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FF_ <br />APPR 211992 a <br />aooK <br />Commissioner Scurlock asked if the BraniganIs had a lawn <br />service, and Miss Panico said that when she called Dr. Branigan <br />about the violation, he said that when he discussed it with his <br />landscaper, the landscaper told him he had evened out the tops of <br />the mangroves. That is what she based her recommendation on. <br />Commissioner Scurlock felt there is a big difference between <br />someone going out there with a chain saw and zipping things off and <br />a gardener who shows up once a week and trims off a -little -shooter. <br />Commissioner Bird asked what the purpose is of a specific <br />height if the mangroves are thick and hardy and doing what they do <br />best for the environment. <br />Mr. DeBlois advised that biologists feel that the ultimate <br />picture is to leave the mangroves alone, to let them grow out and <br />do what they do best. As with many regulations, there is a <br />compromise, and the 7 -ft. height requirement was a compromise. <br />Commissioner Bowman detailed the purpose of mangroves in the <br />environment. While she felt the thicker the leaves the better, she <br />didn't believe that trimming results in thicker mangroves. <br />Miss Panico explained that the height of the tree also affects <br />their sexual maturity. Trimming the trees can affect their <br />development and their ability to produce pods. Mangroves that are <br />thick and bushy are really in distress because they have to work <br />harder to put out more leaves. <br />Commissioner Scurlock felt that because we are marshalling our <br />resources in this county in trying to maintain the health of the <br />river, we had better things to do than to pinpoint this particular <br />kind of case. In looking at the pictures provided by Attorney <br />Garris and those of staff, he didn't see any major attempt to <br />damage the mangroves. To him, they look healthier. <br />Chairman Eggert explained that according to Miss Panico the <br />healthy, lush trees are actually -unhealthy. <br />Attorney Garris pointed out that Miss Panico is not an expert. <br />He has been at DNR hearings where the DNR biologists have been <br />turned around by taxpayers' biologists. This is not a settled <br />issue. Everybody here is for the protection of mangroves. His <br />clients are for the protection of mangroves. This is not an <br />egregious situation. As far as he was concerned, there is not one <br />bit of proof that any trimming was done. <br />Attorney Garris objected again to being here today under the <br />provisions of the present code enforcement process, and as far as <br />he was concerned, staff does not have an egregious case. <br />Community Development Director Robert Keating admitted that <br />several good points have been made today for the State and the <br />County to change their rules, but he emphasized that we are here <br />today under the present enforcement process. Miss Panico _has <br />52 <br />