tree (for small cul de sac properties). Not what I would call a native
friendly tree list. So, maybe we only provide them with (live) oak and holly. Consultation with
each HOA, if any, is necessary for success.
Can we create our own program similar to that of Palm Beach County, also in conjunction with
the University of Florida/IFAS? Alternatively, can our per capita share of the revenue allocated by Palm
Beach County be directed to us on the grounds that we can foster greater participation in Tequesta than
them? This might be done by a govemment-to-government contract called an Interlocal Agreement.
Research by the EAC is needed.
3) Village Council Approval: Once the EAC has agreed upon the totality of items 1 and 2
above, we have to take the proposed package program to the Village Council for approval.
S
Page 17 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
A Trees for Tequesta Tree Fund will need to be created. Ideally, Tequesta and others will
match every dollar we raise and some citizens and businesses will also. Service
organizations could be contacted to get involved in the fund-raising process
4) Marketing the EAC/Village Council Approved Plan — This should the EAC roadmap
that shows us exactly what we need to do to achieve the EAC's biggest goals through
marketing. In our case, if we work with the Village of Tequesta (Option 1), there will not
be a traditional marketing plan per se. We will simply use every communications
platform in the Village arsenal as often as they will allow it. But, if the EAC chooses to
form a NPO 501 C 3, then we will need a marketing plan. In this regard, see attached
Exhibit A.
5) Budget - The Village may require an RFP to secure the trees on a long-term basis.
o Costs associated with a live oak could be:
i. 30 Gallon live oak delivered - about $300, typically 10+ feet tall. Home
Depot sells live oaks under 6 feet in height for less than $40 a piece, with
delivery extra.
ii. Root Barriers — See link: hLtps:HcentunLrootbarrier.com/product/root-
barrier-panels/ about $155 to $232 per tree. Also, concrete root barrier exist,
but are not as popular as in the past.
iii. Installation: 50% of tree price. Therefore, $150 in this example.
iv. Total Live Oak Cost: $6448
There has to be a way to reduce this cost, perhaps with something other than a 30-gallon
tree.
8 Not all tree locations will require a root barrier. Irrigation is extra and should be provided by
the Village or the LRECD using IQ water, say along the edges of Old Dixie Hwy. for example.
5
Page 18 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
Marketing Plan for NPO 501 C 3
LEXHIBITA
1) Mission and Vision — Without a mission and vision we have nothing to sell or offer. The
EAC mission is found in the Village Council Resolution No. 21-19 that created the EAC.
See this link:
hitp://imaging.tequesta.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=131681 &dbid=0&repo=TEQUE
STA This includes "...developing recommendations for best practices, fostering
community partnerships, and within the bounds of the Village's Comprehensive
Development Plan, developing recommendations for goals, objectives and policies relative
to sustaining and improving the environment of the Village of Tequesta." Our vision for
this project could be fostering partnerships with the citizens and businesses of Tequesta to
do our small part to arrest climate change with an urban forest of streetscapes that will
remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, improve aesthetics, increase property values
and seek to reduce vehicular trips per day by facilitating pedestrian and bicycle usage.
2) Nonprofit Marketing Audit - Before you begin to determine where you're going from a
marketing perspective, it's essential to evaluate where you've been. All audits look at the
past, not the present. Our past was put to together by Bob Shaw and includes
o A Resolution to eliminate the use of Glyphosate (chemical in herbicides like
RoundUp) on Village property PASSED
o A Resolution expressing support for a FL Senate bill that would allow local laws
prohibiting the use or sale of single -use plastics. PASSED
o Organized a public informational meeting at Village Council Chambers on 1/21/20
with representatives of the Florida -Friendly Landscaping Program
o An Ordinance prohibiting the release of certain balloons and sky lanterns in order to
prevent accidental fires & dangers to marine wildlife. PASSED
o Revisions to the Fertilizer Use portion of the Landscaping Ordinance which would
implement a Rainy Season Fertilizer Ban and require all commercial applicators to be
properly educated and licensed. This is up for vote for passage by Village Council.
o Research and discussion of the production of re -usable bags to be used by Village
residents, paid for and sponsored by Village businesses.
o Review and input on the Village's Comprehensive Plan
o Research and discussion on extension of the Village's Tree Canopy along major
roadways.
o Input on the future design of Remembrance Park utilizing Florida Friendly
Landscaping methodologies and less turfgrass.
o Researched grants and discussion on implementing solar & energy efficiencies in
Village facilities.
o held a meeting with a Micro -Transit firm exploring feasibility of implementation in
and around the Village of Tequesta.
o Review and revision of the Village's Pesticide Use portion of the Landscaping
Ordinance. This has been readied and will be presented to the Village Council for
consideration.
And now we wish to explore overseeing something that hopefully every citizen can
get behind.
Page 19 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
EXHIBIT A
3) Marketing Goals & Priorities - Most organizations set their marketing goals in a vacuum.
They do not begin with their strategic plan and mission in mind and then set aligned
marketing goals that will drive both forward. As a result, they end up with goals that sound
good on paper, but do not make a strategic and thoughtful use of the organization's time,
budget and brainpower. After we have narrowed down to a few possible marketing goals
for each organizational goal, we rank what remains in order of priority and eliminate
anything that doesn't fit within the scope of our current resources. We also have to
challenge false beliefs about what can be accomplished within the current constraints of
our teams and budget.
4) Key Stakeholders - Tequesta citizens, businesses, HOA's and Village of Tequesta?
5) Key Messages- The environment, aesthetics, wildlife habitat, property values, facilitation
of walking and bicycling by provision of shade. In other words - Fostering partnerships
with the citizens and businesses of Tequesta to do our small part to arrest climate change
with an urban forest of streetscapes that will remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere,
improve aesthetics, increase property values and seek to reduce vehicular trips per day by
facilitating pedestrian and bicycle usage
6) Tactical Selection — At this point in the process we should know what we are trying to
achieve (our goals), who we are trying to achieve it with (our key stakeholders), and what
we need to say to them (our key messages), and we can choose the vehicles to make it
happen (our tactics). Below, on the next page, is a tactical selection funnel designed by
Prosper Strategies for NPOs. This funnel illustrates the four phases most potential nonprofit
stakeholders move through when deciding to take a desired action like getting involved,
volunteering, donating, or signing up for one of our programs or services. Within each
phase, there is a menu of tactics to choose from for each of the four categories. Note that
strangers are reeled in using a very large communications net.
7
Page 20 of 41
Agenda Item #3.
EXHIBIT A
•--------- --- -----------------
https://prosper-strategies. com/inspiring-nonprofit-marketing-plan-example/
8
Page 21 of 41