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BOOK 93 FAu 2. <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />The Oslo Riverfront property, approximately 300 acres of <br />coastal/tropical hammock, scrubby flatwoods and estuarine wetlands <br />north of and surrounding the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory <br />(FMEL) on Oslo Road, was jointly acquired by the County and the St. <br />Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) in August, 1991. <br />On April 27, 1993, the Board of County Commissioners approved a <br />draft management plan for improvements on the subject -property <br />compatible with site resources, including plans to eliminate <br />nuisance exotic Brazilian pepper from the property over time. The <br />overall plan has since been positively reviewed by SJRWMD staff. <br />County staff has' been coordinating with FMEL staff in the <br />elimination of Brazilian pepper on the lab property and adjacent <br />Oslo Riverfront property. Particularly, on the southwest corner of <br />the Olso Riverfront property, there exist approximately one acre of <br />Brazilian pepper in an area envisioned for future limited parking <br />access. <br />Developers of a Saturn car dealership, across Oslo Road and near <br />the Oslo Riverfront property, have recently begun land clearing <br />their construction site. On the dealership property, six +12 inch <br />diameter oak trees are slated for removal. County staff has <br />investigated the costs and opportunity of transplanting these oaks <br />to the Oslo Riverfront property, in a portion of the area proposed <br />for Brazilian pepper clearing. <br />Staff requests that the Board authorize the expenditure of funds <br />(;4,200) from the county native upland mitigation account, for the <br />removal of approximately one acre of Brazilian pepper from the Oslo <br />Riverfront property. Staff also requests authorization to expend <br />funds (not to exceed $1,100) from the county tree fine account for <br />the transplanting -of six oak trees from the Saturn dealership. _site <br />�River€runt pr®pe3cty.:' <br />ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS <br />Brazilian Pepper Removal <br />In accordance with county procedures, staff has received three bid <br />estimates for removal of approximately one acre of Brazilian pepper <br />on the subject property. The low bid is $4,200 from Miles Modern <br />Tree Care. <br />Removal of Brazilian pepper from the Oslo Riverfront property is <br />consistent with the management plan for the property and, in <br />general, serves a county comprehensive plan objective to eliminate <br />nuisance exotic vegetation in the county. Presently, FMEL staff <br />has volunteered to assist in the monitoring and maintenance of <br />cleared Brazilian pepper areas to ensure that no peppers return. <br />This maintenance will consist of selective application <br />the <br />herbicide Garlon, which has proven effective in Brazilian.pepper <br />eradication. <br />It As appropriate to use native up -a d Uitigati;on account.'funds for <br />Brazilian pepper removal on conservation properties, because the <br />expenditure contributes to the management of conservation. land <br />acquired for habitat protection. <br />September 20, 1994 8 <br />