Tree Advisory Board

Name:  Appointed by:
Henry Clifford - Chair  Councilmember Marsha Matson
Jenna Crawford - Secretary Mayor Karyn Cunnigham
Don Pybas Vice Mayor Leanne Tellam
Craig Grossenbacher Councilmember Patrick Fiore
Jack Fell Councilmember Steve Cody

Board Liaisons

Purpose/Mission:

Pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Village’s Code of Ordinances, the purpose of the Village of Palmetto Bay Tree Board is to promote the general welfare and to encourage the preservation of green space and the environment by encouraging the village, through a group of concerned volunteer citizens charged by ordinance, with reviewing and making recommendations as to developing and administering a comprehensive tree management program. The tree board assists the village in developing an urban or community forestry program, and ultimately, an annual, systematic management of the village's tree resources, including, tree planting, maintenance and removal program for trees on streets, parks and other public places.

Administration of the village's tree program ultimately to be recognized as consistent with the National Arbor Day Foundation.  The Village of Palmetto Bay tree program shall be administered by the department of public works. To assist in administering the program, the village council may appoint an advisory tree board.   An arborist may be utilized as part of the tree board review process. In becoming a Tree City USA designated municipality, the village would need to expend approximately $50,000, in each year, at $2.00, per capita to maintain the designation.

Meetings

The Board meets on the last Monday of every month at 5:00 pm, except holidays.  Please click on the calendar menu option on the left side menu bar for upcoming meeting information.

All advisory boards, committees and task force groups meet in person at Village Hall, 9705 East Hibiscus Street, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157.  All meetings will be audio-recorded, and written minutes will be maintained by the Office of the Village Clerk.

Members of the general public may provide public comments by using the online Public Comment Form, which will be read into the record, or may appear in person to provide public comments.

For additional information and/or inquiries, please contact Missy Arocha, Village Clerk at (305) 259-1234, or via email to: clerk@palmettobay-fl.gov.

For more information about upcoming meetings, please visit our online calendar.

Membership/Qualifications:

The mayor shall appoint advisory board members, subject to council approval. Each council member shall tendering potential appointee names for the mayor's consideration prior to final approval. The advisory tree board shall consist of five members. The advisory board members shall serve for two years, under staggered terms, serving without compensation. Each advisory board member must be knowledgeable in at least one of the identified fields of: urban planning, landscape architecture, tree-related professionals such as forestry professors, nursery operators, arborists, or other environmental civic activist. To ensure a balanced and diverse advisory board it is recommended that at least two of the board members be a tree-related professional or show substantial participation in horticultural activities, and one be a civic leader in the community.

If any member fails to attend two of three successive meetings without cause and without prior approval of the chairman, the committee shall declare the member's office vacant, and the village council shall promptly fill that vacancy. The advisory board shall meet at least once a year to evaluate and make recommendations to village staff and to the village council as to updates recommended to the village's existing landscape and tree master plan, which plan shall become the village's annual community forestry work plan. If any member of the advisory board shall find that his private or personal interests are involved in the matter coming before the board, he shall disqualify himself from all participation in that matter.

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