11/20/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I If S : 1A f sf If that the Urban Forester ' s main responsibility should be to prevent the public from unnecessarily cutting down public trees . This item was discussed at our last City Council meeting and the consensus of the City Council was to recommend to the County Commission that they look into hiring an Urban Forester or assigning that capability to someone already employed at the County. One of the reasons it was agreed that this should be a function of the County was because of all the new development occurring in the County. I appreciate your help in this matter and wait for your response. Sincerely, Thomas P . White, Mayor City of Vero Beach TPW : ty Chairman Ginn thought that if the County had an Urban Forester the removal of mature oak trees along Jungle Trail would not have occurred . In spite of fiscal constraints and in light of the development that is occurring , she thought the County absolutely needs to have an Urban Forester to protect our trees . She noted the presence of Dan Culbert and asked for his input . Dan Culbert, Director of the Agricultural Extension Service , stated that the objective of his office is education and it would be inappropriate for the Extension Services to be involved in enforcement issues . The resources of the University of Florida are there to help in any appropriate educational ways . The issue of urban forestry has not come up in terms of the top listed personnel needs for his office . Water quality was found to be the most useful and a Water Quality Agent is now on staff. He asked what he could do to help . Commissioner Adams was uncertain exactly what an Urban Forester would do and doubted that having one would be the solution for what they were seeking , nor would one have prevented what happened on Jungle Trail . She could not support the addition of staff at this point, particularly with the state of the economy . November 20 , 2001 51 D