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Tequesta EAC recommends adoption of FISC prohibited-plant list with local exceptions
Summary
The EAC voted to recommend that the Village adopt the Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) list for category 1 plants, retain several locally banned trees on Tequesta’s prohibited list, and authorize the village landscape architect to grant limited category-2 exceptions.
The Village of Tequesta Environmental Advisory Committee voted to move forward to village council with a recommendation to adopt the Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) prohibited-plant list for category 1 species while maintaining local prohibitions on several trees now on Tequesta’s prohibited list.
At the meeting, Vice Chair Tom Bradford summarized prior reviews and said the EAC had asked village landscape architect Steve Parker to compare Tequesta’s existing prohibited-species list with the FISC list. Bradford said Parker "gave his blessing" to most of the FISC recommendations but identified two or three local exceptions.
Jill Winter moved the committee’s formal recommendation, calling for adoption of the FISC list with limited local modifications. In the motion as read into the record Winter said the EAC would "adopt the FISC list, exempt glossy privet and sapodilla trees, [and] keep lofty fig, banyan, and eucalyptus on the prohibited species list," and she specified that the village landscape architect may use his discretion to allow limited exceptions for some category-2 plants. The motion was seconded and the chair announced, "Aye. Any nays? Motion carries." The recording shows no recorded nays.
Committee members clarified what the categories mean. Members said category 1 on the FISC list represents the most invasive species; category 2 items would remain prohibited by default but could be allowed in specific cases if Steve Parker (the village landscape architect) approves an exception based on site-specific criteria. Bradford and others said the EAC’s intent is to be more conservative than the FISC list for tree species the village currently considers problematic while deferring to FISC as an evolving reference for many other invasive plants.
The recommendation will be forwarded to village council for its review and any formal code or ordinance action. Committee members said they will confirm the final language with Steve Parker and staff before submitting the recommendation to council.
