Several residents asked the commission to protect a large oak tree on the courthouse lawn, and commissioners opened a broader discussion about the composition and appointment process for the Historic Preservation Board.

Kevin Tagerty and Barbara Barthel spoke during public comment urging the city to recognize the tree as a heritage or historic landmark. Tagerty said county arborist work is complete and asked the city to move quickly to recognize the tree’s historical value; he estimated the tree could be “up to 250 years old.” Barbara Barthel said she had submitted documents to city staff and asked the Historic Preservation Board to call an emergency meeting so the board could review the application and forward materials to Pasco County for county‑level historic designation.

Commissioner Shive brought item E‑6 (Historic Preservation Board bylaws and appointments) forward for discussion and proposed returning the board to a model in which each commissioner appoints one member (five commissioner appointments) and the commission appoints additional at‑large members by consensus. Shive said the change would allow more turnover and opportunity for residents to serve and avoid long continuous terms. Commissioners and staff discussed term start dates, staggering of terms and residency requirements for appointees.

City staff said the current bylaws date to the 1980s (the transcript references earlier order numbers) and that the board traditionally met quarterly; staff recommended aligning appointment start dates with commission election cycles to avoid wiping out institutional knowledge at once. Commissioners discussed options including a five‑member board with two at‑large members (a total of seven) to improve quorum reliability and meeting attendance. The city attorney advised the commission on quorum math (a quorum is “one half of the voting members plus one” per the board’s rules) and staff said they would prepare revised bylaws for commission review.

The commission did not vote on the bylaws at the meeting. Staff reported it will call an emergency Historic Preservation Board meeting to consider the courthouse tree application and that the city will bring revised bylaws back for formal action; a motion or formal vote on the bylaws was not taken that evening.