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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING SEAGRAPES AND MANGROVE TRIMMING Goudeau, Cyndie 15. j ~c. CDL - 10vb-oS Mitt- From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Home, William Thursday, October 06,20059:38 AM Arasteh, Mahshid; Brumback, Garry; Carrier, AI Quillen, Michael; City Council; Goudeau, Cyndie RE: trimming of mangroves on the Memorial Causeway Councihnembers, Email belowprovidesadditionalinformationregardingwhatcanbedonewithSeagrapes.This vegetation is not regulated by the state or county, but it is regulated by the city. If you do not agree with our ClUTent city standards, you will need to provide guidance to change them during your discussion during your discussion tonight. Bill Horne, ICMA-CM City Manager Clearwater, FL (727) 562-4046 ----Original Message----- From: Arasteh, Mahshid Sent: Thursday, October 06,20059:21 AM To: Horne, William; Brumback, Garry; Carrier, AI Cc: Quillen, Michael Subject: AN: trimming of mangroves on the Memorial Causeway Thanks AI Bill/Garry FYI pIs see AI's E-mail below. Clarification: DBH : diameter at breast height. and could be accumulation of more than one branch. Mahshid 0. Arasteh, FE Public Works Administrator 727-562-4757 -----Original Message----- From: Carrier, AI Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2005 9:00 AM To: Arasteh, Mahshid Subject: PW: trimming of mangroves on the Memorial Causeway Mr. Horne, Permitting requirements from the State, County and City for the trimming and removal of seagrapes along Memorial Causeway are as follows: State - No permit required, not within the States' jurisdiction County - No permit required, seagrapes not regulated by the County City - Seagrapes 4 inch DBH or larger will require a tree removal permit. The number of replacement trees will be calculated based on the size and quality of the seagrapes removed. Trimming of seagrapes requires a permit if more that 1/3 of the canopy is going to be removed. Source information, Steve West-FDEP, David Walker-Pinellas County by phone on 10/05/05. -----Original Message----- From: Horne, William Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 10:24 AM To: Carrier, AI; Arasteh, Mahshid; Brumback, Garry Cc: Finch, Terry; Quillen, Michael; Akin, Pam; Goudeau, Cyndie; Oty Council SUbject: RE: trimming of mangroves on the Memorial Causeway AI, Thanks for this info. This gives important clarification about how the Comp Plan tries to address the role of Mangroves in Coastal High Hazard Areas. Bill Horne, ICMA-CM City Manager Clearwater, FL (727) 562-4046 -----Original Message----- From: Carrier, AI Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 9:02 AM To: Horne, William; Arasteh, Mahshid; Brumback, Garry cc: Finch, Terry; Quillen, Michael; Akin, Pam; Goudeau, Cyndie Subject: RE: trimming of mangroves on the Memorial Causeway Mr. Horne: As a follow-up to today's worksession, I would like to offer the following for your discussions with the Council members. I have reviewed the City Comprehensive Plan and although there are many references to wetlands and mangroves, the wording of the policies are vague and open to interpretation. I did find in the Community Development Code the section that specifically addresses mangroves in FEMA "V" zones. Sec. 51.32. Specific standards. (6) Coastal high hazard areas (V zones). Located within the areas of special flood hazard are areas designated as coastal high hazard areas. Because these areas have special flood hazards associated with wave wash, the following standards are required: (g) There shall be no alteration of sand dunes or mangrove stands which would increase potential flood damage. The other issues brought up at the meeting regarding the location of the preservation/jurisdictional wetland line and if the mangroves are in or out of the water is a non-issue regarding the trimming permit. FDEP and the county has verbally told the City that a pennit can be obtained provided that the City does not have regulations prohibiting the trimming. AI Carrier -----Original Message----- From: Horne, William Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 4:20 PM To: Arasteh, Mahshid; Brumback, Garry Cc: Carrier, AI; Finch, Terry; Quillen, Michael; City Council; Akin, Pam; Goudeau, Cyndie Subject: RE: trimming of mangroves on the Memorial Causeway Mashid, Thanks for the update. Be prepared to respond to questions from the council during their discussion at the worksession. 2 Bill Horne, ICMA-CM City Manager Clearwater, FL (727) 562-4046 -----Original Message----- From: Arasteh, Mahshid Sent: Friday, September 30,20054:14 PM To: Brumback, Garry; Home, William Cc: Carrier, AI; Finch, Terry; Quillen, Michael Subject: trimming of mangroves on the Memorial Causeway BiII/ Garry we just had our last conversation with the County.. Will Davis and David Walker. In the past County has indicated that they can not issue a permit for this trimming. As of this afternoon and after their conversation with FDEP they have informed us that the City can apply for a permit to trim these mangroves. Up to 65% of the square footage of the mangroves could be trimmed. 25% of the 65% must remain over 16 feet tall. County will send us the details of requirements of the permit. Cost of trimming depends on the final design and the desired view corridors. For this we need to develop a plan. A preliminary estimate is $225K to $450K for the initial trimming. Yearly maintenance is between $75K and $120K. Concerns are: The intent of City's Comp Plan is to preserve the mangroves as much as possible. This does not preclude trimming. Also in the past the residents of the adjacent Islands have expressed their desire not to trim the mangroves - since the mangroves act as a noise buffer for their properties. Our environmental staff have always expressed their concern that trimming mangroves does not fully retain the ecological values of the mangrove habitat i.e. the birds do not utilize trimmed mangroves the same way they use the untrimmed mangroves. The Comp Plan also says that the City shall continue to protect coastal wetlands and wildlife habitat... (section 20.1) Mahshid D. Arasteh, FE. Public Works Administrator 727-562-4757 3