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regarding the proposed Ordinance amendments. Those comments addressed both substantive Ordinance issues and a perceived lack of time to review the proposed amendments. Consequently, the Board directed staff to conduct a public workshop regarding the draft Ordinance. On March 1, 2002, an advertised public workshop was held, and 28 people attended. In addition, staff made post January 22 presentations at regular meetings of three environmental groups. Those groups were: the Pelican Island Audubon Society, the Eugenia Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, and the Pelican Island Preservation Society. A total of 75 people attended these three meetings. Based upon the input received at these additional meetings, staff has made changes to the Ordinance version that the Board considered at its January 22 meeting. The Board is now to consider the revised proposed Ordinance, and is to adopt, adopt with changes, or not to adopt the proposed Ordinance. ANALYSIS Attachment 2 is a summary of public comment received at the March I, 2002, public workshop, the three environmental group meetings referenced above, and e-mails that staff has received on this subject. Staff has reviewed these comments and proposes revisions to the proposed Ordinance based on these comments (see Attachment 3, proposed Ordinance). Section A below identifies each comment that resulted in a staff change to the proposed Ordinance. That section also identifies the change that was made, the applicable Ordinance citation reference, and staff s reasoning behind making the particular change. Section B below identifies additional comments that were received, but did not result in proposed Ordinance changes. Section A Changes Made to Proposed Ordinance as a Result of Public Input Comment: 1 here was concern expressed at the workshop that too few trees would achieve the Specimen Tree requirement of having a diameter at breast height (dbh) of 30 inches. The January 22 draft Ordinance defined a Specimen Tree as having a dbh of 30 inches or greater. Change: The currently proposed definition of a Specimen Tree has been changed to include all trees with a dbh of 24 inches or greater (Section 901.03). Reasoning/Result: This decrease in the proposed dbh requirement will result in more trees being defined as Specimen Trees. Such trees are afforded more protection under the proposed regulations. By lowering the threshold to 24 inch dbh, some smaller, slow growing trees (e.g., hickory, maple) may meet the Specimen Tree criteria. By having a lower size threshold for Specimen Trees, the opportunity for maintaining more canopy becomes greater. This will also result in a larger number of younger trees being included and possibly protected during a more vigorous period of their life spans. Comment: Public comment suggested that all palm trees should be included in the Protected/Specimen tree categories. Currently, cabbage palms are not defined as Protected trees and may therefore be removed without the need for a Tree Removal permit, however, the removal does require a Land Clearing permit. Change: The definitionsof both Protected and Specimen trees have been changed to include all palms with a dbh of 4 inches up to 24 inches as Protected Trees, and all palms with a dbh of 24 inches or greater as Specimen Trees (Section 901.03). Reasoning: The existing Ordinance specifically excludes cabbage palms from the definition of a Protected Tree while all other palms are included. Palms, of any species or variety, are not trees; however, since all other palms are already included as Protected Trees, it is reasonable to include cabbage palms in the definitions of Protected and Specimen Trees. MARCH 12, 2002 -82- ', E q 2 •